'Lens' Pier Ballot Question Approved for August Primary

The ballot question regarding the Stop the Lens petition to cancel the city's contract with Michael Maltzan Architecture to build the "Lens" pier design was approved unanimously Thursday by city council. 

The question that will appear on the Aug. 27 primary is: 

Shall an ordinance be added to the city of St. Petersburg's existing ordinance that would require the city to send a notice of termination, within five business days of the effective date of the ordinance, to Michael Maltzan Architecture, Inc. to terminate the existing architect/engineering agreement between the city of St. Petersburg and Michael Maltzan Architecture which agreement was approved by city council? 

Should residents vote 'yes' on the ballot question it August, it would require the city to cancel its contract with Michael Maltzan Architecture to build the "Lens" pier design. 

While council approved the ballot question based on the ordinance Stop the Lens submitted, what was not approved was the title of the ballot question. 

City Attorney John Wolfe said he would bring options to council next week about what the title for that ballot question could be. 

At issue is whether or not the title of the question is clear as to what voters are really voting on. 

The question itself does not mention the "Lens" pier design and Stop the Lens has asked the city to include "Lens" language in the title. 

"We want that wording to be very clear and we are asking you to do that," said Fred Whaley, chairman of Concerned Citizens of St. Pete. "We didn't come to this far for it to be improperly described." 

Wolfe and city administration has advised council not to change even a "comma" of the ballot question, but said there is leeway when it comes to the title. 

The ballot title, Wolfe said, is limited by state law to 15 words and has to describe what voters are voting on. 

"There is some leeway with respect to ballot title and (it) can be more inclusive of the popular notion of what the question is," Wolfe said.

Mayor Bill Foster said he thinks the ballot title should include the word "Lens".

Wolfe will present possible ballot titles at next week's agenda review session and there will be a public hearing on the ballot language in two weeks.  

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