CEB Minutes 10/26/2018October 26, 2018
Page 1
TRANSCRIPT OF THE MEETING OF THE
COLLIER COUNTY CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD
Naples, Florida, October 26, 2018
LET IT BE REMEMBERED, that the Collier County Code
Enforcement Board, in and for the County of Collier, having
conducted business herein, met on this date at 9:00 a.m., in
REGULAR SESSION in Building "F" of the Government Complex,
East Naples, Florida, with the following members present:
CHAIRMAN: Robert Kaufman
Robert Ashton
Sue Curley
Kathleen Elrod
Gerald J. Lefebvre
Ryan White
Ron Doino (Excused)
Herminio Ortega (Excused)
ALSO PRESENT:
Danny Blanco, Code Enforcement Specialist
Helen Buchillon, Administrative Secretary
Jeff Letourneau, Manager of Investigations
Tamara Lynne Nicola, Attorney to the Board
Code Enforcement Board Hearing
AGENDA
Board of County Commission Chambers
Collier County Government Center
3299 Tamiami Trail East, 3rd Floor
Naples, FL 34112
October 26, 2018
9:00 AM
Robert Kaufman, Chair
Gerald Lefebvre, Vice-Chair
Kathleen Elrod, Member
Ronald Doino, Member
Robert Ashton, Member
Sue Curley, Member
Herminio Ortega, Member
Vacant, Alternate
Ryan White, Alternate
Notice: Respondents may be limited to twenty (20) minutes for case presentation unless
additional time is granted by the Board. Persons wishing to speak on any agenda item will
receive up to five (5) minutes unless the time is adjusted by the Chairman.
All parties participating in the public hearing are asked to observe Roberts Rules of Order and
speak one at a time so that the court reporter can record all statements being made.
Any person who decides to appeal a decision of this Board will need a record of the proceedings
pertaining thereto, and therefore may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceeding s 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.
I. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
II. ROLL CALL
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
3.1. September 27, 2018 Code Enforcement Board Minutes
IV. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
V. PUBLIC HEARINGS/MOTIONS
A. MOTIONS
MOTION FOR CONTINUANCE
MOTION FOR EXTENSION OF TIME
B. STIPULATIONS
C. HEARINGS
1. CASE NO: CESD20180005203
OWNER: Deep Lake Ops LLC
OFFICER: Jeff Letourneau
VIOLATIONS: Collier County Land Development Code, 04-41, as amended,
Sections 10.02.06(B)(1)(e) and 10.02.06(B)(1)(a). Renovations
of, but not limited to, window, exterior doors, air conditioning
unit (HVAC), new heating and cooling duct work, toilets,
showers, hot water heater, kitchen area with sinks and
appliances, sheet rock, metal studs, electric rough-in with boxes,
master breaker panel, roof repairs, non-fire rated doors, French
doors, all without first obtaining the required Collier County
Permits and approvals.
FOLIO NO: 00982880005
VIOLATION 20201 State Road 29, Naples, FL
ADDRESS:
2. CASE NO: CEPM20180007088
OWNER: William E. Marten
OFFICER: William Marchand
VIOLATIONS: Collier County Code of Laws and Ordinances, Chapter 22,
Article VI, Section 22-231(12)(c). Roof and Fascia damage.
FOLIO NO: 82940040009
VIOLATION 3880 Skyway Dr. Naples, FL
ADDRESS:
3. CASE NO: CELU20180004729
OWNER: N-A Properties LLC
OFFICER: Delicia Pulse
VIOLATIONS: Collier County Land Development Code, 04-41, as amended,
Section 2.02.03 and Collier County Code of Laws and
Ordinances, Chapter 130, Article III, Section 130-95. Several
dumpsters on the ground on the property, miscellaneous items
being stored outside consisting of but not limited to, metal,
wood, tables, inoperable vehicles.
FOLIO NO: 38169440007
VIOLATION 5630 Copper Leaf Ln., Naples, FL
ADDRESS:
4. CASE NO: CESD20180008387
OWNER: Viviana Escobar
OFFICER: Jonathan Musse
VIOLATIONS: Collier County Land Development Code, 04-41, as amended,
Section 10.02.06(B)(1)(a). Kitchen and Bathroom remodels
without a valid Collier County permit.
FOLIO NO: 30980200000
VIOLATION 700 Valley Stream Drive Unit 104, Naples, FL
ADDRESS:
5. CASE NO: CEV20180008337
OWNER: Michael A. Dewitt
OFFICER: Jon Hoagboon
VIOLATIONS: Collier County Code Of Laws and Ordinances, Chapter 130,
Article III, Section 130-95. Multiple unlicensed and inoperable
vehicles stored on the property.
FOLIO NO: 63405280006
VIOLATION 1072 Granada Blvd, Naples, FL
ADDRESS:
6. CASE NO: CEAU20180009226
OWNER: Janice Masey
OFFICER: Joseph Mucha
VIOLATIONS: Collier County Land Development Code 04-41, as amended,
Section 5.03.02(F)(5)(b). Chain link fence with barbed wire for
residentially zoned property.
FOLIO NO: 01134080005
VIOLATION 15985 Janes Scenic Drive, Copeland, FL
ADDRESS:
7. CASE NO: CESD20180005375
OWNER: SA Equity Group LLC
OFFICER: Steven Lopez-Silvero
VIOLATIONS: Collier County Land Development Code 04-41, as amended,
Section 10.02.06(B)(1)(a). Installed a new metal building, with
electric, on improved occupied commercial property.
FOLIO NO: 63864280003
VIOLATION 114 New Market Road East, Immokalee, FL
ADDRESS:
VI. OLD BUSINESS
A. MOTION FOR REDUCTION/ABATEMENT OF FINES/LIENS
B. MOTION FOR RE-HEARING
C. MOTION FOR IMPOSITION OF FINES/LIENS
1. CASE NO: CEPM20160010841
OWNER: Community Association for Mill Run and Stonegate Collier
County Inc
OFFICER: Colleen Davidson
VIOLATIONS: Collier County Code of Laws and Ordinances, Chapter 22,
Article VI, Section 22-228(1) and Section 22-240(2)(c). Failure
to maintain lake/storm-water management retention by allowing
silt and rocks to alter the slope and configuration of the lake.
FOLIO NO: 29517500100
VIOLATION NO SITE ADDRESS
ADDRESS:
2. CASE NO: CESD20150001965
OWNER: Fabricio Fernandez and Allison J Fernandez
OFFICER: Boris Molina
VIOLATIONS: Collier County Land Development Code, 04-41, as amended,
Sections 10.02.06(B)(1)(e) and 10.02.06(B)(1)(a). Addition
added to the existing structure without first obtaining the proper
Collier County Building Permits.
FOLIO NO: 36457240005
VIOLATION 5472 32nd Ave SW, Naples, FL
ADDRESS:
3. CASE NO: CELU20180001084
OWNER: Judith Telfort
OFFICER: Jonathan Musse
VIOLATIONS: Collier County Code of Laws and Ordinances. Chapter 54,
Article VI, Section 54-179 and Collier County Land
Development Code, 04-41, as amended, Section 1.04.01(A) and
Section 2.02.03. Outside storage and/or litter consisting of but
not limited to: furniture, bed frames, tables, chairs, cardboard
boxes, foam, tarp, metals and plastic.
FOLIO NO: 77214040009
VIOLATION 158 5th St, Naples, FL
ADDRESS:
4. CASE NO: CELU20160010501
OWNER: Anthony V. Piccirilli EST
OFFICER: Colleen Davidson
VIOLATIONS: Collier County Land Development Code 04-41, as amended,
Section 1.04.01(A), Section 2.02.03, Section 10.02.06(B)(1)(a)
and Section 10.02.06(B)(1)(e)(i). Unpermitted alterations to the
carport structure resulting in residential use of industrially zoned
property.
FOLIO NO: 249120000
VIOLATION 1891 Elsa St, Naples, FL
ADDRESS:
5. CASE NO: CESD20170010243
OWNER: Jean Jorhel Decembre and Yoland Jean Domond
OFFICER: Maria Rodriguez
VIOLATIONS: Collier County Land Development Code 04-41, as amended,
Section 10.02.06(B)(1)(a) and 2017 Florida Building Code,
Sixth Edition, Chapter 4, Section 454.2.17. Unsecured
swimming pool missing an approved pool barrier in the rear
yard of improved occupied residential property.
FOLIO NO: 35771000003
VIOLATION 4257 17th Ave SW, Naples, FL
ADDRESS:
6. CASE NO: CELU20180001234
OWNER: Megan Gibson
OFFICER: Michael Odom
VIOLATIONS: Collier County Land Development Code 04-41, as amended,
Section 2.02.03 and Collier County Code of Laws and
Ordinances, Chapter 54, Article VI, Section 54-181 and Chapter
130, Article III, Section 130-96(a). Prohibited accessory use
without first having a permitted principal/primary use/structure.
Unauthorized outside storage of items including, but not limited
to, various pieces of furniture, two recreational vehicles, one
storage container, one boat, appliances, two vehicles, and
additionally, litter.
FOLIO NO: 38502240000
VIOLATION 128 37th Ave NE, Naples, FL
ADDRESS:
7. CASE NO: CESD20170004712
OWNER: IBO LLC
OFFICER: Tony Asaro
VIOLATIONS: Collier County Land Development Code 04-41, as amended,
Sections 10.02.06(B)(1)(a) and 10.02.06(B)(1)(e). Converted
part of the existing screened patio to an enclosed structure with
electric and air conditioning without first obtaining all required
Collier County Building Permits and approvals.
FOLIO NO: 63866840001
VIOLATION 313 Nixon Drive, Immokalee, FL
ADDRESS:
8. CASE NO: CESD20160020044
OWNER: Teresa Scoppettone
OFFICER: William Marchand
VIOLATIONS: Collier County Land Development Code 04-41, as amended,
Section 10.02.06(B)(1)(a). Interior renovations/alterations done
to interior including but not limited to; kitchen countertops,
cabinets, sink, also bathroom cabinets, countertops, toilets and
tile work. Work done includes electrical, plumbing and
structural.
FOLIO NO: 46770280004
VIOLATION 1714 Kings Lake Blvd, Naples, FL
ADDRESS:
9. CASE NO: CESD20170003341
OWNER: Eliseo Viamonte
OFFICER: Delicia Pulse
VIOLATIONS: Collier County Land Development Code 04-41, As amended,
Sections 10.02.06(B)(1)(a)(e) and (i). Alterations consisting of
but not limited to: garage conversion into living space with full
bathroom and a door installed in rear for private access, no
Collier County Permits obtained.
FOLIO NO: 36321920008
VIOLATION 5428 27th Ave SW, Naples, FL
ADDRESS:
10. CASE NO: CESD20140011921
OWNER: Omar Otero SR and Liliana L Portillo
OFFICER: Michael Odom
VIOLATIONS: Collier County Land Development Code 04-41, as amended,
Section 10.02.06(B)(1)(a). Expired permits for fencing and
structures on the property.
FOLIO NO: 39651600008
VIOLATION 4886 16th St NE, Naples, FL
ADDRESS:
11. CASE NO: CESD20140017894
OWNER: Jose F Garcia
OFFICER: Paula Guy
VIOLATIONS: Collier County Land Development Code 04-41, as amended,
Section 10.02.06(B)(1)(A). Incomplete home.
FOLIO NO: 40420400004
VIOLATION 2087 Desoto Blvd North, Naples, FL
ADDRESS:
12. CASE NO: CESD20160020990
OWNER: A&B Web Ventures LLC
OFFICER: Joseph Mucha
VIOLATIONS: Collier County Land Development Code 04-41, as amended,
Section(s) 10.02.06(B)(1)(a) and 10.02.06(B)(1)(e). Screen
enclosure removed prior to obtaining Collier County Permit(s).
FOLIO NO: 33400000169
VIOLATION 408 La Peninsula Blvd, Naples, FL
ADDRESS:
13. CASE NO: CESD20170002774
OWNER: N-A Properties LLC
OFFICER: Delicia Pulse
VIOLATIONS: Collier County Land Development Code 04-41, as amended,
10.02.06(B)(1)(a)(e) and (i). In ground swimming pool on
property with no barrier and no permits obtained.
FOLIO NO: 38169440007
VIOLATION 5630 Copper Leaf Ln, Naples, FL
ADDRESS:
D. MOTION TO RESCIND PREVIOUSLY ISSUED ORDER
E. MOTION TO AMEND PREVIOUSLY ISSUED ORDER
VII. NEW BUSINESS
VIII. CONSENT AGENDA
A. REQUEST TO FORWARD CASES TO COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
IX. REPORTS
X. COMMENTS
XI. NEXT MEETING DATE - FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2018
XII. ADJOURN
October 26, 2018
Page 2
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning, everybody. I'd like to
call the Code Enforcement Board to order.
If you have a cell phone, perfect opportunity to turn off the ringer.
Notice: The respondents may be limited to 20 minutes for case
presentation unless additional time is granted by the Board.
Persons wishing to speak on any agenda item will receive up to
five minutes unless the time is adjusted by the Chairman. All parties
participating in the public hearing are asked to observe Robert's Rules
of Order and speak one at a time so that the court reporter can record
all statements being made.
Any person who decides to appeal a decision of the Board will
need a record of the proceedings pertaining thereto and, therefore, may
need to ensure 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.
Now, if you'll all rise, we'll do the Pledge.
(The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. I guess everybody has gotten
the minutes. Do we have any changes, additions, comments on the
minutes?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, get a motion to
approve?
MR. LEFEBVRE: Motion to approve.
MR. ASHTON: Second.
MR. WHITE: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second. All
those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
October 26, 2018
Page 3
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: (No verbal response.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Okay. We will now move to the agenda.
MR. BLANCO: Mr. Kaufman, would you like for me to do a roll
call?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Sure. We might as well. Anybody
not here raise your hand. No, no.
Go ahead.
MR. BLANCO: Mr. Robert Kaufman?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Here.
MR. BLANCO: Mr. Gerald Lefebvre?
MR. LEFEBVRE: Here.
MR. BLANCO: Ms. Kathleen Elrod?
MS. ELROD: Here.
MR. BLANCO: Mr. Robert Ashton?
MR. ASHTON: Here.
MR. BLANCO: Ms. Sue Curley?
MS. CURLEY: Here.
MR. BLANCO: Mr. Ryan White?
MR. WHITE: Here.
MR. BLANCO: Mr. Ronald Doino has an excused absence, and
Herminio Ortega has an excused absence.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. BLANCO: Okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So today Ryan will be a full voting
member, for the record.
October 26, 2018
Page 4
MR. BLANCO: Roman Numeral 5, public hearings, motions,
Letter B, stipulations, we have one addition. Case No.
CENA20180012534, Evergreen Trust.
Letter C, hearings, Case No. 1, Case No. CESD2018005203,
Deep Lake Ops, LLC, has been withdrawn.
Number 4, Case No. CESD20180008387, Viviana Escobar, has
been withdrawn.
Number 5, Case No. CEV20180008337, Michael A. Dewitt, has
been withdrawn.
Number 6, Case No. CEAU20180009226, Janice Masey, has
been withdrawn.
Roman Numeral 7, old business, Letter C, motion for imposition
of fines/liens, No. 8, Case No. CESD20160020044, Teresa
Scoppettone, has been withdrawn.
Roman numeral 7, new business, we have two additions, two
emergency cases. First one, Case No. CEPM20180012643, Renault
Cavens (phonetic) and Eddie Hunter.
Number 2, Case No. CEPM -- CENA20180012534, Evergreen
Trust, and that's all the changes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Can we get a motion to
accept the agenda changes?
MR. ASHTON: Motion to accept the agenda changes.
MS. ELROD: Second.
MR. WHITE: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Second. All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: (No verbal response.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
October 26, 2018
Page 5
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MR. BLANCO: First item on the agenda, it's Roman Numeral 5,
public hearings/motions, Letter B, stipulations, one emergency case.
Case No. CENA20180012534, Evergreen Trust.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: That's not on our agenda, correct?
MR. BLANCO: That's an emergency case that was added under
Roman Numeral 7, new business.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I see one for Judith Telfort.
MR. LEFEBVRE: We have no paperwork on that; is that what
you're saying?
MR. BLANCO: What's that?
MR. LEFEBVRE: There's no paperwork on this, correct?
MR. BLANCO: It's on the -- you guys want to see the actual case
file or the stipulation agreement?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We're just looking for it here. If it's
here, that's fine. If it's not, that's fine. We'll use the computer.
MR. BLANCO: No. The emergency cases were added after the
agenda was published. We do have the case files, but since they
signed a stip, we just have the stip on the visualizer at this moment.
MR. LEFEBVRE: All right.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So the emergency case is on the
screen?
MR. BLANCO: Correct.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Can you make that a little larger, please, for
the seeing impaired, i.e., me.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So, Danny, just to make a confused
person unconfused, is this on our screens at all?
October 26, 2018
Page 6
MR. LEFEBVRE: No.
MR. BLANCO: No, just on the TV screens.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Can you just give us a quick synopsis of the
case, then?
MR. MUCHA: Yes. For the record, Joe Mucha, Collier County
Code Enforcement.
This compliant deals with -- it's basically an abandoned golf
course that we've had a lot of issues with in the past about being
overgrown, not being maintained, and it actually -- the complaint came
into the commissioner's office, so that's why we wanted to bring it --
MR. LEFEBVRE: Lakewood Boulevard, correct?
MR. MUCHA: Yes, sir.
MR. LEFEBVRE: We had a case couple years ago regarding a
drainage ditch or something that the county went in and cleaned out
because it was flooding streets.
MR. MUCHA: Yes, sir.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Very good, thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Do you want to read the
stipulation into the record?
MR. MUCHA: Yes, sir. For the record, again, Joe Mucha,
Collier County Code Enforcement.
I met with the trustee of the Evergreen Trust, David King,
yesterday, and he agreed to pay operational costs in the amount of
$59.33 incurred in the prosecution of this case within 30 days of this
hearing;
Number 2, to abate all violations by mowing or causing to mow
all weeds, grass, or other similar non-protected overgrowth in excess
of 18 inches in height on this lot to a height of less than six inches
within 14 days of this hearing, or a fine of $50 per day will be imposed
until the violation is abated;
Number 3, respondent must notify Code Enforcement within 24
October 26, 2018
Page 7
hours of abatement of the violation and request the investigator
perform a site inspection and confirm compliance;
Number 4, that if the respondent fails to abate the violation, the
county may abate the violation using any method to bring the violation
into compliance and may use the assistance of the Collier County
Sheriff's Office to enforce the provisions of this agreement, and all
costs of abatement shall be assessed to the property owner.
And I just wanted to say, the reason for the 14 days, I met with
Mr. King yesterday, and he had had -- excuse me -- had a landscape
contractor there with him, and the landscape contractor's kind of
backed up, but he asked if I could give him 7 to 10 days, so we just
figured we'll do 14 days just in case, you know, a couple days there
extra.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Any discussion on it? Don't
forget to use your buttons. Oh, Gerald.
MR. LEFEBVRE: All right. My mother lives in the
neighborhood, and I drive by this property, and this is the first time it's
only in front of us, but this property's been in this condition for many
years.
MR. MUCHA: Yes, sir.
MR. LEFEBVRE: I think the $50 fine is a little bit low. I know
that it's what it's agreed upon, and without hearing the whole case, we
have to either approve this or not. But just personally I think the $50 is
a little bit low.
MR. MUCHA: The only reason I kind of went with that is
because it's never actually been to a hearing as far as for the grass
before, and Mr. King is actually new, the new trustee to this. He
bought it from the gentleman, I guess, that had it before; sold off his
part of the trust to him.
So I'm kind of giving him the benefit of the doubt. And
hopefully, with this new contractor, it's going to be maintained moving
October 26, 2018
Page 8
forward. We'll see. I just want to get the adjudication.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Just for the record, our
buttons don't seem to be working today. You folks don't know what
I'm talking about, but neither do I; no. We have little buttons that you
push so I know who to call on to speak. So we'll do it the old way.
Oh. That's a way. Would you like to say something?
MS. CURLEY: Yes, please.
So can you just tell me, so there's been no code complaints or
anything about this up until now?
MR. MUCHA: We've received several code complaints in the
past. I mean, it just kind of got really bad, and that's the point where it
reached the commissioner's office, and the commissioner contacted our
office.
But we've had over the years, I want to say -- I mean, numerous
complaints. We actually brought it to a hearing before, and we were
ready to prosecute it, and then the guy came up at the last minute and
swore up and down he was going to cut it, and he did. And we didn't
-- we withdrew the case. So we kind of gave him a stay of execution
before, but this time I wanted to move forward with it no matter what.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The individual knows that grass
continues to grow, so even though you cut it now --
MR. MUCHA: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: -- it might be in need of cutting in
the future.
MR. MUCHA: Yes, sir.
MS. CURLEY: So do you think in the future maybe asking for
him to have a contract with this landscaper --
MR. MUCHA: That's what I think he's trying to set up now, and
it was a reputable -- it was Renfroe & Jackson, which is a pretty
reputable company in town. So I'm hoping that will --
MS. CURLEY: And that he gets paid?
October 26, 2018
Page 9
MR. MUCHA: Yes, sir -- yes, ma'am.
MS. CURLEY: Okay. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Any other comments on this?
MR. LEFEBVRE: Make a motion to approve.
MR. WHITE: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion.
MS. CURLEY: Second.
MR. LEFEBVRE: And a second. All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: (No verbal response.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Thank you.
MR. BLANCO: Next item on the agenda is Roman Numeral 5,
Public hearings/motions, Letter C, hearings, No. 2, Case No.
CEPM20180007088, William E. Marten.
MR. MARCHAND: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning. Could you state
your name on the mike, please.
MR. MARCHAND: For the record, Investigator William
Marchand, Collier County Code Enforcement.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning, everybody. Could
you state your name on the microphone for us, please.
MR. MARTEN: My name is William Marten.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And you can put the microphone up
October 26, 2018
Page 10
for you, and then you can put it down.
MS. MARTEN: I'm Roberta Marten, and I'll be doing most of
the talking, so the mike will stay down.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We understand. Okay.
The way this is handled is the county goes first and then you go.
Okay.
MR. MARCHAND: This is in reference to Case No.
CEPM20180007088 dealing with violation of Chapter 22, Article VI,
Section 22-231(12)(c) described as roof and fascia damage located at
3880 Skyway Drive, Naples, Florida, 34112; Folio No. 82940040009.
Service was given September 4th, 2018.
I would now like to present case evidence: Three photos of the
property taken by myself on August 21st, 2018, and another four
photos of the property taken by myself on October 25th, 2018.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Have you seen those photos?
MS. MARTEN: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do you have any objection to them
being presented?
MS. MARTEN: No.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Get a motion from the Board
to accept the --
MR. ASHTON: Motion to accept.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion to accept.
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And a second. All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: (No verbal response.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
October 26, 2018
Page 11
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously. Thank you.
MR. MARCHAND: As you can see from the photos, there's roof
and fascia damage along the house.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: On that photo is that -- can you go
back one notch.
MS. CURLEY: Is that back DECRA?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yeah. Is that metal? Tile? What?
MR. MARCHAND: I believe it's tile.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. That's over the lanai area?
MR. MARCHAND: Yes.
MS. MARTEN: I'm going to show you a drawing of the house,
because it's very unique, and then you'll understand this kind of
complicated picture.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Fine.
MS. CURLEY: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Next picture?
MR. BLANCO: Those are all the pictures.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. MARCHAND: All right. Code Enforcement originally
received a complaint on May 9th, 2018, from a concerned citizen in
the neighborhood. Code Enforcement Investigator John Johnson made
the first site inspection on May 10th, 2018, where he observed the
damages to the roof and fascia.
This case was transferred to me on August 21st, 2018, where I
made my first site inspection and observed the damages to the roof and
fascia.
I spoke to the homeowner, Roberta Marten, the same day by
telephone where she explained to me that she was still dealing with
their insurance company for money on the damages to the home.
October 26, 2018
Page 12
On September 4th, 2018, I made a personal service attempt with a
notice of violation. As of my last inspection yesterday, October 25th,
this violation still exists.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Do you have any questions of
the officer?
MS. MARTEN: No, except I would say that the homeowner is
William Marten. I am not the homeowner. I am the wife.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. MARTEN: Just for the record.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. And why don't you tell us and
show -- do you have any pictures that you want to present or --
MS. MARTEN: Yes. I was told we had plenty of time, but I
have 40 pages, but they'll go quick, because you said 20 minutes.
So I wanted to thank the Chairman Kaufman and the Code
Enforcement Board for giving us this opportunity to respond to this
notice. And I wanted to thank John Johnson who started and with
William Marchand and all the staff members who've been helpful.
Danny's going to help. He's going to put these pictures up on the board
so you can see each of them as they go.
We have -- where is the paperwork? We have eight inches of
paperwork. I wanted you to see that we have not been doing nothing.
That's all the paperwork to have to do with trying to get our house back
to being our home.
We have been homeless for a year. We have moved to seven
homes. My husband is a building contractor, and kind people have
given us a place to stay, or we have had to rent a roach motel. We will
be moving for the seventh time tomorrow.
And because we've used up nearly all our savings, we wanted to
present to you what we hope: You will give us a little time in order to
recoup a little bit of over a $300,000 loss.
So, Danny, if you would start. Page 1.
October 26, 2018
Page 13
MR. BLANCO: Mr. Kaufman, would you like to --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Has the county seen these
exhibits?
MR. MARCHAND: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do you have any problem with that?
MR. MARCHAND: No.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Take a motion from the
Board to accept them.
MR. ASHTON: Motion to accept.
MS. ELROD: Motion to accept.
MR. WHITE: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second. All
those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: (No verbal response.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Okay, Danny.
MS. MARTEN: Okay. The pictures that William took were far
better than any that I've been able to take. And when you were looking
at them, it looked a little complicated.
This is a -- basically a round house with an octagon living room
in the center that raises up another, what, three feet --
MR. MARTEN: Three feet.
MS. MARTEN: -- three feet above the circular tile roof. It
comes up, and it's an octagon. So when you're driving by and you
October 26, 2018
Page 14
don't even see that there's any damage to our home because the only
place where that are tarps -- and there are now -- have been six roofs
applied to that flat area.
Bill, do you want to point the Board to that flat area.
The insurance company put two on made of Visqueen which, as
you know, Visqueen completely disintegrates within two and a half to
three weeks. And you cannot put a tarp on a flat roof because it opens
up in the sun and lets the water pour through.
So in talking with the SBA, they told me to go and get a -- get
tarps from billboard covers. So we went to Venice after researching;
found a company there that donated billboard covers to people like us
in the hurricane, and we went there and filled the car up, came back,
Bill applied the final tarp, which is now our sixth roof, to the unit, and
we gave the rest to the emergency people that we had contacted in
Everglades City. We gave about a dozen. That was as much as our car
could handle.
So I just wanted you to understand it is this octagon part that is
torn off. But the wind lifted the entire tile roof and set it back. So it's
completely disconnected, but it doesn't leak. So nothing leaks.
And also, you'll see that on the side that the neighbor is looking
from, the roof comes right up to the tile like this, whereas around the
front of the house we have the windows that you saw. They're on the
southwest and north side, our windows, and then there's no windows in
the back.
Next one, please. Page 2. I'm just trying to set the scene here so
you understand why there was even this complaint. This is our
community, a photo from Google or whatever. Our house is the one --
the round one, obviously, and the neighbor who's made the complaint
is the one next door. Please note that he bought that house with his
lanai -- his living room and lanai looks directly on the side roof of our
house. That is the house he chose to have a view that looks at
October 26, 2018
Page 15
somebody's roof. Okay.
And across the street, that house over there is our neighbor, and
they -- I have letters attesting that we have been there every Sunday.
My husband works six days a week as a builder. On the seventh day
we go and we work on our house.
Okay. Next page, please.
This is the letter that the neighbor wrote on the second of May on
my birthday. And if you read it on your computers, you will see that
it's exceedingly vicious, as everyone would suggest, and a big issue
was that he wanted a tree cut down that is on our front yard.
Wing South -- how many of you are familiar with Wing South?
Wing South is a condominiumized community, but we have
single-family homes, and we live on a footprint, and 25 feet in front
and back of our house is limited common element which you can put
your gardens on or do whatever you like.
Our house was an original model, and it has two beautiful
magnificent oak trees that balance out the front landscaping. One of
them -- I saw it. The one that's on his side, he's decided, because he
has chosen not to carry any insurance for hurricanes anymore, that he
wanted it cut down. The Board denied him cutting it down. They
would not -- they would not cut it down. They said there's no problem
with this tree. So now he's gone ahead, and he's trying to poison it by,
he has directed all of the water from his entire roof area over to our
house and to this tree, and I'll show you that ditch.
So I wanted to just kind of let you see this is a vicious letter. And
the next page, please. I wrote the Board right away. It took five days
to respond because I am not good with the computer and terrible about
getting pictures on things. So it took a while to get it together.
But the first -- Page 4, that's just a start of a list, which I'll go over
later, of the things we had done. And I had asked the Board, as we
kept them in -- kept letting them know what we were doing, to please
October 26, 2018
Page 16
let the community know. Would you send our letter out to the
community, and they refused to do that. They said, if anybody wants
to know, they should come up and ask you.
So I wanted to eliminate gossip and wrong information, because
in his nasty letter, he says it was abandoned and he told Investigator
Johnson that our home was abandoned. He lives next door. He has
seen us every Sunday. I think we've missed five Sundays in one year.
And we always have trash cans out and yard waste out, da, da, da, da
out there. So he knows.
And the neighbor across the street will either -- take in the trash
cans if my husband can't get back down there on Monday morning.
So Page 5, please. This is more of our response that we gave to
the Board outlining each of the ugly things that he's said. At the
bottom of the page -- Danny, at the bottom of the page, I want you to
see that was our house. Right after the hurricane, that pile, which is
more than 20 feet long on the left, that is debris that we removed from
our home and our area, and then some of the neighbors added to it as
well.
And on the right, that's when we started -- when we realized the
insurance company wasn't getting their act in gear fast enough. And it
says on your insurance you are to do everything to protect your home
as much as you can from further damage. We took -- there's two there,
and then two more Bagsters, and we took down physically -- he's 73,
I'm 71. We took down, from 14 feet up, every inch of wet Sheetrock
and all the molded insulation and had it -- and paid to send it away.
Next page, please. So you can see on this next page in the
pictures, that's -- in the center that's us going to Venice to go get the
tarps. On the left, you can see the tarp sloppily put up there. That's
what the insurance company did, and they had that Visqueen flapping
off of all eight sides. And I said to Bill, we can't have that stuff
flapping up there. The wind's going to catch it and take it off, because
October 26, 2018
Page 17
on the roof you have a fascia about this wide that goes all the way
around the eight sides. And so batten boards go horizontally.
And what my husband did was cut off all the excess material so
it's only the depth of the fascia so that it looked neat, and it wasn't
caught by the wind.
So this is letters -- like Roy said, in 22 years, we've never taken
care of the trees. I went back and got a Signature Tree Company and
Angels Tree. We had had it professionally trimmed twice, and my
husband trims it. He's got a -- how tall is -- how long is your saw?
MR. MARTEN: With an eight-foot ladder, you can probably get
30 feet.
MS. MARTEN: So, you know -- and he's been trimming it for
the 15 years I've been married to him.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Let me stop you for one second. Let
me explain the procedure, which I think needs explaining.
After you testify, we're going to deliberate to see if a violation
exists. If a violation does not exist, we will say goodbye. If a violation
does exist, then we will try to come up with something time-wise, et
cetera, to take care of the situation.
So I think if you want to go through 40 pages, you can certainly
do it. I think at least I have a pretty good idea of what it is, and there
are literally thousands of homes in Collier County with tarps still on
them, et cetera, et cetera. So we all got hit from the hurricane. We're
aware of that.
Okay. At this point, any comments from the Board?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Hearing none, so if you want
to continue, that's fine.
MS. MARTEN: Thank you. I would like to.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. MARTEN: Danny, if you would just, since two of my -- one
October 26, 2018
Page 18
-- Page 10 was pictures like William had. Page 11, please. Knowing
that my neighbor had an awful view of the side of the house all of his
life, I planted this beautiful firebush that we allowed to grow 10 feet
tall so that -- he's up at about five feet because he has a raised lanai.
And so he has mostly a view of that rather than the roof.
Next page, please. Just as a comparison, this is the clubhouse,
and that is the shape it was in, looking like that mess, until just two
weeks ago. That picture was taken in June, and he had no complaint
about that, and he drove there every day to get his mail next door, but
he -- you saw the pictures that William took, how neat our roof looks.
So just -- okay.
All right, please, the next page, No. 13. This is a timeline of the
letter that Roy Myers wrote. He wrote it on the 2nd, and in the letter it
says if he doesn't -- you know, if things don't work out, he could
always go to the county commissioners.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Let me stop you one second. The
second of?
MS. MARTEN: May.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. MARTEN: Okay. Then on the 7th of May, the Board
reviewed it, and they sent it by email to us. I wrote back and said it
would take a few days for me to respond to this vicious mess, and you
saw it took me two or three pages to do that.
Then on the 9th, just seven days after he sent the letter to the
Board, to our board of directors, he called the county enforcement. He
did not give any time for anyone to respond. And on the 12th, just five
days after we got the letter from the Board, we responded to their
letter.
So Roy Myers did not, in any good way, try to give the Board or
us any opportunity to respond to his concerns.
Next one, please. His response was, because he was angry, was
October 26, 2018
Page 19
to dig this trench where he has now put a big pipe from his downspout
in the middle of his house, bringing all of his roof water across and
over to the corner of our property. And the tree is right there, and he's
trying to drown it. And the arborist had told us and him that excess
water would cause roots to raise, which they are, and the tree to die,
and that is his response.
Next page, please. This is a letter from -- at the top. This is from
our neighbor across the street, Rich Lytle, and he is a board member
for Wing South. And it says here that he thinks that the problems are a
preference in landscaping. Our neighbor doesn't like any kind of
plants. And he said that the Martens do come out every weekend and
work on the place. And Roy Myers told your investigators that we had
abandoned the house, and I just wanted that for proof of that statement.
Let's go to Page 17, please. That looks like the same thing; sorry.
Skip -- go to Page 19. This is a timeline. Any questions so far?
(No response.)
MS. MARTEN: Okay. This is a timeline of what we have done
to try to be responsible citizens and get our home back, because all of
you know that you would like to be in your home rather than moving
dead people's clothes out of a closet so you have a little space in which
to put your things to stay in somebody's house, and that we had to do.
This is a timeline from the day after the hurricane of all the things
that we have done. It includes the activities with the insurance
company, it includes getting roofs, it includes spending seven hours at
the FEMA and SBA with Tower Hill people as early as the 13th of
September last year where they sent all the pictures from my phone
because I didn't know how to do that, and so they sent them all in with
a local representative of Tower Hill Insurance. So they had -- the
insurance company had all this from their own local vice president
from several days after the hurricane.
And as you see, as you go through in sum -- we hired a public
October 26, 2018
Page 20
adjuster on 10/25, because after a month and a half of not getting any
kind of help from the insurance company and them giving us a new
adjuster every two or three days -- when I would call, we had a new
adjuster. We had five adjusters in one month and, of course, there
were two other hurricanes that had just gone on, and they were all just
scrambling.
So we hired a public adjuster, Keys Claims. It was recommended
by some people who know who's doing what. That's going to cost us
35- to $40,000.
And we went through -- and I wanted to show you that we went
ahead and immediately got estimates from every single contractor that
we would need to put that house back together, and I think that shows
you -- if you would go on to Page 20, since I don't have it -- that we
have tried very hard to get our house back and to do everything. And
on Page 20, which somehow the copier didn't get there -- but we've
even gone to -- we got our survey and elevation in preparation of our
permit. We had that in January.
We had to get engineers. We had to get an architect, because the
homeowners association doesn't want flat roofs anymore, and it has to
be architecturally changed to a pointy roof, so we may have to hire an
architect and an engineer with your own funds. That won't come under
anything from the insurance company.
Now, we've also gone to looking at demolition, and we've gotten
demolition costs as well. I think -- is that the end of it? Is that the last
one? Because I don't have that page. Okay.
And then the -- most recently we just paid the Umpire. When you
use a public adjuster, you start with -- your public adjuster turns in all
their paperwork, and on the timeline -- that was about -- she was hired
in October. March was when that went in. Then they couldn't agree to
anything there, so the next thing is appraisers. And the appraisal -- the
appraiser was in -- I don't see when the appraiser came. Anyway, the
October 26, 2018
Page 21
appraiser came a few months back, and then that didn't work. They
couldn't negotiate anything. They were still $125,000 apart, as though
we had somehow inflated all these prices.
And then you go to an umpire, that's another name for an
arbitrator, as you all know, in the insurance industry. That person
arrived on September 4th. They gave us only, on October 11th, just a
couple of weeks ago, what they say they're going to give us, but I can
tell you gentlemen and ladies, until I see that check and it cashes, I'm
not going to believe what they say they're giving us. But be that as it
may, we have, I think, done everything we can.
Next page, please. I didn't notice on this notice of violation, one
of the things it said was to maintain the roof in a safe manner with no
defects that might admit rain or cause dampness in walls or interior
portions of the building. That house has had a solid roof on it, six, and
now the one my husband put up is the only one that's been rain proof,
and it has been dry for many, many, many months, and it does not
provide anybody with any kind of dangerous places.
Okay, next. We did attempt and got an SBA loan. It took us one
year, and it cost us $900 in doc stamps, because it's a mortgage. The
goal was that we could use it maybe for a place to live, or we could use
it to start the house. But the second page, if you'll go to the next page,
very clearly says, and it's underlined, "You must demonstrate the
availability of any additional funds needed in excess of this amount in
order to build your house back. So you cannot use the SBA money
until you prove from your insurance company or other forces that you
have all the money needed."
We did not have all the money needed. Our estimate for our
house is $470,000. The first insurance person came in and said it was
$11,000. And there has been no additional damage since their visit.
We had one roof put on by them in Visqueen for $1,000. Then
when they came back and put the second one on, they charged the
October 26, 2018
Page 22
insurance company $2,000 for the exact same roof, and then they
didn't even tie it down on the east side, so it blew away. And so that
became up to $14,000. There is a huge difference between 14- and
470,000, and that's why we are working.
So I wanted to show you we went ahead and spent the money to
get an SBA loan. Nobody at SBA told me we couldn't use it the way I
said we wanted to.
Next page you can skip over. Page 25. All right, we have already
seen that one. That's just a picture. You see the front of the house. At
the top there's just a one-foot fascia and then below it is windows on
this side in the front, and that was a picture taken when all the blue
tarps were hanging. And my husband went back, and he trimmed them
off because we wanted them to look as neat in the community as
possible. So nothing is below the level of the fascia boards.
Next, please. I just wanted to prove to you that we had signed a
letter of agreement with Keys Claims, and this is our letter hiring Keys
Claims just as soon as they could get there.
Next, please. This is the quality of the roof that the insurance
company put on. It is blowing in the wind, because when my husband
went up there when I said there's some strange noise in the house when
we got there Sunday, they didn't tell us they came back and put this
one up. He went up there, and he said, well, they ran out of batten
boards on the east side, so they just left it half loose, and that's the
wind billowing it up. So my husband had to go up there and batten
that down.
But Visqueen only lasts two-and-a-half to three weeks, and then it
disintegrates completely. I don't believe we've picked up a yard of flat
Visqueen off two roofs. Everything else has disintegrated to powder.
Next, please. This is a letter from Keys Claims Insurance, and we
were asked what's the time frame. And so in this letter dated May
11th, they indicate that it would probably take at least till November
October 26, 2018
Page 23
for the insurance company to get us some money, and it also says that
it should take maybe six months to a year and a half to rebuild the
house given the fact that the contractors are so busy, and now with the
new hurricane that's just gone through in North Florida, you will see a
lot of contractors from here going up there.
Next, please. This is just a letter to show you that on July 12th
we did let the Board know, and we have let the board of directors
know on a regular basis what we've been doing and updating and asked
them -- and this is to prove -- I asked them to please send it to the
whole community to try to eliminate any other people. What they
have told me, there is no one in the community who has complained
about our house except for the next-door neighbor.
Next, please. This is just to prove to you that we did get what we
said, and that was a survey. I just did a part of the survey so you can
see we have the legal survey, and we also -- the next page -- had an
elevation certificate done, both of those in expectation of getting a
permit to rebuild our house.
Page 32, please, next. This is the insurance company timeline,
and this our interactions with the insurance company. We called them
on November 11th -- September 11th. We were one of the few areas
that had cell phone use. We sent them all the photos through their staff
members that were out at New Hope Church at the disaster center on
the 13th, so they had over 100 pictures that I had taken, because our
ceiling started to fall in, and it would have killed us if we had been
sitting in the chairs below it, and then all the artwork started falling off
the walls because it was 100 percent soaked walls.
They sent the estimator on November 17th, and he said it was 14
-- totaled out at $14,379 when our estimate from Keys Claims is
479,000.
Then we had the appraisal done on 6/26 when they send an
appraiser estimator, and Georgia Keys of Keys Claims represents us as
October 26, 2018
Page 24
our appraiser. They could not get together on some sort of agreement,
so then we went to the umpire, which was September 4th, and his
decision has come to us on the 11th of this month, but we still have
seen no money.
Next, please. This is an email -- a text message from a person
that they sent -- Joe whatever his name is. He was supposed to be a
Tower Hill certified preferred roofing inspector. This email -- it's a text
message -- basically that says that he can get our roof done in a week
or two for 88,750. What it doesn't say is that he said it would cost
about $70,000, and at the bottom he says, tell the Martens to play ball,
and everyone wins. He wanted to split the $17,000 with us. He will,
when we're all done, get turned into the state because this is fraud, and
he's doing this with hundreds and hundreds of families.
So we have been subjected to fraud along the way and to
estimates by their estimators of ridiculous numbers.
Okay. Next page, please. These items will show you the
progression of money. This is the first estimate and Tower Hill saying
that our deductible was larger than our loss, so we're at a minus $102.
If you go down to the next one, this is the last page of a 34-page
estimate done by Keys Claims, and it shows $479,331, final total
estimate.
Then if you go to the next page, this is what was just sent to us on
October 11th, and all along we have had to wait for the money because
the piggy bank is empty, and we can't afford to get a permit for X
thousands of dollars for a roof that's going to be in the -- now probably
90- or $100,000.
This shows that they will send the money, and they say it's going
to be 359,000. That's our expected payment.
Next, please. This is a financial evaluation now. You know, we
didn't have an attorney, and we don't have an accountant, and I'm
neither, so I did the best I could. But this is a financial explanation that
October 26, 2018
Page 25
I hope will make it clear why we're going to ask you for what we ask.
The potential payment is the 359,000, as you can see. Keys Claims will
get their 10 percent. Then we had to pay the umpire out of our pocket,
and then there are other bills we've paid out of our pocket, which
includes the forensics scientist that we paid, the company that
inspected the doors and windows. I forget all these other people that
we've paid. So that made a $310,000 remaining.
Now, if you look at the estimate on the right, the repair estimate's
479-, the insurance remainder is 310-. That's a loss of 168,600 that we
don't have to pay for repairs.
So then I went down to the next option is to tear the house down
because there's not money to pay for it. So I took that amount, I paid
off the mortgage is the next line. Then the personal loss which is
furniture we don't have anymore and clothes and housing, and that's
$40,000. That was the amount estimated. The demolition amount that
we got from demolition companies, about 25-, maybe 20-, it just
depends on what they find.
So -- and then to this disinfect -- and we have an estimate to
disinfect, pack, move, and unpack and store our belongings for
approximately six months at $32,000. That leaves us maybe $53,000.
So if you move over to the right-hand side there, you'll see the
value of our home before this hurricane was around 600,000. After,
we'll have a lot left of around 200,000, maybe 250-, and then we have
to add back the $53,000 left for the insurance. That gives us $253,000.
If you look at the value before the home it's 600,000 and the value
after the 253-, we have a loss of $346,000; therefore, we have now
moved to the last leg, and that is to hire a realtor. I am a real estate
broker, but I don't practice. So we hired just now -- in fact, we haven't
even signed the agreements, but we're moving ahead with the
marketing. We've hired a REMAX specialist.
Okay. Next page -- okay. The page that's up there, down at the
October 26, 2018
Page 26
bottom, if you could slide it down a little bit, this is an analysis of what
has shown -- sold in our area, in our neighborhood, and down at the
bottom you'll see that the average for selling a lot is 742 days.
Now, I know you're not giving us 742 days to do anything. But I
wanted you to see that, because we have to work with the reality of
what's happening.
The other big problem that's happened -- go to the next page,
please -- is our board of directors a couple of years ago took a
commercial piece of property that we had and converted it into five
large lots that are outside the gated area but still on the runway and part
of Wing South. They have offered it to all of the 59 homeowners
commission free, so that becomes part of our competition, and that will
last until December 31st. So they are in competition with their own
owners.
So the letter from the -- that's a letter from Wing South reminding
people that if you want it at a bargain, you know, go get it now.
So the next one, Page 41, and I'm almost done, is a letter from the
realtor that we've hired, and he is going to -- he wants to market it
as-is, and I am seeing more and more in the paper and in MLS, people
are trying to sell their houses as-is with damage and under a program
he calls value-range marketing concept. And so he has asked for a
minimum of six months to try to market it, and if any of you know real
estate, you know that's being very limited.
So we understand that it is your job to define for us if you will
give us any time. Now, seeing that we have lost 350-some-thousand
dollars is our loss, we would like to try to recoup at least a little of that
by trying to sell the house as-is. With value-range marketing, the
property will be offered in the unique marketing that's from, like, about
240,000, which would be the lot itself, to about 375-, which would
include all the rest of this house. This is a 2,500-square-foot house,
4,100 square feet total. So someone would be getting three-quarters of
October 26, 2018
Page 27
a house, because the only rooms that are damaged are the living room,
the kitchen ceiling, half of the master bathroom ceiling. That's -- and
the roof and the air-conditioning ductwork has to be replaced.
So what we have asked, and if you'll go to Page 42, the last page,
to maximize our losses and provide ourselves with the hope of a proper
place to live, we have engaged a REMAX realtor, as you know. We
realize that any new home that we purchase will be less than half of the
value of our former home, because that's all we'll be able to afford.
The market analysis has been done, and a plan of action has been
created to mark this home as-is -- market this home as-is. Working
against us, as I just mentioned, is Wing South board of directors selling
things without commissions.
Our only hope is to try to recover even a small part of our losses
and to try to sell the house as-is. So if that becomes impossible after a
specific length of time, then we must tear it down and sell the lot and,
as you can see, the lots are taking 700 days to sell.
So what our request is is that we are asking for eight months in
which to market our home for sale as-is, and at the end of that time, if
it has not sold, we will then tear it down, and we will need, according
to the demolition people, up to three months for permitting and tearing
it down.
And that's our request to you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Well, to say that you are
detail oriented is an understatement, to say the least.
MS. MARTEN: I didn't know what parts you needed to know.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, we have them all now. Okay.
MS. MARTEN: Thank you for listening.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It's our pleasure. Do we have any
comments from the Board to begin with?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The first thing we need to do is find
October 26, 2018
Page 28
out if a violation exists. Before any time or anything would be
discussed, we have to find out if there is a violation.
MS. MARTEN: We were supposed to have a permit for a new
roof by September 24th, is it? And it was not possible to come up with
the funding without money to put in for a permit for -- my husband
said it could be an $8,000 permit. We couldn't put in for a permit for
the roof and the things to be done without the funds, and we don't have
those funds yet because the insurance company has not paid them, and
we cannot use the SBA mortgage funds for that.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Mr. Kaufman, could I say something
before you guys vote?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Before we make a motion.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Exactly. First, I'd like to say that was
some of the best testimony I've seen here at this Code Enforcement
Board.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I think it was the best.
MR. LETOURNEAU: I mean, I've seen high-priced attorneys
that didn't give that kind of testimony.
MS. MARTEN: Thank you.
MS. NICOLA: I was thinking the same thing.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Secondly, that water drainage that you're
talking about your neighbor doing, that could be a code violation.
MS. MARTEN: We have turned him in.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Okay. All right.
Thirdly, Code Enforcement works for every community member,
yourself included, also your neighbor. So we had to bring this case
because it was going on too long.
We do take a reactive approach to the damage done by Hurricane
Irma. So normally we wouldn't have been, you know, knocking on
your door to give you this notice of violation; however, since we had a
October 26, 2018
Page 29
complaint, we had to do it.
You asked for eight months at the end of that; is that what I
heard?
MS. MARTEN: Eight months to sell it as-is, and if it -- I mean,
normally, you know, you'd like a year on anybody's listing agreement.
As a realtor, I would never take one if it wasn't at least a year's listing.
But we know that's more than you're going to give, so we kind of
asked if we could have eight months.
MR. LETOURNEAU: The county has no objection to that eight
months at this point.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Well, we're not going to talk
about days until we find out whether a violation exists.
Okay. My director box here with names on it is now working.
Sue?
MS. CURLEY: I would like to make a motion that there's no
violation.
MS. MARTEN: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a motion. Do we
have a second?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I'll second it for purposes of
discussion. I know there are thousands of houses in Collier County
with tarps on them, and I know there was special dispensation given by
Collier County for those people right after Hurricane Irma.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Six months. The original was six months
to get your -- you know, at least get the ball rolling on, you know,
application of whatever permits you need.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So I don't think that the
motion is out of line at this time. I know it's been a year, but I also
have looked at the documentation that the respondents have shown,
and I personally don't think it's out of line.
October 26, 2018
Page 30
Any discussion on the motion from the Board?
MR. LEFEBVRE: I know there's quite a few people in the
county that do have issues with their insurance company, and they're
trying to work through it, but that still doesn't mean there's not a
violation.
I think something has to be done to get these repairs made. I
know one in my neighborhood had a tarp on it for up until about a
month or two ago, and I heard that they were fighting with their
insurance company. But be that as it may, there's still a violation. It's
still a violation. Fighting with your insurance company and not getting
the money doesn't negate not having a violation on the property. So I
wouldn't agree with the motion.
MS. MARTEN: May I make a comment?
MS. CURLEY: No.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: No. Hang on.
MS. CURLEY: The violation that they were cited for is that the
roof is leaking or whatnot. They've not replaced this with the roof that's
in violation. It's a temporary roof. So while there might be some
deterioration to parts of the house, the owner made it quite clear that
the violation that she's cited for -- her windows are in place, her roof is
secure, and because it looks ugly is not a violation of our city and
county codes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The description of violation is roof
and fascia damage.
MR. LETOURNEAU: If you look at the ordinances we've cited,
exterior and interior structures of dwelling units: All the following
components of the dwelling units shall be maintained in good
condition. C: Roofs.
I could definitely argue that that roof is not in good condition. So
we've definitely cited them for the right ordinance, and it's clearly a
violation. I don't really understand the vote there, but --
October 26, 2018
Page 31
MR. LEFEBVRE: It's a motion, not a vote.
MR. LETOURNEAU: A motion, excuse me.
MS. CURLEY: Well, then --
MS. NICOLA: In all honesty, as the attorney, I'd probably want
to take a look at this a little closer, because in reading the notice of
violation, "roof shall be maintained in a safe manner and have no
defects which might admit rain or cause dampness in the wall or
interior portion of the building." You know, if they've taken efforts
since the hurricane to secure the roof and it's not leaking, the question
is, does that comply with this ordinance? And I don't know the answer
to that.
I mean, she's clearly presented a case that says that, in fact, the
roof isn't leaking and that they took additional efforts outside of what
the insurance company would do to make it safe. So I'm struggling
with it a little bit.
My preference would be -- and I don't know if the Board would
be inclined to do this -- would be to table it for a month to give me a
chance to pull this ordinance and some of the cases. I'm hoping there
are some cases out there on this. And then maybe within the next
month we might find out if she's gotten her money and has a plan for
it, because it sounds to me like this could fund quickly, and then she
and her husband can make a decision about are we going to sell it
as-is? Are we going to try and repair it? It just seems to me like you're
not quite sure yet.
MS. MARTEN: No. We have already hired the realtor --
MS. NICOLA: You have.
MS. MARTEN: -- and the marketing plan is being produced as
we speak. So we realize that there is not enough money. There's a
shortfall of more than $150,000, so we cannot rebuild it ourselves.
And it has not had any moisture coming in since we've had all these
roofs put on, and that can be proven if you look at our electricity bill,
October 26, 2018
Page 32
because the air-conditioning has been on since -- I think it was 10 or 14
days we had no electricity after the storm, and our air-conditioning bill
runs about 200 to $225 a month, which is the same as it has always
done. So it shows that the roof is holding tight and not, you know,
escaping a whole lot so -- and no mold has grown since the initial
damage. No additional damage has happened inside all these many
months.
MR. LETOURNEAU: I would strongly object to Tamara's
testimony here.
MS. NICOLA: Suggestion.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Suggestion. Roof shall be maintained in
a safe manner. She, under her testimony, said it completely lifted off
during the hurricane. Who are we to say that it's maintained in a safe
manner just because it's not leaking right now? Another storm comes
by, and that thing could blow off into the neighbor's house at this point.
I find it ludicrous.
MS. MARTEN: The plywood did not lift off, only the flat
decking. The plywood has always remained safe and secure. Sorry. I
didn't explain that correctly.
MS. CURLEY: We're still talking about the motion that I made.
And just to add a little bit more insight to why I make that motion, I
find that the Statement of Violation letter, No. 5 says the date the
violation was first observed was May of 2018, and then the date that
they were given the vacation notice was September 4th, and then it
needed to be corrected by September 24th, and then it was reinspected
on the 25th.
I mean, that's just ludicrous. That does not even make sense that
this violation would be given such a small time frame. And I just feel
like however this has unfolded or whoever Roy Myers is making this
complaint or whatever is transpiring here makes me feel very
uncomfortable about the fair treatment of our citizens.
October 26, 2018
Page 33
MR. LEFEBVRE: I call the motion for vote.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. All those in favor of the
motion, say aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
MS. ELROD: Opposed.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Opposed.
MR. ASHTON: Opposed.
MR. WHITE: Opposed.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Motion fails.
Then we go to how much time you might probably need.
MR. LEFEBVRE: We already discussed that. We need another
motion.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I understand that. They are asking
for eight months. That's what my notes say.
MS. CURLEY: What happens? You have a problem now. Now
if we have -- since my motion was voted down -- and these people
really -- I mean, if we really want to help them get rid of this house to a
new buyer, which is what she's committed to be doing now because
they can't afford to rebuild, we are inhibiting that by putting this case
on the court's burden because, as you know, the realtors that are
realtors here, it now makes it a more complicated sale for her, and it
doesn't make Mr. Myers' neighbor change-out much quicker at all.
This just slows down the process. It becomes a code case. It gets
in the way of her marketing the property efficiently, and it's a
disservice. It truly is.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, it is a code case already, so
there's nothing -- we can't go back on that. What we're talking about
here right now would be how much time can we give the respondents
to resolve their situation.
MR. LEFEBVRE: I think it's even more important that we have a
October 26, 2018
Page 34
code case -- something filed on public records, because if a buyer goes
in to buy this property, not saying that the seller won't disclose it, but
they will be fully aware prior to buying this property what the issues
are and that there is a case, in fact, opened and outstanding on this
property.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We need a motion --
MR. LEFEBVRE: I make a motion a violation exists.
MS. MARTEN: I did put that, sir, in the request for extension, on
the letter I put up there, it says, we understand that --
MR. LEFEBVRE: The public hearing is closed.
MS. MARTEN: -- this code enforcement case will transfer to the
new owner.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The public hearing is over, so now
we're mulling around what we do here. So you are making a motion
that a violation exists.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Yes, sir.
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And we have a second. Any
discussion on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: (No verbal response.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So the motion -- you have a
violation. Now we can talk about what is the remedy to the violation.
To begin with, let me ask, what is your suggestion?
October 26, 2018
Page 35
MR. MARCHAND: Recommendation: That the Code
Enforcement Board orders the respondent to pay all operational costs
in the amount of $59.56 incurred in the prosecution of this case within
30 days and abate all violations by, one, obtaining all required Collier
County building permit/permits or demolition permit, inspections, and
certificate of completion for repairs of the roof and fascia within blank
days of this hearing, or a fine of blank per day will be imposed until
the violation is abated;
Two, the respondent must notify the code enforcement
investigator when the violation has been abated in order to conduct a
final inspection to confirm abatement. If the respondent fails to abate
the violation, the county may abate the violation using any method to
bring the violation into compliance and may use the assistance of the
Collier County Sheriff's Office to enforce the provisions of this order,
and all costs of abatement shall be assessed to the property owner.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Anybody like to try to fill in
the blanks?
MR. LEFEBVRE: I just have a question that's kind of lingering
of the respondent.
You got an SBA loan that cannot be used until you have other
monies to repair.
MS. MARTEN: All of the monies necessary.
MR. LEFEBVRE: All the monies necessary. So the SBA loan
was for how much?
MS. MARTEN: 200,000.
MR. LEFEBVRE: 200,000. And the Tower Hill agreed to
369,000?
MS. MARTEN: Fifty-nine, but that's before we have to pay
everything out, like pay off the mortgage or pay --
MR. LEFEBVRE: Well, but when you --
MS. MARTEN: It's not enough.
October 26, 2018
Page 36
MR. LEFEBVRE: Hold on. But when you repair something,
you're not paying off the mortgage. So if you add up the 359-, minus
the 10 percent that you're going to get, or that the Keys gets, I think it
was --
MS. CURLEY: 330- plus 200-.
MR. LEFEBVRE: 330- plus 200- is 530-. The repairs are 479-,
so that should cover the repairs. So I'm a little but perplexed on how
you can't repair the home once you get the monies from the insurance
company.
MS. MARTEN: Because we are supposed to pay the SBA loan
back with the money from the insurance company or be able to carry
two mortgages. We are tapped out. My husband is a single builder by
himself. His income has never changed hardly at all in all these years.
We cannot afford any more mortgage than we pay now.
If we had to use the SBA mortgage additionally, that would be
another payment of almost $1,000. There is no way we could pay a
mortgage of 2,200.
MR. LEFEBVRE: So what's the benefit of getting the SBA loan
if you can't use the monies to fix the house but you have to get -- you
get the monies from the insurance company to pay off the loan?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: This is not the time or place to go
over what the respondents need to do.
MR. LEFEBVRE: I'm just trying to get an understanding of why
--
MS. CURLEY: I'd like to take a shot at the stipulation.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: I'll go with, No. 1, obtaining all required Collier
County building permits or demolition permit, inspections, and
certificate of completion for the repairs of the roof and fascia within
365 days of this hearing, or a fine of $10 per day will be imposed until
the violation is abated.
October 26, 2018
Page 37
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a motion. Do we
have a second?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I'll second it.
Discussion on the motion? We have given 365 days as a time
limit many times.
MS. CURLEY: And also, I'd just like to say that, as we know,
this property's going to transfer. We don't want to see these new
owners back in here in a half a year. We might as well give them the
opportunity to put forth an effort and attempt to get some sort of
traction before we see them again. We've had this happen when
properties transfer.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Any other discussions on the
motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, all those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
One, two, three (sic) ayes.
Those opposed?
MR. LEFEBVRE: Opposed.
MR. ASHTON: Opposed.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: 4-2, it passes. So you have one year.
And if it's not done in a year, you have the ability to come back before
the Board prior to it expiring to request anything else you would like to
request.
MS. MARTEN: Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. BLANCO: Mr. Chairman, for clarification, the fine amount
October 26, 2018
Page 38
was $100,000?
MS. CURLEY: $10 a day.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: $10 a day.
MS. NICOLA: Which is, by the way, the lowest fine I think I've
seen since I've been on the board.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Excuse me?
MS. NICOLA: I think that's the lowest one I've seen since I've
been on the board. So get it done.
MS. CURLEY: That's her reward --
MS. MARTEN: We will definitely get it done, because being
homeless is not fun, and the idea of being homeless for another year is
just almost more than I am mentally able to handle, so we will try to
get it done.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, we wish you the best of luck.
MS. NICOLA: You might have a job as a lawyer.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Joe, do you have something?
MS. MARTEN: I need a job to pay this off.
MS. NICOLA: You do a very good job. I mean, I have been
here three years and, you know, if you keep doing what you're doing,
you'll get it done. I believe you will.
MS. MARTEN: Well, that's what we've done so far.
MS. NICOLA: I saw that.
MS. MARTEN: That's the paperwork.
MS. NICOLA: They're leaving with their paperwork.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Thank God.
MS. NICOLA: Good luck.
MR. BLANCO: Next item on the agenda, it's No. 3 from
hearings, Case No. CELU20180004729, N-A Properties, LLC.
Mr. Chairman, if I may, the respondent has another case under
Roman Numeral 7, old business, Letter C, motion for imposition of
fines and liens. With your permission, we'd like to hear both cases.
October 26, 2018
Page 39
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Anyone want to make a
motion to change the agenda to accommodate?
MR. ASHTON: Motion to change the agenda.
MR. WHITE: Second.
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And a second.
All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: (Absent for vote.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: (No verbal response.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
So it's 3 is the hearing for today, 5C3, or whatever.
MR. BLANCO: Yeah, 5C3, and 6C13 is the other one. There's
two different cases for the same respondent.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Well, we'll hear the first case
first and then the second case second, vote separately, et cetera.
MR. BLANCO: Correct, sir.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Could you state your names on the --
MR. SEPANSKI: Thomas Sepanski, homeowner.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. SABORA: George Sabora (phonetic), general contractor.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Okay. Dee?
MS. PULSE: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning.
MS. PULSE: For the record, Dee Pulse, Collier County Code
October 26, 2018
Page 40
Enforcement.
I'm not sure George needs to be a part of this case.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. PULSE: He may offer his information for the other case.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. You get the honor of
presenting your case first.
MS. PULSE: Okay. This is in reference to Case No.
CELU20180004729 dealing with violation of the Collier County Land
Development Code 04-41, as amended, Section 2.02.03, and the Code
of Laws and Ordinances, Chapter 130, Article 3, Section 130-95, for
several dumpsters on the ground on the property, miscellaneous items
being stored outside consisting of but not limited to metal, wood,
tables, inoperable vehicles, et cetera.
It's located at 5630 Copper Leaf Lane, Naples, Florida, 34117;
Folio 38169440007.
Service was given on March 27th, 2018.
I would like to present case evidence in the following exhibits, the
following photos all taken by me as follows: Two taken on March
21st, 2018; one taken April 2nd, 2018; two taken April 11th, 2018; one
taken July 5th, 2018; one taken August 1st, 2018; two taken August
15th, 2018; two taken August 29th, 2018; and two taken October 15th,
2018; also two taken October 25th, 2018.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Has the respondent seen these
photos?
MS. PULSE: Not that I'm aware of.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Why don't you show the photos to
the respondent first.
Do you have any objections to the photos?
MR. SEPANSKI: No.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Get a motion from the Board to
accept them.
October 26, 2018
Page 41
MR. WHITE: Motion to accept the photos.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion.
MS. ELROD: Second.
MR. ASHTON: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Take your pick. All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: (No verbal response.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MS. PULSE: I also had the aerial view from Property Appraiser
website for this year and also the ARCGIS map aerial. I just wanted to
make sure those are accepted, too.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Do we need to vote on them
again? It's all a composite for all of them. Okay.
MS. PULSE: Okay. We received a complaint into our office
March 20th, 2018, for employees coming to the property and
dumpsters being stored. I researched the property for a home
occupation license, and one was not listed for this property. I observed,
while monitoring the property, there was vehicles from APEX
demolition frequently on the property, which is a business owned by
the occupant of the property, Troy McNabb.
Occupant also has registered to him a wrecker service business
called McNabb Motor Sports which is registered at 4269 Enterprise
Avenue. The owner also has a wrecker service business at the same
location called T & C Towing.
During monitoring, I could not verify employees coming and
October 26, 2018
Page 42
going from the property but observed numerous dumpsters on the
ground; at one time as many as five.
Miscellaneous items outside consisting of, but not limited to,
tools, fencing, metal, PVC, wood tables, windows, inoperable vehicles,
some of which were crashed and some of which appeared to be antique
collectable-type vehicles.
As I monitored the property, items will be removed and new
items come to the property. All the dumpsters have now been
removed, except for I didn't see one on the property yesterday.
I observed on last site inspection what appeared to be half of a
vehicle, as you can see in the photos.
As of October 25th, violation remains with miscellaneous items
stored outside as well as inoperable unlicensed vehicles.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Your discussions with the
respondent?
MS. PULSE: They'd say they would take care of it. And as I
said, items come, items go. They remove things. Then the next time I
visit, there's other things there again.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. PULSE: As this picture shows, there's a pile of metal poles
that I had never seen before, but it was there yesterday.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Where is this property located? It
says Copper Leaf; is that correct?
MS. PULSE: Copper Leaf and Santa Barbara, right on the
corner.
MR. SEPANSKI: Right where the lake is there.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. And then how big a piece of
property is it?
MS. PULSE: Over two acres. I don't have the exact.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You said you have the before and
after aerial views?
October 26, 2018
Page 43
MS. PULSE: I do have aerials in those photos. So you can see
there is the lake here, Santa Barbara, Copper Leaf. So it's right on that
corner property.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Can you make that bigger, Danny.
MS. PULSE: The next aerial may show bigger, and it's kind of --
it is closer; if you can go to the next aerial.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Oh, okay.
MS. CURLEY: So is there a home on this?
MS. PULSE: Yes. There's a main structure, and just recently
they have constructed a guesthouse and a large metal building.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Sir?
MR. SEPANSKI: Yep.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Your turn.
MR. SEPANSKI: Well, most of the stuff in the picture is -- the
pictures were old. There's --
MS. PULSE: This photo was taken yesterday.
MR. SEPANSKI: Right. And everything there is registered
except that truck on the end which needs to be repaired. I bought it. It
needs to be repaired. But everything there is registered. There's a
six-and-a-half-foot-high berm there running around the whole
property. The only thing you can see from the road, either road,
whether you're on Copper Leaf or Santa Barbara, is the entrance to the
driveway, which we now have a gate that we're going to permit and put
a gate up so you can't see. So that -- it's not visible.
Dee Dee is exactly right, oftentimes -- I have a demolition
business, and things come and things go. Well, for example, the pile
of steel she said that's there was -- the Apple store is being knocked
down in Waterside. We're knocking that down. They had about
$50,000 worth of shelfing in there that was all taken out by hand. So
it's dumped there, and then we're going to pick it up and put it inside
the shed.
October 26, 2018
Page 44
But, I mean, I can't do it in a day, so -- but you can't see anything
from the road unless you stop and look through the entrance to the
property where the driveway is, which at the time we now have two
gates that we're going to put up there to block the view. So you're not
going to be able to see anything that's on the property, and that's -- my
assumption was that if you can't see it on the property, then that's fine.
The only way you'd be able to see it is if you were driving down
Santa Barbara Boulevard and you drove over the sidewalk, down the
swale, and parked your car on the lake bank and then walked along the
lake bank, the county's -- the bank to the lake, which is also elevated,
then you could see down into the property.
But other than that, all the pictures like that, those pictures are
shot through the opening of either driveway. And the only thing that's
not registered right now is that truck that is there. That is not
registered; she's correct.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. PULSE: Well, there is a vehicle that you can see beside the
metal building that is still on the property.
MR. SEPANSKI: That old truck, yes.
MS. PULSE: Yes. And there was another antique type truck.
That was removed yesterday --
MR. SEPANSKI: That's inside.
MS. PULSE: -- when I was there. Yeah, that vehicle right there.
MR. LETOURNEAU: What about that half a vehicle? Is that
still there?
MS. PULSE: The half vehicle was gone when I was there
yesterday.
MR. SEPANSKI: Yeah. It's gone. It's at my other shop.
MS. PULSE: As I said, things come and go.
MR. SEPANSKI: Yeah. Because, I mean, I'll explain very
simply. The old truck I'm making into a tow truck, so I have to take
October 26, 2018
Page 45
parts from that half truck and put them together. Most of it's inside
but, I mean, you know, put everything inside and then work at the
same time, sometimes is a little difficult to do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: Can you go back to the previous picture? So that
white truck that we're seeing on the right, so you say that the house
directly behind it doesn't have a visual view of that?
MR. SEPANSKI: No. This house is across the street on Santa
Barbara. The house that you would see right here is my guesthouse.
The main house is back over here.
MS. CURLEY: So this -- I'm talking about that house. So those
people don't have any view of that giant truck?
MR. SEPANSKI: No. They couldn't see that, no. That's --
MS. CURLEY: Is it an optical illusion?
MR. SEPANSKI: Yeah. That's probably 400 yards away or
more. That's at the middle of my property, which is three-and-a-half
acres. And then the lake is over here, and you can't even see that. The
lake is over here. To Santa Barbara, four lanes of traffic, plus Santa
Barbara bank.
MS. CURLEY: Okay. I'm fine. So what I just want to point out
is that if I can see the palm trees of that nice house across the way, then
they can see this 12- or 15-foot-high truck.
MS. PULSE: If you also look at the aerial view, there is a house
that's off of Copper Leaf that sits behind and to the side of that lake, so
-- yeah, there you go. Right -- I can't point at it, but --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Would a violation exist if you can't
see it, or does that matter at all? We'll ask Jeff.
MS. PULSE: That does not matter.
MR. LETOURNEAU: I would say that we wouldn't be here if
we couldn't see it from a legal vantage point; however, I wouldn't say
that it's still not a violation if it's on the property. It's just that we can't
October 26, 2018
Page 46
see it from a legal vantage point. I don't know if that makes it any
clearer than mud at this point.
But he is correct, the stuff that's there now, if you did find him in
violation, we would need to confirm that it was removed or, you know,
stored at some point; however, if he does get the property totally
enclosed where we can't see it from the lake, you know, a neighbor's
property or either of the roads next door, we won't be able to prosecute
anything because we won't be able to see a violation from a legal
vantage point.
MR. SEPANSKI: Well, and he's somewhat right. I mean, I have
a neighbor two doors down that's a general contractor that's a pain in
the you know what. That's why we're here with everything else. And
the fact that he's going to get a drone over -- and fly it over my
property and file a complaint, I think, is ludicrous and ridiculous.
MR. LETOURNEAU: We can't -- this type of complaint we can't
use an aerial. We'd have to view it from street side, neighbor's
property. That property next door where the lake is on, I believe that's
probably county property, but I'm not sure. We would definitely be
able to walk that whole lakeside right there if it is county property or
we do have the permission of the property owner, and if we did see
something from that area, that would be -- that would be fair game as
far as a violation goes.
But like he said, if we can't see it anywhere from a legal vantage
point, once he's cleaned up whatever mess he has here, if you find him
in violation, we wouldn't come back here.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: So also just to --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You're on.
MS. CURLEY: In addition to -- I just had a -- remembered
another case from years ago where we had some dumpsters. And not
only with the visual aspect of it, but we also -- there's noise when
October 26, 2018
Page 47
you're dumping piles of metal, and there's noise when you're moving,
you know, tow trucks in and out.
And so it -- could the county just let us know what this zoning is
for this property. And in addition to all these things that we see, we
don't see the noise that accompanies all this action.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The permitted use.
MS. PULSE: Well, the zoning is estates zone.
MR. LETOURNEAU: The zoning is a quasi-agricultural
residential. It's right in between. It's not meant for any kind of use like
this, of outside storage, of construction debris, industrial, stuff like that.
So, you know, this should stop. Now, if he's making noise, yes,
we can definitely go in that angle and, you know, it would be a
different type of case, obviously, but we could use a noise case on this.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. And other comments or
motions from the Board?
MS. CURLEY: I'll make a motion that a violation exists.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second. All
those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: (No verbal response.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Do you have a suggestion for us, Dee?
MS. PULSE: Yeah, I do.
It's recommended that the Code Enforcement Board orders the
October 26, 2018
Page 48
respondent to pay all operational costs in the amount of $59.63
incurred in the prosecution of this case within 30 days and abate all
violations by, number one, removing all unauthorized outside storage
items to a completely enclosed structure or from the property to a site
intended for final disposal within blank days of this hearing, or a fine
of blank per day will be imposed until the violation is abated.
Number two, obtaining and affixing a current valid license plate
to each vehicle not stored within the confines of a completely enclosed
structure or store said vehicles within a completely enclosed structure,
and/or repair defects so vehicle is immediately operable or remove
offending vehicles from residentially zoned area within blank days of
this hearing, or a fine of blank per day will be imposed until the
violation is abated.
The respondent must notify the code enforcement investigator
when the violation has been abated in order to conduct a final
inspection to confirm abatement. If the respondent fails to abate the
violation, the county may abate the violation using any method to
bring the violation into compliance and may use the assistance of the
Collier County Sheriff's Office to enforce the provisions of this order,
and all costs of abatement shall be assessed to the property owner.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Jeff, I have a question for
you. If this is -- if he completes a gate that you can't see through,
would that also fit into the compliance of the property?
MR. LETOURNEAU: At this point, whatever we've observed
that's the violation would need to be proven that it's taken care of.
MR. SEPANSKI: Yeah.
MR. LETOURNEAU: After that's done and he puts up a
blockage where we can't see it from a legal vantage point, we're done,
but we need to observe what he's got on there right now per this code
case.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Anybody want to take a shot
October 26, 2018
Page 49
at filling in the blanks?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, I'll try. Sixty days,
59.63 paid within 30 days, 60 days to get the license plate on that
truck, clean up that area there so it can be inspected, or a fine of $100 a
day.
MR. SEPANSKI: That's not a problem.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We know. Any comments from the
Board? Do I get a second?
MS. NICOLA: I think there's two parts to this. I think you have
to do both.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Well, the first part, the 59.63,
30, is the --
MS. NICOLA: Fine, but you have -- there's one, removing all
unauthorized outside storage, and then two would be the vehicles. So
are you suggesting the amount of time and the fine for each one and
two? Because I have to write them up separately.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. I would say it's the same for
both. So the violation disappears in 60 days, or if it doesn't, it's
$100-a-day fine after the 60 days, that's the truck, and it's the other
stuff that doesn't belong there.
MR. SEPANSKI: And just so I understand, then I just call Dee
for an inspection. She comes, inspects, and then she'll close the case,
correct?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That's part of the order as well.
MR. SEPANSKI: Okay. I just wanted to make sure.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have to vote on my motion.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Second.
MS. CURLEY: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: He's a second. Okay. Any
discussions on the motion?
October 26, 2018
Page 50
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, all those in favor?
Hold on. Susan?
MS. CURLEY: Yeah, just for the timeline purposes, we see that
the violation was supposed to be corrected. He had 30 days from
March to April, and now seven months later we're going to give him
two more months. It seems like that's a little bit generous. And he
inserted that this doesn't seem to be a problem. Why don't we ask him
to do it in 30 days. Can we amend the motion?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I would just as soon leave it at 60
days. I don't think it's unreasonable.
MR. SEPANSKI: The truck's going to be gone out of there
tonight, by the way, just so you know.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Even better.
MR. SEPANSKI: If that was your concern. That's already gone.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: (No verbal response.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Okay. So we took care of this one, and now we move to the next
one.
MR. BLANCO: Next case with the same respondent, it's No. 13
from impositions. Case No. CESD20170002774, N-A Properties,
LLC.
(The speakers were previously duly sworn and indicated in the
October 26, 2018
Page 51
affirmative.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: It's the last one in cases.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yeah, 13.
This was a stipulation, I'm reading, back in 2017.
MR. SEPANSKI: This is the 24-year-old pool.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That's what I'm looking for.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Because it's an imposition of fines, isn't it?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yeah, but the imposition of fines
form that we generally see, I don't see listed here.
MS. CURLEY: Summary page. It shows us the amount of fines
accrued, et cetera.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do you have that, Danny?
MR. BLANCO: Yes, sir. It's up on the screens right now.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. But it's not on this screen?
MR. BLANCO: No. The executive summary's not part of the
packet that goes out in the public.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Could you go down a little
farther on that. It's an eye test for me.
MS. CURLEY: 29,000.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That's what it looks like.
Dee, why don't you explain this, because I can barely see that.
MS. CURLEY: Just for the record, Danny, this light, this new
LED light shines on this TV in such a way that we can't really read that
from here.
MR. BLANCO: We'll make sure we fix that with staff, yes.
MS. PULSE: Would you like me to read the --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Before you read them, could you just
give us a summary version and then read it.
MS. PULSE: Okay. There was a violation of no permit for the
pool, an in-ground pool. There was a stipulation, as you mentioned,
and he's been back for more time requests. And he's here for
October 26, 2018
Page 52
imposition of fines.
The pool permit has -- it was issued, applied for on January 10th,
2018. Expired since July 24th, 2018. There was also an issue with the
fence for a barrier of the pool. That permit was issued on April 10th,
2018, but it did expire October 7th, 2018.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Was any of the work done?
MS. PULSE: The fence is installed. They came into compliance
with -- I believe Part A was to immediately put up a temporary barrier
by a certain time. That did get taken care of.
Then they do have a permanent fence installed at this time, but
the permit is expired with no inspections, no certificate of completion
issued.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And as far as the original?
I have a special screen. It's for older people whose eyesight --
Okay. The partially abated portion was the temporary fence?
MS. PULSE: Uh-huh.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The permanent fence was?
MS. PULSE: That was required for the barrier for the pool.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And was that ever done?
MS. PULSE: The fence is installed but the permit never got
completed, or their certificate of completion.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So there was --
MS. PULSE: And it's now expired.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. There was no inspection of
the permanent fence?
MS. PULSE: Right.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. I got it. And the --
MS. PULSE: No passing inspection, I'll say that. I mean, I think
-- I've talked to the occupant of the property. Something about a
self-latching gate is required for pool barrier fencing, and that -- they
didn't have that. But he's -- the permit is now expired.
October 26, 2018
Page 53
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Why don't we --
Now I can see the whole writeup. Why don't you tell us what
happened.
MR. SEPANSKI: Well, I mean, I've been here before. Like I
said, we're permitting a 23-year-old pool. Nobody knows how to do it.
And, I mean, I hired George, a general contractor to do it, because I
don't know how to it.
So I didn't want you to think I haven't been doing this. I mean,
I've hired -- from the first time she cited me, we hired somebody, an
engineer, to do it. He failed. And, I mean, George has been working
on it now for three or four months.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Has George been sworn?
MR. SEPANSKI: So that way -- I mean, I don't want you to
think I was giving you a line because I've been here two times but, you
know, I'm trying to get it done. But I don't do that kind of permitting.
I don't know how to do it, so he's doing it. I've hired him to do it.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So let me take it piece by piece. The
temporary fence you did. Called that in, they inspected it, everything's
fine.
MR. SEPANSKI: Correct.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That was done.
MR. SEPANSKI: Correct.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The permanent fence --
MR. SEPANSKI: The permanent fence is up. There were two
gates on it that, after they inspected said, were not properly installed
because they didn't have self-locking gates. So I figured, well, geez,
I'll just put a chain lock on them and only open them when someone's
home. I thought a locked gate would be secured but, apparently, to the
county locked gate is not secured.
So now they're doing everything together. The pool and the
fencing is all going to be done. That's how they said to do it, so that's
October 26, 2018
Page 54
how we're doing it. We're following what Renald instructed
everybody to do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. SEPANSKI: But there is a fence up. I mean, I know that's
the concern. But there is a fence up. It's been up since three days after
we were here, and it's just, like I said, the county wants you to be able
to open -- the kid to go in, open it, and then not to get out, apparently.
I know it don't make much sense. But if I put a padlock on it, it's not
considered secured.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I understand there are certain rules
that people have problems with, but this is not the venue to change
them.
MR. SEPANSKI: Unfortunately.
MR. SABORA: Yes. And we have been working with the
county and with Reliable Permitting, a reputable permitting company
that handles these kinds of situations, and with Joe Kosinski, the
engineer. So there's an engineer, there's Reliable Permitting, there's a
licensed certified general contractor. We've been -- Tom hired me
approximately 75, 90 days ago.
We've ordered drawings that have taken longer than we thought.
That took a month. We've submitted, had some corrections, met
numerous times with the county. And I feel that within the next 30
days -- within the next week or two, the permit will be submitted and
then however long it takes to -- which will eliminate the fence permit
because we're going to incorporate the pool and the fence all together,
and then within, I would assume, two weeks we submit, which is more
than enough time, and then another 30 days I think this thing will be
resolved. That's my professional opinion.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So you think everything will be
resolved by --
MR. SABORA: I would say absolutely within 60 days, but
October 26, 2018
Page 55
possibly within 45 days.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Questions from the Board?
MR. LEFEBVRE: So you're looking for a continuance is what
you're asking. You're looking for more time?
MR. SEPANSKI: Yes.
MS. CURLEY: Well, I mean, I understood what you said about
the gate, self-closing gate, but I just don't understand why -- it bothers
me that the pool enclosure that you put didn't pass, and it said it needed
a specific thing, and you didn't do that.
And if you -- and if not understanding that putting a chain and
your own lock around it isn't going to meet or exceed the county's
requirements, that's really not for the discussion.
And now the permit's expired, so I feel like there's a little laundry
here, a little dirty laundry here, and now you want us to be helpful for
you, and I just feel like, put the doggone latch on that the county
requires.
If you happen to take that padlock off and take a nap and a
neighbor comes over, that's why that's not going to work in a general
sense for a pool. So I feel like it's --
MR. SEPANSKI: But the county's the one that said they wanted
everything done together.
MS. CURLEY: Right, but I'm not talking about that.
MR. SEPANSKI: That's what they told us to do.
MS. CURLEY: I'm talking about the simple fence permit that
you let expire.
MR. SABORA: We had a situation, and now we're trying to
properly -- I'm trying to properly --
MS. CURLEY: Got it.
MR. SABORA: -- deal with it.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So the respondent is
requesting a continuance for 45 days, which is 60 days. We have a
October 26, 2018
Page 56
meeting in November. We have no meeting in December. So this
would go to January, if I'm not mistaken.
MS. NICOLA: You're right. Sixty days would be December
23rd, so it would be the January hearing.
MS. CURLEY: I have a question for the county. So have you
ever gone through the process of permitting an unpermitted or
undocumented pool? Have you ever done this?
MR. LETOURNEAU: Well, we've had them before. I know it's a
pain. I believe they tried to pull a permit by affidavit earlier, and they
ran into some hurdles on that right there.
MR. SABORA: It's the other way around. A normal
construction permit which wouldn't --
MR. LETOURNEAU: Oh, okay. That's what --
MR. SABORA: Now we're getting the engineers involved on a
permit by affidavit.
MR. LETOURNEAU: It's just tough to get older stuff permitted,
you know. The county has specific rules on, you know, especially --
how old's this pool?
MR. SABORA: Twenty-five years old.
MR. SEPANSKI: Twenty-three years.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Yeah. So, I mean, he had to run through
a lot of hoops.
I do agree with you on the fence thing. You know, a padlock's
great, but say you sold the property, new -- you know, had that thing
permitted. The new owners take the padlock off, and you're sitting
there with an unprotected pool at that time.
So to get back to your question, it's a lot of hoops to jump
through, and I'm sure that the contractor, you know, knows what he's
doing here as far as getting the thing taken care of.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So the question before the Board is,
does the Board want to grant a continuance until our meeting in
October 26, 2018
Page 57
January or not?
MR. LEFEBVRE: I make a motion we continue this for 60 days.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a motion.
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And a second. Discussion on the
motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, all those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Okay.
MR. SEPANSKI: Thank you.
MR. SABORA: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: When you get it done, make sure
you call --
MR. SEPANSKI: I will.
MR. SABORA: We will.
MR. BLANCO: Next item on the agenda is --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Is a break time for our court
stenographer. We'll be back here, 10 minutes.
(A brief recess was had.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I'd like to call the Code Enforcement
Board back to order.
MR. BLANCO: Next item on the agenda, it's Roman Numeral 5,
October 26, 2018
Page 58
public hearings, motions, Letter C, No. 7, Case No.
CESD20180005375, SA Equity Group, LLC.
Mr. Chairman, just for the record, I want to clarify that on the
notice of hearing that was mailed to the respondent who's present here,
it was referenced that motion for imposition of fines and liens. I just
want to clarify that it's not a motion for imposition of fines or liens.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: This is the first time we're hearing it.
MR. BLANCO: Correct.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We generally don't fine
people until we find them guilty. That's just our ethics.
MS. CURLEY: I need to know what number that is; sorry.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Seven, C7.
MR. BLANCO: Correct.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Looks just like this.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Could you state your name on the
microphone for us.
MS. JUAREZ: Ofelia (phonetic) Juarez.
MR. HERNANDEZ: Alberto Hernandez.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Steven?
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning.
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: For the record, Steven Lopez-Silvero,
Collier County Code Enforcement.
This is in reference to Case No. CESD20180005375 dealing with
a violation of Collier County Land Development Code 04-41, as
amended, Section 10.02.06(B)(1)(a). Observed a newly installed metal
building with electric on improved occupied commercial property
located at 114 New Market Road East, Immokalee, Florida, 34142.
The folio is 63864280003.
Service was provided on July 3rd, 2018.
October 26, 2018
Page 59
I would like to present case evidence in the following exhibits:
Four pictures taken by myself on April 5th, 2018, and an aerial map.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Has the respondent seen the photos?
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do you have any objection to the
photos?
MR. HERNANDEZ: No, sir. That is fine.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Get a motion from the Board
to accept the photos.
MR. ASHTON: Motion to accept.
MR. WHITE: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Motion and a second. All those in
favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: (No verbal response.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: The photo you're seeing here is a rear
view of the metal building in question with a red roof. It's actually --
that corner's an intersection. It's used for refrigeration of produce.
This property is in Farmers Market in Immokalee.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Can I ask if the right-of-way is that
concrete path right there, or do you know?
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: More or less. There's a sidewalk that
runs parallel to that folio, to that property.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And are there any setbacks on that
October 26, 2018
Page 60
sidewalk?
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: Most likely there are. It's C4.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: The next picture shows the proximity
or the spacing between the new metal building and the adjacent
structure next to it.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That has setbacks as well?
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: Most likely. But the way it shows, it's
-- the building that's installed or constructed doesn't meet setbacks.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: Either from the right-of-way or any
adjacent structures.
This is a side view of the same structure, and I'm just depicting
here that there is electric installed in the unit. And this is a front view
of the same metal building.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Is that a garage door on the front?
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: It's a bay door. It either swings open or
slides up.
MR. WHITE: Is that door plastic hanging down?
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: That's just to keep the flies and stuff
out, but there is a door behind it.
On April 5th, 2018, I conducted a site visit and observed the
mentioned violation. Research of the property history revealed that no
building permits have been obtained for the structure in question.
I met with the property manager and advised of the details of the
violation and provided the corrective action needed for compliance.
The property -- correction. The property manager mentioned that he
would inform the property owner of the violation.
As of October 25th, 2018, the unpermitted structure remains, and
no building permits have been obtained. Violation remains.
And just to make a note, the respondents present are the tenants of
October 26, 2018
Page 61
the space. There are stalls inside this farmers market, and they're one
of the tenants there.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. The owner of the property is
not present today?
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: Correct.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Well, we listen to everybody,
so I don't know why the owner -- the owner's been notified?
MR. HERNANDEZ: Correct.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. HERNANDEZ: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning.
MR. HERNANDEZ: I would just like to say that -- I should say
everybody got affected from the hurricane, right? So my grandma here
had a little post at -- you know, sells fruit, vegetables, and other
accessories as well.
Immokalee is known as an agriculture, you know, place as well.
There's not many tourist place. One of the biggest tourist places is
either the casino, the lake, or the farmers market.
Now, putting the new structure in there, you know, new, making
it update, and making it look more modern, cleaning up the place a
little bit, doesn't really, you know, call for, how shall I say it, you
know, for violations. I understand that we didn't -- we did not pull
permits and we did not know.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It's not your job to pull the permit. It
would be the job of the owner of the property.
MR. HERNANDEZ: Exactly. She lost her post when the
hurricane came. She only had a few thousand dollars saved, and she
put everything, you know, saved into it.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: She paid for that structure?
MR. HERNANDEZ: Yes, sir. My grandma is left with hardly
anything except for her home and her bills. This is the way she keeps
October 26, 2018
Page 62
her home up. Sorry.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. HERNANDEZ: All we're asking is -- we'll pay anything
just so we could keep the bills paid at home.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, first thing that we have to do
here, as I explained in the other cases, is to find out whether a violation
exists or not. Okay. So I'll end the public hearing and accept any
motions or questions from the Board.
MS. CURLEY: I have a question. Do you -- are you -- do you
know who the owners of the property are? Are they relatives of yours
or family?
MR. HERNANDEZ: No. They're actually new owners, so we
really don't know them much.
MS. CURLEY: I see that they bought that property in November
of last year. So after the storm they bought it.
MR. HERNANDEZ: Yes. Well, he came to us, like, right after
the storm and told us that we had to pay rent even though our
structures weren't there.
MS. CURLEY: I see.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So the property itself is owned by
this individual?
MR. HERNANDEZ: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And on the property, besides this
structure, is there another structure?
MR. HERNANDEZ: There's a whole bunch of other structures.
They're all put together. Really nobody bugs with each other because
they all know they're all there, you know. Senior citizens is what, you
know, keep themselves maintained, and that's the way they keep, you
know, their home intact.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Anyone want to take a
motion whether a violation exists or not?
October 26, 2018
Page 63
MR. LEFEBVRE: I guess I have a question.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Shoot.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Was your grandmother's structure there prior
at that exact location?
MR. HERNANDEZ: Yes, exact location. The hurricane took it
away from there.
MS. CURLEY: Entirely?
MR. HERNANDEZ: Entirely. The only thing is that we know
the setbacks won't be met or anything like that. That's, you know --
that's the only thing that, you know, we say that, you know, it's correct.
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: I have an aerial map from a previous
year that shows what was there. Can you put it up, Danny.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Would the previous ones be grandfathered in?
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: Can you zoom out?
I have two aerial maps, 2017 and 2018, if you look.
MS. ELROD: What is the structure we're looking at?
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: I'll outline it for you.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Where was this? Is it the bottom corner? It's
probably the bottom corner.
MS. CURLEY: Can you show us where your grandma's space is
on the map why you think --
MR. HERNANDEZ: It used to be right here.
MS. CURLEY: Made you look.
MR. HERNANDEZ: This is the old one that we used to have.
After the hurricane, there was nothing left but cement.
MS. CURLEY: So that yellow marking's probably not exactly.
MR. HERNANDEZ: Yeah, right.
MR. WHITE: So the new structure is about the same size as the
old one?
MR. HERNANDEZ: Just a little tad bigger; not that much, you
know.
October 26, 2018
Page 64
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The problems probably lie in the
setbacks to begin with and no permit being pulled to build the place.
So, again, I ask the Board, anybody want to make a motion whether a
violation exists?
MS. CURLEY: Just one more question before we make that
motion.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Go ahead.
MS. CURLEY: Is this the only structure on this complaint that's
a violation?
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: The specific complaint, just this
structure, ma'am. There's other structures, but the complaint was just
for this specific one, because it's at the entrance of the farmers market.
It's visual from the main road.
MS. CURLEY: So was the entire property flattened after the
hurricane? Is all this here --
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: Not to my knowledge, ma'am.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Because if you looked at one of the pictures,
the new structure is within probably a foot of an existing structure,
which looks like it's pre-hurricane.
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: Uh-huh.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: One other question: Is your grandmother still
paying rent? Was she still paying rent while she wasn't operating her
business there?
MR. HERNANDEZ: Yes, ma'am. Three months, which is about
$200 a week.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So you're saying $200 a week for the
use of the land. The building itself she paid for?
MR. HERNANDEZ: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Let me try this the third and
last time. Does a violation exist?
October 26, 2018
Page 65
MS. CURLEY: I make a motion a violation exists.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion that a violation
exists. Do we have a second?
MR. LEFEBVRE: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a second. All those in
favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: (No verbal response.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
We just voted that a violation exists. That's a building, there's no
permit, the setbacks don't meet code, et cetera.
Steven, do you have a suggestion for us?
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: Yes, sir. The county recommends that
the Code Enforcement Board order the respondent to pay all
operational costs in the amount of $59.77 incurred in the prosecution
of this case within 30 days.
MS. NICOLA: That's the wrong one.
MR. WHITE: That's the one from the previous case.
MS. ELROD: I didn't see any vehicles outside the structure.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Just so you know, this suggestion
that the county is making is not for you. It's for the owner of the
property.
MR. HERNANDEZ: Okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Continue, Steven, please.
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: The county recommends that the Code
October 26, 2018
Page 66
Enforcement Board orders the respondent pay all operational costs in
the amount of $59.77 incurred in the prosecution of this case within 30
days, and abate all violations by:
Number 1, obtaining all required Collier County building permits
or demolition permit, inspections, and certificate of completion and/or
occupancy for a newly installed metal building within blank days of
this hearing, or a fine of blank dollars per day will be imposed until the
violation is abated;
Number 2, the respondent must notify the code enforcement
investigator when the violation has been abated in order to conduct a
final inspection to confirm abatement. If the respondent fails to abate
the violation, the county may abate the violation using any method to
bring the violation into compliance and may use the assistance of the
Collier County Sheriff's Office to enforce the provisions of this order,
and all costs of abatement shall be assessed to the property owner.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Anybody want to take a shot
at filling in the blanks?
Gerald?
MR. LEFEBVRE: This structure, could it be moved to another
spot?
MR. HERNANDEZ: In reality, it can't. There's no electricity to
run it -- to power to, you know, to a place. It's going to be very costly.
We put everything we got into it.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Well, what I'm trying to get at is --
MR. HERNANDEZ: There's not many space, shall we say.
Everything already been taken up.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Can it be moved five feet, three feet?
MR. HERNANDEZ: There's no way for it to be moved at all.
MS. CURLEY: So it can't be disassembled?
MR. HERNANDEZ: It can be. If I were to take it apart, I would
just have to throw it all away.
October 26, 2018
Page 67
MS. CURLEY: One other question about your grandmother's
relationship with the owner of the property. So did she or did you guys
consult with them after you learned that there was new owners on how
to proceed with your business, and did they give you permission to
build this?
MR. HERNANDEZ: They really -- we just -- how shall I say it?
We didn't know. We just rebuild, you know, to get everything started
again.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I have a problem right now. Do you
have the permission of the owner of the property to testify here?
MR. HERNANDEZ: He's not here. We just built it, you know,
because we didn't really think it was --
MS. CURLEY: They're here as witnesses.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: No, no. You're here as witnesses.
This whole case is for the owner of the property, and unless he has
specifically given you the ability to act in his or her behalf, that's how
this runs. Okay?
MS. CURLEY: I think that the whole board is assuming that
they're just testifying as a witness. We know that the property owner,
SA Equity Group, has decided not to show up here.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That's correct.
MS. CURLEY: That's correct, right?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yes.
Have you spoken with the owner of the property?
MR. LOPEZ-SILVARO: No, sir. I haven't received any
communication from him.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Have you attempted to reach them?
MR. LOPEZ-SILVARO: I've communicated or had the
information communicated to him through the property owner, which
is -- or the other property manager, which is his nephew. I have called
him on several attempts in the past, and either I don't get a call back or
October 26, 2018
Page 68
no attempts.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Before we fill this in, Chris?
MR. AMBACH: For the record, Chris Ambach, supervisor.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hold on.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. AMBACH: Supervisor Chris Ambach, Code Enforcement.
I have also attempted on several occasions to deal with the owner
of this property. Refuses to call us back or deal with us or stop down
at the office. We've talked to his nephew out there who has done
absolutely nothing to help on several cases that we're dealing with in
the past and currently.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Is the property more than just the
square that this building sits on? The owner of the property, does he
own --
MR. AMBACH: Oh, yeah.
MS. CURLEY: Yeah. $464,000 purchase in November of 2017
--
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Well --
MS. CURLEY: -- encompassing almost 36 lots.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So it's not just this one piece,
because if we find in violation and we impose a penalty, it goes against
all of that individual's property; is that correct, Jeff?
MR. LETOURNEAU: I'm sorry?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I was just checking to see if you
were aware. I said, if we find -- if we impose a fine on this individual,
that fine becomes payable by the individual, and it's against all of the
individual's property?
MR. LETOURNEAU: That is correct.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So -- you got it.
MS. CURLEY: That's good.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You got it. So we thank you for
October 26, 2018
Page 69
testifying as witnesses, but we're about to fill in the blanks on this, and
that goes against the owner of all of the property.
MR. HERNANDEZ: Which will put a whole bunch of families
out of business as well.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, he's got to do what needs to be
done.
MS. CURLEY: I wouldn't jump to that conclusion just --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The problem is, it's a violation, and
the owner of the property is responsible for the violation on his
property. And he can't just stick his head in the sand and ignore it, as
he has, because there are certain consequences for doing that, which he
will find out.
So let me go back to, would anybody like to fill in the blanks on
this one?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, I'll do it. Now, since
the property owner -- property owner could do an affidavit, because he
didn't own it when it was done, I think, but that's to be determined.
I'd like to fine $200 a day and give him 60 days. Hopefully we
will get a response from him.
MR. LEFEBVRE: And about the --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: 59.77 to be paid within 30 days.
MR. BLANCO: Mr. Chairman, since the owner of the property is
not present, I would like to put the notice on the record before we
conclude this case, just stating that our office complied with Florida
Statute in notifying the respondent of today's proceedings.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Sure. Put on the record.
MR. BLANCO: For the record, Danny Blanco, Code
Enforcement.
Notice of hearing was sent regular email and certified on October
11th, 2018. Property and courthouse were both posted on October
October 26, 2018
Page 70
11th, 2018.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So I have made my picks.
Anybody want to second it?
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a second.
Yes, Gerald?
MR. LEFEBVRE: No.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Discussion on it first.
MR. LEFEBVRE: I think that we should give more time than 60
days. This is a person's living, makes her living off this, and I think if
any action was to be taken within 60 days, it could severely affect the
tenant.
So I think it should be more than 60 days. I know we want to see
this corrected, but in the circumstances, they have a building that they
own. I would hate to see the owner of the property go and just knock
the building down with an investment that's been made on the property
by the tenant.
MS. CURLEY: I want to also follow behind you on that; where I
agree that this seems to be a little unfair. And I wondered, Tamara, if
you're able to provide them with a Legal Aid service where they can be
protected with -- you know, and get some help out in Immokalee for
their property and what they've done and help with the landlord/tenant
issue with --
MR. LEFEBVRE: It wouldn't be her.
MS. NICOLA: I know that they can always call Legal Aid here
October 26, 2018
Page 71
in Naples, and they have an office out there. I mean, I, obviously,
don't have any control over that. But they do have -- I believe they
have an office in Immokalee. And you're also right across from the
Bar Association that sometimes can refer people. I mean, there is help
for people that have the need. It's just I don't know how they would
screen you or what they have available. But it's worth talking to them,
absolutely. I wish I had a phone number I could give you but, you
know, it's very easy to look it up.
MR. HERNANDEZ: I appreciate that.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Just a point before Gerald.
The reason I put 60 days down is because we haven't heard hide nor
hair from the owner of the property, and we need to get the owner of
the property's attention.
MR. LEFEBVRE: I understand that, but I don't want to have the
owner have a knee-jerk reaction and remove the structure, therefore,
causing loss of income and loss of property that the tenant has just put
into the property. I'd like to see maybe if there's another resolution
where, like you said, maybe the building be moved; to have a little bit
of time to look at what other options there are.
And we're coming into season, too. So that's probably when
they're going to be making the bulk of their money. So that's my
reason behind giving some more time to try to work this out.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Sue?
MS. CURLEY: How about if we look at that stipulation again.
Maybe we can amend the first part of it so it doesn't say demo but
something that --
MR. LEFEBVRE: Well, ultimately, I think the building's going
to have to be disassembled.
MS. CURLEY: I know, but to see if we can stretch it to
accommodate your idea.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: First thing you have to do is to either
October 26, 2018
Page 72
modify the motion that I made and was seconded by Kathy or
withdraw the motion or vote on the motion.
MR. LEFEBVRE: If it was moved --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The ultimate outcome here is going
to be the same no matter what you do. Whether it's 60 days or six
months, something has to be done.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Absolutely, but it will give time for,
hopefully, the tenant and the owner to work out to see if there's any
other options, is what I'm trying to get at.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Steven, when did you try to contact
the owner?
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: I'd say within the last 30 days.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Thirty days. Did you try prior to that
at all?
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: In the past I have. No attempts by the
property owner. He owns several properties throughout the county.
We've dealt with him in the past. I have yet to meet him in person.
MS. CURLEY: Is this the first violation in -- at this farmers
market? Do we have any history of this farmers market having other
issues here at this --
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: Not to my knowledge, ma'am.
MS. CURLEY: Okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. To keep peace on the Board,
I will modify the 60 days to 120 days and make the fine $250 a day
thereafter, if the second will follow.
MS. ELROD: Second will follow.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Any more discussion on the
motion?
MR. LEFEBVRE: Thank you, Chair.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, all those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
October 26, 2018
Page 73
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
So that's not for you. That's for the owner. They will be notified,
and he has or she has sufficient time to try to resolve this with the
county.
Thanks, Steven.
MR. LOPEZ-SILVERO: You guys have a good weekend.
MR. HERNANDEZ: Thank you. Take care.
MS. JUAREZ: Thank you.
MR. BLANCO: Next item on the agenda, it's Roman Numeral 6,
old business, Letter C, motion for imposition of fines and liens, No. 1,
Case No. CEPM20160010841, Community Association for Mill Run
and Stonegate Collier County, Incorporated.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Could you state your name
on the microphone for us.
MR. HAGELMAN: I'm Mike Hagelman (phonetic), board
member.
MR. VANDERHADEN: Terry Vanderhaden, board member of
the Stonegate/Mill Run Homeowners Association.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. SHORT: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning.
MR. SHORT: Supervisor Eric Short, Collier County Code
Enforcement.
October 26, 2018
Page 74
This is regarding violations of the Collier County Code of Laws
and Ordinances, Chapter 22, Article 6, Section 22-228(1) and Section
22-240(2)(c).
Location is -- there's no site address, but we have a folio of
29517500100.
Description is failure to maintain lake/stormwater management
retention by allowing silt and rocks to alter the slope and configuration
of the lake.
Past orders: On February 22nd, 2018, the Code Enforcement
Board issued a finding of fact, conclusion of law and order. The
respondent was found in violation of the referenced ordinances and
ordered to correct the violation. See the attached order of the Board,
OR book 5485, Page 2797, for more information.
The violation has been abated as of August 10th, 2018.
Fines and costs to date are as follows: Fines have accrued at a
rate of $100 per day for the period from May 24th, 2018, to August
10th, 2018, 79 days, for a total fine amount of $7,900.
Previously assessed operational costs of $59.84 have been paid.
Operational costs for today's hearing is $59.49.
Brings us to a total of $7,959.49.
Now, I do want to make it clear to the Board that there was some
coordination with the county engineer after the hearing and getting this
lake into compliance. Originally, when we prosecuted this case, we
went off a third-party engineering report; should not have been done.
We have an in-house county engineer, very reputable. His
recommendation was a lot simpler than that third-party engineering.
Once the coordination was handled, the association moved on it
and corrected the violation.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Make a motion to abate.
MR. ASHTON: Second.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Make a motion not to impose the fine.
October 26, 2018
Page 75
MR. ASHTON: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Any discussion on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, all those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: (No verbal response.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Thank you.
MR. HAGELMAN: Thank you so much.
MR. VANDERHADEN: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Can I fish in the lake now?
MR. LEFEBVRE: He's shaking his head no.
MR. BLANCO: Next item on the agenda, it's No. 2, Case No.
CESD20150001965, Fabricio Fernandez and Allison J. Fernandez.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Could you state your name on the
microphone for us, please.
MS. FERNANDEZ: Hi. My name is Allison Fernandez. I am
the daughter of Fabricio and Allison Fernandez, who are both the
owners of the property.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And they've given you permission to
testify in their behalf?
MS. FERNANDEZ: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. FERNANDEZ: My name is Fabricio Fernandez.
October 26, 2018
Page 76
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: Danny, can you move that form down so we can
read it? We don't have it in our packet.
MR. BLANCO: You want us to bring it down?
MS. CURLEY: Well, we have to read it, right?
MR. BLANCO: The supervisor will read it into the record.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Can you tell us -- let me pause for a
second -- the reason that we don't get this form anymore?
MR. BLANCO: We're going paperless.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Why isn't it here? There's no paper
there.
MR. BLANCO: Oh, you guys have a switch under -- on the side
of the computer that you can switch it -- we use two different screens.
The screen that you guys see on the monitors is different from the ones
you guys have in front of you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: This is progress?
MR. LETOURNEAU: You're looking at me?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You looking at me?
MS. CURLEY: We at least put these in the folder at the end of
the one document that we're working on.
MR. ASHTON: You've got to hit HD.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The problem is that after you do that,
Danny, then you can't scroll. It's a pain in the neck is what it is. It
should be with the other paperwork that's on the screen. You can't
scroll.
MS. CURLEY: I'm not touching it.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So what I have on my screen
now is the top half until I can figure out how to scroll.
MS. CURLEY: No. You're at her scroll. She's the scroller.
You're just a witness.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I'm a scroller. You're a scroller.
October 26, 2018
Page 77
MS. CURLEY: She's a scroller. You can't scroll.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Could you scroll me down. Oh,
thank you.
Okay. Chris?
MR. AMBACH: All set?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yeah, sort of.
MR. AMBACH: All right. Violations: Collier County Land
Development Code 04-41, as amended, Section 10.02.06 (B)(1)(e) and
10.02.06(B)(1)(a).
Location: 5472 32nd Avenue Southwest, Naples, Florida; Folio
No. 36457240005.
Description: An addition added to the existing structure without
first obtaining the proper Collier County permits.
Past order: On March 22nd, 2018, the Code Enforcement Board
issued a finding of fact, conclusion of law and order. The respondent
was found in violation of the referenced ordinances and ordered to
correct the violation. See the attached order of the Board, OR5493,
Page 3298, for more information.
The violation has been abated as of September 20th, 2018.
Fines and costs to date are as follows: Part B of the order, fines
have accrued at a rate of $250 per day for the period from May 22nd,
2018, to September 20th, 2018, 122 days, for a total fine amount of
30,500.
Part C of the order, fines have accrued at a rate of $250 per day
for the period from March 24th, 2018, to September 20th, 2018, 181
days, for a total fine amount of $45,250.
Previously assessed operational costs of $59.70 have been paid.
Operational costs for today's hearing, $59.35.
Total amount: $75,809.35.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: Can you read the A, B, C, and D? I think they're
October 26, 2018
Page 78
--
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I see the B and C.
MS. CURLEY: It will refresh our memory on the case.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Helen, could you go down -- I mean,
go up a little bit. There you go.
MR. AMBACH: The gravity of the violation was low.
B: Any actions taken by the violator to correct the violation:
Obtain Collier County permits, inspections, and certificate of
completion for the modifications made to the property.
Any previous violations committed by the respondent violator:
None.
Any other relevant factors: The property owner's wife has cancer,
and he was not able to do the necessary repairs to pass the inspections
until her treatment was completed.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. And you're before us to tell
us?
MS. FERNANDEZ: Yes. I just wanted to tell you guys that we
wanted the fees waived because -- so in 2015 my parents asked for the
permits to expand the house, and in 2016 that's when my mother
received cancer. So she got it in her head, spread to her heart, to her
back.
So the money that was expected to go to the extension went to her
medical bills. And due to the loss of the income from my mother,
we've asked for all these extensions.
So we just would please ask if you could just waive the fines,
waive the fees. I'm sorry. I'm a little bit emotional.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Comments, questions from
the Board?
MS. CURLEY: I have a motion.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Make a motion to deny the county's request to
impose the fines.
October 26, 2018
Page 79
MR. ASHTON: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second.
Any discussion on the motion?
MR. LEFEBVRE: Operational costs for today will not have to be
paid unless they were coming for an extension.
MR. ASHTON: That disappears.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
The fines have gone away.
MS. FERNANDEZ: Oh, thank you so much.
MR. LEFEBVRE: You're welcome.
MR. AMBACH: Thank you.
MR. BLANCO: Next item on the agenda, it's No. 3, Case No.
CELU20180001084, Judith Telfort.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning.
MR. MUSSE: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Could you state your name on the
microphone for us, please.
MS. TELFORT: My name is Judith Telfort.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. MUSSE: Investigator Jonathan Musse, Collier County Code
Enforcement.
October 26, 2018
Page 80
Past orders: On April 27th, 2018, the Code Enforcement Board
issued a finding of fact, conclusion of law and order. The respondent
was found in violation of the referenced ordinance and ordered to
correct the violation. See attached order of the Board, OR5506, Page
1638, for more information.
The violation has been abated as of August 2nd, 2018.
Fines have incurred (sic) at the rate of $100 per day for a period
from May 12, 2018, to August 2nd, 2018, 83 days, for a total fine
amount of $8,300.
Previously assessed operational costs of $59.63 have been paid.
Operational costs for today's hearing, $59.49.
Total amount: $8,359.49.
Did you want me to continue reading the other --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: They're on the bottom of our screen
now.
MR. MUCHA: Okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. And good morning.
MS. TELFORT: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And you're here to request?
MS. TELFORT: Yes, to waive the fine, because I didn't know.
Mr. Jonathan didn't tell me I supposed to go pay the same day,
and then he think I receive a letter from the Court to pay the money. I
don't receive anything. I don't know -- I thought I was supposed to pay
when I'm with him again, and I didn't know if I supposed to pay the
$59 the day I was here. That's why I didn't pay it.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So the operational costs is
what you're talking about?
MS. TELFORT: It's $59.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The $59.63 has been paid.
MS. TELFORT: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The operational costs for today's
October 26, 2018
Page 81
hearing is 59.49, unless it's abated. Okay.
MS. TELFORT: Okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Give me a minute while I figure out
how to go back to the original case.
Okay. Questions or comments or motions from the Board?
MS. CURLEY: I'll make a motion to deny the county's request
for the fine.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion. Do we have a
second?
MR. LEFEBVRE: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a second. Any discussion
on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, all those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MR. MUSSE: Thank you.
MS. TELFORT: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. BLANCO: Next item on the agenda, it's No. 7, Case No.
CESD20170004712, IBO, LLC.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Do you want to read the --
MR. ASHTON: Yes. Board of Commissioners versus IBO,
October 26, 2018
Page 82
LLC.
Violations: Collier County Land Development Code 04-41, as
amended, Sections 10.02.06(B)(1)(a) and 10.02.06(B)(1)(e).
Location of the property is 313 Nixon Drive, Immokalee, Florida,
34142, I believe is the ZIP code.
Description: Converted part of an existing screened patio to
enclose structure with electric and air-conditioning without first
obtaining all Collier County building permits and approvals.
Past orders: On November 17th, 2017, the Code Enforcement
Board issued a finding of fact, conclusion of law and order. The
respondent was found in violation of the referenced ordinances and
ordered to correct the violation. See the attached order of the Board,
OR5456, Page 1400, for more information.
The violation has been abated as of September 4th, 2018.
Fines and costs to date are as follows: Part B of the order, fines
have accrued at the rate of $250 per day for the period from February
16th, 2018, to September 4th, 2018, 201 days, for a total fine amount
of $50,250.
Part C of the order, fines have accrued at the rate of $100 per day
for the period from November 19th, 2017, to September 4th, 2018, 290
days, for a total fine amount of $29,000.
Previously assessed operational costs of $59.91 have been paid.
Operational costs for today's hearing is $59.42.
Total amount is $79,369.33.
A, the gravity of the violation is not a health and safety violation.
B, any actions taken by the violator to correct the violation:
Property owner secured a building permit correcting the violation.
C, any previous violations committed by the respondent: None.
D, any other relevant factors: None.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Good morning.
MR. BLANCO: Mr. Chairman, I just want to clarify. The total
October 26, 2018
Page 83
amount was $79,309.42, for the record.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yeah. That's on the sheet that was
on our --
MR. LEFEBVRE: Yes. But it was stated wrong.
MR. BLANCO: Correct.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Part -- can you explain what
Part B and Part C of the order was? Part B of the order started
February through September, which was around seven months.
MR. BLANCO: Mr. Chairman, I have Part B here that ordered
the respondent to obtain all required Collier County building permits,
demolition permits, inspections, certificate of completion for the
enclosed screened patio with new windows and electric. Part C, order
the respondent to cease use of the unpermitted structure for living
purposes and disconnect all utilities until all county approvals, permits,
inspections, and certificate of completion/occupancy are obtained.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So can you tell us, tell the
Board, why it took seven months to do the Part B of the order and why
it took 290 days, which was the part of -- part of the property was
occupied, to un-occupy it, if you will.
MR. OZBAY: Yes. For the record, my name is Erhan Ozbay.
That's E-r-h-a-n, O-z-b-a-y.
I'm just confused on the Part C part, because since Day 3, the
electricity's been cut off, so that was the -- I guess you would say, the
hazard part of the thing was the electricity not being approved and
air-conditioned. So we made sure that was done three days right after
that. So I'm assuming that's when the inspection later on was done, so
that's how it's calculated for that, for the Part C.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: After the three days that you did that,
did you call Code Enforcement to let them know that you had done
that?
MR. OZBAY: Oh, yeah. They're aware of that. They actually
October 26, 2018
Page 84
came out, too.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. ASARO: I took over this case in September, and I have no
knowledge of any phone calls, because Juan Garcia's no longer with
us.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. ASHTON: That could have taken place.
MS. CURLEY: The stipulation agreement reads with 1 through
5, and so then it's categorized as Part B, and Part C, it's a little bit hard
to know how -- just a little --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: How it matches up.
MS. CURLEY: Yeah. But go ahead. Sorry.
MR. OZBAY: So any-who, the part of the building that we're
talking about is -- was enclosed with a screen porch area. So we want
to convert that into, basically, extra storage. You know, we're a
business in Immokalee, we're a restaurant, and we're very busy. We
try to accommodate as much as we can at the end of the season and
whatnot, so we just need that extra space. So, you know, in violation,
we didn't have any permits and whatnot for that building.
But our objective was to see if we can use that space and continue
to actually pull proper permits and actually make that place enclosed.
That's very, very hard process, not only just to find the engineers, the
whole -- what it requires.
You know, we had help from our contractor and Tami here as
well as, too, to see what we need to pull these permits, and the people
that we talked to at the county didn't even know exactly. So we had to
do this process of figuring out what we needed to make that structure
the way that we wanted to initially.
Turns out it's a no-go, because just the engineering costs alone
would cost us minimum, what was it, $24,000. That's not even
guaranteed that that would be the total costs, just for the engineering
October 26, 2018
Page 85
and the planning and whatnot.
So to us -- and that was maybe a couple months out, you know,
like, maybe two, three months out that we found that out. It wasn't be
worth our time; it wasn't worth our money because that's, you know,
ridiculous to pay for that.
So what we ended up deciding to do was to demo it back to its
original condition, which also -- then also required a lot of process to
pull these permits as well, too. It was not easy. It's not the easiest
thing.
But we did put it back, you know; everything is in place. We did
have an inspection out there, electric and the structure as well as, too.
So that's where we're at.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Any questions from the
Board?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Any motions from the Board?
MS. CURLEY: I'll make a motion to deny the county's request
for the $7,903.42 fine.
MR. LEFEBVRE: 79,000.
MS. CURLEY: Seventy-nine.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: 79,309.42.
MS. CURLEY: 79,309.42, and also exclude the operational costs
for today.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a motion. Do we
have a second?
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
October 26, 2018
Page 86
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MR. OZBAY: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You need to tell us what kind of
food you serve, because she's hungry.
MR. OZBAY: We're open 5 to 9 every day, so breakfast, lunch,
and dinner.
MS. ELROD: What kind?
MR. OZBAY: Oh, southern food, so meatloaf. Thank you, guys.
MR. BLANCO: Mr. Chairman, we have an additional change to
the agenda.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. BLANCO: Last-minute change.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. What is the change, and then
we'll vote on it?
MR. BLANCO: Roman numeral 7, old business, Letter C,
motions for imposition of fines and liens, No. 4 Case No.
CELU20160010501, Anthony V. Piccirilli Estate, has been withdrawn.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Motion from the Board to
accept the change?
MR. ASHTON: Motion to accept.
MR. WHITE: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second. All
those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
October 26, 2018
Page 87
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MR. BLANCO: Next item on the agenda, it's No. 9 from
impositions, Case No. CESD20170003341, Eliseo Viamonte.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Number 9 is two down from IBO, the last
case.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MS. PULSE: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I have to stand on my head to read it.
MR. LEFEBVRE: He just flipped his computer screen
upside-down.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Maybe if I turn the monitor
upside-down, it will work.
Could you state your name on the mike for us, please.
MR. VIAMONTE: Yes. My name is Eliseo Viamonte.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Dee?
MS. PULSE: For the record, Dee Pulse, Collier County Code
Enforcement.
This is violation of the Collier County Land Development Code
04-41, as amended, Sections 10.02.06(B)(1)(a), (e), and (i).
The location was 5428 27th Avenue Southwest, Naples, Florida;
Folio 36321920008. Description was alterations consisting of, but not
limited to, garage conversion into living space with full bathroom and
a door installed in the rear for private access. No Collier County
permits obtained.
Past orders: On July 27th, 2017, the Code Enforcement Board
issued a findings of fact, conclusion of law and order. The respondent
was found in violation of the referenced ordinances and ordered to
October 26, 2018
Page 88
correct the violation. See the attached order of the Board, OR5420,
Page 3497, for more information.
On January 26th, 2018, the Code Enforcement Board granted a
continuance. See the attached order of the Board, OR5477, Page 2474,
for more information.
On May 24th, 2018, the Code Enforcement Board granted a
continuance. See the attached order of the Board, OR5519, Page 3592,
for more information.
Violation has been abated as of October 8th, 2018.
Fines and costs to date are as follows: Part B of the order, fines
have accrued at a rate of $250 per day for the period from November
25th, 2017, to October 8th, 2018, 318 days, for a total fine amount of
$79,500.
Part C of the order, fines have accrued at a rate of $250 per day
for the period from August 4th, 2017, to February 14th, 2018, 195
days, for a total fine amount of $48,750.
Previously assessed operational costs of $64 have been paid.
Operational costs for today's hearing, $59.91.
Total amount: $128,309.91.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Do you have a question?
MR. LEFEBVRE: Not a question, but this case was regarding
Mr. Viamonte going through a divorce, if I'm not mistaken. He was
not allowed on the property. Wife was not cooperating, so in that light,
I feel that -- I make a motion to deny the county's request for
imposition of fines.
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second. All
those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
October 26, 2018
Page 89
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Your time was well worth waiting.
MR. VIAMONTE: Thank you.
MS. CURLEY: This is the first time that you didn't have to ask
for it.
MR. VIAMONTE: Thank you. Appreciate it. God bless you.
MS. CURLEY: Good luck.
MR. LEFEBVRE: You have a good memory.
MR. BLANCO: Next item on the --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: He remembers divorces, yes.
MR. LEFEBVRE: No ex-wives.
MR. BLANCO: Okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Danny, you're on.
MR. BLANCO: All right. Next item on the agenda, it's No. 10
from impositions. Case No. CESD20140011921, Omar Otero, Sr., and
Liliana L. Portillo.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Could you state your name on the
microphone for us.
MR. OTERO: Omar G. Otero.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. ODOM: Good morning. For the record, Michael Odom,
Collier County Code Enforcement.
This is an imposition of fines for Case No. CESD20140011921.
Violations of the Collier County Land Development Code 04-41,
as amended, Section 10.02.06(B)(1)(a), located at 4886 16th Street
October 26, 2018
Page 90
Northeast, Naples, Florida; Folio 39551600008.
Description: Originally expired permits for fencing and structures
on the property.
Past orders of the Board: On March 24th, 2016, the Code
Enforcement Board issued a findings of fact, conclusion of law and
order. The respondent was found in violation of the referenced
ordinances and ordered to correct the violation.
See the attached order of the Board, OR5257, Page 889, for more
information.
On February 23rd, 2017, the Code Enforcement Board granted a
continuance. See the attached order of the Board, OR5368, Page 3562,
for more information.
On July 27th, 2017, the Code Enforcement Board granted a
continuance. See the attached order of the Board, OR52 -- 5420, Page
3503, for more information.
The violation has been abated as of September 24th, 2018.
Fines and costs to date are as follows: Fines have accrued at a
rate of $100 per day for the period from March 19th, 2017, to
September 24th, 2018, 555 days, for a total fine amount of $55,500.
Previously assesses operational costs of $64.17 have been paid.
Operational costs for today's hearing, $59.63.
Total amount: $55,559.63.
Mr. Chairman, would you like me to read the rest of that, or are
we good?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: No, that's okay.
MR. ODOM: Okay. I would like to say one more thing, and I'm
sure he'll plead his case. But I know it took this gentleman a while, but
he lives in Miami, and he's got a lot going on, and he finally got it all
wrapped up. So I'll let him do the rest.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. This was the farm?
MR. OTERO: Yes, sir. This has the farm.
October 26, 2018
Page 91
As you know, the original case, it was never my intention to
commit any violation. I was just misinformed that when you have the
agricultural exemption, you didn't need a permit to build protection for
the animals, so I did.
When I was cited by the inspectors, I came, and I pled my case.
But, like, I wasn't planning to build a house. I didn't -- I don't have the
economical monetary means. You don't know what it has taken me;
every person I know have lend me money. I'm buried up to here.
Finally, when we draw the plans, I got the permits, it took a lot of
time for them to approve the plans, the permit, the modifications.
After that -- it took about seven months. After that, I tried to do the
modification to lift the house because it was a little lower than the
crown of the road. The house fell apart when they pulled it up. I lost
every single dollar that I put in that structure.
So new plans had to be drawn. New permits have to be obtained.
They closed the case. I pay my impact fee even before I started the
other structure. Then it took another four or five months for the
engineers and the architect to draw plans and get the permits; they
were modified several times.
Then the labor was for me have -- everybody was busy with the --
you know, doing the septic tanks. It took about seven weeks for one --
eight weeks to get a permit there to build it.
The well -- the electricians were busy everywhere, so finally I got
it done. Everything is up to code, up to date, and I completed -- I got
the CO for the first one and this one as well.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So you're asking us for?
MR. OTERO: Sir, I will -- if you have it in your heart, and,
please, have some pity on me because I really don't have -- I owe
everybody that you can even think of.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: Wait. I have a question. You built a house?
October 26, 2018
Page 92
MR. OTERO: Yes, ma'am. Out of my own pocket, I borrowing
money from sisters, neighbors, coworkers, my daughter, my son,
everyone.
MS. CURLEY: All that for the goats?
MR. OTERO: Yeah, well, the goats and a couple of cows that I
have there, yeah, but and it's done, and I just got to find a way to pay it
back now.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Question for you, for the investigator: Why
does it say the gravity of the violation is high?
MR. ODOM: That is a mistake, and I will own that. It's
moderate.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Okay. I make a motion to deny the county's
request for imposition of fines.
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second. All
those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: (No verbal response.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MR. OTERO: Thank you. I haven't been able to sleep in four
weeks, and I lost 15 pounds.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That's all I have to do is borrow
money and loss weight?
MR. OTERO: And now I owe money, because my first
granddaughter was born last night.
October 26, 2018
Page 93
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Congratulations.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Go see her.
MR. OTERO: That's going to cost me a little bit with everything
else. Thank you very much. Appreciate it.
MR. BLANCO: Okay. Next item on the agenda, it's No. 11 from
impositions, Case No. CESD20140017894, Jose F. Garcia.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning.
MR. GARCIA: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Could you state your name for the
record, sir.
MR. GARCIA: Jose F. Garcia.
MS. GUY: Good morning, almost good afternoon. For the
record, Paula Guy, Collier County Code Enforcement.
Today we have the imposition of fines for CEB Case No.
CESD20140017984.
Violation is Collier County Land Development Code 04-41, as
amended, Section 10.02.06(B)(1)(a).
The location is 2087 DeSoto Boulevard North, Naples, Florida;
Folio 40420400004.
The description of the violation is incomplete home.
The past orders reflect on May 28th, 2015, the Code Enforcement
Board issued a findings of fact, conclusion of law and order. The
respondent was found in violation of the referenced ordinances and
ordered to correct the violation. Please see the attached order of the
Board, OR5163, Page 1490, for more information.
On April 29th, 2016, the Code Enforcement Board granted a
continuance. See the attached order of the Board, OR5270, PG2598,
for more information.
On October 28th, 2016, the Code Enforcement Board granted a
continuance. See the attached order of the Board, OR5330, PG3009
October 26, 2018
Page 94
for more information.
On May 25th, 2017, the Code Enforcement Board granted a
continuance. See the attached order of the Board, OR5400, PG3547,
for more information.
This violation has not been abated as of October 26th, 2018.
The fines and costs to date are as follows: The fines have accrued
at a rate of $200 per day for the period from May 23rd, 2016, to
October 26th, 2018, 887 days, for a total fine amount of $177,400.
Daily fines continue to accrue.
The previously assessed operational costs of $65.42 have been
paid, and operational costs for today's hearing is $59.63.
The total amount due is $177,459.63.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Thank you. We have a
problem that this has not been abated, but why don't you let us know
what's going on.
MR. GARCIA: Well, I went -- I've been sick for the past year
and a half or so, and I also went through a tough time in my family. I
went through a divorce. And I haven't been able to do much in the
house because of that. Part of the money, almost all the money that I
have to build the house, I have to find another place for my ex and my
daughters.
So now I'm working, trying to get a loan. And I have a GC, a
general contractor, in line to finish the house. But I have to get the
loan before I can proceed because I don't have enough funds as it is
right now.
MR. LEFEBVRE: How big of a house was this?
MR. GARCIA: It's 3,500 square feet under A/C;
5,000-square-foot total.
MR. LEFEBVRE: I remember it was a big home. Did you buy it
--
MR. GARCIA: I bought it back in 2014.
October 26, 2018
Page 95
MR. LEFEBVRE: And it was partially built.
MR. GARCIA: It was half -- I mean, not half, but it was built all
the way to the tie beams.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Tie beam, right.
Have you applied for the loan yet?
MR. GARCIA: I did.
MR. LEFEBVRE: You did, okay. When are you expecting --
MR. GARCIA: Probably within three weeks or something like
that.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Because the issue we have, if we -- if we
impose the fine, then it's recorded on public records, and to get
financing, that might be --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It would be difficult to get your loan
approved then.
MR. GARCIA: Yes, it will.
MS. CURLEY: Do they know about this case?
MR. GARCIA: No, they didn't.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: They won't as long as it continues to
be continued.
MR. LEFEBVRE: If this financing goes through, how long do
you think it will be before you finish the house? And we probably
asked this of you before.
MR. GARCIA: Yes, you have. And according to a GC, it will
take about four months to finish the house. I got to do all the inside.
I'm --
MR. LEFEBVRE: Is the roof on now?
MR. GARCIA: Yes, it is, and I just had the final inspection on
the roof.
MR. LEFEBVRE: And it's still -- the permit has not expired?
MS. GUY: Well, in addition -- the permit expired, actually, from
2014 permit in September 26th, 2018. He actually got it reinstated in
October 26, 2018
Page 96
October.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Okay.
MS. GUY: I can tell you that October 24th he actually passed
four different -- no, five -- I stand corrected -- five inspections. Three
that were electrical related and the other two were regarding the roof.
So the roof has a final.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Good.
MS. GUY: So he's moving forward.
MR. LEFEBVRE: So you're progressing.
MS. GUY: Yes. I'm finally being able to do some.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Right. Well, that's encouraging.
MS. CURLEY: Is there any way we can clean this up and start
fresh, or we're just stuck in this case?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You need to continue -- continue
with what we're doing, and to clean -- gets cleaned up at the end.
MS. CURLEY: I have one question --
MR. LEFEBVRE: Well, one way to clean --
MS. CURLEY: A technicality. Are you -- did you own this with
your spouse, previous spouse?
MR. GARCIA: No.
MS. CURLEY: Okay. Okay.
MR. GARCIA: No. It was just in my name.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Are you building it --
MR. GARCIA: As owner.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Are you building it for yourself, or are you
building it to sell it?
MR. GARCIA: I was building it for myself, me and my family,
my daughters and my ex. Right now I'm not even sure what I'm going
to do with it, to be honest. I also have another property close by. That's
where I live at.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We'll have a much better idea as
October 26, 2018
Page 97
time ticks by.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Right. I mean, the thing is is this case has
been going on since, was it '14?
MS. GUY: Actually, 2013 there was a previous case with a
previous owner.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Previous owner.
MS. CURLEY: Sometimes this just happens.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Yeah, this is a tough one.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, if you get the loan, and the
four months, we would see a tremendous amount of progress.
MR. LEFEBVRE: We're seeing progress now. It's not like it's --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Right.
MR. LEFEBVRE: -- a case we had near the water where
everything was kind of sitting still.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yes. Make the -- go ahead. Make a
motion.
MR. LEFEBVRE: A continuance the fines keep on accruing.
MS. CURLEY: So I make a motion for a continuance for six
months.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second.
Any discussion on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, all those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ASHTON: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
October 26, 2018
Page 98
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MR. GARCIA: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So hopefully when we see you in six
months, you'll have a lot more progress.
MR. GARCIA: Hopefully it's all done by then.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Thank you.
MR. GARCIA: Thanks.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Have a great day.
MR. BLANCO: Next item on the agenda, it's No. 12 from
impositions. Case No. --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I'm sorry.
MR. ASHTON: Mr. Chairman, I have to be excused. I have a
doctor's appointment.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yes. Bob mentioned it. We'll
function in your absence. You were here for the fun part.
MR. ASHTON: Okay.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Have a good day.
MR. BLANCO: Case No. CESD201600020990, A&B Web
Ventures, LLC.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Which one is this again,
Danny?
MR. BLANCO: That's No. 12, sir, A&B Web Ventures, LLC.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Joe?
MR. MUCHA: For the record, Joe Mucha, Collier County Code
Enforcement.
This is dealing with violations of the Collier County Land
Development Code 04-41, as amended, Sections 10.02.06(B)(1)(a) and
10.02.06(B)(1)(e).
October 26, 2018
Page 99
Violation location is 408 La Peninsula Boulevard, Naples; Folio
33400000169.
Violation description is a screen enclosure removed prior to
obtaining Collier County permits.
Past orders: On May 25th, 2017, the Code Enforcement Board
issued a findings of fact, conclusion of law and order. Respondent was
found in violation of the referenced ordinances and ordered to correct
the violation.
See attached order of the Board, Book 5400, Page 3537, for more
information.
Violation has been abated as of July 20th, 2018.
Fines and costs to date are as follows: Fines have accrued at a
rate of $50 per day from the period from February 20th, 2018, to July
20th, 2018, 151 days, for a total fine amount of $7,550.
Previously assessed operational costs of $65.85 have been paid.
Operational costs for today's hearing: $59.35.
Total fine amount: $7,609.35.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Question.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Gerald?
MR. LEFEBVRE: What's the process if a respondent has
contacted a board member prior to a meeting? Would it be just state
that there's ex parte discussion?
MS. NICOLA: Uh-huh.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Okay. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Does anybody want to report that the
respondent contacted them?
MS. CURLEY: Yes. This respondent or -- either his husband or
wife contacted me through social media and asked for assistance, and
this was eight or nine months ago. And I reported it at the time.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
October 26, 2018
Page 100
MS. CURLEY: And I believe that most of the board members
also got print media and print letters in the mail which I didn't respond.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I do remember getting a letter which
I delivered to the Board -- to Code Enforcement, okay. And none of us
have any financial, that I know of, dealings with the respondent, and
that's what counts as far as an ethics problem.
MR. LEFEBVRE: I did not receive a letter.
MS. ELROD: I did, and I brought it to your attention.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: One, two, three --
MR. WHITE: No.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: -- letters, okay.
All right. I think we can go on, and I don't think it disqualifies
anybody from anything.
Okay. Sir?
MR. APUZO: Yes, Frank Apuzo (phonetic).
So I was here on the 25th of May 2017 for the hearing. First of
all, when I took the screen enclosure off, I did not know I required a
permit, because other people in our whole community had done that
same thing.
My next-door neighbor, who was on the board, I told him I
wanted to do that. He gave me like a verbal permission to do it -- that's
what I testified last time I was here -- and then he called the county and
reported me. So the county came out and said, you know, a demo
permit was required, so I said, okay, fine.
So after I left here, I paid the fee that I had to pay for being here,
and then I contacted a contractor and just said I needed to hire you
simply just to pull the permit. So an application for a permit did begin,
and they started the process.
Then the county told the contractor that they needed permission
from our board before the permit could be issued.
So I think it was Liz Greer -- there was another agent that was
October 26, 2018
Page 101
working on the case originally -- and Renald Paul from the county
started communicating with the Board to try to get the approval, and
our board was being very difficult and very uncooperative. And
Renald Paul could testify to that if necessary.
Finally, the board -- I resubmitted a request to remove the screen.
They said, well, you're going to have to submit a second request, but
take out the commentary, as they called it. And the commentary was
the facts of the matter, which was the board president told me I could
take the screen down. They just didn't want that in the record.
So then I resubmitted a request saying I'm going to take the
screen down, I'm not going to replace it, and then they did approve it.
Well, then September 10th came, and the hurricane hit. I was
here -- I live on Isles of Capri, so I was on Capri before the hurricane
helping my neighbors prep for the hurricane. Then after the hurricane
I was helping with cleanup. I even ruptured a disk in my back, landed
in the hospital on December 16th for a first surgery. Four weeks later I
had a spinal fluid leak in my back, has a second surgery in January,
and I was laid up. I was in the hospital for a week. I've been laid up
until about three months ago, but I still proceeded with trying to get
this thing handled.
Contacted the original general contractor and said, you know, I
need to reapply for the permit. So that meant more fees. It's cost me
over $1,000 to pull a permit when nobody else in the community of
175 owners even got one to take their screens off. It's ridiculous.
And Ms. Curley made a comment about uncomfortable at the
treatment of our citizens. At La Peninsula, it's horrible what's going on
with these board members and how they act toward certain owners if
they don't like them. Not part of this case, but in a sense it is, because
of what we've had to go through, my wife and I.
So long story short, the contractor did get the second permit after
the second application. They did do the inspection. Everything's been
October 26, 2018
Page 102
finalled. It's basically a done deal.
So I'm here to respectfully ask to waive the fines. It was really
out of my control over the situation. I'm very sorry that I'm even here
to have to deal with this with you-all, because you've got much more
important things to be doing. That's really it.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Any questions from the
Board?
MR. LEFEBVRE: Is this a condo association?
MR. APUZO: Yes.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Is this a condo association?
MR. APUZO: Yes. There's nine of them there with 175 owners.
MS. CURLEY: How many screens got blown out after the
hurricane?
MR. APUZO: A few of them did get blown off and, interestingly
enough, they went and installed them without permits. So I brought
that to the attention of the management company and then, voila, a few
weeks later, they got permits miraculously. So it's not so much "do as
we say." It's, you know, "Don't do as we do. Do as we say." And it's
just -- it's unfortunate. I think that's the deal with condos down here.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So you're not going to cite God for
removing the screen enclosures without a permit?
MR. APUZO: Not today. But there were some removed without
the, you know, hurricane; in other words, people just took them off,
and that was basically okay, it seemed like.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Make a motion to deny the county's request
for imposition of fines.
MR. WHITE: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second. All
those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
October 26, 2018
Page 103
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MR. APUZO: Thank you-all very much. I appreciate it.
MS. CURLEY: If you can't beat them, join them. Go ahead and
join your board and watch how fast they like you.
MR. BLANCO: Next item on the agenda, it's No. 5 from
impositions. Case No. CESD20170010243, Jean Jorhel Decembre and
Yoland Jean Domond.
I just want to state for the record, Mr. Chairman, that the
respondent was present earlier. He had an appointment, so he had to
leave.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MS. RODRIGUEZ: For the record, Maria Rodriguez, Collier
County Code Enforcement.
This is in reference to Case No. CESD20170010243.
Violations: Collier County Land Development Code 04-41, as
amended, Section 10.02.06(B)(1)(a) and the 2017 Florida Building
Code, Sixth Edition, Chapter 4, Section 454.2.17.
Location: 4257 17th Avenue Southwest, Naples, Florida; Folio
No. 35771000003.
Description: Unsecured swimming pool, missing an approved
pool barrier in the rear yard of improved occupied residential property.
Past order: On April 17th, 2018, the Code Enforcement Board
issued a finding of fact, conclusion of law and order. The respondent
was found in violation of the referenced ordinances and ordered to
correct the violation. See the attached order of the Board, OR5506,
Page 1641, for more information.
October 26, 2018
Page 104
The violation has not been abated as of October 26th, 2018.
Fines and costs to date are as follows: Part B of the order, no fines
accrued.
Part C of the order, fines have accrued at a rate of $250 per day
for the period from June 27th, 2018, to October 26th, 2018, 122 days,
for a total fine amount of 30,500. Daily fines of 250 continue to accrue
on Part C of the order.
Previously assessed operational costs of $59.42 have not been
paid.
Operational costs for today's hearing is $59.35.
Total amount: $30,618.77.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. This has not been abated. I
assume that what happened was the temporary fence went up.
MS. RODRIGUEZ: It did.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And that stopped the first part of the
fines --
MS. RODRIGUEZ: He tried to get a permit for the screen
enclosure, like he hired a GC, but that never happened. So I
mentioned that maybe it would be easier for him and financially
probably be a lot less if he just installed a fence, which the contractor
said that he would do, which he did do, but he pulled a permit just for a
fence and not a pool barrier fence.
So it might take him a couple weeks, but it should be abated in a
couple of weeks.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I would think that since he was here
today, we did go long, that the proper thing to do would be for the
county to pull this for a month and bring it back.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Have the operational costs been paid?
MS. RODRIGUEZ: They have not. And I asked him before -- a
couple of days before he came in, I went to his house and asked him,
you have to pay the operational costs, and he told me he couldn't afford
October 26, 2018
Page 105
it; that he had used up all his money in order to get this pool barrier
thing done, and he has none to pay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So Jeff?
MR. LETOURNEAU: I'm sorry.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Can you withdraw this case?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Just till the next meeting.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Yes, we can.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That works. Thank you.
MS. RODRIGUEZ: I'll let him know.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Thanks, Marie. If you would, when
you speak to him, tell him if he doesn't pay his operational costs, we
are bound to just implement -- impose the fine.
MS. RODRIGUEZ: I'll let him know. Thank you.
MS. CURLEY: Would there be costs for today or no?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, it's withdrawn. It wasn't here.
MS. CURLEY: So he's not in arrears?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yeah. Oh, he's in arrears. Just not
today.
MR. BLANCO: Next item for the agenda, it's No. 6 from
impositions, Case No. CELU20180001234, Megan Gibson.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. ODOM: For the record, Michael Odom, Collier County
Code Enforcement.
This is an imposition of fines for Case No. CELU20180001234.
Violations of the Collier County Land Development Code 04-41,
as amended, Section 2.02.03 and Collier County Code of Laws and
Ordinances Chapter 54, Article 6, Section 54-181 and Chapter 130,
Article 3, Section 130-96(a) located at 128 37th Avenue Northeast,
Naples, Florida; Folio 38502240000.
Description: Prohibited accessory use without first having a
permitted principal/primary structure -- correction -- primary
October 26, 2018
Page 106
use/structure, unauthorized outside storage of items including, but not
limited to, various pieces of furniture, two recreational vehicles, one
storage container, one boat, two vehicles, and litter -- additionally,
litter.
Past orders: On July 26th, 2018, the Code Enforcement Board
issued a findings of fact, conclusion of law and order. The respondent
was found in violation of the referenced ordinances and ordered to
correct the violation. See the attached order of the Board, OR5540,
Page 2974, for more information.
The violation has not been abated as of today.
Fines and costs to date are as follows: Fines have accrued at a
rate of $150 per day for the period from August 26th, 2018, to October
26th, 2018, 62 days, for a total fine amount of $9,300. Daily fines
continue to accrue.
Previously assessed operational costs of $59.56 have been paid.
Operational costs for today's hearing: $59.42.
Total amount: $9,359.42.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Quick couple of questions. Number
one, have you been in contact with the individual?
MR. ODOM: Yes, Mr. Chairman, I have. I spoke with the
property owner, Ms. Gibson, on Tuesday morning, and I informed her
that I had recently posted her property, et cetera, and I encouraged her
-- I said, you paid the operational costs, that's great. Make sure you're
at the imposition-of-fines hearing on Friday, so -- and -- but she said
she was going to be at the initial hearing, too, and she didn't show up to
that either so...
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Since it has not been abated,
our hands are tied. We either grant a continuance to someone who's
not requesting one, or we find them in violation.
MS. CURLEY: I just have a question.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Shoot.
October 26, 2018
Page 107
MS. CURLEY: Number 4, it says that if the respondent fails to
abate the violaiton, the county may be able to abate the violation. Is
that going to be considered? Is the county going to clean this up and
then --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, generally -- correct me if I'm
wrong -- the violation is they have a storage or some other ancillary
type of structure on the property without a home.
MR. ODOM: Correct, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So the county is not going to build a
house for them.
MS. CURLEY: No, no. It says -- like, the trash and things. Isn't
there removing unauthorized items currently being stored on the
property, and No. 4 on the stipulation states that if the respondent fails
to abate the violation, the county may abate the violation using any
method to bring the violation into compliance and may use the
assistance of the Collier County Sheriff's Office.
MR. ODOM: To answer that question, ma'am, I will say that
some progress has been made in terms of trash being taken off. One
vehicle has been removed, but that's it.
And I'm guessing -- somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I
don't believe the county would abate this at this point, because it's not
health and safety.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Chris, you --
MR. LETOURNEAU: Mike, is it an improved?
MR. ODOM: No, it's vacant.
MR. LETOURNEAU: We can definitely look into abating it, but
if it's still like any of these pictures I'm looking at, then I highly doubt
the county's going to go in there and do it at this time.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I'd have a heart-to-heart with the
respondent and let them know that if the county does abate it, it's going
to cost her twice as much money as it would if she abated it herself,
October 26, 2018
Page 108
number one.
MR. ODOM: That's correct.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Number two, it would have been in
her best interest to show up today for monetary reasons. I don't know
what the pleasure of the Board is going to be, but I think I kind of laid
it out. We either -- since it's not in compliance, we either find -- we
either impose the fine or grant a continuance. She's not here.
MR. BLANCO: Mr. Chairman, if I may, before the Board
proceeds, I would like to put the notice on the record, since the
respondent's not here.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay, Danny.
MR. BLANCO: For the record, Danny Blanco, Code
Enforcement.
Notice of hearing was sent regular mail and certified on October
12th, 2018. Property and courthouse were both posted on October 9th,
2018.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Sue?
MS. CURLEY: Yes. So is there a health issue or an age issue
with this woman? Have you seen her, met her?
MR. ODOM: Yes, I have on site. Her -- basically what she had
stated was, I'm just in a tough spot right now. I guess maybe she had
lost her job, she stated and, you know, she doesn't have an income.
She kind of hit some hard times, and --
MS. CURLEY: Not a mobility issue or anything like that?
MR. ODOM: No, ma'am. The last time I saw Ms. Gibson, it was
a couple months ago, but she was upright walking and talking, but she
did say she did lose her job recently, so...
In terms of mobility, if you meant being able to get here, that I
don't know. Sorry.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Is there any feeling from the
Board to grant a 30-day continuance without her being here or --
October 26, 2018
Page 109
MR. LEFEBVRE: Well, the other option would be the county
withdraw the case.
MR. LETOURNEAU: That's not an option at this point.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Then I make a motion to impose.
MS. CURLEY: And I second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and second. Any
discussion on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, all those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Thanks, Mike.
MR. ODOM: Yes, sir.
MR. BLANCO: Okay. Next item on the agenda, it's Roman
numeral 7, new business. We have one of the emergency cases. The
packet information is going to be passed by Ms. Buchillon in a minute.
Case No. CE --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I should ask, how are your fingers
doing? You're okay.
MR. BLANCO: Case No. CEPM20180012643, Renault Cavens
and Eddie Hunter Cavins.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: This is a book.
MR. LEFEBVRE: You're not getting out anytime soon.
MR. CATHEY: Good afternoon.
October 26, 2018
Page 110
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. CATHEY: For the record, Ryan Cathey, Collier County
Code Enforcement.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Are you new?
MR. CATHEY: I am new.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: How did I guess?
MR. CATHEY: Is my face red enough?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: No, we're working on it.
MR. CATHEY: Okay.
MR. BLANCO: For the record, Danny Blanco, Code
Enforcement.
Notice of hearing was sent regular mail and certified on October
19th. Property and courthouse were both posted October 18th, 2018.
MR. CATHEY: I did speak to the respondent yesterday. He left
for Georgia a couple days ago. I told him about the hearing.
Unfortunately, he wasn't able to be here for that, so...
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Is this a rental unit or something that
he has?
MR. CATHEY: This is a mobile home in Everglades that was
condemned from Hurricane Irma.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Right. And somebody's living there?
MR. CATHEY: Yes. We've had --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Is it the person that went to Georgia,
or is it somebody else?
MR. CATHEY: No. It's his son. We've had contact from time to
time through visits on the property. There's an active demo permit,
and the Sheriff's Office has had multiple interactions with him during
their night patrols.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And when you met with him, what
did the respondent have to say?
MR. CATHEY: I've talked to the son before. He basically said he
October 26, 2018
Page 111
doesn't have anywhere else to stay at this time. I've talked to the dad.
Kind of the same thing; he has nowhere to stay. He just kind of hangs
out in Everglades City, and they're in kind of a tough spot, obviously,
with the damage to the mobile home. They're trying to get it up and
running, you know, get the demo completed and everything.
I guess his dad is staying with friends himself. He doesn't have a
place permanently at this time. That's kind of the gist of what's been
going on.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: What scares me most of all on this is
it says "no sanitary facilities."
MR. CATHEY: That's correct. Most of the mobile home's been
-- it's pretty much all been gutted. There appears to be electric. He's
got an A/C unit in the window running, but there's no water. He told
me he had the ability to turn water on, but it's not, and there doesn't
appear to be any sort of --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: A hose from a neighbor or
something?
MR. CATHEY: Potentially, yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yeah.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Go ahead and go through your testimony.
MR. CATHEY: Okay. Sorry.
This is in reference to Case No. CEPM20180012643 dealing with
violation of Collier County Code of Laws and Ordinances, Chapter 22,
Article 6, Sections 22-231(1) and 22-231(2) described as a dwelling
being occupied without running hot or cold water and no sanitary
facilities located at 108 Merlin Court, Everglades City, Florida, 34139;
Folio 01208240001.
Service was given on October 10th, 2018.
I would now like to present case evidence in the following
exhibits: Five photographs from August 14, 2018; two photographs
from October 23rd, 2018; and two photographs from October 25th,
October 26, 2018
Page 112
2018, all taken by myself, and we have three emails from the Collier
County Sheriff's Office.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Motion from the Board to
accept?
MR. LEFEBVRE: Motion to accept.
MS. ELROD: Second.
MR. WHITE: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Okay.
MR. CATHEY: You can see from the photos the kind of
dilapidated point of the mobile home: Missing windows, missing
doors, damage around the perimeter.
This is the inside of the gutted mobile home. This is around the
back. This is the small little area that the son has been staying in. It
appears to pretty much just be more for storage than anything. Around
the back there was clothing.
Code Enforcement originally received a complaint about this
property back in August of 2018 from a concerned citizen due to the
mobile home being damaged from Hurricane Irma and appearing to be
abandoned. Through research we found that there was a demolition
permit in ready-to-issue status to remove the mobile home. We were
monitoring the property to see when the owner was going through the
mobile home.
October 26, 2018
Page 113
On October 10th we received a complaint from the Collier
County Sheriff's Office in regards to the owner's son residing at the
property. Through our previous interactions with the property, we
were aware that the owner's son was staying there from time to time.
Again, the property has electric but no running water and no sanitary
facilities, as the mobile home itself has been gutted.
Contact has been made with the property owner to advise him that
his son couldn't be staying there without running water and sanitary
facilities. Again, the Sheriff's Office has made multiple night visits
and has had interactions with the son being there on our behalf.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: How old is the son?
MR. CATHEY: I didn't ask, but I would say probably in his
middle, late 20s.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Oh, okay. He's not 12 or something?
MR. CATHEY: No.
MS. NICOLA: I was going to ask.
MS. ELROD: Not 12.
MS. NICOLA: No, not 12, no. That would be very bad.
MR. CATHEY: He is an adult, so...
So basically emails are just correspondence from their
instructions to monitor the property and from what they've seen.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Somebody want to make a
motion whether a violation exists?
MS. CURLEY: I'll make a motion a violation exists.
MR. WHITE: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second. All
those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
October 26, 2018
Page 114
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Do you have a suggestion for us?
MR. CATHEY: I do. That the Code Enforcement Board orders
the respondent to pay all operational costs in the amount of $59.63
incurred in the prosecution of this case within 30 days and abate all
violations by:
One, vacating the premises until such time that the dwelling is
equipped with sanitary facilities and an approved hot/cold water supply
within blank days of this hearing, or a fine of blank amount per day
will be imposed until the violation is abated;
Two, that the respondent must notify the code enforcement
investigator when the violation has been abated in order to conduct a
final inspection to confirm abatement. If the respondent fails to abate
the violation, the county may abate the violation using any method to
bring the violation into compliance and may use the assistance of the
Collier County Sheriff's Office to enforce the provisions of this order,
and all costs of abatement shall be assessed to the property owner.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Anybody want to try filling
in the blanks?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, I'll try. 59.63 to be
paid within 30 days; $250 fine after 10 days.
What's interesting, or what might become interesting on this, it
looks like the Sheriff's Office may have to enforce the compliance on
this.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Hopefully not, but it's a possibility.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. ELROD: Second.
October 26, 2018
Page 115
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a second. All those in
favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MR. CATHEY: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hold on one second.
MS. CURLEY: One thing on this, so if they vacate the premises,
but then can we -- does that also include securing it so another squatter
can't get back in there? I mean, even though this is his son, obviously,
somebody's not supposed to be there.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Well, we're only here right now to get the
person out of there. We do have a second case on the actual dwelling
unit, so if -- they do have a demolition permit, so we're hoping that
once they get this guy out of there, they demo the rest of it. I guess we
could put in something about securing it, but I don't think we need to at
this time.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. LEFEBVRE: That's not what the case is for.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Right. It's just removing the person right
now, and I think this thing will take care of itself with the demolition
permit.
MR. LEFEBVRE: When was the demolition permit ready to be
picked up? Any idea? Just curious.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Let me look. I'll find out.
MR. LEFEBVRE: It doesn't matter. We already heard the case.
October 26, 2018
Page 116
MR. CATHEY: It was sometime earlier this year. I think it
expires in March, if I'm not mistaken, of next year.
MS. CURLEY: So it's brand new.
MR. CATHEY: It's in ready-for-issuance status right now.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Just curious.
MR. CATHEY: I don't know the exact date.
MR. LETOURNEAU: It's actually issued right now.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: A side question: Is the property
owned by the respondent, or is it in a trailer facility that he rents space
in the --
MR. CATHEY: It's owned by the respondent.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It is, okay.
MS. CURLEY: He owns the real estate.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Thank you very much.
MR. CATHEY: You're welcome.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Your first case, you did really well.
MS. CURLEY: It was nice to give you an easy one.
MR. LETOURNEAU: If he wasn't badgered in the beginning
there --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I was just asking questions.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Just kidding.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Jeff and I are having a
beard-growing contest.
MR. BLANCO: Okay. Next item on the agenda, it's Roman
Numeral 11. Next meeting date, it's Friday, November 16th, 2018, and
that's all I have.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That's going to be a short time from
now till then because of the holiday. Okay.
MS. NICOLA: We did discuss, Danny, too, that if you had some
things that were going to be a little more complex, if you'd put them at
the front of the agenda --
October 26, 2018
MR. BLANCO: Correct.
MS. NICOLA: -- because I have to leave a little bit early that
day, unfortunately.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You mean on your final meeting
you're going to leave early?
MS. NICOLA: We can have the party at 8 a.m. if you want, the
surprise party you were planning for me; remember that.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We've got to buy you a cake.
MR. LETOURNEAU: We don't want the cake icing to melt.
MS. NICOLA: I love cake at 8 a.m. I'm all for it.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We are adjourned.
*****
There being no further business for the good of the County, the
meeting was adjourned by order of the Chair at 12:38 p.m.
CODE E' ORCEi I NT BOARD
'moi ER AT MAN, CHAIRMAN
These minutes approved by the Board on Af v /6 � 2 0 i
as presented y or as corrected
TRANSCRIPT PREPARED ON BEHALF OF U.S. LEGAL
SUPPORT, INC., BY TERRI LEWIS, NOTARY PUBLIC/COURT
REPORTER.
Page 117