On June 18, 2026, the City of Miami held a ticketing appellate hearing presided over by Hearing Officer Darcy Siegel. The quasi-judicial proceeding allowed alleged violators to appeal civil violation notices issued by code enforcement inspectors. The hearing included 10 settled citations, three trial cases, several failures to appear, and one reset. Settlement amounts ranged from $50 to $250. In the three contested cases, fines of $350 each were imposed after the property owners were found guilty of illegal dumping.
I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the meeting of the City of Miami ticketing appellate hearing. My name is Darcy Siegel, and I am the hearing officer assigned to hear today's cases. It's required that all persons who are going to testify as to facts be placed under oath, including the code enforcement inspector. The code enforcement inspector and alleged violator will be placed under oath. But first, please rise and join me in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and then remain standing in order to be placed under oath. Thank you. Please remain standing so that you can be sworn in by the clerk. Do you solemnly swear affirmed that testimony you are about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Thank you. Please, Den, if you plan on translating from Spanish to English. Any translations? I have some opening remarks before we actually get started, so I'm going to read them and then we will start with the hearings. These are hearings conducted by the City of Miami hearing officer, the purpose of which are to give the alleged violators the opportunity to appeal the decision of the code enforcement inspector, which resulted in the issuance of a civil violation notice. These hearings are conducted in a quasi-judicial manner, and I am the hearing officer assigned to hear today's cases. That is, to hear the evidence in cases presented by the code enforcement inspectors, and then to hear the evidence presented by alleged violators. These hearings are open to the public. These hearings will not be conducted in accordance with the formal rules relating to evidence and witnesses. Any relevant evidence will be admitted if I find it to be competent and reliable, regardless of the existence of any common law or statutory rule to the contrary. All documentary evidence must be submitted for placement in the hearing file. No documentary evidence will be considered unless the alleged violator or code enforcement inspector submits a copy for the hearing file. Each party shall have the right to call and examine witnesses, to introduce exhibits, to cross-examine opposing witnesses on any matter relevant to the issues, even though that matter was not covered in the direct examination. It is my responsibility to make findings of fact based on the evidence of record. The fact-finding determinations of the hearing officer are limited to two. One, whether the violation alleged did occur, and secondly, if so, whether the person named in the civil violation notice can be held responsible for that violation. In order to make a finding upholding the code enforcement's decision, I must find that a preponderance of the evidence indicates that the alleged name violator was responsible for the violation of the relevant section of the code as charged. If I affirm the decision of the code enforcement inspector, my order will specify the amount of the civil penalty and the amount of the administrative costs of the hearing. The alleged violator or the city of Miami may seek to overturn the order of a hearing officer by appealing the order to the Miami Date Circuit Court Appellate Division within 30 days of the issuance of the order by the hearing officer. After the code enforcement inspector has presented his or her case and you have presented your case, I will consider the evidence and then render a decision. This concludes my opening remarks. We will now commence with the proceedings. Can you please state your name and address for the record? Aaron Goldstein 207 Northeast 59th Street. He's the owner. Okay. You're the owner of 5901 East Little Haiti LLC? Yes, ma'am. Okay. It appears that your property located at 207 Northeast 59th Street was cited by the City of Miami for excessive and/or loud noises audible after 11 p.m. from outdoors. The violation was complied back in April 22nd of 2026, but the civil citation remained unpaid. You had an opportunity to speak with the city this morning regarding this matter. Is that correct? For this particular case, yes. Yes. And after speaking with the city, you've agreed to uh settle this matter. Is that right? Yes, ma'am. And you agreed to settle it for $200? Yes, ma'am. And did you freely and voluntarily enter into that agreement with the city?