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 tourism conference in Orlando happened last week.
Henriquez said, “It was the Florida Governor’s Tourism Conference. That was very informative. That was my first time and seeing what the future holds and where we’re at, it was great. Then I was in the parade on Sunday afternoon, in reference to the Jimmy Buffett Second Line March. So I would like to thank Just a Few Friends of Key West, Paul Menta, Lucy Buffett, and all that were involved in putting that event together this weekend. I mean, it was just so much fun, and it was a wonderful time that was had by all. Looking at all the videos and stuff on Facebook, I mean, they said there was approximately 7,000 people there, so it was just a great time, and to be able to honor Jimmy Buffett was great. It was definitely great for our economy here this weekend. Owning a store, personally, we were very busy. So hopefully everybody was able to enjoy all of that because now I do believe we will be starting our slow period, for the next few weeks, and preparing for Fantasy Fest in October.”
There is a City Commission meeting coming up tomorrow as well as a hearing in Orlando about the rainbow crosswalks.
Henriquez said, “I believe that is Delray Beach that has it today. So hopefully we’ll be able to get some information on how that went today. We are going to have a very busy week. In reference to the commission meeting today, at 3:30 in the commission chambers is the contractors examining board meeting, again, that starts at 3:30 in the commission chambers. Also we will be preparing for the agenda tomorrow for our commission meeting. I have actually my agenda review today at 8:30 and I will be going over the commission meeting that’s tomorrow, starting at 9 am and then we’ll have the evening session starting at 5 pm but also we’ll have pursuant to Florida statue 447.605, our commission will hold a closed attorney client session commencing at 2:30 tomorrow, and that is for the purpose to discuss collective bargaining involving the International Association of Firefighters, local 1424, so we’re going to have a very long day. We have a meeting starting at nine, and we have a closed session at 2:30 and then the evening session starting at 5. A commissioner proposed a resolution asking commissioners to vote to protect the rainbow crosswalks at Duval and Petronia, after the Florida Department of Transportation, if they order their removal. So that’s one of the agenda items. Also, there’s a resolution asking Monroe County Land authority to release more than 1.3 million and that’s the help the renovations at Poinciana Gardens living complex. So that’s going to be on there. There’s going to be a discussion about the transfer of Higgs Beach from Monroe County to the city of Key West. There also will be a discussion at the evening session by Commissioner Lee, in reference to the crosswalk. So with that said, there is going to be a meeting at 10 am in Orlando on Wednesday, during our commission meeting, and we’ll see what the results are going to be, in reference to the city of Key West. They are having a meeting today for Delray. I’m not sure when Fort Lauderdale’s meeting is, but I know ours is at 10 on Wednesday, and I guess we’ll wait and see what the outcome is going to be.”
The agenda for the commission meeting is 25 pages long.
Henriquez said, “For August and September, because we didn’t have a commission meeting in July, we’re trying to catch up. So August and September have been a little full. That’s okay. That means we’re getting stuff done and taking care of business.”
The building department will also have a quarterly stakeholder’s meeting at 7:30 on Thursday.
Henriquez said, “Normally it’s in the chambers, but this time, for some reason, it’s going to be held in the United Street courtyard adjacent to the commission chambers, so it’s going to be outside instead of inside the chambers. I’m not exactly sure why, but I just wanted to make sure your listeners knew that it was going to be in the courtyard on Thursday morning. Beginning Thursday, the new temporary southernmost point buoy will be located at the ocean end of Duval Street, which is at 1400 Duval. In addition, the statue of Bishop Albert Key, formerly located near the original buoy will be placed at the entrance of the park as well. So the Southernmost Point Plaza is a much needed overhaul due to storm events, erosion. So the original southern most buoy will be boxed off during the work. It’s expected to take about a year. So everyone now will be taking their pictures just a block away. But the construction will include the seawall construction, road work and revamping the plaza itself. So for about a year, we’re going to have to take pictures at a temporary southern most buoy, so the original will have to go on vacation for about a year.”
There will also be budget meetings on September 11 and 25.
Henriquez said, “Both of those meetings start at 5:05pm at the Commission chambers. And then Friday plogging this week is hosted by the Key West Women Fest 2025, and Sherry Ivey Jones PA and it will be on Duval and Petronia Street. We will meet in front of the Key West Business Guild office located at 808 Duval Street. On Saturday, the city of Key West and waste management will be holding a monthly free drop off hazardous waste and E-waste services, and it’s for Key West residents only, and it’s going to be held at the Indigenous Park on White Street from 8am until noon. So we do that the first Saturday of every month. So you can see we have a lot going on this week, but most importantly today is preparing for our commission meeting tomorrow. Come on down to the commission meeting and listen to what’s going on in our city. We are doing great things and moving things forward. There will be a lot of discussion on the crosswalks, in reference to what the state is going to do and what we’re going to do, and if there’s going to be a Plan B, and maybe having to relocate the crosswalks possibly at a different location. So there’s going to be a lot of discussion. Please come to the commission meeting and we’ll see what develops this week.”