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KCB News in February
KCB news this month includes groundbreaking for City hall.
Lock Down: the Question of the Year
People Are Asking, Does the city commission (still) have a siege mentality?
Property Taxes
As Tallahassee targets tax cuts, new studies ranking all 67 counties and many cities on property taxes in Florida made the news again this week.
Florida property taxes have grown beyond the rate of inflation since 2014. Some of the highest growth rates were concentrated in major urban areas but KCB is right up there with the biggest. Statewide, property tax levies have risen nearly 40% in just the last three years (as of late 2025) and have more than doubled over the last decade, according to a report published by the nonprofit Florida Tax Watch.
The top Florida city for property tax growth between 2014-2024 was Apopka with a 372% increase. Port St. Lucie ranked fourth in the state with a 257% growth over that period. Key Colony Beach topped all the other cities in that report with a 196.3% growth rate in just six years between 2019 and 2025 (years that are available online). Also noteworthy is that KCB's total $4,673 in property taxes per capita is only a couple hundred less than the county per capita charges.
Water Is Short
The Marathon Weekly reports that the lack of rainfall and increased water demand have led to a water shortage in the Biscayne Aquifer used by the Keys. The South Florida Water Management District has issued a water shortage warning for the Florida Keys and nearby neighboring counties. The ongoing severe or extreme drought conditions have led to low water levels in the underground aquifer in Miami Dade County.
What did the City Commission do at the Regular Meeting on Thursday?
"40 Days Behind Schedule"
The city commission held a regular meeting at the new time of 3:30 - 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, February 19. Find what KCBers had to say here.
Vice-Mayor Colonell gave a city hall update. The contractor misread the demolition drawings but has completed the bulk demolition. The spalling work is finished. He's falling behind on structural steel and submittals. The contractor stated that his pile driving drilling machine is 2-3 weeks out so that's another stumbling block. The project is about 40 days behind. Waiting for the pile driver means getting even farther behind. We have asked for a recovery schedule.
He also sought the Commission's full authorization to engage the city attorneys as necessary. "They were told to stand down." After a long discussion with the mayor and one city attorney, Mayor Foster said, "I think I told you five times, and I'm going to tell you once more. You guys are approved."
Commissioner Diehl proposed a "KCB Spring Cleanup Day," to put a couple dumpsters at 7th Street Park, or somewhere in the vicinity and let the residents dump their oversized belongings into these containers.
City clerk Silvia Roussin reported that if trash doesn't fit in the supplied trash cans, make a pile, take a picture and text it to MGS (305.743.5165). They will schedule a pickup at no charge. "If you just put it by the road, they won't get it." Mayor Foster reminded that, "No construction debris there, Kirk."
City manager Bartus opened at least two bids for the pickleball shade on February 20.
Commissioner Difransico suggested rescinding adding the fish cleaning station on the Sunset Park pier. Mayor Foster replied "I don't want to have that discussion here." Both he and vice mayor Colonell felt the issue was well documented, talked about, vetted, "and now at the 12th hour we want to undo it." Commissioner Difransico pointed out that he and others in KCB misunderstood what was purchased. After considerable discussion, the motion to add the item to the agenda failed.
Sgt. Buxton was commended for her heroic life saving actions when she discovered an unconscious female victim in a pool of blood on 10th Street.
Citizen comments and correspondence applauded improvements to public spaces and suggested burying the overhead wires, but objected to WiFi in the park, surveillance cameras, the "fishing pier," city boat, lower speed limits, the no parking signs, and the license plate readers. Those comments have been listed separately.
All the new Trauma Star helicopters are now in service. Chief Muro reported that they are transporting up to the mainland, on average, 12 a day and sometimes 16 high acuity patients that can't have their needs met locally.
The commission approved the meeting minutes, appointed Nancy Helme to Beauts, approved installation of a 40,000-pound boat lift, and passed the warrant for $691,751.58. They discussed city elections.
Cynthia Catto discussed meeting with Commissioner Harding and Daryl Rice for a 2-year plan, including safety that Daryl would solve with some tree plantings, some netting, plus the clubhouse porch, the ninth tee box, a mini driving range, and doubling the old putting green.
The commission unanimously approved awarding a contract to Mike Haak for pervious pavers at 7th Street and Shelter Bay combined with a project on West Ocean Drive. They discussed the parking problems the installation would cause and the need to drive on the finished pavers. They determined the project would be about $40,000 short and to "take the extra 35, 40,000 out of the storm, the stormwater account and pay for this work."
The commission unanimously bought and outfitted another Ford F-250 for the police department, "paid for by ICE."
After a long discussion, the commission unanimously approved spending up to $30,000 for golf course safety improvements and outdoor furniture. They will put the putting green expansion and bocce court improvements off to next year.
The commission discussed installing a camera and Wi-Fi at Sunset Park. Commissioner Harding did note that "people are looking down more at their phones than they are at the ocean" and that there has been concern about this being for surveillance. Commissioner Diehl noted costs of $5,684 installation for the first year and the $3,100 a year after that. Mayor Foster commented "All right, so we'll table that until we got more data and price."
After extensive discussion the commission approved 4:1 the $37 monthly marina sewer charges per pump out connection.
Before the commission could get to the first reading of the ordinance adding seawall compliance and enforcement, they discussed raising the fine with a city attorney. They learned the Army Corps of Engineers and Florida DEP take anywhere from 4 to 6 months. "One on 10th Street, it took 9 to 10 months to get approved." They determined a need to tweak the timeline for violators and the notice that the property owner must submit all permit applications. With those changes, they unanimously approved implementing the ordinance for seawall compliance.
The commission then unanimously approved first reading of ordinance 2026-509 after Mayor Foster read, the edits: "Section 2B shall read 'notice of unsafe or deteriorated seawall. Upon determination by the building official or city engineer that a seawall is deteriorated, damaged, failing, or otherwise unsafe, written notice shall be issued by the code official to the property owner identifying deficiencies and required corrective actions.' The only other change will be section 2c. Number 4 will read 'within 12 months of permit approval, all seawall repair repairs or replacement shall be fully competed and completed and approved by the city'."
Commissioner Harding's Wastewater Report shows COVID is still hanging around at low levels. We went through a cycle in February with influenza A and A2, and AH3 peaks but it looks like those peaks have come down. Influenza B and RSV are still hanging around.
"Everybody should be aware that we're in a water shortage warning. We're in one of the worst droughts in about 10 years." This is a voluntary request to cut down irrigation to once a week and minimize any other water usage through the end of May.
Commissioner Diehl reported that he and building official Tony Loreno performed seawall inspections on February 12. The marine engineer was unavailable and did not accompany them. They started at 7th Street and worked up to the 12th and 13th Street Canal. He said, "The worst canal was the 10th and 11th Street canal." They found about 50 seawalls that need repairs and 22 they feel are critical. They will do the final canals in March.
He also proposed using the 7th Street boat ramp lot as a tractor trailer round about for the post office with signage on the lot "for postal vehicles only."
It was also suggested that the post office trucks load and unload on 7th Street, and then simply "drive around the block."
Mayor Foster reported on a new $455,000 grant for the city hall as well as another bill in from Pedro Falcon. Another grant "made it through the first cut" and is now in legislative committee for discussion. He asked commissioner Harding to follow up.
Find what KCBers had to say at and about this meeting here: http://peopleareasking.org/commission/02-19-2026-comments.htm.
Florida Keys Day(s)
The Marathon Weekly reports that Mayor Foster met with the Department of Commerce about KCB's sewer plant and stormwater management and thanked the Department of Environmental Protection for a $2.3 million storm drain improvement project. State Rep. Mooney and Sen. Rodriguez supported a $1 million appropriation request for the sewer plant.
New City Hall is Underway
Construction and renovations to Marble Hall is underway. "I'm saying today that he's about 40 days behind." Vice mayor Doug Colonell said on February 19. The structural spalling repairs to Marble Hall beams and columns are complete. The major demolition is complete. During this phase of the project, access to the post office, parking areas, and portions of the property will be affected. There will be signs, barriers, and fencing to guide us through the parking lots, to the post office, and to Marble Hall.
Live Concerts in KCB
The KCB Community Association Concerts in Sunset Park series continues the 2026 season live in the new tiki in Sunset Park on Sundays at 4 - 6 p.m.
KCBCA will sell hot dogs each week. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and your favorite beverage.
Music fills KCB this season. Here's the schedule:
February 22: Stormfront
March 1: KCB DAY!
March 8: Brothers of Others
March 15: 79th Street Band
March 22: KCB Band
Farmers Market
The KCB Farmers Market continues at a new location in the 7th Street Park on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. through the season. The commission chose the new location to avoid the city hall construction.
Beauty in KCB
Beauts and friends are looking for help each week around KCB. Here's the work party schedule for upcoming weeks.
Meetings
All Commission, Board, and Committee meetings have moved to the afternoon starting at 3:30 p.m. The KCB post office hours are not changed. The post office is open 24/7. Counter service is available at 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2 - 4 p.m., Monday-Friday.
During the construction period, there may be noise, dust, and increased activity on the entire lot. There will be a "safe passage through the parking lot to Marble Hall and the post office."
Ground Breaking
The commission broke ground for the new city hall project on December 19. Monroe County Mayor Michelle Lincoln, Marathon Mayor Lynn Del Gaizo, and representatives from Pedro Falcon Construction and CPH Architects joined the commissioners, city staff, and KCBers for the ceremony.
See photos of the event here.
100% City Hall Design Drawings
The city commission held a special meeting in August for a presentation by CPH Architect Brandan DeCaro. The commission discussed the construction cost, rammed through the 100% design drawings, and approved the final bid package and contract.
Here is an abridged architectural plan showing the elevations and floor presented by CPH plus the elevation and 3D image from the citizen proposal to create a legal two story entry and to resolve the ADA access: http://peopleareasking.org/resources/100_submittal_set_floorplans-08-14-2025.pdf
KCBers are still very concerned that we're buying a five-six million dollar shopping center facade as the showpiece for the city despite the obvious violations of KCB ordinances, the probable violations of Florida Building Code and Florida statutes, the likelihood of an ADA lawsuit, and the concerns that there has been no citizen architectural review.
It is noteworthy that the simplest solution (first recommended at the beginning of this project) is to build the entrance lobby on ground level and floodproof it.
That simple solution eliminates ADA issues, eliminates parking lot issues, reduces the overall height of the building, and reduces costs.
The commission ignored that answer.
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Here is an abridged architectural plan showing the elevations and floor presented by CPH plus the elevation and 3D image from the citizen proposal to create a legal two story entry and to resolve the ADA access: http://peopleareasking.org/resources/100_submittal_set_floorplans-08-14-2025.pdf
All the official "City Hall Renovation" documents released so far can be found here: https://keycolonybeach.net/about-our-city-2/city-hall-renovations
Click or tap here to email your questions and comments to the commissioners and city clerk to ask these and other questions about the plans.
Download a `PDF of the City Hall comparison drawings
Click Here for the March, 2025, KCB News (or a look at how we got here)
Click Here for the April, 2025, KCB News
Click Here for the May, 2025, KCB News
Click Here for the June, 2025, KCB News
Click Here for the July, 2025, KCB News
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Click Here for the September, 2025, KCB News
Click Here for the October, 2025, KCB News
Click Here for the November, 2025, KCB News
Click Here for the December, 2025, KCB News
Click Here for the January, 2026, KCB News
Click Here for the February, 2026, KCB News
