Please place on the May 17, 2023 City Commission agenda a referral to the Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee to discuss the three (3) motions passed at the March 14, 2023 meeting of the Ad Hoc Iguana Remediation Advisory Committee (the “Ad Hoc Iguana Committee”) relating to the City’s iguana remediation efforts. 

Green iguanas, along with black spiny-tailed iguanas and Mexican spiny-tailed iguanas, are not native to Florida and are considered an invasive species. These invasive iguana species indiscriminately eat any plant material including, but not limited to, endangered plants, landscaping, and tropical fruit and vegetable crops. Iguanas also cause significant damage to buildings and other man-made and natural structures with their large and elaborate burrows, and disturb various native wildlife populations by taking over other animals’ burrows. Additionally, iguana droppings regularly contain salmonella bacteria, which can be transmitted to humans or pets through direct contact or by breathing in dried matter.

As part of this referral, I request that the City Administration be prepared to discuss and update the Committee with regard to the three (3) motions passed at the March 14, 2023 Ad Hoc Iguana Committee meeting, specifically: the City’s tangible response(s) to inquiries regarding iguanas on private property; the City’s progress and results relating to its negotiations with iguana removal contractors and ensuring their accountability by paying such contractors on a per iguana basis; and the status as to any City telephone hotline or online website that residents may access in order to have iguanas removed from their private property. I further request that the Administration be prepared to provide any additional updates germane to the City’s iguana mitigation and removal efforts, and any other outstanding issues that may need to be addressed.