There are things that happen regarding Village Council meetings that don’t add up. We seem to get a monthly dose of that.

Do they think we don’t pay attention?

With the Thursday Council Meeting mysteriously canceled, the Tuesday agenda grew to 603 pages.

Anyone who has not taken the “Evelyn Wood speed reading course” will not be able to read and digest the 603 pages of information that are germane to the meeting and the decisions that will be made.

The day before a Council meeting, a majority of the council members attend a briefing with staff. This is so they can ask questions before they vote on the issues.

This also eliminates discussions at public meetings since council members now know how to vote.

Is this a benefit to the public? If the goal is to shorten meetings, then, I guess, this is a success.

If the goal is for the public to be informed as to what influenced the council members votes, then it is a dismal failure.

Have you noticed that at most meetings lately the Council seems to whisk through meetings at breakneck speed, with virtually no questions and little discussion? It appears they came knowing how to vote due to their individual personal staff briefings.

Why not share these briefings with their adoring public?

It appears that  public comment gets to be  a nuisance, ruining council/staff plan for shorter meetings.  No need to provide the public with details or justification for their decisions, just speed things up.

Disrespectful and a violation of their oath.

Much on the agenda has no requirement for public comment – various reports along with Council, Manager and Attorney discussions.

This is often followed by a simple “thumbs up” to give staff their “direction” for future efforts. No official vote?  No comments from the public.

These “thumbs up” requests are often providing the go ahead for major future efforts, with the public having no right to speak or hear why council supports the issue.

Doesn’t the Village Attorney know that our charter, Section 5, (8) item c says – “All actions of the village council shall be by ordinance, resolution, or motion.”

No mention of “thumbs up” as to council directions in the Village Charter, our Bible.

The Council, Village Manager and Village Attorney all seem confused. We are required to have a public meetings for decision-making.

How often does the Village Manager take action because a majority of council said “okay” when polled by phone in between meetings?

Last week we pointed out some of the actions taken without a vote (not even a thumbs up?) at a public meeting:

• Negotiating the baseball agreement;

• Approving a license agreement for parking at Anglers Reef.   

These are important issues to the residents of Islamorada.

Speak to us.

In Florida we have the “Sunshine Law.”

What is this sacred law supposed to do? It is intended to empower the Public.

The ultimate goal of a “Sunshine Law” is to ensure government accountability and transparency.  This is to prevent backroom deals and “side conversations” initiated by  members.

“Sunshine” is meant to empower citizens so they can be informed participants in their own governance.

Is it really working as intended here?  We don’t think so.

Section 286.011, F.S., provides that no resolution, rule, regulation or formal action shall be considered binding except as taken or made at an open meeting.

We need to trust that our own government adheres to Florida Law.

Regarding the cancellation of the Thursday’s village meeting, we are guided by the Village Council Meeting Procedures, which states:

“The Village Council has complete discretion and flexibility …. to hold regular meetings at other dates, times or locations, or to cancel or reschedule any meetings.”

And all decisions made by council are to be made by majority vote at a public meeting by motion, resolution, or ordinance.

Thursday’s cancellation does not appear to follow the legal requirements – and is certainly not in any way logical.

We were inflicted with a lengthy 603 page agenda. Now it will be dealt with in one meeting, instead of two.

To read and digest 603 pages in two meetings was an impossible task. To do it in one meeting is an insult to our intelligence.

 It encourages both the council and the public to skip over important facts, figures and decisions to hurry to get home before midnight. 

Council: be professional, and show us some respect.

We residents have common sense and we know when we are being played. We put you there to serve, not to ignore us.

As I have said so many times: Elections have consequences.

Yours,

Tom

Need a summary of important stuff?

Reports of interest (no public comment required): FKAA Water pipeline status update; Plates and Plans update Citizen Advisory Committee Appointments: 24 openings, 18 existing committee members have applied to continue serving, 10 new applicants for various committees   Village Charter Review Committee recommendations: Need direction from council regarding the recommendations so two public hearings can be scheduled before the July 24 deadline for submission to the Supervisor of elections. Citizen Advisory Committee updates(no public comment expected): Parks & Recreation Land Acquisition Near Shore Water   Mayor and Council Discussion(no public comment expected): Wade Trim wastewater engineer’s report; Anglers Reef Right of Way Parking discussion Consent Agenda, 8 items to approve without Council discussion, one chance for public to comment on any of the items. An interesting item on the consent agenda is US One Right of Way Maintenance: Village agreement to have village continue to provide monthly litter removal, mowing and tree trimming on FDOT US One Right of Way for $75,644/year. See details later in this newsletter. Resolutions: Expanded and improved Boat Ramp at Founders Park: First step - a conceptual design approval - $30K. Note that many boats and trailers use the parking area - no current income for this storage indicated in the Marina budget. New revenue potential? “Machado Property” Recommendation: Consideration of 99-year ground lease for developer to provide multi-family rental units, majority being 1 bedroom apartments.  (See more details later in this newsletter.) Rideshare recommendation: Council scheduled to select rideshare provider based on two proposals responding to the Village request for proposals. (See more details later in this newsletter.) Wastewater Parts Purchases Fireboat grant approval BPAS allocations - we think there are 39 market rate applicants still waiting.  Data in  tabs for market rate and nonresidential allocation awards is not understandable. Public Hearings: Purchasing Ordinance: increases the manager’s right to approve purchases without council approval from $25,000 to $50,000. No swim zone within marina waters TDR banking ordinance - 1st readings Comp Plan and LDRs - Approved by LPA. Administrative Relief for 125 Mockingbird Road Administrative Relief for 113 Venetian Way Administrative Relief for 148 Tequesta Street Major Conditional Use - Transfer Station/Recycling Center - 86550 Overseas Highway; Will a major code violation be addressed before the major conditional use is finalized? ACTIONS AND POLICIES STATUS REPORT - OPEN ITEMS Council members and public continue to question this report - formatm acuracy and completeness. Example - Baseball agreement entry: Discussions with School Board are ongoing..

The Department of Transportation is responsible for maintaining the Right of Way from MM72 to MM91 (19 miles) through the Village. The Village was not satisfied with once a month maintenance by FDOT.  

For several decades the Village has contracted with FDOT to allow Village Public Works to do the maintenance. This year FDOT is going to pay the Village $75,644 to do the maintenance for the year. That’s $6,304/month; $332/mile/month to pick up litter, mow grass, and trim trees in 19 miles of Right of Way.

Certainly, according to our Public Works budget, the Village taxpayers pay more than ten times that $75K for roadway maintenance, a majority appears to be for U.S. One.   Why not let FDOT do that work and if once a month is inadequate some months, let the Village supplement the effort.  We could probably save several hundred thousand dollars!

The Village had purchased the “Machado Property” at about MM88.6 bayside

in 2021 and it has been sitting vacant ever since.  In January the Village advertised for proposals to find a developer to enter a 99 year lease with Islamorada and build and manager 16 affordable housing units at the site.  

Two proposals were submitted (local Habitat for Humanity and ANF, a corporation out of Broward County.) The staff selection committee, ranked ANF # 1 with their plan to build two multi-family apartment style buildings totaling either 32 or 16 rental units, mostly 1 bedroom units.  Habitat offered an alternative plan - 9 ownership single family homes.

The original May 12 agenda uploaded on May 8 for public review included only the ANF proposal.  We think for such a critical and controversial issue, the Council and public should be provided both proposals and both organizations should make a presentation. (Think back to the Comp Plan update process when the council selected a group ranked #2 after hearing the presentations).

Why are so few proposals being submitted to the Village for critical projects?

Will the Council consider the concerns of the neighboring community? Will the hammock lots involved be protected? Why were they included in the RFP when a primary goal in the Village is to protect our environment?  Yes, affordable housing is a concern.  We have had 25 years now to work on getting more affordable housing and we have less than 140 deed restricted units… less than 6 per year.

Click Here for our suggested solution.

The Village rideshare service has become very popular to many people in the community. On average approximately 4000 rides are provided each month, or perhaps 2000 round trips. That equates to about 120 each day. It has been suggested that about half the riders are tourists.   It is important to look for ways to provide the best service possible while trying to reduce the overall cost to local taxpayers.  

It was unfortunate that only the Freebee proposal was in the Council meeting agenda.

Since the community has only had first-hand experience with Freebee, it would be very helpful to have presentations from both rideshare proposers before making a decision.  

To some, familiarity breeds contempt.  To others, familiarity breeds contentment.  It is critical that we see presentations from both to see the real advantages and disadvantages.

It should be a simple process to provide a ballfield for kids that put their hearts and talents into the game. The School Board and the Village should meet together in public to work out a solution.  Surely both groups have the same goal - a place for the kids to play ball. Get it done!

Last Wednesday, after 18 months, the residents of Islamorada were presented with the Comp Plan draft, such as it is, by contractor, Able City East, with Jason King, spokesman.

It was first suggested that last week’s workshop might be the ONLY Comprehensive Plan Workshop for the public.

As a frame of reference, our current (original) Comp plan had 18 public workshops back 25 years ago, heavily attended by the residents, sometimes standing room only. They tell me the entire Village was engaged back then.

After waiting 18 months for this first public draft, we now seem to be in a desperate hurry to pass a plan that will serve as our ground rules, our “Constitution” for the coming decades.

Critical Importance of Public Participation: Does the community understand the critical importance of this process and this plan? Has the public just surrendered to those in power, or (as the village manager suggests) are residents so happy with what is happening here they don’t feel a need to participate?

I  strongly reject the latter.

Comprehensive Plans are the backbone of any community planning effort:

• They outline challenges,

• Identify solutions and

• Provide guidance to staff and elected officials on planning-related decisions.

Most important: The best and most successful Comprehensive Plans are those that have the support of the broader community.

At the workshop last Wednesday, 30 people sat in the audience as Jason King, of Able City East, the consultant responsible for amending our 20+ year old Comp Plan, presented the new 242 page document.

That is a lot to digest.

 

Here goes… “BLUEPRINT FOR BALANCE”

 

The 30 people in the audience included 4 members of council, along with approximately 5 staff members and 20 residents. Think about that - 7000 people live in Islamorada. 20 out of 7000 showed up to participate in the decisions that will guide the future of the community for years to come, not even close to 1% attendance.

Ten residents asked questions and/or provided ideas. King suggested nearly all of the ideas presented by residents warranted additions to the draft document.

Sounds like a work in its infancy, no?

And he indicated changes will be incorporated and a second workshop will be scheduled once updates are made.

Of those residents presenting an idea:

4 were concerned about hurricane evacuation and/or traffic,

3 commented about affordable housing,

1 questioned the process and public involvement;

1 questioned why existing sub-area policies were missing in the new comp plan – including the critical policy needed to protect the eagles’ nest on Lower Matecumbe.

A significant number of those residents attending were there because they are concerned about an affordable housing project in their neighborhood. 

The controversial and unexplainable “Machado” property give away.

At the conclusion of the questions and answers, those attending were invited to talk to Able City East representatives to discuss specific policies, objectives, and maps on the boards lining the community center walls… using sticky notes to add suggestions.

No sticky notes were added before the community center emptied and the workshop ended. No suggestions?

 

My opinion – the Village has promises to keep regarding this process.   Get busy Village!

The 2025 Legislature’s SB180 freezes local governments’ ability to adopt stronger development rules before October 2027.

I wonder if the current council would even considered stronger rules?

If we want to make the plan stronger, then we should spend the next year making it better! If we are hamstrung until October 2027, we should consider extending the process or adding rules that will be effective October 2027.

Doesn’t that make solid, business sense?

It is inescapable that the public draft of the “new” Comp Plan needs significant editing.

It has typographical mistakes and simple errors that should have been corrected by staff review – errors in Village names and locations.

A 242-page document without normal coding standards (underlining added text and crossing through deleted text) is virtually impossible to review and identify what has been amended.

How can we go through this approval process without any corresponding LDR changes?  The Comp Plan and Village regulations must be in synch when the Comp Plan is finalized and placed in use.

There are dozens of studies, plans and other documents referenced in this draft.

Our new Comp Plan we will need to utilize current studies, not decades old studies that are out of date and overcome by events. 

Affordable/workforce housing – before we establish goals we need  to determine what Islamorada really needs. Is it one bedroom rental units or more Habitat type family dwellings? We support the latter.

As a marine oriented community, protecting working waterfront is critical as much of the access to the water from marinas and other locations are becoming privatized with access limited.

There are 11 major elements in the Comp Plan -Land Use, Traffic, Housing, etc. 

We believe each element demands at least one individual workshop.

If you have not paid attention to Village issues, you need to start caring and get involved.  This is our community and we have an obligation to make it the best it can be for generations to come.

If you do not participate, others who may have less noble motives may shape our future.

You can control our destiny. Please get involved!  When you participate, you honor the value of this special community.

The future is a blank canvas; let’s paint it with a shared vision. The Comp Plan will become the story of our future; tell it with pride. Get involved—Islamorada’s future is resting on it.

Tom

Do more than belong: participate. Do more than care: help. Do more than believe: practice. Do more than dream: work. William Arthur Ward

Isn’t it important to debate and finalize numerous new affordable housing policy suggestions in the draft of the “Blueprint for Balance” and the list of recommendations from the Village Workforce /Affordable Housing Citizens Advisory Committee before we hand out allocations and give away or lease Village owned property?

Blueprint for Balance Policy 3-3.1.3: Create guidelines for public-private partnerships to support affordable housing development

• The “Blueprint” commends the Village for providing $10,000 as down payment to first time homeowners that qualify for affordable housing.

• This Council eliminated charitable donations to not-for-profits in the current budget.

Yet the Council may provide property that cost taxpayers $1.8 million ($112,500/unit) as a donation to an out of town for-profit corporation as part of a public-private partnership; and eliminate building fees and reduce impact fees as well.

A majority of the proposed units will be 1-bedroom rentals. The maximum rental allowed is $2950/month based on the 2025 Affordable Housing Fact Sheet.

One planning solution at a time: We believe there is a viable solution to the Machado dilemma: Click Here

We decided to address affordable housing first in a special edition of our newsletter.  At the May 12 council meeting, the Council will be asked to approve the recommendation of a staff selection committee: a 99-year ground lease for development of an affordable housing project at the “Machado” property, bayside MM88.6; 4 vacant single family zoned lots, a total of 2.42 acres, purchased by the Village in 2021 for $1.8 million. Two lots are mostly scarified, 2 have hardwood hammock. Last Wednesday, only about 20 residents attended the Comp Plan workshop in person.  Half were there because of the “Machado” affordable housing project. See both proposals received: PRR-2026-209 The selection committee is recommending the Council give ANF, a large for-profit corporation located in Davie, Florida, a 99-year ground lease, to build and manage affordable housing rental units on the property.  ANF included two “schemes” in their proposal - scheme 1: 32 units which would require a zoning change; scheme 2: 16 units. Current zoning allows 4 affordable housing units on each of the four lots. In the minutes of the selection committee meeting, it was clarified that while all the units are shown to be on the two scarified lots, the two hammock lots must be considered for density purposes to allow 16 units. The resolution approving the selection did not restrict the location of the dwellings to the scarified lots. Habitat for Humanity also submitted a proposal, suggesting 9 individual single family ownership homes.

Ensure Compatibility of New Development: Policy 3-1.6.5 The proposal being recommended for the Machado property is to provide two multi-family buildings, with either 32 units (Scheme 1) or 16 units (Scheme 2).    Which of the proposals submitted seems to ensure a level of compatibility with the existing single family neighborhood? ANF’s or Habitat’s?

Habitat: 4 of 9 single family homes   Elevations from  ANF proposal