Owner granted 90-day extension on reduced fine for Rosarito Avenue property

Special Magistrate Jamie Barrow on April 15 granted a 90-day extension to Tabitha Williams Johnson and co-owners to pay a reduced fine for a Rosarito Avenue property, saying the court wants to allow time for the owners to pursue sale options.

Johnson told the court she is one of three owners and has been the point of contact with code enforcement. She said the property previously had a reduced lot-clearing fine and that unresolved fines and liens on another property owned by the same group have prevented closing a sale that would free funds to satisfy the Rosarito balance. "I'm just trying to get the ball rolling in the right direction," Johnson said.

City records introduced at the hearing show the original lot-clearing fines were $36,400 and that the special magistrate reduced that amount to $3,640 on Feb. 4 with a 90-day payment requirement. Barrow said he was prepared to grant an extension and gave Johnson another 90 days; he warned that if the reduced amount is not paid within the extension the balance will revert to the original $36,400. The magistrate invited Johnson and city staff to confer if additional documentation or time is needed.

Johnson said she is submitting applications for fine reductions on the related 15th Street property and will continue to appear before the magistrate to resolve outstanding issues. The extension is intended to allow owners to finalize a sale of the Rosarito property so proceeds can be applied to the city's fines.

The court noted the extension does not erase the underlying fines and that owners have 30 days to appeal specific abatement orders where applicable.