The Special Magistrate for Code Enforcement meeting held on October 1, 2025, in Venice, Florida, addressed several key issues regarding property violations and compliance. The session began with procedural clarifications and a review of ongoing cases.

One significant case discussed was CEEN25-00276, involving the property owned by Facilie A. Zancus and Calliope Y. Zancus Trust. The city’s certified code enforcement officer, David Lipker, presented evidence of multiple violations at 409 Menendez Street, including offensive accumulation of junk, tall grass exceeding 12 inches, and other debris. Lipker detailed his observations from inspections conducted on August 6, August 15, and September 9, 2025, noting that while some issues were addressed, many remained unresolved.

The property owner, Angelo, communicated his intention to rectify the violations but expressed feeling overwhelmed by the task. Despite assurances of compliance, follow-up inspections revealed ongoing issues, leading to the issuance of a notice of violation and hearing.

However, during a final inspection on September 30, 2025, Lipker confirmed that the property had been brought into compliance, with the grass mowed and other violations corrected. The city requested the magistrate to acknowledge the previous violations and issue a repeat violator warning.

After reviewing the evidence and testimony, the magistrate found that while the respondent had violated the code regarding offensive accumulation, the property was compliant by the time of the hearing. The magistrate scheduled a follow-up hearing for January 7, 2026, at 10 AM to ensure continued compliance and to determine if any fines should be imposed for the earlier violations.

The meeting concluded with a reminder that failure to maintain compliance could result in fines of up to $250 per day for ongoing violations beyond the specified deadline. This case highlights the ongoing efforts of the city to enforce code compliance and maintain neighborhood standards.