Fort Pierce city commissioners voted unanimously Monday night to reject a settlement offer in a lawsuit alleging years of waterfront mismanagement tied to historic restaurant Little Jim Bait & Tackle. Plaintiff Kevin Keene said he will continue to pursue litigation against the city following the vote. The city has filed a motion to dismiss Keene's amended complaint. Under the proposed settlement terms, Keene would have dropped the case if the city halted any new plans for Little Jim until Florida Department of Environmental Protection permit issues are resolved and allowed a public vote on future waterfront land decisions. Documents WPTV obtained from the FDEP claim the city has been operating docks on state-owned submerged land at Little Jim without the required permits since 2021. The state agency has ordered the city to pay nearly $16,000 by July 17.
City Commissioner Michael Broderick acknowledged the permit issue is true and said someone at some point extended the docks further than allowed. Broderick plans to negotiate FDEP's fines down while the city investigates who authorized the extension. The dispute traces back to last year when the Fort Pierce landmark of nearly 80 years faced an uncertain future after its lease expired. The city offered up the land lease for bidders, much to the outcry of residents. After an outpouring of community support, the city kept the restaurant open month to month. Despite five formal proposals submitted to the city, including one from the current operators, the city said none met the criteria and scrapped plans to pick a new tenant. Keene argues the Little Jim process was marked by instability, changing information and unresolved material issues, and that Little Jim's is part of a broader pattern of defective administration and poor stewardship. He points to two other controversial city projects: Fisherman's Wharf, where state records show the city promised land it didn't own, and King's Landing, where a developer claims the city promised buildable property that contained 1,500 tons of old power plant concrete. Broderick said the city is planning to hire a real estate manager to oversee development decisions to prevent future situations.