Advisory board focuses on blight, demolition and need for stronger code enforcement

Board discussion shifted from murals to long-standing concerns about blight and how the city addresses derelict properties. Several members recounted tours of crumbling buildings and urged the advisory board to press for more proactive enforcement and demolition tools.

"I gave a tour of my top 10 most blighted properties in Fort Pierce," one member said, calling attention to structures with missing roofs and collapsing conditions. Members described gaps in jurisdiction among building, fire and code departments that slow enforcement and urged a coordinated approach involving legal review, magistrate processes and potential grant or reimbursement programs to enable demolition when appropriate.

Staff responded that a demolition-grant program and programmatic options are under development and emphasized the limits on using CRA/FPRA money for salaries; staff recommended structuring assistance as grants to property owners for remediation or demolition work rather than direct payroll funding.

The board was also told Sean Haas (previously with the building department) will assume the code enforcement director role and is seeking an additional enforcement officer. Members requested a future workshop that brings code enforcement, the building department, the fire marshal and legal counsel together to clarify jurisdiction and expedite removals where necessary.

Board members asked staff to identify concrete program options and timing so the advisory board can advise the FPRA board ahead of budget decisions, and to provide legal context for what CRA funds may finance.