Key West City Commission Faces Packed Reform Agenda Thursday

Whistleblower protections, inspector general oversight, targeted permit audit, and honors for Kaufman headline Oct. 9 meeting

The Key West City Commission meets Thursday with one of the most substantive and consequential agendas in recent memory — a full slate of post-grand-jury reform measures, accountability initiatives, and public-service recognitions.

AT A GLANCE

When: Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025 — sessions at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Where: Key West City Hall, 1300 White Street

Major Agenda Items:

• First Reading: Whistleblower Protection Act

• Second Reading: Independent Inspector General Ordinance (Lee sponsor)

• Targeted Building-Permit Audit Resolution (Haskell sponsor)

• Hiring Orlando law firm DownsAaron on a month-to-month interim basis as City Attorney

• Voting on whether to support UNESCO Creative Cities Network with $75,000 in annual funding

• Recognition of Commissioner Sam Kaufman for 10 Years of ServiceThe two-session meeting, beginning at 9 a.m. and reconvening at 5 p.m. inside City Hall at 1300 White Street, will see commissioners act on a series of ordinances and resolutions aimed at restoring transparency and trust following months of scandal and investigation.

Whistleblower and Inspector General Ordinances

Two centerpiece items — the first reading of the Employee Protection Whistleblower Act and the second and final reading of the Independent Inspector General ordinance — headline the evening session.

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The paired measures respond directly to the 2025 Spring Term Monroe County Grand Jury Report, which called for sweeping reforms after a corruption probe that produced 21 felony indictments against former City Attorney Ron Ramsingh, his brother and former Chief Building Official Raj Ramsingh, and Code Enforcement Director Jim Young.

The Whistleblower ordinance would codify protections for employees, vendors, and contractors who report misconduct, while the Inspector General ordinance — sponsored by Commissioner Donie Lee — would create an independent office reporting directly to the City Commission.

Commissioner Sam Kaufman has submitted recommendations to strengthen the Whistleblower Act’s independence by routing complaints through an external or local Inspector General, broadening who qualifies for protection, and adding clear anti-retaliation enforcement, confidentiality safeguards, and public reporting requirements.

Both measures are scheduled for discussion during the 5 p.m. session.

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Targeted Audit of Building Permits

In the morning, commissioners will consider a resolution sponsored by Commissioner Monica Haskell authorizing a targeted audit of building permits issued between January 2020 and April 2025.

The review follows the same grand-jury findings that exposed misconduct within the Building Department.

Rather than auditing every permit — a task deemed cost-prohibitive — the resolution directs outside auditors to focus on three categories:

• records altered in the city’s eTrakit system,

• contractors who received documented favoritism from the former Chief Building Official, and

• permits involving life-safety issues such as structural and electrical work.

The limited-scope audit is intended to uncover improperly issued permits tied to the ongoing criminal probe while controlling costs.

Recognition for Commissioner Sam Kaufman

Thursday’s agenda also includes a presentation honoring Commissioner Sam Kaufman for 10 years of service to the City of Key West.

Kaufman, first elected in 2015, will be recognized for a decade of legislative work that includes creation of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, solar-priority and energy-efficiency initiatives, and sponsorship of the city’s e-bike and sight-seeing ordinances.

Kaufman’s wife Julia and family are expected to attend the ceremony, which will be presented by City Manager Brian Barroso.

Additional Business

Also scheduled are:

• Continued discussion of the city’s response to the 2025 Grand Jury recommendations on procurement and governance.

• Routine budget amendments, contracts, and community recognitions.

• Public comment periods during both morning and evening sessions, with live streaming available on the city’s website.