Derderian’s case revolved around a set of rickety stairs on his property, which had been the subject of a code violation issued nearly nine years ago. He recounted the timeline, explaining that the violation stemmed from a complaint about a neighboring garage sale that led to an inspection of his property. The stairs were deemed unsafe, and he was ordered to repair or replace them. Despite making minor repairs that rendered the stairs functional for several years, Derderian faced ongoing compliance challenges.

During the meeting, Derderian detailed his interactions with city officials, including a person named Gig, while navigating the permitting process for a new design of the stairs. He also outlined his severe health challenges, which include strokes, heart attacks, and other debilitating conditions, affecting his ability to manage the necessary repairs. He emphasized his limited income, stating, “I’m on disability full disability… I get $215 a month from Social Security Disability,” underscoring the financial strain imposed by the lien.

The city representative, M. Crawford, provided context regarding the fines, explaining that they continued to accrue daily until August 2021, leading to the substantial total. However, the city expressed a willingness to reduce the lien, contingent upon the payment of $2,199.52 in administrative costs. Derderian expressed gratitude for the city’s offer but requested the possibility of making installment payments, given his financial situation. The city agreed to this arrangement, allowing for six monthly payments, with the condition that any missed payments would revert the fine to its original amount.

In another significant case during the meeting, Beach Street Play LLC was discussed concerning compliance issues. The respondent was absent, and the city outlined several unmet compliance requirements, including the need for an engineer report and a building permit for roof repairs. Despite initial progress, such as the removal of a disrepair fence, the city sought to impose a daily fine for ongoing non-compliance.

The meeting also addressed the case of Rachel Aragon, who was cited for operating a vacation rental without a necessary business tax receipt and failing to register the rental with the city. The city proposed fines of $250 per day for each violation and $500 per day for over-occupancy issues. Aragon’s case underscored the importance of adherence to city regulations and the potential financial consequences of non-compliance.

Additionally, the meeting touched upon a roofing permit issue involving a respondent named Riley, who participated via phone. The discussion centered on whether engineering input was needed to determine if strapping was necessary for the roof. The magistrate and city officials considered delaying fines to allow Riley time to obtain the necessary permit and achieve compliance.