FYI Miami is a weekly feature of Miami Today, keeping readers ahead of the news. Here are highlights from the most current edition.

DEVELOPERS SUMMIT: A developers' summit planned by the City of Miami for January 2001 will draw real estate developers and consultants nationwide to look at opportunities in Miami. Commissioner Joe Sanchez said 12 business and the Urban Land Institute have joined the city. A two-day summit and three-day conference at the James L. Knight Center will include panels, tours and a banquet. Diane Johnson, the city's development coordinator, said 90% of costs will be underwritten by businesses.

FLAGLER STREETSCAPE: The City of Miami, its Downtown Development Authority, Miami-Dade County and the Florida Department of Transportation are planning $8.3 million in improvements to downtown's Flagler Street corridor. The project includes conversion to two-way traffic, a transit mall, shuttle bus service and landscaping from River Drive to Biscayne Boulevard. Miami commissioners last week approved an agreement for the city to spend up to $3 million on the project. County commissioners are to review the project today (7/6).

LEGAL FEES: Miami commissioners last week approved funding for legal fees in the city's legal battle with fired City Manager Donald Warshaw, who is suing for $162,000 in severance pay. Commissioners agreed to meet in executive session to discuss legal strategies after learning that Mayor Joe Carollo, who fired Mr. Warshaw, was dropped from the lawsuit. "This mayor has a right to fire the city manager," the mayor said last week. Commissioners said they approved severance pay. "We need to instruct our legal counsel to enter into a settlement to get all lawsuits dropped," Commissioner Johnny Winton said.

NAP NOISE: Builders of a Network Access Point and other technology facilities planned in Park West will be exempted from noise restrictions under a ordinance approved last week by Miami commissioners. The ordinance sponsored by Arthur Teele grants a one-year exemption for construction from 5:30 a.m.-11 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m.-11 p.m. weekends.

NEW HOMES: Miami grant funds totalling $860,000 will be used to build 58 homes in Allapattah and Little Haiti neighborhoods. Miami commissioners last week allocated the HOME Investment Partnership funds to two companies, Jubilee Community Development Corp. and Little Haiti Housing Association.

BUSINESS AID: Three businesses in Little Haiti and Model City areas will get grants through the City of Miami's commercial revitalization program. Georges Williams Enterprises, Omega's Fashion and Shakers Conch House will get county and city funds to renovate facilities and bring them up to code, adding 20 new jobs.

EMERGENCY REPAIRS: Little Havana's Manuel Artime Center needs extensive repairs to stop water leaks and bring the building into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Miami commissioners last week approved $185,000 for emergency repairs, including a $145,000 grant from the Miami-Dade County Cultural Affairs Council.

3 GET GRANTS: Three businesses in Miami's Overtown area will receive grants totalling more than $200,000 from the city's Community Redevelopment Agency to bring buildings up to code and add 12 jobs. Commissioner Arthur Teele said the grants benefitting two restaurants and a barber shop in the Northwest Third Avenue corridor were needed to supplement a federal program.

OVERSIGHT EXPENSES: The City of Miami has agreed to reimburse expenses of the Governor's Financial Oversight Board during the board's final two years of operation. The city agreed last week to pay $12,000 monthly, a total of $300,000, for oversight board expenses from January 2000 through the end of 2001. The amended agreement resolves an oversight board claim that the city had promised to reimburse the board's expenses over its five-year existence. City officials had said there is no documentation to back the state's claim.

FOR THE TIMES: The Association of American Colleges & Universities named Eduardo J. Padr¢n to a "Greater Expectations National Panel" assigned to "shape a statement of aims for baccalaureate education in the 21st century." Dr. Padr¢n has been president of Miami-Dade Community College since 1995 and was president of its Wolfson Campus before that. "The world is very difference now than when the structure and processes of higher education were first developed," he says. "The work of this panel will be to develop goals and practices for our time."

ST. THOMAS FUNDS: St. Thomas University announced its fund-raising campaign brought in more than $10 million this year, the largest total for one year in the school's history. The St. Thomas University board of trustees led the way, publicists say, by contributing more than $3 million.

TRADE TRIP: Enterprise Florida and the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce are now accepting applications for an Oct. 21-28 international services mission to Madrid and Barcelona. Details: Tania Valenzuela, (305) 577-5472(7/3/100 1/12/80 {ct our legal counsel to enter into a settlement to get all lawsuits dropped," Commissioner Johnny Winton said.

NAP NOISE: Builders of a Network Access Point and other technology facilities planned in Park West will be exempted from noise restrictions under a ordinance approved last week by Miami commissioners. The ordinance sponsored by Arthur Teele grants a one-year exemption for construction from 5:30 a.m.-11 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m.-11 p.m. weekends.

BRIGHT BEACON: The Beacon Center, the county's public-private economic development partnership, won a Florida Deal of the year award in the Large Community category from the Florida Economic Development Council for its role in Precision Response Corp.'s expansion into South Dade.

DOWNTOWN SCHOOL: Keller Graduate School leased 7,485 square feet at the First Union Financial Center, 200 S Biscayne Blvd. Laura Kessel of Grubb & Ellis represented Keller in the transaction.