Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.
The City of Venice Special Magistrate for Code Enforcement held a hearing on October 7, 2026, to address one case (CEEN 26-00318) involving a code violation at 336 Pontilon Avenue, Venice, Florida. The property owner is listed in the agenda as Richard A. Redmon, though the transcript refers to the respondent as Richard A. Redmond. The respondent did not appear at the hearing. After testimony from the city’s code enforcement officer, the magistrate found the respondent in violation of Section 34-81 (offensive accumulations) and set a compliance deadline.
Which one? Okay. All right. Good morning, everyone. We'll call the October 7, 2026 Code Enforcement Special Magistrate hearing to order. The first case, an only case is C E C E E N 26-00318, Richard A. Redmond. Is the city ready to proceed? Yes, Your Honor. Good morning, Your Honor. For the record, David Lipker, I am a certified code enforcement officer for the City of Venice. The address of the violation is 336 Pontilon Avenue, Venice, Florida, 34285. The zoning is RSF3 residential single family. The owner of record is Richard A. Redmond. On Wednesday, July 15, 2026, I was directed to a code complaint at this address for rats in the neighborhood originated from possibly this residence, which is an unoccupied home. I arrived and located the residence with piles of dead vegetative debris. I then responded to Redmond's current residence, which is on Casey Key Road, and spoke with his daughter, Lindsay Redmond. I explained the violation to her, and she asked for 14 days to get the lot cleared of the vegetative debris. I also explained the concern that rats are used in the yard, namely the trees with dead palm fronds in the area and their property for a breeding area. On Friday, July 31st, 2026, the piles of dead vegetative debris remained. The grass on the right-of-way was recently mowed, but the grass on the property appeared to be more than 12 inches tall. While on scene, I spoke with a resident at 344 Pont C Leon, who advised she could see and hear rats in the trees located near the shared property line. On August 4th, 2026, I arrived and located little to no apparent change as the residents and the piles of dead vegetative debris remained. The grass on the property was measured to be more than 12 inches tall. Again, a notice of violation and notice of hearing was prepared for the oct for this special magistrate. The letter was sent certified and via U.S. mail. The certified mail was returned unclaimed. On Wednesday, September 9th, 2026, I drove by and noticed the lawn was recently mowed. However, the large pile of vegetative debris remained in the alley right away. The City of Venice Public Works was called again, and a bulk pickup has not been scheduled. On Monday, September 14th, 2026, I drove by, noticed the lawn was getting long again, and the large pile of vegetative debris remained in in the alley right away. I tried again to contact Mr. Redmond was one eight was but was unable to because his cell phone was not receiving messages. I posted the property with the notice of violation and notice of hearing. I also posted uh these at City Hall. An affidavit of posting was also completed and added to the case file. And I respectfully request the photos to be entered in evidence for the record.