Village Attorney Chad Friedman said ballot wording for a Key Biscayne referendum is still being ironed out.
Friedman plans to draft a question and present it to Council members, either at the June 30 Special Meeting or most likely on July 7, at the Village’s Strategic Workshop, well before the July 24 deadline to place the item on the November election ballot.
The referendum, which originated from the Key Biscayne Neighbors Association, became official this past Monday when enough signatures were certified by the Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections.
Although wording in the original message to residents refers to “infrastructure” projects, Friedman told Islander News on Thursday that the “petition was limited to stormwater and/or flood prevention projects.”
The referendum will ask voters in November if any $50 million-plus such projects over a three-year span will need to have voter approval before proceeding.
A total of 913 of the 1,151 signatures collected were certified, topping the goal of 839, or 11% of the Village’s 7,628 eligible voters.
Friedman, speaking during the last Village Council meeting, said 8 of the 10 official petitioners could decide to withdraw the referendum if they so choose “at any time preceding the 15th day before the election.”
Councilman Fernando Vazquez asked if the item could address emergency projects, but Friedman said it does not apply to emergencies.
Friedman also said the item also does not differentiate between a repair or a project.