Special magistrate reduces $468,000 code lien to $46,800, grants two-year payment plan

The City of West Palm Beach special magistrate on Sept. 16 reduced a code lien on a Summit Boulevard property from a city-asserted $468,000 to $46,800 and approved a 24-month payment schedule. The order resolved a case the city says began with violations including outdoor storage, missing grass, rotted wood, mold and exposed wiring.

The magistrate said the reduced lien amount and payment terms would settle the outstanding fine; Mark Joyce, a city code enforcement representative, presented the city's history of citations and the lien amount. Thomas Gonzales, who identified himself as the broker and property manager for the owner, told the magistrate he had spent about 10 years addressing problems at the property and asked for substantial relief. Gonzales said the property was significantly affected by a tenant who ‘‘took over’’ the site and that he had worked for years to restore it.

The magistrate, citing the long duration of noncompliance but also the efforts represented, offered a settlement the magistrate described on the record as 10 percent of the original lien and granted 24 months to pay. The magistrate said he had reluctantly agreed to the reduction while noting the case had been out of compliance for an extended period.

The order directs payment of $46,800 under the schedule and keeps the reduced lien recorded until payment is complete. The magistrate advised the respondent to consult counsel about any appeal rights.

Why this matters: the reduction resolves a multi-year enforcement matter that carried a very large lien and clarifies the city's enforcement posture and available remedies when owners demonstrate sustained remediation efforts.

The magistrate closed the matter after issuing the written order and providing Gonzales with a copy of the order.