13-1675 - NE 10th AvenuePolice Department
"A CFA Accredited Law Enforcement Agency"
100 E. Boynton Beach Boulevard
Boynton Beach, Florida 33425-0310
Phone: (561) 742-6100
Jeffrey Katz
Chief of Police
Code Compliance Division
Phone: (561) 742-6120
FAX: (561) 742-6838
LIEN REDUCTION TRANSMITTAL MEMORANDUM
Date: January 22, 2015
To: City Commission
From: Code Compliance Division
RE: Code Compliance Case #11-2952
In accordance with Ordinance number 001-07, the enclosed "Final Lien Modification
Order" is hereby forwarded to you for review. As required by Ordinance number 001 -07,
the following procedures are to be followed:
n A City Commissioner has seven (7) days from the rendition of the Order to
request the City Manager's Office to place the case on a City Commission
Agenda for review. (Space provided below for transmittal purposes)
o Said review must occur within thirty (30) days of the request for review.
Lj Upon such review, the City Commission may take one of the following actions:
a. Uphold the Code Compliance Board's recommendation in full.
b. Over -rule the Board's decision in full,
c. Modify the Board's Final Order,
Li The City Commission shall direct staff to take action consistent with their review
of the "Lien Modification Order".
1, 1 hereby request the City Manager's
Office to place the above referenced case on the next available City Commission
Agenda for review.
Signed on this date, the day of 120
Meeting Minutes
Code Compliance Special Magistrate Hearings
Boynton Beach, Florida November 19, 2014
Ms, Springer did not remember when Mr. Reale contacted her. He thought he was in
compliance because he applied for the Business Tax Receipt, but he had not called for
the inspection. When an inspection occurred, the Business Tax Receipt was issued.
She was contacted again for a lien reduction' inspection and there were some minor
violations, which Ms. Springer reviewed, and a water bill of $431.03 to be paid, When
the property was re -inspected October 16, 2014, it was eligible for lien reduction.
Heather Grimes, for Property Manager for Mr. Reale, explained she had attended the
hearing in June and she was advised they had 90 days to comply, Mr. Reale was in the
process of selling the property, which sold on October 1, 2014. The new owner made
all the repairs. Prior to that, she called several times for an inspection. Each time there
were issues, and it took 85 days to address them. She did not know they were being
charged for each inspection.
Ms. Springer apprised Ms. Grimes they were not charged for the Business Tax Receipt
inspection. There were four inspections involved with the entire case,
Decision
Given the testimony by the City and the Respondent and staff indicates the property is
eligible, Ms. Ellis reduced the lien from $4,250 to $800 plus $634.12.
Case No. 11-2952 American Asset Holdings LLC 1660 Renaissance
Commons Blvd. 2124
Ms. Springer explained a Notice of Violation for this property was sent on October 24,
2011, for permits for interior renovations and demolition. The case was heard on
January 18, 2012, and no one appeared. The compliance date and fine set was January
28, 2012, or a fine of $250 a day would be imposed thereafter. The violations were
corrected on June 12, 2014, accruing a fine of $216,250 plus administrative costs.
The case initiated from a red tag from the Building Department. Ms. Springer was
contacted in March 2014 and was advised the matter pertained to Chinese drywall and
there was litigation ongoing between Renaissance Commons and the unit owner, A
Stop Work Order was issued by the Building Department so they had to wait for
litigation to conclude before they could do anything. There were also outstanding
property taxes,
Wayne Schwartz, Counsel for Jason Banks, the property owner, explained the
property was in the name of a corporation because his accountant advised him to put it
in the name of a company when he was divorcing. Mr. Banks obtained the property in
2011 and then learned the unit had the toxic Chinese drywall. He made arrangements
with Scott Design and Construction to do the interior demolition and remove the drywall.
The complex has about 300 units. All of the members in this complex were part of a
class action suit in 2009 against manufacturers of the drywall. There was companion
11
Meeting Minutes
Code Compliance Special Magistrate Hearings
Boynton each, Florida November 19, 2014
federal court litigation which was consolidated. Scott Design and Construction applied
for and pulled a permit in the spring of 2011 to do the demolition work to comply with the
Red Tag.
The HOA President, Mr. Comparato, advised Mr. Banks the property was involved in
litigation, and they would reach a settlement and then make repairs. Mr. Banks waited
throughout 2011, but could not live in the unit and was displaced. He also learned the
fumes were destroying the plumbing and electrical conduits behind the walls, and Mr.
Comparato refused to do any remediation because his goal was to have a global
settlement in which to make the repairs, Mr. Banks only wanted to remove the drywall
by himself to avoid the matter turning into a major problem.
On September 29, Mr. Banks hired two people to permanently remove the drywall, but
the HOA Manager contacted Mr. Comparato. Mr. Banks advised Mr. Comparato he
could no longer wait and he would remove the drywall. The next day Mr. Banks got a
letter and Cease and Desist Order from HOA counsel barring him to do work in the unit
because the HOA was responsible for the drywall. They threatened litigation and they
would get an injunction, so Mr. Banks hired Mr. Schwartz as Counsel,
Attorney Schwartz tried for five months to negotiate with HOA Counsel to come up with
a successful plan to remediate the unit, including just removing the drywall with a
general contractor who would pull permits. In one of the cases being litigated, they
issued a protocol scope of work to satisfy removal of the toxic drywall, which they
offered to follow, but were stonewalled. This culminated in a memo to all unit owners
from Mr. Comparator that the HOA would not allow any remediation and if done, it
would have to be completely stripped and remediated a second time. The federal case
was not settled until late 2013. As to the red tag, Mr. Banks did not appreciate he had
to pull a permit to correct a red tag and then withdraw the permit.
Ms. Ellis inquired why no one appeared for the hearing on January 18 1h . Attorney
Schwarz explained friends of Mr. Banks offered him a place to stay in Costa Rica and
there was a communication gap with the mail. He did not have knowledge of the
hearing.
The HOA changed their position when they were notified of their settlement. From the
$24 million dollar settlement Mr. Comparato received, they retained Moss Construction,
The following June, they got to Mr. Banks' unit, Moss Construction pulled all of the
permits to strip and remediate. There was no cash payment to individual unit owners,
only the benefit of having the units remediated.
To the extent of any lions imposed, there was no reimbursement for out-of-pocket
expenses to unit owners. In terms of compliance, Moss Construction pulled permits,
completed the work and a certificate of occupancy and environmental certification was
issued. He requested the fine be reduced to administrative costs only.
W
Meeting Minutes
Code Compliance SpeGial Magistrate Hearings
Boynton Beach, Florida November 19, 2014
Ms, Ellis reduced the lien to $1,000 plus the $634.12 in administrative costs,
The Minutes Specialist administered an oath to Respondents who arrived after the
meeting commenced,
Case No. 14-2112 Juan B. Medina
Property Address: 70 NE 28th Court
Violation(s): CO CHI 5 SEC 15-120(D) Inc.
CO CH 10 SEC 10-5603)
Install four -inch house numbers on
building to be visible from the street.
Mow, trim and weed yard, and remove
trash and debris,
Officer Roy advised the case arose from a citizen complaint. An initial inspection on
September 15, 2014, revealed the above captioned violations. Written notice was sent
September 15, 2014, giving 10 days to correct them. Certified mail was sent on
October 13, 2014, and notice was posted at the premises and at City Hall on October 5,
2014. Regular mail was sent October 15, 2014. The property was last inspected on
November 17, 2014, and the only violation that remained was installation of the house
numbers. Staff recommended 10 days be given to correct the violations and a fine of
$100 a day thereafter.
Juan Medina advised he called the City after he mowed and addressed the issues.
Ms. Ellis noted he still had to install four -inch house numbers,
Ms. Ellis gave seven days to install the house numbers, by November 16, 2014, If they
were not installed by then, a fine of $100 a day would be imposed thereafter.
Case No. 14.2242 lglad A. Naurelus
Property Address: 216 SW 5th Avenue
Violation(s): CO CH13 SEC 13-16
Apply for and pass Business Tax
Receipt inspection for rental property,
Officer Shickles advised the case was a City department referral. The initial inspection
on September 25, 2014, revealed the above noted violation. Written notice was sent
giving 10 days to correct it. Notice was obtained by substitute service on Perlandi
Gerome. Mr, Naurelus claims homestead at another address, and Officer Shickles
advised Mr. Naurelus indicated he was not renting the property. The premises were last
13
CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH
Petitioner,
vs.
AMERICAN ASSET HOLDINGS LLC
Respondent(s).
CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA
CASE NO, 11 -2952
LIEN MODIFICATION ORDER
THIS CAUSE came before the City of Boynton Beach Code Compliance Magistrate on the Respondent's
application for lien reduction on November 19 2014, pursuant to Chapter Two, Article Five oCffie City Code of Ordinances.
The Magistrate having considered the application, all the facts regarding the specific code or codes the appealing party was in
violation of, the date of the original Magistrate hearing, the date the affidavit of` compliance was issued, the Current lien
amount and all Pertinent information relating to the specific case and being otherwise duly advised in the premises, it is
hel°eUpon,
ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that:
L This Magistrate has subject matterjUrisdiction of this cause and jurisdiction over the Respondent.
2, The Respondent has met all the lien reduction procedures established by the City Code of Ordinances.
3. The lien imposed by the Magistrate on January 18, 2012 an the Property located at 1660 Renaissance
Commons Blvd, #? Boynton Beach, Florida, with the legal description of:
VILLA LAGO CONDOMINIUM UNIT 2124, according to the plat thereof as recorded in Plat Book 43 Page 139, of the
Public Records of Palm Beach Courity, Florida,
PCN: 08-43-45-17-18-000-2124 is REDUCED TO $1,634.12.
The City shall prepare a release and satisfaction consistent with this Order.
The release and satisfaction shall be recorded in the public records of Palm Beach County at the Respondent's
expense.
6. This Order is not final until the time period for appeal under the Code has elapsed and if appealed is properly
disposed by the City Cornmissioii.
7. In the event that the property owner does not comply with the Magistrate's order, as approved or modified by
the City Commission, within ninety (90) days of` Commission's action, the Lien Reduction Order shall be of no further force
or effect, and the original lien shall remain on the property. No extensions of the ninety (90) day period shall be permitted,
and no further action by the Code Compliance Magistrate or the City Commission shall be permitted regarding lien
reduction.
DONE AND ORDERED after hearing at City of Boynton Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida this day of
ATTEST:
FY CLERK -
'01
copies furnished-.
Honorable Mayor and the City Commission
City attorney
City Clerk
Respondent
Carol D. Ellis
CODE COMPLIANCE MAGISTRATE
FILEE)
D
I EC 19 2014
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE