FYI Miami: January 8, 2015

JOBS GAIN LEADERS: Miami-Dade and Broward counties recorded among the highest-over-year percentage increases in the nation in total employment in November, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported last week. Each added 3.7% to its total of people working over the one-year period, trailing only the Dallas area’s 4% gain. As of November, Miami-Dade had 1,231,588 persons employed, up from 1,192,798 in November 2013. The gain helped bring the county’s unemployment rate down to 6.2%. In the same period, the Broward employment level rose to 1,018,961 people from 974,546 a year earlier, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics figures, leaving Broward’s unemployment at 4.8%.

NEW DESIGN: Miami commissioners will consider expanding the boundary of Miami’s Design District when they meet today (1/8). Two action items are needed  a rezoning and a new land use designation  and they’re on today’s agenda for first reading. A firm called 4201 NE 2nd Avenue LLC has joined Miami Design District Associates LLC in requesting an expansion of the Special Area Plan, first OK’d in 2012. The plan is to add two properties at about 220 NE 43rd St. The expansion would add about 1.86 acres, 82 residential units, 70,000 square feet of commercial space, 304 parking spaces, 4,049 square feet of civic space and 5,264 square feet of open space, to the overall Design District. The Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board voted 11-0 on Dec. 17 to recommend approval of the request.

COUNTY’S INVESTMENTS: Miami-Dade County earned $12.252 million from its investment portfolio during the past fiscal year, said Mayor Carlos Gimenez in a memorandum to commissioners. The earning represents an average return of 0.35% from the county’s investments for fiscal 2013-14, slightly lower than the average return in the previous fiscal year. At the close of the 2012-13 year, Miami-Dade had an average return of 0.40% from its investments, according to the memo.

MOVING TOWARD A FARE: Miami-Dade commissioners on the Transportation and Aviation Committee are to consider on Jan. 14 charging a fare once again on the Metromover system that loops around downtown Miami. The system became free when the People’s Transportation Plan was established and with it a sales tax to fund transportation. Commissioners agreed at the time to make the Metromover free. It would take a two-thirds majority on the commission to make the change.