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Commission authorizes foreclosure to enforce long-running code liens; vote 4–1
Summary
After years of code-enforcement attempts, the commission authorized the city attorney to pursue foreclosure on recorded liens at 30 South Leonardi Street (two $50,000 liens) and agreed to pause an accruing third fine while staff seeks mitigation. The motion passed 4–1.
The City Commission on Jan. 27 authorized the city attorney to proceed with foreclosure against property at 30 South Leonardi Street to recover recorded code-enforcement liens, following a lengthy staff presentation and neighborhood testimony.
The city attorney told commissioners that two recorded liens — each $50,000 — remain of record after multiple enforcement proceedings and certified notices. Code Enforcement staff summarized eight separate cases since 2018, thousands of certified mailings and repeated efforts to contact listed property owners. Code Enforcement staff said the property has not come into compliance despite repeated notices and that the neighborhood has experienced ongoing nuisance conditions, including large log piles and operation of log-splitting equipment.
Shane Christian Peterson, who said he is acting controlling owner and asked for time because of recent incarceration and personal hardship, asked the commission for an extension. Neighbors told the commission the conditions have been disruptive and that prior cleanup promises had not produced long-term compliance.
After deliberation the commission voted to authorize the city attorney to move forward with foreclosure to recover lien amounts and to pause a separate accruing fine (a third case) while staff attempts to resolve mitigation. The roll-call vote recorded four votes in favor and one opposed (Cynthia Garris). The mayor said the decision was difficult but necessary given the long history of noncompliance and neighborhood impacts.
City staff said the city would follow statutory procedures for foreclosure, including filing pleadings and seeking a court order prior to sale; staff also said the city could submit a reserve bid to cover the lien amount at foreclosure if necessary. The city attorney estimated the process would take a couple of months to move through court and sale procedures if the property remains noncompliant.
Commissioners and staff encouraged the property representative to pursue options to pay the lien or otherwise bring the property into compliance to avoid foreclosure. The decision authorizes legal action; it does not immediately transfer title unless foreclosure proceeds through the court process and sale.
Vote (roll call): Nancy Sykes Klein — Yes; Jim Springfield — Yes; John DePrater — Yes; Cynthia Garris — No; Barbara Blonder — Yes.
