Candidates tussle over length of meetings

JIM McCARTHY

jim@keysweekly.com

Fourteen candidates seek five hotly-contested Islamorada Village Council seats this November. With the most candidates seen in the village’s 5 VILLAGE SEATS UP FOR GRABS history, the hopefuls consist of incumbents and newcomers, Conchs and longtime residents and men and women of all backgrounds. Now through Election Day, the Upper Keys Weekly will ask the candidates a question on key issues facing the village.

Candidates differ on length of council meetings

Responses are as submitted by the candidates. THE UPPER KEYS WEEKLY ASKED THE CANDIDATES: Village Council meetings this year are going anywhere from 4-5 hours a majority of the time. Do you feel these meetings are running too long? If so, what would you do to ensure meetings aren’t running too late?

SEAT 1 BUDDY PINDER

I do not feel that the meetings are running too long because of the high number of items that staff places on the agenda. Presentation of items for council consideration and approval demonstrates the village’s commitment to transparency and adherence to its purchasing guidelines. The village could start meetings earlier or the village manager’s purchasing authority could be increased to alleviate late meeting end times.

SUE MILLER

Council meetings every two weeks.

Community roundtable workshops to publicly discuss details before public hearings on the budget, land use issues, complex ordinances.

Use quasi-judicial hearings to provide factual testimony, not personal endorsements.

Only emergency additions to agendas.

Include tabs with details for council/manager/attorney agenda items for transparency.

Be prepared – too many discussions end up continued into future meetings to discuss again.

Use citizen committees for assembling facts, recommendations.

SEAT 2 MARK GREGG

I believe that meetings should be concluded by 9 p.m. (3 1/2 hours). Adding a few additional Council meetings to the existing meeting schedule, especially in the busy winter and spring seasons, would allow the Council and staff more time to handle the increasing workload. Meetings that are likely to draw large crowds, especially controversial land use and zoning hearings, should be conducted as Special Call meetings in order to avoid a conflict with regularly occurring meeting agendas

SEAT 2 MARY BARLEY

Important items should take priority on the agenda to accommodate the residents. The mayor’s position must keep meetings on track, cognizant of the residents, businesses, and fellow councilmembers. This Council spends too much time talking over one another and chatting about unrelated issues. A productive organization focuses on being efficient, effective, and respectful of everyone’s time, including staff. If a shorter agenda is not possible, meetings could start at 4 p.m. and end by 8 p.m.

CASEY WATKINS

Length of meetings are disrespectful of the community’s time. Agenda items must be addressed with diligence prior to meetings. Digital attachments needed for presentation must be available online 30 days prior to public address. Lengthy videos and picture descriptions at the meeting are unnecessary. Anyone going over the limit in their comment should be immediately cut off after their allowed time. This will end the repeat offenders who have no respect for the community or council.

PETE BACHELER

The meetings are running too long. Some council members are loquacious and during the Public Comment periods some residents feel they must respond to every item that is on the agenda or being discussed by the council.

HENRY ROSENTHAL

If shortening meetings means limiting public input, I’d be opposed to that. A possible solution could be to consider meeting twice a month. I also think it would be best if compelling issues be scheduled early on the agenda. It would avoid the waiting time for members of the public who are there for something that is close to their heart. Finally, it is logical that smaller issues are relegated to later on the agenda. They can then easily be deferred to the next meeting, of course, saving time.

ELIZABETH JOLIN

A five-hour meeting is excruciating for everyone. Noticed appropriately, a lengthy agenda could easily be split into two meetings. At the very least, let’s swap the mayoral communications to the head of the meeting and move the consent agenda at the end.

DEB GILLIS

Spending 4-5 hours every three weeks in front of the public on Village business (it’s the only time to talk with other councilmembers) is not too much to ask. The problem arises with the meeting going past 5-6-7 hours and items tabled to hear again. I would recommend limiting length and number of presentations per meeting, do more special calls for controversial items, request thorough review between staff and council for issues prior to meetings.

SEAT 3

SEAT 4

SEAT 4 JOHN TIMURA

If a petitioner is requesting a variance to the village’s comp plan, then bill them for the legal and staff resources that get used in this process. Time, money and other resources that belong to the community should not be burned up with impunity because somebody wants to rewrite the Village’s Comp Plan for personal gain.

Strengthen the subcommittees. Pay closer attention to their recommendations.

Enforce the sunshine law.

Create special call meetings for hotly contested or specialized topics and bill the petitioner for the community resources they are using.

Follow the Village’s Comp Plan as if it were Islamorada’s Constitution... because it actually IS.

TOM RAFANELLO

No meeting should exceed 3 hours. Meetings should be scheduled from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Residents need to get home from work so that they may attend and participate. Increase meetings to twice a month. Hearing requests for $1 million dollar equipment at 11 p.m. is irresponsible. More public input equals a better process. In over four decades in law enforcement I never attended a meeting over 4 hours. Common sense.

ANGEL BORDEN

Meetings are too long due to contentious issues needing input. They’re further complicated by council members going off tangent with diarrhea of the mouth versus confining their comments to the topic. Hot issues automatically deserve a special meeting versus ripping them from the agenda and gagging people from speaking. Once pulled a date must be set. Members should reach out to applicable employees ahead of time so no one has to wait.

SEAT 5 SEAT 5

SHARON MAHONEY

We all know the meetings are running way too long. If needed, have meetings twice a month and getting issues caught up might help. The community needs to have a part and a say in the meetings. Stopping public comment is not an option we need and I value our community. I would like to see each council person working on a different project with results or progress at each meeting being addressed instead of all hearing about it for the first time at the meeting.

DAVID WEBB

The primary purpose of the council meetings is to allow staff and council to address community issues. The ability for our neighbors to participate is appropriate and guaranteed by law. There are steps that can be taken that allows for both the efficient accomplishment of business and still provide public access. Attendees will play a big part in streamlining the meetings and council would benefit from a more structured meeting protocol.

ISLAMORADA CHAMBER TO HOLD CANDIDATE FORUM

The Islamorada Chamber of Commerce is encouraging everyone to be an informed voter and will host a village council candidates forum on Wednesday, Oct. 5, at 6 p.m.

If you have a subject or question that you would like to submit to the forum questions committee for consideration, please contact Judy Hull, executive director at the chamber office at 305-664-4503. The public is encouraged to watch the meeting on Monroe County’s MCTV Comcast Channel 77.

The meeting also will be streamed live on the village website, islamorada. fl.us.

— Contributed

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CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES

Homecoming parade brings out school pride

Floats representing music through the decades, convertibles with the homecoming court and school bands paraded Old Highway for Coral Shores High School’s homecoming celebration on Sept. 23. Islamorada Fire Rescue, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation vehicles led the parade to the high school. Family and friends watched as dance groups performed and students on floats threw candy.

— Jim McCarthy

1. Dancers on the On Your Toes dance studio float rock out as they parade Old Highway.

2. High school students on the Thriller float.

3. Homecoming Court members Kendall Bulkiewicz and Ian Andersen parade in a convertible.

4. Coral Shores varsity football players wave to parade onlookers in a truck bed.

5. Members of the Coral Shores High School band play in the parade.

6. High school students dressed in disco attire.

Photos by Doug Finger.

Islamorada Village Council, Seat 4 I understand…

Our economy is sustained by the surrounding water.

The importance of our ecosystem to this community. Coral reefs are very precious and need restoration. The challenges for our businesses. Tourism allows our economy to flourish.

Residential needs and managed growth must balance.

I will listen…

Your concerns are important. 305-393-7486

Political advertisement paid for and approved by Deb Gillis for Islamorada Village Council, Seat 4

I will support…

Protection of our environment. Our way of life, our careers and our livelihoods. Management of growth and redevelopment.

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NEW MARKER BUOYS IN UPPER KEYS AIM TO PROTECT SEAGRASS & CORAL

MONROE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS APPROVE $519 MILLION BUDGET

Whale Harbor no-motor zone. CONTRIBUTED

Monroe County Office of Marine Resources replaced 80 regulatory marker buoys at the Whale Harbor Channel “Flats” in Islamorada and 11 regulatory marker buoys at Harry Harris Park in Tavernier.

Both regulatory no-motor zones areas were established in 2003. Within a no-motor zone, all vessels equipped with internal combustion motors (e.g., gasoline or diesel motors) for propulsion must turn off the internal combustion motor and, if possible, tilt or raise the internal combustion motor out of the water.

This project was funded in part through a grant awarded to Monroe County by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Florida Boating Improvement Program (FBIP). Replacement of these waterway markers improves boater safety by increasing marker visibility and understanding of waterway regulations, promotes boating access, and protects shallow-water resources such as seagrass and coral.

The Monroe County Office of Marine Resources maintains more than 550 aids to navigation, encompassing 22 boating regulatory zones and 36 channel marker chains throughout the Florida Keys. The FBIP funding significantly augments Monroe County’s Boating Improvement Fund, which is generated from recreational vessel registrations and is used to maintain waterway marking infrastructure and other important boating and waterways services.

— Contributed

JIM McCARTHY

jim@keysweekly.com

Monroe County commissioners unanimously adopted a $519 million spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year during a final budget hearing at the Murray Nelson Government Center in Key Largo on Sept. 21. With costs for labor, insurance, utilities, fuel and other materials rising, overall spending in the 2023 budget is up roughly $62 million compared to the adopted 2022 budget.

Commissioners also said “yes” to a slight decrease in the aggregate millage rate from the previous year.

Forty percent of budget expenditures, or $208 million, fall within departments under the board of county commissioners for the 2023 fiscal year. The Tourist Development Council and Monroe County Sheriff’s Office each account for 15% of budget expenditures, followed by capital projects, including debt service, at 13%. The budget also includes the tax collector, property appraiser, supervisor of elections and clerk of the court.

An aggregate millage rate of 3.2326 for the coming 2023 fiscal year is a 4.2% decrease from the previous fiscal year when the millage rate was set at 3.3748. According to county officials, it’s the lowest millage rate in the state of Florida.

“While Monroe County makes an effort to adjust their millage to what we actually need that year, a majority of counties either keep their millage rate no matter what happens to the value if it continues to go up,” said Tina Boan, senior director of budget and finance. “They just benefit from the increase. Or you see a couple counties there that actually do some kind of a tweak to it each year.”

A homesteaded residential property owner with an average appraised assessed taxable value of $469,161 in 2022 will see a 66-cent monthly decrease in their property tax for the upcoming fiscal year.

Despite a decrease in the millage, the county will collect roughly $10 million more in ad valorem taxes, which fund county services, in the 2023 fiscal year. A 2022 adopted budget brought the total ad valorem tax levy to $107 million. In 2023, revenue from ad valorem taxes is $117 million. An additional $1.5 million will go to the county health department. Roughly 71% of ad valorem taxes go to public safety, which include law enforcement, fire rescue and the health department.

Pushing more revenue is the growing gross taxable property in the county. In 2019, the taxable value of property totaled $28.5 billion. In 2022, that number spiked $36.8 billion. Property values have doubled in the last 10 years.

“We’re at an historic high,” Boan said.

County officials are projecting an increase in the 1-cent infrastructure sales surtax of more than $30 million. Fiscal 2021 saw the highest annual 1-cent surtax revenue at $28.6 million. Roughly 60% of the funds go to the county, 28% to Key West, 8.7% to Marathon, 6.2% to Islamorada and small percentages to Key Colony Beach and Layton.

Monroe County is projecting a fund balance totaling $35 million, which includes $10 million in hurricane disaster reserves and roughly four months of operating capital.

As for infrastructure, the budget invests in the Harbor Drive, Seaview Drive and Bimini Drive bridges. Capital funds also include repairs to No Name Key Bridge and Gato Building, various wastewater projects on Duck Key and Big Coppitt and sea level rise projects at Twin Lakes in Key Largo and the Sands Subdivision on Big Pine Key, among others.

In addition, the budget provides more than $2.1 million for 26 community-based nonprofit organizations, as recommended by the county’s Human Services Advisory Committee. Florida Keys Area Health Education Center (AHEC) will receive $198,000. The Florida Keys Children’s Shelter will get $150,000, while Samuel’s House will receive $120,000.

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A photo provided to the Haggard Law Firm by the family of Supraja Alaparthi shows the weather conditions moments after her parasail flight began with her son and nephew. HAGGARD LAW FIRM/Contributed

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NOTICE OF KEY LARGO FIRE RESCUE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DISTRICT MILLAGE ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 8, 2022

On November 8, 2022, the Key Largo Fire Rescue and Emergency Medical Services District will issue a referendum to the voters seeking approval to increase the maximum millage rate in order to cover future costs of providing high-quality fire-rescue and emergency medical services to the residents of Key Largo.

The District Board of Commissioners wishes to make clear to Key Largo voters that the Board does not intend to levy annual millage at the maximum rate permitted under the proposed increase and remains committed to its longstanding policy of providing high quality firefighting, rescue, and emergency medical services in the most cost-effective manner. The District has adopted a five-year operating plan that contemplates a millage rate less than the proposed maximum of 2.00 mills, however also understands the importance of long term planning. The following is the official ballot:

INCREASED MAXIMUM MILLAGE RATE FOR KEY LARGO FIRE RESCUE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES:

The Key Largo Fire & EMS District may not levy ad valorem taxes exceeding 1.00 mill without voter approval. The District seeks to increase its maximum millage rate to cover future costs of providing high-quality fire-rescue and emergency medical services to the residents of Key Largo.

Shall the maximum millage rate of the District be revised to 2.00 mills, to fund the continued provision of fire rescue and emergency medical services to Key Largo residents?

PARASAIL CAPTAIN ARRESTED FOR MANSLAUGHTER IN FATAL CRASH

On Sept. 22, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) arrested Daniel Gavin Couch, 49, of Marathon on a warrant for one charge of manslaughter and five counts of violation of commercial parasailing statutes. These charges are in relation to the May 30 parasailing crash which resulted in the death of Supraja Alaparthi, 33, and injuries sustained by her son Sriakshith Alaparthi,10, and friend Vishant Sadda, 9, all of Schaumburg, Illinois.

The FWC said its investigation into the incident showed that Couch departed from a Marathon marina on May 30 with one crew member and 12 occupants and had not recently checked weather conditions or followed established parasailing regulations. The three victims were the second group of passengers put into a parasail flight. Strong winds from impending weather prevented the boat’s winch from bringing the victims back to the boat and Couch cut the line attached to the parachute of the three passengers. Ms. Alaparthi and the two children dropped from an unknown height and were pulled through the water by the inflated parasail until they ultimately collided with a concrete pillar at Old Seven Mile Bridge.

Following the impact, the parasail stayed draped over the bridge. Couch did not maneuver his vessel under the bridge to offer aid, FWC said. Good Samaritans John Callion, Eldon Bell and Linda Bell witnessed the crash and provided aid to the victims.

Supraja Alaparthi was pronounced dead at the scene. Vishant Sadda and Sriakshith Alaparthi were transported to area hospitals with injuries.

“There is no excuse for the negligence and disregard for public safety that was shown in this case,” said South Bravo Regional Commander Major Alberto Maza. “My prayers go out to the families of those involved in this terrible accident. Our investigators conducted a thorough investigation, and the charges today hold those responsible for this tragedy accountable.”

IAN FLOODS KEY WEST, DOWNS TREES & CUTS POWER

Residents on Marathon’s 82nd Street Ocean found the areas underneath their homes fi lled with about three feet of water on Tuesday night. CONTRIBUTED Key West’s Atlantic Boulevard was knee-deep in places. CONTRIBUTED

2-day storm brought wind, then surge

Astrengthening Hurricane Ian skirted past the Florida Keys beginning Sept. 27, delivering storm surge and tropical storm — and even some hurricane-force gusts — to Key West. In the Lower Keys and portions of the Middle Keys, residents woke up to inundated streets and debris.

More than 6,400 Keys Energy customers were without power as of the morning of Sept. 28. Continuing high winds and additional flooding were expected during the afternoon high tide on Sept. 28, hampering some power restoration efforts.

In the Middle Keys, waters pushed in by south winds found many with oceanside residences dealing with up to three feet of water under their homes on Tuesday night. Flooding was even more severe in Key West, with the worst storm surge on the gulf side of the Lower and Middle Keys expected around this paper’s print deadline on Wednesday afternoon.

Greg Barroso, Key West emergency management chief, told county officials during a coordinating call on Sept. 28 that crews were dealing with everything from a major structure fire on Flagler Avenue to impassable roads blocked by flood waters and fallen trees.

“Our assessments have been bad,” Barroso said. “We’re experiencing and visualizing Wilma-like damage. We definitely have a lot of trees down throughout Key West, downed power lines and low-hanging power lines. Our manhole covers and our sewers have blown off, so standing water is a concern for contaminated water.”

Barroso asked county emergency management officials to keep the shelter open at Key West High School, where about 100 people rode out the storm, according to Deputy Superintendent Amber Acevedo. Some were homeless residents who had to leave the Keys Overnight Temporary Shelter when it closed, and others were liveaboard boaters.

City officials requested assistance from the Red Cross to address basic needs as more people come to the shelter. Key West officials were also seeking assistance from Florida Department of Transportation to remove sand and debris from South Roosevelt Boulevard and neighboring fire rescues for equipment and personnel. Monroe County Fire Chief Steve Hudson told county officials that calls were increasing in the Lower Keys and Key West.

See keysweekly.com for further updates.

“We’re experiencing and visualizing Wilma-like damage. We definitely have a lot of trees down throughout Key West, downed power lines and low-hanging power lines. Our manhole covers and our sewers have blown off, so standing water is a concern for contaminated water.”

— Greg Barroso, Key West emergency management chief

JUDGE AWARDS $12M TO FLORIDA KEYS WOMAN INJURED IN 2011 CRASH

AMonroe County jury has awarded Ashley Rierson $12,022,950 for serious injuries sustained after being struck as a pedestrian in Islamorada.

On Feb. 11, 2011, a driver heading south on U.S. 1 near MM 82 struck Rierson while she was attempting to cross U.S. 1 at 8 p.m. Rierson was struck by a southbound vehicle and then propelled into the northbound lanes of U.S. 1 and struck by another vehicle traveling northbound.

Rierson sustained significant orthopedic and internal injuries and was airflighted to Ryder Trauma Center in Miami. Her injuries resulted in dozens of surgeries and countless hours of physical and mental rehabilitation.

During the three-week trial, the attorneys for the defendant drivers claimed that they were not responsible for the crash since it was nighttime and Rierson was not visible to them.

Attorney Michael Cecere of Cecere Santana PA and Henry Seiden of The Seiden Law Firm represented Rierson and argued that she was visible to the motorists and that the cause of the crash was excessive speed on the northbound vehicle and an improper lane change by the southbound vehicle. Cecere argued in his closing statement that the southbound driver’s impatience led to the improper lane change and initial crash with Rierson.

“Ashley Rierson, who was 19 years old at the time of the crash, made a remarkable recovery from her injuries and received a fair verdict that holds the defendants accountable and provides for much needed future medical care and assistance,” Cecere said. — Contributed