FYI Miami: September 7, 2023

Bellow 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.

COSTLY AIR LINES: Miami International Airport passenger growth that creates long waiting lines may add to spending to deal with the issue. The county commission is to vote on the matter this week after the Airport and Economic Development Committee voted 5-0 in July to spend $327,000 more over the rest of this year on equipment to monitor those lines. That addition would bring the total contract to just over $4 million. The provider is SITA Information Network Computing USA, based in Atlanta. Because of more passengers, the lines extend beyond areas the current system monitors to tell travelers what lanes are open and the airport staff how long waits are and the impact on travel.

FLORIDA FRIENDLY FOLIAGE: County commissioners are to vote this week on a request to Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava to find funding to make sure that county rights-of-way and other areas the county controls have Florida-friendly landscaping. A resolution by Eileen Higgins that passed 4-0 in the Port Miami, Resiliency and Sustainability Committee in July would require the mayor to evaluate installation and maintenance of Florida-friendly landscaping also in areas subject to county solicitations or contracts and require such landscaping in contracts “which provide for the construction, leasing, or redevelopment of county-owned or operated properties.” Funds the mayor would seek would also provide an educational campaign for Florida-friendly landscaping. The mayor would be asked to report within 120 days on how the practices had been put into effect and where in each commission district.

ANOTHER INSURANCE RATE CUT: Florida businesses could see a big cut in workers’ compensation insurance rates in 2024. The National Council on Compensation Insurance, which makes rate filings for workers’ compensation carriers, has proposed an overall 15.1% rate decrease that would take effect Jan. 1. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation will review the proposal before making a final decision. The proposal would continue a series of years with lower workers’ compensation rates. Regulators approved an overall 8.4% decrease that took effect this year. Bill Herrle, state director for the National Federation of Independent Business in Florida, released a statement saying this could help small businesses that are grappling with inflation and increased costs to hire workers. “Workers’ comp premiums are directly tied to payroll, so this proposed rate cut sounds like a win-win for Florida’s small business owners and their employees,” Mr. Herrle said.