The resolution proposes that each Council member would appoint one member to the committee, and the remaining two committee members would be selected by a majority vote of the Council.

The Committee is expected to meet at least once a month, and all meetings will be open to the public. The plan is to have a deadline of May 31, 2026, to prepare a final report advising the Village Council of any proposed amendments.

What is the Village Charter: The charter is like our constitution…  it defines governance structure, powers, and operational procedures. It outlines the roles of elected officials, including the mayor and village council members, and establishes processes for enacting laws, levying taxes, and managing budgets.

In the last 25 years the Islamorada Charter has been amended several times - changing Council terms from 4 years to 2 years; limiting council members to a total of 8 years on council, increasing Council compensation from $300/mo to $1000/mo; changing election of council from March to November; adding a 35’ height restriction.

Click here to see the Village Charter.

The impact of Charter provisions can be significant and must be carefully thought out. Many question the process the Villages is using to do a charter review. Experience and expertise are required to properly sift through the opportunities to improve the charter.  The selection of the committee members is critical.