Margate approves revised code‑enforcement ordinance; special magistrate fee schedule debate stalls procedural resolution

The City of Margate Commission on Sept. 17 approved an ordinance designed to shorten the city’s code‑enforcement timeline by combining the violation hearing and penalty hearing into a single magistrate appearance, staff said. The ordinance passed on second reading.

City staff explained that, under the amended code, a property owner who receives a notice of violation and fails to correct it would be scheduled for a single special‑magistrate hearing at which the magistrate could issue corrective deadlines and, if necessary, begin assessing civil penalties. The change is intended to speed compliance and avoid multiple return hearings that currently can stretch an enforcement case over many weeks.

During public comment, residents and commissioners urged balance and compassion. Several members of the public described cases where they said code officers returned repeatedly with new violations, a practice some residents called “death by a thousand cuts.” Nina Culver, a long‑time resident, told the commission she sometimes helps neighbors comply when they face enforcement notices and urged code officers to use consistent standards. Commissioner Rosano questioned whether the ordinance could cause hardship for homeowners with genuine financial limits and emphasized staff should continue to work with residents seeking help.

The commission then considered a related resolution that would set special‑magistrate hearing procedures and raise the administrative hearing fee from $50 to $100 to cover hearing costs. Commissioners and residents debated the fee increase and how the city should enforce violations; several said fees had not been updated in a decade and costs for hearings have risen.

Because one commissioner (Commissioner Simone) left the dais before the resolution vote, the measure “died for lack of” a full vote and was not adopted. Mayor Arlene Schwartz instructed staff to ensure the magistrate procedures are fully consistent with the newly adopted ordinance and to return with a corrected proposal. City staff said they will clean up language and bring the procedural resolution back for further consideration.

What passed and what did not: - Ordinance amending Chapter 1 (general provisions) to streamline enforcement hearings: Adopted on second reading (roll call: majority yes). - Resolution establishing special‑magistrate procedures and increasing administrative hearing fees: Not adopted at Sept. 17 meeting (died for lack of full commission present); staff to return with revisions.

Residents asked the commission to continue pursuing fair enforcement and to consider neighborhood traffic and other quality‑of‑life concerns in its enforcement priorities. Several commissioners said staff already works to give property owners extra time when warranted and that the goal of the ordinance is faster compliance, not automatic fines.