FYI Miami: October 13, 2022

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.

PARATRANSIT CONTRACT: County commissioners approved last week a resolution waiving competitive bidding to extend an over $260 million contract for up to five more years with Transportation America, the county’s provider of paratransit transportation since 2013. The document passed 11-0, with Vice Chairman Oliver Gilbert absent. In the Briefing Notes from the Office of Policy & Budgetary Analysis of the Board of County Commissioners staff wrote “why are we extending for so long?” Some persons criticized the decision on social media. The Citizens’ Independent Transportation Trust previously denied the resolution and instead recommended a two-year agreement, as initially proposed by county staff, with only a one-year option to renew the contract. “Companies do better when there is competition,” said former mayor of Cutler Bay Peggy Bell.

URBAN EXPANSION: County commissioners directed Mayor Daniella Levine Cava to amend the Comprehensive Development Master Plan to extend the boundary of the Urban Expansion Area (UEA) and include 2,673 acres. The Urban Expansion Areas are locations outside of the Urban Development Boundary (UDB) where projections indicate further urban development beyond the UDB may be warranted between 2030 and 2040, based on an analysis of available capacity inside the UDB. The area for the application is bounded on the east by the Urban Development Boundary, on the west by Krome Avenue, and on the south by Southwest 152nd Street. As Miami Today has reported, the Kendall Parkway, a proposed highway much-criticized by environmentalists, is to run through the entire length of the area in the application.

COMMISSION BENEFITS RISE: When Miami-Dade commissioners raised their yearly compensation from $60,000 to $138,000 in a 7-5 vote at the second budget meeting, they raised the executive benefits allowance from $10,000 in fiscal 2022 to $18,000 for 2023 and car allowance from $9,600 in fiscal 2022 to $10,500 for 2023. Also, the expense allowance from $24,000 for 2022 to $43,000 for 2023; and funds for a 401A retirement account from $11,500 in fiscal 2022 to $61,000 in fiscal 2023. The executive benefits are paid on a biweekly schedule while the 401A contribution is a one-time funding at the beginning of the calendar year for the previous year, Miami-Dade County Human Resources Director Arleene Cuellar told Miami Today in an email. Beginning in October, the county is to prorate the biweekly amount for October and November until departing commissioners leave office and “will apply benefits as appropriate based on all applicable rules and eligibility” to those five commissioners, she said.