The Code Compliance Division received a request from property owners, W. Maria Elena and Luis Gramajo, to mitigate and settle outstanding code violation fines and liens on property they own located at 17891 NE 19^th Avenue. The total fines for this property amount to $3,725,000.02, which includes recorded liens in the amount of $828,250.00 and accrued fines in the amount of $2,896,750.02. The following city code violations were cited against the property: 

1. Case No. 066098, Failure to obtain Business Tax Receipt: Issued December 2, 2005 and brought into compliance March 4, 2014;

2. Case No. 066101, Failure to obtain Building Permits (Illegal Construction): Issued December 2, 2005 and brought into compliance October 2, 2007;

3.  Case No. 070594, Landscape Maintenance: Issued February 26, 2007 and brought into compliance April 5, 2019;

4.  Case No. 070373, Litter: Issued February 26, 2007 and brought into compliance April 5, 2019;

5.  Case No. 070196, Litter: Issued February 26, 2007 and brought into compliance November 23, 2016;

6. Case No. 071795, Miscellaneous Complaint (Commercial Lawn Equipment Storage in Yard): February 26, 2007 and brought into compliance December 17, 2008.

The series of code cases and running fines/liens date back to 2005 through 2007. In 2005, the property owners operated a landscaping business with trucks, equipment, tools related to the business out of the home, which is not permitted in the residential zoning district. They were also cited for constructing a rear yard carport without building permits. In 2007, the property was cited for issues pertaining landscape maintenance, litter, and storing commercial lawn equipment on the property.

The Community Development Department recommends the City accept the property owner’s offer of $5,000 to mitigate and settle the property’s outstanding fines and liens, and for the execution and recording of lien releases for the following reasons:

• Achieving compliance and recovering the costs associated with each code case is the ultimate goal of the Code Compliance Division’s process.
• As of the date of this memo, all code violations are in compliance with the City’s code. 
• There are no current or outstanding violations for the subject property.
• The subject property is in good condition and maintained pursuant to current city code.
• The hard costs (City's cost) associated with these cases amount to $500.