Fort Pierce commission delays contract for Little Gem flood work, approves month-to-month lease addendum

The Fort Pierce City Commission voted 4–0 (one abstention) to decline a lump-sum construction contract for flood mitigation at the Little Gem bait-and-tackle building and moved the mitigation requirement into the city27s planned request-for-proposals (RFP) for the site, then approved a month-to-month lease addendum for the current operator.

The motion not to approve the $266,048 contract with Remnant Construction LLC and to instead roll the flood-mitigation requirement into the RFP passed on a roll call of Broderick: yes; Gaines: yes; Johnson: yes; Taylor: abstain; Mayor Hudson: yes. Shortly afterward the commission approved resolution 25-R14, a signed lease addendum with the building27s current operator, by the same margin.

Staff and commissioners framed the action as a way to protect taxpayers while keeping the property usable during the RFP process. Building official Paul Thomas told commissioners that a flood-mitigation plan is required by federal (FEMA) rules when a commercial structure in a special flood hazard area is substantially damaged or altered and that having a signed mitigation plan in place speeds any post-disaster recovery. Thomas said that, "if the city is aware work needs to be done," having a plan already prepared provides a "hedge of protection" for federal aid and avoids lengthy post-event delays.

Commissioner Arnold Gaines moved the motion to decline the construction award and fold the mitigation work into the RFP process, arguing that shifting the roughly $266,000 mitigation burden to an incoming operator would produce more financially qualified responses and avoid underwriting private enterprise with city funds. Commissioner Roderick Broderick pressed staff for detail on cost separation and noted a roughly $10,000 non-flood-related repair on the property that should remain the tenant27s responsibility. Broderick also outlined the city27s longer-term goal of securing market-rate revenue from city-owned assets.

The lease addendum approved by the commission clarifies notice and restroom cost responsibilities. The signed addendum (distributed to commissioners at the meeting) keeps the tenant on a month-to-month basis and establishes a 90-day notice window tied to the city27s timing for RFP selection. A new paragraph requires the current lessee to assume all future rental and maintenance expenses for the temporary restroom facilities; the lessee also waived prior reimbursement claims. At the meeting commissioners said the city had been paying approximately $7,600 per month for the portable, air-conditioned restrooms while collecting $2,600 per month in rent, producing a net cost to the city that commissioners described as unacceptable to continue long-term.

Legal and procedural details were discussed on the record. Commissioner Taylor recused herself from the Little Gem items, citing a perceived conflict under Florida Statute 286.012; she left the dais for those votes. City attorneys and staff advised that certain work already shown on the mitigation plan reflects both flood requirements and unpermitted tenant work; any future changes tied to an RFP will be handled through permits and a negotiated agreement with the selected operator.

Why it matters: Little Gem is a long-standing commercial presence on the causeway and has generated public interest as the city plans a competitive process to select future management of the waterfront site. The commission27s decision moves the technical and financial mitigation burden into the RFP and lease process, with the aim of limiting taxpayer exposure while preserving the site for operations during the procurement.

What27s next: Staff will include the flood-mitigation requirement in the RFP for the property and will return to the commission with the RFP and recommendations for award and contract terms. The approved addendum makes clear the current tenant27s short-term status and restroom obligations until a contract is executed.