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Advocacy For Residents, Education and Preservation

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  • National Night Out! Free event! Children welcome!

    5 Aug 2025 11:57 AM | Anonymous
     

  • Have you taken the surveys?

    5 Aug 2025 11:56 AM | Anonymous


  • What’s the Plan for the Village’s $4 million investment?

    5 Aug 2025 11:54 AM | Anonymous

    What’s the Plan for the Village’s $4 million investment?

    Village owned … how will it be used?

    Last August Islamorada paid $3,995,000 for the Islamorada Community Church; formerly the Cinemorada Theater.

    Island Community Church’s new home as of August 10, 2025!

    The Village paid full price for the church and allowed the church to continue using the building for a year while their new church building was under construction. The new Island Community Church will have its grand opening August 10, 2025.  And now the Village will have possession of the 15,972 sq ft building with a large auditorium and two stories of offices and classrooms.  


    To purchase the church last August, the Village used $1.5 million from the general fund, reducing the fund balance and used $2.495 million from the Capital Improvement Fund.

  • Judging Ron Saunders, Village Manager

    5 Aug 2025 11:50 AM | Anonymous


    Judging Ron Saunders, Village Manager


    Ron’s past: Ron, an attorney, served in the Florida House, District 120: Nov 1986-Nov 1994; Nov 2006-Nov 2012.

    While in Tallahassee, Ron served as Chair and Vice-Chair of House Appropriations Committee responsible for State of Florida’s multi-billion-dollar budget.  He was also Chair of the House Community Affairs Committee responsible for local government legislation, including growth management bills.


    Ron sponsored major legislation while serving that continue to impact our lives:

    Save Our Homes: Capping increases in homestead property tax values  

    Everglades Protection Act- Measures to protect the Everglades and Florida Bay        Sadowski Act- Funding measures to provide money for affordable housing


    In 2024, Saunders, ran for public office again, vying to become the Supervisor of Elections, but lost.


    Then Saunders applied to become the Islamorada Village Manager, and won!  


    Going from being an elected official who decides policy to the role of support without policy-making power, is a significant change. Can Saunders take direction from Council?  Can council listen to the will of the residents? 


    It takes a trusting partnership to foster alignment between “politics and administration.”  

    Getting important things done for the community and achieving critical goals are most successful when there’s collaboration with the manager and the entire governing body, while remembering the will of the constituents in the process. Islamorada has struggled with the management collaboration part of governing.  Will Saunders be the answer?

    Ron’s first few months in Islamorada:


    The challenge: Can Ron satisfy the will of residents, 139 employees, and the council in his new support role? 


    Islamorada is especially difficult, with a history of short-term managers.


    How will Saunders juggle management responsibilities, knowing to keep his job he must satisfy the will of council.  And it only takes 3 on the council to end this phase of his career at any time.  


    When asked what he considers the most difficult challenge, Saunders focused on the residents - on improving public participation in the Village by creating a more transparent atmosphere.  


    Saunders says he is most proud to be enhancing communication with the public in his first few months:

    • Improving the Village newsletter that comes out every Monday;

    • Creating a Citizens Budget Task Force to address improvements to the budget process, and

    • Creating a Citizens Baseball Committee to help with design and policy regarding the high school use of the baseball field at Founders Park.


    We’ll see whether the voice of the people is heard.

  • Shocking Budget Proposal!

    5 Aug 2025 11:49 AM | Anonymous

    Shocking Budget Proposal!

    Budget workshops Tues, Wed, Thurs at 3 PM - Show Up; Speak up, or Pay up.

    Council approved an initial millage rate of 3 mills that would result in a tax increase of well over 20%, but assured the public that this is just a starting point. Cuts would be coming. But will they?

    In the agenda for the Wednesday, August 6, Budget Workshop #2, the public and council got the first look at the proposed budget for Oct 1, 2025 - Sep 30, 2026.


    Reduction in Fund Balance to cover the deficit! The proposed expenses are up $4.8 million over the projected expenses the current year… 21% increase in the general fund costs.  Even at the highest millage rate (3 mills), the Village would need to eat into the fund balance.  


    With the possibility of less in reimbursements from FEMA if the Village has damage from a natural disaster, reducing the fund balance may not be wise.


    Tab 5 of the agenda provides the projected numbers for current year ending 9/30/25.  They are highlighted in green in the table below.  The next three lines are the projected numbers for the proposed 2025-2026 budget.  


    Concerns:

    Projectedincrease in general fund expenses this coming year: $4,776 million

    Reduction in Fund balance, best case, almost $1 million.  At rollback $4.8 million

    Cost of Employee Insurance Benefits: $2,827,857

    Increase in Employee Insurance Benefits: almost $920,000 increase in one year.

    And again we have major concerns with Wastewater Fund spending.

    When taxpayers see their TRIM notices in another couple weeks: Shock might set in.

  • From the Desk of Tom Raffanello, President of the Islamorada Community Alliance:

    5 Aug 2025 11:43 AM | Anonymous

    In a continuing effort to inform and educate the residents of current events, mandates and issues that affect the lives of residents and our unique environment, I submit the following:

    Another self inflicted gunshot wound:


    Four Laning U.S. One: Earlier this year, for some unknown reason, the Monroe County Commission directed their staff to prepare amendments to the County Comprehensive Plan, an amendment to delete the prohibition against additional 4-laning of U.S. One in the Keys.


    This would destroy Islamorada in many ways.


    Last week, the proposed amendment was heard by the County Planning Commission.

    They voted 3 to 1 recommending the Commission reject the requested proposal to delete their 4-lane highway change. We commend them for using common sense.


    This will go to the County Commission soon for their vote.


    If past be prologue, the County Commission take on unfettered development is dismal (see the vote on Publix at Cemex). Their constituents were solidly against the Publix but the Commission voted for it under the guise of “affordable housing”.  For whom?


    At a time when the county criticizes the state for preempting local authority, to propose that FDOT make the 4-lane highway call is flat. Asking for pre-emption!


    U.S. One is a local issue. Residents who depend on this highway to live, work and send their children to school should decide.  Not elected officials or bureaucrats


    A 4-lane highway will ensure increased traffic, more development, increased stress on our environment and infrastructure. This diminishes and destroys our quality of life.


    Crossing and navigating a 4-lane highway opens up dire safety concerns. A 4-lane highway running through our community enhances the danger of crossing or turning from or to a four-lane highway for vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians.


    What will Islamorada do?


    I urge our officials not to take the easy way out! Vote and support our “fishing village”, not the new Miami Beach. Tell the County Commission you say “No!”


    A 4-lane highway could also affect the evacuation time. Evacuations might no longer be a limiting factor in the Keys’ rate of growth.


    Questionable “studies” will tell you Islamorada and the Keys can handle the additional growth - wastewater treatment, schools, water supply, stormwater runoff from the widened highway. 


    We cannot handle all of the above without huge tax consequences. Tax increases will drive more long-term residents away.


    Maybe the goal is to be a village of vacation rentals and a few wealthy residents.


    And what about our workforce? No workforce could survive


    If we give up the right to determine our future, and U.S. One is widened through Islamorada, what will happen to our businesses that will have a 4-lane highway right out their front door – with no parking! 


    Chamber of Commerce and TDC, where are you on this?


    There is a saturation point for access and parking. There are many other poor outcomes. Imagine the tremendous cost of widening the 42 bridges in the Keys!

    Again it comes at the cost of higher taxes – local, state and Federal.  


    Question -what creates the existing traffic on US one? The very worst is on holiday weekends, mini-season, and when weather elsewhere is miserable.


    The congestion is not created by residents.


    The Tourist Development Council continues to advertise to bring more tourists. The statute that guides the TDC should be revised to pay more toward infrastructure for the victims of increased tourism.


    Let your feelings be known!


    Contact your County Commissioner and Village officials today!


    Elections have consequences and this is just another one.


    As always,

    Tom Raffanello

    Reply to: ICA.in.Keys@gmail.com

  • A Quote From Abraham Lincoln:

    28 Jul 2025 6:01 PM | Anonymous

    Lincoln's quote reflects the concept of participatory democracy. A strong government should be made up of representatives chosen by the people, but also actively involve the citizens in policy formulation and implementation.
     


    Share our newsletters and this site with your friends. We’d love to add even more readers to our distribution list. Send us an email at ICA.in.Keys@gmail.com

  • Dr. Larry Dalton:

    28 Jul 2025 5:59 PM | Anonymous

     Great to see an Islamorada resident, a regular attendee at Village Council meetings, and member of the Village Budget Task Force participate in the 2025 Ernest Hemmingway Look Alike Contest!
     

  • Founders Park Master Plan - quick survey

    28 Jul 2025 5:54 PM | Anonymous

    Following the feedback received at the June 24 Draft Master Plan workshop, Miller Legg has requested additional response from the public regarding the plan proposed: what members of the community liked the most and what they liked the least.


    Click here to complete the short survey.  The Founders Park Conceptual Plan can be found here.


    Perhaps what needs to be mentioned are the implementation costs of the suggested improvements in the master plan draft…$78,922,864 over 11 to 15 years.

  • Major Decisions by Council at Thursday Land Use Meeting

    28 Jul 2025 5:51 PM | Anonymous

    Council approved removal of previously approved conditions restricting outdoor amplified music and special events, at the Safari lounge.  

    Council approved 1st reading of ordinances before the draft of amendments to Comp Plan is released by Able City East.

    Council approved 1st reading of zoning change to allow storage and/or recreational use at former tennis club.
     

    There are plans to make significant improvements to the high school baseball field at Islamorada’s Founders Park.   A survey aims to find out what residents of the Village think about the improvements. At the July 22 Council meeting there was concern that the survey is biased.   Click here to take the survey. You decide.


    At the last Parks and Rec meeting, committee members were tasked with addressing just two issues:

    1. They voted 7-1, concurring with the Interlocal Agreement signed by Village Manage Ron Saunders with the School Board, with NO details spelled out as to cost, layout or building details.

    2. They also voted 7-1 to support artificial turf.

    At last week’s council meeting, Village Manager, Ron Saunders, asked council if he could acknowledge the Village preference for artificial turf to the School District so they could move forward with the next step with baseball field plans.


    Was the vote legitimate? According to Village regulations, decisions of council must be noticed in the meeting agenda.  Votes, to be valid, must be by motion or resolution according to the Village Charter.  No thumbs up.

Your Chance to Speak Up!  


Attend a Meeting - Get involved!

Tuesday, June 9, 2026 5:30 PM

Regular Village Council Meeting

Where: Founders Park Community Center, 87000 Overseas Highway, Islamorada, Florida

Thursday, June 11, 2026 5:30 PM

LAND USE VILLAGE COUNCIL MEETING

Where: Founders Park Community Center, 87000 Overseas Highway, Islamorada, Florida

Tuesday, June 16, 2026 10:00 AM

CODE COMPLIANCE HEARING

Where: Zoom

Wednesday, June 17, 2026 10:00 AM

HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING

Where: Islamorada Administrative Center & Public Safety Headquarters, 86800 Overseas Hwy, 3rd Floor Conference Room, Islamorada, Florida

Friday, June 19, 2026

Juneteenth National Holiday - Village Offices closed

Meet the Islamorada Community Alliance

We are working on updating this website.  Check back soon to see how we are doing.  If you have suggestions about what you'd like to see and information that is important to you, please let us know.

Our vision

To enhance the community of Islamorada by preserving the quality of life of the residents as well as the beauty and vitality of the native ecosystems and to stop any further degradation of our community from over-development.

Mission statement

To provide the Islamorada residents with information about events occurring in our community that will impact our quality of life, preservation of our native ecosystems, land development, lawful and transparent governance.


CONTACT US

ICA.in.Keys@gmail.com
 Islamorada Community Alliance

P.O. Box 1507

Tavernier, FL  33070-1507


SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTERS

You can also keep up with the local news about Islamorada by subscribing to our newsletters.  Send us a note at 

ICA.in.Keys@gmail.com


Go to our Newsletter Archives:

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Our vision

To enhance the community of Islamorada by preserving the quality of life of the residents as well as the beauty and vitality of the native ecosystems and to stop any further degradation of our community from over-development.

Mission statement

To provide the Islamorada residents with information about events occurring in our community that will impact our quality of life, preservation of our native ecosystems, land development, lawful and transparent governance.

DONATE TO THE ICA

Your tax deductible donations allows the ICA to keep you informed about important events that will impact and help protect our quality of life, our neighborhoods, property values and native ecosystems. Your donations make this possible and are most appreciated.

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Contact Us

ICA.in.Keys@gmail.com

Islamorada Community Alliance

P.O. Box 1507

Tavernier, FL  33070-1507




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