[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:03]
LET'S CALL TO ORDER THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE MEETING OF AUGUST 21ST, 2024.
THE GENERAL PROCEDURE IS, IS THAT FOR WHEN YOUR CASE IS ANNOUNCED, TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM AND IDENTIFY YOURSELF AND THE ADDRESS, YOUR ADDRESS AND THE ADDRESS OF THE PROPERTY, AND YOU, AS THE APPLICANT, ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT YOUR CASE AS TO WHY THE FINE SHOULD BE REDUCED.
THE CITY WILL THEN RESPOND AND THEN YOU WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND AFTER THAT.
AND THAT'S THE GENERAL PROCEDURE.
[SWEARING IN]
AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE CLERK TO HAVE WITNESSES THAT ARE GOING TO TESTIFY BE SWORN IN.IF YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE TESTIMONY, CAN YOU PLEASE STAND AND RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND? DO YOU SWEAR TO TELL THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH, SO HELP YOU GOD? THINK YOU MAY BE SEATED.
[PETITION FOR RELIEF]
OUR FIRST CASE.AT 342 BRANDT AVENUE NORTHEAST.
MR. THOMAS SENT ME AN EMAIL ON AUGUST 8TH ASKING TO RESCHEDULE.
HE WOULD REACH OUT TO US WHEN HE WAS READY TO RESCHEDULE.
SO WE'LL JUST WITHDRAW THAT ONE.
AT 260 HENCHMAN STREET SOUTHEAST.
MISS BELL SENT ME AN EMAIL ON MONDAY SAYING SHE HAD A FAMILY EMERGENCY AND NEEDED TO TABLE.
OKAY. 2429323 AT 773 BRYANT ROAD, SOUTHWEST.
WE ALSO NEED TO TABLE UNTIL NEXT MONTH.
MOVING DOWN TO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.
KB 2407223 AT 1059 GEARY STREET, SOUTHWEST.
I HAVE A POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR ARIEL KATZ.
DOES THE CITY HAVE A RECORD OF THAT? NO, I NEVER TURNED IT IN.
WE DON'T HAVE VALERIE ZINS, CODE COMPLIANCE DIVISION MANAGER.
WE DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE THE RECORD IN WRITING, BUT WE HAVE SEEN IT.
OKAY. SO WE CAN VERIFY THAT SHE IS.
OKAY. THEN YOU GO AHEAD AND PROCEED, THEN.
OKAY. I GUESS I JUST NEED SOME.
I NEED SOME INFORMATION THAT YOU ACTUALLY HAVE THE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO REPRESENT.
I MET MR. KATZ ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO.
HE PREVIOUSLY OWNED SEVEN PROPERTIES, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, HE LOST FIVE OF THEM TO TAX AUCTION.
THE REMAINING TWO ARE THE OCEAN SPRAY AND GEARY, THE TWO THAT WE HEAR ABOUT TODAY.
EXCUSE ME OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, HAVING THEM CHECK ON THE PROGRESS AND LETTING ME KNOW WHAT STILL NEEDED TO BE DONE, AND STAYING ON TOP OF MR. KATZ TO GET THEM DONE.
MR. KATZ SUFFERS FROM MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
HE DOES NOT AND WILL NOT EVEN LEAVE THE PROPERTY.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE PHOTOS OF WHAT THE HOUSES HAVE LOOKED LIKE.
I BELIEVE OCEAN SPRAY HAS BEEN IN VIOLATION SINCE 2021 AND GEARY MAYBE SINCE 2022.
MR. KATZ HAS NO SOURCE OF INCOME.
HIS GIRLFRIEND IS THE ONLY ONE MAKING MONEY, AND SHE DOES SO BY SCRAPPING.
SINCE I STARTED HELPING THEM, I PAID OFF THEIR TRASH BILLS AND A WATER LIEN.
AS OF TODAY, I BELIEVE THE BALANCE ON OCEAN SPRAY IS AROUND $46,523.10.
I RECEIVED THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT ON, I THINK, THE 15TH FROM MISS BERNADETTE ON THE GEARY HOUSE.
I DISCOVERED THAT DUE TO MR. KAT'S MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, THE TENANTS IN THAT HOUSE LIVED THERE FROM JANUARY OF 2020 TO APRIL OF 2024 AND NEVER PAID HIM A DIME IN RENT.
I ALSO DISCOVERED THAT IN THE THAT THE FIVE HOUSES THAT MR. KATZ LOST TO TAX AUCTION WERE ALL OCCUPIED BY RELATIVES OF THE TENANT THAT WAS IN THE GEARY HOUSE, WITH THE SIX RENTALS AND THE FIVE HOUSES LOST TO TAX AUCTION, MR. KATZ HAS LOST OVER $1 MILLION.
THE FAMILY TOOK COMPLETE ADVANTAGE OF MR. KATZ SITUATION AT THIS TIME.
THE GEARY FAMILY. THE GEARY FINES ARE AROUND $14,657.28, AN APPROXIMATE TOTAL OF OVER $61,000.
SO THESE CAYCE CAN CASES CAN FINALLY BE OVER WITH.
[00:05:03]
MR. CAT'S GIRLFRIEND IS THE LADY THAT I USUALLY DEAL WITH IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN COME UP WITH ANY MONEY.AND LIKE I SAID, SHE DOES SO BY SELLING SCRAP.
THAT IT. MA'AM? IS THAT IT? YES, SIR.
SORRY. AND WHAT'S THE CITY'S POSITION? VALERIE ZINS, CODE COMPLIANCE DIVISION MANAGER FOR THE FIRST CASE ON 1059 GEARY THE CITY IS SEEKING.
A 14% OF THE TOTAL OF THIS LIEN.
IT'S $14,679.11, AND WE'RE SEEKING 14%, WHICH COMES OUT TO $2,055.08, AND THE ADMINISTRATION FEE IS $750.
CAN YOU REPEAT THAT, VAL? THE CITY IS SEEKING A TOTAL OF $2,805.08 FOR 1059 GEARY.
OKAY. DO YOU WANT US TO ADDRESS THE SECOND ONE, TOO, NOW OR.
ALL RIGHT. THE OTHER CASE IS CB 2265722 AT 539 OCEAN SPRAY STREET, SOUTHWEST.
AND THE CITY IS SEEKING 11%, WHICH COMES OUT TO $5,125.16, PLUS THE $750 ADMINISTRATION FEE, WHICH COMES OUT TO $5,875.16.
OR ALL BOTH PROPERTIES AND COMPLIANCE AT THIS TIME? YES, SIR. AND IF I MAY ADD, SIR, IT'S BEEN A LONG PROCESS.
A VERY LONG PROCESS WITH RESPECT TO THE OCEAN SPRAY PROPERTY.
YOU INDICATED THERE WERE TENANTS IN THERE THAT HADN'T PAID RENT.
NO, SIR. THAT WAS THE GEARY PROPERTY.
OH, OKAY. AND I FINALLY GOT THEM OUT IN APRIL.
THEY LEFT THE WATER BILL OR TRASH BILL IN MR. KAT'S NAME RAN THAT UP.
STILL, I'M NOT SURE WHICH PROPERTY THAT WAS ON.
I JUST PAID THAT OFF THE OTHER DAY, LIKE 270 SOMETHING DOLLARS.
AND IT'S BY SELLING THE SCRAP THAT THEY CAN COME UP WITH.
YES, SIR. WHEN, WHEN DID THE WHEN WAS THE AN EVICTION ACTION TAKEN AGAINST THE TENANTS? WELL, I FILED PAPERWORK TO EVICT THEM.
LIKE, DID THE THREE DAY NOTICE ON THE WINDOW AND ALL THAT.
I LATER FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF DRUG ACTIVITY AND THINGS GOING ON OVER THERE.
SO ONCE I POSTED THAT AND I WENT BACK AND CHECKED BY DRIVING BY, I NOTICED THAT THEY WERE GONE, WENT UP TO THE DOOR, LOOKED IN THE WINDOW AND FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAD MOVED OUT.
SO THE ONLY THING I DID WAS START POSTING THE NOTICES.
OKAY, SO WHEN DID THEY MOVE OUT? AROUND APRIL OF THIS YEAR.
YES, SIR. AND MR. KATZ LIVES AT THE OCEAN SPRAY.
MR.. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT MISS PETTIT HAS BEEN A KEY ROLE IN GETTING THE OCEAN SPRAY PROPERTY CLEANED UP. SHE HAS STAYED ON TOP OF ARIEL AND GETTING EVERYTHING BROUGHT INTO COMPLIANCE.
NOW, YOU'VE KNOWN ME FOR HOW MANY YEARS? AND WHAT IS HOW LONG DID I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, IS WHAT TOOK SO LONG TO TAKE ACTION TO GET RID OF THE TENANTS? WELL, I DIDN'T START UNTIL APRIL.
AND YOU SAID YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR TWO YEARS.
HE WOULD NOT GIVE ME AUTHORITY TO GO OVER THERE.
[00:10:03]
OKAY. HE'S LIKE, I DON'T I DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING WITH IT.I MEAN, VALERIE'S TALKED TO HIM, AND I WOULD SAY WE'VE GOT TO GET THEM OUT.
WE'VE GOT TO GET THEM OUT. WE'VE GOT TO GET THEM OUT.
WE CAN'T MOVE FORWARD WITH DOING ANYTHING.
AND THEN I BROUGHT IT UP TO TITO ONE DAY.
IF YOU GO BY THE PROPERTY RIGHT NOW, MY LETTER IS STILL IN THE WINDOW.
THE ONLY THING I DID WAS WHEN I WENT IN IS I TOOK MY PHONE NUMBER OFF OF THERE.
AND THEN THE OTHER FIVE PROPERTIES THAT HE LOST TO TAX AUCTION WERE ALL OCCUPIED BY THE SAME FAMILY.
I GUESS MY ONLY OTHER QUESTION IS, IS THE PAPERWORK THAT I WAS PROVIDED INDICATED THAT THE PROPERTIES HAD BEEN IN VIOLATION UNTIL THIS MONTH, SO IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT. THE LAST THING THAT I HAD TO DO WAS MOVE A TRAILER AND CUT GRASS, AND THAT'S BEEN DONE.
AND ALL OF THIS, SIR, IS IN BETWEEN ME DEALING WITH MY FAMILY, MY CHILDREN.
WHEN WERE THE OTHER PROPERTIES LOST TO TAX DEED? 2020, 2022.
MAYBE I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK THEM UP.
OKAY. FOR ALL THOSE HOUSES, FREE AND CLEAR.
NO, THEY HAD MORTGAGES ON THEM.
WAIT, I DON'T WANT TO MISSTATE THAT BECAUSE THE TWO THAT HE HAS LEFT HAVE MORTGAGES, BUT I'M NOT 100% SURE ABOUT THE OTHER FIVE, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
HERE'S MY CONCERN ABOUT BALANCING EVERYTHING HERE.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT MR. KATZ MAY HAVE SOME ISSUES, BUT THERE'S STILL AN OBLIGATION TO MAINTAIN YOUR PROPERTY.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE TALKED TO VAL ABOUT, THAT I'LL STAY ON TOP OF THEM.
OKAY, I'M GOING TO DO IS I'M GOING TO REDUCE THE FINE ON THE GEARY STREET PROPERTY.
[00:15:04]
TO $55,500.AND I'M GOING TO REDUCE THE FINE ON THE OCEAN SPRAY PROPERTY, THE $2,250.
I'M TAKING INTO ACCOUNT HIS CURRENT MENTAL MENTAL CONDITION.
AND THEN ALSO THE ISSUE ABOUT INCOME.
SO I'M GOING TO REDUCE IT TO THAT AMOUNT.
CORRECT MY MATH. BUT THE ORDER IS GOING TO BE AS THE DIFFERENT PROPERTIES.
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WANT TO WORK THAT OUT.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR ABILITY IS TO PAY OR THE MR. KATZ'S ABILITY TO PAY IS NORMALLY I PUT 30 DAYS IN THE ORDER TO HAVE IT PAID OR THE FINES AUTOMATICALLY GET REINSTATED.
RIGHT. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY DAYS YOU CAN HAVE TO DO THAT.
I CAN WRITE A CHECK FOR TODAY.
WELL, YOU JUST NEED THAT PART.
YOU NEED TO TALK WITH STAFF ABOUT IT.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT.
I NEED TO KNOW WHEN YOU THINK YOU CAN PAY IT, AND I'M GOING TO PUT THAT IN THE ORDER.
BECAUSE, LIKE I SAID, THE ORDER HAS AN AUTOMATIC REINSTATEMENT OF THE FINES IF THEY'RE NOT PAID.
COULD YOU GIVE ME 60 DAYS? I CAN DO THAT.
I CAN MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE GETTING THIS STUFF AND THE SCRAPPING DONE AND.
THANK YOU, SIR, FOR YOUR TIME.
SO YOU'LL GIVE THOSE? GET THOSE TO YOU.
OKAY. OUR NEXT CASE IS ITEM NUMBER FIVE KB 1972719 AND 1881 BROOKSIDE STREET NORTHEAST.
GOOD AFTERNOON. HOW ARE YOU? OKAY.
CAN YOU PLEASE SPEAK UP? OH, I'M BRIDGET DEVRIES.
OKAY. I'M MISS PINZI JUST GAVE ME A DOCUMENT.
AND SHE EXPLAINED TO ME A REPAIR AGREEMENT.
HOWEVER I AM TRYING TO GET THE ROOF FIXED, AND I WENT TO A BANK AND A TITLE PERSON.
AND THE PROBLEM WITH ME GETTING MONEY IS THAT THERE THE LIEN IS ON THE HOUSE, SO I CAN'T QUALIFY FOR ANYTHING WITH THE LIEN ON THE HOUSE.
IF I UNDERSTOOD THE AGREEMENT CORRECTLY, I HAVE TO PAY THE FINE AND FIX EVERYTHING.
BUT I CAN'T DO THAT WITHOUT GETTING A HOME EQUITY LOAN OR A MORTGAGE.
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS A HUGE FINE.
AND I GET THAT, BUT THE ONLY WAY FOR ME TO DO THIS IS TO FIND A COMPROMISE IN A WAY THAT I COULD GET A LOAN TO FIX MY HOUSE.
NOW, SHE SHOWED ME THE PICTURE OF MY ROOF, AND THE BACK CORNER OF THE TARP BLEW OFF A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO IN THE STORM THAT WE HAD, AND MY GRASS WAS DEAD IN THE BACK UNTIL A FEW WEEKS AGO WITH THE RAIN WE HAD.
SO I CAN DEFINITELY COVER THAT PORTION OF MY ROOF BY THIS WEEKEND AND GET MY THE BACKYARD TRIMMED DOWN IN AN EFFORT TO MAYBE LIFT THE LIEN SO THAT I CAN THEN APPLY FOR A HOME EQUITY LOAN TO FIX MY ROOF AND PAY YOUR FINE BECAUSE I.
I DO NOT MAKE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY YOUR FINE.
OKAY. AND WHAT'S THE CITY'S POSITION? VALERIE ZINS, CODE COMPLIANCE DIVISION MANAGER.
THE CITY HAS NO OBJECTION TO THE REDUCTION OF THIS LIEN.
WE'RE SEEKING 5%, WHICH IS $6,977.44, PLUS THE $750 ADMINISTRATIVE FEE, FOR A TOTAL OF $7,727.44.
[00:20:21]
SO, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE ONLY ITEM THAT'S LEFT IN THE FINDINGS BY THE CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD IS THE ROOF.THE OTHER TWO ITEMS WERE ADDRESSED, SO UPON THE OFFICER DOING A FOLLOW UP INSPECTION BECAUSE ORIGINALLY IT WAS CITED FOR JUNK VEHICLE.
THAT CASE WAS BROUGHT INTO COMPLIANCE.
SO THAT'S WHAT STEMMED THE REPAIR AGREEMENT.
SO THE WEEDS ARE STILL PRESENT WHERE THE TALL GRASS AND WEEDS IS STILL PRESENT? CORRECT. THIS IS THE FIRST THAT I'M HEARING OF THAT PARTICULAR ONE.
THE ONLY THING I KNEW OF WAS THE ROOF IN THE CAR.
THE CAR WAS REMOVED BACK IN 2019.
YES. AND THE OFFICER WENT OUT THERE YESTERDAY, I BELIEVE, AND TOOK AN UPDATED PHOTO.
AND THE GRASS IN THE BACKYARD IS HIGH.
AND THEN OF COURSE, YOU HAVE THE ROOF ISSUE.
SO OUR POLICY IS IN ORDER TO APPLY FOR THE REDUCTION.
YOUR PROPERTY HAS TO BE IN COMPLIANCE UNLESS YOU'RE DOING A REPAIR AGREEMENT.
RIGHT. WELL, I AGAIN, I HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH A ROOFER WHO'S WAITING FOR ME TO GET A LOAN.
BUT AGAIN, I CAN'T DO THAT WITHOUT THE.
IS IT IS IT HIGH OR IS IT OR IS IT OVER 12IN? IT'S HIGH IN THE BACKYARD YOU HAVE THE UPDATED PHOTO.
IS THIS THE CURRENT ONE? I STILL HAVE A QUESTION THAT MAY BE LONG, MAY BE TALL, BUT IS IT OVER 12IN IS WHAT MY QUESTION IS.
MR. BREEZE, I UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE YOU'RE HAVING WITH THE LENDER.
I'M JUST TRYING TO THINK OF A WAY TO MAYBE TRY AND MAKE IT WORK.
BUT WOULD THE CITY HAVE AN ISSUE WITH SIGNING THE SATISFACTION OF THE LIEN, WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT BE HELD IN ESCROW PENDING COMPLETION OF THE ROOF? I SEE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.
OKAY. WHAT YOU MAY WANT TO DO.
THERE'S A PROCESS WHEN YOU DO LOAN CLOSINGS THAT IF THERE'S ANY CONTINGENCIES IN THE LOAN IN THE TITLE COMMITMENT, WHICH IN THIS CASE WOULD BE THEY'D WANT THE LOAN STATUS UNDER THE LIEN TO BE SATISFIED BEFORE THEY GAVE YOU THE LOAN IS TO FIND OUT WHETHER OR NOT THE LENDER WOULD ACCEPT THE TITLE COMPANY HOLDING THE THE SATISFACTION OF LIVING IN ESCROW WITH THE TITLE COMPANY, TO ALLOW THE MONEY TO GET FUNDED, TO HAVE THE ROOF DONE, OR WHETHER OR NOT EVEN IF THIS THING GETS ALL SET UP, WHETHER OR NOT YOUR ROOFER WILL GO AHEAD AND DO THE WORK RIGHT, KNOWING THAT THE MONEY'S BEING HELD IN ESCROW BY THE TITLE COMPANY, AND ONCE HE GIVES THE CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION FROM THE CITY TO THE TITLE COMPANY THAT HE'LL GET PAID.
[00:25:08]
CONTINGENT ON THE FACT THAT I AM GOING TO GET THAT.OKAY. BUT I'M JUST SAYING THAT MAY BE A WAY FOR EVERYBODY TO BE.
QUOTE UNQUOTE, A LITTLE BIT HAPPIER.
ANYWAY, IS THAT EVERYTHING WOULD BE HELD IN ESCROW PENDING ALL THAT HAPPENING.
I DON'T KNOW. AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'LL DO THAT OR NOT, BUT IF THE CITY IS WILLING TO SIGN IT, JUST IN WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO THE TITLE COMPANY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HOLD IT UNTIL THE ROOF GETS SEAT OR CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION ON IT, THEN THAT MAY END UP SOLVING THAT PROBLEM, AND ESPECIALLY IF YOUR ROOF WILL DO IT KNOWING THE MONEY IS BEING HELD IN ESCROW TO.
MR.. WHAT WAS THE ISSUE REGARDING THE ROOF AT THE TIME THE THIS THING STARTED, THE OFFICER WHO WENT OUT THERE NOTICED THE TARP ON THE ROOF AND THE BACK CORNER IN DISREPAIR.
THIS ORIGINAL CASE WAS SIMPLY JUST FOR THE JUNK VEHICLE.
OR HAS IT BEEN THAT WAY FOR YOU? OKAY. IT APPEARS THAT ORIGINALLY IT WAS FOR TALL GRASS AND WEEDS.
THE ROOF AND THE JUNK VEHICLE.
OKAY. BUT IT HAD TO DO WITH THE CORNER THAT HAD TARP ON.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME, THOUGH? THERE WAS A TARP ON THE ROOF.
OR THERE WAS SOMETHING ON THE CORNER OF THAT.
IS IT THE SAME PLACE THAT THEY'RE SHOWING SOME ISSUES WITH THE.
NO, ACTUALLY, THAT WAS DIFFERENT.
THE THE SPOT ORIGINALLY WAS ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE ROOF IN THE MIDDLE.
THE ROOF, THE SIDE ON ON THE BY THE GARAGE IS NEW.
OKAY. I'M GOING TO ENTER AN ORDER.
I'M GOING TO LEAVE IT RELATIVELY HIGH JUST BECAUSE OF HOW LONG THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON OUT THERE.
BUT I UNDERSTAND YOUR POSITION ABOUT THE FUNDING AND EVERYTHING.
I'M GOING TO REDUCE THE THE TOTAL FINE AMOUNT TO $4,750.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHEN YOUR ROOFER IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THE ROOF? ONCE I CAN GET THIS SQUARED AWAY, I AM TALKING WITH A THE TITLE COMPANY AND MY BANK ABOUT GETTING A MORTGAGE.
AND SO ONCE I SECURE THAT HE'S WILLING TO DO THE ROOF.
OKAY, I HAVE A CONTRACT HERE IF YOU WANT TO SEE IT.
YOU HAVE A LOT OF INCENTIVE TO GET IT DONE.
OKAY. WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS I'M GOING TO ENTER AN ORDER.
BUT BECAUSE OF THE KIND OF THE WEIRD PROCEDURAL POSITION WE'RE IN, I'M GOING TO SPECIFICALLY INCLUDE IN THE ORDER PROVISIONS IN HERE ABOUT HAVING THE CITY CLEAR THE, THE, THE, THE YARD ISSUE UP AND THAT IT HAS TO BE FILED IN THE CODE FILE, AND THEN ALSO THAT IT'S CONTINGENT UPON OBTAINING THE CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION FOR THE ROOF.
IF IT'S NOT DONE, THEN THE OTHER FINE IS GOING TO GET REINSTATED.
SO HOWEVER YOU CAN MAKE THAT WORK, THAT'S HOW IT'S GOING TO GET DONE.
[00:30:04]
I'LL PUT IN 60 DAYS FOR THOSE THINGS TO HAPPEN.AND I'LL GIVE YOU 60 DAYS FOR THE ROOF.
IF YOU CAN'T GET THE ROOF DONE IN 60 DAYS, YOU NEED TO COME BACK.
I INDICATED TO THE OTHER LADY.
AND LIKE I INDICATED, THE CITY SEEMS TO BE WILLING AS LONG AS THE LIEN IS PUT ON.
WHAT? WAS IT NONE OF THOSE NUMBERS YOU GAVE ME? THEY GIVE ME ANOTHER ONE.
HELLO? SO, CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY. I'M GOING TO PUT YOU ON SPEAKERPHONE.
ONE MOMENT PLEASE. SIR? CAN YOU HEAR US? YES, I CAN HEAR YOU.
CAN YOU PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND? AND DO YOU SWEAR TO TELL THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH, SO HELP YOU GOD? YES, I DO. THANK YOU.
MR.. IS IT MATTHEW OR MATTHEW? MATTHEW. OKAY.
AND OBVIOUSLY, YOU CAN HEAR ME.
GENERALLY, MY NAME IS JAMES BEADLE.
I'M THE PERSON APPOINTED BY THE CITY TO CONSIDER APPLICATIONS FOR REDUCTIONS IN CODE ENFORCEMENT LIENS AND THE GENERAL AND THE GENERAL PROCEDURE IS IS FOR YOU AS THE APPLICANT TO PRESENT YOUR CASE AS TO WHY YOU THINK THE LIEN SHOULD BE REDUCED.
THE CITY WILL THEN RESPOND, AND THEN YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND AFTER THAT.
YES, SIR. OKAY. YOU CAN YOU CAN GO AHEAD.
OKAY. WELL, WE WE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE, OF THE LIENS THAT WERE THAT WERE ON THE PROPERTY.
[00:35:05]
IT WASN'T UNTIL WE WERE LOOKING INTO SELLING ONE OF THE LOTS, AND THAT'S WHEN WE WE LEARNED ABOUT THE LIENS AND WE QUICKLY TOOK CARE OF THE SMALLER ONES.AND I GUESS WE'RE HERE NOW TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE BIGGER ONE.
BUT I HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE NAME.
ARE YOU STILL THERE? YES, SIR.
I DIDN'T I DIDN'T WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU WERE STILL ON THE LINE.
I'M STILL HERE. IT WASN'T UNTIL WE WERE TRYING TO LOOK INTO POSSIBLY SELLING ONE OF THE LOTS.
THAT'S WHEN WE FOUND OUT THAT THEY WERE OUTSTANDING LIENS ON THE PROPERTY.
WE HAD NO IDEA THAT THEY WERE LIENS.
I WOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THEM A LONG TIME AGO, KNOWING THAT YOU KNOW, THEY WERE LIENS.
WELL, ACCORDING TO THE PAPERWORK I WAS PROVIDED, AS FAR AS THE HEARING, THERE'S A CERTIFIED MAIL THAT SOMEBODY AT YOUR HOUSE SIGNED OFF ON.
DO YOU HAVE IS THERE SOMEBODY IN YOUR HOUSE NAMED? IT LOOKS LIKE NADINE.
NADINE. NO, I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH NADINE.
IT WENT TO WHAT? WHAT ADDRESS? DID IT GO TO A NEW YORK ADDRESS.
WHAT HAPPENED WAS, IS MY MY DAD HAD BEEN SICK FOR A FEW YEARS, AND MOST OF THE TIME I'VE BEEN IN IN THE PALM BAY HOUSE, I'VE BEEN WITH MOM AND DAD, TAKING CARE OF MY DAD.
SO THERE'S A POSSIBILITY, YOU KNOW IT MIGHT HAVE CAME IN.
I DIDN'T GET IT, BUT I ABSOLUTELY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF IT WHATSOEVER.
RIGHT, RIGHT, I UNDERSTAND, I UNDERSTAND.
I MEAN, WELL, NO, NO, HOLD ON A SECOND.
I'M SUGGESTING THAT YOU MAY WANT TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT WHATEVER OTHER PROPERTIES THAT YOU HAVE AND PUT IN A CORRECT ADDRESS, BECAUSE THE MAILING ADDRESS IS, AS OF LAST, THE ELMONT, NEW YORK ADDRESS THAT THEY'RE SENDING NOTICES TO.
SO YOU NEED TO CONTACT THE PROPERTY APPRAISER'S OFFICE TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.
I MEAN, WOULDN'T AS WHEN WE PAY OUR TAXES ANNUALLY, WOULDN'T WE? SHOULDN'T WE BE ALERTED OF THAT? HEY, YOU KNOW, LISTEN, THERE'S LIENS ON THE PROPERTY.
THAT'S NOT WHAT THE TAX COLLECTOR'S JOB IS.
ALL THEY DO IS SEND OUT NOTICES FOR TAXES THAT ARE DUE.
OKAY. THEY DON'T. THEY DON'T SCOUR THE PUBLIC RECORDS TO FIND OUT WHAT MIGHT BE ON THE TITLE.
THEY JUST SEND OUT WHATEVER THE TAXES ARE.
AND WHAT'S THE CITY'S POSITION REGARDING THIS CODE COMPLIANCE DIVISION? CAN YOU HEAR. CAN YOU HEAR THE CITY? YES, SIR, I CAN HEAR.
THE CITY HAS NO OBJECTION TO THE REDUCTION OF THIS LIEN.
THE TOTAL AMOUNT IS $10,165.57.
WE'RE SEEKING 15%, WHICH COMES OUT TO $1,524.84.
THERE IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE FEE OF $750.
PLUS THERE IS A MOWING FEE OF $248.75, WHICH COMES TO A TOTAL OF $2,523.59.
DID YOU HEAR THE CITY'S TESTIMONY? YES, SIR. AND WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE? WHAT'S THAT TOTAL AGAIN? I DIDN'T HEAR THE TOTAL. OKAY.
THEY'RE ASKING FOR 15% OF THE TOTAL FINE AMOUNT, WHICH THE TOTAL FINE IS $10,165.57.
[00:40:03]
SO THAT NUMBER COMES TO 15, 24, 84.THEY ALSO ARE SEEKING ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS OF $750, WHICH IS PRETTY MUCH A STANDARD FEE.
AND THEN THEY'RE ALSO SEEKING TO BE REIMBURSED THE COST THAT, THAT THE CITY ACTUALLY INCURRED TO DO THE THE WORK THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE TO BRING THE PROPERTY INTO COMPLIANCE OF $248.75.
BY WHEN DO I HAVE TO MAKE THAT? SO THAT'S AN AGREEABLE THAT THAT AMOUNTS AGREEABLE TO YOU.
THAT'S FINE. IT'S A LOT BETTER THAN NOTHING.
OKAY. NORMALLY, NORMALLY I PUT IN AN ORDER OF 30 DAYS.
IS THAT SUFFICIENT TIME? 30 DAYS FROM TODAY.
CAN I CAN I GET 45 DAYS? YES, SIR. THAT'S FINE.
OKAY. IF IT'S NOT JUST SO YOU KNOW, IF IT'S NOT PAID, THEN THE THE CURRENT FINE GETS REINSTATED.
THE CITY. THE CITY WILL PROVIDE YOU A COPY OF THE ORDER.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. YES, SIR.
THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. ALL RIGHTY.
OUR NEXT CASE IS ITEM NUMBER SIX CV 2261021 AT 1430 BELLAIRS STREET SOUTHEAST.
THIS IS ALSO A PHONE CONFERENCE.
HOLD ON. I'M GOING TO PUT YOU ON SPEAKER.
AND I'M SWORN IN. IS THERE? I HAD A NOTE HERE THAT I COULD GO ONLINE AND KIND OF WATCH THIS.
YES. AND YOU CAN WATCH IT AFTERWARD AS WELL.
IT'LL BE POSTED TO THE PALM BAY WEBSITE.
I CAN CALL YOU AFTER THE MEETING IF YOU'D LIKE.
YOU'RE WELCOME. MR. DONALDSON, CAN YOU PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND? AND DO YOU SWEAR TO TELL THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH, SO HELP YOU GOD? YES. THANK YOU.
MR. DONALDSON, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, I CAN, SIR.
OKAY. MY NAME IS JAMES BEADLE.
I'M THE INDIVIDUAL APPOINTED BY THE CITY OF PALM BAY TO CONSIDER APPLICATIONS FOR REDUCTION IN CODE ENFORCEMENT LIENS, AND THE GENERAL PROCESS IS THAT YOU, AS THE APPLICANT, WILL PRESENT YOUR CASE TO SUPPORT YOUR REQUEST.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND? OKAY. YES, SIR.
WELL A LOT, A LOT OF THE FINES ARE ARE COMPLETELY MY FAULT FOR NOT UNDERSTANDING THAT.
ONCE I BELIEVED THAT I WAS UNDER COMPLIANCE, THAT THE CITY WOULD COME BY AND SEE THAT IT'S OKAY AND STOP THE FINES ON THEIR OWN.
BUT THAT CERTAINLY WAS NOT TRUE.
AND IT'S MY FAULT FOR NOT UNDERSTANDING THAT.
AND I LET THAT GO WAY TOO LONG.
BEFORE I REALIZED THAT, YOU KNOW, I NEEDED TO CALL THEM, AND I NEEDED TO GET THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER BACK DOWN TO SEE FOR HIMSELF THAT IT WAS OKAY.
[00:45:02]
MY HOME, I WAS A AN APPLIANCE SERVICE TECHNICIAN MY WHOLE LIFE, AND I DROVE TO PEOPLE'S HOMES TO REPAIR THEIR WASHER, DRYER, REFRIGERATOR, OR WHAT HAVE YOU.WELL, IT GOT TO THE TOWARDS THE END HERE, I STARTED HAVING SOME PHYSICAL PROBLEMS AND JUST WORKING MY MYSELF.
NOT FOR ANY PARTICULAR COMPANY.
YOU KNOW, I NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO, TO KEEP WORKING EVERY DAY THAT I WOULD MISS.
YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT IT TAKES A BIG A BIG TOLL ON YOU.
SO IF I HAD SOME KIND OF TROUBLE WITH ONE OF MY TRUCKS, I WOULD PARK IT.
EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NOTHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH IT.
I DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME TO REPAIR IT.
AND IF I NEEDED A PART FOR IT, NOW I'VE GOT A SPARE TRUCK.
I CAN PULL UP A LITTLE PART OFF IF I NEED TO, BUT ALL THREE OF THOSE VEHICLES THAT ARE I GUESS THEY'RE STILL ON THE GOOGLE PAGE, WHICH I WISH THEY WOULD TAKE THEM OFF.
THE PAGE IS GETTING QUITE OLD.
ALL THREE OF THOSE VEHICLES WERE RUNNING AND DRIVING.
I COULD GET IN ANY ONE OF THOSE THREE AND DRIVE.
THE ONLY THING THAT WAS BAD WAS THEY LOOKED TERRIBLE.
I JUST WAS NOT ABLE TO GET OUT AND WATCH THEM ANYMORE.
I'VE GOT I'VE GOT A CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE THAT'S WORSENING, AND I FINALLY I HAD TO I JUST COULDN'T WORK ANYMORE AT ALL.
I WENT AND GOT MY FINAL JOB THAT I HAD FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF, OF TWO MONTHS BEFORE I HAD TO GO TO THE BOSS AND TELL HIM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A GREAT JOB.
I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO IT.
SO THEREFORE I AS OF A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW, I CAN NO LONGER WORK.
I'M RELYING ON A SMALL DISABILITY CHECK.
AND I AM NOW GOING TO HAVE TO SELL MY HOME BECAUSE OF FORECLOSURE.
I CAN'T PAY THE MORTGAGE ANYMORE.
AFTER BEING HERE FOR 32 YEARS.
AND I, IN ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, I PROBABLY WILL BE VACATE THE PROPERTY BY EITHER THE END OF OCTOBER OR THE FIRST WEEK OR SO INTO NOVEMBER.
AND THAT'S THAT'S GOING TO BE IT.
I HATE TO LEAVE MY HOME, BUT I HAVE NO, NO LONGER HAVE ANY CHOICE.
AND WHAT KIND OF REDUCTION ARE YOU ASKING FOR? WELL, SIR, I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, I I CERTAINLY AS AS MUCH AS I CAN, BECAUSE WHAT I'M GOING TO HAVE LEFT AFTER I SELL MY HOME IS GOING TO BE YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, AND IT'S GOING TO BE WHATEVER I MANAGED TO GET OUT OF MY POOR OLD HOME IS WHAT I'M GOING TO HAVE TO LIVE ON FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.
NOW, ADMITTEDLY, THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE A REAL LONG TIME, BUT BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, I'VE GOT A FRIEND WHO IS GOING TO SELL ME A MOBILE HOME AT LEAST PART OF IT.
AND AND MY, MY LITTLE BIT OF EQUITY IS ALL I'M GOING TO HAVE TO LIVE ON.
AND I, YOU KNOW, I MAY HAVE A YEAR LEFT, BUT I'M NOT SURE OF THAT.
AND I REALLY NEED AS MUCH OUT OF THE SALE OF MY HOME AS I CAN POSSIBLY GET.
[00:50:03]
OKAY. IN YOUR IN YOUR APPLICATION, YOU PUT THE AMOUNT OF REDUCTION YOU'RE SEEKING IS 95%.IS THAT CORRECT? I PUT THAT DOWN.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS JUST OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
I WAS I WAS FEELING LIKE A LOT OF HOWEVER MUCH THE FINE IS AND I'M NOT SURE WAS I FELT A LOT A BIG PART OF IT, YOU KNOW, MAY BE PUNITIVE.
YOU KNOW, I JUST REALLY I HATE PUNITIVE.
BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT IT WAS PARTLY MY FAULT.
I SHOULD HAVE CALLED MUCH EARLIER.
I SHOULD HAVE REALIZED IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY TO GET THE INSPECTOR BACK DOWN.
AND I SHOULD HAVE REALIZED THAT EARLIER.
SO YOU INDICATED THAT YOU DID GET RID OF SOME OF THESE VIOLATIONS.
WHEN DID YOU DO THAT? OH, THEY'RE ALL GONE.
NO, I DIDN'T I DIDN'T ASK WHETHER THEY'RE GONE.
I ASKED, WHEN DID YOU REMEDY THEM? YEAH I APOLOGIZE.
THE VANS HAVE BEEN GONE SINCE JUNE OF 2023.
SO OVER, YOU KNOW, WELL OVER A YEAR THEY'VE BEEN GONE.
HE'S HE ACTUALLY DOES A PRETTY GOOD JOB.
I CAN'T COUNT ON HIM ALL THE TIME, AND HE'S VERY REASONABLE.
VERY REASONABLE, BUT HARD TO COUNT ON.
MR. DONALDSON. MR. DONALDSON, WHEN DID YOU COME INTO COMPLIANCE? THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING.
OH, WHEN? WHEN DID EACH OF THESE VIOLATIONS COME INTO COMPLIANCE? THAT'S THE QUESTION. I GUESS THE LAST ONE WAS THE VANS, BECAUSE THE THE THE GRASS HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF FOR QUITE, YOU KNOW, FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS, THE GRASS HAS NOT BEEN A PROBLEM.
THE LAST WHEN I CALLED AND THE CODE ENFORCEMENT MAN CAME, SAID EVERYTHING LOOKS FINE.
AND SO HE HE SAID HE WOULD HE LET EVERYBODY KNOW IT LOOKS FINE.
AND THAT'S WHEN WE'RE MOVING IN THE DIRECTION WE'RE IN NOW.
OKAY. AND WHAT'S THE CITY'S POSITION REGARDING THIS? I'M SORRY, SIR.
SAY THAT AGAIN. I'M ASKING THE CITY WHAT THEIR POSITION IS REGARDING THE FINES.
VALERIE ZINS, CODE COMPLIANCE DIVISION MANAGER.
THE CITY HAS NO OBJECTION IN A REDUCTION OF THIS LIEN.
CONSIDERING THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
REGARDING MR. DONALDSON'S HOUSE.
WE'RE SEEKING 1% AND WAIVING THE ADMIN FEES.
YES, SIR. DID YOU HEAR THE CITY'S TESTIMONY, SIR? I COULD ONLY HEAR IT PARTIALLY.
OKAY. BASICALLY, THE CITY'S POSITION IS BASED ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT THEY'RE SEEKING 1% OF THE OUTSTANDING LIEN, AND THEY'RE WAIVING THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE FEE OF $750.
SO THEY'RE AGREEING TO REDUCE THE FINE TO $479.42.
I MEAN, WHEN DO. WHEN DO YOU THINK YOU CAN PAY THAT? WELL, I CERTAINLY WILL BE HAVING.
I DON'T I DON'T HAVE THE ACTUAL CASH IN HAND RIGHT NOW.
WELL, WELL, LET ME LET ME EXPLAIN THE PROCESS.
I SIGNED I SIGNED AN ORDER REDUCING THE FINE.
AND I PUT IN A NUMBER OF DAYS THAT IT HAS TO BE PAID BY.
IF IT'S NOT PAID WITHIN THE TIME PERIOD I PUT IN THE ORDER, THE AMOUNT OF THE FINE IS REINSTATED.
SO NORMALLY I PUT 30 DAYS IN THERE.
DO YOU THINK YOU CAN PAY IT IN 30 DAYS.
YES, SIR. ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, WE'LL GET IT PAID BY THEN.
OKAY, THEN I'LL ENTER AN ORDER TO THAT EFFECT.
SO THERE'LL BE AN ORDER ENTERED, REDUCING THE FINE AMOUNT TO $479.42 TO BE PAID IN 30 DAYS.
AND IF IT'S NOT PAID IN 30 DAYS, YOUR CURRENT FINE WILL BE REINSTATED.
[00:55:03]
OKAY. OKAY, SIR.VERY GOOD. I WILL MAKE SURE THAT THAT GETS TAKEN CARE OF.
I APPRECIATE IT VERY, VERY MUCH, SIR.
THANK YOU. MR. DONALDSON, THIS IS CAROLYN.
I'LL CALL YOU BACK IN ABOUT AN HOUR.
BYE BYE. I SIGNED THE MINUTES FROM THE LAST MEETING.
[ADOPTION OF MINUTES]
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS BEFORE THE FOR THIS HEARING.THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED AT 157.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.