Two questions on Key West ballots haven’t gotten the attention they deserve, so let’s rectify that and take a closer look at the middle column on the back page of all Key West ballots.
Approval of the first item by a majority of Key West voters would allow the city to accept two parcels of empty land next to Willie Ward Park, adjacent to the city pool in Bahama Village. The acquisition will help with the city’s upcoming replacement of the public pool and surrounding community center.
Specifically, the first referendum is headlined, “Authorization to Accept Two Parcels of Land from Monroe County Land Authority for Recreational Purposes.” It asks, “Should the City of Key West accept two parcels of vacant land located at 306 Catherine St. and 307 Louisa St. from the Monroe County Land Authority for consideration of ten dollars each to be used solely for recreational purposes?”
Why would the city need the voters’ permission to accept free land on an island that has precious little of it? That brings us to the second ballot question, which would change the rule requiring voter approval any time the city wants to acquire property.
Since 2007, city officials have needed voters to pass a referendum authorizing city officials to buy, accept for free or trade any property, be it a building, a beach, a street, parking lot or vacant land, regardless of the cost.
For example, voters had to approve the city’s purchase of the former Citizen newspaper building on Northside Drive. They also had to approve when the school district gave the city the former Glynn Archer school building, which became city hall.
In another case, city attorney Ron Ramsingh said, the city missed an opportunity to acquire a house in Old Town through the civil forfeiture process because there was not enough time to schedule a special referendum to get voter approval.
“There are time sensitive actions, such as civil forfeitures, where a referendum renders such action moot,” Ramsingh said.
The second ballot question this election is headlined, “Amendment to Sec. 1.08 of the City Charter Regarding Acquisition of Real Property.” It asks, “Should the city charter be amended to allow for acquisition of real property for public parks, recreation, affordable housing, or civic buildings by supermajority vote of the City Commission? Annexation, and acquisition of real property for any other purpose, will remain only by referendum.”
If approved, the city charter will be changed so the city can acquire any property with a supermajority vote of the city commission rather than a majority of Key West voters.
If the city wants to acquire property to be used for anything other than affordable housing, public parks or a civic building, then the matter will still have to go to the voters.
It’s also worth noting that the two questions have nothing to do with the bond questions that also appear on Key West ballots. If the bonds are approved in this election, then any expenditure of the bond money will require approval by a supermajority of the city commission.
Sample ballots are available at keyselections.org.
