Citizen's Advisory Committee - Special Meeting

Good morning. It is now 09:07. This hearing is called to order. I'm special magistrate Kelly Rodriguez. I will be presiding over today's hearing agenda. Please silence your cell phones and stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge of allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. You may be seated. All city staff and code compliance officers here to testify, please stand to be sworn in.

Do you swear or affirm that the statements made today will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?

I do.

Thank you.

This is a public hearing. As your case is called, please stand on the podium to the left. Once at the podium, the clerk will swear you in. If you plan to testify or make a public statement, please give your name and address after you're sworn in. This hearing is being recorded. Approval of minutes. Are there any minutes to approve at this point?

Yes. You have 04/01/2026.

Okay. I have previously reviewed those minutes that you sent me, and I do approve them for April 1. Moving on, late abatements and or postponements. Do we have any late abatements and or postponements?

Yes. We have one postponement and two abatements. Number seven, case number 26Dash02981. Respondent address, 367 Southwest North Quake Circle is abated. Number nine, case number 26Dash02618. Respondent address 5716 Northwest Alcantar Terrace is postponed in number 12, case number 26Dash03021. Respondent address 4637 Southwest Flintstone Drive is abated. Okay.

I approve the agenda. There's no due of late abatements and postponements. Moving on. I I believe we have modifications first.

Yes. We're gonna do modification requests, agenda items number one through six with specialist Williams. I'll read in the case numbers and the addresses before she does her read in. That's gonna be case number 24Dash31515BL, case number 22Dash00765, case number 23Dash05483, case number 25Dash09958, case number 19Dash08479, and Case 31046DashBL. And those are respondent addresses, 902 Southwest Abbott Avenue.

Address is 652 Southwest Dwight Avenue for number 2 Through 4, and address 3589 Southwest Comroy Street, and address 8860 South U. S. Highway LLC.

Good morning. My name is Jana Williams and I am with the city of Port St. Lucie Lien Services Department. These modifications are a request by the applicant. They are heard as a matter of city policy and are not mandated by Florida statute. City Council holds these liens and they are considered to be assets of the city. Per city ordinance, the special magistrate has the authority to modify these liens. Agenda items one through six have been agreed upon prior to this hearing and require an order to be signed by the magistrate. These are all that I have.

Okay. I'm just looking through the modifications. I approve the modifications.

Thank you,

As stated. For the person in the audience, you have one modification. Correct? Yes. The only reason why I ask is would you like it to be read so you can hear it?

I understand. But since you are here, if you she is providing the modifications. I approved it. You haven't heard the specific language. Do you want to hear it? It was approved. Okay. Well, thank you then. Okay. I approve all the modifications.

Thank you, sir.

There are no parties present to be heard. So we'll move on to the violation hearing section of special requests. It's gonna be number 13, code officer Miller, case number 25Dash15001. Respondent address is 2802 Southwest South Calibreira Circle.

Good morning. Card officer Miller. I've been previously sworn in.

Good morning.

This case concerns the property at 2802 Southwest South Calabria Circle, Port Saint Lucie, Florida. On 09/16/2025, an inspection was done and photos taken showing the following violations. Section one fifty eight point two eleven, storage or accumulation of materials, refuse, and waste materials prohibited. Section 41 o eight b, exterior property areas, high grass and weeds over 12 inches. Section 41 o eight d.

Exterior property areas, unmaintained accessory structures. The photos depict an accurate representation of the property at the time the photos were taken. They noticed the violation was issued on 02/25/2026. The respondent had until March 7 to bring the property into compliance. Compliance is not achieved by such date, and a notice of hearing was furnished on 03/16/2026 by a certified male.

On April 21, proper service was achieved by posting the property with a notice of hearing. Recommendation, the city requests that the respondents be ordered to comply with the cited provisions of the city of Port St. Lucie code by 05/13/2026. And if not in compliance by that date, then a hearing be held to determine a fine to be imposed against the subject property. In addition, the respondent failed to comply by 05/13/2026.

There were city requests that the special magistrate authorize the city pursuant to section one sixty two point o eight five. Florida statute enter upon the property to bring the property into compliance and specifically to cut and maintain the high grass and weeds, the cost of which will be charged to the respondent at a later hearing. So we have the property here. As you can see, the grass is about two feet high in the back of the house. Same on the left side, and then the open storage there, the fencing material, the missing slats on the fence.

And on this side, more open storage of the fencing material with the high grass in the back and the hole in the fence. This is a picture of the property from the front, and this is a picture of the posting on the door.

So it looks like the issues in the back as to the high grass and the So the fence is only partially completed?

Yes. It's only partially completed. There's a hole in it and has missing slats that haven't been put up. Do you think that this was

during construction or this was due to like?

This case has been open since September. Oh, really?

Yes. Okay.

So they've been given time to get it completed. It just hasn't been completed yet and the grass has remained high in the back during that period of time.

Okay. And you've tried to speak with the homeowner?

Contact has been made by a prior code officer. They were aware of the violations. They still haven't been rectified.

They still haven't rectified. Okay. Any other testimony? No. Any other photos? Not at this time. Okay. Thank you. So based on your testimony, will find that notice has been achieved. I will find that the violations still exist and that based on the recommendation of the city, they will have until May 13 to try to comply. If not in compliance by that date, then a hearing will be held to determine the fine to be imposed. At this point as to cost, is there any recommendation now as to cost if they don't comply? No?

We're actually requesting for a special order to go on and comply out the violations. If they don't, then we can comply them out at that time and we'll bring it back for a certification of fines to where we'll request for a daily fine.

So at this point you're only asking for compliance by fivethirteen Correct. To have a You're not suggesting any type of monetary fine or ministry of cost at this point for the future. We'll determine that in other words at the hearing.

Correct. That would be the final determination of certification of fines hearing.

Okay. Thank you. I just wanted to be clear about that.

We just need permission to go on to the property.

I'm sorry. Yes. I order permission of the city to go on to the property to abate the conditions.

Thank you.

We'll now move on to the certification of fines hearing section of special request Number 14, code officer Cap. Case number 25Dash17989. Respondent address is 1111 Southwest Midland Lane.

Morning. Code officer Cap, previously sworn.

Good morning.

This case concerns the property at 1111 Southwest Midland Lane. A violation hearing was held on 02/04/2026. Based on the evidence provided on that date, the special magistrate found that violations existed in order compliance to be achieved by 02/11/2026. And if compliance not achieved, then authorize the city to enter upon the property to bring the property into compliance. The following violations were: a 41.1 ks-one exterior structure, structure in need of maintenance Section 41.08 G1, Exterior Property Areas Swell and Culvert Unmaintained Section 158.211, Storage or Accumulation of Materials Refuge and Waste Materials Prohibited Section 41.08B, exterior property areas, high grass and weeds over 12 inches.

Section 41.10L, exterior structure, door in need of maintenance. Per Neighborhood Services Department records, the compliance was not achieved by 02/11/2026. The city took steps to abate violations, the violation of Section 4,100 ten(one) exterior structure, structure in need of maintenance, Section 158.211, storage or accumulation of materials, refuse and waste materials prohibited. Section 41.08B, exterior property areas, high grass and weeds over 12 inches. Section 41, exterior structure, door in need of maintenance were abated on 03/05/2026.

Neighborhood services maintain a copy of the entire case file as public record. The photos taken truly and accurately represent the scene as it appeared on the days of the inspections. Due to the respondent's failure to comply with the deadline set forth at the violation hearing, the city requests that the special magistrate order a fine to be certified in the amount of $25 per day up to a maximum of $50,000 for a period of noncompliance from 02/11/2026. The city requests that respondent be ordered to pay costs in the amount of $5,000 for its repairs to bring the property into compliance as previously authorized. Finally, the city requests that the respondent pay administrative costs in the amount of $411 representing reasonable costs of the investigation and prosecution of this case.

So here's our first photo. It was the certification of fines hearing posting. These are all previous pictures before we went in and abated the violations. So we have some broken windows, the door in the back, more damaged windows.

Is the house vacant? It

was at the time the respondent is now there.

The respondent is now there. Interesting. Okay.

This is the garage door. You can see the open storage, the high grass, more open storage, a broken window. Now this is when we went in and abated the violations. So we boarded up the garage door area, removed a lot of the open storage or all the open storage, cut the grass. So now the property is secured, the open storage is removed and the grass is cut.

So question, the respondent is there and is there any further violation now that they have to fix the windows because I see it was only boarded up with the with I guess what is that metal?

Those are corrugated shutters. Yes. That's what the contractor used to secure the property.

To secure the property. But the respondents there are going to go back and inspect at a later date as to actually installing windows if they're occupying the property?

Yes. So what's going to happen is right now the shutters are not a violation.

So

after the hurricane season, if the shutters are not removed, then we would go back and issue a different citation. But currently, the remaining violation is the failed culvert, and that's what we're seeking We're seeking compliance for the compliance date, but we are seeking the reimbursement for all of the security that we did to the home.

All the other violations you've abated and which is the one that is still not rectified?

It would be the failed culvert. The culvert has failed.

Can we go back to that one? It's a I have it. Oh, that is.

That's the failed culvert. It's all rusted out. Therefore, not allowing water to flow through properly and causing a drainage

And so

made

pleased the

We had a program going at one point that we did offer the homeowner to apply for, but that program has since closed. And he is he does understand now that he does to replace the culvert.

So Oh, he does understand that.

He does understand that. Course. Yeah. The officer had a conversation with him yesterday.

Okay. And how much time are we giving them to to try to repair that?

If this is a certification fines hearing I

understand that part.

Yeah. We've already given him time to comply and he he did not comply within that time frame. We're based asking for the $25 a day fine.

Okay. He had until February 11? Correct. Okay. I apologize. I thought you went and abated and had a conversation for him after the fact. Yeah. So he hasn't he hasn't complied with anything. The only thing that hasn't been repaired at this point is the culvert?

Correct. Correct. At this time. Yeah.

Okay. You for the clarity. Any other pictures?

No. This is the picture of the failed culvert pipe.

Okay. Any other testimony?

No sir.

Okay. Very good. So based on the testimony I will make a finding that proper notice has been achieved and that the respondent was not in compliance as of 02/11/2026. Based on the statutes you have read into the record and of the items that the city has actually repaired and or abated, I will find that there a fine should be certified in the amount of $25 per day up to a maximum of $50,000 for the period noncompliance from twoeleven, especially for the culvert. And I also find that the city will be awarded $5,000 for its repairs to bring the property into compliance as previously authorized.

Finally, I will authorize that the city will achieve a measure of costs and the responder will have to pay $411 representing reasonable cost of the investigation prosecution of this case.

Thank you.

We've now completed all cases with special requests. I can go ahead and read into record the notice of how we noticed we have noticed all of the alleged violators who are not present. I can put that into record.

Please do.

A notice of hearing or a notice of the certification of fine was sent to the violator by certified mail return receipt requested to the address listed in the tax collector's office for tax notices or to the address listed in the county property appraiser's database. If the green card was returned, it was placed in the file and is either signed, unsigned, or unclaimed. Ten days before the hearing, the agenda was posted on the bulletin board in the lobby of Port Saint Lucie City Hall. Also, a notice of hearing was posted in the posted on the property in question along with an affidavit of posting, which included a copy of the notice posted in the dates and places of its posting. The certification card was not returned to the neighborhood services department, then within ten days before the hearing, posting is completed in the same manner as if the card was returned unclaimed as stated above.

The photos shown at today's hearing are kept and maintained as public has that

to made a make but upon reinspection it was confirmed that compliance was not achieved. A formal notice appearing was issued for today's hearing and the respondent has failed to appear. The city requests that these cases be found in violation of their respected listed code sections and be given until 05/13/2026 to bring the property into compliance. Should compliance not be met, the city requests that a future hearing be scheduled to determine and impose an appropriate fine.

Number eight, case number 26Dash02963. Respondent address is 2921 Southwest Romano Road. Number 10, case number 26Dash02913. Respondent address is 5792 Northwest Coosa Drive and Number 11, case number 26Dash03786. Respondent address is 58 I'm sorry. 5488 Northwest Boycott Avenue. And those are all of the cases that are on the agenda today.

Okay. I will sign the orders for those cases with parties not present. As you previously mentioned, there is no other business on the agenda?

No. There are no parties to be present, and we've read in all the cases on the agenda.

Okay. Very good. We're moving to that part of the hearing in which the public is to be heard. If you are here to make a public statement, then please come to the podium to the left. Once at the podium, the clerk will swear you in. After you've sworn in, please give your name and address before making your statement. Is there anyone in the public to be heard? Okay. Seeing that no one in the public is to be heard. All matters on the agenda have now been heard. It is now 09:28 a. M. This hearing is now adjourned.