Planning and Zoning Board - Regular Meeting

We'll start with a roll call by our madam clerk.

Member Abindantalouk? Present. Vice Chairman Brito?

Here.

Chairman Kroll?

Present.

Member Pitts?

Here.

Member Amira? Member Turner?

Member Turner? Thank you. Oh, turn your microphone on, please. I'll now entertain a motion for absentee of Mr. Amillo?

Vic. Let's go with Vic till he gets the oath.

Okay. All right. So we do have a quorum. Aye. Motion passed. We now have to administer the oath right now.

Yes, sir. I will. Mr. Turner, you have the appropriate document in front of you, so I'll go a little faster than normal.

Okay.

You have it? Yes. All right. I want you to repeat after me. I state your name, do solemnly swear that our support, protect, and defend the constitution.

I, Hiram Turner, do suddenly swear that I will support and protect and defend

the constitution. And the government of the United States and of the state of Florida and the charter and ordinances of the city of Pembroke Pines.

And the government of the United States and the state of Florida and the charter and ordinance of the city of Pembroke Pines.

That I'm duly qualified to hold office under the constitution of the state.

I'm duly qualified, the whole office underneath the constitution of the state.

And that I will well and faithfully perform all the duties of the Board of Adjustment for the city of Pembroke Pines of which I am now about to enter.

I will well and faithfully perform all the duties of the Board of Adjustment of the city of Pembroke Pines in which I'm now about to enter.

So help me, God. So help me, God. Congratulations. Welcome aboard, sir. Thank

you, thank you. I'll now have a motion for the approval of the 11/06/2025 Board of Adjustments minutes.

You still have to vote.

Mr. Chair, I'd like to make a motion to approve the meeting minutes from 11/06/2025.

I second. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Minutes approved. The general counsel, we

now administer the oath to the possible candidates tonight. Yes, sir. Good evening, everyone. Before we get the oath, I'll go over how the procedure's going to run today. For the members of the public, the applicants, these gentlemen up here are the members of the Board of Adjustment for the City of Pembroke Pines.

They are volunteers, true public servants here serving their fellow residents and hearing applications for adjustments to the city code. Decisions from this board for approval require a minimum of three votes from the board. Short of those three votes, the item will be deemed denied. These hearings are quasi judicial. That means, as the chairman stated, at the conclusion of my remarks, you will be asked to stand and raise your hand and be sworn in.

The order of business tonight will be that case will be called and the matter presented, and then you'll have every opportunity to present any information you have to prove that you deserve the adjustment. At the conclusion of the testimony, the chairman will open it up to the public and close the public hearing. And the board will make a decision tonight. That decision will be rendered into writing, and you will have a copy of that. With that being said, if you have a case and plan on speaking tonight, will you please stand and raise your right hand? If you're unable to stand, just raise your right hand from your seat.

Yes, please.

Just in case.

Yeah. In case.

Keep you the urge.

You swear affirm the testimony you give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. All right. You may be seated, Mr. Chairman.

Okay. Thank you, counselor. I see we have a sunshine law refresher here. I'll do that one at

the end when we get the respondents out of

the chamber. Okay. Thank you very much. First case tonight will be ZBR2020Five-thirty940, Pablo Aterjarartia and Beatriz Posado. Will you please come forward, please?

Cut the microphone on and sign both of your names. Did you sign in, Both of you. Sign your name, please.

Okay. Through the chair, Mr. Chair. While they do that, I just was handed some quasi judicial forms from neighboring properties for the item being requested in front of you. Received support from Maria Mejia out of 170.

The same from Felix Fernandez out of 1969 Northwest 171st Avenue Christopher Raymond and Janet Raymond out of 1997 Northwest 170th Avenue. So they're for the petition Carmelo Tyrone out of 17011 Northwest 20th Street, they're in support of the petition. And Aubrey and Joseph Haskins for 17001 Northwest 20th Street. Therefore, the petition does that.

And all were in favor of the presidential.

On behalf of the president.

Thank you very much. The owner submitted I'll read the project background. The owner submitted two residential zoning variances requesting to legalize an existing driveway for the property located at 17010 Northwest 20th Street. The property is part of the Pembroke Isles planned unit development and follows the guidelines for single family homes, zero lot line. The planned unit development does not address front lot coverage and driveway width.

Therefore, the provisions of the city lands development code, LDC, are applicable. On 05/05/2025, the city code compliance cited the property for work done without a building permit, case number 25501623. As a result of the existing work at the property, the petitioners were presenting a plan depicting existing conditions at the property for the following request, ZBR twenty twenty five-thirty nine to allow 65% front lot coverage instead of the allowed 40% front lot coverage for the existing driveway and a single family zero lot line. Also, ZVR twenty twenty five-forty to allow 60% width of the lot as to allow 40% width of the lot for an existing driveway in a single family residential zero lot line. Per staff review of the city's archives, no permit information can be found for the existing driveway at the property.

Nevertheless, Broward County property appraises images the driveway footprint had existed in similar shape since at least December 2011. I have a question. At what year did you purchase your home?

We purchased it in June 20

You '20 can adjust the mic, please.

State your name.

Oh, hi, sorry.

Vic.

Hi, my name is, We extended our driveway in January 2025, this year.

Because the record here shows you were legalizing an existing driveway. But we'll take into consideration.

Can I say something? I'm Pablo Atortuga. Basically, the driveway, as you can see, it was big. We just made two feet on one side and make it straight on the other one. For the board, if you guys want, I brought baby sickly papers.

Pass them to the clerk,

please. Okay.

This been shared with staff prior? Okay. Okay.

Okay. Thank

you. All right. And I'm going to continue on. The applicant is aware that the board consideration of residential variances request does not preclude the property owner from obtaining all necessary development related approvals or permits. And you have submitted a letter from the HOA dated 10/25/2025. But HOA is just one of the requirements. It's not the final jurisdiction. The city of Pembroke Pines Building and Zone Department is.

Yes, sir. We made a mistake.

Yes. Sorry. I would like to take over this. We just bought our house in June 2025. Our neighbor was doing it. My husband is a US veteran. He went to Iraq. This guy never does anything incorrect. He won't even go to TJ Maxx Handicap's fitting room because this guy does everything by the rules. This was a mistake.

We moved from Connecticut three years ago, and we just bought our house. This is our new house. We had never owned a house in Florida. In Connecticut, if you were to build a driveway, and if it was brick, you did not have to get a permit. And I'm not lying. If it was concrete, you had to get a permit. If it was brick, you did not have to get one. So I apologize. Our neighbor who was here last month, 17024, they were doing their driveway. And we just asked them. And they said, no, you just need an HOA permit. And we just went by the ward. So we apologized. We made a mistake. We're going to

help you. We're going to help you. I want to finish this. Thank you, sir, for all your service in the war and to the country. I'm gonna read page five zero six, Description of Property.

I am a US Army Service disabled veteran with a permanent foot injury sustained during my service in Iraq. Because of my condition, I require a stable, hard surface area to safely enter and exit my vehicle. The current configuration of the property requires me to walk over grass and I have already tripped and fallen on the uneven surface. Expanding the paved portion of the driveway will provide a safer, accessible path for my daily use. Additionally, my mother-in-law, who resides in the house, is legally blind due to advanced molecular degeneration.

She requires special handicap accessible transportation for medical treatments and a portable wheelchair ramp if necessary to assist her during her loading and unloading. The current driveway area does not provide enough space to safely position this ramp. The required driveway extension is not for aesthetics or parking purposes, but strictly for medical, safety, and accessibility reasons for both myself and my mother-in-law. This modification will ensure the home remains compliant with accessibility and safety standards for individuals with disabilities. Have I read your story completely? Is there anything else you'd to add to it?

All I wanted to say, sir, is thanks for having us. This is my mom. She's sitting right there.

Welcome. Good evening.

This is probably the most important part. She's legally blind. She does have a handicapped van that picks her up. We live in a corner lot. The space is very small. So if we don't have space in our driveway, we'll be blocking the And road, the I understand the reason why it's the 40% reason. But we do have a very big green space next to us. So I hope you take that into account. We also, the back of our house, we do have a swimming pool, but the rest is green space. We don't have anything else.

So hopefully, we do have the grass for no flooding to happen. So hopefully you would take that into account. So my concern is mainly is my mom. My mom lives with us. She's 76 years old. And she's legally blind. And she needs this handicap transportation that comes once a week. They

do We same understand. We understand.

Thank you.

You mentioned flood. You've only been here for a little while, so you haven't had any hurricanes and heavy rains. So you don't know the conditions. And I'm assuming that there's no issues with flooding in this area? Okay. Is there anyone from the audience who would like to add or have any comments for the residents? None. Staff? Okay. Mr. Vice Chair? No further questions. Mr. Pitts?

Just one question, Mr. Chair. This may be for staff. But is there an issue with the swell area? I saw that was highlighted on the prior blueprint. So when it talks about construction within the swale, was there previously paved in that area?

Yes, 100%. Obviously, methodology of construction outside the property, we have to meet the engineering standard. If you see the survey in the middle, dated May 2024, you will see the existing approach and how it's located. If the variance will proceed, they will have to obviously straighten up that section to meet the new width across property lines.

Okay. Thanks. No further questions. Mr. Ben Jandau. Lovely. Mr. Turner. No other questions. Questions. Okay. I will now entertain a motion for ZBR2025Dash39 for the required forty percent front lot coverage and requested 65% front lot coverage for the existing driveway on a zero lot line.

Mr. Chair, I'd like to make a motion to approve ZBR twenty twenty five dash 39 to allow 65% front lot coverage instead of the allowed 40% front lot coverage total for an existing driveway and a single family residential zero lot under section 155 dot three zero one subsection variance one c. I second.

There's a motion and second. Roll call, Madam Clerk.

Member Pitts? Yes. Vice Chair Burrito? Yes. Member Avan Dondolo? Yes. Chairman Kroll? Yes. Member Turner? Yes. Motion passes.

Entertain a motion for ZVR twenty twenty five-forty for the required 40% width of the lot and a request of 60% of the lot width with existing driveway on a zero lot.

Mr. Chair, I'd like to make a motion to approve ZVR twenty twenty five-forty to allow 60% width of lot instead of the allowed 40% width of lot for an existing driveway in a single family residential zero lot under section 155.301 variance one c.

I second. The motion is second. Roll call, Madam Clerk.

Member Pitts? Yes. Vice Chair Brito? Yes. Member Amadandelu? Yes. Chairman Kroll? Yes. Member Turner? Yes. All the motion passes.

Both motion passes. Both variances pass. Congratulations. And once again, sir, thank you for your service. Thank you for your service. And thank you, ma'am, for being here tonight. Please govern yourselves with the clerk. And please be aware, whatever your neighbors may do, always ask what was done in other states. You're in a planned unit development. And they have strict guidelines. And you may want to inquire with your permit any other improvements, structural outside, tree cutting, and so forth.

Please ask.

We learned our lesson. Thank you so much. We appreciate it. Thank you so much. Happy holidays. And we learned our lesson.

Same thing.

Appreciate it.

Thank you

so much. Thank you. Have a good night.

Care. Care. Ms. Maria Tomas. Sign in, please.

Good evening. Maria l Thomas, residing at 123 Southwest 68th Avenue, Pembroke Pines, Florida 33024. We have from staff, Luz Kamala. Okay. And behalf of Maria Tomas, is she present?

My mama.

Your mama. Okay. Thank you. Submitted a residential zoning variance request for the property located at 123 Southwest 68th Avenue in the Pines Village neighborhood, which is zoned single family residence r one c. On 03/02/2024, the city code compliance division cited the property for being performed without building permits.

Code case number 2307002833. In March 2025, the owner submitted building permit application number RA25-two898 for a carport conversion, new addition areas for master bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen relocation. After reviewing the property's documents, it was detected that the top surface of the floor of the existing home does not conform with the minimum floor elevations for residential buildings. Per the survey document, the highest point of the crown of the street is 89.76 inches, which is 7.48 North American vertical datum of nineteen eighty eight. And the top floor of the existing resident building is 102 inches and requires 8.5 NAVD.

The proposed plan shows all habitable areas will remain at a 102 inches above the crown of the street. As a result of existing conditions and the proposed changes, the petitioner's requesting CVR twenty twenty five dash zero zero four one to allow the top surface of the floor of a residential building to be 12.24 inches instead of requiring 18 inches above the highest crown of the road and the street, adjacent to the lot for a carport conversion and home addition and a single family residential triple lot. As part of the request, the proposed plan includes a new circular driveway with move of existing patios along the side encroaching into the setback, and demolition of an existing shed located to the northeast corner in the rear. The applicant is aware that board consideration of resident variance request does not preclude the property owner from retaining all necessary development related approvals or permits. The property is located in the Boulevard Hearts neighborhood.

There is no homeowners association. On page one, this comes from Raul Cruz, an architectural studio, to mister Zumora, our clerk. Good morning. Thank you again for taking the time to speak with me and the homeowners yesterday regarding the property. We truly appreciate your attention to the project and the opportunity to clarify all concerns regarding required finished floor elevation.

As discussed, the current home has existing finished floor elevation of 8.5, which is already more than 12 inches above the crown of the road. That's an old measurement. Now it's 18 inches. At the time the home was built in '24 and also sorry, 1956 and changed in 1965, that cold may have been in effect. The property is not located within a designated flood area, and the intent of this property is to reconstruct or improve more than 50% of the existing structure, Raising the addition to the new required 8.98 would create a seven inch step differential between the new and existing areas, resulting in several practical and financial challenges.

It will require demolition of an existing portion of the existing structure, including portions of the floor and roof system, solely to achieve the transition in elevation. Given the existing 8.2 ceiling height, the required step would reduce the clearing height in the transition to approximate seven foot eight, creating an uncomfortable and non ideal leave in condition for a residential space. Request the city consider allowing the proposed addition to maintain the existing finished floor elevation and recognizing the property's current compliance above the floor crown, its location outside of the flood zone, and a limited scope of work related to the toll structure. The intent is to improve and bring the property close to compliance, not to avoid its standards, but to apply them reasonably in a way that supports both safety and the practical preservation of existing structure. I read that the record saw that the staff would be fully aware of your conditions.

Do you have anything else to add to the report we have here? Are there any questions from anyone in the audience?

No, not whatsoever. The only reason is that we want to

keep Could you speak with the microphone?

Name is Sylvia Moreira. I'm with the owners. And the reason why we want to keep it at the same level is because the reason Maria also is not here is because she has knee problems. And we want to keep it at the same level for the house for her to use the walker or the wheelchair.

Steph, any comments?

No, no comments. Just remarks. Obviously, the property is in tremendous need of love and care. They're willing to work with our landscape division to make improvements, replace landscape of the property so they can obviously set up an example in the neighborhood that needs a lot of care. So they're willing to make it work for all of us. That's all I got to say. But we visited the property. Nobody's lived there. It's not habitable at this moment in time. So they desperately need to move the permits through.

The fact that this is in the older section of Pembroke Pines was built in 1956. You are not in a flood zone, so you appear to be at least very high above the crown of the road. Have you had any flooding conditions in the past? No, much more. Okay, okay. All right. I'll start the question with Mr. Brito. No further questions. Mr. Pitts? No questions, Mr. Chair. Mr. Evan Dandowell?

I don't understand it. I apologize, gentlemen. What are we talking? The ceiling is too short?

Well, no. The flooring is uneven.

Oh, the flooring is uneven.

If they meet the current conditions, you have to raise the floor to at least 18 inches above the crown of the road. It's presently around 12 inches, and they want to keep it at the same level so that there will be no uneven surface.

Oh, I see. Because of the handicapped person in the I apologize. I couldn't comprehend it. I'm sorry.

Okay. It's a lot to try and read in and

get this Thank you, gentlemen. I'm sorry.

But yes, they want to keep the floor even with the Yes, new Thank you. Any questions? Mr. Turner? No questions. No questions. I entertain a motion for ZBR 2025Dash41.

Mr. Chair, I'd like to make a motion to approve ZVR 2020Five-forty1 to allow the top surface of the floor of a residential building to be 12.24 inches instead of the required 18 inches above the highest point of the crown of the street adjacent to the lot for a carport conversion and home addition in a single family residential typical lot under section 155.301 variance 1C. Second.

The motion is second. Roll call, please, Madam Clerk.

Member Pitts?

Yes.

Vice Chair Ambrito?

Yes.

Member Advan Donbula? Yes. Chairman Caroll? Yes. Member Turner? Yes. Motion passes.

Thank you. And keep in consideration that any improvements, structural and otherwise, must be approved by building and zoning. And the fact that your home was governed under older requirements and you're not in a flood zone allows you to go forward. Please see.

You, and have a wonderful evening.

No, just that the plans have been approved by mostly all the disciplines. I believe it's been a couple of small details. That's about it. So for all of you to know. They've been working.

Evening, gentlemen.

Thank you. Good evening. Mr. Shumar and Jennifer Marston. Ms.

Forced, you didn't bring your ruler tonight, did you?

No. I have to gabble.

Better when it

comes from you, your official clerk.

Mr. Chair, realizing that the PowerPoint presentation missed the last item in front of you. But you have all the information in the back half. There's one more item, which was not included in the presentation in the PowerPoint. But you do have it in your package. So my apologies.

Okay. This comes from?

That's 232-1180 ZVR. Okay. That's the last item in the agenda.

You don't have the PowerPoint? Is that what you're saying?

Yeah. That's what I'm saying.

Okay. Not

a I didn't include it in the PowerPoint.

We have the package here.

We have the package here. It's in the package. My apologies.

Not a problem.

Visuals, but if you don't have any questions

We don't we don't we don't need it. Okay. Thank you. My pleasure. Jennifer Marston and Shamar Marston, residing at 2321 Northwest 1 86th Avenue, Pembroke Pines, 33029.

Owner submitted two residential zoning variance request to legalize an existing driveway for the property located at the address mentioned. It's part of the Keystone Lake Lake Plan unit development and follows the guidelines for single family conventional lots, SF1. It does not address the front lot coverage, driveway width. Therefore, the provisions of the city's land development code apply. On 01/25/2023, the city code's compliance division cited the property owner for work done without a building permit, case number 2301407.

In 09/19/2024, the owner filed permit application number RX24-eleven66 for the driveway at the property. The permit application was reviewed, approved as of 09/19/2024. However, no inspections have been scheduled. The petitioner requested modification for the following request, ZVR2020 five-forty two, to allow 46% front lot coverage instead of allowed 40% front lot coverage for the existing driveway and a single family residential lot. Also, ZBR twenty twenty five-forty three to allow 46% width of the lot instead of required 40% lot coverage.

Per the survey document for the property on 01/28/2023, it was detected paving built up to both sides of the property lines. Then a modification plan submitted by the applicant for the request correcting the existing paving on the side to be 36 inches wide, set back two feet inside the property lines as prescribed by the city's land development code. And once again, they were that board consideration and request does not preclude the property owner from obtaining all necessary development approvals and permits. Looking over to in the back, to where we may concern. This is to serve as a scope of work letter.

We're requesting to expand the driveway, the walkway to the entrance to our home and left side of our house. We're requesting a barracks expand the driveway to cover approximately 46% of the front yard to meet our family's medical and accessibility needs. My husband has severe grass allergies to all grasses, and he's attached to test report as proof. And my father-in-law who lives with us has cardiac and mobility issues requiring access to the card. Our household has three vehicles that are constantly used and with current restrictions, parking the street or across the sidewalk is not prohibited is not permitted.

Expanding the driveway will allow all vehicles to park fully on paved surfaces without obstructing pedestrian access while maintaining the neighborhood's appearance and safety standards. Attachments include approval from association, survey with the missions of driveway and walkway, and allergy test results. Thank you in advance for your time and consideration to this matter. Sincerely, Jennifer Marston. And we have in our package, To May Concern.

This is from Ford certified Jesus Garcia Dominguez, cardiovascular disease program. To Whom whom we may concern, I'm writing behalf of my patient, Mr. Ray Marston, who has a significant cardiac history. His diagnosis include cardiac amylodosis. Amyloidosis, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, and hypertension.

He is currently receiving ongoing medical therapy to manage these conditions. Due to the nature and progression of Mr. Morrison's cardiac disease, it is medically advisable that he has convenient and unobstructed access to his personal vehicle. This will enable him to attend medical appointments and maintain his treatment regimen without undue physical stress. Limited accessibility such as difficulty reaching his vehicle from his home or inadequate driveway access may result in increased physical exertion.

This, in turn, may exuberate his conditions, including shortness of breath and elevated blood pressure, and may accelerate his need for supplemental oxygen as his disease progresses. For this reason, I strongly recommend that measures be taken to provide Mr. Morrison with improved and direct access to his vehicle. This adjustment will assist in preserving his functional capacity and support the effective management of his cardiac condition. Thank you in advance, as I mentioned before, his PERO certified cardiovascular physician. Is there anything you'd like to add to this, Mr. Marston or Ms. Marston?

I'm Shamar Marston, and this is my wife, Jennifer Marston. Everything in that was correct. It's mainly for my father. We didn't expect to do an extension. We're actually doing an extension also to accommodate him to live with us. That wasn't the plan originally, but he got sick two years ago. It's a genetic predisposition. And when he walks too far, sometimes he throws up, he exerts. Because of that, he ends up with a pacemaker because of this when he exerts himself. So we just want to make sure when he's able to get to the car, he doesn't have any obstruction or any issues getting into his car and be able to go where we need to take him.

Or if it's in a short drive, he goes by himself. So it's mainly just to make sure he's in a safe proximity to his car.

There are

towing cars in our neighborhood now if you park in front. And sometimes all the parking spots that we have designated is far, far walk away and sometimes full. So we don't want to have any issues with that. Thank you.

As I look at the pictures in the back on 05/08/2014, there were several trees in the yard. And now as of 04/04/2024, all trees have been removed. Did you obtain a permit for those tree removal? I know it's not a part of the consideration here, but I because we

bought this house in 2021.

Okay.

Okay. Thank you. As I said to others, anything on the exterior structural tree removal need to have a permit. Even though

The staff went ahead and provided a landscape report as part of this process. Final inspections will require landscape to be taken care of. That's something that we do. We want to let know ahead of time what is missing so they don't come into an issue at the end of it.

Yeah, I didn't want you to think that not having trees are okay. The city is definitely want to have proper landscaping, trees and vegetation.

Yes, sir.

Okay. Any more comments from staff? Mr. Okay. Pitts.

I just have just one question. Just looking at the photo, you didn't do anything to the existing driveway. It was just you guys added pavers to each side of the vehicles?

So that was the initial citation. When we got the house, it was in bad shape. So we tried to make it nicer. We added I think it's not even a foot on each side to make it a little bit more accessible to come in. And that's when we got the citation. And then my dad got sick. And then we decided to do the extension and asked for the driveway. So we did it all into one to actually fix the citation plus just roll it all into one together.

Is middle portion concrete and then the sides are pavers? But

that will change with the various with block papers all across and fix everything.

That was a valid question.

No further questions. So you're switching it to papers, correct?

Yes, the block papers.

Yes, sir. I have no further questions. Mr. Chair. Mr. Bandendalo? No, thank you. Mr. Chair, don't

have no questions.

Is this the same house? Wow. Okay. I'm looking good. A garage door just looks the roof is new. I'm looking at the garage door too.

There's additional changes. There's an additional project ongoing.

Okay. So there's some

additional So if a house changes moved, was set like this, so we moved it forward, which we got the building.

Plan So there's a portion. Okay.

The new plan shows the new

I'm not crazy. Yes. I thought they may have got different pictures mixed up. Okay. Alright. Thank you. Once again, plan unit development. You're gonna get questions about your HOA, about the trees, landscaping, bed. Please comply with them as soon as possible. I'd like to entertain a motion for the two variances, ZVR twenty twenty five-forty two for the 40% front lot coverage. Mr. Chair, I'd like to make

a motion to approve ZVR twenty twenty five-forty two to allow 46% front lot coverage instead of the allowed 40% front lot coverage for an existing driveway in a single family residential typical lot under section 155.301 variance one.

Second. Is there a motion and a second? Roll call, please, Madam Clerk.

Member Pitts? Yes. Vice Chair Burrito? Yes. Member Abandondolo? Yes. Chairman Kroll? Yes. Member Turner? Yes. Motion passes.

Motion for ZVR twenty twenty five dash zero zero four three for 40% width of the lot.

Mister chair, I'd like to make a motion to approve ZVR twenty twenty five dash zero zero four three to allow 46% width of the lot instead of the allowed 40% width of the lot for an existing driveway in a single family residential typical lot under Section 155.301 variance 1C.

I second. The motion is second. Roll call, please, Madam Clerk.

Member Pitts? Yes. Vice Chair Grito?

Yes. Member Avondondolo?

Yes. Chairman Kroll?

Yes. Member Turner? Yes.

Motion passes.

Thank you. And please see the clerk.

Thank you. Happy holidays. Thank you.

Happy holidays. Any further approvals made? Thank you. Mr. Attorney, we now have the Sunshine Law refresher.

All right. Thank you. And Mr. Turner, have you served on the board before here in the city? No. Have you served on any public board? No, sir. Are you familiar with the Sunshine Law? No, sir. All right. So I'll be a little more in-depth about it, but I'll still be brief. You can always give me a call. Christian will give you my information if you have any questions after we leave today. Is that Okay?

Okay.

All

right. And if you have a question while I'm talking, you can stop me. And I think I'm going go down so you guys can see me.

Yeah, this is something great to do as new members come in. It's always to have sunshine up to date to all of us. Thank you, Quentin.

State your names.

It was easy while you were not here, Victor.

Mister chair, if it pleases the board, I would like to go on. Victor? Sir. Pay attention. Yes, Alright. So we're gonna talk about the sunshine long. We'll be brief. Please interrupt me if you have any questions. These other guys have heard the presentation before. So the sunshine law is based on Florida statute and the Florida constitution, article one, section 24, and chapter two eighty six of the Florida statute.

And essentially, what the sunshine law does is to require when one or more of you all get together, there has to be a notice meeting where minutes are taken. That's why we have the city's clerk here at every meeting. And this meeting is being recorded by the gentleman you see in the back back there so that the public can have a copy of it and they can see what happened, what happened based on the results of the applications for board of adjustment. And like I said, a meeting is considered when one or more of you are together talking about items that may come before you. So you can speak to Victor about his daughters and how he wants you to marry them, but you can't speak to Victor about any particular variance that's on the agenda or may come back on the agenda.

So even the cases that have been decided today, you still shouldn't talk to each other about those.

Question.

Yes, sir.

One or more. Does that mean you can't talk to yourself too? Right?

Yeah. You shouldn't talk to yourself about any of the cases that come before the board. Just be safe. Because I know you like to talk to yourself sometimes. Right?

That's right.

So that's why I worded it that way.

I guess so.

Alright. But it's two it's two or more. You you know what I Alright. I already said what the requirements are. It's open to the public.

So you heard the chairman say any members of the public want to speak. There weren't any tonight, but sometimes we do have neighbors that come and speak in favor of or in opposition of a variant. So you're gonna see that from time to time for any of the particular matters. And I said the purpose. And the other purpose is, as you heard, the the the discussion, there were questions that were made public so that in the past, what this this this law prevents is for you to hear the applicant and then you go into that backroom, talk amongst yourselves, and come out and have a decision.

So all the decision, all the discussion is made in the open in the sunshine in the public so everybody can hear. Right, Vic? Yes, sir.

Alright. Alright.

So all the discussion, deliberations, and voting happens in the public. Any questions so far? I'm trying to not bore you all.

Well, I

just want

to tell Mr. Turner that we have been, in the past, reprimanded by our secretary for having discussion in the parking lot.

Yeah, I'm not here then, so do not have discussions in the parking lot. You could talk about the Cowboys the lions tonight, but you can't talk about the cases or anything else of the like. You should probably just wanna go home too, so that's okay too. And this and like I said, it's two or more of you. So if you see Vic in public, you can go the other way if he starts talking about the board stuff.

But it even applies when you're in Publix or any other place. It doesn't have to just be in this room. So it's any location. You cannot talk about anything related. I think you all got an email from Christian this morning or late yesterday.

Typically, we don't we ask you not to reply all to that because that could be considered communication. Those are just instructions on the event happening today so that you know there might be some parking issues. But there may be emails sent by Christian from time to time letting you know of different things. So you shouldn't reply all or discuss any thing on the agenda during those communications. So going back to Vic and his daughters, you shouldn't Vic can't use his daughters to come talk to you all about any cases that come.

So if he wants his daughters to talk to you, try not to talk to her about the cases. And Vic, your daughters are going to be very upset with you.

I share everything with you here with them.

There's no more sunshine. So

there are certain penalties if you violate. There's $500 fines for knowing violations. And there may be criminal penalties depending on the type of violation that is. I don't expect you all to want to talk about any cases to get you in that amount of trouble. So I don't anticipate you all having these issues. That's the end of my brief presentation. If you have any questions, let me know. Okay. Yes, sir.

Now one thing I'll say to attorney that in certain boards, you're required to take a refresher course every year. And it's timed and you graded on it. So this is one of the lesser boards. School board representation, there is a test every year.

BROWN County School Board.

BROWN K. Should take their own test. Yeah, I know. One more thing. We've had some very light meetings. We've had some very vocal attorneys come in, cases. And we've had cases where opposing neighbors didn't like what was going on. And we've had to table some discussion until they've all worked it out. This has been pretty easy right now for the last couple of meetings.

Okay.

All right. Thank you, counselor. Thank you, counselor. Thank

you, Quentin. Thank you. And that being said, for new member, Turner, if you do have any questions, you can always contact me directly for anything you need. All right? But do not discuss in the public. Thank you. Oh, and happy holidays to you, to your families. We'll be seeing each other next year on the fifteenth.

Next meeting?

January 15. Is it '15? '15. '15. Correct. That's

Thursday. Can do it.

Correct. Yes.