CITY OF CAPE CANAVERAL

CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD

MEETING MINUTES

MARCH 20, 2008

7:00 PM

 

A Regular Meeting of the Code Enforcement Board of the City of Cape Canaveral, Florida was held on March 20, 2008, in the City Hall Annex, 111 Polk Avenue, Cape Canaveral, Florida.

 

Chairperson Mary Russell called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.  The Board Secretary called the roll.

 

            MEMBERS PRESENT

 

                        Mary Russell                                       Chairperson

                        Raymond Viens                                  Vice-Chairperson

Charles Biederman

                        James Hale

                        Karen Hartley

                        Lynn Mars                                           2nd Alternate

                       

            MEMBERS ABSENT

 

                        Walter Godfrey

Edward Ciecirski

 

            OTHERS PRESENT

 

            Joy Lombardi                                      Board Secretary

                        Bob Hoog                                            Mayor Pro Tem

                        Kate Latorre                                        Assistant City Attorney

 

The Board members established that the next meeting would be held on April 17, 2008.

 

Assistant City Attorney Latorre swore in all persons giving testimony.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

1.         Approval of Meeting Minutes: February 21, 2008.

 

Motion by Mr. Biederman, seconded by Mr. Viens, to approve the meeting minutes of February 21, 2008, as written.  Vote on the motion carried unanimously.

 


Code Enforcement Board

Meeting Minutes

March 20, 2008

Page 2

 

 

COMPLIANCE HEARINGS:

 

1.                  Case No. 07-00158 - Violation of Section 105.1, Required; and Section 109.1 General, of the Florida Building Code, as adopted by Section 82-31, of the City of Cape Canaveral Code of Ordinances, (118 Washington Ave.) – Russell T. Rose, Property Owner.

 

Code Enforcement Officer, Duree Alexander requested that the Case be withdrawn from the agenda due to the fact that proper notification had not been received.

 

2.         Case No. 08-00005 – Violation of Section 70-71, Engaging in Business Without Paying Tax or Making Reports; Section 70-69, Receipt Required; Section 70-75, Penalty for Failure to Obtain or Renew Receipt; Section 30-27 Alarm Permit Required; and Section 70-68 Violation; Penalty, of the City of Cape Canaveral Code of Ordinances, (8803 N. Atlantic Ave.) - Jeffrey R. Sauer, R.A.

 

Code Enforcement Officer, Duree Alexander testified that this Case is in compliance.

 

PUBLIC HEARINGS:

 

1.         Case No. 07-159 - Violation of Section 105.1, Required; and Section 109.1 General, of the Florida Building Code, as adopted by Section 82-31, of the City of Cape Canaveral Code of Ordinances, (8600 Ridgewood Ave. Unit 3306) – William M. Strange & Joanne M. Sweeney, Property Owners.

 

Code Enforcement Officer, Duree Alexander provided an overview of the Case history and presented exhibits for the Board’s review.  Officer Alexander testified that the violation is for work without obtaining the required permit and inspections.

 

Officer Alexander respectfully requested that the Board find the respondent in violation of Section 105.1, Required; and Section 109.1 General, of the Florida Building Code, as adopted by Section 82-31, of the City Code and be given until April 17, 2008 to come into compliance or be fined one hundred dollars ($100.00) for the first day and seventy-five dollars ($75.00) everyday thereafter retroactively beginning on March 20, 2008.

 

Motion by Mr. Viens, seconded by Mr. Hale, to accept staff’s recommendation and find the respondent in violation and be given until April 17, 2008 to come into compliance or be fined one hundred dollars ($100.00) for the first day and seventy-five dollars ($75.00) everyday thereafter retroactively beginning on March 20, 2008.  Vote on the motion carried unanimously.


 

Code Enforcement Board

Meeting Minutes

March 20, 2008

Page 3

 

 

2.         Case No. 07-00178 – Violation of Section 04-2007, Resort Dwellings; Nonconforming Use Status; Rental Restrictions on Dwellings, of the Cape Canaveral Code of Ordinances, (807 Mystic Dr.) James D. Courson, Property Owner.

 

Code Enforcement Officer, Duree Alexander provided an overview of the Case history and presented exhibits for the Board’s review.  Officer Alexander testified that the violation is for the rental of a resort condominium without the Certificate of Non-Conforming Status.  Officer Alexander stated that the respondent has advertised the short-term rental on two specific occasions.

 

Officer Alexander respectfully requested that the Board find the respondent in violation of Section 110-486, Resort Dwellings; Nonconforming Use Status; and Section 110-487, Rental Restrictions, of the City Code and be given until April 17, 2008 to come into compliance or be fined two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00) per day until found in compliance.  Discussion followed.

 

Motion by Mr. Viens, seconded by Mr. Hale, to accept staff’s recommendation and find the respondent in violation and be given until April 17, 2008 to come into compliance or be fined two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00) per day until found in compliance.  Vote on the motion carried unanimously.

 

3.         Case No. 08-00007 - Violation of Section 34-181, Storing, Parking, or Leaving on Private Property; Section 34-182, Notice to Abate, of the City of Cape Canaveral Code of Ordinances, (108 Tyler Ave.) – Maryann C. Gattuso & Russell Kaup, Property Owners.

 

Code Enforcement Officer, Duree Alexander provided an overview of the Case history and presented exhibits for the Board’s review.  Officer Alexander testified that the violation is for an untagged, inoperable vehicle.  Officer Alexander stated that she was not able to put a 72-hour tow notice on the vehicle because there was a large dog tied to it.

 

Officer Alexander respectfully requested that the Board find the respondent in violation of Section 34-181, Storing, Parking, or Leaving on Private Property; Section 34-182, Notice to Abate, of the City Code and be given 5 days to come into compliance or be fined two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00) for the first day and one hundred dollars ($100.00) everyday thereafter until found in compliance.  Discussion followed.

 

Motion by Ms. Hartley, seconded by Mr. Viens, to accept staff’s recommendation and find the respondent in violation and be given 5 days to come into compliance or be fined two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00) for the first day and one hundred dollars ($100.00) everyday thereafter until found in compliance.  Vote on the motion carried unanimously.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Code Enforcement Board

Meeting Minutes

March 20, 2008

Page 4

 

4.         Case No. 07-00226 – Violation of Section 102, Tree Protection; and Section 102-39, Permits, of the City of Cape Canaveral Code of Ordinances, (Vacant Lot on Surf Dr.) – Norman & Marie Boucher, Property Owner.

 

Code Enforcement Officer, Duree Alexander provided an overview of the Case history and presented exhibits for the Board’s review.  Officer Alexander testified that the violation is for the removal of trees without a permit.  Officer Alexander stated that, according to the City Arborist’s report, there were 12 trees removed with a total diameter inch of 68.  Ms. Alexander further stated that the fines were calculated according to Section 102-38(b)(1), failure to obtain a permit with a fine of $250.00 per tree, plus $250,00 per 100 square feet cleared; and Section 102-38(b)(2), removal of a tree without a permit with a fine of $100.00 per diameter inch, for a total penalty of $16,410.00.

 

Norman Boucher, property owner, testified that the clearing of his lot came about without any planning on his part.  He stated that while his neighbor was clearing, he asked Mr. Boucher if he wanted his lot cleared also.  Mr. Boucher explained that he made the decision in haste based on the thought that the pepper trees were encroaching on the neighbor to the south and FPL could not get to their transformer, so he believed this was a good thing to do.  Mr. Boucher said that if he had planned better, he would have inquired further as to what was required by the City.  Mr. Boucher further explained that the trees in question were not recommended for planting according to the experts and he apologized to the Board and to City staff and stated that he cleared the lot without thinking, it was not with malicious intent, and he believes that the appearance of the lot has improved.

 

Officer Alexander respectfully requested that the Board find the respondent in violation of Section 102-39, Permits, of the City Code and be required to pay the penalty in the amount of sixteen thousand four hundred and ten dollars ($16,410.00) as required by Section 102-38(b)(1) and Section 102-38(b)(2). 

 

City Attorney, Kate Latorre, explained to the Board that, if they find the respondent in violation, the fine would be calculated based on the penalty provisions of the City Code.  Attorney Latorre stated that the Code Section 102-38(b) reads, “one or more of the following civil fines shall apply”; and further advised that the Board could select either Section 102-38(b)(1) or Section 102-38(b)(2) or both.  Discussion followed.

 

Motion by Ms. Hartley, seconded by Mr. Hale, to find the respondent in violation and be fined in accordance with Section 102-38-(b)(2); in the amount of six thousand eight hundred dollars ($6,800.00).  Vote on the motion carried unanimously.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

 

There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 8:27 P.M. 

 

Approved on this _____day of_______________________________, 2008.

 

                                                                        _______________________________

                                                                        Mary Russell, Chairperson

________________________________

Joy Lombardi, Board Secretary