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CEH-03-28-2024-MINS CODE ENFORCEMENT HEARING Longwood City Commission Chambers 175 West Warren Avenue Longwood, Florida MINUTES March 28, 2024 9:00 A.M. Present: Amy Goodblatt, Special Magistrate Brandon Pownall, City Attorney Also Present: Shelly Brana, Code Enforcement Officer Phil Kersey, CBO, Building Official Bassam Mnayarji Dounia Development Inc, Respondent David Russo &Jason Bellows, Respondent(s) Hasham Malik 9783 Enterprises, Respondent 1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER: Special Magistrate Amy Goodblatt called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. 2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE JANUARY 25, 2024 HEARING: Special Magistrate Goodblatt approved Minutes from the January 25, 2024 meeting. 3. SPECIAL MAGISTRATE GOODBLATT'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 HEARINGS: CEH 3-28-2024/1 A. CE23-00014 LDC, ARTICLE X SECTION 10.1.0 No Permit Dounia Development Inc. 986 W SR 434 Longwood FL 32750 Shelly Brana, CEO, City of Longwood Code Enforcement Officer, introduced herself and presented a cost recovery document and photographs to the Special Magistrate and Respondent. The Respondent was present. Ms. Brana stated that the property was in violation of LDC, ARTICLE X SECTION 10.1.0 No Permit. Interior alterations were made to the property in the form of construction of walls and other alterations without first securing the necessary permits. A Stop Work Order was issued on January 20, 2023. The City reinspected the property on 10 occasions. Initial permits were applied for, but the process was never completed. In October 2023, this case was withdrawn so that the City could work with the Respondent to try to resolve the outstanding permit issues. The permit issues were not resolved. Phil Kersey, the Building Official, testified that there was initial compliance but the work was never completed. A Notice of Violation was issued on 7/5/23 and mailed to the property owner via certified mailing. The Notice of Violation was received by the property owner on 7/10/23. A Notice of Hearing was issued on 2/16/24 and mailed to the property owner via certified mail. Confirmation was received of the Notice of Hearing being delivered on 2/23/24. The Respondents Property Owners gave the following testimony: Bassam Mnayarji, testified that there is a lease for a Bistro on the property. There have been problems with contractors they hired not completing their work. It has been 2.5 years of difficulty. He is on his third Architect. They believe some permits have been applied for and will timely comply with the City's Orders. The Special Magistrate made inquiries of the Code Enforcement Officer and the Respondent. The Special Magistrate found that interior alterations were made to the property without the necessary permits after a Stop Work Order was issued and a Notice of Violation was issued on the Respondent. The Respondent has violated LDC, ARTICLE X SECTION 10.1.0 No Permit. If the Respondent does not comply within 30 days from the date of service of the Final Orders by securing all required permits and by completing and passing all inspection requirements of the City CEH 3-28-2024/2 within the time requirements of the Building Code, the Respondent shall pay a fine of$200 per day for each day the violation continues to exist beyond the date set for compliance. The Respondent is to pay an administrative cost of $361.06 within 30 days of service of the Final orders. B. CE24-00052 CC CHAPTER 18, SECTION 18-2 Hours of Operation (Repeat violation) 140 North LLC & RDP 19 LLC 189 S. Ronald Reagan Blvd. Longwood FL 32750 Shelly Brana, CEO, City of Longwood Code Enforcement Officer, introduced herself and presented a cost recovery document and date and time stamped photos to the Special Magistrate and the Respondent(s). The Respondent(s) were present. Ms. Brana stated that the property was in violation of CC, Chapter 18, Section 18- 2 Hours of Operation (as repeat offenders). Ms. Brana gave the following testimony: The Respondents were previously found in violation of this same Code Section in an Order dated January 29, 2024. On Wednesday February 21, 2024, construction work was undertaken at the cited property after 6:00pm. The Respondents Property Owners gave the following testimony: Jason Bellows represented RDP 19 LLC. Ownership is aware of the problem and that this is a second violation. It will not happen again. Respondents admitted they received the January 29, 2024 Final Order. A Notice of Hearing was issued on 2/22/24 and mailed to the property owner via certified mail. Confirmation was received of the Notice of Hearing being delivered on 3/8/24. Special Magistrate made inquiries of Ms. Brana and of the Respondent Property Owner's representative. The Special Magistrate found that the Respondent have violated CC, Chapter 18, Section 18-2 Hours of Operation (as repeat offenders). Service was properly made. The Respondent were found guilty in January 2024 of violating this same Code Section. Construction work was undertaken at the cited property after 6:00pm on Wednesday, February 21, 2024. Respondents admitted the violation. The Respondents are to pay administrative costs of $272.59 within 30 days of service of the Final Orders. Respondents shall pay a fine of$250 within 30 days of receipt of the Final Orders for the violation and $250 for each future violation. CEH 3-28-2024/3 C. CE23-00158 LDC, ARTICLE X SECTION 10.1.0 No Permit Millennium Inv Holdings Corp IV 1490 S US Hwy 17-92 Longwood FL 32750 Case withdrawn. D. CE23-00181 LDC, ARTICLE X SECTION 10.1.0 No Permit 9783 Enterprises LLC 154 Shadow Trail Longwood FL 32750 Shelly Brana, CEO, City of Longwood Code Enforcement Officer, introduced herself and presented a cost recovery document and photographs to the Special Magistrate and Respondent. The Respondent was present. Ms. Brana stated that the property was in violation of LDC, ARTICLE X SECTION 10.1.0 No Permit. Ms. Brana gave the following testimony: Unpermitted Development Activity was undertaken at the cited property after a Stop Work Order was issued on August 23, 2024 and a Notice of Violation was served on the Respondent. The City checked multiple times and permits were not pulled. Two permits were applied for but were returned to the applicant with deficiencies. The entire interior was demolished without a permit. The Respondent Property Owner gave the following testimony: Hasham Malik, the Property Owner asked what compliance contemplates. He agrees he should have had a permit. He bought the property "gutted." His contractor told him the property was termite infested. This is a small job, and it is difficult to get a licensed contractor to complete a small job. He now has an HVAC and an electrician on board. He needs 15 days to submit the permits. A Notice of Violation was issued on 8/24/23 and mailed to the property owner via certified mailing. The Notice of Violation was received by the property owner on 8/28/23. A Notice of Hearing was issued on 2/6/24 and mailed to the property owner via certified mail. Confirmation was received of the Notice of Hearing being delivered on 2/9/24. Special Magistrate made inquiries of Ms. Brana and of the Respondent Property Owner's representative. CEH 3-28-2024/4 The Special Magistrate found that unpermitted development activity, in the form of construction work and demolition, was undertaken at the cited property after issuance of a Stop Work Order and a Notice of Violation. The Respondent has violated LDC, ARTICLE X SECTION 10.1.0 No Permit. The Respondent is to pay administrative costs of $311.96 within 30 days of service of the Final Orders. If the Respondent does not comply within 15 days from the date of service of the Final Orders by securing the necessary permits and by passing all required inspections in the timeframe required by the Florida Building Code, the Respondent 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 None. 10. NEW BUSINESS None. 11. ADJOURNMENT Special Magistrate Goodblatt adjourned the meeting at 9:46 a.m. Amy Goodblatt, cial Magistrate Shelly C. Bra ode Compliance Officer CEH 3-28-2024/5