Monroe County commissioners kicked off the Dec. 7 meeting in Key Largo by remembering the life and work of Mayor Emeritus Sylvia Murphy, who passed away on Nov. 26 at the age of 86. Following a video from her retirement in 2020, which looked back on the county commissioner’s work, a moment of silence was held inside the Murray Nelson Government Center.
During the discussion portion of the meeting, Mayor Craig Cates and county commissioners delved into ways to potentially use tourist tax dollars to support housing for a workforce that’s integral to the industry.
County Attorney Bob Shillinger said statute allows for Tourist Development Council dollars to fund the building, acquisition and modification of public facilities, so long as it’s needed to increase tourist-related activities in the county. Shillinger told commissioners that public facility projects include, but aren’t limited to, transportation, solid waste and pedestrian facilities. In Shillinger’s view, affordable housing would meet requirements in the statute.
“When the legislature starts a phrase with ‘including but not limited to,’ this is not an exhaustive list,” Shillinger said.”It doesn’t have to be spelled out because they haven’t limited the list.”
He acknowledged some limitations to using tourist dollars for public facilities projects. The county would need to receive at least $10 million in tourist tax dollars the year before. Shillinger said receipts in the county exceed that figure. If a vote came up to fund a specific project, the BOCC would need a two-thirds vote. And a 30% match would be required for the project that’s paid with non-tourist tax revenues.
Cates said the county constantly speaks about housing needs for the workforce. He acknowledged the important role workers in the tourism industry have on the local economy.
“We have a large amount of money. I don’t know the exact figure but I’d like to see money set aside,” he said.
No definitive action was taken on the matter. Shillinger said they’d need to seek input from the TDC on the proposal.
County commissioners approved a resolution to impose a facility charge on customers who rent cars from rental companies at the Key West International Airport. The item was pulled by Commissioner Michelle Coldiron to allow Richard Strickland, airports director, to provide a presentation on the charge. Strickland said 95% of the $4 fee will be paid by traveling public visitors. The funds will help with the planning, design and construction of a new facility at the airport, he said.
“It will relocate and consolidate all rental car operations,” he said. “Currently they operate out of car washers and gas pumps there.”
The charge will be collected by rental car concessionaires beginning March 1, 2023. Projected revenue for 2023 from the charge is $1.6 million.
A Florida Department of Transportation grant totaling $852,000 to improve and expand public transit in Key West was approved by county commissioners. Per the grant, a local 50% match, $426,000, is required. Richard Clark, new county transportation executive director, said the grant will fund small, on-demand transportation to help move people between Stock Island and Key West.
Commissioners approved a resolution to set a public hearing in January 2023 for a proposal to amend the county’s alcoholic beverages code to create a definition section and address outdoor, on-premise consumption. According to Emily Schemper, planning director, the amendments seek to relocate existing definitions located in alcoholic beverages chapter to reside in a single location and define alcoholic beverage sales. Proposed amendments would also address common situations in the county that place conditions on alcoholic beverage use permits issued to applicants proposing outdoor on-premises consumption, with or without music and entertainment.
A Florida Department of Transportation representative unveiled its upcoming five-year work program to county commissioners. A 2024-2028 work plan includes $498 million in projects, of which $257 million will go to bridge repair and replacement. State funds for roads and bridges in the Keys have increased since the 2020-2024 work plan that dolled out $137.1 million. A Seven Mile Bridge replacement is slated for a 2030 work plan. The cost for the new bridge by FDOT is outlined at $677 million.
