The Key West City Commissioner met Wednesday, Nov. 5, with a full agenda, a full dais including Commissioner Mary Lou Hoover, who was out sick for several meetings, and the first meeting for City Attorney Maryanne Downs.

Although the agenda called for a second reading of the whistleblower ordinance, it was postponed to the Dec. 2 City Commission meeting.

The ordinance stems from a May 2025 Monroe County Grand Jury investigation into alleged misconduct at City Hall, which led to multiple indictments and a publicly signed grand jury report. The jurors said they chose to sign their names “to stand in solidarity with the whistleblowers who brought concerns forward and made the investigation possible.”

At a special meeting on June 25, commissioners reviewed the grand jury’s findings and began outlining steps to restore public trust. The report included 27 recommendations addressing alleged corruption, favoritism and what jurors described as a longstanding “boy’s club” culture within city government.

In response, the city added a progress banner to its website showing, in real time, how each recommendation is being handled. One of those recommendations calls for the creation of a formal whistleblower protection policy.

The proposed ordinance mirrors state law while adding local safeguards. It establishes a confidential process for employees to report suspected fraud, abuse, illegal activity, or gross mismanagement without fear of retaliation.

Under the proposal, complaints would...

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