Village Weekly Update

February 17, 2026

Message from the Manager

The Islamorada Charter Review Committee will hold its third meeting tomorrow, Wednesday, Feb. 18^th, at the Founders Park Community Center.

The agenda is posted on the Village’s website as well as information on how to participate in the meeting.

Agenda and Meetings

The Village held its monthly regular meeting last Tuesday, Feb. 10^th. The meeting can be viewed by going to the Village’s website, clicking on Agendas and Meetings, and then on the Meeting Media tab for the Feb. 10^th meeting.

Legislative Updates

We continue to hold weekly update zoom meetings with our state legislative lobbying team every Friday at 4pm. The meetings are recorded and can be viewed on our website.

Contact the Village Manager

Rotary Gigantic Nautical Market - February 21 & 22

If you are entering or leaving the Keys on February 21 or 22^nd, plan ahead.

The Upper Keys Rotary is running that Gigantic Nautical Market again at Founders Park mm 87 in Islamorada.

Traffic will be heavy, and there will be delays, particularly on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

This event, named for Keys Deck and Dock Supply and sponsored by the Pool Spa Billiards Store, now in the 31^st year, allows the Upper Keys Rotary and the Key Largo Rotary to provide well over $250,000 annually for various scholarship programs in the Upper Keys.

Both Rotary clubs run their own scholarship programs, for both academic and technical education, and both support the Take Stock in Children program in the county. The Upper Keys Rotary Foundation’s scholarship program follows students through 4 – 5 years of academic or career technical education.

We call the Gigantic Nautical Market a boat show and a food truck rally. This year we have at least 20 food trucks onsite.

More than three hundred and fifty vendors will be selling everything from hooks and rods to nautical clothing, deck gear, decorating items, and full boat packages.

You will find beer, soft drinks, cocktails, and a great variety to choose from in those food trucks!

We provide free parking at Coral Shores High School, mile marker 89.9, and a constant flow of free shuttle busses to the event. The doors open at 8 AM and close at 5 PM on Saturday February 21nd and open at 9AM with a 3PM closing on Sunday.

News You Can Use

Please note that Village Hall will be closing at noon on Friday, February 20 to accommodate set-up of the Gigantic Nautical Market.

The Village is looking to fill a current vacancy on the citizens Land Acquisition Advisory Committee. If you are a resident of Islamorada and would like to learn more about this committee and apply for an appointment to it, you may apply here. If you would like more information on the committee, feel free to reach out to the staff liaison Peter Frezza at peter.frezza@islamorada.fl.us

Try Our New GIS Web Experience!

Islamorada, Village of Islands, is pleased to introduce a new GIS web experience designed for public use. The GIS home page provides interactive access to a variety of maps and planning resources to help residents, businesses, and visitors better understand the Village.

These GIS maps include:

Zoning and Land Use Maps, featuring accurate and up-to-date parcel information, zoning designations, and future land use data.
Flood Zone Maps, based on FEMA’s National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL) dataset.
Habitat Maps, displaying current habitat areas and designated turtle nesting beaches.
Roadway Elevation Maps, based on the roadway vulnerability analysis completed for the Village of Islamorada by HDR and WSP. Elevations are shown in the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88), with spot elevations provided every 10 feet when zoomed in and every 200 feet when zoomed out.

These interactive maps allow residents, visitors, and Village employees to search by Address, Owner Name, AK, and/or Parcel number. Tools available for use include interactive layers, distance measurement, an area calculator, and the ability to print/export a custom map.

The GIS experience also includes quick reference links to the Village’s Land Development

Regulations, offering convenient access to planning forms, applications, manuals, guidelines, and information on applicable land development standards and requirements.

You can locate the home page here:

https://www.islamorada.fl.us/423/Geographic-Information-System-GIS

Planning an Event?
Don't Forget Your Temporary Use Permit!

If you’re planning to host an event, community gathering, public assembly, or any other temporary use on your property, please remember that many activities require a Temporary Use Permit under the Village of Islamorada’s Land Development Regulations. '

What does this mean?

Any special event or temporary use, especially those that draw people, involve temporary structures, or affect public spaces—may need a permit.
A Temporary Use Permit is required before you host events that could impact on traffic, public rights-of-way, parking, or community services.

Key Things to Know:

✔ Application timing:

Events in residential areas: apply at least 30 days before the event.

Events in non-residential areas: apply at least 45 days before the event.

Any event that requires temporary closure of rights-of-way: apply at least 60 days before the event.

(These deadlines help staff review and process applications properly.)

✔ Application fee:

There is a $100 application fee for Temporary Use Permits.

✔ Plan ahead:

Large events or those impacting public spaces or streets may require additional documentation (site plans, emergency access plans, insurance, etc.) as part of the permit process.

Why it matters:

Permits help ensure the safety of attendees and residents, protect surrounding properties, and keep events in compliance with local zoning and safety standards.

👉 For full details on the Temporary Use regulations, see the Village Code — Division 30-V-8 – Temporary Uses, Including Public Assemblies.

For questions or assistance with the application process, please contact Planning Coordinator, Angy Rivas at (305)664-6426 or angy.rivas@islamorada.fl.us.

📢 PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT 📢

Founders Park Pool Resurfacing & Facility Project Update

The Pool Resurfacing and Facility Improvement Project at Founders Park has officially commenced and is progressing well.

Currently, pool draining and leak detection are underway. Demolition of the locker room tile and flooring has been completed, clearing the way for upcoming renovations. In addition, the concrete pad for the new enclosed Lifeguard First Aid Room has been poured—an important milestone that will enhance safety, security, and emergency response capabilities for our aquatics staff.

We are pleased with the progress to date and appreciate the community’s continued patience and support as these improvements take shape. Additional updates will be shared as the project advances.

For questions or concerns, please contact the Park Office at (305) 853-1685 or ifp@islamorada.fl.us. Project updates will be available at www.islamorada.fl.us.

New Recreation Management Software Launching

Founders Park Office Closure for Staff Training:

The Founders Park Office will close at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 17 to allow park staff to participate in training for a new Recreation Management Software system.

This new software will officially go live on March 1 and is designed to enhance the overall experience for staff, residents, and visitors. The upgraded system will offer improved self-service (online) options, including:

Program and activity registration
Online purchasing
Membership management
Facility reservations & schedules
And more!

Additional information regarding the new Recreation Management Software and its features will be provided soon! We appreciate the public’s understanding and patience as we work to implement this new system, which will provide more convenient and efficient services for our community. For additional information, please contact the Founders Park Office at (305) 853-1685.

2026 Commercially Supported Agriculture Program

SOS is partnering with Urban Oasis to launch the 2026 CSA program! Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) boxes are filled with fresh, locally sourced produce from small farms in South Florida featuring tropical fruits, leafy greens, herbs, and more.

This CSA cycle will run bi-weekly AND weekly from January 26 through May 18, for a total of 9 or 16 boxes over 16 weeks. Each box costs $40, and Islamorada’s pick-up time/location is the Village Administrative Building lobby on Mondays 12:00 – 5:00 PM.

Click this link to sign up and choose your program and pick up location. For more information—including pick-up instructions, sample box contents, and FAQs—please visit SOS Foundation website: https://www.sosfoundation.org/csakw.

For any questions, contact Erin Rixson, SOS Foundation CSA coordinator, at erixson@sosfoundation.org, or Alyssa Panzer, Village Grants and Environmental Coordinator, at Alyssa.panzer@islamorada.fl.us.

Transmission Main Replacement Project

Stay Updated on this Project

Work has wrapped up in Islamorada and moved north of Tavernier Creek, but we will continue keep you updated every step of the way.

Click here to learn more about the Transmission Main 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

View project webpage here

View the 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.

Sign up for Islamorada Emergency Alert Emails

Alert Signup

Recreation & Events

Upcoming Meetings

Village Hall Closing Early

February 20 | 12:00 p.m.

Weekly Legislative Update - Zoom

February 20 | 4:00 p.m.

CANCELLED - Historic Preservation Commission Meeting

February 18 | 10:00 a.m.

Charter Review Committee Meeting

February 18 | 5:30 p.m.

Local Planning Agency Meeting

February 23 | 5:30 p.m.

Check Out Our Calendar

2026 Florida Legislative Session Important Dates

Understanding the State Legislative Process

The Florida Legislature meets every year for a 60-day regular session.

In odd-numbered years, the legislative session begins on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March.

In even-numbered years, the legislative session begins on the second Tuesday after the first Monday in January.

Interim Committee Weeks:

~~Week of November 3~~

~~Week of November 17~~

~~Week of December 1~~

~~Week of December 8~~

◆ November 21

~~House final deadline to file Appropriation Project Request Form~~s

◆ November 21

~~Member Bill Submission Deadline~~

◆ January 7

~~Member Bill Final Draft Deadline~~

◆ January 13

~~Day 1 ~ First Day of the 2026 Regular Session~~

◆ January 16

~~House Attestation Forms Due for Appropriations Projects~~

◆ March 13

Day 60 ~ Last Day of the 2026 Regular Session

Join Us Every Friday During the Legislative Session

for the Village's Legislative Update

The Village is hosting a new weekly Legislative Update via Zoom every Friday at 4:00 p.m.

Village Manager and lobbyists will meet via Zoom for the Legislative Weekly Update on Friday, January 30, 2026, at 4:00 p.m .The weekly meetings will last at least through the full Regular Legislative Session, which is slated to end on March 13.

We help you stay up to date on the state government issues that ultimately affect all of us.

Watch on Zoom this Friday at 4:00 p.m.

The public is encouraged to view remotely via the Zoom video conferencing application and send public comment to public.comment@islamorada.fl.us by 5 p.m. on Thursday.

Make sure to put “legislative comment” in subject line.

Arts and Culture

Visit New Islamorada Cultural Arts Calendar

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

Arts Events Around Town February 17 - 22

Events are subject to change. Confirm event details with the location/host.

Art Receptions and Exhibitions

The Connections Project:
A Mosaic of the Keys 2026 - Pop Up
@ The Islamorada Chamber of Commerce After Hours

Date: 2/17/2026

Time: 5:30 PM-7:00 PM

Location: The Islander, 82100 Overseas Highway

NEW Exhibition:

Watercolors by Michelle Nicole Lowe

Dates: 2/17/2026 through 4/14/2026

Location: Keys History and Discovery Center

Experience the vibrant connection between the Bahamas and South Florida through brand new watercolor works by Michele Nicole Lowe. Inspired by Green Turtle Cay and the Everglades, this colorful evolution features sea turtle, flamingos, and shells captured in radiant Bahamian greens and Florida pinks. Discover how two iconic destinations meet through art, nature, and color at the Keys History and Discovery Center.

FEATURED:

Opening Reception: Art Guild of the Purple Isles Annual Judged Art Show

Date: 2/19/2026

Time: 5:30 PM-7:30 PM

Location: Dolphin Life Hospital

Morada Way Art Walk

Date: 2/19/2026

Time: 6:00 PM-9:00 PM

Classes and Workshops

Painting the Keys: Paint a Coconut Class

Date: 2/17/2026

Time: 4:00 PM-7:00 PM

Location: Robbies of Islamorada

Cost: $35 per person or $100 for a group of four, all supplies are included

Open Studio: Painting Workshop with Robin

Date: 2/18/2026

Time: 11:00 AM-1:00 PM

Location: Banyan Tree

Cost: $50 per person includes instruction and materials.

Watercolors and Waves Beginner Class (Series 2, Class 2)

Date: 2/18/2026

Time: 1:00 PM-3:00 PM

Location: Founders Park Beach

Cost: $150 per series (4 lessons)

Introduction to Watercolors with Monica Bankowski - Mixing a Fruit and Veggie Color Wheel

Date: 2/19/2026

Time: 9:30 AM-12:30 PM

Location: Our Place in Paradise

Cost: $90 per class includes paper, paint, & brushes to use. $70 per class when participant brings their own supplies.

Open Studio: Painting Workshop with Robin

Date: 2/19/2026

Time: offered twice! 11:00AM – 1:00PM and 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Location: Banyan Tree

Cost: $50 per person includes instruction and materials.

Intermediate Watercolors with Monica Bankowski - Fishing Vessel Arbutus: Painting Wet on Wet

Date: 2/19/2026

Time: 1:00 PM-4:00 PM

Location: Our Place in Paradise

Cost: $90 per class includes paper, paint, & brushes to use. $70 per class when participant brings their own supplies.

Watercolors and Waves Advanced Class (Series 2, Class 2)

Date: 2/19/2026

Time: 1:00 PM-3:00 PM

Location: Founders Park Beach

Cost: $150 per series (4 lessons). Cost includes all supplies required, and they are yours to keep!

Paint Batik Style with Gloria Avner

Date: 2/21/2026

Time: 10:30 AM-3:30 PM

Location: Our Place in Paradise

Cost: $90 per workshop

Painting on Rice Paper Using Ink, Wax & Watercolor. Gloria has been teaching and creating paintings with this ancient technique for years. Beginners or accomplished artists will enjoy learning this fascinating way to paint, using wax as a resist while building layers of color. Light Refreshments Provided. 5 students per class so stop in or call to make your reservation!

Festivals and Fundraisers

Fat Tuesday in Islamorada

Date: 2/17/2026

Time: 5:00 PM-9:00 PM

Location: Florida Keys Brewing Company

Get ready for a full-blown Mardi Gras party, island-style! 🌴⚜️

🎶 LIVE MUSIC: 6–9PM – The Killbillies bringing the party vibes! Check the Facebook event for more details.

Lecture & Museums

Lecture: Immerse Yourself: The Shipwreck, Secret War & Stolen Jade with John Christopher Fine, Author

Date: 2/18/2026

Time: 7:00 PM-8:00 PM

Location: History of Diving Museum

Music

Tuesday 2/17

Florida Keys Concert Association Presents: Rising Start Sophia Liu, Piano

Time: 7:30 PM-9:30 PM

Location: Coral Shores HS Performing Arts Center

The concert is sponsored by the History of Diving Museum. At the age of 17, Canadian pianist Sophia Liu is rapidly emerging as one of the most compelling artists of her generation. Liu’s “extremely clear, delicate, refined and almost supernaturally fluid” touch (Le Monde) coupled with her “phenomenal virtuosity” (Bachtrack) have captivated and mesmerised audiences worldwide.

Wednesday 2/18

Webb & Davidson

Time: 5:00 PM-9:00 PM

Location: Lorelei Cabana Bar

Micah

Time: 6:00 PM-9:00 PM

Location: Florida Keys Brewing Company

Thursday 2/19

Paul Family

Time: 12:00 PM-4:00 PM

Location: Islamorada Fish Company

Jimi Dred