FYI Miami: January 4, 2024

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.

BEACHWALK’S BIKES: Miami Beach’s Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee will look at separating pedestrians and bicyclists on the Beachwalk and options to create a bike path on the hard-packed sand. Referral unanimously passed in the city commission. According to analysis, “the City’s Beachwalk is a seven-mile oceanfront shared-use path that is highly utilized by pedestrians, cyclists, joggers and skaters. Since the completion of the Beachwalk, the city has experienced challenges with accommodating pedestrians and bicyclists, particularly along busy portions of the Beachwalk.” The item explores using sustainable materials to create the bike path on the hard-packed sand and encourages staff to look into supplementary options to help with issues that result from the busy shared-use Beachwalk.

HOLIDAY SHOPPING BEGINS: A back-to-school tax “holiday” that began Monday will run Jan. 14 throughout Florida. Shoppers are able to avoid paying sales taxes on clothes that cost $100 or less, school supplies that cost $50 or less, learning aids that cost $30 or less and personal computers that cost $1,500 or less.

LESS-PUBLIC RECORDS: A legislative proposal by Rep. Dan Daley of Coral Springs would provide a public-records exemption for personal information about clerks of circuit court, deputy clerks, employees and family members. It would shield from release information such as home addresses, telephone numbers and dates of birth for current and former clerks of circuit court, deputy clerks and employees, along with their spouses and children. 

TOLL CREDITS OVER: A year-long Florida program to provide credits to frequent toll-road users ended Sunday. The program had provided 50% credits to motorists who used SunPass or other Florida transponders and made 35 or more toll-road trips in a month.

PREEMPTIVE BID: A Florida Senate proposal would prevent local governments from regulating electric-vehicle charging stations. Senate Agriculture Chairman Jay Collins included the prohibition in a bill that includes a wide range of issues related to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Regulation of electric-vehicle charging stations would be controlled by the state – what is known as a “preemption” of local authority. Under current law, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services oversees such things as requirements for posting prices at charging stations.