Magistrate trims fines for Daytona Beach Shores hotel after fire-safety compliance

Special Magistrate Steven De La Roche reduced daily fines against JK Daytona LLC’s property at 2225 South Atlantic Avenue in Daytona Beach Shores after city inspectors found the hotel’s fire alarm and sprinkler systems were later brought into service and the respondent documented remediation steps.

The magistrate granted the respondent’s request to remove 83 days from the accrual period, leaving 50 days of fines at $250 per day for a total fine of $12,500, and ordered payment of administrative fees totaling $384.65.

The city’s case, presented by city staff, traced a timeline of inspections and orders. The property first was found in violation at an initial hearing on Jan. 16 for two life-safety violations: a nonfunctional fire alarm system (violation A) and a nonfunctional sprinkler system (violation B). The magistrate described deadlines the city set for correction — a 30-day deadline to make the alarm system operational and a six-month deadline for the sprinkler system — and told the hearing that inspections on Feb. 19 showed continuing noncompliance.

City testimony and affidavits in the record show the alarm system was reported fixed on March 19, which ended the first fine period, but inspectors found the alarm nonfunctional again on April 11 during an annual inspection. The sprinkler system was reported functional in late July, and an affidavit of full compliance was submitted July 25. The city calculated 133 days of assessed fines totaling $33,250 before the magistrate’s adjustments and administrative fees of $242.82; the city also sought an additional $141.83 in administrative fees related to the current hearing.

Lieutenant Norman Meadors, the city’s fire prevention lieutenant, testified about inspection findings and confirmed for the record that his written reports and affidavits accurately reflect his recollection. Meadors also testified that fire-watch logs submitted earlier contained falsified entries: a front-desk employee had signed logs indicating a third-party fire-watch provider had conducted rounds when, by Meadors’s account, the employee himself had performed limited rounds on one floor. Meadors said the falsified logs were discovered in the course of enforcement and helped lead to a building shutdown until systems were corrected.

Rob Merrill and co-counsel Alana Smith, representing the property owner, acknowledged the falsified logs and said the property owner accepts responsibility for hiring a contractor who underperformed. General manager Shamila Mohammed testified about contractor delays and said the contractor repeatedly sent only one technician despite promises to send more. Merrill urged the magistrate to consider the owner’s good-faith efforts and the property’s historical and community value.

Special Magistrate De La Roche said he typically deducts days not caused by the owner — for example, permit-processing delays or holidays — and reviewed the submitted materials and affidavits before ruling. He told the owners, “I am going to grant you what you're asking for, all 83 days off. That leaves 50 days, a fine of $12,500 with the administrative fees still outstanding of $242.82 … plus for today, $141.83, a total of $384.65 in fees.”

Counsel for the owner told the magistrate the owner planned to go to the bank and hoped to pay the fees the same day and asked whether a written order could be issued immediately for payment processing. The magistrate allowed time for immediate payment and acknowledged the owner’s stated intention to complete payment the same day.

The magistrate’s order reduces the total assessed fine to $12,500 and confirms the administrative fee obligation of $384.65; it also notes the factual record on falsified fire-watch logs and the inspector affidavits that led to enforcement actions.

Provenance: the city’s timeline, Meadors’s affidavit, the testimony acknowledging falsified logs and the magistrate’s decision are recorded in the hearing transcript and the evidence packet admitted into the record.