Village Weekly Update


November 2, 2026

Message from the Manager

The 2026 general election will be held tomorrow, Tuesday, November 3.

Candidates for four of the five Council seats will be on the ballot (Vice Mayor Sharon Mahoney was unopposed).

The winning candidates will be sworn in at the November 17 regular Village Council meeting.

Also on the ballot are 3 proposed amendments to the Village Charter which were approved by the seven-person Charter Review Committee and placed on the ballot by the Village Council.

Voters will be deciding whether to increase the terms of Council members from 2 to 3 years with a three-term limit, to set a new procedure to fill a Council seat vacancy, and to require a supermajority Council vote on amending the land use map or zoning of certain Village-owned property.

Click here to view Islamorada's Sample Ballot.

News You Can Use

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. Vote in your registered precinct on November 3 between 7:00am - 7:00pm.

Not sure where to vote? Check out the Supervisor of Elections Where Do I Vote button below for more information.

Looking for a meaningful way to get involved in our community?

Serving on a Village committee is a great opportunity to collaborate with fellow residents, share your ideas, and help shape the future of our Village.

Applications are being accepted for the Historic Preservation Commission, Land Acquisition Advisory Committee, and Workforce/Affordable Housing Committee.

Apply by November 9; appointments will be made at the November 17 Council Meeting.

To mark a wonderful conclusion to National Community Planning Month, Planning Director Jennifer DeBoisbriand and Assistant Director Daniel Parobok spent the afternoon of Wednesday, October 28th, engaging with bright young minds at Ocean Studies Charter School in Key Largo.

Daniel took the stage to present to the 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade science classes, delivering an insightful presentation on sustainability, environmental stewardship, and the vital role planning plays in protecting our local ecosystem.

He highlighted how the Village's new Comprehensive Plan serves as a blueprint for thoughtful development, balancing community growth with the preservation of our unique natural resources.

The visit was perfectly timed, as the students are currently deep in preparation for their upcoming STEM Fair on December 16th. This year’s fair focuses specifically on sustainability and strategies to keep the Florida Keys a beautiful, resilient place to live.

Following the presentation, Jennifer and Daniel hosted a lively Q&A session, fielding impressive questions from the students before touring the classroom to view early concepts of their inspiring STEM projects.



Connecting with the next generation of environmental stewards was an incredibly rewarding experience, highlighting the direct link between community planning today and a sustainable future tomorrow.

Work began last week on Islamorada’s next canal restoration project at Canal #145, located between Columbus Drive and Cortez Drive on Lower Matecumbe Key.

The project continues the Village’s efforts to improve water quality in residential canals and adjacent nearshore waters. Crews will first remove accumulated organic sediments from the canal bottom, then backfill the canal with clean, native fill material to bring the bottom to 6 to 7 feet below mean sea level.

This depth is intended to promote a healthier canal by improving water circulation and oxygen levels. Reducing excessive depth helps eliminate anoxic zones and enhances habitat conditions for fish, wildlife, and aquatic vegetation.

The planning phase of this project began in May 2024, and design and permitting were completed in June 2026. Tavernier based Adventure Environmental Inc. will be completing the job for the Village.

This is a $2.1million project that is being fully funded from an FDEP grant through the Florida Keys Stewardship Act Program. The project is expected to take about four months to complete. Residents along the canal have been working with Village staff and contractors to make this project a success.  

The Village remains committed to several transportation goals, including providing alternative options to single vehicle transit and reducing vehicle congestion on the road.

An important means of working towards both goals is to maintain alternative transportation options, including walking and biking.

Through the development of a USDOT compliant Comprehensive Safety Action Plan for the Village, road safety will be assessed for all road users, especially bicycles and pedestrians, and a plan will be created including some prioritized projects and strategies to implement.

The Village received grant funding for the planning process, and upon plan completion, the Village will be eligible to apply for further grant funding to implement projects.

The planning process is expected to kick off in early 2027, and should take at least 12 months, seeking public engagement at multiple steps. 

ONGOING CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES

Sunday, November 1, through Saturday, November 7, 2026

State Road (SR) 5/Overseas Highway Channel 5 Bridge (near MM 71)

Work continues under the Channel 5 Bridge. 
Nightime lane closures are scheduled.

Lane Closure/Detours:

• Nighttime single-lane closures are scheduled Sunday, November 1, through Thursday, November 5, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following morning. 

• Flaggers will periodically stop traffic in one direction to allow vehicles from the opposite direction to pass safely.

• Motorists should be prepared to stop and proceed only when directed by the construction team. 

View the project webpage here

State Road (SR) 5/U.S. 1/Overseas Highway Seven Mile Bridge over Moser Channel Rehabilitation (MM 40 - MM 47)

Work continues under the bridge.

Lane Closure/Detours:



• No lane closures or detours are scheduled. 

View the project webpage here

State Road (SR) 5/U.S. 1/Overseas Highway on Bahia Honda Bridge (near MM 36)

Work continues under the Bahia Honda Bridge. Installation of materials requires daytime lane closures.

Lane Closure/Detours:

• No lane closures or detours are scheduled.

View the project webpage here

For real-time traffic and lane closure information, drivers are encouraged to log onto www.FL511.com, or download the FL511 app.

One of our most important projects to date is in the final stages in Islamorada. 

Project Summary:

In April 2023, we began installing a new transmission main to replace the existing, original main that’s approximately 40-years-old.

Following the clearance notice from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the new transmission main was activated on July 29, 2024.

All 22,152 linear feet of new, 36-inch cathodically protected pipe have been installed between MM 79.5 and MM 84, and now work will focus on restoration and final clean-up in the area.

Project Details: 

Q: Why did the transmission main have to be replaced? 

A: Because clean drinking water is a MUST. As pipes age, they become more susceptible to corrosion, leaks, storm surge, and other effects.

Q: Why was this project a modern marvel? 

A: Get ready, we are about to geek out here. 

 The new, 36-inch diameter cathodically protected steel water main was installed via open-cut trench installation. Cathodically protected means the pipe will be protected from corrosion. In the Keys, we have aggressive soils and subterranean tidal flows that submerge and expose the pipeline to corrosive conditions, and this method ensures the pipe’s not compromised. 

The project also included connections to existing mains and master taps. New transmission mains were installed at the Teatable Relief and Whale Harbor bridge crossings via horizontal directional drill (HDD) as well. This means the transmission main was installed underwater, protecting it from high winds and storm surges.

Q: How much did this project cost?

A: The Islamorada Transmission Main Replacement project cost approximately $42 million, with $20 million funded by grants and the balance funded through low-interest loans. 

Maps of the project, timelines and progress reports are updated regularly and available from the FKAA at: FKAA Plantation Key Transmission Replacement Project

Questions? Email community@fkaa.com. After-hours support is available at (305) 296-2454.

·        Click here to follow the FKAA on Facebook

·        Click here to follow the FKAA on X

·        Click here to sign up for CodeRED emergency notifications from the FKAA

Recreation & Events

As part of his master’s degree in marine biology at the University of Miami, Andrew Jordan is leading a community engagement project through his internship with Florida Bay Forever focused on the growing use of forward-facing sonar in Florida Bay.

Forward-facing sonar is a real-time scanning technology that allows anglers to see and track individual fish with remarkable precision.

As its use becomes more widespread, it has sparked important conversations about fish behavior, catch efficiency, and the principle of fair chase—the idea that wildlife should have a reasonable opportunity to evade detection and pursuit.

This community engagement project will bring together guides, anglers, scientists, conservation organizations, and other stakeholders to share perspectives and explore how this evolving technology may be affecting Florida Bay and the fisheries that support our community.

The goal is not to advocate for a particular position, but to encourage informed, respectful dialogue and better understand the opportunities and challenges surrounding forward-facing sonar.



Join us on Saturday, November 14, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for a special trip to Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park!

Help us clean up the shoreline, enjoy the beauty of the island, and make a difference in protecting our natural environment. 💚

📅 Date: Saturday, November 14, 2026

⏰ Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

📍 Location: Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park



🙋 Who can volunteer? Adults 18 and older, or ages 13–17 accompanied by an adult.

Pre-registration is required! Sign up using the link below, or contact the park office at 305-664-4339.

Registered volunteers will receive a confirmation email with additional details to help prepare for the trip.

Come lend a hand, enjoy a little island adventure, and help keep our beautiful Florida Keys clean! 🌊🌱

🔗 Sign up here: Signup Link

Precautionary and Needs:

All volunteers must be able to enter and exit watercraft onto uneven/wet terrain.

All volunteers shall be able to walk on uneven terrain including mangrove roots and rocky coastline.

All volunteers must be able to get shoes wet as well as prepare to get fully wet and be able to swim.

All volunteers must prepare for mosquitos and biting flies. Prepare for sunshine, heat, and humidity.

This year's Annual Trunk or Treat event, held on Saturday, October 24th, was a spooktacular success! We extend a huge THANK YOU to all the local businesses, organizations, and community members who participated and helped make this event such a memorable evening!

Your creativity, enthusiasm, and community spirit truly brought the event to life. We couldn't have done it without you!

👽 Did you get a chance to visit the Founders Park Staff's Alien Invasion booth? Our team had an out-of-this-world time bringing this extraterrestrial experience to life!

🏆 Congratulations to Our Trunk Decorating Contest Winners!

🥇 1st Place: Upper Keys Weekly – Jurassic Park



🥈 2nd Place: Treasure Village Montessori School – Spooky Treasure



🥉 3rd Place: Ocean Studies Charter School – Tailgators

Congratulations to our winners, and thank you to everyone who went above and beyond with their amazing displays!

Workforce/Affordable Housing Committee

November 2 | 5:00 p.m.

Election Day

November 3 | 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Canceled: Land Acquisition Advisory Committee

November 4 | 9:30 a.m.

Local Planning Agency
November 9 | 5:30 p.m.

Boat Ramp PYH Marina Public Workshop 
November 10 | 5:30 p.m.

Village Offices Closed - Veterans Day

November 11

The Village of Islamorada is a cultural hub.

With many local art galleries, two museums, and live music nearly every night at various venues, the arts abound!

Check out the calendar to find out what's going on any day of the week. 

For even more local events, we recommend the Islamorada Chamber of Commerce's Community Calendar and the Monroe County Tourism Development Council's Events Calendar. 

Please let us know your feedback on the newsletter. Ideas for new features will be discussed and may be incorporated into future editions.

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