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

 IS SILENCE GOLDEN?: A bid to prevent lobbyists and their clients from speaking with county staffers and selection committees even before a request for proposals for a contract has been completed is due back before county commissioners Tuesday — for the seventh time. It passed the commission on first reading April 11, then was deferred by commissioners five times in a bid for a binding second vote. Jimmy Morales sponsored the measure the first time around with commission Chair Gwen Margolis and former commissioner Miguel Diaz de la Portilla. "There is a lot of concern that companies and individuals are influencing how RFPs are put together to give themselves an advantage," Mr. Morales said in explaining his plan.

   PARKING PLACE: Vivian Donnell Rodriguez, who directed the county's Art in Public Places Program before being drafted as interim parks director in February 1999, will stay on as director if county commissioners approve her appointment Tuesday.

   ROAD SHOW: County commissioners will have the chance Tuesday to name more streets for more of their favorite organizations that in turn are named for favorite people. Miriam Alonso is asking them to name Southwest 147th Avenue from Bird Road to Coral Way as Bulldog Boulevard after the G. Homes Braddock Senior High Bulldogs. And she's asking that Northwest 33rd Street from 82nd to 87th avenues be named Ryder Boulevard for James A. Ryder's corporation.

   A FARE RATE: Concerned that low limousine rates compete with taxi fares, Miami-Dade County Manager Merrett Stierheim is to ask the county commission Tuesday to set minimum rates for limousine services. It's been more than two years since commissioners by ordinance decided to set minimum limousine rates but a scale was never established. Proposed rates run from a low of $40 an hour with a two-hour minimum for limousines seating five or fewer to $90 for a one-way continuous trip to one location in jumbo limos.

   VALET REVISITED: Valet parking disappeared at Miami International Airport 30 years ago, but County Commissioner Barbara Carey-Shuler wants to bring it back. She's asking commissioners to establish a one-year pilot program for valet parking at the airport.

   DISNEY TO PORT?: Commissioner Carey-Shuler isn't just retro in her transportation thinking. She's also asking commissioners to resolve Tuesday to ask Charles Towsley, director of the Port of Miami, to "explore all opportunities" to attract the young Disney Cruise Lines to operate at the port.

   BRITISH NETWORK: The Florida Association of British Business is holding a networker from 6-8 p.m. Nov. 14 in John Martin's Pub, 253 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables. Features include a buffet and cash bar. Cost is $7; free to members. Details: (954) 565-3429.

   MANAGED MONIKER: Managed Account Services Inc., 9400 S Dadeland Blvd., announced a name change to Investor Solutions Inc.

   MANDARIN TASTES: The Mandarin Hotel, 500 Brickell Key Drive, announced plans to open its two restaurants. The Cafe Sambal will tentatively open Nov. 15 and the Azul on Dec. 8. Chefs and managers for both were recently appointed.

   LENNAR POST: Lennar Corp. named Lisa Maxwell director of redevelopment for South Florida. Ms. Maxwell had been an executive vice president and lobbyist for the Builders Association of South Florida.

   COMPUTER CENTER: Miami-Dade Community College officials will dedicate the Mattie Koonce Learning & Technology Center at 3 p.m. Nov. 15 in the Greater Bethel AME Church, 245 NW Eighth St. Organizers say the center — the result of a partnership between the community college and several community organizations — puts a permanent computer lab in the inner city neighborhood. The lab, says M-DCC's Joshua Young, director of community involvement, provides a place where "Overtown's school children can learn to use computers."

   ORIENTATION: The next Senior Executive Orientation Program organized by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce starts Jan 23. Brochures with enrollment forms are now available. Details: Barbara Black or Laraine Blessing, (305) 577-5462.

   GOLD LUNCH: The Gold Coast chapter of the Florida Direct Marketing Association is holding a luncheon program, "Reaching the Global Village," at noon Nov. 16 in the Ft. Lauderdale AIrport Hilton, Fort Lauderdale. Elena Falken, director of windows hosting with Verio Inc., is featured speaker. Cost is $35; $25 for members. Details: (954) 472-6374.

   DIPLOMATIC BREAKFAST: The Center for Transnational & Comparative Studies at Florida International University is host for a talk by Alexandr Vondra, ambassador of the Czech Republic to the US, at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 16 in Restaurant St. Michel, 162 Alcazar Ave., Coral Gables. RSVP. Details: Judith Rasoletti, (305) 348-6561.

   ABC SEMINAR: "The ABCs of Revised UCC Article 9" are to be presented by the law firm Carlton Fields at a continental breakfast from 8-10 a.m. Nov. 17 in the 19th floor auditorium of the Bank of America Tower, 100 SE Second St. Details: Charmaine Vassal, (305) 539-7377.

   ASTURIAS IN FOCUS: The Trade Commission of Spain, the Consulate General of Spain and the government of Asturias are presenting "The advantages of investing and doing business in Asturias" free from 8:30-10 a.m. Nov. 17 in the Hotel Inter-Continental Miami, 100 Chopin Plaza. Details: David Ruiz, (305) 446-4387.

   INTERNATIONAL REALTY: A Miami Today International Roundtable on international aspects of real estate in Miami will feature Riccardo Olivieri, president of BOV Development Corp., and Kimberly Kirschner, chairman of the combined commercial and residential associations of the Realtor Association of Greater Miami & the Beaches. Others will join them on the panel, led by Michael Hayes, international editor of Miami Today. The 7:30 a.m. Nov. 16 breakfast session at the Biltmore Hotel is sponsored by The Related Group. Reservations required. Details: Jody Bray, (305) 358-2663.

   TASTE TOUCHDOWN: Dan Marino Town Tavern signed for 6,000 square feet near the Sunset Drive entrance at The Shops at Sunset Place, 5701 Sunset Drive. A mid-2001 grand opening is scheduled.

   CHLORINE DAYS: Miami-Dade Water & Sewer announced it is treating drinking water through Nov. 19 with free chlorine instead of a chlorine combination normally used to assure proper disinfection. The procedure is part of normal efforts to assure the integrity of the water system, said William M. Brant, department director.

   PUBLIC VETTING: A downtown parade featuring the Joint Color Corps of the US Southern Command, local veterans associations, high school officer training programs and marching bands will commemorate Veterans Day today (11/9). It starts at 11:40 a.m. at the Claude Pepper Fountain in Bayfront Park and moves west on Flagler Street to the Dade County Courthouse. A brief program follows at 12:10 p.m. on the courthouse steps. Details: (305) 375-5884.

   SUPERMARKET DEAL: Foodstar Supermarket opened its fifth store in Miami-Dade in 16,740 square feet at Sunset Strip Plaza, 10855 SW 72nd St. Anita Graupera and Pete Schlang of Continental Real Estate Cos. represented the landlord, LKS Associates, in the transaction.

   DOWNTOWN EATS: La Loggia Ristorante & Lounge, an Italian restaurant, will open this fall at 68 W Flagler St., across from the Historic Courthouse. Details: (305) 333-2591.

   ENCORE ONCOR: Oncor International, a consortium of more than 50 independent real estate brokerages worldwide, whose local member is Codina Realty Services, added Ohio Equities Real Estate Management to its roster.

   CREW CONFAB: Carla Harris of Image Works is guest speaker at a meeting of Commercial Real Estate Women of Miami at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 14 in the Miami City Club, 200 S Biscayne Blvd., 55th floor. Cost is $35, $25 for members. Details: (305) 789-6608.

   HOMEWARD BOUND: Home & Garden Television seeks participants for "Going Home," a half-hour program that follows people on visits to their childhood homes in the US. The show airs Tuesdays at 10:30 p.m. It's shooting through April 2001. Details: Matt Beirne, (323) 851-2333 ext. 287.

   CORRECTION: In our Nov. 2 coverage of the Collins Park redevelopment, "7 Beach hotels to get rehab, joint address," the developer should have identified as Shane Rolls. Mickey Meyers, who will manage a parking garage at 21st Street and Liberty Avenue in which Mr. Rolls is a joint-venture partner, is affiliated with Amco Parking.