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Commission approves ordinance to expand special‑magistrate nuisance abatement; 14‑day notice set
Summary
The commission approved an amendment to the city nuisance‑abatement code to move cases to a special magistrate process and to set a 14‑day notice period; members debated whether lot mowing and tree trimming should be treated separately and agreed to maintain those provisions while increasing the notice window.
The City Commission voted to adopt ordinance amendments that revise St. Pete Beach’s nuisance‑abatement procedures to rely on independent special magistrate hearings and to adjust notice timelines.
What changed: The ordinance moves review of many nuisance abatements from an administrative city‑manager process to a special‑magistrate hearing process and standardizes the notice period at 14 days in multiple sections. The code amendment also preserves provisions allowing the city to perform limited remediation — such as lot mowing, tree trimming or removal of dangerous debris — where a property owner does not respond, but tightened the notice window from 7 days to 14 days before such city action.
Why it matters: The move to an independent special magistrate was framed as a due‑process improvement and a way to ensure evidentiary hearings are held by a body trained in quasi‑judicial procedures. Commissioners said they wanted an impartial decisionmaker rather than administrative determinations by the city manager. Several commissioners and members of the public urged caution about mowing‑and‑tree trimming enforcement, given mail delays and hurricane impacts on residents, and asked that the city ensure robust notice and outreach before remediation.
Public comments and concerns: Speakers at the meeting requested clear procedures for mailed and electronic notice and expressed concern about low‑income or absent property owners who might not receive certified mail in time. One audience speaker described long, contentious enforcement histories at individual properties and urged the city to ensure fair notice and a reasonable time to comply before the city contracts to remediate a property.
Vote: The ordinance, as amended during the meeting to adopt a 14‑day notice period and keep mowing/tree‑trimming provisions but to apply the special‑magistrate due‑process path, passed on a majority vote (recorded roll call reflected 3–2 on the final motion: Commissioners Mulholland, Reznicki and Mayor Petrilla voted yes; Vice Mayor Marriott and Commissioner Robinson voted no). The change will be published and incorporated into the city code.
Next steps: Staff will implement updated notice procedures (including required mail and property posting steps) and will monitor the ordinance’s application in hurricane‑affected cases. Commissioners directed staff to ensure the permitting and code communications teams coordinate on outreach and to return with any needed clarifications after an initial implementation period.
