Islamorada council advances flood‑resilience planning, approves contracts and places charter questions on November ballot

The Islamorada Village Council on June 9 received updates on federal water‑quality funding and a countywide roads vulnerability study, approved several professional services contracts and preliminary budget actions, and voted unanimously to place five proposed charter amendments on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.

The meeting opened with roll call and the council recognized staff for length‑of‑service awards before dialing into several substantive presentations. Jim Davenport, the village’s federal lobbyist with Thorn Run Partners, told the council the village has received about $5.6 million through the FY26 Energy and Water appropriations for the Florida Keys Water Quality Improvement Program (FQUIP) and that an additional approximately $6 million has been sought for FY27; Davenport said roughly $4.3 million has already been identified in early FY27 appropriations steps but cautioned that congressional timing leaves precise receipt dates uncertain.

The council then heard a lengthy presentation from HDR/WSP consultants on a roads vulnerability and adaptation study commissioned with Monroe County partners. Melissa Enriquez (HDR) and Greg Corning (WSP) said consultants identified 19 project areas covering roughly 32 miles of village roads and produced planning‑level cost estimates totaling about $719.3 million (an average of roughly $22 million per mile) across periods through 2050. The study offers conceptual designs, a prioritization framework tied to vulnerability and criticality, and policy language to guide whether and when to elevate road segments; staff emphasized the document is advisory and not a binding capital program.

On administrative business the council approved the evaluation committee’s recommendation to retain Lankton Consulting for grant‑writing and support services (anticipated $48,000/year), and authorized contract amendments that will let the Village Manager finalize terms. Council also approved a contract amendment to Early Alert, Inc. to expand emergency management and allow a fire‑department operational audit; and it adopted the preliminary solid‑waste assessment resolution that would raise the annual assessment roughly $40 (a change staff says would begin to close the service fund deficit but would not fully eliminate it).

Council members unanimously adopted several local ordinances, including updated local purchasing thresholds and a marina code change creating a non‑vessel activity exclusion zone (the marina ordinance explicitly allows human‑powered craft such as paddleboards and canoes). Council also voted to defer action on an on‑demand electric ride‑share procurement until members can review a late submission.

Finally, the council voted to place five charter amendments on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot: (1) three‑year staggered council terms (with tie‑breaking draw rules if more seats are uncontested than slots); (2) an increase in annual council pay to $1,500 (with a CPI‑based cost‑of‑living adjustment); (3) clarified vacancy/candidacy procedures for pre‑election vacancies; (4) special‑election procedures for post‑election vacancies (including an appointment window and requirement to hold a special election within roughly six months); and (5) a supermajority (four of five) requirement to convey or materially change village parks or designated conservation/recreation open space (the council amended language to treat purchases differently from donations).

The council closed with updates on the wastewater rate study (report timing paused pending bid results on planned booster‑pump and headworks work), village property negotiations and the FY27 budget calendar. The public comment period included appeals from Habitat for Humanity and other community members urging careful, data‑driven decisions about village land for affordable housing.

Votes at a glance

- Consent items (tabs 1 & 3): approved (unanimous) — consent pull (tab 2) discussed separately. - Accept Monroe County buoy grant award (tab 2): approved (unanimous). - Defer RFP 26‑03 (on‑demand EV service): deferred for later review. - Award RFP 26‑04 (grant writing): approved, Lankton Consulting recommended (unanimous). - Preliminary solid‑waste assessment resolution (tab 6): approved (unanimous). - Early Alert contract amendment for emergency management/fire audit (tab 7): approved (unanimous). - Procurement threshold ordinance (second reading): adopted (unanimous). - Marina ordinance (non‑vessel activity exclusion zone): adopted (unanimous). - Charter referendums for November ballot (multiple items): approved for placement (unanimous).

What’s next

Staff expects FY26 FQUIP funds to be available in summer, will continue grant and appropriations work, will incorporate the road‑elevation planning docs into grant strategies and capital planning, and will return with contract details and further budget materials in upcoming meetings. The council set a reconvening on the deferred RFP item for Thursday to allow review of late materials.