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Magistrate recommends $8,507.90 reduction of Well Strung Commercial Investments lien; city council to decide
Summary
Special Magistrate recommended reducing a cumulative $83,027.90 lien to $8,507.90 for Well Strung Commercial Investments and forwarded the recommendation to the City Council for final action; owner said contractor permit errors contributed to the accrual.
Special Magistrate Drew Smith recommended that the City Council consider reducing a lien on Well Strung Commercial Investments LLC to $8,507.90 from a previously accrued $83,027.90 and noted the council would have the final decision.
City Attorney Dan Mantaras told the magistrate that the lien arose from an earlier order related to unpermitted work; a daily $100 fine had accrued before the property was brought into compliance in July 2023. The city manager recommended reducing the outstanding fine to $8,507.90, and the city’s staff supported forwarding that recommendation to the council so the respondent could make a final request in front of elected officials.
Mark Wells, who identified himself as the business owner and partner in the entities operating at the property, told the magistrate the situation resulted from contractor and permitting problems. Wells said his contractor applied for some permits but did not complete others and that the owners paid fees when they were informed; he described the events as a “perfect storm” that led to a high cumulative lien amount.
“I paid for the permits,” Wells said, summarizing his efforts to resolve the compliance issues once he learned of them. He asked the magistrate to allow the council to hear further argument before any final decision.
Smith said he would enter an order recommending the reduced figure of $8,507.90 and would include language expressly preserving the respondent’s opportunity to appear before the City Council and present additional mitigating information. “I will recommend $8,507.90, but I will include the caveat that there is an expectation that city council will hear your story,” Smith said.
Why it matters
A recommendation to reduce an eight‑figure‑adjacent lien to $8,507.90 affects the owner’s financial obligation and clears the way for the council to consider settlement or further reduction. The magistrate’s recommendation does not itself change the lien; the final authority rests with the City Council.
Next steps
The magistrate’s order will be forwarded to the City Council with the recommendation and the record of the hearing. The respondent will have the opportunity to address the council; the council will make the final determination about any further reduction or final lien amount.
