HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-16-2024 MinutesCITY OF SEBASTIAN FLORIDA
MINUTES
SPECIAL MAGISTRATE CODE ENFORCEMENT HEARING
JULY16, 2024
The hearing was called to order at 2:00 p.m. by Special Magistrate Kelley H. Armitage.
Present:
Special Magistrate Kelley H. Armitage, City Attorney Jennifer Cockcroft, Code
Enforcement Officer Curtis Bloomfield, Code Enforcement Records Specialist Naiomi
Charles, and Janet Graham, Technical Writer.
Code Enforcement Records Specialist Naiomi Charles swore in staff and all persons who
would be speaking.
I. Call to Order
II. Initial Hearing of Code Violation
A. JIAKA XU & XIAOQIAN DIAO
891 Bermuda Avenue
Sec. 39-27 Permit Required (alarm) Case No.: CE 24-002845
City Attorney Cockcroft read the item into the record and called on Code Enforceme nt
Officer Curtis Bloomfield to present his case.
Curtis Bloomfield, Code Enforcement Officer with the City of Sebastian, identified himself
and his position with the City of Sebastian. Officer Bloomfield stated that this case began
on January 22, 2024 when officers responded to a false alarm at 891 Bermuda Avenue.
A photo was shown on the screen that shows the officer placing a notice for a violation
on which a checkmark is present stating “Unlawful Operation of an Unregistered Alarm.”
Below that it states a “False Alarm.” Having an unregistered alarm in the City is not
permitted. It is a violation of Section 39-27, Permit Required for All Alarms in the City of
Sebastian. This photo was marked as Exhibit 4. The owner was issued three notices,
informing the owner that his alarm is not registered and requires a permit. The owner
responded in a phone call with Officer Bloomfield and the Administrative Assistant to
Code Enforcement, in which he wanted clarification on what he needed to do. He was
told that information over the phone as well as being sent to him by mail. The owner
promised to return the application with the fee, and he never did. The City needs this
alarm registered, as the City has responded to a false alarm at that property, and the
alarm is still not registered.
Officer Bloomfield recommends an order giving the property owner this date of July 16 th
to come into compliance, and to pay an administrative fee of $250.00. Also, the owner
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will face a fine of $25.00 per day until the owner submits an application and pays the fee
and has his alarm registered.
There being no one in attendance to testify, so ordered by the Magistrate.
(OFF THE RECORD)
(BACK ON THE RECORD)
Ms. Cockcroft stated that the appropriate remedy would not be a daily fine per City of
Sebastian Code of Ordinance Section 39-38. The appropriate fine for a first violation of
an unpermitted alarm system is $50.00. She thus asked that the Magistrate issue an
order of a fine of $50.00, and that order may be appealed to the Special Magistrate.
There being no one present to testify, so ordered by the Magistrate.
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