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CEH-04-24-2025-MINS LONGWOOD CODE ENFORCEMENT HEARING Longwood City Commission Chambers 175 West Warren Avenue Longwood, Florida MINUTES April 24, 2025 9:00 AM Present: Amy Goodblatt, Special Magistrate Brandon Pownall, City Attorney Also Present: Shelly Brana, Code Enforcement Officer Kristin Zack-Bowen, Planner Juliann Rivera, Respondent Addiel Amador, Respondent 1. CALL TO ORDER Special Magistrate Amy Goodblatt called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Approve the minutes from the February 27, 2025 hearing. Special Magistrate Goodblatt approved Minutes from the February 27, 2025 meeting. 3. SPECIAL MAGISTRATE'S EXPLANATION OF PROCEEDINGS Special Magistrate Goodblatt explained the hearing process for the attendees. 4. ROLL CALL OF SCHEDULED CASES Special Magistrate Goodblatt did a roll call of the scheduled cases to determine which Respondents were present. 5. SWEARING IN OF ALL WITNESSES Special Magistrate Goodblatt swore in all witnesses. 6. PUBLIC HEARING A. CE24-00292: GONZALEZ, WILLIAM, 153 Sunset Dr. Violation: LDC, Article X Section 10.1.0 No Permit 4/24/2025/ 1 Shelly Brana, CEO, City of Longwood Code Enforcement Officer, introduced herself and presented a cost recovery document and photos to the Special Magistrate. The Respondent(s) were not present. A Notice of Violation was issued to the property owner via certified mailing on August 23, 2024. Confirmation was received of the Notice of Violation being delivered on August 29, 2024. A Notice of Hearing was issued on April 1, 2025 and duly served on the property owner via certified mail on April 4, 2025. Ms. Brana stated that the property was in violation of LDC, ARTICLE X SECTION 10.1.0 because an impervious surface, in the form of pavers, was installed without the necessary permit. A screen enclosure was also installed without a permit. Permits were applied for, but they expired without being issued. Kristin Zack Bowen, Planner I, testified that pavers were added which exceeded the impervious surface limit. The respondent must ask for a waiver in order to do this. The respondent would need to remove some of the pavers and ask for a 16% waiver. The respondent did not apply for the waiver until April 1, 2025. He needs a letter from a licensed engineer that the impervious surface waiver will not negatively impact his property or adjacent properties. The Special Magistrate made inquiries of the Code Enforcement Officer and the City Planner. The Special Magistrate found that the Respondent has violated LDC, ARTICLE X SECTION 10.1.0. An impervious surface (pavers) was installed and a screen enclosure was added to the front entry at the cited property without first obtaining a permit from the City. Respondents are to pay administrative costs of$112.62 within 30 days after service of the Orders. If the Respondents do not comply within 30 days from the date of service of the Orders the Respondents shall pay a fine of$50 per day for each day the violation continues to exist beyond the date set for compliance. Compliance requires that the respondent obtain a waiter letter from a licensed engineer indicating that the pavers pose no adverse impact if they exceed the impervious surface limit. The respondents must obtain permits for the pavers and the screen enclosure. Comply with any requirements of the permits and pass all necessary inspections. B. CE24-00423: POWELL, NANCY, 316 E. Maine Ave. Violation: LDC, Article X Section 10.1.0 No Permit Case Withdrawn: Complied C. CE24-00427: SHAFA INV LLC, 555 Dog Track Rd. Violation: LDC, Article X Section 10.1.0 No Permit Shelly Brana, CEO, City of Longwood Code Enforcement Officer, introduced herself and presented a cost recovery document and photos to the Special Magistrate. The Respondent(s) were present. A Notice of Violation was issued to the property owner via certified mailing on December 16, 2024. Confirmation was received of the Notice of Violation being delivered on December 20, 2024. 4/24/2025/2 A Notice of Hearing was issued on April 1, 2025 and duly served on the property owner via certified mail on April 3, 2025. Ms. Brana stated that the property was in violation of LDC, ARTICLE X SECTION 10.1.0 because interior alterations were made to the cited property without a valid permit. The permit was applied for, but the process was never finished. The tenant, Addiel Amador, communicated with the city verbally and by email and was told that a tenant must submit a permit application by a state licensed contractor for the alterations, and the plans must be delivered and signed/sealed by a licensed architect or engineer. The permit application was not signed by a license holder or with a notarized Power of Attorney. The respondent tenant gave the following testimony. Addiel Amador, a tenant at the property, owns a lawn business. The walls that were taken down were not structural. Antonio Rodriguez testified that he is a licensed general contractor. He asked for a demolition permit, but he needs a building permit. The signed and sealed plans have now been submitted. The walls taken down were not structural. He is waiting for his electrician to be qualified through the city. He needs only fifteen days to come into compliance. The Special Magistrate made inquiries of the Code Enforcement Officer, Respondent Tenant, and Licensed General Contractor. The Special Magistrate found that the Respondent has violated LDC, ARTICLE X SECTION 10.1.0. Alterations were made to the cited property without first obtaining the necessary permits. Respondents are to pay administrative costs of$72.75 within 30 days after service of the Orders. If the Respondents do not comply within 15 days from the date of service of the Orders by obtaining the required permits and by passing all required inspections, the Respondents shall pay a fine of $50 per day for each day the violation continues to exist beyond the date set for compliance. 7. REPORTS-CASE UPDATES. None. 8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS. None. 9. OLD BUSINESS A. CE24-00314, CE24-00315, CE2400316: RIVERA, JULIANN, 301 S Oleander St. Order to Impose Lien The Special Magistrate heard testimony from the Code Enforcement Officer and the Respondent. The Special Magistrate after hearing from both parties finds that: the Respondent owes an administrative fine of$150; The Respondent owes a daily fine of$2,600, which ran from December 10, 2024 to January 31, 2025. The Special Magistrate Ordered and adjudged that the Respondent's daily fine is reduced to $1,000 plus the $150 administrative fine if and only if the respondent pays the administrative fine of$150 on April 24, 2025 and the Respondent pays $1,000 to the City of Longwood on or before October 1, 4/24/2025/3 2025. If the Respondent fails to timely pay all of the money owed the original amount of the daily fine will be reinstated in the amount of $2,600 plus the administrative fine as set forth and the Order to Impose lien will be signed and recorded. 10. NEW BUSINESS. None. 11. ADJOURN Special Magistrate Goodblatt adj rned the meeting at 9:49 a.m. arki9.:0 : 0/, Amy Goodblatt, Special Magistrate Shelly C. Br , Code Compliance O ficer 4/24/2025/4