At a special magistrate hearing April 2, a representative for Bamboo Palms said the property owner had begun correcting damaged and missing sign panels at 1717 South U.S. Highway 1, but the City of Fort Pierce's special magistrate found the property remained out of compliance and ordered repairs to be completed within 20 days.

Code Enforcement Officer (recorded in the hearing) presented photographs dated Jan. 3, Feb. 24 and March 31 and copies of notices mailed to the property and the Connor law firm. Susan Grimes, appearing for the owners who live out of the country, said crews replaced one sign panel, turned another so the illegible face was not visible and submitted a work order to repair and repaint the large front sign.

Officer testimony and the evidence established that a central freestanding sign in the parking lot still required repair; the magistrate's order directed the owner to repair or replace missing and faded sign panels, paint the curbing and the base of sign poles, obtain any necessary permits, and comply with permit conditions. The magistrate set a 20-day compliance deadline and ordered that failure to comply would result in a $250-per-day fine.

Ms. Grimes told the magistrate she had a work order to paint and repair the front sign and expected the front-sign contractor to start the following week; she also indicated one top sign panel currently remained blank because there is no tenant in that space.

The magistrate admitted the owner's photos into evidence and stressed that while some progress had been made, the property remained noncompliant until the ordered repairs and any required permits were complete.

The order requires the owner to coordinate with city staff on the blank-tenant panel to ensure compliance while the space is vacant.