Volume 28 | October 21, 2020
Your Weekly News and Updates
Halloween is Safer at Home
Per the October 13 Council Meeting, Village residents are asked to not trick or treat this Halloween and refrain from any large gatherings in an effort to stay healthy and slow the spread of the COVID-19.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the following lower risk activities can be safe alternatives:
  • Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household and displaying them
  • Carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at a safe distance, with neighbors or friends
  • Decorating your house, apartment, or living space
  • Doing a Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of Halloween-themed things to look for while they walk outdoors from house to house admiring Halloween decorations at a distance
  • Having a virtual Halloween costume contest
  • Having a Halloween movie night with people you live with
  • Having a scavenger hunt-style trick or treat search with your household members in or around your home rather than going house to house
Key Biscayne Residents Have Options for Covid-19 Testing
Health officials recommend getting tested if you are feeling COVID-19 like symptoms or have come into contact with someone who has tested positive.

Drive-through testing at the Key Biscayne Community Center remains available 2-days per week by appointment only and is self-pay. The COVID-19 self-pay cost at the drive-through testing is $85 and registration is available on the Key Biscayne Community Foundation website. Dates are subject to change, please confirm your date and time when making your appointment.
 
A second option for COVID-19 testing is available to the community, seven days per week from 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m., via the Baptist Health Urgent Care Express facility located at 240 Crandon Blvd. Suite #110. Patients that present to the Baptist Urgent Care Express will be seen and evaluated by the onsite practitioner, who will order the COVID-19 test as appropriate. Baptist Health does accept most insurances. For uninsured patients or patients with a non-contracted insurance, the COVID test self-pay cost is $199. Patients are welcome to walk in or to use the "Save my Spot" feature to minimize their wait times. For more information, click here.
Learn More About the GO Bond
KB Fire Rescue Members Deployed
for Hurricane Delta
Key Biscayne Fire Rescue members Captain Jeff Liversedge and Lt. Justin Connors were deployed on October 7, 2020 as part of Florida Task Force II (FLTF-2) and received activation orders to deploy a Type III, 45 person team with an embedded water rescue package to pre-stage in Baton Rouge to await the arrival of Hurricane Delta

As the hurricane began to weaken, FLTF-2 moved up just behind the eye of the storm to the City of Lake Charles, Louisiana, a community that was severely damaged by Hurricane Laura six weeks ago.
FLTF-2 assisted local agencies with search and water rescue operations by deploying boats and high-water vehicles to severely flooded communities not accessible by any vehicles within their fleet, nor did they have the manpower to undertake this mission. FLTF-2 also assisted with wellness checks and humanitarian efforts while maintaining vigilance with regard to COVID-19 as its #1 priority. 

After a ten day deployment, FLTF-2 demobilized and prepared for the drive to South Florida.
Parks & Recreation Updates
The Parks & Recreation Department is improving Village facilities, including new wireless scoreboards in the Community Center gymnasium this week. New park benches are being installed in the Village Green to replace the existing benches as well as two benches headed to Harbor Park.
Preparing for Bright Winter Lights
Electrical work is underway in the road median along Crandon Blvd for holiday lighting that will bring sparkle and joy to the Village this holiday season!
Village Launches VKB 311 App
The Village of Key Biscayne is proud to announce the official launching of a new 311 citizen engagement tool!

In an effort to improve interactions with the local government, the Village has partnered with Rock Solid Technologies to provide citizens with an innovative and user-friendly mobile app designed to encourage engagement and participation in the community. With a focus on maintaining our public assets, this app allows residents and visitors of Key Biscayne to easily report issues they see in the community in a seamless manner. In addition to issue reporting, this easy-to-use tool offers features that allow residents to pay solid waste bills, book appointments with the building department, and more!

Download the app on iOS or Android today!
Septic to Sewer Conversion
DID YOU KNOW: The deadline for completing conversion from septic to sewer was passed on September 30, 2020. Presently, there are an estimated 87 residential properties that remain on septic despite access to a sewer line. Please be aware that the Miami-Dade County DERM will be issuing formal Notices of Required Connection (NORC) to these outstanding properties in the coming days. Homeowners will have 90-days from receipt of a Notice from MD-DERM to COMPLETE the process of septic to sewer conversion with the Village and the County. After 90 days DERM will initiate enforcement action. 

The first step is to submit an application to KB Building and Zoning Department (BZP) for a Plumbing Permit for a sewer connection using a licensed and insured plumbing contractor. A list of plumbing contractors approved to work on Key Biscayne as well as Sanitary Sewer Connection Guidelines for Village Residents are available on the Village website.

For more information, contact the Village of Key Biscayne Chief Plumbing Inspector John Lindgren at 305-365-8942 or GIS/Resilience Coordinator Kat Kulpa at 305-365-7581.
Support The Rotary Club of Key Biscayne
to Help End Polio Now
Download the Swim Guide App Today!
The Village of Key Biscayne, working in collaboration with Miami WaterKeeper, has been collecting water samples for bacteria-related water quality monitoring off the beach and bayside waters. Monitoring is being conducted at the VKB Beach Club, the public beach access point at Oceana, the Key Biscayne Yacht Club and in a Village canal.

Information regarding the status of bacteria levels for those stations can be accessed via the Swim Guide app, downloadable to your smartphone. 

For additional information please contact the Village’s Chief Resilience and Sustainability Officer Roland Samimy at 305-365-8908. You can also learn more by visiting the Miami WaterKeeper website.
Your Village Government 
Mayor Michael W. Davey
Vice Mayor Brett Moss  
Councilmembers: 
Luis Lauredo
Edward London
Allison McCormick
Katie Petros
Ignacio J. Segurola
  Village Manager Andrea Agha
Village Clerk Jocelyn Brewster Koch
Village Attorneys Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman
 
Comments? Questions? Suggestions?
Send an email to communications@keybiscayne.fl.gov