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Commission approves amended lease for Pier restaurant space; council hears public allegations about procurement
Summary
The Deerfield Beach City Commission on May 20 adopted an ordinance amending the long‑term lease for the Pier restaurant (Pure Restaurant space) to a 20‑year term with two 5‑year renewal options; the ordinance passed unanimously and prompted a public commenter to allege procurement irregularities, which officials said had been dismissed in court.
On May 20, 2025, the Deerfield Beach City Commission adopted an ordinance authorizing an amendment to the lease of the city's Pure Restaurant space to Deerfield Beach Cafe LLC (now identified in the lease backup as 202 DFB LLC). The amendment was approved on second reading by unanimous roll call.
City attorneys told the commission the amendment preserves the previously negotiated rent terms and percent rent, sets possession for June 1, 2025, and allows the tenant up to an additional nine‑month period during which rent need not be paid while the tenant completes improvements. The attorney summarized the amendment: "The rent amount isn't changing. The percent rent isn't changing. Under this amendment, the city would get the full 20 years of rent payments under this provision. There is a provision that provides for up to an additional 9 month extension..." (City Attorney).
The ordinance had been continued from a prior approval process tied to a competitive solicitation and a prior tenant eviction. The city attorney told the commission the amendment also includes a release of claims against the city for not delivering the premises earlier and an assignment of certain claims against the prior tenant with a recovery split.
During the public hearing Dan Hurst, who identified himself as a citizen observer, criticized the procurement process and alleged the selection favored a specific bidder and cited other irregularities. Hurst said, in part: "You advertise the ITN on the e procurement system instead of marketing it to the restaurant brokers and other interested parties. That way you ensure that the city's favorite candidate ... will win the bid." The mayor responded that litigation and other claims had been presented and that judges had rejected those allegations in court.
The commission voted to adopt the ordinance on second reading. Commissioner Hudak moved to approve; Commissioner Plout seconded. The roll call vote was unanimous.
