Key West Mayor Dee Dee Henriquez joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about what’s going on in the city.
There was a strategic planning workshop last Thursday.
Henriquez said, “It was a great day. It was very productive and myself and the commissioners had the opportunity to be able to discuss priorities and listen to all of the department heads. I mean, we were all in line. It was unity. It was very positive. When they went around the room at the end of the day, and everyone just basically said they thought about it, and they were like, this was the best strategic workshop we’ve had in many, many years. So they were just very open, very honest, and they felt like they weren’t going to be retaliated if they said something, and it was really very positive, and everybody was in alignment, so it was great.”
The end result is a four year plan for the city.
Henriquez said, “We had our four priorities. It was climate adaptation and the environmental protection, the infrastructure, transportation, the financial sustainability and operation efficiency, and then, of course, affordable housing. So we looked at all the different issues, and basically it’s just like, what can we do? We don’t want to put all these things in this strategic plan and then it just sits there. Everybody knows I didn’t come here to dust the shelves. I came here to move things off the shelves. So we’re looking at projects to we just need to explore the alternative funding sources, and especially if property taxes go away, or some part of the property taxes, we need to be able to make sure that we can fund all these projects. So despite what everybody says or feels that information on Facebook, that the morale here is horrible. I will tell you the morale here is great. Everyone here is, like I said, aligned in unity here. What a great way to start off the new year for 2026 and I look forward to all the different projects that we’re going to try and accomplish next year.”
December 22 is the sunset period for Truman Annex transient rental licenses.
Henriquez said, “My sense is that there’s not support with the commission. It was not put on December’s agenda, and it’ll already be too late to go on the January agenda, because the deadline is December 22, 2025 and everyone knows how I feel. I’ve kept my word since day one that I became mayor, that I do not support this. I feel it had a beginning date and an end date and they’ve had this for 20 years, and they’ve had a really good deal, and if we extend it, then everybody else is going to want that same opportunity. So my opinion is December 22 it will sunset and they will be over.”
What’s going on with the utilities department?
Henriquez said, “September 2025 municipal code ordinance amendment was approved by the City Commission outlining the containerization of yard waste. What this means is no green or blue waste management issued carts may be used for yard waste. Residents that own acceptable yard waste containers, please continue to use them. If you need to purchase containers, the black or gray 40 gallon open top cans or paper yard waste bags are recommended. Please start transitioning to the recommended containers as waste management will resume collection of carts after the new year. All of this information is available on our city of Key West utilities web page. We did put a stop on them removing them. But as of January 1, after the new year, they are going to resume collection of all those carts. And then you would have to get black or gray, 40 gallon open top cans or the paper yard waste bags that are recommended. So they wanted all of the listeners to just have a friendly reminder in reference to what’s going on.”
What’s coming up this week?
Henriquez said, “My meet and greet with the mayor from two to four last week, it was very successful, and we had quite a few people come in. So I was very excited about that. So we’re going to try and do it every Monday from two to four. Tuesday is the Historic Architectural Review Commission, which is HARC, that board meeting starts at five on Tuesday. Wednesday is the art in public places advisory board, and that starts at 5:30 and then I’m having a cemetery revitalization program kickoff, and that’s going to be Wednesday the 17th, from 5:30 to seven on the lawn of the Key West Harry S Truman, Little White House, so please come out. We’re going to celebrate the Key West, rich history and honoring those who rest in our historic cemetery. So what we’re going to do is we’re going to have a cemetery brick campaign release and discussion to raise money to be able to help restore the plots that are out there that have been abandoned. And then on Thursday, we have the Development Review Committee, the DRC, starting at 10 am. Code enforcement hearings, starting at 1:30. Planning Board Meeting starting at five. And actually on Thursday, so when they had the Wesley House Gala, they had auctioned off mayor of the day. So we’re going to have a gentleman that’s going to come here, and he’s going to be mayor of the day. So I’m really excited about that. We have a full day in store for him. He may not want to be mayor after the end of the day, but I’m really excited about that. And then this Friday, the early bird cleanup will be hosted by Opal Key West Resort. So we’re all going to meet in front of the Customs House. Parking vouchers for the Opal parking garage will be available. And then also on Friday is the homeless persons Memorial Day. Join us for a memorial service for the homeless individuals who have died in Monroe County this year. It starts at 3pm at the Key West cemetery vault, and that’s with the Florida Keys Outreach Coalition. Then Saturday, we do have Running of the Elves. I just wanted everybody to be aware there will be street closures from 6 to 8pm, so expect delays as well. Next week, we will be closed Thursday and Friday in observance of the holidays, but we will be open for business next week, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. So if you have anything with the city, you have this whole week and then Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday of next week. So as you can see, we are we have a very busy week this week, even with the holidays. We did approve the allocation of the 75,000 for the local food banks last week, and so when I looked at our emails on Friday, our city manager had given us an update that we had already had three applications that had applied for this service. So I’m not sure if anybody applied over the weekend, but I’ll get a update this afternoon when I meet with our city manager. I just wanted to make sure that we had transparency, and that we were accountable. So we have an application, and then we have decided they can apply up to $7,500. We have three applications so far, but I’m not sure if any of them applied over the weekend, but I just wanted to give that update as well.”