Item Coversheet

CITY OF OAKLAND PARK, FLORIDA
CITY COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM REPORT

AGENDA ITEM NO. 14

MEETING DATE: 4/14/2026
PREPARED BY: 

Skip Margerum,

Community Enhancement Manager
 
Brad Ostroff,

Interim Director of Building and Community Services Department  		DEPARTMENT HEAD APPROVAL:  Building and Community SRV - Code
SUBJECT: Community Enhancement Division 1st Quarter Update 
1.BACKGROUND/HISTORY
    
 

The Community Enhancement Division is providing an update on the following major initiatives:

 

•Neighborhood Code Compliance Initiative

The Neighborhood Code Compliance Initiative is an ongoing effort aimed at enhancing the quality of life in various neighborhoods throughout the City. A dedicated team of officers is deployed to work collaboratively, identifying properties that are in violation of the City's Code of Ordinances. The team takes a proactive approach by informing property owners of the identified issues and providing guidance on how to rectify them. If necessary, Notices of Violations are issued to ensure compliance. This initiative is crucial for maintaining the aesthetic and safety standards of our residential areas.

 

•Lien Compliance Initiative
The Lien Compliance Initiative focuses on addressing code violations, fines, and liens associated with both commercial and residential properties. The primary objective is to assist property owners in resolving these issues effectively. The initiative involves reaching out to property owners, informing them of their outstanding violations, and providing support to help them achieve compliance. Additionally, the initiative aims to negotiate and settle outstanding liens, thereby alleviating the financial burden on property owners and ensuring that properties are brought up to code. This initiative not only helps in maintaining property values but also contributes to the overall well-being of the community.
2.CURRENT ACTIVITY
    
 

Neighborhood Code Compliance Initiative:

During the upcoming quarter, Code Officers will be conducting a comprehensive sweep of major corridors, including Prospect Road, Commercial Boulevard, Oakland Park Boulevard, and Federal Highway. This initiative will include inspections of Business Tax Receipts (BTR), landscaping compliance, parking lot conditions, and general building maintenance issues. The goal of these efforts is to ensure properties along these corridors are in compliance with City codes and to enhance the overall appearance and safety of the community.

 

Lien Compliance Initiative Update:


This past Quarter, PropLogix continues to contact property owners who owe fines and fees.  During this Quarter, they have successfully closed one (1) case and collected $1,788 for the City.  There is an outstanding balance of $107,988 from (2) liens that were approved by Commission that we are awaiting payment on.

 

Staffing Updates:

 

New Code Officer Lartarsha Ricks-Delp is currently in training and is a welcomed addition to our Division. She brings many years of experience working with Broward County, which will be a valuable asset to our team. Her background, knowledge, and commitment to public service are already evident, and we are confident she will contribute positively to our ongoing efforts and community initiatives.

 

Staff Actions:

 

This last Quarter, Community Enhancement Officers have completed:

 

• 2913 Total inspections

• 60% of the cases were proactive, self-initiated cases
• 60 Business tax/Certificate of use inspections were conducted
• 387 Bulk Trash piles were cited
• 1145 Illegal signs removed

 

Interdepartmental Collaborations:

 

Last Quarter, working with the Business Regulatory Unit, and Salvus Consulting, the Division issued:

 

  • 14 new Short-term Rental Permits
  • 19 renewals
  • 31 STR inspections conducted
  • 10 STR cases forwarded to the Community Enhancement Division for violations
  • Collected $3,480.00 in delinquent BTR fees

 

 

Community Enhancement, The Broward Sheriff's Office, and the Broward County Department of Health have completed a joint effort of inspecting all (19) Massage establishments in the City:

 

  • All have obtained the proper Business Tax Receipt
  • All unlicensed activity has ceased
  • All unpermitted signs were removed
  • 2 individuals were arrested practicing unlicensed massage therapy
  • 1 Business Tax was revoked by the Special Magistrate; the business has closed

 

 

The Community Enhancement Division is continuing to work with the Legal Department to identify properties that have accumulated excessive violation fines for possible further legal collection efforts up to and including foreclosure.  The process consists of:

 

Identification of Properties: The first step involves identifying properties that have accumulated excessive fines due to various violations, such as building code, maintenance neglect, or other ordinance violations. This task typically requires a systematic review of records and databases to track fines and associated properties.

 

Collaboration Between Departments: The cooperation between the Community Enhancement Division, which is responsible for enforcing codes and maintaining community standards, and the Legal Department, which handles the legal aspects of code enforcement, is crucial. This collaboration ensures a comprehensive approach, combining the expertise of both enforcement and legal proceedings.

 

Legal Collection Efforts: Once properties with excessive fines are identified, the Legal Department can initiate research into the property’s ownership and title search. This would involve contacting property owners, issuing legal notices and, if necessary, pursuing court action to collect the fines. The goal is to ensure compliance and recover costs incurred by the City.

 

Foreclosure as a Last Resort: Foreclosure might be considered a last resort for properties where owners fail to pay the accumulated fines and do not comply with regulations. Foreclosure allows the City to take ownership of the property, potentially sell it, and recover the outstanding fines. However, this process is complex, involving legal proceedings and requires a court judgment. It can be a long and costly process.

 

Implications: The process of identifying properties for legal collection or foreclosure serves several purposes. It helps maintain community standards by ensuring properties comply with local ordinances, potentially improves neighborhood aesthetics and safety, and recovers costs for the municipality. However, it also requires careful legal and ethical considerations, especially regarding property owners' rights and the impacts on the community.

 

 

3.FINANCIAL IMPACT
    
 Not Applicable
4.RECOMMENDATION
    
 Report Only
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
Collection report