MARATHON CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE ON TERMS OF OFFICE, BUILDING CERTIFICATIONS

Marathon City Hall

The next meeting of the Marathon City Council is slated for Tuesday, Jan. 11 at 5:30 p.m. at the Marathon City Hall, located at 9805 Overseas Hwy. All interested persons are invited to attend. Among many items on the agenda, council members will discuss:

  • Final public hearing and adoption of an ordinance to amend the city’s charter and change the typical term of office for city council members to four years. Proposed by councilman Dr. Dan Zieg at the November city council meeting, the longer terms could allow Marathon’s elections to re-synchronize with larger statewide and national elections, as well as reducing the pressures of active campaigns on seated council members’ votes. As an off-year election, the 2021 city council race saw less than 30% voter turnout in Marathon with a $35,000 known expense to the city, while the previous national election saw more than 60% turnout. After approval by the city council, the change would go out to voters for approval in a referendum during the August primary election in order to take effect following the November general election.
  • Final public hearing and adoption of an ordinance restricting Marathon’s building certification and recertification process to include only multi-story structures.
  • Authorizing the city’s purchase of a piece of property on Boot Key to be used as conservation property.
  • A resolution to restrict parking on, and remove all trailers from, the golf course side of Sombrero Boulevard.
Alex Rickert made the perfectly natural career progression from dolphin trainer to newspaper editor in 2021 after freelancing for Keys Weekly while working full time at Dolphin Research Center. A resident of Marathon since 2015, he fell in love with the Florida Keys community by helping multiple organizations and friends rebuild in the wake of Hurricane Irma. An avid runner, actor, and spearfisherman, he spends as much of his time outside of work on or under the sea having civil disagreements with sharks.