Want to see your city commissioners in person? Key West leaders to return to City Hall
Key West city commissioners will hold an in-person meeting next week at City Hall, in what the mayor calls a return to “a responsible level of normalcy in the midst of a global pandemic.”
The meeting, on Tuesday at 5 p.m., will be the first held in person since March because of the novel coronavirus pandemic. At least four members of the seven-member commission must be at City Hall for the meeting. Up to three other members may attend via Zoom.
Key West City Commissioner Mary Lou Hoover, who has a respiratory illness, said she is trusting city staff members to make City Hall a safe environment.
“Of all the commissioners on the dais, I’m probably the most susceptible to coronavirus due to an underlying condition,” Hoover said Tuesday. “I do think it’s time we get back in front of the public.”
The partial return of in-person meetings for local government panels is part of the state’s Phase 3 of reopening after COVID-19-related shutdowns.
Those who don’t want to attend the commission meeting in person have a virtual option. They can still watch and participate on Zoom, said Crean.
Masks will be required to enter and the commission chambers at 1300 White St. “will be arranged to allow for social distancing,” said city spokeswoman Alyson Crean.
Temperatures will be taken at the door and there will be separate places to enter and exit for social distancing purposes.
“Please bear with us as we work through our protective measures to keep our residents, staff and commissioners healthy as we resume our city commission schedule,” Mayor Teri Johnston said in a statement.
Key West already airs its commission meetings live on the city’s website and on local government channels on Comcast channel 77 and AT&T U-Verse channel 99.
The county hasn’t decided whether all five county commissioners will meet in person or hold a ‘hybrid” meeting where a quorum meets in person but the others may participate via Zoom, said County Administrator Roman Gastesi.
The county commission’s next meeting is set for Oct. 21 at 9 a.m.
Marathon City Council members also plan to return to in-person meetings in some fashion on Oct. 13 at 5:30 p.m..
“We are working out the details now,” said City Manager Chuck Lindsey.
The Islamorada Village Council on Tuesday was still planning to meet virtually on Oct. 1, said Village Clerk Kelly Toth.
“But that could change to a hybrid-type meeting,” Toth wrote in an email. “The Village is still reviewing information pertaining to the governor’s executive order.”
Islamorada on Tuesday didn’t have a starting date for when in-person meetings will start.
If the council meetings become the hybrid type, social distancing guidelines would “severely” limit seating for the public, Toth said.
All Key West boards and committees will also resume meeting in person next month.
Key West City Commissioner Jimmy Weekley said he is ready to return to City Hall.
“I’m fine with it,” said Weekley, who joked he’ll have to ditch the flip flops and shorts for long pants and shoes for the meeting.
“It’s a good thing,” Weekley said. “Other than openings or ribbon cuttings, I really haven’t seen any of the commissioners other than on Zoom for a while. I’m ready to give it a shot.”
