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CEH-01-23-2025-MINS CODE ENFORCEMENT HEARING Longwood City Commission Chambers 175 West Warren Avenue Longwood, Florida MINUTES January 23, 2025 9:00 A.M. Present: Amy Goodblatt, Special Magistrate Brandon Pownall, City Attorney Also Present: Shelly Brana, Code Enforcement Officer Rodney Romeo, Respondent Oscar Mena, 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 OCTOBER 24, 2024 HEARING: Special Magistrate Goodblatt approved Minutes from the October 24, 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: A. CE23-00075 LDC, Article X Section 10.1.0 CEH 01-23-2025/1 No Permit ROMEO, RODNEY/FRANCES/REBECCA & DAVIS, CHRISTINE 621 E. Wildmere Ave. Longwood FL 32750 Shelly Brana,CEO,City of Longwood Code Enforcement Officer, introduced herself and presented a cost recovery document to the Special Magistrate and Respondent(s). The Respondent(s) were present. A Notice of Violation was issued to the property owner via certified mailing. Confirmation was received of the Notice of Violation being delivered on May 16, 2023. A Notice of Hearing was issued and duly served on the property owner via certified mail on December 13, 2024. Ms. Brana stated that the property was in violation of LDC, ARTICLE X SECTION 10.1.0 because development activity was completed without a permit. Development activity was undertaken at the cited property by constructing a boat ramp and seawall without first obtaining the necessary permit. A Stop Work Order was issued May 2023. On January 22, 2025 the City was told the permit application process had been started. The Respondent Property Owner, Rodney Romeo, testified that originally, they were just repairing the seawall. Their first contractor told them they didn't need a permit for the repairs only. They could not find the materials to do the repair, so they substituted for other costly material. They only added stone to the boat ramp. 98% of the work was done before the Stop Work Order was issued. It took over a year to communicate with DEP. He had six to seven months of personal issues. After receiving the Notice of this Hearing, he reached out to DEP and he received the necessary DEP letter. He hired a contractor after receiving the Notice of this hearing. The repairs will take two to three weeks. The Special Magistrate made inquiries of the Code Enforcement Officer and the Respondent. The Special Magistrate found that the Respondent has violated LDC, ARTICLE X SECTION 10.1.0. Development activity was undertaken at the cited property without first obtaining the necessary permits. The Development Activity undertaken was the construction of a boat ramp and sea wall. Compliance requires that the following be done: Obtain the permits for the sea wall and boat ramp and pass all required inspections. CEH 01-23-2025/2 Respondents are to pay administrative costs of $244.86 within 30 days after service of the Orders. If the Respondents do not comply within six weeks from the date of service of the Orders by obtaining the required permits and by passing all required inspections within 30 days thereafter, the Respondents shall pay a fine of $50 per day for each day the violation continues to exist beyond the date set for compliance. B. CE24-00381 LDC, Article X Section 10.1.0 No Permit MILLER, DAVID 1402 Cardinal St. Longwood FL 32750 Case Withdrawn C. CE24-00382 LDC, ARTICLE X SECTION 10.1.0 No Permit MENA, OSCAR 714 West Ct. 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(s). The Respondent(s) were present. A Notice of Violation was issued to the property owner via certified mailing. Confirmation was received of the Notice of Violation being delivered on October 23, 2024. A Notice of Hearing was issued and duly served on the property owner via certified mail on December 7, 2024. Ms. Brana stated that the property was in violation of LDC, ARTICLE X SECTION 10.1.0. The cited residential property was converted from a 3-bedroom 2 bathroom dwelling to a 6-bedroom 3-bathroom property. One of the bedrooms/bathrooms was created by closing in the garage door. No permits were obtained to do this development activity. The initial report was made by a Tenant of the property. The owner tried to obtain a permit without a contractor. The permit was rejected because the owner may not obtain an owner permit if he does not reside there. A contractor applied for a permit, but numerous deficiencies existed which were never corrected, and the permit was not issued. CEH 01-23-2025/3 The Respondent Property Owner, Oscar Mena via his son as his interpreter, gave the following testimony: He is learning about the process to obtain permits. He lives at this property and he allows friends and family to live there. The house had 2-bathrooms. He altered the house. He asked for 60 days to re-submit the permit. He testified he understood all that the Magistrate ordered and explained. The Special Magistrate made inquiries of the Code Enforcement Officer and the Respondent. The Special Magistrate found that the Respondent has violated LDC, ARTICLE X SECTON 10.1.0 because development activity took place at the cited residence without first obtaining the necessary permits. The development activity was re- configuring a house by adding bedrooms and bathrooms without a permit. Compliance requires the following to be done: Hire a licensed contractor. Obtain signed and sealed plans to be approved by the City. Submit a permit application and complete all work, including any required inspections or return the property to its original condition. Respondents are to pay administrative costs of$125. This cost is to be paid within 30 days of service of the Final Orders. If the Respondent does not comply within 30 days from the date of service of the Final Orders by submitting signed/sealed plans, obtaining the necessary permits and by completing all work and by passing all required inspections within 45 days thereafter,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 9:45 a.m. Amy Goodblatt, Special Magistrate Shelly C. Br , Co e Compliance Officer CEH 01-23-2025/4