Village Weekly Update


April 6, 2026

Message from the Manager

The Village Council will hold its monthly regular meeting tomorrow, April 7th, at the Founders Park Community Center, beginning at 5:30pm.

A copy of the meeting agenda can be found by going to the Village’s website at www.islamorada.fl.us and clicking on the Agendas and Meetings tab.

The last page of the agenda has details on how the public can view the meeting and participate remotely. 

The Islamorada Charter Review Committee met on Monday, March 30^th, at the Founders Park Community Center.

The Committee is scheduled to meet again on Wednesday, April 15. The meeting will start at 5:30 and is open to the public.

A copy of the meeting agenda as well as video recordings of past committee meetings can be found on the Village’s website by going to www.islamorada.fl.us, and clicking on the Agendas and Meetings tab.  

On January 26^th, the Village issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ 26-01) seeking proposals from qualified and experienced developers of affordable/workforce housing to construct and operate an affordable housing development with units for rent on the land owned by the Village known as the Machado property. The proposed project site includes 4 vacant lots of approximately 2.42 acres combined at 88500 Overseas Highway. The units would be deed-restricted in perpetuity for affordable housing.

A publicly announced evaluation committee meeting was held at the Village Administrative Center’s 3^rd Floor Conference Room last Thursday. Two proposals were submitted which were evaluated by a staff committee. The score sheets can be found here. The proposals will be considered by the Village Council at the May 12th regular meeting.

The Village issued on March 12th a Request for Proposals (RFP 26-03) for on-demand electric vehicle ridesharing services.

The agreement with the current service provider, Freebee, will expire June 30^th, 2026. Proposals will be due by April 13^th.

The current fiscal year 25-26 total of filled staff positions - 126 - is the same as the total of 126 filled positions for the fiscal year 21-22.

In the fiscal year 23-24, there were 137 total filled positions, and in fiscal year 24-25, there were 132 total filled positions, so there has been a decrease in total filled staff positions over the past several years.

Staffing Adjustments FY 21-22 to Present

FY 21-22 increased 1 FT position over FY 20-21

•Public Works (1)

FY 22-23 increased 7 FT positions over FY 21-22

•IT (1 )

•Fire (5)

•Wastewater (1)

FY 23-24 increased 2.5 FT positions over FY 22-23

•Legal (-2)

•Parks (1.5)

•HR (1)

FY 24-25 increased 2 FT positions over FY 23-24

•Fire (1)

•Marina (1)

FY25-26 increased 1 FT position over FY24-25

•Parks (Lifeguard)

News You Can Use

The application period for Islamorada’s Village Committees is now open.

In accordance with Chapter 2, Administration, Article 2-V (Village Boards, Committees, and Commissions), the Village Council will make committee appointments at its May 12 Council Meeting.

Following the implementation of staggered two-year terms last year, 24 committee seats are set to expire. Applications are now being accepted for all committees.

Serving on a committee is a great way to get involved and contribute to our community.

Visit the Boards & Committees page to learn more and apply.

Application deadline: May 1.

A two-month long construction project to install a culvert pipe underneath Gulfview and Lakeview Drives on Lower Matecumbe Key is nearing completion. Residents of Port Antigua have been patient as the work crew completed the section of pipe running underneath Gulfview Drive.

This section of pipe laying was extremely technical due to the extensive utility infrastructure that ran through this area, including wastewater lines. Now that construction is through that area, the pace of construction has sped up, and it is only expected to be two more weeks until project completion.

The intent of the project is to hydrologically connect the Port Antigua canal system to the White Marlin canal system, both of which are a series of dead-end canals. The culvert pipe will improve water circulation and dissolved oxygen in the canal systems by increasing tidal exchange with the nearshore waters. The specific work being completed is the placement of a 5’ x 7’ box culvert underneath Gulfview Drive and Lakeview Drive, a length of approximately 200 feet.

This Port Antigua project is one phase of an ongoing larger project to connect all the dead-end canals on the southern end of Lower Matecumbe. The project continues Islamorada’s canal restoration program for water quality improvement within canals and near shore waters. The project is fully funded through grants from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the US Army Corps of Engineers.

For more information on the Village’s canal restoration work program, please contact the Environmental Resources Manager, Peter Frezza, at peter.frezza@islamorada.fl.us or 305-664-6427.

View project webpage here

View project webpage here

View the project webpage here

View project webpage here

View project webpage here

The construction schedule may change due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. 

For more information on District Six FDOT projects, please visit our website:

SouthFLRoads.com

You may also contact Community Outreach Specialist, Julie Brown, 

at 305-927-1479 or Julie.Brown@dot.state.fl.us

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

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

Great news! Our NEW Founders Park app is now available in your mobile app store!

Download the app today and make registering and paying for park programs a breeze!

https://get.myfitapp.de/a/34G1?p=6

CANCELLED: Workforce/Affordable Housing Committee

April 6 | 5:00 p.m.

CANCELLED: CDBG Citizens Advisory Task Force

April 7 | 4:00 p.m.

Executive Session Regarding Yates Case No. 2024-CA-479-P

April 7 | 4:00 p.m.

CANCELLED: CDBG Citizens Advisory Task Force 1st Public Hearing

April 7 5:30 p.m.

Regular Village Council Meeting

April 7 | 5:30 p.m.

Parks and Recreation Committee

April 8 | 5:00 p.m.

CANCELLED: Land Use Village Council Meeting

April 9 | 5:30 p.m.

Looking for something to do? Check out the Village’s new Arts and Culture Calendar to find out about all of the concerts, theater, art exhibitions, classes, and lectures in Islamorada!

Events are subject to change; always confirm with the event location or host. Want to see your event on the Cultural Arts Calendar? Complete this form

Emily Rother joined the Village of Islamorada in July 2025 as the Village's first-ever Cultural Arts Coordinator.

In her first 9 months, Emily introduced three new cultural initiatives: the Arts and Culture Calendar, bi-annual Art in Public Buildings Exhibitions, and a popular "Witches Paddle" creative recreation event in October (pictured below).

She also applied for more than $90k in grant funding to further elevate Islamorada's cultural planning and programming in 2027.

Prior to moving to Islamorada, Emily lived in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, and worked as a project manager in International Disaster Response.

Emily managed projects related to organizational change, process innovation, enterprise risk management, and humanitarian response in countries from Ethiopia to Ukraine. 

Emily is seeking cultural event partners! Would you like to support a concert, theatrical production, literary gathering, or other cultural event that would increase access to the arts in our community? Reach out to Emily at emily.rother@islamorada.fl.us. 

Emily is also responsible for managing event rentals of the Pavilion at the Village's Green Turtle Hammock Nature Preserve. 

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