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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity of Tamarac Resolution R-86-271a Introduced by: C' w- -_ Temp. Peso. 04222. 1 2 3 4 5 lJ K L• J' 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 2 33 34 CI.'T'Y OP TAMARAC, PLORIDA PESOLUT ON NO. R-86-& A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CITY OF TAMAR.AC CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD PROCEDURAL HANDBOOK; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the City Council has adopted an ordinance creating the Tamarac Code Enforcement Board; and WHEREAS, the ado >ti-on of.:: a procedural handbook will greatly increase the efficiency of the Tamarac Code Enforce- ment Board. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THY CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TAMAPAC, FLOPIDA: TTTOU1: That the City of Tamarac Code Enforcement Board Handbook attached hereto and made a part hereof as Exhibit "A" is hereby adopted and approved in its entirety. SFC�.'ION_ 2: This Resolution slab. - become effective immediately upon adoption. PASSED, ADOPTED AND APPROVFD this wQ day of _ _. 1986. ATTEST: i tR R. Z L�fi ERTT OI. F-,.-. CITY CLERK I HEREBY CERTIFY that I have approved the form and correct- ness of this RESOLUTION. A. BRYx.�,�PPLFGA E CITY ATTORNEY 20027/8/86--t BF,RNAP, ._HART MAYOR RECORD OF C:O'U NM MOTE h/1000 PART 170 . I.: C1li MA!:;S,^, ,0 NST2: STELZER .._ .. �..�.�..._ — DlSTu. 3: C/N1 GO T TESL.' AN DIST. 4: 01M STEIN _ ��� 0 • 0 50. g CITY OF TAMARAC CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD PROCEDURAL HANDBOOK EXHIBIT "A" i E 0 TABLE QF CONTE�TT,9 PAG-E SECTION I - PROCEDURES FOR VIOLATION 1 - 4 NOTICE OF VIOLATIONS 1 - 3 REFERRAL TO CLERK OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD 3 - 4 SUBPOENAS 5 SECTION II - HEARING 4 - 11 FINAL ORDER 9 - 10 SECTION III - HEARING TO IMPOSE FINE 11 - 14 RELEASE OF LIEN 13 - 14 FORECLOSURE OF LIEN 14 APPEAL 14 SECTION IV - INTERNAL CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD 14 - 20 RULES OF PROCEDURE 0 CITY OF TAMARAC CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD PROCEDURAL HANDBOOK -Section I - Procedures for, Violations. 1. Complaint Received - An inspector in the appropriate department shall be requested to investigate an alleged violation. 2. InitiglInspecti_on_ of 4nAlleged _.Violation - The alleged violation shall be subjected to an inspection based upon a • complaint or the inspector's own initiative: A. If no violation is found to exist then the inspector shall make and retain notes for his files and the matter shall be closed. B. Notice of Violat-i-Qn - If a violation is believed to exist, the following procedure shall be followed in the inspector's discretion. 1) The inspector shall issue a Notice of Violation (Form CEB-l(b)), serve a copy on the alleged violator and retain a copy for the department's file. If the violator is not the owner, a copy of the Notice of Violation shall also be served on the owner. Notice(s) of Violation shall be served by personal service, if possible, otherwise by another approved method. Service 1 by mail shall be by Certified Mail, Return . Receipt Requested. a) Nothing contained herein shall be construed or implied to limit the authority of the Chief of the Fire Department or of any Fire Marshall or any Fire Inspector to proceed pursuant to the Fire Code of the City of Tamarac. Said inspectors shall have the option of proceeding with the viola- tion under the City's Fire Code. Similarly these guidelines are not to be the exclusive remedy for dealing with violations where other procedures exist. b) The time limit set for the correction of the violation shall be determined by the inspector based upon the inspector's professional judgment and shall be reasonable. 2) The inspector shall make and retain notes for the department file. 3) If the inspector has reason to believe the violation presents a serious threat to the public health, safety and welfare, then the inspector shall notify the Clerk of the Code Enforcement Board, (hereinafter Clerk) who shall then set the violation for Hearing pursuant to City of Tamarac Code of Ordinances. 2 3. ReinapectiQn A After Violation Issued Immediately after expiration of the time limit set for corrective action in the Notice of Violation, the inspector shall reinspect the location where the violation occurred to determine if the corrective action has been completed. A. If the correction active has been completed, then the inspector shall make a report for the department file and then close the file. B. Referral k of the CodeE orcermnt Board - If the correction action specified has not been completed, then: 1) The inspector shall complete the Affidavit of Alleged Violation (Form CEB-3) and submit it to the Clerk. 2) The inspector shall complete an Affidavit of Service (Form CEB--2) for the service of the Notice of Violation on the violator and on the owner, if applicable, and submit the Affidavits of Service to the Clerk. 3) The Clerk shall open a file, including copies of the Notice(s) of Violation, Affidavit(s) of Service, Affidavit of Alleged Violation and the inspector's notes. The Clerk shall assign a case number to each violation and each subsequent file opened shall be assigned a case number incremented by one (1). 3 4) The Clerk shall set the violation down for a Hearing at the next available Code Enforcement Board (hereinafter Board) meeting, which shall be scheduled to provide sufficient time for at least fifteen (15) days written notice. 4. Violation C P Scbedu d H. ainq. Immediately prior to the scheduled Hearing, the inspector shall reinspect the location where the violation occurred and if the inspector determines that the violation has been corrected: A. The inspector shall notify the Clerk and submit an Affidavit of Compliance (Form CEB-7a(1)) to the Clerk. B. The Clerk shall delete the Hearing from the calendar and the agenda of the Board meeting, notify the violator and owner, if possible, and close the file. Section II, -_Hearing I. N-o-tice A. The Clerk shall provide the violator and owner, if applicable, with at least fifteen (15) days written notice of the scheduled Hearing in the manner set forth below. 1) A Notice of Hearing (Form CEB--8), with a copy of the Affidavit of Alleged Violation attached, shall be served on the violator and the owner, if applicable. Service shall be by certified mail, return receipt requested, or b p q y personal 4 service, if mailing is ineffective, otherwise by another approved method. 2) The Clerk, or other individual providing service, shall complete the Affidavit(s) of Service for the service of the Notice of Hearing and it shall be retained in the Clerk's file. 3) The Notice of Hearing shall also state the following: "If you wish to exercise your right to be represented by an attorney, you must notify the Clerk of the Code Enforcement Board within five (5) days of the scheduled hearing date." 4) A copy of the Notice(s) of Hearing and a copy of the Affidavit of Alleged Violation shall be delivered to the City Prosecutor and the inspector. 2. Subpoena -- The City, the Board, the alleged violator or owner, if applicable, may request that witnesses be subpoenaed or records be subpoenaed for the Hearing. A. Subpoenas shall be served by police officers of the City of Tamarac Police Department. B. Affidavit of Service shall be retained in the Clerk's file. C. The violator or owner shall pay to the City a fee of $12.00 for each subpoena served on his, her or their behalf. 3. Pu-'gQse - The Board will hear and shall consider all testimony offered and shall examine and consider all the 5 evidence presented. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Board shall issue Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law and an Order, which shall mandate the steps necessary to bring a violation into compliance by a time certain, if a violation is found to exist. 4. Pr4_cedure - The procedure for the Hearing shall be as follows: A. All testimony shall be under oath. B. The Chairperson of the Board shall call the case at its scheduled time in the order in which it appears on the agenda. The Board may hear a case out of order if the Chairman determines it to be in the best interest of the Board. C. The Clerk will introduce the case. D. The City Prosecutor will present the City's case, if the alleged violator is represented by an attorney or if the City determines that it is in the best interest. E. The City may (a) call and examine witnesses; (b) introduce exhibits; (c) cross-examine witnesses; (d) impeach witnesses; (e) rebut evidence. F. The violator and owner, if applicable, who may be represented by an attorney, will present his, her or their case. G. The violator and owner, if applicable, may (a) call and examine witnesses; (b) introduce exhibits . (c) cross-examine opposing witnesses; (d) impeach witnesses; (e) rebut evidence. R H. Rebuttal by the City Prosecutor. I. Rebuttal by the violator and the owner, if applicable, or his, her or their attorney. J. Closing statement and recommendation by the City Prosecutor. K. Closing statement and recommendation by the violator and owner, if applicable, or his, her or their attorney. L. Any person whose interest may be affected by the matter before the Board shall be given an opportunity to be heard. M. Formal rules of evidence shall not apply but fundamental due process shall be observed and govern said hearings. N. All relevant evidence shall be admitted, if, in the opinion of the Board, it is the type of evidence upon which reasonable and responsible persons would normally rely in the conduct of business affairs, regardless of existence of any common law or statutory rules which might make such evidence inadmissible over objections in civil actions. The Chairperson of the Board may exclude irrelevant or unduly repetitious evidence. 0. Hearsay evidence may be accepted for the purpose of supplementing or explaining any direct evidence, but such hearsay evidence shall not, in and of itself, be considered sufficient to support a finding or decision unless the evidence would be admissible over objections in a civil action. 7 P. If written notice of the Hearing has been provided to an alleged violator, and owner, if applicable, the Hearing may be conducted and an Order rendered in the absence of the violator and owner, if applicable. Q. At the conclusion of the presentation of evidence, and the taking of testimony, the Board shall issue findings of fact and conclusions of law and issue an Order which may dismiss the case, reach a decision in accordance with the purpose of the Hearing, or continue the case. The findings and Final Order shall be by motion approved by a majority of those present and voting. The final vote of the Board shall be reflected on the Order. 5. Orders - The Board shall make a determination and the Chairperson shall sign one of the following orders. A. Order of Continuous - Form CEB-5(a). The Board may in its discretion, and for good cause shown, continue the Hearing to another date upon a majority vote of those members present. 1) The Clerk shall serve a copy of the Order of continuance together with a new original Notice(s) of Hearing on the violator and owner, if applicable, in the same manner as the prior Notice of Hearing was served. Affidavit(s) of Service shall be executed and retained for the Clerk's office. IR2) The Clerk shall provide a copy of the new A original Notice of Hearing to the City . Prosecutor and the inspector. 3) New subpoenas shall be issued in the same manner as initially served. 4) The case may be continued as many times as the Board deems advisable. B. Final,_ Orders - Upon reaching a conclusion at the Hearing the Board shall issue a Final Order (Form CEB-9) setting forth the following: 1) In the event the Board determines that the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law do not warrant that a violation exists then the Final Order will reflect this determination and the Clerk shall mail the Order to the alleged violator, place a copy of the Order into the file, and close the case. 2) In the event the Board determines that the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law warrant that a violation exists; i) The Final Order will reflect these Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law. ii) The Final Order shall mandate that the violator, and owner, if applicable, take whatever steps are necessary to bring the violation into compliance by a time certain set out in the Final Order. iii) The Final Order may contain a predeter- mined fine not to exceed two hundred fifty ($250.00) Dollars per day, in Fi event, that the violation continues past the date set for compliance or for each day the violation reoccurs. The fine shall not become effective or commence without further action by the Board. iv) The violator and owner, if applicable, shall be mailed a copy of the Final Order within five (5) days of the Board's action, certified mail, return receipt requested. The Clerk shall complete an Affidavit of Service for the mailing of the Final Order and retain it for the file. 6. ZunctiveRelief - In the event the Board believes that a violation presents a serious threat to the public health, safety and welfare, the Board may direct the City Attorney to seek appropriate injunctive relief in the name of the City from the appropriate Court. 7. ReinspectionD nc th the is F F' d r - After the expiration of the time limit set for compliance in the Final Order, the inspector shall reinspect the location where the violation occurred to determine if the Final Order has been complied with. A. If compliance has occurred the inspector shall complete an Affidavit of Compliance (Form CEB-7a(2) and submit the Affidavit to the Clerk who shall place the Affidavit into the file and close the case. 10 B. If compliance has not occurred, or if the same violation has been repeated, the inspector shall complete an Affidavit of Noncompliance (Form CEB- 7(b)(11) and submit the Affidavit to the Clerk who shall schedule a Hearing to Impose Fine. Section -I -II - H ing.to Impose F' 1. Notice - The Clerk shall provide the violator and owner, if applicable, with at least seven (7) days written notice of a scheduled Hearing to Impose Fine in the manner set forth below. A. The Clerk shall serve a Notice of Hearing to Impose Fine (Form CEB-12), with a copy of the Affidavit of Noncompliance attached, on the violator and owner, if applicable. Service . shall be by certified mail, return receipt requested, or if mailing is ineffective by personal service, otherwise by another approved method. B. The Clerk of other individual providing service shall complete the Affidavit(s) of Service for the service of the Notice of Hearing to Impose Fine and it shall be retained in the Clerk's file. 2. Purpose - The Board will consider the case to determine whether there has been compliance with the Final Order. 3. Procedure - The procedure for the Hearing to Impose Fine shall be as set forth below. 11 A. The Chairperson of the Board shall call the 41 case at its scheduled time in the order in which it appears on the agenda. B. The Clerk shall introduce the case. C. The City shall present for the Board's review an Affidavit of Noncompliance and will remain available to respond to inquiries from the Board. D. The violator and owner, if applicable, who may be represented by an attorney, shall have the right to respond. E. At the conclusion of the violator or owner's response the Board may discuss the case and shall decide whether compliance has occurred, or if the same violation has been repeated by the same violator. 4. Orders - A. If the Board determines that the compliance has occurred, despite the inspector's Affidavit of Noncompliance, then the Chairperson of the Board shall execute an Affidavit of Compliance. The Clerk shall insert it into the Clerk's file and close the case. B. If the Board determines that compliance has not occurred or if the same violation has been repeated, the Board shall: 1) Issue an Order of Imposition of Fine and Claim of Lien (Form CEB-10) which shall be certified. 12 2) The Clerk shall forward the Order of Imposition of Fine and Claim of Lien to the violator and owner, if applicable, certified mail, return receipt requested, within five (5) days of the Board's action and complete an Affidavit of Service which shall be inserted into the file. 3) The Board may allow an additional amount of time not to exceed the term set for compliance at the end of the Formal Hearing for the violator or owner to remedy the violation if the Board has determined that the violator or owner have initiated the appropriate steps for compliance. 5. Rgleia_of____Lien for Recording - The per diem fine shall be computed from the date set forth in the Final Order, as subsequently imposed by the Board in is Order of Imposition of Fine and Claim of Lien, through the date on which compliance has been determined. A. The violator or the owner, if applicable, may request a reinspection of the location where the violation occurred to determine compliance. If compliance has occurred the inspector shall execute an Affidavit of Compliance which shall be submitted to the Clerk for the file. 13 B. Upon payment of the fine, as calculated above, . the Clerk shall have a Release of Lien (Form CEB-11) recorded in the Public Records of Broward County, Florida. 6. Forgclosinq Lien - Six months after the filing of any Order of Imposition of Fine and Claim of Lien which remains unpaid, the Board may authorize the City Attorney to obtain approval from the City Council to foreclose upon such Claim of Lien. 7. AAppe&l_ - Every enforcement Order of the Board shall be final, subject to the right of an aggrieved party, including without limitation, the City or the violator or owner, to appeal a Final Order of the Board to the Circuit Court of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida in and for Broward County, Florida. An appeal shall be filed within thirty (30) days of the execution of the order to be appealed. Bg-g-t-ion. IV Internal Code Enf orgQ-mp.-at---D_QArd s of P oc du 1. Beza ina ss - All Hearings and related matters shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions and proceedings set forth in this Procedure Hand Book and applicable City Ordinances and State Statutes. 2. A P - All Hearings and related matters of the Board shall be conducted in an open matter before the public. 0 14 3. Parlimentary Procedure - a. 0 der Newlv Revised shall be the final authority on all questions of parlimentary procedure. b. Voting shall be by roll call vote. Roll call shall be in random order. All members present shall vote. The Chairperson shall vote last. The voting of each member shall be "Yes" (favor the motion) or "No" (opposed to motion). C. In the case of a tie vote, a motion shall be considered defeated. 4. 0-r-d-e r o f B Li s ine g s A. Roll Call. B. Approval of Minutes of the previous meeting. C. Correspondence. D. Administrative Business. E. Public Hearing: 1. Hearings to Impose Fines. 2. Hearings. F. Reports. G. Adjournment of Meeting. 5. Schedyl_e of Meetings a. Regular meetings shall be held at least once each month, unless otherwise provided by the Board. Whenever a scheduled meeting falls on a legal holiday or religious holiday, the Board shall reschedule the meeting. 15 b. Special meetings may be called by the Chairperson by written notice when signed by at least three (3) Board members. 6. Recording __of Meetings Meetings are to be recorded and minutes �of all Board meetings shall be kept by the Board Clerk. 7. Ouoru A quorum shall consist of four (4) members of the Board. A majority vote of those present shall be required for Board action and at least 4 members must vote for the action to be official. If a quorum is not present after thirty (30) minutes has elapsed beyond the scheduled starting time, the meeting shall be cancelled. . 8. Conflict of InIgrest Whenever a member of the Board determines that a matter before it could inure to his special private gain or inure to the special gain of any principal by whom he is retained shall abstain from voting. Such Board member shall prior to the matter being considered, publicly state to the assembly the nature of his interest in the matter from which he is abstaining from voting and, within fifteen fifteen (15) days after the vote occurs. Disclose the nature of his interest as a public record in a memorandum filed with the person responsible for recording the minutes of the meeting, who shall incorporate the memorandum in the minutes. 16 9. 0 d EleckigIns A. The officers of the City of Tamarac Code Enforcement Board consist of: 1. Chairperson. 2. Vice -Chairperson. B. Officers shall be nominated from the floor at the meeting at which the elections are to be held. C. Regular elections shall be held annually as the last order of business at the first meeting held in August. D. The term of office shall be one (1) year, which term is to commence at the conclusion of the election of all officers. E. There is no limitation on the number of terms a member of the Board may serve. F. Special elections for replacement officers shall be held at the second regular meeting following the month during which the office first becomes vacant. 10. Duties_.of Off.._cSrs_ A. Chairperson: 1. Preside at all meetings. 2. Appoint all committees and be an ex-officio member of all committees. B. Vice Chairperson: 1. Perform the duties of the Chairperson when the Chairperson is absent. C. In the absence of the Chairperson and Vice- 17 Chairperson, a member selected from the Board may serve as Chairperson pro tem for that meeting. 11. Term of Office of Members 1. The initial appointments to the Board, made in June, 1986, were: (a) 2 members for one (1) year. (b) 3 members for two (2) years. (c) 2 members for three (3) years. 2. After the initial appointments all appointments shall be for a term of three (3) years. A member may be reappointed for one (1) successive term. 3. Appointments to fill any vacancy shall be for the remainder of the unexpired term of office of the member vacating the position. 4. If a member fails to attend two (2) out of three (3) successive meetings without cause and without prior approval of the Chairperson, the Board shall declare the member's office vacant. The Board shall advise the City Commission of said vacancy and the City Commission shall fill the vacancy promptly. 5. Members of the Board may be removed for cause as provided in the City Code of Ordinances. 12. Attgrnev for the Board A. The City Attorney or Assistant City Attorney for the City of Tamarac shall represent and be counsel to the Board and attend specified meetings of the Board. B. The City Attorney or Assistant City Attorney shall not enter into any binding agreements or stipulations concerning matters before the Board without first "K obtaining Board approval by a majority vote at an open public meeting. C. Pursuant to Subsection (12B) as set forth above, the City Attorney or Assistant City Attorney may within their discretion discuss the issues of a particular matter with counsel for the alleged violator and the City Prosecutor to determine whether or not a case should be settled, continued, dismissed or set for hearing. 13. C i t v Pros-cutor A. The City Prosecutor shall present all cases in which the violator or owner is represented by an attorney. B. The City Prosecutor shall also present any case in which the City has determined that it would be in its best interest to have the case presented by an attorney. C. The City Prosecutor shall also have the discretion, including but not limited to the right to negotiate a plea with the violator and present that plea to the Board for approval, to recommend a disposition of a case to the Board, and to decline to prosecute a case, similar to the discretion exercised by the State Attorney in criminal cases. 14. is A. These Rules of Procedure may be amended by a vote of a simple majority of those present at any meeting or special meeting at which a quorum is present, • provided that the proposed amendment change has been 19 LI C1 L� presented to the Board at least one (1) week prior to such meeting. B. These Rules of Procedure may be suspended by the unanimous consent of those present at any meeting at which a quorum is present. 15. �oB_f- ct A. Any provision of this Procedural Handbook of the Code Enforcement Board that conflicts with any City ordinance of the City of Tamarac or any State statute of the State of Florida shall be ineffective and for the purpose of conducting any meeting of the Code Enforcement Board shall be considered repealed. 16. Rey.i_gw of Ru,ie,s_Of Procedure. This Procedural Handbook may be revised by the City Attorney upon a majority vote of the full Board directing that such action be taken. APPROVED by City Council action on the _;�3 20017/8/86-t 20 day of J out \/ , 1986