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HomeMy WebLinkAboutO-2005-033 Special MagistrateORDINANCE NO. 2005-033 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DANIA BEACH, FLORIDA, PERTAINING TO ENFORCEMENT OF PROVISIONS OF THE CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES; AMENDING CHAPTER 2, �4ADMINISTRATION"; ARTICLE IV, "CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD" TO REVISE THE ARTICLE AND ITS PROVISIONS (SECTIONS 2-71 TO AND INCLUDING 2- 89) TO DELETE REFERENCES TO THE "CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD" AND TO SUBSTITUTE THE TERM "SPECIAL MAGISTRATE", IN CONNECTION WITH THE CODE ENFORCEMENT PROCESS USED WITHIN THE CITY, SUBJECT TO PROVISIONS FOR TRANSITION FROM THE "BOARD PROCESS" TO THE "MAGISTRATE PROCESS"; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; FURTHER, PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DANIA BEACH, FLORIDA: Section 1. That Chapter 2, "Administration", Article IV, "Code Enforcement Board", Sections 2-71 through and including Section 2-89, is amended to read as follows: ARTICLE IV. CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD 0 0 Sec. 2-72. Applicability. The Dania Beach Code Enforcement Board Special Magistrate (the "MagistrateD shall have eeneur-r-ent jurisdiction to hear and decide cases involving alleged violations of the following codes: Chapter 2.5, Adult Entertainment; Chapter 3, Advertising; Chapter 5, Animals and Fowl; Chapter 6, Beaches, Parks and Recreation; Chapter 7, Bicycles; Chapter 8, Buildings; Chapter 11, Fire Protection and Prevention; Chapter 12, Flood Damage Prevention; Chapter 13, Health and Sanitation; Chapter 14, Junked and Abandoned Vehicles; Chapter 15, Licenses; Chapter 16, Mobile Living Units; Chapter 2 1, Sales and Auctions; Chapter 22, Streets and Sidewalks; Chapter 24, Theaters; Chapter 25, Division Six, Commercial and Recreational Vehicles; Chapter 26, Vegetation; Chapter 27, Water and Sewers; and Chapter 28, Zoning, as it is now existing or as it may be amended by ordinances from time to time and including ordinances or resolutions adopted under C-Chapter 28 that approve site plans, variances or special exceptions. This shall include but not be limited to noncompliance with any element of an approved site plan and the conditions of approval, if any, which may be attached to the approved site plan. See. 2-73. Derinitions. 0 As used in this chapter: 0 a 9 Special Magistrate or Magistrate shall mean any person so designated by the City Commission to conduct code enforcement hearings and make decisions related to code enforcement matters. 0 Sec. 2-74. Composition Special Magistrate. 0 IV INIMMM. Ml� ;;;1;;o,.1..='1;;�=z9jR7, HIM, 2 ORDINANCE #2005-033 FAI (6) A r-ealteT-, W Wo IN M-warlir Hl . . ......... . ffill UQ­ MW IN Ml Wall WNWOMM W.—S-12-12—mor-S ........ ...... ------ I PMW 9 a, m . q m M L, P. 0 M.; MR M.M. - ............. . .......... . Lam I FA 'PIR-m- il rill, _1 I I'll ORDINANCE 92005-033 (4) They-eafter-, all appeintments shall be made by the eity eemmission for- a tem e thTee (3) ),eafs-. ......... .. . ......... - 1p - The City Commission may appoint one or more persons to act as special magistrates for code enforcement puKposes. Any such person so appointed shall be compensated as prescribed by the City Commission and shall serve at the pleasure of the City Commission. (a) The board shall eleet a ehaifper-son from ameng its members, a viee A and such other- offieer-s as the board shall deem neeessafy. . . . ........ .... Aw�.� ORDINANCE 42005-033 0 Sec. 2-79 75. Clerk and other board employees. The city manager shall appoint a city employee to be the board clerk to the magistrate, who shall perform the functions assigned to the clerk as set forth in this chapter. For the purpose of administering this chapter, the beard magistrate may call upon the city manager to furnish such other city employees as may be necessary to carry on or assist the board him, her or them in performing its the functions and duties under specified i this ehapte article. Sec. 2-80 76. Legal counsel to the board code enforcement staff. The city commission shall appoint a member of the Florida Bar to represent and be counsel to the board code enforcement staff and attend specified meetings of the board magistrate. The legal counsel to the beafd code enforcement staff shall be compensated as provided for by the city commission of the Gity of Dania I—Re-areh, Per -id . See. 2-847 77. C-.0, attorney Case presentations. .7 - .7 The city attorney, of any assistant city attorney, special counsel or a code enforcement officer or a designated member of the administrative staff of the city shall present the city's case at formal hearings and shall have prosecutorial discretion, including, but not limited to, the right to negotiate a plea with a violator and present that plea to the board magistrate for approval, to recommend the disposition of a case to the board magistrate, and to decline to prosecute a case, similar to the discretion exercised by the state attorney in criminal cases. In no case shall the city attorney, any assistant city attorney or any special counsel serve as attorney for the board magistrate and at the same time present the city's cases to the board magistrate. Sec. 2-82 78. Enforcement procedures. (a) The code inspectors have the primary duty of enforcing the various codes, as described in section 2-72 above, and initiating enforcement proceedings before the beafd magistrate; however, no member of the beafd- magistrate shall have the power to initiate such enforcement proceedings. (b) Except as provided hefei in this section, if a violation of the code is found, the code inspector shall notify the violator, taking into consideration the nature of the violation3_,Ind provide a reasonable time for the violator to correct the violation. Should the violation continue beyond the time specified for correction, the code inspector shall notify the eede enfefeefflen! board magistrate and request a hearing. The eede enfer-eement board magistrate, through As the clerical staff, shall schedule a hearing and written notice of such hearing shall be hand delivered or mailed as provided in section 2-84 to said the violator. At the option of the eede enfefeefflent beard magistrate, notice may additionally be served by publication or posting as provided in section 2-8-480_,_below her-ee . If the violation is corrected and then recurs or if the violation is not corrected by the time specified for correction by the code inspector, the case may be presented to the code enfOFeement bear-d- magistrate even if the violation has been corrected prior to the beafd magistrate hearing and the notice shall so state. 5 ORDINANCE #2005-033 (c) If a repeat violation is found, the code inspector is not required to give the violator a reasonable time to correct the violation and may immediately issue a citation. The code inspector shall then notify the eede enfer-eefnepA bear-d-magistrate and request a hearing. The eede enfefeement beafd- magistrate, through itsthe clerical staff, shall schedule a hearing and shall provide notice pursuant to section 2-8480. The case may be presented to the ee4e enfer-eement bear--d magistrate even if the repeat violation has been corrected prior to the bE)ar-d magistrate hearing, and the notice shall so state. If the repeat violation has been corrected, the eede enforcement board magistrate retains the right to schedule a hearing to determine costs and impose the payment of reasonable enforcement fees upon the repeat violator. The repeat violator may choose to waive his or her rights to this hearing and pay the costs as determined by the ee4e enfefeement beard- magistrate. (d) If the code inspector has reason to believe a violation or the condition causing the violation . presents a serious threat to the public health, safety or welfare, or if the violation is irreparable or irreversible in nature, the code inspector may immediately notify the eede enfefeement beafd magistrate and request a hearing, without notifying the alleged violator. However, where possible, the code inspector shall make a reasonable effort to notify the alleged violator. (e) If the owner of property that is subject to an enforcement proceeding before aii efifer-eement beafd- a magistrate or court transfers ownership of such property, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, between the time the initial pleading was served and the time of the hearing, such owner shall: (1) D describe, in writing, the existence and the nature of the proceeding to the prospective transferee; (2) D deliver to the prospective transferee a copy of the pleadings, notices and other materials relating to the code enforcement proceeding received by the transferor; (3) D disclose, in writing, to the prospective transferee that the new owner will be responsible for compliance with the applicable codes and with orders of the ee4e enfereement bE)afd magistrate; and (4) F file a notice with the code enforcement official of the transfer of the property, indicating the identity and address of the new owner and attaching copies of the written disclosures made to the new owner, within five (5) days of the date of the transfer. Failure to make the disclosures described in paragraphs (1), (2) and (3) above before the transfer creates a rebuttable presumption of fraud. If the property is transferred before the hearing, the proceeding shall not be dismissed, but the new owner shall be provided with a reasonable period of time to correct the violation before the hearing is held. (f) If the violation arose under Chapter I I of the City of Dania B Code of Ordinances, the code inspector or the chief of the fire department, may, at his or her option, either proceed under this chapter or pursuant to the authority and procedures set forth in Chapter 6 ORDINANCE #2005-033 I I of the Code of Ordinances. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed or applied to limit the authority of the chief of the fire department or of any fire marshal or any fire inspector to proceed pursuant to Chapter I I of the Code of Ordinances. (g) If, pursuant to subsection 2-8-278(d), the eede enfer-eement beard magistrate notifies the City of Dania Be that a property requires repairs, the City of Dania Be may make all reasonable repairs which are required to bring the property into compliance and charge the violator with the cost of repairs along with the fine imposed by this article. The making of such repairs by the City of Dania Be does not create a continuing obligation on the part of the City of Dania Beae4i-to make further repairs or to maintain the property, and does not create any liability against the City of Dania Be for any damages to the property if such repairs are completed in good faith. Sec. 2-8-3 79. Conduct of hearing. (a) The ehair-persen of the eode enfefeefaeat board magistrate may call for code enforcement hearings of the bear-d. Hear-ings may also be ealled by written fietiee s by at least thfee (3) member-s of the eede enfer-eement boa At any heating, the e0de enfer-eement board magistrate may set a future hearing date. The eode enfereement bear-d magistrate shall attempt to convene no less ffequently than call hearings at least once every two (2) months, but 4 he or she may meet call hearings more or less often as the demand necessitates. Minutes shall be kept of all hearings by the eede enforeeffle board, and all hearings and proceedings shall be open to the public. The City of Dani-a Beaeh shall arrange for- eler-ieal and administrative per-sennel as may be r-easenably Ur1rT red by the eede enfefeement bE)ar-d for- the pfepef per-fer-manee of its duti (b) Each case brought before the eode enfer-eement beard magistrate shall be presented by the code enf6rcement officer or a designated member of the administrative staff of the City ef Dania Be . The City Attorney, any assistant City Attorney or special counsel may assist.and participate in case presentations. (c) The, eode enfor-eement bbar-d- magistrate shall proceed to hear the cases on the agenda and prepared docket for that meeting. All testimony shall be under oath and shall be recorded. The eede enfereement board magistrate shall take testimony from the code enforcement officer and alleged violator. Formal rules of evidence do not apply to code enforcement proceedings, but fundamental due process shall be observed and shall govern all proceedings before the bear-d magistrate. (d) At the conclusion of the hearing, the eede enfer-eement bear- magistrate shall issue findings of fact, based on evidence of record� and conclusions of law and shall issue an order affording the proper relief consistent with the powers granted hefein in this article. The findines shall be by motion avpFeved by a maiefit�, of these present and ve I .* ... 1" for- the aetion to be offie . The order may include a notice that it must be complied with by a specified date and that a fine may be imposed and, under the conditions specified in 7 ORDNANCE #2005-033 section 2-9-5 81, the cost of repairs may be included along with the fine if the order is not complied with by the date specified in the order. Sec. 2-84 80. Notice. (1) All notices required by this paft article shall be provided to the alleged violator by: (a) G certified mail, return receipt requested, provided that if such notice is sent under this paragraph to the owner of the property at the address listed in the tax collector's office for tax notices, and at any other address provided to the city by the owner, and the notice is returned as unclaimed or refused, notice may be provided by posting as described in subparagraphs (2)(b) I and 2, and by first class mail directed to the address(es) provided to the city with a properly executed proof of mailing or affidavit confirming the first class mailing; (b) 14 hand delivery by the sheriff or other law enforcement officer, code inspector, or other person designated by the City of Dania Be (c) L leaving the notice at the violator's usual place of residence with any person residing therein in it who is above fifteen (15) years of age and informing the recipient of the contents of the notice; or (d) In the case of commercial premises, leaving the notice with the manager or other person in charge. (2) In addition to providing notice as set forth in subsection (1), at the option of the eede enforeement beard— magistrate, notice may also be served by publication or posting as follows: (a) 1. Such notice shall be published once during each week for four (4) consecutive weeks (four (4) publications being sufficient) in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the eede enfer-cement beard is lecated— magistrate conducts hearings. The newspaper shall meet such requirements as are prescribed under Chapter 50, Florida Statutes. 2. Proof of publication shall be made as provided in Sections 50.041 and 50.051, Florida Statutes. (b) I . In lieu of publication as described in paragraph (a), notice may be posted at least ten (10) days prior to the hearing, or prior to the expiration of any deadline contained in the notice, in at least two (2) locations, one (1) of which shall be the property upon which the violation is alleged to exist and the other of which shall be at the Dania Beach City Hall. 8 ORDINANCE #2005-033 2. Proof of posting shall be by affidavit of the person posting the notice, which affidavit shall include a copy of the notice posted and the date and places of its posting. (c) Notice by publication or posting may run concurrently with, or may follow, an attempt or attempts to provide notice by hand delivery or by mail as required under subsection (1). Evidence that an attempt has been made to hand deliver or mail notice as provided in subsection (1), together with proof of publication or posting as provided in subsection (2), shall be sufficient to show that the notice requirements of this part have been satisfied, without regard to whether or not the alleged violator actually received the notice. Sec. 2-85 81. Administrative fines; liens. (a) The order of the eede enfer-eeinent board magistrate may require the violator to pay a fine, not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) per day, for each day that the violation continues past the date set in the order for compliance. In the case of a repeat violation, the eede enfefeement beaM magistrate may order the repeat violator to pay a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00) per day, for each day the repeat violation continues past the date of notice of the repeat violation by the code inspector. If the eede enfer-eement beard magistrate finds the violation to be irreparable or irreversible in nature, 4 he or she may impose a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) per violation. The board may reduce a fine (prior to the fine becoming a lien) imposed pursuant to this chapter. (b) If a finding of violation or repeat violation has been made, a hearing shall not be necessary for the issuance of an order imposing the fine. The eode enfer-eefHent board magistrate or a repfeseata4ive of the board shall, upon notification that the property has not been brought into compliance within the time specified by the eede enfefeeffient beaf magistrate, execute a final order that assesses a fine for the noncompliance. The certified copy of the final order may be recorded in the public records of the county and shall constitute notice to any subsequent purchasers, successors in interest, or assigns of the violation, and the findings contained in the order shall be binding on the violator and any subsequent purchasers, successors in interest or assigns without further notice to the violator. If an order is recorded in the public records pursuant to this section, and the order is complied with by the date specified in the order, the eode enfafeement beafd magistrate shall issue an order acknowledging compliance that shall be recorded in the public records.. A hearing is not required to issue an order acknowledging compliance. (c) In determining the amount of the fine, if any, the code enfefeement board magistrate shall consider the following factors with the understanding that the primary purpose of the board magistrate is to achieve code compliance of businesses and residents and fines are a tool, but not the primary intent of the City action: 9 ORDINANCE #2005-033 0 (1) ;l2the gravity of the violation; (2) Aany actions taken by the violator to correct the violation; and (3) Aahy previous violations committed by the violator. (d) A certified copy of an order imposing a fine, or a fine plus repair costs, may be recorded in the public records of Broward County or in any other county as provided by law and thereafter shall constitute a lien against the land on which the violation exists, and upon any other real or personal property owned by the violator. Upon petition to the circuit court, such order shall be enforced in the same manner as a court judgment by the sheriffs of the State of Florida, including execution and levy against the personal property of the violator, but such order shall not be deemed to be a court judgment except for enforcement purposes. (e) City code enforcement liens shall remain liens, coequal with the lien of all state, county, district and municipal taxes, and superior in dignity to all other liens, titles and claims (regardless of when created or recorded, if recorded) until paid. (f) Fines are to be paid to the City of Dania Be finance department. (g) A fine imposed pursuant to this chapter shall continue to accrue until the violator comes into compliance or until judgment is rendered in a suit filed pursuant to this chapter, whichever occurs first. A lien arising from a fine imposed pursuant to this chapter runs in favor of the City ef Dania Be , and the city may execute a satisfaction or release of lien entered pursuant to this chapter. After three (3) months from the filing of any unpaid lien, the eede enfar-ee-ent bea magistrate may authorize the city attorney or designee to foreclose on the lien or to sue to recover a money judgment for the amount of the lien plus accrued interest. Actions for money judgments pursuant to this chapter may be pursued only on fines levied after October 1, 2000. No lien created pursuant to this chapter may be foreclosed on real property which is homestead property under Article X, Section 4 of the Florida Constitution. The money judgment provisions of this chapter shall not apply to real or personal property which is covered under Article X, Section 4 of the Florida Constitution. Sec. 2-8682. Duration of lien. No lien provided under Chapter 162, Florida Statutes, shall continue for a period of longer than twenty (20) years after the certified copy of an order imposing a fine has been recorded, unless within that time an action is commenced pursuant to section 2-8-581 in a court of competent jurisdiction. In an action to foreclose on a lien or for a money judgment, the prevailing party is entitled to recover all costs, including a reasonable attorney's fee, that it incurs in the action. The City of Dania Be shall be entitled to collect all costs to record and satisfy a valid lien. The continuation of the lien eaffected by the commencement of the action shall not be good against creditors or subsequent purchasers for valuable consideration without notice, unless a notice of lis pendens is recorded in the public records. 10 ORDINANCE #2005-033 0 Sec. 2-8-7 83. Enforcement orders and appeals. (a) Every enforcement order of the beard magistrate shall be final subject to the right of the aggrieved party, including without limitation the city or the violator, to appeal a ruling or order of the board magistrate to the circuit court of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit in and for Broward. County, Florida. Such an appeal shall not be a hearing de novo but shall be limited to appellate review of the record created before the ee& enfefeement board magistrate. An appeal shall be filed within thirty (30) days of the execution of the order to be appealed. (b) Every enforcement order of the bear magistrate shall be in writing and shall include findings of fact and conclusions of law, and shall indiea4e the vote upen t ordef. (c) Every enforcement order shall be signed by the ehairpefsen magistrate and shall be filed in the office of the city clerk of the City of Dania Beaeh, Florida-. A copy of the signed order shall be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the violator. (d) The board magistrate shall in every proceeding reach a decision without unreasonable or unnecessary delay and shall, in all instances, reach a decision within twenty (20) calendar days from the date of the hearing. (e) All city employees shall take action as necessary in accordance with a decision of the board magistrate. See. 2-8884. Powers of eode enforeement board Special Ma2istrate. The eede enfor-eement beafd magistrate shall have the power to: (1) Aadopt rules for the conduct of 4s hearings; (2) 8�subpoena alleged violators and witnesses to its hearings. Subpoenas may be served by the police department of the municipality; (3) Ssubpoena evidence; (4) Ttake testimony under oath; and (5) lissue orders having the force of law commanding whatever steps are necessary to bring a violation into compliance. Sec. 2-W85. Other remedies. I I ORDINANCE #2005-033 The provisions and procedures contained in this ehapter article shall be in addition to and supplemental to any other remedies now existing or subsequently provided for by law, regarding violations of municipal ordinances. Section 2. Any and all references to the "code enforcement board" which exist in the City Code or ordinances are deleted and in their place the phrase "special magistrate" shall be used. Section 3. That, except as amended above, all other provisions of Chapter 28 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Dania Beach, Florida, as amended, shall remain in full force and effect. Section 4. That all ordinances or parts of ordinances and all resolutions or parts of resolutions in conflict with the provisions of this Ordinance are repealed. Section 5. That if any section, clause, sentence or ph -rase of this Ordinance is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, the holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance. Section 6. That this Ordinance shall take effect immediately at the time of its passage and adoption, provided however that any Code Enforcement Board case which originated before the Code Enforcement Board shall be concluded by such Board, since it is the express intent of the City Commission and this Ordinance that all new code enforcement cases originating after the effective date of the ordinance shall be presented to the Special Magistrdte. The Code Enforcement Board shall remain in existence until it concludes any enforcement proceedings which originated before it, excluding any proceedings involving fine abatement or any authorization to initiate lien foreclosure proceedings. PASSED on first reading on August 23, 2005. 0 PASSED AND ADOPTED on second reading on September 13, 2005. 12 ORDINANCE #2005-033 0 'ATTEST: I,OtJll,SE._STIL8ONl CITY�CLERK ANNE CASTRO MAYOR - COMMISSIONER ROLL CALL: COMMISSIONER ANTON - YES COMMISSIONER BERTINO - YES COMMISSIONER MCELYEA - YES VICE -MAYOR FLURY - YES MAYOR CASTRO - YES APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS: BY: THOMA�J. KNSBRO CITY ATTORNEY 13 ORDINANCE #2005-033 CITY OF DANIA BEACH TO: Mayor and City Commission Ivan Pato, City Manager Larry Leeds, Community Development Director FROM: Tom Ansbro, City Attorney DATE: August 16, 2005 RE: Code Enforcement " Special Magistrate" Ordinance Attached is an ordinance which would provide for the transition from the Code Enforcement Board process to the Special Magistrate process, which is authorized by state law (Chapter 162, Florida Statutes). To avoid court challenges to pending cases by any persons who are currently subject to Code Enforcement jurisdiction, i.e., relating to any code enforcement case which originated (had a hearing) before the Code Enforcement Board, the ordinance is designed to allow for all new cases to be heard by a magistrate, yet allow the Board to conclude any cases that were brought before it before the new system becomes effective. I also recommend that two attorneys be appointed to serve as Special Magistrate. Both Gordon Linn, the Pompano Beach City Attorney, and Mark Berman, his Chief Assistant, are willing to act as magistrates for the City, at a cost Of $100-00 per hour. This cost is consistent with other cities I surveyed which converted to the magistrate process. Both gentlemen served the City well as hearing officers for about two years in the "vehicle impoundment" cases (the case challenging that hearing process is still pending for a decision by the Florida Supreme Court). They would alternate hearings, as they did for vehicle impoundment cases. If acceptable I will bring forward a resolution for their appointment at the second reading of the ordinance. ffThis ordinance is, therefore, ready for your consideration and adoption. TJA:slw Attachment NOTICE OF HEARING BEFORE CITY COMMISSION CITY OF DANIA BEACH, FLORIDA, REGARDING ADOPTION OF THE FOLLOWING PROPOSED ORDINANCE: NOTICE IS GIVEN that on September 13, 2005, at 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, the City Commission of the City of Dania Beach, Florida, will conduct a public hearing in the Commission Chamber at Dania Beach City Hall, 100 West Dania Beach Boulevard, Dania Beach, Florida, to consider the proposed adoption of the following Ordinance: ORDINANCE NO. 2005-033 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DANIA BEACH, FLORIDA, PERTAINING TO ENFORCEMENT OF PROVISIONS OF THE CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES; AMENDING CHAPTER 2, "ADMINISTRATION"; ARTICLE IV, "CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD" TO REVISE THE ARTICLE AND ITS PROVISIONS (SECTIONS 2-71 TO AND INCLUDING 2-89) TO DELETE REFERENCES TO THE "CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD" AND TO SUBSTITUTE THE TERM "SPECIAL MAGISTRATE", IN CONNECTION WITH THE CODE ENFORCEMENT PROCESS USED WITHIN THE CITY, SUBJECT TO PROVISIONS FOR TRANSITION FROM THE "BOARD PROCESS" TO THE "MAGISTRATE PROCESS"; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; FURTHER, PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Copies of the proposed Ordinance are on file in the Office of the City Clerk, City Hall, 100 West Dania Beach Boulevard, Dania Beach, Florida, and may be inspected by the public during normal business hours. Interested parties may appear at the aforesaid meeting and be heard with respect to the proposed. Any person who decides to appeal any decision made with respect to any matter considered at this hearing will need a record of the proceedings and for such purpose may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. In accordance with the American with Disabilities Act, persons needing assistance to participate in any of the proceedings should contact the City Clerk's Office, 100 West Dania Beach Boulevard, Dania Beach, Florida 33004, (954) 924-3622 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. /s/ Louise Stilson City Clerk Run in Sun Sentinel: September 2, 2005