Cheat’s Guide to the Village Council Meeting

Key Biscayne Village Hall, location for the Council meeting Nov. 19. (Key News/Annali Hayward)

While Democrats across the nation watch presidential candidates debate, Key Biscayners will be treated to their own political show tomorrow: the mighty Village Council meeting. 

Tuesday, Oct. 15 promises a varied agenda as officials return to business as usual following a headache-inducing budget cycle. So whether you’ve sat through countless hours or never been to a single Council meeting, this guide has you covered.

HOT TOPICS

Parks, parks, parks

They may not be first on the agenda, but parks will be the buzzword of the evening. 

Will local leaders approve a $1.2 million construction plan and finally break the curse of 530 Crandon? 

Sixteen years in the making, the proposed park – a symbol of political procrastination for some – could get the go-ahead if the Council agrees with the Village Manager’s recommendation to select Critical Path Services, Inc. for the work. Staff negotiated the price from $1.8 million to no more than $1.2 million after removing items such as the $200,000 pump track – itself the subject of much deliberation. Plans include 1,000 square feet of concrete, but 77 new trees and palms. 

Once the behemoth of 530 exits stage right, Council members will face another million-dollar question: $4 million to be exact, on whether to purchase 571 and 599 Harbor Drive for a so-called “pocket park.” So-called, supposedly, for being small – though the plan for this site is a nice chunk at 32,525 square feet including swale. Since it is very low-lying land, advocates say it will help mitigate floodwater in the area, particularly with the inclusion of a pump. 

The big question is whether prices have inched lower at all – enough to convince Council Member Ed London to vote yes? Probably not, since his objection to the property appraisals is well-known – but the rest of the Council seems amenable, save Council Member Luis Lauredo, who has also voiced skepticism. 

Funds would come from the $7.7 million Land Acquisition Trust Fund, which cannot be used for any other purpose. Both 530 Crandon and Harbor Drive are up for second reading, which means a final vote – once an issue passes second reading it is enacted. 

Go fish 

Up for first reading is an ordinance to ban fishing off Mashta Bridge. 

A group of Mashta Island residents succeeded in getting the Council to direct the Manager to suspend fishing permits for the bridge back in August. Eighteen permit holders were to be reimbursed their fees. The ban had the support of the Chief of Police and the Council was, surprisingly, unanimous in its decision – despite hearing no arguments for the opposition. Since then some 50 residents have signed a petition countering the move, calling for fishing to be allowed.

The wording of the suggested ordinance is simple: “No person shall engage in or participate in saltwater fishing activities on the Mashta Road Bridge, unless authorized by a resolution adopted by the Village Council.” 

If the previous decision is anything to go by, this will be passed – unless four opinions up on the dais are swayed somehow. Sorry, Norman Rockwell fans.

EVERYTHING ELSE

Among other normal procedural things, three reports from special advisory committees will be heard, including the Village Beautification Board, led by Ceci Sanchez, who has been calling recently for the Village to pull its socks up with regards to trees, landscaping and trash receptacles. 

Reports and Recommendations

This section can be very telling, previewing issues that often wind up in future votes. Tuesday’s meeting promises plenty of interesting tidbits. 

Council Member Katie Petros wants to talk water quality. Hopefully she’s referring to the horrendous summer of unsafe water alerts on Key Biscayne’s beaches, subject of much recent angst, particularly as king tides flowed through the island Sept. 28, potentially bringing with them bacteria-friendly waters. 

Sticking with environmental issues, Petros wants a set of guidelines for the use of fertilizers on the Key. She comes armed with a 24-page example of the Town of Surfside’s fertilizer ordinance, which hopes to stop the use of harmful chemicals that leech into groundwater. No doubt it is not lost on Petros that fertilizer run-off has been tipped as a potential contributor to the excess growth of sargassum seaweed offshore, the management of which may itself be exacerbating the bacterial levels in Key Biscayne’s beaches. It’s the circle of life. 

Council Member Brett Moss will bring up the 2040 Vision Plan. How far into the future do you need to be able to see with 20/20 vision? Can it get a bit blurrier the further out you go? This and other existential questions – such as renaming the committee, perhaps, to help people understand its role – may be addressed. It will be interesting to see if anyone mentions the library.

Remember the case of esteemed firefighters Ron Erbel and Angela Herrera? Council Member Lauredo does – he’s brought it as a discussion item, though it’s unclear why there is no resolution on the table yet to extend compensation benefits to them. Someone must have something to say – let’s see if it’s what Erbel and Herrera want to hear. 

Look for full coverage of the meeting from Key News – and don’t forget you can watch the whole shindig live-streamed from the comfort of your couch on public access television.