CEB Minutes 08/28/2020August 28, 2020
Page 1
TRANSCRIPT OF THE MEETING OF THE
COLLIER COUNTY CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD
Naples, Florida, August 28, 2020
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
Chloe Bowman
Sue Curley
Ron Doino
Kathleen Elrod
Danny Blanco
Gerald J. Lefebvre (absent)
Herminio Ortega (absent)
Barbara Ann Davis (absent)
ALSO PRESENT:
Elena Gonzalez, Code Enforcement Specialist
Helen Buchillon, Code Enforcement
Jeff Letourneau, Manager of Investigations
Patrick White, Attorney to the Board (telephonically)
August 28, 2020
Page 2
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning, everybody. I'd
like to call the Code Enforcement Board to order.
Notice, that the respondents may be limited to 20 minutes for
case presentation unless additional time is granted by the Board.
Persons wishing to speak at any agenda item will receive up to five
minutes unless the time is adjusted by the Chairman.
All parties participating in the public hearing are asked to
observe Roberts Rules of Order and speak one at a time so that the
court reporter can record all statements being made.
Any person who decides to appeal a decision of the Board will
need a record of the proceedings pertaining thereto and, therefore,
may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is
made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which
the appeal is to be based. Neither Collier County nor the Code
Enforcement Board shall be responsible for providing this record.
If we'll all stand for the Pledge.
(The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Approval of the minutes.
Anybody have any comments on the minutes?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: If not, accept a motion to approve
the minutes.
MR. DOINO: Motion to approve.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And a second.
MS. ELROD: Second.
MS. CURLEY: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
August 28, 2020
Page 3
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Which brings us into the agenda. We have a few changes, to
say the least.
MS. BUCHILLON: Yes, sir. First of all, we're going to start
off with the attendance.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yes.
MS. BUCHILLON: Mr. Robert Kaufman?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Here.
MS. BUCHILLON: Ms. Kathleen Elrod?
MS. ELROD: Here.
MS. BUCHILLON: Mr. Ronald Doino?
MR. DOINO: Here.
MS. BUCHILLON: Ms. Chloe Bowman?
MS. BOWMAN: Here.
MS. BUCHILLON: Ms. Sue Curley?
MS. CURLEY: Here.
MS. BUCHILLON: And Mr. Danny Blanco?
MR. BLANCO: Here.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I think Patrick White is going to be
joining us via telephone.
MS. BUCHILLON: Yes, sir.
Patrick, are you there? I know there's a delay. Patrick, try it
again.
MR. WHITE: I'm on the line, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay, Patrick. We hear you.
Okay. For this meeting, we have all the regular members that
are here. We want to welcome somebody who used to sit over there
and now he sits over here. Danny Blanco is now an alternate on the
August 28, 2020
Page 4
Board. Welcome aboard.
MR. BLANCO: Yes, sir. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Which moves us to the
agenda.
MS. BUCHILLON: Agenda changes. We're going to start off
with the stipulations. First stipulation under hearings, No. 17,
CESD20200001102, Alexander Pico and Amy Perez.
Second stipulation, No. 20 under hearings, CESD20200000524,
Jones Napoleon.
Next stipulation, No. 6 under hearings, CESD202000005525,
Abel and Gardenia Rill.
Next stipulation, No. 16 under hearings, CESD20200000792,
Eva Martinez.
Next stipulation, No. 18 under hearings, CESD20200000492,
Jose Martinez Hidalgo and Oneyda Maria Diaz.
Next stipulation, under hearings, No. 2, CESD20190010811,
NAFDOF02, LLC.
Next stipulation, under hearings, No. 21, CESD20200002928,
Kimberly Champagne.
Next stipulation, under hearings, No. 14, CESD20190014518,
Henock Cherrelus Louis, LLC.
Next stipulation, No. 26 under hearings, CESD20190009077,
Dean G. Chionis and Sherri L. Chionis.
Last stipulation, No. 19 under hearings, CESD20190013105,
3806 Exchange Avenue, LLC.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do we have any other changes?
MS. BUCHILLON: Yes, we have the withdrawn ones.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. BUCHILLON: Under public hearings, D, hearings, No. 1,
CEPM20190000162, Betty J. Slamans and John David Steele, has
been withdrawn due to compliance efforts.
August 28, 2020
Page 5
Under public hearings, No. 4, CESD20190002541, Orlando
Galindo and Maria Galindo, has been withdrawn due to compliance
efforts.
Next item on the agenda, No. 5, public hearings,
CESD20190008177, Parrots in Paradise Trust, has been withdrawn.
Permit has been issued.
Number 7 under public hearings, CESD20190013491, Larry R.
Davis, has been withdrawn due to insurance litigation.
Number 8 under hearings, CESD20190013107, James Wuschke,
has been withdrawn, and it will be rescheduled for the September
hearing.
Number 9 under hearings, CESD20190001005, Ezequiel
Camargo, has been withdrawn and will be rescheduled for the
September hearing.
Number 11 under hearings, CEPM20190012216, has been
withdrawn. Working towards compliance.
Number 15 under hearings, CESD20200001190, has been
withdrawn due to compliance efforts.
Number 22 under hearings, CESD20200000908, June Alice
Schmidt, has been withdrawn; voluntary compliance.
Number 24 under hearings, CENA20200005417, Jean Baptiste
Fortin, has been withdrawn due to compliance efforts.
Number 25 under hearings, CESD20200001258, Jean Baptiste
Fortin, has been withdrawn. Permit has been issued.
Under old business, motion for rehearing, No. 1,
CESD20190008083, has been withdrawn and will be rescheduled for
the September hearing.
Under imposition of fines, No. 3, CESD20180008035, has been
withdrawn due to compliance efforts.
Number 4 under imposition of fines, CESD20190000550, has
been withdrawn -- I'm sorry. 12275 Collier Boulevard Land Trust
August 28, 2020
Page 6
has been withdrawn due to compliance efforts.
Under imposition of fines, No. 15, CESD20190009150,
Catherine Vidal, has been withdrawn due to compliance efforts.
Number 16 under imposition of fines, CESD20190002990,
Lunel Napoleon, has been withdrawn; had an emergency.
Under imposition of fines, No. 18, CELU20180014672,
Jonathan F. Mejia Ochoa and Maria Doleres Ochoa Almaraz, has
been withdrawn due to compliance efforts.
Under imposition of fines, No. 20, CESD20190003992,
Adolphe Antoine and Nahomie Plancher has been withdrawn and
will be rescheduled for the September hearing.
Under imposition of fines, No. 24, CEPM2018001187, Hazen L.
Allen and Maria A. Allen, has been withdrawn due to legal reasons.
Number 25, imposition of fines, CESD20180002262, CTPML,
LLC, has been withdrawn due to compliance efforts. And those are
all the changes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Could we get a motion
from the Board to accept the agenda as modified.
MR. DOINO: Motion to accept.
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second.
All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Okay. Are there any seats available for the folks who are
August 28, 2020
Page 7
standing in the back?
Thanks, Cristine.
Save one for me. I'll be back there.
Are we going to hear the stipulations first?
MS. BUCHILLON: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. BUCHILLON: First stipulation, No. 17 under hearings,
CESD20200001102, Alexander Pico and Amy Perez.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. MUCHA: I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning.
MR. MUCHA: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do you want to read that
stipulation into the record for us?
MR. MUCHA: Yes, sir. For the record, Joe Mucha,
supervisor of Collier County Code Enforcement.
This is pertaining to Case No. CESD20200001102.
Therefore, it is agreed between the parties that the respondent
shall:
One, pay operational costs in the amount of $59.28 incurred in
the prosecution of this case within 30 days of this hearing;
Two, abate all violations by obtaining all required Collier
County building permits or demolition permits, inspections, and
certificates of completion and/or occupancy for the gazebo, shed, and
fence within 90 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
August 28, 2020
Page 8
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.
MR. MUCHA: And in reality, it's really just a fence, because
the gazebo is, like, one of those ones that you buy from Target.
She's just going to take it down. And the shed is one of those
Rubbermaid ones that can't be permitted, so she's just going to take
that down.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Anybody want to comment
from the Board or make a motion?
MR. DOINO: Make a motion to accept.
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion. We have a
second. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Thank you, Joe.
MR. MUCHA: Thank you.
MS. BUCHILLON: Next stipulation under hearings, No. 20,
CESD20200000524, Jones Napoleon.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. MUCHA: I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You look familiar. Do you want
to read this stipulation into the record for us, Joe?
August 28, 2020
Page 9
MR. MUCHA: Yes, sir. For the record, Joe Mucha,
supervisor of Collier County Code Enforcement.
Therefore, it is agreed between the parties that the respondent
shall:
One, pay operational costs in the amount of $59.28 incurred in
the prosecution of this case within 30 days of this hearing;
Two, to abate all violations by: Obtaining all required Collier
County building permits or demolition permits, inspections, and
certificates of completion and/or occupancy for the wood structure
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 shall be assessed to the property.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Have they pulled the
permit already?
MR. MUCHA: No, it's just a -- from what I -- it's just a
wooden structure. I think he's just going to take it down, and it
wouldn't require a demolition permit because there's no electric or
plumbing in it.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. ELROD: Motion to accept.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion to accept.
MS. BOWMAN: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And we have a second. All those
in favor?
August 28, 2020
Page 10
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Thank you, Joe.
MR. MUCHA: Thank you.
MS. BUCHILLON: Next stipulation under hearings, No. 6,
CESD20200000525, Abel and Gardenia Rill.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. MUCHA: I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Once again.
MR. MUCHA: Once again.
For the record, Joe Mucha, supervisor of Collier County Code
Enforcement.
Therefore, it is agreed between the parties that the respondent
shall:
One, pay operational costs in the amount of $59.28 incurred in
the prosecution of this case within 30 days of this hearing;
Two, to abate all violations by: Obtaining all required Collier
County building permits or demolition permits, inspections, and
certificates of completion and/or occupancy to permit or remove the
rear addition, multiple sheds, and wood deck within 90 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;
August 28, 2020
Page 11
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 the property owner.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Same question: Permits pulled on
this?
MR. MUCHA: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You don't need a demo permit?
MR. MUCHA: Well, for the addition, definitely would need a
demo permit because it's attached to the house.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. They have 90 days?
MR. MUCHA: That's what he agreed.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That should be plenty of time.
Any comments from the Board?
MS. ELROD: Motion to accept.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion to accept. Do
we have a second?
MS. BOWMAN: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a second. All those in
favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Thank you, Joe.
MR. MUCHA: Thank you.
August 28, 2020
Page 12
MS. BUCHILLON: Stay there. You've got two more.
MR. MUCHA: Which one?
MS. BUCHILLON: Number 16 and No. 18.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: She's saving you all these steps
from walking in the back and coming up again.
What's the next one?
MS. BUCHILLON: Number 16, CESD20200000792, Eva
Martinez.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. MUCHA: I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Jeff's trying to get your --
MR. LETOURNEAU: Helen, I don't have this one.
MS. CURLEY: Here.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Well, no. She needs to put it up on the
overhead.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: This stipulation?
MR. LETOURNEAU: Right.
MS. BUCHILLON: All right.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Do you want to read it into
the record?
MR. MUCHA: Yes, sir. For the record, Joe Mucha,
supervisor of Collier County Code Enforcement.
Therefore, it is agreed between the parties that the respondent
shall:
One, pay operational costs in the amount of $59.28 incurred in
the prosecution of this case within 30 days of this hearing;
Two, abate all violations by obtaining all required Collier
County building permits or demolition permits, inspections, and
certificates of completion and/or occupancy for the shed, fence, and
addition within 180 days of this hearing, or a fine of $200 per day
will be imposed until the violation is abated;
August 28, 2020
Page 13
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 the property owner.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Any --
MR. DOINO: Motion to accept.
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a motion to
accept.
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And a second. All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MS. BUCHILLON: Next stipulation, No. 18,
CESD20200000492, Jose Martinez Hidalgo and Oneyda Maria Diaz.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. MUCHA: I do.
For the record, Joe Mucha, supervisor of Collier County Code
Enforcement.
Therefore, it is agreed between the parties that the respondent
shall:
August 28, 2020
Page 14
One, pay operational costs in the amount of $59.28 incurred in
the prosecution of this case within 30 days of this hearing;
Two, to abate all violations by obtaining all required Collier
County building permits or demolition permits, inspections, and
certificate of completion and/or occupancy for the shed, addition,
fence, and voided permits within 180 days of this hearing, or a fine of
$200 per day will be imposed until the violation is abate d;
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 -- abate the
violation, the county may abate the violation using any method to
bring the violation into compliance and may use the assistance of the
Collier County Sheriff's Office to enforce the provisions of this
agreement, and all costs of abatement shall be assessed to the
property owner.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: This looks like it's been a shed
month.
MR. MUCHA: Sheds, additions. Yeah, this is all in a Habitat
community that we did a -- we were called in to do a sweep of a lot
of illegal additions and sheds and fences.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Any comments from the
Board?
MS. ELROD: Motion to accept.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion to accept.
MS. CURLEY: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a second. All those in
favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
August 28, 2020
Page 15
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
You can take the rest of the day off, Joe.
MS. BUCHILLON: Next imposition -- I mean stipulation,
No. 2, CESD20190010811, NAFDOF02, LLC.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MS. THOMPSON: I do.
Good morning. For the record, Latoya Thompson, Collier
County Code Enforcement.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning.
MS. THOMPSON: Therefore, it is agreed between the parties
that the respondent shall:
Pay operational costs in the amount of 59.53 incurred in the
prosecution of this case within 30 days of the hearing;
Abate all violations by obtaining all required Collier County
building permits or demolition permits, inspections, and certificate of
completion/occupancy for the unpermitted alterations done to the
dwelling within 120 days of this hearing, or a fine of 200 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 that 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 the property owner.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
August 28, 2020
Page 16
MS. CURLEY: I have a question about this one.
MS. THOMPSON: Uh-huh.
MS. CURLEY: What actually occurred there?
MS. THOMPSON: Well, the company, the NF -- NAF, the
company, they had had one project manager was doing it before.
Had a company. They told the company to stop. They brought in a
new GC. The new GC was trying to get the old GC to sign over or
whatever they do in permits, sign over that they stop. That was put
on hold. Now they finally got another project manager, so now he
has to go through the whole thing all over again, to get the old GC to
give up so he can bring in the new GC to complete the project.
MS. CURLEY: So there was permits pulled originally on the
work that was --
MS. THOMPSON: It was and -- however, it got held up
because of the old GC not releasing, or they didn't get the paperwork
to them on time.
MS. CURLEY: All right. Thank you.
MS. THOMPSON: You're welcome.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I see that we have a copy of the
certificate of the LLC resolution in the package.
MS. THOMPSON: Yes.
MS. CURLEY: Yeah. I read that. It was just a little vague.
So I have a motion to accept the stipulation as written.
MR. DOINO: Second.
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second.
She beat you to it, Kathy.
All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
August 28, 2020
Page 17
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Thank you.
MS. THOMPSON: You're welcome.
MS. BUCHILLON: Next stipulation under hearings, No. 21,
CESD20200002928, Kimberly Champagne.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. CATHEY: I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning.
MR. CATHEY: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You want to read the stipulation
into the record for us?
MR. LETOURNEAU: Helen.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do you want a copy of it?
MR. CATHEY: Therefore, it is agreed between the parties that
the respondent shall:
One, pay operational costs in the amount of $59.28 incurred in
the prosecution of this case within 30 days of this hearing;
Two, abate all violations by: Obtain all required Collier County
building permits or demolition permit, inspections, and certificate of
completion/occupancy for the lanai and carport within 180 days of
this hearing, or a fine of $200 per day will be imposed until the
violation is abated;
Three, that the respondent must notify Code Enforcement within
24 hours of abatement of the violation and request the investigator
perform a site inspection to confirm compliance; and,
Four, that if the respondent fails to abate the violation, the
county may abate the violation using any method to bring the
August 28, 2020
Page 18
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. I have one quickie. Did
you state your name when you started?
MR. CATHEY: I did not; I apologize. For the record, Ryan
Cathey, Collier County Code Enforcement.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. ELROD: Motion to accept.
MS. CURLEY: I just have a question. Is this a lot of work?
Is this going to be enough time?
MR. CATHEY: It should be. I talked to the owner, and she
was comfortable with 180 days.
MS. CURLEY: Okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Now we'll hear the motion.
MS. ELROD: Motion to accept.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion to accept. Do
we have a second?
MS. BOWMAN: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a second. All those in
favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Thank you.
MR. CATHEY: Thank you.
August 28, 2020
Page 19
MS. BUCHILLON: Next stipulation under hearings, No. 14,
CESD20190014518, Henock Cherrelus, LLC.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I think Jeff is looking for a copy.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. MUSSE: I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning.
MR. MUSSE: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: State your name for the record.
MR. MUSSE: Investigator Jonathan Musse, Collier County
Code Enforcement.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay, Jonathan.
MR. MUSSE: It is agreed between the parties that the
respondent shall:
Pay operational costs in the amount of 59.21 incurred in the
prosecution of this case within 30 days of this hearing;
And abate all violations by: Obtaining all required Collier
County building permits or demolition permit, inspections, and
certificate of occupancy for the enclosed lanai within 90 days of this
hearing, or a fine of $100 per day will be imposed until the violation's
abated;
Respondent must notify Code Enforcement within 24 hours of
abatement of the violation and request the investigator to perform a
site inspection to confirm compliance;
That if the respondent fails to abate the violation, the county
may abate the violation using any method to bring the violation into
compliance and may use the assistance of the Collier County Sheriff's
Office to enforce the provisions of this agreement, and all costs of
abatement shall be assessed to the property owner.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. This is where they closed
in a lanai?
MR. MUSSE: Correct.
August 28, 2020
Page 20
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So they -- do you know
whether they're going to permit that or they're going to remove it?
MR. MUSSE: He's going to demolish the lanai and then put
two extra bedrooms on there.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: Mr. Kaufman?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yes.
MS. CURLEY: This gentleman had his hand up.
MS. ELROD: Motion to accept.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Any comments from the Board?
(No response.)
MS. ELROD: Motion to accept.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion to accept.
MS. BOWMAN: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And we have a second. All those
in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MR. MUSSE: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Takes care of the stipulations, I
believe.
MS. BUCHILLON: Nope. We have two more.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do we have to modify the agenda?
Which two do we have left?
MS. BUCHILLON: Twenty-six and 19.
August 28, 2020
Page 21
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The 19 you mentioned, okay.
Which is first?
MS. BUCHILLON: Twenty-six.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That's new math.
MS. BUCHILLON: CESD20190009077, Dean G. Chionis and
Sherri L. Chionis.
MR. TORRES: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. TORRES: I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And for the record?
MR. TORRES: For the record, Investigator Junior Torres,
Collier County Code Enforcement.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. TORRES: Therefore, it is agreed between the parties that
the respondent shall:
One, pay operational costs in the amount of 59.28 incurred in
this prosecution of this case within 30 days of this hearing;
Two, abate all violations by: Obtaining all required Collier
County permits, inspections, demolition permits, and certificate of
completion for the enclosed lanai within 90 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 the property owner.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do you know whether or not the
August 28, 2020
Page 22
respondent is going to permit this, or are they going to demolish it?
MR. TORRES: They're going to permit it. It belonged to the
father and mother, and the son took over. So he's working on
compliance. He's already on the ball for getting the permit and
everything situated.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. That's why it's 90 days,
okay.
Any comments from the Board?
MS. ELROD: Motion to accept.
MS. CURLEY: Is that enough time?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: If it isn't, they'll come back and ask
for more time.
MR. TORRES: Sounds good.
MS. ELROD: Motion to accept.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion to accept, and
do we have a second?
MS. BOWMAN: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And we have a second. All those
in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MS. BUCHILLON: And the last stipulation, No. 19,
CESD20190013105, 3806 Exchange Avenue, LLC.
MR. TORRES: Good morning, again.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning. You have to tell
August 28, 2020
Page 23
us who you are every time --
MR. TORRES: That's fine.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: -- you open up a case so it's on the
record.
MR. TORRES: That's fine. Investigator Junior Torres, Collier
County Code Enforcement.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And we have the respondent
present?
MR. ASHMORE: I'm an agent for the respondent.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Why don't we -- you can read the
stipulation into the record, and then you can comment on it.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. TORRES: I do.
MR. ASHMORE: I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. TORRES: Therefore, it is agreed between the parties that
the respondent shall:
Pay operational costs in the amount of $59.28 incurred in this
prosecution of this case within 30 days of this hearing;
Two, abate all violations by: Obtaining all Collier County
building permits or demolition permits, inspections, certificate of
completion for the unpermitted interior renovations and additional
second floor within 120 days of this hearing, or a fine of $150 per
day will be imposed until the violation is abated;
Three, the respondent must notify Code Enforcement within 24
hours of this 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,
August 28, 2020
Page 24
and all costs of abatement shall be assessed to the property owner.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. This was a second floor
that was added on a structure?
MR. TORRES: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. And you'd like to testify as
a witness?
MR. ASHMORE: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning.
MR. ASHMORE: Rod Ashmore, Ashmore Design, here on
behalf of the owner, who planned on being here with me today but,
unfortunately, fell ill.
So this is a buildout that was done back in 1982. So during the
process -- he retained our office back in February, and we've been
working on obtaining the existing building plans for the structure,
and he wholeheartedly wants to move forward to get this in
compliance.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So they're going to do it by
affidavit.
MR. ASHMORE: No. We are going to pull a building permit
and, if required, the inspections that are required. We'll perform that
as well.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. The original second floor
that was added, was it added by the respondents or --
MR. ASHMORE: Yes, it was.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Then you can't do it by
affidavit.
MR. ASHMORE: That is correct.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: And that's enough time, 120 days?
MR. ASHMORE: We've been working on this for a few
months now trying to meet the building officials out there a nd things.
August 28, 2020
Page 25
Her current condition, it's just taking a little bit longer than we
thought.
MS. CURLEY: Good luck.
MR. ASHMORE: Yes, thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. ELROD: Motion to accept.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion to accept.
MS. BOWMAN: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And a second. All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Thank you, Junior.
We're going to take care of the folks that are here first.
MS. BUCHILLON: We're going to do the case with the --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Baby?
MS. BUCHILLON: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. BUCHILLON: Under imposition of fines, No. 17,
CESD20160011175, Maria O. Jimenez.
(Catia Consuela, the interpreter, was sworn to truly and correctly
interpret English into Spanish and Spanish into English.)
THE INTERPRETER: I do.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. MUSSE: I do.
MS. JIMENEZ: I do.
August 28, 2020
Page 26
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Jonathan.
MR. MUSSE: Good morning, Investigator Jonathan Musse,
Collier County Code Enforcement.
Past orders: On -- I'm sorry.
Description: Unpermitted lanai with slab and trusses that was
converted into living space without first obtaining a valid Collier
County permit.
Past orders: On November 18th, 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 violations. See the attached order of the
Board, OR5338, Page 190, for more information.
The violation has not been abated as of August 28th, 2020.
Fines have accrued at the rate of $200 per day for a period from
March 1st, 2017, to August 28th, 2020, 1,259 days, for a total fine
amount of $251,000 and 800 -- $251,800. Fines continue to accrue.
Previously assessed operational costs of 64.59 have been paid.
Operational costs for today's hearing: $59.35, Total amount:
$251,859.35.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Am I looking at the right one?
Mine says 21,859, which is what this one says.
MS. CURLEY: Jimenez.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: What this one says. I probably
have the wrong case.
MS. CURLEY: You've got the wrong last name.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: It's a case that ends in 11175?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That's correct.
MS. BUCHILLON: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I have it in my hand now. Thank
you, Chloe [sic].
August 28, 2020
Page 27
Okay. Good morning.
MS. JIMENEZ: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: According to what I'm reading and
what has been testified to by Jonathan is that the violation has not
been abated.
THE INTERPRETER: Catia Consuela.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. You're going to be
translating?
THE INTERPRETER: Yes.
THE COURT REPORTER: Your name?
MS. JIMENEZ: Maria Jimenez.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So we have a case here
where a violation has not been abated.
THE INTERPRETER: First of all, she would like to apologize
to the Board. She wants you guys to know that almost everything
has been completed at the house. Mr. Mucha went yesterday to the
house to see all the progress. Basically, they're just painting and
putting the final touches. Demolition was done, and everything is
back to normal almost.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Joe Mucha was out there.
MS. JIMENEZ: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Joe, you may want to join us.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. MUCHA: I do.
So, actually, it was the last week I was out there. I met with her
husband. And, I mean, everything appears to be almost done. I
mean, but the problem is the permit that they submitted has
corrections that needs to be fixed before the permit can be issued a nd
it could be inspected by the county.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
THE INTERPRETER: So they have trouble with the permits
August 28, 2020
Page 28
getting approved. It has gone back and forth between the engineers
and the architects to the courts, to the county, multiple times, and it
hasn't been approved. We actually have the building plan here. She
also wants you to know and consider that her father was terminally
ill, so she had to go out of the country last year for three -- three
times and plus now with the coronavirus and everything that's going
on, it has been hard to get people to work on the property. That's
why all the delays.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: This was a 2016 violation; is that
correct, Joe?
MR. MUCHA: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. If we're that close, Jeff, is
this something that you may want to pull from the agenda and bring
back next month?
MR. LETOURNEAU: Yeah. When I put these on for
imposition, I get a big list of all the cases that are up for imposition,
and if it looks to me like they haven't done anything -- and I do this,
like, months before this actual hearing occurs, and I do this -- I'll put
the cases on that look like people haven't done anything for a long
time.
Obviously, Joe's testifying here that they have recently done a
lot of work on here. So, at this point the county will withdraw this
case, and hopefully they'll get it done, and we'll bring it back when
they've got it done.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. That's good.
MS. CURLEY: Can we --
THE INTERPRETER: She's saying she has pictures that she
can show the Board to confirm.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hold it. What they're going to do
is they're going to take the case away. It wasn't heard today.
They're going to bring it back next month. Hopefully you'll have
August 28, 2020
Page 29
everything done, and then you can ask the Board to modify the fine if
possible, and we can take those pictures into consideration if needed.
But once it's inspected, we don't need the pictures.
THE INTERPRETER: All right.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So you're pulling it, Jeff?
MR. LETOURNEAU: We are. Just please let her know that
the fines are continuing to run until this is brought back until you get
the permit issued, all the inspections, and the certificate of
completion, okay.
MS. CURLEY: I mean, I just have a comment on this. I
mean, it doesn't seem like the $200 a day infused any sense of
urgency for this homeowner to fix this. It's been three-and-a-half
years. I mean, corona's been six months. So I don't get the delay.
I don't get the, you know, sundry of excuses, and I just feel like 30
days is the maximum that -- I don't even want to table it. I think we
should impose the fines and move on. This county's given this
person four years.
MR. MUSSE: If I may interject. With that our building
official, Jonathan Walsh, was supposed to -- at one point in the life of
this case was supposed to review the permit. It took him a year. So
they were waiting on our building official to review the case so they
can continue. So that's why it took a little longer than expected.
MS. CURLEY: Well, I see that March 2017 was when, you
know, the fines started incurring [sic]. So -- okay, so we take a year
off of four years. Let's give them a year to do it. That's two more
years.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, if the county is going to pull
it, our discussion's done.
MS. JIMENEZ: Excuse me.
THE INTERPRETER: She's saying that when this whole thing
started, it wasn't clear whether we could or she could legalize what
August 28, 2020
Page 30
had been done by affidavit or if the best option was just to demolish
everything. It took them a while to finally find someone, and she's
saying that was Jonathan Walsh, that finally instructed them to just
demolish everything because the building plans were taking a long
time to get approved, and they were going back and forth.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Let me just say, the county
is going to pull it. I take what Sue has said for next month when that
comes back here. She's right. This thing has gone on since 2016.
Kids that were born in 2016 are this big now, so it's been a while.
So hopefully everything will be taken care of by next meeting and we
can discuss what we're going to do at that time, okay. Thank you.
MR. WHITE: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yes, Patrick.
MR. WHITE: Patrick White. I believe you may want to have
a motion regarding the acceptance of the county's withdrawal, to
amend the agenda.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We've never done that
before, Patrick, but if you'd like, we'll do that. You need a motion
from the Board to modify the agenda.
MR. DOINO: Make a motion to modify.
MS. CURLEY: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second.
All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
August 28, 2020
Page 31
Thank you, Patrick.
MR. WHITE: You're welcome.
MS. BUCHILLON: Ready?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Next.
MS. BUCHILLON: Next, under public hearings, motion for
extension of time. Number 1, CESD20180008044, Paul A. Burcky
and Kathleen T. Burcky.
MR. RICE: Attorney Roger Rice for the respondent, Mr. and
Ms. Burcky.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Swear everybody in.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. SHORT: I do.
MR. BURKY: I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning, everybody.
MR. SHORT: Good morning, Mr. Chair. This is a motion for
extension of time. I'll let Mr. Rice present.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. RICE: We had hoped -- we came this close. We had
hoped that at this hearing today this matter would be closed, and we
could talk about the fines.
But we have accomplished a lot since the last time Mr. Burcky
was in front of the Board. With regard to the first item, the fen ce, in
January a certificate of completion was obtained and provided. With
regard to the roof, a certificate of completion was submitted, and that
was August 3rd. With regard to the treehouse demolition, that was
resolved with a certificate of completion on August the 3rd. The
irrigation system was resolved back in July of 2019 by a certificate of
completion.
The only matter still outstanding is the pole barn. The pole
barn's permit has just recently been reactivated. We've been in
discussions with the county Building Department. We expect to
August 28, 2020
Page 32
have a certificate of completion next week.
So we are asking for an extension to your next board meeting.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. This is a case that goes
back to 2018. So it's been a while. How come there's been such
a -- it's, like, a two-year delay for the pole barn.
MR. RICE: The pole barn was completed a long time ago. It's
the process of getting the certificate that has taken so long. We have
finally reached an agreement with the Building Department and, as I
said, it looks like it will be done next week.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Well --
MR. RICE: I mean --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: -- we're not going to discuss the
case. You're just requesting an extension of time.
MR. RICE: Right. And as far as the detail and mitigating
factors, we'll be glad to present that --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: At that time.
MR. RICE: -- at the next hearing, yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Well, the respondent is
asking for an extension of time. Does anybody from the Board have
any comments, would like to make a motion?
MS. CURLEY: Is this on -- is this on the water? Is this a
canal home?
MR. RICE: No.
MS. CURLEY: And you've submitted a survey to the county
with the pole barn?
MR. RICE: Yes.
MS. CURLEY: What does the county think?
MR. SHORT: The county has no objection to the extension of
time. I will say, since Mr. Rice's involvement in this case, we have
seen rapid progress. We're talking about some flood vents that have
got to be put in for the pole barn structure. Once that's done, the
August 28, 2020
Page 33
look on my face will be a sigh of relief that this case is over, so...
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: I make a motion to accept the request for
extension of time --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: -- till the next meeting.
MR. DOINO: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second.
Any discussion on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, all those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
See you next month.
MS. CURLEY: Is the next meeting 30 days from now?
MR. SHORT: I believe it's September 24th.
MS. BUCHILLON: Yes, September 24th.
MS. CURLEY: Do you need 30 days?
MR. RICE: September 24th is fine.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: Thank you.
MR. RICE: Thank you.
MS. BUCHILLON: Next case under hearings, No. 3,
CEA202 --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Wasn't there a second case under
August 28, 2020
Page 34
the extension of time?
MS. BUCHILLON: I'm sorry.
Motion of extension of time, No. 2, CELU20190003912, Tara Aqua,
LLC.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. SHORT: I do.
For the record, Supervisor Eric Short. I've talked to their
design professional. They've requested this hearing for more time,
Randy Johns.
Unfortunately, they're not here today to save the -- I guess, to
make it more efficient, the county will withdraw this case to prevent
any orders from having to be ordered today.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. My question would be, is
this just storing vehicles on the property?
MR. SHORT: No. This is a parking lot for the Oakes Farms
Market at the corner of Brookside and Davis Boulevard.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Oh, okay. Okay. So the county's
withdrawing this?
MR. SHORT: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We need a motion to
adjust the agenda to reflect that.
MS. CURLEY: Why?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Why?
MS. CURLEY: Just because they're not here?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Because they're withdrawing it,
and that was our advice from Patrick White. Patrick, do you agree?
MS. CURLEY: I missed that part.
MR. WHITE: I do, Mr. Chair. It's more a procedural
technicality. But you do it for all of the other items on your agenda
at the beginning of the meeting, and when it takes place during the
meeting itself, I believe it's the preferred practice.
August 28, 2020
Page 35
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. DOINO: Make a 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.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MS. BUCHILLON: Next item on the agenda under hearings,
No. 3, CEA20200000431, Abdallah Masoud Mustafa.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MS. GUY: I do.
MR. MASOUD: I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Could you identify yourself on the
mic.
MR. MASOUD: Mustafa Masoud.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. GUY: Good morning. For the record, Paula Guy, Collier
County Code Enforcement.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. GUY: Good morning. This is in reference to Case No.
CEA20200000431. This is dealing with a violation of the county
Code of Laws and Ordinances for the standards for keeping animals,
Collier County Land Development Code 04-41, as amended, 4.02.07.
Fourteen hooved livestock on an improved Estates zoned
property that is 1.14-acre with an allowable amount of two hooved
August 28, 2020
Page 36
animals in animal enclosures with animals occupied within less than
75 feet from the main residence. The location is 1270 13th Street
Southwest, Naples, Florida, 34117. Folio 45846280007.
Service was given on January 15th, 2020.
I would now like to present the case evidence with the following
exhibits: I have photographs taken by myself on January 15th, 2020,
and August 27th, 2020.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: How many photos?
MS. GUY: There is approximately -- I think there's about
eight.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Has the respondent seen
the photos?
MS. GUY: Yes. The respondent today here is the owner's
son. They have the same name.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Let me ask, have you seen
the photos?
MR. MASOUD: Yes, I have. Yes, I have.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do you have any objection to those
photos being shown?
MR. MASOUD: 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.
MS. BOWMAN: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And a second. All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
August 28, 2020
Page 37
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MS. CURLEY: And do we know that the owner has given
permission to his son to represent him here today?
MR. MASOUD: Yes, he has.
MS. GUY: I've had no communication with him since July, but
his son showed up this morning and said that his father requested that
he come on his behalf.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. As long as he
acknowledged that on the -- after being sworn in, we can accept that.
MS. GUY: Okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The dimensions of this property
are, what, 660 by 75?
MS. GUY: Yeah. It's a small Band-Aid lot, yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Got it.
MS. GUY: Okay. So in the photos you can see it's a very slim
lot. The first day that I was out there, I observed 14 that I could see
from the adjacent parcel on the north side.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Fourteen?
MS. GUY: Hooved animals.
MS. CURLEY: Are they goats?
MS. GUY: They're an assortment. Yeah, goats, and the
livestock seems to change.
So January 14th, 2020, I received a citizen complaint for too
many animals on the property.
And there's two previous cases regarding complaints at this
location within the last 12 months. In December of 2019 and in
August of 2019 violations were issued for both of these cases.
Upon issuance of the violation in December of 2019, I advised
the owner that if another complaint was to be received, that the case
August 28, 2020
Page 38
will be scheduled for hearing, even if the case has been abated.
On January 14th, the on-site visit I observed from the adjacent
parcel, which is located on the north side, which has an elevated
ground area to provide access to view the violation in place.
I observed 14-plus hooved livestock on the improved estates
zoned parcel. I observed the structures on the rear of the parcel
being used for animal shelters and enclosures.
On January 15th, the violation was issued and posted to the
owner's property.
There was a reinspection on February 19th, 2020. Observations
of animals' enclosures were still in place.
July 15th, 2020, was the last communication with the owner in
regards to our request for a continuance for the scheduled hearing
that was in July of 2020. At that time the owner advised he's in the
process of selling the animals to remove from the property.
No response from attempts of further communication to the
owner from myself as of today's date.
August 25th I received a message from the complainant that the
animals are being moved to a rear vacant parcel behind the owner's
home. The last on-site visit on August 27th, the violation of the
excess animals and enclosures remain in place.
I observed a new gate that was erected on the south fence line to
the adjacent improved parcel, which is a 2.73 acres, and the gate is
open and providing open access for the animals to move back and
forth. I observed a round bale and two goats on the parcel.
This morning I was advised by the owner's son that at 8:45 a.m.
the violations have been corrected.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Your turn to testify.
MR. MASOUD: Yesterday at 6:00 p.m. we got rid of -- we
sold all the animals, and now we only have a horse and a goat.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Are these structures that
August 28, 2020
Page 39
are on the rear of the property permitted?
MS. GUY: No, they're not.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Are they supposed to be
permitted?
MS. GUY: Yes, they are.
MR. MASOUD: We also got rid of the chicken coop two days
ago.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Chicken coop?
MR. MASOUD: Yes, and then the carports are used for
storage.
MS. GUY: You can see on the photo that's up right now
regarding the enclosures, the two on the outside of the parcel are
basically carport storage. The two in the middle are animal
enclosures. The one that's on the left side that, actually, on my
inspection on -- from the previous case was actually moved to be in
compliance. It's a temporary pen, but it was moved to meet the
requirements of the 75 feet within the main resident structure, and
now it's been placed in the back again. So those two structures that
are in the middle are animal enclosures.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And they're not -- they require
permits?
MS. GUY: Yeah, unless they're temporary status. But they're
right on the back of the fence line, and it's within very close
proximity to the main residence next door. So they're not in
compliance with that.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: So I just have a logistical question. So we
saw this pen that's fenced off, then a home with some lawn to the left
of it. Is the homeowner's home with these animals, or are they living
in a different location than the property?
MS. GUY: So that picture right there that's up now, that's a
August 28, 2020
Page 40
picture so you can see how the elevation of the home -- that's the
adjacent parcel on the north side, and that home sits at the very rear
of the parcel. The animal pens at Mustafa's is right within 30 feet.
MS. CURLEY: And the Mustafas do not live in this home that
we're looking at here.
MS. GUY: No, ma'am. That's the adjacent parcel. I've
included that photo so you could see how the elevation of that home
and the location of where the home is, how close it is to where the
animals are being housed and where they reside. And then it -- you
can have a view over a fence because the elevation ground level is so
high.
MS. CURLEY: And I also noticed on one of the pictures that
was a little more close up that there's some standing water. And how
does that suit some permitting for even the two an imals. Can you
have that standing water with --
MS. GUY: That would be a DAS concern with the animals in
place and with the structures. It's -- you know, there's nothing that I
have an ordinance with the standing water, and I don't have a
complaint on it.
But you can see the adjacent -- the home. This is the
complainant's home. That would be on the north side.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yeah. Make that a little bigger,
please.
MS. GUY: So this is where the issue in lies, that all these
animals -- and, of course, with all the excessive rains and because the
animals are being housed back there, it's pretty much ceased with any
type of ground cover. It's just turning into muck.
MS. CURLEY: Who owns the parcel that they have extended
the access to the animals? Is it --
MS. GUY: That's another citizen, and that owner -- I just found
that yesterday that the gate access -- what they did was they cut out
August 28, 2020
Page 41
the chain link and just put up two swing farm gates, and that is owned
by another citizen.
MS. CURLEY: So does that citizen realize they're going to be
violating the animal code?
MS. GUY: I was not able to reach that individual, and
that's -- that physical address is 1280 13th, and it's Christopher Jukins
(phonetic).
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Let me ask you a question. The
back of the property where the gate is that opens to the other
property, is the other property fenced?
MS. GUY: Yes, it is.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: Someone else's land.
MS. GUY: That's correct.
MS. CURLEY: They're aiding and abetting and helping
someone violate the current rules that they're violating. None of it is
very nice.
MR. LETOURNEAU: In addition, is that a unimproved lot,
Paula?
MS. GUY: No. It's an improved parcel.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Okay.
MS. GUY: But it's still -- because they don't own the animals
and the animals aren't even being kept on there. The gates are open
for them to free roam to come in and out.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Right, okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So, in summary, we're down to
two animals.
MS. GUY: No. When all my -- my visit yesterday morning,
my last inspection, I observed a horse, three goats, two cows from my
obstructed view -- not obstructed view, but from my view from the
adjacent parcel.
August 28, 2020
Page 42
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Now, let me ask the
respondent. Is that correct?
MR. MASOUD: As of yesterday morning, yes, but as of today
morning there's only a horse and a goat.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do you realize this was a prior
case?
MR. MASOUD: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So the first thing that we
have to decide, whether a violation exists or not, and then we can go
from there.
MS. CURLEY: I make a motion a violation exists.
MR. DOINO: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second.
Any discussion on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, all those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Okay. So a violation does exist.
Let me ask if you have a suggestion for us.
MS. GUY: Well, I have a recommendation --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yep.
MS. GUY: -- to read in.
So the recommendation from the county is that the Code
Enforcement Board orders the respondent to pay all operational costs
August 28, 2020
Page 43
in the amount of 59.28 incurred in the prosecution of this case within
30 days, and abate all violations by:
One, must comply with the zoning restrictions for keeping of
horses and livestock on the Estates zoned property and remove all
such animals in excess of the allowed amount, not to exceed two, on
the said property within blank days of this hearing, or a fine of blank
per day will be imposed for each day the violation remains.
Number 2, that the animal enclosures must be located to meet
the required setback restrictions per the Land Development Code, and
all applicable permits must be obtained and/or certificate of
completion and occupancy within blank days of this hearing, or a fine
of blank per day will be imposed for each day the violation remains.
And 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 by 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 costs of all abatements shall be assessed
to the property owner.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You're not using -- you haven't
mention in there that this is a second violation?
MS. GUY: He was issued a -- this would be the second
violation. This is a -- I want to make sure we get a fact finding [sic]
today so that if it occurs again, then we would proceed.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The second violation, I mean, a set
fee could be imposed.
MR. LETOURNEAU: That's only for a repeat violation. This
is a recurring violation. We haven't been to a hearing yet. This is
the first time we've been to a hearing.
MS. GUY: Correct.
August 28, 2020
Page 44
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So would any --
MS. CURLEY: I have a question when you're --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Sure.
MS. CURLEY: So I just have a question for the son. Are
these pets, or are they livestock?
MR. MASOUD: Pets.
MS. CURLEY: And so where did they go? Where did you
move them to?
MR. MASOUD: We sold them.
MS. CURLEY: And then is this your dad's job? Is he, like, a
goat farmer?
MR. MASOUD: No, they're just pets. I have younger
siblings, and they love our animals --
MS. CURLEY: I'm sorry?
MR. MASOUD: -- or used to before we had to sell them.
MS. CURLEY: I didn't hear.
MR. MASOUD: I have younger siblings, and they love playing
with the animals.
MS. CURLEY: I see. Okay. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Anybody like to try filling
in the blanks?
MS. CURLEY: Oh, I will.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. 59.28 paid within 30 days,
right?
MS. CURLEY: Uh-huh. And for Item No. 1 I'll say one day
or $200 fine and, Item No. 2, I'll say seven days or $200 fine, if that's
okay with my Board.
MR. DOINO: I'll second it.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a motion and a
second. Any questions or concerns from the Board?
Yes, Kathy.
August 28, 2020
Page 45
MS. ELROD: Are they going to be able to get out in 24 hours
and check that?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Who, Code Enforcement?
MS. ELROD: Yes, giving them one day and $200.
MR. LETOURNEAU: That's a good question. We probably
won't be able to make it till Monday.
MS. GUY: One business day, so we would get out there on
Monday.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Then we need to specify business or
otherwise.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Your motion stands.
MS. CURLEY: Well, they can still do what we ask them to do
without having us to baby-sit them.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do you want to stay with your
motion?
MS. CURLEY: No, I like it just the way it is.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I said, do you want to stay with
your motion?
MS. CURLEY: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That's what the motion is, and it's
been seconded. Any other comments on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, all those in favor?
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
MS. ELROD: Me.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So if you have it all done
already, that's -- that's one -- you've done 80, 90 percent of what
August 28, 2020
Page 46
needs to be done.
The only thing I think that's left over is the placement of the
storage or whatever you want to call it in the back. So they'll be out
there Monday to see if everything is okay, or we can go from there.
If you're in compliance, you're in compliance. If you're not, you
know what the fines are. You'll get a copy of the order sent to you.
Do you have any questions?
MR. MASOUD: I do not. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay, thank you.
MR. MASOUD: Have a good one, Your Honor.
MS. GUY: Thank you.
MS. BUCHILLON: Next item on the agenda under hearings,
No. 12, CEAU20200000544, Maria G. Rivera.
(Marco Hernandez, the interpreter, was sworn to truly and
correctly interpret English into Spanish and Spanish into English.)
TNE INTERPRETER: I do.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. MUSSE: I do.
MS. RIVERA: I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Has everybody been sworn?
THE COURT REPORTER: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Could you state your names on the
microphone for us.
THE INTERPRETER: Marco Hernandez.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. And?
MS. RIVERA: Maria Rivera.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You can move the microphone
down. Looks like you're not the same height.
MS. RIVERA: Maria Rivera.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Jonathan?
MR. MUSSE: Good morning. For the record, Investigator
August 28, 2020
Page 47
Jonathan Musse, Collier County Code Enforcement.
This is in reference to Case No. CEAU20200000544 in dealing
with the violations of Florida Building Code Sixth Edition 2017,
Chapter 1, Part 2, Section 105.1, Permit No. PRBD20141029928, for
a fence, two block concrete, and a metal 6-foot is voided. Certificate
of completion was not issued.
Located at 14597 Apalachee Street, Naples, Florida, 34114;
Folio No. 25967800483.
Service was given on January 21st, 2020.
At this time I would like to present the case evidence in the
following exhibits: Screenshot of Permit No. PRBD20141029928,
and a photo I took on March 4th, 2020.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Has the respondent seen
the photos?
MR. MUSSE: She has not. Let me show her.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Why don't you show it to her.
Do you have any objection to those pictures being shown?
THE INTERPRETER: No.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Take a motion from the
Board to accept the photos.
MR. DOINO: Motion to accept.
MS. ELROD: Second.
MS. BOWMAN: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second.
All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
August 28, 2020
Page 48
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MR. MUSSE: Let's see. An initial inspection was conducted
on January 14th, 2020, where Investigator Cathey observed the fence
in question. Research shows that the owner applied for the concrete
and metal fence permit. The permit was later -- the permit later
expired on January 27th, 2015, and later was voided on July 25th,
2016.
Met with the daughter of the property owner, Paulina
Hernandez, and informed her of the violation. At the time I
personally issued the notice of violation to Mrs. Hernandez.
Conducted an inspection on March 4th and spoke to the relative
of the property owner, Ms. Hernandez -- or Ramirez.
She supplied me with the contact information of the husband of
the property owner. Spoke to a gentleman who informed me he was
awaiting approval from Habitat for Humanity in order to reapply for
the permit.
Made numerous inspections, and no -- and noticed no change in
the permit status. At that time I prepared the case for hearing.
On August 21st, the property owner applied for Permit No.
PRBD20200834800 for the concrete and metal fence. Current status
of the permit is incomplete application due to the fact that the owner
has not submitted an approval letter from the HOA, Charlee Estates,
approving the encroachment of the proposed fence.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Can you put that picture
back up, please.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Sure.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Now, Jonathan, you said concrete
and metal. Where is the metal?
MR. MUSSE: Metal is -- they never actually completed the
fence in the first place. That's as far as they'd gotten back in 2014.
August 28, 2020
Page 49
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do you know whether it's on the
property line, back from the property line?
MR. MUSSE: It's on the rear property line.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That's the rear of the structure.
MR. MUSSE: Correct.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Is this a Band-Aid lot, 75 feet by --
MR. MUSSE: No. It's a Habitat for Humanity community.
Very small lot.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So it's now your turn to
testify.
THE INTERPRETER: So my mom, about a week ago, she
applied for another permit in order to finish construction of the
concrete/metal fence. She said that she's currently waiting for
approval.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. What we need to
do -- right now, the way things stand, is we have to decide whether a
violation exists or not, okay. So what's going to happen in the future
is -- doesn't respond to the question that has been brought up in the
violation.
Any comments from the Board?
MR. DOINO: Make a motion a violation exists.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a motion and a
second --
MS. BOWMAN: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: -- that a violation exists. All those
in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
August 28, 2020
Page 50
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Okay. So now, what has to be done: We're going to get a
recommendation from the county on what needs to be done, and the
time frames will be filled in by the Board. And if you meet those
time frames, everything's fine. If you don't, there will be fines that
will add up, accrue. So that's the point that we're at right now.
Jonathan, do you want to give us your recommendation?
MR. MUSSE: The county recommends that the Code
Enforcement Board orders the respondent to pay operational costs in
the amount of $29 -- I'm sorry -- $59.21 incurred in the prosecution
of this cases within 30 days, and abate all violations by obtaining all
required Collier County building permits or demolition permits,
inspections, and certificate of completion for the concrete and metal
fence within X amount of days of this hearing, or a fine of X amount
of dollars per day will be imposed until the violation's 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. Anybody from the Board
like to fill in the blanks?
MR. BLANCO: Mr. Chairman, I have a question for the
county. Has the county been able to verify whether the respondent
submitted an application for the permits?
MR. MUSSE: I talked to the property owner yesterday, and she
August 28, 2020
Page 51
said she's going to have it done within the next seven to 10 days.
MR. BLANCO: Okay. I thought she just mentioned that she
did this morning.
THE INTERPRETER: No. It was, like, last week where my
mom had to go renew -- renew the permit for the fence.
MR. BLANCO: Okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Actually, it doesn't matter. A
violation exists. We're going to answer this case, and then if
everything is done properly, it's gone. If it's not, it will be back
before us. So when it was done shouldn't really come into our
consideration.
So, again, anybody like to fill in the blanks?
MR. DOINO: I will. Thirty days and $100 a day.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. 59.21 to be paid within 30
days. That's the --
MR. DOINO: Yeah, 59.21 in 30.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So we have a motion.
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do we have a second? We have a
second. All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
So you have 30 days to get the permit done, and that includes
the inspections, and after 30 days, there's going to be $100-a-day
fine. The court costs of 59.21 should be paid within 30 days, okay?
August 28, 2020
Page 52
THE INTERPRETER: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Thank you very much.
THE INTERPRETER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Have a good weekend.
Thanks, Jonathan.
Now, Terri, I know. We're going to give you three extra
minutes. We're going to take a break. We'll be back here at, you
tell me, Terri.
THE COURT REPORTER: 10:40.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. 10:40.
(A brief recess was had from 10:26 a.m. to 10:40 a.m.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay, Helen. We're ready.
MS. BUCHILLON: I'm back.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Next case.
MS. BUCHILLON: Next item on the agenda under hearings,
No. 13, CESD20200001254, Jean Fortin.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. FORTIN: Nothing but the truth.
Can I take the mask off my face?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: As long as you don't go near
anybody, you're fine.
MS. THOMPSON: I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You could take it down when you
speak; no problem. I think we're more than six feet apart.
MS. THOMPSON: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Everybody sworn in?
THE COURT REPORTER: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. THOMPSON: Good morning. For the record,
Investigator Latoya Thompson, Collier County Code Enforcement.
This is in reference to Case No. CESD202000001254 regarding
August 28, 2020
Page 53
violations of the Collier County Land Development Code 200-41
[sic], as amended, Section 2.02.3, and Section 10.02.06(B)(1)(a), for
unpermitted accessory shed-type structure being utilized for
living/housekeeping purposes on a residentially zoned lot with no
approved principal use.
Located at 2941 Terrace Avenue, Naples, Florida, 33 -- 34104;
Folio No. 702100005.
Service was given on February 5th, 2020.
I would now like to present case evidence in the following
exhibits: Three photos taken on February 4th, 2020, by Area
Supervisor Eric Short.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Has the respondent seen
the photos?
MS. THOMPSON: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do you have any objection to the
photos?
MR. FORTIN: No, Your Honor. I mean, first, good morning,
Court.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning.
MR. FORTIN: My name is Jean Fortin. I live on Terrace
Avenue.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We're going to get to you
in a second. I just want to know if you've seen the pictures.
MR. FORTIN: Yes, I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And no problem?
MR. FORTIN: Yes, I do.
MS. ELROD: Motion to accept.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Can we get a motion from
the Board to accept? What?
MS. ELROD: Motion to accept the photos.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Gotcha.
August 28, 2020
Page 54
MS. BOWMAN: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Do you have a date this afternoon or something?
MS. ELROD: Not at all, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Why don't you describe
the pictures as you put them up.
MS. THOMPSON: Okay. On February 4th, 2020, Code
Enforcement received a complaint that there was a shed -- accessory
shed-type structure on an unimproved parcel with no principal use.
A site visit was conducted by Area Supervisor Eric Short and the
Code Enforcement Director Mike Ossorio.
While on site, they both observed a wood frame shed-type
structure that appeared to be used as living space.
On February 5th, 2020, I served the property owner, Jean Fortin,
a notice of violation for a prohibited land use and permitting violation
for the wood-framed shed.
On August 20th, 2020, Supervisor Eric Short conducted a night
visit and observed that the shed continues to be used for living
purposes and noted candlelight illumining [sic] from the structure.
To date, the violation remains.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. You have more pictures to
show?
MS. THOMPSON: Just show us three.
August 28, 2020
Page 55
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Go back to the previous
one, please.
So there's one window in that building. That building is not
permitted?
MS. THOMPSON: It's not permitted. It's on an unimproved
lot next to his own --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yeah. You couldn't permit it is
what you're saying?
MS. THOMPSON: Yeah, yeah, okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Sir.
MR. FORTIN: Yes, sir. Again, my name is Jean B. Fortin. I
live at 2941 Terrace Avenue.
For that right there, they call it a shed, but this is a construction
office. And before I build this, I went to -- I have a friend of mine,
he said, before you do anything, go to the county.
And I went to the county. I talked with Mr. Robert Mar
(phonetic). He said, okay. It's part of your permit. You can build
that if it's part of your permit. He give me his card. He said, if
anything -- anybody comes talk to you about it, give him my -- give
that person my number and then have them call me.
Okay. True enough. Maybe three months later, there's a lady
called me, and I don't know if it was her; probably. She called me.
I said, ma'am, I'm working right now because I'm working for
somebody. I say, I have a number that you can call because this
person tell me the -- if anybody come to the property, ask you
anything about this, just give them the number or call me.
So I give her the numbers. I guess she called him. I never
heard nothing from her again. So maybe three months after I talked
to her, and then I see, a person, they come to the yard again and tell
me about the shed, okay, that -- my construction office.
So -- and I already tear my house down, Your Honor. I have
August 28, 2020
Page 56
nowhere to go. No place to crash. I have my -- me and my -- it's
just me and my wife. I have nowhere to go because the house is
teared down. They knew exactly what I was going to do. I said,
okay.
Since, I take all my stuff in, you know, all my tools, my joint
rider saw, everything. I put them there. So I said, I might as well
crash there too, because I have nowhere to go until I finish building
my house, whatever they want me to do. So I do whatever they want
me to do. If they want me to tear it down, I'm pleased to tear it
down.
And then what I do -- again, I went to the county. I said, give
me a temporary, a permit. You know, give me a temporary permit to
re -- to stay there until I finish the house. Okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Do you have water there?
MR. FORTIN: The picture?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yeah. In that building, is there
water in there?
MR. FORTIN: No, sir. No water's in there.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: No water?
MR. FORTIN: No water.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: No bathroom?
MR. FORTIN: No bathroom.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That in itself, even if that was
permitted, is illegal.
MR. FORTIN: Okay. So --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Just so you know, you
have to have electricity. Do you have electricity?
MR. FORTIN: What I use -- I was -- I was using -- I have a T
pole. I have a T pole in the yard so -- it's so hot in there. I use
extension cord to -- I have -- because I have a window air condition.
I plug in my air condition, and then I have another plug to plug my
August 28, 2020
Page 57
telephone, my wife telephone, and then I have a light, and that's it.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. You understand -- or do
you understand that that's not permitted based on the laws --
MR. FORTIN: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: -- and ordinances of Collier
County?
MR. FORTIN: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It's not permitted --
MR. FORTIN: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: -- for living space, and you're
living there.
MR. FORTIN: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So that's a problem that we have to
determine, whether a violation exists or not, and then after we
determine whether it is or isn't, we will talk after that.
So having said that, does anybody want to take a shot at
whether --
MS. CURLEY: I'll make a motion a violation exists.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a motion.
MS. BOWMAN: Second.
MR. DOINO: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Take your choice. And a second.
All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
August 28, 2020
Page 58
Okay. So it's in violation. I'm going to ask Latoya what her
recommendation is to resolve the problem.
MS. THOMPSON: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Latoya.
MS. THOMPSON: That the Code Enforcement Board orders
the respondent to pay all operational costs in the amount of 59.21
incurred in the prosecution of this case within 30 days, and abate all
violations by: One, must cease the unauthorized use of the
accessory shed-type structure and obtain 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 is abated;
Two, the respondent must notify the Code Enforcement
investigator when the violation has been abated in order t o 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
provision of this order, and all costs of abatement shall be assessed to
the property owner.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. This has nothing to do
with the case, but just -- are you building a house there?
MR. FORTIN: Yes, sir, I build a house.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do you have a building permit on
the house you're building?
MR. FORTIN: Absolutely, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Just asking.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Right here. If you can see on the
picture, this is the house that he's working on right here.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So you're how far away
from getting that house built?
August 28, 2020
Page 59
MR. FORTIN: Well, I need -- I ask the Court to give me 180
days to tear me [sic] the house because I was -- have a hold on a
house that would stop me from working on the house, so -- but now,
you know, everything is moving smooth. What I'm doing right now,
I'm sheeting -- you know, put the sheet over the roof right now. So I
think, like, 180 days I should be able to get everything done like it
supposed to.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. The problem is where
you're living right now is the violation. So according to what Latoya
has put before us, you need to find another place to, as you put it,
crash until you finish your house, get it inspected, and move into it.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yes.
MR. LETOURNEAU: I'm sorry. I'd like to point out also that
these are two separate properties. The structure in violation is on a
separate property than the actual house he's building. So at this
point it couldn't even be permitted as a shed for that house because
they're on two different properties.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Who owns the second property?
MR. FORTIN: I do, Your Honor.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. You understand, two
properties, you're building a house here.
MR. FORTIN: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The shed is over here.
MR. FORTIN: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You can't live in the shed.
MS. BOWMAN: Unless there's water and plumbing.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yes. Well, not only that, but you
can't build that where he has it.
MR. LETOURNEAU: You can't live in that structure unless
you had a permit, inspections, and a certificate of completion that
August 28, 2020
Page 60
allow you to live in the house.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Just like building a house.
MS. CURLEY: So maybe -- can the county aid him in helping
him know what the right construction trailer would be, you know,
just for the future, you know, because since -- it sounds like he
misinterpreted some instruction from the county initially. Because I
don't see how that would have ever been something somebody from
the county would have recommended he erect.
MR. LETOURNEAU: I believe you are right. I think
that -- I'm not sure who he was referencing from the county earlier. I
have to believe there was some form of miscommunication between
an office trailer and what this has turned into, a house at this point.
So, yes, we would gladly help this gentleman out; however, that's not
going to help him out because he couldn't live in the construction
trailer either.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Right.
MS. CURLEY: No, understood, but that can't be there whether
somebody's living in it or not.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Right.
MS. CURLEY: It needs to go away.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That's correct.
MS. ELROD: Question.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So do you have another place that
you can crash?
MR. FORTIN: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, I think you're probably going
to need to find one. I think that's the only resolution that we can
come up with. You can store your tools, I guess, temporarily there.
MS. CURLEY: Is this Rock Creek? Is this the RV park, or is
this behind the airport?
MS. THOMPSON: This is Terrace Avenue.
August 28, 2020
Page 61
MR. FORTIN: This is Terrace avenue, 23 -- 2349 -- 2341
Terrace Avenue. This is a -- this is same property. I consider it the
same property, so that's what I build it to another property, not the
same property the house is, you know, because it's considered -- you
know, they are both mine, so...
MS. CURLEY: Again, with some legal aid, he might be able to
join those properties and make them one folio number, but they're
two separate lots as far as the county sees it. So, you know, it's
just -- you do own them both, but unless you strap them together as
one piece, it's going to be confusing for you.
MR. FORTIN: Yes. But another question I would ask, can the
judge give me a temporary permit? I can pull a temporary permit for
180 days. I have to have somewhere to sleep, right?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I understand that, but nobody's
going to give you a permit for any length of time to stay there. Am I
correct, Jeff?
MR. LETOURNEAU: That is correct, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: As board members, we're not allowed to
violate the law, and so we can't -- we would love to offer you that
option, but we aren't allowed to violate the law.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: But as Sue had mentioned, the
county is willing to work to help you find someplace that you can
crash --
MR. FORTIN: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: -- during the time that you're
building the house.
MR. LETOURNEAU: I said -- I'd like to clarify that. I can't
really help him find a domicile. I can help him to facilitate getting a
construction type of office for that, but --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
August 28, 2020
Page 62
MS. CURLEY: What I was also thinking is not knowing -- I
thought if it was at the Rock Creek mobile park there, then maybe he
could get a temporary -- like, an RV or something like that that he
could really live in --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That's otherwise, really, the scope
of --
MS. CURLEY: So I don't know. But I'm just trying to offer
this man some relief and some aid in thinking around his problem
right now.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Anybody like to try to fill
in the blanks on this case?
MS. CURLEY: Can we see it on the screen again, Helen?
MR. LETOURNEAU: What do you want to see again?
MS. CURLEY: The stipulation.
MR. LETOURNEAU: The recommendation.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Recommendation. There are two
blanks.
MS. CURLEY: I mean --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You have to -- the one -- I'll try to
help out on this one. The $59.21 should be paid within 30 days of
this hearing. The amount of time on this -- and this is being, I think,
very generous -- 30 days, and $100 fine after that. So that's my
motion.
MS. CURLEY: I just have a comment about the fire issue.
Using candles and living somewhere that's not -- I think that's just a
little bit of liability for this board to give him 30 days.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Do you want to make a
recommendation to modify the 30 days? My motion has not been
seconded yet.
MS. CURLEY: That's just up for comment if the Board --
MS. ELROD: Second.
August 28, 2020
Page 63
MS. CURLEY: -- wanted to talk about.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Kathy.
MS. ELROD: I'll second your motion.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So I have a motion there.
Eric, do you want to say something?
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. SHORT: I do.
Mr. Chairman, for the record, Supervisor Eric Short, Collier
County Code Enforcement.
As I look at this recommendation -- and I heard some comments
amongst the Board -- I would recommend a two-part order. One for
the vacation or ceasing the use for housekeeping, and then let's break
that up into a permitting, within how many days get a permit.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: For the structure, which can't be
permitted, not as it stands.
MR. SHORT: A demolition permit.
MS. CURLEY: I think that's a good idea, because then that can
give him time. He's got to get a permit to demo that.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. I have no -- we have a
motion that's been seconded. I'm all for discussion on it. Do you
want to change the amount of days?
MS. CURLEY: I think the recommendation to make it into a
two-part is a good idea.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Well, let's take the first
part. How long till he needs to vacate the property from living?
MS. CURLEY: Is two too short? It's -- we -- how long has
this been -- how long has this been in discovery? How long has he
been living here in this?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, since February to begin with.
MS. THOMPSON: February 4th. That's when --
MS. CURLEY: So this is a real danger to him.
August 28, 2020
Page 64
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I understand that. So you'd like
to -- we'll make it a two-part. One is vacate the property.
MS. CURLEY: And then 45 days to demo, though, to get a
permit to have it demoed.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: I mean, that's just a suggestion if the Board
wants to --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I will modify my motion to add
[sic] that to 14 days to vacate the property living quarters and 45 days
to get a demo -- either demo or it comes into compliance with all of
the building permits, et cetera.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Because, theoretically, the way that
thing sits right now, the only way he could actually get a permit for
that would be to deed the two properties together and get some
shed-type of a permit with that.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I understand. So are we clear on
my motion?
MS. CURLEY: Yep. I second that.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. The second seconds the
motion that we've modified. All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Sir?
MS. THOMPSON: Mr. Chairman, what was the fine? The
fine for --
August 28, 2020
Page 65
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The fine remains at the $100 a day.
MS. ELROD: (Indicating thumbs up.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You are going to have to find
another place to live. You can't live there. I guess that's going to
motivate you to finish the house as quickly as possible.
MR. FORTIN: That's going -- I mean, I'm motivated right now
to get my house done. It's just -- absolutely. It's not -- no problem,
but the money that you're telling me that, I got 30 days to pay that,
but --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The 30 days is the $59.21. Do
you need additional time to pay that?
MR. FORTIN: Fifty-nine dollars? Yeah -- yes, I pay that,
Your Honor.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. FORTIN: And so I got the 14 days to find a place to live.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Right.
MR. FORTIN: So in the meantime, at the -- before the 14
days -- of course, like, tonight I have to find -- I have to sleep there.
I'm not going -- I'm not going to find a place.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You have 14 days. You can stay
there for 14 days.
MR. FORTIN: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: But you need to move out.
MR. FORTIN: I'm going to --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: -- after the 14 days.
MR. FORTIN: I'm going to try my best.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: Good luck.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Latoya, you had another comment?
MS. THOMPSON: Oh, no. I'm good.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We're all set. Good luck to you.
August 28, 2020
Page 66
MR. FORTIN: Thank you very much, Court.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. BOWMAN: Thank you.
MS. BUCHILLON: Next item on the agenda under hearings,
No. 23, CESD20190009248, Judy Pappalardo.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. TORRES: I do.
MS. PAPPALARDO: I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Junior?
MR. TORRES: Good morning. Investigator Junior Torres,
Collier County Code Enforcement.
This is in reference to Case No. CESD20190009248 in dealing
with Collier County code of -- dealing with violations of Collier
County Land Development Code 04-41, as amended, Section
10.02.06(B)(1)(a) and 10.02.06(B)(1)(e) for an enclosed lanai built
without first obtaining a valid Collier County permit located at 1754
Bald Eagle Drive, Unit C, Naples, Florida, 34105; folio 6113148004.
Service given on August 12th, 2019.
At this time I would like to present the case evidence in the
following exhibits: One photo that I took on July 31st, 2019, and a
copy of the determination made by the county building official along
with another photo that he --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Is that Walsh?
MR. TORRES: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Have you seen the photos?
MS. PAPPALARDO: Yes, I have, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do you have any objection to
them?
MS. PAPPALARDO: No.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Could we get a motion from the
Board to accept the photos?
August 28, 2020
Page 67
MR. DOINO: Motion to accept.
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second.
All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Okay, Junior.
MR. TORRES: I conducted an initial inspection on July 31st,
2019, where I observed the enclosed lanai in question. I was unable
to make personal contact with the property owner, Judy, but I did
speak to Emily, the property owner's daughter, over the phone and
informed her of the complaint. She informed me that the enclosed
lanai has been that way since they bought the property.
I explained to her that I will conduct permit research and present
the case to the building official. Research search [sic] that no
permits are on file for the enclosed lanai. It was then determined by
the county building official, Jonathan Walsh, that the enclosed lanai
would require a permit by a licensed contractor.
Personal service was given on August 13th, 2019, but the
respondents were not present. I posted the property and the Collier
County Courthouse.
The violation remains at this time, and no permits have been
applied for.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Did you check with the HOA at
all?
August 28, 2020
Page 68
MR. TORRES: So the HOA, they're the ones that, I guess --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Filed the complaint?
MR. TORRES: Yeah, but on somebody else, and then that
person, in turn, complained on everyone else.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That's the way it works.
MS. CURLEY: Awesome.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Generally, as tough as the Code
Enforcement folks can be, nobody is tougher than HOAs.
MR. TORRES: Yep.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So, okay. So you checked with
the records, and you didn't see a permit that was pulled to do this?
MR. TORRES: I didn't find any permits on our side, on the
county. When the building official did his determination -- I have it
up on the IDrive as well, and he was able to pull up like a -- I guess,
like, a site plan of -- a floor plan of it. Let's see here. And he said it
was going to be reverse J, the floor plan.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Right.
MR. TORRES: And there it shows, like, porch or a balcony,
and then there's a picture of the interior of the balcony itself, the
lanai, in there as well.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. I've seen cases where they
put screens --
MR. TORRES: Yeah.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: -- but once you start with
windows, which need to be inspected, et cetera, it's a different story.
Okay. Ma'am?
MS. PAPPALARDO: Yes, sir. Thank you. My name's Judy
Pappalardo.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. PAPPALARDO: I have a statement, if you don't mind.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Not at all.
August 28, 2020
Page 69
MS. PAPPALARDO: My daughter misspoke. She was seven
when he moved in there. I didn't purchase. It was bequeathed to
me in a will. So I got it in 1999 is when I got it.
So I'm sorry. My mouth is so dry from the mask. I can't even
stand it, you know. And I didn't bring any cough drops, so anyway.
MS. CURLEY: Do you want a glass of water?
MS. PAPPALARDO: I have water. Thanks.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Any scotch?
MS. PAPPALARDO: No scotch; thank you. You wouldn't
want me drinking.
Thank you for allowing me to be here today.
On October 8th, 1982, Mary Keeding James purchased a
condominium at 1754C Bald Eagle Drive, Naples, Florida. Mary's
lanai was fitted with windows as opposed to screen as an incentive to
purchase the condominium, along with being on the top floor, the end
unit, and an elevator. Mary moved there to retire. She was 62, 64, I
think.
The windows on the lanai were part of the original construction.
I met Mrs. James in 1984, a year and a half after she moved in.
She moved in in '82. And I was a frequent guest in her condo. The
windows were always there.
In February -- February 22nd, 1999, Ms. James passed away in
the condo. I had been her caregiver for the last few years of her life,
so she bequeathed me the condo.
My daughter and I had already moved in that February before
she passed away, so we were able to stay there until probate, which
was August 19th, 1999, when the transfer of ownership took place,
and I remained there still.
In October 2005 we were graced with the presence of Hurricane
Wilma. She came through our neighborhood with what the Naples
fire marshal told me, standing in our parking lot, was a wind shear of
August 28, 2020
Page 70
over 150 mile an hour. In other words, it was a tornado. It lifted
the roof off the condo as I sat at my dining room table. The sound
was horrendous, and then followed by rain pouring down
everywhere. The deluge continued for a few hours.
The roofers arrived that afternoon, and they put some fresh tar
paper down. But being a rush to get to the next few building, they
forgot to glue or staple it down.
So the next -- two days afterwards, we had an afternoon shower,
which blew off the tar paper, and then the water cam e down again,
and it was just a mess.
Within two weeks, we were unable to live or breathe in the
condo and were forced to move out of the building, as were the rest
of the tenants. All 12 units had to get out.
So on January 26th, 2006, after three long months of total
refurbishing, I finally received from the Collier County building
inspector a certificate of occupancy.
During those three months of rebuilding, we were visited and
inspected frequently by Collier County building inspectors, Code
Enforcement, Collier County Fire Department inspectors, mold
inspectors, and Allstate Insurance inspectors, none of which ever
found the back windows to be of any detriment to the condo, the
safety of the building, or my community at large. They were built
into the building during the original construction in 1982, so no
contractor or inspector found any fault with them.
Enclosed, please find the permit from my air conditioning
company that replaced the unit outside after Hurricane Irma Wilma.
The certificate of occupancy by the Collier County Board of County
Commissioners was granted January 26th, 2006. Air Cool was the
contractor.
Since then my building has been inspected by the Fire
Department. There were roofing permits when the roof was replaced
August 28, 2020
Page 71
after Wilma, and then, again, inspected in 2017 and '19, and finally a
window replacement in 2019. All these permits deemed the whole
building safe.
These plexiglass windows in question were not an improvement
prior to any building permit, as the summons states. They were part
of the original building and, as such, do not require an additional
permit. I do not see where I am responsible for such.
Thank you for your time.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. I think your -- from my
vast experience in doing these things, your main problem is with the
HOA. The HOA turned you in to the county, because it wasn't part
of --
MS. PAPPALARDO: No. Excuse me.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: No? Go ahead.
MS. PAPPALARDO: No. The HOA did not turn me into the
county. The HOA turned in somebody --
MR. TORRES: Yes.
MS. PAPPALARDO: -- who had their -- their windows -- I
should have taken a picture of that, because it is a sight. They have
filler -- wood filler around the windows that did not fit into the
opening space, excuse me. I do not have wood fillers. Mine
is -- it's screwed into the concrete walls. The lanai is concrete on
two sides, and the top, because I'm on the top floor, so the
top -- there's a slab of concrete on top of me, and a slab under -- so
it's four concrete, you know, whatever -- four sides.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I understand.
MS. PAPPALARDO: And the windows, it's flush with the
floor. They are plexiglass, and they were -- they are -- everything is
flush. There's no -- there's no -- there's no doubt they were there in
the -- when the building was put up, because I knew this lady. I
knew her since '84.
August 28, 2020
Page 72
Also, as Junior stated, which was wonderful, he's got Plan F, I
think you said, floor plan, and I have it right here as Floor Plan D.
So this was in 198 -- I think this is 1980. I think Junior's is in '81.
And the building was complete, and my friend moved in in '82.
So over the course of that time, I don't really think there are a lot
of permits hanging around in the courthouse. And the -- you know,
the finishing touches were changed, of course, because the window
was there when she moved in.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Junior, what information
have you received from Jonathan Walsh?
MR. TORRES: He deemed it a violation. After I presented
the plan here in the picture, he deemed it a violation. He said it
requires a permit.
I think he said it requires a permit by affidavit. That's how it's
usually been for -- because she wasn't the only one that they
complained on. There was multiple lanais on there. And from what
I've seen, they've been doing permits by affidavit with a licensed
contractor.
MS. CURLEY: I have a question. So are all the units that
have -- are they all the same window, these plexiglass windows, of all
the offenders?
MR. TORRES: No. They're -- they come in all different sizes
and shapes.
MS. CURLEY: So -- thank you. So it's -- thank you for your
information. But to me, because you didn't live there and you didn't
buy it from the contractor, you really don't know. So, we -- you
know, we only have the evidence here which shows that it was, you
know, originally approved by the county as a patio. So I know you
like to make the statement that it was there, but you really weren't the
original owner, so it's --
MS. PAPPALARDO: I don't necessarily like to make the
August 28, 2020
Page 73
statement that it was there because I like to make that statement.
There's no proof that it wasn't there. Because we have -- I have
different plans than he has. We all have different plans.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Has Jonathan Walsh seen your
plans?
MS. PAPPALARDO: I do not know, sir. I do not know.
MR. TORRES: I would assume so; they're all the same. It's
just different --
MS. PAPPALARDO: They're all -- the dates are all different.
The dates on them are all stamped different.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So the opening on the lanai itself is
no different on your plan than it is on yours?
MR. TORRES: On mine it shows porch or a balcony.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. And it doesn't show it
enclosed?
MR. TORRES: No.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And on yours?
MS. PAPPALARDO: I don't know. I'm not exactly sure how
to read those plans.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. PAPPALARDO: I just know the dates, and I know what
the floor plan looks like.
MS. CURLEY: Well, there's a lot of reasons why the dates
could be changed. They could have amended them. They could
have -- there could have been a builder who could have changed a
closet, and so they could have redated it. There's, like, 18 different
reasons why they would be dated differently, different pages recorded
differently. But, still, the only evidence we have is that it's not ther e.
And then I think it would have been a little different if the county had
stated, like, yeah, of 80 units, there's 14 that have this exact
modification and, you know, whatever the case was, but because
August 28, 2020
Page 74
there's been modifications casually done all, you know, throughout
the complex, it -- just because lack of management and lack of people
following the rules, you know, doesn't exempt you from following
the rules now just for the safety of the --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Let me ask. Jonathan said
that -- Jonathan Walsh said that since this is not the original owner,
you can do a permit by affidavit.
MR. TORRES: Yes, since it's already there.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. And Jonathan said that this
could be permitted by affidavit?
MR. TORRES: Yes, by a licensed contractor.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So that means that having
windows on the lanai is not a code violation per se.
MR. TORRES: No. It just needs to be permitted.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: So let me ask you. So when they do the
affidavit, did they find out the age of plexiglass window and then run
the permit as if it was done in 1987, or does she have to bring things
up to today's code?
MR. TORRES: I would assume it would be brought up to the
code of that time that the lanai was put in. So whatever
manufacturing number or date that that plexiglass have, they would
have to go off of that.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Let me ask this.
MS. PAPPALARDO: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: When was the last time those
windows were changed or fixed or whatever?
MS. PAPPALARDO: Then.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: No. After the storm.
MS. PAPPALARDO: No, no. After Wilma?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yes.
August 28, 2020
Page 75
MS. PAPPALARDO: No.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: How about after Irene?
MS. PAPPALARDO: No, not after Andrew either.
MR. TORRES: They're pretty thick.
MS. PAPPALARDO: Or anybody else you want to --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Because I was just saying, if
somebody else fixed those windows after Irene, it would seem to me
to be simple process of going back to that contractor and saying, can
you give me an affidavit this meets whatever codes are retired.
MS. CURLEY: So Andrew would have been the only one that
she wouldn't have been in residence for. Andrew was in '91.
MS. PAPPALARDO: Well, '91, but I knew the woman. I was
always at her place. She was required. We were very close. She
was like my mother, so I was always there.
MS. CURLEY: So...
MS. BOWMAN: I'll make a motion that a violation --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Jeff, do you have any --
MS. PAPPALARDO: I don't --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: One second.
MS. CURLEY: I have a question, just one more and I'll be
finished. So it's been a year.
MS. PAPPALARDO: Yeah.
MS. CURLEY: And so have you not looked into following suit
with the way the other owners did and have you given --
MS. PAPPALARDO: Absolutely not. Absolutely not,
because the other owners -- like I almost -- didn't finish. The one
who the HOA -- I mean, it is a horror show what her place looks like.
She should have been called upon, you know, but then she got angry
because the HOA wouldn't deal with her, or whatever it was, so then
she called you. So, then, I think it was Junior just went to the
backyard and took pictures of everybody's place, so that's why I'm
August 28, 2020
Page 76
here.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. PAPPALARDO: I have --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Just to correct the record, he didn't
call me.
MS. PAPPALARDO: -- papers. Called you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Before we continue, have
you ever looked into what it would entail to get an architect to sign
off on --
MS. PAPPALARDO: No.
MS. CURLEY: I just asked her. It's been a year, and she said
no.
MS. PAPPALARDO: It's been a year also, but we've been here
every time, and then everybody was closed for how long. Why
would I? Why would I? It's always been there. The windows
have always been there. I don't know how many more times I can
say it. And over here, you know, it talks about, you know, having a
certificate of occupancy. Well, I have one. I have a -- how else did
she get into the place? You know, how else would she have moved
in in 1982 if it wasn't okayed?
MS. CURLEY: So what year did you move in?
MS. PAPPALARDO: Ninety-nine.
MS. CURLEY: So you should say it's always been there since
1999 when I took ownership.
MS. PAPPALARDO: No. It's always been there since 1984
since I met her, and she moved in in 1982, a year and a half earlier
than that.
MS. CURLEY: So --
MS. PAPPALARDO: I have pictures from '87, you know,
1987.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I don't think that that's the
August 28, 2020
Page 77
question. The question is: They're there now. It's not, per se, a
violation of any specific code other than the building -- chief building
inspector saying that you need an affidavit to say tha t it's okay.
Jeff, do you have any comments on this?
MR. LETOURNEAU: I think everything's been said pretty
well by Investigator Torres.
MS. CURLEY: Yep.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Just because they've always been there
doesn't mean there was a permit ever issued for them. That's my
comment right there.
MS. PAPPALARDO: Well, I -- it was put in as incentive for
this woman to buy. Her husband had just died in, like, '80. She was
moving off of Gulf Shore Boulevard. She wanted to come in away
from the water and all that, and she wanted the windows. The
windows are in there. The windows have always been in there. I
didn't even know they were plexiglass until -- in fact, every storm
that comes along, I would, you know, freak out and --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: They move.
MS. PAPPALARDO: Yeah. They don't shatter. I didn't
know that. So I did some looking up on that, but yeah.
So I don't see why I need it. I don't understand why I have to
do anything because they were there. You can see from the outside
they're flush up against everything. There's no fillers. There's no
nothing. It was part of the original construction.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Eric, do you want to say
anything or --
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. SHORT: I do.
For the record, Supervisor Eric Short.
Junior did a great job presenting the case, and you as well,
ma'am.
August 28, 2020
Page 78
I will say we've had multiple units in violation, similar violation.
We have a very streamlined process as far as permit review goes.
All reviews are on board, fire district and things like that, and we'll be
happy to walk you through that process.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Well --
MR. LETOURNEAU: And I'd also say it's a lot -- typically
these permits by affidavit go back to the year that we feel that they
were built, and it's a lot less strenuous as far as, you know, jumping
through hoops to get these things permitted.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yeah. What I see is a cost
involved in getting a permit by affidavit. I don't know if it's $100 or
$1,000, so...
MS. CURLEY: Well, you can look at -- you can look at what it
would cost to do that now, and it would cost $20,000 to put in
windows in that little patio now. So the cost, whatever cost it is to
backtrack and get it approved.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Not for permitting. For the actual
construction, but not for the permitting.
MS. CURLEY: No, no. I mean, if she wanted to make that
renovation now, it would be incredibly costly. So whatever small
cost it would be to hire an architect and work with the county to get
the paperwork correct is minimal compared to what it would cost to
have that item.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Well, I think we've talked
as deeply as we can get.
Chloe, you had --
MS. BOWMAN: I'll make a motion that a violation exists.
MR. DOINO: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second
that a violation exists. Any discussion on the motion?
MS. ELROD: Can we go back to the builder and find out if
August 28, 2020
Page 79
they did, in fact, install windows when they built it?
MS. CURLEY: It would be on this plat map right here. Even
if it was an addition, it would be on the -- and stamped "approved."
MS. ELROD: Okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I think the cure will be after we
find out whether a violation exists or not.
All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Okay. A violation exists.
Now, I think the -- I'm sure Junior has a recommendation. But
given sufficient time for you to do your research to find out who you
have to go to get an affidavit, and then you're do ne with this. That's
what's on our minds right now.
So, Junior, why don't you give us your recommendation, and
we'll see if we can come to --
MR. TORRES: Recommendation that the Code Enforcement
Board orders the respondent to pay operational costs in t he amount of
59.28 incurred in this prosecution of this case within 30 days, and
abate all violations by: One, must obtain required Collier County
building permits or demolition permits and request that all
inspections through certificate of completion or occupancy for the
unpermitted lanai enclosure within blank amount of days of this
hearing, or a fine of X amount per day will be imposed until the
violations are abated.
August 28, 2020
Page 80
Two, the respondent must notify the Code Enforcement
investigator when the violation has been abated in order to conduct a
final inspection in 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 the abatement shall be
assessed to the property owner.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Anybody want to fill in the
blanks?
MS. CURLEY: Oh, I will.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: Do 120 days, and then $150 per day after that.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And 59.28 paid within 30 days.
MS. CURLEY: Yep.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a motion. Do
we have a second?
MR. DOINO: Second.
MS. CURLEY: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Second. All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
So you have four months to find someone to -- an architect that
will give you a certificate, making it -- making the county happy with
the windows that are there. You should have plenty of time to shop
August 28, 2020
Page 81
around. This is an unusual case. It's difficult for the Board to vote
against the chief building official in Collier County. That's why it
turned out the way it did.
MS. CURLEY: And also, just to note that, you know, if you
sell your condo, you'll have to have that paperwork in order to sell it.
So because you inherited it, you didn't have to go through any of that
regiment where a home inspection or something would have brought
this to highlight. So it will eventually help you in the long run.
MS. PAPPALARDO: Okay. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Getting the affidavit will pay for
itself.
MS. PAPPALARDO: All right. I do -- would like to put it on
record, though, that the windows were there.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I understand.
MS. PAPPALARDO: I do not want to be -- anybody think that
I'm making anything up. The windows were there.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I believe you.
MS. PAPPALARDO: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Thank you.
Thank you, Junior.
MR. TORRES: Thank you.
MS. BUCHILLON: Next item on the agenda, under imposition
of fines, No. 1, CEVR20180002560, Maria C. Ramirez. There's two
cases for her; one after the other one.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. MUCHA: I do.
MS. RAMIREZ: I do.
MS. MATA: I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Language is not a problem?
MS. RAMIREZ: No.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Joe.
August 28, 2020
Page 82
MR. MUCHA: For the record, Joe Mucha, Supervisor of
Collier County Code Enforcement.
This is dealing with a violation of the Collier County Land
Development Code 04-41, as amended, Sections 3.05.01(B) and
10.02.06(B)(1)(a).
Violation location is 11700 Labrador Lane.
Folio No. 759800108.
Description of the violation is removal of native vegetation
canopy trees, ground cover, and mid-story plants where the total area
cleared exceeds the maximum one acre under the building permit
issued for construction of the principal structure;
Two, site work improvement of property, grading, or other
alteration of land use using heavy machinery, including placement of
fill that removed, damaged, or destroyed vegetation without first
obtaining county approval;
Three, failure to maintain a minimum vegetation required within
a Rural Fringe Mixed Use receiving lands overlay, special clearing
limitations, retain minimum of on 40 percent of the native vegetation
present as of July 2002 [sic], and not to exceed 25 percent of the total
site area.
Past orders: On January 24th, 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 attached order of the Board,
OR5603, Page 2125, for more information.
Violation has not been abated as of August 28th, 2020.
Fines and costs to date are as follows: Fines have accrued at a
rate of 100 per day for the period from January 24th, 2020, to
August 28th, 2020, 218 days, for a total fine amount of $21,800.
Fines continue to accrue.
Previously assessed operational costs of $59.70 have been paid.
August 28, 2020
Page 83
Operational costs for today's hearing is $59.35, for a total fine
amount of $21,859.35.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. I know there's another case
that comes after that. Would it be helpful if we hear the other case
on top of this or let this stand by itself?
MR. MUCHA: I think it could.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. MUCHA: Do you want me to read that one as well?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yes.
MR. MUCHA: Okay. For the second case, this is dealing
with a violation of the Collier County Land Development Code
04-41, as amended, Sections 3.05.01(B) and 10.02.06(B)(1)(a).
Location is 11700 Labrador Lane.
Folio 759800108.
Description: Structures including, but not limited to, sheds,
pole barn, chicken coop and trailer built on property without first
obtaining all required Collier County building permits;
Three, expired Collier County building permits. And I'm not
going to read those numbers off.
Past orders: On January 24th, 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,
OR5603, Page 2111, for more information.
Violation has not been abated as of August 28th, 2020.
Fines and costs to date are as follows: Fines have accrued at a
rate of $100 per day for the period from January 24th, 2020, to
August 28th, 2020, 218 days, for a total fine amount of $21,800.
Fines continue to accrue.
Previously assessed operational costs of $59.49 have been paid.
Operational costs for today's hearing is $59.35, for a total fine
August 28, 2020
Page 84
amount of $21,859.35.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So you've heard the
statement by the county that this has not been abated. No permits on
those individual buildings that were listed.
Your turn to speak. This thing was already heard, and this was
where the violation was. It was voted on by the Board back then.
What we're here today to do is to impose the fines or not.
THE COURT REPORTER: Can you state your name.
MS. MATA: My name is Elsa Mata. I am one of J. Trejo
Construction.
We were recently consulted to help with both of these matters
because in some way they're kind of connected. And right now what
we're doing is researching everything and trying to find o ut if these
building permits can even be put into compliance, you know, fixed or
repaired to get them approved, or if they need to be removed.
And as far as for the vegetation, there is a pole barn that is in
within one of those permits that we're trying to consult with architect
or engineering to find out if that can be permitted. If that is
permitted, that will help as far as permitting a little bit more of the
vegetation removal. So they're kind of connected.
And as far as the construction company, we're in the process of
researching all of this, figuring out how we can help the homeowner.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: When were you hired?
MS. MATA: Just recently.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. This case goes back to
2018.
MS. MATA: Yes. I guess they had hired -- tried with other
people.
MS. RAMIREZ: Freshwater -- Ryan knows.
MS. CURLEY: I didn't hear her.
MS. RAMIREZ: I have been talking with Ryan, and he knows
August 28, 2020
Page 85
that I had already had another contract.
MS. MATA: She had already tried to hire somebody else.
That didn't work out.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Ryan is there.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. CATHEY: I do.
I have been in regular communication with the property owner.
And I just want to put on the record that she has removed some of the
structures. The sheds, the chicken coop, and the trailer are all gone.
So the only thing remaining is the pole barn, and the permits are
related to the pool, which they're dealing with now.
And then I don't know all the issues with the previous
contractor, but it all just kind of got put on a stand-still.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Where is this property located?
MR. CATHEY: Off 6L Farms.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Oh, okay.
MR. CATHEY: It's an agricultural zone.
MS. CURLEY: Why do you think it just got put on a
stand-still?
MR. CATHEY: I don't know all the details. She had been
working with this other contractor, and nothing came forward with
the permits. I'll let her go into more detail, but...
MS. MATA: She was working with two other contracts also.
Both owners have been dealing with complicated health issues
through all this time for years, so it's been a struggle for them.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Well, it seems that for the
past two years nothing's been done.
MR. CATHEY: With the permits, I mean, they're working on it
now. But they did remove some of the other structures, like I
mentioned. The sheds, the chicken coop, and the trailer have all
been removed.
August 28, 2020
Page 86
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So the first case -- how big is this
property?
MS. MATA: Five acres.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Five acres?
MS. CURLEY: And so does it need DEP approval? I mean, is
it that detailed? Is it that raked clean? Is it --
MS. MATA: As far as us, we haven't --
MS. CURLEY: I was asking the county.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: With a building permit, you're
allowed to clear up to one acre. Do you have any
building -- building permit on the first case? Is that the case, Joe?
Was there a building permit that gave them the ability to clear up to
one acre?
MR. MUCHA: No, that's part of the problem.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. MUCHA: That's why the cases are kind of connected.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Yeah. So to begin with --
MR. MUCHA: If they get some of these things permitted, it
would allow them to clear more, but...
MS. CURLEY: So was the whole five acres cleared?
MS. MATA: No. It's not all five acres. And, plus, since this
all started, they've allowed the property to grow back naturally. So
it's not all cleared. And I imagine when they built the house, they
had to have signed -- or been given permission to clear for the one
acre.
MS. CURLEY: So I'm sure we saw the overlay pictures from
years ago, and then the clearance, and I'm sure we saw all that. So,
then, just -- Joe, so there wasn't, like -- there's not, like, a DEP issue
where they have to have -- redo the land? You know, replant native
vegetation? Because I'm sure it's Brazilian pepper that's growing out
there.
August 28, 2020
Page 87
MR. MUCHA: I'm not fully aware of that.
MS. MATA: That is something that we're researching also
because, for sure, I would think that that would have to be involved.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yeah. We're not rehearing the
case now. The case was heard, and the decision was made at that
time. What we are doing now is, this is not in compliance, and we're
going to make a motion to impose the fine or not. That's where we
are right now.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Mr. Chairman, for the record, Jeff
Letourneau. Having heard that they've hired a professional at this
point, the county wouldn't be adverse to them requesting an
extension, if they would like to do that at this point. I think that
would be one of their options.
MS. MATA: That is something that we were here to do.
MS. CURLEY: Well, let's -- do you have a signed contract that
you've been hired? You just said you consulted with them. Are
you actually hired by her? Has she hired you?
MS. MATA: Yes.
MS. CURLEY: And you have documentation that -- I mean,
that that --
MS. MATA: I mean, we have been instructed to go ahead and
start, research everything, because we have to come up
with -- research everything and then present a plan to her to see if
she's going to proceed with what we recommend.
MS. CURLEY: So --
MS. MATA: But right now, this is all researching for
us -- research period for us, actually.
MS. CURLEY: So they don't have anyone helping them yet.
MS. MATA: She's just wanting for everyone to know that
recently she lost her eyesight. She's working on all of this. So this
is something -- like I said, we were consulted, and we're trying to
August 28, 2020
Page 88
help her also.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Would she like to ask for an extension?
MS. MATA: Would you like to ask for an extension?
MS. RAMIREZ: Yes. Yes.
MR. LETOURNEAU: And, go ahead, ask for some time here.
MS. RAMIREZ: Yes, I would like to ask for an extension.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do you think six months would be
enough time?
MS. RAMIREZ: Yes, it would help.
MS. MATA: Six months would definitely be enough time to
resolve.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. LETOURNEAU: The county has no objection to that.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So would someone like to
make a motion that we --
MS. CURLEY: I'll make a motion to allow the county to
withdraw the case and extend it six months.
MR. DOINO: I'll second that.
MS. CURLEY: Is that the right way?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I don't know if it needs to be
withdrawn or just grant an extension.
MR. LETOURNEAU: I think it would probably be cleaner if
you guys just said, yeah, we're giving her the six months to take care
of this issue.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. That's what we said.
MS. CURLEY: Make a motion for us guys to take care of it for
another six months.
MR. DOINO: Six months. Second. Second us guys.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
August 28, 2020
Page 89
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Thank you.
MS. RAMIREZ: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: What's the next case, Helen, so I
can start looking for it?
MS. BUCHILLON: Next item on the agenda, under imposition
of fines, No. 7, CESD20180008773, Laurette Archange. She was
here, but she left, and she wrote a letter to request fi nes to be waived.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. MUCHA: I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Do you want to read this
into the record, Joe?
MR. MUCHA: Sure. For the record, Joe Mucha, supervisor
of Collier County Code Enforcement.
This is dealing with a violation of the Collier County Land
Development Code 04-41, as amended, Section 10.02.06(B)(1)(a).
Location is 13598 Legacy Lane.
Folio No. 77390004464.
Description of the violation is a garage enclosure, load -bearing
wall removal, conversion of a utility closet into guest bathroom,
renovation and removal of bathroom fixtures, plumbing
modifications to bathrooms, and washing machine hookups without a
valid Collier County permit.
Past orders: On June 27th, 2019, the Code Enforcement Board
issued a finding of fact, conclusion of law and order. The
respondent was found in violation of the referenced ordinance and
August 28, 2020
Page 90
ordered to correct the violation. See the attached order of the Board,
OR5652, Page 843, for more information.
Violation has been abated as of March 9th, 2020.
Fines and costs to date are as follows: Fines have accrued at a rate of
$100 per day for the period from August 27th, 2019, to March 9th,
2020, for 196 days, for a total fine amount of $19,600.
Previously assessed operational costs of $59.42 have been paid.
Operational costs for today's hearing is $59.42, for a total fine
amount of $19,659.42.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So it's been abated.
MR. MUCHA: It's been abated.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Basically, it was a garage
conversion?
MR. MUCHA: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And it took a lot of time to
un-convert it.
MR. MUCHA: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Mr. Chairman, I'd like to put on just one
thing. Our past policy has always been, if you had an imposition, we
like the property owner to be here; however, because of the COVID,
we recommend them writing letters like this person has in hopes that
it would be sufficient enough to make your decision based on that.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do you want to read the letter into
the record, or show it to us?
MS. CURLEY: Or we could just award her for the -- she's the
only one so far this day that's actually had her violations corrected,
and abate all of the fines that the county are trying to impose.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Why don't we read the letter. She
wrote it.
MR. MUCHA: She was actually present this morning, but she
August 28, 2020
Page 91
had to leave for work, so...
MS. CURLEY: Well, I appreciate the effort. I make a motion
to deny the county's request for fines of $19,600 and also deny them
the 59.42 for today's hearing.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a motion. Do
we have a second?
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MS. BUCHILLON: Next item on the agenda, under imposition
of fines, No. 8, CESD20180011460, Carlo Valdes and Dulce Valdes.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. MUCHA: I do.
MR. LOMBARDO: I do.
MS. VALDES: I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Joe, do you want to read
this into the record for us?
MR. MUCHA: We actually have two as well, so do you want
to just go both at the same time? She has one --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: What's the order number on the
second one?
MS. BUCHILLON: Number 14.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: No, the last four digits of the case.
MR. MUCHA: 4216.
August 28, 2020
Page 92
MR. LOMBARDO: For the record, my name is Zach
Lombardo. I'm here on behalf of the defendant here. And I just
want to comment on that request. We're going to -- we have two
different approaches for each of them. We don't mind talking about
them at the same time, but we're going to ask for two different things,
if that helps make the decision.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Well, since I haven't found
the other one yet, why don't we hear the first one first. This is --
MS. CURLEY: 11460.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yeah. 114960?
MR. DOINO: 4216.
MR. MUCHA: YOU want me to go ahead?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Give me one second. We're not
going anywhere. Here it is.
MS. CURLEY: Okay. Got it.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I go it also. Which one do you
want to talk about first?
MR. LETOURNEAU: 11460.
MR. MUCHA: We'll do the 11460 first.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. MUCHA: All right. For the record, Joe Mucha,
supervisor of Collier County Code Enforcement.
This is dealing with a violation of the Collier County Land
Development Code 04-41, as amended, Section 10.02.06(B)(1)(a)
and 10.02.06(B)(1)(e).
Location is 191 Smallwood Drive, Chokoloskee.
Folio No. 26081640007.
Description is addition of a tiki hut without obtaining a Collier
County building permit.
Past order: On February 28th, 2019, Code Enforcement Board
issued a finding of fact, conclusion of law and order. The
August 28, 2020
Page 93
respondent was found in violation of the referenced ordinances and
ordered to correct the violation. See the attached order of the Board,
OR5607, Page 514, for more information.
On September 26th, 2019, the Code Enforcement Board granted
a continuance. See the attached order of the Board for more
information.
Violation has not been abated as of August 28th, 2020.
Fines and costs to date are as follows: Fines have accrued at a
rate of $100 per day for the period from August 28th, 2019, to
August 28th, 2020, for 367 days, for a total fine amo unt of $36,700.
Fines continue to accrue.
Previously assessed operational costs of $59.49 and $59.28 have
been paid. Operational costs for today's hearing is $59.42, for a total
fine amount of $36,759.42.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. These are two separate
cases.
MS. CURLEY: Two different years.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yeah. I'm looking at the
description. Two chickee huts, covered structures built without
permits, and the other one is addition of a tiki hut without permits.
What's the --
MR. MUCHA: Correct.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: What's the difference?
MR. LOMBARDO: Do you mind if I explain? So there are
three chickee huts here. And if you walked into the restaurant -- this
is the only restaurant in Chokoloskee. When you walk right in, the
first thing is the first chickee hut, and there's about 15 tables under
there. The other two were put at the opposite ends of the property.
The property is an acute triangle along 29.
And so this first case is about the larger chickee hut. It was
built without a permit. You've already found that. The property
August 28, 2020
Page 94
owner went to go get a permit. The problem is the roads in
Chokoloskee have been -- the right-of-way has actually moved on the
island several times, and so the current layout of the property is that
those two poles on the front end are actually in the right -of-way.
And so she has -- and we filed a right-of-way vacation
application with the county. The PL number is 20200001674. We
are actively working with the county to adjust the right -of-way, and
specifically because if you look at a plat map -- or not map. If you
look at the Property Appraiser's website for Chokoloskee, some of
the properties jut out into the right-of-way and some of them don't.
Hers doesn't. Two blocks down they do. And it comes from -- I
mean, Chokoloskee was originally laid out 70 -- or 50 years before
the county was incorporated. So a lot of this is legacy property
issues.
And so, absolutely, the property owner understands that this has
to be brought into compliance. There needs to be a building permit.
But before we get the building permit, we have to get the
right-of-way application finished. Unfortunately, because, you
know, the obvious question is, what have we been doing? There's
time passing here.
We've been working with county staff in the pre-application
process, but as a result of the -- a lot of the closures in the past six
months, it's been difficult, but we are moving forward on that
process. And so what we're asking for on this first one, with the
assurance that we're actively pursuing the right-of-way application,
and should that not pan out, then the building's going to have to be
redesigned, that we be given -- that you not impose fines at this
moment and readdress this once we have resolved the open
right-of-way permit application.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So you're looking for an extension
of time on this?
August 28, 2020
Page 95
MR. LOMBARDO: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And how much time do you think
you need?
MR. LOMBARDO: I think that -- I mean, I don't know how
much time we need, but I think if we did either three or six months,
we can -- you'll be able to actively track us on CityView so we can
come in and talk about the actual progress in whatever makes you-all
comfortable. Because I want to assure you that it's moving.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So if -- let's just say three
months is granted, and within the three months they give you that
ability, does that end this case? Joe?
MR. MUCHA: No, because they've still got to permit the tiki
hut.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So then --
MR. LOMBARDO: We apply for the permit.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Then you apply for the permit.
MR. LOMBARDO: Yes.
MS. CURLEY: I have a question: Does the right-of-way
change because of nature?
MR. LOMBARDO: No. This is a very interesting question.
So when the -- and I only know this because -- so I work with Tony
Pires, and our firm did a whole -- we redid all of the easements in
Chokoloskee in the '90s when the city provided water down in
Chokoloskee. And just for -- it was more the case that buildings just
weren't where everyone thought the buildings were. So it's not that
the island has changed shape. It's that when things were laid out,
they weren't using AutoCAD. They weren't using more precise
tools. And so there just were buildings in the wrong places.
So there was a series -- if you look at this, there's a series of
agreements that get put in place in the early '90s where things get
moved, and so that's the basis with which we're going -- coming to
August 28, 2020
Page 96
the county, and I think it's a good-faith basis.
And also, just to keep in mind from the equitable consideration,
which it was a 162.02, the -- this is the only restaurant on the entire
island. These chickees are what provide for outside seating and,
under the current CDC guidelines, that's what's recommended is
outside seating.
Now, however, when we get to the other chickees, we're tearing
them down, and I'm not going to fight you on that. But this chickee
has 15 tables, and it's just those front two poles that are sitting
forward. And so I think this is an unnecessarily unique case that
comes from an island that hasn't probably had a lot of attention paid
to it when it comes to development for a very, very long time.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Joe, do you have anything?
MR. MUCHA: I support it.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: I agree.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So you need an extension
of time. So the question I have for the Board is how much time.
MR. DOINO: Six months.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: Let's do -- like, normally, we'd give six
months. So let's give three more because of the vacation request --
MR. DOINO: Nine months?
MS. CURLEY: -- is hairy, and then you have all the Christmas,
Thanksgiving, New Year, and then God knows what's going to go on
with COVID and if she can even get somebody down there to -- and
she's got legal aid here. So, yeah, I think nine months is probably --
MR. DOINO: Nine months.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: It's history, and I think there's some fallback
under that. Maybe they'll get a storm and push the right -of-way the
August 28, 2020
Page 97
other way.
MR. LOMBARDO: That could happen, and we would be open
to that.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. I would expect if we grant
nine months, that's the most that's on there -- if we grant nine months
and you do get your okay, that -- if you come back before us, you not
only have that okay, but you also have your building pe rmit that's
been applied for or whatever has to be done. I don't know, maybe
that could be done --
MR. LOMBARDO: We can start simultaneously. It just can't
be granted until the right-of-way issue's resolved.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I understand. So we have a
motion.
MR. DOINO: And second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And we have a second to grant the
extension of time for nine months. Any discussion on the motion?
MS. BUCHILLON: You want extension or continuance?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Continuance, I'm sorry, of nine
months.
MR. LOMBARDO: Can you explain the difference?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The difference is the fines continue
to accrue on a continuance.
MR. LOMBARDO: And they do not on an extension; is that
correct?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Right.
MR. LOMBARDO: And which one did you pick?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Continuance.
MR. LOMBARDO: Okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: They continue to accrue.
MS. CURLEY: Is there a financial hardship on the --
MR. LOMBARDO: Well, I would suggest there is only
August 28, 2020
Page 98
because it's a restaurant that has, you know, been impacted by the
decline in tourism and also by the reduced capacity that it's allowed
to operate on.
MS. CURLEY: No, I didn't mean that way. I mean, if she's
trying to fetch a loan on it, having these outstanding fines, it makes it
more difficult. But the fines can be abated if she gets into
compliance in nine months, if she comes back and requests it.
MR. LOMBARDO: Yeah. I mean, to be -- forthright-wise,
there's no -- there's no loan issues at the moment. I don't know -- I
don't want to speak for you. I don't know if you're seeking a loan.
MS. VALDES: A little bit.
MR. LOMBARDO: You are looking for a loan? Okay. So --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Our problem is this --
MR. LOMBARDO: You need incentive.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: -- to do the other form of
extension, that means that the fines are excused back to the beginning
and we start at square one, which we can't do since it's still in
violation.
MR. LOMBARDO: I understand that.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That's why it's a continuance.
MR. LOMBARDO: I think we'll just have to address this at a
later time. If that's the procedural posture, that's fine.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So we have a motion to
grant nine months. All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
August 28, 2020
Page 99
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
That takes care of the first one.
MR. LOMBARDO: The second case involves the chickees that
are at the opposite ends of the restaurant. The first -- one of them
has been removed, so what we're dealing with is the one north side,
and it will be removed, is what we have -- all we can say. And the
explanation for the timing is that it's extremely difficult to get
contractors into Chokoloskee to do work.
The first chickee took a huge amount of time to get removed and
ended up involving a lot of work from the owners themselves
personally because it was not easy to get contractors down there.
The second one will be removed, and so all we're asking for on this
one is I think we were going to ask for three months to remove the
chickee, and that's cut and dry. It's either removed or it's not
removed.
MS. CURLEY: Did they buy this restaurant with these already
up?
MS. VALDES: No, ma'am, I did not. We bought a very small
little bait/tackle shop, and --
MR. LOMBARDO: There was a little initial confusion about
whether chickees, because they're constructed by Native Americans,
whether they require permits or not. There was some confusion with
that on the property owners, but on this one, we're not disputing your
ruling. It's in the wrong spot, and it needs to be --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So you think it will take three
months to --
MR. LOMBARDO: To, I think -- I mean, that's what I was
told. Is that fair?
MS. VALDES: I'm sorry. I'm a little bit nervous.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Don't be nervous.
MS. CURLEY: Don't be nervous.
August 28, 2020
Page 100
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The only one that bites here is Sue.
MR. LOMBARDO: Well, we were trying to talk to Sue. I
was watching that.
MS. CURLEY: We're all volunteers here. We are all
homeowners and residents of this county. We aren't paid to do this
job, and so we understand and appreciate the history of the restaurant
that you have down there.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Anybody like to make a
motion on this case?
MS. ELROD: I'll make a motion we grant the three months.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a motion. Do
we have a second?
MS. BOWMAN: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. 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.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MR. LOMBARDO: And just procedurally, so we'll be back
here in three months, or an inspector will go down.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, you'll be back here in three
months, I'm guessing, to ask that the fines --
MR. LOMBARDO: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: -- that have accrued be --
August 28, 2020
Page 101
MR. LOMBARDO: Yeah. We'll file a motion on that point.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, you'll come back. I don't
think you have to file a motion. You just have to request whatever
you want to request.
MR. LOMBARDO: Okay. Sounds good.
MS. VALDES: I want to thank you so much because I know
you've been really strict, but thanks for helping me out.
MS. CURLEY: It's not me.
MR. LOMBARDO: Really good black beans and rice, if you're
looking for a recommendation in Chokoloskee.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. BUCHILLON: Okay. Next item on the agenda under
imposition of fines, No. 9, CESD20190001104, Jose de Jesus De
Sousa and Michelle E. De Sousa.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. DE SOUSA: I do.
MR. SHORT: I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Could you state your name on the
microphone for us.
MR. DE SOUSA: Jose De Sousa.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Eric, we think we know
you.
MR. SHORT: All right. For the record, Supervisor Eric Short,
Collier County Code Enforcement.
This is in regards to violations of the Collier County Land
Development Code 04-41, as amended, Section 10.02.06(B)(1)(a)
and 10.02.06(B)(1)(e)(i).
The location is 812 96th Avenue North, Naples, Florida. Folio
is 62769720009.
Regarding six sheds in the rear of the property installed without
required permits, inspections, and certificate of completion or
August 28, 2020
Page 102
occupancy.
Your past orders: On June 27th, 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 violations. See the attached order of the Board
in OR Book 5652, Page 850, for more information.
The violation has not been abated as of August 28th, 2020.
Fines and costs to date as follows: Fines have accrued at a rate
of $100 per day from the period between August 27th, 2019, to
August 28th, 2020, 368 days, for a total fine amount of $36,800.
These fines continue to accrue.
Previously assessed operational costs of $59.63 have been paid.
Operational costs for today's hearing is $59.28, bringing us to a total
of $36,859.28.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. This is in Naples Park?
MR. SHORT: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Okay, sir.
MR. DE SOUSA: I'm struggling financially. I've been
struggling for -- before even COVID. COVID's really hit me much
harder than before.
I have not removed the sheds. I originally asked the county
what the building lines was, and I put it to what they told me
verbally, but I found out later that's not the case.
I'm asking for an extension in consideration. And I did bring
you some documents, you can have a look, to see that I haven't paid
my mortgage.
I have applied -- for Collier Care. So I'm asking for help here,
an extension of time, please.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. This goes back way before
COVID.
MS. CURLEY: I remember this case. This is a -- is this your
August 28, 2020
Page 103
VRBO house that you have in Naples Park? And then you had
paved the backyard and had these really nice sheds for the
paddleboard storages and all these things?
MR. DE SOUSA: No. I live in the home. I don't -- if you
can ask me the question again.
MS. CURLEY: Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah. So is it -- did you have
a pool deck and then you paved and then you had storage lockers all
on the back of the property line?
MR. DE SOUSA: I wish I had a pool deck. No. It's just
sheds in the back. We got foreclosed on three years ago, and we
were lucky to purchase this house.
I had a home in Delasol, 3,800 square foot. The reason the
sheds are there is to store our stuff. For no other reason. And my
finances has not changed even from back there. I'm still struggling.
I'm asking for some time, please.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do you recall, Eric, this was a case
that was brought up from a neighbor complaint; is that it?
MR. SHORT: That's correct. The Naples Park Association
had filed a complaint.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: So am I right, Eric, that the storage sheds are
all along the property line, like, four or five of them or three or four
of them in a row?
MS. BOWMAN: Along the fence?
MS. CURLEY: Back.
MR. DE SOUSA: Yes.
MR. SHORT: Yes. There's six sheds on the property, and
originally there was a permit pulled, shortly before our original
hearing, to convert those into cabanas. That permit was rejected by
the county. Subsequently, on August 7th, 2019, a demolition permit
was obtained. It's been renewed a few times. He recently renewed
August 28, 2020
Page 104
it July 1st of this year.
MS. CURLEY: So what's it entail to demo this?
MR. SHORT: It's just a removal of the structures; one
inspection.
MS. CURLEY: Just machinery or just by hand?
MR. SHORT: That would be a preference for the owner.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Eric, was there some question about the
rental of these sheds at some point in the beginning of this case, or
am I incorrect about that?
MR. SHORT: Part of the complaint was that each individual
shed was being rented as a unit, but we could never prove that. We
addressed it as a permitting violation.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Well, this thing goes back
over a year. It's a simple thing. This is almost like having a car
parked illegally; you have the car towed or whatever it is. These
sheds need to go, and I think the motivation for that would be to
impose the fine.
Anybody want to make a motion? Okay. I make a motion that
we impose the fine.
MR. DOINO: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second.
All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MS. BUCHILLON: Next item on the agenda, under imposition
August 28, 2020
Page 105
of fines, No. 11, CESD20190006694, William James Morgan.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: This must be your day, Jonathan.
You want to read this into the record?
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. MORGAN: Yes, ma'am.
MR. MUSSE: Yes, ma'am.
Good morning. For the record, Investigator Jonathan Musse,
Collier County Code Enforcement.
Description of the violations: Voided Permit No. 930015719
for storage and balcony addition and converted into a -- converted the
storage and balcony additions into living space.
Past orders: On October 25th, 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 violations. See attached order of the Board,
OR5696, Page 3431, for more information.
Violation has not been abated as of August 28th, 2020.
Fines and costs to date are as follows: Fines have accrued at
the rate of $100 per day for the period from February 23rd, 2020, to
August 28th, 2020, 188 days, for a total fine amount of $18,800.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You'll have your chance in a
second.
MR. MUSSE: Previously assessed operational costs of 59.28
have not been paid.
Operational costs for today's hearing: $59.28.
Total amount: $18,918.56.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
Okay. Your turn.
MR. MORGAN: My name is William James Morgan.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Could you move the microphone
up so we can hear you better. There you go.
August 28, 2020
Page 106
MR. MORGAN: My name is William James Morgan. My
birthday was August 6, 1992.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Can barely hear you.
MR. MORGAN: My name is William James Morgan.
Birthday was August 6, 1992.
I was requesting the people who needed to be here. They're not
here. My father and others were supposed to be here. They're not,
so it doesn't matter. It's me alone.
I just wanted to request -- just ask properly, please, for a little bit
more time.
Also, I was -- some of this was not my fault. I was either
incarcerated or Baker Acted from other people. The incarceration, I
was driving without a license. That was my fault. My fiancée,
Rachel Perales, was my power of attorney when I was incarcerated.
She only paid one mortgage payment, and I had to backpay on that.
That was my problem. I already paid most of that back.
I can cover anything. I just need a little bit more time. But
there's a lot of the -- there's errors on the time frame. It started in
February on the payments daily. I didn't get out of incarceration
until April. I think April 24th is the day that I got out -- this last
April is when I just got out of the incarceration, so that's a little bit of
time knocked off from the daily payments of $100 fine, correct?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: No.
MR. MORGAN: Why not?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It doesn't matter if you're
incarcerated.
MR. MORGAN: I was incarcerated. My power of attorney
should have been paying it. That was not my fault. I was deemed
incompetent.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Let me just go on. Since
the operational costs have not been paid, we generally do not listen to
August 28, 2020
Page 107
any argument to extend time or abate a fine. So that's the position
that we're at right now.
MR. MORGAN: I was only requesting -- I didn't know that.
I've never been in --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Well --
MR. MORGAN: I've only -- I just turned 28 on August 6th, so
this is my first time going through this.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: I understand. Maybe there's a point of
clarification that might help you is that when you see the
$100 -- we're not asking for payment of that. That's just like
accruing as a bill, so whoever was responsible for your financial
while you were away --
MR. MORGAN: I was also -- I was only one responsible.
MS. CURLEY: Let me just finish, please. She's taking record
of it.
MR. MORGAN: I'm sorry.
MS. CURLEY: Is that -- so we're not asking you to pay a fee
every month until this gets corrected. So there was no -- you didn't
have any payments due to us, okay. So that was a little confusing
when you said that in the beginning.
MR. MORGAN: If I'm correct, from February this year, I've
been fined $100 a day, correct?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Correct.
MR. MORGAN: I didn't get out of the incarceration until --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That doesn't matter whether you're
incarcerated or not.
MR. MORGAN: That's all I wanted to add towards both.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. MORGAN: That doesn't matter. I can cover the 18,000
payment. May I please have more time? I just got out of jail. I
August 28, 2020
Page 108
can make the money through everything. I am promoted by rappers.
I'm a tattoo artist. I can make the --
MS. CURLEY: Let me ask: Have you gotten some bids on
the -- to fix the error -- the problems that you have? Do you know
how much time it's going to take to do it since you've had a little time
lately? Do you know?
MR. MORGAN: Towards everything, bringing it up to code
and everything? The only thing that I have thought of is the
electrical part. I don't know anything about that. I'm going to have
to hire somebody probably to rewire the entire house. It's been
wired completely wrong in my bedroom and the back bedroom that
goes to the laundry room. Those were -- the lanai was supposed to
be from '93 error. I'm being hit from Code Enforcement because of
that, because I bought the house as-is. That it my problem. I
agreed to that. There's no issues there. I can handle it. I just have
to get the house up to code for passing. That would have to be up to
code.
The flooring is the electrical part where the outlets come in in
my room and in that room. I want to keep the bedrooms, but I have
to bring the house up to code. So the lanai would have to be
properly built into bedrooms properly, right?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We're not here to hear the case, sir.
MR. MORGAN: I'm sorry. I can bring it up to code, exactly.
I just need at least six months probably, please.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. I will not accept an
extension because the operational costs were never paid.
MS. CURLEY: So can you pay these costs today and then
meet with the inspector here? What he's saying is you have a
balance due, and we don't typically want to h ear --
MR. LETOURNEAU: Of 59.28, sir.
MR. MORGAN: At this moment I only have $20 cash in my
August 28, 2020
Page 109
pocket. Monday I can pay that. If I can get home and everybody
can give me what they have in their pocket, yes, I'll come back and
pay you immediately. They have -- my renters and people who were
supposed to be here, I can get the money from them to pay you for
that -- yes. If not, Monday I guarantee you I'll pay you myself for
that, and I can pay you no matter what for anything. Guaranteed. I
just need a little bit of time.
MS. CURLEY: So this original case was heard on
October 25th, 2019. Was this a case that you were here for in
October?
MR. MORGAN: I was never present ever. That was Rachel
Perales. She was the one here for the building and the demol ishing
for the downstairs apartment that was supposed to be torn down.
That was my fault. I brought some people home. I brought people
into my home that were going to have a child, a couple that were
going to have a child, and they already had two kids. So there was
two kids with a baby coming.
Before I got out, they left. They were there the whole time, the
whole year renting from me, $600. But he had rebuilt the entire
bottom part. Because he worked for a GC. He did it himself. He
brought all the material. The GC contractor was going to help do
everything, bring it up to code.
We didn't know that he couldn't do that because of living storage
only. I didn't know that. That was my fault, and I didn't bring up
the permits to do so. Then I got arrested, so it didn't matter
anyways. I violated every way I could. I apologize.
I didn't know that. I've been deemed incompetent before, but I
proved that I am not incompetent because I went around the
loopholes and got it out. I went through therapy to get it.
MS. CURLEY: I mean, I think I -- if -- do you have a source of
income where you can --
August 28, 2020
Page 110
MR. MORGAN: Absolutely.
MS. CURLEY: -- achieve these things?
MR. MORGAN: Yes.
MS. BOWMAN: I think there needs to be a little -- maybe just
more education to him of what the process is. I think he's thinking
that he has to pay this $18,000 --
MR. MORGAN: I'm the only one responsible.
MS. BOWMAN: -- but clearly the issue is you just need to fix
the problems with the property and pay the $60 in operational costs,
and --
MS. CURLEY: We like to hear each case one case at a time.
We don't like to follow a standard rule.
I feel like he's tried to make an effort. He's had a lot of
roadblocks. He's admitted that he's made some errors. I think that,
you know, sometimes in life people just need to be given an
opportunity to do better.
MR. MORGAN: To give you a good faith, I just put $20,000
down for another property. That's going to have two houses on it for
$220,000 offer that I'm giving, and a house is 300 -- the property with
two houses on it is 330,000, so...
MS. CURLEY: Well, that didn't help out.
MR. MORGAN: But I'm just saying that's -- I can pay
everything I need to. I didn't know -- because I had to wait to see
when this court date was going to give me. I was -- I was scared that
I was going to lose the property, so I put down for another one. I
have banks that can help me because I have collateral and everything.
MR. DOINO: I'll make a motion to impose the fine.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I second it.
Any discussion on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, all those in favor?
August 28, 2020
Page 111
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
Opposed?
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It passes 3-2. Okay. So --
MR. MORGAN: I don't know anything.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. MORGAN: That was legal terms I didn't understand.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You're going to get this all written
out as an order. You'll probably get it next week sometime, what
you need to do.
MR. MORGAN: Do I have time to work on everything?
MS. CURLEY: It still needs to be fixed. And they'll help you.
MR. MORGAN: So just listen to him?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yes.
MR. MORGAN: Thank you very much. Am I good to go?
MS. CURLEY: Yes.
MS. BOWMAN: Yes.
MR. MORGAN: Have a great day. God bless you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Helen?
MS. BUCHILLON: Next item on the agenda, under imposition
of fines, No. 12, CEPM20190006547, Tam Thanh Nguyen and
Tammy Nguyen.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have two cases here.
MS. BUCHILLON: Yes, sir, 12 and 13.
MS. CURLEY: What is the last name again? I'm sorry.
MS. BUCHILLON: It's N-g-u-y-e-n, but you pronounce it
Nguyen. Right, Mr. Nguyen?
MR. NGUYEN: Yes.
August 28, 2020
Page 112
MS. CURLEY: Thank you.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MS. PULSE: I do.
MR. NGUYEN: I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We're going to hear the case
ending in 6547 first?
MS. BUCHILLON: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Good morning.
MS. PULSE: Good afternoon.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yeah. Good afternoon, you're
right.
MS. PULSE: For the record, Dee Pulse, Collier County Code
Enforcement.
This is violation of the Florida Building Code, 6th Edition 2017,
Sections 454.2.17.1 through 454.2.17.3.
Location is 5175 Green Boulevard.
Folio 38396160008.
It's for a no barrier around in-ground pool.
Past orders: On January 24th, 2020, the Code Enforcement
Board issued a findings of fact, conclusion of law and order. The
respondent was found in violation of the referenced ordinances and
ordered to correct the violation. See the attached order of the Board,
OR5741, Page 1211, for more information.
The violation has been abated as of May 14, 2020.
Fines and costs to date are as follows: Number 1, no fines
accrued. Number 2, fines have accrued at a rate of $250 per da y for
the period from March 10th, 2020, to May 14th, 2020, 66 days, for a
total fine amount of $16,500.
Previously assessed operational costs of 59.21 have been paid.
Operational costs for today's hearing, $59.28.
Total amount: $16,559.28.
August 28, 2020
Page 113
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Has the barrier around the pool
been completed?
MS. PULSE: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Is it a permanent barrier?
MS. PULSE: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So it's come into
compliance.
Sir?
MR. NGUYEN: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: On this order, you're going to ask
us for something?
MR. NGUYEN: Say it again, please.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: On this first order -- I know we
have two.
MR. NGUYEN: Okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: This one was for the no barrier
around the in-ground pool. You fixed that.
MR. NGUYEN: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You got it all completed?
MR. NGUYEN: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So the fines that are here now, do
you want us to impose them, or are you asking us to abate them?
MR. NGUYEN: I'm asking for abate them, please.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. NGUYEN: Okay. Please, sir, abate them, because I
comply with that. I don't know what the fine for. I don't know.
MS. CURLEY: I make a motion to abate the county's request
for fines, including the operational costs.
MS. ELROD: Second.
MR. BLANCO: I'll second that.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a motion and a
August 28, 2020
Page 114
second. All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Please clarify the court costs for today.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: What?
MR. LETOURNEAU: Just to clarify, the operational costs for
today, right?
MS. CURLEY: Yes, operational costs of 59.28.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: Sorry.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Your fine of $16,559 is gone.
MR. NGUYEN: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Now, we come to the
second case.
MR. NGUYEN: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: This one is -- reading the
description, Dee will do it better than I will, chain-link/wooden fence
on property, no Collier County building permit, fencing dilapidated,
not maintained. Dee?
MS. PULSE: Good afternoon. For the record, Investigator
Dee Pulse.
This is in violation of the Florida Building Code, 6th Edition,
2017, Section 105.1 and Collier County Land Development Code
04-41, as amended, Section 5.03.02(F)(3).
Location: 5175 Green Boulevard, Naples, Florida, 34 -- Folio
August 28, 2020
Page 115
No. 38396160008.
Past order of -- on January 24th, 2020, the Code Enforcement
Board issued a findings of fact, conclusion of law and order. The
respondent was found in violation of the referenced ordinances and
ordered to correct the violations. See the attached order of the
Board, OR5749, Page 3391, for more information.
Violation has not been dated as of August 28th, 2020.
Fines and costs to date are as follows: Fines have accrued at a
rate of $100 per day for the period from March 25th, 2020, to
August 28th, 2020, 157 days, for a total fine amount of $15,700.
Fines continue to accrue.
Previously assessed operational costs of $59.35 have been paid.
Operational costs for today's hearing: $59.28.
Total amount: $15,759.28.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. NGUYEN: I would like to abate the fines because I did
not know it existed the last time I was here on January 24, and to
comply with that case, and I did it, with permit and hammer [sic] the
matter.
I did not know what is left over or what exists now, why the
fines. I did comply with that case number.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The first one, that's done.
MR. NGUYEN: No, this one, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You complied with this?
MR. NGUYEN: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So let me ask, Dee, have you been
out there to see this?
MS. PULSE: Yes. Well, I have, and also Investigator Holmes
was just there yesterday.
MS. CURLEY: What's going on?
MS. PULSE: Mr. Nguyen did obtain a permit for his chain-link
August 28, 2020
Page 116
fence and to demo a wood fence. He obtained that permit -- or
applied for it on February 1st, 2020, was issued on February 1st,
2020, and it was CO'ed February 25th, 2020.
On February 29th, we received another complaint into our office
questioning why the permit was completed because there is still
remaining wood fencing leaning on the neighbor's fence, which is
what the original complaint was. So she was confused why this
permit was completed when there's still wood fencing.
Mr. Nguyen was made aware that there's still wood fencing. I
made a site inspection and observed there's still wood fencing, and I
have been advising him, but he doesn't see the wood fencing on his
property so he doesn't believe it's there.
MS. CURLEY: Is it his?
MS. PULSE: It is. It's covered by vegetation.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: I mean, he got a CO.
MS. PULSE: The permit did not include the wood fencing that
remains. It only included a very small portion on the permit.
MS. CURLEY: This is pretty dodgy.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. The problem is that this,
according to what we're looking at, has not been abated.
MS. CURLEY: I mean --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So what was done on this, it
appears that you got a permit for the chain-link fence but didn't get
rid of the old fence that was there.
MR. NGUYEN: Yes, I did.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. You said "yes, I did," and
the code enforcement officer's saying "no, you didn't." That's where
we are.
MR. NGUYEN: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
August 28, 2020
Page 117
MR. NGUYEN: Therefore, I apply for remove old chain-link
fence and wood fence and also permit for boundary chain-link fence.
It passed that and get a CO for that. I do have, you know, the permit
for remove old wood and chain-link fence.
MS. CURLEY: Why would somebody have a chain-link fence
and a wood fence? It just -- to me, I'm not able to see this -- and I
know we're not hearing the case. But if the man got a permit, it
means he had to submit a barrier survey, and then he
installed -- removed an old chain-link fence, installed a new
chain-link fence, and the county came out and gave him his CO in
March, why in the world would he be responsible for a fence that's
outside of his fence, which is appears -- it sounds like -- is it a wood
fence that's leaning onto somebody else's property? If his property is
chain-linked in, whatever's on the outside of it's --
MS. PULSE: He had both. He had a chain-link and a wood
fence. People put up wood fences for more privacy.
MS. CURLEY: But he said that he's got a whole -- he's got all
chain link now; is that correct?
MS. PULSE: Well, except for this section of wood fence that
remains unpermitted --
MR. LETOURNEAU: Which was the basis for the complaint
from the neighbor.
MS. CURLEY: So why would he get a CO on the chain link?
Does the fence not have to -- does the fence not have to be complete,
start and finish?
MS. PULSE: No. You can have sections of wood fencing,
you know, but it was unpermitted to begin with. So someone
installed that wood fencing sections, maybe 30 feet of it, not the
entire perimeter of the property.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Cristine, did you want to say
something?
August 28, 2020
Page 118
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MS. PEREZ: Yes, I do.
So in discussing the situation with Mr. Nguyen, he does not
believe that the photographs are of his property, and he wants to do
his own investigation of going into the rear of his property.
That's -- this section where the fence is located was not identified on
the original survey, which is why the inspector CO'ed it, because that
section was not identified as being removed.
And, you know, as Dee indicated, there is some overgrowth
vegetation. So the fence that remains is located in the rear yard, still
visible from the neighbor, who filed the additional complaint. In
showing Mr. Nguyen the photographs, he says, how do I know those
are from my property? Until I do my investigation and I identify if
that fence is on my property, I'll let you know, so you can
come -- we've asked him -- Dee and another county employee have
discussed with him, we'll go on site, we'll show you where this is
located. I've showed him on the aerial photo, you know, on the
aerial map where the fencing is located according to the investigators.
And he says, once I do my investigation of where -- you know,
if it's on my property, I'll have you guys come on, you know, to show
me.
He does have to clear, you know, a little way to get back there
because of the overgrowth. But it falls down to where he just claims
that he doesn't know where we took those photographs from even
though they've testified to him as to where they are. He wants to see
them for himself, and that's why he feels that he's in compliance,
because he doesn't see it from his, you know, just open view, and
that's where we stand.
So there's -- to an extent, he does want additional time from the
Board to be able to do his own investigation, as he said.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Let me throw this out as a
August 28, 2020
Page 119
suggestion. You've been there with the respondent and pointed to
the part that needs to be removed?
MS. PEREZ: From the aerial photo.
MS. CURLEY: Okay. So --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: My suggestion is is that we re-hear
this thing on -- continue this till our next meeting, and you go out
there. Somebody from Code Enforcement goes out there with the
respondent and points it out.
MS. BOWMAN: Since January, though? Since January he
hasn't been able to walk to the back of the property?
MS. CURLEY: No. Here's the thing. An aerial photo has a
giant asterisk on it that says, this is not a survey. So as much as you
want to use that as a tool to help educate somebody, that aerial
survey, that line, does not dictate where his property line is in the real
world.
I mean, if you're going to make the man go get a survey, it's like
you're believing the people -- the -- you said the lady called, and so
what she's saying is all world real, but what the owner is saying is it's
not mine. So you just can't believe one person because they're
complaining. You just don't know who the fence belongs to. And
until somebody provides evidence who owns that fence, I don't know
how that --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Isn't that part of the inspection
process, to know that the fence is put up on your property and not in a
right-of-way or somebody else's property?
MS. PEREZ: There is a chain-link fence that surrounds the
entire property, and the fence that is in question is in the interior of
Mr. Nguyen's property leaning up against his own chain-link fence.
So the fence is on his -- within his property boundary.
Oh, I'm sorry, on the neighbor's fence. It's leaning in between.
MS. CURLEY: So is it inside his chain-link fence or outside
August 28, 2020
Page 120
his chain-link fence? She just said inside.
MS. PULSE: It's leaning on the neighbor's chain-link fence.
MS. CURLEY: I just can't even figure out how this --
MS. PULSE: We've made several attempts to try to schedule
an appointment to meet Mr. Nguyen on his property to physically
show him where the fencing is, but we haven't been granted that
inspection.
MS. CURLEY: Yeah. But you don't have a survey.
MS. BOWMAN: Can't you go on the neighbor's property and
take photos from that side and --
MS. PULSE: We have. We have -- yesterday we were on that
property with --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, we're not here to rehear it, so
I don't know if we need to see photos or not.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Mr. Chairman, at this point in time, the
county believes that this dilapidated fence is on Mr. Nguyen's
property. We haven't signed an affidavit of compliance. We're
saying it's still in violation. If we want to continue it, that's fine. If
we want to impose it, that's fine. But we're not here to argue
whether or not the fence is on Mr. Nguyen's property. We're saying
it's on Mr. Nguyen's property.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: Well -- but he got a fence installed, and so he
must have had to provide a barrier to have a vendor come and put up
a fence and to get his fencing permit. You have to provide --
MR. LETOURNEAU: What does that have to do with the
dilapidated wood fence that we're talking about?
MS. CURLEY: Well, because if he put his chain-link fence
around his property and then the chain-link -- the wooden dilapidated
fence that you're speaking about is beyond his property, it's not his.
MR. LETOURNEAU: That doesn't -- that doesn't -- if you put
August 28, 2020
Page 121
a chain-link fence -- you can put a chain-link fence anywhere on your
property.
MS. CURLEY: I understand that.
MR. LETOURNEAU: It doesn't -- it doesn't say that the wood
fence isn't still on his property either.
MS. CURLEY: So how about the survey that he submitted to
put his permit up? That -- you just -- somebody needs to provide the
aerial and not an aerial map to --
MR. NGUYEN: May I say something?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Go ahead.
MR. NGUYEN: Can I say something?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yeah.
MR. NGUYEN: Whatever -- Code Enforcement said the wood
fence existing. I just want to verify, because of the overgrow -- and
I don't know who it -- I don't know when or what happened to that
fence, but I did apply to remove partial when we met out there after
the hearing on January.
So, therefore, I would like to know -- give me some time to
remove that fence if I found them. I don't know. I don't know it
exist, because it's overgrow and it past, like, half of the way around
my lot. I never walk out there.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, from January to now is
around six months or greater. I would think that's plenty of time to
do it. And if all you need to do is remove that wooden fence or get
assessed $15,000, I think it would be in your best interest to remove
the wooden fence.
MR. NGUYEN: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Or we can stand here, and we can
argue back and forth.
MR. NGUYEN: I didn't not know about that. I didn't not
know about that wood fence. I did not.
August 28, 2020
Page 122
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The county hires this group of
people, not us, this group of people to determine where the violation
or no violation exists.
MR. NGUYEN: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So if they swear to it, they have no
reason to lie. So that's the deal.
MR. NGUYEN: That's what I'm asking them, please, show me
where the fence because -- and then we walk it out --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Did they try to make an
appointment with you to get out there and show you?
MR. NGUYEN: I just talked to -- July. Because they send me
the photo. I say, well, I don't know. You can take a photo
everybody fence and then tell me that's my fence.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Why would they take a photo of
something else and say it's your fence?
MS. CURLEY: Well, they're not allowed to do that.
That's -- their job is to not --
MR. NGUYEN: Right. So that's why I say on July, I say,
please, send me the photos and see where the wood fence, because
exist -- I don't know until the bank tell me to get somebody to put the
lease [sic] on your house. I don't even know about it. So I say,
please, send me the photo where is the neighbor complain, and I'm
going to find out if -- if -- if it exist in my side from my investigation,
I invite all you guys coming out, okay, that's the part [sic].
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That would be okay if you worked
for Code Enforcement. You do not. Those are the people who are
responsible for that, and if they tell you that that's what it is, then if
you disagree with what they're doing, then you need to file an appeal
on what's going on. In the meantime, we're arguing over if there's
some wooden fence that needs to be removed, and the fine that has
accrued so far is almost $16,000.
August 28, 2020
Page 123
So what are we doing? Do you want to give this one to our
next meeting?
MR. NGUYEN: I would --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You make an appointment with
these folks to go out there. They point out where it is. You remove
it.
MR. NGUYEN: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And if you don't remove it, we'll
impose the fine of $16,000.
MR. NGUYEN: I agree with that, because I'm just asking only
that question. Give me 30 day, and I go find out where that fence is
myself. If I saw that, it existing, I invite everybody, whoever
involved in that case, bring it over. Show me. Okay, that's it.
Because that's what I did the last time. I say, show me where the
spot you want me to remove or application for permit or --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We're just repeating ourselves,
okay.
Now, let's -- so this doesn't get dragged out, you make
appointment -- this is if we agree to bring this back next month -- get
an appointment, and that's the day you're out there. You don't show
up for the appointment, they're there to point it out to you, that's a
problem.
MR. NGUYEN: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You understand?
MR. NGUYEN: I agree with you there. Can I have 30 days to
do this?
MS. CURLEY: No. They don't work for you. You work for
them right now. So when they call you, you be there.
MR. NGUYEN: Okay.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Just a couple things, though. Dee, do
you need to go onto Mr. Nguyen's property to see if the fence is
August 28, 2020
Page 124
removed, or can you see it from the neighbor's property?
MS. PULSE: I can see if it's removed from the neighbor's
property.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Okay, all right. So, Mr. Nguyen, just
remove the fence. Call us up. Dee will come out there. If you
want to let her on the property, that's fine. If you don't, we'll look
from the neighbor's property, and that will be it at that point.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We'll put this off till next month.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Yes. The county will reschedule this
for next month. All right.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. BOWMAN: To have it removed by next month or to have
him meet with them by next month?
MR. LETOURNEAU: No. To have the fence removed by
next month. He's had -- as far as the county's concerned, he's had
plenty of time to take care of this. He's been notified many times
that this is still a violation. To argue otherwise, the county feels that
hopefully the Board would award the county's -- in the county's favor
next time if this fence isn't removed.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That's correct.
MS. CURLEY: It's going to be $3,000 more next month.
MS. PULSE: Yeah. And the fines will continue.
MR. NGUYEN: I agree with you that. I'm just asking for the
time --
MS. BOWMAN: I'd like to make a motion that we continue
this case --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yeah, the county agreed to that
already. Okay. This case is done. This case it done.
MR. NGUYEN: All right. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Now, we're going to take a break.
Chloe has an appointment that she has to go to. We have our
August 28, 2020
Page 125
brand-new member that will participate in her position.
MR. BLANCO: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yes.
MR. BLANCO: Did we vote on the last case?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: No. The county's pulling it.
MR. BLANCO: Do we have to amend the agenda?
MR. LETOURNEAU: Well, I mean, according to Mr. White, I
think --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. I make a motion that we
amend the agenda to reflect the county removing that case from this
meeting.
MR. BLANCO: I'll second that.
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a second. All those in
favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Okay.
MR. WHITE: Thank you, Mr. Chair.
(A brief recess was had from 12:42 p.m. to 12:58 p.m.)
(Chloe Bowman is absent for the remainder of the meeting, and
Danny Blanco is now a voting member.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I'd like to call the Code
Enforcement Board back to order. As you'll notice, Danny is now a
voting member tonight. Tonight. Today. This afternoon.
August 28, 2020
Page 126
Whatever.
MR. BLANCO: I've been voting this whole time.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I know. But what I do is I filter it.
I don't count your vote. I'll count it now.
MS. BUCHILLON: Okay. Next item on the agenda, under
hearings, No. 10, CESD20190009030, Katherine M. Johnson TR.
MR. TORRES: Good afternoon.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. TORRES: I do.
Good afternoon. Investigator Junior Torres, Collier County
Code Enforcement.
This is in reference to Case No. CESD20190009030 dealing
with violations of Collier County Land Development Code on 04-41,
as amended, Sections 10.02.06(B)(1)(a), 10.02.06(B)(1)(e) for an
unpermitted lanai enclosure located at 1718 Bald Eagle Drive, Unit
513C in Naples, Florida, 34105.
Folio: 61131640006.
Service was given on August 12th, 2019.
I would now like to present case evidence in the following
exhibits: One photo taken by myself on January 26th, 2019, and a
building determination completed by Jonathan Walsh.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. TORRES: I received the complaint on July 26th, 2019,
about a condominium with an unpermitted enclosed lanai. I then
presented my findings, and a determination was done by the county
building official where the lanai enclosure was found to be in
violation.
I then made contact with the daughter of the property owner,
Leslie, via cell phone. I advised her of the complaint, and she
advised she had power of attorney of the property, and then she
applied for a permit.
August 28, 2020
Page 127
Since then the permit has been in rejected status, and no
attempts have been made to abate the violation, and the violation
remains still to this time.
MR. LETOURNEAU: The Board has to vote on accepting the
evidence, please, so I can put it up.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Make a motion to accept
the evidence as dispensed.
MR. DOINO: Second.
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. BLANCO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MR. TORRES: There it is.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Looks familiar.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Then the determination.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That's it. Just one photo?
MR. LETOURNEAU: Just the one photo, and then the
determination with Mr. Walsh saying it needs a permit.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: A year ago.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So our job is to find out if a
violation exists.
MR. DOINO: Violation exists.
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second
August 28, 2020
Page 128
that a violation exists. All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. BLANCO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Okay. Do you have a recommendation for us?
MR. TORRES: Yes, sir.
That the Code Enforcement Board orders the respondent to pay
all operational costs in the amount of 59.28 incurred in the
prosecution of this case within 30 days, and abate all violations by:
One, must obtain all required Collier County building permits or
demolition permits and request all inspections through certificate of
completion or occupancy for the unpermitted lanai enclosure within
X amount of days of this hearing, or fine of blank per day will be
imposed until the violations are abated;
Two, the respondent must notify the Code Enforcement
investigator when the violation has been abated in order to conduct a
final inspection to confirm abatement. If the respondent fails to
abate the violation, the county may abate the violation using any
method to bring the violation into compliance and may use the
assistance of the Collier County Sheriff's Office to enforce the
provisions of this order, and all costs of abatement shall be assessed
to the property owner.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Do we have
any -- anybody like to fill in the blanks on this? We need to be
consistent with the other one, which was 120 days and $100 fine, if
I'm not mistaken.
August 28, 2020
Page 129
MS. CURLEY: Really? I picked 120?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It was 120 days; is that correct?
We can ask our court reporter.
MS. CURLEY: That was a long time ago.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Helen, can you give them that answer?
MS. BUCHILLON: It was for Judy's, right?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yes.
MS. BUCHILLON: It was 120 days, and 150 a day.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hundred and fifty, okay. I have a
half a good memory.
Okay. So I make that motion that we --
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: One hundred twenty days and
$150 a day.
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: My motion. Seconded. All those
in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. BLANCO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Okay, Junior.
MR. TORRES: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do we have any more lanais?
MS. BUCHILLON: Okay. Next item on the agenda, under
imposition of fines, No. 5, CESD20180015070, Leonardo Hernandez.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
August 28, 2020
Page 130
MR. AMBACH: I do.
For the record, Chris Ambach, Code Enforcement.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Welcome, Chris.
MR. AMBACH: Thank you.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Was there a letter on this one?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I see you sitting back there all day
and just dying to get up here.
MR. AMBACH: I was.
Yes, there is a letter on there.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Do you want to read this first, or do you
want us to go into our spiel and -- you might save Chris the time and
deny the motion before he even has to say anything.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: This is the letter you're talking
about?
MS. CURLEY: I've read it.
MR. LETOURNEAU: I haven't seen it. I just saw that it was
in the file here.
MR. AMBACH: Yes, sir.
MS. CURLEY: I mean, we can interrupt and deny the county
its funds without --
MR. LETOURNEAU: You've done it before, yeah. So I think
that you could just -- on the basis of --
MS. CURLEY: Time saving.
MR. LETOURNEAU: -- the operational costs and -- the
operational costs have been paid, correct, Chris?
MR. AMBACH: That's correct.
MS. CURLEY: I'll make a motion that we deny the county's
imposition of $9,000 fine and today's operating costs of 59.35.
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second.
All those in favor?
August 28, 2020
Page 131
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. BLANCO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
That didn't take long, did it, Chris?
MR. AMBACH: No. Appreciate it.
MS. CURLEY: Nice seeing you.
MS. BUCHILLON: I just want to put on the record we notified
the respondent certified mail and regular mail.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Since they're not present,
but I don't think they'll complain.
MS. BUCHILLON: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: That was a lot of work he did.
MS. BUCHILLON: Okay. Next item on the agenda, under
imposition of fines, No. 6, CESD20180014960, Joshua Thompson.
Respondent's not present. We sent a notice of hearing certified and
regular mail August 14th, and it was also posted on the property and
courthouse August the 12th.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. CATHEY: I do.
For the record, Investigator Ryan Cathey, Collier County Code
Enforcement.
This is dealing with a 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) located at 131 Lime Key Lane, Naples,
Florida.
Description is renovations/alterations of the mobile home
August 28, 2020
Page 132
including, but not limited to, electric, plumbing, roof, and exterior
work.
Past orders: On August 29th, 2019, the Code Enforcement
Board issued a finding of fact, conclusion of law and order.
Respondent was found in violation of the referenced ordinances and
ordered to correct the violations. See attached order of the Board,
OR5674, Page 3564, for more information. Violation has not been
abated as of August 28, 2020.
Fines and costs to date are as follows: The fines have accrued
at a rate of $50 per day for the period from February 25th, 2020, to
August 28th, 2020, 185 days. Total fine amount of $9,250. Fines
continue to accrue.
Previously assessed operational costs of $59.56 have been paid.
Operational costs for today's hearing are $59.28. And the total
amount is $9,309.28.
Just for the record, I did talk to the respondent yesterday. He
informed me he wasn't going to be able to attend the hearing. He
didn't get me anything in writing. His plans with the mobile home
now are to apply for a demo permit, which he just is starting -- he has
not submitted it yet. But he told me he picked up the paperwork and
now plans to demo that mobile home.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, I think our hands are kind of
tied on this one.
Anybody like to make a motion?
MS. CURLEY: I remember this.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, I make a motion
that we impose the fine.
MR. DOINO: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second.
Any discussion on the motion?
(No response.)
August 28, 2020
Page 133
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, all those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. BLANCO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MR. CATHEY: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Thank you, Ryan.
MS. BUCHILLON: Next item on the agenda, No. 10, under
imposition of fines, CELU20190012842, Steven J. Stilton estate.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. MUCHA: I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I remember this case also. Joe,
this is litter that was outside?
MR. MUCHA: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And the respondent had passed
away?
MR. MUCHA: Right. And it's basically, like, squatters are
staying at the property.
MS. CURLEY: Is this Bayshore?
MR. MUCHA: No. This is Westwind Estates out off
Tamiami Trail. It's a mobile home park.
MS. CURLEY: Oh, darn.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Has anybody been in touch with
the estate?
MR. MUCHA: There's nobody. We haven't been able to get
ahold of anybody, and it's been a problem there for a long time, the
squatters staying there and, really, our hands are tied, you know.
August 28, 2020
Page 134
MS. CURLEY: Well, did the order let the county proceed with
anything? I mean, doesn't the order have that standard clause in it
that says, you know, if they don't follow the stipulation, then the
county can step in and demo or do what they need to be?
MR. MUCHA: I don't think we could demo based on this
order, but, I mean --
MS. CURLEY: Can we go and clean it up --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Is this a house --
MS. CURLEY: -- and they can bill the estate?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: -- or a trailer?
MR. MUCHA: It's a mobile home.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Is it located in a mobile home
park?
MR. MUCHA: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do they have an HOA?
MR. MUCHA: I think this -- it's located in a mobile home
park, but this particular property is not part of the mobile home -- it's
kind of a weird situation. The first, like, few streets of the mobile
home park aren't part of the mobile home park, but it's all one big --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Because, ordinarily, they can wind
up owning the trailer.
MR. MUCHA: Right, right. I don't -- I don't think that's going
to happen in this situation, though.
MS. CURLEY: But they -- I mean, the land, they own -- this
person's trust owns the land, so...
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, we're trying to figure out a
solution when what we need to do is impose the fine.
MR. MUCHA: Yeah. I mean, unfortunately, until somebody
comes along to do something with it.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do you want to read this into the
record, or do you want us to just --
August 28, 2020
Page 135
MR. MUCHA: It's up to you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: I'll give the county permission to --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Impose the fine.
MS. CURLEY: -- impose the fine of $40,000 and also the
59.28 operational costs be paid. And fines continue to accrue; is that
what happens?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yes. Okay. We have a motion.
MS. ELROD: Second.
MR. DOINO: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And a second. All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. BLANCO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Thanks, Joe.
MS. BUCHILLON: Just to put on the record, respondent
notified by certified mail on August 13, and it was also posted at the
property on August 12th and at the courthouse.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, the respondent is deceased,
so it would be the estate of was notified. And we have bee n unable
to get ahold of the estate.
MS. BUCHILLON: Next item on the agenda, under imposition
of fines, No. 19, CEAU20190007283, Manes Moricette and Thelia
Moricette. Respondents were notified certified mail August 13, and
it was also posted at the property and courthouse on August 12th.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
August 28, 2020
Page 136
MR. MUCHA: I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: This is a case where it's been
abated.
MR. MUCHA: It's been abated. I think there's a language
barrier, because we really were trying to get the gentleman to submit
us a letter to just ask for the fines to be waived, and I don't know
what the situation is, but we never got that letter and --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: Well, based on No. C, it looks like this there
was a previous thing that was cleared up, maybe some litter, trash,
and that was it. It says previous violator. So that was cleaned up,
and I think we extended this to give them more time to afford the
fence?
MR. MUCHA: No, I don't think -- there was not a continuance
on this one.
MS. CURLEY: Okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, it's been abated, whatever it
was.
MS. CURLEY: And he gets an award for being one of three
that actually did what they said they'd do. So I make a motion to
deny the county's request for $18,900 in fines and also to deny the
59.42 in operational costs.
MS. ELROD: Second.
MR. DOINO: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second.
All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. BLANCO: Aye.
August 28, 2020
Page 137
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MR. MUCHA: Thank you.
MS. BUCHILLON: Next item, under imposition of fines,
No. 21, CESD20190002667, Maria Lozano, Ymelda Lozano
Calderon, and Antonio Rico Cabrera.
Respondent was notified certified mail and regular mail
August 13, and posted on the property and courthouse August 12th.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MS. PEREZ: Yes, I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Can you give me a minute to read
the letter that's attached to this.
Okay. Make a motion, Sue.
MS. CURLEY: No. I'll let Danny do it.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Danny, make a motion on this one.
MR. BLANCO: Make a motion to deny the county's request
for imposition of fines.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. ELROD: Second.
MR. DOINO: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second.
All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. BLANCO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
August 28, 2020
Page 138
Thank you, Cristine.
MS. CURLEY: What about the costs?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And the costs for today's also.
MR. BLANCO: Correct, yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Which is 59.28.
MS. BUCHILLON: Next item on the agenda, under imposition
of fines, No. 22, CESD20190002904, Johnny R. Mollett.
Respondent was notified certified mail and regular mail August 13,
and it was posted at the property and courthouse August 12th.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MS. PEREZ: Yes, I do.
Good afternoon. For the record, Cristina Perez, Collier County
Code Enforcement.
This is in reference to CEB Case No. CESD20190002904.
Violations: Collier County Land Development Code 04-41, as
amended, Section 10.02.06(B)(1)(e).
Site location is a vacant parcel with Folio No. 4150860000.
Description was removal of vegetation from unpermitted,
unimproved parcel with no permits.
Past orders: On January 24, 2020, the Code Enforcement
Board issued a findings of fact, conclusion of law and order. The
respondent was found in violation of the referenced ordinance and
ordered to correct the violation. See the attached order of the Board,
OR5727, Page 2794, for more information.
The violation has not been abated as of August 28, 2020.
Fines have accrued at the rate of $200 per day for a period from
April 24th, 2020, to August 28, 2020, 127 days, for a total fine
amount of $25,400. Fines continue to accrue.
Previously assessed operational costs of $59.28 have not been
paid. Operational costs for today's hearing of $59.28. Total amount
is $25,518.56.
August 28, 2020
Page 139
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Let the record reflect that
the respondent is not present. Notification, Helen, was?
MS. BUCHILLON: Oh, I already put it on the record.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: Was the vegetation still being cleared, or was,
like, a Stop Work Order or something put --
MS. PEREZ: Yeah, the vegetation was -- had stopped being
cleared when the case was presented before you. Unfortunately, the
property owner lives out of state. He had done the clearing, but he
left [sic] back where he lives and has not been to Florida since then.
The last communication directly with him was prior to the
hearing to notify him that the case was being submitted to the hearing
in December of 2019. We have had contact with a family member, a
friend of the family since then, who just explained that the owner had
some medical issues that he was addressing. But no communication
has happened since. That time frame was February 24th of 2020.
MR. BLANCO: Cristina, where is this property located?
MS. PEREZ: This is located in the Estates.
MR. BLANCO: Estates.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: Danny?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do you want to make a motion?
MR. BLANCO: My turn again?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Sure.
MR. BLANCO: Make a motion to grant the county's request
for imposition of fines.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good. I second that. All in
favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
August 28, 2020
Page 140
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. BLANCO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MS. PEREZ: Thank you, board members.
MS. CURLEY: Do you want to include the fees also, Danny,
when you say that?
MR. BLANCO: Oh, and -- yes, that the respondent has to pay
the operational costs for today's hearings in the amount of $59.28.
MS. BUCHILLON: Next item on the agenda, under imposition
of fines, No. 23, CEPM20190007369, RCS Holdings, LLC.
Respondent was notified certified and regular mail August 13, and it
was posted at the property and courthouse August 12th.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. MUCHA: I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I'm reading through this. A
$15,000 fine for torn screens.
MS. CURLEY: Is there more to this? I think there is.
MR. MUCHA: There was more to it. They took care of the
other issues. It was just they never took care of the screens.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Has anybody been in contact with
them?
MR. MUCHA: I know the investigator's been trying. At some
point he had communication with somebody, and they took care of
some things. And then since then, it kind of went radio silent, so...
MS. CURLEY: Do we know if it's listed for sale, that
property?
MR. MUCHA: I don't know off the top of my head, no. I
wouldn't think so, but...
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, it hasn't been abated, and
August 28, 2020
Page 141
they haven't paid the previously operational costs, so...
MS. CURLEY: This is a perfect window, a COVID window
right here we're looking at.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: March to now.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I make a motion that we impose
the fines.
MR. DOINO: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Including the operational costs of
59.28. Motion. It's seconded. All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. BLANCO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MS. CURLEY: No, I oppose that.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: Sorry.
MR. MUCHA: Okay.
MS. BUCHILLON: Next item on the agenda under motions to
rescind previously issued order. One, CESD20190004841.
Property was sold prior to our order being recorded.
MS. CURLEY: So why are we rescinding it?
MS. BUCHILLON: Colleen's coming.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Because the new owner wasn't properly
represented at the hearing.
MS. CURLEY: Oh, they're insured to cover that, though, the
fine.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So what happens now?
August 28, 2020
Page 142
MR. LETOURNEAU: I'm not sure about this case. I didn't
really delve into this.
MS. CURLEY: It was really sold.
MR. LETOURNEAU: But, yeah. It was sold, and it wasn't
recorded until -- Colleen will probably explain it better than I can,
that's for sure.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MS. DAVIDSON: I do.
For the record, Colleen Davidson, operations manager, Code
Enforcement.
This property was -- when it came to hearing, the property
owner signed a stipulation four days before the hearing, and the day
of the hearing, he sold the property. So the new recorded deed was
recorded before our order was recorded. And we talked to the
County Attorney's Office, and their suggestion was to rescind the
order.
MS. CURLEY: He sold us down the river.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So now is this thing still in
violation?
MS. DAVIDSON: Correct. If there is a violation, then the
investigator will work through with the new property owner, and that
property owner has already been in contact.
MS. CURLEY: Yeah. I make a motion to rescind the
case -- or what do I have to say?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That will do.
MS. CURLEY: Okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion.
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do we have a second? Yes. All
those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
August 28, 2020
Page 143
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. BLANCO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MS. CURLEY: That was sneaky. That was pretty smart
thinking.
MS. BUCHILLON: And then the last one under E, motion to
amend previously issued order. This was an order that went to
hearing for imposition of fines, and the condition was to deny the
impositions with him paying the past due ops costs, which has never
been paid.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Ooh, I remember this.
MS. CURLEY: I do, too.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Is this where that gentleman came in
that wanted to buy the property but was just kind of caretaking it at
some point?
MS. CURLEY: No.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That was a different one.
MS. CURLEY: No, that wasn't his name. That was -- I was
thinking that was earlier.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Yeah, me too.
MS. CURLEY: Bayshore.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yeah, that was another one.
MS. CURLEY: So explain that again. They want us to
rescind this, but the stipulation for rescinding it was that he pay the
fee?
MS. BUCHILLON: To amend. We denied the -- you guys
denied the imposition of fines with the condition of him paying the
August 28, 2020
Page 144
past due ops cost.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And he didn't pay them.
MS. BUCHILLON: He didn't pay them.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, then they become imposed.
MS. BUCHILLON: Okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So we do -- we rescind this one
and instate the other one. Does that do it automatically, or do you --
MR. LETOURNEAU: Colleen?
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MS. DAVIDSON: I do.
Again, Colleen Davidson, operations manager, Code
Enforcement.
When this was brought to you, the operational costs were not
paid, and it's our understanding that you had relayed to us if they
were not paid, that you wanted to know, so we brought it back in case
there was anything you wanted to amend in that order, because the
operational costs have yet to be paid at this time.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. DAVIDSON: We can continue and leave the order as-is
and impose the operational costs. That's up to the Board if they
wanted to impose or amend the --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Were there other costs besides the
operational costs?
MS. DAVIDSON: There were.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I'd like to impose everything.
MS. DAVIDSON: That's why we wanted to bring it back
under amend.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So what type of motion
would you like from us to do that?
MS. CURLEY: Bring it back next month?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I don't want to bring it back.
August 28, 2020
Page 145
MS. ELROD: I have a question. This wasn't the deceased
man? It wasn't the guy that was deceased with the car in the yard?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: No. This is litter.
MR. BLANCO: I'm looking at the original order, and it shows,
upon petitioner's timely receipt of the payment of operational costs,
no additional incurred fines and/or costs shall be imposed. So I
think in this case the only thing for the Board -- the only option
would be to impose the operational costs because the imposition of
fines were denied at that previous order. I mean, I will let the
attorney figure that out, but...
MS. DAVIDSON: Danny is correct.
MS. CURLEY: Thanks, Danny.
MS. DAVIDSON: So the original imposition of fine was
denied because it was only 59.21 for operational costs. That has still
yet to be paid. So if you would like to amend --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hold on. We abated the fine
based on them paying the operational costs.
MS. DAVIDSON: Correct.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: They did not pay the operational
costs, so the original agreement to abate the fine should also be
rescinded. Am I right or wrong?
MR. LETOURNEAU: You are correct. Is there original
fines?
MS. DAVIDSON: I'm looking at the finding of fact right now,
and all it is is the 59.21.
MS. CURLEY: We would have to --
MS. DAVIDSON: So that's why we brought it back as an
amendment, because it's denied saying based upon paying the fees,
we would not impose the $5,921.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: No. There had to have been some
fine. 59.21 wasn't the actual fine. 59.21 was the court costs, if you
August 28, 2020
Page 146
will.
MS. CURLEY: It's probably overdue operational costs.
MR. BLANCO: According to the order, the original violation
was abated prior to the hearing. So we just imposed the operational
costs for that hearing and, since they didn't pay it -- or we gave them
the option, correct, to either pay it or --
MS. DAVIDSON: We brought it so that we could
have -- because it was in compliance by the time it came to Code
Enforcement Board. So we just came to get a finding -of-fact order
so there were operational costs assessed. So there was no imposition
of fine daily accrual. So all that was imposed that the Board had to
denied [sic] was the 59.21; however --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I understand that. What I'm
saying is if you have a case that comes before the Board -- and I don't
care if it's in compliance or not -- the only -- if you have not paid the
operational costs and it is in compliance, we'll still assess the
violation and impose the fine, and that's what happened here, except
they never came up with the money for the operational costs.
So I'm saying that even though it came into compliance, I'd like
to pull the original case on this thing and go back and review that
because the deal was, you're going to pay the operational costs, and
we're going to abate the fine.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Okay. But didn't you just say that
there wasn't any fines accumulated; that all there was was an
operational cost?
MS. DAVIDSON: Correct.
MS. CURLEY: It was one of these weird ones where they had
fixed everything before the fining started. It's 56 bucks. Can't we
just send them another bill? I mean, let's be real.
MR. LETOURNEAU: So we're just asking to impose the
operational costs at this point.
August 28, 2020
Page 147
MS. CURLEY: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Do you want that as a
motion?
MR. LETOURNEAU: As you wish.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. I make a motion that we
impose the operational costs of 59.21.
MS. CURLEY: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Motion and a second. All those in
favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. DOINO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. BLANCO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Was that the last case, Helen?
MS. BUCHILLON: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Anybody want to make a
motion to adjourn?
MS. CURLEY: Make a motion to adjourn.
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We're adjourned.
*****
August 28, 2020
There being no further business for the good of the County, the
meeting was adjourned by order of the Chair at 1 :28 p.m.
CODE E►,FOR ' ENT BOARD
.fir`,
I? RT K IS. AN, CHAIRMAN
These minutes approved by the Board on
as presented or as corrected
TRANSCRIPT PREPARED ON BEHALF OF FORT MYERS
COURT REPORTING BY TERRI LEWIS, FPR, COURT
REPORTER AND NOTARY PUBLIC.
Page 148