FORT PIERCE – A dispute with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) over alleged boundary violations and unpermitted docks at Little Jim Bait and Tackle could be resolved Monday night.

The Fort Pierce City Commission is slated to consider signing a consent order with FDEP to settle 2,883 square feet of unpermitted docks and another 9,649 square feet of dock that’s situated over state submerged land. The FDEP has ruled the city owes the state rent from 2021-2026 amounting to nearly $11,000 for the encroachment.

In addition, the consent order also includes another $5,000 that the city is expected to pay to cover FDEP’s investigating costs.

“The Lessee of the Little Jim property has agreed to pay the financial obligations requested by FDEP and cooperate with the City to bring the property into compliance with FDEP demands due to alleged violations on the property,” the agreement with Salty3 Baitshack LLC states. “This Agreement outlines the responsibilities of the parties in anticipation of the City entering into a Consent Order with FDEP.”

In addition, Little Jim’s current operator will agree to inform the city of any notices it gets from FDEP, any spills that occur on the property and any structural changes.

The popular bar/restaurant on North Hutchinson Island has been operating on a month-to-month lease extension for more than a year while the FDEP matters were cleared.

The process to award a new, long-term lease for the former World War II decommissioned guard site was bogged down after Request for Proposals resulted in a Michigan firm being judged the best suited to take over the site and pay the city monthly rent. The city subsequently announced it would begin the RFP process again after the state violations were settled, allowing the current operator to continue business there on a month-to-month basis.

Several prospective bidders also were eliminated from the process after they identified boundary and environmental issues they felt were not addressed in the RFP.

As it stands now, both the city’s settlement with FDEP and the reimbursement agreement with Salty3 Baitshack are listed on the consent agenda which means they could simply be approved among three items that do not require individual consideration. However, any commissioner may ask for consent agenda items to be moved to the regular agenda for more discussion.

Monday’s meeting begins at 5:05 p.m. in the commission chambers at Fort Pierce City Hall.