Port St. Lucie special magistrate sets compliance dates, fines and abatements for dozens of property code violations

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Special Magistrate Keith Davis presiding over the City of Port St. Lucie’s Jan. 8, 2025 special magistrate hearing found multiple properties in violation of city code and set compliance deadlines, daily fines and administrative-cost assessments for unresolved cases.

Davis opened the hearing at about 9 a.m. at City Hall and heard presentations from city code officers and public-works staff before taking testimony from property owners and deciding cases. City staff documented violations ranging from failed culverts and driveway damage to unsecured pools, overgrowth, high grass and open storage. Davis regularly ordered respondents to obtain permits when engineering or culvert replacement would be required, and he authorized administrative costs of $411 in each matter where compliance was not achieved.

Why it matters: Many of the orders address stormwater infrastructure (failed culverts and blocked swales) and public-safety hazards (unsecured pools, obstructed access and excessive overgrowth). City orders may include fines that accumulate daily and — when allowed by statute — city abatement (entering the property to correct the violation and charging the owner under Florida Statute 162.08).

Key outcomes and next steps

- 2417 SW Falcon Circle (Case 24-16762). Respondent listed as Carmel Duplan. Magistrate ordered compliance by March 12, 2025: at minimum, the permit for culvert/driveway work must be issued by that date; if not, the respondent faces $25 per day up to $2,500 and administrative costs of $411. Special Magistrate Keith Davis noted public-works had verified the culvert as failed and that replacement (with permits) was required. City staff: Code Officer Diaz; engineering input: Wesley Armstrong (public works/engineering).

- 1766 SE Aries Lane (Case 23-14895). Respondent Ryan Batista. Magistrate set March 12, 2025 as the compliance date to have a permit issued for culvert/driveway repairs. If not issued, fines of $50 per day (up to $5,000) and administrative costs of $411 will be assessed; Magistrate Davis recorded the original permit issued Nov. 9, 2023 had expired Nov. 9, 2024 and no work was completed.

- 1651 SE Mistletoe Street (Case 24-15003). Respondents David and Kristen Marquis. Magistrate set April 1, 2025 as the compliance deadline and directed the respondent to arrange a public-works inspection before that date; if permit-based repair is required, the owner must obtain a permit and complete work under that permit. Fines if not complied: $50/day up to $5,000; administrative costs $411.

- 200 SE Jupiter Avenue (Case 24-16398). Respondent Barbara L. Dumfey. City recommended pulling the case to combine it with an additional violation concerning the pool barrier; Magistrate agreed to remove the case from the agenda for administrative follow-up (no order entered at the hearing).

- 3571 SW Delamino Street (Case 24-16444). Respondent Grace Frasca. Magistrate ordered compliance by Jan. 29, 2025 to cure open storage and overgrowth that blocked access (while acknowledging the respondent’s claim of medicinal herbs). If not complied: $50/day up to $5,000; administrative costs $411.

- Multiple vacant or nonattending properties (cases listed on the agenda): the magistrate found violations as cited and, where requested by city staff, granted the city authority under Florida Statute 162.08 to enter and abate (cut grass, remove dead trees, secure pools), with the cost to be charged to property owners. Daily fines and maximum accruals varied by case (see Votes at a glance below). Examples include cases where the city sought abatement authority for high grass (e.g., 4486 SW Cacao St.; 4686 SW Carib St.; 1237 SW Patricia Ave.; others).

City testimony and procedural notes

City presenters repeatedly documented: the inspection date, the notice-of-violation date, the date compliance was originally required, and the mailing or posting that established service. For cases involving culverts or driveway repairs, Wesley Armstrong (engineering/permitting) explained the permitting timeline and typical permit fees and durations (engineering review commonly takes about two months; driveway/culvert permits were discussed at an approximate lower-hundreds fee range). City staff recorded investigatory costs of $411 for each matter and sought authorization, when appropriate, to abate under Florida Statute 162.08.

A sample Magistrate quote reflecting orders entered: “If compliance is not achieved by that date, we’ll accept the city’s recommendation, assess fines … and the city’s administrative cost of $411 will also be assessed,” Special Magistrate Keith Davis said while announcing multiple compliance dates.

Votes at a glance (selected cases; compliance date — daily fine — max accrual — admin cost)

- Case 24-16762 (2417 SW Falcon Circle, Carmel Duplan): Mar. 12, 2025 — $25/day — $2,500 — $411 - Case 23-14895 (1766 SE Aries Lane, Ryan Batista): Mar. 12, 2025 — $50/day — $5,000 — $411 - Case 24-15003 (1651 SE Mistletoe St., David & Kristen Marquis): Apr. 1, 2025 — $50/day — $5,000 — $411 - Case 24-16398 (200 SE Jupiter Ave., Barbara L. Dumfey): pulled from agenda for consolidation with pool-barrier violation — no order entered at hearing - Case 24-16444 (3571 SW Delamino St., Grace Frasca): Jan. 29, 2025 — $50/day — $5,000 — $411 - Case 24-18397 (310 SE Camosa Drive, Anthony DeMaria, estate): Jan. 15, 2025 — $25/day — $2,500 — $411; magistrate found violation and granted relief including abatement authority - Case 24-15715 (4486 SW Cacao St.): Jan. 15, 2025 — $25/day — $2,500 — $411; city authorized abatement under Fla. Stat. 162.08 if not complied - Case 24-17258 (4686 SW Carib St.): Jan. 15, 2025 — $75/day — $7,500 — $411; abatement authority granted - Case 24-18492 (1237 SW Patricia Ave.): Jan. 15, 2025 — $25/day — $2,500 — $411; removal of dead trees authorized if necessary - Case 24-16842 (1932 SE Gibbs Ave.): Jan. 9 & Jan.15, 2025 (pool unsecured by Jan. 9; other violations by Jan. 15) — $125/day — $12,500 — $411; immediate abatement of unsecured pool authorized - Case 24-17786 (2092 SE Parkwood Cir.): Jan. 15, 2025 — $75/day — $7,500 — $411; abatement authority - Case 24-17872 (6869 NW Dragon St.): Jan. 15, 2025 — $50/day — $5,000 — $411; abatement authority - Case 24-17831 (1402 SE Navajo Ln., David C. Estes & Judy L. Estes): Jan. 15, 2025 — $100/day — $10,000 — $411; abatement authority for vegetation and overgrowth - Case 24-17852 (118 SW Lancaster Ave.): Jan. 15, 2025 — $125/day — $12,500 — $411; abatement authority - Case 24-18692 (2887 SE Eagle Dr.): Jan. 15, 2025 — $25/day — $2,500 — $411; abatement authority - Case 24-15284 (1773 SW Ruiz Terrace): certified fine for failure to comply after prior order — $25/day from Nov. 20, 2024 up to $2,500; abatement and administrative costs ordered

(For other cases recited on the agenda where property owners did not appear, the magistrate found violations as filed by the City of Port St. Lucie and, where requested, granted the city abatement authority under Florida Statute 162.08. A full list of those case numbers and respondent addresses was read into the record during the hearing.)

What the orders do and do not do

- In permit-required matters (failed culverts, driveway replacement), the magistrate set deadlines for the permit to be applied for and/or issued; once issued, the permit’s own timeline governs completion of the work. The magistrate repeatedly instructed respondents to keep in touch with city staff (code enforcement, public works or engineering) and to return for further hearings if additional time was needed.

- Where a case was pulled from the agenda (for example to consolidate an additional violation such as an unsecured pool), no enforcement order was entered at the hearing; the city will re-notice or refile the matter.

- For vacant properties and cases where owners did not appear, Davis found proper notice (mailing and property posting) had occurred and entered findings of violation and relief as requested by the city, including abatement authority and certification of fines where noncompliance continued.

Context and next steps

Magistrate Davis closed the hearing after entering orders and findings; property owners who received orders were advised to contact city staff to schedule inspections, apply for required permits or to request additional time if warranted. Where the magistrate authorized abatement under Florida Statute 162.08, the city may enter the property to cure the violation and then charge the owner for the cost of that work.

Copies of the orders and the evidentiary photographs are kept in the City of Port St. Lucie Neighborhood Services records.