Upcoming charges for boat ramp use and a final administrative hearing to settle the ongoing feud between the City of Marathon and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) formed the highlights of the Marathon City Council’s meeting on July 12.
In his monthly report, public works director Carlos Solis sought direction and approval from the council to implement a fee schedule for use of Marathon’s three public boat ramps. Acknowledging that the proposed fees in his report could be modified in any way the council saw fit, Solis initially listed a $20 in/$20 out fee for visitors and non-year-round residents of Marathon and Key Colony Beach, along with a separate $20 fee for parking. In the initial proposal, Marathon residents would pay $100 per year for unlimited use of the ramps and parking facilities. Also included was a fee schedule for Sombrero Beach parking: $5 for the first two hours, $2 for each additional hour, and a $10 unlimited yearly permit for full-time residents. The council extensively discussed the best way to register individuals, vehicles, and/or trailers for ramp usage.
The system would make use of the same company and technology used by the City of Key West, allowing the cities to exchange parts and repair knowledge.
“I think we’re finally starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel that this is going to happen,” said councilman Luis Gonzalez. “But I think when we first started this, the intent was never to charge our citizens. … We’ve heard multiple times that there’s a minimum cost to get them registered. Add that to the non-residents and have them pay the fee for the residents.”
The council elected to revisit the fee schedule at its August meeting. Citizens are encouraged to contact the council with ideas and feedback regarding proposed fees and registration protocols.
In what may serve as the final significant chapter in the ongoing saga between Marathon and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, city manager George Garrett and city attorney Steve Williams announced that the city was scheduled for public hearings with DEO before a judge from the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 13-15. The meetings are open to the public. The hearings revolve around DEO’s appeal and subsequent Notice of Violation issued to Marathon when the city granted approval for building permits in a development commonly known as the “Boatworks Project” on 39th Street Gulf. A meeting between city staff and DEO was initially set for June 20 to attempt to resolve ongoing issues before the scheduled hearings, but was canceled by DEO.
In other news:
- Spurred by Vice Mayor Dr. Dan Zieg, the council asked finance director Jennifer Johnson to explore the financial impact of a 5% raise for all non-contracted city employees. The proposed raises would be an attempt to keep city staff from falling behind recent inflation statistics.
- In a 4-1 vote, with Gonzalez the lone “no” vote, the council voted to approve a conditional use permit to allow the construction of a car wash at the site of the old Dee’s Hair Sensations building along U.S.1 between 62nd and 63rd Streets. The car wash would become part of the recently redeveloped Dion’s gas station in the same area.
- At its second public hearing, the council unanimously voted to approve amendments to the city’s First Time Homebuyer Assistance program. The amended program alters the loan amount from the previous maximum of $10,000 and provides for loans ranging from a minimum of $10,000 up to a maximum of $20,000.
- Johnson provided preliminary details for the 2023 General Fund budget. Asking approval for a millage rate of 2.77 mills, the same as the rate used the year before, Johnson indicated that due to property value increases, the rate would result in a tax increase of 17.15%. The proposed budget includes staff cost of living increases of 9.6%, adds three additional full-time public works staff members, and includes increases in allotments for professional services in studies relating to climate change – namely, road elevation and electric vehicle charging stations. With projected revenues of $19.8 million and projected expenditures of $17.2 million, the new budget is projected to increase the city’s unassigned reserves to a total of $16.3 million, a figure Johnson said equates to more than 11 months of operations. Two public hearings for the proposed budget will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 13 and Tuesday, Sept. 20, both at 5:05 p.m. at Marathon City Hall.
- The council heard from four public speakers regarding upcoming BPAS allocations to be awarded by the city. According to the speakers, two owner-occupied BPAS allocations were awarded and subsequently revoked by the city in its last round of BPAS awards when errors in the applications were brought forward. The speakers expressed concerns that the corrected applications now sit atop the BPAS list for the next round of allocations and would prevent other residents from receiving building rights.
