CEB Minutes 10/24/2002 ROctober 24, 2002
TRANSCRIPT OF THE MEETING OF THE
CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD
Naples, Florida
October 24, 2002
LET IT BE REMEMBERED, that the 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:
Peter Lehmann
Roberta Dusek
Clifford Flegal
Kathryn Godfrey
Sherri Barnett
George Ponte
Gerald Lefebrve
ALSO PRESENT: Jean Rawson, Attorney for the Board,
Michelle Arnold, Director, Code Enforcement, Shanelle Hilton,
Coordinator, Code Enforcement
Page 1
CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD OF COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA
AGENDA
Date: October 24, 2002 at 9:00 o'clock a.m.
Location: 3301 E. Tamiami Tr., Naples, Florida, Collier County Government Center,
Administrative Bldg, 3rd Floor
NOTE: 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.=
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - September 26, 2002 MINUTES
4. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. HEARINGS
1. BCC vs. Victor A. & Isabel Valdes CEB NO. 2002-013
Location: Naples Manor
Alleged Violation: Building Permits; adding an addition to residence and
enclosing garage without obtaining required building permit.
Continued from Sept 24, 2002 -Permit issued, asking for dismissal
2. BCC vs. Manatee Resort Condominium Association, Inc. CEB NO. 2001-086
Continued from Sept 24, 2002
3. BCC vs. Dov Dunaevsky, Registered Agent, DCM-NAPLES CEB NO. 2002-015
Location: Sapphire Lakes
Alleged Violation: Building Permits; failure to remove trailer authorized
as a temporary use; permit has expired. Continued from Sept 24, 2002,
August 22, 2002 and July 25, 2002, construction trailer removed
4. BCC vs. Derya Corp and Usulu Okur, Registered Agent CEB NO. 2002-025
Location: Immokalee
Alleged Violation: Parking area has been resurfaced with asphalt without
permit or Site Improvement Plan approval and is lacking elements
required as part of the Site Improvement or Site Development process
including but not limited to landscaping parking lot striping and
and drainage requirements.
5. BCC vs. Joseph and Ida Cannistraci CEB NO. 2002-026
Location: Golden Gate
Alleged Violation: Four landscape buffer trees were required to be
planted a result of another Code Enforcement case, only one was
found to be surviving and it is not in good shape. Two Carrotwood and
two loquat trees along Green Blvd have been damaged by excessive
pruning and still exhibit rot underneath new growth and the required
landscape hedge is not present along Green Blvd and 40th Terrace
adjacent to residential properties.
6. BCC vs. Hada G. Olivella CEB NO. 2002-030
Location: Golden Gate Estates
Alleged Violation: Buildings erected and utilized without first
obtaining the required building permits
NEW BUSINESS
Request for Reduction/Abatement of Fines
1. BCC vs. Ricky Bell
B. Request for Imposition of Fines/Liens
1.BCC vs. Ronald Gleichman
2.BCC vs. Jeffrey Dorini
C. Motion for Continuance
1.BCC vs. Joseph and Ida Cannistraci
D. Motion to Dismiss
1. BCC vs. Victor and Isabel Valdes
Bo
OLD BUSINESS
Affidavits of Non Compliance
1.BCC vs. Ronald Gleichman
Affidavits of Compliance
1.BCC vs. Jeffrey Dorini
Request for Foreclosure
1. BCC vs. Avalos
2. BCC vs. White
3. BCC vs. Lacquaniti
7. REPORTS
8. COMMENTS
1. Revising Agenda Style: i.e. grouping like cases together
(those in compliance, not in compliance, etc).
9. NEXT MEETING DATE November 18, 2002
10. ADJOURN
CEB NO. 2001-078
CEB NO. 2002-020
CEB NO. 2002-017
CEB NO. 2002-026
CEB NO. 2002-013
CEB NO. 2002-017
CEB NO. 2002-017
IMOL-01
CEB NO. 2002-006
CEB NO. 2002-001
October 24, 2002
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: I would like to proceed to call the
Code Enforcement Board of Collier County to order. Please note a
person who decides to appeal a decision of this Board will need a
record of the proceedings pertaining thereto and therefore may need
to insure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which
record includes the testimony in evidence upon which the appeal is to
be based. Neither Collier County nor the Code Enforcement Board
shall be responsible for providing this record.
If we may have the roll call, please.
MS. HILTON: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. For the
record, I'd like to introduce myself. My name is Shanelle Hilton. I'm
the CEB Coordinator. Peter Lehman.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Present.
MS. HILTON: Roberta Dusek.
MS. DUSEK: Here.
MS. HILTON: Clifford Flegal.
MR. FLEGAL: Present.
MS. HILTON: George Ponte.
MR. PONTE: Here.
MS. HILTON: Rhona Saunders has an excused absence.
Kathryn Godfrey.
MS. GODFREY: Present. Or here.
MS. HILTON: Sherri Barnett.
MS. BARNETT: Here.
MS. HILTON: Gerald Lefebrve.
MR. LEFEBRVE: Here.
MS. HILTON: Christopher Ramsey has an excused absence.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: I would like to take this
opportunity to welcome our new member, Miss Barnett.
MS. BARNETT: Thank you.
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October 24, 2002
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Welcome, officially.
We do have a quorum and all members of the Board will be
voting, including our alternates, today.
If we can proceed with an approval of the agenda. I would like
to make a recommendation that we modify the agenda and I would
like to -- we have a number of motions that I would like to move
forward in front of the public hearing. And we will do the approval
of minutes and then the motions and then proceed into the public
hearings and hear whatever cases may remain at that point in time.
MS. ARNOLD: For the record, Michelle Arnold, Code
Enforcement Director. We do have continuance requests for Board
of County Commissioners versus Manatee Resort. We did hand you
a memo from the Community Development Administrator. And we
do also have another request, item number five under public hearing,
Board of County Commissioners versus Joseph and Ida Cannistraci.
So those are the two continuances that I'm aware of.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Okay. Any other comments for the
agenda? I would entertain a motion to approve the agenda as
amended.
MS. DUSEK: So moved.
MS. GODFREY: Second.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: We have a motion from Ms.
Dusek, a second by Ms. Godfrey.
All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Hearing none, motion carries
unanimously.
We can move to the approval of minutes, the September 26th,
2002 minutes. I would entertain a motion to approve those minutes,
if there are no additions or corrections.
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October 24, 2002
MS. DUSEK: So moved.
MR. PONTE: Second.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: We have a motion from Ms.
Dusek, a second from Mr. Ponte.
All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Hearing none, motion carries
unanimously.
We will proceed into the motions. I would like to address case
number 2002-026. You have to help me with the name, Kenneth
Cannistraci; is that correct?
MS. ARNOLD: Cannistraci.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Cannistraci, yes. We will entertain
that motion for a continuance.
MS. ARNOLD: You have a letter in your packet. And I'm not
sure if the Cannistracis are here. Are they present?
MR. JOHNSON: He's in New York City and I'm here for him.
MS. ARNOLD: Okay. And you are, sir? You need to come
up and speak into the mike.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Sir, if you could identify yourself
and just spell your name for the record, please.
MR. JOHNSON: Rick Johnson, owner of Rick Johnson Auto
and Tire. R-i-c-k, J-o-h-n-s-o-n.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Thank you.
MS. ARNOLD: And staff would object to that continuance
because the -- waiting until the property transfers ownership will
require us to initiate the case all over again. Unless we have some
more confirmation from the prospective buyers that they're aware of
it and they have committed to doing what the Cannistracis are saying
that they have committed to. We don't have anything from those
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October 24, 2002
buyers. We only have the current property owner and that is who we
are obligated to pursue and provide notice to. CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: So noted.
Mr. Johnson, do you have anything that you would like to say
to support your request?
MR. JOHNSON: I am the gentleman who is buying the
property. I have leased it for five years. What the Code
Enforcement wants us to do is put a new hedge. That died.
Cannistraci told me it died back in '85, '86. Since I have been there,
there's never been a row of hedges there.
So I told her, Alexander is her name, that as soon as I acquired
the property, which is October 31st, that I would put the hedges up. I
have removed the trees. She wants the trees removed. And I would
plant the trees that she wants planted. I would put in an irrigation
system so the trees would stop dying. I have replaced four trees for
her. Three of those died. I replaced those three.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Mr. Johnson, let me interrupt you
just one second.
MR. JOHNSON: Yeah.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Again the purpose of our
discussions today is to, or at this point in time anyway in this
hearing, is to decide whether a continuance should be granted or not.
MR. JOHNSON: Well, if you're giving a continuance, then I
will do that work as soon as I acquire the property.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Any other comments from the
County? None? Okay.
Any other comments, Mr. Johnson?
MR. JOHNSON: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: I would like put the motion for
continuance, entertain a motion to grant or deny, either way.
MR. FLEGAL: I would like to ask Miss Rawson a question
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October 24, 2002
first. Since this is a request for a continuance, Miss Rawson, if we
grant.this to our next meeting, which will be in November, these
people, the Cannistracis, will not be the owners at that period of time.
Can we, in granting a continuance, make a request of the
prospective buyer that he provide the County a letter stating that he
would comply with whatever they're requiring the current property
owner to do?
MS. RAWSON: Well--
MR. FLEGAL: What I'm looking for is next month these
people won't be property owners, so they can just say, you know, I'm
leaving, you can't do anything to me.
MS. RAWSON: Well, I think the problem that staff has is that
if we continue it, it's not going to be continued as to the Cannistracis,
because they would have to now do a whole new affidavit and
petition against the new owner.
Since there's no violation that has been found, it's not going to
run with the land. They're going to have to really redo all of their
paperwork if it's continued. I understand what their procedural
problem is.
Now, I don't know what can be done. Maybe Mr. Johnson
would be willing to be added as a Respondent. If he would be
willing to be added as a Respondent, and we could put, his name on
the next motion, you know, maybe that would work. Otherwise
they're going to have to do all of the paperwork again.
MR. FLEGAL: Well, that's my problem in continuing
something until next month, next month these people don't own the
property.
MS. RAWSON: That's right.
MR. FLEGAL: So they have no reason to even show up here
and say okay. I mean, they can just say go away, I don't own that.
So we're continuing something -- requesting to continue something
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October 24, 2002
that -- against somebody that doesn't own anything next month.
MS. RAWSON: Well, if he would add his name as a
Respondent and if he would waive formal notice and we set it for the
next meeting, hopefully all of the work would be done.
MR. JOHNSON: This work will be done by November the
15th. I mean, you have my word. I have four locations here in town.
MR. FLEGAL: I understand.
MR. JOHNSON: My slogan is fair and honest, tell a friend.
So, I mean, that I'm not up here to tell you that I'm not (sic) going to
do something and it not happen. There's no need to refile any papers
or anything. As soon as I own it, Leo Junior, which owns a big land
maintenance, he's going to do the work and it's going to be done
properly.
MR. FLEGAL: Would you object to the County adding your
name?
MR.
MR.
and speed
MR.
MS.
JOHNSON: Not at all.
FLEGAL: Okay, sir. I think that would help everybody
things along.
JOHNSON: No problem.
RAWSON: And if he would waive service of process.
MR. FLEGAL: What that means is getting notice that you --
this was going to take place next month.
MR. JOHNSON: No problem.
MR. FLEGAL: Okay. Terrific.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Michelle, does the County have
any problems with that arrangement?
MS. ARNOLD: Okay. So we're adding --
MR. FLEGAL: Add Mr. Johnson with the Cannistracis. Okay.
So you now have Mr. and Mrs. Cannistraci and Mr. Johnson.
MS. ARNOLD: And we're continuing it to the November 18th
hearing?
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October 24, 2002
MR. FLEGAL: That's right.
MS. RAWSON: And he's going to waive notice.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: And, Miss Rawson--
MR. JOHNSON: If the work is done, then I don't really need to
be here, right, because the code enforcement will see it and they will
report that?
MR. FLEGAL: You work that out with Miss Arnold, okay?
Based on that, I would make a motion we continue this until
our next meeting.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Miss Rawson, in doing this
procedure, in a sense we legally have both the tenant and the present
owner on the hook?
MS. RAWSON: That's correct, by his agreement.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Right. When the property
transfers, we still have a past owner and a present owner?
MS. RAWSON: That's right.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Very good.
MS. DUSEK: I have one question with that. If by any chance
the property doesn't close, how does that affect Mr. Johnson? MS. RAWSON: Mr. Johnson is still a Respondent.
MS. DUSEK: So he would still be responsible even if he didn't
close on the property?
MS. RAWSON: Well, he would be one of the responsible
parties.
MR. PONTE: I make a motion to second Mr. Flegal's motion.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: We have a motion by Mr. Flegal, a
second by Mr. Ponte that the continuance be granted.
All those in favor signify by saying --
MS. DUSEK: Excuse me, but may I just say, the continuance
as amended with Mr. Johnson's name being added.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Yes. Thank you.
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October 24, 2002
We have a motion and a second.
All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Hearing none, the motion carries
unanimously.
Mr. Johnson, thank you.
If we can proceed on to the next motion, I would like to take
case number two thousand -- or 2002-013. This is Valdes, I believe.
MS. ARNOLD: That's a motion for dismissal. That particular
one, the County's position is that we have gone through the process
and expended the time to bring this to you-all for several hearings,
because there were a total of three continuances.
The state statute allows us to still hear the case and if the Board
finds in violation, charge for operational costs. And our
recommendation would be at least to recover the operational costs for
preparation of the case for the Code Enforcement Board.
MS. DUSEK: So your suggestion is that we hear the case?
MS. ARNOLD: Yes.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Do we have anyone from the
Respondent here at all?
MR. PONTE: Can we hear the case if the permit has already
been issued?
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Yes.
Miss Valdes, is there anyone?
And, again, Miss Arnold, the County's position is they are not
in favor of granting the dismissal? MS. ARNOLD: Correct.
CHAIRMAN LEHMAN-N: Miss Valdes, I assume?
MS. GONZALEZ: She does not speak English.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Okay. And you're her translator?
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October 24, 2002
MS. GONZALEZ: Yes.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: If you would just ask her why she
is asking for the motion to dismiss.
MS. ARNOLD: Can we first have your name for the record
and then--
MS. GONZALEZ: Sure. Aixa Gonzalez. Aixa Gonzalez.
A-i-x-a and then G-o-n-z-a-l-e-z.
She has the permit already. So, I mean, we're just waiting for
the owner to inspect her. And that's it.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Okay. Anything else that you
would like to add into that?
MS. GONZALEZ: No.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Thank you. If you would have a
seat then.
MS. GONZALEZ: Okay.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: For the Board's consideration, my
recommendation on this particular case is I would not want to see the
case dismissed. We do have operational costs involved in that and
those should be recovered naturally. The only way to do that is to
actually proceed and hear the case. Whether we have a finding of--
or an order of the Board where there's any fine imposed, it's
regardless, but at least that gives us the opportunity to recover the
operational expenses involved in the case. Any other comments?
MS. DUSEK: I make a motion that we deny the dismissal and
hear the case.
MS. BARNETT: I'll second it.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: We have a motion to deny the
dismissal from Miss Dusek, a second from Miss Barnett.
All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
Any opposed?
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October 24, 2002
MR. FLEGAL: No.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: We have all in favor with one
negative. Motion carries.
Miss Valdes, do you understand?
Would you explain to Miss Valdes what we did.
MS. GONZALES: Not dismissing the case?
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: We are not going to dismiss the
case. We would like to hear the case just to go through the procedure
of hearing the case and all that relates to that, okay?
MS. GONZALES: And when you hear the case?
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: We're going to hear it today.
MS. GONZALES: Oh, okay.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Okay. Thank you.
If we can proceed with case number 2001-086, BCC versus
Manatee Resort Condominium. That's not actually a case, that's a
continuance.
MR. WHITT: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Good morning.
MR. WHITT: It's not actually a case, it's a nightmare.
My name is Michael Whitt, W-h-i-t-t, with the law firm of
Becker and Poliakoff, P.A., representing Manatee Resort
Condominium.
We have a motion for continuance that we have filed. I was
here last month. We asked for a continuance because we were set to
have the case heard before the Collier County Board of County
Commissioners. Tuesday the County Commission met. Tuesday the
County Commission continued our matter until their meeting set for
November 19, 2002.
So we're here again asking for a continuance until a date after
that. I understand there's been a letter submitted. I received a copy
this morning from Collier County. They do not object to the
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October 24, 2002
continuance. And, again, the arguments are the same. There's really
no useful purpose to be served in going forward with an adversarial
Code Enforcement Board hearing which will certainly end up in
Circuit Court on an appeal by the losing party, because the case
would be resolved if the County Commission approves the
amendment to the site development plan. And if the variance is
granted, it's going to resolve all issues. It would change the use to
residential.
So there's that issue with respect to the hotel transient use going
to be resolved. The licensing issue gets resolved. And then the
variance petition with respect to size, that likely goes by the wayside
if it's approved residential use.
So we ask that it get rolled to a date past the time that the
County Commission gets together to hear the matter. And hopefully
they will hear it next time it comes up.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Do you have a time limit on when
that hearing is scheduled?
MR. WHITT: It's set on November 19th.
MR. PONTE: Which is the day after our next meeting, so
we're talking about continuing to December?
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Yes.
Anything else, Mr. Whitt?
MR. WHITT: No, that's all.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN:
That's all for Manatee Resort.
I was going to ask Miss Arnold.
Miss Arnold, obviously -- I'm sorry. Obviously the County's
position is that they do not dispute that, is that correct, you're not
objecting?
MS. ARNOLD: Yes, I'm going to have Jennifer Belpedio with
the County Attorney's office respond.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Thank you.
MS. BELPEDIO: Good morning. Jennifer Belpedio, Assistant
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October 24, 2002
County Attorney.
Mr. Whitt has correctly asserted our position. We are not
objecting. It's my understanding that you have a copy of the
memorandum from our Division Administrator at Community
Development and Environmental Services Division. That pretty
much sets forth the position in a little more detail. We are not
objecting to the continuance. It's our belief that the Manatee Resort
attorneys and the Manatee residents are making good faith efforts
towards coming into compliance.
What I would like to clarify from what Mr. Whitt had said is
that the variance application and the SDP submittal for a change in
use are two alternative ways in which the Manatee Resort may come
into compliance. And that if the variance was granted, the Manatee
Resort would have to be used as a hotel. And that will -- will be
before the Board of County Commissioners. The SDP amendment is
something that need not come before the Board of County
Commissioners. That's an administrative process and that would be
for staff to determine, upon legal counsel from my office, the County
Attorney's office.
And I also recognize that it's this Board's decision whether or
not to continue the Manatee case that's before you today. If you
choose not to continue the case, I'm ready to prosecute the matter and
I can call my witnesses and be ready. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Thank you.
MS. DUSEK: Jennifer, I have a question for you. The County
Commissioners are just going to make a decision on the variance; is
that correct?
MS. BELPEDIO: That's correct.
MS. DUSEK: Do you see any reason why they wouldn't make
that decision at their next meeting?
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October 24, 2002
MS. BELPEDIO: I'm not quite sure if that's what Manatee
Resort owners seek to do at this point in time. It was a viable
alternative for them some months ago and there has been discussions
with the neighboring communities and also the Manatee Resort
owners. And it's my understanding that it's more appropriate to use
the building as residences, but currently using the building as a
residence is a violation.
So it's something that was thought earlier that may not be
something that they will proceed with.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: And the timetable for the SDP
process for the conclusion of that?
MS. BELPEDIO: I don't know how long that could take. I
typically don't work with staff in those areas. But it is my
understanding that that application was recently submitted. There are
some issues as to how many units can be used as a residence. I
believe there is legal authority for perhaps eighteen of the nineteen.
It's just a matter of sorting how the extra unit can be used as a
residence and have it be legal.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Any other questions from the
Board?
MS. BARNETT: Can I ask you a question, only because I'm
new. What's the cost that the County incurs every time we continue
a case?
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: It varies depending on how much
time staff actually puts into the case. MS. ARNOLD: Right.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: And that's literally on a
case-by-case basis. And Michelle would be best to answer that.
MS. ARNOLD: That's -- that would be my answer.
MS. BARNETT: Is that cost passed on then possibly in the -- if
we were to give those costs back to the plaintiff at the end, if we so
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October 24, 2002
ruled that, or does the County just eat those costs?
MS. ARNOLD: It depends on what the action of the Code
Enforcement Board is. If the Board says that the Respondent has --
finds the Respondent in violation and he has to pay operational costs,
then -- then that would be a decision. But if you choose not to make
that as your finding, then the County would eat those costs.
I think an example is what we're about to do
MR. FLEGAL:
with Valdes.
MS. ARNOLD:
MR. FLEGAL:
Right.
The problem is solved, but we're going to hear
the case anyway. That's the only way we can do something. So all
of these continuances, if this gets resolved, we're still going to have
to hear this case before we could charge them any money to
reimburse the County.
MS. BARNETT: Okay. I just wanted to get a handle on that.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Mr. Whitt, did you have anything
else you wanted to add?
MR. WHITT: I don't think it's necessary. If you had questions
about the options on the SDP variance, then --
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: I was just reading body language
out of the comer of my eye. I thought you might have something.
MS. DUSEK: I do have a question. I don't think this is out of
line.
Are you pursuing the variance or the SDP?
MR. WHITT: Both. Both are being pursued. And my
understanding, Mr. White of Becker and Poliakoff is handling the
matters more on the front lines than I am with County staff, but my
understanding on the SDP application to amend that is that County
staff did not want to make that decision, that they at least relatively
recently had taken the position they wanted it to go before the
County Commission.
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October 24, 2002
We have done what we need to do to get that done. The
application has been submitted to the County. We really don't have
any control over how quickly they process it, review it and make a
decision on it or if staff will make that decision.
I understand Miss Belpedio today has stated that maybe staff
will do that in conjunction with the County Attorney's office and the
opinion they get from the County Attorney. That would be
wonderful if staff can do that and make that decision and it does not
have to go before the County Commission.
The variance obviously does. So one or both may end up
before the County Commission.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Mr. Whitt, when did you submit
the SDP process or the application?
MR. WHITT: I'm going to let Mr. White speak to that.
MR. WHITE: If I may, it's been an ongoing process. The first
-- the initial submittal was made right after our last appearance
before you. There have been additional submittals as recently as this
past week. The only loose end now appears to be what the payment
of impact fees would be if the property -- the use of the property was
changed from hotel transient to residential.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: And have you-- do you have any
idea what the conclusion timeline would be on this?
MR. WHITE: We have asked that the staff make a decision by
the first of the month. So we're asking for a final meeting with staff
as soon as possible. They have everything to my knowledge that
they need to make the determination, so it's in their ball park now.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: So if the Board were to grant a
continuance to our December meeting, in theory your variance issues
and your SDP issues would in theory be taken care of by then?
MR. WHITE: Yes, sir. Yes, sir. And to answer Miss Dusek's
question, our first option here is certainly the change to the site
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October 24, 2002
development plan to allow for residential use.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Thank you, gentlemen.
MR. WHITE: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Any discussion from the Board?
MR. FLEGAL: Yes, sir.
In the past I have been against continuances. I still am on this
case. Ultimately, we're going to have to hear it if we want to pass
any costs on, you know, reimburse the County for what they've -- all
of the time they have put in.
A comment made this morning, I believe, was ultimately the
case may go to court. The court has nothing to do with this Board.
The Board of County Commissioners has nothing to do with this
Board. Our decisions are independent. I think the case should be
heard, get it over with, make a determination, if that's what we
choose, and let it be done. End of comment.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Any other comments?
MS. DUSEK: Miss Arnold, have you-all expended at this point
costs?
MS. ARNOLD: We haven't-- we haven't done the calculation
at this point, but we have --
MS. DUSEK: But there are costs involved?
MS. ARNOLD: Yes.
MS. BELPEDIO: Miss Dusek, what we've been doing with the
Manatee Resort case is not reprinting all of the materials that you
have received for each individual hearing. We have those documents
ready to be printed. And if you were to decide to hear the case
today, we would ask that you hear other cases in advance and we
would make the copies, the additional copies, that we have. But
we're not going ahead because the expense could be a couple of
hundred dollars for each hearing. And I think it's in the best interests
of both the County and the Respondent.
Page 17
October 24, 2002
MR. FLEGAL: Yeah, but you have expended a sufficient
amount of money to date, because there has been a couple of
reprintings. This case has been continued now-- this will be the
fourth or fifth time or something.
MR. WHITT: Fifth, fifth time.
FLEGAL: And I think there was at least two reprintings
MR.
way back.
MS.
ARNOLD: Yes, that's correct.
MR. FLEGAL: So -- plus all of the time that went into it. So
there's been a lot of money expended on the County's side so far, I
would say.
MS. BELPEDIO: I would suspect there has been a lot, but we
have mitigated the amount that we could have spent. MR. FLEGAL: Right.
MS. DUSEK: One more question for either Jennifer or
Michelle.
If we heard the case, we would be asking for exactly what
they're planning to do, is that correct, either get a variance or the
SDP?
MS. BELPEDIO: The third option that you would possibly be
asking for would be that they remove the building or the structure,
although not likely, but that is an alternative if the two other options
are not approved.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: And bear in mind also, if we hear
the case, I suspect it will be a fairly long drawn out process, hearing.
There is additional time from the County staff, obviously from the
Respondent's counsel and everybody else involved in the process.
If we were to hear the case at a later date when possibly the
violation has been abated, then I think that hearing will be much
shorter, because in a sense, the County will say a violation exists, the
Respondent will say, yes, but now it's taken care of and we go from
Page 18
October 24, 2002
there. So it shortens that process.
MR. WHITT: The Respondent will say certainly the violation
does not exist. And that's been our position from day one. We
vehemently deny that any one of the three violations exist. This is
caused by the County's approval of the site development plan with
the number of units listed, the square footage is listed on the face.
And the permit's issued and the building is built and now three years
later, after the properties have been sold to third parties the County
comes back and raises these issues as code violations.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: And I apologize, Mr. Whitt, I
didn't mean to put words into your -- into the Respondent's mouth in
a sense.
MR. WHITT: And I have to say, I understand, you know, your
-- your view and trying to recoup costs for the Collier County
citizens and having to go through these types of cases, but the cost to
the owners of the nineteen units at the Manatee Resort has been
astronomical over the last year. And it costs them, you know, a big
chunk of change every time we have to come in there and get
prepared, get witnesses lined up. We have got all of our witnesses
here today. People still under subpoena that have been under
subpoena for six months, you know, messing with their work lives
and personal lives. So, you know, from their standpoint, they have a
lot invested in this as well.
So -- but I don't think that changes anything. And I would say I
know again, it's in everyone's best interests, the citizens of Collier
County, Collier County itself and my clients, that this matter be
continued and see if we can get it resolved through action of the
County Commissioners or by County staff.
MS. DUSEK: My comments are in agreement with yours, and
that is, yes, there have been some costs involved, but the costs to hear
the case would even be greater. And they're working toward what
Page 19
October 24, 2002
we would ultimately ask them to do anyhow and they have been
working. It's not as though they've been sitting back and not doing
anything.
So I'm inclined -- I am in favor of the continuance.
MS. BARNETT: I think I have to agree with you, because I
don't think that we can really make a decision until this is resolved,
as to whether or not violations exist. Because if there is a dispute
that's legal on their side, how are we going to determine today
whether or not it's a viable issue?
MR. FLEGAL: You can't sit here on this Board and wait for a
legal opinion. That's not what this Board's here to do.
MS. BARNETT: Educate me then, because in all honesty, I
think that there's a question here as to whether or not a violation
exists.
MR. FLEGAL: That's what we're here to determine on
evidence presented by the County and the Respondent. That's our
determination.
MS. BARNETT: Okay.
MR. FLEGAL: We decide if a violation exists.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Right.
MR. FLEGAL: Period.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: That's literally the purpose of the
Board.
MR. FLEGAL: That's the purpose of the Board. We're the
judge.
MS. BARNETT: Okay.
MR. FLEGAL: We don't need a judge over in the other
building to tell us that. We make that decision.
MS. BARNETT: Why has this case been continued in the
past?
MR. FLEGAL: Gee, question I've been asking for seven
Page 20
October 24, 2002
months.
MS. DUSEK: For the same reasons you've been hearing today.
They have been working toward a solution. And the solution they
have been working toward would be exactly -- if we were to find
them in violation, it would be exactly what we would ask them to do.
They -- they would have to have gone through this process. If we
had listened to this case a year ago or whenever it was it came before
us, we'd still be -- they would still be asking for continuances
because they would be following the process and the process takes
time.
And I think to spend any more money to hear the case is
ludicrous. I think that we should let them follow the process that we
would have asked them to do a year ago or however long ago and we
might not have to hear this case at all.
MS. GODFREY: I will make a comment. Every time this
comes before us, I have got to review this, but I'm not getting paid. I
do this for free. I volunteer my time for the County. Plus when I do
this, I have other cases that I have to review.
MS. DUSEK: Well, I think if we -- the next -- if we give the
continuance, the next time there will be no continuance. That will be
the case. And so it will be the last time you would have to review it,
but we might not have to hear it at all.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Well, I think we need to move
forward and actually have a motion one way or the other. MS. DUSEK: I make a motion--
MR. PONTE: I will make a motion that the request for
continuance be granted.
MS. DUSEK: I second.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: We have a motion from Mr. Ponte,
a second from Miss Dusek that the case be continued until the
December hearing.
Page 21
October 24, 2002
All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
Any opposed?
MR. FLEGAL: No.
MS. GODFREY: No.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: We have two opposed and five in
favor. Motion carries. Mr. Whitt.
MR. WHITT: Thank you, very much. And that will be
continued to the December hearing, correct?
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: That is correct.
MR. WHITT: Thank you. Do you have a date?
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Yes, I think it's --
MS. ARNOLD: December 16th.
MR. WHITT: Thank you, very much.
MS. ARNOLD: Are you-all waiving notice?
MR. WHITT: Yes, we will waive -- we will waive notice.
MS. BELPEDIO: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: If we can move on to the public
hearings. I would like to open the public hearing section of this
board meeting.
We will proceed with the first case. This is case number
2002-013, BCC versus Victor A. and Isabel Valdes. Miss Arnold, if you would like to proceed.
MS. HILTON: The alleged violation is of Sections 2.7.6.1,
2.7.6.5 of Ordinance No. 91-102 of the Collier County Land
Development Code and Subsection 104.1.1 of Ordinance 98-76,
Section 103.5, Safety.
The description of the violation is adding an addition to a
residential home, enclosing in the garage, creating additional
dwelling space to home without first obtaining the proper Collier
County building permits.
Page 22
October 24, 2002
The location of the violation is lot 5349 Holland Street and the
owner is Victor and Isabel Valdes. The date of the first violation was
July 9, 2001 and they were given the notice of violation on July 9,
2001.
The date to correct the violation was August 1 st of 2001. And
the date of reinspection was April 23, 2002, and at that time the
violation remained.
And at this time I would like to turn the case over to the Code
Investigator, Jason Toreky to present the case to the Board.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: One second. I would like to swear
in all of the witnesses, if we can. And if you would please translate
for Miss Valdes, please.
(Witnesses sworn.)
MS. HILTON: We would also like to -- we have provided the
Board and the Respondent with the packet of information.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: One second, please.
Do you have anything you need to take notes on?
THE COURT REPORTER: If I could have the spelling of the
investigator's name.
MR. TOREKY: Jason Toreky, T-o-r-e-k-y.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Please proceed.
MS. HILTON: We have provided the Board and the
Respondent with the packet of information we would like to enter as
Exhibit A at this time.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: I would entertain a motion from
the Board to do so.
MR. FLEGAL: So moved.
MS. DUSEK: Second.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN:
a second from Miss Dusek.
All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
We have a motion from Mr. Flegal,
Page 23
October 24, 2002
Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN:
MS. ARNOLD:
his testimony.
MR. TOREKY:
to the point.
Hearing none, motion carries.
At this time, we will have Jason Toreky give
I'm going to keep this pretty brief and straight
On July 9th, 2001, we received an anonymous complaint in
regards to a carport area having been closed in, including a twenty
foot area at or behind the garage area without -- without Collier
County building permits.
I met with the owner on site that day and issued an NOV to Mr.
Valdes. From that day until May 25th of 2002, eight months later, no
permit was obtained. Mr. Valdes was preoccupied with a federal
case that he has at the time or he had and it took a lot of his time and
monies. And also a change in the hurricane code was another factor
in that period of time. No permit obtained.
On May 25th, Mr. Valdes was brought before the Board. An
extension was granted due to a pending court case he had a short time
after that.
On July 25th, sixty days after that, Mr. Valdes was scheduled to
appear before the Board. He was unable due to incarceration. His
wife and son attended in his place. They asked for an extension so
they could finish the process themselves. From that point, September
9th, shortly after that meeting, they have applied for a permit. We
heard them again at the last meeting on September 26th. Miss
Valdes and her daughter attended. The permit was applied for, but it
was still under review with the County. And there was some issues
with their engineer with some hurricane codes.
Since that time it has been corrected and currently the permits
have isSued and they're just about -- actually, I think they're currently
Page 24
October 24, 2002
getting their inspections at this point.
But there is an eight-month window in time where, you know,
there's a situation where things weren't taken care of. They could
have been taken care of in that eight-month window. And that's pretty much it.
MR. PONTE: Miss Valdes is totally in compliance now?
MR. TOREKY: She's totally in compliance at this point.
MR. PONTE: Thank you.
MR. TOREKY: Yeah, we're going to monitor the case until the
CO is obtained. If the CO is not obtained, then we will reopen the
case and rehear it again.
MS. DUSEK: So all you wanted them to do was to get their
permits?
MR. TOREKY: Exactly.
MS. ARNOLD: I just wanted to note for the record that Miss
Valdes' efforts are to be commended. She's done in three months,
gotten the permits, gotten all of the work done and is very close to
obtaining all of the necessary inspections for the certificate of
occupancy.
So had this been done prior to the code case being brought to
the Board, we wouldn't have been at this point right now.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Any other questions from the
Board?
MS. DUSEK: I do have one. If she's in compliance now,
there's not a violation?
MS. ARNOLD: What you're looking at is whether or not a
violation did exist for the time period that we brought the case. MS. DUSEK: Okay.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Any other testimony from the
County? None?
MS. ARNOLD: Our recommendation would change from what
Page 25
October 24, 2002
was previously noted. Our recommendation would be that the Board
find a violation and that the Respondent pay operational costs for just
the preparation of the case, which would be a total of four hundred
and ninety-one dollars and fifty-five cents.
MS. DUSEK: Michelle, you're not asking that they follow
through with the CO? I know it's in the process, but if for any reason
it doesn't happen.
MS. ARNOLD: We're not asking for that because we have no
reason to believe that she will not. She's already requested
inspections and we're real close to -- MS. DUSEK: Okay.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Thank you.
Miss Valdes, is there anything you would like to say?
MS. CJONZALEZ: She wants to know -- she wants to know if
she can pay that in payments because she is not working at the time?
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Well, we haven't told her to pay
anything yet.
MS. GONZALEZ: All right.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: What we're trying to do is hear the
case to determine whether or not a violation did occur at this stage of
the process.
Is there anything that you would like to add or refute from what
the County has said to support your claim that a violation may not
exist or do you admit to the fact that there is a violation or any
comments you may have to support your case?
MS. GONZALEZ: She said that she complied with almost
everything, that she's just waiting for the final thing, the inspector to
go over there to the house, and that she is doing the best she can do.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Okay. All right. If you have
nothing else to add, thank you very much. If you have a seat, we will
close the hearing portion and open it for discussion before the Board.
Page 26
October 24, 2002
MR. FLEGAL: In the -- I think for the record, for the package
that was submitted by the County, I think on Miss Valdes' behalf, the
Board received a copy of a permit this morning. I think that should
be submitted by Miss Valdes to prove that she's at least got the
permit, for the record. She probably doesn't understand, so I think it
would be a good move to submit that on her behalf since it was given
to the Board.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: And we have testimony from the
County already on the record that a permit does exist.
MS. ARNOLD: You can either make a motion for entering it
into evidence as composite Exhibit B from the County or composite
Exhibit A from the Respondent.
As long as it gets in so that we know that there
MR. FLEGAL:
actually is a permit.
MS. ARNOLD:
MR. FLEGAL:
Right.
I think that ties it all together.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Well, Cliff, I would entertain a
motion to do one or the other.
MR. FLEGAL: Okay. Lets enter it as Exhibit B from the
County.
MS. DUSEK: I second the motion.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: We have a motion by Mr. Flegal
and seconded by Miss Dusek.
All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Hearing none, motion carries.
Any other discussion?
MR. FLEGAL: Go ahead, Bobbi.
MS. DUSEK: I am ready to make a motion, unless there's any
more discussion.
Page 27
October 24, 2002
MR. FLEGAL: Let me just make one comment before your
motion. I don't know if it will help or hurt.
I remember how long this has gone on and the problems that
the Valdeses have had with outside influences and so on and so forth.
Like the County, I do believe Miss Valdes has been working hard to
try and get this solved. I think we should take that into consideration
when we come up with some kind of order.
I know whatever we do, Miss Valdes has the right to come back
and maybe ask for some assistance. Maybe we should think about
that on the front end and try to offer some assistance in our order. I
don't want to say that this is a quote, unquote, hardship case, but
based on what's been told to this Board in granting continuances and
so on and so forth, I tend to believe there's a little hardship involved.
And maybe we should take that into consideration. She has done the
best she could do and she did comply. We ought to think about that.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: First, I would entertain a motion
for finding of fact to see if a violation actually does exist.
MS. DUSEK: I make a motion in the case of CED 2002-013,
Board of County Commissioners versus Victor and Isabel Valdes,
that there was a violation and the violation was of the Sections
2.7.6.1, 2.7.6.5 of Ordinance 91-102 of the Collier County Land
Development Code and Subsection 104.1.1 of Ordinance No. 98-576,
Sections 103.5, Safety.
The description of the violation was adding an addition to
residential home, enclosing in the garage, creating additional
dwelling space to a home without first obtaining Collier County
building permits.
MS. BARNETT: I will second.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: We have a motion by Miss Dusek,
a second by Miss Barnett. Any further discussion on the motion?
Hearing none, all those in favor?
Page 28
October 24, 2002
MR. FLEGAL: Can I ask our attorney a question?
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Certainly.
MR. FLEGAL: Since we have a finding of fact that there was a
violation --
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: We don't have that yet; we haven't
taken a vote.
MR. FLEGAL: Well, we're about to vote on it, so if there's a
finding of fact that there was a violation, do we wait to the order of
the Board to say that the violation has been abated or is that -- MS. RAWSON: No, that's finding of fact.
MR. FLEGAL: Okay. So in other words, as part of Bobbi's
motion should she add the statement that the violation has
subsequently been abated?
MS. RAWSON: Yes, that's the finding of fact.
MR. FLEGAL: Okay. That's what I'm trying to get at. So if
we're going to vote on it, let's make it a nice square box and there
wouldn't be an order.
Would you amend your motion, Bobbi?
MS. DUSEK: I did.
MR. FLEGAL: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Miss Rawson --
MS. RAWSON: Yes.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: -- since we have a motion and a
second, do we. need to rescind the second before we can amend the
motion?
MS. RAWSON: Well, we can amend the second.
MS. DUSEK: I will amend the second, also.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Thank you. Make life easy on me.
We have a motion and a second for an amended order.
All those in favor, signify by saying -- or excuse me, a motion
and a second on the finding of fact.
Page 29
October 24, 2002
All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Hearing none, motion carries
unanimously. And I have an order now.
And proceeding the comments on the order, I definitely agree
with my colleague, Mr. Flegal, with regard to this particular case. I
think we need to consider everything that's happened in that as well.
Obviously, we do on every case, but take that into consideration as
well.
MS. DUSEK: My comments are that the Valdeses pay
operational costs only.
MR. FLEGAL: I would like to see those operational costs
reduced due to the circumstances, if possible.
MS. BARNETT: I disagree with you only on the fact that this
case has been a long-standing case and not all of the issues that came
into play were in the beginning. Some of those occurred after the
fact and after this case was ongoing, from what I have read in the
literature that we were given. And I understand that she has the
hardship now, but it wasn't the case. And until the hardship actually
came into play and she took control, it didn't look like they were
trying to fix the problem.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Any further comments?
MR. FLEGAL: I guess my only comment to that is the County
didn't -- didn't bring the case forward until a certain date and then the
hardships were already in place. So --
MS. DUSEK: Some of them were.
MR. FLEGAL: We -- we have seen many cases, and you
haven't yet, that have drug on for two years and we don't use that as a
method to determine the amount of--
MS. ARNOLD: If it would help the Board any, the amount that
Page 30
October 24, 2002
I noted to you is a reduced amount from what we normally would
cost. We only considered the preparation for this actual hearing. We
didn't consider the investigative time and all of that.
MS. DUSEK: I also would like to remind the Board that it's
very difficult sometimes, because we do have hardship cases who
come before us. And for us to determine that one should outweigh
another, I don't think is our purview. And I think that Sherri's
comments were well taken.
MR. PONTE: I think there's one other thing the Board should
be reminded of here, however, that during the entire process, the
Respondent was attempting in good faith to obtain a permit and the
County didn't accept the drawings or one thing and another and it
went back and forth.
At one point Mr. Valdes had submitted the documents and
found the last minute that the code changed on March the 1 st to a
more stringent and stricter code. And nowhere I think in our findings
before did we really identify that.
So that's another matter in consideration when it comes to
considering how you want to address the cost factor, if not the fining
potential.
MS. DUSEK: Well, remember, we're not fining him.
MR. PONTE: That's correct.
MS. DUSEK: We're just asking for the costs.
MR. PONTE: And I'm saying that in considering the costs,
however you might formulate that, there is another, other than
hardship, element to be considered and that is the fact that the effort
was made to get the permit on many occasions and the advice
apparently never came from the County that, hey, you've got a March
1 deadline to correct all of that because new stringent rules will apply
effective March 1. So that's another factor.
MS. BARNETT: Excuse me.
Page 31
October 24, 2002
MS. DUSEK: We don't know that.
MS. BARNETT: I thought there was an item in our paperwork
that stated prior to him submitting those cases, the County told him
that he had a deadline to meet prior to that change, and that he failed
to meet it.
MR. PONTE: We're not rehearing that case now. I'm just
saying that was a fact.
MS. BARNETT: I mean, I'm saying that there is a fact
preceding what you're stating that he did not make it on time but that
he was told ahead of time that he needed to meet that deadline in
order to avoid that change, and he did not.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: And, Mr. Ponte, I don't think that
we can hang our hat on the fact a Respondent supposedly wasn't told
that the.codes are changing or something of that nature, because it
was well publicized.
MR. PONTE: I'm not asking us to hang our hat on it. I'm
simply reminding the Board that it was a factor.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Okay. I would entertain a motion
for an order of the Board, regardless.
MS. DUSEK: I make a motion that -- in this case that we ask
the defendant, I guess, we call him?
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Respondent.
MS. DUSEK: Respondent, couldn't think of the word, to pay
operational costs only and that no fine be imposed.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: The operational costs would
include the investigator's time and so on and so forth?
MS. ARNOLD: The amount that I quoted to you does not that
include'those fines.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: But in this -- in this order, we're
talking about operational costs, which would include those costs, is
that what you are intending?
Page 32
October 24, 2002
MS. DUSEK: Well, operational costs I think is a general term
and the decision of those costs can be made by the County. I don't
think we need to single out in those operational costs exactly what it
is in our order.
Am I correct, Miss Rawson?
MS. RAWSON: She gave you a number. Usually we put in
the order how much they're going to pay.
This is a little different kind of a case, because this is not an
imposition of fines and/or costs hearing. You actually heard the
case, found there was a violation and now, because it's in
compliance, you're not ordering that fines be imposed, but you're
ordering that operational costs be imposed. If the operational costs
are not yet figured today, we're probably going to have to come back
on another day on an imposition of costs.
MS. DUSEK: So are you saying that we should put in the
exact amount today?
MS. RAWSON: No, because we don't have the exact amount.
MS. ARNOLD: Well, our recommendation would be the
amount that I noted, four hundred ninety-one dollars and fifty-five
cents.
MS. RAWSON: If she's happy with that number, then we don't
need to 'come back. If you put in that exact number, that is fine.
MS. DUSEK: Four ninety-one?
MS. ARNOLD: Fifty-five.
MS. DUSEK: All right. I'm adding that cost into my motion,
four ninety-one fifty-five.
MS. BARNETT: I would like to second that motion.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: We have a motion by Miss Dusek,
a second by Miss Barnett.
All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
Any opposed?
Page 33
October 24, 2002
MR. FLEGAL: No.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Motion carries.
Miss Valdes, do you understand what the Board ordered?
MS. GONZALEZ: Pay the (inaudible).
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: If you could come forward again.
MS. GONZALEZ: Say to pay the four ninety-one.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Yes, ma'am. The Board has not
issued any fines against you, but they have asked that the operational
costs involved in this case be paid. They total four hundred and
ninety-one dollars and fifty-five cents.
MS. GONZALEZ: Okay. Does she have to pay that right
away?
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: If you can get with the County,
they will make all of the arrangements to make that happen. MS. GONZALEZ: Okay.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Thank you, very much.
If we can proceed to the next case, which I believe is case
number 2002-15 -- 015, BOCC versus Dov Dunaevsky.
MS. ARNOLD: Okay. This particular case was another one
that was continued by the Board at two prior hearings, I believe.
Three. This one, the attorney for the Respondent requested three
continuances. No dismissal was requested and we have not heard
from the attorney at this point.
Please be advised that this is similar to the prior case in that the
violation has now been abated. We did speak to the attorney a week
and a half ago and we advised him that it was still scheduled on the
Board's hearing.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Do we have anyone representing
the Respondent here today at all?
Well, Michelle, go ahead and proceed with the case and see
what comes up.
Page 34
October 24, 2002
MS. HILTON: The alleged violation is'of Section 1.5.6 of
Ordinance No. 91-102, the Collier County Land Development
Ordinance.
Description of violation, construction sales trailer left on
property no longer in use. Temporary use permit had expired.
The location of the violation was 8001 Radio Road, Florida.
The name of the owner was Dunaevsky, registered agent and DCM
Naples, LLC.
Date violation first observed, March 18, 2002. The notice of
violation was given on March 18, 2002. The date to which the
violation was to be corrected was April 18, 2002. Date of
reinspection was April 19, 2002. And at that time the violation still
remained.
We had previously provided to the Respondent and the Board
again at this time a packet of information that we would like entered
as Exhibit A at this time.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: I would entertain a motion to do
SO.
MS. DUSEK: So moved.
MR. FLEGAL: Second.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN:
second my Mr. Flegal.
All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Motion carries.
Please proceed.
MS. HILTON: And at this time I would like to mm the case
over to Michelle Arnold to present the case to the Board.
MS. DUSEK: Before, Michelle, you begin, I just have one
question now. In the warranty deed, maybe I'm not looking at it
We have a motion by Miss Dusek,
Page 35
October 24, 2002
correctly, there is a folio number and I have to assume that the folio
number is the correct address because there is no description of the
property there.
MS. HILTON: Yes.
MS. DUSEK: Okay.
(Witnesses sworn.)
MS. ARNOLD: For the record, Michelle Arnold, and the
reason why I'm presenting the case to you today is because the
investigator that was responsible for doing the visits and everything
has since left the department.
My testimony is going to be mainly the review of the case and
information as it pertains to the dates of the inspections and what the
rules are with respect to obtaining permits for the activity.
The case was initiated on March 18th, 2002 by investigator
Repicky based on an anonymous complaint about an abandoned
construction trailer. The -- there was no permit in the County's
record indicating a permit had been obtained for that particular
trailer. We -- the investigator made contact with the Respondent. He
has been present at the previous hearings of the Board and had
agreed to at the last hearing remove the trailer.
The trailer has since been removed and the County's position is
that at the time that we cited the Respondent and at the time that this
issue was first brought before the Board, there was a violation. The
violation has since been removed and the Respondent should pay
operational costs.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Any questions? Since we do not
have a Respondent here, we will close the hearing portion of this
case and open it to discussion from the Board.
MS. DUSEK: Well, it appears as though this case is similar to
the one before, that a violation did exist, and that's what we're
making the motion on today. So if there's no discussion, why don't
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October 24, 2002
we go ahead.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: I will entertain a finding of fact.
MS. DUSEK: Okay. In the case of CEB No. 2002-015, Board
of County Commissioners versus Dov Dunaevsky, registered agent
for DCM-Naples, LLC, I make a motion that there is a violation of
Sections 1.5.6 of Ordinance No. 91-102, the Collier County Land
Development Ordinance.
The description of the violation, construction sales trailer left
on property no longer in use. Temporary use permit has expired.
MR. PONTE: Just amend that to say was a violation.
MS. DUSEK: Was and had, okay.
MR. FLEGAL: The statement that it's now been abated.
MS. DUSEK: And that the violation has now been abated.
MS. BARNETT: I'll second it.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: We have a motion by Miss Dusek,
a second by Miss Barnett. All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Motion carries unanimously.
I would entertain an order of the Board.
MR. FLEGAL: Michelle, you say you want operational costs.
What are they, do you know?
MS. ARNOLD: Well, for the preparation of the case, that's just
bringing this case before you with no investigative time included, is
five hundred nine dollars and sixty cents. If we were to include all of
the other costs associated for prosecution of the case, it would eight
hundred and eighty-six dollars and sixty cents.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: My recommendation to the Board
would be that we order the Respondent to pay all of the operational
costs, not just the preparation costs.
MR. FLEGAL: I agree.
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October 24, 2002
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: I would move that we so do so.
MS. ARNOLD: And if-- if Jean's figuring out-- what I said is
eight hundred and eighty-six and sixty cents. MS. RAWSON: Thank you.
MR. FLEGAL: If that's the order of the Board, sir?
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: That is a motion.
MR. FLEGAL: I would second that.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: We have a motion by myself and a
second by Mr. Flegal that the CEB order the Respondent to pay all
operational costs in the -- incurred in the prosecution of this case.
All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Hearing none, motion carries
unanimously.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: If we can proceed to the next case,
Case No. 2002-025.
MS. HILTON: That's Board of County Commissioners versus
Derya, D-e-r-y-a, Corporation, Usulu, U-s-u-l-u, Okur, O-k-u-r,
registered agent.
At this time I would like to ask if the Respondent is present in
the courtroom.
MR. OKUR: Yes.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Do we have -- please proceed.
MS. HILTON: Please state your name for the record.
MR. OKUR: My name is Usulu Okur.
MS. HILTON: We have provided the Board and the
Respondent with a packet of information we would like entered as
Exhibit A at this time.
MR. FLEGAL: So moved.
MS. DUSEK: Second.
Page 38
October 24, 2002
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Motion by Mr. Flegal, second by
Miss Dusek.
All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Motion carries.
MS. HILTON: The alleged violation is of Section 2.2.28.8.13,
Paragraphs 1, A through D, and 2.3.4.3, 2.3.4.7, and 2.3.4.8 and
2.4.5.1 of Ordinance 91-102 as amended, of the Collier County Land
Development Ordinance.
The description of violation, parking area has been resurfaced
with asphalt without a permit or site improvement plan approval and
is lacking elements required as part of the site improvement or site
development process, including but not limited to landscaping,
parking lot striping and drainage requirements.
Project has an existing square footage of one thousand nine
hundred and sixty and zoning approval for an addition of--
additional two thousand six hundred and ten square feet.
A site improvement plan correcting these violations was
submitted three times and has recently been approved, but no
corrective work has been started.
Location of violation, 409 Main Street West, Florida. Folio
number 25581280007. Name of person in charge of location where
violation exists, Derya, D-e-r-y-a, Corp., registered agent is Usulu
Okur. Date of violation first observed, March 7, 2001. Date of
notice of violation given to owner, March 15, 2002. Date on which
violation to be corrected, August 8, 2002. Date of reinspection,
September 30, 2002. Results of reinspection, the violation remains.
And at this time I would like to mm this case over to the Code
Investigator Alex Sulecki to present the case to the Board.
MS. DUSEK: Shanelle, I have just one question again. You
Page 39
October 24, 2002
said Main Street, Florida. Is that Immokalee, Florida? MS. HILTON: Yes, it is Immokalee.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Before proceeding I would like to
have both witnesses sworn in. (Witnesses sworn.)
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Thank you. Please proceed.
MS. SULECKI: For the record, my name is Alexandra Sulecki.
I'm an Environmental Specialist with the Collier County Code
Enforcement Department.
Good morning, Mr. Chairman, Board members.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Good morning.
MS. SULECKI: I'm putting a map of the property up on your
screens there. This is the building and these are the properties --
actually, all of them are owned by Mr. Okur. These are the
properties that have been cited.
This case came about from a landscape complaint that our
office received in March of 2001. The owner had resurfaced the
parking area without permit or making the required additional
improvements.
I worked with the owner until August of this year when I began
to set it for Code Enforcement Board hearing. The problems here are
basically related to landscaping, parking lot striping and site
drainage problems, although what ended up being required had some
additional components.
The first code that I cited, which is on your page fifteen,
2.2.28.8.13 relates to landscaping and buffering for the parcels that
are part of the Immokalee zoning overlay, the purpose of which is to
encourage redevelopment by upgrading overall standards.
The first paragraph defines landscape criteria as applicable to
commercial properties with buildings less than or equal to five
thousand square feet. And this building is one thousand nine
Page 40
October 24, 2002
hundred sixty square feet, so it applies. A through D, which I cited,
"A" defines the landscape buffer requirements for parcels next to
residentially zoned lots, the rear of which are all residentially zoned.
"B" defines landscape buffer for parcels next to commercially zoned
lots on the side. And "C" talks about landscape buffers next to
right-of-way, which you actually have two there. And "D" talks
about requirements for landscape planters if you're unable to meet the
above, which I believe in the front would pertain because there's not
enough room to cut out for trees and shrubs.
As has been stated, there is an approved landscape -- or site
development plan. Initially when I received this violation, I met
with planners and determined that a site improvement plan was
required for parking lot resurfacing. And since that time though the
site improvement plan process has been changed to a site
development plan process. So that's what Mr. Okur was required to
come in and do for this property.
I'm going to show you the landscape plan for this property that
was approved on August 29th. I know you can't see everything, but
just so You see there are landscape elements that are part of it.
As you can see there are landscape elements required and again
this actually wasn't part of the property cited. It probably should
have been, but it was not. These two properties were cited and you
see the landscape elements around it, planters on the front. There are
twenty-eight trees required to be planted and a hundred and forty-five
shrubs.
The other sections that I cited on your page sixteen, 2.3.4.3,
2.3.4.7, 2.3.4.8 relate to -- the first one to proper drainage required,
the second one to parking lot striping required, and the third to
landscaping required.
And I'm going to put up another part of the site development
plan that addresses these issues. This is the approval stamp, 8/29/02,
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October 24, 2002
parking lot striping. There's also some head stoppers that are
required there. There are some retention requirements for drainage
and, lets see, there is a statement on the plan that there were new
areas paved, which actually triggered the need for the site
development plan to begin with.
And the final code that I cited was an applicability code,
2.4.5.1, and that says if you alter or expand your parking area,
landscaping must be brought into conformity. And there is a
statement that was altered on the site development plan.
I sent two notices of violation to the owner. I spoke to him eight
times. I spoke to his agent eleven times. I hung in through two
insufficient submittals of SIPs, SDPs, and finally it was approved on
the 29th, but as of yet there are no -- there is no work being done on
this site.
I went out on Tuesday. This shows the east side of the
building, which is this side of the building (indicating). No parking
lot striping, no landscaping. This is the rear, where you see the
residential properties along the back. No landscaping. And this is
from the other side of the property, standing here and looking that
way (indicating), and it shows the front of the -- of the property
where there are no planters.
So I'm asking that you find that there is a violation of the
ordinance sections I have cited and require that the work be
substantially completed within thirty days or apply a fine of one
hundred dollars per day and apply operational costs. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Thank you.
Any questions from the Board?
MR. FLEGAL: Alex, this is a revised NOV? How does differ
from the original?
MS. SULECKI: I had attempted to bring the case to this Board
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October 24, 2002
earlier and met with the County Attorney's office, and they described
there was some insufficiencies in the NOV as it was written the first
time, so it was simply corrected to state things correctly, which
provided more time.
MR. FLEGAL: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Any further questions for this
particular witness?
MR. FLEGAL: Alex, you're recommending thirty days for
compliance? Can he do all this stuff in thirty days?
MS. SULECKI: Well, I said substantial compliance. I have
asked Mr. Okur all along to show me that he's doing something,
show me that he's working towards it. Substantial compliance would
mean to me that he is actually engaged in putting in the landscaping.
He's got to remove some areas and replace the soil there to put the
landscaping in, so all that requires at least preparation work to be
started and substantially moved into.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Thank you.
MR. OKUR: Yea, I had to see the places from the estimate
from the landscaping and paving street. I'm almost ready to start to
work.
THE COURT REPORTER: Could you speak into the
microphone a little bit.
MR. OKUR: As soon as possible I'm going to start the work.
The work maybe be finished in two or three weeks. I need some
more time.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Just out of curiosity, if it is only
taking you a short period of time to actually do the work, why did it
take us this long to get from where we started back in March, 2001 to
here?
MR. OKUR: It took the site plan to get -- almost a year to get
approved. Site plan, and from the zoning and planning department.
Page 43
October 24, 2002
MS. DUSEK:
MR. OKUR:
MS. DUSEK:
MR. OKUR:
THE COURT REPORTER:
MR. OKUR: August 9th.
MS. DUSEK: August 9th?
MR. OKUR: 2002.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN:
would like to offer?
MR. OKUR: No.
When was the final approval date for that?
I believe August 29th.
August 29th?
2002, no, August 9th.
I didn't hear you, sir.
Mr. Okur, any other comments you
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Any questions from the Board?
MR. OKUR: Just like to have the time to finish.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Any questions from the Board?
If you'd have a seat, we will close the hearing portion of this
and open it for discussion for the Board.
Any discussions from the Board or maybe a finding of fact?
MS. SULECKI: Excuse me. For the record, I just want to
correct. It was August 29th that the approval --
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Hearing no discussion.
MS. DUSEK: In the case of the Board of County
Commissioners versus Derya Corp., Usulu Okur, registered agent,
CEB Case No. 2002-025, I make a motion that there is a violation
and the violations are of Sections 2.2.28.8.13(1) A through D;
2.3.4.3;'2.3.4.7; 2.3.4.8; and 2.4.5.1 of Ordinance 91-102 as amended
of the Collier County Land Development Ordinance.
The description of the violation is parking area has been
resurfaced with asphalt without permit or site approval --
improvement plan, however, I understand that he does have that now,
and is lacking elements required as part of the site improvement or
Page 44
October 24, 2002
site development process, including but not limited to landscaping,
parking lot striping and drainage requirements. I think that's probably enough.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: We have a motion from Miss
Dusek. Do we have a second?
MR. LEFEBRVE: Second.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: We have a second from Mr.
Lefebrve.
Any other further discussion on the motion? Hearing none, I
would entertain-- all those in favor, signify by saying aye.
Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Motion carries.
If we can please proceed to the order of the Board then.
MS. DUSEK: Well--
MR. PONTE: I think we could follow staff's recommendation
on this quite clearly.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: I would agree. Is that a motion?
MR. PONTE: I make a motion that we follow staff's
recommendation.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: I would second that motion.
We have a motion by Mr. Ponte, a second by myself that the
CEB order the Respondent to pay all operational costs incurred in the
prosecution of this case and abate all violations through the
installation of all required components of the approved site
development plan, including but not limited to landscaping and
parking lot striping within thirty days or a fine of one hundred dollars
per day be imposed for each day the violation continues. Any discussion on the motion?
MR. FLEGAL: Yeah, the operational costs is a separate item,
Page 45
October 24, 2002
it's not tied to completing in thirty days; is that correct?
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: That is correct.
Well, Mr. Ponte, it's your motion.
MR. PONTE: Yes, I will amend it.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Okay. So the motion is amended
to separate the operational costs versus the fine. The operational
costs will be applied regardless of whether the case is abated on time
or not.
Any further discussion on the motion?
MS. BARNETT: I have a question, because I thought the code
enforcement officer said that she --
THE COURT REPORTER: I'm sorry.
MS. DUSEK: I thought the code enforcement officer said that
her recommendation was to make sure that he was making progress
or substantial progress, that it could possibly not be completed in
thirty days?
MR. FLEGAL: The Respondent said he could do it in two to
three weeks so --
MS. BARNETT: Okay.
MR. FLEGAL: -- thirty days is sufficient.
MS. DUSEK: I'll withdraw that then.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Okay.
All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Hearing none, motion carries
unanimously.
Mr. Okur, do you understand what we have found and what
order has been taken?
MR. OKUR: Yes.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: So hopefully in thirty days
Page 46
October 24, 2002
everything will be taken care of?.
MR. OKUR: Yes.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN:
MR. OKUR: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN:
Okay. Thank you, sir.
which is -- this is Case No. 2002-030, excuse me, 016, I believe.
030, sorry.
MS. HILTON: Board of Board of County Commissioners
versus Hada Olivella, O-l-i-v-e-l-l-a.
I would like to ask if the Respondent is present in the
courtroom? So noted.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Let the record show that the
Respondent is not present.
MS. HILTON: We have provided the Board and the
Respondent with a packet of information we would like entered as
Exhibit A at this time.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN:
SO.
We will proceed to the next case,
No,
I would entertain a motion to do
MS. DUSEK: So moved.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN:
will second that motion.
I have a motion by Miss Dusek. I
All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Motion carries.
MS. HILTON: The alleged violation is of Section 2.7.6 and
2.7.6.1 and 2.7.6.5 of Ordinance No. 91-102, as amended, of the
Collier County Land Development Code.
Description of violation, observed a ten-by-ten shed, wood and
wire mesh fence and a large metal frame structure all built or being
built without first obtaining proper Collier County building permits.
Page 47
October 24, 2002
Location of violation, 1380 9th Street Southwest, Florida, more
particularly described as folio number 45852980003, Golden Gate
Estates. Name of owner Hada G. Olivella. Date violation first
observed, January 11, 2002. Date owner given notice of violation,
January 11, 2002. Date by which violation must be corrected was
January 25th, 2002. Date of reinspection, September 24, 2002.
Results of reinspection is the violation remains.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Miss Hilton. Miss Hilton, if I read
the executive summary, the only violation that currently exists is the
shed, the fence and the temporary structure. So is it the County's
position you're looking to prosecute all three violations as one
existing and two prior?
MS. HILTON: Just the shed.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Just the shed, okay.
MS. HILTON: At this time I would like to turn the case over to
the Code Investigator Jeff Letourneau to present the case to the
Board.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: If I might take a moment to swear
the witness in.
(Witnesses sworn.)
MR. LETOURNEAU: For the record, I'm Collier County Code
Enforcement Investigator Jeff Letoumeau.
On January 1 lth, 2002, I received a complaint about a structure
being built at ! 380 9th Street Southeast. I went to the location and
observed a ten-by-ten shed, a metal frame structure and a wood and
wire fence. I apologize for the black and white; my color printer
wasn't working this morning.
The top picture shows kind of a bad picture of the metal frame
that was being built. This is the ten-by-ten shed and wood and wire
fence. Nobody was home. I posted and mailed notices of violations
citing ordinances -- Ordinance 91-102 amended, Sections 2.7.6.1 and
Page 48
October 24, 2002
2.7.6.5, stating no permits had been obtained for these structures.
On January 29th, 2002, I went to the property again and found
nobody home. No permits had been obtained yet. Left note stating a
citation would be issued if no progress was made by my next visit.
On February 1 lth I went to the property and spoke with a Mr.
Robert Interian, who stated he lived on the property and was the part
owner, but didn't have his name on the deed. He stated the owner of
the record, Mrs. Olivella, was living in New York for the winter. He
stated he had been in to try to get the permits, but was denied
because he was not the owner of record. He stated he had sent the
permit paperwork to Mrs. Olivella to okay her signature -- his
signature on the permit.
I served the notices of violation to Mr. Interian. Okay.
On February 25th, Mr. Interian came into the permitting office
to try to get permits, but was missing some paperwork. He had a
meeting with myself and permitting technician Denise Metcalf and
we explained to him exactly what he needed to get the permits. He
stated he would be in to get the fence permits this -- the following
week. I told him as long as he got the fence permit issued, I would
give him ample time to get the other sheds permitted.
As of March 4th no permit had been applied for yet. I went to
the above location and left a warning that I would start CEB
procedures if no action was taken and obtained the permits within a
week.
On March 13th Mr. Interian came in and got a permit issued for
the fence. He was told that he couldn't get a permit for this shed
right here (indicating) because it didn't meet setbacks, rear setbacks.
And if he wanted to get a permit, he needed to move it to a different
location.
I told him that he needed to get the fence certificate of
occupancy or completion and to either remove the rear shed or
Page 49
October 24, 2002
remove it and get a permit. I also noted he needed to get a permit for
the steel structure that was still remaining on the property.
On March 21st, I left -- I went to the property and left a note
stating that nothing had been done and I was going to start CEB
proceedings if permit issues aren't handled by my next visit.
On the 29th I discussed the case with my supervisor, Mr. Ed
Morad, 'and he decided that we should mail an NOV, a notice of
violation to the property owner of record, Hada Olivella, so we
mailed the NOV on that date.
On April 8th I observed no change except that the fence had
been -- had gotten its certificate of completion.
I rechecked it on April 16th and observed both structures
remained and no permits had been applied for. I left warning that I
would start CEB proceedings and we sent a CEB per -- pre-hearing
warning letter.
On May 5th, I went to the property and observed that the steel
structure had been removed, but this shed (indicating) still remained.
I received a call from Mr. Interian who stated the property owner,
Mrs. Olivella, was down from New York to get the permit issued for
the other shed. On May 20th the permit still had not applied for.
The shed remains. I went to the property and left a note warning
them again that CEB proceedings were imminent.
On June 6th Mrs. Olivella came into the office to get the
permit, but was missing some paperwork. She seemed confused on
what she should do. I talked to her and told her to call the permitting
supervisor Alamar Smiley and she scheduled a conference to be held
on June 18th with her.
On June 19th I went to the property, the shed was still there,
permit had not been applied for yet. We sent another CEB warning
letter, tentative date for August.
Basically, since then, the sheds remained and I went like
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October 24, 2002
biweekly and left warnings ever since. I haven't had any contact with
the owner or Mr. Interian since then.
On October 22nd I talked with permitting technician Wanda
Warren who stated that Mrs. Olivella had been in on that date to try
to get permit issued, but once again was told that the setback issue
still remained and she needed to move the shed and she also needed
to get some engineer's sealed drawings for the shed.
I went there yesterday at 10:23 and the shed still remains. No
permit has been issued or applied for as of yet.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Any questions for the investigator?
MS. DUSEK: I just have one question. The Sections that
you're citing are 2.7.6.1 and 2.7.6.5?
MR. LETOURNEAU: Correct.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Any other testimony from the
County? Okay. You can have a seat. Thank you.
We will close the hearing portion of this case and open it for
discussion before the Board.
Hearing no discussion, I will entertain a finding of fact.
MS. DUSEK: In the case of the Board of County
Commissioners versus Hada Olivella in Case CEB No. 2002-030, I
make a motion that a violation does exist -- exist. It is of Section
2.7.6.1 and 2.7.6.5 of Ordinance No. 91-102 as amended of the
Collier County Land Development Code.
The description of the violation is a ten-by-ten shed, wood and
wire mesh fence and a large -- well, actually I guess the fence is no
longer part of this; is that correct? All right. So it's just the shed.
And the large metal frame structure? No. Okay. So we're just doing
shed. This was built without first obtaining a Collier County
building permit.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: We have a motion from Miss
Dusek. Do I hear a second?
Page 51
October 24, 2002
MR. LEFEBRVE: Second.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Second from Mr. Lefebrve.
All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Hearing none, motion carries
unanimously.
I would entertain an order of the Board.
MS. DUSEK: The recommendation from the County seems to
be in order.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Is that a motion?
MS. DUSEK: I make a motion that we follow the order of the
County,
MR. PONTE: I will second.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: We have a motion by Miss Dusek
and a second by Mr. Ponte that the CEB order the Respondent to pay
all operational costs incurred in the prosecution of this case, period.
And second, to abate the violation through obtaining a building
permit within thirty days, passing all inspections and obtaining a
certificate of completion within sixty days or remove the shed from
the property within sixty days or a fine of fifty dollars per day will be
imposed for each day the violation continues. Any discussion on the motion?
MR. FLEGAL: Based on the reading of the paperwork given to
us, I would like to see the fine increased to get something done. It
doesn't seem like to me everything has been done by the owner that
could be done in a quick manner. I think we need to help that along,
for lack of a better way to put it, to see that it gets accomplished.
MS. DUSEK: Is seventy-five dollars acceptable?
MR. FLEGAL: Yeah, that's a little better.
MR. PONTE: What we have here is an unoccupied shed and
Page 52
October 24, 2002
that given how quickly a fifty-dollar fine runs up to a substantial
amount of money, I think that accurately reflects the violation.
MR. FLEGAL: Well, they have been working on it for a long
time and haven't seemed to really grasp the problem that they need to
get some permits.
MR. PONTE: Well, they have mitigated the other violations,
so they're working toward it. They're attempting to get the permit.
They failed to do so, but they're attempting to get it. I think fifty
dollars is fair.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: I think if you consider the price of
the shed in comparison to what the fine would be over a relatively
short period of time, you may quickly outweigh the cost of the shed
itself. And the Respondent may be looking at this and saying it's --
it's not worth having the shed there because of this fine. But I
understand what Mr. Flegal's comments are. We want to have some
action on it and we don't want it to go on and on and on.
Anyway, we do have a motion and a second that the fine
remain at fifty dollars per day. Any further discussion on that
motion? I assume that the motion is not being amended.
MS. DUSEK: Yes. No, it's not.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Okay.
All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Hearing none, the motion carries
unanimously.
And that closes the public hearings for today's date.
Do we need to take a break for the court reporter?
We're going into administrative tasks.
THE COURT REPORTER: I'll keep going because I have a
replacement coming at eleven.
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October 24, 2002
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Hopefully we will be done by then.
Okay. Lets proceed to new business, request for
reduction/abatement of fines, BCC versus Ricky Bell, Case No.
2001-078.
MS. ARNOLD: Yes, this is a request from the Respondent.
You may recall Mr. Bell has been back to the Board for an extension
and the recommendation at the time that the Board gave him was to
come back at this particular time, once the violation was in
compliance and all the matters were addressed. So he's doing that at
this time.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Okay. Mr. Bell, are you present?
MR. BELL: Good morning, Board.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Good morning.
MR. BELL: Yeah, I'm asking for a reduction or abatement of
the fines on my house due to the fact that I went within the time
period that I was requested by the Board to get a permit. It originally
was turned down. I think the first time it was turned down was
because of a misinterpretation of the setbacks and which eventually
we got straightened out and eventually in all got the permit, but it
went on for a long time because of the setbacks were being misread
by the County or whatever and the permit was being denied.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: And you prevailed in that
argument?
MR. BELL: Right. We kept going until we got it.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Any other comments?
MR. BELL: And as far as really reading back to the point, in
the very, very beginning, to refresh the Board, when this house was
purchased by me approximately nine years ago, this portion was
already closed in at the time that I bought it.
So I was unaware that this bottom structure was closed in
illegally until all of this came about. So I would like for that to be,
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October 24, 2002
you know, definitely a consideration as far as the fines.
MS. DUSEK: If I remember, didn't you come before the Board
to ask for an extension of time or something?
MR. BELL: I asked for an extension of time and I think the
Board's comment was not knowing how much of an extension and
that they just take that into consideration when I came back after I
obtained the permit rather than giving me extensions on top of
extensions.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Miss Arnold, do we have a
totalling of what the fines and costs may be?
MS. ARNOLD: Yes, the operational costs are one thousand
four hundred and seventy dollars and eighty cents. And the fine
amount.is six thousand one hundred and fifty dollars for a total of
seven thousand six hundred and twenty dollars and eighty cents.
MR. PONTE: Michelle, just to refresh my mind, was the per
diem cost twenty-five dollars?
MS. ARNOLD: Yes, it was.
MR. PONTE: It was. Thank you.
MS. DUSEK: I do somewhat remember this case and I do
remember Mr. Bell coming before us and asking that we give an
extension. And we did, I think, at the time suggest that he come back
once the fines were put in place and ask.
MR. FLEGAL: Correct, I remember that.
MS. DUSEK: Do you remember that?
MR. FLEGAL: Yes.
MS. ARNOLD: For the record, Mr. Bell and his contractor has
all along been advising the County each step of the way for where
they were in the process and they have been very diligent about
trying to comply with the Board's ordinance -- I mean order.
MS. DUSEK: Michelle, the fines that you have imposed, did
that take him up to today or were those the fines as of compliance or
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October 24, 2002
at which point --
MS. ARNOLD: I think it was.
MS. DUSEK: -- did they stop?
MS. ARNOLD: We have it as of August 1, '02.
Was that when you got your permit?
MR. BELL: Yes, ma'am.
MS. DUSEK: Actually, I meant operational costs. How-- how
did you determine those? At which point did they stop?
MS. ARNOLD: We haven't added any additional operational
costs.
MR. FLEGAL:
MS. ARNOLD:
MR. FLEGAL:
Since?
Since his -- since we heard the case.
Okay.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: And just to reiterate those, we have
seven thousand six hundred and twenty dollars and eighty cents total
in the fines and costs?
MS. ARNOLD: Yes.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: And how much of that is fines and
how much is --
MS. ARNOLD: The operational costs is one thousand four
hundred and seventy and eighty cents. And the fines are six
thousand one hundred and fifty.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Okay.
MR. PONTE: I did want to remind the Board of the fact that
when the case came up, we fined the Respondent twenty-five dollars
a day. And the reason was we fined it at such a low level was that
we were having some sympathy for Mr. Bell's predicament.
MS. ARNOLD: Mr. Bell, is your request for a complete
abatement or is it to abate all of the fines but pay operationals?
MR. BELL: To abate the fines and pay the operational.
MS. ARNOLD: And staff wouldn't have any objection to that.
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October 24, 2002
MS. DUSEK: And I certainly feel quite strongly in that
direction because I do remember the case and I remember him
coming before us. It wouldn't have gotten to any fines at all had we
continued the extensions.
MR. FLEGAL: I don't have a problem making a motion to
abate the fine and leave the operational cost in place.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Before you do that, Mr. Bell, do
you have anything else you would like to add? MR. BELL: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Thank you.
And I would entertain a motion to do so.
MS. DUSEK: I second this motion.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Okay. We have a motion by Mr.
Flegal, a second by Miss Dusek that the fines be reduced to just
operational costs of one thousand four hundred and seventy dollars
and eighty cents; is that correct? MR. FLEGAL: Yes.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: All those in favor, signify by
saying aye.
Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Hearing none, motion carries
unanimously.
Do you understand, Mr. Bell?
MR. BELL: Yes.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: It's just the operational costs, one
thousand four hundred and seventy dollars and eighty cents.
MR. BELL: And I take that up with?
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: With staff.
MR. BELL: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Thank you, very much.
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October 24, 2002
We will proceed to the next item, request for imposition of
fines.
MS. ARNOLD: Okay. The next item is Board of County
Commissioners versus Ronald Gleichman, CEB Case 2002-020.
This particular case was heard by the Board on August 22nd,
2002. At that time the Board found the Respondent in violation and
requested that the violation be abated by obtaining all of the required
development orders with the County by September 21st, 2002.
The Respondent was also advised that if they did not comply
with that request, that a fine of fifty dollars per day would be
imposed each day the violation continued. Respondent was also
advised that operational costs would be incurred for the prosecution
of the case.
As of October 9th, the Respondent was not in compliance with
the Board's order. So at this time staff is requesting that we impose
fines in the amount of nine hundred dollars for a period of September
22nd through October 9th, at a rate of fifty dollars per day and an
additional one thousand sixty-six dollars for operational costs for a
total fine amount today of one thousand nine hundred and sixty-six
dollars.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Any discussion from the Board?
Hearing none, I would so move, that we follow staffs
recommendation to issue an imposition of fine in the amount of nine
hundred -- excuse me, yes, nine hundred dollars for the period of
September 22nd through October 9th at the rate of fifty dollars per
day plus one thousand sixty-six dollars for the operational costs
incurred in the prosecution of this case for a total amount of one
thousand nine hundred and sixty dollars. Said fines shall -- excuse
me, one thousand nine hundred and sixty-six dollars. Said fines shall
continue to accrue until Respondent comes into compliance.
Do I hear a second?
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October 24, 2002
MR. FLEGAL: Second.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN:
Flegal was first.
MR. FLEGAL: Pick one.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN:
saying aye.
Any opposed?
We have multiple seconds. Mr.
All those in favor, signify by
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Hearing none, motion carries.
If we can proceed to the next item.
MS. ARNOLD: That is Board of County Commissioners
versus Jeffrey Dorini and that's CEB case 2002-017.
This case was heard by the Board on, let's see, July 25th, 2002.
At that time the Board found the Respondent in violation and
ordered compliance by September 26th, 20002. The Respondent was
also advised that if they did not comply with the Board's order, a fine
of twenty-five dollars per day would accrue each day the violation
continued.
Operational costs were also informed that the -- the Respondent
was also informed that operational costs would also be imposed for
prosecution of the case.
The violation has been abated and therefore no fines have
accrued. But we have operational costs of one thousand fifteen
dollars and five cents. And we're asking that you impose those
today.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Any discussion?
Hearing none, I would move that we agree with staff's
recommendation and that the Board issue an imposition of fine or
lien in the amount of one thousand fifteen dollars and five cents for
the operational costs incurred in the prosecution of this case.
MR. FLEGAL: I have no problem with your statement other
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October 24, 2002
than you slipped the word lien in there and there's no lien yet.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Yup. I stand corrected and so
amend the motion. Do I hear a second? MS. BARNETT: Second.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: All those in favor, signify by
saying aye.
Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Hearing none -- Mr. Flegal was the
second.
MR. FLEGAL: No.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Miss Barnett.
Motion carries unanimously.
And we will proceed to the next item, which is Old Business.
MS. ARNOLD: Okay. We have affidavits for compliance for
the case that you just imposed fines for, Board of County
Commissioners versus Ronald Gleichman, CEB case 2002-017, and
that's just an administrative item. Also we -- noncompliance. And
then we also have an affidavit of compliance for Board of County
Commissioners versus Jeffrey Dorini, CEB case 2002 -- that's
actually 017; the prior case was 020.
And the other item, you have a memo in your packet, if I can
find it in mine, requesting that the Board forward Case No. -- Board
of County Commissioners versus Anna Rosa Avalos, that's
IMOL-01, case number; and Case No. 2002-006, which is Board of
County .Commissioners versus White; and Case No. 2002-001, which
is Board of County Commissioners versus Lacquaniti. And those are
all -- of the four listed in your memo, those are the only three that we
actually need to forward to the County Commissioners for either
foreclosure or collection. The fourth one listed, Board of County
Commissioners versus Seaward and Kuypers is -- has been -- the
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October 24, 2002
fines have been paid.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Any discussion from the Board?
I will entertain a motion to authorize Miss Arnold to forward
these cases to the County Attorney for foreclosure or collection by
the agency.
MR. FLEGAL: So moved.
MS. DUSEK: Second.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: I have a motion by
second Miss Dusek.
All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN:
Comments?
MR. FLEGAL: Question.
asleep in the beginning.
Mr. Flegal, a
Hearing none, the motion carries.
Maybe I missed it. Must have fell
Did we approve our minutes from the last meeting?
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Yes.
MR. FLEGAL: Okay.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: You fell asleep in the beginning.
MR. FLEGAL: I got my nap in early.
MS. ARNOLD: The comments section, the Chairman and I
were participating in a videotaping of-- of information for advisory
boards and Code Enforcement Board is one of the advisory boards
that's going to be highlighted in Collier's 2002 program. And we
were discussing the additional reformatting of our agenda and wanted
to bring that item to the Board.
If you-all want to us put items where the abatement has already
occurred prior to the hearing in a separate section for consideration
by the Board, so that we have public hearings in two sections, cases
where the violation has been abated and cases where the violation
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October 24, 2002
still exists. I just kind of throw that out for your consideration.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: In addition, I would like to try to
change the agenda a little so that any time we have a motion on a
particular case, that we place those motions to be heard and acted
upon prior to the public hearings. Now, you will find them in the
back of the package under New Business, but I think quite frankly
they ought to be heard before.
MR. FLEGAL: Don't we have in our rules and regulations a
list of how our agenda is to be made up.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Yes, but we can amend an agenda.
MR. FLEGAL: I'm just saying, if you want to do it, you're
going to have to amend the rules and regulations, right?
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: I don't know.
MR. FLEGAL: Right. Doesn't it give an order of what will
take place?
MS. ARNOLD: Well, it's the general format that public
hearings and new business, old business comments and so on, when
we do -- when we do the agenda, we can still put those items under
public hearings if you decide that's what you want to do and just have
it public hearing item A and B. And then for the motions for
continuance, dismissals, whatever they are, I don't know, I guess it
would be considered a public hearing process, wouldn't it.
MS. RAWSON: Your-- your order of business and the Article
six in your rules and regulations basically says public hearings,
period. So whatever you change underneath that broad heading
doesn't require an amendment of your rules and regulations.
MR. FLEGAL: But what we did this morning, we didn't list
them under public hearings. We just moved them forward and we
heard them. And then we did public hearings. All I'm saying is if
you're going to do things, we need to do them like the rules and
regulations or we need to change them.
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October 24, 2002
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Well, we can take a vote in each
meeting to amend that agenda however we choose, which is what we
did today. But I see what you're saying.
So in a sense what we would do, if Miss Arnold wanted to
group these things according to whether or not we had compliance
prior to hearing the case or not, that could be done under public
hearings, maybe the first three or five items are the ones that have
been abated. And then the next set are -- are not in compliance yet.
MS. RAWSON: Today she had them under new business,
which is okay.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: All I'm trying to do here is if we
have motions for continuance, dismissal, any kind of motions
regarding to a case, I'd like to hear that before we move into the case
itself. And we can, I guess, do that under the public hearings. MR. FLEGAL: Yeah--
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Wouldn't that put it as the first item
under the public hearings?
MS. RAWSON: Yes. It is a public hearing. If somebody files
a motion, that's a public hearing.
MR. FLEGAL: Okay. I don't have a problem with that, just
we want to get it correct.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Yup. No, I agree with you a
hundred percent.
MR. FLEGAL: I don't want somebody to come back on us
later.
MS. DUSEK: So what you're suggesting is we group the
continuances under one heading under public hearings rather than
waiting to hear that continuance when the case comes up?
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: We can do it any number of ways.
One, we can go through each particular case and before we hear the
case if it has a motion in front of that case, we hear that at the time
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October 24, 2002
we hear the case.
MS. DUSEK: Which are you suggesting?
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Or we can group all of the motions
together and just enact through all of them at one time and then go
and proceed with the rest of the cases.
MR. FLEGAL: Let's ask our legal advisor a legal question.
MS. RAWSON: Good.
MR. FLEGAL: Because we ought to be able to do this in the
same manner. When you go to the courthouse across the walkway -- MS. RAWSON: We have a separate day for motion hearings
than we do for trials.
MR. FLEGAL: Okay.
MS. RAWSON: And so I don't think you want to do that.
MR. FLEGAL: No. But if-- I don't know if that's been the
way it has been since eternity or not, but I'm just saying --
MS. RAWSON: Probably, because motion hearings are only
allowed about fifteen minutes to twenty minutes and trials, you're
given as much time as you need.
MR. FLEGAL: Is it better for the Board to hear all of the
motions and then do cases or hear the motion before a particular case,
making somebody wait maybe -- if there were four cases with
motions, the fourth guy's got to wait until we hear the first case. Or
can we hear all of the motions first and then get the cases?
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: The reason I had suggested
grouping them together prior to hearing any of the cases is quite
frankly just to be cognizant of the Respondents, their attorney times
and so on and so forth. If their case is going to be continued, then
why make them wait through possibly hours of other cases before
they get to hear theirs to find out that they can go home early.
MS. RAWSON: What you could do is hear all of the motions
first. If it's a motion to dismiss and you grant it, well, they're done.
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October 24, 2002
If it's a motion to continue and you grant it, then that case is over.
Those people can leave.
If it's denied by this Board, you don't have to hear their case
right at that moment. You say have a seat, we will be hearing your
case in a few minutes, we're going to get through the rest of our
motions. So that makes perfectly good sense to me.
MS. DUSEK: Do we have to vote on this, changing that order
under public hearings --
MS. RAWSON: No, I don't believe we --
MS. DUSEK: -- or can we just do it?
MS. RAWSON: No, I don't believe we do. At least you don't
have to amend your By-Laws. MS. DUSEK: Okay.
MS. ARNOLD: Yeah, my recommendation would be we --
under public hearings we have -- paragraph A would be motions and
we will have one, two, three, however many we have. And then
paragraph B would be hearings, whether the case has been abated or
-- or the violation has been abated.
MR. PONTE: I think it's a good idea. I think we ought to try
it. We Can always change it back if it doesn't work. I think it's a
good idea. Let's try it.
MR. FLEGAL: I like your--
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Amazing how I could actually
come up with a good idea for once.
MR. FLEGAL: I like staffs information here where they put
on this particular one case continued from such and such a date. That
way it rings a bell with us.
Next -- next agenda, would you do that with Manatee, since it's
been continued forever? We didn't do that here and it's nice to know
that they've had their --
MS. ARNOLD: It was all of the paperwork we have to look
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October 24, 2002
through.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: I mean, you know, item-- item
A-3 on that case, where we had a number of continuances, it's good
for us to know when those dates are and the fact of whether you have
abatement or not. And that's all good.
MS. GODFREY: Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Yes.
MS. GODFREY: There's a gentleman here.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: I'm sorry.
MS. GODFREY: I think he needs to be heard or if he's waiting
for a case or something.
AUDIENCE SPEAKER: Yes, 974 Haldeman Creek.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: I don't know that that's on the
agenda.
MR. FLEGAL: I don't know what you're talking about.
AUDIENCE SPEAKER: October 24th.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: So you were in the wrong place at
the wrong time, not us, right?
AUDIENCE SPEAKER: Well, tentatively speaking, but I
enjoyed every bit of it.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: We enjoyed having you here.
Thank you.
Any other comments? Hearing none, our next meeting date
will be November 18th, nine o'clock, same place, same time.
MS. DUSEK: I make a motion that we adjourn.
MS. BARNETT: Second.
MS. ARNOLD: Remember, it's a Monday.
MS. RAWSON: It's different. Remember that November and
December are different than the usual dates because I didn't think
you wanted to be here on Thanksgiving.
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: We have a motion by Miss Dusek
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October 24, 2002
to adjourn and a second by Miss Barnett.
All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LEHMANN: Motion carries unanimously.
Surprise, surprise. Everybody have a good day. Thank you.
There being no further business for the good of the County, the
meeting was adjourned by order of the Chair at 11:09 a.m.
COLLIER COUNTY CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD
PETER LEHMANN, CHAIRMAN
TRANSCRIPT PREPARED ON BEHALF OF GREGORY
COURT REPORTING SERVICE, INC., BY DEBRA DELAP
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