Former City Planner’s consulting contract draws concerns

 

BY PRU SOWERS

KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER

 

Former Key West City Planner Don Craig, who resigned Nov. 21, isn’t so former.

The City Commission voted Dec. 2 to sign a one-year, $50,000 contract with Craig’s consulting firm, Creative Edge, for him to continue assisting with at least eight municipal projects in which he was involved during his tenure as city planner. Craig will provide advice on the projects from his home in Colorado but the contract also states he might be asked to fly back to Key West, with travel costs paid by the city.

But it was a close vote, with three of the seven commission members voting against the contract. Commissioner Billy Wardlow said there would be no oversight to prove Craig works the 20 to 40 hours a week as specified by the new contract. Colorado is just too far away, he said, and any travel costs could boost the cost of the contract.

“I doubt if he’ll stay at the Days Inn. I’m sure it will have to be the Casa [Marina] or the Westin. It’s going to be expensive. That $50,000 will probably be $100,000 by the end of the time,” Wardlow said.

Commissioner Tony Yaniz, who also voted against the contract, suggested hiring Craig for six months, with his primary job being to help a new city planner learn the ropes. While calling Craig “a brilliant man,” Yaniz said he objects to Craig helping vet the eight applicants who have submitted their credentials to become the next city planner, which is one of Craig’s consulting responsibilities.

“So now Don’s going to be in Colorado reviewing the applications to get rid of himself? It just doesn’t make sense to me,” Yaniz said about the contract.

But Commissioner Jimmy Weekley pointed out that the 12-month consulting contract can be terminated at any time. And the eight projects that Craig would be helping with are “probably the most important issues the city is facing,” he said.

“No one is going to be able to learn these projects in three months or so,” Weekly said about whoever is hired to replace Craig.

The eight primary projects with which Craig will be involved on a continuing basis include building a new overnight homeless shelter, developing the proposed Truman Waterfront Park, building new affordable housing, and allocating the new building permits that have recently become available in Key West.

Commissioner Teri Johnston said Craig’s contract was a “no risk situation” because keeping him on for a year will help prevent an interruption of critical services for local citizens. Key West has some of the most expensive real estate on the Eastern Seaboard and providing proper planning on a two mile by four mile island is “an incredibly difficult task,” she said.

“The unintended consequences if these projects are not handled property is just incredible. This is one of the most important positions in the city,” Johnston said.

“We shouldn’t be cutting off our nose to spite our face,” added Mayor Craig Cates, who provided the tiebreaking vote to approve the contract.

 

 

 

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