Key West’s city commissioners are elected to four-year terms, but the mayor’s term is only two years — as of now.
That could change on Nov. 4, when Key West voters will be asked to participate in a special election to decide whether to give the city’s mayors the same four-year terms as their commissioner colleagues.
“Two years is not enough time as mayor to get things done,” Mayor Dee Dee Henriquez said at the March 4 city commission meeting, where she sponsored a proposal to ask the voters to extend the term of mayor.
The commission voted 6-1 in favor of placing the question on a November ballot. Commissioner Sam Kaufman opposed the move, saying he was not in favor of the city spending an estimated $55,000 for the ballot question.
A four-year mayoral term would bring Key West in line with most other Florida cities, and with the city’s commissioners, who are elected by voters in their respective districts, while the whole town votes in the mayor’s race.
The ordinance must pass a second vote by the commission next month, and then will be approved for the Nov. 4 ballot.
If passed, the mayor will be elected for a four-year term, and will be bound by the same term limits that prohibit them, like the commissioners, from serving more than 12 years.
Mallory Square makeover
A master plan for an improved Mallory Square continues to take shape with city staff working with consultants from the Sasaki group, which have conducted surveys and hosted public input meetings.
The top priority was additional shade at the underused waterfront plaza, so it can be used for daytime events. Upgrades are also planned to the seawall area, seating areas, landscaping and restrooms. A water feature could be installed, along with a larger pedestrian bridge connecting Mallory Square to the adjacent Opal Key Resort & Marina.
While the question of cost and funding is still months away, consultants from Sasaki told the commissioners on March 4 that Mallory Square “sets itself up perfectly for grant funding, and we’ve identified several potential grants to apply for.”
Meanwhile, a bit farther along the waterfront, between Opal Key Resort and the city-owned Truman Waterfront Park, lies Admiral’s Cut, a 45-foot water gap, about the size of two boat slips, that prohibits pedestrians from easily accessing the city park from Mallory Square and Opal Key.
At the March 4 commission meeting, officials directed city manager Brian L. Barroso to revisit discussions with Mark Walsh, owner of Opal Key Resort & Marina.
