The City Commission will host a Public Hearing and a regular monthly meeting in Marble Hall and as a Zoom webinar on Thursday, March 21, at 9:30 a.m. They have a packed commission agenda.
The REGULAR MEETING will begin at 9:35 a.m. or at the end of the Public Hearing.
We encourage every KCBer to Ask Your Commissioners about these items on the agenda. The agenda has two periods for citizen comments and correspondence, once after the discussion of the Burke proposal and again before the meeting is adjourned. Email your questions and comments to the commissioners and city clerk.
Filling the commission seat vacated by Beth Ramsay-Vickrey is first on the agenda. The City Clerk will introduce the candidates. So far, we have been told of just two candidates. Each will give statements followed by citizen comments and correspondence as well as commissioner questions and comments. The commission will then make nominations and vote.
The Commission will discuss and vote whether to continue the Smart City Project.
There are many questions about the Hotwire model, rates, commitment, and more.
• Read about the plan to Hotwire our "Smart" City here.
Burke Energy Solutions will make a Presentation on Solar Energy for the Wastewater Plant.
Questions to ask include:
- Why does KCB charge a $500 permit fee for Solar Panel Installation?
- Where are the panels manufactured?
- Will this be a grid-connected solar array?
- How many panels will be required to power the KCB sewage treatment plant and how much of the pond will be covered?
- Will we get solar net metering?
- Who will maintain the panels? How long will they last? And how will they do it with a foot or more of water in the pond?
- What other locations are under consideration?
- Will KCB allow residents to buy additional panels in the array in exchange for "free" electricity? (This may require creating a " public utility.")
The Commission will discuss/approve a proposal by The Southern Group for state and local-level advocacy (lobbying) services.
Questions to ask:
• What actual benefit do we get from lobbying services?
The Commission will discuss an agreement between KCB and the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority to collect wastewater fees as part of our water bills rather than handling it by city staff.
Interim Building Official Borysiewicz will discuss the building department and Code Enforcement
The Mayor-City Administrator will Review the Townhall Meeting, discuss the revised City Administrator Job Description & Agreement, update the overall progress on Marble Hall, and administrative offices, and address payroll items for City Clerk Silvia Gransee and former Building Official Lenny Leggett.
The Commission will discuss/approve hiring of Ed Borysiewicz for the position of Building Official, Building Inspector, Fire Inspector, and Code Enforcement Officer and the appointment of Fred Swanson as a full-time member of the Utility Board.
• Let's welcome Ed and Fred and thank them for stepping up.
• Volunteers are a great boon to the city and both bring tremendous experience to their tasks.
The Commission will discuss/approve authorizing Mayor-City Administrator Joey Raspe to negotiate and execute a lease with the United States Postal Service.
The Commission will discuss/approve a surveying proposal at 1st Street Park, a proposal for engineering drawings for drainage improvements along 7th Street and Shelter Bay Drive, recommendations for the Tennis Court Construction Project; proposals from LaRue Planning for a Peril of Flood Update, a Schedule of Capital Improvements update, and an agreement for Comprehensive Planning Services. They may discuss allowing a food trailer to sell Empanadas and Cuban Coffee at the Mobil Gas Station on Overseas Highway.
The Commission will discuss/approve a Resolution authorizing Mayor-City Administrator Joey Raspe to negotiate and execute a lease with the USPS discussed earlier. They will also have the first reading of an ordinance amending the code to increase the discretionary spending threshold.
Commissioner Harding will update the wastewater sampling results and the South Florida Water Management District workshop. The other commissioners may also offer reports or comments.
