Citizen's Advisory Committee - Special Meeting

okay good morning uh the city of port st lucie's special magistrate hearing for wednesday september 9th 2026 is called to order it's uh nine o'clock in the morning my name is keith davis i'm the special magistrate appointed by the city to preside over today's hearing um silence our cell phones and then uh i guess yeah stand uh and invite you to recite the pledge of allegiance I pledge 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. Even Mr. Armstrong. You can go ahead and swear in the city staff who will be testifying on today's agenda items.

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.

Thanks. Let's see. I have previously reviewed and approved minutes for August 5th, August 12th, and August 19th. So on this morning's agenda, do we have any late abatements or postponements to note?

Number 14, case number BT-26-00309, address 1765 Southwest Biltmore is abated. Number 15, case number BT26-00310, address 1971 South West Biltmore is abated. Number 16, case number BT26-00311, address 2301 South West Carey Street is abated. Number 17, case number bt-2600317 address 792 Southwest Grove Avenue is abated. Number 18, case number BT-26-00312, address 2277 Southeast Leonard Road is abated. Number 19, case number BT-26-00277, address 1025 Southeast Port St. Lucie Boulevard is abated. Number 27, case number 26-00265, address 10950 South US Highway 1 is abated. Number 28, case number 26- sorry, BT-26-00259, address 8885 South US Highway 1 is abated. Case number... Item number 32, case number 26-11140, address 421 Southwest Kentwood Road is abated. Number 40, case number 26-12245, address 2897 Southwest Seaside Road is postponed.

All right. With all of those noted, the agenda is approved. It doesn't look like we have too many folks here this morning. So where do you want to go first? Ms. Rojas, let's get you out of here and on with your day.

Good morning.

Good morning.

My name is Evelyn Rojas. I'm with the City of Port San Jose Ling Services Department. These modifications are a request by applicant. They are heard as a matter of city policy and are now mandated by Florida statute. City Council holds these lings and they are considered to be assets of the city. Per city ordinance, the special magistrate has authority to modify these lings. Agenda items 9 through 12 have been agreed upon prior to this hearing and require an order to be signed by the magistrate. This concludes my orders for today.

Thank you. I have the orders and I will sign them as requested.

Thank you, sir.

We will now go to solid waste certification and fines. All right. Number one, Officer Mattu, case number 26-07916, respondent address 1199 Southwest Bayamo Avenue.

So we'll go ahead and just read those in the record. None of the respondents are here for the solid waste cases.

So case number one, 26-07916, 119 Southwest Bay and Mill Avenue. Number two, case number 26-09523, respondent address 2420 Southeast Rock Springs Drive. Number three, case number 26-09475, Respondent address 1094 Southwest Cairo Avenue. Number four, case number 26-9222. Respondent address 408 Southwest Exmoor Avenue. Case number five. Sorry, item number five, case number 26-09466, respondent address 1843 Southeast Mandrake Circle. Number six, case number 26-09982, respondent address 213 Southwest Homeland Road. Number 7, case number 26-09403, respondent address 222 South West Chandler Terrace. Number 8, case number 26-09884, respondent address 4450 South West Hagerplan Street.

All right. Do you need to read anything else into the record on those?

Not for those cases, no.

All right. Then we'll sign the appropriate orders for those. Thank you. Okay. Where to next?

Next, we will go to code violation special requests.

LET'S DO THE BUSINESS TAX VIOLATIONS. NO, THAT'S OKAY. WE'LL HAVE THE BUSINESS TAX OFFICER READ IN HIS SCRIPT FOR VIOLATORS NOT PRESENT.

GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING.

REGARDING THE FOLLOWING CASES ENTERED IN THE PUBLIC RECORD Officer investigated the businesses and found the violations to exist. A reasonable date for compliance was given, but upon reinvestigation, it was confirmed that the compliance was not achieved. A formal notice of hearing was issued for today's hearing, and the respondent had failed to appear. The city requested the cases be found in violation of the respective listed code sections and be given until one week from the hearing date to bring the property into compliance. Should the compliance not be met and the city request that future hearings be scheduled to determine whether to impose a fine.

And let's read into record all of the business tax violation cases starting with number 13.

Number 13, case number BT-022, sorry, BT-26-00240, respondent address 1018 Southwest Bayshore Boulevard. Number 20, case number BT-26-00318, respondent address 3100 Southwest Port St. Lucie Boulevard. Number 21, case number BT-26-00278, respondent address 190 Southwest Port St. Lucie Boulevard. Number 22, case number BT-26-00242, respondent address 2890 Southwest Port St. Lucie Boulevard. Number 23, case number BT-26-00316, respondent address 491 Southwest Port St. Lucie Boulevard. Number 24, case number BT-26-00251, respondent address 518 Southwest Prima Vista Boulevard. Number 25, case number BT-26-00251. 269, respondent address 1337 Southwest Macedo Boulevard, number 26, case number BT26-00256, respondent address 1881 Southeast Tiffany Avenue. Number 29, case number BT-26-00286, respondent address 10331 Southwest Village Center Drive. Number 30, case number 26-00299, respondent address 11250 Southwest Village Parkway.

Okay. Okay. Good on those? All right. Do you want to do the special request or do you want to?

Yeah, we'll go to the special request for the code violations.

Okay. Item number 31, Code Office Abenda, case number 26-13753, respondent address 530 Southwest Astor Road.

Good morning. Good morning. Aaron Beale for Greg Bender. I do have a personal knowledge of this property. This case concerns the property at 530 Southwest Astor Road, Port St. Lucie, Florida. On August 14th, 2026, an inspection was done. Photos taken showing the following violations. Section 4108, subsection B exterior property areas, high grass and weeds over 12 inches tall. The photos depict an accurate representation of the photos at the time, at the property, the time the photos were taken. A notice of violation was issued on August 14th, 2026, and the respondent had until August 19th, 2026 to bring the property into compliance. Compliance was not achieved by such a date, and so a notice of hearing was furnished on August 27th, 2026 by Certified Mail. On August 28th, 2026, proper service was achieved by posting the property with a notice of hearing. The City requested that the respondent be ordered to comply with the cited provisions of the City of Port St. Lucie Code by September 16th, 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, if the respondent fails to comply by 9-16-2026, the city requests the special magistrate authorize the city, pursuant to section 162.08 subsection 5 Florida statute, to 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. The grass in some of the property is about two foot tall. We thought the home was vacant. However, the homeowner did show up earlier to the magistrate. She said she has a problem with her mower. She'll have it cut within the week. So we're asking for the current week time frame. And if it's not cut, we're asking for permission to cut it.

OK. Respondent is not present, but the city has proper notice. Based on the testimony and the evidence, I do find property remains in violation as cited and further find that the violation clearly constitutes threat to the public health, safety, and welfare. I will grant all the relief requested by the city, including September 16th compliance date, and after that, if the property is still in violation, authority to enter the property, abate the violation, and assess the cost. Thank you, sir. Yes, sir.

Number 33, Officer Pico, case number 26-13529, respondent address 1371 Southwest Hibiscus Street.

Good morning, Your Honor.

Good morning.

Code Officer Pico, previously sworn in. This case concerns the property at 1371 Southwest Hibiscus Street, Port St. Lucie, Florida. On August 12, 2026, an inspection was done and photos taken showing the following violations. Section 41.08D, exterior property areas, unmaintained accessory structures. Section 41.09B, swimming pool, spas, and hot tubs, unsecured pool. The photos depict an accurate representation of the property at the time the photos were taken. A notice of violation was issued on August 12, 2026. The respondent had until August 17, 2026 to bring the property into compliance. Compliance was not achieved by such date, and so a notice of hearing was furnished on August 24, 2026 by certified mail. On August 27, 2026, proper service was achieved by posting the property with a notice of hearing. The city requests that the respondent be ordered to comply with the site of provisions of the city port St. Lucy code by September 10th, 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, if the respondent fails to comply, by September 10th, 2026. The city requests the special magistrate authorize the city pursuant to section 162.085 of the Florida statute to enter upon the property to bring the property into compliance and specifically to abate the unsecured pool by securing it with a pool cover, the cost of which will be charged to respond at a later hearing. This is the front of the property and the unsecured pool is going to be on the right-hand side. The fence is not up to its structurally sound and constructed way it's supposed to be. And then there is the screen along the right-hand side that is torn and missing. In the beginning, it didn't even have the gate.

Okay. And there is a pool back there?

Yeah.

Okay. Okay.

And the post ankle.

Okay, respondent is not present, but the city has proper notice based on the testimony and the evidence of fine property remains in violation is cited violation regarding the unsecured pool city code 4109 B. Uh, constitutes threat to the public health, safety and welfare. I will grant all the relief requested by the city, including September 10th compliance date. And after that authority to enter the property, secure the unsecured pool and assess the costs.

Number 34, Officer Pico, case number 26-13644, respondent address 1561 South East Aroso Boulevard.

This case concerns the property at 1561 Southeast Rosa Boulevard, Port St. Lucie, Florida. On August 20, 2026, an inspection was done and photos taken showing the following violations. Section 41.08B, exterior property areas, high grass and weeds over 12 inches. The photos depict an accurate representation of the property at the time the photos were taken. A notice of violation was issued on August 20, 2026. The respondent had until August 26, 2026 to bring the property into compliance. Compliance was not achieved by such date, and so a notice of hearing was furnished on August 21, 2026 by certified mail. On August 27, 2026, proper service was achieved by posting the property with a notice of hearing. The City requests that the respondents be ordered to comply with the cited provisions of the City of Port St. Lucie Code by September 16, 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, if the respondent fails to comply by September 16, 2026, The city requests the special magistrate authorize the city pursuant to section 162.085 of the Florida statute to 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 respond at a later hearing. This is along the left-hand side of the house. You can see all the weeds. The front yard of the property. This is the front where the sidewalk is and then along the right hand side as well. The posting.

All right. Respondent is not present, but the city has proper notice based on the testimony and the evidence property remains in violation is cited that violation constitutes threat to the public health, safety and welfare. Grant all the relief requested by the city, including September 16th compliance date, and after that, authority to enter the property, abate the violation, and assess the costs.

Number 35, Officer Pico, case number 26-13679, respondent address 1162 Southwest Oroso Boulevard.

This case concerns the property at 1162 Southwest Aroso Boulevard, Port St. Lucie, Florida. On August 13, 2026, an inspection was done and photos taken showing the following violations. Section 41.08B, exterior property areas, high grass and weeds over 12 inches. The photos depict an accurate representation of the property at the time the photos were taken. A notice of violation was issued on August 13, 2026. The respondent had until August 18, 2026 to bring the property into compliance. Compliance was not achieved by such date, and so a notice of hearing was furnished on August 24, 2026 by certified mail. On August 26, 2026, proper service was achieved by posting the property with a notice of hearing. The City requests that the respondents be ordered to comply with the cited provisions of the City of Port St. Lucie Code by September 16, 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, if the respondent fails to comply by September 16, 2026, the City requests the Special Magistrate authorize the City pursuant to Section 162.085 of of the Florida statute to 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. This is the posting, the left-hand side, along the right-hand side, and down the side yard as well.

All right. The respondent is not present, but the city has proper notice. Based on the testimony and the evidence, property remains in violation as cited. I find that violation constitutes a threat to the public health, safety, and welfare. I will grant all the relief requested by the city, including September 16th compliance date. And if property remains in violation after that, authority to enter the property, abate the violation, and assess the costs.

Thank you.

All right. We will now move to certification of fines.

I don't think we have anybody in the room. So why don't you go ahead and put into the record how the city got noticed for all the cases where nobody appeared.

I think we're going to do the vacant lots first, correct? Rachel has something to read first. Give us one moment there.

Okay. So. Number 36. Sorry. Four seconds.

No problem.

Regarding the following cases entered into public record, our code compliance officer inspected the properties and found violations to exist. A reasonable date for compliance was subsequently given, but upon re-inspection it was confirmed that compliance was not achieved. A formal notice of hearing was issued for today's hearing and the respondent failed to appear. The city requests that these cases be found in violation of their respective listed code sections and be given until September 25th, 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.

Okay. Case number 36. Officer Huxtable. Case number 26-11200. Respondent address 211 South East Kasbah Drive. Number 37. Case number 26-09. 451, respondent address 914, Southwest Connecticut Terrace. Number 38, case number 26-10240, respondent address 499, Southwest Rider Road. Number 39, case number 26-12244, respondent address 272, Southwest Glen Road. Number 41, case number 26-11742, respondent address 1881 Southwest McKenzie Street. Number 42, case number 26-12547, respondent address 1973 Southeast Easterbrook Street. Number 43, case number 26-13038, zero respondent address two four eight one southwest lafayette street okay

Regarding the following cases entered into public record a violation hearing was held and a date of compliance was issued by the special magistrate Upon reinspection by a code compliance officer It was determined that compliance has not been achieved for the violations of the respected code listed sections of the code formal notice of hearing was issued for today's hearing and the respondent has failed to appear the city requests that the fines be certified and administrative costs be assessed and awarded to the city

Number 44, case number 25-04558, respondent address 1108 Southwest Estahow Lane, sorry, Avenue. Number 45, case number 25-14989, respondent address 1984 Southwest Biltmore Street.

Okay, so I think all we need to do now is just read into the record how the city got notice for all the cases, other than the special requests, which I've already found notice on, where folks did not show up this morning.

A notice of hearing or notice of certification of fine was sent to the violator by certified mail receipt request to the address listed in the tax collector's office for tax notices or the address listed in the county property praises 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 St. Lucie City Hall. Also, a notice of hearing was posted on the property in question, along with an affidavit of posting, which included a copy of the notice posted and the date and place of its posting. If the certification card was not returned to the Neighbourhood 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 records of the City of Port St. Lucie Neighbourhood Services Department.

Okay. With that process, I will find proper notice for each of the cases that a respondent did not appear. I'll sign the appropriate orders based on the information placed in the record. Is there any public to be heard? It does not appear so. Anything else for the good of the order before we adjourn this morning? All right. We've concluded our business. What time is it? I got 9.30. We are adjourned.

Thank you.