Clearwater Municipal Code Enforcement Board Meeting - January 28, 2026

The Clearwater Municipal Code Enforcement Board met on January 28, 2026, at 1:30 PM (18:30 UTC) in the Main Library Council Chambers. The board considered 20 new business items, 4 old business items, and 8 nuisance abatement lien filings, along with the election of officers. The meeting lasted approximately 3 hours. Key actions included approval of a stipulated order with a $42,500 fine for illicit discharge, multiple violation findings with deadlines and daily fines, and acceptance of affidavits of compliance and non-compliance. The board elected a new Chairman and Vice Chair.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The minutes of the December 17, 2025 meeting were approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made during the meeting. The agenda did not include a dedicated public comment period.

Discussion Items

• Case 197-25 (Illicit Discharge): The board adopted a stipulated order finding Moss & Associates in violation for illicit discharge at 400 Coronado Ave. The order imposes a fine of $42,500, as agreed by both parties.
• Case 146-25 (Residential Rental Business Tax Receipt): The respondent was found in violation, but the violation was corrected prior to the hearing. No fine was imposed, but a warning of $500 per day for repeat violations was issued.
• Case 01-26 (Portable Storage Unit): The respondent denied using the trailer for storage. The board continued the case to February 25, 2026, to allow the city to re-notice under a different code section (nuisance/condition), as the trailer had deteriorated.
• Case 02-26 (Exterior Surfaces & Roof Maintenance): The respondent admitted violations and outlined plans for a major renovation funded by a CRA grant. The board set a compliance deadline of March 25, 2026, with a fine of $150 per day per violation. The city noted that if progress is shown, the affidavit of non-compliance may be delayed.
• Case 03-26 (Multiple Violations – 1910 Union St.): No respondent appeared. The board found the respondent in violation for exterior surfaces, roof, doors/windows, pool, and exterior storage, setting a deadline of February 28, 2026, with a fine of $150 per day per violation.
• Case 04-26 (Roof Maintenance – 315 N Corona Ave.): The respondent was absent. The board found violation and set a deadline of February 28, 2026, with a fine of $150 per day.
• Case 05-26 (Parking Lot Surfaces – 1384 Seabreeze St.): The respondent was absent. The board found violation and set a deadline of February 20, 2026, with a fine of $150 per day. The inspector noted over $526,000 in existing liens on the property.
• Case 06-26 (Prohibited Signage – 395 Coronado Dr.): The violation was corrected prior to the hearing. The board issued a declaration of violation with no fine, but warned of $500 per day for repeat violations.
• Case 07-26 (Sign Maintenance – 490 Mandalay Ave.): Two violations: temporary banner sign (complied) and permanent sign maintenance (still in violation). The board found the temporary sign violation resolved (declaration) and the permanent sign violation set for compliance by February 28, 2026, with a fine of $150 per day.
• Case 08-26 (Sidewalk Signs & Permits – 636 S Gulfview Blvd.): The respondent appeared. The sidewalk sign was removed (declaration), but banner signs remained. The board set a deadline of February 28, 2026, for banner removal, with a fine of $150 per day.
• Case 10-26 (Exterior Surfaces – 3404 Brigadoon Dr.): The respondent admitted and committed to compliance by March 1, 2026, with a fine of $150 per day.
• Case 11-26 (Fences & Walls, Exterior Surfaces – 4004 Brigadoon Cir.): The respondent admitted but requested 30 additional days due to family hardship. The board extended the deadline to April 1, 2026, with a fine of $150 per day.
• Case 12-26 (Permits – 123 N Glenwood Ave.): The respondent was absent. The board set a deadline of March 28, 2026, for obtaining a permit, with a fine of $150 per day.
• Case 15-26 (Permits – 705 Vine Ave.): The respondent was absent. The board set a deadline of February 28, 2026, for obtaining a permit, with a fine of $150 per day.
• Case 16-26 (Housing – Means of Egress – 1387 Mission Hills Blvd.): The respondent appeared and admitted. The board set a deadline of February 27, 2026, for clearing a safe path of travel, with a fine of $150 per day.
• Case 18-26 (Permits – 1738 N Fort Harrison Ave.): The respondent denied knowledge of the unpermitted work. The board found violation and set a deadline of February 28, 2026, for obtaining a permit, with a fine of $150 per day.
• Case 20-26 (Permits – 413 Pleasant St.): The respondent admitted and had filed a permit application. The board set a deadline of February 28, 2026, for permit issuance, with completion within 6 months, and a fine of $150 per day.

Old Business Items

• Affidavits of Compliance (4.1.1-4.1.7): The board accepted 7 affidavits of compliance for various cases (69-25, 93-25, 142-25, 147-25, 148-25, 181-25, 198-25).
• Affidavits of Non-Compliance (4.2-4.5): The board accepted 4 affidavits of non-compliance:
  • Case 93-25 (Residential Rental Business Tax Receipt – 904 Vine Ave.)
  • Case 115-25 (Fences & Walls – 832 Narcissus Ave.)
  • Case 122-25 (Residential Rental Business Tax Receipt – 1390 S Hillcrest Ave.)
  • Case 128-25 (Permits – 1165 Eldridge St.) – Attorney for Karoly Windows & Doors appeared and requested additional time. The board accepted the non-compliance, and fines will run from the date of acceptance.

Nuisance Abatement Lien Filings

• The board considered 8 nuisance abatement cases (6.2-6.9). For case 35-26 (Inoperative Vehicle – 1746 Drew St.), the city requested a standard fine rather than abatement because the vehicle was hardwired into the ground. The board found violation and set a deadline of February 14, 2026, with a fine of $150 per day. For the remaining cases (36-26, 37-26, 38-26, 39-26, 40-26, 41-26, 42-26), the board issued standard nuisance abatement orders with 5-day compliance deadlines, authorizing the city to abate and place liens if not complied.

Key Outcomes

• Stipulated Order Approved: Case 197-25 – $42,500 fine for illicit discharge.
• Violation Findings: 18 cases were found in violation with deadlines ranging from 5 days to 60 days, and daily fines of $150 to $500 for repeat violations.
• Continances: One case (01-26) continued to February 25, 2026, for re-noticing.
• Affidavits of Compliance: 7 accepted.
• Affidavits of Non-Compliance: 4 accepted, with fines imposed.
• Nuisance Abatement Orders: 7 cases approved with 5-day deadlines and city authorization to abate; 1 case handled as standard fine.
• Election of Officers: Mr. Brown elected Chairman, Mr. Kenney elected Vice Chair for 2026.