CEB Minutes 09/23/2021September 23, 2021
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TRANSCRIPT OF THE MEETING OF THE
COLLIER COUNTY CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD
Naples, Florida
September 23, 2021
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
Gerald J. Lefebvre
Danny Blanco
Chloe Bowman
Sue Curley
Kathleen Elrod
Lee Rubenstein
George Andreozzi, Alternate
Tariq N. Ayasun, Alternate
ALSO PRESENT:
Helen Buchillon, Code Enforcement
Elena Gonzalez, Code Enforcement Specialist
Jeff Letourneau, Manager of Investigations
Patrick White, Attorney to the Board (attending remotely)
September 23, 2021
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CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We're ready, Helen?
MS. BUCHILLON: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning. I'd like to call the
Code Enforcement Board to order.
Notice: Respondents may be limited to 20 minutes for case
presentation unless additional time is granted by the Board.
Persons wishing to speak on any agenda item will receive up to five
minutes unless the time is adjusted by the Chairman.
All parties participating in the public hearing are asked to
observe Robert's Rules of Order and speak one at a time so that the
court reporter can record all statements being made.
Any person who decides to appeal a decision of this board will
need a record of the proceedings pertaining thereto and, therefore,
may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is
made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which
the appeal is to be based. Neither Collier County nor the Code
Enforcement Board shall be responsible for providing this record.
So to begin with, if you have cell phones, good time to silence
them, and if you'll all stand for the Pledge.
(The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Why don't we start out
with the roll call.
MS. BUCHILLON: Good morning. For the record, Helen
Buchillon, Code Enforcement.
Mr. Robert Kaufman.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Here.
MS. BUCHILLON: Mr. Gerald Lefebvre.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Here.
MS. BUCHILLON: Ms. Kathleen Elrod.
MS. ELROD: Here.
MS. BUCHILLON: Mr. Danny Blanco.
September 23, 2021
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MR. BLANCO: Here.
MS. BUCHILLON: Ms. Sue Curley.
MS. CURLEY: Here.
MS. BUCHILLON: Mr. Lee Rubenstein.
MR. RUBENSTEIN: Here.
MS. BUCHILLON: George Andreozzi.
MR. ANDREOZZI: Here.
MS. BUCHILLON: Mr. Tarik Ayasun.
MR. AYASUN: Here.
MS. BUCHILLON: And Chloe's not present at the moment.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. I'd like to welcome Lee
Rubenstein, who was moved from alternate to member. Welcome
aboard.
MR. RUBENSTEIN: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And we have a new alternate.
Tarik. Welcome.
MR. AYASUN: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I guess that brings us to the
approval of the minutes. Has anybody got any comments on the
minutes?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Did everybody receive the
minutes?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I didn't. Did anybody else receive
the minutes?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: No. That's unanimous.
MS. BUCHILLON: Elena says she forwarded them to you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Well, I don't want to
approve the minutes until we see the minutes, obviously. So
September 23, 2021
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we'll approve the minutes at our next meeting.
MS. BUCHILLON: Okay. No problem.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Okay. Which brings us to
the agenda.
MS. BUCHILLON: We do have changes. We have two
imposition -- I mean, stipulations, and we have some withdrawns.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. BUCHILLON: First stipulation under Hearings, No. 9,
CESD20200009039, Kurt Clapper and Tricia Clapper.
Next stipulation, No. 3, CEVR20210003024, Tuscany Pointe
Community Association, Inc.
And then for the withdrawns. Under public Hearings, D,
hearings, No. 2, CEPM20210002299, Nina Diaz and Lucia Marrero
and Alfredo Diaz, have been withdrawn due to compliance efforts.
Number 4, CESD20210002284, Margot Ricardo and Magdiel
Gonzalez, has been withdrawn due to compliance efforts.
Number 6, CESD20200011027, 34102 Investments, LLC, has
been withdrawn due to compliance efforts.
Number 7, CELU20210009059, Grider Revocable Living Trust,
has been withdrawn. It has come into compliance.
Number 10, CESD20200013730, Peggy L. Mills, has been
withdrawn due to compliance efforts.
Number 11, CELU20210006517, 117 [sic] Riggs Road, LLC,
has been withdrawn due to compliance efforts.
And those are all the changes for now.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: How about the impositions; any of
those withdrawn?
MS. BUCHILLON: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Terri, you're going to have a busy
day today.
Okay. Get a motion from the Board to accept the agenda as
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modified.
MS. BOWMAN: Make a motion.
MS. BUCHILLON: I skipped one. I'm sorry.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Too late. Go ahead.
MS. BUCHILLON: Number 8 under Hearings,
CESD20210005211, Charles S. Miller and Kathleen A. Miller, has
been withdrawn due to compliance efforts.
And that's it.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Are you sure?
MS. BUCHILLON: I think so.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. ELROD: Motion to accept.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second.
All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MR. RUBENSTEIN: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: (No verbal response.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. BLANCO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Do you want to hear the stips first, or do you want to hear the
motions for extension of time first?
MS. BUCHILLON: Extension of time first.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. BUCHILLON: First case, under motion for extension of
time, CESD20190003400, Carlos Arreaga and Veronica Arreaga.
(ELIZABETH GARNELO, the interpreter, was sworn to truly and
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correctly interpret English into Spanish and Spanish into English.)
MS. GARNELO: I do.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MS. McGONAGLE: I do.
MS. ARREAGA: I do.
MS. GARNELO: I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Michele, good morning.
MS. GARNELO: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Everybody is all sworn?
Can I get your name?
MS. GARNELO: Elizabeth, E-l-i-z-a-b-e-t-h, Garnelo,
G-a-r-n-e-l-o.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. I see the first case by the
number began in 2019; is that correct, Michele?
MS. McGONAGLE: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Do we have a letter on this
requesting an extension of time?
MS. McGONAGLE: Yes.
MS. BUCHILLON: You should have a copy.
MS. McGONAGLE: It was an e-mail.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Why don't we begin.
You're requesting an extension of time?
MS. ARREAGA: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Could you tell us why?
MS. CURLEY: Is there two cases with this?
MS. BUCHILLON: They're scheduled for imposition of fines,
too.
MS. ARREAGA: My name is Veronica Arreaga. She can
explain.
THE INTERPRETER: She says she hasn't finished because...
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Can't hear you. Can you move the
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microphone. Okay.
THE INTERPRETER: She says she's currently in a program
with Florida Review, and it hasn't been completed yet. And they
communicated with them that one of the -- the project includes
demolition of the dwelling, and she said that that's a good option for
her because it removes this case. They're going to, like, demolish
the whole thing. Yeah, she said it's a government program, so it's a
little slow for the commencement of the work.
(Chloe Bowman is now present in the boardroom.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Let me ask a question, because I
don't quite understand. Our writeup here says a guesthouse was
added, a lean-to storage, a covered porch, all without permits; is that
correct?
THE INTERPRETER: She said that they pulled permits, but it
was never completed.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And the permits were pulled in
2019?
THE INTERPRETER: She said it was before.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Before 2019?
THE INTERPRETER: She's saying 2019 is when they started
with the Florida Review.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. And what has been done
since they started construction to now? Why are you coming to us
now asking for us to continue?
THE INTERPRETER: She wants to know what construction
permit are you talking about.
MS. McGONAGLE: Mr. Kaufman, if I may?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yes, please, Michele.
MS. McGONAGLE: The lean-to that was built has been
removed. There was also a violation for -- some plumbing that was
added under the carport area has been removed.
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The garage has been there since around the same time the house
was built in the -- well, the house was built in the '30s. I believe that
was built in the early '90s. There was no permit for that garage.
They had added some plumbing to that. They had somebody living
in there. There isn't anyone living in the structure anymore.
They were working with the contractor. They pulled permits to
have that garage removed, and there's also -- part of this order is for a
1996 permit for the carport that was never finaled. They were
working on all of that, but then when they found out how much
money it was going to cost them to get it permitted, they found out
about this Rebuild Florida Program. So they've applied for that
program. They've been approved. They are in the process of
getting the drawings and everything and measurements for the house.
Under this program, they will be demolishing and rebuilding the
house as well as the garage. So as soon as the demolition takes
place, that will satisfy the code cases. At this point they haven't
applied for permits yet. They're still in that process. That's why
she's requesting the extension of time.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And the extension is how many
days? Months?
MS. CURLEY: A year.
MS. McGONAGLE: In the e-mail -- the e-mail's up on the
board. They've asked a year.
MS. CURLEY: So we have an e-mail under this woman's
signature?
MS. McGONAGLE: Yes, yes.
MS. CURLEY: And then the person that signed the extension's
name is Carlos, but he's not here today?
MS. McGONAGLE: Correct. That's her husband.
MR. BLANCO: Mr. Chairman, if I may. Since the county just
stated that the respondent was approved for the project by Rebuild
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Florida, and according to her e-mail, and you confirmed this, I'm
assuming, that it's going to take them 12 months to demolish the
structure, and I believe the primary house is part of that project as
well. They're going to demolish everything and then rebuild a
brand-new house for her.
MS. McGONAGLE: Yes.
MR. BLANCO: Okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We've heard lots of cases, and I've
never heard of a case that takes a year to do a demolition.
MS. CURLEY: Well, specifically, the e-mail that this woman
has sent us says that on May 12th, Rebuild Florida approved to fund
the entire cost. So that was May 12th. And they're accruing fines
since September. And there's another -- same case is here for the
imposition of fines. So when the imposition of fines go on to public
record, that's going to change the agreement with their Rebuild
Florida unless there's some stipulation there that allows them to have,
you know, liens or whatnot on the property. I don't know
specifically about that, but the propensity for this to be fluid and not
be as it sounds --
MS. GARNELO: The defendant wanted to say also that she
doesn't have any kind of -- she's saying that she doesn't have any
decision in how, when, what time, because something -- they almost,
like, gift the program to her, and she has to wait whatever time they
do the case. So she just came to make sure that you guys know that
she's taking care of the issue, and as soon as everything is approved
and they start doing the thing -- but she doesn't have any say-so of
when they're going to start or, you know, how long it takes.
MS. CURLEY: Was she able to bring anything to show us that
she was approved other than her letter?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Jeff, are you familiar with this
Florida Rebuild?
September 23, 2021
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MS. GARNELO: She says she has everything by e-mail that
she can forward to you.
MR. LETOURNEAU: I'm not, unfortunately.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. The county brought this to
the Board today. So I'm a little bit at a loss as to where we go from
here. I'm reluctant to grant a year to do demolition.
You -- probably what's holding this up now is the funding.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Like, as always -- for the record, Jeff
Letourneau, Collier County Code Enforcement. As always, our
main goal is compliance. I don't believe there's any health and
safety issues at this time.
MS. McGONAGLE: No.
MR. LETOURNEAU: And we would not object to any kind of
continuance at this point.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And I just wanted to ask, not to be
a pain in the neck, why did the county bring this to us at this time?
MS. McGONAGLE: Because they requested the extension of
time. Their compliance date was actually yesterday.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. McGONAGLE: And that's why -- they had been -- excuse
me. They had been instructed that if they still weren't in compliance
and it was approaching the compliance date, to come in and request
more time and explain where they were in that process. They've
been very good about communicating and keeping me updated on
where everything is at. That's why we brought this. But because
we were already here today for the extension of time and the
compliance date was yesterday, that's why they were put on the
agenda for imposition of fines, in case they weren't approved for the
extension.
MS. CURLEY: Oh. So if we extend this, then there's
no -- then the fine component falls off?
September 23, 2021
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CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: No.
MS. McGONAGLE: Yes, because their compliance date was
yesterday.
MS. CURLEY: Right.
MR. LETOURNEAU: If you continue it -- it's as always. If
you continue it, the fines continue to run.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Continue to accrue.
MR. LETOURNEAU: And I want to say, I don't know if you
recall last hearing we had an extension request, and we didn't have
the imposition on there, and there was a little bit of confusion,
so -- you know, we're just going to try to pair those together from
now on.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yeah. So if the continuation is
not granted, then you're going to hear the imposition?
MR. LETOURNEAU: Correct.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So --
MS. CURLEY: So what about if we do, like, six months from
yesterday, and then it never got to the fining position? And then -- it
seems like maybe Carlos, her other owner, might have more
involvement in what's going on here? Is that who you communicate
with?
MS. McGONAGLE: No, I communicate with both of them,
but Veronica is actually the one that does most of the paperwork and
the communication and everything. Her English isn't as good as
Carlos, so he's the one that I normally speak with, but they've both
been --
MS. BOWMAN: She wrote this e-mail.
MS. McGONAGLE: Yes, yes.
MS. CURLEY: This lady.
MS. GARNELO: Well, he wrote it -- pardon me. She wrote it
with my help.
September 23, 2021
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MS. CURLEY: Yeah, because she's not telling us any of this.
MS. GARNELO: Yeah.
MS. CURLEY: So it would be better if both of them came so
we could feel more confident that what was happening was really
actually happening.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Gerald.
MR. LEFEBVRE: What I would like to have seen this letter is
from the 20th of last month, and it states that this lady was going to
send information e-mailing documentation. That documentation
would have been helpful today to show that she is in the program,
that she's been approved, and if there was any -- I'm not
finished -- and if there was any dates of when they can expect things
to be done. We don't have any of that, so we're just going on her
word. We'd like to have evidence.
MS. GARNELO: What lady are you talking about? Are you
talking about Veronica or the other person? Because they forwarded
that.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Martha. Martha Kalazo (phonetic).
MS. GARNELO: Yeah. She forwarded with the e -mail. The
e-mail had an attachment, and it had that forward with the same.
MS. CURLEY: But we don't have that. In addition, the
second paragraph says, the project is anticipated to be completed
within the next 12 months. That means the demolition, the house,
the rebuild, the whole thing. So we're not going to wait 12 months
for this one code thing, which is -- has nothing to do with the primary
house. We're only interested in about 10 percent of what you've got
going on now. So a small little violation became this massive
undertaking for them, and that's not really our project today.
MR. BLANCO: Mr. Chairman, if I may just comment on it.
As Jeff just stated, the county's purpose here, I think, our purpose, is
compliance. We have a non-for-profit group here trying to build,
September 23, 2021
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you know, the respondent a brand-new property, and that will take
care of all the code cases. And if there's no health and safety issue, I
think it would be the right decision for this board to grant a
continuance or the extension of time for the year.
I know hiring a contractor takes at least four to six months to build a
brand-new house, and that's if you're paying for it. Imagine having a
group paying for all of that, so...
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Danny, I understand what you're
saying, and I also understand what Gerald's saying. This is all words
which you can't see in writing. What Gerald was asking for, which I
think is apt, is show me the application, the approval, et cetera, those
e-mails that were not provided to us.
MS. CURLEY: Well -- and I don't know Rebuild Florida's
non-for-profit. They're mortgaging it, and they're building it for
them, but that doesn't have anything to do with --
MS. ELROD: Have you seen any of the paperwork?
MS. McGONAGLE: Eric just showed me they had applied for
a permit under Rebuild Florida to replace the windows and doors, and
I'm not sure what the application --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That wasn't the violation.
MS. McGONAGLE: -- was. Pardon? No, it wasn't, but that
was part of that whole Rebuild Florida thing, but then that -- I believe
that because of the age of the house and once they got more involved
with it -- because they haven't moved any further forward with that
permit because now they're going to demo the house. So there
is -- there had been a permit submitted to the county from Rebuild
Florida that they are working. So this -- this is an ongoing thing.
I have already explained to her that once the garage and the carport
are demoed, that that will take care of the code violations. We don't
have to wait for the house to be completely built.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Right.
September 23, 2021
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MS. McGONAGLE: Depending on where we are with
everything, if you don't want to grant a year, the county doesn't have
any objection to any time that you would grant, but they are working
on it.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Gerald.
MR. LEFEBVRE: The respondents have done certain things to
try to correct the violation. It seems like there is some good will
there. So I make a motion that we continue the case for four months,
120 days.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And if it's not done by that time,
come back with whatever you need, should the motion pass.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Right. Hopefully by then they have the
demo permit.
MS. CURLEY: But the definition of done is in compliance
with this case. We don't care about the houses and the structures
they're doing. I mean, demo whatever the problem is here with the
proper permits, and get out of our --
MR. LEFEBVRE: Correct, the demo --
MS. CURLEY: Get off our agenda.
MS. ELROD: Second the motion.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. The motion's been
seconded.
Just a quickie. The -- once you start building a new house, I guess
the first thing you have to do is get rid of the other house, so that will
be done way in advance of this being done.
MS. McGONAGLE: Right.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So I think that the motion is valid.
After four months we can see what's going on. We've been
approved for the money, blah, blah, blah, whatever it is, and we can
go from there. If it isn't, come back with documentation that shows
they're going to fund it as of such and such a date or whatever.
September 23, 2021
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MR. LEFEBVRE: Also operational costs paid within 30 days.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Right.
MS. McGONAGLE: Is this a continuance or granting the
extension of time?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Continuance.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Continuance.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a motion. Any
more discussion on the motion?
MR. RUBENSTEIN: I'll second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It's been seconded. All those in
favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MR. RUBENSTEIN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: (No verbal response.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. BLANCO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So you have a
continuance. In four months, hopefully you'l l be on the way, and the
first thing they'll do is make room for the new house by taking out the
old one, which has the garage, right?
MS. CURLEY: Correct.
MS. McGONAGLE: The garage is separate. The carport is
part of the house.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. But the garage is part of
the violation?
MS. McGONAGLE: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
September 23, 2021
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MS. McGONAGLE: Thanks.
MS. GARNELO: Thank you.
MS. BUCHILLON: Next case.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Next case.
MS. BUCHILLON: Under motion for Extension of Time,
No. 2, CEVR20200000062, William E. Christ and Roseanne R.
Christ.
MR. CATHEY: I do.
MR. SCHMACHTENBERG: I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Could you state your name on the
mic for us, please.
MR. SCHMACHTENBERG: Good morning. I am Lee
Schmachtenberg. I'm a Florida attorney. My office is on Marco
Island, Florida, and I'm here on behalf of the Christs. We're seeking
a motion for an extension of time.
They were to complete the remediation on the property by
August 24th, and they did not meet that deadline. The reason -- the
reasons they have are extreme extenuating circumstances.
Mr. Christ, in November of 2020, was diagnosed with Stage 4
lymphoma cancer. He went -- underwent an extensive cancer
treatment, and in May of 2021, it was determined that the cancer
treatment did not take care of his situation, so then he went to a
second tier of cancer treatment. At that point in time, he contracted
COVID-19, went into the hospital with COVID-19 pneumonia. He
is recovering now, and he's just starting his second round of cancer
treatment for his lymphoma.
Meanwhile, I am glad -- and I have a letter from his doctor with
respect to all of that medical information.
But, meanwhile, there was a restoration plan that was prepared
by Turrell, and I have copies of that restoration plan. The restoration
plan was completed on August 5th, 2021. It was sent over to
September 23, 2021
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Michaelle Crowley who, on August 23rd, approved the plan. And
then on September 3rd -- I have a copy of the contract -- he went into
contract with Affordable Landscaping Service and Design, LLC, on
Marco Island. I've been in touch with the owner of Affordable
Landscaping. They have obtained the plants that are required under
the restoration plan, and planting is in process. And I've been in
contact with Ryan Cathey, and he has observed that the plantings are
in process.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Any idea when it's going
to be done?
MR. SCHMACHTENBERG: I believe that two to three
months it should be completed.
Now, the plan is that they are going to be putting in a house on
the property. So after those plans are submitted for permit, then
there may be some modification to the restoration plan. But the plan
right now is to complete the plantings in accordance with the
restoration plan that exists right now that have been approved.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I think, if I'm not mistaken, once
you pull a permit for a new dwelling, the case goes away.
Am I correct, Ryan?
MR. CATHEY: Not completely.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, am I partially right, then?
MR. CATHEY: Well, they have the option of completing the
restoration plan or building a home, which affects what was cleared
on the property.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Right. Once you get a permit,
though, you can clear up to an acre, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
MR. CATHEY: Correct.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So do you have any idea
when you're going to pull a permit on the construction?
MR. SCHMACHTENBERG: It appears from the contractor
September 23, 2021
Page 18
that in about a month they should have the plans ready for pulling a
permit.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Make a motion to continue this case for 120
days.
MR. BLANCO: I'll second.
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second.
Any discussion on the motion?
MS. CURLEY: Is that enough?
MR. LEFEBVRE: He's saying --
MR. SCHMACHTENBERG: I think 120 days should at least
get us into the permit process.
MS. BOWMAN: Should we allow --
MR. SCHMACHTENBERG: Eight to 12 weeks. I stand
corrected. Eight to 12 weeks.
MS. CURLEY: Let's just -- let's just not talk about your -- the
house thing. I want to talk about the restoration.
MR. LEFEBVRE: The restoration plan.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Right.
MR. LEFEBVRE: He said --
MS. CURLEY: Again, here we, like, put another issue that we
don't care about on top of an issue that we care about. So the issue is
the restoration plan that you have, and you said it's going to be done
in...
MR. SCHMACHTENBERG: Two to three months.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Once the permit is pulled on the
dwelling --
MS. CURLEY: I don't care about that.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I know you don't care about it, but
the code case goes away; in other words, if you clear some property
September 23, 2021
Page 19
and you have a building --
MS. CURLEY: I know you said that.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So, okay --
MS. CURLEY: It might not happen. The man's ill.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Well, we have a motion,
and we have a second.
MR. LEFEBVRE: With operational costs being paid within 30
days.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: Fines continue to accrue?
MR. LEFEBVRE: That's correct. It's a continuance, not an
extension.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Continuance. Okay. All those in
favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MR. RUBENSTEIN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: (No verbal response.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. BLANCO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MR. LETOURNEAU: I just want to point out one thing. If
they go with the restoration plan, plant the plants, done deal, case
closed. Ryan does an affidavit of compliance. If they have to use
the house to complete the abatement, theoretically the code case
wouldn't go away until the CO is issued on the house just because if
something happened, they get the permit, the house never gets built
or whatever, they're still back in that same situation right there.
September 23, 2021
Page 20
MR. SCHMACHTENBERG: Well, I believe that the plan is to
complete the restoration plan as required and as approved, and that
will end the case.
MR. LETOURNEAU: And it's a done deal at that point. But
if you're relying on the house to be built, we would have to keep the
case open until the CO.
MR. SCHMACHTENBERG: No. We're going to complete
the restoration plan as approved.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: One way or another you'll be back,
I'm sure, to discuss that it's been abated and the fines that are there
need to be disposed of one way or the other. So we will see you at
that time.
MR. SCHMACHTENBERG: And that's 120 days, is that what
the approval --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yes.
MR. SCHMACHTENBERG: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Thank you.
MR. CATHEY: Thank you.
MS. BUCHILLON: Next case, No. 3, CESD20210000507,
Rainer Rizo.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MS. COUTIN: I do.
MR. AVULA: I do.
MR. RIZO: I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And could you state your name on
the microphone for us. You can -- you guys are tall. You can point
it up. Go ahead.
MR. AVULA: Okay. My name is Andre, and this is Rizo.
So I'm just here for translator. So, first of all, I'm going to apologize
for my dress code. I didn't know I was coming to court. He just tell
me, can you --
September 23, 2021
Page 21
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You don't have to wear a dress
here. That's okay.
MR. AVULA: Sorry. I just want to apologize.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That's okay. Give us your last
name also.
MR. AVULA: Avula (phonetic), Andre Avula.
And let Terri swear you in as an interpreter.
(ANDRE AVULA, the interpreter, was sworn to truly and
correctly interpret English into Spanish and Spanish into English.)
THE INTERPRETER: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. And the respondent, could
you say your name on the microphone for us.
MR. RIZO: Mi nombre Rainer Rizo.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. All right.
Why don't you give us a brief summary of this case, and then we'll go
to the respondents --
MS. COUTIN: Sure.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: -- who are asking for an extension.
MS. COUTIN: So this case came before the Board on
May 24th, I believe. They did sign a stipulation agreement. They
didn't know that -- so it's for a garage conversion and a lanai
conversion as well; they enclosed a lanai.
Their permits are issued, and they're valid. They're valid till
February, but their compliance date is tomorrow. So when they
went to go ask for the inspections, they weren't aware that they were
going to have to cut walls and that it was going to be a lengthy
process for inspections, so they called in about 12 inspections. They
were told this information, so now they're needing to go in and cut
walls to call in these inspections again.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. And the respondents have
talked to you about --
September 23, 2021
Page 22
MS. COUTIN: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: -- a continuance of how long?
MS. COUTIN: They want to do about 120 days.
THE COURT REPORTER: Could you state your name.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So you didn't have to do
too much --
MS. COUTIN: Investigator Saylys Coutin, Code Enforcement.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Thank you. Okay.
Questions, comments from the Board.
MS. ELROD: Make a motion to extend for 120 days.
MR. BLANCO: I'll second.
MS. BOWMAN: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a motion and a
second for an extension. All those in favor?
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. BLANCO: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Excuse me. I misspoke. For a continuance.
Okay.
MS. ELROD: I was going to ask you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MR. RUBENSTEIN: (No verbal response.)
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: (No verbal response.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. BLANCO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
September 23, 2021
Page 23
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MR. AVULA: Thank you.
MS. COUTIN: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good luck on your inspections.
Next time you wear a dress, put flowers on it.
MS. BUCHILLON: Next up, stipulations. First stipulation,
under hearings, No. 9, CESD20200009039, Kurt Clapper and Tricia
Clapper.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. SHANAHAN: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Let the record show the respondent
is not present.
MR. SHANAHAN: Good morning. For the record, Bill
Shanahan, Collier County Code Enforcement.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I don't remember seeing you.
MR. SHANAHAN: I've been here a few times.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It must be my memory, then.
MR. SHANAHAN: Two years an investigator. I'm
nondescript. I fly under the radar as much as I can.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: There you go.
MS. CURLEY: I like that.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Do you want to go through the
stipulation?
MR. SHANAHAN: Yes, sir. It's agreed between the parties
that the respondent shall 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 permit, inspections, and
certificate of completion or occupancy for the unpermitted shed
within 120 days of this hearing, or a fine of $200 per day will be
September 23, 2021
Page 24
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: Okay. Any comments on the
stipulation?
MS. ELROD: Motion to accept.
MS. CURLEY: I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Comments.
MS. CURLEY: I just noticed that the case number is from
2020? Was there a long time where there wasn't any action from the
property owners?
MR. SHANAHAN: No, ma'am. He actually had a contractor
install the shed. And him and his wife both thought that the
contractor pulled a permit only to find out that they didn't, and so he's
scrambling to try to get the permit. They do have a permit
application in. It is being worked, just not in time for the hearing,
so...
MR. BLANCO: I'll second the motion.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a motion and a
second. All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MR. RUBENSTEIN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: (No verbal response.)
September 23, 2021
Page 25
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. BLANCO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MR. SHANAHAN: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: A quick question before you go.
Did this come over from Contractors Licensing at all?
MR. SHORT: Contractor Licensing did actually do their own
thing with the contractor, yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. I'm just curious how some
cases come before us.
MS. BUCHILLON: Next stipulation, No. 3,
CEVR20210003024, Tuscany Pointe Community Association, Inc.
MS. COUTIN: I do.
MR. WELCH: I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: If you could state your name on
the microphone for us.
MR. WELCH: James Welch, board president.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. And you have the
authorization to speak for Tuscany Pointe?
MR. WELCH: Yes, I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
And you have the stipulation?
MS. COUTIN: I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And would you like to read this
into the record for us.
MS. COUTIN: Good morning. For the record, Investigator
Saylys Coutin, Collier County Code Enforcement Board.
Therefore, it is agreed between the parties that the respondent
shall:
September 23, 2021
Page 26
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 restoring and maintaining the
required landscape Type B buffer as indicated on the approved
landscaping plan for Tuscany Pointe 2 within 60 days of this hearing,
or $150 per day will be imposed until the violation is abated;
Three, the respondent must notify Code Enforcement within 24
hours of abatement of the violation and request the investigator
perform a site visit 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
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: You said 50 days on this, five oh?
MS. COUTIN: Sixty, six zero.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Any comments from the
Board?
MR. LEFEBVRE: Does this require any kind of plan being
submitted to the county?
MS. COUTIN: So they already put in the new plants, and
they're turning in an ICP, so insubstantial change of plan, because
they changed the type of plan. So he's already been in contact with
Mr. Templeton down in planning, and he's already got that submitted.
He just needs to get that approved.
MR. LEFEBVRE: So it's more administrative than anything
else?
MS. COUTIN: Yeah.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Why the shorter period, because if he had to
go through --
MS. COUTIN: Exactly, yeah. So he wanted to get the
September 23, 2021
Page 27
plantings in when it was rainy season. Rainy season's in, they're in,
they're in healthy condition right now. So he just has to get that
approval from the county first -- afterwards.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Is there irrigation?
MR. WELCH: Yeah. We installed more drip lines.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Okay. Good, good.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Are they clusia, by any chance?
MR. WELCH: That's what we installed.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: What a surprise.
MS. ELROD: Motion to accept the stipulation as written.
MS. BOWMAN: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second.
All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MR. RUBENSTEIN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: (No verbal response.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. BLANCO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
With clusia, you don't have to water; you don't have to do
anything. It just grows.
MR. WELCH: Thank you.
MS. COUTIN: Thank you.
MS. BUCHILLON: Next -- I'm sorry.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Don't be sorry.
MS. BUCHILLON: Next case, under motion for imposition of
fines, No. 2, CEPM --
September 23, 2021
Page 28
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Wait. Can I stop you one second?
MS. BUCHILLON: Sure.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You're going to the imposition
now because nobody for the hearings is present; is that correct?
MS. BUCHILLON: Yeah, we only have one case under
hearings, which they're not here.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. I just was curious as why
we're --
MS. BUCHILLON: Yeah. Everything else was withdrawn
under hearings but that case.
MS. CURLEY: This gentleman in the red shirt, did he ask if he
could go ahead of time?
MS. BUCHILLON: Imposition of fines.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Gerald just looked. He thinks
there are two cases.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Do we have Case No. 1 and No. 5 under
hearings?
MS. BUCHILLON: All right. But they're not here.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Neither are here. Okay.
MS. BUCHILLON: Under imposition of fines, No. 2,
CESD20190010316, Albert F. Lepree and Lorraine M. Fotiou.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MS. FOTIOU: I do.
MS. PATTERSON: I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning.
MS. PATTERSON: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We're back to Sharwood again.
MS. PATTERSON: Yes. So good morning. For the record,
Sherry Patterson, Collier County Code Enforcement.
The past orders of the Board, on September 24th, 2020, the
Code Enforcement Board issued a finding of fact, conclusion of law
September 23, 2021
Page 29
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, OR5832, Page 10, for more information.
The violation has been abated by August 24th, 2021.
Fines and costs to date are as follows: Fines have accrued at a
rate of $100 per day for the period from December 24th, 2020, to
August 24th, 2021, for 244 days, for a total fine amount of $24,400.
Previous assessed operational costs in the amount of 59.28 have been
paid, operational costs for today's hearing is 59.35, for the total
amount of $24,518.63.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. FOTIOU: Hello.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning.
MS. FOTIOU: My name is Lorraine Fotiou.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. BUCHILLON: The amount you read was wrong.
MS. PATTERSON: $24,518.63?
MS. ELROD: That's not what we have.
MS. BUCHILLON: No. It's 24,059.35.
MS. PATTERSON: Okay.
MS. FOTIOU: Oh, that's much better.
MS. CURLEY: What a relief.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I can see the relief on your face.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Twenty-four --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. I remember all the cases
that we heard from Sharwood, and it seemed to be that --
MS. FOTIOU: Palm River.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: -- there was a problem with the
state getting licensed people in there to do some of the work. Is that
the case here?
MS. FOTIOU: My partner is a boat captain. He works on a
September 23, 2021
Page 30
private yacht. He's on the yacht in the Atlantic or Caribbean about
50 weeks out of the year, so he's only home, you know, a week here
and a week there, you know, two to three weeks out of the year,
basically. And he pretty much did the work himself. So it took him
a long time to get the work done, but he did finally get it done, so...
MR. LEFEBVRE: I make a motion to --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Deny.
MR. LEFEBVRE: -- deny the county's imposing of the fines.
MS. CURLEY: Second.
MR. BLANCO: I'll second.
MS. FOTIOU: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second.
Any discussion on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, any those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MR. RUBENSTEIN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: (No verbal response.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. BLANCO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MS. FOTIOU: Thank you so much.
MS. CURLEY: Does it look nice?
MS. FOTIOU: It looks very nice.
MS. CURLEY: So you had to bring him to court to get it gone
done, right?
MS. FOTIOU: Yeah, yeah. It's a nightmare.
September 23, 2021
Page 31
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Thank you very much.
MS. FOTIOU: Thank you.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Thank you.
MS. BUCHILLON: Next case, No. 5, CESD20200002928,
Robert Douglas Hodge and Susan Norma Goldhorn.
THE COURT REPORTER: Can I get your name?
MS. GOLDHORN: Susan Goldhorn.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MS. GOLDHORN: Yes.
MS. PEREZ: Yes, I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Could you state your name on the
microphone for us.
MS. GOLDHORN: Susan Goldhorn.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. LEFEBVRE: So you purchased this property with the
violations?
MS. GOLDHORN: Yes, sir.
MR. LEFEBVRE: And you knew that there were violations on
the property at the time of closing?
MS. GOLDHORN: Yes, sir. Indirectly, yes, sir. We
purchased -- we went under contract in October, and it was supposed
to be a quick settlement, and it turned out to be a two - to three-month
delay. The woman moved to New York. She had a tax lien. She
filed bankruptcy. We had to get court approval. There was a
snowstorm. Then they closed the courts due to COVID. And we
did not take possession of the house until the end of January, and we
were not -- I guess she didn't notify the court that we took possession,
and we were not able to go to court here until March. We got the
permit. We got the violation taken care of in May, and we're here to
hopefully have the fees -- the fine dismissed.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Let me stop you for a second.
September 23, 2021
Page 32
Christine, do you want to read the document into the record for us,
please.
MS. PEREZ: Yes, sir. Good morning. For the record,
Cristina Perez, Collier County Code Enforcement.
This is in reference to Case No. CESD20200002928.
Violation: Collier County Land Development Code 04-41, as
amended, Section 10.02.06(B)(1)(a), Section 10.02.06(B)(1)(e), and
Section 10.02.06(B)(1)(e)(i).
Location is at 211 Sugarloaf Lane in Naples, Florida. Folio
No. 81626120008.
Description of the violation is a new lanai and carpet [sic].
Past orders: On August 28, 2020, the Code Enforcement Board
issued finding of facts, 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, OR5854,
Page 403, for more information.
On March 25th, 2021, the Code Enforcement Board granted a
continuance. See the attached order of the Board in Documents and
Images for more information.
The violation has been abated as of June 1, 2021. Fines have
accrued at the rate of $200 per day for the period from February 25th,
2021, to June 18, 2021, 114 days, for a total fine amount of 22,800.
Previously assessed operational costs of $59.28 have been paid.
Operational costs for today's hearing is $59.63. The total fine
amount is $22,859.63.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So I can assume that you
are here asking for your fines to be abated?
MS. GOLDHORN: Yes, sir.
MR. BLANCO: I make a motion to deny the county's motion
for imposition of fines.
MS. ELROD: Second.
September 23, 2021
Page 33
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second.
Any discussion on the motion?
MS. CURLEY: Just to include the denial of the imposition of
today's costs as well.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yes.
MR. BLANCO: Correct.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: When we do that, it's all -- it all
goes away normally.
Okay. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MR. RUBENSTEIN: (No verbal response.)
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: (No verbal response.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. BLANCO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Thank you. Good luck.
MS. PEREZ: Thank you.
MS. GOLDHORN: Thank you very much.
MS. BUCHILLON: Next case, No. 6,
CEVE -- CEV20200000211, Miguel Cruz Estate.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. CRUZ: I do.
THE COURT REPORTER: Your name?
MR. CRUZ: Michael Cruz.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Did you drop something?
MR. LEFEBVRE: No.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We've got to get our stuff
September 23, 2021
Page 34
together here.
Why don't we begin by -- if you would read the order into the
record for us.
MS. McGONAGLE: Good morning. For the record,
Investigator Michele McGonagle.
Past order: On March 25th, 2021, 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,
OR5933, Page 2483, for more information.
The violation has not been abated as of September 23rd, 2021.
Fines have accrued at a rate of $150 per day for the period from
June 24th, 2021, to September 23rd, 2021, 92 days, for a total fine
amount of $13,800.
Fines continue to accrue.
Previously assessed operational costs of $59.29 have not been
paid. Operational costs for today's hearing, $59.28. Total amount,
$13,918.56.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. If you would, give us your
name on the microphone, please.
MR. CRUZ: Michael Cruz.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. I notice that the
operational costs have not been paid; is that correct?
MR. CRUZ: I didn't realize I owed that; otherwise, I would
have paid that.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. This was a case we have
unlicensed vehicles on the property?
MR. CRUZ: Yeah.
MS. CURLEY: Is this a property you rent or something?
MR. CRUZ: This is a property my father owned, and
everybody left it, so I went there, but it's still under probate. And he
September 23, 2021
Page 35
has cars under his name there and, per my sister and per the police,
that if I'm to remove those cars, it's illegal and I can be arrested for it
because they haven't been processed between probate. So I'm stuck
between a rock and a hard spot now. You know, it's almost like it's
time to get rid of the vehicles and take the rest, you know, and deal
with it that way.
MS. CURLEY: How long has it been probating for?
MR. CRUZ: Five years.
MS. CURLEY: Is it just you and your sister?
MR. CRUZ: No. There's eight of us, but she's the one that
called the code violation in just to spite me. And, otherwise, you
guys wouldn't be on my radar because there's a ton of that stuff going
on out there, and just to spite me, she called it in, tried to blame it on
my grandmother. But my other sibling told me the trut h.
And so it's just -- everything's out of spite right now. Hurt
feelings. And I've had a lawyer for five years, and they just can't
agree to nothing. I -- like I said, last time I came here, I told them I'd
take them out somehow, but when I called the police to have them
removed, I was told the same thing, so it would be theft.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: How many vehicles are there?
MR. CRUZ: There is five.
MR. BLANCO: Correct me if I'm wrong. Didn't -- last time
you were here, didn't you say that your sister owned some of those
vehicles?
MR. CRUZ: One of those vehicles, yeah. And it's dilapidated.
I mean, it's got mold inside. It's disgusting. And I'm telling you, if
I could remove them, they'd be gone.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Yeah. If I remember, you said there were
different family members that had some cars there at the time back
when you came in front of us.
MR. CRUZ: Right, yeah, yeah. And I've been just -- like I
September 23, 2021
Page 36
said, at this point I don't know what to do. I talked to my probate
attorney. He said the same thing; I could be arrested for taking them
off the property. And it's -- like I said, I don't know what to do. I
want to get rid of them, you know.
MS. CURLEY: Does anyone live there?
MR. CRUZ: I live there.
MS. CURLEY: Oh, you live there?
MR. CRUZ: I live there, so I've got to see it every day. Well,
I work in -- I feel like I'm in front of the Board because I work for an
HOA. So I know about rules and stuff like that. But I'm
there -- I'm there on the weekends. The rest of the week I'm in
Sarasota. But I'd like the room back, to be honest with you.
MS. BOWMAN: So imposing the fines does nothing because a
violation's going to continue to be there no matter what. And --
MR. CRUZ: Until we get this case closed, you know, the
probate done, which I -- which I hope comes at the beginning of the
year. I can't guarantee that, because I have one resister; that's that
sister.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Let me ask a question that might
lead to something or not. You were cited?
MR. CRUZ: Yes, I've been cited.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You were cited. The estate was
cited?
MR. CRUZ: Yeah.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Not you personally.
MR. CRUZ: Right.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And the estate consists of how
many people?
MR. CRUZ: Eight of us.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Eight of you. Okay.
MS. CURLEY: Does the sister realize what she's created here?
September 23, 2021
Page 37
MR. CRUZ: Yeah. I got a text message from her, because I
texted one of my siblings that they needed to be removed, and she
says, I see you told Marcie to junk Dad's cars, which is illegal
because it's his property. So then I stopped talking to her. It's, like,
there's no getting through with this girl. She's stubbo rn.
MS. CURLEY: What do we do here?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I know what I would do.
MS. CURLEY: We're on live TV.
MS. BOWMAN: What would you do?
MR. LEFEBVRE: Would there be anywhere to take them and
put them somewhere in storage?
MR. CRUZ: I guess that's an option, which would cost me just
as much as that option, you know, until it's done.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Well -- you said how many cars, again?
MR. CRUZ: Five. And one of them --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Does your sister live in Collier?
MR. CRUZ: Yeah, she lives in Collier County. I don't know
where, though. I haven't talked to this sister besides these text
messages.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I would deliver her car to her.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Well, if there's a way to remove them to a
safe location other than here where it would be acceptable, the fines
would stop. I mean, they're at, what, $100 a day?
MR. CRUZ: A hundred fifty a day.
MR. LEFEBVRE: A hundred and fifty a day times --
MS. BOWMAN: He can still get in trouble for moving them
anywhere.
MS. CURLEY: He's the ghost of his dad.
MR. CRUZ: I look like him the most, too.
MS. BOWMAN: Imposing the fine will just put the fine on the
estate, and the attorneys are going to have to handle it later. But,
September 23, 2021
Page 38
like, still we're -- he can't do anything with them.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Right, but he can --
MS. BOWMAN: He can't move them to storage either.
MR. LEFEBVRE: If you imposed a fine, each sibling's going
to be responsible for, technically, one-eighth of the fine.
MS. CURLEY: You have 14,000 divided by eight.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It depends how the estate is
distributed.
MR. LEFEBVRE: For simplicity, for simplicity --
MR. CRUZ: I've paid all the taxes. I've paid everything, you
know, for the property. I've maintained it the best that I can, except
for the grass. I've got to cut the grass. But I maintain it, I keep it
up. I do everything I can do, and then I have this problem.
MR. RUBENSTEIN: Do these vehicles have license plates,
and do they operate?
MR. CRUZ: Some of them operate but no license plates.
MR. RUBENSTEIN: On any of the five?
MR. CRUZ: No, because they're under my father's name.
How can I go get a license plate under his name?
MR. RUBENSTEIN: Is there insurance currently on the five
vehicles?
MS. CURLEY: No.
MR. CRUZ: Again, they're under my father. I can't insure
them.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: There's no plates on them so it
doesn't matter.
MR. LEFEBVRE: If these cars moved to the backyard out of
view, it's still a violation? Okay.
MS. McGONAGLE: They have to be in a completely enclosed
structure, or they have to put valid license plates on them.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Right, and they can't.
September 23, 2021
Page 39
MS. CURLEY: Oh, what?
MS. ELROD: Well, they're in his dad's name. He can't.
MR. LEFEBVRE: But you can't build any kind of structure
because it's your father's property.
MR. CRUZ: Right. If I go and waste all that money, I may
lose it all.
MR. LEFEBVRE: This is a Catch 22 times 22.
MR. CRUZ: Right. You know, I've offered before to put, like,
those tents over them for now or something like that, but I guess
that's not allowed.
MS. BOWMAN: Yeah.
MR. CRUZ: You can see my backyard from the road, so...
MS. CURLEY: So this isn't a neighbor complaint?
MR. CRUZ: It's a -- no, it was a sister complaint.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Sister.
MR. CRUZ: I know exactly who complained.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Okay. I think the only two options we
have is impose the fine or give him more time. He did state in his
testimony at the beginning of the year this might even be resolved. I
think we give it to the February meeting, like five months, because I
would hate to see that there's imposition of fines on an estate that --
MS. CURLEY: That's silly.
MR. LEFEBVRE: -- there's no control; that each of you are
going to be fined. It's just -- it makes no sense at all.
MS. ELROD: Is that your motion?
MS. CURLEY: If no one showed up, this would already have
taken its course a long time ago and the estate would be over fined
for maybe the value at some point.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Right.
MR. CRUZ: Right.
MS. CURLEY: So you're doing all your family a favor. And
September 23, 2021
Page 40
you can request copies of this meetings of this minutes [sic] and show
it to them that you're here on behalf of the estate.
MR. LEFEBVRE: So I want to make a motion, but I also want
to make it very clear that that 59.28 has to be paid.
MR. CRUZ: Okay. Can I pay it downstairs or something?
MR. LEFEBVRE: You have to go up to Horseshoe Drive.
MR. CRUZ: Horseshoe Drive, okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Michele will get together with you
and let you know that. But it needs to be paid today.
MR. CRUZ: Okay. That's fine.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And now your motion is?
MR. LEFEBVRE: Motion for February, which would be five
months, I think. Let's continue the case for five months.
MR. CRUZ: Okay.
MR. LEFEBVRE: One hundred fifty days.
MS. ELROD: Second.
MS. BOWMAN: I'll second that.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Motion and a second. Any
discussion on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, all those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MR. RUBENSTEIN: (No verbal response.)
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. BLANCO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
September 23, 2021
Page 41
Good luck.
MR. LEFEBVRE: The fines keep on accruing.
MR. CRUZ: Right.
MR. LEFEBVRE: The fines do not stop. So until you take
care of it -- so family members might want that to be known to put a
little pressure on them to get this resolved.
MR. CRUZ: Will I get a copy of the fines accrued already?
MS. BOWMAN: Here. Here you go.
MR. CRUZ: Thank you.
MS. CURLEY: It's probably in your mailbox.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Michele will give it to you.
MR. CRUZ: The guy was surprised that I even signed the
certified letter. He's like --
MS. BOWMAN: Would you like a second copy for her?
MR. CRUZ: No, I can scan this. Thank you.
MS. McGONAGLE: Thank you.
MS. CURLEY: Good luck.
MR. CRUZ: Have a good day. Thank you very much.
MS. BUCHILLON: Next case, No. 7, CESD20180011522,
Fabian Rodriguez and Caridad Salceiro.
(ROSEANNA RODRIGUEZ, the interpreter, was sworn to truly
and correctly interpret English into Spanish and Spanish into
English.)
TNE INTERPRETER: Yes.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MS. SALCIERO: (Through interpreter) Yes.
MR. MUSSE: I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Could you bring the microphone
down for us and state your name on it for us, please?
MS. RODRIGUEZ: My name is Roseanna, and this is my
mom.
September 23, 2021
Page 42
MS. SALCIERO: My name is Caridad Salciero.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. This was a case from 2019.
Do you want to read it into the record for us, Jonathan.
MR. MUSSE: Yes, sir. Good morning. For the record,
Investigator Jonathan Musse, Collier County Code Enforcement.
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 orders of the Board,
OR5603, Page 2123, for more information.
On April 26th, 2019, the Code Enforcement Board granted an
extension of time. See the attached order of the Board in Documents
and Images for more information.
On October 25th, 2019, the Code Enforcement Board granted a
continuance. See attached order of the Board in Documents and
Images for more information.
The violation has been abated as of August 17th, 2021.
Fines have accrued at the rate of $75 per day for a period from
August 23rd, 2019, to August 17th, 2021, 726 days, for a total fine
amount of $54,450.
Previously assessed operational costs in the amount of $59.42
and $59.42 have been paid. Operational costs for today's hearing,
59.56 -- $59.56.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Good morning.
MS. RODRIGUEZ: Good morning.
MS. SALCIERO: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Could you tell us why it took so
long to get this thing resolved?
Joe's here.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. MUCHA: I do.
September 23, 2021
Page 43
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Joe.
MR. MUCHA: So there was a number of items that they had to
take care of. There was four different things. I don't know if you
guys remember. It's a lanai, there was a wall, there was a fence, and
then there was, like, an overhang.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Right.
MR. MUCHA: It took a little bit extra time with the lanai
because they had to get approval from -- because this is a Habitat
community. That took some time. And then there was some
confusion with the spot survey that was submitted. The one they had
submitted previously was good, and I didn't catch that, and it kind of
delayed things by a few months.
I mean, all I can say is that they always kept in good contact
with me. And I know we lost a little bit of time with COVID and
everything like that, but I think they diligently worked -- I know it
took a little bit of extra time. It's resolved and --
MS. ELROD: I'd like to make a motion to deny the county the
imposition of fines.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second.
Any discussion on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, all those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MR. RUBENSTEIN: (No verbal response.)
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. BLANCO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
September 23, 2021
Page 44
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
You're free.
MS. CURLEY: You're free.
MR. LEFEBVRE: You were about to say something?
MS. RODRIGUEZ: Yeah. I was going to, because we
had -- like, everything that we had to do, we took it out, like --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You took care of everything?
MS. RODRIGUEZ: Yeah.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And we took care of the fine.
MS. RODRIGUEZ: Thank you.
MS. SALCIERO: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So it was a good combination
between all of us.
MS. RODRIGUEZ: Thank you.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Thank you very much.
MS. SALCIERO: Have a nice day.
MS. BUCHILLON: Next case, No. 8, CESD20170014131,
Carlos A. Rojas, P.A.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MS. ROJAS: Yes, I do.
MR. MUSSE: I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning.
MS. ROJAS: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Could you say your name on the
microphone for us.
MS. ROJAS: Marie Rojas.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. And, Jonathan, do you
want to read the order?
MR. MUSSE: Good morning. For the record, Investigator
Jonathan Musse, Collier County Code Enforcement Board.
September 23, 2021
Page 45
Past orders: On April 26th, 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,
OR5629, Page 3148, for more information.
The violation has been abated as of August 1st, 2021.
Fines have accrued at the rate of $100 per day for a period between
June 26th, 2019, and August 19th, 2021, 786 days, for a total fine
amount of $78,600.
The rest has been updated. She just recently paid the
operational costs. So the previously assessed operational costs of
$59.63 have been paid as of yesterday.
Operational costs for today's hearing is 59.42, for a total fine
amount of $78,659.42.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Is Carlos your husband?
MS. ROJAS: No, he's my son.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: He's your son?
MS. ROJAS: Yeah.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Because he's the one who's listed
on this.
MS. ROJAS: Yes, he bought --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And --
MS. ROJAS: Yeah, he bought the property to move to Naples,
but he got -- ended up in Boston, so that's why we took care of the
property. But Irma came and took the lanai. But the house, it
needed full rehab. And we have to -- to be able to put back the lanai,
we need to do, first, the roofing, but the roofing came right on Irma,
and after that it took a while to get somebody to do that.
But we done, and then -- but we cannot attach the lanai until the
roof is done. So I came probably three or four times here, but I got
extended. But we got contractors going everything. They done
September 23, 2021
Page 46
what they have to be done. We got -- a roofing company came and
done the roof, and then the lanai came to -- in place, and he went
good. Probably the two years ago we finished.
So, actually, is past -- we couldn't do last year because we
had -- the house was rented, and we couldn't get the final inspection.
Every time the inspector went in there, the woman -- the renter say,
no, I don't feel well. Then nobody can get in. Finally, they out, and
I called for the final inspection, and it was only for a screw to get a
final inspection done.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. And I see, according to our
paperwork, everything's fine.
MS. ROJAS: Everything is fine.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Any comments from the
Board?
MS. ELROD: I'd like to make a motion to deny the county the
imposition of fines.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion. Do we have a
second?
MR. BLANCO: I'll second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a second. Any
discussion on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN FRYER: Hearing none, all those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: (No verbal response.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. BLANCO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
MR. RUBENSTEIN: Nay.
September 23, 2021
Page 47
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay, 6-1.
MS. ROJAS: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It passes. Thank you.
MS. BUCHILLON: Next case, No. 11, CESD20210005432,
Highland Properties of Lee and Collier, Limited.
MR. CADENHEAD: I do.
MS. PEREZ: I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Mr. Cadenhead, could you
state your name on the microphone for us.
MR. CADENHEAD: Bobby Cadenhead with Lee and
Collier -- Highlands Property of Lee and Collier, agent.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Easy for you to say, okay.
Cristine, do you want to read this into the record for us?
MS. PEREZ: Good morning. For the record, Cristina Perez,
Collier County Code Enforcement.
This is in reference to Case No. CESD20210005432 regarding
violations of the Collier County Land Development Code 04-41, as
amended, Sections 6.01.05.
Location: 4886 Santa Barbara Boulevard, Naples, Florida.
Folio No. 407360000.
Description of the violation was soil erosion and sediment
control system, silt; fencing has not been correctly installed as
required by the approved Site Development Plan. Silt fencing
installed is not being used properly.
Past orders: On June 23rd, 2021, 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,
OR5979, Page 3426 for more information.
On August 27, 2021, the Code Enforcement Board granted a
continuance. See the attached order of the Board in Document and
September 23, 2021
Page 48
Images for more information.
The violation has been abated as of August 27, 2021.
Fines have accrued at the rate of $150 per day for the period from
July 24th, 2021, to August 27, 2021, 35 days, for a total fine amount
of $5,250.
Previously assessed operational costs of $59.35 have been paid.
Operational costs for today's hearing are $59.63. Total amount is
$5,309.63.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. RUBENSTEIN: Mr. Chairman, I'd like to make a motion.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yes.
MR. RUBENSTEIN: To abate the fines posted, the 5,309 and
reduced to $1,500.
MR. ANDREOZZI: No.
MS. CURLEY: Let's hear from Mr. Cadenhead first.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yeah. Mr. Cadenhead, why don't
you go first, and then we'll entertain your motion.
MR. CADENHEAD: Number one, in other words, the silt
fence was with Growth Management, and it was our understanding
that our engineer dictated that we put up a silt fence, and he was the
one who would be able to say whether a silt fence was needed or not.
July the 13th, he was on site, and on July the 19th, he sent an e -mail
to the county saying that the silt fence was not required, that the
growth -- the grass was growed in, and there was no need for the silt
fence.
At that time, we met with Growth Management, and they said
the only way to change it was to revise the PUD. And at that time it
was easier to finish putting up two miles of silt fence than it was to
go back through all the process of the county to amend the PUD and
change it.
So I agreed to go ahead and put up two miles of the silt fence
September 23, 2021
Page 49
that wasn't needed, and we busted our ass to get it done, and that's
just a simple part of it. And the last time I was here was on the 27th
of August, and I asked for a continuance, and we was
through -- when I left here at 3:00, we got the affidavit of compliance
at that time. So we've done everything we can possibly do to get this
silt fence in and done.
MR. LEFEBVRE: If I remember correctly, the silt was in. At
one time you came in, you said the silt fence was in, but it wasn't six
inches into the ground like it was supposed to be, and some of it had
fallen.
MR. CADENHEAD: Yeah. That was correct. The silt fence,
when we first started the project -- before we was able to get our
PUD, we had to put a silt fence before we was able to have our
preconstruction meeting with the county. We had to put in silt fence
throughout the whole property.
Over the time, when the berms were built and grass took place,
the only reason for a silt is to keep the sediment from going over to
your neighbor's yard. Once you establish a berm with grass, the silt
fence is no longer needed.
So our conversation with the county was that if the engineer said
the silt fence wasn't needed, then we didn't have to put it. But at the
time they came back -- in other words, this is like -- we was supposed
to be done on June 23rd. He wrote his letter on -- I mean -- yeah,
July 23rd. He wrote his letter on -- e-mail to the county on
July 19th. The county came back and said, the only way to change
this was to go in for a PUD amendment to what we was doing, to take
the silt fence down. So I decided to just put all the silt fence in and
be done with it.
MS. CURLEY: Do you remember how much that fence cost?
MR. CADENHEAD: The fence, I'm around $10,000 that I put
out through this time to put in the extra fence.
September 23, 2021
Page 50
MS. CURLEY: Is it really two miles, or are you just making
that up?
MR. CADENHEAD: Ma'am?
MS. CURLEY: It is two miles?
MR. CADENHEAD: Two miles -- well, let's say 82 acres --
MS. CURLEY: Okay.
MR. CADENHEAD: -- that you're going all the way around,
and you're up the front, and the county requested that the front be put
in. We changed it. There was a discrepancy about how deep it was
buried. We went back and re-dug. In other words, we've tried
everything we possibly could to cooperate with Code and with
Growth Management. So I'm asking that the fine be totally
dismissed.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. According to our
paperwork, the violation was abated on August 27th.
MR. CADENHEAD: Yeah, that's correct.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: They said they were cooperative.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yep. Any discussion from the
Board?
MR. LEFEBVRE: Well, there's a motion.
MS. CURLEY: No second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Lee, you made a motion.
MR. RUBENSTEIN: Yeah. I hear what you say, and I'm
familiar with silt fences. And I know that when you install them, it's
not a one and done.
MR. CADENHEAD: No.
MR. RUBENSTEIN: You have to keep up with them because
they get washed out. And I want to make a motion that the fine of
5,309 be abated and reduced down to $500.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Do we have a second?
September 23, 2021
Page 51
MR. LEFEBVRE: I'll second that motion.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a second. Any
discussion on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, all those in favor?
MR. RUBENSTEIN: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
MR. BLANCO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Let me see hands. One opposed,
two opposed, three opposed, four opposed.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Motion fails.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That motion fails. Do we have
another motion?
MS. BOWMAN: Make a motion to deny the county the fines.
MR. BLANCO: I'll 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.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
MR. BLANCO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
MR. LEFEBVRE: Nay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Nay.
September 23, 2021
Page 52
MR. RUBENSTEIN: Nay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hands.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Three.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Three nays. Okay. That
motion passes. Okay. The fines are abated.
MR. CADENHEAD: Thank you.
MS. PEREZ: Thank you, board members.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We're going to take a 10-minute
break.
(A brief recess was had from 10:19 a.m. to 10:32 a.m.)
(Tarik Ayasun left the boardroom for the remainder of the
meeting.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I'd like to call the Code
Enforcement Board back to order. And what's next on our agenda?
MS. BUCHILLON: Next on the agenda, we're back up to
hearings.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. BUCHILLON: Number 1, CEPM20210006609, Martha
Lucy Roca Senzano.
MR. KAUFMAN: Okay. Let the record show the respondent
is not present.
MR. DELIA: Good morning. How are you?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Good morning.
MR. DELIA: Hi. For the record, my name is John Delia.
THE COURT REPORTER: I need to swear you in.
MR. DELIA: Oh, sorry.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. DELIA: I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Terri likes to wave to everybody
that comes up there.
MR. DELIA: Hi.
September 23, 2021
Page 53
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. DELIA: Okay. Good morning. For the record,
Investigator John Delia, Collier County Code Enforcement. This is
in reference to Case No. CEPM20210006609 in dealing with the
violation of the Collier County Code of Laws and Ordinances
Chapter 22, Buildings and Building Regulations, Article VI, Property
and Maintenance Code Section 22-231(12)(n), a dilapidated wooden
porch and a screened lanai missing the screens located at 4484 Rosea
Court, Naples, Florida, 34104. Folio No. 32485880004.
Service was given on June 23rd, 2021.
Conducted an initial inspection on June 23rd, 2021. I was
allowed to go onto the rear adjacent property to observe a dilapidated
wooden porch that was falling apart and rotting. There was also
other building materials piled up on the porch. I also observed in the
rear of the home a screened-in lanai area that had multiple screen
panels missing.
I issued the notice of violation on June 23rd, 2021.
On July 9th, 2021, I observed a maroon Dodge Charger park in the
driveway with Michigan plates. I spoke with Piero, which is the son
of the property owner, who is in Bolivia. Piero stated that he is
leaving today for a flight to Bolivia to visit mother and will return
July 24th, 2021.
Piero told me he already lined up people to clean up the rear
yard on July 27th, 2021. He also stated he will be taking quotes for
the lanai to be repaired.
Reinspection was conducted on July 26th, 2021, and observed
the violations remain. I conducted numerous inspections on the
property and left my contact information to be reached, and the
violation remains.
At this time I'd like to present case evidence in the following
exhibits: Three photos I took on June 22nd, 2021; two aerial images
September 23, 2021
Page 54
of the property. One of 2010 where the porch was intact, and one in
the present, 2021, with dilapidated wooden porch; and the deed of the
present owner of the property.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Can I get a motion to accept
photos?
MS. ELROD: Motion to accept.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Motion and second. All those in
favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MR. RUBENSTEIN: (No verbal response.)
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: (No verbal response.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. BLANCO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MS. BUCHILLON: Mr. Kaufman?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yes.
MS. BUCHILLON: I would like to put on the record the
respondent was notified regular and certified mail on September 1st,
2021. It was also posted at the property and courthouse August 31st,
2021.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Thank you, Helen.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Jack, you want to describe these photos
as we go through them.
MR. DELIA: Yes. See, the original complaint came from the
rear neighbors. The rear neighbors complained about the way the
porch looked; however, when I went back, I noticed the screened
September 23, 2021
Page 55
lanai, and that's why I brought up the property maintenance on this.
This actually just looks like a sitting area, but it's missing a majority
of the screens out of the porch.
The porch was originally built, I believe, in 2010. From there,
this is what we've got, and it's completely dilapidated, including the
house is actually starting to get that way, too. It's unmaintained.
Nobody lives within the home, it seems like.
This is the original photo of 2010 when the screened lanai also
the porch, was put in. You can see the maintenance on it in the back
part right here where the yellow line is.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: What development is this in?
MR. DELIA: Flamingo Estates.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. DELIA: And the next picture you see what it looks likes
today from the aerial, if you zoom in on it; if you can a lit tle bit.
You see how now it's all falling apart, lanai -- and the screen and the
lanai is all falling apart.
The neighbors are complaining because of the fact that things
are piled up in the back of a dilapidated porch, and they're afraid,
which was through the hurricane season here, that everything was
going to fly off the property and go onto their properties.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Any more pictures?
MR. DELIA: No, we have two -- the three. That was actually
the main concern.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: I'll make a motion that a violation exists.
MR. BLANCO: I'll second.
MR. DELIA: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second
that a violation exists. Any discussion on the motion?
(No response.)
September 23, 2021
Page 56
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, all those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MR. RUBENSTEIN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: (No verbal response.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. BLANCO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Okay. Do you have a suggestion for us, John?
MR. DELIA: I have a recommendation, maybe.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: That's just like a suggestion.
MR. DELIA: That the Code Enforcement Board orders the
respondent to pay all operational costs in the amount of 59.21
incurred in the prosecution of the case within 30 days, and abate all
violations by: Obtaining all required Collier County building
permits or demolition permit, inspections, and certificate of
completion/occupancy -- dilapidated wooden porch and screen lanai
missing screens within blank days of this hearing, or a fine of blank
per day will be imposed until the violation is abated;
Number 2, the respondent must notify the code enforcement
investigator when the violation has been abated and ordered 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.
September 23, 2021
Page 57
MR. LETOURNEAU: I think there's a piece missing in there
on No. 1. After completion/occupancy, it should be to either rebuild
or remove the dilapidated wooden porch and screen lanai, all screens.
MR. DELIA: My apologies.
MR. LETOURNEAU: That's okay.
MS. CURLEY: What was there, other than three posts? I
mean, was the deck falling down? Was the roof on the floor?
MR. DELIA: Well, that must have been the walls of the deck
at one point. So at this point here, all the wood is being lifted up
from weather decay. The sides of the porch are all dilapidated and
falling apart. He's piling everything up in that area on top of the
porch, so it's just a mess.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Is it completely --
MR. DELIA: He should just demo it, in my opinion, and get it
over with. The lanai, though, could be replaced with the screens or
to bring it back to its original permitted state.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Nobody's living in the property?
MR. DELIA: At this point I've not come across anybody. I've
left my card multiple times. I think the mother lives in Bolivia itself,
and I think the father -- the son is doing business in California. So
he only comes on the property every now and then. The people in
the neighborhood are the ones actually maintaining the property by
cutting the grass because they don't want to see it get too high.
MS. CURLEY: Yeah. It seems like we would have her
address in the place where she's actually living, but because the stuff
is addressed to here, the --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Where's the tax bill sent?
MS. CURLEY: The tax bill is sent --
MR. DELIA: To the house, actually. To this house here.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Did you happen to notice
whether the taxes are up to date?
September 23, 2021
Page 58
MR. DELIA: I have not noticed that yet.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. That doesn't hinge on this,
but --
MR. LEFEBVRE: The only contact you had with the son was
the time that he was there?
MR. DELIA: Correct, and that was literally for two days that
he was there, and he -- he was there -- now, right now, I noticed my
card was missing off the door about a couple days ago, so I don't
know if he stopped in; however, the posting that I put on the property
is still up on the garage where I left it.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. DELIA: And I did notice that there might have been a
little activity in there, but it's not like a daily activity that's
going -- I'm driving past this thing two or three times a day just to see
if I can spot this person.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. LEFEBVRE: You never got a phone number or anything?
MR. DELIA: No, I have not. He never gave it to me. It was
hard enough to get his name because he was on the run.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Anybody like to take a
stab at filling in the blanks on this?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, I will. Oh, go
ahead, Gerald.
MR. LEFEBVRE: The 59.21 be paid within 30 days, 90 days
to correct the violation or fine of $150 a day.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. BLANCO: I'll second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a second.
MR. RUBENSTEIN: I'll second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We already have a second.
September 23, 2021
Page 59
MR. RUBENSTEIN: I'm sorry.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Danny seconded.
MS. CURLEY: How many days? I'm sorry.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Ninety days.
MS. CURLEY: To fix it?
MR. LEFEBVRE: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Ninety days to have it --
MS. CURLEY: Well, it's been since June 23rd. So you're
being awful generous.
MR. LEFEBVRE: I'm being a little generous considering
that -- well, first of all, how are they going to be noticed? You have
no way of getting in touch with these people.
MR. DELIA: That is true; however, I did -- he did get the
notice of violation at the original point. He had the notice of
violation. That's when I ran into him, after the notice of violation is
when I told him what day it was supposed to be done by, and that's
why he came up with this date to give it a little bit longer time,
because he was in Bolivia. So I told him, sure, that's no problem,
but then he didn't live up to his obligation.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Right.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Helen, do you send out certified on
these?
MS. BUCHILLON: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Well, it's his responsibility,
then. We'll find out if he signs for it or not. Do you ever request
for a return receipt?
MS. BUCHILLON: Yes. We're supposed to get the green
card back.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Good. So we'll find out
how that goes.
So we have a motion: 59.21 paid within 30 days is the
September 23, 2021
Page 60
operational costs, 90 days to come into compliance, or $150 per day
thereafter. Any other discussion on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, all those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MR. RUBENSTEIN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: (No verbal response.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. BLANCO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Thanks, John.
MR. DELIA: Thank you. Have a nice afternoon.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You, too.
MS. BUCHILLON: Next case under hearings, No. 5,
CESD20210004145, Paul Fairhurst.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Let the record show that
the respondent is not present, and if you want to tell us how you
noticed him.
MS. BUCHILLON: Respondent was notified regular and
certified mail on September 1st, 2021, and it was posted at the
property and courthouse September 9, 2021.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. This is an unpermitted
aluminum shed with open porch attached to electrical connections
and two unpermitted canopies.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MS. COUTIN: I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
September 23, 2021
Page 61
MS. COUTIN: Good morning. For the record, Investigator
Saylys Coutin, Collier County Code Enforcement.
This is in reference to Case No. CESD20210004145 dealing
with a violation of Collier County Land Development Code 04-4, as
amended, Section 10.02.06(1)(a) -- (B)(1)(a), sorry, and
10.06 -- .02.06(B)(1)(e) and 10.02.06(B)(1)(e)(i)., an unpermitted
aluminum shed with open porch attached and electrical connections
and two unpermitted canopies, located at 4601 11th Avenue
Southwest, Naples, Florida, 34116. Folio 3795640000.
Service given on May 24th, 2021.
This case originated as a complaint to our department. I
conducted a site visit on April 26th, 2021, and met with the property
owner, Mr. Paul Fairhurst. He escorted me to the rear of the
property where I observed the three structures in question: Two
canopies and aluminum shed with attached open porch.
Research was conducted of the property history, and no permits
were found for the structures.
On May 21st, 2021, Building Official Jonathan Walsh
determined a permit was required for the two canopies and the shed,
and a notice of violation was issued advising of the permit violation
and requirements to come into compliance.
I spoke with Mr. Fairhurst on June 2nd, 2021, in regards to the
permits and have him -- and I had him contact Renald Paul with the
Collier County Growth Management Department, who could assist
him with the permit application information and explaining the
process.
Through the course of the case, I regularly checked for any
permit applications and attempted to make further contact with the
owner, but I have not heard back from him in the last few weeks.
On August 6, 2021, a demo permit was applied for and approved
on August 20th, 2021, but it remains in "ready for issuance" status at
September 23, 2021
Page 62
this time.
I received a call from Nadia Karick (phonetic), who represents
the property owner, on September 21st, 2021, and discussed a permit
getting issued and advised -- she advised she would try and get in
contact with the owner.
As of today, no permits have been -- no permits have been
issued, and the violation remains.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So there's still an outstanding
demo permit?
MS. COUTIN: Yes. So he ended up getting the permit. He
just has to pay a fee for it to get issued, but he hasn't gone and picked
up the permit, so it's still not issued yet.
I would now like to present case evidence in the following
exhibits: One aerial of the property; three photographs from
April 23rd, 2021, taken by myself; and a building determination
completed by Building Official Jonathan Walsh.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Can we get a motion from the
Board to accept the photos.
MS. ELROD: Motion to accept.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and second.
All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MR. RUBENSTEIN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: (No verbal response.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. BLANCO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
September 23, 2021
Page 63
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MS. COUTIN: So those are the two canopies that he's going to
remove.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: You can make it bigger, Jeff, not
smaller.
MS. COUTIN: That's the shed, the aluminum shed. It has an
open porch on the left-hand side, and then the entrance is on the
right-hand side.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: What about all the clutter around
there?
MS. COUTIN: Yeah.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Is that stuff you spoke with him
about?
MS. COUTIN: He did have another case for boats and stuff he
had on the property, and that was taken care of.
(Danny Blanco left the boardroom for the remainder of the
meeting.)
MS. COUTIN: So that's the inside of the shed.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Just as a sidenote, one of
our board members had an appointment. He's waving goodbye to
us. Goodbye, Danny. So George is a voting member right now.
Okay. So those are the two canopies. The building, you showed us
the photo of that.
MS. COUTIN: The aluminum shed.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. In your discussion with the
homeowner, what did he say he was going to do?
MS. COUTIN: So he was planning on trying to get them
permitted because he bought -- the shed was on the property when he
bought it, but he decided to demo them instead. He thought that was
going to be simpler, and he did -- if it does help, he said around two
months would help him get rid of it and rectify the violation.
September 23, 2021
Page 64
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: So it started in April. April 26th.
MS. COUTIN: Yeah.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And then it went to June 22nd.
MS. COUTIN: Yeah.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We are now into --
MS. COUTIN: So in August is when he applied for that demo
permit.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So --
MR. LEFEBVRE: Make a motion that a violation does exist.
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second
that a violation exists. Any discussion on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, all those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MR. RUBENSTEIN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: (No verbal response.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ANDREOZZI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Do you have a recommendation or a suggestion for us?
MS. COUTIN: 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, obtaining all required Collier County building
permits or demolition permit, inspections, and certificate of
completion/occupancy for the unpermitted shed and canopies within
September 23, 2021
Page 65
blank days of this hearing, or a fine of blank dollars per day will be
imposed until the violation is abated;
The respondent must notify the code enforcement investigator
when the violation has been abated in order to conduct a final
inspection to confirm abatement. If the respondent fails to abate the
violation, the county may abate the violation using any method to
bring the violation into compliance and may use the assistance of the
Collier County Sheriff's Office to enforce the provisions of this order,
and all costs of abatement shall be assessed to the property owner.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Any --
MS. CURLEY: I'll make a stab at that. I mean, people move
out there because they've got a lot of stuff, and they like that extra
space. So I see he bought it that way. So I say maybe 90 days and
$100 a day.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. LEFEBVRE: How about the 59.28?
MS. CURLEY: To be paid within 30 days, would be fine.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Second the motion.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. 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.
MR. RUBENSTEIN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Aye.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ANDREOZZI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
September 23, 2021
Page 66
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MS. COUTIN: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Thank you.
MS. BUCHILLON: Next case, back into motion for imposition
of fines.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yes.
MS. BUCHILLON: Number 4, CESD20190010323, Fred P.
Grunst and Joanne R. Grunst.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MS. PATTERSON: I do.
Sherry Patterson, Collier County Code Enforcement, again.
This is another dock case. I just want to say, as you can see,
Mr. Grunst is not here today. He wanted to be here. He's been in
constant contact with me. He wanted to come and request the
waiver of the fines and the operational costs. Unfortunately, he is
a -- he's an elderly gentleman, and he fell, and he wasn't able to be
here today. So I just wanted to give you a little background on why
he's not here.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Why don't you read this into the
record for us, and we'll go from there.
MS. PATTERSON: Okay, sure.
Past order of the Board: On February 25th, 2021, the Code
Enforcement 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, OR5920, Page 38888 -- I think there's only three 8s in
there -- for information.
The violation has been abated as of August 5th, 2021. Fines
and costs to date as follows: Fines have accrued at a rate of $100 per
day for the period from May 27th, 2021, to August 5th, 2021, 71
days, for a total fine amount of $7,100.
September 23, 2021
Page 67
Previously assessed operational costs of $59.28 have been paid,
operational costs for today's hearing is $59.35, for a total fine amount
of $7,159.35.
MS. ELROD: I'll make a motion to deny the county the
imposition of fines.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second.
Any discussion on the motion?
MR. RUBENSTEIN: I have a question, Mr. Chairman --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yes.
MR. RUBENSTEIN: -- for Sherry.
MS. PATTERSON: Sure.
MR. RUBENSTEIN: It says that the violation's been abated.
Can you tell me, has it been built to code?
MS. PATTERSON: What he did was actually removed it. He
got a demo permit and removed the entire dock, so it's gone.
MR. RUBENSTEIN: Okay. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: There was -- this came up maybe
five or six months ago where they did a complete inspection, if you
will, of all of the homes in that area on Sharwood and whatever
and --
MR. LEFEBVRE: No.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: No what?
MR. LETOURNEAU: No. Actually, I believe we had a
massive e-mail complaint -- an e-mail that had a massive amount of
complaints about all the docks back in this area.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Right.
MR. LETOURNEAU: So we had to address every one of
them, and we're getting close to being done at this point.
MS. PATTERSON: Sure.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Right. A lot of the effort to clear
September 23, 2021
Page 68
these was slowed up because of -- it was on the waterway, and you
needed the Army Corps to approve things.
MR. LETOURNEAU: There was all sorts of -- you know,
obviously, COVID. There was a lack of contractors that could do
this type of job.
MS. CURLEY: Yeah, but nobody had a barge small enough to
go --
MR. LETOURNEAU: Right. They had to jump through state
hoops. There's all sorts of stuff to be done.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. BOWMAN: We have a second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We have a motion and
second. Any other questions, Lee?
MR. RUBENSTEIN: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MR. RUBENSTEIN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: (No verbal response.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ANDREOZZI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MS. PATTERSON: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Thank you.
MS. PATTERSON: Thank you.
MS. BUCHILLON: Next case, No. 8 -- no, I'm sorry, No. 9,
CESD20200009301, Jody Lynn Bagley.
Respondent was notified regular and certified mail
September 23, 2021
Page 69
September 1st, 2021, and it was also posted at the property and
courthouse September 2nd, 2021.
MR. KAUFMAN: Let the record show the respondent is not
present.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MS. McGONAGLE: I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hi, Michele.
MS. McGONAGLE: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Would you like to read this into
the record for us?
MS. McGONAGLE: For the record, Investigator Michele
McGonagle, Collier County Code Enforcement.
Past orders: On July 22nd, 2021, 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,
OR6006, Page 445, for more information.
The violation has not been abated as of September 23rd, 2021.
Fines and costs to date are as follows: Fines have accrued at a rate
of $250 per day for the period from August 22nd, 2021, to
September 23rd, 2021, 33 days, for a total fine amount of $8,250.
Fines continue to accrue.
Previously assessed operational costs of $59.35 have not been
paid. Operational costs for today's hearing, $59.28. Total amount,
$8,368.63.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Have you been in contact with the
respondent?
MS. McGONAGLE: Not for a couple of months. She's not a
very nice person, so I do not approach the door anymore.
MS. CURLEY: I have a question, because I'm a little confused
when it says that the two containers were placed on site before Permit
September 23, 2021
Page 70
No. PBR whatever was issued. So what permits are issued on there?
MS. McGONAGLE: She applied for a permit for the storage
containers after the storage containers were placed on the property.
MS. CURLEY: Okay. And was that permit issued?
MS. McGONAGLE: No. That's why we're here. It's been
rejected numerous times.
MS. CURLEY: Okay. So it doesn't make that perfectly clear.
Before a permit was issued. Well, this permit still is unissued.
MS. McGONAGLE: Correct.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Two things: The violation has not
been abated, No. 1, and No. 2, the costs have not been paid as far as I
know.
MS. CURLEY: And so when did this start?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, based on the number, we can
probably tell.
MS. CURLEY: I can't find an original thing.
MR. LEFEBVRE: When was this case originally open?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It looks like July.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Well, that's when it was brought in front of
Code Enforcement.
MS. McGONAGLE: Right, and I don't have that in front of
me.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, the permit is 2020, so it goes
back at least to 2020.
MR. LETOURNEAU: I can look it up real quick. Hold on.
MS. CURLEY: It just seems like there's some -- like now it's
an emergency.
MR. LEFEBVRE: I make a motion we impose the fine.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion. Do we have a
second?
MS. ELROD: Second.
September 23, 2021
Page 71
MR. RUBENSTEIN: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Any discussion on the motion?
MS. ELROD: They're still occurring every day as well, right?
MR. LEFEBVRE: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yeah.
MS. CURLEY: I just want to make sure there isn't something
funny going on.
MR. LETOURNEAU: So the case opened up August 26th last
year.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. LEFEBVRE: My motion stands.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Motion and second. All those in
favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MR. RUBENSTEIN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: (No verbal response.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ANDREOZZI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MS. McGONAGLE: Thank you.
MS. BUCHILLON: Next case, No. 10, CELU20210001048,
Dominick Cammuso. Respondent was notified regular and certified
mail September 1st, 2021, and it was also posted at the property and
courthouse September 22nd, 2021.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Let the record show that the
respondent is not present. If you would read this into the record for
us, Jonathan.
September 23, 2021
Page 72
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. MUCHA: I do.
For the record, Investigator Jonathan Musse, Collier County
Code Enforcement Board.
Past orders: On March 25th, 2021, 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,
OR5933, Page 2473, for more information.
On August 27th, 2021, the Code Enforcement Board granted a
continuance. See the attached order of the Board in Documents and
Images for more information.
The violation has not been abated as of September 23rd, 2021.
Fines have accrued at the rate of $200 per day for -- from a period
from July 24th, 2021, to September 23rd, 2021, 62 days, for a total
fine amount of $12,400. Fines continue to accrue.
Previously assessed operational costs of $59.28 have not been
paid. Operational costs for today's hearing, $59.56. Tot al amount
is $12,518.84.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Have you been in contact with the
respondent?
MR. MUSSE: Yes, I spoke to him on Tuesday. And I guess
from the last hearing he said he was going to get in contact with the
county engineering. He told me he didn't. And he doesn't have any
employees to come into compliance. As of this -- as of now, there's
no change in the violation.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, he hasn't paid his operational
costs, and it hasn't been abated, so anybody --
MS. CURLEY: Is it a nursery? Is it a nursery?
MR. MUSSE: It's supposed to be.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: There's debate about that.
September 23, 2021
Page 73
MS. CURLEY: It's supposed to be.
MR. LEFEBVRE: You weren't here last meeting. When he
spoke, he was going to talk to the county and see that -- if it was an
acceptable use, I think, is what he was --
MR. MUSSE: Correct.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yes.
MR. LEFEBVRE: -- going to try to do.
MR. MUSSE: And he never got in contact with Mr. Ray
Bellows.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And they were -- I think he was
asking for Ray Bellows to be present; am I correct?
MR. MUSSE: Yeah, he was supposed to make an appointment
and never -- he admitted he never called him.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Make a motion to impose.
MS. CURLEY: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a motion and a second.
All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MR. RUBENSTEIN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: (No verbal response.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ANDREOZZI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Thanks, Jonathan.
MR. MUSSE: Thank you.
MS. BUCHILLON: So that was the last case for the Code
September 23, 2021
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Enforcement Board. Now we have to open the Nuisance Abatement
Board.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Make a motion that the
Code Enforcement Board be adjourned.
MR. WHITE: Mr. Chairman?
MS. ELROD: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MR. RUBENSTEIN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: (No verbal response.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ANDREOZZI: Aye.
MR. WHITE: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Oh, who was that ghost I hear?
MR. WHITE: Mr. Chairman, can you hear me?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I can.
MR. WHITE: Yes, thank you. It's Patrick White, the attorney
for Code Enforcement Board and Nuisance Abatement Board.
Just a point of order. The cases for imposition of fine Numbers 1
and 3 that were also extension of time that were continued, does the
county wish to withdraw those from the agenda today?
MR. SHORT: Yes. I'm sorry. If I could be sworn in.
MR. WHITE: If so, the Board would move to have acceptance
of the amendment of the agenda to withdraw imposition of fine Cases
1 and 3, please.
MR. LEFEBVRE: But we closed --
MS. BOWMAN: Motion to --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hold on.
MS. CURLEY: We've got to back up.
September 23, 2021
Page 75
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: If the county wants to withdraw
them, the Board doesn't vote on that. Am I --
MR. WHITE: You have to amend the agenda.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Someone make a motion to
amend the agenda.
MS. BOWMAN: I'll make a motion to amend the agenda.
MR. LEFEBVRE: One second. We voted on closing the
Code Enforcement.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I don't think we voted on it yet.
We were about to when we were interpreted by some stranger on a
speaker.
MR. LEFEBVRE: All right. Sorry.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MR. WHITE: I'm sorry, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Don't be sorry.
Okay. So we have a motion and a second to modify the agenda to
reflect a change. All those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MR. RUBENSTEIN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: (No verbal response.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ANDREOZZI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
Okay. I'd like to call the Nuisance --
MR. WHITE: Thank you, and --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Yes.
MR. WHITE: -- if you're going to recess as the Code
September 23, 2021
Page 76
Enforcement Board and convene as the Nuisance Abatement Board, I
would just like to make a brief comment before you hear the case or
at some point during the case regarding the applicable code section.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Why don't you speak now
or forever hold your peace.
MR. WHITE: When you do convene as the Nuisance
Abatement Board, the applicable section is Code of Laws 2-2031. It
pertains to the costs for nuisance abatement cases.
There is a recommendation to impose such costs, and the code
does provide for you to do so for those costs, but the order should
include and will, if it's the Board's motion, that the costs are due and
payable 20 days after the order has been filed in the public records.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Rather than the 30 days that we
allow for the costs on the Code Enforcement Board violations?
MS. CURLEY: Okay.
MR. WHITE: The point of doing so is to allow the county to
thereafter proceed with the lien that is created and choose to foreclose
on the lien if they so desire.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We've done this before,
Patrick.
Jeff, are you okay with that?
MR. WHITE: Understood, sir.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. So I'd like to open up the
Nuisance Abatement Board. We don't need a motion for that.
We're just open.
Now, Helen, do you have something for us for the --
MS. BUCHILLON: Yes, sir. Under the Nuisance Abatement
Board, B, motion for imposition of fines, No. 1, CENA20210002435,
Sheila D. Gebhart. Respondent was notified regular and certified
mail September 1st, 2021, and it was also posted at the property and
September 23, 2021
Page 77
courthouse August 31st, 2021.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. MUCHA: I do.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Let the record show that the
respondent is not present but Joe is. So if you want to read this into
the record for us, Joe.
MR. MUCHA: Yes, sir. For the record, Joe Mucha,
supervisor, Collier County Code Enforcement Board.
This is dealing with a violation of the Collier County Code of Laws
and Ordinances, Chapter 2, Article IX, Division 4, Section 2-2027(2).
Violation location is 5329 Trammel Street, Naples. Folio No.
62264320001.
Description of the violation is the Collier County Sheriff's
Office has received numerous complaints regarding suspected
criminal activities on this property. The Sheriff's Office has made
numerous arrests for criminal activities on this property and/or
involving individuals residing at this property. Arrests include for
multiple drug-related offenses.
The Sheriff's Office has asked code enforcement to pursue a
public nuisance violation regarding this issue.
Past orders: On April 23rd, 2021, the Nuisance Abatement
Board issued a finding of fact, conclusion of law and order. The
respondent was found in violation of the referenced ordinance and
ordered to correct the violation. See the attached order of the Board,
OR5979, Page 3416, for more information.
The violation has been abated as of June 29th, 2021. Fines and
costs to date are as follows: Vendor Invoice 2389 for the boarding
costs of $3,625 have not been paid. Previously assessed operational
costs of $59.28 have not been paid. Operational costs for today's
hearing of $59.35, for a grand total $3,743.63.
September 23, 2021
Page 78
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Just a quick comment.
The violation has been abated, but it was abated by the county?
MR. MUCHA: Yes, sir. We boarded the property.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. That sometimes is
misleading when you see it's been abated.
MR. LEFEBVRE: I have a question.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Gerald.
MR. LEFEBVRE: So from the time of the order, the 23rd of
April to June 29th, was there any fines that were accruing?
MR. MUCHA: I don't think we asked for a fine in this one.
MR. LEFEBVRE: No?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Well, what happens is, it's like a
car is parked someplace, and they violated the parking rule, if you
will, on one day, and the next day the car is gone, but a week later the
car is back again, so it happens on multiple times, and that's why
citations are issued, and in this case, it goes to the Nuisance
Abatement Board for this.
MS. CURLEY: Has the activity there stopped?
MR. MUCHA: Yes, ma'am.
MS. CURLEY: Good job, Joe.
MR. LEFEBVRE: But, yeah, I'm just wondering why we didn't
impose -- we should have imposed a fine.
MS. CURLEY: Next time it will be back.
MR. MUCHA: I mean, to be honest with you, the property
owner's deceased. I think the property's going to be in the process of
foreclosure soon. I mean --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: I remember the Sheriff --
MR. LEFEBVRE: Foreclosure by who?
MR. MUCHA: A bank.
MR. LEFEBVRE: By a bank, okay.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The Sheriff was here on this one;
September 23, 2021
Page 79
do you recall?
MS. ELROD: Yes.
MR. LETOURNEAU: I do have the order up on the screen.
There was some time for the occupants to be removed from the
property. Was that done within the seven days, Joe?
MR. MUCHA: That's a good question.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Or Eric.
MR. MUCHA: I think it took a little bit more time than seven
days.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Yeah. But there wasn't any
fine -- there wasn't any fine --
MR. MUCHA: There was no fine attached.
MR. LETOURNEAU: -- for that. Obviously, the occupants
were removed, and the county boarded up the property. We're just
here to ask for the --
MR. LEFEBVRE: I understand. What I'm trying to get at is
there should have been some kind of fine imposed if they didn't
vacate within seven days, if they didn't board up or they didn't do
whatever they were supposed to do.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Right. But it's not on the order, so...
MR. LEFEBVRE: All right.
MR. MUCHA: We also have, I believe, like, two other
additional cases on this property that have been running fines for
years, too, so, I mean --
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: Bring them to us before the foreclosure starts.
Get in line.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Anybody want to make a
motion as far as the imposition of these fees, fines?
MS. CURLEY: Yeah. I'll make a motion to impose th e
county's $3,743.63 fine today.
September 23, 2021
Page 80
MS. BOWMAN: I'll second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: And we have a second. Okay.
Any discussion on that?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Hearing none, all those in favor?
MS. ELROD: Aye.
MR. RUBENSTEIN: Aye.
MS. BOWMAN: Aye.
MS. CURLEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: (No verbal response.)
MR. LEFEBVRE: Aye.
MR. ANDREOZZI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: It carries unanimously.
MR. MUCHA: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay.
MS. CURLEY: I just have -- oh, we've got to close this
meeting.
MS. BUCHILLON: We are done.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Motion to adjourn.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: We have a question first.
MR. LEFEBVRE: Oh.
MS. CURLEY: I do have one question, but it's for you. So I
noticed in some of the stipulations that there's always that paragraph
that says if the property owner doesn't do this, then the county can,
you know, do it by use of the Sheriff's Office or whatever. I mean,
not unlike how you boarded up this -- or the county boarded up this
house.
So I just reflected back to the gentleman in the red shirt with his
deceased father's home. He's not able to do anything, so can the
September 23, 2021
Page 81
county go in and remove those cars?
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: The Sheriff.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Highly unlikely. We have that last
paragraph on there just so we leave ourselves the option to do
anything in case a situation arises. That's more for a
health-and-safety case than anything else. Theoretically, we could
look into removing those cars, but in an eve ryday purpose, we would
not go in there and do that.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Can the Sheriff do it?
MR. LETOURNEAU: I don't think the Sheriff has the
authority to go in there either. I think that's a unique situation where
you probably made the right decision today to let the probate play out
and see where it falls. Obviously, you know, come five months
down the road and they've not done it at that point, maybe imposing
the fines might spur the other family members on to, you know,
taking care of it, because they're all losing money at that time.
And it's out of your guys' hands. And they'd have to come back
before the BCC in order to see if they could get the fines waived at
that time, and I don't really know if they would look kindly on
something like that, for leaving those cars out there for years on end.
MS. CURLEY: Only one of the seven -- or eight seems to care.
MR. LETOURNEAU: Correct. So, you know, I don't
know -- but the county's not going to go on there and tow those cars
out of there, or the Sheriff's Office.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. Okay. The Nuisance
Abatement Board is closed. Motion for adjournment.
MS. CURLEY: Second.
CHAIRMAN KAUFMAN: Okay. We're adjourned.
*****
September 23, 2021
There being no further business for the good of the County, the
meeting was adjourned by order of the Chair at I I :12 a.m.
CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD
ROBERT OF AN, CHAIRMAN
These minutes appr ved by the Board on Q i ,2,9d0a/, as
presented or as corrected
TRANSCRIPT PREPARED ON BEHALF OF FORT MYERS
COURT REPORTING BY TERRI L. LEWIS, RPR, FPR-C,
COURT REPORTER AND NOTARY PUBLIC.
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