Just when we think a meeting agenda is so jammed packed that it will last well into the night, the council rushes through item after item with little or no discussion managing an early adjournment.

The Oct 7 agenda has 27 tabs, 574 pages plus numerous reports. Many critical issues.

Several reports could have warranted a separate meeting or workshop:

• Presentation of the final Founders Park Master Plan by Miller Legg (what - no vote; no public comment?); The contract was approved June 11, 2024 at a cost of $175,750 and was to be completed in 9 months. The original project was to include all of Founders Park but planning for the Marina and baseball field portions of the park were eliminated with no reduction in cost or change in timeline.  

• A $4.5 million wastewater recommendation for a short-term fix for the MM92 pipe leaks to prevent further problems until a long-term fix can be figured out. This issue has been a problem since 2019.  Finally there may be a plan.  

Consent agenda - 16 items, to be approved with a single vote at a potential cost of over $6.5 Million. Competitive bidding was waived for 16 companies, including 7 wastewater companies and 9 fire rescue companies.

Fire/Rescue expenditures, consent agenda - $914,000.

Wastewater expenditures, consent agenda: $1,725,000  

Protecting U.S. One, consent agenda: Approval of $105,000 for Design and Permitting a Breakwater at Sea Oats Beach.  We wonder if a project largely intended to protect U.S. One and the major evacuation route for points south from future storm surge should be paid for and the responsibility of Islamorada.  Shouldn’t FDOT do this?  

Lobbyist Contract extension ($108,000) on the agenda - waiving competitive bidding.  Though not specified in the agenda, the Manager’s letter of September 29 indicates

Legislative issues of concern will be discussed at the October 7 Village Council meeting