05-21-1957 Regular Meeting 34
REGULAR MEETING
MIAMI SHORES VILLAGE COUNCIL
May 21, 1957
A regular meeting of the Miami Shores Village Council was held
at 4:00 o'clock P.M. , May 21, 1957, at the Village Hall, with the following
Councilmen present:
Mayor Charles D. Bailey
Michael J. Franco
Dean R. Claussen
Spencer W. Rudnick
Absent: John F. Saxon
Mr. Thomas H. Anderson, Village Attorney, was also present.
Minutes of the last regular meeting were approved as written
by motion made by Mr. Franco, seconded by Mr. Rudnick and passed.
Representatives of the Central and Southern Florida Flood Control
District were present at this meeting to discuss the proposed dam to be con-
structed on the Golf Course. Mr. J. Abney Cox, Chairman of the District's
Governing Board, introduced the men accompanying him, - B. F. Hyde, Jr. ,
Executive Director, William Storch of the Engineering Dept. and Charles
Gardner of the Land Division. Mr. Cox stated that his office hadn't been
aware that the Village had any objection to the proposed dam until they had
received a copy of our Resolution No. 371. He mentioned the meeting held
in Mr. McCall's office on April 4, 1956 and as a result of which they thought
it was perfectly agreeable for the construction of the dam at that time.
Mr. Storch, the engineer, then explained the work of the Flood
Control. He stated that Biscayne Canal is one of five canals in the Greater
Miami area which are under this joint Federal-State project, which will be
35
5/21/57
-2-
improved in order to improve the flood control drainage situation and in order
to improve the conditions in Dade County insofar as salt water encroachment
is concerned. It has been determined by the Flood Control District and Corps
of Engineers that Biscayne Canal will be improved. The canal will be widened
and deepened throughout most of its length. In the original plan it was
recognized, as a result of many years of study that were made, that the
excavation of uncontrolled canals in the coastal area of Dade County brought
about a serious situation with regard to the encroachment of salt water up these
coastal channels. It was found necessary to install a water control structure
to hold upstream a head of fresh water. It was found to be necessary to locate
such a structure in some point in the canal and it was found that the most
desirable location for the purpose of re-claiming was at a point as close to the
mouth of the canal as was found to be economically feasible. The structure in
Biscayne Canal has not been considered as an individual unit all by itself; it
is a part of a pattern; it has been considered as one of a series of units which
will help to draw the line beyond which no salt water encroachment shall be
allowed to pass. He stated there was a general agreement of all those involved
in that discussion that the best location was a spot on the Golf Course and then
the Corps of Engineers proceeded with their study of Biscayne Canal and more
or less treated that site to be the location of the structure.
Mr. F. D. R. Park, Dade County water engineer, explained how the
salt infiltration had receded with the use of dams and they felt it will recede
farther with a dam located near the mouth of the Canal. He pointed out that
36
5/21/57
-3-
there are times during dry periods when salt water can get in above the dam
within some distance depending on how long the drought lasts. They believe
there should be some area above the dam where salt water won't hurt anything
and, therefore, they felt this is the only location for the dam.
Mr. Storch stated that the selection of this site was made by the
Flood Control District and Corps of Engineers and a lot of study went into it
and the site was selected for good sound engineering reasons.
Mr. Youkey, City Manager of North Miami, stated they are vitally
interested in a dam from the viewpoint of their water supply. They believe
that a dam located in Biscayne Canal will definitely help their water supply.
He stated that they have already moved their wells and now it looks like they
will have to be moved again because of infiltration of salt.
Mr. Franco stated we are not questioning the purpose or effective-
ness of the dam; the question is only as to the location. Also, when the 131st St.
dam is removed if and when this one is built, there will not then be any stopping
of the effluent from the North Miami sewage system which causes the growth
of algae in the water.
Mr. Storch stated that except for periods of extreme drought there
will be a constant flow through the canal. He stated that the Board of Health
gave the City of North Miami a permit to run effluent in this canal.
In answer to Mr. Rudnick's questions, they stated that the actual
construction should be between 12 to 18 months, with a 24-month limit, and
that holes 2 and 18 on the golf course would be torn up.
General Lovett of the Rader Engineering firm, representing Miami
37
5/21/57
-4-
Shores, explained that he had had some experience in this field in New Orleans
and that he was studying the problem to make a recommendation to the Council.
The meeting was then opened to a general discussion of,.this project
by representatives of the property owners affected and the golfers, concerning
easements required for the deepening and widening of the Canal and the loss
of property values based on waterfrontage accessible to the Bay, as well as
the temporary destruction on the Golf Course and loss of revenue.
Unfinished business - no action taken on these items.
The meeting adjourned at 6:00 P.M.
Clerk
c �
Approved:
Vi ge ManAger
APPROVED:
Mayor