Key West Mayor Dee Dee Henriquez joined Good Morning Keys on KeysTalk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about what’s going on in the city.
The city commission will meet this Thursday.
Henriquez said, “Starting at 9am which is the morning session. And then we have the afternoon session starting at 5pm and we have, I believe it’s a total of 64 items that will be addressed between the morning and the evening session, and just to name a few, there’s a an agenda item for a 10 year lease with the Waterfront Playhouse, approving staff recommendation to award the contract to Stantec Consulting Services for the implementation of the city’s water quality monitoring program. So I really hope that we can vote on a contract so that we can continue to move that forward, authorizing a non binding grant award for the National Fitness Campaign, which is in the amount of 35,000 to support the installation of an outdoor fitness court at Bayview Park, so Bayview Park is still continuing to move forward. Approving the letter of engagement for Mayanne Downs of the DownsAaron law firm to serve as a city attorney. So there may be some discussion there. Also authorizing 75,000 to UNESCO Global Creative City designation, authorizing the reimbursement of city Commissioner Carey for attorney’s fees incurred in her successful defense, every recall petition against her. So I’m sure there’s going to be conversation on that. Then Commissioner Lee has an item requesting that the United States Navy redraw its objection to the proposed Wisteria Island mooring field. So that’s just a couple things to name a few. There’s going to be a lot of discussion. There’s a lot of items on the agenda. So we’re looking forward to a full morning and a full afternoon.”
The commission will look at approving the letter of engagement for Mayanne Downs.
Henriquez said, “She will serve as the city attorney. So I’m sure there will be discussion on that as well. There’s also going to be two discussion items on the agenda, which is, one is to for the commission to give direction for the diesel plant. And also in the evening session, there’s going to be discussion on the Grand Jury update and where we’re at as far as accomplishing those items that were on the grand jury report.”
Residential permits are available for parking for our city residents.
Henriquez said, “You can actually now renew your residential parking decal. You can go online and renew it. The price still remains the same as last year, which is $39.13 and that permit allows you for free parking up to four hours, one time per day. There are six locations, the fire station two, 600 block of Simonton, Key West bight main lot, which is 800 block of Caroline, the park and ride garage, Truman Waterfront Park, Smathers Beach on street parking on South Roosevelt Boulevard, and then the Jackson Square behind the county courthouse, which is night and weekend only, so that that parking decal can save you money throughout the year.”
There has also been meetings about the rainbow crosswalks and rainbow bike racks have been installed on Duval Street.
Henriquez said, “I was very excited that was on Friday I received a phone call from our city manager early Friday morning stating that FDOT had approved the bike racks in the rainbow colors and also approved the arch that they’re currently working on. So as soon as our city manager got the green light, he called the Community Services crew, and they were already painted, and they went out to the 700 and 800 block of Duval Street and installed those rainbow bike racks. This is just part of the city’s effort to support the LGBTQ+ community. The City and the Business Guild are also working together, like I said, to design and welcoming the arch to the neighborhood. And FDOT approved it. So we got some really good news Friday morning, and that was just the number one effort to put the bike racks, install them with the rainbow colors. So we were excited about it.”
Columbus Day is next Monday.
Henriquez said, “City Hall will be closed on Monday in observance of Columbus Day. On Friday is plogging of the Keys. It is hosted by the Greater Key West Chamber of Commerce, and that’s located at 510, Green Street. It starts at 8am and we will be meeting along the old city hall on Ann Street, which is Green and Anne. So we’re looking forward to going down there and plogging on Friday.”