Magistrate Richard Ellis held a docket of city code-enforcement cases Oct. 23, 2025, imposing fines in several matters, confirming prior orders in unpaid business-tax cases and continuing dozens of property-correction matters so inspectors or contractors can finish repairs or permitting.

The hearing covered violations ranging from accumulation of junk and overgrowth to unpermitted construction and operating vacation rentals without registration. City code representative Miss Kennedy told the magistrate which properties were back in compliance and which still required action; Ellis frequently continued cases to give respondents time to call inspectors, complete permits or remove items from properties.

Why it matters: The magistrate’s orders determine whether property owners face civil fines that can build daily and who must pay the city’s inspection and correction costs. Several owners were assessed or had increased daily fines, while others saw fines reduced because the city found corrections during inspections.

The most significant monetary outcomes included:
- A running fine increased to $2.50 per day for 25 25 Floyd Street LLC (case 202500981) for continuing accumulation of junk and trash; the magistrate found the overgrowth violation was already in compliance as of June 30 and continued the case to Dec. 4 at 8:45 a.m.
- A civil fine of $11,900 (to date) and daily running fines of $100 thereafter were imposed in the case against Ryan S. McKee and Samantha C. McKee (case 2020XXXX995), for items remaining on the property; the case was set for Nov. 20 at 8:30 a.m.
- A civil fine of $14,300 (to date) and a $100-per-day continuing fine were imposed for John E. Blakemore (case 202500892) relating to tree and debris left curbside; the matter was continued to Nov. 20 at 11:45 a.m.
- Cedar Ridge Cabin LLC (case 202501111) was ordered to pursue permitting and returned to the calendar Dec. 18 at 1:00 p.m. after the city said an accessory dwelling unit had been constructed without required permits and zoning approvals.
- The city reduced recommended penalties in multiple vacation-rental matters: Elevate 1400 North Tamiami Trail LLC (case 202500909) was assessed a $500 civil fine and $6.15 in costs after the city confirmed the property was corrected on Oct. 21; a separate vacation-rental matter involving Gulf Coast Vacation Rentals and its owner resulted in a $1,700 fine and $4.65 in costs after correction on Oct. 21.

Several matters were continued to allow respondents to coordinate with inspectors or to obtain permits. Typical continuances and directions included on-site inspections, the requirement that a representative appear at the next hearing, and instruction to call the assigned inspector when work is complete so the city can re-inspect before the next scheduled hearing.

Votes at a glance (case number — short outcome; next hearing if continued):
- 202500981 (25 25 Floyd Street LLC) — Increased daily running fine to $2.50; 16-47 continuing; continued to 12/04/2025 08:45 a.m.
- 202501079 (Alvin’s Island / Marco Destin Inc.) — Violation corrected 10/22/2025; no civil fine, city costs assessed $3.90; case closed.
- 2025010022 (Asher Lev et al.) — Overgrowth corrected 10/20/2025; remaining violations (16-47, 16-50) continuing; continued to 12/04/2025 09:00 a.m.
- 202500863 (Jefferson Raymond Bartel) — Violations for junk, housing conditions and improperly stored RV remain; continued to 11/25/2025 09:30 a.m. for reinspection and update.
- 202500309 (869 S. Orange Ave LLC / Chantilly Condominium matter) — Dock in disrepair remains out of compliance; other items corrected; continued to 12/18/2025 09:30 a.m.
- 2020XXXX995 (Ryan S. McKee & Samantha C. McKee) — $11,900 civil fine to date imposed, costs $3.90; $100/day running fine until corrected; continued to 11/20/2025 08:30 a.m.
- 202500881 & 202500882 (Carl & Annie Crenshaw) — Multiple violations (junk, overgrowth, vehicles, dead/damaged tree) continuing; continued to 12/11/2025 10:00 a.m.
- 202401103 (Robert Yamamoto) — Dock inspection failures (electrical issues) remain; continue to 12/04/2025 09:15 a.m.; permit outstanding.
- 202501197 (Luan Rojas Lycia Arlette de la Hura Dominguez) — Fence violation corrected 08/19/2025; no fines or costs imposed.
- 202500892 (John E. Blakemore) — $14,300 civil fine to date imposed, costs $3.90; $100/day running fine until corrected; continued to 11/20/2025 11:45 a.m.
- 202500973 (Christopher & Joanna Dobson) — Violations corrected in late September; magistrate imposed a $100 fine and city costs $465; case closed.
- 202500057 (Rochelle L. Mills) — Roof work permit issued but two failed inspections remain; continued to 12/04/2025 09:30 a.m.
- 202500848 (Gulfstream Estates LLC) — Fence permit pending fee payment; accumulation-of-trash violation corrected 09/23/2025; continued to 11/20/2025 09:30 a.m.
- 202500909 (Elevate 1400 N. Tamiami Trail LLC) — Violations corrected 10/21/2025; magistrate imposed $500 civil fine and city costs $6.15; case closed.
- 202501111 (Cedar Ridge Cabin LLC) — Accessory dwelling unit and zoning compliance issues; respondents instructed to pursue permits or downgrade to wet bar; continued to 12/18/2025 01:00 p.m.
- 202500478 (Man Van Trong et al., Gulf Coast Vacation Rentals) — Vacation-rental violations corrected 10/21/2025; magistrate imposed $1,700 civil fine and $4.65 in costs.
- 202501133 (Sheila Davis Galone trust) — Permit application submitted 10/21/2025; zoning violation 6202b dismissed; remaining interior-renovation violations continued to 12/11/2025 01:00 p.m.
- 202501026 (Logan Acquisitions Corp.) — Pool equipment change without permit; magistrate increased daily running fine to $2.50; continued to 12/04/2025 10:30 a.m.
- 202500862 (Daniel Campos Lopez DBA Sharp Cuts) — Failure to renew local business tax; magistrate confirmed prior order; case will be reset at request of either party.
- 202500615 (Samuel Baldwin) — Failure to renew professional local business tax; magistrate confirmed prior order; case will be reset at request of either party.
- 202501066 (Michael & Brian Ressler) — Vacation-rental registration application submitted; inspection scheduled; continued to 12/04/2025 10:45 a.m.
- 202500924 (David & Ruth Esch) — Vacation-rental and transient-use violations; contact made with respondent; continued to 12/11/2025 11:00 a.m.
- 202500774 (Eric T. Crockett) — Vacation-rental violations corrected 09/30/2025; magistrate imposed $13,400 civil fine to date and city costs $3.90; case closed.
- 202500761 (Calvin Bridal) — Overgrowth, junk and street-obstructing trees corrected by city contractor on 09/25/2025; magistrate imposed $12,600 civil fine to date and ordered city costs ($670) to be paid; magistrate retained authority to correct if necessary.
- Multiple related Strokes Seafood LLC cases (20250293, 202500822, 202500961, 202500962, 202500971) — Several permit and fence matters remain pending; continued to 12/18/2025 11:30 a.m.; violations continuing.

The magistrate repeatedly instructed respondents to call the assigned inspector when work is complete so re-inspections can occur before the next hearing. When permits or title/insurance complications prevented corrective action (for example, respondents reporting bank/title holds on totaled vehicles), Ellis suggested respondents seek legal advice and directed staff to help coordinate re-inspections.

Magistrate Ellis said in open hearing, "I'll find the violation is continuing," language he used in multiple cases to explain why a running fine or additional hearing was required. Miss Kennedy provided the city's evidence and correction dates in each file.

The hearing calendar contains multiple follow-up dates through mid-December; the city asked for costs in most cases so taxpayers do not bear inspection and enforcement expenses.

Boardroom context: The docket was procedural and evidence-based; most contested elements were narrow (timing of compliance, whether permits had been filed, or the removal of specific items). The magistrate resolved cases where the city verified correction, imposed or confirmed fines where the city submitted affidavits showing days of noncompliance, and continued others to allow permit processing or contractor scheduling.

Looking ahead: Many cases are set for re-inspection or will return to the magistrate in November or December. Property owners who received continuances were repeatedly told to coordinate directly with inspectors and to appear with a representative at the next scheduled hearing.

(Reporting note: This article summarizes the magistrate's formal orders and continuances recorded in the Oct. 23, 2025 City of Sarasota code-compliance hearing.)