At the request of City Council, staff advances the attached resolution to extend the code enforcement amnesty program beginning on June 1, 2016.  

In order to be eligible for the amnesty program, the property must be in compliance with all City Codes and the property owner must not have outstanding code enforcement violations on any other property they own in the City. Also, the property must not be subject to foreclosure by the City, have a prior settlement approved by City Council or have previously been denied settlement by the City. The Amnesty categories are as follows:

• Homeowners - may settle outstanding fines by paying only Administrative Costs;
• Rental Properties -  2% of the outstanding fines or the City’s administrative costs, whichever is greater;
• Commercial Properties - 5% of the outstanding fine total or the City’s administrative costs, whichever is greater.
• A $75.00 non-refundable application fee is due at the time of application.

Historically, most of the applicants for the amnesty program have been owners of commercial properties or rental properties, not owners of homestead properties,

Reduction amount: (1) Eligible owners of homestead properties may settle outstanding code enforcement fines or liens for the City's administrative costs only; (2) Eligible owners of residential rental properties may settle outstanding code enforcement fines or liens by paying 2% of the outstanding code enforcement fine or the City's administrative costs, whichever is greater; and (3) Eligible owners of commercial properties may settle outstanding code enforcement fines by paying 5% of the outstanding code enforcement fine or the City's administrative cost, whichever is greater.

In addition to the past amnesty schedule listed above, Council may wish to consider the following options as it renews the program:

    Make the amnesty fine reduction amount for homestead properties permanent.

 
      Discontinue amnesty program for commercial properties.  Owners of commercial          
      properties may still seek reduction as allowed according to F.S. 162.

      Establish a minimum and maximum fine settlement amount for each category.

The amnesty program does not preclude property owners from seeking reduction via other means authorized by Section 162, Florida Statutes.

This item is presented at the request of council for its consideration.