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Council hears code enforcement briefing after extended public comments about illegal uses, manure and RVs; staff asked to return with staffing and civil‑citaton
Summary
Council heard a wide-ranging code enforcement update and numerous public comments about long‑running concerns — manure spreading, RVs, alleged unpermitted commercial activity on Okeechobee Boulevard and inconsistent enforcement — and asked staff to bring back a staffing proposal and a tailored civil‑citation list.
Council members heard a presentation from Karen Gardner Young, the town’s newly appointed community standards director, who reviewed current code‑enforcement staffing, procedures and options for the town including adopting a modular code‑enforcement software (MGO), increasing full‑time staffing and using civil citations for repeat or minor violations.
Why it matters: Multiple residents used the public‑comment period to press the council on perceived inconsistent enforcement of zoning and code rules — they cited manure spreading, alleged illegal RV occupancy, unpermitted buildings and perceived harassment of residents who file complaints. Presenters and commenters said some problems are longstanding and pose health, welfare and property‑value concerns.
Key facts and staff recommendations: Karen said the office is currently one full‑time officer and two part‑time officers, with a backlog of cases and a reactive, complaint‑driven posture. She recommended hiring two full‑time code officers (staggered schedules to cover weekends) and implementing the MGO code‑compliance module to allow complainants to track case status online and to give staff performance metrics. Karen and counsel also discussed civil citations (a non‑judicial, ticket‑style sanction) but noted the list of offenses in earlier drafts needed tailoring for the town’s rural/agricultural character.
Public comments: Residents recounted personal disputes about gates, easements and alleged intimidation and called for clearer definitions of permitted agricultural uses in the town’s Unified Land Development Code (ULDC). Several speakers asked for faster action on repeat offenders and suggested targeted enforcement (license‑plate readers, video evidence in coordination with PBSO) for illegal dumping.
Next steps: The council asked staff to return in June with a budget amendment or budget‑request package showing the cost of additional full‑time code officers, a draft of a town‑specific civil‑citation list, and a plan to deploy the MGO module plus public education materials. Council members signaled consensus that civil citations and staffing increases were priorities but did not take a formal vote on a staffing change at the meeting.
