Boca Raton council questions magistrate negotiations after reduced code‑enforcement settlement
Council members debated a negotiated settlement in a long‑running code‑enforcement case where staff and the magistrate encouraged parties to negotiate; staff said an $87,000 certification was recommended but the negotiated settlement produced a lower $9,100 figure tied to a narrower period of noncompliance. Members asked the city attorney for a legal memo on magistrate authority and proposed an ordinance to give council review in similar cases.
The full story
A prolonged council discussion on Aug. 27 focused on a contested code‑enforcement case in which staff had recommended certifying fines of roughly $87,000 based on a $1,000‑per‑day calculation for a period of noncompliance. Development Services Director Brandon Shadd told council the magistrate twice encouraged the parties to negotiate and directed staff to continue discussions; staff ultimately reached a settlement that applied a reduced $100‑per‑day calculation for a specific 91‑day period, producing the $9,100 figure.
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