Fort Pierce commission rejects settlement tied to Little Jim; public urges protections for waterfront

The Fort Pierce City Commission on July 6 rejected a settlement offer linked to a dispute over the Little Jim waterfront property and directed staff to continue work on regulatory compliance and procurement steps.

Kevin Keane, the plaintiff in Keane v. City (case 562025CA002199), told the commission he would voluntarily dismiss his lawsuit if the city agreed to two conditions: ensure any future lease solicitations for Little Jim do not proceed until Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) issues are fully resolved and independently verified, and support a charter amendment requiring a countywide vote on future land‑use decisions affecting publicly held waterfront lands. City Attorney Hedges summarized the proposal for commissioners.

After discussion, Commissioner Johnson moved to reject the settlement offer; the motion passed on a roll call with all present voting in favor. The commission did not adopt Keane’s proposed charter amendment and declined to accept the settlement terms as written. City staff noted that FDEP has already issued formal notices regarding conditions on the Little Jim property and that the city is obligated to address those regulatory issues regardless of any private settlement.

Public speakers urged a conservative approach. Michael Jenkins, a Fort Pierce resident, called Little Jim “part of the life of this community” and asked the commission to "keep Little Jim local," arguing no new RFP or leasing should proceed until DEP concerns are resolved and independently verified. Kevin Keane reiterated his request for a public vote before any future changes in use of publicly owned waterfront land.

Separately, commissioners approved a 60‑day extension for Winking Starfish LLC (the operator known as Krabby’s) to submit a proposed assignee for the Fort Pierce City Marina restaurant lease. Staff said the tenant has provided preliminary information about a potential assignee and additional time is needed to vet the party before deciding whether to permit an assignment or proceed to lease termination.

Commissioners framed the votes as a balance between protecting public access and following the law. One commissioner said the city must follow procurement and environmental rules and promised a future publicly noticed discussion specifically on Little Jim so residents can hear all the facts and ask questions.

Next steps: staff will continue FDEP coordination, vet any proposed assignee for the marina lease during the 60‑day extension, and return to the commission with updates. The commission did not set a timetable for a charter amendment or a public referendum; those would require separate processes if the commission opts to pursue them.