Transparency in Government: Poor

1. Click below to watch video of Councilman Bacheler discussing limiting public records requests. 
2. Click here to read  the contradictory statement made above about governmental transparency.

Adherence to Ethical Standards: Failed

1. Councilman Bacheler represented private land purchasers while sitting as chairman on the Local Planning Agency, which by many is viewed as a blatant conflict of interest.
2. Click below to view portions of the video of the Key Heights LPA rezoning hearing.

Zoning: Failed

1. Councilman Bacheler advocated for zoning changes against the wishes of the residents.
2. Click below to view portions of the video of the Key Heights LPA and Council rezoning hearings.

Seat #2: Mark Gregg

Land Use Attorney Part-time Commercial Fisherman Served previously on Village Council and as Mayor

Campaign Statements

 The following statements are responses submitted in writing by the Councilmen prior to the 11/4/2020 election 

Affordable Housing.

"The Council should be very aggressive in creating new affordable housing opportunities from both existing development and new development. Any new construction or redevelopment that increases businesses impacts (i.e. more residents, employees, customers, traffic, etc.) should be required to actually build new affordable units, and not pay a fee into a fund. Maybe a moratorium on all non affordable development until affordable units catch up with demand would cause developers and market forces to focus on creating more units. Passing an ordinance that allows accessory dwelling units would be the easiest, fastest, most economical and beneficial solution without any environmental impacts. A moratorium on permitting any new vacation rentals until their number equals the number of affordable units would help correct the current imbalance (225 VR’s vs 139 aff. housing)  as would an increase in the minimum appraised value threshold for licensing vacation rental renewals. Hiring a specialized planner to apply for and win government grants to subsidize the cost of land or construction of multifamily affordable is working in other Florida cities and would work for Islamorada too.  Overall, I’m in favor of requiring affordable housing that is proportionate to all tourist housing, commercial intensity, and residential density, all of which depend upon our workforce to function. This would require data and analysis from a study and plenty of public input. Not easy or fun, but necessary."

Highway congestion.

"We should ask the TDC to reduce advertising to a mass market and target only discrete groups that provide less impacts and greater economic benefits. The 3 segments of the Old Highway on PK, Windley, and UM should be designated for local traffic only to prevent traffic delays and hazards caused by pass through drivers who use the Old Highway as a short cut around slower traffic on US 1. Close the Fills, and restrict parks and boat ramps to use by local residents only during holidays and periods of heavy use as was done this summer before July 4^th until after Labor day."                                                                                                                                                                  

Public Involvement.

"Create a Quality of Life Advisory Committee to advise the Council on a wide variety of issues that impact our daily lives."

Water Quality. 

"Create a canal maintenance service funded by a special taxing district for canal front property owners to correct water depths by adding fill or removing sediment, and then install aeration equipment. Stop stormwater runoff from Village owned public roads and especially at the Fills. This may require grant money. Plant and maintain a mangrove fringe along degraded sections of the Fills."                                                                                                                       

Environmental Protection.

"Establish a no motor zone in all sensitive areas from the shoreline to 1200’. Fight to eliminate mini season. Prohibit ALL land clearing on any property designated as High Quality Hammock. This may require the purchase of some properties by the State of Florida and/or the Village. Ask the DEP to designate the entire Lignum Vitae State Aquatic Preserve as a no motor zone except deepwater channels. Annex or acquire jurisdiction and control of nearby shallow areas and mangrove islands outside our 1200’ limit to be included in the no motor zone. Also see item 8 below."                                                                                                                                                               

Tourism/Residents Imbalance.

"Raise assessed value thresholds for Vacation Rentals to create more affordable housing and to encourage tourism in low density/high value areas. Encourage low impact high value tourism such as ecotourists, and discourage daytrip tourism."                                   

Vacation Rentals.

"See comments in items 1. and 6. above."                                                                                                                        

Costs of Local Government.

"Conduct a comprehensive review of all staff positions for opportunities to eliminate unnecessary positions and consolidate overlapping positions. Replace all Village owned vehicles and equipment powered by fossil fuels with electric powered substitutes which operate on electricity  produced by solar electric generation facilities owned and operated by the Village. Install solar generation equipment on all Village owned buildings and in some parking areas with a goal of net zero cost of electricity. Costs of solar facilities to be funded by grants and low interest solar loans. This will begin our transition away from inefficient and environmentally harmful fossil fuels consistent with modern market trends and will enhance our image as a “green” city, while reducing our dependence on sources of energy transported from the mainland. The cost of operating most vehicles will be reduced by more than 70%, and more as technology improves."   

End of BPAS.

"Ask the legislature to allocate our fair share of Stewardship Act funds to buy land and pay takings claims. Initiate negotiations, and litigation if necessary, with Monroe County and the State of Florida to establish the Village’s limited responsibility for liability for takings claims arising out of regulations passed prior to the incorporation of the Village in 1997. Pass new land use regulations that allow limited use of vacant land outside of environmentally sensitive areas, such as storage, small scale commercial agriculture, and recreational uses in order to avoid liability for takings. We should immediately begin to identify and prioritize those parcels which pose the greatest risk of liability so that we can calculate our exposure and plan to mitigate damages. In short, we need to plan for a possible catastrophic financial problem NOW!"                                

Revisiting prior issues.

"I would happily support an effort to terminate the construction of the pedestrian bridge provided that the Village is able to afford to pay any damages caused by our decision and that we are released from liability. If we are going to build some facility to cross the highway, I would like to explore an underground crossing similar to the Key deer crossing under US 1 on Big Pine Key. Any kind of overpass would be unacceptable. I believe that the Freebie shuttle is an unnecessary expense and should be revisited. I would like to reconsider a project to repair and rebuild the jetty at Founder’s Park in order to create a safe and convenient land based fishing venue for wheelchair bound fishermen and fisherwomen, and for those who cannot afford a boat. It could be funded in large part by TDC grant funds and other non Village sources."

300’ Swim Zone. 

"The new ordinance is a good first start and should help reduce conflicts. I’ll rely on reports from the affected residents on both sides of the issue to determine if further restrictions or adjustments are necessary."                     

The Fills.

"It’s much improved but more could be done. My preference would be to limit use to locals with a paid for parking pass, mainly local guides who launch boats for charter. I would like to see uses limited to resting, and walking, without food preparation, swimming ,fishing, or other uses that generate trash. It should be relandscaped with native vegetation, and all erosion damage should be repaired by FDOT to prevent runoff. That would be a good start."                                                    

Fills on Memorial Day 2021.

"I would hope that the erosion problem will be fixed to stop the runoff. I would like to see landscaping in place. I would like the Fills to be closed for the holiday and all holidays and high demand periods."                                                                                               

Toll on US 1.

"I believe a toll would provide badly needed funds to help offset the costs and harm caused by excessive tourism. This could include affordable housing, environmental damage, and the high cost of living. I fully support a toll."                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Do you think we should assure allocations from mobile home parks are transferred as affordable even if it requires a change in our LDRs?

"Yes, but I don’t believe that a new LDR is necessary for approved mobile home parks (we only have 3 left) because they are already protected by the LDR’s. Mobile homes are an unsafe type of housing in the Keys and should be replaced with traditional safer buildings when destroyed or at the end of their useful life. A market rate TDR transferred from any mobile home sender site occupied or used as affordable/workforce housing should require replacement with an affordable/workforce dwelling at the expense of both the sender and receiver site owners, even if the mobile home is not located in an approved mobile home park. There would be no net loss of affordable units and the mobile home would be replaced by a modern safe structure. This would impact the value of the TDR reducing demand and avoid a claim for a taking."                                                                                                                                                                                                                

How to make government more transparent.

"Existing transparency is reasonable, but could be improved. I believe that more detail should be required on conflict of interest disclosures so that the public clearly sees all who are involved, the subject matter of the conflict, and how the person claiming the conflict might be financially impacted by the matter voted upon. A mere disclosure of the existence of a conflict and then abstention from voting is inadequate.

Press Release: 

ICA discovers, investigates and discloses to the public, abuse of office by Islamorada Village Councilman Mark Gregg

The Islamorada Community Alliance became concerned about Councilman Mark Gregg's application for a Building Permit Allocation for a narrow unplatted jetty in front of his home and began an investigation shortly after the third quarter BPAS allocation list in 2021 was presented to the Village Council with this jetty property showing up near the top of the list.  

The investigation demonstrated numerous irregularities.  On January 26, 2022 the Alliance issued a press release.  Click HERE to read Press Release. 

Current Status of Jetty

While this "Jetty" story began before Gregg was elected to Council in 2020, it is not yet over. The property remains on the BPAS list, number 60 out of 62 with 7 points.  In May of 2023, Gregg submitted an application for Administrative Appeal, regarding the scoring of the BPAS Allocation while Dan Gulizio was Director of Planning.    

No hearing has been held to date.  Click here to see the application.

This is not the first time Gregg has been the subject of local concern while serving on the Village Council. He served on the council previously and was involved in the controversial Gimpy Gulch scandal. 

This is Gimpy Gulch story 

Before the Village of Islamorada incorporated, the beachfront Gimpy Gulch property, adjoining Founders Park to the south, was controversial as to how many legitimate building rights existed.  The County did extensive research and determined while there were illegal units, there were just three permitted dwelling units.   To read a 1997 letter from former Gimpy Gulch owner’s representative acknowledging unpermitted work, click here

Mark Gregg bought the Gimpy Gulch property knowing of the issues. After incorporation, Gregg asked the Village to acknowledge there were eight building rights on the property.  Sheryl Bower was Planning Director and had worked for the county. She would only confirm three.  Mark was mayor at the time. He went to the manager, Charles Baldwin.  Baldwin told Sheryl Bower to write a letter confirming the extra building rights.  Bower refused and was fired. 

Next planner in line was Ed Koconis and he agreed to write the letter confirming eight building rights as requested by the manager, though never acknowledging that the eight had been permitted. 

Mark had paid $579,000 for the two-acre tract and then flipped it with the eight development rights for $3,450,000. 

Soon after, Gregg, as he put it, “cashed out and took the millionaire boat to Central Florida.”  He explained his departure from Islamorada to the Orlando Sun Sentinel for an October 14, 2007article.  

By the time they left Islamorada, it no longer resembled the quaint fishing village they had loved; nearly 40 percent of its 7,000 residents were millionaires, and at least two of them were billionaires, Gregg said.

"The character of the community changed and so did the environment. The transformation of the reefs and fishing was dramatic. We cashed out and took the millionaire boat to Central Florida," he said.

He and Barrett knew they had found what they had been missing in the Keys when their puppy Otis ran off last year. Thirty neighbors joined the search and found the pup.

"It was a warm and fuzzy Mayberry moment," Gregg said. "And it reminded me how things used to be in the Keys."

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2007-10-14-micanopy14-story.html

That was 2007.  And now Mark Gregg is back to the Village he thinks is no longer quaint. 

While he resided in Micanopy almost 10 years, he kept his home and homestead exemption in Islamorada.

In November 2020, Gregg got elected to council and once again there is controversy and yet another attempt at unjustified building rights for monetary gain while sitting on the Village Council. 

 

To see Mr. Gregg's ratings based on all activity through 1/10/2021, please see the next tab.

Seat #3: Mayor Buddy Pinder

Owned and operated a local underground plumbing business Helped negotiate modifications to the Islamorada sewer system

Campaign Statements

The following statements are responses submitted in writing by the Councilmen prior to the 11/4/2020 election 

Affordable housing: 

"We need to identify the best suited properties for affordable housing; any commercial projects should be required to build an appropriate number of affordable/workforce housing units before receiving a certificate of occupancy."

Highway congestion: 

"We need to develop the best possible relationship with FDOT and other state agencies so we can work together to find solutions for our traffic issues. Tallahassee is the key to getting critical funding for infrastructure needs. Our council needs to consider decisions that impact traffic the most and not make traffic worse".

Public involvement: 

"We need to encourage more public input. The Village should do a better job of keeping the public informed of the issues being decided so they can be a part of the decision-making. Too often it appears that decisions are already made before our residents even know about the issues. The public feels their ideas fall on deaf ears. Council represents the people—the council needs to involve them with workshops, better communication, public comment process."

Water quality: 

"This is a huge issue. The water is the life blood of our community and our economy. This is the reason why our most sought after tourists come here. It is why families have endured here for generations. We must do everything possible to preserve and protect it."

Environmental protection: 

"We must stop the increased density and overdevelopment that leads to the degradation of our environment."

Tourism/residents imbalance: 

"We must work on conserving and preserving our assets and both the residents quality of life and the things that bring in the tourists. As we create horrible traffic congestion and nuisances that make residents unhappy, we will eventually drive both our remaining residents and our tourists away. High cost of living and housing is also driving fulltime residents out of the Keys… and that is not good for the future for our community—or the tourist industry either. I liked it when the people that worked here, lived here. And I think our businesses and visitors did too."

Vacation rentals:

Costs of local government: 

"I would work hard to be a better steward of our tax dollars. Let’s pay better attention to projects where the benefits are far outweighed by the cost. Our budget is full of excess in every department. We have citizen for almost everything here: water quality, nearshore waters, achievable housing, parks and recreation. Why not a citizens finance committee to review the intricacies of our complex budget? We have lots of smart people who could help."

End of BPAS allocations in 2023: 

"This is a critical issue that we need to address with full understanding of the complications and the potential costs to us and how the state will help. There is still some time to reduce the impact if we look carefully —regulating and using TDRs wisely instead of driving up the price to use them for vacation rentals."

Issues to revisit: 

"Issues that have allowed increased density, overdevelopment, the TDR ordinance, the pedestrian bridge. Inappropriate zoning changes, changing property addresses."

300’ swim zone: 

"Yes, yes, yes… strictly enforce the swim zone. Get all agencies involved to work with the Village to provide the quiet enjoyment that the residents of Islamorada have a right to enjoy. Speed up the process so the neighborhood doesn’t continue suffering!"

The Fills: 

"Glad the Village is addressing it at long last but I am not satisfied with the direction. Why should residents provide a beautiful scenic park for day trippers with their tax dollars?"

The Fills by Memorial Day 2021: 

"We should work with FDOT, FWC, FDEP and any other agencies to reduce the Village costs to taxpayers for this."

Toll:

"The question of a toll has been going on for a long time. U.S. One is a Federal highway. There are so many roadblocks that need to be addressed to get a toll accomplished. I would fully support the toll but wonder whether it will be possible."

Transferring development rights from a former mobile home park as market rate: 

"Yes… we should assure allocations from mobile home parks are transferred as affordable."

Government more transparent: 

"I think the Village needs a better way to communicate. Why not develop a communication plan so residents can be better informed. Public relations/public Information employee is needed. I think all council meetings should be published and advertised, full and complete exposure, all meeting details (everything) should be posted on the Village website. The Village has reduced drastically what residents have easy access to on the website because of ADA requirements—this needs to be fixed."

To see Mr. Pinder's ratings based on all activity through 1/10/2021, please see the next tab.

Seat #4: Henry Rosenthal

Former local business owner: Green Turtle Restaurant and Cannery Whale Harbor Marker 88.  Member and volunteer: Leadership Monroe County Rotary Red Cross Chamber of Commerce

 The following statements are responses submitted in writing by the Councilmen prior to the 11/4/2020 election 

Affordable Housing:

“Clearly with the changes in demographics in the Keys, providing for affordable housing, but more important: workforce housing is clearly a priority I understand as having been once the largest employer in the area.  No affordable housing project will be a success if we don’t fix our compliance issues.”  

Highway Congestion:

“Before the TDC was a countywide organization, I chaired the Monroe County Advertising Commission with a publicity budget of $120,000 per year to bring in more tourists.  When the TDC was brand new I was opposed, based on the fact that we did not have the infrastructure to handle more tourists. Back then it was our water supply with a water pipeline from Florida City that often was inadequate for our needs.  The Overseas Highway is now creating the major infrastructure shortfall.    The TDC spends tens of millions of dollars each year to advertise for more tourists, instead of the $120,000 I had back a few years ago.  The millions and millions spent by TDC could be used on needed infrastructure instead of advertising for even more tourists.”   

Public Involvement:

“It is critical to the community that residents stay involved in the decision-making.  Council is supposed to represent the residents, but their involvement is the way for council to understand the direction voters want us to go.  The 2020 council election with real candidate competition created a new interest in the issues facing Islamorada. That is a good thing – folks hoping to serve on committees and wanting to be more involved. I hope it continues.”

Water Quality:

“There are numerous organizations at the local, state and Federal levels that deal with water quality concerns.  Protecting and improving our water quality is a most important aspect of our community.  As a Village Council we will have opportunities to select and endorse water quality experts to represent our interests on various boards and commissions from the Village committees up to national organizations.  We need to make sure the best people are representing us – people with knowledge of the issues and ideas for solutions.”

Environmental Protection:

“The special environment of the Florida Keys is the reason we all came here. The Russells, Pinders, and Parkers came to Islamorada well over 100 years ago because of our environment.  We need to make sure we do everything in our power to assure our special environment that they loved back then, and what the others of us came for, is well protected.”

Tourism/Residents Imbalance:

“Tourism is the economic engine that drives all of the Florida Keys.  Many times we complain about the behavior of some of the tourists in our community.  First, as local residents, we must remember to follow all the rules and regulations ourselves so that we can set a proper example for the tourists and then insist that they obey the rules that will protect our environment and our quiet enjoyment.”  

Vacation Rentals:

“It is the significant number of illegal vacation rentals that is most troubling.  This often results in an excess of people in a neighborhood not appreciated by those who live here.  Allowing an illegal vacation rental encourages inappropriate behavior.”  

Costs of Local Government:

“It is too easy for government to spend taxpayers’ money. In the public sector, a successful business must spend based on the income earned.  In government, it is too easy to decide what expenditures you’d like to make and then set the tax rate accordingly without considering the impact on those that are taxed.  As a council we must learn to be better at streamlining expenditures.”

End of BPAS Allocations in 2023:

“When I hear 2023 discussed my first reaction is – the Council should have been addressing this ten years ago, finding ways to minimize the difficulties we will be facing.  But now, even though we only have a short time left, the council and the staff need to address as many ways as possible to make 2023 less painful to our taxpayers and our property owners.”

Issues To Revisit: 

“PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE, PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE, PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE!”

300’ Swim Zone:

“The success or failure of the plan will be obvious when the swim zone is implemented.  A continual review will be needed to make changes when necessary.”

The Fills:

“NO! I don’t think Islamorada should take on this obligation for expensive improvements and the ongoing maintenance.  In 2014, FDOT submitted a detailed plan for improvements and limited parking and use of the Fills – at FDOT expense.  I do not understand why this should now be our responsibility. “

Fills by Memorial Day 2021:

“Extremely limited paid parking, no other uses encouraged.”

Toll:

“I am not opposed to a toll, depending on where the funds generated are to be used.  I don’t think a toll will control traffic coming into the Keys.

Transferring development rights from a former mobile home park as market rate homes. Do you think we should assure allocations from mobile home parks are transferred as affordable even if it requires a change in our LDRs?

“YES.  We badly need affordable/workforce housing – what is/was affordable should remain affordable, especially mobile homes.”

Government more transparent:

"If we encourage our local residents to stay involved with our Village government issues, increased transparency will result. The public will ask more questions and demand more answers.”

To see Mr. Rosenthal's ratings based on all activity through 1/10/2021, please see the next tab.

Seat #5: David Webb

Graduate FSU Pilot with USAF, SCANG and FedEx Pilot Association Chairman at FedEx for 10 years Former President Port Antigua Property Owners Association.

 The following statements are responses submitted in writing by the Councilmen prior to the 11/4/2020 election 

Affordable Housing:

"Essential for attracting and retaining residents vital to our community. Obstacles are land cost and availability, climbing insurance costs, compatibility with existing developments. Will require state and federal partnerships and cooperation from neighboring communities like Key Largo and Marathon which are commutable to Islamorada.”

Highway Congestion:

"My priority for this is driven by the significant difficulty of identifying realistic solutions. The fact is that every visitor to any Keys destination west of Lower Mat must traverse our community. In addition, the rapidly growing number of Islamorada property owners choosing to rent, legally or otherwise, their homes to tourists that tend to spend considerably more time on the road locally going to bars, restaurants and other attractions compounds the challenge. Add the day visitors to the Fills, Founders, Anne's Beach and other sites and you have our problem personified.”

Public Involvement:

“More public involvement from a larger constituency base is the key to change. Islamorada is not unique in having those with significant financial interests be more active in council affairs. My approach will be to reach out to all constituents through informal Town Hall type events and other gatherings. Ultimately, everyone must realize that even if you only own a primary or secondary home in Islamorada, you have a significant financial stake in the affairs of the council and you must be engaged in the decision making or be left behind.”

Water Quality:

"Goes without saying, this will define our community good or bad. While most authority for addressing this lies with federal and state agency's, the council's ability and veracity in making the case for improving and protecting our surrounding waters can make a difference. I have a long history of participation in efforts promoting marine conservation. I currently serve on the Village water quality advisory committee, chair the PAPOA water quality committee, member of the Habitat advisory panel to the South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council Charleston SC , board member of the non-profit WPBFC Foundation.”

Environmental Protection:

"See above.”

Tourism/Residents Imbalance:

"Impacts most of the items above. These do not have to be mutually exclusive but tourism should not be at the expense of residents quality of life. The most offensive impact of residential rentals is the insertion of "tourists" and everything attendant to people "partying" directly into our neighborhoods. Code, ordinance and law enforcement efforts are one way to address these negative impacts. More draconianly, we could have a discussion about banning residential rentals as has been done in other communities.”

Vacation Rentals:

"See above”.

Costs of Local Government:

"Nobody likes taxes or increases in taxes. The key here is to provide a level of representation that garners the confidence and trust of those being represented. My record on fiscal responsibility is unblemished. I was elected to four consecutive terms as the Chair of the FedEx pilots overseeing an annual budget of over $7,000,000.00 derived from pilot contributions from their pay checks. I have reconstituted the Finance Committee of the PAPOA to include residents at large to prepare and propose budgetary issues for the board. I have incorporated CPA recommendations for the PAPOA budget to provide a more transparent presentation to residents above any required by statute and also received the support of the PAPOA board to identify and secure set asides for future fiscal needs, also not required by statute.”

End of BPAS Allocations in 2023:

"The history of the local "politics" surrounding the current status of the legal liability is just that, history. What the new council will be faced with is the future. My position is that even without the issuance of the remaining building permits Monroe county and Islamorada specifically is "built out". I would not support any relaxation of building permit issuance or any easing of evacuation requirements. I believe the answer must include something like the federal super funds created to pay for cleanups at manmade disaster sites. Overdevelopment of Monroe county is a manmade disaster and should be treated as such.”

Revisit Issues:

"I have communicated my thoughts to the current council regarding the 2020/2021 budget. Specifically, I have requested that, where possible, flexibility should be afforded to the new council to review specific funding of projects like the Fills. Absent that, the new council will have to form a consensus about the advisability and risks associated with any change of direction.”

Swim Zone:

"After spending over two years working with home owners and the council to address this issue I am optimistic it will be beneficial to all residents of the area. However, the success of the swim zone is tied to several conditions. First, there may be further legal challenges from those opposed and the Village must defend the right to police the shores of Islamorada out to 1200 feet that currently exists. Second, locals must support the swim zone by complying with the restrictions. Finally, effective and active enforcement by all concerned law enforcement agencies must occur.”

The Fills:

"The current course charted by council should be revisited. It appears that nearly $500,000.00 has been budgeted for 2021 to build substantial infrastructure at the Fills. Even if that is the path eventually chosen the cost should be primarily borne by the land owner, the state. I support investigating whether the Fills could be incorporated into an existing protected area which might force the state to restrict access.”

Fills 2021:

"Depends upon the other elected council members willingness to take another path. I don't believe creating an environment similar to Anne's Beach is advisable or workable at the Fills.”

Toll:

"Should be evaluated. For my support it would have to be structured to deter some level of non-contributing traffic but not penalize residents.”

TDR's:

"I think an opportunity will be present with at least four new council members after November to do a top to bottom evaluation of every facet of development in Islamorada. Whether it's zoning changes, TDR's or permitting, sometimes a step back for a different look is advisable. I would advocate that this occur.”

Transparency in Government:

“This requires two equal efforts. Council members committed to this and an electorate willing to engage and demand openness.  I support and encourage both.”

To see Mr. Webb's ratings based on all activity through 1/10/2021, please see the next tab.