HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubmittal-1Policy Committee:
Governor of State of Florida
Mr. Jeb Bush
Designee: Dr. Pamella Dana
Chair of Miami -Dade Delegation
Senator Rudy Garcia
Designee: Rep. Gus Barreiro
Chair of Governing Board of
South Florida Water Management
District
Mr. Kevin McCarty
Designee: Ms. Irela Bague
Miami -Dade State Attorney
Ms. Katherine Fernandez -Rundle
Designee: Mr. Gary Winston
Mayor of Miami -Dade County
Mayor Carlos Alvarez
Designee: Mr. Roman Gastesi
Mayor of Miami
Mayor Manuel A. Diaz
Designee: Mr. Otto Boudet-Murfas
City of Miami Commissioner
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
Designee: Mr. Steve Wright
Miami -Dade County
Commissioner
Commissioner Bruno Barreiro
Designee: Ms. Betty Gutierrez
Chair of Miami River Marine
Group
Mr. Charles "Bud" Morton
Designee: Mr. Richard Bunnell
Chair of Marine Council
Mr. Phil Everingham
Executive Director of Downtown
Development Authority
Mr. Dana A. Nottingham
Designee: Mr. Adam Lukin
Chair of Greater Miami Chamber
of Commerce
Mr. George Foyo
Designee: Ms. Megan Kelly
Neighborhood Representative
Appointed by City of Miami
Conunission
Dr. Ernest Martin
Designee: Mr. Michael Cox
Neighborhood Representative
Appointed by Miami -Dade
Commission
Ms. Sallye Jude
Designee: Ms. Jane Caporelli
Representative from
Environmental or Civic
Organization Appointed by the
Governor
Member at Large Appointed by
the Governor
Mr. Eric Buermann
Member at Large Appointed by
Miami -Dade Commission
Ms. Sara Babun
Designee: Mr. Eddie Rodriguez
Member at Large Appointed by
City of Miami Conunission
Mr. Manny Prieguez
Managing Director
Mr. Brett Bibeau
Miami River Commission
c/o Robert King High
1407 NW 7th ST, Suite D
Miami, Florida 33125
Office: 305-644-0544
Fax: 305-642-1136
email: mrc@rsmas.miami.edu
www.nnamirivercommission.org
December 1, 2005
Honorable Chairman Joe Sanchez
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33145
Re: Recommendation for Approval with Conditions of December
1, 2005 City Commission Agenda Item PZ.20
Dear Chairman Sanchez:
This letter serves as the Miami River Commission's (MRC) "official
statement" to all City Commissioners, requested in City Resolution 00-
320, regarding December 1, 2005 City Commission agenda item PZ.20,
which impacts the Miami River.
On December 6, 2004, Mr. Kevin Provance, City of Miami Planning
Department, presented the draft City of Miami's Evaluation Appraisal
Report (EAR) to the Miami River Commission. The Miami River
Commission unanimously recommended approval of the draft EAR,
subject to the following conditions:
1. Draft EAR, page 234, Recommendation PA-1 — The MRC
concurs with U.S. Coast Guard Captain James Watson's attached
letter, recommending deletion of the Comprehensive Plan "Port
of Miami" sub -element's inaccurate footnote.
2. Draft EAR, page 234, Recommendation PA-6 — MRC
recommends no amendments to Comprehensive Plan Policy PA
3.1.1. The draft recommended amendment would eliminate the
existing opportunity to "encourage water related / water
dependent" uses in the lower and middle river, such as water
taxi's, recreational boat dockage along the riverwalk, etc., and on
December 9, 2004 the City Commission amended this unedited
EAR Recommendation PA-6.
3. Draft EAR, page 236, Recommendation PR-22 - Insert
"including a Fisherman's Wharf', in order to be consistent with
EAR Recommendation PR-23, which states "Fisherman's Wharf
District in Lummus Park".
Sincerely, SUBMITTED INTO THE
PUt3LIC RECORD FOR
Irela Sague AI _
Chair, ITEM f Z , 20 0 i
Miami River Commission
U.S. Dopertment of
Homeland Security
United States
Coast Guard
Director of Planning & Zooming
City of Miami
Attn: Ms. Ana Gelabert
444 SW tad Avenue, 3n-i Floor
Miami, FL 33130
Dear Ms. Gelabert,
Commanding Officer
U. S. Coast Guard
Marine Safety Offlca
100 MacArthur Causeway, Rm. 201
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Phone: (305) 535-8715
FAX: (305) 535-8731
16000
JUL 79 2004
I am writing in response to the City of Miami's request for.public input into the EAR process to
update the City's Comprehensive Plan for future land use. As Captain, of the Port for the United.
States Coast Guard's Marine Safety Office, 1 have a direct interest in and responsibility for the
workings of the ports in this district. The Port of the Miami River has held particular interest for
me because of its high volume of cargo, its tremendous activity and its importance as an
international port for the shipment of staples to the Caribbean.
I have been closely involved with the development of the Miami River port as the Chair of the
Miami River Commission's Public Safety Committee, and as a reviewer for the Transportation
Security Administration's Port Security grants program. You may know that the river is currently
undergoing facility irraprovements and surveillance upgrades in order to meet international Safety
and Port Security Standards due in place no later than July 1, 2004, and that the river's port
association, the Miami River Marine Group, has successfully secured.S2,056,000 in grants for
the port's security. I am sure you are also aware that the federal government has committed to
spending $63.5 million to dredge the river's navigational channel in support of the river's
commerce.
With all these elements in mind, I offer input to the City of Miami's Comprehensive Plan in
support of the existing Port of Miami River sub -element. There is clearly a need to continue
support for the Port of Miami River and to preserve marine industrial uses from encroaching and
incompatible uses.
Still, there is one change in the existing sub -element that I believe needs to take place: the
footnote (1) referencing. the "Port of Miami River" as "simply a legal name" is out of date and
inaccurate. The revised version of the plan would be better served without it. In reality, there are
at least 21 terminals located along the river, and all function as "true" port facilities (this is
contrary to the information presented in the footnote). Additionally, the need for recognizing the
"Port of Miami River" is greater than for simply satisfying a regulation governing bilge pump -
outs. In my professional opinion, the Miami River is always going to need to have bulkhead
space for vessels to lay up for repairs or because they are detained due to other. issues. Perhaps
the need for port space in the land use plan would be better understood if this footnote were
removed.
Submitted Into the publiCi
record in con"--`.'. -i with
4
item P_?_ __or: 141°
Priscilla A. , ►ompson1
City Cleric,
16000
I have enjoyed watching the Miami River grow and prosper as a port. I appreciate very much the
opportunity to provideyou with comments regarding its future.
Sincerely,
J A. Watson
ommanding Officer
U.S. Coast Guard
By direction •
Copy: Mayor Manny Diaz
Hon. Jonny Winton
Hon. Angel Gonzalez
Hon. Arthur Teele
Hon. Joe Sanchez
Hon. Tomas Regalado
Kevin S. Provance, Land Development Planner
Submitted into the public
record in connection with
item Pz.. b on t} S
Priscilla A. Thomp on
City Clerk