CEB_11-24-98_MinAOW City of Longwood
Code Enforcement Board
City Commission Chambers
175 W. warren Avenue
Longwood, FL 32750
1VIINUTES OF MEETING
November 24, 1995
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
Meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. by Chairman Bundy
2, ROLL CALL
Members present: Haywood Bundy. Chairman
John Ma ingot
Charles Miles
Ernest Tolos
Cheryl Merin
Members absent: Lynette Dennis - excused absence
John Lomax -- 11 '_
Staff Present: Caryn M. Green, Esquire, Substituting for
Amy E. Goodblatt, CEB Attorney
Richc Taylor, City of Longwood Attorney
Cathy Price, Code Enforcement Officer
Daniel Spak. Code Enforcement Officer
Carol D. Hoben. Recording Secretary
3, APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 22, 1998 MEETING
Unanimous vote to approve minutes of September 22, 1998 meeting.
� io�tt�w�wr. �attCVtn .�rr.YC.�n.tioti�re�R_ �
4. PUBLIC HEARINGS
Chairman Bundy swore in all parties who would give testimony.
A. CEB 98 -11 -32 - Edward Blair Knox, III
Code Enforcement officer John Spak presented the details of the first case. Mr. Knox,
the owner of the property located at 256 E. Bay Avenue, was cited for violations of LDC
Section 24 -23.09 (a-d) and Section 24- 25.13, for having several trailers. one with jetskis,
stored in the front yard and metal cages. a soda machine and various other items. such as
automotive parts, on the property. Initial notification was given on September 4. 1998 and
again on September 11, 1998 by U.S. Mail. Mr. Spak was informed that the notifications
had been sent to the wrong address, and he subsequently sent duplicate notifications to the
owner allowing additional time for him to come into compliance. On several occasions.
Mr. Spak stopped by the property in an attempt to speak with someone about the
violations, but no one ever answered the door. [Five photographs were introduced into
evidence] . Photographs taken today indicate much improvement. except there are still
boatsljetskis in the side yard not screened from view and the soda machine is still in the
front of the property. Mr. Spak requested that the owner be found in violation. He
recommended an administrative fee of $50.00 and a time limit of two weeks to come into
compliance. with a fine of $50.00 per day thereafter.
A discussion by Board members ensued re whether the owner was cooperating and
whether sufficient progress had been made.
Testimony by Tracy Daley, who resides on the property: Debris has been cleaned up and
a fence will be erected to screen the boats, but they will not have the funds to do it until
after the holidays. Ms. Daley stated her belief that the soda machine and the trailers were
not in violation and that they were being singled out in the neighborhood by the CEB.
Mr. Spak stated that there was no problem with allowing the property owners until the end
of January to screen the boats in the side yard. The property owners agreed to remove the
soda machine and to have a fence erected by the end of January.
Chairman Bundy recommended that the owners be given until January 30, 1999 to erect
a fence. The public hearing portion of the case was closed.
Mr. Maingot made a motion to find the Respondents guilty of violating LDC. Section 24-
23.09 (a -d) and Section 24-25.13, that they be allowed 14 days to move the soda machine
from public view. and that they be given until January 30, 1999 to erect a fence as
required by Code to enclose the boats and equipment. An administrative fee of $25.00
will be charged and on January 31, 1999, if the fence is not erected, a fine of $50.00 per
day will be imposed until the property is in compliance. The motion was seconded by
Aoplk 7
C• �OFFI�G�WP` Wx. Yi' aI' �H�7I4Xli [I.Yi1IE�lh��'F�[BFR_5t3
Cheryl Melvin, with the suggestion that the wording be changed to ``come into all areas
of '
compliance with the exception of new fence' and
p P that a fine of $50.00 per day be
imposed if the soda machine is not in compliance after 14 days. Motion carried by
unanimous vote.
B. CEB 98 -11 -33 - James R. Griffin, Lonpvood Automotive
Code Enforcement Officer Cathy Price presented the facts of this case: Several complaints
have been received about numerous inoperable vehicles parked on the lot as well as in
front of the fence, between the fence and the sidewalk, which obstruct the sidewalk. The
storage of inoperable vehicles on the property constitutes a junkyard. The owner of
Longwood Automotive has been given verbal warnings in the past. and letters were sent
to him in July and November, 1998. The property owner is in violation of LDC Section
24- 23.07, LDC Section 24- 71.03(a) and city Code Chapter 12., 12 -1(4). The vehicles that
are not being repaired need to be removed from the property, and vehicles that are to be
repaired need to be moved so there is no obstruction. [Photographs taken in August and
on November 16th and 24th were introduced into evidence.] Although the owner has
moved some of the vehicles. there still remain several unregistered vehicles on the
property. Ms. Price recommended a $50.00 administrative fee and, because of the number
of vehicles in violation, a fine of $50.00 per day if the property is not in compliance by
December 11, 1998.
Testimony by Mr. Griffin: Some of the inoperable vehicles on the property have been
abandoned by their owners. Mr. Griffin stated he did not have the authority to remove
the vehicles without first obtaining the titles from the State of Florida. which takes
between 60 and 90 days. He is working on obtaining the appropriate paperwork so the
cars can be removed.
Attorney Taylor verified that it does take two to three months for the paperwork to be
complete, but that it is a hazard of the business. He suggested that, in the meantime, the
vehicles be stored out of sight.
Mr. Griffin said he would need at least 60 days to get rid of the vehicles and suggested
putting up two gates to hide them, one gate facing the road and one gate facing the
building next door. Mr. Maingot and Ms. Price recommended that the gates be kept
closed during the day, and Mr. Griffin agreed to do that.
Chairman Bundy suggested allowing Mr. Griffin 90 days to remove the vehicles, if it was
acceptable to the City. and then closed the public hearing portion of this case.
Mr. Maingot made a motion to find the Respondent guilty of violating LDC Sections 24-
23.07 and 24- 71.03(a) and that he be given 90 days to come into compliance with the
Apolk .,
C 10MMW % LV61;CDHU19XWIVVrM%*O$EMMA0 -1
violations: that the Respondent be required to install a gate. which shall be kept closed,
on the Marvin Street side of the property: that the administrative fee be waived; and that
a fine of $50.00 per day be imposed if not in compliance after the 90-day period. Mr.
Maingot requested that the Code Enforcement Officer keep in touch with Mr. Griffin and
report to the CEB if lie is encountering difficulties with obtaining the appropriate
paperwork. Motion was seconded by Mr. Miles and carried unanimously.
5, OLD BUSINTESS
Cathy Price advised the CEB that she has been collecting administrative fees for all cases
except the ones that did not specify a date for payment of the fee.
5, NEW BUSINESS
December 22. 1998 meeting: Chairman Bundy suggested skipping the December meeting
and all members were in agreement. The next meeting of the CEB will be in January,
1999.
7. ADJoUR'NTENT
opok
The Code Enforcement Board Meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Carol D. Hoben
Recording Secretary
January 21, 1999
C ► OF'F ICL) WPIVIJV61 !CDNt r 19)RUINUTES190 VEW .A. 93