CEDAR KEY COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
POSTPONES LEADERSHIP DECISION,
TALKS POCKET PARKS
2026 May 13
The Cedar Key Community Redevelopment Agency met on May 13, 2026. , at 3 pm. Chair Jim Wortham and member Mel Beckham were absent; Vice Chair Nancy Sera administered the meeting; members Jolie Davis and Dell Weible were present.
REORGANIZATION
Normally, nominations for chair and vice-chair head the first meeting after municipal elections. As two members were absent, Davis suggested that the vote be postponed until the following meeting. The group unanimously agreed.
PUBLIC HOUSING UPDATE
The proposal of Cedar Key’s plan to purchase public housing property to be presented at a North Central Florida Rural Housing Authority Board Meeting has been postponed until June 4.
GROCERY STORE
Dr Catherine Campbell and Julia Graddy, from the University of Florida, did not attend this afternoon’s meeting and will be rescheduled. They were to present a Grocery Store Market Analysis Study Proposal.
G STREET SEA GROIN
A presentation by Halff Inc. intitled “Cedar Key Shores: Sea Groin design overview and funding,” mimicked numerous previous University of Florida presentations requesting community input. On behalf of Cedar Key, Halff Inc. wishes to seek funding for a Resilient Florida Implementation Grant at a cost of over 4.5 million. No information on Halff, Inc. was offered. Commissioners responded saying they would be in touch.
POCKET PARKS
The University of Florida-based FIBER group presented its Cedar Key Pocket Parks Proposal. The previously considered UF student competition for pocket park design proposed will not be timely to design the Fifth and Sixth Street pocket parks. FiBER’s proposal offered a simpler solution. The group unanimously approved the project at a cost of $6,000.
COLSON’S PUBLIC COMMENT
Prior Mayor Sue Colson eloquently argued against spending excessive city dollars on pocket parks. Her comments included:
• requiring contractors who have used the areas during adjacent construction, to return the parks, as required, to their original condition, removing fences, nails, and other debris;
• using Public Works Supervisor Jamie McCain as project chief;
• involving the public in the appropriate tasks whenever possible;
• guarding against visible ”designed“ plantings, in preference for natural growth patterns;
• assuring that any result would require the lowest maintenance possible;
• keeping all parks as they have always been: completely simple and natural, perhaps containing a bench, not including parking (as people have used them for many years without any need for asphalt surfaces).
MEETING SPECIFICS
Staff in attendance included City Attorney Norm Fugate, City Clerk Brooke Smith, Clerk Heather Lang, and Clerk Telicia Winfield.
Audience members in attendance included: Tom Ankersen, Anne Miller, Jeri Treat, and Mandy and Frank Offerle.
The meeting adjourned at about 4:30pm.
*******
NOTICE:
A Pelican in severe distress was seen at the Fishing Pier with fishing line wrapped around his body, his wing, his leg! His right foot was being torn up by the line.
LEVY COUNTY ANNOUNCES PUBLIC ACCESS TO RECORDS
CEDAR KEY WOMAN'S CLUB
