In early December, the city has a scheduled court hearing regarding council’s vote not to proceed with a public referendum on the future of the St. Petersburg Pier, reports William Mansell of Patch.
According to Tom Lambdon, chairman of VoteOnThePier.com, this suit falls squarely on the back of city council who voted against the referendum in August.
On Aug. 22, local attorney and former mayor candidate Kathleen Ford filed suit against city and council for taking that action. According to county court documents, the city asked for a dismissal.
The first hearing on the suit is set for Dec. 5 from 10:15 – 11:30 a.m. at the downtown St. Petersburg courthouse.
Lambdon released a statement Thursday regarding the Dec. 5 hearing.
“We are hopeful that the Pinellas County Judge, Amy Williams, who has been assigned to hear and decide our case – will agree that our petitions are in fact legal – and have been individually counted and certified by the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections – and that the city must provide for a special election for the voters of the city to finally be able to decide the fate of their Pier – either way.
We as a formally legally registered Political Committee together with our 15,652 certified petitioners have played by the rules, paid the fees and met the burden as required under the Florida Constitution to demand that city voter be heard by referendum on this very important issue.”
More from Mansell here.
