Clearwater Code Enforcement Board Meeting Summary – March 25, 2026
Clearwater Code Enforcement Board Meeting Summary – March 25, 2026
The Clearwater Municipal Code Enforcement Board met on March 25, 2026, at the Main Library - Council Chambers, 100 N. Osceola Avenue. The meeting began at 1:30 PM and lasted approximately two hours and 22 minutes, with a brief break. The board considered a lengthy agenda that included new business items (cases of code violations), affidavits of compliance and non-compliance, a fine reduction request, election of officers, and nuisance abatement lien filings.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The board approved the minutes from the February 25, 2026 meeting as submitted.
- Affidavits of Compliance: The board accepted affidavits of compliance for 10 cases, indicating those properties had resolved their violations: Cases 109-23 & 110-23 (Casa Roba LLC, lot clearing), 97-24 (Byrd J Smith Est, exterior surfaces), 107-24 (Carmelo Cotto Flecha & Carmen Rivera, lot clearing), 62-25 (Byrd J Smith Est, lot clearing), 128-25 (Karoly Windows & Doors LLC, permits), 149-25 (Sarah Butler, exterior surfaces), 08-26 (Nikoletta Psaltis et al., sidewalk signs/signage without permit), 27-26 (Proactive Property Management, permits), 35-26 (Good Shepherd Blvd LLC, inoperative vehicle), and 37-26 (Eyekon Medical Inc., inoperative vehicle).
- Affidavit of Non-Compliance: The board accepted the affidavit of non-compliance for Case 142-25, Sugar Factory LLC at 1844 Drew St., for exterior surfaces, door & window openings, roof maintenance, and exterior storage.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Case 34-26 (William Black, 2390 Willow Tree Trail – unsafe building): Several neighbors spoke in favor of the city taking action. Stephanie Sistie (Woodgate Homeowners Association) read a letter expressing concerns about safety, property values, and the prolonged inaction (2.5 years since a fire). Susan Huddleson (neighbor) described rodent issues, a green pool, and lack of maintenance before and after the fire. Laurel Cavins noted mosquito problems and a fence that a child could enter. John Cabin asked about the owner's finances, insurance, and means to complete repairs. Patrick Raffle (Vice President, Clearwater Neighborhood Coalition) expressed disappointment with the process and urged decisive action.
- Case 34-26: Mr. Black stated he obtained a demolition permit, had started interior demolition, was working with Pinellas Recovers on a grant, and said he could complete the work himself with up to $50,000, but that 60 days was not realistic for full restoration.
Discussion Items
- Case 97-24 (Fine Reduction Request – RE Capital Management LLC, 2080 Douglas Ave.): The property owner requested that a lien for exterior surfaces violations be reduced to administrative costs only. Inspector Dixon confirmed the property was brought into compliance (roof replaced, wood repaired, grounds cleared). It was noted that the current owner is not the owner who incurred the original liens. After discussion, the board voted to reduce the lien to $1,096.20 in administrative costs, payable within 30 days.
- Case 34-26 (William Black, 2390 Willow Tree Trail – unsafe building): The city requested authorization to demolish the structure if not brought into compliance by May 29, 2026. Mr. Black had a partial demolition permit but no full rehabilitation permit. The building official clarified that compliance requires complete restoration to minimum code or demolition. The city’s legal counsel noted that the property is homesteaded, limiting foreclosure but still allowing a lien. After debate, the board voted to find the respondent in violation and ordered that if the structure is not in compliance by May 29, 2026, the city may enter the property to abate (demolish) and record the cost as a lien.
- Case 44-26 (Cleveland Gulf to Bay LLC, 1417 Cleveland St. – exterior surfaces): The property manager admitted the violation and requested 60 days to complete repairs. The inspector asked for compliance by April 25. The board extended the deadline to May 27, 2026, with a fine of $150 per day for non-compliance.
- Case 46-26 (Affordable Properties Mgmt Realty LLC Tre, 1111 Court St. – exterior surfaces, doors/windows): The representative stated the property is awaiting a city grant to rebuild the facade. The board set a compliance deadline of April 30, 2026, with a fine of $150 per day per violation.
- Case 47-26 (Northwest Properties LLC, 1235 Nicholson St. – trailer parking and BTR): The inspector reported ongoing violations of a travel trailer in the front yard and lack of a residential rental business tax receipt. The owner is reportedly evicting tenants. The board imposed separate fines: $150 per day for the trailer violation and $50 per day for the BTR violation, with a compliance deadline of May 1, 2026.
- Case 49-26 (Good Shepherd Blvd LLC, 1746 Drew St. – exterior storage): The inspector noted the property was largely cleaned but minor items remained (bread racks, pipes, bucket). The board accepted a declaration of violation with a compliance deadline of April 25, 2026, and a fine of $150 per day for future non-compliance.
- Case 51-26 (Deltwain Holmes, 3087 Cherry Ln. – development code violation): The home is a legal non-conforming structure at 45 feet (max 30 ft). The owner added pergolas and a spa on the roof, increasing the non-conformity. Zoning confirmed no variance is possible. The board ordered removal by June 23, 2026 (90 days), with a fine of $250 per day for non-compliance.
- Case 89-26 (Petrillo et al., 202 N Glenwood Ave. – nuisance abatement lien for lot clearing): Property owner said he was unaware of the sidewalk overgrowth and debris issue until the meeting. The board accepted the order, allowing the city to abate if not corrected within five days, but the owner said he would address it immediately.
- Case 90-26 (Don Marson Von Burns Rev Trust, 1535 Gulf to Bay Blvd. – nuisance abatement lien for inoperative vehicles): The owner’s representative said most vehicles were now registered and tires inflated. One semi-trailer needed structural repair. The board granted 30 days for compliance (until April 24, 2026), after which the city may abate.
Board Elections
- Chair: Bob Kenny was re-elected by acclamation.
- Vice Chair: Mr. Engel was elected by acclamation.
Key Outcomes
- Fine Reduction Approved: The board reduced the lien for Case 97-24 (2080 Douglas Ave.) to $1,096.20 in administrative costs, payable in 30 days (vote: unanimous).
- Case 34-26 (Unsafe Building): The board found a violation and authorized the city to demolish the structure if not fully restored to code or demolished by May 29, 2026. A lien for costs will be recorded. (Vote: unanimous)
- Other Violation Cases: The board found violations and set compliance deadlines and fines for Cases 44-26 (May 27, 2026, $150/day), 46-26 (April 30, 2026, $150/day per violation), 47-26 (May 1, 2026, $150/day for trailer, $50/day for BTR), 49-26 (April 25, 2026, $150/day), 51-26 (June 23, 2026, $250/day), 89-26 (5 days from order), and 90-26 (30 days from order). All votes were unanimous.
- Declarations of Violation: The board issued declarations for several cases where violations were corrected before the hearing (Cases 23-26, 52-26, 55-26, 72-26), meaning no fines were imposed but repeat violations could result in fines up to $500 per day.
- New Chair and Vice Chair Elected: Bob Kenny was re-elected as Chair; Mr. Engel was elected Vice Chair. (Votes: unanimous)
Meeting Transcript
Today's meeting of the municipal code enforcement board is called to order on March twenty fifth, twenty twenty six. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to flag of the United States of America. Please be seated. Agendas of today's meeting are on the wall at the entrance to chambers. Please remember to turn off your cell phone. It is this board's intention to promote, protect, and improve the health safety and welfare of the citizens of Clearwater by providing this equitable, effective, and inexpensive method of enforcing certain codes within the city. The board considers new business items in two parts. First, the violation and then affirmative relief. Formal rules of evidence do not apply. Each side is limited to fifteen minutes. The board may grant additional time. Individuals who conduct themselves otherwise will be asked to leave. If necessary, they will be escorted from chambers. Motion passes. We're going to take up a lien case reduction based on the request from our secretary. This is under on page six. Under item five, other board action, and this will be case 97-24. Consider request by petitioners, RE Capital Management LLC at 2080 Douglas Avenue to reduce the fine regarding exterior services, and if approved, issue an order that specifies a fine that includes administration costs and establishes the date payable, or the lien will revert to its original amount. Thank you. Would you state your name and your uh address and involvement for the record, please? Yes, my name is John Lou. That's called L I U. I'm a state certified building contractor, uh, filling in for the property owner. Um, and Nicole does have an authorization letter that's autorized signed by the property owner. Uh, my address is 5447 Road North, number 235, uh, St. Peter's Road 4 at 33714. Thank you. Um, basically the property when it had uh open coach cases, it approved a lien, and I don't know the exact dollar matters. I don't have a memory, but it's around 17 something thousand dollars. Um the property has been uh brought into compliance. It looks a lot better today uh than it did previously. Um, and just uh Greg here is going to attest to that fact. I actually the first time I stopped by the property was this morning. I was expecting to see worse than I saw it, it looked pretty darn good. It will look even better because I'm going to be brought in to do the work from this from this point forward. So the property owner is uh respectfully requesting that as you know the uh lien be reduced and mitigated to actual hard costs, and we'll get that paid uh ASAP, and that's all I have to say really, unless you have any questions. Uh we may later. Okay, I'll take the second. Inspector Dixon? Afternoon, board inspector Dixon say clear water co-compliance. Um what he said is true. There was rotten wood around the roof flying, and then uh a tree fell on the house after the storms in 24, and uh him and an associate stepped in and they replaced the roof, got all the wood replaced. The grounds were in pretty bad shape. There's a shed that was deteriorating, a fence is deteriorating that's all been removed, all the dead vegetation's been gone, so the city's happy voted done. Okay, yeah, one thing we did not mention. I apologize is the current property owner is not the owner. Please step to the mic, sir. We uh usually loud and overbearing stuff that we do. Um the the property owner um is not the same owner as who incurred the liens originally.
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