Manager ppeal of transient-rental fine fails; commission reinstates full $17,250 lien

Valerie Galski, the manager for the property at 4001 Northeast 23rd Avenue, appealed a special magistrate's mitigation of a code-enforcement fine tied to an expired transient-rental certificate and a protracted renewal process. She told the commission she and her staff "brought the application in on November 19" and paid the renewal fee, and said the delay stemmed from inspection scheduling and repeated requests for documents.

"We've been compliant," Galski said, arguing the city nd regional inspection backlogs slowed completion and that she had been in frequent email contact with staff. Code enforcement staff Tony Palmieri said the initial packet was incomplete and that inspections are not scheduled until a full packet is received: "I do not schedule an inspection until I get the completed packet with all of the documents that are required." The code-enforcement timeline presented by city counsel showed a notice of violation issued Oct. 24, 2024, a magistrate hearing Jan. 8, 2025, a period of noncompliance through April 1, 2025, and a magistrate order that reduced the original $17,250 fine to $10,350.

Commissioners debated whether staff had reasonably assisted the applicant and whether the record supported further mitigation. Several members said the city had made extra efforts, including contacting the property owner directly to secure missing items, and that the packet remained incomplete when deadlines passed. A motion to reinstate the original fine carried on a 5-1 vote.

The commission's action restores the magistrate's original assessed amount, and the item record will be retained in the case file for any further administrative action. The appellant was told she may pursue further procedural options if available under city code.