A special closed-session City Commission meeting was scheduled last night. City Attorney Bob Tischenkel said he planned to brief the Commissioners on the status of five lawsuits scheduled to come to trial soon— including a suit by a number of Truman Annex residents to try to exempt that community from the City's new ordinance restricting transient rentals.
But rumors were rampant this week that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the possibility of compromising on the transient rental law to avoid a trial.
Not so, said Tischenkel.
"The purpose of the meeting is to simply brief the Commissioners on the status of these cases," he said. "I don't plan to make any recommendations."
But a group of Truman Annex residents who oppose transient rentals were taking no chances.
"We sent an urgent memo to the Mayor and City commissioners Thursday," said Margaret Domanski.
"We are against any compromise that would exempt Truman Annex properties from the current City of Key West ordinance restricting unlicensed transient rentals in residential neighborhoods," the memo said.
"We respectfully request to have our voices heard before the Key West City Commission."