There's a new deadline in the fight over the future of the St. Petersburg Pier.
St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster is telling critics of plans to replace the landmark that it is 'time to put up or shut up.'
According to Bay News 9's partner newspaper the Tampa Bay Times, a local group wants voters to decide the fate of the current inverted triangle.
Voters can go to Voteonthepier.com until June 11 to submit a petition to force the issue onto a ballot.
But the leader of that group, Tom Lambdon, said that is not enough time to collect the 16,000 signatures required.
Foster said he set the June 11 deadline for Lambdon's petitions by working backward, taking into account the time needed for them to be processed and for the City Council to consider an ordinance to put the measure on this November's ballot.
Currently, the structure is scheduled to be demolished next year and replaced with 'The Lens, ' a $50-million structure.
Upcoming public meetings about the Pier
Thursday, the Coliseum, 535 Fourth Ave. N
June 12, Enoch Davis Center, 1111 18th Ave. S
June 14, J.W. Cate Recreation Center, 5801 22nd Ave. N
June 19, Lake Vista Recreation Center, 1401 62nd Ave. S.
(all meetings scheduled for 6 p.m.)