Judge finds St. Pete Beach legally appointed commissioners
July 8, 2024 - A judge recently ruled that the St. Pete Beach officials acted lawfully when appointing four new members to a five-person city commission following a series of resignations that began in late December 2023. The July 2 summary judgment was in response to a lawsuit filed by the Protect St. Pete Beach Advocacy Group earlier this year that accused the municipal government of violating its city charter. Every commissioner but Mayor Adrian Petrila alternately resigned and appointed a new member over nine days as more stringent financial reporting laws took effect.