Decision to accept, reject, or counter a settlement offer received from the Plaintiff is Case No. 562025CA002199: Keene v. City of Fort Pierce. 

On October 15, 2025, Plaintiff filed a Complaint for Declaratory Judgment and Injunctive relief against the City. The Complaint was dismissed, without prejudice by the Court. The Plaintiff subsequently filed an Amended Complaint. The City has filed another Motion to Dismiss which will be heard and ruled upon by the Court. The Plaintiff has sent a settlement offer to voluntarily dismiss the case if the City agrees in writing to the following conditions:

1. The City shall not pursue any new leasing option, solicitation, or Request for Proposals concerning the Little Jim Bridge / Little Jim property until all infractions, violations, and compliance issues identified by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in its Warning Letter and related inspection materials have been fully resolved and such resolution has been verified by an independent third-party investigator.

2. The City shall undertake and support an amendment to the City Charter requiring a countywide vote of the citizens, coordinated through the Supervisor of Elections, on all future land-use considerations involving publicly held waterfront lands specifically.

Staff will proceed as directed.

The City Commission could:

1. Accept the offer,
2. Reject the offer, or
3. Propose a counteroffer.

Sara Hedges, City Attorney

Richard Chess, City Manager