Marathon City Council member and former Mayor Lynn Landry joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about what’s going on in the city.
The Marathon City Council meets tonight and one of the key discussion items will be the city’s attorney position. Steve Williams has moved into the city manager role full time, leaving the council to consider how to fill the city attorney position.
Landry said the discussion was initially left off the agenda but has since been added. One option is to promote Assistant City Attorney Alli Heller, who Landry said has served the city well.
“She’s a good young attorney. She’s done a very good job for us here in the city,” Landry said. “I would be really happy to have her as our attorney and set her up for success in that position, if that’s the direction the council would like to go.”
Landry estimated Heller has been with the city for several years. He said the council can choose to promote someone from within or conduct an outside search. The city manager and city attorney are the two charter officer positions hired by the council.
No final decision has been announced, and the council is expected to discuss which direction to take.
The council also is expected to consider an interlocal agreement involving the transfer of 50 early evacuation workforce affordable housing residential allocations from the City of Layton to Marathon. Landry said the proposal is part of a broader effort involving allocations originally distributed across the Florida Keys under former Gov. Rick Scott.
Layton and Key Colony Beach each received 50 allocations, and Marathon is seeking agreements to bring both sets of allocations into the city, potentially adding 100 units for local housing efforts.
Landry said Marathon has already been proactive in developing affordable housing, but the current council is considering a greater emphasis on duplexes, triplexes and potentially townhome-style rentals.
The early evacuation allocations must be used for developments with at least duplex-style housing because of on-site management requirements, he said.
Landry said the city should consider how the additional allocations can best serve its housing needs, including whether to focus on smaller-scale developments rather than apartment buildings.
Marathon does not currently plan to change its existing ROGO allocation system. Landry said the city intends to prioritize owner-occupied dwelling units, followed by other residential units and some affordable housing.
The city distributes allocations during two periods each year.
Another item on the agenda is a proposed settlement agreement with Tokio Marine, the city’s insurance company, related to issues involving a deep well. Landry said City Manager Steve Williams is expected to explain the circumstances surrounding the matter and the proposed settlement.
The meeting also will include several changes to city land regulations and ordinances to bring local rules into compliance with state statutes and recently enacted laws. Landry said many of those items are routine amendments or second readings of measures previously approved by the council.
The council also is expected to address the city’s contract for cleaning services at City Hall.
The council is considering appropriate lighting hours for the pickleball courts behind City Hall as daylight hours decrease with the seasonal time change.
Landry said the city wants to allow residents who work during the day to use the courts after work while limiting the impact of lighting on nearby neighborhoods.
He described pickleball as one of the country’s fastest-growing sports and said Marathon could potentially use additional courts if space and funding become available.
For now, he said, budget constraints may limit further expansion. Temporary courts also have been used on basketball courts at the community park.
Landry was uncertain whether a council workshop scheduled for Oct. 27 would take place. If no topics emerge during Tuesday’s meeting, he said the workshop could be canceled. He also anticipated that workshops in November and December could be canceled because of the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
Landry also highlighted several upcoming community events in Marathon.
The city will hold its second annual trick-or-treat event at Sombrero Beach on Friday, Oct. 23, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The event was well received last year, Landry said.
The city’s community events committee also will host its second floating movie event at the lagoon on Friday, Oct. 17. Registration begins at 6 p.m., with the movie starting around dusk. This year’s selection is The Perfect Storm.
The city also will hold its 18th annual costume contest for City Hall employees and other city participants on Friday, Oct. 30. Voting costs $1 per vote, and proceeds will benefit Payton’s Promise, an organization that provides care for terminally ill, senior and otherwise unadoptable dogs.
Landry said employees typically remain in costume for several hours during the morning, giving residents an opportunity to see the costumes and support the fundraiser.
The Marathon City Council meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall. The public is invited to attend in person or participate through Zoom.