The Latest News: November, 2025
What did the Commission do at the Regular Meeting on November 20?
The city commission held a public hearing and regular monthly meeting on Thursday, November 20. There were no items for the public hearing and no special requests.
KCBers offered extensive support for Daryl Rice and the new golf course contract. One resident who has been playing here for 30 years noted Rice's "knowledge of the course" and how "he keeps it affordable. Keeping Daryl is in the public interest." Another commenter "respectfully request[ed] that after you've listened to all the people and the citizens of this town, you do their wishes."
Margaret Tremblay commented "At the last meeting, Freddie made a comment, and I hope you remember this, that we are lucky that they open this meeting up to us and because of them we're allowed to be here. I just want to make a comment that I don't want you to forget, that you're lucky to be there because of us... Why don't we vote for the mayor? You're lucky you're there."
Mayor Foster replied, "I want to address that. We're up here to serve you guys. We're not up here because we enjoy this necessarily and we'd be happy with anybody that wants to step up and run because this takes a lot of my time and the last time I checked I was retired... I would encourage everyone in here to put your name in."
Cindy Catto reported that one Rec Committee member has resigned and another is considering leaving over their frustration with the lack of communication and the broken promises to tennis and basketball. She asked for more transparency and more notice of the commission's real plans.
Marathon Fire Chief James Muro reported that the Trauma Star helicopters have arrived and are being certified. One new bird and one backup are in service in Marathon now.
Mayor Foster reported that KCB is down to three untreated stormwater drains emptying into to the canals. They plan to address 7th Street, leaving just two on 11th Street. "Once they're done, this city will be the only city in all South Florida that can claim that we have no untreated water to go to the canal surface."
The commission approved hiring lobbyist Ron Brooks for one year for $50,000. They gave a head nod to pursue a piggyback agreement with Marathon for Early Alert. They determined the proposal for the golf course lease is in the public interest and approved the second interim golf course lease extension. The commission approved leasing a wide format printer for 63-months at $299 per month. They approved purchasing a $226,600 replacement membrane for the sewer plant that was in the budget.
A long discussion of the Employee Resource Guide disclosed that people including Dave Turner "just throwing stuff in" made it unusable. The commission discussed that department heads aren't allowed to have overtime even for prep before and repairs after a storm. Commissioner Harding questioned whether we really do what we say we're going to do in our safety policy. They discussed adding specifications and rules to allow administration and some of the building department to work from home as well as reducing the requirement to work for a year before taking vacation time.
They approved amending the ordinance to drop commission approval of boat lifts on 7th Street and within the Marina Subdivision. They also approved resolutions determining that the golf course contract is in the public interest, to adopt the revised personnel policy manual, and to adopt the local mitigation strategy update. Commissioner DiFransico noted that the mitigation document maps out the risks of floods, surges, fires. etc. in KCB. The document is available online and is a good resource, he said.
The motions all passed unanimously.
Commissioner Harding noted the city's bank interest rate has gone down. The commission gave a head nod to change some of our investments. He is working through options for about a $2.5 million loan for city hall. That will "be firmed up once the contractor gives us his cash flow."
He gave the wastewater updates and "remind[ed] everybody we are at the start of the flu and RSV season." Flu and RSV is present in the state of Florida but not in KCB in the last 30 days for flu or RSV. He reported low levels of COVID but no detection "in the last couple of weeks."
The November 13 report shows a COVID spike November 4th. Anecdotally, at least three or four KCBers tested positive for COVID around November 11.City attorney Jimmie Hicks clarified that the golf course contract falls under "a very technical, detailed statute" and that the final agreement must be a comprehensive agreement. He also noted that the release of the lien against Cox's property was for one matter only so other liens remain. Mayor Foster said "And this needs to be a lesson for not just us, but for your firm. We should have never, ever, ever done that. It just really, really bothers me that we were ready to punish people that were just innocent."
Commissioner DiFransico is still looking for ideas that would make KCB a "better place to live, a nicer place to live. And a more beautiful place. Silvia has posted a request on the website. Send your comments, your thoughts to Silvia, City Clerk."
Commissioner Colonell recommended holding the groundbreaking for city hall in mid-December to "keep the momentum going." He also explained the "Notice to Proceed" and described "how much work goes into a project before you run out there and put a shovel in the ground." He recommended that the NTP be concurrent with signing the contract. He also proposed a 10-foot sailfish sculpture, funded by donations, for the city hall driveway entrance.
Mayor Foster announced the Beautification Committee's January 11 concert with the 79th Street Band and free food as "a welcome back to KCB with all the improvements that we've done." He reminded everybody to go to Sunset Park. "We've done a lot of work there." The retention pond is moving along. The lighting for the fountains should be in next week. The city "website was woefully inadequate," so it is being redesigned.
He noted that "misinformation is a dangerous thing. So, I've heard that people have talked about the city has spent a whole bunch of money on different items out there. That's not true. What we've done is we've used a lot of grant money." He encouraged "communication is a two-way street."
The city commission cancelled the Town Hall scheduled for Monday, November 17, 2025.Read the Key Colony Beach City Commission Meeting Agenda and Packet.
City Hall Space Needs Workshop
The city commission will hold a workshop in Marble Hall on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at 1 p.m. The agenda includes only a discussion of "space allocation and funding by department for city hall." The workshop will be in person only and will be open to the public but there is nothing on the agenda to receive citizen comments.
KCBers may want to ask our commissioners about this workshop or other issues in the city.
Read the full Key Colony Beach City Commission Workshop Agenda (it's very short).
KCB Town Hall Meeting
The city commission cancelled the Town Hall scheduled for Monday, November 17, 2025.
The City Hall Contract, Part III
The city commission held a special meeting in Marble Hall and on Zoom on November 14 to award the city hall contract.
Read the Key Colony Beach Special Meeting Packet here.
The commission will discuss and approve the city hall contract and its "Possible Deducts" with Pedro Falcon Contractors.The contract appears to require that the city have the use of Marble Hall throughout the project.
The contract specifies "damages" of $1,500 for each day the contractor misses the substantial completion deadline plus $500 for each day the contractor misses final completion deadline. Substantial completion is 273 days after the city issues a Notice to Proceed. Final completion is 30 days after that. On that schedule, the earliest completion date could be Sunday, September 13, 2026, assuming the city issues the Notice to Proceed at the same time they sign the contract (unlikely).
The contract specifies general liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence, $2,000,000 general aggregate, and $1,000,000 operations hazard with similar limits for automobile liability, professional liability, and pollution liability.
Owner/Architect/Contractor meetings to discuss and monitor progress are scheduled every 30 days with the contractor maintaining daily field reports and meeting at least biweekly with the owner's rep.
Seven items including all landscaping and irrigation, the generator, the patios and pergolas, and Marble Hall upgrades are deducted from the contract meaning the city will accomplish and pay for those separately. Deducting the landscaping may mean the contractor will leave the lot graded but bare or it could mean denuded and rutted.
Worth noting: The approved Pedro Falcon bid was $5,560,616 for the city hall construction contract.
In the August commission meeting, Commissioner Harding said he had planned $5.3 million for the city hall project cost (confirming KCBers' expectations of $5-6 million total cost). That set the "street price" or floor for the bids. In that meeting, DeCaro had estimated a $3.9 million building cost alone plus all the furnishings, gingerbread, and other costs which were not included in the final request for quote and without any consideration of change orders or cost overruns. Mayor Foster futher said he "can support a $4.5M" because some of the costs won't be paid in 2026. The commission approved putting $4.5M in the budget as the total cost of the city hall project in FY 2025-26.The commission will discuss and approve the proposal by All Aspects Inspections Services for third party building permit inspection of the City Hall project for a flat fee of $16,200.
Note that the restriction on public commentary continues for the special meeting; "Members of the Public may speak for three minutes and may only speak once unless waived by a majority vote of the commission."
KCBers may want to ask our commissioners about this contract.
Read the Key Colony Beach Special Meeting Packet here.
Join the 11/14/25 meeting from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device: Please click this URL to join. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85904429621?pwd=JaGsTUs2G0bSc3YaH6F8Wyq2M2tctH.1
Passcode: 548603
The City Hall Contract, Part II
The city commission approved the Pedro Falcon Contractors bid of $5,560,616 last month.
Worth noting: The bid review committee had decided that Pedro Falcon Contractors was not responsive. Moreover, Architect Brandan DeCaro had estimated a $3.9 million building cost. Mayor Foster said at that time he "can support a $4.5M" because some of the costs won't be paid in 2026. The commission approved putting $4.5M in the budget as the total cost of the city hall project next year.The city commission held a round-table discussion workshop with Pedro Falcon Contractors in Marble Hall on November 5, 2025. The workshop was open to the public but was limited to in person attendance only and was not broadcast on Zoom.
The agenda includedA discussion of Pedro Falcon Contractor's management and personnel and insurance and bonds. The commission and building department will determine the permits & inspections needed. A discussion of Pedro Falcon Contractor's Long Lead items. A discussion of construction schedules including cash flow and the owners’ use of Marble Hall. A discussion of safety. A discussion of contract deliverables/items/deducts including the patios, generator and spalling repairs. A follow-up meeting to finalize the contract may be held Wednesday, November 12 although a Special Meeting is on the calendar for November 14 at 9:30 a.m.
KCB Calendar
City Hall was closed Tuesday, November 11, for Veterans Day.
Book Club
The KCB Book Club resumes in Marble Hall starting Thursday, November 13, at 3 p.m. The group will discuss Rainwater by Sandra Brown. The Depression tale of Ella Baron's Dust Bowl Texas boarding house relates surprisingly contemporary challenges.
Farmers Market
The KCB Farmers Market will continue on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. through the season although it may have to move from the city hall parking lot.
Sewing Lessons
Sewing Lessons have been cancelled for Wednesday, November 19. The lessons normally repeat each Wednesday afternoon.
Movie Nights
The Marathon Branch Library hosts Movie Night to show Wicked (the first part) in the first floor Community Room on Wednesday, November 19 at 5 - 7:45 p.m. "Since we are open late, we are going to be opening up the Community Room and showing movies on the third Wednesday of every month."
Welcome Back Party
The KCB Community Association will hold the Welcome Back Party in Marble Hall on Thursday, November 20 at 5-9 p.m. This year's theme is Country/Western with live music by Rick and Dayna. KCBCA will serve Pop's BBQ with water, soft drinks, and mixers (feel free to bring your own drink).
Tickets are $35 for current KCBCA members and $40 for all others. Click here for tickets and more information. Email Ann Vieth to volunteer.
Key Colony Inn
The Marathon Weekly reports that "it may look and taste) different, but the famed Key Colony Inn is set to reopen its doors as Michael and Amanda Lordi and Jim Figueroga breathe new life into the Key Colony Beach eatery." The Inn is tentatively set to open on December 1.
City Hall Closed
City Hall will be closed for Thanksgiving on Thursday and Friday, November 27-28.
City Commission Workshop
The calendar shows a city commission workshop in Marble Hall next Monday, December 1, at 10 a.m. The agenda is not yet available.
Commentary
about November issues