FYI Miami: January 14, 2016

Below are some of the FYIs in this week’s edition. The entire content of this week’s FYIs and Insider sections is available by subscription only. To subscribe click here.

FINAL PERMIT GRANTED: Installation of temporary floating foam docks began last week for the Miami International Boat Show’s new home on Virginia Key. The US Army Corps of Engineers issued the show its third and final environmental permit, ensuring that the annual event will move forward as planned at Miami Marine Stadium Park and Basin. The environmental permit is for the in-water portion of the show, put on by the National Marine Manufacturers Association. The boat show received its other in-water environmental permit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection on Dec. 11, and the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners voted to approve the show’s Class 1 special event permit on Dec. 15. Multiple, air-conditioned and open-air clear span structures will house the upland exhibits adjacent to the in-water portion of the show. The 75th annual Miami International Boat Show takes place Feb. 11-15.

SURTAX SPLIT: Miami-Dade County could seek $130 million in bonds to advance affordable housing and give each of the 13 county commission districts $10 million of the proceeds under a proposal by Commissioner Dennis Moss to go today (1/14) before the commission’s Economic Prosperity Committee. The bonds would be repaid from the county’s Affordable Housing Surtax Program revenues, acquired as a surtax on documents that transfer interest on real estate in the county. The surtax program was established in 1984 to assist very low to moderate-income families to buy housing. Mr. Moss says in his resolution that his suggestion could provide an “immediate and substantial source of funding to address the need for affordable housing.” The resolution, if passed by the full commission, would ask the mayor to analyze the concept’s feasibility and report back within 60 days.

FACING MATCH POINT: Attorneys for the Miami Open tennis tournament organizer International Players Championship filed a request with the Third District Court of Appeal for a 14-day extension, which ends Jan. 21, to move for rehearing and a written opinion explaining its recent decision involving the Open. On Dec. 23, a three-judge panel in the appeals court upheld a lower court’s judgment against the tournament organizer, thereby preventing it from upgrading the Crandon Park facility where the Miami Open is held. The decision did not include a written opinion.