People are asking ... what did the KCB City Commission do at the Special Meeting on July 17?

Observations:

• The interior is industrial design with exposed ductwork and hanging lights in the ceiling.
• The design removes the original restroom windows leaving a blank wall which violates the city ordinance.
• Whether it is a "tower" or not, the roofline is not harmonious in character and appearance with existing buildings in the neighborhood which violates the city ordinance. Further, the lack of after hours wheelchair access to the gym violates ADA regulations.
• The plans still require architectural review by the Planning and Zoning Committee.

• There are eight seats or workstations plus a reception desk and mayor's office downstairs plus seats for seven police officers upstairs. That's about double the current staff.
• There are stairs to the entrance veranda but the ramp from the causeway side of the building was disapproved. People who need a ramp to visit the lobby, the "fitness room," and the second floor will need to enter through the admin entrance.
• The administrative offices remain completely isolated from the public, reached only through a gatekeeper office with a closed door from the hallway and a second closed door into the office area.
• Administrative office access through the lobby requires climbing three steps to the lobby elevation and then going down four or more stairs to the admin floor.
• The only ground floor records storage room below Base Flood Elevation.

Florida law requires municipalities to maintain and preserve public records, including permanent records, in a manner that ensures accessibility and prevents damage or loss. This involves storing records in their usual location or, for vital, permanent, or archival records, in fireproof and waterproof environments.

• The second floor has an open balcony overlooking the lobby. The costly open atrium design could expand the department offices, conference space, or bathrooms.
• The building department has a "reception area" when a Dutch door and counter can separate the public from the staff without the double doorway.
• There no locker space in the fitness room bathroom.
• The second floor restrooms have lockers and changing space but no showers for eight police officers.
• There are additional mechanical and electrical rooms on the second floor but no janitor's closet.
• The "tower" or "architectural element or feature of the proposed expansion, [that] does not have any correlation with the finish floor elevation" is not harmonious in character and appearance with existing buildings in the neighborhood which violates KCB ordinances.

Special Meeting Notes:

Mr. Decaro said the 100% drawings will be done in four weeks for delivery on August 15

Mr. Decaro's opinion of construction cost is $3,643,947
He noted that, if added to the design, the added cost items include

• exterior lighting
• hand dryers for restroom
• the contract has no interior furnishings
• landscaping is not included
• There is no wheelchair access to the lobby in the tower
• the generator has been upsized
• wood paneling behind commission added in Marble hall
• card access for lobby

Mr. Decaro's questions to the commission included

• Bahama shutters for entrances. The Bahama shutters will offer shade and the glass will have tint
• Stucco in FL is not required to have separate insurance
• Should there be hose bibbs or sillcocks on the outside of the building
• Landscaping definitely want to hide the generators and so on
• Roof color was approved. Spec a 20-year roof and a Miami-Date NOA
• Finish colors were approved and can be changed with the contractor
• No hand dryers, no blinds

Commissioner Colonell said, "landscaping makes the project pop." CPH will do a landscaping plan.

Mayor Foster said, "my intent is for Marble Hall to keep running" through the construction process.

To meet ADA access needs, the design shows the Marble Hall ramp will be improved and the ADA entrance to the admin section will have a ramp.
Mayor Foster: "I'm not interested in raising the parking lot so there's a big hump out there." He also decided "we're good without the ramp" for the main entrance so the gym will not have a ramp and will not be ADA accessible after hours.

There is a very real concern that blocking ADA access to the fitness room exposes the city to lawsuits.

Other decisions:
About the elevator pit: "Water shouldn't be able to get in there" so they don't need a drain or pump

The city hall design is in Flood Zone AE-8 but is immediately adjacent to Zone VE-10 on the preliminary FEMA Coastal Flood Maps. That means the tower lobby floor elevation as designed is 2'5" below the expected Base Flood Elevation for Zone AE-8 or 4'5" below the expected Base Flood Elevation for Zone VE-10 but "Water shouldn't be able to get in" the elevator pit.
"Shouldn't" is not a word in either the engineering or legal lexicon. People Are Asking why we are relying on a consensus that it "shouldn't flood"? Apparently this design hopes for the best, and doesn't plan for the worst.

Mayor Foster decided there would be no pilings under the patio
Mayor Foster decided keep the windows in the bathrooms
Mayor Foster added instahot for showers and bathroom sinks
There was a question about the emergency ham radio setup in city hall. They will install a conduit for a lateral wall-mounted Starlink antenna for emergency communications but never addressed the need for access to install the ham antenna.
Commissioner Colonell asked, "could we get a detail of the columns out front."

The commission approved the 90% Drawings unanimously.

Here are the links to the drawings:
The 53MB "90%" engineering drawing file
The much smaller "90%" floorplan.
All the official "City Hall Renovation" documents

People are asking ... what did the KCB City Commission do at the Public Hearing, and Regular Meeting this Week?

The commission appointed Doug Colonell vice mayor.

The commission addressed the vacancy caused by Joey Raspe's resignation. He was the third commissioner lost to resignation in less than two years. Vice mayor Colonell nominated Kirk Diehl. Commissioner Difransico nominated Fred Swanson. Both candidates introduced themselves. The commission voted 3:1 for Kirk Diehl.

Commissioner Difransico moved the asbestos abatement question from the consent items to an item to be discussed. The commission reported that public works director Mike Guarino had discovered the asbestos in Marble Hall despite the commission's previous asbestos survey and professional abatement that declared the building had been cleared. They approved the new abatement.

License plate readers will be installed on the Causeway as an expansion of and tie in to the existing system of readers throughout the Keys.

Mayor Foster noted the police department's "Hot dogs in the park was great. Kind of initiative I like to see." There will be more events in the months to come.

City administrator Bartus reported on some "scary changes from FEMA," particularly FEMA's new thresholds for the amount of damage they will require to make a disaster declaration.

The commission approved the ILA for the Stewardship Funds and learned that an existing agreement had expired. City administrator Bartus reported "the stakeholders have agreed to work together to distribute it as an equal partnership."

Commissioner Harding reported that the "budget documents are in good shape." He's still recommending increasing the millage rate to $2.82 per thousand in assessed valuation. He also noted the $2.82 millage rate is above the statutory allowance and requires a super majority vote by the commission. If preserved, the new rate would represent a 8.29% increase over the rollback rate of 2.5890 (the millage that would generate the same amount of property tax revenue as 2024-2025).

The commission postponed action on Ordinance 2025-500 amending the city ordinance for sewers and sewage disposal monthly rates and charges to the next meeting to allow staff to investigate. Commissioner Harding again discussed "fairness" while talking about increasing the residential and commercial waste water rate to $74 from $71. The "flat rate" does not account for usage.

Commissioner Difransico solicited more ideas for improving/making KCB more beautiful. An email blast went to the city mailing list (see the next item).

The commission discussed the use of Sunset Park. Mayor Foster said, "We need it not to be 'NoFunSet Park'."
Commissioner Difransico said, "I liked the idea of fishing off the pier at Sunset Park ... [but then he saw] two guys were fishing with all their gear and took up the all space there." That changed his mind. He also noted the city forbids swimming from that beach. Mayor Foster reported that he "just got a grant to make a section dedicated to fishing.
"There's gotta be a way for kids to get wet. Kids need a way to have fun." Mayor Foster said. Fishing and swimming at Sunset Park is prohibited by city code.

Sec. 5-9. - Fishing from the Sadowski Causeway Bridge and Sunset Park Observation Deck prohibited.
Fishing from the Sadowski Causeway Bridge and Sunset Park Observation Deck is prohibited. Violations of this section shall be subject to a fine as prescribed in subsection 1-10(k) of the Code of Ordinances.

Sec. 12-9. - Limitations on use of certain city park property.
(b) Sunset Park rules and regulations:
(4) Swimming, snorkeling, or wading in the park is prohibited. No persons are allowed into the water at any time. Crocodiles live in the coastal water of South Florida, and swift currents exist in the area immediately surrounding the park area, making the water unsafe.

Rec Committee Chair Cynthia Catto expressed concern that the commission is not obeying city ordinances for the operation of the Recreation Area committee. Mayor Foster said he has read all the ordinances and will investigate further.

Doug Lipke noted "Our understanding is there is a short term 90-day contract for the golf course. I'm requesting on behalf of a number of concerned citizens to enter into a two-year contract with Daryl [Rice] for the golf course."

Contents...
What People Are Asking
About Referendum Votes
and Recall Elections

About the "Taj ma-KCB"
About the Original City Hall
About the New City Hall
About the City Staff
About Egregious Code Enforcement
About the City Commission
About City Resources
About City Finances
About the Trailers
About the Loss of Community

What People Are Saying ...
Local News,
Letters to the Editor,
and Other Commentary
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