A special magistrate continued the case concerning a magnetic locking system installed at a tenant space at Family Home Plaza, 2772 El Cam Boulevard, after the property owner said she had not received timely notice of the violation before the hearing.

The issue is noteworthy because the magnetic locking system is the subject of the city’s fire-code enforcement; permit review for the electrical work was on file but not yet issued, and the property owner said she was unaware of the notice of violation until the hearing paperwork arrived.

Fire safety inspector Lisa Nadeau told the magistrate she observed a new electronic locking system on the front door during a follow-up inspection on 02/05/2025 and told the business owner a permit would be required. Subsequent re-inspections in April, July and August found the locking system still in place with no permit issued. Nadeau said an electrical permit (25-0069) had been applied for and was under review but not issued.

Christina Serafin, representing Family Home Plaza (the property owner), told the magistrate the notice of hearing was mailed 09/15/2025 and that she received it two days later but that she had not received earlier notice of a violation. She said she had email receipts for fire-inspection reports but that a mailed notice-of-violation was not received in the property-owner mail before the hearing. The magistrate noted that notices of violation are required to be served in the same manner as notices of hearing and agreed to continue the case so staff could reconcile mailing records and the permit-review status.

Nadeau requested 90 days to come into compliance or $50 per day in fines until compliance. The magistrate continued violation B to the next special-magistrate hearing to allow the property owner and city staff to work through permit-review issues and proper service of notices.

Next steps: the case was continued. Staff will confirm mailing and service records and the status of the electrical permit; the property owner and tenant should work with the permit-review staff to address review comments and obtain the required permit.