Village Weekly Update

September 29, 2025

Message from the Manager

The Florida Legislature’s next regular session begins on January 13, but committees are already meeting.

In preparation for the upcoming session, I recently had a Zoom call with the Village’s state legislative lobbyist team to discuss our priorities and concerns.

We discussed several issues:

1.     Senate Bill 180 - This bill passed last session and contained some late amendments that severely impact home rule and the ability of local governments to make decisions on how to properly manage issues that impact our residents and businesses. There will be an effort this session to amend the legislation.

2.     Tourist Development Councils - There was legislation proposed last session that would have negatively impacted TDCs around the state, including Monroe County’s. Although the effort failed, there will probably be another attempt made.

3.     The Legislature will be considering legislation and proposed constitutional amendments to reduce or eliminate property taxes. Since those revenues are a big part of funding local services, we will be closely monitoring the issue.

4.     Several Village Council members have expressed concern about how elevated modular homes in our community are treated regarding exemption from payment of property taxes. We will be exploring options to address the concerns.

5.     We will once again be seeking state funds from the Legislature for needed projects in the Village such as canal restoration, protection of near-shore water quality, and elevation of the Overseas Heritage Trail. We will also be seeking funding to help resolve our traffic congestion problems.    

I directed our lobbyists to work closely with our contracted grants consultant, Langton Consulting, and our full-time staff Grants and Environmental Coordinator, to identify and seek state funding.  

These issues will be discussed at the October 7 Village Council meeting.

News You Can Use

Subject: Temporary traffic pattern change. 

To all residents and motorists,

This announcement serves to inform you about upcoming changes to traffic flow in the Plantation Key Colony neighborhood on October 31, 2025, Halloween night. 

The changes are scheduled to begin at 5:00 PM and are expected to last until 10:00 PM. 

The purpose of these changes is to reduce congestion in the neighborhood and provide a safe environment for our Trick or Treaters. 

All vehicles will remain to the right of all cones. All pedestrians will remain on the left of all cones.     

All vehicles entering Plantation Key Colony will utilize Royal Poinciana Boulevard. 

At Coconut Palm Boulevards, vehicles will be directed to turn right or left depending on their destination.

North Coconut Palm Boulevard will become a one-way street.

South Coconut Palm Boulevard will become a one-way street from the intersection of Royal Poinciana Boulevard to the intersection of Bougainvillea Street.

Hibiscus Streets will become one-way streets, allowing turns only on to Royal Poinciana Boulevard towards US-1. 

Jasmine Streets will become one-way streets, allowing turns only on to Royal Poinciana Boulevard towards US-1.

Bougainvillea Street will become a one-way street between South Coconut Palm Boulevard and Royal Poinciana Boulevard, allowing turns on to Royal Poinciana Boulevard towards US-1. 

Royal Poinciana Boulevard will be the only way out of Plantation Key Colony as a one-way street. 

All vehicles leaving the area will utilize Royal Poinciana Boulevard only. 

Plantation Key Colony will have residential parking only.  Non-residents will park at Plantation Key School, Coral Shores High School and the Old Road. 

Please follow all posted signage and directions for your safety and the safety of all participants. Please avoid distractions and exercise caution while navigating the area. 

For further information or questions regarding this traffic change, please contact:

Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Cpt. Lissette Quintero

305-619-0779 or Lquintero@keysso.net

Thank you for your patience and understanding.  

Last week, the Village completed a planting project at Village Hall to fill in an open area in front of the main administration building and the wastewater pump station, adjacent to Overseas Highway.

The project enhances the open space of the property, along with creating a buffer of

native vegetation between the highway and the administration building, pump station, and the parking lot currently being utilized by Freebee.

About five hundred native trees, shrubs, and

groundcover comprising eighteen different species were planted in the area. In accordance with its Comprehensive Plan, the Village continues to restore public lands and hammock, preserve and enhance open space and natural landscapes as well as to enhance community appearance.

Over time the planting project will result in a much improved sight to those traveling along the Overseas Highway and those stopping to view the giant lobster at the Rain Barrel Village.

Each year, more than 600,000 military families move to new communities. Blue Star Welcome Week is a national week of activation to ensure military families feel welcome and community members are inspired to do their part in supporting them. The History of Diving Museum is one of many institutions across the country that will be participating.

Each year, the History of Diving Museum participates in Blue Star Museums. Free admission is offered to active-duty members of the military year-round, and from September 27 to October 5, this complimentary admission will extend to up to 5 family members! Be sure to spread the word and make our military families feel welcome.

Guided tours are included with admission on Saturday, October 4th and Saturday, October 11th. Tours take place at 11 AM and 2 PM and will feature highlights of military divers and their heroic, often dangerous work. Tours on October 11 will coincide with the 250th anniversary of the US Navy.



Recreation & Events

Earlier this spring, the Council discussed dedicating the dog park at Founders Park in honor of the late Mike Forster. Following a public poll, the park will officially be named the "Mangrove" Mike Forster Dog Park.

Mayor Mahoney and Village staff are now planning a special dedication ceremony this fall, which will include a commemorative plaque and bench to celebrate Mike’s legacy.

To make this tribute truly special, we’re inviting the community to help bring the celebration to life. Donations will directly support the ceremony and memorial features. If you’d like to contribute, visit Centennial Bank and ask to donate to the “Mangrove Mike Dedication” account, or contact Mayor Mahoney for more information.

Congratulations to four young women from our Coral Shores High School and Florida Keys Swim Club swim teams that competed in the annual 8.1 mile Swim for Alligator Reef Lighthouse in September at Amara Cay Resort.

This open water swim race, sponsored by our local Friends of the Pool, regularly draws 300-400 serious adult competitors from all over the world.

Parks and Larkin Dunn placed in the two-person kayak race and Layne Smith and Sofia Figueredo each completed the solo 8.1-mile race. 

17-year-old Layne Smith was the female overall WINNER, passing 80 other swimmers from the fifth starting wave to complete the race in just 3hrs 39 minutes. (She is only the second local to win this race after her sister Corley Smith in 2022.)

All swimmers practice regularly with Coach Jon Olsen at the Ron Levy Aquatic Center, and we couldn’t be prouder of how they represented Islamorada!

You can cheer them on at an upcoming Coral Shores (home) swim meet at the pool in October. 

For more info on the swim and the effort to restore the lighthouse, go to swimalligatorlight.com 

Wear your witchiest attire and join us for the Islamorada Witches Paddle on Saturday, October 18th, at 2:00 PM. Paddle ½ mile from the Green Turtle Hammock Nature Preserve kayak launch to the Islamorada Fish Company, where you can rest for a spell with your new water-borne coven. Paddle back to the Green Turtle Hammock Nature Preserve at your leisure. Bring your costumed friends and family — and bring your own paddle board or kayak. 

Safety is always a priority. Witches must follow park rules and the U.S. Coast Guard regulations for nonmotorized vessels. To get in the water more quickly at the event, you can complete the Village's event participation liability waiver in advance: Adult Waiver, Youth Waiver. 

This event is open to the public. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, all persons who are disabled and who need special accommodations to participate in this event because of that disability should contact the ADA Coordinator at ADA@islamorada.fl.us or 305-664-6448 at least 48 hours before the scheduled event.

Other questions? Contact emily.rother@islamorada.fl.us.

Witches, let's paddle!

Save the Date! 7th Annual Trunk or Treat Halloween Party & Haunted Hayride: Saturday, October 25th, 6:00-9:00pm. Halloween Festivities, Food, and Fun! Registration is open now!

Click below to register your Trunk and/or register a Spooky Spot on the Haunted Hayride! Contact the Park for more details.

Decorate your vehicle and provide candy to Trunk or Treaters:

CLICK HERE to register a Trunk!

Decorate a spot on the trail and bring spooky fun to Haunted Hayride Trail riders:

CLICK HERE to register a Spooky Spot!

Workforce / Affordable Housing Citizens Advisory Committee Meeting

September 29 | 5:00 pm

Regular Village Council Meeting

October 7 | 5:30 pm

Land Use Council Meeting

October 9 | 5:30 pm

Local Planning Agency Meeting

October 13 | 5:30 pm

Historic Preservation Commission Meeting

October 15 | 10:00 am

Getting to Know Your Village Manager

Village Manager Ron Saunders was born and raised in the Florida Keys. After receiving his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Florida School of Law, he returned to the Keys and served as Chief Deputy Monroe County Attorney. He then was elected to an open seat in the Legislature where he served Monroe County for 14 years in the Florida House of Representatives and had his legislative office in Plantation Key.

Ron chaired the House Appropriations Committee responsible for the State of Florida’s multi-billion dollar budget and was twice selected by an independent panel as the Most Effective Member of the 120 members of the House.

A Miami Herald article about Ron at the time stated:

“In a year when there was no money to reward lawmakers with pet projects, he helped craft a lean state budget that brought few complaints. And he won approval of a clean-up plan for the Everglades, beating back attempts by agricultural interests to sabotage it.”

Photo credit: myfloridahouse.gov

Staff Spotlight

Laurie Postrion

Building Permit Clerk

Laurie's aunt moved down to the Keys in 1980, and she would visit every year through high school. Both she and her husband fell in love with the area after spending time here on their honeymoon.

A few years later, they packed up and moved to Tavernier. They have been residents of the Keys for almost thirty years.

Laurie has held positions at Post Card Inn (formerly Holiday Isle), the U.S. Post Office, and Violia/Advanced Disposal before joining the Building Services Department as a permit clerk in February 2017. 

In her role as a permit clerk, Laurie's main focus is assisting customers at the permit counter with the intake and issuance of paper permit applications and plans. Through this process, she has developed a great rapport with many of the local contractors. 

As the number of electronically submitted permit applications grew significantly through the Village’s CityView Portal, she was assigned to assist with processing those permits, in addition to her responsibilities at the permit counter handling hard copy submissions.

Connect with us!