Wednesday, June 17, 2009

ISLAMORADA -- Taking a cue from Paul Newman's character in "Cool Hand Luke," the Village Council last Thursday lopped off -- for now -- a parking meter proposal suggested by its police chief.

But the town will still get more loot right away by adopting an ordinance that diverts illegal parking and hitchhiking fines to the village. Previously such fines were passed on to Monroe County.

The council will decide on the parking meter question at a future meeting.

The proposal to install parking meters at $7,500 apiece along Anne's Beach, Indian Key Fill and the median on Windley Key raised the ire of Vice Mayor Michael Reckwerdt and several village business owners.

"I am horrified by the idea and will fight it tooth and nail," Reckwerdt said. "It would be destructive."

Capt. Donnie Fanelli, commander of the Sheriff's Islamorada district, emphasized the proposal's potential for generating revenue for the village and included a rate proposal of $2 an hour or $10 per day for vehicles, and $4 an hour or $20 a day for vehicles with trailers.

Village Manager Ken Fields and Councilwoman Cathi Hill spoke to the need for additional revenue during difficult financial times.

"We can collect more than enough to cover the cost of prosecution," Fields said. "A lot of day trippers come down and leave their trash which creates a burden to maintain. This would generate revenue."

"This is a user fee, sharing the burden," Hill added.

Discovering support for meters among some staff and council members, Reckwerdt then proposed eliminating Windley Key from the three areas targeted for meters.

"I don't like meters at all, but don't put them where the businesses are," he said.

Drop Anchor resort owner Steve Kurutz also urged the council to exclude Windley Key.

"We police our own area to attract people," he said.

Business owner Deb Gillis concurred.

Fanelli, however, continued with his appeal to the council, saying paid parking reduces crime.

"Thieves don't want to pay for parking," he said.

Resident Dave Purdo feared that parking meters would drive tourists away.

"We don't want to look like Palm Beach, Key West or Miami," he said. "This is the Keys. Leave it the Keys."

Councilwoman Jill Zima Borski offered a temporary compromise.

"Would you be open to passing part of this tonight without the parking meter issue?" she asked her fellow council members.

"That's a good idea," said Mayor Don Achenberg.

So the council voted 5-0 to approve rerouting hitchhiking and illegal parking fines to the village, minus any parking meters. Staff was directed to bring back a parking meter ordinance for Anne's Beach and Indian Key Fill only.

In other business, the council voted unanimously to approve the purchase of a $42,554 pool cover for the Founders Park Aquatic Center. It also unanimously passed a whistle-blower ordinance designed to protect the confidentiality and preclude retaliatory action against any village employee who reports a violation of law or a health or safety problem.

During committee reports, Water Quality Improvement Citizens' Advisory Committee Chairman David Makepeace urged the council to "put aside institutional egos" and make a decision on the so-called "Key Largo option," which would send Islamorada's sewage to Key Largo treatment plant.

"There is a strong concern that what is important is to put this issue to rest," he said. "This is either an opportunity or a distraction, but however it goes it needs to be data-driven."

The council also approved the redevelopment of the 2.56-acre Watermark Marina (formerly Max's Marine) at mile marker 80.5, bayside, for 234 dry-slip boat racks, 18 wet slips and 11,490 square feet of commercial floor area.

The council agreed to limit the racks to 25 feet so that the profile would not exceed the village's 35-foot height limit when boats are on top.

sgibbs@keysnews.com