CEB Minutes 09/22/2016 September 22, 2016
TRANSCRIPT OF THE MEETING OF THE
COLLIER COUNTY CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD
Naples, Florida, September 22, 2016
LET IT BE REMEMBERED, that the Collier County Code
Enforcement Board, in and for the County of Collier, having
conducted business herein, met on this date at 9:00 a.m., in
REGULAR SESSION in Building "F" of the Government Complex,
East Naples, Florida, with the following members present:
CHAIRMAN: Robert Kaufman
Robert Ashton
Ron Doino
Gerald J. Lefebvre
James Lavinski
Lionel L'Esperance
Kathleen Elrod
Sue Curley (Alternate)
Tony Marino (Excused)
ALSO PRESENT:
Tamara Lynne Nicola, Attorney to the Board
Kerry Adams, Code Enforcement
Jeff Letourneau, Code Enforcement
Page 1
CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD OF COLLIER COUNTY,FLORIDA
AGENDA
Date: September 22,2016 at 9:00 A.M.
Location: 3299 Tamiami Trail East,Naples,FL 34104
NOTICE: THE RESPONDENT MAY BE LIMITED TO TWENTY (20) MINUTES FOR CASE
PRESENTATION UNLESS ADDITIONAL TIME IS GRANTED BY THE BOARD. PERSONS
WISHING TO SPEAK ON ANY AGENDA ITEM WILL RECEIVE UP TO FIVE (5)MINUTES
UNLESS THE TIME IS ADJUSTED BY THE CHAIRMAN.
ALL PARTIES PARTICIPATING IN THE PUBLIC HEARING ARE ASKED TO OBSERVE
ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER AND SPEAK ONE AT A TIME SO THAT THE COURT
REPORTER CAN RECORD ALL STATEMENTS BEING MADE.
ANY PERSON WHO DECIDES TO APPEAL A DECISION OF THIS BOARD WILL NEED A
RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS PERTAINING THERETO,AND THEREFORE MAY NEED
TO ENSURE THAT A VERBATIM RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS IS MADE,WHICH
RECORD INCLUDES THE TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE UPON WHICH THE APPEAL IS TO
BE BASED.NEITHER COLLIER COUNTY NOR THE CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD SHALL
BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING THIS RECORD.
1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
2. ROLL CALL
Robert Kaufman,Chair Ronald Doino,
James Lavinski,Vice Chair Tony Marino
Gerald Lefebvre Robert Ashton,
Lionel L'Esperance Sue Curley,Alternate
Kathleen Elrod,Alternate
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. August 26,2016 Hearing
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS/MOTIONS
A. Motions
Motion for Continuance
1. CASE NO: CESD20140006223
OWNER: HENRY PEREZ
OFFICER: INVESTIGATOR ERIC SHORT
VIOLATIONS: COLLIER COUNTY LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE 04-41,SECTION 10.02.06(B)(1XA).A
VACANT UNFINISHED HOME WITH AN EXPIRED PERMIT.
FOLIO NO: 39895880008
VIOLATION
ADDRESS: 2665 OIL WELL RD,NAPLES
1 I
Motion for Extension of Time
1. CASE NO: CESD20150021350
OWNER: WILLIAM ROBERT ANDREWS JR
OFFICER: INVESTIGATOR STEVEN LOPEZ-SILVERO
VIOLATIONS: COLLIER COUNTY LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE 04-41 AS AMENDED,SECTION 10.02.06
(B)(1)(A).OBSERVED SEVERAL PERMITTING VIOLATIONS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
TO:LARGE SOLAR PANELS,TWO STORAGE SHEDS,DETACHED GARAGE,A LARGE
COMMUNICATION TOWER/ANTENNA,A SCREENED WOOD DECK ATTACHED TO THE
DWELLING,AND TWO POLE BARNS ON IMPROVED CONSERVATION PROPERTY ALL
WITHOUT FIRST OBTAINING THE REQUIRED PERMIT(S),INSPECTIONS,AND OF
CERTIFICATE OCCUPANCY/COMPLETION.
FOLIO NO: 374240004
VIOLATION
ADDRESS: 1516 PANTHER RD,COLLIER COUNTY
2. CASE NO: CEAU20150020251
OWNER: WILLIAM ROBERT ANDREWS JR
OFFICER: INVESTIGATOR STEVEN LOPEZ-SILVERO
VIOLATIONS: 2014 FLORIDA BUILDING CODE,CHAPTER 1,SECTION 105.A FENCE INSTALLED ON
IMPROVED CONSERVATION PROPERTY WITHOUT FIRST OBTAINING THE REQUIRED
PERMITS,INSPECTIONS,AND CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION.
FOLIO NO: 374240004
VIOLATION
ADDRESS: 1516 PANTHER RD,COLLIER COUNTY
B. Stipulations
C. Hearings
1. CASE NO: CESD20160002752
OWNER: JAMES GADSDEN AND SCOTTIE L GADSDEN
OFFICER: INVESTIGATOR STEVEN LOPEZ-SILVERO
VIOLATIONS: COLLIER COUNTY LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE 04-41,AS AMENDED,SECTION 10.02.06
(B)(1)(a).INTERIOR REMODELING INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO NEW DRYWALL,
NEW FRAMING,ELECTRICAL,PLUMBING,FLOORING,AND INSTALLATION OF A
CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WERE OBSERVED ON IMPROVED UNOCCUPIED
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY.
FOLIO NO: 24370240000
VIOLATION
ADDRESS: 317 S 1ST STREET,IMMOKALEE
2
2. CASE NO: CELU20150007825
OWNER: TOMAS SAN JUAN AND NOELIA LOPEZ
OFFICER: INVESTIGATOR MICHAEL ODOM
VIOLATIONS: COLLIER COUNTY LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE 04-41,AS AMENDED,SECTIONS
1.04.01(A)AND 2.02.03.AN ACCESSORY STRUCTURE/GARAGE ON THE PROPERTY
WITHOUT A PRIMARY OR PRINCIPLE STRUCTURE PRESENT.
FOLIO NO: 38054400000
VIOLATION
ADDRESS: 3896 27TH AVE SW,NAPLES
3. CASE NO: CESD20160012452
OWNER: CELESTINO GONZALEZ CHAVEZ AND DELORES SAYONARA MONTALVO
OFFICER: INVESTIGATOR ERIC SHORT
VIOLATIONS: COLLIER COUNTY LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE 04-41,AS AMENDED,SECTIONS
10.02.06(B)(1)(a)AND 10.02.06(B)(1)(e)(i).UNPERMITTED DIVISION OF THE ELECTRICAL
SUPPLY IN THE ATTIC OF THE PRINCIPAL STRUCTURE SUPPLYING TO AN
UNPERMITTED ACCESSORY STRUCTURE WITH ELECTRICAL,PLUMBING,AND
MECHANICAL BEING UTILIZED FOR THE CULTIVATION OF MARIJUANA.
FOLIO NO: 41047440006
VIOLATION
ADDRESS: 3981 16TH AVE SE,NAPLES
4. CASE NO: CESD20150015376
OWNER: TUSCAN ISLE COMMUNITY LTD
OFFICER: INVESTIGATOR JAMES KINCAID
VIOLATIONS: COLLIER COUNTY LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE 04-41,AS AMENDED,SECTIONS
10.02.06(B)(1)(a)AND THE FLORIDA BUILDING CODE 2014 EDITION,SECTIONS 105.4.1
AND 105.4.1.1.PERMIT PRFR20150826170 FOR A FIRE ALARM CONTROL PANEL
REPLACEMENT,LIKE FOR LIKE,EXPIRED MAY 22,2016.
FOLIO NO: 00296840003
VIOLATION
ADDRESS: 8660 WEIR DR BUILDING 10,NAPLES
D. Motion for Reduction of Fines/Lien.
6. OLD BUSINESS
A. Motion for Imposition of Fines/Liens
1. CASE NO: CESD20140006223
OWNER: HENRY PEREZ
OFFICER: INVESTIGATOR ERIC SHORT
VIOLATIONS: COLLIER COUNTY LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE 04-41,SECTION 10.02.06(B)(1)(A).A
VACANT UNFINISHED HOME WITH AN EXPIRED PERMIT.
FOLIO NO: 39895880008
VIOLATION
ADDRESS: 2665 OIL WELL RD,NAPLES
3
2. CASE NO: CESD20140010232
OWNER: MANSOLILLO IRA LLC
OFFICER: INVESTIGATOR JEFF LETOURNEAU
VIOLATIONS: COLLIER COUNTY LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE 04-41,AS AMENDED,SECTION 10.02.06
(B)(1)(A)AND THE 2010 FLORIDA BUILDING CODE CHAPTER 1,PART 1,SECTION 105.1.
COMPLETE REMODELING OF THE INTERIOR OF THE HOME AND GARAGE BEING
CONVERTED TO LIVING SPACE INCLUDING PLUMBING,ELECTRIC AND STRUCTURAL
WORK AS WELL AS A FENCE IN THE FRONT YARD,ALL WITHOUT FIRST OBTAINING
REQUIRED COLLIER COUNTY BUILDING PERMITS.
FOLIO NO: 37161440006
VIOLATION
ADDRESS: 120 7TH ST SW,NAPLES
3. CASE NO: CESD20120013716
OWNER: BRANISLAVA CIRAKOVIC VUKOVIC,GINA RADENKOVICH,AND ALEKSANDAR H.
RADENKOVICH
OFFICER: INVESTIGATOR JON HOAGBOON
VIOLATIONS: COLLIER COUNTY LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE 04-41 AS AMENDED,SECTIONS
10.02.06(B)(I)(A), 10.02.06(B)(1 XE),AND 10.02.06(B)(1)(E)(I).OBSERVED
ALTERATIONS/IMPROVEMENTS TO STRUCTURE/PROPERTY AND NO COLLIER COUNTY
PERMITS OBTAINED
FOLIO NO: 62578800000
VIOLATION
ADDRESS: 10580 6TH ST,NAPLES
4. CASE NO: CESD20150021350
OWNER: WILLIAM ROBERT ANDREWS JR
OFFICER: INVESTIGATOR STEVEN LOPEZ-SILVERO
VIOLATIONS: COLLIER COUNTY LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE 04-41 AS AMENDED,SECTION 10.02.06
(B)(1)(A).OBSERVED SEVERAL PERMITTING VIOLATIONS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
TO:LARGE SOLAR PANELS,TWO STORAGE SHEDS,DETACHED GARAGE,A LARGE
COMMUNICATION TOWER/ANTENNA,A SCREENED WOOD DECK ATTACHED TO THE
DWELLING,AND TWO POLE BARNS ON IMPROVED CONSERVATION PROPERTY ALL
WITHOUT FIRST OBTAINING THE REQUIRED PERMIT(S),INSPECTIONS,AND OF
CERTIFICATE OCCUPANCY/COMPLETION.
FOLIO NO: 374240004
VIOLATION
ADDRESS: 1516 PANTHER RD,COLLIER COUNTY
5. CASE NO: CEAU20150020251
OWNER: WILLIAM ROBERT ANDREWS JR
OFFICER: INVESTIGATOR STEVEN LOPEZ-SILVERO
VIOLATIONS: 2014 FLORIDA BUILDING CODE,CHAPTER 1,SECTION 105.A FENCE INSTALLED ON
IMPROVED CONSERVATION PROPERTY WITHOUT FIRST OBTAINING THE REQUIRED
PERMITS,INSPECTIONS,AND CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION.
FOLIO NO: 374240004
VIOLATION
ADDRESS: 1516 PANTHER RD,COLLIER COUNTY
4
6. CASE NO: CESD20150015459
OWNER: FRANCES POOLE
OFFICER: INVESTIGATOR ARTHUR FORD
VIOLATIONS: COLLIER COUNTY LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE 04-41 AS AMENDED,SECTION 10.02.06
(B)(1)(A).A REAR DECK INSTALLATION AND LANAI CONVERSION/ENCLOSURE AND
WINDOW INSTALLATION WITHOUT REQUIRED COLLIER COUNTY PERMITS,
INSPECTIONS AND CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION/OCCUPANCY.
FOLIO NO: 24982560000
VIOLATION
ADDRESS: 1865 HARBOR LN,NAPLES
7. CASE NO: CESD20150014619
OWNER: PETER WESSEL TRUSTEE,OF THE PETER WESSEL IRREV TRUST UTD 2/14/06
OFFICER: INVESTIGATOR JEFF LETOURNEAU
VIOLATIONS: COLLIER COUNTY LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE 04-41 AS AMENDED,SECTION 10.02.06
(B)(1)(A)AND 10.02.06(B)(1)(E)(I).A SHED TYPE STRUCTURE LOCATED IN THE REAR
YARD OF THE PROPERTY WITH NO PERMITS ON FILE.
FOLIO NO: 49582200004
VIOLATION
ADDRESS: 6 DERHENSON DR,NAPLES
8. CASE NO: CELU20150014365
OWNER: MASSIMO MAFFEI
OFFICER: INVESTIGATOR DEE PULSE
VIOLATIONS: COLLIER COUNTY LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE 04-41 AS AMENDED,SECTION 1.04.01(A)
AND SECTION 2.02.03.OUTDOOR STORAGE OF NUMEROUS MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
CONSISTING OF BUT NOT LIMITED TO SCAFFOLDING,REBAR,BUCKETS OF
MISCELLANEOUS PLYWOOD,PLASTIC TUBES/CULVERTS,METAL,BLOCKS,BRICKS,
TRAILER FULL OF PLASTIC BOTTLES,HOT WATER HEATERS,LADDERS,PLASTIC
CONTAINER FULL OF STAGNANT WATER,ETC.
FOLIO NO: 38336640009
VIOLATION
ADDRESS: 5960 GREEN BLVD,NAPLES
B. Motion to Rescind Previously Issued Order
C. Motion to Amend Previously Issued Order
1. CASE NO: CEOCC20160012333
OWNER: PEE-WEE'S DUMPSTERS
OFFICER: INVESTIGATOR DEE PULSE
VIOLATIONS: COLLIER COUNTY LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE 04-41,AS AMENDED,SECTION 5.02.03(A),
5.02.03(D),5.02.03,5.02.03(F),5.02.03(I),5.02.03(G)AND THE COLLIER COUNTY LAND
DEVELOPMENT CODE ORDINANCE 04-41,AS AMENDED,SECTION 2.02.03 AND SECTION
2.03.01(B).REPEAT VIOLATION OF PROHIBITED BUSINESS ACTIVITY TAKING PLACE ON
PROPERTY WHICH INCLUDES BUT NOT LIMITED TO:DELIVERING AND REMOVING
DUMPSTERS.EXCESSIVE NOISE.REPEAT VIOLATION OF DUMPSTERS ON PROPERTY.
FOLIO NO: 38280090006
VIOLATION
ADDRESS: 721 LOGAN BLVD S,NAPLES
5
7. NEW BUSINESS
8. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Request to Forward Cases to County Attorney's Office as Referenced in Submitted Executive Summary.
NONE
9. REPORTS
10. COMMENTS
11. NEXT MEETING DATE-
October 28,2016
12. ADJOURN
6
September 22, 2016
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning. I'd like to call the
Code Enforcement Board to order.
Notice: The respondent may be limited to 20 minutes for case
presentation unless additional time is granted by the Board. Persons
wishing to speak at any agenda item will receive up to five minutes
unless the time is adjusted by the chairman. All parties participating in
the public hearing are asked to observe Robert's Rules of Order and
speak one at a time so that the court reporter can record all statements
being made.
Any person who decides to appeal a decision of this board will
need a record of the proceedings pertaining thereto and, therefore, may
need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made,
which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the
appeal is to be based. Neither Collier County nor the Code
Enforcement Board shall be responsible for providing this record.
And now if you'd all stand, we'll have the pledge.
(The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. You want to have the roll
call, Kerry?
MS. ADAMS: Mr. Robert Kaufman?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Here.
MS. ADAMS: Mr. James Lavinski?
MR. LAVINSKI: Here.
MS. ADAMS: Mr. Gerald Lefebvre?
MR. LEFEBVRE: Here.
MS. ADAMS: Mr. Lionel L'Esperance?
MR. L'ESPERANCE: Here.
MS. ADAMS: Mr. Ronald Doino?
MR. DOINO: Present.
MS. ADAMS: Robert Ashton?
MR. ASHTON: Here.
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September 22, 2016
MS. ADAMS: Ms. Sue Curley?
MS. CURLEY: Here.
MS. ADAMS: And, Ms. Kathleen Elrod?
MS. ELROD: Here.
And Mr. Tony Marino has an excused absence.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Since we are short one
member, in our policy of alternating back and forth between the
alternates this month, Kathy, you'll be the voting member.
And that brings us to -- I'm going to skip -- wanted to go to the
approval of the minutes from the last meeting first.
MR. LAVINSKI: Motion to approve.
MR. DOINO: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second. All
those in favor?
MR. DOINO: Aye.
MR. LAVINSKI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. L'ESPERANCE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MS. ELROD: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
And now any changes to the agenda?
MS. ADAMS: Yes. Number 5, Public Hearings, Motions,
Motion for Extension of Time, we have one addition. It's from
Imposition of Fines, No. 3, Tab 7, Case CESD20120013716,
Branislava Cirakovic Vukovic, Gina Radinkovich, and Aleksander H.
Radenkovich.
Letter B, Stipulations, we have two additions. The first is No. 1
Page 3
September 22, 2016
from Hearings, Tab 1, Case CESD20160002752, James Gadsden and
Scottie L. Gadsden. The second Stipulation is No. 4 from Hearings,
Tab 4, Case CESD20150015376, Tuscan Isle Community, LTD.
Number 6; Old Business, Letter A, Motion for Imposition of
Fines/Liens, No. 6, Tab 10, Case CESD20150015459, Frances Poole,
has been withdrawn.
Number 7, Tab 11, Case CESD20150014619, Peter Wessel,
Trustee of the Peter Wessel Irrevocable Trust under trust dated
February 14, 2006, has been withdrawn, and that's all the changes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So the revisions that we have
for both 10 and 11, they're gone also?
MS. ADAMS: That's correct.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. LAVINSKI: Motion to accept.
MR. DOINO: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second to
accept the agenda as modified. All those in favor?
MR. DOINO: Aye.
MR. LAVINSKI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. L'ESPERANCE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MS. ELROD: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Okay.
MS. ADAMS: The first Motion, Motion for Continuance, No. 1,
Tab 5, Case CESD20140006223, Henry Perez.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
Page 4
September 22, 2016
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning.
MR. SHORT: Good morning.
MR. PEREZ: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning. You're requesting an
extension of time or --
MR. PEREZ: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You want to give us a little
background?
MR. PEREZ: I got some paperwork here for you to look at.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Is it different than what we
have --
MR. PEREZ: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: -- which was the letter?
MR. PEREZ: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Why don't you show Eric,
and if the county has no objection --
MR. SHORT: Has no objection.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: -- then we can show it on the view
graph. You probably won't get these papers back; are you aware of
that? So hopefully you have copies.
MR. PEREZ: All right.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Could you make that a little bigger
or make me a little younger?
Okay. We have that sheet on our view graph, which shows some
dollar amounts.
MR. PEREZ: Yes. That shows what I spent from the last time,
March of this year that I came here. I spent a little over $40,000. I've
been doing all the work myself. I'm not hiring anyone. As I said
before, I purchased this home in March or May of 2013. And I got
divorced, and one income isn't sufficient to finish the home the way I
had planned, so it's taking me a lot longer.
Page 5
September 22, 2016
I've been saving up, fixing, saving up, fixing. But I did a lot. I
did the stucco, the windows, steps inside; all the framing is done,
electrical, plumbing. I'm waiting on the front door that hasn't come. I
ordered it. It's in there, too. But I ordered it nine weeks ago; it hasn't
come. So that's why I haven't been able to do anything else because
the front is still opened.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Is the house secured?
MR. PEREZ: Yes, it's secure. I have plywood over a lot of it, so
the house is secure. My plan is to -- in the next six months, to do
enough to get the CO, my certificate of occupancy. That's my plan, if I
can get the $50,000 left.
In one of those sheets you'll see that my ex-wife did try to help
me get a loan on the house that I presently live in, and she was denied.
So, you know, I'm trying.
I got a $25,000 loan from my police union, so I got at least 25-.
So my brother's going to lend me the other 25-, and hopefully six
months will be enough and I can get my CO and this will be all over
with.
The house -- there's a picture in there of the home, too. It's a very,
very large home. It's 4,400 under air; 57 -- you know, all together.
And it's a lot of work and a lot of money that has to go into this home.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. And you think that you will
be finished with this home in --
MR. PEREZ: I'm hoping to finish by March, by the next time I
have to come here, by March. If everything goes right, I don't get sick,
I get the money, I can finish it. I have no problem. I don't know what
tomorrow holds, you understand, so if I get sick or anything, you
know, that will be a different thing. But I'm hoping to finish by March
of 2017.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So what you're looking for --
MR. PEREZ: Is a six-month extension.
Page 6
September 22, 2016
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Six months extension?
MR. PEREZ: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Anything else?
MR. PEREZ: That's it.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. SHORT: For the record, Senior Investigator Eric Short.
The county has no objection. I mean, there's been activity on his
permits. Unfortunately, there's a financial situation there, and -- but,
again, in Golden Gate Estates, there's a lot of homes under
construction. This one's just taking a little more time.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Any comments from the
Board?
MR. LAVINSKI: Is this --
MR. L'ESPERANCE: There's no swimming pool that's any type
of attractive nuisance? I wouldn't think so at this point, probably.
MR. SHORT: There is no pool.
MR. L'ESPERANCE: Swimming pool?
MR. PEREZ: No, no.
MR. LAVINSKI: There's been no issue with the neighboring
properties over the continuation of the construction?
MR. PEREZ: No, there hasn't; no public complaints.
MR. LEFEBVRE: In your letter you state that it could take up to
three years to complete this?
MR. PEREZ: Yeah. That was -- that letter was before I received
a loan and received money, but my brother promised to -- my brother
is the captain of the North Police Department as well, so he promised
that he's going to take some money out and lend it to me. So if that
goes well, I should be finished with this house by March.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Okay. So this letter is dated about a month
ago, so --
MR. PEREZ: Yeah, that was before I -- I don't like to ask people
Page 7
September 22, 2016
for anything, so my last resort was to ask him for the money, because
first we tried to get the loan on the house that I live in, and it didn't
work out. So I asked him, he said I'll do it, so just give him a little
time and he'll do it.
So I know he'll come through, and I'm looking for March 6th to
be the end date of this thing.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, if we extend to March, it will
be when the March meeting is. I don't have that schedule. It will be
the end of March.
MS. NICOLA: Six months would be March 20th, 2017, if we
gave him the extension, so I think our meetings usually are right
around that time.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. LEFEBVRE: I make a motion that we extend it for nine
months.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do you want to extend it or do you
want --
MR. LEFEBVRE: Continuance.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: -- a continuance?
MR. L'ESPERANCE: I would second that, Mr. Chairman.
MR. LAVINSKI: Mr. Chairman, I'm wondering under the
circumstances if an extension might be in order where there has been
no issues with the neighbors. There obviously is some substantial
effort being made to get this thing done and off our books. So I
wonder if we might consider an extension rather than a continuance.
MR. LEFEBVRE: An extension would stay any fines. So the
fines would go to zero, correct?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That's correct.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Now, you said in your letter that if-- the bank
won't give you the financing with fines on the property, correct?
MR. PEREZ: That's what I was told from Bank of America.
Page 8
September 22, 2016
MR. LEFEBVRE: Okay.
MR. PEREZ: So we went to another lender --
MR. LEFEBVRE: Good option; good choice.
MR. PEREZ: -- and that lender said, oh, don't worry about that as
long as there's not a lien on the house, which there is no lien on the
house.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Well --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That's correct.
MR. PEREZ: Okay. So...
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: As far as the Code Enforcement, we
have no lien on the property.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Right, we haven't imposed it.
MR. PEREZ: So she said as long as there's not a lien on the
house, we could go through. So we went through with the -- tried to
refinance the house I live in, and it didn't work out. Because my
ex-wife is on the house, too, so she had to be put into it.
MR. LEFEBVRE: But this house, can you get a construction
loan on it?
MR. PEREZ: No.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Why?
MR. PEREZ: No one will allow me. I tried a hard money loan,
and it was, like, 15 percent, and then when he came to see the house,
he wanted stipulations that it had to have a pool, it had to have -- yes,
so --
MR. LEFEBVRE: Pool?
MR. PEREZ: And then he wanted 10 percent on top of the 15
percent loan when I sold it no matter what I sold it for.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Is that loan sharking?
MS. CURLEY: Loan sharking.
MR. PEREZ: It's called a hard money loan.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Oh, I know. That seems very, very hard.
Page 9
September 22, 2016
MR. PEREZ: That's what I found, and that was in --
MR. LEFEBVRE: So you exhausted the option of financing,
correct?
MR. PEREZ: Yes, yes.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Okay. So it sounds like there's probably no
reason to give an extension versus a continuance.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You want to change --
MR. PEREZ: The extension would help me because -- just in
case, you know, I do run into problems and I try to --
MR. LEFEBVRE: No, no. What we're talking about, if we give
an extension, the fines stop, or there won't be any fmes on the property.
MR. PEREZ: Yes.
MR. LEFEBVRE: If we give you a continuance, your fines keep
on going.
MR. PEREZ: Accumulating. Okay. So my question is, once I
do get the CO, will the fines be abated in their entirety?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: There won't be any fines if you
finish it in the March time frame if an extension is granted.
MR. PEREZ: Okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: If there's a continuance, the fines
would continue to accrue until March, and at that time you could come
back and ask for the fines to be abated. So the easiest way, since there
is no -- there are no issues with the property, is to probably change
your motion to an extension rather than a continuance.
MR. PEREZ: I'd appreciate that.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And if it's done prior to that, you
don't have to come back at all, probably.
MR. PEREZ: That would be great for me, because --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do you want to change your motion,
Mr. Lefebvre?
MR. LEFEBVRE: I make a motion -- or I change my motion,
Page 10
September 22, 2016
amend my motion to make it an extension for nine months.
MR. L'ESPERANCE: I will amend my second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. And the second is amended.
MR. PEREZ: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Any other discussion on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, all those in favor?
MR. DOINO: Aye.
MR. LAVINSKI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. L'ESPERANCE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MS. ELROD: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Get busy.
MR. PEREZ: Thank you so much. I will.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. ADAMS: The next case is a Motion for Extension of Time,
No. 1, Tab 8, Case CESD20150021350, William Robert Andrews, Jr.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. I see the respondent not
present. You've been in touch with them?
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Before we go ahead, your friend
dropped a piece of paper in the front.
MR. LAVINSKI: Oh. Glenn, you dropped something on the
floor.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Just a little cleanup.
Page 11
September 22, 2016
Okay. We have a letter that was written to you regarding this
particular request. If you would give us your thoughts on that.
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: I've been in contact with the
respondent, the property owner, and his attorney, Mr. Patrick White.
They are making efforts towards violating -- or correcting the
violation. They've obtained, thus far, nine permits to -- for the
improvements that have been done. They're in various stages of
processing with the permits. Some have been obtained, some are in
inspection status, et cetera.
He's requesting a 60-day extension. The county has no objection.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: And the reason why he's taking so long,
because the property's a conservation property, and he's out in the Big
Cypress National Preserve, and he has to get permission or
authorization from the National Park Service in relation to obtaining
permits, so that's the delay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. LAVINSKI: So the bottom line on this is that all of these
violations are going to remain. Once he gets permits, they won't be
violations.
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: Correct.
MR. LAVINSKI: But he's not going to have to tear down all of
this solar and these sheds or --
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: I went out to the property recently.
He's removed the solar panels. He's going to demo one of the garages,
and he's got permits for all of that.
MR. LAVINSKI: Okay. And the rest of it will be permitted?
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: Yes, sir.
MR. LAVINSKI: Hopefully.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Sixty days, you think, should be
sufficient to get everything done?
Page 12
September 22, 2016
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: He believes so.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Any other comments from
the Board?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Any motions from the Board?
MR. LAVINSKI: Motion to continue for 60 days.
MR. DOINO: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second to
continue this for 60 days. Any discussion on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, all those in favor?
MR. DOINO: Aye.
MR. LAVINSKI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. L'ESPERANCE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MS. ELROD: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Thanks, Steven.
MR. L'ESPERANCE: Mr. Chairman, one small comment. I
notice there's a spelling discrepancy. I just wonder if it is Andrew or
Andrews.
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: The last name is Andrews, with an S.
MR. L'ESPERANCE: Andrews with an S. Okay. I see two
different spellings here, so...
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: Typo.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Scrivener's error. Okay.
MS. ADAMS: The next Motion for Extension of Time, No. 2,
Page 13
September 22, 2016
Tab 9, Case CEAU20150020251, William Robert Andrews, Jr.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: You look familiar. Were you just here?
Oh.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Do we have a similar
explanation on this?
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Why don't you state it for the record
so that --
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: This violation's for the fence he has on
the perimeter of the property. He has a permit for this one as well. It's
currently in "ready for issuance" status. He should be done with this
one within the 60 days as well.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. LAVINSKI: Motion to continue for 60 days.
MR. DOINO: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second.
Any discussion on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, all those in favor?
MR. DOINO: Aye.
MR. LAVINSKI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. L'ESPERANCE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MS. ELROD: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Thank you.
Page 14
September 22, 2016
MS. ADAMS: The next Motion for Extension of Time is from
Imposition of Fines, No. 3, Tab 7, Case CESD20120013716,
Branislava Cirakovic Vukovic, Gina Radinkovich, and Aleksander H.
Radenkovich.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. For the Board, you have a
letter that was on your position when you arrived this morning; if you'd
take a minute to read it. Okay.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: This is a long one, to say the least.
MS. VUKOVIC: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning. Could you state
your name on the mike for the record.
MS. VUKOVIC: Branislava Cirakovic Vukovic.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. And you're requesting...
MS. VUKOVIC: Extension of time. The good news, the plans
have been approved by the building department, and we're awaiting the
inspection. And when inspection is done, the case will be closed.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So you're requesting how much
time?
MS. VUKOVIC: Forty-five days. According to them, they said
that's how much they need to do the inspection and close the permit.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I would think you could get an, you
know, inspection in a week, personally, but I may be wrong. What
does the county have to say?
MR. HOAGBOON: For the record, John Hoagboon, Collier
County Code Enforcement.
The county has no objections. The problem with this, what just
happened during the last -- since the last hearing is a door was not
noted on the plans, and it probably slipped through on previous
reviews, so they had to submit a whole new set of engineering plans to
have that door noted on there. So that's what took so long, and that's
Page 15
September 22, 2016
why we just got the permit ready for issuance just yesterday.
I'm just hoping nothing happens. But just in case, that's why 45
days.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Because normally speaking --
MR. HOAGBOON: It shouldn't take that long.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: -- it's a call, you schedule an
inspection, they come out, they inspect, and you're done.
MR. HOAGBOON: Correct.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So in all likelihood, this could be
done in a week?
MR. HOAGBOON: Absolutely.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Discussions from the Board?
MR. LAVINSKI: And that would be the end of this, after the
nine hearings?
MR. HOAGBOON: Barring any unforeseen issues, you know,
that could come up again, it should be it.
MR. LEFEBVRE: I feel like my kids are going to graduate high
school before this is going to be finished.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, why don't you have them stay
over a few years?
Okay. So you want -- an extension of 45 days has been
requested. Does someone want to make a motion?
MR. LAVINSKI: I'll make a motion that we continue this for 45
days.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Instead of 45 days, why don't we do
it when our meeting is.
MR. LAVINSKI: Two meetings? The November meeting?
MR. LEFEBVRE: The November meeting's early, isn't it?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: When is the November meeting?
MR. LAVINSKI: Eighteenth.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
Page 16
September 22, 2016
MS. NICOLA: Sixty days would be November 20th, so if it was
the next meeting, it would be sooner than 60. It would be like 58 days.
MR. LAVINSKI: The motion is to move it to the November
meeting.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Continue it to.
MR. LAVINSKI: Or continue it, yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do we have a second?
MR. DOINO: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Any discussion on the
motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, all those in favor?
MR. DOINO: Aye.
MR. LAVINSKI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. L'ESPERANCE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MS. ELROD: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MR. HOAGBOON: Thank you.
MS. VUKOVIC: Thank you.
MS. ADAMS: The next case is from Letter B, Stipulations, No.
1, Tab 1, Case CESD20160002752, James Gadsden and Scottie L
Gadsden.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: This is a stipulation?
MS. ADAMS: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Steve, do you want to read
Page 17
September 22, 2016
that stipulation into the record?
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: Good morning again.
For the record, Steven Lopez-Silvero, Collier County Code
Enforcement.
Therefore, it is agreed between the parties that the respondent
shall pay operational costs in the amount of 64.17 incurred in the
prosecution of this case within 30 days of this hearing;
Number 2, abate all violations by obtaining all required Collier
County building permits or demolition permit, inspections and
certificate of completion and/or occupancy within 180 days of this
hearing, or a fine of$200 per day will be imposed until the violation is
abated;
Number 3, respondent must notify Code Enforcement within 24
hours of abatement of the violation and request the inspector perform a
site inspection to confirm compliance;
Number 4, that if the respondent fails to abate the violation, the
county may abate the violation using any method to bring the violation
into compliance and may use the assistance of the Collier County
Sheriffs Office to enforce the provisions of this agreement, and all
costs of abatement shall be assessed to property owner.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Sir, could you state your name on
the mike.
MR. GADSDEN: Scottie Gadsden.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: This is a stipulation that you agreed
to. You think you can get everything done in 180 days?
MR. GADSDEN: Yes, I hope so.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Any discussion from the
Board?
MR. LEFEBVRE: The work's all completed?
MR. GADSDEN: No, it still needs -- some work need to be
completed. It's just right now it's kind of like a financial problem, so I
Page 18
September 22, 2016
just applied for a loan, so I should have an answer by the first of next
week.
MR. LEFEBVRE: How much of the work is done?
MR. GADSDEN: Really, none of it pretty much is done. I got to
get still -- probably about -- I'd say about 75 percent of the work still
need to be done to the building.
MR. LEFEBVRE: It says "with new drywall" --
MR. GADSDEN: Well, yeah, it was a drywall -- it was a wall put
up, and so I need tile work, plumbing, also I'm going to do some A/C
and also some -- stucco the building.
MR. LEFEBVRE: What I'm trying to get at is are you going to
be going to get permits to get this work done?
MR. GADSDEN: Yes, yes. I do have a general contractor right
now, and I'm just waiting to see, do I get approved for this loan? Soon
as -- if I do, you know, I'm going to start on it and get the permits
pulled.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Okay. You're not going to -- obviously,
you're not going to do a permit by affidavit where the work is already
completed? That's why -- that's the question I was going to ask.
MR. GADSDEN: Permit by affidavit?
MR. LEFEBVRE: That's if the work was all done because here it
-- the work doesn't sound like it's done.
MR. GADSDEN: No, it's not.
MR. LEFEBVRE: How big is this house?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It's a commercial property.
MR. GADSDEN: Thirteen hundred square feet.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. It's unoccupied?
MR. GADSDEN: Yes, right now.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Any other discussion from
the Board?
(No response.)
Page 19
September 22, 2016
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Any motions from the Board?
MR. ASHTON: Make a motion to accept the stipulation as
written.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion.
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And a second to accept the
stipulation as written. Any discussion on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, all those in favor? Do
you have something to say?
MR. LAVINSKI: No. I'd just like to thank the respondent for
getting into a stipulation without us going to the hearing and
everything else that continues down the road. So I appreciate the effort
on your behalf.
MR. GADSDEN: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. All those in favor?
MR. DOINO: Aye.
MR. LAVINSKI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. L'ESPERANCE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MS. ELROD: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
You're good for six months.
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Get 'er done.
MS. ADAMS: The next Stipulation is No. 4, Tab 4, Case
CESD20150015376, Tuscan Isle Community, LTD.
Page 20
September 22, 2016
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning.
MR. KINKAID: Good morning, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Could you state your name on the
record.
MS. NARVAEZ: Marysol Narvaez.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And you are the --
MS. NARVAEZ: Representative property manager of Tuscan
Isle Apartments.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. And you have a stipulation
that you'd like to read into the record?
MR. KINKAID: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. KINKAID: For the record, Jim Kincaid Collier County
Code Enforcement Investigator.
Therefore, it is agreed between the parties that the respondent
shall: No. 1, pay operational costs in the amount of$70.89 incurred in
the prosecution of this case within 30 days of this hearing;
Number 2, abate all violations by obtaining all required Collier
County building permits or demolition permit, inspections, and
certificate of completion/occupancy within 30 days of this hearing, or a
fine of$250 per day will be imposed until the violation is abated;
Number 3, the respondent must notify Code Enforcement within
24 hours of abatement of the violation and request the investigator
perform a site inspection to confirm compliance;
Number 4, that if the respondent fails to abate the violation, the
county may abate the violation using any method to bring the violation
into compliance and may use the assistance of the Collier County
Sheriffs Office to enforce the provisions of this agreement, and all
costs of abatement shall be assessed to the property owner.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Thank you. I just ask the question
Page 21
September 22, 2016
because it's a -- when I see the word "fire," my antennas go up. It
looks like the panel was replaced.
MS. NARVAEZ: Yes, it was.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Has been completed?
MS. NARVAEZ: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It works?
MS. NARVAEZ: It works.
THE COURT: It just needs to be certified, if you will?
MS. NARVAEZ: That's correct.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. And you have no problem
with the stipulation that was agreed to?
MS. NARVAEZ: No problem.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Any discussion from the
Board?
MR. LEFEBVRE: Was this a licensed contractor that replaced
this panel?
MS. NARVAEZ: Yes, it was.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Why didn't he pull a permit?
MS. NARVAEZ: They did. They pulled a permit. It expired.
MR. LEFEBVRE: It expired, okay. So it simply should just be
an inspection then?
MS. NARVAEZ: Yes.
MR. LEFEBVRE: I don't know why it had to take -- to get the
stipulated agreement to get this inspected. I just --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. KINKAID: The permit is currently in an expired status, so
they have to either pull a new permit or re-up the old permit again and
then get the inspection. That's the reason for the case. The permit is
currently expired.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Right. But what I'm trying to get at, July 7th
-- when it was first observed July 7th, 2016, not '15. So we're now in
Page 22
September 22, 2016
September. Why wasn't this conveyed --
MS. NARVAEZ: It was, actually. I've been working with
Suntoss (phonetic) since then to make some corrections that they
needed to make. Since then they have made all the work. All the work
has been done. I have all of the invoices here for everything that has
been done if you want to see it.
MR. LEFEBVRE: No, that's fine.
MS. NARVAEZ: But all we need is the inspection and to reapply
for the permit.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Make a motion to accept the stipulated
agreement.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a motion.
MR. ASHTON: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And a second. All those in favor?
MR. DOINO: Aye.
MR. LAVINSKI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. L'ESPERANCE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MS. ELROD: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Thank you.
MS. NARVAEZ: Thank you.
MR. KINKAID: Thank you.
MS. ADAMS: The next case is No. 2, Tab 2, Case
CELU20150007825, Tomas San Juan and Noelia Lopez.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
Page 23
September 22, 2016
MR. SAN JUAN: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning. Could you state
your name on the microphone.
MR. SAN JUAN: My name is Tomas San Juan.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. ODOM: Good morning. For the record, Michael Odom,
Collier County Code Enforcement.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. ODOM: Okay. This is in reference to Case No.
CELU20150007825 dealing with violations of the Collier County
Land Development Code, Section 04-41, as amended, Sections
1.04.01(A) and 2.02.03.
Violation description: An accessory structure/garage on the
property without a primary or principal structure present. Located at
3896 27th Avenue Southwest, Naples, Florida, 34117; Folio
38054400000.
Service was given on July 22nd, 2016.
I would now like to present case evidence in the following
exhibits: Five photographs taken by me.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Has the respondent seen those
photos?
MR. ODOM: The respondent has not seen these photos yet, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Could you show them to him, please.
MR. ODOM: Sure.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Could you take a look at these
photos and see if they are what we're all here for.
MR. SAN JUAN: Yes, they are.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: No problem with using those?
MR. SAN JUAN: No, no problem.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. LAVINSKI: Motion to accept.
Page 24
September 22, 2016
MR. LEFEBVRE: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second to
accept the photos. All those in favor?
MR. DOINO: Aye.
MR. LAVINSKI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. L'ESPERANCE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MS. ELROD: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Thank you.
MR. ODOM: Oh, the first photo was taken on December 9th,
2015. The last four photos were taken on July 13th, 2016;
additionally, an aerial view, which was obtained via Property
Appraiser website.
Concerning the details on this case, on April 17th, 2015, Code
Enforcement received a complaint that there was a detached garage on
the property at 3896 27th Avenue Southwest that had been built
without a permit.
Upon investigation, it was determined that the accessory
structure/garage was permitted and had been finaled. Furthermore, it
was found that a fire had destroyed the principal structure on this
property in approximately 2004, leaving the accessory structure
unharmed.
Next, an accessory structure -- correction. A notice of violation
was written for the accessory structure without a principal structure
present. The violation was then monitored for the next several months
via site visits and phone calls to the owner inquiring when he had
Page 25
September 22, 2016
planned on beginning construction of a new single-family home, which
is his goal.
Additionally, and for further clarification, a case determination
was reviewed by the zoning department in terms of land use. On June
27th, 2016, the violation was verified and a new notice of violation
was subsequently served to the property owner for the land use
violation.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Do you know whether or not
that structure is occupied?
MR. ODOM: Yes, I do, sir. That structure is not occupied. It's a
just there.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It's a garage, for lack of a better
term?
MR. ODOM: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Water, electric?
MR. ODOM: I do not know.
Is there electricity hooked up to there?
MR. SAN JUAN: No.
MR. ODOM: No.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. All right.
Sir?
MR. SAN JUAN: Well, I purchased this property in two
thousand -- March 2015. I didn't know that I was going to buy a new
property with all these problems.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: When you bought the property, was
the structure -- this is before the fire?
MR. SAN JUAN: Yeah, this was before the fire, and --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. SAN JUAN: The pre-owner (sic), they didn't do anything.
So this thing was already gone. It was gone since 2013, so I didn't
even know about it. I just found out when they send me the letter that I
Page 26
September 22, 2016
supposed to do something about it, to build a main house.
And that's the plan, but the thing is, right now, I don't -- I'm trying
to get some money and get some permits, general contractor, and build
a new house. But I need some time, that's what I need. I need about a
year in order to do something.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Are you using that structure
at all?
MR. SAN JUAN: No.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It's just sitting there?
MR. SAN JUAN: It's just there.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. You said there's no electric in
it?
MR. SAN JUAN: No electric.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: No water?
MR. SAN JUAN: Water? There's a water pump there, but, you
know, like I say, I bought it like that, you know. I didn't put the water
in it. It's just came with it.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. And you think that you can
build a permanent structure in the future? Well, the first thing, before
we get into that, we have to determine whether a violation exists or
not.
Anybody want to make a motion whether a violation exists or
not?
MR. DOINO: Make a motion --
MR. ASHTON: Make a motion a violation exists.
MR. DOINO: -- violation.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion.
MR. LEFEBVRE: And a motion.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And a second?
MR. DOINO: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. All those in favor?
Page 27
September 22, 2016
MR. DOINO: Aye.
MR. LAVINSKI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. L'ESPERANCE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MS. ELROD: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Okay. You're not permitted to have a structure like -- that is
there, the garage, without having a main structure. So that's, in
essence, what we voted on, okay.
MR. SAN JUAN: All right.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Now, to resolve the situation; that's
probably the most important thing. You are planning to build a house
there?
MR. SAN JUAN: Yes, that's the idea, but then with all these
letters, you know, I changed my mind and put it for sale, but at the
same time, you know, I do that, I sell the property without doing
anything, of course, this thing's going to go to a new owner again,
which it was -- that's what happened to me.
So that's why I here, you know, to ask for time. Either sell the
property in a few months or if I can get at least a year to see what I can
do myself just in case I don't sell the property.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. SAN JUAN: You know, that's how much time I think I
need, you know, in order to do something.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Discussion from the Board?
MR. LEFEBVRE: I just have a question. This violation was
observed on the 21st of April 2015. Why did it take so long to --
Page 28
September 22, 2016
MR. ODOM: That's a fair, question, sir. We felt that because the
property owner, you know, stated, listen, I'm going to build a house,
I'm going to build a house there, and since it wasn't a health and safety
issue, it was secure -- and every time we went over there it appeared to
be untouched, we gave the property owner, you know, as much time as
he needed. And then we said, geez, you know, it's been over a year.
Let's take it to the Board, so...
MR. LEFEBVRE: So you were notified back in April of 2015 --
MR. SAN JUAN: Yes.
MR. LEFEBVRE: -- shortly after you purchased the property.
MR. SAN JUAN: Like three months after. Like I said, I didn't
know about this. I didn't know about it. And you check the record, it
will show that this violation, it was before I bought the property. You
know, the pre-owner, he already knew about this, I guess, but he didn't
-- you know, nobody told me about it.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Well, you purchased it in April last year, and
it's saying they first saw it -- I mean, sorry, March of last year, and
April is when they first saw the violation, so it was after you purchased
it.
But what I'm trying to get at is it's almost a year and a half now
since you purchased this property and since you knew -- since you've
been notified by Code Enforcement, and nothing's been done.
We give you another year, you'll be here in a year saying, I'm
going to still try, I'm going to still try. That's two-and-a-half years
now.
MR. SAN JUAN: Well, it's not as easy as you think. You know,
you get money and you get finance to build a new house; it's not as
easy, especially a new structure. I'm a builder, too. We build new
houses. I mean, it's not easy. It's not easy at all.
MR. LEFEBVRE: I'm very familiar with the process.
MR. SAN JUAN: You know, this is a private house I would like
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September 22, 2016
to build on it. So it's a different story. It's a different -- I had to go to
the bank or, you know, save some money or something. I have to pull
the permits. That's why I need more time in order to --
MS. CURLEY: I have a question. Is there any other option
besides those two? I mean, can he demo that garage and just move on
with vacant land?
MR. ODOM: Yes, ma'am, that's part of recommendation option.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We get to that shortly.
MR. LEFEBVRE: What size garage is this, 20 by 20?
MR. SAN JUAN: Thirty by 60, I think it is.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Thirty by 60.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It's a big garage.
MR. PEREZ: I don't know if you consider it a garage. To me it's
just a --
MR. LEFEBVRE: Doesn't matter. It's still --
MR. SAN JUAN: Yeah. Whatever it is, it's just there, and you
know --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I wonder if that structure can be
converted to a primary residence.
MR. ODOM: It's worth looking into if the property owner is --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Instead of building a new structure
there, the reason that it's in violation is there's no primary structure.
How much work, money, would it take to make it a primary structure?
It could be a small primary structure, but that would resolve the
situation.
MR. SAN JUAN: Yeah. I would think about 60-, $70,000,
because it's --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: To make it a house?
MR. SAN JUAN: To make it a house.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And to build a new structure would
be?
Page 30
September 22, 2016
MR. SAN JUAN: At least 300,000.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: A hundred dollars a square foot.
MR. SAN JUAN: A house, I want to build at least 300,000.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So that could be one of the
possible solutions.
MR. LEFEBVRE: I'm just concerned that we give him another
year, he'll be back here in a year.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I understand. You have something
to say, Jeff?
MR. LETOURNEAU: I just -- I believe this looks smaller than a
thousand square feet, and that's what -- it would have to be at least a
thousand square feet to build into a house.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. I'm sure, and if it's 900 square
feet, to add 100 square feet to it is a lot cheaper than building a whole
new structure. So if nothing else, that is a possibility.
MR. LETOURNEAU: True.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Why don't we get the
suggestion -- any other question from the Board?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: -- suggestion from the county.
MR. ODOM: Okay. Recommendation: That the Code
Enforcement Board orders the respondent to pay all operational costs
in the amount of$65.01 incurred in the prosecution of this case within
30 days and abate all violations by:
No. 1, obtaining all required Collier County building permits,
inspections, and certificate of completion/occupancy for the principal
-- for a principal structure within blank days of this hearing or
obtaining a Collier County demolition permit, inspection, and
certificate of completion for the accessory structure within blank days
of this hearing, or a fme of blank per day will be imposed until the
violation is abated;
Page 31
September 22, 2016
Number 2, the respondent must notify the code enforcement
investigator when the violation has been abated in order to conduct a
final inspection to confirm abatement. If the respondent fails to abate
the violation, the county may abate the violation using any method to
bring the violation into compliance and may use the assistance of the
Collier County Sheriffs Office to enforce the provisions of this order,
and all costs of abatement shall be assessed to the property owner.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Does Paragraph 1 permit the
respondent the ability to convert the accessory structure into a primary
structure the way it's written?
MR. LETOURNEAU: I think that the first part of getting the
inspections, permit, and certificate of completion for a principal
structure, that could apply to them getting a permit for that particular
structure that's already on the property.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. And -- any discussions from
the Board?
MR. ASHTON: I've got one question. You said that -- excuse
me, sir. You said you're thinking of selling it, or you're going to build
a home? What is your intent?
MR. SAN JUAN: If I sell the property -- that's one other question
I was going to ask. If I sell the property in two weeks -- right now the
property is for sale. Say I sell the property in two weeks or a month or
something, you know, what I have to do? I have to notify Code
Enforcement that the property's been sold or --
MR. LEFEBVRE: You have to notify the new owner that there's
a case against it.
MR. ASHTON: Right.
MR. SAN JUAN: Well, that's something they didn't do to me,
you know; that's the thing. Nobody --
MR. LEFEBVRE: Is it under contractor now?
MR. SAN JUAN: Under contract now.
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September 22, 2016
MR. LEFEBVRE: Okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. What's going to happen, if
you sell the property now to the new owners, when they take
possession of the property, then they'll be in violation.
MR. SAN JUAN: Okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So the proper thing to do would be
to let them know that there's a case. Whoever's buying it is not -- I'm
guessing, is not buying it just so they have that structure, that they have
some idea that they're going to put a house up on it or something to
that effect. Are you familiar with what they're going to do with it at
all? No? Okay.
MR. SAN JUAN: Yeah. With me, I bought it because I was
going to build on it. I got a business, and I said, well, it's a big
property. Eventually I'm going to build a new house but then, like I
said, all these problems they're having now, that's what got me to
change my mind, you know.
I so busy every day. I said, you know what? I can't deal with this.
Might as well put it for sale, but then, like I said, for somebody to get
finance on the land, it's hard. So even though it's for sale, I might not
sell it until I don't know when. You know, I don't know how long it
will take in order to sell. I don't have to sell it, I have to deal with it,
so...
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You have it under contract now?
MR. SAN JUAN: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And what's the closing date on the
contract?
MR. SAN JUAN: I misunderstand. No, it's not under contract.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: In other words --
MR. SAN JUAN: It's for sale, but it's not under contract.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Oh, it's not under contract?
MR. SAN JUAN: No, no, no. Sony for that.
Page 33
September 22, 2016
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You don't have a buyer?
MR. SAN JUAN: No, I don't have the buyer.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Oh, okay. I understand. Okay. So
you need some time to decide what you're going to do, whether it's sell
itor --
MR. SAN JUAN: Or build.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: -- convert it or build --
MR. SAN JUAN: Exactly.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: -- or demolish it. Those are all the
options.
MR. SAN JUAN: Exactly.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And to Mr. Lefebvre's point, if we
were to grant a year, that means that next year you could come back
and say, you know, I haven't decided yet or whatever. So what --
MR. LEFEBVRE: We can stop this right now.
I make a motion to -- all operational costs be paid in the amount
of 65.01 within 30 days, principal structure within 120 days, or a $250
fine per day.
MR. L'ESPERANCE: I'll second that.
MR. LEFEBVRE: So both -- let me see -- inspections. So you're
breaking it down. Let me just look at this. Sixty days to get all the --
get the inspections, or not the inspections, to get permits, sorry, and
then 120 days of this hearing to get the certificate of completion, or a
fine of$250.
MR. L'ESPERANCE: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Let me comment on that. Nobody's
going to build a house in 120 days.
MR. LEFEBVRE: I understand that, but --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So if--
MR. LEFEBVRE: -- I want to have this case come back in front
of us to see what he's -- what he's doing. I don't feel that he's given us
Page 34
September 22, 2016
a clear answer on what's being done, and that's my motion.
MS. ELROD: To pull the permit to build the house?
MR. LEFEBVRE: Sixty days to pull the permit, 120 days to get
the CO, or a $250 fine per day.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And that would mean that when you
pull a permit in 60 days, they'd have 60 days to build a house?
MR. LEFEBVRE: That's correct.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That's unreasonable.
MS. CURLEY: It takes 90 days to get a loan.
MR. LEFEBVRE: He's had over a year and a half to do this, to
get this process moving. He told us under oath that it was under
contract to be sold, and he said that the buyer -- he doesn't know what
the buyer's going to do with it. Then he said no, it's not under contract.
MS. CURLEY: He restated that he misunderstood your question.
MR. LEFEBVRE: But he stated, in fact, that he had a buyer, and
he didn't know what the buyer -- so there was follow-up questions to
that before he restated what he said. I honestly think that this -- a year
is way too long.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. LEFEBVRE: That's my motion.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. And I will speak against the
motion.
MR. LEFEBVRE: That's fine.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I think that sufficient time should be
granted for the respondent to decide what he's going to do and -- not a
year -- give us enough time to bring it back here again to find out
exactly what is being done on the property.
So let me call for the vote on the motion, unless anybody else has
any comments.
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, all those in favor?
Page 35
September 22, 2016
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. L'ESPERANCE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
MR. DOINO: Aye.
MR. LAVINSKI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MS. ELROD: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So how many nos do we
have? One, two, three, four. So the motion is defeated.
Someone else like to make a motion?
MR. LAVINSKI: I think you were on the right track, Bob, with
your numbers. Why don't you --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I believe that we can't give a year
because this has been sitting for that long. At some point in time, you
have to make a decision what you're going to do. If you're going to
sell the property, if you're going to modify the structure. And I think
that 120 days would be sufficient time to come up with a plan of what
you're going to do.
So I'd like to make a motion in filling in the blanks; that the 65.01
be paid within 30 days; that the fines would accrue after the 120 days
at $250 per day; and that we grant the 120 days to adhere to the
stipulation that is written in the county's recommendation.
MR. DOINO: I'll second that.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Now, let me explain it before
we vote.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Yes, please.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: What this means is you have 120
days to either decide that you're going to sell it, that you're going to
build a house, or you're going to modify the structure that's on the
property to become a principal residence, or principal structure.
Page 36
September 22, 2016
MR. ASHTON: Or demolish it.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Or demolish it. At that time, in 120
days, you should have a very good idea of what you're actually going
to do. That's what my motion is.
Any discussion on my motion?
MR. LEFEBVRE: I'm still not clear on your motion. So 120
days to decide what to do and pull permits either to build a building or
demo, which was my -- what I said could be done. He could demo it
within 120 days. And then another 120 days to finish the work?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: No. Just 120 days to decide what
he's going to do. He's going to wind up back here, guaranteed, in 120
days, and he's going to explain to us what he's going to do, because I
doubt that he's going to build a house in 120 days.
MR. LEFEBVRE: It's not much different than what my -- my
motion is I gave 120 days and then 120 days.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Your motion died.
MR. LEFEBVRE: I know, but I'm just saying it's not much
different than my motion.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Then give up.
MR. LEFEBVRE: I just want to understand what your motion is.
So the 120 days you're giving him to make a decision?
MS. CURLEY: It's nicer.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I gave him 120 days basically to
come back here and tells us what he's doing.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Okay. That's fine, okay?
MR. LAVINSKI: If he comes back and says it's demolished and
it's gone, end of the issue.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You've got it.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Great. I second that motion.
MR. DOINO: You already got it.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Third.
Page 37
September 22, 2016
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: All those in favor?
MR. DOINO: Aye.
MR. LAVINSKI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. L'ESPERANCE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MS. ELROD: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Okay. Now, let me explain what we all said here.
MR. SAN JUAN: Yeah.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You have 120 days to decide what
you're doing with it. If you're going to sell it, we heartily suggest that
you tell somebody that there's a Code Enforcement case on this
property, that you're going to either have to build a house on it or take
down that unit, or you're going to get a permit to demolish that
building, okay. And you're going to be given 120 days to do what
you're going to do. If you want to demolish it, I'm sure that can happen
within the 120 days, and then the case goes away.
MR. SAN JUAN: Okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: If you don't do anything, at 120 days
fines start to add up; $250 a day. A lot of money. So you have to get
busy now to decide what you're going to do. And stay in contact with
Code Enforcement in letting them know. And maybe you could follow
this closely and see if we're going to get to some resolution soon.
MR. ODOM: Yes, sir. He's been great in terms of
communication. He's never not returned a phone call, so...
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Great.
MR. SAN JUAN: Can I ask another question?
Page 38
September 22, 2016
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Sure.
MR. SAN JUAN: So 120 days I have to come back here, like
you say, either with a demolition permit --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: If ifs demoed, you don't have to --
MR. SAN JUAN: -- or a permit to build a new building? I have
to bring that.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That would show good faith that you
are going to put a primary structure up, yes.
MR. SAN JUAN: Okay. That sounds fair; sounds fair enough.
That's enough time to think about it and say --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You don't have to make a decision
today.
MR. SAN JUAN: No, I don't have to, you know. I got 120 days.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. SAN JUAN: All right. Wonderful.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Thank you.
MR. SAN JUAN: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Bye now.
MS. ADAMS: The next case is No. 3, Tab 3, Case
CESD20160012452, Celestino Gonzalez Chavez and Delores
Sayonara Montalvo.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Could you state your name on the
microphone for us?
MS. SAYONARA: Yes. I'm Delores Sayonara Montavlo Jorje.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And you are the owner of the
property?
MS. SAYONARA: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Eric?
MR. SHORT: I believe she would like to make a request before
we get started.
Page 39
September 22, 2016
MS. SAYONARA: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. SAYONARA: I would like to make a request for more days
to demolish the structure stipulated. I have done some things. I've --
MR. SHORT: I'm sorry, Mr. Chair. I thought she was asking for
a continuance because her husband was not present.
MS. SAYONARA: Yes. And my husband is not present, and I
need a continuance for that reason as well.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And how much time do you need?
MS. SAYONARA: Well, honestly, I think that at least 90 days.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Is your husband out of the country?
MS. SAYONARA: No. He is incarcerated.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Now, if I understand -- I'm
not quite sure I understand the description of the violation. If you
could just explain that. I don't know if it's a safety issue, et cetera.
Unpermitted diversion; in other words, they ran electric to a -- go
ahead.
MR. SHORT: I'm sorry.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: No, no, no.
MR. SHORT: This was actually a marijuana grow operation that
was taking place in an accessory structure in the rear of the property.
The main issue was diverted power in the attic of the principal
structure; however, that was -- that was taken care of on August 31st --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. SHORT: -- through permitting that was finaled. But we did
have outlying issues with the accessory structure and the alterations
done within that that was not permitted.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Is the structure occupied?
MR. SHORT: The accessory structure, no.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Is the primary structure occupied?
MR. SHORT: Yes.
Page 40
September 22, 2016
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Is there any safety issues
there?
MR. SHORT: The main safety issue was the diverted power;
however, that was corrected on August 31st.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. LAVINSKI: But they're still growing marijuana?
MR. SHORT: No. I hope not.
MS. SAYONARA: No.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: They haven't applied for a farm
permit.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Farm extension.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Farm extension, yeah.
Okay. I understand your plight that your husband can't here. Can
he be here in 90 days?
MS. SAYONARA: I would think so. I'm hoping for that.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Discussions from the Board?
MR. LAVINSKI: Yeah. This is a case -- I don't really believe in
granting an extension before we've heard the case and found out
whether there's an actual violation that exists. And I think that once we
find that a violation does exist, we can take the county's
recommendation as to 90 days, 120 days, or a hundred dollar fine per
day, whatever, but this will at least bring it to closure, let us know that
there is a violation, it's on record, and they have the 30 days or 90 days,
whatever they're looking for, to correct the violation. And if it isn't
done, it's $200 a day or whatever. So I don't think an extension or -- of
time is the proper mode of operandi here.
MR. LEFEBVRE: I'd have to agree, because there's many a
times we hear cases and only one of the two owners of the property are
present, and we move forward with the case.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Or even none.
MR. LEFEBVRE: There you go; yes, sir.
Page 41
September 22, 2016
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. I agree with both of you.
MR. LEFEBVRE: So I make a motion to deny the continuance.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a motion.
MR. L'ESPERANCE: I'll second that.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And a second. Any discussion on
the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, all those in favor?
MR. DOINO: Aye.
MR. LAVINSKI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. L'ESPERANCE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MS. ELROD: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Okay. We're going to hear the case.
MR. SHORT: This is in reference to Case No.
CESD20160012452 regarding violations of the Collier County Land
Development Code 04-41, as amended, Section 10.02.06(B)(1)(a) and
10.02.06(B)(1)(e)(i), unpermitted diversion of the electrical supply in
the attic of the principal structure supplying to an unpermitted
accessory structure that contained electrical, plumbing, and mechanical
components for the cultivation of marijuana, located at 3981 16th
Avenue Northeast, 34117; Folio 41047440006.
Service was given on August 5, 2016.
I'd like to present case evidence in the following exhibits: Mr.
Chair, if I could show these exhibits to the respondent.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Sure. I think we have a lot of
Page 42
September 22, 2016
pictures. This is almost going to be like a movie.
If I can get a motion to accept the photos.
MR. LAVINSKI: Motion to accept.
MR. ASHTON: Motion to accept.
MR. DOINO: Second. Whatever.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: All those in favor?
MR. DOINO: Aye.
MR. LAVINSKI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. L'ESPERANCE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MS. ELROD: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MR. SHORT: I have 10 photographs taken by myself on August
5th, 2016, and two aerial photographs, one dated 2008 and one is a
most recent.
This case originated on August 5th, 2016. I was contacted by the
Collier County Sheriffs Vice and Narcotics Bureau regarding the
execution of a search warrant at the subject property. Upon arrival, I
observed the diversion of electrical power supply in the attic of the
principal structure.
The diverted power was ran through the attic and out the rear of
the home. That power supply continued to an unpermitted accessory
structure in the rear of the property with unpermitted electrical,
plumbing, and mechanical components. Within the accessory structure,
I observed three different units that were being utilized for the
cultivation of marijuana.
During my visit I prepared and personally served the notice of
Page 43
September 22, 2016
violation to Celestino Gonzalez Chavez who was listed as a property
owner.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Could you go back to that previous
picture. Not -- the one after that.
The box there, was that ever permitted? Which structure is that
actually in?
MR. SHORT: That's within the accessory structure.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. SHORT: On August 31st, 2016, Electrical Permit No.
PREL20160833276 to change the electrical riser was finaled. No
permits were applied for or have been obtained for the accessory
structure. To date the violation remains.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Now, you say that the
electrical portion of this has been resolved?
MR. SHORT: Yes. There is no power being supplied to the rear
-- the accessory structure.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: From the primary structure to the
accessory structure?
MR. SHORT: Correct.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The other portion of the violation
looks like a tree growing in the house.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Upside-down Christmas tree.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Upside-down Christmas tree. Okay.
Oh.
MR. L'ESPERANCE: Mr. Short, may I make an observation?
Maybe, Mr. Chairman, you can help us clarify this. As far as I can see,
the initial violation was an unpermitted division of the electrical supply
in the attic of the principal residence --
MR. SHORT: That's correct.
MR. L'ESPERANCE: -- you told me that's been resolved?
MR. SHORT: That aspect has been resolved.
Page 44
September 22, 2016
MR. L'ESPERANCE: Why are we here then?
MR. SHORT: We are here because the accessory structure is not
permitted and the alterations.
MR. L'ESPERANCE: That's not -- that's not the --
MR. LEFEBVRE: Violation.
MR. L'ESPERANCE: It's not the violation.
MR. SHORT: Yes, it is; to an unpermitted accessory structure
with electrical, plumbing, and mechanical being utilized. It supplies to
an unpermitted accessory structure.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So you have plumbing and -- well,
for lack of everything else, you have plumbing in that structure that
was never permitted.
MR. SHORT: Correct.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: As a matter of fact, the structure
wasn't permitted.
MR. SHORT: Correct.
MR. L'ESPERANCE: So there's two violations here.
MR. SHORT: Multiple violations.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Correct.
MR. SHORT: Two sections of the code.
MR. LEFEBVRE: And the statutes mentioned Code 04-41, and
then the other ones, those are in reference to unpermitted structures?
MR. SHORT: Yes. It's building or land alterations, and that
section -- second section there is after-the-fact permitting.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. L'ESPERANCE: I just wanted to be sure that we were
proper in our presentation.
MR. SHORT: I understand.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Do we have any discussion of
the county at this time?
Page 45
September 22, 2016
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, you get to tell us what
you want to tell us before we decide whether a violation exists or not.
MS. SAYONARA: I understood, and I understand, the severity
of what occurred in my property. I took as much as I could; I did what
I thought had to be done first, which was the electrical. However, I
don't -- I need manpower to demolish that structure in the back, and I
need more time. Why? Because at this moment I am not counting (sic)
with my husband, for he is not here. If he were to be present, I would
say that we could demolish quicker. But because he is not, I have to
do it on my own, and it is taking me more time than what I honestly
thought it would.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Mr. Lavinski had stated
before we needed to process this situation to see if a violation exists or
not. If there was no -- if it's voted that there is not a violation, then
that's the end of it. If it's voted that there is a violation, then we would
ask the county what their suggestion for the amount of time, et cetera,
would take to do it.
So at this time I'd like to see if we have a motion from the Board
whether a violation exists or not.
MR. ASHTON: I make a motion the violation exists on the
unpermitted accessory structure.
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a motion and a
second. I don't know what to do, to be honest with you, with the
electrical since that's been resolved.
Jeff, do you have some solution for that?
MR. LEFEBVRE: Just pull that out.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Just pull that out?
MR. LETOURNEAU: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a motion and a
Page 46
September 22, 2016
second. Any discussion on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Hearing none, all those in favor?
MR. DOINO: Aye.
MR. LAVINSKI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. L'ESPERANCE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MS. ELROD: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
So a violation exists. Do you have a suggestion for us?
MR. SHORT: Yes. The county recommends that the Code
Enforcement Board orders the respondent to pay all operational costs
in the amount of$63.75 incurred in the prosecution of this case within
30 days and abate all violations by:
One, obtaining all required Collier County building permits or
demolition permit, inspection, and certificate of completion or
occupancy within blank days of this hearing, or a fine of blank dollars
per day will be imposed until the violation is abated;
Two, the respondent must notify the code enforcement
investigator when the violation has been abated in order to conduct a
final inspection to confirm abatement. If the respondent fails to abate
the violation, the county may abate the violation using any method to
bring the violation into compliance and may use the assistance of the
Collier County Sheriffs Office to enforce the provisions of this order,
and all costs of abatement shall be assessed to the property owner.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Would someone like to take a
Page 47
September 22, 2016
MR. LEFEBVRE: Well, I just have a couple of follow-up
questions.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Sure.
MR. LEFEBVRE: You said you want to demolish this building?
MS. SAYONARA: Yes.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Is there any reason why you wouldn't want to
get a permit for it and get a certificate of completion for it? Is it on a
property -- past the property line or --
MS. SAYONARA: No, it is not. Originally, it was a barn. I
have no more horses. I want to put this story away. I don't want to see
it anymore, and I choose to demolish it.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Okay. It just -- it might have been easier just
to get it permitted.
MS. SAYONARA: I know.
MR. LEFEBVRE: But if it's bringing --
MS. SAYONARA: I just don't want to see it.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Okay. I understand. Okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Any --
MR. LAVINSKI: One question: Was -- this marijuana grow
operation, were you and your husband running that, or did you farm it
out to a third party?
MR. L'ESPERANCE: I'm not sure that's a question that is
necessarily asked in this venue.
MR. LAVINSKI: Well, it's certainly going to affect my opinion
how I vote.
MS. NICOLA: It's not relevant to today's hearing, everybody.
MR. L'ESPERANCE: It's not relevant.
MS. NICOLA: I mean, seriously. That gets everybody off on a
sidetrack about something that's clearly painful to her and has no
relevance in this hearing.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
Page 48
September 22, 2016
MR. LAVINSKI: I disagree.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have some disagreement
today. Today is a disagreement-type day.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Would 90 days be sufficient with your
husband's release to have this building -- to pull a permit to have it
demolished?
MS. SAYONARA: If his release would be within 30, 40 days, I
would think so.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Does he have a release date?
MS. SAYONARA: No.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I think 120 days would be more in
line on getting things done, and maybe even prior to that you can apply
for a demolition permit so that when he's available or somebody else is
available to start work, you're ahead of the curve on that.
MR. LEFEBVRE: You've already shown progress by getting the
other items taken care of, permitted and everything, which shows good
faith. And what we're looking for is abatement. And, obviously, you
already took care of one issue. If we can give you time -- as you
probably sat here and listened, as long as you come and -- let's say in
120 days you come back and say, well, you know, this is what progress
I've made -- make sure you get a demo permit -- but I've started doing
this, this, and this to rectify the situation.
MR. ASHTON: Or got rid of it.
MR. LEFEBVRE: What's that?
MR. ASHTON: Or completely get rid of it.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Right, right. But what I'll -- I'd like to make a
motion that 63.75 be paid within 30 days, 120 days from this hearing,
or a fine of$100 a day.
MR. DOINO: I'll second that.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second.
Page 49
September 22, 2016
Any discussion on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, all those in favor?
MR. DOINO: Aye.
MR. LAVINSKI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. L'ESPERANCE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MS. ELROD: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
So if-- just a suggestion: If you could start getting your --
MS. SAYONARA: Permit.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: -- demo permit so that you have
plenty of time to actually get the work done.
MS. SAYONARA: Thank you. I didn't think I needed a demo
permit.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Well, good luck to you.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Did you already start working on it?
MS. SAYONARA: I already started to look on the -- where to
put all the garbage and all of that, and -- I started doing that.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Okay, good.
MS. SAYONARA: It's a matter of manpower now.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Thank you very much.
MS. SAYONARA: Thank you. And a permit.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Yes, yes.
MS. ADAMS: The next case is from No. 6, Old Business, Letter
A, Motion for Imposition of Fines/Liens, No. 2, Tab 6, Case
Page 50
September 22, 2016
CESD20140010232, Mansolillo IRA, LLC.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: What tab did you say that was?
MS. ADAMS: Tab 6.
How are your fingers doing? Your fingers are okay?
THE COURT REPORTER: I'm good.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning.
MR. MANSOLILLO: Good morning. I feel like this is
becoming my extended family.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We feel the same way.
MR. MANSOLILLO: I just want to say, the property was
finished when I was here last time. This has become a paperwork
nightmare. And I understand it as close as I can understand it. And I
brought the fellow who represents the engineering company and
someone who's getting the things straightened out with the inspection
people. And, by the way, I want to tell you, they've been very nice.
When -- we had a box we bought with the permits in it at the
beginning, and someone stole that box. When we put the permits back
inside, the inspector, I guess, who came thought he only had to inspect
the little house, not the big house, which is amazing to me, but that's
okay. Things happen. Okay.
So when we went to pull the final permit, the rough inspections
weren't done. Thankfully we have an engineer, okay, and the engineer
is doing the paperwork with the inspection department which is -- at
this point I believe Mike has the papers from the engineer, which they
are going to approve the housing -- downstairs -- in the Horseshoe
Drive, and then the engineer will sign it, and then we can call for final
inspections.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Let me stop you for one minute. Has
everyone been sworn?
THE COURT REPORTER: Yes.
Page 51
September 22, 2016
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Has the -- everybody's been sworn,
okay. So you want your contractor to --
MR. MANSOLILLO: I want the fellow representing the engineer
and the other house, and Adise (phonetic), who did all the paperwork
with the filings. We've been down there twice a week since we've seen
you. We haven't missed anything.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. MANSOLILLO: We've paid all additional payments, and
we got it all -- but it's just paper. I mean, the house is ready to move
into.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Why don't you --
MR. JONATHAN: Hi. For the record, my name is Michael
Jonathan. I work in collaboration with Atlas Design & Engineering.
And due to all the things he just mentioned, some of the inspections
wanted to be recertified by an engineer.
We have letters for each of the structures that are going to be
submitted. Once they're submitted, it's just a couple final inspections
to call that are left, and it's all done.
You know, thinking about the time needed for this, once we
submit this, that takes about a week to go through. The inspections are
called; three or four days later they come out. If they find one little
thing, a GFI sticker missing or anything and anyone's got to fix that, 30
days may not be enough because the paperwork's been dragging.
But all the work's complete. All we have to do is turn these
letters in, get a couple inspections, and this job is done, so I'm
recommending maybe 60 days, to be safe, if you would consider it.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So you're looking for -- stay
seated. You're looking for a 60-day continuance?
MR. MANSOLILLO: Yes, sir, just to get through the paperwork.
The house is done.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I understand.
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September 22, 2016
MR. LEFEBVRE: Can we just withdraw this case?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, the county can withdraw it.
MR. LEFEBVRE: I mean, it sounds like they're right there at the
edge, and instead of doing a whole bunch of paperwork --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It can't be completely withdrawn
because there are fines here that need to be either abated --
MR. LEFEBVRE: But today's hearing could be -- they could --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It could be postponed.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Well, for the record, Jeff Letourneau,
Collier County Code Enforcement. I'm hesitant about asking for a
withdrawal because pretty much the same verbiage was said the time
they were in here. I just kind of want to make sure that it gets done in
the 60 days. We have no objection for the 60 days, but I really kind of
want to go through with it.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, I think we need to do
something where the respondent can come back here in 60 days, say
everything is done, and he may want to request, hint, an abatement of
the fines that have accrued. So that's a good reason to extend it for 60
days.
MR. LETOURNEAU: And the county agrees with that.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Continue.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Continue it for 60 days; I'm sorry.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Make a motion to continue --
MR. L'ESPERANCE: Second.
MR. LEFEBVRE: -- 60 days.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion for a continuance
for 60 days and a second. Any discussion on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, all those in favor?
MR. DOINO: Aye.
MR. LAVINSKI: Aye.
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September 22, 2016
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. L'ESPERANCE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MS. ELROD: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
We'll see you back here in two months when it's a little bit cooler
and everything will be done by then, hopefully. And we'll miss you,
our family, but -- thank you.
MR. MANSOLILLO: Thanks a lot.
MS. ADAMS: The next case is No. 8, Tab 12, Case
CELU20150014365, Massimo Maffei.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We saved the best for last.
MR. BALLENGER: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: No. He doesn't have to be sworn.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We trust attorneys. I don't know
why, but...
MR. BALLENGER: Well, I don't know if I would, but, anyway,
that's --
Good morning. I'm Glenn Ballenger. I'm representing the owner
of the property, and I guess we are here for imposition of fines.
I want to say, I guess, at least -- so I don't know, I guess at this
point, if the county needs to go first or you want to hear from me first.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, if you're going to request
something, you go first, but what I'm looking at here on our
paperwork, although I haven't finished, it says -- the latest paper we got
-- work that we got, everything has been abated.
MS. PULSE: Yes, sir.
Page 54
September 22, 2016
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So you can request whatever
you want to request.
MR. BALLENGER: And I guess I'll cut right to the chase. I
mean, we would be requesting an abatement of the fines. It look a lot
longer, and I can -- I don't want to -- I guess I could be (sic) somewhat
of an explanation, not an excuse, but at least I could go down that and
go through.
I know I had Ms. Pulse go out there a number of times. My client
thought that the property had been cleaned up. I thought it had been
cleaned up. And there was some -- I guess some communication
problems with the tenant and I guess the workers that were working
there and trying to get the stuff cleaned up.
So she went out -- I don't know how many -- I probably called her
three or four times or emailed to go out there, and she was kind enough
to do that and noticed. And there was a gradual improvement. And I
think even the last time there was just a couple of minor things, and --
which was some plastic culvert pipes or something like that.
And I think we -- I think the feeling was if you could actually go
on the property, you might not have even seen them because of the
brush and all that.
But just to go -- to start back into how this originally started was
my clients bought the property. They were storing stuff there for their
business. They thought that they were able to do that; they thought
that was allowed. Then when they -- they also bought it as an
investment to improve the property for resale. So they actually went
in, cleaned out all of the brush, made it -- cleaned out back of the
property, which was completely overgrown. That's what precipitated
the violations or the complaints from the neighbor because now, once
all that brush was cleared out, they can see what was there. So,
inadvertently, my client was trying to do a good thing, and it turned out
to be -- create some other problems.
Page 55
September 22, 2016
Ultimately, what they've done is they've been improving the
property for resale. That being said, they thought they could store
things. And it was a lot of construction-related material. But they --
and I guess with Ms. Pulse's help and guidance, I mean, they finally
did get that cleared off.
Now, there were some delays but, again, there was -- they have
workers there. The tenant was one of the -- was a foreman for the
company. And I think either with a language barrier, or maybe he
wasn't being straight with my client in terms of what was going on, the
information was, yeah, everything's fine, and then we'd send Ms. Pulse
out and it wasn't. So it was kind of a -- so it was kind of a gradual
thing, and it took a while, but we finally got it done.
I see that the fines that -- there were imposed are close to $8,000.
I mean, I think under the circumstances -- I mean, I'm not going to
make excuses for my client's behavior. They should have been -- been
done a little bit more quickly, but I think they believe that they had
been in compliance and they -- the information they got caused them a
lot of grief, caused her a lot of grief because she had to go out there
three or four times at least. I mean, I kept sending her out so -- because
we all -- I wouldn't have done that if I had known that there were
problems, and I don't think my client would have suggested to me to
send her back out there if they had thought that there was problems.
So they did go and get things done.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So to make a long story short, you
are asking for?
MR. BALLENGER: I'm asking for the fmes to be abated. I
mean, $8,000 in fines, I think is what I saw. I think that that number's
pretty substantial. It's probably excessive, then especially if you
consider over the period -- I understand that that's what the stipulation
said.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You're talking through the close.
Page 56
September 22, 2016
MR. L'ESPERANCE: Mr. Chairman, I make a motion that the
fines be abated.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion.
MR. DOINO: Second.
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And a second. All those in favor?
MR. DOINO: Aye.
MR. LAVINSKI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. L'ESPERANCE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MS. ELROD: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MR. BALLENGER: Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. I learned that in sales school.
MR. BALLENGER: You-all have a nice day.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You too.
MR. BALLENGER: I guess I'm last. Take care.
MS. NICOLA: You're not last. Almost last.
MS. ADAMS: The next case is Letter C, Motion to Amend
previously issued order, Tab 13, Case CEOCC20160012333,
Pee-Wee's Dumpsters.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Jeff, you want to give us a little
rundown on why we need to amend this order?
MR. LETOURNEAU: I believe that this case was kind of left in
limbo as far as any kind of fines back in the previous hearing. And
you advised us to go talk with our County Attorney on this, and we
did. And we came up with what we think is a fair and a legal
Page 57
September 22, 2016
recommendation for the Board at this point that Investigator Pulse is
ready to read into the record.
MR. LAVINSKI: I'm not sure there was any question about the
amount of fines. It's just what was going to happen next, because the
fines don't seem to be working. I think we established a fine that's
pretty decent. Anyway.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Well, I mean, what will happen next, if
we have another repeat, obviously the county's going to look into, you
know, everything at that point. But right now we only have one day of
the violation repeating itself. So we were -- the County Attorney
wasn't going to go forward with anything more than our usual business
of levying a fine on the property.
MR. LAVINSKI: But the previous fines are still there?
MR. LETOURNEAU: There are previous fines from other code
cases, yes.
MR. LAVINSKI: Okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The point, I think, that's being made
is that we hear the case; we find guilty or not guilty; we impose the
fines. We're in the business of imposing. We're not in the business of
enforcing. That's a different group of folks.
MR. LEFEBVRE: The other question was ownership. Who
owns the property? Because, I mean --
MR. LETOURNEAU: Well, Pee-Wee's Dumpsters,
Incorporated, I believe. What was the --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The case was the violation, and the
imposition of fines goes against the property owner, whomever the
property owner is.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Well, actually -- and then it -- you know,
if the property's sold or something's transferred, at this point it sticks
with the property. So whoever -- if there's kind of a shell game or
whatever you're worried about, it's still going to be associated with that
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September 22, 2016
property.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Dee --
MS. PULSE: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: -- you're up.
MS. PULSE: Okay. So have we determined a violation? We've
confirmed that?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I thought we did that at the last
meeting; is that correct?
MS. NICOLA: I thought it was tabled and continued for this
meeting. In all honesty, I was a little confused about what we had
done at the last meeting. I thought we had just simply withdrawn it,
but when I spoke with Kerry, it was actually continued.
So in my notes I thought we had not found the violation because
it was continued to allow there to be some discussion at the county
attorney level about this issue.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I thought that we had voted that a
violation existed.
MS. NICOLA: And then it was continued. It was withdrawn.
We never -- I don't believe we ever got to the point of an imposition of
a fine or determination. It was -- unless I'm wrong, my recollection
was that it was continued and that we shelved the determination of the
final order, because I certainly didn't --
MS. ADAMS: I have the minutes. The Board did vote that there
was a violation -- then there was a lot of discussion that went on -- and
decided to continue the part about what the punishment or the penalty
was going to be.
MS. NICOLA: Okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And I believe, if memory serves me,
it was a $2,000 -- and the discussion was, was it on one day or all the
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September 22, 2016
days.
MS. ADAMS: I don't believe there's a dollar amount discussed.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I thought there was. Remember we
had that discussion?
MS. NICOLA: I remember there was a lot of discussion, a lot of
discussion with the statute and what could be accomplished in the
statute. And what I thought my role was going to be would be to
review the ordinances and determine whether there could be properly
imposed fines and repeat violation fines.
And we had talked about this issue at the last hearing about the
idea of whether the county could impose a $5,000 per day penalty and
whether it would be appropriate in this situation. And when I was, you
know, kind of on the spot at the last hearing, I took a look at, you
know, my little cheat sheet here that outlines what we can and cannot
do, and in looking at it at first blush -- and I'm really glad I had more
time to look at it. I'm reading a provision under C which says, you
know $5,000 per day and $15,000 per violation. That is incorrect.
That provision says that a county or municipality having a
population equal to or greater than 50,000 may adopt by a vote of at
least a majority plus one of the entire governing body. That hasn't been
done. That's the wrong provision.
The provision that we need to be focusing on is actually above
that provision which says that a fine to this section shall not exceed
250 per day for a first violation and shall not exceed $500 per day for a
repeat violation; however, if the Code Enforcement Board finds the
violation to be irreparable or irreversible in nature, it may impose a
fine not to exceed $5,000 per violation. So I think that that is the
section that controls.
And then the only other issue is, in this particular case, while I
think that Jeff is right that there was a finding that there was that one
day that the violation had not been corrected, that there was
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September 22, 2016
insufficient evidence presented at that hearing to be able to make the
determination that from, say, Day 1 to Day 30 there was a continuing
violation, because there's only been one day that there was evidence to
suggest that the violation existed.
So I can't, in good conscience, recommend to the Board that a --
that a fine in this case would be proper, you know, of any amount per
day that would exceed the statutory guidelines. And in this case, the
statutory guidelines would be that it could not exceed $500 per day
unless this court found that it was irreparable or irreversible. And my
recollection of the hearing was that there was not testimony to that
effect.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. I disagree with what you've
said in that my readings on our rules say that it could go to $2,000 in
our rules at some point in time, but I'm not here to argue that point.
MS. NICOLA: Well, I'm reading the statute, 162.09. So I don't
think -- if there is a rule, I don't know about it. But I don't think a
board can impose a rule that's in violation of a statute. That would just
be my legal opinion.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Why don't you give us what
you have, Dee, and we'll go from there.
MR. LETOURNEAU: And I will say that ours is differing from
Tamara's recommendation, and I do agree that her recommendation is
the correct one. So ours is -- well, Dee can put it up on the board.
MS. PULSE: For the record, Investigator Dee Pulse, Code
Enforcement.
I recommend that the Code Enforcement Board orders the
respondent to pay all operational costs in the amount of$62.01
incurred in the prosecution of this case within 30 days and abate all
violations by: No. 1, paying a fine of$5,000 for the repeat violation of
business associated dumpsters being observed on the property on
August 1st, 2016;
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September 22, 2016
Number 2: The respondent must notify the code enforcement
investigator when the violation has been abated in order to conduct a
final inspection to confirm abatement. If the respondent fails to abate
the violation, the county may abate the violation using any method to
bring the violation into compliance and may use the assistance of the
Collier County Sheriffs Office to enforce the provisions of this order,
and all costs of abatement shall be assessed to the property owner.
MR. L'ESPERANCE: This is a one-time fine of 5,000, not per
day? Just one amount?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Let me put the numbers aside
for a second. So this is a description of the violation. This is the
county's recommendation, forgetting the number for a second. If the
Board were to vote a motion to this description of the violation, then at
some point in time, since the situation -- since it was only observed one
day -- has been abated, it would come back at some point next meeting
or whatever for the imposition of fines; is that correct?
MS. NICOLA: I'm sorry. Excuse me. I was looking at the two
statutes in conjunction with each other again. I apologize. What was
the question, Bob?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Right now, forgetting the dollar
figure that's on here --
MS. NICOLA: Right.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: -- if we were to vote to accept the
county's recommendation, whatever the number is --
MS. NICOLA: Right.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: -- at some point in time this would
come back to the Board for the imposition of fines; is that correct?
MS. NICOLA: That's correct.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. That's just one thing I wanted
to clear up.
MR. LETOURNEAU: If it wasn't paid.
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September 22, 2016
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, if it wasn't paid.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Correct.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So now we can argue about
the --
MR. LEFEBVRE: Well, could we put in there that, let's say,
paying a fine of$500 for the repeat violation and any subsequent --
upon any subsequent inspections, if you see this same violation, that it
be a $500 fine each time?
MS. NICOLA: I think it has to be a new violation that has to be
brought before the Board. I don't think you can legislate that within the
body of an order. Maybe this guy's going to be a repeat violator and
we'll be dealing with him all the time, but I don't think that it could be
-- I just don't think it can be put in the order that way. I think the
Board would have to bring it back on another violation.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Has there been subsequent inspections since
last meeting?
MS. PULSE: Yes.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Are we going to be here on another case?
(No response.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: This is just going to be recurring. There has
to be some kind of endgame to stop this.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The job of the Code Enforcement is
the second word, "enforcement." It's in their ballgame, not in ours. So
that's something that they're going to have to come up with.
MR. LETOURNEAU: And I will say that there were dumpsters
observed again after August 1st; however, he does have other
violations on the property, and it appeared that he was using those
particular dumpsters to abate the other violations, so it wasn't --
MR. LEFEBVRE: Does he have a permit for --
MR. LETOURNEAU: Well, it's a litter violation, so he would
need to use the dumpster to get rid of the litter. So it was a difficult
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September 22, 2016
decision whether or not, you know, it was --
MR. LEFEBVRE: Right.
MR. LETOURNEAU: We weren't confident that it was a
business operation. We were pretty sure that it was an abatement
situation.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. If I could, I'm reading from
the Article 11 of imposition of fines that was signed by the Board. It
was revised on 3/26/15. And I'll read Section 4. So, Tami --
MS. NICOLA: And I agree with you, but --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The Board -- well, let me read it.
The Board shall determine the amount of fines applicable to be
imposed. In determining the amount of the fines, if any, the Board
shall consider the following factors: The gravity of the violation,
which you mentioned; any actions taken by the violator to correct the
violation; any previous violations committed by the violator; and any
other relevant factors. Such fines shall not exceed $1,000 for each day
of the violation of(sic) the violation continues past the specified
compliance date -- which is a violation of English, but be it what it is --
and $5,000 for repeat violations for each day the violation continues.
So my question is, are these the rules or not?
MS. NICOLA: And so when I was, unfortunately, not paying
attention, it was because I was reading Article 11 in conjunction with
the Florida Statute, and I agree with you that the rules are properly in
effect; however, I think on the issue of the $5,000 fine, I think what the
county is saying -- and correct me if I'm wrong, Mr. Letourneau -- is
that the recommendation is for the $5,000 fine because there was only
a finding that there was one day of a repeat violation in this instance.
There may be other things that are coming up, but I don't think that we
can consider those at this time.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: No, I understand.
MS. NICOLA: Right.
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September 22, 2016
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: But the $500 that you mentioned --
MS. NICOLA: I stand corrected.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. NICOLA: And my -- you know, unfortunately, I had to have
these both in front of me in order to make that determination, and I
hate to do it on the fly because it makes me uncomfortable, but this is
how we figure things out sometimes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So now that we have this all
here, we understand what's going to happen for the next meeting.
Does the county want to change the Item 1 on the recommendation?
MR. LETOURNEAU: I would say that if your attorney's
comfortable with that amount of money, then the county would like to
go with that particular amount.
MS. NICOLA: I'm not uncomfortable with it.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So then can we get a motion
from the Board to accept the county's recommendation?
MR. LAVINSKI: I'll make a motion that we accept the county's
recommendation of the $5,000 fine.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: No, the recommendation, the whole
thing.
MR. LAVINSKI: The recommendation, okay.
MR. ASHTON: Second that.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. And we have a second. Any
discussion on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, all those in favor?
MR. DOINO: Aye.
MR. LAVINSKI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. L'ESPERANCE: Aye.
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September 22, 2016
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MS. ELROD: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Thank you, Dee.
MS. PULSE: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: How are your fingers doing?
THE COURT REPORTER: I'm good.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I didn't want to take a break and then
say "go."
Kerry?
MS. ADAMS: There's no other items on the agenda.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, then I'll take a motion
from the Board to adjourn.
MR. ASHTON: Make a motion to adjourn.
MR. DOINO: Second.
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Motion to adjourn. We are
adjourned.
*****
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September 22, 2016
There being no further business for the good of the County, the
meeting was adjourned by order of the Chair at 10:37 a.m.
CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD
f %o►.r►��i
RO: ' T • ,' MAN, CHAIRMAN
ATTEST
DWIGHT E. BROCK, CLERK
These minutes approved by the Board on ( 0- Lk 1 , as presented
✓ or as corrected
TRANSCRIPT PREPARED ON BEHALF OF U.S. LEGAL
SUPPORT, INC., BY TERRI LEWIS, NOTARY PUBLIC/COURT
REPORTER.
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