Commission weighs changes to code‑enforcement chapter, including higher fines and appointment authority

Staff presented a second‑reading ordinance amending Chapter 7 of the city code on code enforcement procedures. The proposed changes include authorizing the city manager to appoint a special magistrate pro tem in cases of conflict or unavailability, allowing the city manager to assign cases if the code board lacks a quorum, establishing a code enforcement recovery fund funded by fines and penalties, and increasing administrative fines to the maximums allowed for municipalities of 50,000 or more residents.

The staff presentation included proposed fine schedules: "1st violation, the potential fine shall not exceed $1,000 per day per violation; for the 2nd violation, the potential fine shall not exceed $5,000 per day; for irreparable or irreversible violations, fines shall not exceed $15,000 per day per violation," consistent with the Florida statutory citation read into the record. Commissioner Kennedy raised concerns that the code enforcement board has in some cases accepted city recommendations without exercising discretion and urged stronger action for repeat offenders. The city attorney and staff noted the board already has authority to impose immediate fines for repeat violations and staff indicated coaching and procedural revisions will continue. A motion to approve the amendment was made; the transcript does not include a complete roll‑call result for that motion in the available segments.