Last Thursday night this writer had the privilege of seeing a wonderful performance of The Best Man at the Waterfront Playhouse. The acting was authentic and riveting in this play about two men running for President of the United States . One of them, former Secretary of State William Russell, was honorable to a fault while the other, Senator Joseph Cantwell, though having a moral code, was not above slinging mud if it gained him the coveted office. When some derogatory information came to the campaign manager of Russell, he persuaded his candidate to use it against Cantwell before Cantwell used his information against him. This presented a moral dilemma for Russell who was adamant in his refusal to use this against his opponent. At the eleventh hour, just when it seemed he was persuaded to stoop to the level of Cantwell, he asked his campaign manager to bring the man to his hotel room while votes were being cast on the convention floor. Knowing this meant he was going to withdraw, Cantwell could not reach the room fast enough. After much arguing back and forth with Russell trying, to no avail, to get the other candidate to see their mud slinging would benefit neither and certainly not the country, Russell gave up and went to the phone. His opponent, smirk in place, waited to hear the words. Yes, the good guy did announce he was withdrawing from the race to the chagrin of his campaign manager; however, what the less than good guy never expected to hear was this - he was giving his votes to a third candidate. Despite his reluctance to stay in the race if it meant smearing his opponent, Russell would do anything else within his power to assure another unscrupulous man did not become President of the United States . The third candidate, of course, wins the nomination.

One could not help but wish for a heroic William Russell to run for President in real life; that instead of slinging mud for mud slung, a candidate would emerge who has the ability to ignore campaign managers, turn the other cheek and stay focused on the issues facing the citizens of this country instead of confusing both the issues and the voters in his or her zest to win the office. Unfortunately, in the words of the playwright, Gore Vidal, who wrote this wonderful play, “Any American who is prepared to run for president should automatically, by definition, be disqualified from ever doing so.”

Tonight’s City Commission Meeting

Tonight’s meeting had none of the excitement of The Best Man, but it did stir something within the hearts of those in attendance as Chris Belland, who started the Love Your Island program, signified by the small red hearts many of us wear every day, spoke for the Mayor’s Coalition for a Green Key West and presented a slide show set to music. As gulls flew over Mt. Tra shmore while yet more trash was heaped to the top of the pile and hands dropped cigarette butts all over the streets of Key West , the music became more ominous.

Belland called for strict enforcement laws such as fines for littering from property lines to curb sidewalk cleanliness and enforcing existing regulations and codes pertaining to environmental stewardship and cleanliness. He also urged the City, in concert with all local media, including radio, TV and newspaper, to enter into a city-wide education and outreach program for public awareness, recommending each City Commissioner be the point person in his or her District and use the Ambassadors who have been trained, at some expense, for this purpose.

Mandatory recycling of all residential and commercial enterprises of those items currently practical and that may become practical in the future, including but not limited to glass, aluminum, other certain metals, paper and plastics designated recyclable 1,2 and 3 was recommended. Belland called for a city-wide ban, using tax or surcharge funds (to be used for the City’s green program), on commercial sale or use of polystyrene (Styrofoam) products, excluding fishing floats. He also called for a city-wide ban on the use of plastic or paper bags at the retail level, citing bioplastic or bags customers bring in would be a good alternative. Belland was quick to say China placed a ban on these free plastic bags throughout the country yesterday and New York was considering such a ban.

One could hear the gasps of surprise when Belland told the commissioners San Francisco recycles over 70% of its trash compared to the tiny island of Key West ’s mere 6%.

He went on to say the City should require a more responsive recycling service, as per their existing contract, to the needs of the community, such as more frequent pick-ups or other more centrally located community recycling centers other than the existing one on Stock Island. He also suggested a community composter for the placement of certain acceptable compostable, biodegradable items including, but not limited to, certain yard trimmings, food items and other compostable materials. He asked for a requirement of all vendors who sell electronic equipment, petroleum products and computer trash to be required to take those items back when they are no longer usable and be responsible for their proper and legal disposal. (Office Max already accepts empty ink cartridges and empty laser jet cartridges.) He also recommended the establishment of a City Board to advise the City on current state of the art opportunities to promote sustainability and work with Waste Management for that purpose as well as to promote environmentally friendly and efficient operations of the solid waste utility and implementation of enhanced contract management for solid waste.

Belland told the mayor and commissioners, “It is ironic that at this crucial moment for the environment, we have an oilman for President and scant leadership on these issues but maybe that’s the whole point. Before there’s a true ‘send a man to the moon and bring him back’ type of national imperative, maybe we must look to ourselves first. We await your leadership. It’s only a matter of desire and will.

This brought everyone in Old City Hall to their feet in rousing applause and all the commissioners had favorable remarks about the coalition’s suggestions. Commissioner Bill Verge wanted to take a closer look at cleaning up Key West ’s marinas. Commissioner Mark Rossi said, “I want us to look into putting a surcharge on those plastic water bottles like we used to have on glass soda bottles.”

In other commission business, City Manager Jim Scholl informed the commission the evaluation forms for the end of his sixth month of employment were not ready but will be by Friday. The commission agreed they will complete the evaluations individually by the end of this month for City Clerk Cheryl Smith to tally and bring back to the next City Commission Meeting. City Attorney Shawn Smith informed them this will be legal if no results are shared before the next meeting on February 5th and this was agreed to by the commission.

The resolution to approve a three year contract between the City, the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) and MARC (Monroe Association for Retarded Citizens) was tabled once again after Commissioner Mark Rossi raised concerns about lack of supervision in keeping the area clean and collection of trash at the Key West Bight and Garrison Bight.

"That is contrary to my feedback" Port Director Raymond Archer told him.

The Executive Director of MARC House, Diana Flenard, advised the commission, "We clean at 9 a.m. and don't go back until 2 p.m. A lot of tourists are there in the meantime. We have no control over what they do to litter. Every single employee there is a Marc House resident. There are no illegal’s there. Because of speech problems, some think they're illegal contractors but they are not."

Verge said, "I also looked into it. I think some people expect more than is in the contract (although he did call for specific language in it giving the city authority to end it if there are legitimate problems). There's a human element to this, too. My feeling is let's go with it."

Commissioner Clayton Lopez agreed with him about adding the specific language to the contract.

Rossi told him, “There is no contract here.”

He was told by the city attorney the contract is in the city clerk’s office. “I don’t have it with me so I can’t speak to its language.”

Rossi was adamant he could not go with the resolution without seeing the contract so it was tabled.

Scholl advised the commission the city planner he had in mind had declined to take the position recently vacated by Planning Director Gail Kenson and he had hired an interim planner, Amy Kimball-Murley, who has city planning experience in Marathon and other Keys.

Mayor Morgan McPherson added an emergency agenda item to rehire, on a temporary basis, former City Planner Ty Symroski, citing the possible time or grant money loss for affordable housing projects already on the table if they are neglected.

Symroski’s contract will be for $20,000 or less but it can be brought back before the commission if more time is needed to get the job done. Kimball-Murley will work specifically on planning but Symroski’s time and efforts will be dedicated to making the required changes in zoning for the affordable housing projects, including school board property at Trombo, Porter Place and possibly Poinciana Plaza , after he has had an opportunity to evaluate the situation at each site.

Symroski was present in the hall and agreeable to the plan, as were all the commissioners. Commissioner Dan Kohlage told him, “All I can say is welcome back, Ty.”

Kohlage, during commissioner’s comments, expressed his concern about the fiscal responsibility of the people “who run the day-to-day operations of the City.” He called for a State of the City by the first February meeting. Scholl promised to have the figures by the next meeting.

Commissioner Teri Johnston called for more information such as contracts and budget figures to be in the commissioners’ packets for each meeting.

Commissioner Barry Gibson announced another Duval Street Meeting on January 31 at Beachside Resort at 9 a.m. with the Duval Street business owners. The public is invited to this meeting.

It’s our city government – see you there!