Petros Faces Tough Questions Over Library Plans
Key Colony condominium leaders Antonio Camejo and Luisa Conway, left, attend meeting with Key Biscayne Village Council members Katie Petros and Ignacio Seguorla, Monday Oct. 7. 2019 (Tony Winton)
Council Member Katie Petros faced tough questions Monday from skeptical members of the Key Colony condominium over the future of the Key Biscayne library, a project she has taken the lead on in discussions with Miami-Dade County officials.
The County filed a lawsuit in August, seeking to have a judge remove architectural restrictions to clear the way for an expansion of the 40-year-old library’s exterior. The restrictions, contained in an old deed from the condominium’s developer, are impossible to honor because the developer’s company is defunct, the County contends.
The lawsuit surprised Key Colony leaders, who continue to voice concerns about traffic at one of the most congested intersections on the island. The Homeowners’ Association board voted Wednesday to authorize its officers to hire legal counsel if necessary.
“I know your traffic light very well,” said Petros, brushing aside criticism from a group of residents, many from Key Colony, who attended a morning “sunshine meeting” at Village Hall. She said she disagreed with Key Colony Vice President Antonio Camejo and other condo leaders about how narrowly the deed restriction should be construed.
“I see it differently than you do,” Petros said, saying modern libraries have rooms to facilitate tutoring and even practice rooms for musicians. “This isn’t our land, it’s County land.”
“According to the deed,” Camejo interjected, saying the County should be bound by the deed provisions governing the building’s appearance.
Petros, along with Village Manager Andrea Agha and Parks and Recreation Chief Todd Hofferberth, have been quietly working behind the scenes for months with the County on a $1.1 million dollar expansion, holding meetings with Miami-Dade Library chief Ray Baker and others. Village officials were encouraging the County’s lawsuit long before it was filed, records show.
“County’s DEC action in progress,” one February update reads, referring the nature of the suit, a declaratory judgment action.
In one email, Petros said the project was at the top of her priority list.
“This project might be the deciding factor in whether I decide to run for re-election or not next fall,” Petros told Baker in September. Earlier, she told Baker she wanted the library excluded from the Village’s 2040 Committee because doing so would cause the project to stall.
Key Biscayne taxpayers pay about $2.4 million a year to fund the county library system. Over the years, previous councils have pondered pulling out of the system and using the tax revenue to build and directly operate a Village facility, perhaps with expanded features.
Data provided to the Village shows it costs about $878,000 a year to run the Key Biscayne branch. Petros downplayed using library tax revenue, however, saying a move to leave the library system was not a given. She based her statement on talks with the Village attorney, but said there was no written legal opinion.
Council Member Ignacio Segurola had asked Petros for the meeting. He asked her to explain the history of ideas to renovate the library. She recounted years of discussions, ranging from a big expansion of the structure to the current plan, which includes adding a second floor to the building.
Segurola told Petros he favored using the Sun Trust Bank building, should that property become available as the result of an upcoming merger with BB&T Bank. Petros said the building owner was unlikely to cooperate with the Village, according to conversations she said she had.