[1. CALL TO ORDER]
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MEETING TO ORDER. THIS IS THE OCTOBER 1ST, 2026 CODE ENFORCEMENT SPECIAL MAGISTRATE HEARING. I'M HARRISON POOLE, THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE. IF EVERYONE WOULD PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. UM, BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I'M GONNA ASK MISS PRINCE TO PLEASE REVIEW THE QUASI-JUDICIAL PROCEDURES THAT'LL BE IN EFFECT FOR TODAY'S CASES. MISS PRINCE? YES, THANK YOU, MAGISTRATE POOLE. TURN THIS THING ON.
UM, QUASI-JUDICIAL, QUASI-JUDICIAL HEARINGS BY STATE AND CASE LAW IS LESS FORMAL THAN A COURT HEARING, BUT SIMILAR IN PROCEDURES AND EVIDENCE MATTERS, AND REQUIRES THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WHO'S SITTING HERE TO MY LEFT, YOUR RIGHT, AND THE PROPERTY OWNER, WHICH COULD BE ANY OF YOU OUT THERE, AND WITNESSES, IF ANY, TO TESTIFY UNDER OATH.
THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER PRESENTS THE CASE AND EVIDENCE OF THE VIOLATION OF THE CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES. THE PROPERTY OWNER HAS THE RIGHT TO PROVIDE A RESPONSE. BOTH PARTIES HAVE THE RIGHT TO PRESENT EVIDENCE, CALL WITNESSES, AND QUESTION OPPOSING WITNESSES. FLORIDA LAW REQUIRES THAT THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE'S DECISION AND A QUASI-JUDICIAL ACTION BE SUPPORTED BY COMPETENT SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE PRE- PRESENTED TO THE MAGISTRATE DURING THE HEARING ON THE CASE. CA- COMPETENT SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE IS SUCH EVIDENCE AS A REASONABLE MIND WOULD ACCEPT AS ADEQUATE TO SUPPORT A CONCLUSION. THERE MUST BE A FACTUAL BASIS IN THE RECORD TO SUPPORT OPINION TESTIMONY FROM BOTH EXPERT AND NON-EXPERT WITNESSES. GENERAL OBJECTIONS WITHOUT SPECIFIC EVIDENCE DO NOT CONSTITUTE SUBSTANTIAL CONFIDENT EVIDENCE. THE ONLY MATERIAL OR RELEVANT EVIDENCE IS THAT WHICH ADDRESSES THE STATUTE OR THE CODE REQUIREMENTS. EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED MAY BE INCLUDED IN THE RECORD AS LONG AS RECEIVED BY NOON ON THE DAY OF THE HEARING, MAY BECOME PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORD FOR THE HEARING, BUT ARE NOT WITHOUT MORE COMPETENT SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE. THE PROPERTY OWNER IS ENTITLED TO BE REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL.
IF ANY PROPERTY OWNER DESIRES A CONTINUANCE TO OBTAIN COUNSEL FOR THE MATTER BEING ADDRESSED TODAY, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND MAKE THAT REQUEST AT THIS TIME. NOW, I DO SEE SEVERAL OF YOU IN THE AUDIENCE. UM, DOES ANYBODY WANT A CONTINUANCE FOR, UM, TO GO AND OBTAIN COUNSEL? NO? I THINK THERE MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE COUNSEL IN THE BACK, BACK THERE, IF MY EYES DON'T SEE ME. UM, THE HEARING PROCEDURES ARE AS FOLLOWS. ALL PARTIES TESTIFYING WILL BE SWORN IN. THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WILL PRESENT THE CITY'S CASE AND PRESENT EVIDENCE OF THE ALLEGED VIOLATION.
WITNESSES MAY BE CALLED TO SUPPORT THE CITY'S CASE. UP TO 15 MINUTES ARE ALLOTTED.
THE RESPONDENT MAY QUESTION THE CITY'S WITNESSES, AND THERE'S 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. THE RESPONDENT WILL BE GIVEN, THE PROPERTY OWNER WILL BE GIVEN TIME TO PROVIDE TESTIMONY AND PRESENT EVIDENCE TO THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE.
WITNESSES MAY BE CALLED TO SUPPORT THE PROPERTY OWNER'S RESPONSE, AND UP TO 15 MINUTES ARE ALLOTTED FOR THAT. THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER MAY THEN QUESTION THE PROPERTY OWNERS AND THE WITNESSES UP TO 5 MINUTES. ALL WITNESSES, IF ANY, WHO PRESENT EVIDENCE FOR OR AGAINST THE CODE ENFORCEMENT VIOLATION WILL ADDRESS THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE. UH, ANY DOCUMENTS OR PHOTOS WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE RECORDING SECRETARY ON MY LEFT HERE. WHEN THE INDIVIDUAL IS TESTIFYING, THE DOCUMENTS WILL NOT BE RETURNED AS THEY BECOME PART OF THE OFFICIAL RECORD AND THE MINUTES. THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER MAY PROVIDE FINAL COMMENTS TO THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE. THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE WILL THEN CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND DISCUSS THE CASE. THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE MAY ASK QUESTIONS OF THE PROPERTY OWNER, CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, OR THE WITNESSES WHO TESTIFIED IN THE HEARING ABOUT THE VIOLATION OF THE CODE. ANY DECISION OF THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE WILL INCLUDE WHETHER THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE FINDS COMPETENT SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE IN THE RECORD OR THE TESTIMONY TO SUPPORT THE MAGISTRATE'S DECISION TO FIND THE PROPERTY IN VIOLATION OR NOT. THE MEETING IS BEING RECORDED, THEREFORE THERE CAN BE NO APPLAUSE, OUTBURSTS, TALKING, OR COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE AS IT DISTORTS THE RECORDING.
THE OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY REPRESENTS THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH AND PROVIDES COUNSEL, INCLUDING ADVICE AS TO HEARING PROCEDURES AND RELEVANCY OF EVIDENCE TO THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. STRICT RULES OF EVIDENCE APPLICABLE TO A COURT PROCEEDING ARE NOT UTILIZED, BUT THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE MAY EXCLUDE EVIDENCE THAT IS NOT RELEVANT TO THE VIOLATION OR IS REPETITIVE IN NATURE. THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE MAY EXTEND ANY OF THESE TIMES MENTIONED HEREIN. ANY WITNESSES PRESENTING EVIDENCE AT THE HEARING,
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INCLUDING PICTURES OR EMAILS, MUST BE VERIFIED BY THE PERSON WHO CREATED THE DOCUMENT, THE EVIDENCE. IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE QUASI-JUDICIAL HEARING PROCEDURES, PLEASE ASK THEM AT THIS TIME. ANY APPEAL OF A DECISION, UM, IN FRONT OF THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE WOULD NEED TO BE MADE TO CIRCUIT COURT WITHIN 30 DAYS OF ANY DECISION BEING MADE AND ENTERED INTO THE RECORD, ACTUALLY. SO WITH THAT, MAGISTRATE POOLE.THANK YOU, MISS PRINCE. UM, BEFORE WE PROCEED FURTHER, ARE THERE ANY CHANGES TO THE AGENDA? YES, THERE IS ONE, UM, AGENDA ITEM 4.6, JSLJ HOLDING LLC HAS, UH, BEEN RE- REMOVED FROM THE AGENDA.
OKAY. AND THAT'S THE 406 ASH STREET? THAT IS CORRECT.
MR. CASCONE, IS THAT THE ONE THAT YOU'RE HERE FOR? YES.
I WAS GONNA MENTION I'VE JUST BEEN ADVISED THAT THAT'S BEEN PULLED FROM THE AGENDA FOR TODAY'S PURPOSES, AND MM-HMM.
WANT TO LET- WHY IS THAT? I... THAT'S, THE CITY'S THE ONE THAT BRINGS THE CASES. I'M NOT SURE, SIR.
UM... AND SO, UH, ONE POINT OF CLARIFICATION BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I THOUGHT 4.5 WAS BEING REMOVED AS WELL FROM THE EMAIL LAST NIGHT. IT IS NOT.
OKAY, SO 4.6. AND BY REMOVED, UM, OFFICER, IT'S BEEN CONTINUED, OR IS IT COMPLETE? THE ONE THAT IS BEING REMOVED.
IT IS NOT BEING, IT'S NOT BEING HEARD TODAY.
UM, IT COULD BE IN THE FUTURE, BUT RIGHT NOW WE HAVE GRANTED AN EXTENSION BECAUSE THEY HAVE WORKED WITH US AND HAVE SHOWED PROGRESS AT THIS POINT.
THEY PROVIDED DOCUMENTS NEEDED TO, SO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT NEEDED MORE TIME TO LOOK AT THE DOCUMENTS, AND SO THEY'VE... WE'RE NOT CONTINUING IT, BUT IF WE NEED TO HEAR IT BECAUSE THEY DON'T COMPLY WITHIN THE TIME, WE'LL PUT IT BACK ON THE AGENDA.
WELL, I'M SURE MR. CASCONE IS VERY INTERESTED IN THAT PROCEEDING. IS THERE A WAY THAT YOU CAN KEEP HIM ADVISED AND MAKE SURE THEY DON'T MAKE ANOTHER UNNECESSARY TRIP IF IT IS BROUGHT BACK BEFORE US? UM, IF I CAN SUGGEST, I WOULD ACTUALLY GO, UM, SPEAK TO MISS MARGARET PEARSON, THE PLANNING DIRECTOR OR PLANNING MANAGER. UM, SHE HAS THE MOST RECENT UPDATE, UH, REGARDING THE DOCUMENTS THAT WERE SUBMITTED. SHE'LL HAVE, UM, THE MOST INFORMATION ON THAT.
SO WITH THAT, WE HAVE 5 CASES TODAY.
YOU TOO AS WELL. UM, WOULD ANYONE THAT PLANS TO GIVE ANY TESTIMONY OR EVIDENCE OR INTRODUCE ANY EXHIBITS AT THIS TIME, PLEASE STAND SO THAT THE OATH MAY BE ADMINISTERED BY THE SECRETARY CLERK.
YES, PLEASE. OKAY. DO YOU SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT THE TESTIMONY AND OR EVIDENCE YOU ARE ABOUT TO GIVE AND OR PRESENT IS THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH? YES.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. PLEASE HAVE A SEAT. UM, BEFORE WE MOVE TO OUR FIRST CASE,
[3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
WE HAVE THE MINUTES FROM THE AUGUST 6, 2026 MEETING FOR APPROVAL. I'VE PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED THOSE. I BELIEVE THEY'RE IN ORDER, SO UNLESS THERE'S ANY ADDITIONAL CHANGES OR REVISIONS. ALL RIGHT, SEEING NONE, THOSE MINUTES WILL BE APPROVED.AND SO WE'LL MOVE TO OUR FIRST CASE. THIS IS CASE
[4.1 REAPPEARANCE AS ORDERED BY THE SPECIAL MAGISRATE: RUBY D. WHITE EST. C/O TABITHA PETERSON, 419 S. 6TH ST., FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034, CASE 2025-0430.]
4.1 ON THE AGENDA. THIS IS RUBY D. WHITE ESTATE, CARE OF TABITHA PETERSON, IN REGARDS TO 419 SOUTH 6TH STREET, FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA, 32034. AND IS THERE ANYONE HERE ON BEHALF OF THE PROPERTY OWNER? YES.ALL RIGHT. IF YOU WOULD, YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND STEP UP TO THE PODIUM, AND IF YOU COULD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
UH, FIRST NAME IS TABITHA PETERSON, UM, ADDRESS IS 8312 YELLOW LANE, TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA, 32311.
ALL RIGHT, WELCOME BACK, MISS PETERSON.
ALL RIGHT, UM, MISS RIMES, ARE THERE ANY DOCUMENTS OR ITEMS YOU'D LIKE TO BE RECEIVED INTO THE RECORD AS EVIDENCE? YES, PLEASE. UM, I DO HAVE A PRESENTATION OKAY.
FROM THE JULY HEARING, AND THEN I HAVE A FEW UPDATED PHOTOS THAT I WAS GOING TO INCLUDE.
OKAY. MISS PETERSON, DO YOU HAVE ANY OBJECTION TO THOSE ITEMS BEING ADMITTED INTO THE RECORD AS EVIDENCE? UH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY, I HAVEN'T SEEN THEM, SO NO OBJECTION.
THEY'LL BE RECEIVED WITHOUT OBJECTION. MISS RIMES, YOU MAY PROCEED.
OKAY. THANK YOU. SO, UM, AGAIN, MY NAME IS CRYSTAL RIMES. I'M THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WITH THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH. SO, UM, I WAS GOING TO DO A QUICK REVIEW, UH, REGARDING THIS MATTER. UM, IT IS A RETURNING CASE THAT APPEARED AT THE JULY 2ND, 2026 SPECIAL MAGISTRATE HEARING REGARDING THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 419 SOUTH 6TH STREET. UM, AND HERE WAS THE ORDER SUMMARY.
UH, THE RESPONDENT WAS PRESENT AT THAT HEARING, AND WE DID FIND THE VI- UH,
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PROPERTY IN VIOLATION OF 42-117 A, B, E, AND F, WHICH IS UNDER THE EXTERIOR STRUCTURE MAINTENANCE CODE.THE, UM, SPECIAL MAGISTRATE ORDERED TO REPAIR, OR SORRY, RE- REPAIR OR SEAL ANY OPENINGS AND GAPS BY AUGUST 1ST, 2026, AND FOR ALL VIOLATIONS TO BE, UM, CORRECTED BY SEPTEMBER 24, 2026. AND THEN AT THAT POINT, IF IT WAS NOT BROUGHT INTO COMPLIANCE, RETURN TO THIS HEARING TODAY. SO, UM, THIS IS THE FINAL ORDER. I JUST WANTED TO INCLUDE A COPY OF THAT. AND I DID AN INSPECTION ON THE DATE, UM, A FEW DAYS AFTER THE DATE ORDERED, AUGUST 3RD, 2026. AND THE INSPECTION DID REVEAL THAT THERE WERE NO ATTEMPTS THAT WERE MADE TO COVER, UM, THE OPENINGS AND GAPS AT THIS, AT THIS POINT. THE NEXT INSPECTION, UH, IT DID SHOW THAT THE HOLES AND GAPS ON THE SIDE OF THE DWELLING WERE COVERED ON THIS SIDE OF THE STRUCTURE. HERE'S A FEW MORE UPDATED PHOTOS. UM, ONE CONCERN THAT I DID HAVE IS THERE, THERE SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE OVERGROWTH THAT IS COMING BACK. SO, UM, I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT I, I NOTICED, IF YOU CAN, UM, POSSIBLY MANAGE OR LOOK AT THAT AS WE CONTINUE. OKAY, SORRY, I WASN'T GOING. ALL RIGHT, AND YOU CAN SEE THERE IS THE STAINS ON THE ROOF AND, UM, AT THE, LET ME GET MY LASER HERE, AT THE CORNER OF THE, UH, TRIM FASCIA, THERE IS SOME, UH, ROTTEN WOOD STILL THAT REMAINS THERE. THERE'S AN OPENING RIGHT HERE UNDER THE ROOF ON THE FRONT SIDE OF THE STRUCTURE, AND THIS IS JUST A GENERAL PICTURE.
REALLY, AS FAR AS THE, THE INTEGRITY, IT WAS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME BESIDES THE SIDE. SO SHE DID, SHE DID COVER THE SIDE OF THE PROPERTY ON THAT WALL THAT HAD THE MAIN BIGGER HOLES, AND THAT'S, THAT'S AS MUCH AS I GOT AS AN UPDATE FROM MY END.
OKAY. THANK YOU. MISS PETERSON, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF OFFICER RIMES? NO.
ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER TESTIMONY OR EVIDENCE FROM THE CITY? OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, MISS PETERSON, UH, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. AS I RECALL FROM THE LAST MEETING, AND NOW IT'S BEEN A FEW MONTHS, UM, I KNOW YOU MADE THE DRIVE OVER BACK FROM TALLAHASSEE, YES, SIR.
UH, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO AS MUCH AS YOU CAN, AND THEN SOME OF IT WAS GOING TO WAIT ON POTENTIAL FINANCING OR BIDS, AND I THINK THAT, AS I RECALL, THAT WAS AND THAT'S A MAJOR CONCERN.
THAT'S THE, THAT'S WHERE I AM WITH THE REMAINING VIOLATIONS.
SO, WAS ABLE TO HAVE A STEADY LAWN PERSON THAT ACTUALLY DOES NEED TO TAKE CARE OF WHAT YOU NOTATED. I STOPPED BY, AND I'LL MEET WITH HIM TODAY.
UM, BUT I HAVE APPLIED FOR FINANCING. I GOT 4 QUOTES FOR A ROOF BECAUSE IN ORDER TO FIX WHAT YOU GUYS ARE SEEING, I NEED TO DO DO THE ROOF.
UM, SO I'VE OBTAINED 4 QUOTES.
THE CHEAPEST IS 20,000, THE MOST EXPENSIVE IS 30,000. UM, I'VE APPLIED FOR FINANCING, UM, AND WAS DENIED. AND SO MY PIVOT IS TO REACH OUT AND SEE IF I HAVE SOMEONE THAT'S WILLING TO INVEST IN THE PROPERTY FOR ME. UM, BUT THAT'S MY HOLD UP, IS LITERALLY FUNDING FOR THE ROOF. I HAVE, I HAVE MY QUOTES, I KNOW A COMPANY THAT I WANT TO USE, I JUST NEED THE FUNDING FOR IT.
OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE CITY? I HAVE NONE.
OKAY, I'M JUST LOOKING OVER THAT.
RIGHT. OR DO YOU HAVE A THE RESIDENCE LATELY? IS, IS THERE ANY EVIDENCE OF WATER INTRUSION FROM THE ROOF ON THE INSIDE NOW? UH, NO, SIR.
GREAT, BUT THAT THING IS HOLDING ON. THAT'S THE HOUSE I GREW UP IN, AND MY DAD GREW UP IN, AND MY GRANDPARENTS GOT IT AND FIXED IT UP WAY BACK IN THE 40S, SO.
UH, NO, SIR, I DIDN'T SEE ANY EVIDENCE OF WATER INTRUSION. WHENEVER I COME, I WALK THROUGH, AND THEN THERE'S ALSO, UM, A HANDYMAN THAT I HAVE THAT HAS A KEY TO THE HOUSE, MHM.
THAT PERIODICALLY GOES IN TO CHECK FOR ME NOW TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS GOOD.
OKAY. AND WHO'S RUBY WHITE TO YOU? RUBY WHITE IS MY GRANDMOTHER.
OKAY. BECAUSE I NOTED IT, IT STILL SHOWS THE TITLE IN, IN HER ESTATE'S NAME.
THAT IS CORRECT. THAT IS A, THAT'S A WHOLE, THAT'S A WHOLE NOTHER ISSUE.
I'M SURE PRESENTING SOME CHALLENGES WITH SECURING FINANCING OR INVESTMENT.
THAT IS A HUGE CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW, UM, AS I'M HER HEIR, UM, BUT I DON'T HAVE AN ORIGINAL COPY OF HER WILL, UH, AND THE ATTORNEY THAT WROTE HER WILL IS NOW RETIRED. SO THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE AND I MET WITH YOU GUYS, MM-HMM.
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I WENT ON A WILD GOOSE HUNT AROUND FERNANDINA TRYING TO FIND HIM.WHO IS THE ATTORNEY? OH, IF YOU WOULDN'T HAVE ASKED ME, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TELL YOU.
IT MIGHT COME TO ME. HE'S RETIRED. UM, I WENT TO THIS, LIKE, LAW OFFICE OFF OF 8TH STREET, KIND OF LIKE WHERE THE MCDONALD'S IS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE HE WAS PRACTICING OUT OF. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT HELPS. A LANDMARK HELPS, BUT WHEN I WENT IN, SHE TOLD ME HE WAS RETIRED AND THAT I JUST NEEDED TO TRY TO GIVE HIM A CALL. UM... WAIT.
THAT AREA WOULD BE HIS LAST NAME MIGHT HAVE BEEN... IS THERE AN ATTORNEY HERE WITH THE LAST NAME POOLE? YES.
RIGHT HERE? NO, I DON'T THINK IT'S YOU, THOUGH.
NO, I DON'T THINK YEAH, WELL, THERE'S A COUPLE OTHERS.
WELL, THERE'S BEEN A COUPLE OF OTHERS.
UM, BUT THAT'S THE HOLD UP RIGHT NOW, AND MY FATHER DIDN'T HAVE A WILL. HE UNEXPECTEDLY PASSED AWAY. HE HAD A MASSIVE STROKE.
UM, AND SO HE DOESN'T HAVE A WILL, AND SO IN ORDER FOR ME TO PROBATE THE PROPERTY TO GET IT TO ME, I NEED TO FIND THE ORIGINAL COPY OF HER WILL.
I WAS THINKING CLYDE DAVIS OKAY.
HE DID RECENTLY RETIRE, UM, BUT HE LIVES UP THERE ON EGAN'S CREEK, ACTUALLY.
REALLY? I NEED TO KNOW IF HE WOULD, LIKE, HAVE FILES FROM PROBABLY, LIKE, 1994 OR 1995.
AND HE PREPARED IT AND THEN ACTED AS EITHER THE NOTARY OR THE WITNESS MHM.
ON IT, YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO UTILIZE HIM AS A WITNESS TO ESTABLISH THAT THAT IS A TRUE COPY OF, OF THE WILL.
UM, SO THE BEST CONTACT FOR HIM IS GOING TO BE BRETT STEIGER OKAY.
UM, THAT'S HIS FORMER LAW PARTNER, UH, AND HE DOES HAVE AN OFFICE ON 8TH STREET ACROSS FROM THE WELLS FARGO.
OKAY. UM, SO I WOULD SAY THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE YOUR BEST BET.
THAT WOULD ACTUALLY BE HELPFUL.
I ACTUALLY TRIED TO PULL THE EQUITY OUT OF MY OWN HOUSE MM.
AND HIT A- AND HIT A ROAD BUMP, AND SO THAT'S WHY I'M TRYING TO SEE IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO PARTNER AND HELP ME FIX THE HOUSE.
DO YOU HAVE ANY TYPE OF TIMELINE? UM, I'M GONNA MEET WITH THEM TODAY WHILE I'M HERE.
UM, HE'S REALLY EAGER. HE WANTS TO FLIP A HOUSE. THAT'S KIND OF HIS THING. HE'S INTO FLIPPING HOUSES, AND HE JUST WANTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO FLIP.
UM, SO I'M GONNA MEET WITH HIM TODAY, SPEAK WITH HIM, SEE IF WE COULD COME TO SOME SORT OF AGREEMENT, SOME SORT OF TERMS ON, ON HOW WE WOULD FINANCIALLY NAVIGATE THIS, UM, AND THEN I'LL BE ABLE TO MOVE FROM THERE. SO I CAN DEFINITELY UPDATE CRYSTAL ONCE I HAVE THAT. ONCE I HAVE FUNDING, I CAN GIVE HER ALL KINDS OF DATES. IT'S JUST I CAN'T, I DON'T WANT TO PULL THE TRIGGER AND DO ANYTHING UNTIL I YOU CAN'T MAKE PROMISES OR EXACTLY.
COMMITMENTS IF YOU CAN'T CARRY THROUGH WITH IT.
OKAY. WHAT'S THE CITY'S RECOMMENDATION THEN IN THIS CASE? SO, I'M GONNA STICK WITH THE ORIGINAL OKAY.
UM, RECOMMENDATION, THAT ALTERED THE DATE, UM, DEPENDING ON WHAT HER TIME IS. I MEAN, OUR ORIGINAL RECOMMENDATION WAS 30 DAYS, AND THEN IMPOSE A FINE OF 50 DOLLARS PER DAY.
AND AUTHORIZE ASSESSMENT OF ATTORNEY'S FEES.
WE DID ASSESS ADMINISTRATIVE FEES THE FIRST HEARING.
UM, AND IT- AND IT WAS OFFICIALLY FOUND IN VIOLATION, RIGHT.
MISS PETERSON, HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU THINK YOU NEED TO AT LEAST GET SOME KIND OF BALL MOVING? I KNOW THAT IT MIGHT NOT BE FULLY IN COMPLIANCE, OBVIOUSLY, WITHIN 30 DAYS, BUT...
WELL, NO ONE WOULD PARTIALLY FIX THE ROOFS, THE WOOD ROT THAT YOU'RE SHOWING ON YOUR SIDE. UM, EVERY VENDOR THAT I COME OUT AND I ASK THEM, WILL THEY JUST FIX THAT FOR ME? THEY TELL ME NO, IT NEEDS TO BE THE FULL REPLACEMENT.
AND SO THAT'S MY HANG UP. I CAN'T FIND A HANDYMAN THAT WILL JUST FIX THOSE THINGS.
EVERYONE WANTS TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY, WHICH I DON'T MIND, OF COURSE, BUT I CAN'T GET SOMEONE TO JUST DO THOSE PIECES FOR ME, TO PUT ME BACK INTO COMPLIANCE.
BUT I THINK THE QUESTION WAS, HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU THINK YOU NEED? WOULD YOU LIKE THE CITY TO CONSIDER? I WOULD SAY IF YOU COULD CONSIDER TO GIVE ME ANOTHER 30 DAYS TO SEE IF I CAN GET THIS FUNDING, THIS INVESTOR, AND THEN COME BACK TO YOU WITH AN UPDATE. I THINK THAT WOULD BE FAIR. I HAVEN'T HAD A HO- OP- OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH HIM. I WANTED TO MEET WITH HIM FACE TO FACE IN TOWN JUST TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S UNDERSTAND.
AND AND WHAT ABOUT THE, UM, ADDITIONAL, I THINK YOU MENTIONED THE YOU'VE GOT SOME SORT OF YARD GUY THAT'S KEEPING UP WITH IT, THAT OVERGROWTH THAT IS COMING BACK ONTO THE HOUSE.
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I MEAN, THAT SHOULD BE PRETTY EASY OH, THAT'S EASY.THAT'S A, THAT COULD BE ADDRESSED PROBABLY WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK. I'M GONNA CONTACT HIM TODAY WHILE I'M HERE.
OKAY, WELL, IF YOU CAN COMMIT TO GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF WITHIN, SAY, THE NEXT 10 DAYS.
I DON'T, I'M NOT TOO KEEN ON HAVING YOU COME BACK IN 30 DAYS BECAUSE I THINK IT'S JUST GOING TO BE MORE OF THE SAME.
TO GET THAT MUCH DONE. SO I'D BE INCLINED TO BRING IT BACK FOR THE DECEMBER MEETING.
UH, FOR EITHER A, YOU KNOW, STATUS UPDATE. UM, WE'RE STILL GOING TO KEEP IT ON AS, YOU KNOW, CONSIDERING THE IM- IMPOSITION OKAY.
OF A FINE, UM, BUT WE'LL SET A COUPLE OF COMPLIANCE DATES THEN, UH, SO 10 DAYS FROM TODAY, SO BY THE 11TH.
IF YOU CAN GET THE OVERGROWTH TAKEN CARE OF.
UM, IF IT'S NOT TAKEN CARE OF, THEN WE'LL, THE PLAN WILL BE TO IMPOSE A FINE STARTING ON THE 12TH.
AND GOING FORWARD, BUT THAT SHOULD BE EASY TO ADDRESS. UM, AND THEN FOR THE OTHER ITEMS THAT, WHICH IS MAJOR, BASICALLY THE ROOF, MM-HMM.
UH, TO HAVE SOME SORT OF PROGRESS DONE.
THE NEXT MEETING IS DECEMBER 3RD, NOT THE NEXT, OBVIOUSLY THAT'S NOVEMBER 5TH, BUT THE DECEMBER MEETING IS DECEMBER 3RD, AND, UM, I MEAN, 60 DAYS IS NOVEMBER 30TH.
IS THAT ON A TUESDAY? DECEMBER, UNLESS I'M LOOKING AT OR NO, MAYBE I'M THINKING OF NOVEMBER.
MM-HMM, RIGHT. YEAH. IF YOU, IF YOU'RE INCLINED NOT TO DO, WE SAID 30 DAYS WASN'T ENOUGH BECAUSE NOVEMBER 5TH WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE OVER 30 DAYS. SO THE NEXT MEETING IS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3RD AT 1:30.
OKAY, SO THEN PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, COMPLIANCE WOULD BE TO TAKE THOSE STEPS IN FURTHERANCE OF REPLACING THE ROOF, WHETHER THAT'S A PERMIT APPLICATION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT BEING SUBMITTED, AND WE'LL SAY BY NOVEMBER 31ST.
THAT'LL BE THE MONDAY BEFORE THAT MEETING.
SO NEXT MONTH. OKAY, NOVEMBER 30TH, MM.
THAT MONDAY, UM, AND IF IT'S NOT IN COMPLIANCE, WE'RE GOING TO ORDER THAT YOU APPEAR AGAIN ON DECEMBER THE 3RD.
ALL RIGHT, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? UH, NO, SIR. UH, STEIGER.
THAT'S GOING TO BE THE, THE CONTACT, AND I'M NOT, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH CLYDE DAVIS'S OLD FILES, BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE THE BEST BET, AND OKAY.
BRETT WILL BE ABLE TO GET A HOLD OF CLYDE AS WELL IF YOU NEED, UM, SOME SORT OF ASSISTANCE FROM HIM IN IMPROVING UP THAT COPY OF THE WILL.
IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ALREADY WENT THERE ONCE, THOUGH, SO I DID, YOU MIGHT WANT TO ASK STEIGER WASN'T THERE. I WALKED IN, AND, UM, A WOMAN JUST KIND OF LIKE TURNED ME BACK AROUND. I TOLD HER WHO I WAS LOOKING FOR, AND SHE WAS LIKE, OH, HE'S RETIRED, AND SHE TOLD ME TO DID SHE COME FROM UPSTAIRS OR FROM DOWNSTAIRS? DOWNSTAIRS.
OKAY, SO THAT WOULD BE, UM, I DON'T KNOW HER NAME.
YEAH, SHE TURNED ME RIGHT AROUND. SO I WAS LIKE, OKAY.
AND HIS INFORMATION MIGHT BE ON THE FLORIDA BAR WEBSITE TOO, I DON'T KNOW.
OFFICE LINE OR CELL PHONE OR SOMETHING? YEAH, HE PROBABLY DOESN'T HAVE AN OFFICE NUMBER ANYMORE, BUT A, A CONTACT INFORMATION, BUT HOPEFULLY THEY CAN GET IT FOR YOU.
RIGHT, AND ESPECIALLY IF YOU MAKE SURE THEY KNOW THAT YOU'RE SEEKING ASSISTANCE WITH A WILL THAT HE PREPARED.
YEAH, IT'S FLORIDA BAR SAYS HE HAS OFFICIALLY RETIRED.
YEAH, BUT IT ALSO HAS HIS CELL PHONE.
UNLESS HE GAVE I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S, THAT MIGHT BE AN OFFICE NUMBER.
OH YEAH, I SEE IT IS AN OFFICE NUMBER, YOU'RE RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, MISS PETERSON, I'M GOING TO ISSUE A WRITTEN ORDER IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS THAT'S GOING TO BE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT I'VE ANNOUNCED. DO YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? NO, SIR.
[4.2 KATHY G. WORTHAM EST., 806 S. 6TH ST., FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034, CASE 2026-0117]
MOVE TO OUR NEXT CASE, CASE 4.2, CATHY G. WORTHAM ESTATE.THIS IS IN REGARDS TO THE PROPERTY AT 806 SOUTH 6TH STREET. IS THERE ANYONE HERE ON BEHALF OF THE PROPERTY OWNER? OKAY, SEEING NONE. UH, MISS RIMES, ARE THERE ANY DOCUMENTS OR ITEMS YOU'D LIKE TO BE RECEIVED INTO THE RECORD? YES, SORRY, I WAS LOOKING FOR THE PRESENTATION. UH, YES, I'LL HAVE SOME, UM, PHOTOS, UM... SORRY, I DON'T HAVE MY ACTUAL THERE'S A 12-PAGE PRESENTATION THANK YOU.
WE'D LIKE TO ENTER INTO THE RECORD OKAY.
WITH PICTURES, THE NOTICE, UH, PROPERTY INFORMATION, UM, AND UH, VIOLATION DETAILS AND THE REQUEST RECOMMENDATION. IT'S 12 PAGES.
[00:25:01]
THAT PRESENTATION WILL BE ADMITTED INTO THE RECORD WITHOUT OBJECTION. MISS RIMES, PLEASE PROCEED.THANK YOU, SPECIAL MAGISTRATE. OKAY. OKAY, AGAIN, MY NAME IS CRYSTAL RIMES, CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH. THIS PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT 806 SOUTH 6TH STREET. THE RESPONDENT IS CATHY WORTHAM, UH, THE OWNER ON RECORD, ACCORDING TO NASSAU COUNTY PROPERTY APPRAISERS. SO THESE PHOTOGRAPHS WERE TAKING OR TAKEN ON, UM, ONE INSPECTION, JUNE 17, 2026. BOTH PHOTOS, AND IT REVEALS THE OVERGROWTH OF THE YARD. THIS COM- UH, THIS CASE ACTUALLY DID BEGIN WITH A COMPLAINT FROM NEIGHBORING PROPERTY.
THESE WERE TAKEN ON JUNE 17, 2026 AS WELL. GOING TO SHOW MY LASER POINTER. UM, JUST TO POINT A FEW ITEMS OUT OF WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT, THERE WAS A DECORATIVE, UH, FEATURE UP HERE, WOODEN FEATURE THAT IS, HAD SOME MISSING PIECES. SOME OF THE WOOD IS BEGINNING TO COME OFF OF THE, AS THE SIDING.
ON THE RIGHT PHOTO, YOU CAN SEE THE TRIM FASCIA.
IT WAS IN DISREPAIR. THERE IS A PIECE OF PLYWOOD AS WALLING.
AND THERE'S SOME BETTER PHOTOS I WILL SHOW YOU AS WELL. THESE PHOTOS, YOU CAN SEE THE ROOF, UH, IS DEFINITELY IN IN NEED OF SERIOUS MAINTENANCE. HAD A BIG PATCH ON THIS SIDE, BUT THERE WERE QUITE A FEW MISSING, UH, SHINGLES. AND A BETTER PHOTO WILL ALSO, I'LL SHOW YOU IN A MINUTE, BUT, UM, THE ROOF ON THE ATTACHED LEAN-TO STRUCTURE, UH, WAS COMPLETELY OFF. IT WAS A METAL ROOF. AND THEN... YEAH, YOU CAN SEE RIGHT HERE IN THESE PHOTOS THAT IT WAS ALMOST LIKE THE WIND CARRIED IT OFF, UM, FOR THE THAT CANOPY.
THERE'S ALSO OUTSIDE STORAGE THAT IS VISIBLE FROM THE RIGHT OF WAY, AND AS YOU CAN SEE, OVERGROWTH CONTINUES ON ON THIS SIDE OF THE PROPERTY. I DID DO AN INSPECTION TODAY, AND THIS IS THE THE PHOTOS FROM TODAY'S INSPECTION. IT CONTINUES, UH, TO BE OVERGROWN.
IN THIS PHOTO, YOU CAN STILL SEE THAT IT, THERE'S, UH, SOME MISSING SHINGLES, SOME DAMAGE TO THE ROOF.
IN VARIOUS PLACES, IT IS A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO SEE IN ALL OF THESE PHOTOS. I CAN ZOOM IN IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO, BUT THERE IS, UH, MISSING OR ROTTEN PIECES OF WOOD ON IT, SMALL, SMALLER PIECES, BUT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE DWELLING, YOU CAN SEE IT. ALSO, I DID NOTICE TODAY THAT THE POSTING IS STILL PRESENT ON THE, THE POLE RIGHT HERE AS WELL, AND NOBODY'S BROUGHT THAT DOWN.
HERE IS SOME MORE PHOTOS OF TODAY'S INSPECTION. ROOF STILL GONE. THERE'S SOME MOLD, MILDEW THAT NOW IS APPEARING ON THE SIDE OF THE STRUCTURE AS WELL, AND THE OVERGROWTH REALLY JUST CONTINUES TO GET WORSE. ALL RIGHT, SO TO REVIEW THE VIOLATION DETAILS, 42116A1 IS DUTY TO MAINTAIN PROPERTY. THAT'S IS STILL IN VIOLATION. 42117E IS THE EXTERIOR WALL MAINTENANCE, YOU KNOW, LACK OF PAINT, NEEDS A NEW FRESH COAT OF PAINT, NEEDS TO BE SCRAPED, ANY, YOU KNOW, ANY PEELING OR F- OR FAKE FLAKING MATERIALS OR MATERIALS THAT ARE NOT COVERED WITH A S- EXTERIOR SURFACE, UM, NEED TO BE SEALED AND PROTECTED. SO THAT STILL REMAINS IN VIOLATION. 42117F IS THE EXTERIOR STRUCTURE, ROOF, AND FLASHING. THEY NEED TO REPAIR, REPLACE THE MISSING AND OR DETERIORATED MATERIAL.
42117H, EXTERIOR STRUCTURE, OVERHANGS, CANOPIES. THIS IS FOR THE LEAN-TO CANOPY PORTION THAT IS IN VIOLATION FOR THE ROOF. AND THEN THE 5.00109D FOR UNSCREENED OUTSIDE STORAGE.
THERE'S JUST RANDOM, UM, PIECES IN THAT AREA THAT REALLY NEED TO BE HIDDEN AND, AND NOT IN PLAIN VIEW OF THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.
ALL RIGHT, SO THE NOTICE OF VIOLATION, NOTICE OF HEARING LETTER WAS SENT OUT ON AUGUST 21ST, 2026. IT WAS MAILED CERTIFIED, AND IT WAS FOR TODAY'S HEARING DATE, OCTOBER 1ST, 2026. IT WAS ALSO POSTED ON THE PROPERTY, AND RIGHT HERE YOU CAN SEE THE CERTIFIED MAIL RECEIPTS, AND AN AFFIDAVIT OF SERVICE WAS COMPLETED FOR THE POSTING ON THE PROPERTY AS WELL. SO THE INITIAL INSPECTION WAS JUNE 17TH, 2026, ORIGINAL COMPLIANCE
[00:30:01]
DATE JULY 20- 24TH, 2026. WE DID A TOTAL OF... NOW I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY 5 RE-INSPECTIONS WITH TODAY'S INSPECTION, AND THEN, UM, IT'S BEEN IN VIOLATION FOR 156 DAYS. WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY COMMUNICATION WITH AN OWNER OR REPRESENTATIVE OF THIS PROPERTY. UH, WE HAVE LOOKED. UH, THE ONE THING THAT I CAN TELL YOU IS, UM, IS IT IS AN ESTATE, SO WE CAN ASSUME, UM, WE, I DID DO A SOME RESEARCH AND DID FIND THAT THE LADY THAT IT WAS UNDER THE ESTATE'S NAME DID HAVE AN OBITUARY REPORT THAT WAS LOCAL, SO, UM, BUT I, I, I COULDN'T FIND ANY CONTACT INFORMATION FOR RELATIVES. SO, THAT BEING SAID, UM, THE CITY IS RECOMMENDING THE FOLLOWING.FIND THE RESPONDENT IN VIOLATION OF 42116A1, 42117E, 41217F, 42117H, AND 5.0109. ORDER COMPLIANCE WITHIN 31 DAYS BY NOVEMBER 1ST, 2026. IMPOSE ANY ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS THROUGH, UH, INCURRED THROUGH THE LIFE OF THE CASE, AND IMPOSE A FINE OF 50 DOLLARS PER DAY PER VIOLATION. THERE'S A TOTAL OF 5 VIOLATIONS, WHICH WOULD BE 250 PER DAY.
AND I AM RECOMMENDING THIS BECAUSE, IN HOPES THAT IF SOMETHING, ONE THING IS BROUGHT INTO COMPLIANCE, IT WILL LOWER THAT DAILY VIOLATION AMOUNT.
SO THAT'S WHY IT'S ASKING FOR EACH YES, ITEM.
IN THE LONG RUN, SO IT IT WOULD BE MORE BENEFICIAL TO WHOEVER TAKES OVER.
WHAT ARE THE CITY'S ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS? OH YES. UM, SO TODAY IS ACTUALLY THE FIRST DAY THAT, UM, FIRST HEARING WITH OUR NEW ADMINISTRATIVE FEE STRUCTURE AS WELL. SO THE... FROM ANY INSPECTIONS THAT ARE GOING TO BE CONDUCTED HERE FROM TODAY MOVING FORWARD WILL INCUR A 50 DOLLAR INSPECTION FEE, AND THEN HEARINGS WILL BE 100 DOLLARS PER HEARING. SO WE ARE NO LONGER CHARGING PER HOUR PER PERSON, UM, BUT ANYTHING THAT WAS DONE PRIOR TO TODAY'S DATE, IT WOULD BE CHARGED THAT WAY.
SO THE, THE ADMINISTRATIVE FINES AS OF TODAY IS MAYBE THE QUESTION YOU WERE ASKING? YES.
YEAH, WHAT IS IF YOU'RE ASKING ME TO IMPOSE ADMINISTRATIVE FINES, I NEED TO KNOW HOW MUCH.
RIGHT, HOW MUCH, AND BASED ON WHAT YOU JUST DISCUSSED, HOW MUCH? UM.
SO I DID BRING A BREAKDOWN FOR YOU TO, TO TAKE A LOOK AT TO SEE. ALSO, ANY, YOU KNOW, RECORDING AND RECOVERY COSTS FOR CERTIFIED MAIL.
LIEN RECORDING, ANYTHING OF THAT SORT.
WHAT ARE WE AT TO 806? 806, YES. OKAY. AND ARE YOU ASKING THIS INVOICE FROM CODE ENFORCEMENT, COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT AND COMPLIANCE BE ADMITTED INTO THE RECORD? YES, PLEASE.
ALL RIGHT, IT'LL BE ADMITTED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
OKAY. UH, ALSO NOTE, IF I'M ON THE RIGHT MONTH, NOVEMBER 1ST IS A SUNDAY. SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO GO OUT CHECKING FOR COMPLIANCE ON A SUNDAY.
UM, SO I'M GONNA SET, I'M GONNA FIND IF NOVEMBER 2ND.
WELL, ACTUALLY, IF IT'S IN COMPLIANCE, WE WOULD NOT INSPECT ON THE DATE OF COMPLIANCE, WE WOULD INSPECT THE DAY AFTER.
SO IT WOULD... I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
I I'D ST- I THINK, OKAY, SO MOVE IT OUT.
BASED ON THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED, I'M GOING TO FIND THERE'S COMPETENT SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE TO, UH, SUPPORT A FINDING THAT THE PROPERTY IS IN VIOLATION, UM, AS OUTLINED THROUGH THOSE 5 SEPARATE, UH, DEFICIENCIES WITH THE PRESENTATION. I'M GONNA ORDER THAT THE PROPERTY OBTAIN COMPLIANCE BY NOVEMBER THE 2ND, 2026. IF IT'S NOT IN COMPLIANCE BY THAT TIME, WE'LL IMPOSE A DAILY FINE OF 250 DOLLARS A DAY. THAT'S 50 DOLLARS PER VIOLATION, SO PARTIAL COMPLIANCE WILL RESULT THAT, WILL RESULT IN A REDUCTION OF THAT DAILY FEE. UH, AND THAT DAILY FINE WILL BEGIN ON NOVEMBER THE 3RD UNTIL THE PROPERTY OBTAINS COMPLIANCE.
I'M ALSO GOING TO IMPOSE AND AWARD THE CITY THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE COST, THE AMOUNT OF 304 DOLLARS AND 41 CENTS. IS THERE ANYTHING FURTHER WE NEED ON THIS PARTICULAR MATTER? I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, BECAUSE OF US NOT KNOWING, UM, WHAT THE SITUATION IS WITH THE BEING IN AN ESTATE, IF WE HAVE TO DO CONTINUING, UM, INSPECTIONS, THAT COULD GO ON FOR MANY YEARS.
AND OUR, OUR TYPICAL STANDARD PROCESS WOULD BE TO ADD ON EACH INSPECTION. SO DO, WHEN
[00:35:01]
YOU'RE AWARDING THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS IN A CERTAIN AMOUNT, IS THAT OKAY IF WE ARE STILL ABLE TO- THAT WOULD BE WITHOUT PREJUDICE RIGHT.TO SEEK ADDITIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES THAT ARE INCURRED IN THE FUTURE.
THAT'S JUST AS OF TODAY, YOU AWARD YOUR COSTS TO DATE.
SO THAT WOULD BE WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO SEEK ADDITIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, UH, FOR ANY FUTURE ACTIONS. SO IF THERE'S FUTURE INSPECTIONS, IF THERE IS, UH, SOMEONE COMES AROUND MM-HMM.
AND FILES, FILES AN APPLICATION TO REDUCE THE LIEN, MM-HMM.
I MEAN, ALL OF THAT WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY THEN TO REQUEST THOSE ADDITIONAL COSTS.
AND WE WOULD COME HERE TO REQUEST THEM.
RIGHT. I UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU.
WELL, YOU AND I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO TALK, BUT YES, WE WOULD HAVE TO BRING IT BACK TO THE MAGISTRATE TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SO IT'S WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO SEEK THOSE ADDITIONAL COSTS.
OKAY. ANYTHING FURTHER? NO, THANK YOU.
OKAY, I WILL ENTER A WRITTEN ORDER CONSISTENT WITH THAT PRONOUNCEMENT, UM, IN THE COMING DAYS. ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA MOVE
[4.3 MARILYN C. LEIBMAN, 316 S. 9TH ST., FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034, CASE 2023-0065]
TO OUR NEXT ITEM, 4.3 MARILYN LIEBMAN. THAT'S PROPERTY 316 SOUTH 9TH STREET, OF COURSE, FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA.HELLO. WOULD YOU CARE TO JOIN US AT THE PODIUM, PLEASE. AND IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
EXCUSE ME, MARILYN LIEBMAN, UM, 213, NORTH 13TH TERRACE, HERE IN FERNANDINA.
ALL RIGHT, MISS LIEBMAN, WELCOME. UM, MISS RIMES, ARE THERE ANY DOCUMENTS OR ITEMS YOU'D LIKE TO BE RECEIVED INTO THE RECORD? I CAN HANDLE THAT IF YOU'D LIKE ME TO.
I'M HAVING TECHNICAL ISSUES BETWEEN PRESENTATION.
WE HAVE, UM, WE HAVE 17-PAGE PRESENTATION WITH THE INFORMATION ON THE PROPERTY OWNER, THE PROOF OF SERVICE OF THE NOTICE, POSTING OF THE NOTICE, AND PICTURES OF THE VIOLATIONS, A SUMMARY OF THE VIOLATION, AND THE CITY'S REQUESTED ACTION, FOR A TOTAL OF 17 PAGES.
MISS LIEBMAN, DO YOU HAVE ANY OBJECTION TO THAT STAFF PRESENTATION BEING MADE PART OF THE RECORD? NOT IF IT'S ONLY THIS ONE.
OKAY, UM, WHY DON'T WE DO THIS? MISS RIMES, GO THROUGH YOUR PRESENTATION, AND THEN.
AND THEN WE'LL GIVE HER AN OPPORTUNITY TO AND PLEASE EXCUSE ME. MY, ACTUALLY, I REALLY DON'T FEEL GOOD, AND I DIDN'T WANT TO MISS THIS.
I'M TAKING MEDICATION, NOW IT'S MY EARS, AND THAT'S THE WORST EXCUSE, I KNOW, BUT IT'S THE TRUTH. SO LET'S, SO I JUST HAVE TO ASK YOU TO JUST SPEAK, YOU KNOW, IN CASE I COULD DO THIS. THANK YOU.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN HEAR ME.
ARE YOU ABLE TO HEAR, OR DO YOU NEED ADDITIONAL TIME, OR? NO, GO AHEAD.
ALL RIGHT. MISS RIMES, IF YOU WOULD, AND PLEASE SPEAK UP.
GREAT TIMING. I WAS JUST ABLE TO GET THIS FIGURED OUT. CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY, MISS LIEBMAN? PARDON? MISS LIEBMAN, CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? YEAH.
ALL RIGHT, SO MY NAME IS CRYSTAL RIMES, UH-OH.
CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WITH THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH. THIS CASE IS REGARDING PROPERTY 3- 316 SOUTH 9TH STREET, FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA. THE OWNER IS MISS MARILYN, MARILYN LIEBMAN, AND WE DID VERIFY OWNERSHIP THROUGH NASSAU COUNTY PROPERTY APPRAISERS. THIS CASE BEGAN M- I'M SORRY, MARCH 13TH.
THAT'S WHAT I'M WONDERING. I'M, I'M HERE FOR THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION.
THIS GOES BACK A WAYS. NOW, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT HAS TO BE PART OF THIS OR- YES, YES, MA'AM, IT DOES GO BACK A WAYS, BUT IT ACTUALLY, IT'S STILL THE SAME CASE. SO THIS CASE BEGAN IN 2023, AND, AND THAT'S WHY, UM, I'LL KEEP GOING THROUGH IT, AND THEN AS SOON AS I GET DONE, THEN YOU CAN, YOU CAN TALK ABOUT YOUR PORTION.
OKAY. I JUST WAY, I WANTED TO ASK.
YES, MA'AM. SO WHEN IT, WHEN IT FIRST- I KNOW WE'VE BEEN WORKING A LOT ON IT, SO.
YES, MA'AM. WHEN IT FIRST ORIGINATED, UM, IT WAS SIMPLY FOR TO REMOVE, UM, EXTERIOR, SORRY, REMOVE ANY MOLD, MILDEW, ALGAE THAT WAS ON THE EXTERIOR SURFACES OF THE PROPERTY. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT THIS IS A LEGACY CASE THAT WAS, THAT I HAVE TAKEN OVER, UM, AS I HAVE ONLY BEEN THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER SINCE, FOR THIS YEAR IN 2026. UM, THE VERY FIRST LETTER THAT WAS SENT OUT, IT WAS SENT OUT MARCH 29, 2023. IT ONLY INCLUDED ONE VIOLATION, WHICH WAS 42117, EXTERIOR STRUCTURE MAINTENANCE, AND THAT WAS
[00:40:03]
TO REMOVE ANY MOLD, MILDEW, ALGAE. AT THAT TIME, MISS LIEBMAN HAD SPOKE WITH, UM, THE PREVIOUS OFFICER, OFFICER WELLS, REGARDING SOME PERSONAL MATTERS, AND HE DID WORK WITH HER AND GRANTED MULTIPLE EXTENSIONS. THIS CASE PICKED BACK UP WHEN I WAS TAKING OVER.SO ON OCTOBER 14, 2025, WE DID A CASE TRANSFER INSPECTION WHERE ME AND OFFICER WELLS WENT OUT THERE, AND WE WERE GRANTED, UM, ACCESS BY THE CURRENT TENANT AT THAT TIME, WHERE WE GOT A CLOSER LOOK. WE DID SEE THERE WAS A SE- SEVERE MOLD MILDEW, UM, THAT WAS ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE STRUCTURE, SOME WOOD DAMAGE THAT WAS FILLED, YOU KNOW, WITH SOME FOAM, AND THERE'S ALSO SOME SIDING PIECES THAT ARE MISSING HERE. UM, SOME OF THE WINDOWS WERE DAMAGED.
ONE CONCERN THAT WE DID HAVE WAS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE STRUCTURE WHERE THE, THE FOOTY- FOOTER- FOOTERS ARE, UM, IT LOOKED LIKE THERE WAS SOME SERIOUS ROT THAT WAS HAPPENING, AND IT DID BECOME A, A CONCERN, SO WE DID DECIDE TO LOOK INTO THIS FURTHER.
THERE WAS ALSO OVERGROWTH GROWING ONTO THE STRUCTURE, AND AGAIN, MISSING. I THINK THESE ARE TECHNICALLY CALLED SHINGLES, LIKE A SHINGLE SIDING, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE IN A FEW DIFFERENT PLACES, SOME MOLD RIGHT HERE, OVERGROWTH. ALSO, I DON'T HAVE A GREAT PHOTO OF IT, BUT THE STAIRS AT ONE POINT IN TIME WERE ALSO IN DISREPAIR, AND WE DID SEND A NEW NOTICE.
WE INCLUDED THE NEW VIOLATIONS, CREATED A PRETTY LONG LIST OF TO-DO ITEMS FOR MISS LIEBMAN, AND IT IT SHE SLOWLY DID START ADDRESSING A LOT OF THESE ISSUES. THE STAIRS WERE REPLACED WITH BRAND NEW, UM, WOOD. YOU CAN S- SLOWLY START SEEING THAT THE, UM, THE EXTERIOR WAS PRESSURE WASHED.
LET ME SEE, AND THIS WAS BACK MAY 4TH, THERE WAS ANOTHER INSPECTION.
UH, YOU CAN SEE RIGHT HERE WHERE YOU DON'T SEE THE MOLD AND MILDEW AS AS MUCH, BUT THERE IS PATCHWORK. YOU ALSO DON'T SEE THE HOLES AS THEY WERE THERE BEFORE, OR ANY OVERGROWTH. SO ALL OF THAT WAS ADDRESSED DURING THAT TIME PERIOD. THESE PHOTOS WERE 728, SAME, ABOUT THE SAME. NOW, AROUND THIS TIME, UH, JULY 28TH, I WANT TO SAY MISS LIEBMAN DID, SHE DID GET WITH HI- HYGEMA, AND SHE DID SUBMIT A LETTER TO CODE ENFORCEMENT, UM, STATING THAT THE, THE ISSUE WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT WITH THE STRUCTURE, UM, IT WAS MORE OF A SUPERFICIAL RATHER THAN SOMETHING THAT NEEDED TO BE, TO GO IN GREATER, UH, DEPTH ON, AND THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OUT OF CODE ENFORCEMENT SCOPE TOO, BUT WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS STRUCTURALLY SOUND AND, AND, AND THIS AND SAFE. SO, UM, THAT COMPLIED THAT CONCERN AS WELL.
SO WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY IS WE DID SEND AN UPDATED NOTICE OF VIOLATION, NOTICE OF HEARING LETTER, BECAUSE AT THIS POINT THE IMPROVEMENTS DID STALL OUT FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
SO, UM, THIS WAS SENT JULY 29, 2026, CERTIFIED MAIL. IT WAS ALSO POSTED ON THE PROPERTY, AND AN AFFIDAVIT OF SERVICE WAS COMPLETED, WHICH SHOWED, UM, WE GAVE US DUE PROCESS. SO WHERE WE ARE AT TODAY, THE VIOLATION IS QUITE SIMPLE.
IT, IT REALLY, IT'S THE EXPOSED WOOD AND JUST PAINTING TO MATCH. THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT, JUST MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING GETS PROPERLY SEALED UP, AND UM, AND THAT WOULD ACTUALLY COM- COMPLY THE CASE TODAY. SO, UM, YOU CAN SEE RIGHT HERE, 42 117. IT DIDN'T HAVE BACK THEN, IT DIDN'T HAVE TECHNICALLY EF, HOW WE'RE DOING IT TODAY, BUT WE CONSIDER THAT AS CORRECTED, AND UM, RIGHT NOW THE ONLY VIOLATION THAT REMAINS IS 42-117E. SO, JUST TO KIND OF RECAP CASE TIMELINE, THIS HAS BEEN OPEN SINCE MARCH 13TH, 2023. WE'VE GRANTED MULTIPLE EXTENSIONS AND HAVE BEEN HAPPY TO WORK WITH MISS LIEBMAN. THE ORIGINAL COMPLIANCE DATE WAS SET FOR APRIL 9TH, 2023. WE HAVE CONDUCTED A TOTAL OF 17 INSPECTIONS AS OF TODAY. I DID DO AN INSPECTION TODAY, AND THE PROGRESS WAS THE SAME. I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO UPDATE THIS, UM, BUT THAT'S ABOUT, YOU KNOW, 5 AND A HALF, 6 INSPECTIONS PER YEAR. UM, IT HAS BEEN IN VIOLATION A TOTAL OF A HUN- OR 1,298 DAYS, AND IT DOES REMAIN IN VIOLATION OF 42.117E. UM, MISS LIEBMAN HAS DONE A WONDERFUL JOB WORKING
[00:45:02]
WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT. SHE'S BEEN IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH US, AND SHE IS A DELIGHT TO WORK WITH. SO, UM, JUST, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS WE'RE CONCERNED, UM, WE DO HAVE TO ASK FOR A RECOMMENDATION.SO OUR RECOMMENDATION IS 42-117E TO FIND THAT IN THE RESPONDENT IN VIOLATION. ORDER COMPLIANCE DATE WITHIN 30 DAYS.
SINCE IT IS JUST PAINTING, WE BELIEVE THAT THAT IS A SUFFICIENT, UM, AMOUNT OF TIME. AND, OH, THIS TIMELINE IS ACTUALLY RIGHT, UH, BY NOVEMBER 2ND.
IMPOSE ANY ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS INCURRED THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF THE CASE, AND THEN IMPOSE A FINE OF 50 DOLLARS PER DAY BEGINNING ON NOVEMBER 3RD, AND THE CITY REST. THANK YOU.
OKAY, A COUPLE FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS, UM, WHAT ARE THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS THAT YOU'RE SEEKING? YOU SHOULD HAVE IT, IT SHOULD BE THIS.
ASK IT TO BE PART OF THE RECORD. OKAY.
ALL RIGHT, SO THE ADMINISTRATIVE, UM, COST AS OF TODAY IS 498.98.
ALL RIGHT. MISS LIEBMAN, DID I SAY THAT RIGHT? YES.
UH, MISS LIEBMAN, UM, DO YOU HAVE FIRST, I'LL GO BACK TO MY QUESTION, DO YOU HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS TO STAFF'S PRESENTATION THAT WAS ON THE SCREEN BEING ADMITTED TO THE RECORD? WHAT IS? YES, WHAT WAS UP HERE? YEAH.
DO YOU OBJECT TO? AS FAR AS, AS FAR AS WHAT THE PICTURES AND THINGS? YES, MA'AM.
WELL, THE ONLY THING IS, I KNOW ALL THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED. I MAY NOT HAVE HEARD EVERY WORD, I'M SORRY.
YOU KNOW, I, YOU KNOW, IN MY HEAD. UM, SO THAT'S WHY I SAY WE'RE DEALING WITH THIS PARTICULAR THING RIGHT NOW.
UM, I'M GLAD THAT YOU DID SHOW THEM TO ME BECAUSE I REALIZED HOW MUCH I DID GET DONE.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S DIFFICULT WITH THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION BECAUSE I THINK WE STARTED AS A PART OF THIS FROM THE TRANSITION WITH, WITH EVERYONE INVOLVED, CODE MAINTENANCE, UH, UH, CODE ENFORCEMENT. SO W- I UNDERSTAND THAT. SO THE OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, I WAS READY BASICALLY FOR THE NEXT STEP. I HAD TO GO BACK TO NEW YORK, AND THE PART OF THE HOUSE WAS, UM, POWER WASHED. UM, SO WHEN I, WHEN I GOT BACK TO NEW YORK IS WHEN I GOT, YOU KNOW, I SIGNED FOR THE, FOR THIS PARTICULAR THING. AND ALSO, UM, I DON'T LIVE THERE, SO, YOU KNOW, I GET CONCERNED WHEN SOMETHING GOES ON THE DOOR. UM, I GOT BACK, UM, LET'S SEE, CAME BACK AT THE BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER, AND AND I CALLED TO SEE ABOUT TO HAVE EXTRA TIME TO PAINT, BECAUSE I KNOW I HAVE TO PAINT, YOU KNOW, SO, UM, AND DIFFERENT THINGS, AND THE WEATHER WA- GOT TO BE EVERY DAY, EVERY DAY, EVERY DAY RAIN. SO, ANYWAY, UM, I THINK I WOULD HAVE BEEN WORSE OFF AT THAT POINT WITH THAT RAIN TO TRY TO PAINT.
SO, MISS LIEBMAN, WHAT THE CITY HAS DURING THEIR PRESENTATION HAS SAID, REALLY THE ONLY THING LEFT IS THE PAINT.
AND THEY'RE ASKING TO GIVE YOU UNTIL NOVEMBER 2ND TO GET IT PAINTED.
DO YOU THINK THAT IS ENOUGH TIME? WELL, IF I ASK FOR ANOTHER 30 DAYS, THAT WOULD BE IT BECAUSE I'M DEALING WITH A FEW THINGS THAT ARE PERSONAL THINGS WITH MAYO CLINIC, AND I DON'T WANT TO SAY ANYTHING ELSE. THAT, THAT IS FINISHED, UM, NOVEMBER 30TH, SO I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE NEXT MEETING HERE WOULD BE, BUT THAT WOULD BE, I'LL MAKE SURE THAT THAT HOUSE IS PAINTED.
ANY OBJECTION FROM THE CITY TO SETTING A COMPLIANCE DATE AND COMING BACK FOR OUR DECEMBER MEETING? TO RETURN? SO IT- I KNOW IT WOULD BE A COMPLIANCE DATE.
I DON'T HAVE ANY OBJECTION, OBJECTIONS.
WHAT, INSTEAD OF NOVEMBER 3RD, YES.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOVEMBER 30TH AS A COMPLIANCE DATE. SO ALMOST A FULL ANOTHER MONTH, AND THEN OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE ON DECEMBER THE 3RD.
BUT I GUESS WE DON'T NEED TO COME BACK.
WE DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK FOR IT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT, SO THAT'S WHAT, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO THEN.
UM, MISS LIEBMAN, UNLESS YOU HAVE ANYTHING FURTHER YOU WANT ME TO CONSIDER? SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS FIND, BASED
[00:50:02]
ON THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED, THERE'S COMPETENT SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THAT THE PROPERTY IS STILL IN VIOLATION, ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN SUBSTANTIAL EFFORTS ON YOUR PART TO BRING IT INTO COMPLIANCE. UH, IN LIGHT OF THOSE SUBSTANTIAL EFFORTS, UM, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU UNTIL NOVEMBER 30TH OKAY.TO GET THE PROPERTY IN COMPLIANCE, AND ALL THAT'S REMAINING NOW IS THE PAINTING.
UH, AND IF IT'S NOT IN COMPLIANCE BY NOVEMBER THE 30TH, THEN WE WILL BE IMPOSING A DAILY FINE BEGINNING ON DECEMBER 1ST, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE 50 DOLLARS A DAY UNTIL IT GETS INTO COMPLIANCE. SO YOU'VE GOT ALMOST 2 MONTHS TO GET IT PAINTED.
MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE WITH THIS WEATHER.
WELL, THAT'S OUR BIGGEST GOAL.
SO I HAD TO BE OUR BIGGEST GOAL IS COMPLIANCE.
ALL RIGHT, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE, UM, I JUST HAVE TO BE SURE THAT IT'S FINISHED AND DONE BY THE 30TH OF NOVEMBER.
RIGHT. AND I AM GOING TO AWARD THE CITY THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, AND SO THOSE ARE THE EXPENSES WITH ALL OF THE INSPECTIONS AND THE CERTIFIED MAILINGS AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT. AND BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SO LONG.
WHEN DOES THAT GET IMPOSED? WELL, HOW MUCH TIME WOULD YOU NEED TO PAY IT? PARDON? IT'S, UH, SO THEY'RE ASKING FOR 498 DOLLARS AND 98 CENTS IN THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS FOR ALL OF THE INSPECTIONS, THE HEARINGS, THE TIME INVOLVED FOR STAFF, THE CERTIFIED MAILING POSTAGE, ALL OF THAT. SO DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO PAY THAT? WHEN SHOULD I PAY IT? RIGHT NOW? NEXT WEEK? WELL, I- MIDDLE OF THE MONTH? SPECIAL MAGISTRATE, MAY I HAVE A CHANCE? CAN I ADD SOMETHING? YES.
UM, IT, IT, IT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE ON OUR END IF WE WERE TO, UM, ONCE THE COMPLIANCE DATE THAT YOU'RE SETTING TODAY, UM, SO BY NOVEMBER 30TH, WE'LL GO DO AN INSPECTION. IF SHE COMPLIES BEFORE THEN, AS SOON AS THAT HAPPENS, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST, WE SEND A BILL.
AND WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH HER AT THAT POINT, IF THAT MAKES IT ANY EASIER.
ALL RIGHT, SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS YES.
I'M GOING TO ORDER THAT THAT BE PAID NO LATER THAN NOVEMBER 30TH, WHICH IS SAME AS THE COMPLIANCE DATE.
OKAY? ALL RIGHT, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO, JUST SAY THAT AGAIN, PLEASE.
SO THE, THE COST, THE 498 DOLLARS AND 98 CENTS WILL NEED TO BE PAID BY NOVEMBER 30TH.
OKAY? AND WE'LL, WE'LL ISSUE A WRITTEN ORDER THAT WILL HAVE ALL THAT INFORMATION IN IT, AND WE'LL GET THAT TO YOU.
IT'LL BE A FEW DAYS. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU, MISS LIEBMAN. YOU CAN ALWAYS CALL US TOO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO STAY FOR THE REMAINDER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO AS WELL. YOU DON'T HAVE TO STAY FOR THE REMAINDER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO STAY. OKAY. I UNDERSTAND.
[4.4 CECILIA M. DAVIS-TAYLOR, 112 S. 9TH ST., FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034, CASE 2026-0062. ]
OKAY. ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT CASE. CASE, THIS IS ITEM 4.4 ON THE AGENDA.CECILIA DAVIS TAYLOR, IN REGARDS TO THE REAL PROPERTY AT 112 SOUTH 9TH STREET. ALL RIGHT.
IF YOU COULD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
CECILIA DAVIS TAYLOR, 112 SOUTH 9TH STREET.
GOOD AFTERNOON. DO YOU PREFER TO BE CALLED MISS DAVIS TAYLOR OR MISS TAYLOR? JUST DON'T CALL ME LATE FOR LUNCH. CALL ME WHATEVER YOU WILL.
OKAY. UM, MISS RIMES, ARE THERE ANY ITEMS YOU'D LIKE TO BE RECEIVED INTO THE RECORD? YES, THERE'S A, UM, A SLIDESHOW THAT CONTAINS, UM, 16 PAGES WITH PHOTOS AND NOTICE OF VIOLATION, NOTICE OF HEARING LETTERS, AND, UM, I ALSO HAVE A PAGE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE FEES OKAY.
THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BE SUBMITTED.
OKAY. MISS TAYLOR, DO YOU HAVE ANY OBJECTION TO THOSE ITEMS BEING RECEIVED INTO THE RECORD? I'D LIKE TO SEE THEM.
OKAY. WELL, IF YOU WOULD, THAT IS FAIR.
PLEASE GO THROUGH WITH YOUR PRESENTATION.
OKAY. SO THANK YOU. MY NAME IS CRYSTAL RIMES, CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WITH THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH. UH, THE MATTER BEFORE YOU, IT CONCERNS UH, THE PROPERTY THAT'S LOCATED AT 112 SOUTH 9TH STREET.
UM, JUST TO, UM, MAKE SURE I'M REALLY CLEAR, THE FRONT YARD OF THIS PROPERTY DOES FACE, FACE SOUTH 9TH STREET, AND THE BACKYARD DOES FACE SOUTH 10TH, SO YOU, BOTH SIDES OF THE PROPERTY CAN BE SEEN FROM BOTH, UH, BOTH STREETS.
SO WE DID VERIFY THAT, UH, OWNERSHIP IS CECILIA M. DAVIS TAYLOR THROUGH THE NASSAU COUNTY PROPERTY APPRAISERS.
THESE PHOTOS, IT, IT IS THE FIRST INSPECTION, APRIL 27TH, AND THEN MY MOST RECENT INSPECTION, WHICH I CONDUCTED TODAY. UM, AT THE VERY FIRST INSPECTION, THE TAG WAS EXPIRED, OR
[00:55:01]
AT LEAST THE STICKER OF THE TAG WAS EXPIRED, AND I KNOW, I KNOW MISS TAYLOR DID COME IN.MISS TAYLOR, WE'LL GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO INTERRUPT EACH OTHER, OKAY? I KNOW MISS TAYLOR DID COME INTO THE OFFICE, AND SHE DID ANNOUNCE THAT IT, IT WAS PROPERLY REGISTERED, BUT THE STICKER FELL OFF, AND SHE HAD TO GET THAT FIXED.
BUT EITHER WAY, ON MY INSPECTION TODAY, I DID NOTICE IT WAS UP TO DATE. UM, THE, SO RIGHT HERE IN THIS PHOTO, THE ONLY VIOLATION THAT WE REALLY HAVE IS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF OVERGROWTH. AND ALSO, UM, ONE OF THE, THE ORIGINAL COMPLAINT WE RECEIVED WAS BECAUSE THESE BOARDS WERE LOCATED IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY, WHICH WERE, THEY WERE REMOVED OUT OF THE RIGHT-OF-WAY, BUT THE BOARDS TECHNICALLY ARE STILL CONSIDERED OUTSIDE STORAGE. YOU CAN'T HAVE, UM, JUST, UH, RANDOM WOOD LAYING IN PLACES. YOU CAN HAVE IT STACKED NICE AND NEATLY OFF THE GROUND, BUT IT CAN CAUSE MORE OF A NUISANCE- NUISANCE ISSUE IN A BREEDING AREA. SO, UM, THAT IS CONCERNING THAT- THAT PHOTOGRAPH. THESE PHOTOGRAPHS WERE STILL A PART OF THE FIRST INITIAL INSPECTION. YOU CAN SEE THERE WAS SOME OUTSIDE STORAGE IN THIS AREA, SOME OVERGROWTH, UM, AROUND THE FENCE AREA, AND THIS IS, UH, LOOKING AT THE SOUTH 10TH STREET FACING SIDE IN THE BACKYARD. THIS IS, UM, ON THE 9TH, SOUTH 9TH STREET FACING SIDE IN, IN THE FRONT YARD. YOU REALLY CAN'T, FROM A STREET VIEW, YOU CAN'T REALLY SEE THE, THE HOUSE ITSELF, SO THAT'S NOT AS, WE'RE NOT AS CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. IT'S REALLY JUST THE OVERGROWTH MAINLY THAT'S ACTUALLY ON THE FENCE AREA, UM, AND THAT IT'S GROWING INTO THE FENCE, ON THE FENCE, AND OVER. SO THESE WERE THE INITIAL PHOTOS. UM, HERE IS THE WARNING NOTICE THAT WE LEFT ON THE FRONT DOOR. WHEN I WAS DELIVERING THE WARNING NOTICE, I DID NOTICE, YOU KNOW, SOME BOXES OF S- UH, STORAGE ITEMS, AND THESE BOXES WERE THE ONLY ONES THAT YOU CAN SEE FROM THE, UH, PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY. SO THAT WAS THE ONLY THING I WAS CONCERNED WITH.
UM, ON TODAY'S INSPECTION, OCTOBER 10, 2026, THOSE ITEMS WERE REMOVED, AND THIS IS WHAT I SEEN FROM THE FRONT VIEW. OUTSIDE STORAGE WAS NOT AN ISSUE AS OF TODAY. UM, SO WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW IS THERE'S 2 VIOLATIONS THAT ARE REMAINING, 42-116A1, DUTY TO MAINTAIN PROPERTY, AND THEN 5.0109D, UNSCREENED OUTSIDE STORAGE FOR THE BACKYARD AND FOR THE WOOD IN AROUND THE BACK. WE DID A, WE SENT A NOTICE OF VIOLATION, NOTICE OF HEARING LETTER THAT IS DATED FOR AUGUST 21ST, 2026 FOR TODAY'S HEARING. WE SENT IT CERTIFIED MAIL. WE ALSO POSTED IT ON THE GATE OF THE PROPERTY, AND AN AFFIDAVIT OF SERVICE WAS COMPLETED. UH, MISS TAYLOR DID ASK IF WE COULD SEND SOME PHOTOS OF OUR INSPECTION AND ADVISE ON WHAT NEEDED TO BE CORRECTED, AND WITH AI BEING AS GOOD AS IT IS TODAY, I ACTUALLY ASKED IF IT COULD HELP ME CREATE A PHOTO, TAKE A PHOTO AND CREATE A PHOTO, AND WHAT MORE WE'RE LOOKING FOR. SO, IT IS DIFFICULT WITH OUR CODE BECAUSE SHE IS, WE KNOW, UH, MISS TAYLOR, IT, YOU KNOW, SHE REALLY LIKES THE NATURAL NATIVE VEGETATION, AND I, I AGREE, AND I LOVE ANY OF OUR NATIVE PLANTS IF THEY ARE INTENTIONAL AND IF THEY'RE NOT INVASIVE. SO WHERE WE'RE AT IS AS LONG AS THE OVER THE GROWTH OF IT IS, IS MAINTAINED IN A, IN AN INTENTIONAL WAY. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR. SO, IN A MORE, YOU KNOW, WHERE THIS PHOTO IS CONCERNED, THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF OVERGROWTH NEAR THE FENCE AREA, JUST SOME, UM, RANDOM VINES AND INVASIVE PLANTS THAT ARE COMING THROUGH HERE THAT COULD BE CLEANED UP.
ALL RIGHT. SO HERE'S ANOTHER PHOTO THAT BASICALLY IS JUST SHOWING THIS IS WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE IF, IF THE FENCE LINE WAS CLEANED UP. UM, UH, LIKE I SAID, THIS WAS TAKEN CARE OF, AND I, I CENTERED THIS, AND THEN I ALSO ACTUALLY MISSED SOMETHING.
GIVE ME JUST A MOMENT, I'M SORRY. YEAH, SO IN MY EMAIL, I DID SAY MAINTAIN THE LANDSCAPING SO THAT THE AREA IS IN A NEAT, ORDERLY, AND INTENTIONAL, INTENTIONAL APPEARANCE, AND THEN REMOVE ANY OF THE OUTSIDE STORAGE AND, AND ALL OF THAT. OKAY. UM, DA DA DA. SO OUR INITIAL INSPECTION, UH, MAY 15, 2026, ORIGINAL COMPLIANCE DATE JUNE 16, 2026. I GAVE HER, AND WE DID A TOTAL OF 2, OR SORRY, 8, UH, RE-INSPECTIONS.
PROPERTY HAS BEEN IN VIOLATION FOR 139 DAYS, AND THE PROPERTY OWNER HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH OUR OFFICE, AND MISS TAYLOR HAS, UM, SHE DID REQUEST PHOTOS OF THE VIOLATION, AS I DID, UH, SAY. UH, BUT RIGHT NOW THE PROPERTY DOES REMAIN
[01:00:01]
IN VIOLATION AS OF TODAY ON MY RES- MOST RECENT INSPECTION.SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING IS TO FIND THE RESPONDENT IN VIOLATION OF 42116A1 DUTY TO MAINTAIN PROPERTY AND 5.0109D OUTSIDE STORAGE. ORDER COMPLIANCE WITHIN 30 DAYS BY NOVEMBER 2ND, IMPOSE ANY ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS IN THE AMOUNT OF 319.22, AND THEN IMPOSE A FINE OF 50 DOLLARS PER DAY PER VIOLATION TO BEGIN AFTER THE COMPLIANCE DEADLINE ON NOVEMBER 3RD, 2026. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
OKAY, MISS TAYLOR, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS YES, WHAT, WHAT ARE THE OFFENSES THAT ARE ON THE DOCKET TODAY? UH, IS IT, CAN I ANSWER THAT? SURE.
40, 42116 A1, WHICH IS THE DUTY TO MAINTAIN PROPERTY, AND THEN 5.0109D, OUTSIDE STORAGE.
THAT'S THE, SO THERE'S 2 THAT ARE...
OKAY. WELL, I'D LIKE TO ADVISE YOU OF WHAT ACTION I HAVE TAKEN. I HAVE HAD A WHOLE DUMP TRUCK OF USABLE ITEMEN- ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE PREMISES.
I HAVE HAULED OFF 30 PLUS WHEELBARROWS FULL OF VEGETATIVE MATERIAL. THE PHOTOS THAT YOU TOOK THIS MORNING MM-HMM.
DID NOT REFLECT WHAT I DID THIS MORNING, WHICH WAS REMOVE THE WOOD THAT YOU SAID WAS ON THE RIGHT OF WAY, WHICH WAS NEVER ON THE RIGHT OF WAY, WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY.
THAT WAS THE COMPLAINT, SORRY. I DIDN'T, YEAH.
ALSO, I HAVE, UH, ERECTED A TEMPORARY SCREEN TO COVER MY GARDENING MATERIALS.
UM, THE, THE VINES ON THE FRONT FENCE HAVE BEEN TRIMMED 3 TIMES SINCE YOUR ORIGINAL COMPLAINT.
UM, AND YES, I LIKE THE NATIVE VEGETATION, AND BECAUSE OF MY SENSITIVITIES TO PHTHALATES AND THE COAL DEBRIS THAT COMES, OR THE BLACK DEBRIS THAT COMES FROM THE TRUCKS COMING AND GOING FROM THE MILLS, YOU KNOW, I NEED THAT BARRIER. I HAVE GOTTEN TO THE POINT I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HAVE A KITCHEN GARDEN FOR 10 YEARS BECAUSE OF MY NEIGHBOR'S PHTHALATE-LADEN LAUNDRY PRODUCTS. THERE ARE DAYS I CANNOT EVEN GO IN MY YARD. UM, SO I HA- I- I HAVE MADE EVERY ATTEMPT I CAN TO BE COMPLIANT. ALSO, AS AS YOU MENTIONED, I CONTACTED YOUR OFFICE AND MY COMMUNICATIONS WERE IGNORED FOR WELL OVER A MONTH WITH NO RESPONSE, INCLUDING MY VISIT TO YOUR OFFICE, WHERE THEY TOLD ME, YEAH, THEY WOULD SEND ME THOSE FILES.
THEY NEVER DID. UM, SO I FEEL LIKE YOU'RE OVERREACHING IN FINING ME WHEN I HAVE MADE EVERY ATTEMPT TO BE COMPLIANT TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, WITHOUT COMMUNICATION OR COOPERATION FROM THE CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT.
OKAY, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF MISS RIMES OR ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE ME TO KNOW? WELL, AND WHAT WAS THE OTHER ONE? A DUTY TO MAINTAIN PROPERTY, WRECKED OR INOPERABLE MOTOR VEHICLES, AND UNSCREENED OUTSIDE STORAGE.
THOSE WERE THE TWO THINGS THAT ARE ON THE DOCKET OVER HERE.
WELL, I HAVE 3 I'M SHOWING ON THE AGENDA. THE DUTY TO MAINTAIN THE PROPERTY, THE WRECKED OR INOPERABLE VEHICLES, MM-HMM.
AND THE UNSCREENED OUTSIDE STORAGE.
BUT ACCORDING TO OFFICER RIMES, THE VEHICLE IS IN COMPLIANCE, AND SO IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN. IT WAS, IT WAS ALWAYS REGISTERED AND INSURED.
SOMEBODY PULLED THE STICKER OFF.
THE CODE ENFORCEMENT STAFF CAN'T TELL WHETHER, I MEAN, UNLESS IT'S OBVIOUS YEAH.
THE CAR WAS ON BLOCKS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT OFTENTIMES A SORT OF A TELLTALE SIGN OR AN INDICATOR FOR THEM IS WHETHER OR NOT IT HAS A CURRENT REGISTRATION ON IT. SO, UNDERSTAND, BELIEVE YOU THAT IT'S BEEN REGISTERED, IT'S BEEN CURED NOW, SO WE'RE NOT CONCERNED WITH THAT FOR, FOR TODAY'S WELL, THERE WAS PURPOSES.
NOT CURE NECESSARY BECAUSE IT WAS ALWAYS REGISTERED AND INSURED.
RIGHT. SO THE OTHER ITEMS THEY'RE SAYING IS JUST THE OUTSIDE STORAGE. NOW YOU INDICATED THAT YOU'VE IT'S BEEN SCREENED.
WHAT ABOUT THE WOOD PIECES IN THE DRIVEWAY?
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I MOVED THEM THIS MORNING.ALL RIGHT. AND THEN, DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS TO ADDRESS THE, UH, OVERGROWTH OR VINES ON THE FENCE? I'LL WORK ON IT ON A CONTINUING BASIS. I'M NOT GOING TO REMOVE THEM TOTALLY, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THE PHOTOGRAPHS, THE AI, WHICH REALLY BOILS MY BLOOD, THE AI PHOTOGRAPH THAT SHOWED THE FENCE WHACKED OFF AT THE TOP, UH, DOES NOT REFLECT THE CITY CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR HEIGHT OF VEGETATION.
AND, AND WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT? IN WHAT MANNER? I MEAN, THE HEIGHT I- IS ABOUT 3 FOOT HIGHER THAN MY FENCE. THE HEIGHT ALLOWED BY THE CITY CODE.
OKAY, SO THE PICTURE ON THE RIGHT, DO YOU SEE THAT ON, ON THE SCREEN, MISS TAYLOR? OH BOY, DO I.
AND SO I THINK WHAT- AND YOU SEE THAT, THAT WOUND IN THAT LIMB THERE? THAT'S A HERITAGE TREE THAT I WAS OUT OF TOWN AND MISSED THE EVENT, BUT APPARENTLY A PORTION OF THAT LIMB FELL ON MY FENCE, AND THEY CUT THAT LIMB OFF LIKE THAT AND DID NOT DRESS IT.
THEY TORE UP MY FENCE, AND NOW THEY'RE THREATENING ME WITH FINES TO HAVE THE FENCE REPAIRED.
WELL, I, I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT YEAH, THIS IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE SEEKING ANY REPAIRS TO THE FENCE, BUT THEY ARE ASKING THAT IT BE CLEANED UP WITH THE OVERGROWTH NO.
NO, NOT IN THIS. NO, I GOT ANOTHER NOTICE THIS WEEK.
OKAY. WELL, THAT'S NOT BEFORE ME TODAY, SO YEAH.
I'M ONLY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT WAS NOTICED FOR TODAY AND WHAT THEY'RE SEEKING, AND WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IS TO CLEAN UP THAT FENCE WITH THOSE VINES THAT ARE WHAT DO YOU MEAN, CLEAN IT UP? I, ULTIMATELY, IT'S GOING TO BE... HM? GENERALLY SPEAKING, THEY REQUIRE THAT THE VINES BE REMOVED. THAT'S WHAT WE REQUIRE OF OTHER PROPERTY OWNERS.
THERE ARE VINES ON FENCES ALL OVER THIS DOWNTOWN AREA. AND THAT'S THE MINIMAL PROTECTION THAT I HAVE FROM THE BLACK SOOT THAT EMANATES FROM 8TH STREET. OKAY, SO WHAT THE CODE THAT THEY HAVE CITED TO, I JUST PULLED IT UP, IS SECTION 42-116, DUTY TO MAINTAIN PROPERTY, SUBSECTION A. NO PERSON OWNING, LEASING, RENTING, OCCUPYING, BEING IN POSSESSION, OR HAVING CHARGE OF ANY PROPERTY IN THE CITY, INCLUDING DISTURBED VACANT LOTS, SHALL MAINTAIN OR ALLOW TO BE MAINTAINED ON SUCH PROPERTY, EXCEPT AS MAY BE PERMITTED BY ANY OTHER CITY ORDINANCE, ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS VISIBLE FROM ANY PUBLIC STREET OR ALLEY OR FROM ANY OTHER PRIVATE PROPERTY. NUMBER ONE, OVERGROWN, UNCULTIVATED, UNKEMPT, OR POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS VEGETATION OF ANY TYPE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO SHRUBS, BRUSH, WEEDS, VINES. IT GOES ON TO SAY ANY GRASSES OVER 12 INCHES IN HEIGHT OR LENGTH, INCLUDING ANY VEGETATION THAT MAY HARBOR RODENTS OR TRANSIENT ACTIVITY OR ENCROACH ONTO ADJOINING PUBLIC OR PRIVATE PROPERTIES. SO IT'S THE VINES, AS I UNDERSTAND IT FROM THE CODE, THAT ARE BEING OVERGROWN, UNCULTIVATED, UNKEMPT, UH, ON THAT.
LIKE I SAID, I HAVE, I THEY'VE BEEN TRIMMED 3 TIMES SINCE YOU HIT ME WITH, I CAN'T.
AND THE NATURE OF VINES, THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW.
AND SO IT'S, IT'S, I THINK IT'S EITHER SOME VERY DILIGENT MAJOR TRIMMING TO KEEP THEM NEAT AND KEPT, OR REMOVAL. I DON'T KNOW THAT THE CODE REQUIRES YOU TO REMOVE THEM OUTRIGHT, BUT THEY DO HAVE TO BE KEPT NEAT LIKE I SAID.
AND CLEAN AND PREVENTED FROM WELL, WHAT YOUR IDEA NEED IS PLEASE, MISS TAYLOR, PLEASE DON'T INTERRUPT ME. PLEASE DON'T INTERRUPT ME. I WILL LET YOU MY APOLOGIES.
OKAY, YOU'VE DONE IT SEVERAL TIMES. PLEASE DON'T INTERRUPT ME. WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT YOU CAN'T ALLOW IT TO JUST GROW
[01:10:01]
UNTIL YOU GET A COMPLAINT OR ALLOW IT TO GROW WHERE IT ENCROACHES INTO THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY, INTO NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES, OR ANYWHERE ELSE. AND SPEAKING FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, THOSE TYPES OF VINES TEND TO GROW VERY FAST AND VERY THICK, AND THEY'RE VERY INVASIVE, AND I THINK THAT'S THE CONCERN OF THE CITY. SO I'M NOT IN A POSITION TO SAY THAT THEY ALL HAVE TO BE REMOVED, BUT I UNDERSTAND IT'S GOING TO BE A DIFFICULT TASK TO KEEP THEM IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CODE, AND IT MAY BE EASIER TO REMOVE THEM. JUST THE NATURE OF THOSE TYPES OF WILD, INVASIVE VINES.THAT'S MY CONCERN WITH YOUR APPROACH OF SAYING WE'RE JUST GOING TO TRIM THEM BACK IS, I- I DON'T, I WANT IT TO BE IN COMPLIANCE. I DON'T WANT TO HAVE YOU TO HAVE TO COME BACK HERE FOR THIS.
AND SO, UM, I'D LIKE TO SEE A RESOLUTION WHERE THAT COMES ABOUT, BUT BUT ULTIMATELY MY DECISION IS WHETHER OR NOT, BASED ON THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED TODAY, THERE'S COMPETENT SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT A VIOLATION OF OUR CODE. AND BEYOND THAT, IT'S IT'S BETWEEN YOU AND CODE ENFORCEMENT TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT IT IS IN COMPLIANCE. SO AS I SEE IT RIGHT NOW, IT DOES LOOK LIKE WE HAVE OVERGROWTH, WE HAVE, UH, VINES THAT ARE UNCULTIVATED, UNKEMPT, UH, AND SUCH THAT THEY WOULD ALSO BE INVASIVE. UM, SO AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, I DO BELIEVE IT'S IN VIOLATION. I, I DO BELIEVE YOU'VE TAKEN A LOT OF EFFORTS TO GET INTO COMPLIANCE, AND I APPLAUD YOU FOR THAT.
BUT THERE STILL IS A LITTLE BIT OF WORK THAT REMAINS TO BE DONE. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS BEFORE I ANNOUNCE MY RULING? I DO HAVE ONE COMMENT.
THAT I JUST, I WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR ON. SO, UM, I DO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY WITH, UM, WORKING WITH MISS TAYLOR, OR DAVIS TAYLOR, AND LIKE I SAID, I DO KNOW HER APPRECIATION AND AND UNDERSTAND HOW SHE FEELS ABOUT THE NATIVE PLANTS, AND THAT'S WHY I WANT, I I KNOW IT'S, I'M NOT A FAN OF AI EITHER. I COULDN'T THINK OF A BETTER WAY, THOUGH, TO EXPLAIN WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR WITH COMPLIANCE, BECAUSE THE WAY THAT YOUR PROPERTY IS SITUATED, YOU DO HAVE A A GREAT SENSE OF PRIVACY WITH THE, WITH THE GROWTH, AND I KNOW THAT THAT IS WHAT, THAT IS INTENTIONAL, AND A LOT OF IT LOOKS INTENTIONAL, SO THAT IS PERFECTLY FINE.
IT'S JUST THE MAIN PARTS THAT ARE COMING INTO THE, OVER THE FENCE, THROUGH THE FENCE IN THAT ARE IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY AREA IS WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO REALLY JUST MAKE IT LOOK MORE MANAGED AND MAINTAINED. OTHER THAN THAT, WHAT IS BEYOND THAT, I'M, I'M NOT LOOKING FOR M- MORE THAT, IF THAT CLARIFIES IT.
DOES THAT HELP? I UNDERSTAND WHAT SHE'S SAYING.
YES, MA'AM. OKAY. ALL RIGHT, UM, THEN THE PRE- STAFF PRESENTATION AS WELL AS THE DOCUMENTED INVOICE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS WILL BE RECEIVED INTO THE RECORD. UM, I'M GONNA FIND, AS IT STANDS TODAY, THERE'S COMPETENT SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT A VIOLATION OF A CODE, PARTICULARLY SECTION 42-116 SUB A SUB 1, UM, AND THAT I'M GONNA ORDER THAT THAT PROPERTY BE COME INTO COMPLIANCE BY NOVEMBER THE 2ND. THAT IF IT'S NOT IN COMPLIANCE BY THAT TIME, THERE WILL BE A FINE IMPOSED OF 50 DOLLARS A DAY BEGINNING ON NOVEMBER 3RD UNTIL IT REACHES COMPLIANCE. I'M ALSO GONNA ORDER AWARD THE CITY THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS IN THE AMOUNT OF 319 DOLLARS AND 22 CENTS.
WHAT, WHAT WAS NOT IN COMPLIANCE TODAY? THE FENCE AND THE OVERGROWTH VINES THAT ARE OVERGROWN, UNCULTIVATED, AND UNKEMPT.
AND YOU'RE BASING THAT ON WHAT? ON THE PICTURES THAT WERE ADMITTED INTO THE RECORD AND THE TESTIMONY OF STAFF.
FROM TODAY? PICTURES FROM TODAY? I MEAN, YES.
THERE WERE, THERE WERE SOME FROM TODAY THERE WERE SOME FROM TODAY.
IF YOU COULD POINT OUT TO ME IN THOSE PHOTOS WHICH PART WAS NOT IN COMPLIANCE, I'D APPRECIATE IT.
YES. IS THAT OKAY WITH YOU, SPECIAL MAGISTRATE? THAT'S FINE, YES.
OKAY. MM. MM. I'M SORRY, I DID NOT INCLUDE ANY OF THE FENCE. I DO HAVE SOME, THOUGH, AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SEND THEM TO HER TO BETTER CLARIFY. I CAN TRY TO SEE IF I CAN PULL THEM UP ON MY DESKTOP, BUT THEY ARE NOT INCLUDED ON THAT PRESENTATION. NO, THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE
[01:15:14]
IN HERE.WELL, SO THE BIGGEST ASPECT OF IT IS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU REMAIN IN COMMUNICATION WITH MISS RIMES, UH, THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS WHAT IS NEEDED, UH, TO OBTAIN COMPLIANCE, AND YOU HAVE UNTIL NOVEMBER THE 2ND TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S DONE.
OKAY. I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.
WHAT, UH, WHAT ARE THESE FINES BASED ON? ARE, ARE, ARE, ARE Y'ALL DUNNING ME FOR THE CAR THAT WAS ALWAYS IN COMPLIANCE? NO, MA'AM.
AND REALLY, BASED ON YOUR REPRESENTATIONS AND THE TESTIMONY FROM STAFF, I'M NOT EVEN FINDING IT FOR THE, UM, UNSCREENED OUTSIDE STORAGE. IT IS JUST FOR THE DUTY TO MAINTAIN, AND THAT'S THE, THE VINE GROWTH.
OKAY. ANOTHER QUESTION, UM, TO CRYSTAL.
UM, I HAVE CALLED YOUR OFFICE REPEATEDLY AND BEEN TO YOUR OFFICE AND NEVER GOT A RESPONSE. WILL YOU IN THE FUTURE COMMUNICATE WITH ME? YES, MA'AM. UM, SO I, I, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE ON DIFFERENT PAGES WITH THAT, AND I'M, I'M REALLY SORRY THAT THAT IS THE CASE. I KNOW WE HAVE EMAILED BACK AND FORTH A FEW TIMES, UM, AND EACH TIME THAT I GOT A MESSAGE REGARDING YOUR CALL, I'VE REACHED BACK OUT, BUT I DO KNOW THAT IT'S, IT'S EASIER TO GET YOU THROUGH EMAIL FROM HISTORIC EVENTS, SO I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT...
WHERE THE GAP COULD HAVE BEEN.
BUT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO, I CAN CALL YOU, WE CAN, I CAN MEET YOU OUT THERE TOMORROW. WE CAN GO OVER EVERYTHING IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO.
I DON'T, I DON'T, AT THIS MOMENT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY SCHEDULE IS TOMORROW.
WELL, CA- CALL ME, CALL THE OFFICE, AND LET'S, LET'S GET A, LET'S GET A MEETING, AND WE'LL, WE'LL GET GOING WITH THAT AND, AND HAVE A FIELD VISIT TO DISCUSS WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MISS TAYLOR. GOOD LUCK TO YOU. AND I WILL ENTER A
[4.5 ERIC T. WALTER, 1604 BEECH ST., FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034, CASE 2026-0115]
WRITTEN ORDER CONSISTENT WITH MY ORAL PRONOUNCEMENT IN THE COMING DAYS. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO ITEM 4.5 ON THE AGENDA. THIS IS ERIC WALTER CONCERNING THE REAL PROPERTY AT 1604 BEACH. ARE YOU MR. WALTER? YES, SIR.ALL RIGHT, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM, AND IF YOU COULD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
UH, ERIC WALTER, 1604 BEACH STREET, FERNANDINA BEACH.
ALL RIGHT, MR. WALTER, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AS WE'VE WORKED THROUGH THE OTHER CASES. MISS RIMES, ARE THERE ANY DOCUMENTS OR ITEMS YOU'D LIKE TO BE RECEIVED INTO THE RECORD ON THIS CASE? YES, UM, IF YOU DON'T MIND, UH, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION WITH 16 PAGES THAT INCLUDE, UH, LETTERS, UH, DOCUMENTS, MAYBE COMMUNICATIONS, AND PHOTOGRAPHS, AND THEN ALSO THE ADMINISTRATIVE FEES, UM, THAT ARE IN THE AMOUNT OF 304.41.
ALL RIGHT. IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE PROCEED WITH YOUR PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU, SPECIAL MAGISTRATE. SO AGAIN, MY NAME IS CRYSTAL RIMES, CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WITH THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH. THIS CASE PERTAINS TO THE RESPONDENT, MR. ERIC T.
WALTER, AND THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT 1604 BEACH STREET.
UH, WE DID VERIFY OWNERSHIP WITH NASSAU COUNTY PROPERTY APPRAISER. ALL RIGHT, SO WITH THE, WITH HIS PRESENTATION, UM, I, I GUESS I'M GONNA PREFACE THIS.
UM, WE ACTUALLY HAD A CONVERSATION, ME AND MR. WALTER, YESTERDAY, AND SO WE TALKED AND SET UP A MEETING FOR THIS MORNING. SO ALL THE PHOTOS I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU IS ACTUALLY BEFORE AND AFTERS. THERE HAS BEEN MUCH PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE ON THE PROPERTY, UM, AND WE DECIDED THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT AFTER OUR CONVERSATION, THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION IS TO COME HERE AND TRY TO, UM, SEE, SEE WHAT YOU'RE WILLING TO CONSIDER. SO ANYWAYS, OKAY.
THIS IS THE FRONT OF THE STRUCTURE, LEFT SIDE, FIRST INSPECTION, JUNE 15TH, 2026.
RIGHT SIDE IS FROM TODAY, OCTOBER 1ST. YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF VEGETATION HAS BEEN REMOVED.
HE DOES HAVE A COQUINA SIGHTING, AND, UM, IF YOU, IF WE ACTUALLY ZOOM INTO IT A LITTLE BIT MORE, WHICH WE WILL KIND OF GO OVER IN SOME OTHER CASES, YOU CAN SEE THAT ON LIKE THE BOTTOM LEFT WINDOW, THERE'S SOME DIRT, YOU KNOW, DEBRIS THAT'S STAINING ON ONE EDGE, AND THEN OVER ON THIS SIDE, YOU CAN SEE THAT
[01:20:02]
THERE IS STILL SOME STAINING.UM, THIS IS NOT AN A SIDING THAT YOU WOULD REALLY WANT TO PAINT. SO, UM, AFTER DISCUSSING WITH HIM TODAY, HE IS GOING TO TRY TO SEE IF HE CAN WORK SOMETHING OUT WITH MORE OF LIKE A SPRAY RATHER THAN JUST THE PRESSURE WASHING. RIGHT NOW, IT'S AT A PRESSURE WASHING STAGE, THOUGH, THAT HAS BEEN DONE.
UM, HE DID REALIZE THAT THE TRIM AND AND FASCIA RIGHT HERE, IT DOES STILL NEED TO BE CLEANED A LITTLE BIT BETTER, AND HE COMPLETELY UNDERSTANDS THAT, ALONG WITH THE STAIRCASE. SO WE WENT THROUGH BASICALLY A STEP-BY-STEP AND AND PLAN OF ACTION. UM, THIS IS THE VIEW FROM THE SIDEWALK. SO RIGHT TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SIDEWALK IS BEACH STREET. UH, HE HAS CLEARED OUT A LOT OF THE VEGETATION AND ORGANIC MATTER THAT WAS OVERGROWN OR INVASIVE ON, ON THIS SIDE OF THE PROPERTY.
THIS IS THE BEST, UH, IMAGE THAT I HAVE OF THE FRONT DOOR, UM, AND HE DID CLEAN THE TOP OF IT, BUT STILL HAS TO DO THE FRONT FACING PORTION OF IT BY THE STAIRS, BUT HE HAS REMOVED A LOT OF THIS, UM, THE OVERGROWTH IN THIS AREA. THIS IS THE OLD PHOTO, UM, BUT JUST FOR COMPARISON, HE STILL, HE PLANS TO HOPEFULLY MAYBE PAINT THIS FRAMING AS WELL.
UM, THE... WHAT IS THIS? OH, THERE WAS A PHOTO THAT YOU CAN'T, YOU CAN'T SEE GREAT, BUT IN THIS CORNER IT DOES SHOW ROTTEN WOOD. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET A DECENT QUALITY PHOTO BECAUSE OF THE OVERGROWTH I WAS TRYING TO CAPTURE. HE'S ACTUALLY REPLACED THIS COMPLETELY AND REPAINTED IT, AND IT LOOKS EXCELLENT NOW, SO THAT WAS A HUGE IMPROVEMENT, AND HE PLANS TO DO THAT IN A FEW OTHER AREAS. THIS IS A BEFORE AND AFTER, UM, OF THIS SIDE OF THE PROPERTY.
YOU CAN TELL THERE WAS A LOT OF OVERGROWTH. HE REALLY CLEARED THIS OUT A GOOD BIT, UM, AND HAS EVEN PRESSURE WASHED HALF OF THE TRUCK AND STILL HAS TO FINISH COMPLETING THE OTHER HALF. UM, HE DID SAY THAT THE, THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERABLE CONDITION. I HAVE NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT IT WASN'T.
SO, UM, THERE'S A FEW, FEW LITTLE REMAINING ITEM- ITEMS HERE, BUT, UM, WE DID POST AN WARNING NOTICE, UH, JULY 14, 2026. AND THEN THIS IS THE CORNER AREA OF THE DWELLING. UM, I REALLY DIDN'T HAVE A BETTER PHOTO, BUT LIKE I SAID, BECAUSE OF THE OVERGROWTH, BUT HE HAS CLEARED OUT A TON RIGHT HERE. STILL HAS SOME DRIED UP VEGETATE- VEG- UH, VEGETATION THAT NEEDS TO BE REMOVED AND, UH, HAS TO FIGURE OUT THE, THE STAINING, HAD TO REMOVE THAT PORTION AS WELL.
UH, ANOTHER PHOTO FROM TODAY'S INSPECTION, JUST TO REALLY SHOW YOU HOW IT DOES LOOK MUCH MORE CLEAR THROUGHOUT THE PROPERTY. SO, THE NOTICE OF VIOLATION, NOTICE OF HEARING LETTER WAS ISSUED.
IT WAS SENT CERTIFIED MAIL, AND IT WAS ALSO POSTED ON THE PROPERTY AUGUST 14, 2026, OR SORRY, AUGUST 30.
YEAH, OKAY, AUGUST, SORRY, AUGUST 14TH. UM, BUT ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2026, WE DID POST IT ONTO THE PROPERTY, AND AN AFFIDAVIT OF SERVICE WAS COMPLETED. SO WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY IS, EVEN THOUGH THERE HAS BEEN MANY, MANY CORRECTIONS, THERE IS STILL ITEMS THAT ARE REMAINING IN VIOLATION THAT I CAN'T, I CANNOT PUT IN COMPLIANCE ON THESE TWO ITEMS. UM, WE DO HAVE A PLAN, AND UM, WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER TO TRY TO GET THAT SORTED OUT. SO RECAP, INITIAL INSPECTION, JUNE 15, 2026, ORIGINAL COMPLIANCE DATE AUGUST 12, 2026. WE HAVE CONDUCTED A TOTAL OF 5 RE-INSPECTIONS, AND THAT DOES INCLUDE THE ONE TODAY.
IT'S BEEN IN, UH, IN VIOLATION 112 DAYS. CURRENT STATUS, IT REMAINS IN VIOLATION OF 42116A1 AND 42117B EXTERIOR STRUCTURE OR SURFACES MAINTENANCE. OKAY.
WHERE WE'RE AT IS, UM, FIND, WE WOULD RE- RECOMMEND AND DEFINE THE RESPONDENT IN VIOLATION OF THE TWO VIOLATIONS, ORDER COMPLIANCE WITHIN 90 DAYS, AND THAT WOULD BE SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026, IMPOSE ANY ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS INCURRED THROUGH THE LIFE OF THE CASE, AND IMPOSE A FINE OF 50 DOLLARS PER DAY BEGINNING AFTER THE COMPLIANCE DEADLINE ON DECEMBER 30TH, 2026. UM, I DON'T TYPICALLY PUT 90 DAYS AS A ORDER COMPLIANCE, BUT, UH, THAT IS WHERE I GATHERED THE DISCUSSION. UM, AND HE WILL, YOU KNOW, TELL YOU MORE ABOUT THAT, BUT THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE, UH, ACTUAL REALISTIC TIME FRAME WOULD, WOULD BE LOOKING AT AT THIS TIME. AND THAT IS, OH WAIT, THE ADMINISTRATIVE, I
[01:25:01]
DON'T, DON'T THINK I ANNOUNCED THAT, SORRY. ADMINISTRATIVE COST WAS 304.41.THANK YOU, MR. RIMES. MR. WALTER, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF OFFICER RIMES? UM, UH, NO, I THINK WE HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION THIS MORNING, AND UH, I ALWAYS FELT I NEEDED SOME MORE DIRECTION, MM.
YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THE UH, THE CODE VIOLATIONS ARE KIND OF VAGUE, AND SHE HELPED CLEAR A LOT OF THOSE UP, SO. SO YEAH, I HAVE TO PULL SOME FINES DOWN ON A OUTBUILDING, A SHED, AND THEN I'M PLANNING ON BUYING HOSE END, UH, CLEANING PRODUCTS FOR THE SIDE, BECAUSE NO WAY AM I GONNA PAINT OVER COQUINA. AND, UH, AND THEN I, I BELIEVE THAT WAS IT. IS THAT CORRECT? OR, OH, AND AND POWER WASHING, LIKE, THE FRONT OF THE STEPS.
AND FIN- AND FINISHING PAINTING SOME, UH, BITS HERE AND THERE THAT I HAVEN'T ALREADY GOTTEN.
IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE DONE A LOT.
WELL, YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CITY'S ASKING THEN, YEAH.
THAT, UH, TO GIVE YOU UNTIL BASICALLY THE END OF THE YEAR OKAY.
TO GET EVERYTHING IN TIP-TOP SHAPE. UM, I TRUST THAT WITH YOUR DISCUSSIONS WITH OFFICER RIMES, WE'VE GOT A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING NOW OF WHAT'S GOING TO BE NEEDED TO BE DONE. UH, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT'S ENOUGH TIME? YEAH, I THINK SO, ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE'S 2 MAJOR HOLIDAYS COMING UP, AND AND I'LL BE LEAVING TOWN ON BOTH OF THOSE, BUT I THINK I CAN GET IT ALL DONE, HOPEFULLY BEFORE THEN, SO.
IDEALLY, YEAH, THAT'S WE YEAH.
WE ALWAYS WANT TO SEE COMPLIANCE, AND WE DO MM-HMM.
APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS THAT YOU'VE TAKEN, UH, TOWARDS THAT.
I KEEP FINDING NEW LITTLE THINGS THAT ARE DRIVING ME NUTS.
BUT, WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS. UM, SO BASED ON WHAT I'M HEARING IN THE PRESENTATION TODAY, UNLESS THERE'S MORE THAT YOU NEED ME TO KNOW, UM.
OKAY. WELL, THEN I'M GOING TO FIND THERE'S COMPETENT SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THAT THERE IS A VIOLATION OF OUR CODE. I'M GOING TO ORDER THAT THE PROPERTY COME INTO COMPLIANCE BY DECEMBER 30TH, 2026, AND I DON'T HAVE IT IN F- THERE IT IS, OKAY. AND IF IT'S NOT IN COMPLIANCE BY THE 30TH, THAT THERE'LL BE A DAILY FINE OF 50 DOLLARS A DAY, BEGINNING ON DECEMBER 31ST AND CONTINUING EACH DAY UNTIL THE PROPERTY IS IN COMPLIANCE.
I'M ALSO GOING TO ASSESS AND AWARD THE CITY THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, THE AMOUNT OF 304 DOLLARS AND 41 CENTS. UH, DID THAT COVER EVERYTHING FOR THE PARTIES? THAT SOUNDS...
MR. WALTER, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I DO NOT.
ALL RIGHT, WELL THEN I WILL ISSUE A WRITTEN ORDER CONSISTENT WITH THAT PRONOUNCEMENT, UM, AND JUST STAY IN CONTACT WITH MISS RIMES.
AND HOPEFULLY DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK HERE AGAIN.
ALL RIGHT, SO I'LL ISSUE THAT IN ORDER AND... I UNDERSTAND, I UNDERSTAND. UM, WELL, GOOD LUCK TO YOU, MR. WALTER.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS IN, IN BRINGING THE PROPERTY INTO COMPLIANCE.
THANK YOU, MR. WALTER. WE APPRECIATE YOU.
SO YOU'LL JUST SEND A, A BILL FOR THE THEY'LL SEND AN INVOICE, YES, SIR.
YEAH, OUR OFFICE. YEAH, OUR OFFICE, CHERYL WILL KIND OF, SHE'LL END UP WORKING WITH YOU ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE FOR, UH, BILLING AND ALL THAT, BUT WE WILL PROBABLY DO THAT ONCE COMPLIANCE IS REACHED, AND ONCE WE HIT THAT POINT, THEN WE'LL, WE'LL SETTLE UP AND, AND GO FROM THERE.
PROBABLY, UNLESS YOU'RE DONE A LOT SOONER.
YEAH, I'M HOPE- I, I, I SUSPECT I WILL BE.
OKAY, THAT SOUNDS GREAT. I'LL BE IN CONTACT WITH YOU.
ALL RIGHT, IF YOU MAKE ANY PROGRESS, LET ME KNOW.
I'LL, I'LL, UH, I COULD ALWAYS EMAIL YOU A PHOTOGRAPH OR SOMETHING AS WELL.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, MR. WALTER.
ALL RIGHT, WE'LL SEE YOU LATER.
OKAY, IT WAS PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED THAT ITEM 4.6 ON THE AGENDA WAS PULLED BY THE YES.
UH, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER BUSINESS BEFORE THE BOARD? I DON'T THINK SO.
HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY? HELLO.
IT'S A VERY INTERESTING PROCESS, AND UH, THANK YOU FOR UH, FOR DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
AND UH, AND CITY STAFF AND UH, THANK YOU.
THE UH, BENDING OF THE KNEE QUITE A BIT FOR THE CITIZEN, THAT'S VERY IMPRESSIVE.
WELL, I, UM, I'LL TELL YOU, I'VE NEVER BEEN GIVEN ANY INSTRUCTIONS BY ANY COMMISSIONER OR ANY STAFF THAT I'M HERE TO MAKE MONEY FOR THE CITY, THAT COMPLIANCE IS ALWAYS THE GOAL, AND SO HOPEFULLY THAT THAT'S EVIDENT. THAT IS OUR I AGREE WITH THAT. I WOULD NEVER, UH, WELL, I'M NOT ALLOWED TO TELL YOU TO DO ANYTHING ANYWAY. WELL, YES, AND COMPLIANCE AND, UM, BUT COMPLIANCE. COMPLIANCE AND
[01:30:03]
CONSISTENCY. YES. YES.ABSOLUTELY. YOU KNOW, EVENLY ACROSS THE BOARD. MM-HMM.
THOSE ARE OUR GOALS, AND THAT'S ALWAYS FIRST AND FOREMOST, AND SO. ABSOLUTELY.
BUT WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE HAVING OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, UH, OBSERVE AND FOR THESE PROCEEDINGS, MM-HMM.
AND WE THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY.
AND WITH THAT, UH, THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE ON NOVEMBER THE 5TH, IS THAT RIGHT? YES. NOVEMBER THE 5TH. MM-HMM. AND WITH THAT, WE WILL ADJOURN. SO THANK YOU, EVERYONE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.