Key West Mayor Denise 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.
It looks like the state budget could be ready to be signed by the governor.
Henriquez said, “If the budget is signed, we’ve got some potential good news, but like I said, we have to wait, make sure the Governor doesn’t veto anything. But I believe months ago when we talked about our trip, when we went to Florida Keys Day and went up there to represent the city of Key West, we went in there asking for a million dollars, and potentially coming back with 11 million, and we got word that out of that 11 million we could potentially have $7.5 million. So I am so excited and very pumped about that, going in there for a million and coming home with 7.5 potentially, is very exciting. And again, that’s about building those partnerships and relationships with our leadership up there in Tallahassee. So, hopefully, nothing will get vetoed, and if it doesn’t, then we’re looking at 7.5 million.”
Meet with the Mayor begins at 2 p.m. today.
Henriquez said, “Please come on down today, meet the mayor, open hours two to four. I would love to hear from everyone, their concerns, ask any questions you may have. We will definitely get you the answers. So I’m always excited about our two to four. And then on Tuesday, we do have our public meeting review for the draft of the 2026 through 2030 strategic plan. The purpose of that meeting is to present the commission’s strategic priorities, and that is going to be at 2o’clock at the Frederick Douglass Community Center. So that’s Tuesday. Wednesday is the building department quarterly stakeholders meeting, starting at 7:30 in the chambers. The contractors examining board meeting that’s at 3:30 and then on Thursday is our commission meeting, starting at 9am and then it will reconvene again at 5pm. Then Friday we have our early bird cleanup, and that starts at 8am. Saturday is a full day Saturday, so it’s the first Saturday of the month. The household hazardous cleanup and e-waste collection starting at 8am at Indigenous Park, Truman Waterfront Community Garage Sale Junk in the Trunk, starting at 8am as well until 1pm at the Truman Waterfront Park, and then we also have the Way Gay 5K run that starts at 8am and it starts and ends at 22 and Company, which is 504 Angela Street, and there will be a lot of rolling street closures throughout the race, so be prepared for that, and then on Saturday we have the Key West Pride Street Fair, that will begin from four and end at nine, located on Duval Street, between the 700 and 900 block of Duval, and then starting at 7pm is the Key West Pride parade, that’s on Sunday at Truman Waterfront, so there’s a lot going on, especially on Saturday and on Sunday.”
What’s on the agenda for the city commission meeting on Thursday?
Henriquez said, “It is a full agenda, but there’s only 42 items, and that does include the proclamations, accommodations, the presentation. First of all, we’ll highlight Toni Michelle Gage of 40 years of dedicated service to the city of Key West. She will be retiring, so we’re going to do accommodation for her, and then we’re naming, hopefully with the will of the commission, Fire Station 3 to the Edwin ‘Eddie’ Castro Fire Station 3. So we’ll see what the will of the commission is on that. Item number 27 which is recommendations of the grand jury report. So, there’ll be discussions, I’m sure, lots of discussions on that item. 28 Commissioner Carey has an item on the agenda to make sure that the buoy will return and remain at its historical location, so it hasn’t moved, that it’s still there, it’s just boxed up and protected right now, but she wanted to have a resolution out there to make sure it goes back there and painted on both sides. Item number 29 is going to be discussions, lots of discussions, I’m sure, in reference to the southernmost point plaza, so we’ve received a lot of emails, we’ve had an open neighborhood meeting to have input, so be aware of item number 29 because I’m sure there’ll be lots of discussion for that, and then item 31 is approving the new live aboard dockets lease agreement for the live aboard tenants at the Garrison Bight Marina, and then just so everybody knows, item number 32 has been withdrawn, and that was relating to the fire assessment role, so that will not be on the tax roll this year.”
There is also a special session in the state today to talk about property tax reform.
Henriquez said, “Property taxes are very near and dear to my heart. So I am definitely watching this very, very closely. Yes, the homestead exemption threshold will go from 50,000 to $250,000 and that will go on a referendum on November ballot if it does get approved by the House and the Senate, and I will tell you that’s approximately 60% of Florida homeowners that would no longer pay property taxes, and if he had to raise that to $500,000 for homestead exemption, then that would be like a 92% of Floridians that would not pay property taxes. So we’re going to be watching this very, very, very closely. Also, he did discuss about the small businesses where each year it’s a 10% increase. He would like to decrease that from 10% to 5% for the small businesses, and I don’t know how we’re going to do this if property taxes get eliminated completely, even though whatever we have remaining will be for the schools and the fire services and police services, so we’ll see how all this works out, but it’s going to be the will of the people in the state of Florida. You’re taking the authority from the local level and shifting it to the state, so the people in your city or in your county will not have a say so, because it will no longer be here controlled by the city and or the county.”
There will be a big celebration of America on June 27 in Key West.
Henriquez said, “We’re going to celebrate the 250th birthday at the Truman Waterfront Park. So please save the date, June 27 at 6pm. Big celebration for the 250th birthday.”