Vice Mayor David Sturges is facing an ethics investigation by the Florida Commission on Ethics.
The ethics complaint came to light as a result of the City Commission April 18 agenda being made public this week.
Sturges is asking the city to pay his legal expenses against the alleged ethics violations.
According to the city commission packet: "This Resolution authorizes the City Attorney to work with
City claims administrator, Preferred Governmental Claim Solutions (PGCS), appear on behalf of, if necessary, and
defend Vice Mayor David Sturges before the Florida Commission on Ethics for a complaint filed on March 6, 2023.
The complaint filed and all Commission on Ethics Proceedings and records relating to the complaint are confidential unless Vice Mayor Sturges wishes to disclose them."
The ethic complaint most likely cites Sturges' comments and votes regarding the debate over the possible closure of Brett's Waterway Cafe which the city declared as an unsafe structure. Sturges had failed to disclose a conflict of interest since the Brett's issue first was discussed by the City Commission in July 2021. Sturges is a business partner, Todd Ericksen, who also is employed by Brett's.
City Attorney Tammi Bach later informed Sturges that he had a conflict of interest in the Brett's matter and told him not to vote on decisions involving Brett's. Earlier this year, the commission voted 3-1 to allow Brett's to remain open until its lease with the city expired in two years. Sturges abstained from voting.
City Charter Section 31 requires that the prosecution and defense of litigation involving the City, by the
City Attorney, be authorized by the City Commission. The commission will vote April 18 on the resolution to pay for Sturges' legal fees.
It's about time! No city should defend an ethics violation!