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Islamorada residents and councilors press for stronger standards as village reviews Freebie rideshare contract
Summary
At an Islamorada public workshop, residents, business leaders and council members urged tighter service standards, changes to vehicle mix, additional charging and shelter sites, and clearer reporting after staff outlined a $2 rider fare and FDOT grant constraints. Grant specialist Alyssa Panzer explained fares reduce the village's net invoice and thus affect FDOT matching.
Ron Saunders, Islamorada village manager, opened the informal public workshop on the proposed renewal of the village's contract with Freebie, the on‑demand rideshare provider, saying the goal was to gather citizen input on the contract and a planned $2 rider fare.
The meeting brought business owners, residents and council members together to press staff for clearer service standards, more capacity during peak hours and better data reporting. "For the people that aren't here, I'm Ron Saunders, village manager," Saunders said, describing the need to refine the service so it provides "the best service possible for the residents of Islamorada." (first reference: Ron Saunders, village manager).
Why it matters: speakers said the village must balance taxpayer costs with a reliable service that removes cars from U.S. 1. Several residents argued that Freebie's current average occupancy—discussed in the meeting as about 1.25 passengers per trip—was too low to justify the program's stated goal of reducing highway congestion.
Longtime community advocate Sue Miller urged the village to require larger vehicles and stronger dashboard reporting. "They are offering four vehicles instead of three with one that would be on standby at all times apparently," Miller said, and she recommended using seven‑passenger VW Buzz vehicles for a scheduled loop to reduce canceled trips and long waits. Miller also asked that downloadable ridership dashboards show canceled trips and driver IDs so the village can analyze where service gaps occur.
Business voices and workers stressed the service's value for early shifts. Jonathan Lindback of Island Disposal, who identified himself as the incoming Chamber of Commerce president, said Freebie "is very valuable" for getting workers to restaurants and other jobs before fixed routes run. He urged staff to explore a hybrid loop-plus‑on‑call model to boost vehicle occupancy.
Grant constraints and fares: Alyssa Panzer, the village's grants specialist, said FDOT grant rules affect how fare revenue is treated. "So it does essentially reduce the cost per month," Panzer explained, describing how fares lower the village's monthly invoice from Freebie and therefore reduce the share split with FDOT. She added that FDOT funds are aimed at improvements and new service components and that the village must follow quarterly reporting and contractor oversight requirements tied to the grant.
Service standards and oversight: multiple speakers asked the village to include explicit performance standards and remedies in the contract—wait‑time targets, acceptable cancellation rates, vehicle uptime, a penalty or corrective process for missed standards, and a monthly staff or committee update to council. Several speakers suggested keeping the contract term flexible (one‑year renewals) while locking in measurable service levels.
Operations and infrastructure: participants proposed practical changes to improve reliability: a second charging station on the south end to avoid battery bottlenecks, a standby vehicle rotation so cars do not all charge simultaneously, strategic placement of larger vehicles to enable loops, and bus shelters or marked stops to improve visibility and rider comfort. Residents also urged a marketing push and bulk coupon sales for employers and hotels to increase ridership.
Fare structure debate: community members debated charging $2 per rider versus a per‑ride or per‑vehicle fee; some argued per rider is burdensome for multi‑person households and workers who commute daily while others noted proposals and vendor pricing already assumed a $2 per rider model. Staff said the meeting input will inform negotiations with Freebie and DOT and that written suggestions would be accepted for incorporation into contract talks.
What happens next: staff said they will compile the input, post meeting materials online and use the feedback in negotiations with Freebie and in any grant amendments with FDOT. No formal vote occurred; the workshop concluded with an agreement to pursue more explicit contract language, improved reporting, and operational changes to reduce wait times and cancellations.
The village will accept written input and post a recording and summary of the workshop for further comment.
