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City attorney: 340 code‑enforcement liens under review; foreclosures limited to vacant, non‑homesteaded properties
Summary
City attorney said about 340 code‑enforcement cases have liens above threshold and that the city only pursues foreclosures on vacant, abandoned properties; staff also updated commissioners on a Riverfront project requiring specific vegetation and Corps of Engineers involvement.
Palatka’s city attorney told the commission on April 24 that roughly 340 code‑enforcement cases have accrued liens that meet the city’s threshold for further action, but that foreclosure proceedings are limited to vacant, abandoned and non‑homesteaded properties.
The attorney said the city will not initiate foreclosure proceedings on homesteaded properties. “Under no circumstances do we initiate foreclosure proceedings on any piece of property that is homesteaded,” the City Attorney said. He added that many of the cases are burned‑out structures or long‑standing blight matters, with some liens that staff said may exceed $500,000 and several pending for as long as 18 years.
Separately, staff provided an update on a riverfront “floating” Corps of Engineers project. City staff said they are working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and that one of the technical challenges is identifying appropriate vegetation for placement along the waterfront. Staff also noted changes to project responsibilities communicated by the department handling waterfront matters.
Commissioners were updated on these two items but took no immediate further formal action at the meeting; staff indicated they will continue processing blight cases consistent with legal constraints and will pursue project requirements with federal partners for the riverfront work.
