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CEB_04-22-97_MinThe Code Enforcement Board of the City of Longwood, Florida met on April 22, 1997 at 7:30 P.M. Present: Haywood Bundy, Chairman Timothy Orrange Dana Addison Lynette Dennis George Valkenburg Staff: Amy Goodblatt. CEB Attorney Richard Taylor, City Attorney Cathy Price, Code Enforcement Officer John Groenendaal, Recording Secretary Absent: Ernest Tolos, Excused Call meeting to order. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 by Chairman Bundy. 2. Roll Call. The secretary called the roll. Chairman Bundy indicated that Mr. Tolos' absence was excused. 3. Approval of the minutes for November 26, 1996. Chairman Bundy asked that the minutes be read by the secretary. The secretary read the minutes until Chairman Bundy asked for motion to except the minutes unless members had correction. Ms. Goodblat offered two corrections. The corrections were with regard to Agenda Item 5.D CEB 96 -05 -006. On the last paragraph "the fine would be retroactive to December 24, 1996" be changed to "the fine would be retroactive to December 23, 1996 ". Secondly, certified copies of the order and the June 10, 1996 order be recorded if the violation continued. Mr. Orrange made a motion to place the corrections into the minutes and Mr. Valkenburg seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. 4. Public Hearings: Ms. Price announced that several of the case on the agenda had applied or had could not be served. The Board asked that cases be read and how they were resolved. Ms. Price indicated the following: A. CEB 97 -04 -013 Complied B. CEB 97 -04 -014 Complied C. CEB 97 -04 -015 Complied Occupational License $390.00 E. CEB 97 -04 -017 Unable to Serve F. CEB 97 -04 -018 Partial Compliance Ms. Price stated that item D. CEB 97 -04 -016 would be heard by the Board. The property owners of the violation are Steven C. & Dawn Williams & Glenn E. Lasley. The defendants had been issued a warning and eventually a notice to appear before the Code Enforcement Board for violation Chapter 22,22 -28, Sections 618.6B(1) and 620.2A of Appendix of the City Code. The defendants brought the violation into conformance with City Codes and the case was dismissed by the Code Enforcement Officer. Ms. Price reported that on April 11, 1997 she had to cite the defendants for the same violations.. Ms. Price described the nature of the violations. The defendants had been storing an inoperable vehicle in the driveway and code requires an inoperable vehicle to be stored in the garage or off site per Chapter 22,22 -28. There was a second violation, storing a jet ski in the driveway. This violates Section 618.6B(1) of Appendix A of the City Code and the third violation was for illegal outdoor storage as outlined in Section 620.2A of Appendix A of the City Code. Ms. Price informed the Board that the property had once again been brought into compliance prior to the Code Enforcement Board Meeting. However, she requested that the Board find them guilty based on the evidence submitted to allow for repeat offender status if the violations should happen again again. Ms. Price asked to enter pictures of the violations in to the record. The pictures were entered and the Board review the pictures. Ms. Goodblatt inquired as to how service was provided. Ms. Price stated the property owner was served by Longwood Police Department on 4/18/97. Ms. Goodblatt inquired as to the status of the vehicle. Chairman Bundy interrupted and asked that the witnesses be sworn in. Mr. Taylor swore in both Ms. Price and Ms. Williams. Ms. Goodblatt inquired how long the jet ski had been stored along side of the house. Ms. Price indicated it had been there for several months. The Board then concluded that the defendant had stored the jet ski for longer than the allowed twenty-four hour period. Mr. Bundy invited Ms. Williams to give any testimony in her defense. She explained that the jet ski is used everyday and felt that it was, therefore, in compliance. She indicated that they would get rid of the car as it had proven to be too much of a problem. She indicated that the debris is from her husband's truck and that he places it back into the truck daily. She submitted a picture of the drive way as it appeared that day. Ms. Goodblatt asked Ms. Price if the property was in compliance as of the day of the meeting and Ms. Price indicated that it was. Ms. Goodblatt asked were the jet ski was parked then. Ms. Williams said it was on the side of the house. The Board discussed whether that location was acceptable. It was discussed and agreed Board that the jet ski can be stored in the side yard if screened. The defendant indicated that she may store the jet ski in the garage. Ms. Goodblatt asked when the inoperable car would be moved. Ms. Williams indicated that she did not know when they would be able to get rid of the car. She stated that they have moved the car to the backyard and placed a tarp over it. The Board closed the hearing and had group discussion. Mr. Orrange said that it was his understanding that keeping the jet ski in the side yard was acceptable.. Mr. Valkenburg differed from that opinion stating that these codes were designed to preserve aesthetics in communities and neighborhoods. He continued that the code works to prevent the condition that the defendant has let occur at their property, based on the picture taken by the Code Enforcement Officer. Mr. Bundy voiced a concern that this problem has occurred in the past and no action by the Board would give a Green light to allow the violations to reoccur. Ms. Goodblatt suggested that the Board could find the defendant guilty of committing the violations. not impose a fine and set repeat status condition if it did reoccur. Ms. Dennis made this motion as stated and the motion carried unanimously. The Board asked if Ms. Williams understood what had occurred and Mr. Taylor briefly explained that a repeat offense can carry up to a five hundred dollar fine for each violation. 5.Old Business: None 6. New Business: Discussion of rules and regulations at request of Ms. Addison Ms. Goodblatt reviewed the rules on absenteeism. Florida Statute states that if a member misses two of three consecutive meetings without approval of the Chairman the member shall be removed. The current CEB rules require three unexcused absences ill succession for removal. For any absences to be excused it must be done by the Chairman. The absences may be excused with bonafide reasons. Ms. Dennis asked if a call to the recording Secretary would be permitted. The Board agreed that all excused absences will be done by the Chairman only. Motion was made to amend Article V, Section 4 to compliance with State Statute by Ms. Dennis. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously. 7. Adjournment: The Code Enforcement Board adjourned at 8:20 P.M..