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PAUL SWIDERFollowing a court ruling, commissioners put redevelopment issues on the ballot.
ST. PETE BEACH - Voters will get a chance to cast ballots on the city's comprehensive plan and other redevelopment issues, the City Commission said Tuesday.
The commission will hold a special meeting Friday to take formal action, but all commissioners agreed that a decision by the 2nd District Court of Appeal indicated they should put a series of citizen initiatives before the voters in November.
"That's what we asked for," said Mayor Ward Friszolowski of the court's decision approving the legality of referendums put forth by Citizens for Responsible Growth, a group opposed to city plans for tall hotels and mixed-use development. "I'm anxious to get this before the voters."
City Attorney Tim Driscoll said he filed a motion to ask the appeals court to clarify its ruling, but he recommended that the commissioners place six different redevelopment issues on the ballot. Ken Weiss, the attorney for the citizens group, demanded that the city withdraw the clarification motion, but no commissioner moved to take such action.
Paul Swider can be reached at 892-2271 or pswider@sptimes.com or by participating in itsyourtimes.com.