CEB Minutes 06/27/2019June 27, 2019
Page 1
TRANSCRIPT OF THE MEETING OF THE
COLLIER COUNTY CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD
Naples, Florida, June 27, 2019
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
Sue Curley
Kathleen Elrod
Gerald J. Lefebvre
Herminio Ortega
Ryan White
Chloe Bowman
Ronald Doino (absent)
ALSO PRESENT:
Elena Gonzalez, Code Enforcement Specialist
Helen Buchillon, Code Enforcement
Jeff Letourneau, Manager of Investigations
Jed R. Schneck, Attorney to the Board
June 27, 2019
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CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning. I'd like to call the
Code Enforcement Board to order.
Notice: 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 time is adjusted by the Chairman.
All parties participating in the public hearing are asked to
observe Robert's Rules of Order and speak one at a time so that the
court reporter can record all statements being made.
Any person who decides to appeal a decision of this board will
need a record of the proceedings pertaining thereto and, therefore,
may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceeding 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.
So we all stand for the pledge.
(The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I'd like to welcome our newest
member, Chloe Bowman, to the Board. She will be --
MS. BOWMAN: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: -- a full voting member this
morning. You want to call the attendance now.
MR. GONZALEZ: Yes.
Mr. Kaufman?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Here.
MS. GONZALEZ: Mr. Lefebvre?
MR. LEFEBVRE: Here.
MS. GONZALEZ: Ms. Elrod?
MS. ELROD: Here.
MS. GONZALEZ: Mr. Ronald Doino is excused today.
Mr. White?
June 27, 2019
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MR. WHITE: Here.
MS. GONZALEZ: Ms. Curley?
MS. CURLEY: Here.
MS. GONZALEZ: Mr. Ortega?
MR. ORTEGA: Here.
MS. GONZALEZ: And, Ms. Bowman.
MS. BOWMAN: Here.
MS. GONZALEZ: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Now, as I say every month,
I'm sure we all stayed up late last night reading the minutes. So does
anybody have any changes in the minutes?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, I'll take a motion to
accept the minutes.
MS. ELROD: Motion to accept.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second.
All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Now, we might have a change or two --
MS. GONZALEZ: Yes. We'll move on to the changes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: -- in the agenda.
June 27, 2019
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MS. GONZALEZ: The following cases have been withdrawn:
Case -- Item No. 3, Case CEOCC20170019491, Heritage
Property Holdings, and also Item No. 4 for Heritage Property
Holdings, Case CELU20170019885. The owners are out of town.
The next case withdrawn is Item No. 5, Case
CESD20180014340; withdrawn due to compliance.
Item No. 10, Case CEPM201900001462 (sic) is withdrawn per
Manager Jeff Letourneau.
Item 13, Case CESD20180006259 is withdrawn. The spot
survey was ordered for the permit on the property.
Item 14, Case CEPM20180011894. It's withdrawn due to the
boarding certificate has been issued.
Item 17, Case CESD20180015979. They are working towards
compliance.
Case -- Item 18, Case CESD20190001433. It's withdrawn due
to voluntary compliance.
Item 19, Case CEPM20180012260, withdrawn due to
safeguards and compliance efforts.
Under imposition of fines, Item No. 3, Case CESD20170016916
is withdrawn due to working towards compliance.
Item No. 5 under imposition, Case CESD20160015155 is
withdrawn due to an active permit.
Item No. 6, Case CENA20180009846 is withdrawn. They're in
compliance by the due date.
Those are the withdrawals. We have one additional case that
was added to the agenda under motion for extension of time. It is
Case CEAU20180009226. Property address is 15985 Janes Scenic
Drive, Copeland, Florida.
And we have one stipulation.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Before you go on, you're adding
that?
June 27, 2019
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MS. GONZALEZ: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do you want to give it a case
number? And then they're requesting an extension of time; is that
correct?
MS. GONZALEZ: Correct. And you should have paperwork at
your --
MS. CURLEY: It's right here.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: No, I see that. On the agenda that
we have in front of us, the last case that we had under the hearings
was 19, I believe -- no, 20. So this would be 21 then?
MS. GONZALEZ: Well, it's added under -- since it's a motion
for extension of time, it's added under, A, motions, Item No. 3.
MS. CURLEY: Continuance.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. GONZALEZ: Under extension of time.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. GONZALEZ: And we have one stipulation, Item No. 7
under hearings. It's Case CESD20180008773. Property address,
13598 Legacy Lane.
We can start with the stipulation.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Stipulation -- is that another
stipulation, while we're here?
MS. GONZALEZ: And one more stipulation. This is Item
No. 15 under the hearings, Case CELU20190001235. Property,
12730 Tamiami Trail East.
MS. CURLEY: What are we doing with that case?
MS. GONZALEZ: This is a stipulation.
(Mr. Schneck is now present in the boardroom.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That's a stipulation.
Ned, you were late, so you have to stay after and clap the
erasers.
June 27, 2019
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Okay. Get a motion from the Board to accept the changes in the
agenda.
MS. ELROD: Motion to accept.
MS. CURLEY: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second.
All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MS. GONZALEZ: Thank you.
We're going to hear Item No. 8 under imposition of fines, Case
CESD20180003319, Specialty Merchant Lending, LLC. Property
address, 342 Cromwell Court.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. I assume that you're going to
pass the buck to the gentleman to my right so he can request
something.
MR. SHORT: Yes, sir.
MR. ELLER: Honorable Mr. Chairman and honorable members
of the Board, my name is Craig Eller, and I represent the respondent
in this case, Specialty Merchant Lending.
Specialty Merchant Lending was the original lender to the
borrower or owner in this particular case. Because we were dealing
with a gated community and we had no ownership interest in the
June 27, 2019
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property, we had no control over the actions of our borrower and,
essentially, could do nothing about the problems that existed with the
property.
We filed a foreclosure action which I was involved in, and as
soon as we had access, we corrected the issues on the property that
we became aware of. And I believe the county has confirmed that all
issues have been resolved, and there's nothing pe nding.
We became the owner of the property thereafter upon the
completion of the foreclosure and the issuance of a certificate of title
by the Clerk of Court.
Specialty Merchant Lending is an innocent lender, and we
believe it would be unfair under these circumstances to impose fines
upon an entity that took action in relation to the issues as soon as it
was legally capable of doing so through the actions of the Court.
And what we are asking the Board this morning is that the county's
motion to impose fines under these circumstances be denied.
And it's my understanding in our conversations with staff that
they have no issue with that particular result. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. SHORT: For the record, Supervisor Eric Short with Collier
County Code Enforcement. The county has no objection to the
request.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Commends from the Board
or a motion from the Board?
MR. ORTEGA: I make a motion to accept.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You make a motion to deny the
county's ability to --
MR. ORTEGA: Yes --
MS. ELROD: Second.
MR. ORTEGA: -- I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And we have a second on that.
June 27, 2019
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Terri will fill in the blanks.
Okay. Any discussion on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, all those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Okay.
MR. ELLER: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Thank
you, Board.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The only problem is he called me
honorable, and --
MR. ELLER: I'm used to appearing before judges. I can't help
it.
MR. LEFEBVRE: You don't know him.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You don't know me though.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Is there a password to get on? Herminio's
having a problem.
MR. LETOURNEAU: I asked Troy to come in here.
MR. ORTEGA: Is that the password, secret? We're going to
hear the stipulations first?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Are we going to hear the
stipulations first?
MS. GONZALEZ: We have one more change as of right now.
June 27, 2019
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It's Item No. 9 under hearings. Case CESD20180010822. This is
withdrawn per the director.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Can I get a motion to accept
the change in the agenda?
MR. LEFEBVRE: What's it going to be?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Withdrawn, No. 9.
MS. ELROD: Motion to accept.
MS. CURLEY: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second.
All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
The agenda has been modified.
MS. GONZALEZ: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. GONZALEZ: Our first stipulation is Item No. 7 under
hearings, Case CESD20180008773. Property address, 13598 Legacy
Lane.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Just, Elena, we're going to
hear the stipulations before we hear the motion for continuances?
MS. GONZALEZ: Actually, I apologize. We'll hear this one
since we've called it, but we'll go back to the continuance.
June 27, 2019
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CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Okay. This is Case No. 7.
MR. MUCHA: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning.
MR. MUCHA: For the record, Joe Mucha, Collier County Code
Enforcement.
This is in reference to Case No. CESD20180008773.
Met with the property owner this morning, Ms. Archange. We
agreed: She's going to pay operational costs in the amount of $59.42
incurred in the prosecution of this case within 30 days and to abate all
violations by: Obtaining all required Collier County building permits
or demolition permit, inspections, and certificate of
completion/occupancy for the interior remodeling to the unit within
60 days of this hearing, or a fine of $100 per day will be imposed
until the violation is abated;
Three, respondent must notify Code Enforcement within 24
hours of abatement of the violation and request the investigator
perform a site inspection to confirm compliance;
Four, 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 property owner.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. To begin with, I would like
to have the record reflect that the respondent is not present.
MR. MUCHA: Yes. She was here, and she left.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Also, not just for this case,
but all the other cases where we're using the viewer there, I don't
think there's anybody here who can read it. It's too small.
MS. CURLEY: Can you zoom up on it, Elena?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. I can almost read it.
MS. CURLEY: A little more. Thank you.
June 27, 2019
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CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a stipulation.
Anybody like to make a motion or a comment on the motion -- a
comment on the stipulation?
MR. LEFEBVRE: Make a motion to accept the stipulated
agreement with the operational costs being paid within 30 days.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a motion and a
second. Any discussion on that? Go ahead.
MS. CURLEY: Well, I mean, I'm just looking at -- the violation
was noticed almost a year ago.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Uh-huh.
MS. CURLEY: Can you just tell me, Joe, what's going on
there? Why has it taken her a year to --
MR. MUCHA: There was some confusion about the permit, and
there was some modifications that needed to be done to the permit
that was originally submitted. We've been working with the
contractor, which is Habitat for Humanity, and --
MS. CURLEY: Okay.
MR. MUCHA: -- so they basically came up with that 60 days
that they can rectify this.
MS. CURLEY: All right. Thanks.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a motion.
All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
June 27, 2019
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CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Thanks, Joe.
MR. MUSSE: Thank you.
MS. GONZALEZ: Now we go back to -- we're going to Item 1
under motion for continuance. Case CESD20180006242, Napoli
Property Holdings Company LLC. Property address, 5644 Tavilla
Circle, Unit 207.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MS. PAUL: Hi. I'm Lisa Paul with Cushman & Wakefield
Commercial Property representing the owner, JBM Investments.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. And you're requesting a
continuance for any particular reason?
MS. PAUL: Well, as he will explain --
MR. SHORT: Mr. Chair, maybe I can clarify a little better.
MS. PAUL: No, yes. Yes, no.
MR. SHORT: So basically the original order was to be in
compliance by sometime in May. The respondents proactively asked
for a continuance before today's hearing thinking they wouldn't finish
the project. They are in compliance as of June 21st.
What we would ask is that the Board continue that -- or extend
that compliance date till today, and we can close this case this
afternoon.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Anybody like to make a
motion to that effect?
MS. ELROD: I'll make that motion.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: What was the date in May? Okay.
One second. When was the --
MS. PAUL: Twenty-ninth, I believe.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Twenty-ninth, okay. So less than a
June 27, 2019
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month. Okay.
MS. CURLEY: So you're -- so how are you related to Regis
Construction?
MS. PAUL: I'm the manager of the property, so I'm here
representing all parties. Regis Construction was our contractor to
finish what was unpermitted work.
MS. CURLEY: Yes. So who hired the unpermitted people; do
we know?
MS. PAUL: The owner of the property.
MS. CURLEY: I see.
MS. ELROD: I'll make a motion that we extend to today.
MS. BOWMAN: By the tenant.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a motion. Do we
have a second?
MS. BOWMAN: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a second. Any discussion
on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Chloe, you mentioned that the --
MS. BOWMAN: Well, it says that the work was hired by the
tenant, not the owner. It sounds like he's doing what he needs to do
to get that closed out today. Continue it to the next --
MS. PAUL: Yeah, commercial office building.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The motion was to continue this --
MS. PAUL: For that gap.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: -- today, and then the county will
take care of this case since it meets compliance as of today, rather
than the date in May. Okay.
MR. SHORT: Yes. The property was in compliance June 21st.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It was, okay.
MR. SHORT: Yes. Previous operational costs have been paid.
June 27, 2019
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CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So we have the motion. We
have a second.
All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
And now, Eric, you disappear, right?
MR. SHORT: Yes. For now.
MS. PAUL: Thank you very much.
MS. GONZALEZ: Next case is a motion for extension of time,
Item No. 2, Case CEPM20180000456, John Albarracin at property
address 4480 Beechwood Lake Drive.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning. You're requesting
an extension of time on this?
MR. ALBARRACIN: Yes, I do. Yes, I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. And for what reason?
MR. ALBARRACIN: Well, because of the hurricane, I hired a
company to do my pool cage and, basically, I hired this company last
year, and that company, which is --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Let me stop you for a second.
We're asking this to find out why you want to have an extension. If
you have an extension, we're not going to hear the case now. If we
don't grant an extension, we will hear the case today. So what's the
June 27, 2019
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reason that you're asking for the extension? Some time frame or
whatever?
MR. ALBARRACIN: Well, because the company that -- it was
going to do the project, it's been more than a year working on the
paperwork and plans and permits, and -- which the permits and the
plans they were not approved by the county. And I hired a new
company since June -- I mean at the beginning of this year.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: April?
MR. ALBARRACIN: April, yes. And this company already
have permits, and they already have the plans approved. And now,
basically, they are ready to go. But the company that I hired, that it
was the roofing company, they did my roof last year, but they did a
poor job.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Let me stop you. You're asking for
an extension?
MR. ALBARRACIN: Yes, I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: How much time do you need an
extension?
MR. ALBARRACIN: Well, at least 90 days because my roof,
the support beam is all rotten, and some of the parts that goes around
the pool cage that support the pool -- on the pool cage that is going to
be secured in there, and now all that needs to be replaced.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So if I understand properly, you're
saying that you need an extension of time because the work that you
originally contracted for a year ago, more than a year ago, was never
done, so you hired somebody else to do the work?
MR. ALBARRACIN: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And they're working on it?
MR. ALBARRACIN: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Is that a good summary of --
MR. ALBARRACIN: Yes.
June 27, 2019
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CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. I understand that.
Now, questions from the Board?
MR. ORTEGA: Is the screen damaged to the extent that it
compromises life safety?
MR. MUCHA: The cage is gone. I mean --
MR. ORTEGA: Is there any protection?
MR. MUCHA: There's a safety barrier around the pool now,
just a temporary one. He's got an issued permit, as he stated.
Permit's valid till December 11th of this year. I think the work's
going to be forthcoming. He just needs some more time. His
compliance date was April 29th, so that's why he needs more time.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So we're going to decide
whether -- is we grant an extension or not.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Extension or a continuance?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Continuance. I'm sorry. Any
comment on whether we should grant a continuance?
MR. LEFEBVRE: I make a motion that we grant a 90 -day
continuance.
MR. ORTEGA: I second that motion.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second to
grant the continuance.
MS. CURLEY: I have a comment.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: I was thinking maybe extend it an extra 30
just --
MR. LEFEBVRE: One hundred twenty?
MS. CURLEY: Yes.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Okay. I'll amend my motion to 120 days,
continuance.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The second -- you amend it also,
your second?
June 27, 2019
Page 17
MR. ORTEGA: I'll amend it to 120 days as well.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a motion and a
second to grant an extension. The difference between the two is
when you miss the date, the fines continue to accrue. An extension,
the clock starts in the beginning. So yours was for --
MR. LEFEBVRE: A continuance.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: -- a continuance. So that means the
fines will continue to accrue. Okay.
All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
You have your continuance. So hopefully you'll get everything
done by that date. We gave you 120 days.
MR. ALBARRACIN: Okay, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. ALBARRACIN: Okay. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. And you know that when
this gets done, you have to notify Code Enforcement that it's done so
that they can resolve the order?
MR. ALBARRACIN: Oh. Yes, I will.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. ALBARRACIN: Uh-huh. Okay, sir. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Thank you.
June 27, 2019
Page 18
MS. GONZALEZ: Our next case is Item No. 3 under motion
for extension of time, Case No. CEAU20180009226. Property
address, 15985 Janes Scenic Drive. Ms. Tina Hickcok is here on
behalf of her mom.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Give us a second to read the
letter.
MS. GONZALEZ: You have a copy of that.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. As I recall this case had to
do with barbed wire more than anything else?
MS. HICKOK: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Is that correct?
MR. MUCHA: Strictly about barbed wire.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yeah.
MR. LEFEBVRE: When did we hear this case?
MR. MUCHA: It was about four months ago.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yeah. I'd say about four months
ago.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So why don't you begin by
telling us why you're requesting -- I read your letter.
MS. HICKOK: Yes, sir. My intentions were to -- and I don't
have a problem with taking it down. But some life-changing things
have incurred in the past couple of months, and I just need some time
and trying to get a permit and to replace the barbed wire.
My mom -- it's very hard to get my mom anywhere. She's been
hospitalized several times, and in March there was a very, very --
situation that I'd rather not discuss in here to where my husband was
not financially able to help me get this done. I just need some time to
get it done.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: How much time do you need?
June 27, 2019
Page 19
MS. HICKOK: A couple of months, because I'm the only one
working right now. My husband's not with me.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Sixty days, 90 days?
MS. HICKOK: Ninety days maybe.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Does the county have any
problem with that?
MR. MUCHA: No objection.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Any comments from the Board?
MR. LEFEBVRE: I make a motion to grant a 90-day
continuance.
MS. CURLEY: I second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second.
Any comments on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, all those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MS. HICKOK: Thank you.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Good luck.
MS. GONZALEZ: Next case is Item No. 2 under hearings,
Case CEPM20190000168, A.W. Becker.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Let me -- do we have a stipulation
on Case No. 15?
June 27, 2019
Page 20
MS. GONZALEZ: Oh, yes. I apologize.
Item No. 15 under hearings, Case CELU20190001235, Lowe's
Home Center Inc. at 12730 Tamiami Trail East.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And you represent Lowe's?
MR. DICKERSON: Yes, sir. Good morning. Duane Dickerson
on behalf of Lowe's, the owner and the respondent.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Jonathan, y ou want to read
the stipulation into the record.
MR. MUSSE: Good morning. For the record, Investigator
Jonathan Musse, Collier County Code Enforcement.
It is agreed between the parties that the respondent shall: Pay
the operational costs in the amount of $60.05 incurred in the
prosecution of this case within 30 days of this hearing, and abate all
violations by removing all unauthorized materials from this property
obtained -- oh. Removing all unauthorized materials from the
property -- I would have to revamp this unless it makes sense to
Mr. Dickerson.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Some typos?
MR. MUSSE: Typos, yes.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Is that supposed to be "or obtain a site
plan approved by the county within 30 days"?
MR. MUSSE: Correct.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Scrivener's error.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Scrivener's error.
MR. MUSSE: Within 30 days of this hearing, or a fine of $100
per day will be imposed until the violation's abated.
Respondent must notify the Code Enforcement investigator
within 24 hours of abatement of the violation and request the
investigator to perform a site inspection to confirm compliance.
That is if the respondent fails to abate the violation, the county
June 27, 2019
Page 21
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.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Can you briefly describe the
violation.
MR. MUSSE: It's outside storage of materials and goods from
the Lowe's --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. MUSSE: -- store.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And it's outside storage on their
property?
MR. MUSSE: Correct.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: This is -- is this a complaint from a residence?
MR. MUSSE: Yes, ma'am.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. You mentioned a site
change from the county.
MR. MUSSE: It's an option that they could amend the site plan
to include a storage area on the property if they choose to.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And that site plan, how much time
would they be given to get that; 30 days?
MR. MUSSE: Thirty days. According to Mr. Dickerson, that's
not the direction they're going to go. They're opting to remove
everything, but a site plan would take more than 30 days.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That's for sure. Okay. All right.
MR. DICKERSON: Mr. Chairman, if I may.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You've heard the stipulation.
MR. DICKERSON: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do you agree with that?
MR. DICKERSON: Yes, sir. I do want to state for the record
June 27, 2019
Page 22
though, as you stated, there's no way we can get a site plan approval
within 30 days. So the plan now -- and since this was originally set
for violation, we've had substantial improvement on the property. I
believe the code officer will agree with that.
And it's my understanding in his communications with the
complainant that she's happy with the improvements of the property.
So what we're planning to do within the next 30 days is to
finalize. I believe we're 90 percent complete, and so another 10 or so
percent of just cleaning up some things. We think we can do that
within 30 days. If it does become an issue operationally with the
ability to actually store, then what we would do is ask for an
amendment to the site plan to allow for an additional storage area. Of
course, that would require all the buffering and the screening that's --
that the county would make us do during the site plan process to
make sure it's done properly.
If we do that and that's the course we choose to take, I'll be back
before you, if you don't mind, within that 30-day period asking for
additional time to go get the site plan amendment. But for now,
within the 30 days we would like to clean the site completely.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Comments from the Board?
MR. ORTEGA: You made a statement with regards to 30 days
to clean 95 percent or 90 percent?
MR. DICKERSON: No. I said, as it stands today we're about
90-plus percent clean. So the 30 days would give us the opportunity
to do the remaining 10 or so percent.
MR. ORTEGA: Okay.
MR. DICKERSON: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Gerald?
MR. LEFEBVRE: Within the 30 days you're stating that you'll
have the other percentage completed. So at that point the violation
would be abated. Unless Lowe's were to go out and use that space
June 27, 2019
Page 23
again, then there would be another violation. So you wouldn't have
to come back in front of us.
MR. DICKERSON: You're correct. So at the -- within that
30-day period, we will call the officer, ask for an inspection, and if
it's totally complied, he will comply the case, and it will be closed.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Right.
MR. DICKERSON: But, obviously, as a home improvement
center, we need to make sure that we have enough material to support
the demand. So if it comes down to cleaning it totally means that
we're not able to meet the demands that we have with the materials,
then it might be a business decision to request a site plan amendment
so that we can store the proper amount of materials on site but do it
properly with the screening and everything else.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Right.
MR. DICKERSON: So you're right. The case will be closed,
but we don't want to be in a position where a few months later we're
back at this again. If we don't have the room to store properly now
and we need to store more, then it might be a good -- a decision on
our part to ask for more storage through the site plan amendment
process.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Correct. But you wouldn't come back in
front of us because the case would be closed. If you were to store
stuff there once again, there would be another case opened up. I just
want to be clear.
MR. DICKERSON: Yes, that's the case. So it's to your point,
if -- for some reason some unforeseen circumstance makes it not
possible to do the remaining cleanup within the 30 days, then you
would see me again. But, otherwise, you're right. We'll have it
cleaned, it will be closed, and then hopefully we can go through this
process and, you know, obviously not store during that time until we
get the proper approvals.
June 27, 2019
Page 24
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So where are right now is we
approve the stipulation, and that's that. Should it come back again,
that would be a second violation with a citation and all the little
goodies that go with that, so...
MS. CURLEY: Right. So I have a comment as well. I mean, it
can be cleaned up 90 percent and 100 percent, you know, in less than
30 days. But this backdoor neighbor who lives in a really nice
neighborhood shouldn't have to be babysitting the management of
that store.
MR. DICKERSON: Sure.
MS. CURLEY: The repeat offense is not going to be
acceptable. It's unfair that she has to watch how that building's being
managed, and I'm sure it's frustrating for her. She expects to live a
nice, peaceful life.
MR. DICKERSON: Sure.
MS. CURLEY: And I hope that's the way that you're training
your management there.
MR. DICKERSON: Sure. A couple things I'll say: We have
some of our Lowe's representatives from the store that are actually
there on a daily basis that are here, so they understand what the
requirements are.
Also, in -- I would like to form a communication directly with
the complainant so that if there are things that come up -- because,
unfortunately, you know, this is a living, breathing organism with the
store and how deliveries come. There has to be some reasonableness.
When a truck comes to drop off pallets, I don't think it's
reasonable to say within an hour that truck is clean, the pallets are
gone, and everything's finished, but I do think usually within 24 to 48
period of time it is reasonable to say that truck and the pallets be
moved inside and taken care of.
So I think with more communication directly with the
June 27, 2019
Page 25
complainant and understanding our operational requirements and
making sure we're being sensitive to their, you know, aesthetics and
their quality of life we can probably prevent future issues with her.
But there has to be some level of reasonableness, of course, with how
a commercial business like this operates.
But your point is well taken. And so what I'm going to do is
establish a direct line of communication, if the complainant will
allow, with her so she understands how things are going, and she can
call us directly if there's something that comes up, and we can take
care of it.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. LEFEBVRE: One last thing.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. LEFEBVRE: One last thing. Can you make the changes
on this to correct the errors --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The scrivener's errors.
MR. LEFEBVRE: -- the scrivener's errors and have him initial,
if he has the authority to initial that way, so it's very clear what's
going to be done?
MR. MUSSE: Okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a motion to accept
the stipulation as written, and we have a second.
All those in favor?
MR. DICKERSON: Mr. Chair, I apologize. Just as written with
the changes, correct?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yeah, as written. They'll make that
change.
All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
June 27, 2019
Page 26
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MR. DICKERSON: Thank you, sir. Have a good day. Thank
you.
MS. GONZALEZ: Under hearings, we're going to Case No. 1,
Case CEV20190000169, Mr. Becker. The address is 9 Topaz Lane.
Mr. Becker also has another case which is Item No. 2, Case
CEPM20190000168, at the same property address.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. BECKER: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We're going to hear these
separately.
MS. GONZALEZ: Correct.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Okay.
MR. BECKER: 169 first?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We're going to hear the case with
the van first. Okay.
MS. GIGUERE: Good morning. For the record, Vicki Giguere,
Collier County Code Enforcement.
This is in reference to Case No. CEV20190000169 dealing with
violation of Collier County Code of Laws and Ordinances,
Chapter 130, Article III, Section 130-95; a van in driveway with
expired license plate tag located at 9 Topaz Lane, Naples, Florida,
34112; Folio 31142503081.
Service was given on January 28th, 2019.
I would like to now present case evidence in the following
June 27, 2019
Page 27
exhibits: Two photos taken on January 7th, 2019, by myself.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And?
MS. GIGUERE: Keep going?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yeah. Keep on. And we're going
to have to vote on it, et cetera.
MS. GIGUERE: That's it. Just the two photos.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Just the two photos?
MS. GIGUERE: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Both taken in January?
MS. GIGUERE: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Has the respondent seen the
photos?
MS. GIGUERE: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do you have any objection to the
photos?
MR. BECKER: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Could we get a motion to
accept the exhibits.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Motion to accept.
MR. WHITE: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And a second.
All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
June 27, 2019
Page 28
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously. Okay.
MS. GIGUERE: Okay. This complaint came in from the
homeowners' association in the community.
I made a site visit on January 7th, 2019, and observed a van in
the driveway with a license plate that expired in September of 2017.
I issued the notice of violation on January 28th, 2019.
On March 4th, 2019, I made a site visit and observed the van
now had a for-sale sign on it, and I also received a call from the
property owner's son, Karl Becker.
We stayed in communication, and towards the end of March,
Mr. Becker explained that his father, who is elderly and ill, asked for
more time to be able to get rid of the vehicle.
He spoke with Supervisor Mucha at that time and was granted
more time; however, as of June 26th, 2019, the violation remains.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. You're up.
MR. BECKER: Okay. Basically, what I'm looking for today is
getting about 60 days to get rid of the vehicle off the property. That's
it.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Well, getting rid of a vehicle
you can probably accomplish in one hour by --
MR. BECKER: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: If it has no plates, you're going to
have to tow it.
MR. BECKER: I just have to get a title for it. My father is
living up in Williston right now -- permanently now with my brother,
and he's no longer able to do anything with it. He's 97 years old. He
does not remember most things. So I'm going to have to get a power
of attorney to take care of some of the stuff. The county told me that
what I had for records is not sufficient, so they have to create another
title for it.
When I looked through his documents in the house, that we're
June 27, 2019
Page 29
going to talk about next, I could not find any of the records, and what
I could find was damaged. So I do need a little additional time to
facilitate that.
If it's a matter of getting a --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do you have a place to put it?
MR. BECKER: I don't, because it can't be driven. It will have
to be towed no matter where it goes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Right.
MR. BECKER: Because -- and so there's no insurance on it
either. So at the very least, if I can get a company that will buy it for,
you know, a hundred bucks, two hundred bucks, whatever the case is,
that will be the last resort, if you will.
MS. CURLEY: So you said you found the title, but it was
damaged?
MR. BECKER: What I found -- when I talked to the lady in the
East Naples Tax Collectors, she said it wasn't enough. I'd have to get
power of attorney to get something else, but it could be taken care of.
If I found a buyer, we just both go in there, and she says she can take
care of it. But I don't know what the things are for that.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It's not a case of the title. It's a case
of removing the vehicle from the driveway.
MR. BECKER: Right. So I'd like --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I don't think you need a title to have
it towed someplace.
MR. BECKER: No. Only if I were to sell it, I guess.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. That's the different -- that's
up to you. That has nothing to do with this.
MR. BECKER: Right.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And my point on this is your
problem probably, number one, is where do you put it if you take it
off your property.
June 27, 2019
Page 30
MR. BECKER: Right. That would be one thing, yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That, to me, would be the concern.
MS. CURLEY: You could just renew the tag. It's only $55.
MR. BECKER: Okay.
MS. BOWMAN: That would probably be less expensive than
towing it or --
MS. CURLEY: On behalf of your dad.
MR. BECKER: It can.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Let me -- do you have a suggestion
for us?
MS. GIGUERE: So the recommendation is that the Code
Enforcement Board orders the respondent to pay all operational costs
in the amount of $59.49 incurred in the prosecution of this case
within 30 days and abate all violations by:
One, obtaining and affixing a current valid license plate to each
vehicle not stored within the confines of a completely enclosed
structure or store said vehicle within a completely enclosed structure
and/or repair defects so vehicle is immediately operable, or remove
offending vehicle from residentially zoned area within blank days of
this hearing, or a fine of blank dollars per day will be imposed until
the violation is abated; and,
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. So we need to come up with
a dollar amount and the amount of days. So, for instance, just as an
example, if we granted 30 days or a $50-a-day fine, what Sue said
June 27, 2019
Page 31
was true, it's cheaper to redo the registration than it is to pass the due
date.
MR. BECKER: Okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And it also solves your problem of
where do I put it. You just leave it there.
MR. BECKER: It could stay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So that's probably -- if it
was me, that would be the easiest thing, unless you have someplace
to put it right now. Then you can have it taken away .
Comments from the Board.
MR. LEFEBVRE: We've got to make a motion that there's
actually a violation.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yes.
MS. CURLEY: I make a motion 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.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Okay. Now...
MS. CURLEY: Okay. So I'll fill in the blanks.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: Number one, 30 days or a fine of $50 per day.
June 27, 2019
Page 32
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a motion. Do we
have a second?
MS. BOWMAN: Second.
MS. ELROD: I'll second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a second.
All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
So that takes care of the first case.
MR. BECKER: Okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Let's see. I just sold my
T-bird. I have room for it.
Okay. The next case?
MS. GONZALEZ: Yes. The next case is CEPM20190000168.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
(The speakers were previously duly sworn and indicated in the
affirmative.)
MS. GIGUERE: Okay. Good morning. Again, for the record,
Vicki Giguere, Collier County Code Enforcement.
This is in reference to Case No. CEPM20190000168 dealing
with violation of Collier County Code of Laws and Ordinances,
Chapter 22, Article VI, Section 22-231(12)(c), roof/facia damage
from Hurricane Irma located at 9 Topaz Lane, Naples, Florida,
June 27, 2019
Page 33
34112; Folio 31142503081.
Service was given on January 28th, 2019.
I would like to now present case evidence in the following
exhibits: Two photos taken on January 7th, 2019, by myself. Those
are the only two photos.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And the respondent has seen those?
MS. GIGUERE: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do you have any objection?
MR. BECKER: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Have a motion from the
Board to accept the pictures?
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.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Okay.
MR. LETOURNEAU: We had to reboot, so the pictures might
not be ready in the beginning of this case. But she'll go through her
testimony first and bring the pictures up.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. GIGUERE: This complaint also came in from the
June 27, 2019
Page 34
homeowners' association on January 7th, 2019. I made a site visit
and observed roof -- excuse me -- roof/fascia damage to the mobile
home.
I issued the notice of violation on January 28th, 2019.
On March 4th I made a site visit and observed the damage
remained, and that's the same time that I received the call from the
property owner's son informing me he received a notice and was
asking for more time.
Towards the end of March, he called again and explained his
father, who was elderly and ill, was out of town, and they were trying
to determine the best option for the mobile home, whether it would
be to sell it as-is or demolish it.
As of June 26th, 2019, the violation remains.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We can get past the pictures
right now. Either that -- is it a greenhouse?
MR. LETOURNEAU: I think that's a really close picture right
there.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yeah. So, sir?
MR. BECKER: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Have you decided what you want to
do with that?
MR. BECKER: I've -- I have a for-sale sign on it. It's my belief
that -- because I work carpentry -- that whoever is to buy it would
have to do a lot of work to repair it. So I think it's going to have to be
a teardown.
My father doesn't have the capacity to do any of this, again, so
I'm having to take care of it. Unfortunately, I'm in my busy time of
the year also, and I don't have a daily ability to do so. So it does need
to be taken care of, so...
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So you need -- well, I was going to
wait for the pictures to come up to find if a violation exists or not.
June 27, 2019
Page 35
MS. CURLEY: I have a question. Is it a single-family home,
sir?
MR. BECKER: Yes, it is.
MS. CURLEY: Okay.
MR. BECKER: It's a manufactured home.
MS. CURLEY: Okay.
MR. ORTEGA: It's a mobile home?
MR. BECKER: Yes, sir. Mobile home; manufactured.
MR. ORTEGA: Is it on wheels?
MR. BECKER: No, no. It's --
MR. ORTEGA: On a foundation?
MR. BECKER: Yeah, it's on a foundation.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Oh, there it is.
MR. BECKER: Yes.
MS. CURLEY: Do you have the title to this?
MR. BECKER: No.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: His father owns it.
MR. BECKER: No, I don't. I don't have it. There's a co -op
there, and they have shares. I don't know --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That's for the property.
MR. BECKER: Yeah.
MS. CURLEY: Shares.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The dirt. The building itself your
father owns.
MR. BECKER: Uh-huh.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So first let's see if a
violation exists. I'm looking. I don't see where the problem is. Can
you point that out on the photos?
MS. GIGUERE: Yeah. It would be a long the top edge, the
fascia. There used to be a carport there. And right in the front you
can see towards the top where the roof is kind of peeling off in
June 27, 2019
Page 36
certain places.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yeah.
MR. ORTEGA: Obviously you have water intrusion?
MR. BECKER: Inside, yes.
MR. ORTEGA: To what extent damage?
MR. BECKER: There's some ceiling tiles like this kind that
have fallen down. So after the -- I think it was Wilma happened, my
father -- this was '80s, he put a roof over on there, and that blew off.
So in that blowing off, it took the ducts off the top, the vent stacks,
and so it left also holes from that, and then the holes that the
company had put in to secure the unit. So those are, like, screw holes
and stuff like that.
MR. ORTEGA: Would you say the damage exceeds 50 percent
of the structure?
MR. BECKER: I don't know. I honestly don't know that. I'm
sorry.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, it appears to me that it's either
going to be a teardown, or it's going to be repaired. And, obviously,
you need more time to -- if you're going to sell it, to market the
property. I think that's probably the stage we're at right now.
Do you have a suggestion for us, Vicki?
MS. GIGUERE: Yes. The recommendation is that the Code
Enforcement Board orders the respondent to pay all operational costs
in the amount of $59.49 incurred in the prosecution of this case
within 30 days and abate all violations by:
One, must repair/replace the roof and any and all damage to the
fascia and obtain any and all required Collier County building
permits through certificate of completion/occupancy within blank
days of this hearing, or a fine of blank dollars per day will be
imposed until the violation is abated;
Two, the respondent must notify the Code Enforcement
June 27, 2019
Page 37
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 as sistance 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. So our main concern right
now, whoever wants to fill in the blanks, is how much time we're
going to give the respondent to resolve the situation given his
situation with his father being elderly and ill and marketing the
property.
MS. CURLEY: I have --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yes, Sue.
MS. CURLEY: Number one, can we add the word "demolish"?
MS. GIGUERE: Absolutely.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Before we start talking about the
recommendation, we have to find a violation.
MS. CURLEY: I make a motion a violation exists.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
June 27, 2019
Page 38
MS. CURLEY: So if we could add the replace, repair, or
demo -- or attain a demolition permit --
MS. GIGUERE: Absolutely.
MS. CURLEY: -- within this number of days.
MS. GIGUERE: Yes. And I would like to add that if he does
go towards that demolition permit aspect, he's going to at least have
to have a power of attorney or some sort of legal document saying
that he has the authority to do that. So that might take more time to
obtain as well.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So the days that are filled in there
are the number-one concern.
MS. GIGUERE: Correct.
MS. CURLEY: Do you have a durable power of attorney on
behalf of your father?
MR. BECKER: I do not.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We're getting into places we don't
need to be. We just grant the time. If he can't meet that time, then he
would come back and ask for an extension.
Anybody like to take a shot at the days and the fine?
MR. ORTEGA: Before we get into that, that was the reason
why I asked regarding the 50 percent, because the violation's
basically the roof and the fascia, right?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Right.
MR. ORTEGA: Whether it's going to be sold or not, that's not
this --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That's correct. That's correct. How
much time to resolve that violation is the question. However it's
done, whether it's demolished, repaired, or whatever, how much time
does the Board want to extend to the respondent? Actually, to the
respondent's father.
MR. LEFEBVRE: What I don't want to see is giving a long lead
June 27, 2019
Page 39
time. He sells it. He has to disclose what this case -- the results of
this case, but he sells it, and then that person comes in and says, well,
I need more time because I just took ownership to it. That's what I
really don't want to see in this particular case. And it's been going on
for nearly six months at this point.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Well, I don't think that is too
much of a concern to me because I'm sure, since this is a complaint
lodged by the HOA, the HOA has to approve any sale. So that would
resolve that situation.
MS. CURLEY: I have a question. Is the homeowners'
association working with you, or are they fining you also?
MR. BECKER: They have not said anything to me at all or to
my father by mail or by phone, to the best of my knowledge. I have
talked to one -- I talked to the --
MS. CURLEY: That's okay. That's all I wanted to know.
MR. BECKER: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: I'll fill in the blanks.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: If we amend No. 1 to add the word -- to add
"must repair/replace the roof and/or any damage to the fascia and/or
obtain a demolition permit," et cetera, I'll fill in the blank with 45
days or $100 per day.
MR. BECKER: Um -- I'm sorry.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hang on one second. Let me
comment on the motion.
MS. CURLEY: I mean. I sort of agree with what Gerald's
saying.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I disagree with him. I think that we
need a lot more time than 45 days.
MS. CURLEY: Well, the county doesn't, and what if you're the
neighbor there? What if there's termites there? And it's gross.
June 27, 2019
Page 40
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Those are all what-ifs that are not
before us. What is there are the pictures of the fascia and the
damage. But how much time do you need to resolve the situation?
This is not this gentleman here. It's his father who's not in town.
MS. CURLEY: I understand that.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. And the law, as I understand
it -- since this is the type of state you can't just go in and take
someone's property, liening it is probably a waste of time also; am I
correct, Jed?
MS. CURLEY: It's titled by the DMV. It's not property.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Oh, no. If it has wheels it is. It's
property.
MR. SCHNEK: I wouldn't necessarily describe it as a waste of
time, but, you know, depending on the circumstances in each
individual case, it may be worth pursuing a lien. You know, there's
also the financial benefit -- cost benefit analysis that goes into it as
well.
MS. GIGUERE: If I may add something. If the gentleman here
was the actual owner, then the 45 days might work, but considering
you have to pull a permit to do any of the repair work or demolish it,
that 45-day time frame might be a little shy of compliance efforts.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do you want to modify the amount
of time?
MS. CURLEY: No.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Hold on. So that's your
motion?
MS. CURLEY: That's my motion.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do we have a second on the
motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, the motion fails.
June 27, 2019
Page 41
Does anybody else want to make a motion?
MR. ORTEGA: I'll make a motion to grant 90 days.
MR. LEFEBVRE: And what's the fine?
MR. ORTEGA: The fine, $100 a day.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. This is like a bidding war.
Okay. Any comments on 90 days?
MR. LEFEBVRE: I'll second it.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a second. Any
comments on the motion that's been seconded?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: My comment is, knowing the
situation, I would go more than 90 days. We give 90 days sometimes
to put up a pool fence.
MS. CURLEY: We don't manage people's personal affairs
though.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I understand that.
MS. CURLEY: There's timelines for that. And to prepare an
elderly attorney (sic) to assist their family is not our job to expense
that.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I understand that.
MR. LEFEBVRE: The other thing, this violation has started the
end of January -- or was noticed the end of January.
MS. CURLEY: Wait. It was noticed after Hurricane Andrew
(sic).
MS. BOWMAN: Wilma.
MS. CURLEY: Wilma. No, Wilma they got the roof. Irma; I'm
sorry.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: No, it's -- in January --
MS. CURLEY: It's been almost two years.
MR. LEFEBVRE: When Code Enforcement got involved.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The violation started in January.
June 27, 2019
Page 42
MR. LEFEBVRE: So what I'm trying to get at, I think 90 days
is very reasonable considering that this case they were noticed back
at the January.
MS. ELROD: The elderly gentleman was noticed, not the
children, and he's incapable of doing anything.
MR. LEFEBVRE: But if -- but he's living with family -- I don't
know when this occurred. I don't want to go into great detail with
this, but it's been five months. I think that's long enough to get
something in motion.
The respondent's son came here and stated that he's starting the
process. The process was just started because he came to this
hearing. So I think 90 days is reasonable.
MR. ORTEGA: I mean, we're going into rainy season. If that
roof is compromised, you may not have -- you might have to tear it
down.
MS. BOWMAN: You can tarp it at least.
MR. ORTEGA: There's an option right there. Tarp it.
MR. BECKER: I did put plastic over it, but it doesn't last. So, I
mean -- yeah. It has to be repaired anyway, or demolition. It's just a
matter of the time involved of getting it done. Like I said, if I start --
since I work right now, it's not -- I can't just take days off to go and
get a lot of this stuff done. So that's where I stand.
MR. LEFEBVRE: I call the vote.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a motion that's
been seconded. All those in favor of the motion?
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
June 27, 2019
Page 43
Aye.
MS. ELROD: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So two opposed. It passes.
You have 90 days. After 90 days, if you find that that's not
working for you, you have the ability to come back before the Board
and let us know the progress that your father has made and request
more time if necessary.
MR. BECKER: Okay, thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Thank you.
MS. GONZALEZ: Next case is Item No. 8, Case
CESD20180015070, Leonardo Hernandez, at 219 North Seventh
Street, Immokalee.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning, everybody.
MR. AMBACH: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning. Can you state your
name on the microphone for us.
MR. HERNANDEZ: Rafael Hernandez.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Do you want to present the
county's case?
MR. AMBACH: I do, sir. For the record, Chris Ambach,
Collier County Code Enforcement supervisor in Immokalee.
This is in reference to Case No. CESD20180015070 dealing
with violations of the Collier County Land Development Code,
Ordinance 04-41, as amended, Section 10.02.06(B)(1)(a),
10.02.06(B)(1)(e), 10.02.06(B)(1)(e)(i).
Property's located at 219 North Seventh Street, Immokalee,
Florida, 34142; Folio No. 52651400007.
Service was given on February 5th, 2019.
I would now like to present case evidence in the following
exhibits: One photograph dated December 14th, 2018.
June 27, 2019
Page 44
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Has the respondent seen the
photograph?
MR. AMBACH: I have not met -- I believe this is the
respondent's son. I'm not sure.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. This is -- you have your
father's permission to testify in this case?
MR. HERNANDEZ: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. You may want to move that
microphone a little closer.
MR. HERNANDEZ: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Why don't you show the
respondent's son the photo that you have.
MR. AMBACH: Will do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do you have any objection to that
photo?
MR. HERNANDEZ: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Get a motion from the
Board to accept the photo?
MS. ELROD: Motion to accept.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion.
MR. WHITE: Second.
MS. BOWMAN: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And a second.
All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
June 27, 2019
Page 45
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
I think sometimes when we use the phrase "mobile home," it
confuses things; to me anyhow. If it has wheels, it's mobile. Be hard
pushing that.
Okay. Go ahead, Chris.
MR. AMBACH: On December 7th staff observed the
installation of a new roof over a non-permitted addition at 219 North
Seventh Street.
After speaking with one of the residents on the street, staff stated
they were told that the owner does not live at that property.
In February staff received a phone call from the property
owner's son -- I'm assuming that's Rafael here -- who stated he would
forward the county's request for a permit to his father.
After several attempts to contact the property owner, what you
see here today remains. No permit has been obtained. Originally the
complaint came in to me personally in the office about a reroof on the
mobile home and the addition. Further research I conducted
personally -- the addition that you see in the forefront of that -- of the
structure is illegal; it does not have a permit.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Is there electrical and plumbing in
that section?
MR. AMBACH: We've not been able to get inside.
MR. HERNANDEZ: There is not.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: So we need to make a motion a violation
exists?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, let's hear what the respondent
has to say first.
MS. CURLEY: Okay.
June 27, 2019
Page 46
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Yes, sir.
MR. HERNANDEZ: I've spoken with him. I've told him. He's
out of state. He asked for more time to fix it. There's people living
there. And that's all I have to say.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Is it -- so it's rented out or --
MR. HERNANDEZ: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: Did the tenants do these alterations, or did your
father authorize them?
MR. HERNANDEZ: After the hurricane from last year, I
believe he replaced the roof on it. He had someone do it, and I don't
know if they -- they didn't do it right or -- I don't really understand
how this works, you know.
MS. CURLEY: I just wondered if the people that are renting it
from your dad added that extension or --
MR. HERNANDEZ: I don't think they did.
MS. CURLEY: Okay. Thank you.
MR. AMBACH: The extension appears to have been there for
some time. The roof over -- when they lost the roof in the hurricane,
it tore the whole thing off, so they just replaced the roof on -- I'm
going to call it two structures even though they're attached. But the
original structure underneath in the forefront, right there (indicating)
was never permitted from Jump Street, so...
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. BOWMAN: To be clear, this violation doesn't state
anything about unpermitted roof. It just is about -- the violation just
states things being in the backyard and, you know, debris, correct?
MR. LEFEBVRE: No. Case No. 8.
MS. BOWMAN: Oh, I thought we were on this one here. Oh,
I'm on the wrong one. I'm sorry.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That's okay.
June 27, 2019
Page 47
MS. BOWMAN: Oh, I was looking at this one.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: What gets confusing a little bit
here, we don't have the respondent. We have the respondent's son. If
this was something that was added years ago and then the respondent
purchased it, they could probably do something with an affidavit. If
the actual work -- and Herminio will slap me if I get this wrong. If
the actual work was done by the respondent, then they have to go
through the full permitting process. So just a note to say.
Now, does a violation exist, I'll ask the Board? Does someone
make a motion to that effect?
MS. CURLEY: I'll make a motion a violation exists.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion. Do we have a
second?
MR. ORTEGA: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a second.
All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Okay.
MR. LEFEBVRE: I have a question. Could you tell from GIS
when this was -- addition was built?
MR. AMBACH: Hold on one second.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Because he's owned the property, it looks
June 27, 2019
Page 48
like, since '98.
MS. CURLEY: Ninety-eight, yeah.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Just curious. A lot of times an investigator
will do that and show a definitive time when it was added.
MR. HERNANDEZ: That's a porch. It's always been there. I
think what they did is they put plywood on the side of the porch.
And half of it was plywood; the other half was screen.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So it was done in the last couple of
years?
MR. HERNANDEZ: I think all that happened after the
hurricane.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: After the hurricane, okay.
MS. CURLEY: That's helpful. Thank you.
MR. AMBACH: I don't have a specific date on that. Sorry.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Thank you.
MS. CURLEY: All right.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Let me call -- so a violation -- does
a violation exist? We have a motion and a second.
All those in favor? I think we voted on it. We'll do it again.
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Chris, you have a suggestion for us on this case?
MR. AMBACH: I do.
June 27, 2019
Page 49
That the Code Enforcement Board orders the respondent to pay
all operational costs in the amount of $59.70 incurred in the
prosecution of this case within 30 days and abate all violations by:
Number 1, must obtain all required Collier County building
permits or demolition permit and request all inspections through
certificate of completion and/or occupancy within blank days of this
hearing or a fine of blank dollars per day 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 vio lation 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 stab
at this one?
MS. CURLEY: I have a question. Is your dad going to be back
in town, or is this not --
MR. HERNANDEZ: He's actually moved out of state. He
hasn't been back in more than a year.
MS. CURLEY: So is there somebody who's managing -- does
he have other properties that he has a manager to help him?
MR. HERNANDEZ: My mom, but she doesn't speak very good
English, so she didn't really come in. I'm kind of the one that came
in.
MS. CURLEY: So you will be able to help her understand this?
MR. HERNANDEZ: Yes.
MS. CURLEY: Okay. I'll fill in the blanks with, let's just say,
90 days or a fine of $50 per day. There's no electricity in there, and
it's not being used right now.
MR. HERNANDEZ: No. It's kind of like -- I think they have
June 27, 2019
Page 50
storage. They have, like, extra clothes and stuff in there. Like, it's a
storage. It was a full porch from what I remember.
MR. ORTEGA: It's not air conditioned, right?
MR. HERNANDEZ: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So we have a motion. Do
we have a second on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I'll second the motion. Okay.
MS. BOWMAN: I'll second it.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Chloe seconded it. I only
get so many that I can second.
Okay. Any discussion on the motion?
MR. ORTEGA: One comment. Under your order to correct
violations, you're citing the 2007 Florida building code. You might
want to amend that.
MR. AMBACH: I'll have to go through this. The investigator is
not --
MR. ORTEGA: It's No. 2. It would be the 2017 building code.
MR. AMBACH: Yes, sir.
MR. LETOURNEAU: You said Land Development Code,
right?
MR. ORTEGA: No, no.
MS. CURLEY: Typo?
MR. AMBACH: I don't have the Florida Building Code in here.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Are you talking about --
MR. ORTEGA: It says it right here, No. 2. I'm looking at it.
MR. LETOURNEAU: 10.02.06. All three of those from the
Land Development Code. I don't think we cited the Florida Building
Code.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It's the LDC.
MR. AMBACH: Right, correct.
June 27, 2019
Page 51
MR. ORTEGA: No. It says, Florida Building Code, No. 2,
under order to correct violations.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Packet Page 106.
MR. AMBACH: I don't have that.
MR. ORTEGA: Must obtain all inspections, certificate of
occupancy and certification of completion as required in the 2007
Florida Building Code.
MR. LEFEBVRE: I'm looking at it too.
MR. LETOURNEAU: On the notice of violation; is that what
you're looking at?
MR. ORTEGA: Under the notice.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: On the notice.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Let me look really quick.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That's the boilerplate that's used; it
needs to be updated, obviously.
MR. LETOURNEAU: I'm not sure what you guys --
MR. LEFEBVRE: Well, you can come up here and look at it if
you want.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Oh, okay.
MS. CURLEY: Good eyes, Herminio.
MR. LEFEBVRE: That's what he does.
MR. LETOURNEAU: All right. Yeah. We're just asking for
No. 1 on the recommendation here. Number 2, yeah, that's a
scrivener's error as far as the 1 needing to be replaced wit h the 0 for
the 17 there. But we're citing the Land Development Code at this
point, and we're asking that No. 1 be done on the recommendation,
which is up on the Board right now, and it doesn't reference the
Florida Building Code.
MR. ORTEGA: That up there doesn't, no.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Correct.
MS. CURLEY: Okay. So did somebody second my fill in the
June 27, 2019
Page 52
blanks?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yes.
MS. CURLEY: Any discussion, guys?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, we're waiting to see if that's
resolved. And then Gerald would like to have a comment.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Yeah. Testimony stated that after -- we can
take a vote first.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. All those -- well, does your
comment change --
MR. LEFEBVRE: No, it doesn't.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Now your comment.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Testimony stated that a new roof was put on,
but there's no violation for that.
MR. HERNANDEZ: I don't know if you would call it a new
roof. They just -- the whole roof wasn't actually worked on. It was
just the top part. I don't know if that makes a difference.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We'll leave that up to Code
Enforcement whether they --
MR. AMBACH: Yeah. I have a letter from the building official
June 27, 2019
Page 53
that okayed that roof on that. I could read this into the record if you
would --
MR. LEFEBVRE: That's fine.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: No, not necessary.
Okay. So you have 90 days. So you're going to start doing
whatever needs to be done to get a permit or whatever. If you have a
problem getting everything done within three months, I suggest that
you contact Code Enforcement so that the fines don't start to accrue.
Okay.
MR. HERNANDEZ: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Thank you.
Thanks, Chris.
MR. AMBACH: Thank you.
MR. HERNANDEZ: Thank you. That's it?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yep.
MS. GONZALEZ: The next item is Item No. 11, Case
CESD20190001104, Jose De Jesus De Sousa and Michelle De Sousa
at 812 96th Avenue North.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Good morning, everybody.
Good morning. Could you state your name on the microphone for us.
MR. DE JESUS: Jose De Jesus.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. You're the owner of the
property?
MR. DE JESUS: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. County can continue.
MR. FORD: Good morning. For the record, Arthur Ford,
Collier County Code Enforcement.
This is in reference to Case No. CESD20190001104 dealing
with violations of Collier County Land Development Code 04 -41, as
amended, Section 10.02.06(B)(1)(a) and Section 10.02.06(B)(1)(e),
June 27, 2019
Page 54
six sheds in the rear of the property installed without required
permits, inspections, and certificate of completion/occupancy.
Located at 812 96th Avenue North Naples, Florida, 34108; Folio
62769720009.
Service was given April 10th, 2019.
I would now like to present case evidence in the following
exhibits: Two photos taken February 19th, 2019, of sheds and an
aerial photo of the rear of the property.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Has the respondent seen the
photos?
MR. FORD: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do you have any objection to the
photos?
MR. FORD: No, I don't.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. This is Naples Park?
MR. FORD: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Could I get a motion from
the Board to accept the photos.
MR. WHITE: Motion to accept photos.
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second.
All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: (Absent.)
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
June 27, 2019
Page 55
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MR. FORD: On January 29th, 2019, Code Enforcement
received a complaint of six unpermitted sheds in the rear of the
property. I made a site visit on January 30th and was able to view the
tops of three of four of the sheds from the street.
February 19th I met with the property owner, Michelle De Jesus,
and advised her of the complaint/violations. She led me to the rear of
the property where photos were taken of six metal sheds.
On February 22nd I met the building official, Rich Long, who
reviewed the case and photos and determined that permits required.
Notice of violation was issued February 26th, 2019.
On April 10th, 2019, another notice of violation was issued to
include the ordinance 10.02.06(B)(1)(e).
May 21st, 2019, a site visit was made, and violation remains
unchanged.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: How close to the property line are
these sheds?
MR. FORD: Pretty much up against it.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Is that part of the violation or not?
MR. FORD: No. It's just the unpermitted sheds kind of take
care of that.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. FORD: Setbacks and all that.
MS. CURLEY: Do you know how long they've been there?
MR. FORD: No. We just know we got the complaint, did the
investigation, and served the violations. You know, the first site visit
was January 30th.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Can I ask -- I'm looking at the
picture. What's on the ground there?
MS. CURLEY: Is that concrete? What is that?
MR. ORTEGA: Surface.
June 27, 2019
Page 56
MR. FORD: It's like, I don't know, a mesh kind of tarp stuff.
It's probably a better question for the respondent.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Non-pervious type whatever.
MR. FORD: Right.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: All right.
Good morning.
MR. DE JESUS: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Your turn to explain the situation.
MR. DE JESUS: I have filed for a permit, and I did that two
days ago, so I'm waiting for it to be authorized by the county.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Anything else? What is that
on the ground there?
MR. DE JESUS: That is -- when you lay pavers, you do that
first. That's porous to allow the water to seep through it. It blocks
the weeds from growing.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: You're paving the backyard?
MR. DE JESUS: When I have the money, yes. Not all of the
backyard; some of it.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So you have applied for the
permit?
MR. DE JESUS: For the sheds, yes, I have.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Any indication when you're
going to receive the permit?
MR. DE JESUS: I don't know. That's up to the county.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Well, let's see if a violation
exists. Anybody like to make a motion whether a violation exists?
MS. CURLEY: Well, I'll make a motion a violation exists.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion. Do we have a
second?
MR. LEFEBVRE: Second.
June 27, 2019
Page 57
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a second.
All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Now, do you a suggestion for us?
MR. FORD: 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, obtaining all required Collier County building permits or
demolition permit, inspections, and certificate of
completion/occupancy within blank days of this hearing, or a fine of
blank per day will be imposed until the violation's abated;
Two, the respondent must notify 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
Collier County Sheriff's Office to enforce the provisions of --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Easy for you to say; provisions.
MR. FORD: -- of this order, and all costs of abatement shall be
assessed to the property owner.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So I guess the question that
June 27, 2019
Page 58
comes before us is how long does it take to pull a building permit on
this and the likelihood that the building permit is going to be
approved.
MS. CURLEY: I have a question, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Sure.
MS. CURLEY: Do you and your wife live at this location?
MR. DE JESUS: Yes, I do. Well, yes, we do.
MS. CURLEY: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Yeah. For the record, Jeff Letourneau,
Collier County Code Enforcement.
Your question about setbacks was a pretty valid one earlier on. I
think that, at least from looking at the aerial right now, three of the
sheds aren't going to meet setbacks, and they also -- they need
separation between the sheds, and I don't think one individual
permit's going to cover six sheds. I think they're going to have to
permit them individually if they can find enough room to fit them on
there, because there's going to be side yard setbacks, rear setback s,
and setbacks from each other. So, you know, I don't know. It's going
to have to be a lot of moving pieces.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I agree with you, Jeff. And I've
been around the block a few times.
Did you purchase these sheds and had the people you purchased
them from install them?
MR. DE JESUS: No. I did it myself.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. ORTEGA: Are they attached together?
MR. DE JESUS: Yes. They will be attached together.
MR. ORTEGA: Structurally. The connection?
MR. DE JESUS: Right.
MR. ORTEGA: So maybe the 10-foot separation of structures
June 27, 2019
Page 59
don't apply.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Yeah. I mean, if the Building
Department allows them to attach those together then, yeah, he's still
going to have to come up with the rear and side setback issue though.
MS. CURLEY: Did you submit a survey with your permit?
MR. DE JESUS: Yes.
MS. CURLEY: Okay. I'll fill in the blanks.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Go ahead.
MS. CURLEY: Number one --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: 59.63 in 30 days.
MS. CURLEY: Right, and then No. 1 is 60 days, and a fine of
$100 per day.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a motion. Do we
have a second?
MR. ORTEGA: 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.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Good luck on the permit. I think it may be an interesting permit
to pull.
June 27, 2019
Page 60
MR. DE JESUS: Thank you.
MS. GONZALEZ: Item No. 16 --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Did we hear 12, or are we doing the
people that are here?
MR. LETOURNEAU: People that are here.
MS. GONZALEZ: Yeah, the people that are here. There's
someone here for Item 16, but I'm not sure if he has standing. SA
Equity Group, Case CENA20180014297, at 114 New Market Road
East.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: This is Case 16; is that correct?
MS. GONZALEZ: Correct. Item 16.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. And if you could state your
name on the microphone for us, please.
MR. OKAB: Walid Okab.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Excuse me?
MR. OKAB: Walid Okab.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Give us a minute to take a look.
Are you the authorized represent from SA Equity Group?
MR. OKAB: Yes, sir.
MR. AMBACH: He's the owner's nephew.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Chris, you're on.
MR. AMBACH: Thank you. For the record, Chris Ambach,
Collier County Code Enforcement. This is in reference to Case No.
CENA20180014297 dealing with violations of the Collier County
Code of Laws and Ordinances, Chapter 54, Article VI, Section
54-179 through (sic) 54-181.
Property is located at 114 New Market Road East, Immokalee,
Florida, 34142; folio number is 63864240001.
Service was given on December 19th, 2018.
I would now like to present case evidence in the following
June 27, 2019
Page 61
exhibits: Seven photographs dated June 25th, 2019.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Has the respondent seen the
photographs?
MR. AMBACH: I have shown him those, yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do you have any objections to the
photographs?
MR. OKAB: No.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Can I get a motion from the
Board to accept the photos.
MS. ELROD: Motion to accept.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion.
MR. WHITE: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And a second.
All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Do you want to give us a little description as --
MR. AMBACH: Yes. This is the farmers market on New
Market Road. You're looking at some outbuildings in t he back. This
is pretty much a daily occurrence on the entire parcel. The vendors,
after they're done unpacking, throw empty boxes, trash, tires --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So this is the property that's
owned by this company?
June 27, 2019
Page 62
MR. AMBACH: That's correct.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. This is, again, a picture of
the rear?
MR. AMBACH: This is right on New Market. You can see this
as you're driving right by.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. AMBACH: And they sit there, you know, it's -- it's every
day. It's every day. Now, regardless of whether or not it's cleaned up
every day, it's just -- it's not cleaned up every day. I drive by this
location multiple times a day coming into the office and going home,
and it always looks like this.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Is it zoned C5?
MR. AMBACH: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Have they been noticed
before?
MR. AMBACH: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Is this a second violation?
MR. AMBACH: Probably more than that, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. AMBACH: We were working with the owners. I met with
the owners in the office. This is one of several open cases that we're
dealing with right now. They've been educated on what needs to
happen but yet it continues to happen every day.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And these pictures were taken this
week?
MR. AMBACH: These pictures were taken a few months ago.
If I had photographs, you would be looking at photographs -- this is
what it looks like every day. It was like this yesterday.
MS. CURLEY: So even the weeds along the fence line, these
are never managed to the --
MR. AMBACH: He's cutting the weeds now.
June 27, 2019
Page 63
MS. CURLEY: And this is Mr. Hernandez who you're speaking
about?
MR. AMBACH: No. This is Mr. Okab. This is Mr. Okab's
nephew who actually runs the farmers market, correct? You're the
supervisor out there?
MR. OKAB: Yes.
MR. AMBACH: He oversees it. I've met with his aunt and
uncle who are the actual owners of the property in my office and
have gone over the conditions of this property.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yeah. Weeds are a different
violation.
MR. AMBACH: Yeah. I'm just sectioning the litter right now.
At one point they had a tarp up there. It's not an approved -- it's not
approved for the fence. I believe they put it up to, you know, help
hide what was out there, and they had to take that down per the last
notice of violation they received. So now this is out for everybody to
look at every day as you drive by all four corners of that property.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Do you have anything else
for us, Chris?
MR. AMBACH: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: Well, do we need to make --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hold on. Hold on.
Sir, your turn to give us an explanation or what's being done, et
cetera.
MR. OKAB: Well, we took over the market a year ago. And a
lot of these issues we inherited from the previous owners.
He's spoken about different violations that we have, and I've
been working with Tony. And I believe we've fixed two out of the
three violations we had.
This issue I have, like, over 50 tenants there, and they all had
June 27, 2019
Page 64
bad habits. And, you know, this is not new. This has been like this
since the market was built in the '80s.
And right now I'm working with them. As I told him, we
cleaned a lot of it. When I came here this morning, I thoug ht this
case was about different violations that we had about permitting and
about some structures that -- they were built before we came to the
picture. And that's what -- I was like -- you know, what I had
prepared was not for this because, you know, I didn't know. Because,
as I told him, I thought Tony told me he closed that case.
Because we had another case about cleaning the ditch and
picking up trash, and I did that. And Tony closed it. So I thought
that was connected with that, so I wasn't aware.
But as I told him, you know, like we work with these people. I
clean every day, you know. A lot of this stuff -- these pictures are
from January. I know he said he lives in Lehigh and he sees it when
he goes there, but it's not this bad.
And I told him, like, if that's the issue, I'll go right now and I'll
start cleaning today. And if you give me some time, I'll have it all
picked up. Because right now it's -- like, it's summertime, so it's
dead. So a lot of these tenants have left. So I can ju st bring a trailer
and just dump everything into the trash, and that's it.
So I don't think that's a -- it's not a serious issue. I can have all
that cleaned up in, like, a week or so.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, if it wasn't a serious issue,
you wouldn't have received a violation, so...
And what disturbs me is if this is an ongoing problem, the
penalties for that are severe. But before we get into that, do you want
to make a motion a violation exists?
MS. CURLEY: Yeah. I just would like to go back to the
picture that shows the tarps and the chain-link fence real quick. And
so you're saying that none of this looks like this behind the chain -link
June 27, 2019
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fence anymore or --
MR. OKAB: No. What I said is that picture was in January,
and what this -- like, each one of those tents has a tenant in. And this
stuff that you see -- I know it looks like trash, but they use it for their
work because they're farmers. They go to the field, they pick up.
And, like, you see pallets and coolers and all this stuff, and they clean
it daily.
So I know -- like, you're not going to see -- like, if you go today
and then you go tomorrow, you'll see different things, because those
people, they use it for their work.
And, you know, my job is I manage these people, and I have
over 60 tenants.
MS. BOWMAN: So do you own the actual structure and -- like,
the frame and the tarp?
MR. OKAB: No, I don't own none of that. I just own the
property. These people pay me rent.
MS. BOWMAN: I was just wondering, because they're all the
same, so I didn't know if they all --
MR. OKAB: These people, they put them up, and then
whenever they leave, they take them down.
So these pictures are old. They're from January. I thought that
this case was closed. And, you know, if -- you know, I can just go
and have all that cleaned up.
And we've been cutting the grass. We've been working with
Tony, and we've been cooperative, and, you know, like -- I know we
have several issues, but all the issues were from the previous owners.
We've only been there for one year.
You know, we're still trying to figure out how to -- because I've
never -- I don't have any experience in the business like this with
large amount of tenants. But we're -- you know, we're improving,
and we're willing to work with you guys to fix the problem.
June 27, 2019
Page 66
And if Tony was here, like, he will back me up, because I've
always worked with Tony, and I've never, like, given him any issues.
MS. CURLEY: Well, we appreciate you working with the
county. And just for the record, they purchased this property
December 11th, 2017. So it's been a year and a half. And so I'm sure
you've made some nice changes.
But I will make a motion that a violation exists. I appreciate you
explaining the status of that, and we hope that things can get better.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion, and 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.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously. A violation
exists.
My question to you before I ask you for a recommendation is,
when we have cases that are similar to this where, for instance, you
have a car parked with no license plates or whatever in a place, it
comes before Code Enforcement, we find a violation, and the car is
moved. A month later, the car is back, and a second violation is
ordered along with a special fine at that point, or a third time. Is this
the case with this, or this doesn't fall into that category?
June 27, 2019
Page 67
MR. AMBACH: No. It will fall under that category, I believe.
And this -- and, again, the investigator is no longer on this case. I've
taken this case over.
But the notices that were served before on this property were
served incorrectly. So I made sure it was served correctly this time
and wanted to bring it here so I can get the adjudication. If we have
an issue again on the property then, yes, we will do exactly what
you're saying. We will request a civil penalty if we come back again.
Legal notice will be issued. It's set up for immediate hearing at
that time if that happens again.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Have you explained that to the
owner?
MR. AMBACH: Yes, on several occasions.
MS. CURLEY: And so I have another question, just because
I'm curious, for the county. Is there any way -- I mean, this market's
a big part of Immokalee.
MR. AMBACH: It is.
MS. CURLEY: And we don't want to disrupt that. But is there
any way that, you know, the needs of the tenants -- that this can be
more shielded, or is this the only fence that they're allowed to have?
Can we help them with that?
MR. AMBACH: Yeah, I know. And it's -- they cannot put an
opaque covering on that fence. The zoning district does not allow for
it. I did discuss with Jeff just a few minutes ago if there's any way
we can get some screening. If you folks can put screening on the
back side of those tents, and if they can, you know, contain what they
have within. What's happening is they're working outside their
means.
I mean, these are -- there's stuff stacked in these tents that have
been there for years.
MS. CURLEY: I agree. They're not using the ladder every day
June 27, 2019
Page 68
to sell fruit.
MR. AMBACH: Yeah. There has to be some management on
management's side and on the seller's. It's a hard situation there
because of the zoning district. You can't put a tarp up to hide the fact
that it still looks like that on the inside.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Just -- I know on those type of
fences you can put the slats in. Can't do that?
MR. AMBACH: It's not allowed according to the zoning
manager. I've heard -- believe me, I've tried.
MS. CURLEY: This should be something that they could do
for --
MR. LETOURNEAU: They would need to put a tarp on the
back of those tents right there and then keep all the stuff up front
where the outside public can't see whatever debris they have back
there on a daily basis. Because, unfortunately, now it's going to be
adjudicated. If we get another complaint, it's going to -- like
Mr. Kaufman said, it's going to be costly at that point.
So if I was the property owner, I'd look at every angle to try to
contain that stuff out of sight.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I know this has nothing to do with
the case, but was this reported by a neighbor, or is this somebody
who drove by or --
MR. AMBACH: These reports come directly from the CRA,
and I have a member here today in the audience, and also the Collier
County Sheriff's Department. We meet on a monthly basis, our task
force meetings, and this is a topic of concern at every single one.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So you're working the issue,
and hopefully --
MR. AMBACH: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: -- you can find something that will
solve the problem. Okay.
June 27, 2019
Page 69
Do you have a suggestion for us?
MR. AMBACH: I do, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. AMBACH: That the Code Enforcement Board orders the
respondent to pay all operational costs in the amount of $59.70
incurred in the prosecution of this case within 30 days and abate all
violations by:
Number 1, must remove all litter from the property to a site
intended for final disposal or store desired items within a completely
enclosed structure 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. Any comments on Chris'
suggestion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Anybody like to fill in the blanks?
MS. CURLEY: I mean, I've done it most of the day. But I do
appreciate, number one, stating that all the items should be
completely enclosed within the structure. So that gives you and your
company and your tenants options to fix this quicker.
So I think I would say pay the operational costs of 59.70, and
Item No. 1 --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: In 30 days. Go ahead.
MS. CURLEY: -- and 45 days, or a fine of $100 per day.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a motion. Do we
June 27, 2019
Page 70
have a second?
MR. LEFEBVRE: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a second. Discussion on
the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The only thing I'd like to say is the
county, the Board, would love for this to be resolved. As Sue had
mentioned, it's an integral part of Immokalee that it be successful. It
brings money in, et cetera. So hopefully you can resolve this
situation in a way that it makes everybody happy.
Having said that, all those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
So you have 45 days to clean it up. If I were in your shoes, I'd
clean it up and take some pictures after you're done, and then if you
happen to have one vendor or another vendor who's causing the
problem, that you work with them to resolve that situation.
MR. OKAB: Now, Tony's no longer involved with this? So if I
was to work with someone, I have to work with you?
MR. AMBACH: You can work with me.
MR. OKAB: Okay. So I'm willing to meet with you, and you
tell me what needs to be done. I'll do it in one week.
MR. AMBACH: Perfect.
June 27, 2019
Page 71
MS. CURLEY: Thank you.
MS. GONZALEZ: Next case, Item No. 4 under imposition of
fines, Case CESD20180003607, Luis Patino and Papadorelly LLC at,
741 18th Avenue Northwest.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning. Could you state
your name on the microphone for us.
MR. PATINO: Good morning. Luis Patino.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Good morning.
MS. PEREZ: Good morning. For the record, Cristina Perez,
Collier County Code Enforcement.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Ordinarily we'd just have
you read this into the record, but I assume that the respondent is here
to request something?
MS. PEREZ: Correct, yeah. We had a conversation outside,
and he'd like to address the Board.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. PATINO: Okay. So as everybody for the most part knows
in Code Enforcement, I own this property with Papadorelly.
And with that, the last year and a half we had some legal
litigations and stuff like that with other matters within our
corporations.
Those things are passed as of August. We're in that recovery
phase as of now still coming out of that. It was about a $150,000 loss
all around in my personal life. And my family has taken a toll as far
as my relationships and stuff like that.
So I find myself as a single father now, two kids, juggling a few
things. The thing is, it took a minute to get that culvert in. The
individual that I owned the property with, he lives in France. The
French are very difficult to communicate. Our time frames are
different. He's not here all the time. He's here only on occasions
June 27, 2019
Page 72
during the year.
I went ahead and I solidified the culvert. That was a pretty
tough challenge amongst everything else. Finally we got that closed
out, and now we can go over the property, over the culvert.
So we were able to comply with that, and I only have TLC
Lawn, and I've been in contact with Erin Josephitis (phonetic) to get
the mitigation process because we're not going to build right now.
Obviously right now we've taken such a big hit that we're just going
to wait it out for a minute and let the dust settle and get out of this
funk.
But we definitely are moving forward with the mitigation
process. And I do have a letter and a commitment from a company.
That took me forever because I went to three different companies,
and they all never even gave me a letter. This guy actually came
through. And he's committed, and I paid him to engage. I already
give him a deposit, so we're moving forward, and with the direction
of Erin Josephitis, who gave me also what I need to follow.
So we have some more meetings to meet on site to see what --
how to get through this. So I'm asking for an extension so that I can
at least -- you know, I already --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Let me see if I can ask a couple of
questions.
MR. PATINO: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: This violation is a violation because
there was no permit pulled; is that correct?
MS. PEREZ: There was -- the violation was there was clearing
done on the property, and one way to rectify that would be to just go
ahead and build a home on there, and that would take care of the
clearing violation, or restore through a mitigation restoration process.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Was there a permit pulled to clear
initially?
June 27, 2019
Page 73
MS. PEREZ: No, that's why, you know, the case initially
started.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So that's this violation?
MS. PEREZ: Yes. The other right-of-way was a separate case,
but it all kind of happened together. So that's what he was trying to
explain that he's now, you know, settled the legal egress and ingress
to the property. That case is closed out, and then now he's got this
one before him.
So because of his financial/legal issues, they're not going to
proceed to build anything. So now we still have to take care of the
unpermitted clearing, which he intends -- the letter's up on the board
from TLC -- that is going to be working on that mitigation restoration
with the staff person that he mentioned earlier.
MS. CURLEY: I have just a quick question. Can you just
refresh my memory. Was this the -- you all are from Lee County
when you bought this property after the hurricane to help you with
your -- is this -- no?
MS. PEREZ: No.
MS. CURLEY: It's not the landscaping company?
MR. LEFEBVRE: Financial partner, which is the guy from
France, and he pulled his financing; is that correct?
MR. PATINO: Yeah, exactly. That's a different project in Port
Charlotte. We have a house that we built in Port Charlotte. He
pulled out. He went through a divorce as well. It was like a -- it
comes in threes, it really does, and I think my relationship was the
fourth, so I don't know. Maybe that's the upcoming one.
MS. CURLEY: You have two good things coming your way
maybe.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So my question on this, if a permit
is pulled, is it that -- would that resolve everything?
MS. PEREZ: No, not necessarily. He can't just get a vegetat ion
June 27, 2019
Page 74
removal permit. There has to be some restoration done to the
property because of what was cleared.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Was more than the allotted amount cleared?
MS. PEREZ: It wasn't an extreme amount but, obviously, it was
done without a permit.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Are you talking about a house permit?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, you're allowed to clear up to
one acre without a permit if you're going to build a structure. You
can do a lot more if you start building a structure.
MR. PATINO: So we're very under one acre for sure. What I
did was I opened the pathway, and I dropped 10 loads of fill just for
future use.
We had -- we do have a house specked out for that property.
The DEP report's been done. All these things to break ground are
ready to go; we're just not ready in our finance. So we're putting that
on hold and for a future date. And rather than building, comply with
the county and give it some time.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Herminio, let me ask you.
On the clearing of property, what's your understanding -- I'll ask Jeff
next to see if the both of you agree. What's your understanding on
what you can do and what you can't do?
MR. ORTEGA: You need a valid building permit to remove
vegetation.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: To remove the vegetation. And if
you are building a structure, that goes hand in hand with that permit?
MR. ORTEGA: When you say "structure," you mean a
single-family residence?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That's correct. That's what we're
talking about.
Okay. You agree, Jeff?
MR. LETOURNEAU: I agree, just one caveat that if there's
June 27, 2019
Page 75
exotics on a piece of property, you can go in and hand clear without a
permit.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Without having a permit.
MR. LETOURNEAU: That's it right there.
MR. PATINO: So there is a lot of Brazilian peppers, and that's
also another issue that we also encountered when I was closing out
the culvert and the inspector was walking me through the whole
property, and I think that that's something that we have to kind of
address as well, too.
MR. LETOURNEAU: So at this point he's going to have to
work -- if he wants to go to the mitigation route. He's going to have
to work out something between, you know, the environmental
services at Growth Management, and they're going to have to come
up with a plan and follow through with that plan to abate this
violation, or they could build a house and --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Build a house.
MR. LETOURNEAU: -- if it's in -- if the vegetation removal
was within that allowed acre, they'd be good to go at that point also.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Is this something that Crowley
would be working on?
MR. LETOURNEAU: Yes, yeah. Her or one of her coworkers.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: One of her henchmen.
MR. ORTEGA: Is there water on the property?
MR. PATINO: There's no water.
MR. ORTEGA: You might want to talk about environmental.
MR. PATINO: About a well?
MR. ORTEGA: No. Talk to them.
MR. PATINO: Oh, it's all dry land. There's no up -- I mean, it's
all upland. There's no wetland.
MR. ORTEGA: But if they're going to have you replace, add
planting --
June 27, 2019
Page 76
MR. PATINO: I know. It's got to be done now over the
summer while it's raining so it can live.
MS. CURLEY: So are we here to do an extension of this?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That's what the respondent is
asking for: More time to resolve this so that the "has not been" is
changed to "has been."
MS. CURLEY: Okay. So I see a -- I see that the 59.70 has not
been paid from the previous case.
MS. PEREZ: Yes. We just took care of that this morning.
MS. CURLEY: Okay, great.
MS. PEREZ: So that has been paid, and it's been confirmed into
the system.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: So thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Now, let me ask this question:
How much time do you think you need to resolve this situation?
MR. PATINO: Considering that I've been the one coming out
of pocket and no help has been coming out of Papadorelly, and I
foresee him not helping at all because he won't be here towards
maybe till -- I don't know. I think he'll probably be back here in
February -- I need at least 120 for me to come out with my finances
and dish it out, because I know he's not going to help.
MS. CURLEY: Do you have a bid from the landscape
company?
MR. PATINO: Not yet, because first I wanted his intent to
actually, you know, engage and then commit to a meeting with
agriculture.
MS. CURLEY: So just for the county, is this offending any
neighbors?
MS. PEREZ: No, no.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. And the 45 days that -- not
June 27, 2019
Page 77
45 days.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Hundred and twenty.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hundred and twenty days would get
you into a position where you can probably resolve this --
MR. PATINO: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: -- problem?
MR. PATINO: Yes, sir.
MS. CURLEY: Financially as well?
MR. PATINO: Along with child support, yes, sir -- yes, ma'am.
MS. CURLEY: Let's give him half a year.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Well, we don't want to give him too long
because then --
MR. PATINO: That's okay. One hundred twenty should be
fine. I should make it work.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I mean, this is from last July.
MR. LEFEBVRE: It is from last July, but if we give him six
months and he plants stuff going into the dry season, it's not going to
survive.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Right.
MS. CURLEY: I know.
MR. LEFEBVRE: So we have to give him -- I think we should
give him a little bit shorter time, or you can come back in front of us
again to ask for an extension.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Would you like to make the motion.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Make a motion that we grant a continuance
for 120 days as the respondent has asked.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion for a
continuance for 120 days. Any comments on that? Do we have a
second, first of all?
June 27, 2019
Page 78
I'll second it.
MS. BOWMAN: Second.
MS. CURLEY: No comment.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Would you like to second it, Kathy?
MS. ELROD: I already did. That's okay. You don't have to
hear me. That's fine.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We need to move your microphone
closer.
Okay. So we have a motion and we have a second to grant a
continuance of 120 days.
All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MS. PEREZ: Thank you, board members.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good luck. Pray for rain.
MS. GONZALEZ: Next case, Item No. 2 under imposition of
fines, Case CESD20180007276. Property, 2515 Bayside Street.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Sir, could you state your name on
the microphone for us.
MR. ARREAGA: Hello? Hello?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Can you state your name on the
microphone for us.
June 27, 2019
Page 79
MR. ARREAGA: Carlos Arreaga.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Eric?
MR. SHORT: Good morning. For the record, Supervisor Eric
Short, Collier County Code Enforcement.
I believe the respondent has a request.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Sir?
MR. ARREAGA: The problem?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, you're here to request
something from the county -- from the Board.
MR. ARREAGA: Oh, yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Don't keep it a secret. You
can tell us.
MR. ARREAGA: Well, the problem is I had to pay something,
fine, for the -- I install two windows and a door without permit.
That's it.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: So you corrected that now?
MR. ARREAGA: Uh-huh.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. And it says it's been abated.
MR. ARREAGA: I did it because, you know, the bedroom and
Irma hurricane -- the Irma hurricane destroy my windows and my
door, and I never know I had to put -- I had to go to get permit to
install the windows.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So you're asking for the
fines to be dropped?
MR. ARREAGA: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Does -- go ahead.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Make a motion that we deny the county's
request to impose fines.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion. Do we have a
second?
June 27, 2019
Page 80
MR. ORTEGA: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Second.
All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
No fines.
MR. ARREAGA: Muchos thank yous.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. You too.
MS. ELROD: The previous operational costs had not been paid,
or they had been paid?
MS. CURLEY: It says "have been."
MR. LEFEBVRE: It shows that they have been.
MS. ELROD: Never mind. I'm good.
MS. GONZALEZ: I see someone in the audience, but I'm not
sure if he has a case.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Anybody here have a case pending?
Ah-ha.
MS. GONZALEZ: This is Item No. 7 under imposition of fines,
Case CESD20160002752, James Gadsden and Scottie Gadsden Grdn,
and the property is 317 South First Street in Immokalee.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: This is the one that goes back to
2015.
June 27, 2019
Page 81
MR. LEFEBVRE: Sixteen.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning. Could you state
your name on the microphone for us.
MR. GADSDEN: Scottie Gadsden.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We've seen you before, I'm sure.
MR. GADDY: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yes.
Chris, you want to tell us to talk to him first?
MR. AMBACH: I believe he's going to ask for an extension
of --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. AMBACH: So do you want me to read this in first and --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yeah. Why don't you read it in
first, and then we'll go to that.
MR. AMBACH: Okay. For the record, Chris Ambach,
supervisor of Code Enforcement, Collier County.
Violations: Collier County Land Development Code 04-41, as
amended, Section 10.02.06(B)(1)(a).
Location is 317 South First Street, Immokalee, Florida; Folio
No. 24370240000.
Description of violation: Interior remodeling including, but not
limited to, new drywall, new framing, electrical, plumbing, flooring,
and installation of central air-conditioning system, all of which were
observed on improved unoccupied commercial property.
Past orders: On September 22nd, 2016, 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,
OR5318, Page 742, for more information.
On April 28th, 2017, the respondent's motion for continuance of
this case was granted. See the attached order of the Board, OR5390,
June 27, 2019
Page 82
Page 3732, for more information.
On October 27th, 2017, the respondent's motion for continuance
of this case is granted. See the attached order of the Board, OR5446,
Page 3540, for more information.
On March 22nd, 2018, the respondent's motion for continuance
of this case is granted. See attached order of the Board, OR5493,
Page 3294, for more information.
The violation has not been abated as of June 27th, 2019.
Fines and costs to date are as follows: Fines have accrued at a
rate of $200 per day for the period from March 21st, 2017, to
June 27th, 2019, 829 days, for a total fine amount of $165,800.
Fines continue to accrue.
Previously assessed operational costs of $64.17 have been paid.
Operational costs for today's hearing: $59.77.
Total amount: $165,859.77.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning.
MR. GADSDEN: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Your turn.
MR. GADSDEN: Well, I was asking for an extension. I know
that it done been at least a couple years since this work hadn't been
done, but really the problem is the financial problem. But I've kind
of been trying to pay out of my pocket. Well, I've been putting
money aside to try to go and get this done.
I was wondering if I could get, like, maybe a 90-day extension
to try and go and complete this work. And a couple of
subcontractors -- I had to try to get a couple more subcontractors.
The electrical went also, the A/C subcontractor, because they give me
a better offer than the ones I recently had, so I just recently went and
did the paperwork and got all that done, and also I got an extension
for the permit and -- to try to go on and get this completed.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Chris, do you have any
June 27, 2019
Page 83
comments?
MR. AMBACH: I don't. I just want to add that he did get a
permit extension. He has stayed in constant contact with us. This is
a commercial piece of property. It is vacant. He is working towards
compliance. I just wanted to put that out there.
MR. ORTEGA: Is there a contractor on board?
MR. AMBACH: I believe --
MR. GADSDEN: A general contractor? Yes, there's a general
contractor. Everything is in place, and I just had to get the paperwork
done because the subcontractors I originally had on the permit, I
decided to go with some other subcontractor. I just recently got all
that done, turned in to permitting, and now I just need to start getting
the work done.
MR. ORTEGA: How much work is done, or how much --
MR. GADSDEN: Well, when I had the permit originally, the
wall was there. It's out. That wall is an existing wall, so I had that
done. But by me paying out of pocket, it's kind of extensive. So
that's why I want to go with some other subcontractors because they
gave me a better offer than the one I originally had. And now I done
got that out of place -- tooken care of, so I just want to go ahead and
get the work done.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: What amount of work needs to be
done?
MR. GADSDEN: The A/C part and the electrical. And the
plumbing, it just -- I think the plumbing is just minor stuff. The
biggest thing is the electrical.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So from 2017 to now, the electrical,
the plumbing, nothing's been done or --
MR. GADSDEN: Nothing's been done -- well, I just got the
wall -- that wall was put up, because, you know, at first when I had
the building, you know, I leased the building out to someone. That's
June 27, 2019
Page 84
how all this case really got started because they was in there doing
work without permitting. So I got that tooken care of.
And, like I say, I just needed to -- the guys I was going with
originally to do the electrical and the A/C, they was a little costly, so
I was saying, well, let me see if I can find someone. Eventually I did,
and they gave me a better offer, so I just decided to go with them
then.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Have they told you when they're
expecting --
MR. GADSDEN: They can start -- well, as soon as I can get out
of here, I was going to meet with the electrical guy. He probably can
start as soon -- probably today.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I'm not so interested in the start as I
am in the done.
MR. GADSDEN: Oh, when it can get done?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yeah.
MR. GADSDEN: If I can get a 90-day extension, I think we can
get it done within 90 days.
MS. CURLEY: So can I just ask for some clarification. You
said that the original problem was because you had tenants in there,
and they modified inside the building without you knowing?
MR. GADSDEN: Yes, because I was leasing the building out to
them. So they said, well, we'll go in and do the work and take care of
everything, and then we'll take it off, once they complete it, towards
the rent part. But the problem was they did not pull a permit.
MS. CURLEY: Right.
MR. GADSDEN: And that's what kind of got all this started.
MS. CURLEY: Right. So don't you want to get this place
rented again?
MR. GADSDEN: Yes, yes. That's the whole thing is trying to
get it --
June 27, 2019
Page 85
MS. CURLEY: We better get out of here then.
MR. GADSDEN: Get it rented. And so I got everybody in
place to do the work now, but...
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So would anybody on the Board
like to make a motion for a continuance for some period of time?
MR. ORTEGA: I understand you do have a permit in hand?
MR. GADSDEN: Yes, yes. I just had to get -- I already had a
permit, but I had to get an extension on it. I already done that and got
all that tooken care of.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yeah. Chris said he can verify that.
MR. ORTEGA: What size of area are we talking about?
MR. GADSDEN: As far as the building? Thirteen hundred
square foot.
MR. AMBACH: Yeah. He has fire inspections, final A/C, final
electric, final building and, like I said, a couple of miscellaneous;
fire.
MR. ORTEGA: If he still has to do the electrical, mechanical,
plumbing, then he also has rough inspections, right?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: 101.
MR. ORTEGA: I'm going somewhere with this, by the way.
MR. LEFEBVRE: What?
MR. ORTEGA: I'm going somewhere with this; that three
months may not be enough.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Well, he had three years -- almost three
years.
MS. CURLEY: I mean, let's just make it 900 days total.
MR. WHITE: Fines are still accruing.
MR. LEFEBVRE: I'll say this -- and I've said this a lot over my
17 years -- you can build a high-rise in a shorter period of time than
it's taken to finish a 1,300-square-foot space, and it just -- to keep on
going and going and going...
June 27, 2019
Page 86
MR. GADSDEN: Well, the biggest problem, sir, is the financial
part of it. These subcontractors, they not cheap. And that's not trying
to make an excuse, because I know it's my responsibility to get the
building up to code.
MS. CURLEY: Well, here's the thing: There's no life-safety
issue. There nobody's renting it. The only person that's suffering
right now are him and his partner in this property because they're not
able to rent it and make money.
So, I mean, I get that it's an issue, and it's nice that the county's
babysitting him through this, you know, three-year process. But if he
doesn't have the money to do it, then we just have to stand on the
sidelines.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, the respondent said in 90
days he might be able to get everything done. I take into account
what Herminio said, who's one of the more familiar people on the
Board on how long things take.
Would you suggest a time frame, Herminio, that a continuance
might work here?
MR. ORTEGA: I would suggest at least five or six months --
six, months. And if he finishes part prior to that, then great. But if
not, he's going to be back here again.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yeah. And the 165,000 will be
$200 a day on top of that, on top of that, which probably would
exceed the value of the property.
So would somebody like to make a motion to grant a
continuance or not?
MS. CURLEY: Well, I'll make a motion for a continuance for
six months.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a motion. Do we
have a second?
MS. ELROD: Second.
June 27, 2019
Page 87
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And we have a second to grant a
continuance for 180 days. That's six months.
Hold on. We haven't voted yet.
Any discussion on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, all those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Okay. You have six months. I suggest, based on what
Mr. Lefebvre said, either you build a high-rise out on the beach in
less time or get this thing done.
MR. GADSDEN: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Six months is a lot more
than you asked for.
MR. GADSDEN: Yes, sir. Appreciate it.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Very good. Thank you.
MR. AMBACH: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Oh, break. Ten minutes. Sorry,
Terri.
(A brief recess was had.)
MS. GONZALEZ: We're ready.
Item No. 6 under hearings, it's Case CENA20190004829, Ernest
Valdastri. Property address is 30 Creek Circle.
June 27, 2019
Page 88
Notice was mailed on June 10th, and property was posted and at
the courthouse on June 6th, 2019.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Let the record show that the
respondent is not present.
MR. PITURA: Okay. Good morning.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning.
MR. PITURA: For the record, Thomas Pitura, Collier County
Code Enforcement. This is in reference to Case No.
CENA20190004829 dealing with violations of Collier County Code
of Laws and Ordinances, Chapter 54, Article IV, Section 54-185(a)
and Section 54-181, Collier County Development Code 04-41, as
amended, Section 2.02.03.
Description of violation: High grass in excess of 18 inches,
outside accumulation of trash and litter, storing of construction
materials, but not limited to, construction materials, tools, metals,
plastic containers, tools, small appliances, and all items not
specifically used for residential use located at 30 Creek Circle,
Naples, Florida, 34114. Folio 49532360004.
Service was given on April 2nd, 2019.
I would now like to present case evidence in the following
exhibits: Five photos taken by myself on April 24th, 2019, and four
photos taken by myself June 26th, 2019.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Can I get a motion to accept the
photos?
MR. WHITE: Motion to accept photos.
MS. ELROD: Motion to accept.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion. Do we have a
second?
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I heard you that time.
June 27, 2019
Page 89
All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MR. PITURA: April 24th, 2019, I observed overgrown grass in
excess of 18 inches and a large amount of outside storage to include,
but not limited to, construction materials, auto supplies and
equipment, buckets, metals, parts and supplies, and an accumulation
of miscellaneous items stored outside, which is not allowed in a
residential community.
These violations are reoccurring, as the owner has previously
been cited in the past. Several attempts have been made to reach the
owner, but I was unable to make contact with him.
Neighbors state that owner's no longer residing at the property
and only occasionally stops by to get his mail. At this point there has
not been any change with the violations.
That picture is showing the outside storage in the rear of the
mobile home, high grass, high grass in the front. You can see that
there's high grass and also outside storage along the side of the
mobile.
There's an accumulation of an assortment of items along the side
and rear of the property; just a large accumulation.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Have they been cited
before?
June 27, 2019
Page 90
MR. PITURA: We were here last month for the vehicles. They
had been cited for this back in January 16th, 2018. So this would be
reoccurring.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So this becomes eligible for the
bonus fine?
MR. LETOURNEAU: Next time.
MR. PITURA: Next time.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Next time, okay.
MR. LEFEBVRE: This is one of the most notorious
code-violations properties in Collier County, to be honest with you.
It's been an ongoing battle since I've been here for 20 years.
MS. CURLEY: Is there children living there?
MR. PITURA: Not that I know of. The owner, Mr. Valdastri,
from what I understand from the neighbors, has just been coming in
at night to pick up his mail maybe once, twice a week. I have tried to
make contact with him. I have left my business card, door hangars.
The notice is taped very well to the windows.
MS. CURLEY: So is there people living there?
MR. PITURA: Not that I -- I do not believe anybody's living
there. I do not have proof of that. As it is, it's just Mr. Valdastri, I
know, from talking to the neighbor that lives there.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: If this is bad for many years, I'm
just curious why has it never been cited before?
MR. LETOURNEAU: It's been cited, and he's cleaned it up
right away on this particular violation. There's been many other
ordinances that have been violated that have been, you know, repeats
many times over. For some reason the litter an d the weeds he always
took care of, and it never got to the point where we brought him to a
hearing, which we should have. But we're correcting that right now.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Well, does anybody want to
make a motion whether a violation exists?
June 27, 2019
Page 91
MS. ELROD: I'll make a motion a violation exists.
MR. WHITE: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion, and 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.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Do you have a suggestion for us?
MR. PITURA: Yes, I do. That the Code Enforcement Board
orders the respondent to pay all operational costs in the amount of
$59.63 incurred in this prosecution of this case within 30 days, and
abate all violations by:
Number 1, removing all unauthorized accumulation of litter
from the property to a site intended for final disposal or store items
within a completely enclosed structure within X amount of days of
this hearing, or a fine of X amount of dollars per day will be imposed
until the violation is abated.
Number 2, mowing or causing to mow all weeds, grass, or other
similar non-protected overgrowth in excess of 18 inches to a height
not less than six inches within X amount of days of this hearing, or a
fine of X amount of dollars per day will be imposed until the
violation is abated.
June 27, 2019
Page 92
Number 3, 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?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, I'll make a motion.
59.63 be paid within 30 days, violation be abated in 30 days or
$100-a-day fine.
MS. CURLEY: Is that number one?
MR. WHITE: What about the mowing?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Thirty days.
MR. LEFEBVRE: And the fine?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hundred dollars a day.
MS. CURLEY: Why so much time, boss?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, we'll be back here next
month. We'll see what happens. You've got to give him some time
to get rid of that stuff. It's not a health and safety at this point, I am
assuming.
MR. PITURA: The high grass is. I mean, it's an issue. It's
getting very out of control.
MR. ORTEGA: Is there power to the building? I mean --
MR. PITURA: I believe there is. I have seen a fan running on
the inside of the house.
MS. CURLEY: I wonder if it's habitable.
MR. LEFEBVRE: We're not here to hear that case.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So I made a motion. Does
June 27, 2019
Page 93
somebody want to second it?
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a second. If you
want to change the time frame on it, make a suggestion, and we can
certainly consider it.
MS. CURLEY: When the discussion is called I will.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Let's discuss the motion.
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: We have to have discussion.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I gave you a chance. Do you want
to change the dates?
MR. LEFEBVRE: We voted on it, so...
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: I think he can get a mower -- just after the fact.
I think he could have somebody mow and clean that up a lot quicker
than 30 days along with the trash. I don't think it's fair for the
neighbors, especially since what the county said about how this
property is an eyesore for everyone.
MR. LEFEBVRE: We already voted.
MS. CURLEY: I know we did, but there should have been
active discussion on it.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You had your chance. Okay.
MS. ELROD: Next.
June 27, 2019
Page 94
MS. GONZALEZ: Next case, Item 12 --
MR. PITURA: Thank you.
MS. GONZALEZ: -- under hearings, CESD20190003630, Jean
Darce, Rosela Joseph, and Roger Angervil, at 47 Royal Cove Drive.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning.
MR. HARMON: Okay. For the record, Chris Harmon, Collier
County Code Enforcement.
This is in reference to Case No. CESD20190003630 dealing
with violation of Collier County Land Development Code 04 -41, as
amended, Sections 10.02.06(B)(1)(a) and 10.02.06(B)(1)(e),
structural addition to a mobile home without first obtaining required
Collier County building permits.
Located at 47 Royal Cove Drive, Naples, Florida 34110; Folio
No. 71271920003.
Service was given on April 9th, 2019, via posting.
I would like to present case evidence in the following exhibits:
One aerial photograph indicating the structural addition in question
obtained from the Collier County Property Appraisers' website and
seven photographs of the property I took on April 2nd, 2019.
On April 2nd, 2019, I responded to 47 Royal Cove Drive in
reference to a report of an unpermitted structural addition to a mobile
home zoned property. I documented the structural addition and
subsequently obtained a determination from the chief building
official confirming that the addition to the property requires Collier
County permits. To date the structural a ddition has not been
removed, and no attendant permit application has been received.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Could we get a motion from
to the Board to accept the photos.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Make a motion.
MR. WHITE: Second.
June 27, 2019
Page 95
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
And let the record show that the respondent is not present.
MR. LEFEBVRE: So it's that gray roof-like structure behind
what looks like maybe a kitchen sink flipped over?
MR. HARMON: Correct.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I don't think that sink will hold
much water.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Not upside-down. Okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: This was damaged during Irma?
MR. HARMON: Unclear.
MR. LETOURNEAU: I think what happened is -- it looks like
to me, after Irma he just went and gathered materials that blew
around and built something there.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I'm not so sure about "built." It
looks like a pile.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Placed.
MR. LEFEBVRE: I make a motion a violation exists.
MS. ELROD: Second.
MR. ORTEGA: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second.
All those in favor?
June 27, 2019
Page 96
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
We do have to get to the end of the pictures.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Oh, okay. I apologize.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That's okay. Unless they change
your mind.
MR. LEFEBVRE: My motion stands.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Is that the last picture?
MR. LETOURNEAU: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do you have a suggestion for us?
MR. HARMON: Recommendation: That the Code
Enforcement Board orders the respondent to pay all operational costs
in the amount $59.56 incurred in the prosecution of this case within
30 days and abate all violations by: Must obtain all required Collier
County building permit or demolition permits and request all
inspections through certificate of completion/occupancy for the
described structure/alteration within blank days of this hearing, or a
fine of blank per day will be imposed unti l the violation is abated;
Two, 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
June 27, 2019
Page 97
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 --
MS. CURLEY: I just have a question. So you're not citing
them to clean up the trash or any of that?
MR. HARMON: The specific complaint was for the structure
and due to access. I understand the sink is not a part of the structure,
but presumably the removal of that structure would then either result
in a separate violation which would be cited at that time or -- I mean,
basically, this structure needs to be removed. It's not going to be able
to be permitted, so it was kind of just lumped into this violation.
MS. CURLEY: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Sue, you want to take a shot
at this?
MS. CURLEY: Someone else can.
MR. LEFEBVRE: I'll do it. 59.56 paid within 30 days, 60 days
to remove the structure or get permits, or $150 a day.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Do we get a second?
MR. WHITE: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And we have a second.
All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
June 27, 2019
Page 98
Thank you.
MR. HARMON: Thank you.
MS. GONZALEZ: And the next case is Item 20 under hearings,
Case CESD20190001770, Morgan Stanley Capital Inc., 8360 Sierra
Meadows Boulevard.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. SHORT: Good morning. For the record, Supervisor Eric
Short with Collier County Code Enforcement.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Eric, before you begin, let the
record show the respondent is not present.
Is this the mortgage company?
MR. SHORT: Through a foreclosure action, this property was
returned to the bank.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Good.
MR. SHORT: This is in reference to Case No.
CESD20190001770 regarding violations of the Collier County Land
Development Code 04-41, as amended, Section 10.02.13(F), failure
to submit an annual PUD monitoring report, located at 8360 Sierra
Meadows Boulevard, Naples, Florida; Folio No. 30806000083.
Service of the notice of violation was given on February 21st,
2019. I have no case evidence. I just have an aerial photograph to
give you an idea where the property is located.
This case originated on February 15th, 2019, as a referral from
Collier County Project Management. This case was worked jointly
with Laurie Beard, the project manager for Collier County.
Several attempts to obtain the required annual monitoring report
were attempted through email and phone conversation with
representatives from Asset Recovery Group LLC. No
correspondence has been received since mid May, and to date the
violation remains as Collier County has not received the annual
monitoring report.
June 27, 2019
Page 99
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We need to accept the photo
as an exhibit. Get a motion from the board.
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.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Okay. We used to get these PUDs all the time, and one of the
board members used to make the motion on it all the time. Now the
question is --
MR. LEFEBVRE: I don't remember who you're talking about.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You used to work for his wife. You
don't know who I'm talking about? Okay. Make a motion that a
violation exists?
MR. LEFEBVRE: Well, let me ask a question. Is there a -- did
you say there's a building there or not?
MR. SHORT: There is. There is an office building there.
MS. CURLEY: Can you zoom up on that?
MR. LEFEBVRE: So is this part of a larger PUD?
MR. SHORT: It is, and this is specific to Lot 10. There's only
one question on the -- they have to answer on the monitoring report.
The deterrent is probably the fee that goes along with that. It's
June 27, 2019
Page 100
around $18,000 for the fair share breakdown.
MR. LEFEBVRE: This is on the corner of Rattlesnake
Hammock and 951, correct?
MR. SHORT: Yes, across from the Physicians Regional
Hospital.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Right. And that's a -- that PUD
encompasses, I think, apartments, an assisted living facility, banks, a
Racetrac, or one of those, I think, are looking to go in there or have.
I'm not sure.
MR. SHORT: Yeah. It's the Edison Village PUD.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Okay. Oh. So it's part of Edison, not part
of -- so specifically -- I'm just not understanding why this PUD hasn't
been closed out if it's one building.
MR. SHORT: So in order to get the development order, there
are certain questions that have to be answered on an annual basis, and
this one question has not been answered.
MR. LEFEBVRE: But you have to answer that every year?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yes.
MR. LEFEBVRE: When it's completed -- a building's
completed?
MR. SHORT: To get the -- for the final development order, yes,
but this is only specific to Lot 10 where --
MR. LEFEBVRE: I'm just trying to understand, is it built out --
Lot 10, is it built out? Why wouldn't they close out their portion so
they only have to do an annual reporting?
MS. CURLEY: Well, it went into foreclosure, and just the final
case, the Naples Investment Group, the foreclosure case was
completed and filed 10/3/2018, so there's obviously some timelines
that have crossed.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Is it a newer building that hasn't been
completed? I'm just trying to understand why --
June 27, 2019
Page 101
MR. SHORT: All right. I have a comment here project
manager that says, "Commitments deleted from the report and
considered fulfilled are no longer monitored through the PUD annual
monitoring process but are subject to compliance through ongoing
maintenance and upkeep. Examples of these types of commitments
include exotic vegetation removal, littorals, and landscaping."
My assumption is it's a landscaping requirement and the
maintenance of the landscaping.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Going back a few years ago, we
used to get these PUD cases all the time. We vote on them, they
would notify the respondent, and that would be the last we'd see of
them.
MR. LEFEBVRE: We had one, falls of Portofino, but that's a
prime example of the whole complex hasn't been complete. There's
eight or 10 buildings there, maybe more, but there's still buildings
that have to be built. So what I'm trying to get a t is what's
outstanding that this PUD, or whatever it is, has not been closed.
MR. SHORT: I believe, until the final development order is
issued --
(Simultaneous speakers speaking.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: It is because --
MR. SHORT: Each of these property owners have maintenance
until that development order's issued, and then the county will back
away at that point after the development order's issued. But in the
meantime, while the rest of the PUD is ongoing, we're going to look
at it, hey, are you still maintaining your landscape on each one of
these until we have that final development order.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Okay. So because of the Edison PUD, for
lack of -- Edison Village, I think it is. Until that PUD is completed,
all the individual, let's say, owners within that PUD have to complete
this questionnaire every year?
June 27, 2019
Page 102
MR. SHORT: Right.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Okay. Now I have a better understanding.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And I guess all the other owners did
except them. Is that right, Eric? Otherwise we'd be getting this
violation --
MR. SHORT: Right yeah.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: -- on all of them. So they all
complied except for that one property.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So would somebody like to
make a motion, or do you have a suggestion for us, Eric?
MR. LEFEBVRE: I make a motion that a violation does exist
under the explanation --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. LEFEBVRE: -- that Eric just gave.
MS. ELROD: I'll second the motion.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Say that again.
MS. ELROD: I'll second the motion.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Very good.
MR. LEFEBVRE: I wasn't trying to grill you. I was just trying
to understand it was one piece of property.
MR. SHORT: Yeah, and I apologize. Normally I'd have an
expert witness here, Laurie Beard herself, but she's going to be out of
town this week.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Any discussion on the
motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, all those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
June 27, 2019
Page 103
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Do you have a suggestion for us, Eric?
MR. SHORT: Yes. The county recommends that the Code
Enforcement Board orders the respondent to pay all operational costs
in the amount of $59.91 incurred in the prosecution of this case
within 30 days and abate all violations by: One, filing an annual
monitoring report with Collier County in accordance with Section
10.02.13(F) of the Collier County Land Development Code within
blank days of this hearing, or a fine of blank dollars per day -- blank
dollars 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. Someone want to fill in the
blanks?
MR. LEFEBVRE: I make a motion that 59.91 be paid within 30
days, 45 days to get in compliance, or a $50-a-day fine.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a motion. Do we
have a second?
MR. ORTEGA: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a second. Any discussion
June 27, 2019
Page 104
on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, all those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Thanks, Eric.
MR. SHORT: Thank you.
MS. GONZALEZ: Next case, under imposition of fines, Item
No. 1, Case No. CELU20180014856, Progeny II Corporation, at
11410 Tamiami Trail East.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, Joe, do you want to read this
into the record. I see that they have not paid their previously assessed
operational costs.
MR. MUCHA: Yep, that's correct. For the record, Joe Mucha,
Collier County Code Enforcement. This is dealing with Case No.
CELU20180014856.
Violation of the Collier County Land Development Code 04-41,
as amended, Sections 1.04.01(A) and 2.02.03.
Violation location is 11410 Tamiami Trail East, Naples, Florida;
Folio 00439960009.
Description of the violation was operating a used car business,
Exotic Cars of Naples, on a C3 zoned property, not on the required
June 27, 2019
Page 105
C5 zoned property.
Past orders: On March 28th, 2019, 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, OR5618,
Page 1819, for more information.
The violation has not been abated as of June 2nd, 2019.
Fines and costs to date are as follows: Fines have accrued at a
rate of $250 per day for the period from May 28th, 2019, to
June 27th, 2019, 31 days, for a total fine amount of $7,750.
Fines continue to accrue.
Previously assessed operational costs of $59.77 have not been
paid.
Operational costs for today's hearing: $59.28, for a total fine
amount of $7,869.05.
So I just wanted to put it on the record that I've been in touch
with the owner of the property, and he actually submitted an email.
He wanted to come and ask for more time. He's not h ere today, and
he didn't pay the previously assessed operational costs.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yeah. He wouldn't have been
granted any time. We wouldn't have heard --
MR. MUCHA: Right, exactly. But, I mean, they have been
making efforts. There's actually only a handful of cars left. So I'm
kind of shocked that he didn't show up today and pay his costs and,
you know, he probably could have got some more time.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: He owns the property as well as the
business?
MR. MUCHA: No. The tenant was the one that was operating
the business.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The owner of the property is the
one who contacted you or the --
June 27, 2019
Page 106
MR. MUCHA: Yes. I've been in touch with him, yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Yeah, I'm surprised he's not
here either, and I'm even more surprised that they haven't paid the
past operational costs.
MR. MUCHA: He didn't come to the first hearing either, so I
guess it's not a big surprise.
MS. CURLEY: Did he tell you if they were having, like,
eviction problems with the tenants?
MR. MUCHA: No, no eviction problems.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Question: The last case is this same case
amending the order?
MR. MUCHA: Yes. I think there was just an error with the
case type that was recorded.
MS. GONZALEZ: Yeah.
MR. LEFEBVRE: We probably should amend that first before
we do anything with imposition of this fine, right? Should that be
done first?
MR. LETOURNEAU: Yes.
MR. SCHNEK: Mr. Chairman, if I may.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yes.
MR. SCHNEK: The amendment to the previous order, it will be
adopted and made effective, the date as listed in the current order.
Because it's a scrivener's error, you can effectively make those minor
amendments and it doesn't change the effective date. So you can take
it before or after.
MR. LEFEBVRE: What I'm trying to get at is we should
probably, if we're going to impose a fine, impose fines on the correct
order -- the corrected order.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, the scrivener --
MS. CURLEY: That's what he just said that.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: -- I don't think -- I think that's
June 27, 2019
Page 107
what -- it doesn't matter.
MR. LEFEBVRE: It doesn't matter.
MR. SCHNEK: You can take it up in either order and --
MS. CURLEY: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: They'll both show the same date.
They just won't show the time.
Okay. So we have a case. Anybody want to make a motion to
impose the fine?
MS. CURLEY: I make a motion to grant the county's fine of
$7,750.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: $7,869.05.
MS. CURLEY: Oh, sorry. I was going to list the numbers
separately, but whatever the total is, including the costs.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a motion. Do we
have a second?
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And 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.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Now --
June 27, 2019
Page 108
MR. MUCHA: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Go ahead, Joe.
MR. MUCHA: No. I was just saying thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Oh. Now, do you want to call the
next one, which is the -- to amend the order?
MS. GONZALEZ: Yes, it's Item 1 under motion to amend
previously issued order. Case No. CELU20180014856. We're
amending the prefix. It got recorded with the correct number. It just
got recorded with CEPM instead of CELU.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Typo. Anybody want to
make a motion to amend the order?
MR. LEFEBVRE: Make a motion to amend the order as stated.
MR. WHITE: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: A motion and a second.
All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ORTEGA: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MS. GONZALEZ: Thank you.
The next item is Item No. 9 under imposition of fines,
CESD20140017894, Jose Garcia at 2087 DeSoto Boulevard North.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MS. GUY: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning.
June 27, 2019
Page 109
MS. GUY: Paula Guy with Collier County Code Enforcement.
This is in reference to an imposition of fines. CEB Case No.
CESD20140017894.
The violation is for Collier County Land Development Code
04-41, as amended, Section 10.02.06(B)(1)(a).
The location is 2087 DeSoto Boulevard, Naples, Florida; Folio
40420400004.
The description of the violation is an incomplete home.
Past orders: On May 28th, 2015, the Code Enforcement Board
issued a findings of fact and a 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,
OR5163, Page 1490, for more information.
On April 29th, 2016, respondent's motion for continuance of this
case is granted. See the attached order of the Board, OR5270,
Page 2598, for more information.
On October 28th, 2016, the respondent's motion for continuance
of this case is granted. See the attached order of the Board, OR5330,
Page 3009, for more information.
On May 25th, 2017, the respondent's motion for continuance of
this case is granted. See the attached order of the Board, OR5400,
Page 3547, for more information.
On October 26th, 2018, the respondent's motion for continuance
on this case is granted. See the attached order of the Board, OR5567,
Page 3036, for more information.
The violation has not been abated as of June 27th, 2019.
Fines and costs to date are as follows: Fines have accrued at a
rate of $200 per day for the period from May 23rd, 2016, to
June 27th, 2019. It's a total of 1,131 days, for a total fine amount of
$226,200.
Fines continue to accrue.
June 27, 2019
Page 110
Previously assessed operational costs of 65.43 have been paid,
and the operational costs for today's hearing are $59.91.
Total amount: 226,259.91.
I'd like to add to the record I have been in communication with
the property owner. He is still trying to obtain financing through a
private lender to move forward. He was supposed to have been here
today, but for some reason he did not show.
MR. LEFEBVRE: If I'm not mistaken, this house is a real large
house; is that correct?
MS. GUY: It's large.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Five, 6,000 feet or something?
MS. GUY: I don't have the plans. I have the permit that expired
this year --
MR. LEFEBVRE: I think so.
MS. GUY: -- but I haven't been on the interior, but it is --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It's a big house.
MS. GUY: It's a big house. I believe it's supposed to be a four-
or five-bedroom house.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That's a technical term. It's a big
house that has violations almost two hundred and -- a quarter million
dollars.
MR. LEFEBVRE: I think he's been in front of us.
MS. GUY: He has. He's been in front of you and been granted
four continuances.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Right, right. But he physically came here
before, if I'm not mistaken.
MS. GUY: That's correct. He was coming today. I don't know
why he hasn't appeared.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Could we possibly pull this and hear it
next -- I mean, is there anything that is health and safety at this --
MS. GUY: Absolutely not. The home is secured. There's no
June 27, 2019
Page 111
health-and-safety issues there.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Well, I don't know what the --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Chris?
MR. AMBACH: For the record, Chris Ambach, Code
Enforcement. The only issue is all of his permits have expired now.
MS. GUY: In May.
MS. CURLEY: No special treatment here.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Two thousand what?
MS. GUY: 2019 is his --
MR. AMBACH: Two months ago they expired.
MR. LEFEBVRE: In May.
MS. GUY: Correct, in May of this year.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Let me tell you what's going to
happen. If he gets financing or whatever, he's going to go to the
County Commissioners, and they are going to see this huge fine, and
they will make the proper decision at that time.
MR. LEFEBVRE: But if we're trying to impose the fines, that
might preclude him from getting financing, if it's not recorded. He
stated in a phone conversation that he was going to be here. So if we
withdraw the case, he would have the opportunity to be here next
month.
MS. CURLEY: Wait. Did you say that he said he was going to
be here, or did you say you were surprised he wasn't here?
MS. GUY: He was inclined -- he said that he was coming to the
hearing. I recommended that his presence was imperative.
MS. CURLEY: Well, if he cared, he wouldn't have let his
permits expire two months ago.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Which brings us to, does somebody
want to make a motion?
MS. CURLEY: I make a motion to grant the county's fines as
stated: $226,259.91.
June 27, 2019
Page 112
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a motion. Do we
have a second?
(No response.)
MS. CURLEY: There's no one that's going to second that? Just
because it's a big, fancy expensive house?
MR. LEFEBVRE: No, not that at all. It was that he stated to
the investigator that he was going to be here; he isn't. And it's a huge
amount of money.
MS. CURLEY: Well, let him do the gymnastics with the
County Commissioner then when he realizes that he made a mi stake.
It's not our job to take up for somebody's insubordination. He could
have been four hours late and still made his hearing. He's not here.
MR. LEFEBVRE: But we've had multiple continuances, and I
do remember him coming here before, so...
MS. CURLEY: Well, we're not here to hear the case. We're
here to impose fines.
MR. LEFEBVRE: We're not hearing the case. I'm just stating
that in other times I know this individual has been here, in other
times, so...
MS. CURLEY: The only thing we can assume is that because
he let the permits expire more than two months ago that he may have
given up.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, let me just -- if the motion
fails -- and we haven't gotten to a second yet. But if the proposed
motion fails, what happens to the fine?
MR. LETOURNEAU: Well, seeing that the flavor of the Board
is that this thing might -- they're having some kind of qualms with
this at this point because the gentleman's not here, obviously the
county would withdraw it until next month but saying that I would
hope the Board would be a little bit stronger in imposing the fines if
the gentleman didn't show up again next month.
June 27, 2019
Page 113
MR. LEFEBVRE: Well, not only showing up, but having the
permits reactivated.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Right. I mean, the permits --
MR. LEFEBVRE: Showing that there's progress --
MR. LETOURNEAU: We're here five years. This is a 2014
case, so --
MR. LEFEBVRE: Has he owned it the whole time?
MS. CURLEY: It's almost fraud that you don't want to impose
the fines because you want his lender not to see that he has all this
money, you know, getting ready.
MR. LEFEBVRE: It's not fraud. I'm not saying that's the only
reason. I'm saying because he stated that he was going to be here; he
planned on being here; he isn't. It's a huge amount of money to
impose. It's not just flippantly imposing a --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Let me throw out another option
that could happen. Instead of imposing $226,000, you could impose
$100,000, as an example. But I think the cleaner way to go is what
Jeff has recommended.
MR. LETOURNEAU: So at this point the county is going to
bring it back next month, you know, just with the saying that if the
gentleman isn't here, we're five years down the road. I would hope
the Board would take that into factor and impose the fines at that
point, especially if the permits are still expired.
MS. CURLEY: Well, to the point that these are of record and
he could -- and anyone who is investigating this gentleman like, as
you say, for protection of his -- you know, him to get financing, they
can still see this, and they could see the timeline where it's expiring,
so...
MR. LEFEBVRE: Here's the thing: If this impedes him from --
if we impose a fine and this impedes him from getting financing, do
you think it's going to be corrected? No, it's not going to be
June 27, 2019
Page 114
corrected. So another month --
MS. CURLEY: He's been impeded from getting financing, or
he would have gotten it.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Waiting another month -- and if I remember
correctly when he was here one of the times, he did say that he's
trying to do this without financing, and that was back one of the
times -- I can't remember the last time he was here, but I do
remember this, large it was a house, and he was trying to do this
without financing. So I think another month for him to try to line a
few things up -- maybe he has financing. Maybe he's starting again.
That's-- I think just to impose 220 -- I don't know if this board has
imposed a fine this large.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, we have.
MR. LETOURNEAU: And I would say that --
MR. LEFEBVRE: It's not often.
MR. LETOURNEAU: -- we wouldn't have scheduled this for
the imposition if the fines (sic) were still active, because we would be
still -- you know, obviously, he was showing signs that he was
working with us. But the permits have been expired for a period of
time now, and that's -- you know, I just -- per our policy, there's been
no movement, there's been no recent signs of trying to come into
compliance. We bring it for imposition at that point.
MS. CURLEY: If it was $26,200, we would impose the fines
and hope that they would come back and do whatever they have to
do. It shouldn't matter the amount, whether it's huge or not or
whether it's an eight-bedroom house or a mobile home that's
damaged. We have to follow similar rules and enforcement.
The person's not here. We've never given a lot of respect for
somebody that doesn't show up for the meeting. You didn't get a call
stating he broke his leg; he was in a car accident. He's not here. You
have nothing.
June 27, 2019
Page 115
MR. ORTEGA: Is there any activity on site?
MS. GUY: No. The work has ceased. There's been no more
work. The permits are expired, so even if he did have the finances to
move forward, he can't because he doesn't have authorized permits.
MR. ORTEGA: I understand that, but from the last few times
that you've been there -- I would imagine every 30 days?
MS. GUY: That would be correct.
MR. ORTEGA: No activity?
MS. GUY: No activity.
MS. CURLEY: Even when the permits were active? This year?
MS. GUY: I have never seen workers there when I've --
MS. CURLEY: Thank you.
MS. GUY: -- been there when the permits were active.
I can add to the record -- and also communication this week did
take place with our private lender that is working very hard to get the
financing for the owner, for Mr. Garcia, and I advised him to do the
request payoff through the Collier County website and to go through
the administrative code enforcement to acquire the exact amount of
fines that are running to date, and that was Tuesday of this week,
which would have been the 25th.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. I don't want to quote
someone from the Board who says he can build a high-rise in less
time. You can almost build a city in less time.
MR. LETOURNEAU: To make everybody feel more
comfortable, the county's going to withdraw it at this point. If the
gentleman does get the permits extended during that month, we won't
bring it back. But if it -- if they go expired again at any point, we're
going to bring it back, and hopefully at that point, you know, six
years down the road we're going to -- you know, you guys take a hard
look at it.
MS. CURLEY: Thank you.
June 27, 2019
Page 116
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Especially not being present.
MR. ORTEGA: Is that something that you'll be in contact with
and explain to him?
MS. GUY: That would be correct, yes.
MR. ORTEGA: That it's in his best interest to reapply for the
permits --
MS. GUY: Yes.
MR. ORTEGA: -- or extend the permits? Excuse me.
MS. GUY: Yeah, he needs to get another extension, yes.
MR. LETOURNEAU: You know, I don't even know how many
times he's had it extended. I don't know if the building official's, you
know, going to allow another extension at this point.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Six times.
MR. LETOURNEAU: So, you know, there's all sorts of
questions.
MS. GUY: Yeah. The permit -- building permit is from 2014.
MR. LEFEBVRE: So, yeah, there's probably been a few
extensions already. So, you know, I think the general thing is that it's
a monetary situation with this gentleman. I would have hoped he
would have showed up today though. That's the big issue.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, had he shown up today, that
doesn't mean that the Board would have granted him anything.
MR. LETOURNEAU: But he could have pled his case a lotter
better than I am pleading his case, that's for sure.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: He could have pled his case.
Okay. So you'll withdraw that and bring it back?
MR. LETOURNEAU: We'll withdraw it until next month, or he
gets the permit extended.
MS. GUY: Thank you for your time.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Next meeting is?
MS. GONZALEZ: Next meeting is Thursday, July 25, 2019.
June 27, 2019
Page 117
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Are we done?
MS. GONZALEZ: We're done.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We are adjourned.
*****
June 27, 2019
There being no further business for the good of the County, the
meeting was adjourned by order of the Chair at 12: 10 p.m.
t ap FORCE NT BOARD
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R• :ERT.<< I;it MAN, AIRMAN
7
These minutes approved by the Board on _ L 7a, 2j( ? ,
as presented ✓ or as corrected .
TRANSCRIPT PREPARED ON BEHALF OF U.S. LEGAL
SUPPORT, INC., BY TERRI LEWIS, FPR, NOTARY PUBLIC/
COURT REPORTER.
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