State of the city address looks ahead with “abounding optimism”

BY PRU SOWERS

KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER

Key West Mayor Teri Johnston had only been in office 68 days, but her first “State of Key West” address on Jan. 15 covered a lot of ground.

Starting off by saying she had “abounding optimism” about the city’s ability to meet the needs of its 25,000 residents – or “customers,” as Johnston called them – the new mayor went on to say there are heightened expectations from city officials, which include the first new mayor in 10 years, two new city commissioners, a new chief of police and the first new head of the county Tourist Development Council in 20 years. Johnston said her goals include focusing on the city’s financial stability, improving quality of life, ramping up capital projects and sharpening strategic planning.

“Our efforts and resources are going to be scattered and diluted without a strategic plan for our future. Strategic planning is so important to Monroe County that they employ a full-time strategic planner who is constantly updating, soliciting public input and revising their plan to stay relevant. Without a plan [Key West] city staff will continue to be pulled and tugged in many different directions,” Johnston said.

Making good on a campaign promise to solicit more input from residents and encourage more people to become involved in city operations, Johnston pointed to Diane Glorie, a resident artist who has volunteered to repaint the fading street signs around Key West.

“When our Public Information Officer Alyson Crean posted a call for volunteers, we got 5,000 hits on [the city’s] Facebook page and well over 40 confirmed volunteers on the first day. These residents are working hand in hand with city staff to make a positive impact. This is one of many volunteer groups that we will be forming in 2019 to improve the quality of life for locals and visitors alike,” Johnston said.

On that quality of life issue, Johnston pointed to the new Truman Waterfront Park. Commissioners had just voted that evening to proceed with the next construction phase of the project that will build a new multi-purpose sports field, renovate the former Police Athletic League building inside the park and plant more landscaping. The bicycle and pedestrian master plan has been finished and is awaiting city commission direction and over 1.5 miles of streets and 1.23 miles of sidewalks have been repaved or re-poured, she said.

“Yes, I am fully aware that we have much more to do. Many of you may have noticed all of the ADA sidewalk, curb and pavement improvements occurring on Fleming Street right now. In 2019, we will repave Simonton Street and pour new sidewalks, we will do the same on Whitehead from South Street to Truman as well as redesign Angela from the Truman Waterfront Park to Thomas,” the mayor said, adding that this year’s city budget for repaving has been increased by 25 percent to $2 million.

Johnston also mentioned virtually every one of the departments in City Hall, praising staff for their work. Police efforts in 2018 led to a 64 percent decrease in scooter and motorcycle crashes with help from a state grant. There are now five police resource officers working in the city’s public schools. And the mounted police have a new horse, thanks to the donation of Dr. Louis Spelios.

“Our 89-member fire and Emergency Medical Services team responded to over 6,400 calls in 2018 (18 a day) while maintaining an ISO rating of 1; a rating attained by less than one percent of all fire departments in the country. Why is this important? Because every one of our taxpayers are paying the lowest possible fire insurance rates because of this ISO rating,” Johnston said.

Of course, the new mayor zeroed in on affordable housing and the dire need to build more low-income and workforce housing units. She outlined several projects currently in the works, including the $29 million, 104-unit new development planned for College Road on Stock Island, which is expected to begin construction this year.

“It is unrealistic to think that we are going to solve our housing shortage. But because we can’t do it all does not mean that we can not to do some,” she said. “So, what’s holding us back from making a greater impact? We need to update our land development regulations to address a unique critical need much like [Monroe] County is doing with their Goal 109.”

Johnston described the state of the city as engaged, optimistic, ready for positive change and “deeply committed to improving our economic future, our quality of life and retaining our inclusive, quirky, compassionate community values.”

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