Craig Cates
No biography on file yet.
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 8
- Total speaking time
- 48:24
- Avg per meeting
- 6:03
- Segments
- 605
Want every word Cates has said?
The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Cates said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.
Top issues during term (20)
Affordable housing ROGO allocations
Adds 79 affordable workforce homes to the Key Largo housing supply.
US-1 traffic study and LOS methodology
The county's share of eligible studies runs about 12.5% through the FDOT agreement; the Big Pine intersection study match is roughly $5,600.
city commission election
The election itself won’t hit your wallet directly, but the winner’s zoning and development votes could shape future city spending and growth.
Flooding on Hakluyt Lane, Cudjoe Key
Road raising would fall to county grants; residents were told neighbors may have to pay if the road is raised.
Florida Amendment 3 property tax impact
Projected revenue up about $287,000 in year one and $1.5 million cumulatively, against roughly $12.5 million a year in cost growth — with a potential millage increase or cuts ahead.
Alcohol permit at Key Largo marina
Cudjoe Key home setback variance
Harry Harris Park paid parking
Roughly $400,000 a year in potential parking revenue if expanded to all parks with everyone paying.
Key deer habitat protections codified for Big Pine and No Name Keys
No direct county cost; the county will help nonprofits pursue grants.
State and federal fiscal uncertainty
An estimated $27 million annual hit to county revenue by fiscal 2029 — two-thirds of it from the non-homestead cap reduction.
Land Authority FY2027 budget
Average homesteaded property pays about $50 more per year in countywide taxes; non-homesteaded about $270; commercial about $400.
Species assessment guides and Habitat Conservation Plan update
Not stated, but changed review pathways can affect permit timelines and costs for builders on the Lower Keys.
Affordable workforce housing curb-cut variance
The project would add 79 affordable workforce homes to Key Largo if eventually approved.
Jury district boundary changes
Building permit fee restructuring
The planning department has been running a deficit of over $2 million a year that general taxpayers absorb.
Possible e-bike ordinance
town hall meeting
The meeting itself costs you nothing, but any affordable-housing fixes could shift city spending, fees, or incentives later.
elections investigation
There’s no price tag yet, but the county could spend extra on investigation, security, and legal review tied to the incident.
NGM Insurance settlement — Cudjoe Key transfer station fire
$1.8 million recovered for the county, offsetting fire rebuild costs.
Big Pine Key government community campus
Replaces $100,000-$150,000 in annual rent with a construction project funded by infrastructure sales tax (60% paid by non-residents) and a $1 million federal earmark request.
Decisions during term (431)
Recorded while Cates was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Approval of draft minutes from September 23, 2026
Publix Super Markets and Tavernier 925, LLC — 2APS and 3APS alcoholic beverage use permits
Land Development Code amendment — Key deer Habitat Conservation Plan / Incidental Take Permit Condition G
REEF Environmental Education Foundation — front yard setback variances for sculpture and seating area
Michele Putko motion for reconsideration of Resolution P29-26 (Nuremberg setback variance)
ROGO Comp Plan Ordinance (T1) continued to November 17
ROGO Land Development Code Ordinance (T2) continued to November 17
T3 — Geiger Key Marina slow-speed zone adopted
F7 — Big Pine Key government campus direction approved
M2 — US-1 travel time study accepted (most conservative option)
S7 — $1.8 million NGM Insurance settlement approved
R3 — Spencer Anderson confirmed as Public Works Director
Bulk consent agenda approved
H3 — Draeger SCBA purchase approved by Fire Board
C21 — 2026 Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan adopted
C34 — SAMH services contract approved (4-0-1 abstention)
C35 — Baker Act/Marchman Act transport contract approved (4-0-1 abstention)
C36 — Jail In-House Program contract approved (4-0-1 abstention)
MONROE COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE
Agenda approval
Voting record (19)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.
C34 — SAMH services contract approved (4-0-1 abstention)
C35 — Baker Act/Marchman Act transport contract approved (4-0-1 abstention)
C36 — Jail In-House Program contract approved (4-0-1 abstention)
Countywide final millage rates adopted
County final FY27 budget adopted ($690.2 million)
Land Authority FY27 final budget adopted
Transportation Disadvantaged Program contract (RFP-638)
Tentative millage rates for FY2027
Tentative FY2027 county budget
Land Authority tentative FY2027 budget
Item Q1 — negotiate contract with Guidance/Care Center for transportation disadvantaged program
Item U6 — Planning and Environmental Resources fee schedule
Fees are needed despite the large one-time increases