Old Population Studies: There are 623 pages in the Tuesday agenda. Two of the tabs have old 150-page County Population studies - projections from March 2011 and February 2000 - 300 of the 623 pages, used to justify growth requests for decades now.  Not valid today!

U. S. One Right of Way: One item from the consent agenda that merits discussion. Tab 4, agreeing to a Turf and Landscape contract with FDOT for $65,644 annually for Islamorada Public Works to maintain the 18 miles of U.S. One.

• Litter Pickup – 12 times/yr: $1,744.00; $8.07/month/mile

• Mowing, including Edging and Weed Control – 12 times/yr: $14,032.00; $65/month/mile

• Landscape Maintenance/Tree Trimming – 12 times/yr: $39,868.00; $185/month/mile

FDOT used to do the right of way maintenance, but the Village wanted more frequent mowing than monthly.  The Village opted to do the maintenance themselves and to be reimbursed by FDOT - but is $65,644 realistic? Or why not let FDOT do the monthly maintenance and when the right of way needs a little extra care, Public Works (or a local contract company) could supplement the service.  Or just renegotiate the amount FDOT pays us to a more realistic figure.

What is missing from the agenda?

Baseball - the School Board says Islamorada will get approval rights as owner of the field every step of the way.  When does that start?  The design contract is in use but never came before council.  One concern: Doesn’t it give the design contractor the sole right to pick the type and quality of the turf? Is that ok with the Village?

Green Turtle Hammock: Decision regarding the future management of the Green Turtle Hammock Preserve was to be brought before council in February. Florida Bay Forever has provided services required by the management plan for the last 5 years and the agreement ends in a few weeks. Does the Village have a plan to fulfil the management plan dictated by the state? Why isn’t it in the agenda?

Note: Green Turtle Hammock decision apparently wasn't on the agenda, but it WAS discussed at the meeting.

The Islamorada Foundation announced their Open Space Initiative with the purchase of the old tennis club at 76800 Overseas Highway on Lower Matecumbe Key.  Below is a rendering of their initial ideas for the property: three tennis courts, six pickleball courts, restrooms, playground.  Thank you Islamorada Foundation for initiating great ideas for our community, acquiring the land, and finding the support and the funds to make our Village a better place to live and to play!

For decades residents have considered Lower Matecumbe’s island-long bike path, first paved in 1987, their park, popular for walking, jogging and biking.  In recent years, the path (part of the State Park Heritage Trail) has deteriorated in areas, making it impossible to use. The worst areas are the area to the far south of the island - the most populated portion of Lower Matecumbe.

In 2005, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) deeded the first 50’ of the U.S. One Right of Way, bayside, the length of the island, to the Village.  The Village accepted that 50’, along with the maintenance responsibilities, including the bike path.

In October 2025 the Village Council accepted a $200,000 grant from FDOT to elevate and repair 2500’ of the bike path from approximately the Fire Station to the Scout Base, the worst area of the bike path. The Village will add a $50,000 match.

The projected cost ($250,000) of bike path improvements is in the current budget, but the work will be delayed until the current canal restoration project at the same area is finished. The contractor is using the Village 50’ for a staging area for the canal work.

State grants are funding the canal work, primarily using Florida Stewardship Grant funds.  (Sharing Stewardship funding with Village wastewater projects.)

The village awarded the culvert construction contract to LPS Contracting to install multiple 4-by-4-foot box culverts beneath numerous bayside roads and U.S. One to hydraulically connect the dead-end canals.

Long term, the village is betting on environmental improvements. Islamorada has signed a project agreement with WS Environment & Infrastructure, Inc. (WSP), to monitor the conditions of the canals before and after canal restoration.

The immediate impact for residents includes construction traffic and temporary access restrictions. And a real mess on the bike path, the Park for people on Lower Matecumbe. Everyone understands - it is a construction site, but it is also the front yard and park for residents and visitors on the island. Is a terrible mess necessary?

If you are interested in reviewing the draft from Able City East, it is public record.  We would be happy to email it to readers.

Coding Required: Florida statutes require that changes to a comprehensive plan use a coding system - strikethroughs for deleted text and underlining for additions.  This coding is not used in the draft provided making the review a monumental task.

The Comprehensive Plan is a blueprint for the future of Islamorada.  If you care about Islamorada - amending the comp plan is critical.  And critical for the public to help.

11 Critical Elements: The Islamorada draft plan includes 11 elements including Land Use, Transportation, Housing, etc. with goals and policies associated with each element.  

Suggestion: Each of 11 elements warrant a separate public workshop and thorough public review. We worry that won’t happen.  If there is an element that is important to you, concentrate on that area initially to make the process less overwhelming.  

The total draft comp plan document is 284 pages long and includes approximately 700 suggested policies for the community to adopt… some policies from the current comp plan, approximately 200 new policies. The public review process is critical.

We believe the planning staff has been reviewing the draft for several months and may be finding areas that believe need to be changed.  But the public may feel differently.  This should be a Village-wide effort!!!

Committees can help. We hope all Village citizen committees will be provided the draft of the Comp Plan so they could review the sections related to their committee work?

The Establishing A Common Vision - words from the plan. Public participation is critical

In future newsletters, watch for suggested Comp Plan goals and policies. And remember to speak up.  

Let us know if you want a peek at the DRAFT of the Comp Plan from Able City East. Send us an email.

Tubby’s Creek Bridge on Card Sound Road is scheduled for replacement starting Feb. 9, 2026.  Beginning Mar 9, the bridge will remain one lane with alternating traffic for the 18-month duration of the project. Click here for details.

A slow speed/minimum wake area throughout Tavernier Creek was approved by Monroe County, with Holly Raschein dissenting. Tavernier Creek is within the Village and the Village Council requested the change. The creek includes two blind bends and two blind intersections.  The swift currents, limited visibility and increased vessel traffic have created potential safety hazards.  Raschein feels enforcement will be “questionable.”  Brings up an interesting question on effectiveness of enforcement efforts throughout the village.

Vacation Rental Numbers in Islamorada: The limit - 331 licenses are allowed.  In 2025 there were 265 licenses issued by midsummer.  For 2026 - to date just 228 licensed. Are there fewer short-term rentals or more enforcement shortfalls leading to property owners saving the $1325 license fee?

Old church property at 83250 owned by the Village, though not on the market, as far as we know. But the Village received a Letter of IntentJan 16, 2026 from a potential buyer interested in acquiring the property. We understand this potential buyer is not the only interested party.  We had hoped a public meeting would be scheduled to discuss the plans for the future use of several Village properties.  No meeting has been scheduled yet. Government in the Sunshine? We expect transparency.

Cost of Sewer Service and EDUs:  After numerous requests, we finally received the current EDU counts and water consumption reports via public record request. It is no wonder the Wastewater Enterprise fund is not self-sustaining as required.

Hopefully the EDU counts will be appropriately adjusted - and residents, visitors and businesses will do a better job conserving water in the future.

Total FKAA water meter accounts: 4678; Listed as Single Family: 3568

# of properties that used more water than the 157 gal/day/EDU: 1798.  Some used many times their current EDU count would suggest. We noticed that it appears the 157 gal/day standard applied as the basis of an EDU, what the average single family home uses, is significantly higher than the typical water consumption.  Are single family homeowners subsidizing the non-residential properties, resorts and restaurants?

Florida Keys Days: Several members of Council and staff are attending events and meeting with elected officials and various Florida Departments to discuss Village issues.  How does this work with the Sunshine Law? See notice as a public meeting.

• Duration and extreme cold weather: a deadly combination in 2010 caused widespread mortality among native and exotic wildlife: pythons and iguanas were at risk but also manatees, sea turtles, crocodiles, and numerous fish species, according to a U.S. Geological Survey study.

• Crop growers across South Florida are working to protect their plants…. and our fresh food supply!!!