Special magistrate continues fines in multiple North Bay Village code-enforcement cases; one settlement and one dismissal

Special Magistrate Regine Monastem presided over North Bay Village’s Aug. 21 code-enforcement hearing and accepted the village’s recommendations in the bulk of matters before her, ordering continued accrual of daily fines and status reports in multiple cases while approving a settlement in one matter and dismissing another after compliance.

The village’s code director, Orlando Rodriguez, presented each case and outlined progress or outstanding deficiencies. Rodriguez told the magistrate that the property at 7529 Newton Avenue, owned by Ocean Capital Group Holdings LLC, had applied for an electrical permit but remained pending; fines of $250 per day have been accruing for 29 days, totaling $7,250. "As an update, the property... applied through an electrical permit," Rodriguez said, and recommended that fines continue and that the property return for a status report. The magistrate accepted that recommendation.

Several buildings facing recertification or major repairs remain under long-running fines. Rodriguez said Bridgewater Tower Condominium Association had completed a pre-demolition asbestos survey and was awaiting Miami-Dade County review before resubmission to the city; he recommended continuing fines. "They resubmitted to Miami-Dade County. So it looks like they're making good progress," Rodriguez said. The magistrate ordered the fines to continue and asked for a status update at the next hearing.

Belle Isle Condominium's property manager, Annette DeTomaso, told the hearing the building is in "the last stages of our 40-year recertification," with structural work done and electrical and thermographic steps pending. The village recommended continued fines while the final items are addressed; the magistrate accepted the recommendation.

In several unpermitted-work cases, inspectors reported either pending permit submissions or no recent updates and recommended fines continue. For example, code enforcement officer Maria Tovar said the property at 7511 Coquina Drive had submitted permit applications that were rejected for missing drawings and calculations and that $21,250 in fines had accrued. "Since then, no application has been submitted, and we haven't had any update from the owner," Tovar said. The magistrate accepted the village's recommendation to continue fines and require return for status.

One case resolved by settlement involved 1660 South Treasure Drive. Rodriguez reported the property was brought into compliance before the hearing and the owner agreed to a one-time payment of $250 payable within 30 days; the magistrate accepted that settlement. In a separate matter involving seawall work and jet-ski lifts, Rodriguez said one of the properties had come into compliance before the hearing and the magistrate dismissed that case; another related case remains subject to fines and follow-up.

Owners and contractors who attended gave short status updates in several matters. Dennis Lopez, the contractor on the remodeled-unit case at 7929 West Drive, said he expects to submit revised electrical documentation next week. Omar Diaz, the property manager for Bridgewater Tower, said he expected a county response imminently so the city resubmission could proceed.

The hearing record shows fines assessed at varying daily rates (commonly $250 per day for many building-code violations; other matters cited $2.50 per day in the transcript, and one recommendation referenced fines up to $50 per day pending compliance). The Special Magistrate repeatedly accepted the village’s recommendations to continue accrual of fines and to have properties return for status unless the property was brought into compliance or had reached a settlement.

The hearing concluded after the final case; the magistrate closed the record and adjourned. Property owners who wish to appeal a written order have 30 days from entry to file with the Miami-Dade clerk of courts, per the magistrate’s opening remarks that the hearing was conducted under Chapter 162 of the Florida Statutes.