CEB Minutes 02/23/1995
1995
Code
Enforcement
Board
February 23, 1995
February 23, 1995
TRANSCRIPT OF THE MEETING OF THE
CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD
NAPLES, FLORIDA, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1995
LET IT BE REMEMBERED, that the Code Enforcement Board in and for
the County of Collier, and also acting as the Board of Zoning Appeals
and as the governing board (s) of such special districts as have been
created according to law and having conducted business herein, met on
this date at 9:00 a.m., in regular se.ssion in Building "F" of the
Government Complex, East Naples, Florida, with the following members
present:
CHAIRMAN: Jim Allen
Charles Andrews
M. Jean Rawson
Louis Laforet
ALSO PRESENT: Maria Cruz, Code Enforcement Coordinator
Ramiro Manalich, Assistant County Attorney
Page 1
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CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD OF COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA
8Q.E.N.Q8
Date: February 23, 1995 at 9:00 o'clock A.M.
Location: Collier County Government Center, Bldg "F" Third Floor
NOTE: ANY PERSON WHO DECIDES TO APPEAL A DECISION OF
THIS BOARD WILL NEED A RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS
PERTAINING THERETO, AND THEREFORE MAY NEED TO
ENSURE THAT A VERBATIM RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS
IS MADE, WHICH RECORD INCLUDES THE TESTIMONY AND
EVIDENCE UPON WHICH THE APPEAL IS TO BE BASED.
NEITHER COLLIER COUNTY NOR THE CODE ENFORCEMENT
BOARD SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING THIS
RECORD.
r
1.
ROLL CALL
2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
3 .
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
January 26, 1995
4. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. BCC vs. Otto Kristen and Elsa Gustafson - CEB 95-002
B. BCC vs. James R. Whittemore and Debra A. Whittemore
CEB No. 95-003
5. NEW BUSINESS
N/A
6. OLD BUSINESS
N/A
7. REPORTS
Status report - BCC vs. Francisco Casales CEB No. 95-001
NEXT MEETING DATE
March 23, 1995
8.
9 . ADJOURN
February 23, 1995
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: Good morning, and welcome to the Code Enforcement
meeting. Today is February 23, 1995. 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. I'll call the roll call starting on my left.
MR. LAFORET: Lou Laforet.
MS. RAWSON: Jean Rawson.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: Jim Allen.
MR. ANDREWS: Charlie Andrews.
MS. CRUZ: Mr. Chairman, Mireya Louviere informed me that she was
not going to be present at the meeting today.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: We have to have approval of agenda.
MR. ANDREWS: So moved.
MS. RAWSON: Second.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: All right. Let's go to the minutes of January
26, 1995. Do we have any changes in the minutes?
MS. CRUZ: No, sir, no changes.
MR. ANDREWS: You want both, the 22nd and the 25th? Do you want
to go over each one separately?
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: If there are no changes, we will vote both of
them together.
MR. ANDREWS:
and October 27th.
MS. RAWSON: I would second that.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: Motion carries, so moved. We are ready for our
public hearings. Staff?
MS. CRUZ: Excuse me. My name is Maria Cruz, Code Enforcement
Coordinator. I'm a little confused here. Mr. Andrews is approving the
minutes. To me, from what I understand, the minutes that need to be
approved are January 26, 1995, unless I provided the board with the
wrong agenda.
MR. ANDREWS: I don't know. This says agenda, January 26, 1995.
Oh, I have the wrong one. I have too much stuff in here. I'm sorry.
What page is that on?
MS. CRUZ: The agenda should be the very first page ln your
packet, sir.
MR. ANDREWS: Oh, let's start over. Well, that's fine. It's
dated January 26th. That's my first page.
MR. MANALICH: The minutes that I show in the packet are for
January 26, 1995. So the motion that is required would be for those
minutes.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: All right.
Charlie?
MR.
MR.
MR.
MR.
MR.
I approve of the minutes, and that's September 22nd
Would you like to amend your motion,
ANDREWS:
MANALICH:
ANDREWS:
MANALICH:
ANDREWS:
The minutes for what?
January 26, 1995.
That's the only one?
Yes.
Okay. So move.
Page 2
February 23, 1995
MS. RAWSON: I'll amend my second.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: With that in mind, are we ready to start our
public hearing, Ms. Cruz?
MS. CRUZ: Yes, sir, we are.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: Excuse me. Does this require a vote?
MS. CRUZ: To begin the public hearings?
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: The approval of the minutes.
MS. RAWSON: The approval of the minutes.
MS. CRUZ: Yes, it does.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: All those in favor say, "Aye."
All those opposed?
It carries unanimously.
MS. CRUZ: Mr. Chairman, our first public hearing is the CEB vs.
Otto Kristen and Elsa Gustafson, also know as Elsa Martha Kristen. The
board, the recorder, and the respondents have been advised of the
County Composite Exhibit. At this time I would like to mark this
composite exhibit, Composite Exhibit A, CEB 95-002, CEB vs. Otto
Kristen and Elsa Gustafson, also know as Elsa Martha Kristen, who are
present.
MR. MANALICH: Ms. Cruz, do you have that exhibit so we can mark
MS. CRUZ:
members.
MR. MANALICH: Okay. Is there one particular copy I can mark, so
I can hand it to the court reporter, and she'll retain that then?
MS. CRUZ: Yes.
MR. MANALICH: Okay.
MS. CRUZ: Mr. Chairman, at this time I would like to call Mr. And
Mrs. Kristen to the stand, please.
MS. RAWSON: Mr. Chairman, before we do that maybe we should -- I
will make a motion to move into evidence the board's packet on this
particular case.
MR. CLARK: Mr. Chairman, we would like to request that before we
do that, is there any objection from the -- is there any objection from
you to introduce the document that we have into evidence?
MR. KRISTEN: No.
MR. CLARK: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: Okay.
an exhibit?
MR. CLARK:
MS. CRUZ:
but the truth?
MR. KRISTEN: I do.
MS. CRUZ: Will you please state your name for the record.
MR. KRISTEN: Mr. Chairman and board members, my name is Otto
Kristen; and this is my wife, Elsa Gustafson Kristen.
MS. CRUZ: Mr. Kristen, I understand you have no objection to
admitting this composite exhibit into evidence?
MR. KRISTEN: I have no objection.
MR. MANALICH: We need a second and a vote, then.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: Okay. We have a motion on the floor from Ms.
That's the exhibit that is being provided to the board
So we have agreed to move this document as
Yes. Also, will you raise your right hand, please.
Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, and nothing
Page 3
February 23, 1995
Rawson.
MR. ANDREWS: I second.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: Okay. All those in favor say, "Aye."
All those opposed?
Passes unanimously.
MS. CRUZ: Mr. Chairman, Mr. Kristen is before this board due to
improving their property prior to the issue of a building permit, which
is allegedly a violation of the Land Development Code 91-102, Section
2.7.6, Paragraph 5. Mr. Kristen, do you stipulate to the charges that
you are being brought before this board today?
MR. KRISTEN: Yes, I understand it.
MR. CLARK: You are the owner of the property in question; is that
correct?
MR. KRISTEN: I am the owner of the property.
MR. CLARK: And you acknowledge that the violations, they are
there?
MR. KRISTEN: Yes, I understand it. But do we have to go through
that, because we applied for --
MR. CLARK: It's just for the record, that's all.
MR. KRISTEN: Oh, okay.
MS. CRUZ: And I understand your property is located at 4951 22nd
Avenue Northeast?
MRS. KRISTEN: No, 22nd Street.
MS. CRUZ: 22nd Street?
MR. KRISTEN: 22nd Street, yeah.
MS. CRUZ: And more particularly described as Golden Gate Estates,
Unit 60, Tract 105?
MR. KRISTEN: Right.
MS. CRUZ: Mr. Chairman, Mr. Kristen improved this property by
constructing a, approximately, 1200 square foot residential property
I'm sorry, structure without first obtaining a building permit. A
Notice of Violation was served to Mr. Kristen personally on February
18, 1994, with a compliance date of February 28, 1994. This notice
requested for Mr. Kristen to obtain a building permit. Instead, Mr.
Kristen met with staff on February 22, 1995, and advised staff that he
wishes to demolish this structure. At this time he obtained a
demolition permit, which is Permit Number 95-2152.
MR. KRISTEN: May I ask a question, please?
MS. CRUZ: Yes.
MR. KRISTEN: The square foot that you are addressing there, how
many square feet you said?
MS. CRUZ: Approximately 1200.
MR. KRISTEN: No, no. This structure which I' erected as a shed
the first time and then it was destined to be a garage if we come up
with the money; it's only 400 -- how many?
MRS. KRISTEN: 16 by 74, it's about 400 feet.
MR. CLARK: But it's the only structure on the property?
MR. KRISTEN: It's the only structure.
MR. CLARK: Mr. Chairman, we would like to amend the affidavit and
the record here to reflect that change in address, 4951 22nd Street
Northeast instead of avenue, also. I would like to amend that at this
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February 23, 1995
time.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: Does that require a vote?
MR. ANDREWS: What was that number?
MS. CRUZ: Property number?
MR. ANDREWS: I didn't get the number.
MR. CLARK: The street address.
MS. CRUZ: The street address?
MR. ANDREWS: Yes.
MS. CRUZ: 4951 22nd Street Northeast.
MR. ANDREWS: I thought that was the wrong one; I thought you were
changing that.
MR. CLARK: It said avenue on the paper, rather than street, and
we want to change it to street.
MR. ANDREWS: To street, okay, thank you.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: Okay. All those that agree with the amendment
signify by saying, "Aye."
Any opposed?
Passes. The amendment is so
MR. CLARK: Mr. Chairman, at
has stipulated that the violation
demolition permit to demolish it.
him, and he wishes to stipulate a
would, put that on the record and
also.
MS. CRUZ: Mr. Chairman, when I met with the respondent, Mr.
Kristen, he offered to obtain the demolition permit. He agreed this
demolition will take affect in about sixty days, and if he doesn't
comply within that time frame, he understands that a $75 fine will be
imposed after that day.
MR. CLARK: So it would be completed within sixty days, and that's
our recommendation to the board. The demolition will be completed, and
all the debris will be remove from that location -- from property. It
will be in compliance no later than sixty days. Should it fail to do
so, we would request a $75 per day fine be imposed until such time it
comes into compliance. Do you have a question?
MR. KRISTEN: Yes, I have a specific question. The concrete
platform --
MR. CLARK: That doesn't --
MR. KRISTEN: The concrete platform is just about this high
(indicating) above the elevation. It's actually equal with the crown
of the road. Can I leave that on?
MR. CLARK: If you're going to
MR. KRISTEN: If we, hopefully have money ln the future, we would
noted.
this time I believe the respondent
is there and that he has obtained a
I believe Ms. Cruz has talked to
period of time. Ms. Cruz, if you
ask the respondent to respond to that
like
MR. CLARK: Yes.
MR. KRISTEN: we would like to proceed with the building
permit.
MR. CLARK: We will not require you to remove that; however, we
will discuss that with you after you -- you may need to get a building
permit just for that pad.
MR. KRISTEN: Okay, that's fine. Thank you.
Page 5
..
February 23, 1995
sir?
MS. CRUZ: No further questions.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: Mr. Kristen, do you have anything else to say,
MR. KRISTEN: No. Thank you, thank you very much for your
attention.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: Shall we close the public hearing?
MS. CRUZ: Yes.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: Any comments by staff? By the board? Do you
have any comments, Mr. Andrews?
MR. ANDREWS: No.
MR. LAFORET: No.
MS. RAWSON: No.
MR. ANDREWS: I move that we close the public hearing.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: Public hearing is closed.
MS. RAWSON: I will make a motion then. Findings of Fact,
Conclusions of Law and Order of the board: This cause came on for
public hearing before the board on February 23, 1995, and the board
having heard testimony under oath, received evidence, and heard
arguments respective to all appropriate matters, thereupon issues its
Finding of Fact and Conclusions of Law and Order as follows: Findings
of fact: That Otto Kristen and Elsa Gustafson are the owners of record
of the subject property; that the Code Enforcement Board has
jurisdiction of the person of the respondent; and that both were
present at the public hearing; that all notices required by Collier
County Ordinance Number 92-80 have been properly issued; that the real
property legally described in the evidence as submitted before this
board is in violation of Section 2.7.6 (5) of Ordinance Number 91-102
of the Collier County Code and Land Development Code. The following
particulars; that the structure on the property has been improved
prior to the issuance of a building permit. Conclusions of Law: That
the respondents are in violation of Sections 2.7.6 (5) of Ordinance
Number 91-102 of the Collier County Land Development Code. That would
be my motion.
MR. LAFORET: I second.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: We have a motion and a second. Any further
discussion?
MR. ANDREWS: Don't we have to add what the agreement was with the
demolition?
MR. MANALICH: We will do that in the last part of the order.
MR. ANDREWS: Okay. I second it; I second the motion.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: Okay. All those in favor signify by
saying, "Aye. II
All those opposed?
It carries unanimously. Please continue.
MS. RAWSON: That it would be the order of this board that based
upon the foregoing Findings of Facts and Conclusions of Law and
pursuant to the authority granted in Chapter 162 of the Florida
Statute, and Collier County Ordinance Number 92-80, it is hereby
ordered: One, that the respondents correct the violation of Section
2.7.6 (5) of Ordinance Number 91-102 of the Collier County Land
Development Code in the following manner: That the respondents
Page 6
February 23, 1995
demolish the structure within sixty days of today's date; two, that
said corrections be completed on or before sixty days from today,
whatever that is, 1995; and that if the respondents do not comply with
this order on or before that date, then in that event the respondents
are hereby ordered to pay a fine of $75 per day for each and every day
the violation described herein continues past said date. Failure to
comply with the order within a specified time will result in the
recordation of a lien pursuant to Chapter 160 of the Florida Statutes,
which may be foreclosed and respondents' property sold to enforce the
lien.
MR. MANALICH: Ms. Rawson, I believe there was also some debris
removal.
MR. CLARK: Will you consider amending your motion to state
removal of all debris and the demolition materials and so forth?
MS. RAWSON: Yes, I would. I would amend my motion to include
that language.
MR. ANDREWS: I second the motion.
MR. LAFORET: Second.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: Okay. All those in agreement signify by saying,
"Aye."
Any opposed?
Motion carries unanimously.
MR. MANALICH: One clarification on the Findings of Fact section.
I believe the specific finding was a structure on the property improved
prior to issuance of building permit. Could we amend that just to be a
little bit more specific as to what property or what structure?
MR. CLARK: The street address or legal address; or are we saying
MR. MANALICH: No. I'm saying as far as what is it that was
improved at that location. We mentioned a structure. But how is it
described? Is it a home or partly constructed home?
MR. CLARK: I believe the respondent stated that it was to be a
garage or whatever, but it's the only structure on the property; is
that correct?
MR. KRISTEN:
MR. MANALICH:
MR. KRISTEN:
it was approved
MR. MANALICH:
MR. KRISTEN:
crown of the road.
MR. MANALICH: What I would suggest, Mr. Chairman, is if we could
just amend the Findings of Fact section only, stating that the
structure on the property was improved, that being -- I believe, a
garage is what I heard. And also we might want to mention debris
scattered about the property also. Those are the two specific
conditions that I recommend given the nature of your order.
MS. RAWSON: I would amend my motion to include both of those two
things in the Findings of Fact.
MR. ANDREWS: I amend the second.
MR. MANALICH: Mr. Clark, is it correct, "debris scattered about
Right.
What is it exactly? A garage?
Okay. The drawings and the envelope of the design
on the drawings by the examiners as a garage
All right.
Excuse me.
-- because it's two inches above the
Page 7
February 23, 1995
the property?
MR. CLARK: Well, what we are more concerned about is -- I think
most of the debris is cleaned up -- but the building materials to be
demolished, so all -- all materials and debris, all demolition
materials and debris.
MR. MANALICH: All right. I mean, at this point, though, right
now, there are no demolition materials; right?
MR. CLARK: No, but there will be when they start demolishing the
structure.
MR. MANALICH: Right. That's why I'm saying in the order that's
being directed to him, he will be required to pick up both demolition
materials and debris?
MR. CLARK: That's correct.
MR. MANALICH: What I'm amending right now is just the Finding of
Facts, that what the violation currently is, is what I believe is the
partly constructed garage and the debris about the property?
MR. CLARK: Yes. I guess my point was if, in fact, the order
states he must remove the building, we're saying the building and
materials. Obviously, when you take a building down there is no long a
building; there's material.
MR. MANALICH: Right. Ms. Rawson, were you able to follow my
recommendation on the Findings of Fact portion? I think you amended
the motion.
MS. RAWSON: Yes.
MR. MANALICH: Was that voted on?
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: It was amended and a second. We'll call for a
vote. All those in favor signify by saying, "Aye."
Any opposed?
It carries unanimously.
MR. KRISTEN: Thank you very much.
MR. MANALICH: Mr. Chairman, could we have just a moment for the
court reporter to collect these Exhibits?
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: Certainly.
MR. MANALICH: Thank you.
(At this time a brief discussion was held off the
record. )
MR. MANALICH: Thank you.
MS. CRUZ: Mr. Chairman, our next case is CEB vs. James R.
Whittemore and Debra A. Whittemore, CEB Number 95-003. Again, both the
board and the respondent have been provided with a copy of the
composite exhibit. At this time I would like to mark this composite
exhibit as Composite Exhibit A, CEB 95-003, CEB vs. James R. Whittemore
and Debra A. Whittemore.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: Do you agree that the exhibit be admitted, Ms.
Whittemore?
MS. WHITTEMORE: Most of it.
MR. MANALICH: What are the particular portions you are objecting
to?
MS. WHITTEMORE: Yeah, the animal -- the pile of animal waste.
The only thing I've got is my donkeys and my pigs in the pigpen in the
pasture. There is nothing else, no other compost or anything. And the
Page 8
February 23, 1995
rotting wood, most of it is my firewood, because the only thing I have
for heat in my house is a wood stove. I have a pile of steel that I
use for -- that my husband has gathered for a barn eventually, when I
get some fill in the back yard. Because right now, the back yard gets
up -- well, during the summer it's up to here in the back yard in
water; so I have no -- nothing to be able to put in the back behind the
house. And eventually I would like to erect a barn to put my animals.
MR. CLARK: Mr. Chairman, and ma'am, the -- I think you will see
some of the particular litter they are talking about -- it says,
"consisting of paper, plastic, cans, bottles, metal scraps, derelict
auto parts, and piles of vegatative debris. II That's the thing, in
particular, they're complaining of, not the building materials that you
are speaking of. If you have an active building permit --
MS. WHITTEMORE: I don't have a building permit, because I don't
even have -- I mean, my husband acquired that material free.
MR. CLARK: Let me finish, if I might. You may have a building
permit -- excuse me. You may have building materials on your property
under two circumstances: If, in fact, it's covered, in other words
under a roof somewhere, if it's in a building; and secondly, if you
have an active building permit, and it's being used for that project.
So you may have building materials, but under those two conditions --
one of those two conditions.
MS. WHITTEMORE: Right now we have been using the steel panels as
fencing to keep the pigs in.
MR. CLARK: Are you saying the steel panels are a fence?
MS. WHITTEMORE: Part of them. We're using them, because I found
that's the only thing I can keep the pigs in, and he had acquired them
for nothing. Since he cut his hand off six years ago, we have been
trying to do everything we can.
MR. CLARK: Okay. We certainly don't want to impose any hardship
on you. If I might, if we could introduce this into evidence, and then
we can discuss that with you and let the board try to resolve that for
you. At this time we would like to introduce -- make a motion that
the board would entertain a motion to introduce this into evidence, and
perhaps we could discuss the merits of the details.
MS. RAWSON: So moved.
MR. ANDREWS: Second.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: Okay. All those in favor signify by saying,
"Aye."
Any opposed?
Carries unanimously.
MS. CRUZ: Mrs. Whittemore, would you please raise your right. Do
you solemnly swear to tell the truth, and nothing but the truth?
MS. WHITTEMORE: Yes.
MS. CRUZ: Would you please state your name.
MS. WHITTEMORE: Debra Whittemore.
MS. CRUZ: And I understand you are the property owner
MS. WHITTEMORE: Yes.
MS. CRUZ: -- At 6191 Whitaker Road?
MS. WHITTEMORE: Yes.
MS. CRUZ: That property is more thoroughly described as Section
Page 9
February 23, 1995
16, Township 50, Range 26, Parcels 47.001?
MS. WHITTEMORE: I think so.
MR. CLARK: Ma'am--
MS. WHITTEMORE: I wish my husband was here, but he has to work
and I can't.c
MR. CLARK: Okay. I don't think this is going to be a painful
exercise. _
MS. WHITTEMORE: I have been fighting this for
MR. CLARK: Please.
MS. WHITTEMORE: I'm trying to get my kids, you know -- we've got
PVC that we've been trying to do, run water lines and stuff. My
husband has been accumulating this through his job. We've been trying
to do what we can. I got forced into this property. And it's under
water all the time, and I'm trying to do the best I can.
MR. CLARK: Okay. Perhaps we can get you some help to do some of
this. Do you have a composite package? Do you have a package of this
with some photographs?
MS. WHITTEMORE: Yes, at home.
MR. CLARK: Let me give you a copy.
MS. WHITTEMORE: Okay.
MR. CLARK: We will refer to the pages here. We are not trying to
impose any hardship on you at all, to be frank with you. What we're
trying to do -- we are trying to insure, because other people complain
too, we are trying to insure the County standards -- the County-wide
standards --
MS. WHITTEMORE: We have gotten a bunch of it cleaned up.
MR. CLARK: Please.
MS. WHITTEMORE: I have been doing my best. I can only afford so
much.
MR. CLARK: Okay. Let us, if we could, move along here.
MS. WHITTEMORE: This is eleven years -- eleven years of
accumulation and stuff.
MR. CLARK: I understand that; I believe it, too. If you could,
could you look at Page 20? Those -- most of those elements ln there
would you agree are not building materials?
MS. WHITTEMORE: No, that's all gone now. I spent --
MR. CLARK: Okay.
MS. WHITTEMQRE: I spent $200 last week that I don't have, that I
could have used for the medicine that my kids and I need this week to
take care of this.
MR. CLARK: Okay. And Page 21, how about most of that? Is that
still there, like the old blown-out tires?
MS. WHITTEMORE: Well, the tires are all gone.
MR. CLARK: Good.
MS. WHITTEMORE: And my picture pump got set there because we __
that's right next to the pasture. I acquired the orange things to keep
the chickens from going into the neighbors' yards, because they keep
threatening to kill my animals.
MR. CLARK: Okay. How about on Page 22, the old building skids
and
MS. WHITTEMORE: Well, the skids we use for firewood.
Page 10
February 23, 1995
MR. CLARK: Okay.
MS. WHITTEMORE: I've been acquiring them for free, so that I can
have some firewood.
MR. CLARK: Okay. Perhaps we can make a suggestion then, perhaps
if you put it in a -- put it up on cement blocks to keep it off the
ground a little bit --
MS. WHITTEMORE: And most of this is all gone now, anyhow. As I
said, I had -- Saturday it cost me $200 to have somebody come and haul
most of this all away.
MR. CLARK: So what you are actually saying is that you have
brought a great deal of this into compliance already?
MS. WHITTEMORE: Yes.
MR. CLARK: And are you agreeing then to continue to try and
remove the --
MS. WHITTEMORE: We're going to try; we are going to do the best
we can.
MR. CLARK: Okay.
MS. WHITTEMORE: We just need some time, because I just don't have
the money.
MR. CLARK: And that's what we want to do; that's what we want to
do before the board today. We want to ask the board to give you 90
days to remove the rest of this. Does that seem to be a reasonable
period of time for you?
MS. WHITTEMORE: Yes, I think so.
MR. CLARK: Okay. We're trying to help you. You're our boss too,
we're trying to work with you.
MS. WHITTEMORE: We've been trying for the last year to do all
this. But it's just -- you know, my husband has a hard time with his
hand, and I've had some injuries at work. We just try -- and then
during the summer, you can't do anything because it rains so bad and
everything is under water.
MR. CLARK: So now is a good time to do it, before you get all
that rain; right?
MS. WHITTEMORE: If I could.
MR. CLARK: No, I'm not speaking of you. Do you have neighbors or
family or friends?
MS. WHITTEMORE: No, I have nobody to help me.
MR. CLARK: Okay. Why don't you see us afterward, and maybe we
can get you a little help, too. We're going to ask the board, if they
would, to entertain a motion of 90 days to remove the rest of the
violations, as stated here. First of all, there are violations, and we
ask that she be given 90 days to remove the rest of the violations, and
a fine of $50 a day be imposed every day afterward if it is not
removed.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: Ms. Whittemore, do you have any more discussion?
MS. WHITTEMORE: No.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: I will close the public hearing now. Do we have
any conversation or any comments from the board members?
MR. ANDREWS: This is kind of a tough one.
MS. RAWSON: Is there some agency or somebody that can help her?
Mr. Clark, is there some way that -- or some service that could be
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February 23, 1995
provided to help her remove this debris?
MR. CLARK: We will attempt to locate someone that will. We will
try to help her do that.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: Do we have a motion?
MR. LAFORET: I move to give her 90 days.
MR. ANDREWS: Well, we have to go through the formality; right?
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: Yes.
MR. ANDREWS: I will make a stab at it; it's a tough one. Debra,
I want you to know that this is just a formality that we have to put in
the record. Dick said he is going to try and give you some help.
MS. WHITTEMORE: Okay.
MR. ANDREWS: So it isn't as bad as it sounds.
MS. WHITTEMORE: Okay.
MR. ANDREWS: Findings of Facts, Conclusions of Law and Order of
the board: This cause came on for public hearing before the board on
February 23rd, and the board having heard testimony under oath,
received evidence, and heard arguments respective to all appropriate
matters, thereupon issues its Finding of Fact, Conclusions of Law and
Order of the board as follows: Finding of Fact: That Debra Whittemore
and James Whittemore are owners of record of subject property; that the
Code Enforcement Board has jurisdiction of the person of the respondent
and that Debra Whittemore was present at the public hearing; all
notices required by Collier County Ordinance Number 92-80 have been
properly issued; that the real property is legally described as 6191
Whitaker Road, Naples, Florida, more particularly described as Section
16, Township 50, Range, Parcel 47.001, is in violation of Section
5.6.7.8 of Ordinance Number 91-47, in the following particulars:
Unlawful accumulation of litter.
Do I do the Conclusion? It's been so long since I have
done this.
MR. MANALICH: We should have a vote on this part first.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: Before we vote, I would like to make one comment.
It's Whittemore not Whittman. Is that correct; Whittemore?
MS. WHITTEMORE: That's correct.
MR. ANDREWS: I'm very sorry. I'm very sorry, Debra.
MR. MANALICH: Another clarification, just to be a little more
specific, can we, for clarification or motion, adopt the description of
the types of materials accumulated there on Number 2 on Page 2?
MR. ANDREWS: Okay. The unlawful --
MR. MANALICH: You don't need to read it. If you just include it
in your motion, Point Number 2 on Page 2 of the packet that describes
the material, and then we will put that into the order.
MR. ANDREWS: Okay. Yes, I include the description of violations,
Number 2, in our Statement of Violation, as written.
MR. MANALICH: That's fine.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: All right. We'll have a vote. All those ln
favor signify by saying, "Aye."
Any opposed?
Passes unanimously.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: Go ahead.
MR. ANDREWS: All right. Conclusion of Law: James R. And Debra
Page 12
February 23, 1995
R. Whittemore are in violation of Sections 5.6.7.8 of County Ordinance
Number 91-47, Collier County Ordinances. Order of the board: Based on
the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, and pursuant to
the authority granted in Chapter 162, Florida Statutes, and Collier
County Ordinance 92-80, it is hereby ordered: That the respondent
correct the violation of Sections 5.6.7.8 of the Ordinance Number
91-47, in the following manner: Remove all litter from said property
within 30 days -- 90 days; and if the respondent does not comply with
this order on or before that date, then and in that event respondent is
hereby ordered to pay a fine of $50 a day for each and every day the
violation described herein continues past specified date. Failure to
comply with this order within the specified time will result in the
recordation of a lien pursuant to Chapter 162, Florida Statutes, which
may be foreclosed, and respondent's property sold to enforce the lien.
Dated this 23rd of February, 1995.
MR. MANALICH: Mr. Andrews, the 90 days to run from today's date?
MR. ANDREWS: Yes. I don't have a calendar.
MR. MANALICH: That's all right; I mean starting from today.
MR. ANDREWS: As of today, yes.
MR. MANALICH: Okay, 90 days.
MS. CRUZ: Excuse me, Mr. Andrews.
MR. ANDREWS: Yes.
MS. CRUZ: When you read the sections of the ordinance, you stated
Section 5.6.7.8. If I may advise you that those are different
sections, Sections 5, 6, 7, and 8.
MR. ANDREWS: Of Ordinance Number 91-47?
MS. CRUZ: Right.
MR. ANDREWS: Didn't I say that?
MS. CRUZ: I understood --
MR. ANDREWS: Okay. That's what I meant. If not, then change it.
I can't read my own writing this morning; sorry.
MS. CRUZ: No problem.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: The amendment has been noted and changed. All
those in favor signify by saying, "Aye."
All those opposed?
Passed unanimously. Thank you very much.
MS. WHITTEMORE: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: Okay. New business. We have none; we have no
old business. And we have a report, BEC vs. Francisco Casales.
MS. CRUZ: Yes, sir. On January 26, 1995 the public hearing on
Francisco Casales, Case Number 95-001. At this time, the respondent
was not present. He has chosen to proceed to Community Development to
secure a building permit. The board requested staff to -- the board
requested this case to be continued, and also requested the staff to
confirm the respondent had obtained a building permit. The staff has
researched the building permit records and has confirmed that Mr.
Francisco Casales has obtained a building permit, which number is
95-583.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: All right. Any other business?
MR. ANDREWS: I have some questions. I don't know if this is the
time to bring them up or not. I notice that we have two absentee
Page 13
February 23, 1995
members today, two out of the three. Is their term up? Is that the
reason they are not here?
MS. CRUZ: Yes, sir, that is correct.
MR. ANDREWS: Isn't it normal for them to stay aboard until a new
board is appointed -- or replacements are appointed? Are we supposed
to run a skeleton crew like this for a long time?
MS. CRUZ: I'm sorry. I cannot answer that question; I would have
to research,' unless Counsel --
MR. ANDREWS: I wish Dick was here. Did he leave for the day?
Dick?
MS. CRUZ: I believe so, yes.
MR. ANDREWS: Okay. Do you have any -- at this point, you
probably can~t answer either. I have not heard anything about any
appointments and --
MS. CRUZ: I haven't either.
MR. ANDREWS: -- we don't know when we are going to have
elections, so we're going to operate with a five-man board then,
until God knows when?
MS. CRUZ: I believe so.
MR. MANALICH: I believe, whatever I can add -- I know the board
office carefully monitors vacancies and expiration of terms. And,
typically, they will proceed on that with advertisement for the
positions, and then they go and prepare a summary for the board with
whatever they receive as applications.
MR. ANDREWS: I know how they do it, but they don't wait until the
last minute. This should have been done. I haven't seen the
advertisement or heard anything about it. As a matter of fact, I just
heard it by the grapevine that nobody answered the ad.
MR. MANALICH: That's possible.
MR. ANDREWS: But I think we should be informed, you know, the
board should be informed of what's going on.
MR. MANALICH: What I can do, along with staff, I can contact the
board office and see how the efforts are coming along; and then we can
refer it back no later than the next meeting.
MR. ANDREWS: Okay.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: Anything else?
MS. CRUZ: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: Let's adjourn.
MR. MANALICH: One other item. I don't know if we continued it,
Mr. Chairman. Could we just go back on the record for a moment?
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: Yes.
MR. MANALICH: I wasn't clear if at the beginning of the meeting,
since we have several vacancies, et cetera, I would like for the board
to ratify you acting as chairman today. Because we will need you to
sign the orders as acting chairman. Or were you elected?
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: No.
MS. RAWSON: Is it time for elections?
MR. MANALICH: Well, we'll need to check that, also. But for the
purpose of today's meeting, he acted as chairman with the consent of
the board. I would just like to have that ratified by vote or motion,
right now, so it's absolutely clear.
Page 14
February 23, 1995
MR. ANDREWS: I so move.
MS. RAWSON: I second.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: All signify by saying, "Aye."
MR. MANALICH: It's unanimous.
MR. ANDREWS: I would like to add to that, that he continue as
chairman until we have an election. Unless we can -- can we have an
election just out of the sky?
MR. MANALICH: No. This would only be just for purposes of a
temporary measure.
MR. ANDREWS: That's fine. When do we have elections? After we
have a full board?
MR. MANALICH: Yes.
staff and I report back to
And at that time, we could
MS. CRUZ: Sure.
MR. ANDREWS: Okay.
MR. MANALICH: Do you have another preference?
MR. ANDREWS: No. The whole thing just seems kind of like a
slap-happy way to do it. I think we should set up some regulations on
these things. When we elected our board previously -- this is going on
my seventh year. The way we usually adopt it is when the first meeting
of the new board members come aboard, we have elections. These board
members are cold; they don't want to think about the rest of it. I
don't think that's so good. I think we should, the old board members
-- I mean, there's things against that too, but they know the people
who are qualified, and the election should be -- I think it would be
better that way; or else do it with the ones that are left. I mean, we
have three options. But this could go on and on and on; nobody knows
what's what and who's who. It's kind of a sloppy operation, I think.
MR. MANALICH: That's why -- I just need to inform myself of what
efforts the board office has done. Because they typically, as I say,
monitor the vacancies. And typically they make efforts to have them
filled, but I don't know what has happened. So staff and I can check
on that, and we will have the answers at the next meeting.
MR. ANDREWS: Does Sue do the advertising and then they give you a
short list? Usually staff, your staff, back in the past interviews,
interview and make recommendations. Don't they do that anymore?
MS. CRUZ: No, sir. Sue obtains the -- provides staff with the
copy of the resumes from the applicants, and Mr. Clark is the one who
reviews.
MR. ANDREWS: Then it goes before the board, and the board picks
the -- they are the ones that pick them?
MS. CRUZ: Exactly. So those are the guys to get on then. Okay.
MR. ANDREWS: I wasn't blaming you, I was just trying to find out
what's really going on. We have had so many changes. Does everyone
agree?
MR.
MR.
MR.
What I would suggest is at the next meeting
you on the status of filling the vacancies.
have an election if you'd like.
LAFORET:
ANDREWS:
LAFORET:
It's possible.
Beg your pardon?
It's possible that we would not get replacements for
MR. ANDREWS: For a long time.
Page 15
February 23, 1995
MR. LAFORET: Yeah.
MR. ANDREWS: So we
MR. LAFORET: So we just continue with the four of us.
MR. ANDREWS: I agree. I was going to make a motion tha.t Jim
continue as 'chairman until such time as we get a full board, so \18
don't have to vote every time he comes in. Is that okay?
MR. MANALICH: I have no objection to that, provided that it's
understood that your motion is he continue in this role until the
situation is clarified and we have an actual final election.
MR. ANDREWS: Right.
MR. MANALICH: We need to have a motion to that affect.
MR. ANDREWS: We do?
MR. MANALICH: Yes, or you can amend your prior one or ma~<:2 L~. new
one. Let's just have a new one on that.
MR. ANDREWS: I move that Jim remains or continues as temporary
chairman until such time as we get a full board and have a formal
election.
MS. RAWSON: I second.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: All those ln favor signify by saying, "Aye."
Opposed?
We probably should add another one to that in case Jim is ill, who
is going to be the vice-chairman? So I think we better do that at the
same time, just add it to the motion to have Jean Rawson as the
assistant under the same conditions.
MS. CRUZ: Sure.
MR. ANDREWS: And then we will have a full election.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: I will second that.
MR. ANDREWS: Okay.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN: All those in favor signify by saying, "Aye."
Passed.
*****
There being no further business for the Good of the County, the
meeting was adjourned by Order of the Chair at 9:52 a.m.
TRANSCRIPT PREPARED ON BEHALF OF DONOVAN COURT REPORTING
BY: SHARON M. LANDIS, CSR 9010
Page 16