Key Biscayne’s Community Center fitness center will be getting some much-needed improvements, according to Parks and Recreation Director Todd Hofferberth, whose capital project (not to exceed $159,967.50) was approved 6-1 at last Tuesday night’s Council meeting.

Councilman Ed London questioned not only a drop in maintenance costs between 2024 and 2025, but also had other questions.

“How do dumbbells get old?” London asked. “How do racks get bad? Do you really need this thing (free motion apparatus), or do you want new stuff?”

Hofferberth began talking about average life span until he was cut off.

“Forget about average life span,” London said. “I use the equipment. It works fine.”

Hofferberth said that all the labels are gone and all the bolts are beginning to rust. He also pointed out a recent incident in which one of the pulldowns on a piece of gym equipment actually snapped.

The Village actually pays out $190 each month for servicing the equipment, it was learned.

London didn’t mind replacing maybe a piece of equipment that was indeed bad, or even dangerous, but didn’t like the idea of a sweeping rehabilitation.

The idea, Hofferberth said, is to replace the flooring and paint the walls as part of a “whole rehabilitation” of the fitness center, especially since it is one of the “main drivers” of the center’s membership revenue.

“I love going to the gym,” London said. “I just hate the idea of wasting money.”

“I don’t think we’re wasting money,” Hofferberth said. “It’s a reasonable assumption for (guests) to see improvements (to go with the increased fees). They envision some benefit with what they are paying.”

Council member Nancy Stoner said she read where the fitness company also expects the new tariffs to be paid.

“They should pay us back the $2,300 if the tariffs are refunded,” she said, later hoping to extend that stipulation to all vendors.

Mayor Joe Rasco said he took a trip to the fitness center and saw some rust and wear spots on the floor.

“One of the discussions that people have is that the Village doesn’t do a good enough job of maintenance,” he said.

The standard policy is 10 years of usage, Rasco said, although that policy could be changed if the Council wanted.

“The point being is, whatever needs to be replaced, I’m saying replace,” London said. “The floors, the wall, that’s fine.”

“I’m going to disagree with you on one point,” Stoner said. “We want our parks to be beautiful. We want our Community Center to be beautiful. There’s some value, some in the quality of experience … ” Stoner said. “And after 10 years, maybe we need bright, shiny and new.”

Selling the old equipment for $8,500 also stirred a discussion as to why not sell it to local residents and certainly not piece by piece as Stoner opposed?

The vote, with the amendment on the tariffs, plus authorizing the Village Manager to explore all options on the re-sale of the old equipment within 90 days, passed with London dissenting.