Gonzalez is Marathon Mayor

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The global population reached 8 billion on Nov 15. About 70% of the growth to 8 billion from 7 billion happened in low- and lower-middleincome countries, most of which are in sub-Saharan Africa, the United Nations said. Soccer season is in full swing in Monroe County as Coral Shores’ Brock Bynum (35) blocks a blast from Marathon’s Angel Cardona (22) during the two teams’ matchup on Nov. 8. See page 22. BARRY GAUKEL/Keys Weekly

DIVING RIGHT IN

Newly elected Marathon City Council tackles housing allocations in fi rst meeting

The new Marathon City Council. From left: Councilman Lynn Landry, Vice Mayor Robyn Still, Mayor Luis Gonzalez, Councilman Jeff Smith and Councilman Kenny Matlock. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly

ALEX RICKERT

alex@keysweekly.com

Arevisited debate on the use of emergency housing allocations sent the new-look Marathon City Council off to a running start on Nov. 15.

The evening began with a changing of the guard, as the council bid farewell to former mayor John Bartus, vice mayor Dan Zieg and councilman Steve Cook while swearing in elected council members Lynn Landry, Robyn Still, Jeff Smith and Kenny Matlock. With unanimous votes, the new council appointed Gonzalez as Marathon’s next mayor, with Still to serve as vice mayor.

In his farewell address, Cook provided the new council with a list of his greatest lessons throughout his six years of service, urging them to do “what is right, not what is popular” and warning of the difference between “criticism and poison” on social media.

“Thank you for allowing me to serve this community,” he said. “I’m better for it, and I hope the city is as well.”

“I want to thank the people of Marathon for trusting me and believing in me,” said Zieg. “There’s been some discussion over the course of the past few years about individuals not getting what they wanted. … The rule up here with the council is that we have to make decisions based on the good of the city. Sometimes that aids individuals, sometimes it does not. But do what is right, and make the best decisions for the city. And I think over the past few years, we have done that.”

The full text of Bartus’ address may be found on page 17 of this paper.

In a meeting largely filled with introductions to the city’s various departments, a renewed discussion of the use of Marathon’s administrative relief building allocations – set aside by the city for use in special circumstances – was the first topic of consequence for the new council.

Gonzalez reintroduced a motion first proposed by Bartus at the council’s special call meeting on Sept. 21. Originally defeated by a 4-1 vote, the motion proposed to grant six of the city’s administrative relief allocations in order to allow official completion of affordable housing units in the La Palma development on 104th Street Ocean. Nearly complete, the development’s original building allocations were revoked as part of the 300 affordable units deemed illegal in an Aug. 3 opinion handed down by Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal. The city has filed for the case to be heard by Florida’s Supreme Court.

“The challenge has been raised by a no-growth advocate … including essential workforce housing,” said Gonzalez. “The city’s commitment is to see six families in homes that are essentially built.”

Asked by Matlock what granting the units may do to Marathon’s legal liability, city attorney Steve Williams called the possibilities “undeterminable.”

“As we currently sit as we voted in September, I would say our liability is next to none,” he said. “We’re going to move that needle a bit if this goes forward today … but that’s a weight factor you take into accord with, as put forward by the mayor, you have six families who could move into this.”

“I’ve had a few citizens reach out, and they’re wanting to know why, and this feels like favoritism,” said Matlock.

Williams cautioned the council to be clear, if so desired, in its reasoning for granting the units: as stated by Landry and confirmed by planning director Brian Shea, the La Palma units were the only recipients of the 300 affordable housing allocations that had pulled permits, broken ground, and failed to receive their Certificates of Occupancy, before the DCA opinion.

“Everybody in the city talks every day about the lack of affordable housing in this community, but yet everybody wants to say favoritism,” said Landry. “At the end of the day, it’s about putting families in homes.”

In a 4-1 vote, with Matlock as the lone no vote, the council voted to grant the six allocations, on the condition that they would be used only for affordable housing and would be returned to the administrative relief pool if and when the original 300 affordable units are returned to Marathon.

In Other News:

Shea and grants coordinator Maria Covelli announced the creation of a City Watershed Management Plan funded by FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Once adopted, the plan is anticipated to move Marathon from a Class VI to a Class V status in the Community Rating System (CRS), a program used to determine discounts on flood insurance. The move to Class V should result in an additional 5% discount on flood insurance for Marathon homeowners.

COMMISSIONERS SELECT MAYOR, SET PRIORITIES FOR STATE SESSION LEADERSHIP & LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

The Monroe Board of County Commissioners selected Craig Cates as the next mayor and Holly Merrill Raschein as the mayor pro tem for the coming year during a Nov. 15 meeting in Key West.

Cates has been a commissioner since 2019 and Merrill Raschein since 2021. Both recognized outgoing Mayor David Rice for his duties for the past year. The mayor title is given to the chairperson of the board of county commissioners. The commissioners choose the designee based on a majority vote, usually at the November board meeting.

A mayor pro tem is also designated to fill in when the mayor is unavailable. The mayor presides over the board’s meetings and serves as the Monroe County representative at ceremonial occasions. The mayor is also responsible for signing and co-signing documents with the county clerk.

In addition to the ceremonial passing of the gavel, four of the five commissioners, Michelle Lincoln, Merrill Raschein, Rice and Jim Scholl, were re-elected to their seats and were sworn in by the Clerk of the Court Kevin Madok.

In other matters, county commissioners approved a 2023 legislative agenda for the upcoming state session in Tallahassee. Legislative Affairs Director Lisa Tennyson presented Monroe County’s priorities for the upcoming session from March 7 through May 5. Some of the priorities include securing another $25 million from the Florida Keys Stewardship Act, which funds water quality projects and land acquisition, and securing $6 million for its emergency operation center. Tennyson said the project’s been in the works for a while. A groundbreaking was held last month.

From left, Michelle Lincoln, David Rice, Mayor Craig Cates, Mayor Pro Tem Holly Merrill Raschein and Jim Scholl. KRISTEN LIVENGOOD/Monroe County

Former mayor David Rice passes the gavel to Mayor Craig Cates.

Clerk of the Court Kevin Madok swears in commissioners Lincoln, Rice, Merrill Raschein and Scholl.

Protecting the marine environment through developing new mooring fields and addressing derelict vessels was also on the priority list. And county officials are hoping state officials repeal or change House Bill 735, which prohibits local government occupational licensing affecting local contractors and tradespeople, passed in 2021.

County officials are also keeping their eye on efforts by Islamorada and Marathon to obtain building allocations from the state. The county and Keys municipalities were given 1,300 workforce housing allocations after Hurricane Irma. Key West, Marathon and Islamorada started the process to accept their 300 units. The county elected to hold off due to legal challenges.

Coined as “early evacuation” units, a recent court decision stated that Islamorada and Marathon aren’t allowed to use these allocations as such since they don’t comply with state statute for a 24-hour storm evacuation. Tennyson said the county’s statement supports legislation to amend the statute, but commissioners decided to change language to state that they are monitoring the situation.

“I think it’s important to leave it in the agenda, pending draft language. I think it’s an important topic and we want to be part of the conversation. I don’t want to commit us until we see draft legislation,” Merrill Raschein said. “We’re not attempting to undermine the area of critical state concern designation. That’s a misguided opinion if you ask me.”

“We’re monitoring it, but it doesn’t mean that we’re supporting it,” Cates said.