Islamorada Village Council approved the formation of a charter review committee while supporting a resolution to oppose any new oil drilling off the Florida coast during its first meeting of 2026.
Last month, council members directed staff to prepare a resolution establishing a charter review commission in advance of the 2026 election. With the village operating under a charter, committees have been formed at various points since incorporation in 1997 to propose changes that voters have a say on.
Council members voted 5-0 during the Jan. 6 meeting at the Founders Park Community Center to establish a seven-person charter review committee. Several residents in the village have already expressed interest in serving. Applicants must be residents and electors of the village.
Each council member will appoint one person to the committee. The remaining two positions will be filled by a majority vote. The appointments are expected to take place at a Jan. 8 land use meeting at the community center.
As part of council’s approval, the committee will have a facilitator to organize and guide the committee. The idea was brought forth by councilwoman Deb Gillis, who said a facilitator will help keep discussions organized and moving, but won’t necessarily tell the committee what to do. Village Manager Ron Saunders mentioned the village council can seek facilitator help from the Florida League of Cities.
“We have good contacts,” he said. “The league is nonpartisan and nonbiased.”
In addition to a facilitator, councilwoman Anna Richards sought a third-party review of the charter committee’s recommendations. That, too, was supported by the council.
Mayor Don Horton has served on two village charter review committees. He said the charter document is concise but not brain surgery.
“It’s the pulse of the community,” Horton added.
Recommendations from the charter review committee would be due May 31 to give council time to hold two public hearings before any consideration and approval. From there, the village would need to request the Supervisor of Elections Office to include any proposed charter change recommendations on the 2026 village ballot.
Council members also unanimously supported a resolution to oppose any new offshore oil and gas leasing off the coast of Florida. Recently, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) began developing the 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program, which would open 31,000 square miles of new areas offshore for oil drilling. It puts the activity within 100 miles of the Florida shoreline, including the Dry Tortugas.
Recently, BOEM, which is under the Department of the Interior, requested public comment on whether to include new offshore leasing areas by no later than Jan. 23. Municipalities across the Keys have approved resolutions opposing any new drilling.
“This is a moment of celebration. This is unity throughout the county,” said Barry Wray, executive director for the Florida Keys Environmental Coalition.
Wray said the Keys have a water quality issue. And oil drilling is very much a water quality issue. Horton, who brought the resolution, said “we don’t want to risk anything around the Florida Keys, especially offshore of us.”
Jodie Cerra, Florida Bay Forever executive director, said offshore drilling would bring oil to the Keys shores.
“This is wonderful to see everyone coming together in this voice in collaboration. This is what protects Florida Bay and protects Islamorada,” she said.
Councilman Steve Friedman recalled the negative effects in the Keys from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf. Tourism numbers fell steeply due to tarballs washing ashore in Key West.
“It affected my business. It was a scary time,” he said.
