I guess we are supposed to be thankful that Village Council meetings have been much shorter in duration lately (last Tuesday, 2 hours 3 minutes; Thursday 1 hour and 3 minutes).

Here’s the rub. We have dozens of pending issues that need to be resolved. And we just worry about the length of meetings?

We will give you a taste of efforts not completed :

• Decision on status of a couple properties that cost over 8 million dollars, purchased in the last 5 year, i.e.

1.        The Machado Property-purchased in 2021 for $1.8 million

2.        Island Sugar and Spice, the eye sore in the middle of town, purchased in 2021 for $2.75 million.

3.        And another White Elephant, the old church property, purchased in 2024 for purpose unknown, for $3,995,000.

• What is the status of the Green Turtle Hammock situation, ending management agreement with Florida Bay Forever?

• The decades long search to find a storage place away from Founders Park for Public Works equipment?

• The Contract to maintain 18 miles of FDOT right of way for $65,000 per year ($300/month/mile- both sides of highway)

• Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU)

• Food truck regulations

• Vessel exclusion zones

• Noise ordinance

• The Wastewater EDU counts and accounting to assure it is self-funded as an enterprise fund

• The Marina enterprise fund – do they pay to utilize Village owned property to create revenue for Village funds

• Ongoing Budget concerns – making Islamorada more affordable to working residents and fixed income retirees

• Parking issues everywhere in the Village, on U.S. One and Village right of way – need overall plan to make the scenic highway scenic again

• Implementation status of recently approved Founders Park master plan

• Status of 2017 - 2023 Village Strategic Plan

Had enough?

What happened to the After Action Status Report – used to remind council and residents what actions are pending!  It would be constant reminder of things needing attention. We thought it was coming back.

Based on recent updates - the Village Planning Department had the initial Comprehensive Plan draft from Able City since Sep 2025.  Five months later, Feb 2026, the staff sent recommendations for changes without any public involvement. 

Couldn’t we have used that 5 months to discuss the draft publicly – a few workshops.  Why did the staff keep it so private?

Now Able City has sent an updated draft received last week. But it will be about 6 weeks before a workshop is held – and that may be the only workshop for public involvement. 

Remember, this contract with Able City was approved October 2024. The Constitution of the United Staes took less time to be drafted - just 116 days!  With no email and internet.

Since the end of January 2026, the Charter Review Committee has already met 5 times so far to discuss extending the Council term of office from 2 years and increasing council compensation.  These changes have been consistently rejected by voters in past elections. Sounds like another Village Council member wish list.

Cheers for the Youth Council!

We heard from the Youth Council at Tuesday’s Village Council meeting. It appears that these teenagers have figured out how to be creative and productive in helping our community be a better place while still attending school 7 hours a day. Their recommendations were the results of their enthusiasm and hard work. 

None of the issues that we mentioned in our aforementioned list are impossible to resolve. It will just take some “enthusiasm and hard work”.

Village Council- step it up!

Elections have consequences.

Tom Raffanello

The field at Founders Park is the only county high school baseball field not owned by the School. It is owned by the residents of Islamorada.

It was 18 months ago that the School Board signed a design build contract to upgrade the baseball field at Founders Park where the Coral Shores High School team plays ball. The Village is a party to that contract but has not agreed to it. But the design work based on the unsigned contract has been underway for over a year.   As owners of the property, which has been leased, free of charge, to the School Board for over 2 decades, the Village Council wants a say in the design - to assure the kids in the Upper Keys get the best and safest place to play… including the field surface (artificial turf), ADA facilities, etc.  All compatible with a Village park. At the School Board meeting last week, the School Board indicated that they want   total control over the design. They believe any changes requested by the Village should be at Village expense. While the School Board indicated the Founders Park location is their first choice, they did suggest the possibility of moving ahead with their backup plan to put the field in the Coral Shores school “backyard” or use land available from the County. Are the two groups at an impasse? Which will win - the Village as property owner (property bought with Village tax funds) or the School Board who is funding the upgrades (also tax funds from Upper Keys taxpayers.)

The Village began an electric vehicle ridesharing services pilot program in “Downtown Islamorada” in 2018. The Village has expanded it several times to provide the better services through the entire Village and to Tavernier Towne and the Tavernier medical services. Cost annually is now $553,400 with an FDOT grant covering 50%.

Freebee has provided the service since 2018 but has never been selected via a competitive bid process as required by state and federal grants and by Village code. Recently FDOT questioned the Village as to the procurement process and competitive bidding during a compliance review.   The Village Manager received an email recommendation from the Village lobbyist providing reasons why the Village should extend the contract with Freebee another year without competitive bidding.  Why is the lobbyist involved? The Village did not follow the suggestion and on March 12 issued an RFP, “Request for Proposal.”  A selection committee appointed by the Village Manager will rank the proposals received and recommend to council a rideshare company for the next year. Will the staff selection committee and council be influenced by the lengthy list of reasons the lobbyist provided encouraging the Village to continue with Freebee?  Click here for email from the lobbyist. We think required competitive bidding is overdue - by about 8 years!What’s the controversy?

For as long as we can remember, the Village Mission statement has adorned the wall of the community center, often quoted during council meetings. We hope it will be returned.

Also missing: Norman Rockwell’s Freedom of Speech print from Rockwell’s iconic Four Freedoms series, illustrating the democratic right to voice one’s opinion without fear.

March 21st at Founders Park Beach! Come enjoy FREE BBQ Pork, Hamburgers, Hotdogs, Baked Beans, Cole Slaw.  11AM–3PM (or till it's gone!  Founders Park Beach; 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM FREE for Islamorada Residents | $15 for non-residents

At the Council meeting on March 12, Planning Director, Jennifer DeBoisbriand, provided an update regarding the Village Comp Plan review project.

The latest draft from Able City East was received on March 11 and is available on the Village website. Click here.

DeBoisbriand indicated a public workshop has been tentatively scheduled for Wed Apr 29. Members of council and the public can submit comments and suggestions regarding the comp plan draft to the planning staff prior to the workshop or at the workshop.

At last month’s Council meeting, DeBoisbriand suggested there would be just one public workshop. Once any changes to the draft are incorporated as a result of the workshop, an updated version of the draft will go before the LPA for their review and approval.  The Council will then hold two public hearings to approve the amendments.  

Able City East, as part of their $112,000 contract with the Village agreed to provide recommendations for amendments to existing land development regulations and other planning-related documents that support the Comprehensive Plan.

On the March 10 agenda for discussion is the recommendation from the Workforce/Affordable Housing Committee as to a “Plan for the Allocation of Early Evacuation Workforce Housing."

The Council directed the planning staff to move forward with work on the changes to regulations recommended: Workforce/Affordable Housing Committee’s report.

member Natalie Goodwin, a Coral Shores student, made a presentation to the Council Tuesday describing the efforts of the committee this year.  Included was a request to allow free entry to Founders Park for all county students with a student ID. At the Thursday council meeting, the council passed a motion to approve that recommendation.

Each month Aaron Cutler, construction manager, updates the council and the public regarding the status of the pipeline replacement project.  As the current project work moved from Plantation Key across the Tavernier bridge the traffic back-ups got significantly worse northbound approaching Tavernier Towne and Mariners Hospital.  Cutler indicated this phase of the work will take about 6 more weeks.  “Thanks for your patience.”

Once the work there is completed near the end of April, the FKAA will go back to trench in 4 or 5 areas of the new pipeline to connect to the old pipe.

NEXT UP - Fills and Lower Mat: The next segment to be undertaken according to Cutler will be from Indian Key Fill down to MM72: the Fills and Lower Matecumbe.

addition to the March 12 agenda by Sharon Mahoney with explanation and sketch by back country guide, Richard Black. The plan would improve the deteriorated condition of the existing ramp, double the width to allow for a two-boat wide ramp with t-dock - to benefit residents, visitors and guides.

A cost analysis will be presented at the April council meeting with possible grant sources.