A notable case involved the City of St. Pete Beach versus the Colonades Apartment Condo Association. The city sought a status hearing to secure an after-the-fact permit for a fence, requesting a fine of $250 per day starting August 7, 2024, along with $325 in administrative costs. The HOA president, Greg Geral, acknowledged the application for the permit, which had been denied due to survey issues. Aello emphasized the importance of communication between the HOA and code enforcement, ultimately assessing a reduced fine of $50 per day.

Another case was that of the City of St. Pete Beach against Thomas M. C. Revocable Trust, concerning an after-the-fact permit for a tiki hut structure. The city requested a $250 per day fine starting August 7, 2024, until compliance, along with $325 in administrative costs. The respondent, Thomas M. C., claimed the permit application had been submitted but remained unconfirmed in the city’s records. Aello granted an extension to October 14 for securing the permit, emphasizing the need for ongoing communication with city officials.

Property maintenance issues were also discussed, notably involving the estate of Barbara McMahon. The city reported continued non-compliance due to overgrown grass and outside storage, despite some efforts to address the issues. Aello assessed a fine of $50 per day starting from September 9 until compliance, along with administrative costs.

A discussion centered around the Richard Allen Long Revocable Trust property. The city requested a daily fine of $250 starting from September 9, 2024, due to ongoing non-compliance. The absence of representatives from the trust led Aello to confirm the assessment of the daily fine and administrative costs.

In another case, Russell Zimmerman faced similar fines for property issues, including outside storage and an unregistered vehicle. Despite a re-inspection, the property remained non-compliant, leading to the assessment of the requested fines and costs.

The meeting also addressed the case of Cast Holdings LLC for violations related to short-term rentals. The city confirmed the property was in violation of the Land Development Code, assessing fines totaling $5,325. John Castellana, representing Cast Holdings, expressed unawareness of the regulations but confirmed corrective actions had been taken. Aello advised Castellana to consult with the city on potential remedies.

A point of contention arose in a lien reduction request involving a property previously under construction. The respondent argued against fines that accumulated during the construction period, asserting that fines should have ceased upon receiving a certificate of occupancy (CO) on October 23, 2023. The respondent expressed frustration over the accumulated fines, which amounted to $160,000, highlighting challenges faced during the project, including delays due to COVID-19. Aello questioned the city’s calculations and the basis for the fines, noting confusion surrounding the compliance timeline and the issuance of the CO.

The next meeting on October 14 was set to focus on the presentation of compliance evidence and fine calculations.