St. Pete Beach magistrate orders repairs, fines and continuances after Aug. 18 code-enforcement hearing

Special Magistrate Erica Augello presided over a City of St. Pete Beach code-enforcement hearing on Aug. 18, 2025, issuing orders that included daily fines, administrative-cost assessments, time-limited extensions to obtain permits and a schedule for legal briefing in a contested parking-solicitation case.

The orders affect a mix of residential and commercial properties across St. Pete Beach. Augello gave several property owners 14 to 30 days to correct violations such as unpermitted construction, overgrown vegetation and missing permit applications. She assessed fines for repeated or irreversible violations and accepted compliance for properties that corrected lighting and other issues before the hearing.

Why this matters: The magistrate’s rulings affect owners’ legal exposure, the city’s ability to collect fines or record liens, and neighborhood conditions in areas including Pass-a-Grille. The hearing also flagged a potential legal conflict between a 2024 Florida statute and local off-street parking rules; the magistrate set a briefing schedule to resolve that point before issuing a final ruling.

Key outcomes at the hearing included financial penalties and compliance deadlines. Short-term-rental violations resulted in monetary fines: the city assessed $500 per stay for two properties for first-time short-term rental violations, totaling $1,000 in fines plus $330 in administrative costs in each case. For other properties found noncompliant, the magistrate ordered daily fines of $250 starting the day after the date of each cited violation and $330 in administrative costs, and she instructed owners to notify code enforcement once they achieved compliance.

Several cases were continued or extended by agreement. The magistrate continued a group of Sun Gold LLC cases to the Oct. 6 hearing and reset other status checks to Sept. 8 or Oct. 6 to allow owners time to apply for after-the-fact permits or complete repairs.

One hearing drew extended legal argument: property owners Ronald Vigneault and Lauren Moniz were cited for soliciting paid parking from their private driveway in Pass-a-Grille. The city’s inspector presented photographs and a witness who said customers paid via electronic transfer. Resident Jacob Holhouse testified that he observed parking sales and that, "they were basically paying for parking on Venmo." Vigneault responded that he relied on Florida Statute 715.075 and said, "I genuinely believe that the city's blanket prohibition on selling private driveway parking is preempted by state law." Augello said she would review the statute and ordered a briefing schedule: the property owners may submit legal argument within seven days, and the city will have seven business days to reply. She said, "I will allow the parties 7 days from today's date... and then 7 business days" for the city rebuttal before she issues a ruling.

Other notable rulings and directions (selected): - City v. Richard Allen Long (Case 20240529): The magistrate ordered the owner or representative (Mr. Bowery) to remove the unpermitted bar structures and work with the building department to secure electrical compliance; 14 days from the order to come into compliance or the city will return to impose fines if necessary. - City v. Chris Spencer (20240707): No representative appeared; Augello found the property noncompliant and ordered fines of $250 per day (starting the day after the violation date) plus $330 in administrative costs; the order will state the violation start date. - City v. Hurricane Lounge Inc. (20250275, 809 Gulf Way): The property was found compliant on inspection; no fines were imposed but the magistrate assessed $330 in administrative costs. - City v. Coconut Inn (20250279): Property found compliant; $330 administrative costs assessed. - City v. Marilyn L. Nolan Trust (20250189): Property remains noncompliant; Augello ordered $250 per day beginning July 16, 2025, until compliance, plus $330 administrative costs and any lien-recording fees. - Park Shore Investments (20240584): Because the work appears completed, Augello directed the owner to secure an after-the-fact permit within 14 days and set a Sept. 8 check to determine whether fines will be imposed. - City v. Robert Rollman (20250185): Owner reported substantial recent progress; the magistrate allowed 14 days to finish repairs and set a Sept. 8 status check. - City v. Scott and Lisa Schamming (20250341): The owner removed driveway concrete and installed mulch; the magistrate ordered permit application and allowed 4 weeks to pull the permit and complete installation, with a status check on Oct. 6. - City v. Paul and Donna Murphy (20250504): Two short-term stays were treated as irreversible short-term-rental violations; the magistrate imposed $500 per stay (total $1,000) plus $330 administrative costs and any necessary recording fees. - City v. James T.M. Geyer Trust (20250503): Two short stays were found to be short-term-rental violations; the magistrate imposed $500 per stay (total $1,000) plus $330 administrative costs. - City v. Matthew Getz (20250401): Owner absent; property found in violation. Augello ordered 14 days from the date of order to come into compliance and set a Sept. 8 status hearing if corrections are not made.

Magistrate Augello told multiple respondents to coordinate with code enforcement and building departments, and she said written orders would be issued and emailed or mailed to parties. She repeatedly stressed that the city bears the burden of proof at the hearing and that owners must notify code enforcement when a property is brought into compliance so an inspection can be scheduled.

Next steps and schedule: Augello set status checks and continuances across the Sept. 8 and Oct. 6 magistrate dockets. For the Vigneault/Moniz parking matter she ordered legal briefs (7 days for respondents, 7 business days for the city) before rendering a final ruling on whether state law preempts the local off-street parking regulation.

Votes at a glance: the following are orders, continuances or fines entered during the hearing (case number — short outcome): - 20240529 — 14 days to remove unpermitted structures/electrical compliance (order issued). - 20250312 / 20250417 / 20250418 (Sun Gold LLC) — continued by agreement to Oct. 6. - 20240699 (Jennifer Franco) — 14 days to apply for after-the-fact permit; continued if necessary. - 20240707 (Chris Spencer) — property noncompliant; $250/day (from day after violation) + $330 administrative costs; order to specify start date. - 20250069 (Annie Winn & Jimmy Truong) — 30-day extension granted; status check Oct. 6. - 20250275 (Hurricane Lounge Inc.) — compliant; $330 administrative costs assessed. - 20250279 (Coconut Inn LLC) — compliant; $330 administrative costs assessed. - 20250388 (Gulf West Properties LLC) — continued to Sept. 8 by agreement. - 20250189 (Marilyn L. Nolan Trust) — $250/day starting 07/16/2025; $330 admin costs; lien recording fees possible. - 20240584 (Park Shore Investments) — 14 days to secure after-the-fact permit; Sept. 8 status check. - 20250185 (Robert Rollman) — 14 days to complete repairs; Sept. 8 status check. - 20250368 (Ronald Vigneault & Lauren Moniz) — matter taken under advisement; respondents 7 days to file legal brief, city 7 business days to reply; no final order issued at hearing. - 20250341 (Scott & Lisa Schamming) — 4 weeks to pull permit and complete driveway reinstatement; status check Oct. 6. - 20250420 (Kenneth Huttman) — 14 days to repair retaining wall; status update moved to Oct. 6. - 20250504 (Paul & Donna Murphy) — $500 per stay (2 stays) = $1,000 fine + $330 administrative costs. - 20250503 (James T.M. Geyer Trust) — $500 per stay (2 stays) = $1,000 fine + $330 administrative costs. - 20250426 (Marilyn Rimmer Trust) — 20 days to complete landscape/debris removal; status check Oct. 6. - 20250401 (Matthew Getz) — 14 days to come into compliance; Sept. 8 status check.

The magistrate closed the docket and said written orders would be issued to parties and mailed or emailed to the addresses on file. The next magistrate hearings are set for Sept. 8 and Oct. 6 at 10 a.m.

Ending: The hearing produced a mix of short deadlines, monetary penalties and continuances intended to give owners time to secure permits or remedy violations while preserving the city’s option to levy fines or record liens if compliance is not achieved. Parties with outstanding orders were instructed to contact code enforcement when work is complete so inspectors can verify compliance and avoid further sanctions.