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07-15-1993 .... , \. ".""':;:.-:"':'A, ")'..) l' ,,\ \ \ > > ....", CITY OF EDGEWATER CITIZEN CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD REGULAR MEETING THURSDAY, JULY 15,1993 COMMUNITY CENTER 7:00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER: Chairman George Cowan called to order the regular meeting of the Citizen Code Enforcement Board at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, July 15, 1993. ROLL CALL: Members present were Chairman George Cowan, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Schmidt, Mrs. Strong, Ms. Sterl, Mrs. Bomer, and Mrs. Planson. Also present were Beverly Kinney-Johnson, Code Enforcement Officer, Mark P. Karet, Director of Community Development, Krista A. Storey, City Attorney and Liz McBride, Secretary. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Mrs. Strong made a motion to accept the minutes of June 17,1993. Seconded by Mr. Schmidt. Motion CARRIED 6-0. Mrs. PI anson, a new Board member, abstained as this was her first meeting. SWEARING IN OF WITNESSES: Chairman Cowan requested Beverly Kinney-Johnson, Code Enforcement Officer and anyone else with statements or comments pertaining to any of the cases stand and be sworn in. Mrs. Johnson, Mr. Perry Barrett, 3001 India Palm Drive, Edgewater, Florida, Nikki Clayton, First Union Building, 20 N. Orange Avenue, Suite 1400, Orlando, Florida, and John and Ena McGregor, Edgewater Rent-All, 112 N. Ridgewood Avenue, Edgewater, Florida were sworn in at this time. CASES IN COMPLIANCE/WITHDRA WN: Beverly Kinney-Johnson, Code Enforcement Officer, reported the following cases in compliance or withdrawn: * 93-CE-0409, John R. Sparks - In Compliance * 93-CE-0430, James G. Vanish - In Compliance 1 ...... ..." UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Case #93-CE-0272 - John and Ena McGregor / Edgewater Rent-All. Free-standing sign on property. Section 606.02(h). Code Enforcement Officer Beverly Kinney-Johnson reviewed this case which was heard by the Board on May 20, 1993. It was determined at that time the violator be given until June 1, 1993 to correct the violation or a fine of $30.00 per day be imposed. A photograph was presented to the Board for review. The violation was abated June 7, 1993 and a one hundred fifty dollar ($150.00) fine accrued. Because of the costs incurred by the department for inspections, correspondence, photographs and staff time, Mrs. Johnson recommended that the Board not waive or reduce the fine. Ena McGregor, Edgewater Rent-All, 112 N. Ridgewood Avenue, Edgewater, Florida, stated that they deal in numerous signs, that they did remove a yellow sign and felt they complied, and that Mrs. Johnson could have stopped in and told them exactly which sign was not permitted. Mrs. McGregor apologized to the City and stated that she tries to meet the codes and was not clear on what was meant by a free-standing sign. Mrs. McGregor also stated that since it would be a hardship for her to have to pay the $150.00, asked consideration in not having to pay the fine. Krista A. Storey, City Attorney, offered guidance to the Board as to factors to be considered (i.e., special circumstances, consistency, history of case presented, etc.) when waiving or reducing fines. After discussion by the Board on what is a free-standing sign and changeable copy sign, Mr. Roberts moved that the Board reconsider and reduce the fine by 50 percent. Motion FAILED due to no Second. Mr. Schmidt moved that the Board waive the fine completely due to fact that he felt there was a lot of misunderstanding as to what type of sign was in violation. Seconded by Mr. Roberts. Motion CARRIED 6-0. Mrs. Planson abstained as she did not hear the original case. NEW BUSINESS: Case #93-CE-0089 - Kenneth G. and Annabelle J. Hamann. A dump is not a permitted use. Section 607.00(b). Code Enforcement Officer Beverly Kinney-Johnson reported the property was first inspected on August 20, 1992 due to concerns that the transfer station was being used as a dump. Mrs. Johnson reinspected the property on December 3, 1993 and found the business was closed and being offered for sale. Mrs. Johnson inspected the property and reported the violation was observed on February 8, 1993 and was be to corrected March 19, 1993. Extensions were granted to April 9, 1993 and again to June 9, 1993, and much of the debris had been removed. A video of a photographic history of the property was shown to the Board for review. Upon reinspection of the property July 15, 1993, Mrs. Johnson observed construction debris. metal, concrete, and other items still remained and recommended that the Violator be given until August 15, 1993 to correct the violation or a fine of fifty dollars ($50.00) per day be imposed. 2 '-"" .""" NEW BUSINESS CON'T: Mrs. Bomer, after hearing the testimony presented and the recommendation of Staff, moved in reference to Case Number 93-CE-0089 that a violation of Section 607.00(b) of the Edgewater Zoning Ordinance does exist and the alleged violator has committed the violation. After considering the gravity of the violation, any actions taken by the violator to correct the violation, and any previous violations committed by the violator, further moved that the violator be given until August 1, 1993 to correct the violation and that a fine of $75.00 be imposed for each day the violation continues past that date. Seconded by Mrs. Strong. Motion CARRIED 6-1. Mr. Roberts voted No. Case #93-CE-0347 - Sides Cars & Trucks, Inc. Fence placed on property with no permit. Section 706.00(a). Code Enforcement Officer Beverly Kinney-Johnson reported the violation was first observed on May 18, 1993 and was to be corrected by May 29, 1993. Photographs were presented to the Board for review. Mrs. Johnson stated as of close of business July 15, 1993, the Violator had not obtained a permit for the fence, fencing or fence posts and recommended that the Violator be given until August 1, 1993 to correct the violation or a fine of thirty dollars ($30.00) per day be imposed. Nikki Clayton, 20 N. Orange Avenue, Suite 1400, Orlando, Florida, Attorney representing Sides Cars & Trucks, Inc., stated the fence placed around the gas storage tanks, which will be buried in conjunction with the construction of the convenience store on that site, requires the fence under the manufacture's warranty, and should be an adjunct of the building permit. The fence is temporary until the storage tanks can be buried. Ms. Clayton stated in reference to the white fence posts, that they are boundary markers which the property owner placed around the perimeter in order to show the property line, and that there was no intention to install a fence as the white posts are not spaced in any way as to affect any access of any kind. After much discussion on the definition of fences, Ms. Storey explained to the Board that it first needs to decide if 1) the structure erected around the tanks is a fence that requires a permit and 2) if the white posts are a fence and then determine the remedy to come into compliance. Mr. Schmidt moved that the structure around the tanks not be considered a fence. Seconded by Mrs. Strong. Motion CARRIED 7-0. Mr. Schmidt moved that the white posts, boundary posts be considered a fence. Seconded by Mr. Roberts. Motion CARRIED 4-3. Mrs. Strong, Ms. Sterl and Mrs. Bomer voted No. Mr. Schmidt, after hearing the testimony presented and the recommendation of Staff, moved in reference to Case Number 93-CE-0347 that a violation of Section 706.00(a) of the Edgewater Zoning Ordinance does exist and the alleged violator has committed the violation. After considering the gravity of the violation, any actions taken by the violator to correct the violation, 3 '-"' .."" NEW BUSINESS CON'T: and any previous violations committed by the violator, further moved that the violator be given until August 1, 1993 to correct the violation and that a fine of $30.00 be imposed for each day the violation continues past that date. Seconded by Mr. Roberts. Motion CARRIED 4-3. Mrs. Strong, Ms. Sterl and Mrs. Bomer voted No. Case #93-CE-0348 - Good Old Times Country Store of Volusia Inc. Fence/fence posts placed on property with no permit. Section 706.00(a). Real Estate sign placed on property with no permit. Section 3-4. Code Enforcement Officer Beverly Kinney-Johnson reported the violation was observed on May 18, 1993 and was to be corrected by May 29, 1993. Photographs were presented to the Board for review. Upon reinspection of the property on June 18, 1993 and again on July 15, 1993, Mrs. Johnson found that no corrective action had been taken, and as of close of business July 15, 1993, the Violator had not obtained the required permits. Because the fence/fence posts exist on the property, Mrs. Johnson recommended that the Violator be given until August 1, 1993 to correct the violation or a fine of thirty dollars ($30.00) per day be imposed, and because a real estates sign over 5 1/2 square feet exists on the property, Mrs. Johnson recommended that the Violator be given until August 1, 1993 to correct the violation or a fine of thirty dollars ($30.00) per day be imposed. Nikki Clayton, Attorney representing Good Old Times Country Store, stated the Board could probably recall the item of the fence posts and addressed the issue of the real estate sign. Ms. Clayton stated that an effort was made twice by the applicant to obtain a permit but was denied in each case because he was told he was not the property owner, when in fact Good old Times Country Story was the owner at the time of the applications. Ms. Clayton also brought to the Board's attention that Good Old Times Country Store was not the property owner when the citation was issued, and is not the current owner. Ms. Sterl, after hearing the testimony presented and the recommendation of Staff, moved in reference to Case Number 93-CE-0348, and requested Staff withdraw the case in reference to the real estate sign. Seconded by Mrs. Strong. Motion CARRIED 6-1. Mr. Schmidt voted No. Ms. Sterl, after hearing the testimony presented and the recommendation of Staff, moved in reference to Case Number 93-CE-0348, and requested Staff withdraw the case in reference to the fence permits. Strong. Motion CARRIED 5-2. Mr. Roberts and Mr. Schmidt voted No. DISCUSSION ITEMS: None at this time. 4 '-" ..., CODE ENFORCEMENT COMMENTS: None at this time. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, a motion was made and accepted to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 8:47 p.m. Minutes respectfully submitted by: Elizabeth 1. McBride, Secretary Citizen Code Enforcement Board 5