Code Fine Amnesty Program Raises More Than $1.3 Million

City Saves Jobs of 30 Public Safety Aides

The City of Fort Lauderdale’s Code Fine Amnesty Program overwhelmingly exceeded all expectations! The initiative raised more than $1.3 million dollars, an astounding amount that more than doubled the program’s $550,000 goal.

The program’s resounding success will enable the City to retain 30 Public Safety Aides in the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. The Public Safety Aides, who play an important role in the City’s efforts to ensure the safety and protection of its residents and visitors, were facing the possibility of being laid off as recently as one month ago.

The Code Fine Amnesty Program, which ran from February 2 - March 1, 2004, offered eligible property owners the opportunity to settle their debts with the City by paying only 25% of the face value of the outstanding code enforcement fine or lien.

The idea for the initiative arose in mid December at a time when all City departments were required to make reductions in order to stay within the parameters of the adopted 2003-04 fiscal year budget. A citizens-based group called the Citizens Leadership Initiative approached Commissioner Dean J. Trantalis who presented the code amnesty idea to the City Commission as an alternative to laying off the Public Safety Aides. The City Commission agreed to implement the program for a period of one month in an attempt to raise the $550,000 needed to retain the Public Safety Aides.

The results speak for themselves. As stated above, the Code Fine Amnesty Program was able to raise more than $1.3 million. The surplus of funds collected will be earmarked for the City’s General Fund in an effort to begin rebuilding its critically needed reserve levels.

Through the Code Fine Amnesty Program, the City’s Community Inspections Division was able to settle more than 400 unresolved code compliance cases. The amount of individual fines collected ranged from under $100 to more than $50,000.

The extraordinary results achieved by the Code Fine Amnesty Program were due in large part to a tremendous amount of teamwork and cooperation exhibited by numerous City Departments and Divisions. More than 50 staff members in the City’s Community Inspections Division worked tirelessly throughout the month of February to carry out the multi-faceted program. Staff members researched cases, met with property owners, made hundreds of follow-up calls, tracked money being received, updated databases and performed countless other duties to ensure the program’s success.

In addition to the Community Inspections Division, the implementation of the Code Amnesty Program also included assistance and support from Administrative Services; City Clerk’s Office; City Manager’s Office; Community and Economic Development; Finance; Information Technology; Police; Public Information and Treasury.

The City of Fort Lauderdale established an Ad Hoc Committee to assist with logistics and make recommendations on program strategies and techniques. The Ad Hoc Committee, comprised of civic leaders, community activists and city staff, played an integral role in helping the program achieve such dramatic results. Committee members staffed two phone banks and volunteered countless hours of their time and energy all of which were crucial to the program’s success.

The most satisfying outcome of the Code Fine Amnesty program was that it enabled the City to retain 30 Public Safety Aides who had been facing layoffs. The Public Safety Aides currently handle approximately twenty percent of all calls for service. They perform a variety of duties in support of the City’s sworn police officers including preliminary investigations, investigations of automobile accidents, processing crime scenes for latent fingerprints and other physical evidence, and informing the community about numerous City regulations and services. Being able to retain the Public Safety Aides will allow Fort Lauderdale’s police officers to spend more time on the streets addressing community concerns which will benefit the entire City.

In addition to retaining the Public Safety Aides, the Code Fine Amnesty Program also improved the appearance of the City by bringing more properties into compliance. Having more properties in compliance will help the City continue to maintain the health, safety and aesthetics of its neighborhoods, protect property values and preserve quality of life for its residents.

Now that the Code Fine Amnesty Program has concluded, the 25% settlement option is no longer available to property owners. It is the City’s intention to begin aggressively pursuing all remaining delinquent code enforcement fines and liens using every means available under the law including referring the debts to collection agencies and foreclosing on properties.

For more information about the results of the City’s Code Fine Amnesty Program, please contact the City of Fort Lauderdale Community Inspections Division at (954) 828-5207 or the City’s Public Information Office at (954) 828-4748.