People Are Asking

The Latest News: September, 2026

Commentary
about September issues

City Hall Update

... Today is day by 10/12/26. Change orders approved by the commission on 8/20/26 will "extend the schedule by ... another 19 days. So the contractor has" fewer and fewer days left until about 11/8/2026.
See the City Hall Construction Images.

The roof trusses have been the critical path issue. They were due on site well over a month ago.

The roof trusses arrived August 27. Some of the trusses started going up on the two story wing of the three story city hall on September 3. Most were flown onto the two story wing by quitting time on September 4. There is no apparent top plate which means the untreated trusses are attached directly to the concrete block wall.


Trusses on the two story wing of the three story city hall as of September 4.

The roof trusses on the two story city hall wing had been installed but not strapped down by September 8 (the "hurricane straps" are still loosely flying beside each truss). The trusses for the tall, third story wing had been assembled on the ground but were not yet "flown" onto the building and installed by September 13.

KCB Deactivates Automated License Plate Reader Camera

Breaking News: Key Colony Beach Follows Governor's Direction on Automated License Plate Reader Cameras, September 10, 2026. In light of Governor Ron DeSantis' recent directive regarding the use of automated license plate reader (ALPR) camera systems, the City of Key Colony Beach has deactivated its license plate reader.

Although the City is not required to take action, the Mayor has elected to follow the Governor's direction regarding the use of this technology.

The City has proactively deactivated its license plate reader and will continue to monitor guidance from the Governor's Office, FDOT, and the Florida Legislature regarding the future use and regulation of automated license plate reader technology.

The City remains committed to public safety while also recognizing the importance of protecting the privacy of residents and visitors. The City will keep its citizens informed of any new legislation or directives regarding the use of this technology.

What did the KCB City Commission do at the budget hearing on September 10?

The city commission will host the first of two Public Budget Hearings at the temporary meeting place on the back patio at the Key Colony Inn and on Zoom beginning at 5:05 p.m. on Thursday, September 10.
Note that the restriction on public commentary continues for all meetings; "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 these items on the agenda or other issues in the city.

The agenda includes a review of proposed budgets including the general budget and the utility board budget.
Total 2026-27 expenses are almost $1.1 million less than estimated 2025-26 expenses but ad valorem taxes will increase another 4.63%.
Budgeted tax revenue doubled between the 2018-19 and 2025-26 fiscal years. Last month, Commissioner Harding reported big jumps in 2018 and 2021 but not the other million dollar tax increase in 2023-24.
  • KCB budgeted $1,732,677 for 2018-19 ad valorem tax revenue.
  • $1,804,165 for 2019-20
  • $1,878,301 for 2020-21
  • $2,300,383 for 2021-22
  • $2,627,390 for 2022-23
  • $2,999,042 for 2023-24
  • $3,946,224 for 2023-24
  • $3,246,270 for 2024-25
  • $3,542,289 for 2025-26
  • $3,706,340 for 2026-27
The $10.7 million general budget revenue for FY 2026-27 also includes $518,000 in building permit fees, $85,000 of boat trailer parking fees, and $2,728,493 from reserves.

There will be public comments and then resolutions to adopt a tentative millage rate and to adopt the tentative budget.

The second and final budget public hearing will be held in Marble Hall on Thursday, September 17, at 5:05 p.m.

Read the full Key Colony Beach City Commission Meeting Agenda and Packet here.

Click or tap here to email your questions and comments to the commissioners and city clerk .
Join the 09/10/26 meeting from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device:
Please click or tap this URL to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88314592550?pwd=HUppG5cxsjApUR5xGQRouIaalWu9ha.1
Passcode: 807767

People are asking ... what will the KCB City Commission do at the Regular Meeting September 17, 2026?

The city commission will host a regular monthly meeting at the temporary meeting place on the back patio at the Key Colony Inn and on Zoom beginning at 10 a.m. on Thursday, September 17.
Note that the restriction on public commentary continues for all meetings; "The city commission may allow public comment on an agenda item at the time the item is being considered... These comments must be limited to the subject that is being debated. " Further, "Members of the Public may speak for three minutes and may speak only once ... unless waived by a majority vote of the commission."

The agenda includes a city hall update, proclamations, a new wastewater plant operator, lift station resiliency, a P&Z handbook, a 50,000-pound boat lift, higher sewer rates, and more.

KCBers may want to ask our commissioners about these items on the agenda or other issues in the city.

Special Requests include proclamations honoring Patriot Day and the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance.

Committee and Department Reports: Chief Rogers reported on one non-emergency false alarm, four public service responses, and five EMS calls in KCB.
Chief Buxton reported on a hit-and-run, fraud, trespass, theft, and medical incidents. There were 16 calls for service and 4 medical/alarm calls.
City Administrator Bartus discussed TDC capital project and other grants, opened bids for the wastewater lift station, the floodplain ordinance changes, and recapped mini-season. KCB did not receive a FDEP Beach Restoration Grant.
Public Works Head Guarino's busy month included the new fans for the golf course clubhouse, new horseshoe pits, moving the swordfish sculpture, ongoing maintenance, and more.
City Clerk Roussin, in addition to the regular duties, completed staff evaluations and merit pay recommendations, reported on grants, and on the 2026 population estimate of 800. Electronic archiving of records continued. The "big-bucket records retention schedule" is in the packet.
New wastewater plant operator Danny Price has started.
The building department reports that 10 construction projects are active. They continue to support the city hall project. Outreach to seawall owners continues. Performed annual inspections for 56 short term rentals; more than 700 short term rental properties require inspection. Working to implement requirements of HB-803.

Consent Items:
Items to be voted on one motion include a February 2027 Hot Dog in the Hut event as well as approving a warrant for $1,188,830 and the meeting minutes.

Action Items:
The commission will approve the Marathon invoice for EMS/Fire Rescue capital projects for $25,000.

The commission will discuss awarding Pedro Falcon $213,735 for Lift Station Resiliency Improvements.

The commission will approve amending the new construction materials section of the KCB code.

  Although the change is supposed to comply with new Florida Statutes, there is a concern that additional changes to the city code will be needed to resolve the conflict regarding manufactured homes. The P&Z agenda dealt only with Section 6-3 of the KCB code that limits construction materials by requiring 75% concrete construction for exterior walls. There is no record that the P&Z Board was aware of the city ordinance that prohibits manufactured homes here. The statute mandates that cities cannot discriminate against manufactured homes. Some believe that concrete-walled manufactured homes are not possible but the Southeast Masonry Construction Association and others show that manufactured homes are constructed with structural masonry walls.
  Most of KCB's residential and commercial lots are in Flood Zone AE. The FEMA definition of high-risk Flood Zone AE is the "100-year floodplain." Likewise, People Are Asking why the elimination of masonry construction relates only to single family homes. P&Z did not table the matter when it was suggested that further study was needed. Read the P&Z minutes here.

The commission will approve amending the pool setbacks section of the KCB code.

There is a concern that the Keys are a specially designated area. The proposed amendment must address structural integrity, impacts to the seawall, sea level rise, and buffer area. It may trigger changes to the comprehensive plan because the proposal involves land development regulations and may require state review. The proposed amendment codifies prior approvals and relies on staff recommendations. Read the P&Z minutes here.
Other municipalities in the county require 10-foot setbacks because the 10-foot shoreline setback is critical.

The commission will discuss a handbook as the official training and reference resource for the Planning Zoning Board.

The commission will approve removing the existing mooring piles and the 24K four post cradle lift and replacing them with a 50,000-pound eight post and a 20K four post cradle boat lift on 14th Street. The existing concrete deck will remain.

The commission will discuss hiring a technician.
      New wastewater plant operator Danny Price has started.

Ordinances and Resolutions:
The commission will approve the final reading of an amendment for sewer monthly rates and charges.
The commission will also adopt a one-year extension of the agreement with Marathon for emergency medical and fire rescue services.

Secretary-Treasurer’s Report
Commissioner Harding will report on the August financial summary.

Commissioners' Reports
Commissioner Harding will report on the wastewater report for September 14.
Commissioner Diel has another KCB Day update and will discuss whether Beauts should hang Christmas lights at the Sunset Park Gazebo.
Vice-Mayor Colonell has the city hall update.
Mayor Foster will give an update on license plate reader cameras.

Many KCBers have applauded that the Mayor has elected to follow the Governor's direction to deactivate the license plate reader, while asking under what authority he acted to do so.
In 2024, the commission passed a resolution to delegate the powers and duties of the city administrator to mayor Raspe until they appointed a city administrator. The resolution explicitly reads "Section one. Until such time as the city commission appoints or designates other individual as the city administrator, the mayor shall be the chief administrative/executive officer of the city..."
KCB's city administrator has served the city well for the past year. According to the 2024 resolution, the mayor no longer acts as the chief administrative officer of the city because KCB has a city administrator.

Read the full Key Colony Beach City Commission Meeting Agenda and Packet here.


Click or tap here to email your questions and comments to the commissioners and city clerk .
Join the 09/17/26 meetings from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device:
Please click or tap this URL to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89307186535?pwd=4AitrVDSWhMLBo1pihfZxrlARzRVhl.1
Passcode: 762216

What will the KCB City Commission do at the final budget hearing on September 17?

The city commission will host the second and final budget Public Budget Hearings at the temporary meeting place on the back patio at the Key Colony Inn and on Zoom beginning at 5:05 p.m. on Thursday, September 17.
Note that the restriction on public commentary continues for all meetings; "The city commission may allow public comment on an agenda item at the time the item is being considered... These comments must be limited to the subject that is being debated. " Further, "Members of the Public may speak for three minutes and may speak only once ... unless waived by a majority vote of the commission."

KCBers may want to ask our commissioners about these items on the agenda or other issues in the city.

The commission will adopt the millage rate of 2.8340 and their final budget in the amount of $26.285,429.

The agenda includes a review of proposed budgets including the general budget and the utility board budget as well as budget changes, if any.
Total 2026-27 expenses are almost $1.1 million less than estimated 2025-26 expenses but ad valorem taxes will increase another 4.63%.
Budgeted tax revenue doubled between the 2018-19 and 2025-26 fiscal years. Last month, Commissioner Harding reported big jumps in 2018 and 2021 but not the other million dollar tax increase in 2023-24.
  • KCB budgeted $1,732,677 for 2018-19 ad valorem tax revenue.
  • $1,804,165 for 2019-20
  • $1,878,301 for 2020-21
  • $2,300,383 for 2021-22
  • $2,627,390 for 2022-23
  • $2,999,042 for 2023-24
  • $3,946,224 for 2023-24
  • $3,246,270 for 2024-25
  • $3,542,289 for 2025-26
  • $3,706,340 for 2026-27
The $10.7 million general budget revenue for FY 2026-27 also includes $518,000 in building permit fees, $85,000 of boat trailer parking fees, and $2,728,493 from reserves.

After the public comments there will be resolutions to adopt a 2.8340 final millage rate and to adopt the final budget in the amount of $26.285,429.

Read the full Key Colony Beach City Commission Meeting Agenda and Packet here.


Click or tap here to email your questions and comments to the commissioners and city clerk .
Join the 09/17/26 meeting from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device:
Please click or tap this URL to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87534046714?pwd=b5CS51o9BUqDa38YKJPj3vBAuYvH96.1
Passcode: 971996

FY 2026-27 Grant Summary

Project and Location Total Cost Local Share
Basketball Court 110,000 33,000
7th Street Bathroom $115,000 $34,500
City Hall Sign $75,000 0
Fitness Trail $149,000 $44,700
Pickleball Restroom $115,000 $34,500
Sunset Park Gazebo $60,000 0
Total $624,000 $146,700

"Local Share" may not include additional city expenses such as engineering not covered, grant administration (and procurement), and more. Mayor Foster also noted with all these grants coming in, we're going to have to manage cash flow because "we got to pay it out first."

Last month, the commission also approved a $250,000 Phase 1 Funding Request to the FDEP. The grant will require a $125,000 (50%) match of city funding.

This data came from the "2007 General Grant Summary-Updated 13 August 2026" chart in the commission packet. No further information was provided.

Neighborly News

Hurricane Season

Thursday, September 10, has a double meaning for KCB. It was the ninth anniversary of Hurricane Irma's land fall and is also the official peak of the Atlantic Hurricane season. This year it has passed without a hurricane forming in the Atlantic basin. Instead, there have been just five tropical storms. The prior record for the latest formation of an Atlantic hurricane is September 11, 2002 and 2013. The tropics remained quiet on this September 11 and the National Hurricane Center expects no tropical cyclone activity over the next seven days.

Forecasters currently are watching disorganized showers and thunderstorms around a low pressure trough over the central Subtropical Atlantic. About 60 tropical waves that move across the Atlantic each year and about one in seven of them develop into a tropical system.

Beach Water Quality

Beach water quality testing performed by the Florida Department of Health in Monroe County has indicated elevated levels of enteric bacteria (enterococci) in the near shore waters at some beaches. The presence of enteric bacteria is an indication of fecal pollution.

The water quality at nearby beaches includes:
  • Coco Plum Beach, Marathon: Good (No advisory issued)
  • Curry Hammock State Park Beach, Marathon: Good (No advisory issued)
  • Sombrero Beach, Marathon: Moderate (No advisory issued)
  • Sunset Park Beach, Good (No advisory issued)

KCB Warning: Scam Alert: Please Remain Vigilant

Some KCBers received a fraudulent invoice that appeared related to an upcoming City agenda item. It requested payment by wire transfer.

The City of Key Colony Beach has reminded residents, property owners, and visitors to remain alert for fraudulent emails, invoices, payment requests, and other suspicious communications that may falsely appear to originate from KCB or from a city board or commission, or from city staff.

Before sending money or providing personal or financial information, VERIFY FIRST.

If you receive an unexpected invoice or payment request claiming to be from the City:
  • Do not wire money based on an unsolicited email or phone call.
  • Do not provide banking, credit card, Social Security, password, or other sensitive information by email.
  • Do not click links or use contact or payment information contained in a suspicious message.
  • Contact the City directly to verify the request:
    Call city hall at 305.289.1212, extension 2 or email Silvia for more information.

    • Read more about this alert on the city web site.

    License Plate Readers

    Florida DOT has revoked permits for all Automated License Plate Readers on roads in the state highway system. The devices must be removed by September 30. The order does not affect LPRs on patrol cars or on county or city roads or on private property. Read the Executive Order here.

    In addition to the data privacy and other concerns, ALPR systems including Flock have faced scrutiny for misreading plates and contributing to wrongful arrests.

    The order affects only two roads in the Keys. State Road 5 is the unsigned state road running the length of the Keys concurrent with U.S. 1 from Key West to the mainland. State Road A1A runs along Roosevelt Boulevard in Key West as a local state-maintained route. State Road 90 and State Road 975 are also in in the county but are mainland Monroe.

    No announcement from MCSO Sheriff Rick Ramsay and, of course, KCB has no state rights-of-way so the city is not covered by the order.

    Commission Candidates

    Leading up to the November general election, the Marathon Weekly asked city commission candidates two important questions. Lynne Benton, Kirk Diehl, and Freddie Foster will vie for two seats on the commission:

    • Property tax reduction/elimination is arguably the most consequential referendum on November's ballot. Should the plan pass, what items do you believe can should be cut from Key Colony Beach's budget and/or what new funding sources do you propose to compensate for lost property tax revenue?
    • How do you believe the city of Key Colony Beach can best balance between personal property rights and the high beautification standards the city is known for?

    Read their answers at https://keysweekly.com/42/key-colony-beach-commission-candidates-talk-property-taxes-and-community-beauty.

    The Tax Setting Date Looms. What Did the Commission Do at the Budget Workshops in July?

    The city commission held a budget workshop at the Key Colony Inn and on Zoom on July 13.

    The commission set the proposed millage rate to 2.834. That's a 4.63% increase over the rollback rate.

    They raised wastewater rates by $10 or 13.5%,

    The FY2026-2027 workshop budget plans to spend $6,145,574. That's 54.8% more than last year's approved budget.

    They will spend down the reserves by nearly $800,000. The FY2025-2026 budget recap shows the city budgeted general fund expenses of $3,969,240 but spent $5,338,872. No one addressed that the city appears to have overspent the budget by 34.5%.

    Commissioner Harding reviewed the FY2026-2027 budget. He noted "We are spending less money next year, because ... we're at the tail end of the City Hall expense next year, where we spent more money this year because of City Hall" The rollback rate is 2.7164. Our current millage is 2.82, and the proposal is to increase to 2.834. He explained a "big jump" in 2018 for Irma and one in 2021 for City Hall.

    Total 2026-27 expenses are almost $1.1 million less than estimated 2025-26 expenses but ad valorem taxes will increase another 4.63%.
    Budgeted tax revenue doubled between the 2018-19 and 2025-26 fiscal years. Commissioner Harding reported big jumps in 2018 and 2021 but not the other million dollar tax increase in 2023-24.
    • KCB budgeted $1,732,677 for 2018-19 ad valorem tax revenue.
    • $1,804,165 for 2019-20
    • $1,878,301 for 2020-21
    • $2,300,383 for 2021-22
    • $2,627,390 for 2022-23
    • $2,999,042 for 2023-24
    • $3,946,224 for 2023-24
    • $3,246,270 for 2024-25
    • $3,542,289 for 2025-26
    • $3,706,340 for 2026-27

    KCB Calendar

    Labor Day

    KCB City Hall will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day.

    Budget

    The final public hearing to adopt the FY2026-27 budget and millage rate will be September 17. The meetings may be held on the back patio of the Inn or may move to some other temporary city hall

    Meetings

    Notice: Change of Meeting Location and Time

    All KCB meetings are currently held on the Back Patio at the Key Colony Inn. The city commission will meet on the third Thursday of each month at 10 a.m. The next scheduled monthly meeting and public hearing is Thursday, September 17.

    The Beautification committee meets in person on the second Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m. (Check the KCB Calendar to confirm times and places.) Recreation committee meetings will continue to be held on Zoom on the second Thursday of each month at 10 a.m. Utility Board meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m. P&Z board meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m.

    The Planning & Zoning meeting scheduled for September 16 has been cancelled.

    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.

    Commentary
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