House Bill 3807

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    Florida House of Representatives - 1998                HB 3807

        By Representative Barreiro






  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to the Miami River;

  3         establishing the Miami River Commission;

  4         providing purposes; providing for a policy

  5         committee, a managing director, and a working

  6         group; specifying membership of the committee;

  7         providing powers and duties of the committee;

  8         requiring a report; providing an appropriation;

  9         providing an effective date.

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11  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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13         Section 1.  (1)(a)  The Miami River Commission is

14  hereby established as the official clearinghouse for all

15  public policy and projects related to the Miami River to unite

16  all governmental agencies, businesses, and residents in the

17  area to speak with one voice on river issues, to develop

18  coordinated plans, priorities, programs, projects, and budgets

19  that might substantially improve the river area, and to act as

20  the principal advocate and watchdog to ensure that river

21  projects are funded and implemented in a proper and timely

22  manner.

23         (b)  The commission may seek and receive funding to

24  implement river improvement projects of the commission.

25  Nothing in this act affects or supersedes the regulatory

26  authority of any governmental agency or any local government

27  and any responsibilities of any governmental entity relating

28  to the Miami River shall remain with such respective

29  governmental entity. However, the commission may accept any

30  specifically defined authority delegated to the commission by

31  any governmental entity, through a memorandum of understanding

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    Florida House of Representatives - 1998                HB 3807

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  1  or other legal instrument. The commission shall use powers of

  2  persuasion to achieve its objectives through the process of

  3  building a consensus work plan and through widespread

  4  publication of regular progress reports.

  5         (2)  The Miami River Commission shall consist of:

  6         (a)  A policy committee comprised of the Governor, the

  7  chair of the Dade delegation, the chair of the governing board

  8  of the South Florida Water Management District, the Miami-Dade

  9  County State Attorney, the Mayor of Miami, the Mayor of

10  Miami-Dade County, a commissioner of the City of Miami

11  Commission, a commissioner of the Miami-Dade County

12  Commission, the chair of the Miami River Marine Group, the

13  chair of the Marine Council, the Executive Director of the

14  Downtown Development Authority, and the chair of the Greater

15  Miami Chamber of Commerce; two representatives, selected from

16  the Spring Garden Neighborhood Association, the Grove Park

17  Neighborhood Association, and the Miami River Neighborhood

18  Enhancement Corporation, one appointed by the city commission

19  and one appointed by the county commission, selected from a

20  list of 3 names submitted by each such organization; one

21  representative from an environmental or civic association,

22  appointed by the Governor; and three members-at-large, who

23  shall be persons who have a demonstrated history of

24  involvement on the Miami River through business, residence, or

25  volunteer activity, one appointed by the Governor, one

26  appointed by the city commission, and one appointed by the

27  county commission. All members shall be voting members. The

28  committee shall also include a member of the United States

29  Congressional delegation and the Captain of the Port of Miami

30  as a representative of the United States Coast Guard, as

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    Florida House of Representatives - 1998                HB 3807

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  1  nonvoting, ex officio members.  The policy committee may meet

  2  monthly, but shall meet at least quarterly.

  3         (b)  A managing director who has the responsibility to

  4  implement plans and programs.

  5         (c)  A working group consisting of all governmental

  6  agencies that have jurisdiction in the Miami River area, as

  7  well as representatives from business and civic associations.

  8         (3)  The policy committed shall have the following

  9  powers and duties:

10         (a)  Consolidate existing plans, programs, and

11  proposals into a coordinated strategic plan for improvement of

12  the Miami River and surrounding areas, addressing

13  environmental, economic, social, recreational, and aesthetic

14  issues. The committee shall monitor the progress on each

15  element of such plan and shall revise the plan regularly.

16         (b)  Prepare an integrated financial plan modeled after

17  the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Working Group. The

18  committee shall monitor the progress on each element of such

19  plan and revise the plan regularly.

20         (c)  Provide technical assistance and political support

21  as needed to help implement each element of the strategic and

22  financial plans.

23         (d)  Accept any specifically defined authority

24  delegated to the committee by any level of government through

25  a memorandum of understanding or other legal instrument.

26         (e)  Publicize a semiannual report describing

27  accomplishments of the commission and each member agency, as

28  well as the status of each pending task. The committee shall

29  distribute the report to the City and County Commissions and

30  Mayors, the Governor, chair of the Dade County delegation,

31  stakeholders and the local media.

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    Florida House of Representatives - 1998                HB 3807

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  1         (f)  Seek grants from public and private sources and

  2  receive grant funds and administer contracts.

  3         (g)  Coordinate a joint planning area agreement between

  4  the Department of Community Affairs, the city, and the county

  5  under the provisions of s. 163.3177(11)(a),(b), and (c),

  6  Florida Statutes.

  7         (h)  Provide a forum for exchange of information and

  8  facilitate the resolution of conflicts.

  9         (i)  Act as a clearinghouse for public information and

10  conduct public education programs.

11         (j)  Establish the Miami River working group, appoint

12  members to the group, and organize subcommittees, delegate

13  tasks, and seek council from members of the working group as

14  necessary to carry out the powers and duties listed in this

15  subsection.

16         (k)  Elect officers and adopt rules of procedure as

17  necessary to carry out the powers and duties listed above.

18  Replace policy committee members who do not participate on a

19  regular basis.

20         (l)  Hire the managing director, who shall be

21  authorized to represent the commission and to implement all

22  policies, plans, and programs of the commission. The committee

23  shall employ any additional staff necessary to assist the

24  managing director.

25         Section 2.  The sum of $225,000 is hereby appropriated

26  from the General Revenue Fund to the Miami River Commission to

27  implement the provisions of this act.

28         Section 3.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

29  law.

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    Florida House of Representatives - 1998                HB 3807

    543-150A-98






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  2                          HOUSE SUMMARY

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      Creates the Miami River Commission. Provides for a policy
  4    committee, a managing director, and a working group.
      Specifies membership of the committee and provides powers
  5    and duties of the committee. See bill for details.

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