Judge Sides With City in Pier Lawsuit

On Friday, Circuit Judge Jack Day ruled against attorney Kathleen Ford and the VoteOnThePier lawsuit, stating in his ruling that the petition did not provide the basis to compel a charter amendment referendum.

"This lack of connection to the charter is the most serious problem with the form of the petition. It is a fatal defect," Day wrote in the ruling.

Day released his ruling Friday in the case of Ford and five St. Pete residents vs the City of St. Petersburg.

Ford and the residents filed the lawsuit in August 2012 to hold a citywide vote on the future of the Pier after a vote was denied by city council.

According Day's ruling, the petition made no reference to city charter and no suggestion of how the charter should be amended in order to "preserve and refurbish" the pier building.

Day also ruled that alteration or demolition of the Pier does not require a public vote.

The Pier is scheduled to close on May 31 with demolition beginning in August. The new design "The Lens" is expected to be completed by Labor Day Weekend in 2015.

Meanwhile, the Concerned Citizens of St. Petersburg, the sponsor of the "Stop the Lens" campaign, is continuing to collect signatures for their petition. They need 15,652 valid signatures from St. Pete residents to get the issue to a public vote. The group is aiming for about 17,000 total.

Related Coverage:

• St. Pete Pier Lawsuit Awaits Ruling
• Mediation Ordered for Pier Lawsuit
• Pier Lawsuit Mediation Ends in Impasse
• City Employees Ask to Be Removed From Pier Lawsuit
• VoteOnThePier Petitioners No Longer Part of Lawsuit Against City

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