The Board of Public Works and Safety on April 3 waived a late registration fee for 2024 for the property at 505 Mulberry and directed staff to inspect the interior and proceed with a formal violation process if necessary.

Potovincena Garcia, the property owner, told the board he had been trying to evict a tenant and said the upstairs unit had been his permanent residence; he said he lacked funds immediately to convert the space. Jordan, a district inspector, said an inspection in 2017–2018 had determined the second floor was an illegal apartment and that the inspector at the time had agreed with Garcia to convert the home to a single‑family residence. Jordan said the conversion did not occur and the unit later was reported occupied.

Jordan told the board, “Our main concern at this point is to inspect what's there, get the file properly created, and present the order to remove that second floor apartment,” and asked to proceed with an interior inspection to document conditions and finalize the enforcement file. Jordan said staff had prepared a collection file and a notice from Smith Sersick (the city's collection firm) but that staff would resend the collection notice and proceed based on inspection findings.

The board voted to waive the 2024 late fee, directed the owner to coordinate an interior inspection with inspection staff, and indicated the city will require an affidavit of vacancy for 2025 while the process proceeds. Staff said they will file a notice of violation and present findings to the board if inspection confirms an illegal unit.

Garcia told the board he will coordinate the inspection and may apply for permits to convert the unit if necessary. The board did not approve any demolition or immediate permits at the meeting; it recorded only the waiver of the late fee and the direction to inspect and follow the standard enforcement process.