Just as it seemed Key West’s cruise ship debate was drawing to a close, the group seeking to significantly reduce cruise ships in Key West is sounding the alarm over an agenda item for the Tuesday, April 5 city commission meeting.
The Key West Committee for Safer Cleaner Ships (SCS) is organizing a protest before next week’s meeting in opposition to a proposed resolution that calls for the approval of an “operating and settlement agreement between the city and Pier B.” The proposed agreement would be in addition to the existing Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions that govern Pier B’s cruise ship operations.
Attorney Ed Pozzuoli, whom the city hired to help with the cruise ship legislation, warned the commissioners on March 10 that “Nothing in the existing agreement talks about any operational limits,” Pozzuoli said, adding that the contract requires Pier B to use its best efforts to maximize cruise ship revenues, which it has shared with the city for more than two decades. “So any changes to that agreement have to be something (Pier B) agrees to voluntarily, because there’s no authority we have to require it,” he has said.
The proposed resolution for the April 5 meeting states, “This agreement, in addition to the existing ‘Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions,’ for Pier B, provides certain conditions, including, but not limited to, a cap on the number of cruise ships that may dock at Pier B, increased disembarkation fees, limits on the number of passengers who disembark within certain timeframes, black-out dates, and limits on the maximum length of cruise ships docking at Pier B; and whereas, the City Commission, having considered local and state concerns, and legislation regarding the impact of cruise ships on the City of Key West and its surrounding environment, hereby finds that executing the attached ‘Operating and Settlement Agreement’ with Pier B is in the best interests of the city, its residents, visitors and the surrounding environment.”
But the language of the new agreement is not acceptable to the leaders of Safer Cleaner Ships.
“This agreement calls for the city to give away part of Mallory Square and allow up to 1.3 million cruise ship passengers per year, which is significantly more than we’ve ever had,” Arlo Haskell, treasurer of Safer Cleaner Ships, told the Keys Weekly on March 30.
In reference to the “giveaway of part of Mallory Square,” the proposed agreement specifically states, “In furtherance of the safety of cruise ship passengers and the public, and at the discretion of the cruise ship captain, (Pier B) may utilize the City Dolphin Mooring Bollards and the mooring bollard on the southwest corner of Mallory Square identified … when not in use by city or where capable of use by both city and (Pier B) in connection with the management and operation of Pier B.”
The proposed agreement also specifies that no cruise ships will visit Pier B on New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, July 4, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Eve.
“It’s a complete, authorized expansion of cruise ship operations at Pier B. The city is authorizing larger ships at Pier B than are even allowed by the state,” Haskell added.
In an email newsletter to its subscribers on March 30, Safer Cleaner Ships writes, “The proposed agreement is far worse than we feared. It is a blatant giveaway to private interests that would authorize larger cruise ships than Key West has ever seen. …
“The agreement would authorize cruise ships up to 1,100 feet long and with a carrying capacity up to 3,700 passengers. These ships are bigger than any cruise ship that has ever called on Key West before and would violate Pier B’s permit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
“…The agreement would authorize cruise ships at Pier B 349 days per year. This is far more ships than Pier B has ever received before.
“…The agreement would allow up to 1.3 million passengers per year. This is more passengers than Key West has ever seen in a single year and will create more overcrowding and congestion.
“… The agreement would allow large cruise ships to tie off to city property at Mallory Square anytime they want. This would eliminate any chance of the city generating revenue from its own valuable waterfront property.
“…The agreement would never end, permanently sentencing the city to a future of large cruise ships and giving away prime public waterfront property to be used by a private corporation.
“The people of Key West voted for smaller and fewer ships. The city has repeatedly promised that it can control its own property, including Mallory Square. This proposed agreement makes a mockery of what our city officials have promised and authorizes the exact opposite of the change demanded by voters. It is an insult to all we have fought for.”
Attorneys for the city did not respond to requests for comment before presstime Wednesday.The city commission meets at 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 5. A complete copy of the agenda is available at cityofkeywest-fl.gov.
