Communication Confusion: Council Considers Program as Community Battles Misinformation

Village Hall, the hub of communications in Key Biscayne, where meetings are noticed and staff have their offices. The Village Council is debating plans for a new program as misinformation swirls around the community. (Key News/Annali Hayward)

Village leaders struggled at the Oct. 15 Council meeting to communicate about a proposed communications program, as officials and staff failed to find common ground. The lack of clarity was mirrored in parts of the community, where inaccuracies have recently circulated.

The program was slated to receive $115,000 in the 2020 budget, but during the final budget hearing Sept. 24, discussions descended into disagreement and the item was removed, with an understanding that Village Manager Andrea Agha would present an amendment to the budget at a later date. 

Agha, seeking further direction, had prepared a gap analysis for discussion Oct. 15, but did not present it as debate ensued.  

Mayor Mike Davey repeated his call for something in writing to review before being asked to make any decisions on roles, candidates and costs. 

Agha’s original plan proposed replacing a part-time website coordinator, who chose not to renew her contract, with a communications specialist. Hiring for that position was almost complete, but the lack of a decision during the budget hearing and the Oct. 15 meeting prevented any offers being made. 

Agha said she was “trying a different approach” with the gap analysis after seeking direction in previous Council meetings. But to date there has been no unanimous agreement among Council members on the need itself.  

“We’re assuming we have a problem,” said Council Member Ed London Oct. 15, hinting at apathy in the community rather than deficiency in the administration’s communication. “Do we really have a problem?”

Historically there has been no dedicated communications employee in the administration. Village Clerk Jennifer Medina distributes information on behalf of the Council such as meetings, workshops and board vacancies. She is also currently responsible for sending out real-time alerts, updates and information during emergency situations such as hurricanes. 

Since the meeting Agha has consulted individually with Council members “to get a better understanding of what really is their policy intention.” Agha said that while the process is going well, tasks like reviewing job descriptions is the role of the Manager, and that discussions on the dais should be “at the policy level.” 

“I want to know what the Council is trying to achieve and what results are expected,” she said. “I will bring in the appropriate talent to execute their policy vision. I just need consensus and clear direction.”

Council Member Katie Petros called for just that Oct. 15, saying she herself was unclear on the “multiple directions” Agha was receiving. 

Davey said he has been doing his due diligence by reaching out to community members with experience in communications. He said it is now likely there will be a workshop in order for the Council to hear what the community wants. 

“There is a frustration in the community that we are not doing better at this,” Davey said.

Let’s chat

The debate came after public comments at the beginning of the meeting revealed inaccuracies circulating in the community. 

Eight speakers either mentioned directly or based their comments on statements about a potential refit of the Key Biscayne Public Library that remain unverified. The source for the statements appears to be an email sent to Key Colony condominium homeowners by the association’s board of directors, which claims the “structure could be the equivalent of a four-story building in height,” with space for 70 parked cars as a “multi-purpose facility, a library in name only.” As previously reported, there are currently no such plans. 

A publicly-noticed meeting Oct. 24 between Davey and Council Member Ignacio Segurola sought to clarify the matter, since Segurola was in attendance during a meeting with the Miami-Dade County Public Libraries director Ray Baker and members of the Key Colony board. But Segurola recalled only that Baker was “noncommittal” regarding the structure. 

Other inexactitudes revolved around the price for the construction of a park at 530 Crandon, and the $4 million purchase of two lots of land for park space. During public comments two residents asked the Council to redirect that money to other causes, such as beach water quality. 

It was a request echoed by many others in a local ‘chat’ on a group messaging app. Before the Oct. 15 meeting the group, which has 240 members (including one of the speakers — though most members are inactive), discussed a screenshot that suggested the Council could, with a unanimous 7-0 vote, overturn the clause that specifies the Land Acquisition Trust Fund only be used for buying land. 

However Village Attorney Chad Friedman said Oct. 15 this is incorrect and the fund is a “restricted covenant.”

Vice Mayor Allison McCormick highlighted the link between the need for better communications and misinformation in chats. She said Oct. 15 that often chats are where residents get information, and the absence of official communications creates a “void” that is easily filled. 

“We saw it tonight,” she said. “Very well-meaning people were very upset because they didn’t have the facts as they should have.”

Davey later agreed, saying he was concerned with the comments that came from some residents. “Facts matter,” he said.

An update on the communications program from Davey is on the agenda for the next Council meeting, which is Oct. 29.