BREAKING: City Commission Votes to Put Water Quality Testing into Hospice
4–3 vote leaves monitoring program uncertain amid broader policy tensions.
KEY WEST, Fla. — The Key West City Commission voted 4–3 on Wednesday morning to reject a proposed $62,807 change order for additional water quality testing by Stantec Consulting Services, halting efforts to restart continuous monitoring in Key West Harbor and leaving the program’s future unclear.
Commissioners Sam Kaufman, Monica Haskell and Aaron Castillo voted in favor of the change order, while Commissioners Greg Veliz, Donie Lee, Lissette Carey and Mayor Danise Henriquez voted against it.
The proposed funding would have expanded “Task Zero” of the city’s water quality contract — a priority initiative aimed at resuming harbor monitoring and establishing baseline environmental data.
According to a staff memorandum from Resiliency Manager Alison Higgins, the City Commission in October 2025 awarded a professional services contract to Stantec to develop a one-year plan addressing the city’s most significant water quality issues, with harbor monitoring identified as a top priority.
The commission later approved a scope of work in January 2026 that included Task Zero, but staff noted at the time that additional funding would likely be required for equipment, installation, operations and maintenance.
Stantec subsequently developed a proposal to implement continuous monitoring in Key West Harbor at a cost of $69,307.87. After accounting for $5,700 already allocated in the existing contract, the requested change order sought $62,807.87 in additional funding, increasing the total contract value to approximately $194,338.87.
The plan also called for the city to separately purchase about $46,534 in monitoring equipment, which would remain a city asset for future use.
City staff said the expanded scope would allow for real-time data collection, site evaluation, installation and ongoing reporting to establish baseline water quality conditions consistent with prior monitoring efforts.
Supporters of the change order said the additional testing was necessary to improve transparency and provide reliable data on nearshore and harbor conditions.
Opponents, however, aligned with arguments presented by attorney Barton Smith and representatives of Pier B ownership, who have challenged aspects of the city’s testing framework and scope.
The vote comes amid broader tensions over water quality oversight, testing methodology and the potential policy implications of environmental data.
Some observers have warned the outcome could have ramifications beyond environmental monitoring, including possible legal or policy challenges tied to Key West’s voter-approved cruise ship restrictions.
Without approval of the change order, it remains unclear whether the city will pursue an alternative testing plan, rebid the work or scale back monitoring efforts altogether.
City officials did not immediately outline a path forward following the vote.
This is an evolving story. Watch this space.
I’m guessing this is not an April fools joke. It should be.