HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 01-09-2008
ST. LUCIE COUNTY
PROPERTY AND HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION
Minutes of Meeting
January 9, 2008
Convened: 10:10 A.M. Adjourned: 11:35 A.M.
The meeting of the Property & Homeowners Association was held Wednesday,
January 9, 2008, in Conference Room 3 of the St. Lucie County Administration
Building, 2300 Virginia Avenue, Fort Pierce, Florida.
Members Present:
Charlie Brown, Indian River Estates HOA
Kit Linberger, Palm Grove HOA
Don Wilson, St. Lucie North HOA
Bill Hammer, Reserve/PGA Village HOA
Andrew Stark, Palm Grove HOA
Arlene Goodman, White City Improvement Club
Bob Bangert, Holiday Pines
Craig Mundt, North Beach Association
James Killoran, Nettles Island Condo Association
Sonny Jamieson, Savanna Club HOA
Kathleen Ivins, River Park HOA
Kathy Thornton, Savanna Club HOA
Also Present:
Commissioner Chris Craft, Chairman
Deputy Gary Gonsalves, St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office
Beth Williams, Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute
Mark Boston, Florida Alliance for Retired Americans
Jim Carannante, River Park HOA
Ron Parrish, St. Lucie County Fire District
Catherine Whitaker, St. Lucie County Fire District
Roy Friedrich, Department of Financial Services
Eva O’Donnell, Aide to Commissioner Craft
Ja’net Pentz, St. Lucie County Administration Office
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January 9, 2008
Page 2
ITEM 1 – CALL TO ORDER :
The meeting was called to order at 10:10 A.M. Commissioner Craft led the
Association in the Pledge of Allegiance. The Homeowners’ Representatives and
the public in attendance gave self-introductions
ITEM 2 – APPROVAL OF MINUTES :
The minutes from the December 12, 2007 meeting were unanimously approved.
ITEM 3 – ST. LUCIE COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORT :
Deputy Gonsalves – 2007 was a good year as far as a decrease in crime. There
is a negative 3% in comparison to 2006.
??Aggravated battery had a 14% decrease.
??Larceny had a 59% decrease.
??Motor vehicles had a 20% decrease.
They are handling less of the UCR type crimes. The clearance rate for 2007 was
45%. December had a 10% increase in crime. May and December both had
increases in crime.
Keep your eyes open for the 10-8 show that airs on the government access
channel.
ITEM 4 – ROY FRIEDRICH, FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES :
My Safe Florida Home Program - The program came about after the hurricanes
and after the insurance companies didn’t have enough money to pay claims.
This program does not work for condominiums or modular homes. If you
contact the State of Florida, they will provide a free wind mitigation inspection.
It takes about 30 days for someone to get to your house and about 30 days to
get the report back. Take the report to your homeowners insurance company.
You will qualify for the discounts they offer. In St. Lucie County the average
savings is a $250 a year.
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January 9, 2008
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If you live in a freestanding single family home and it’s valued at $300,000 or
less you may qualify for a grant. The $300,000 does not include your land,
fence, freestanding garage or tool shed. If you qualify for this, the State will
install windows, shutters, reinforced garage doors or reinforce your roof and
match you 50/50 up to $5,000. You have to have a quote.
If an individual or family makes 80% of the mediated income in St. Lucie County,
which is about $52,000, they will qualify for a free grant up to $5,000. A St.
Lucie County organization called INTACT (Inspired Network To Achieve
Community Together) is helping with the $5,000 grants.
Almost $9.6 million has already been given away. There is a statute that was
written stating that insurance companies have to take the mitigation reports
when they are given them and they have to offer the discounts that are
available.
Kit Linberger asked if you paid a newly established insurance company, how do
you know they are legit. Mr. Friedrich said you could always call the Department
of Financial Services and they can look them up in their database. You could
also call their toll-free helpline at 1-877-693-5236. They are available 8 a.m. to
5 p.m. There are two websites that could be visited as well for the Department
of Financial Services, www.mysafefloridahome.com and www.myfloridacfo.com.
You could also visit www.demotech.com, which is a rating company, you insert
the insurance company’s name and it will give you their financials.
Florida companies providing homeowners insurance in the State of Florida are
automatically a member of FIGA (Florida Insurance Guaranteed Association). All
of the little fees that are on your bill and paid to the State are collected and held
in a warehouse by the Department of Financial Services. This is not a general
fund that politicians can spend from. If a Florida company writes a bunch of
policies, we get hit by a bunch of hurricanes and the insurance company goes
“belly up”, the State can go into the FIGA fund and pay those claims.
The Department of Financial Services is in the process of getting Citizens
Insurance Group to cease increases and start showing decreases. Citizens is a
freestanding insurance company.
Bill Hammer suggested upgrading the building code requirements statewide. He
also stated that St. Lucie County has a ballooning school population that is half
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January 9, 2008
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the tax burden, an unemployment rate approximately one and half times the
state average, and approximately 50% of the students in school come from
households that qualify for free or reduced lunches.
ITEM 5 – OLD BUSINESS :
January 29, 2008 Tax Reform Vote - Commissioner Craft stated the people being
hit the hardest are the people who purchased their homes in the last three to
four years. Commissioner Craft heard on a $300,000 home you would see a
th
reduction of $250 on your tax bill, if you vote yes on January 29.
Mr. Hammer felt as though property taxes used the way they are in the State of
Florida is flawed. Unfunded mandates that come from the State should be paid
for by the State somehow, and schools should be paid for by the State as well.
Mr. Hammer would like to see the County privatize the Skateboard Park.
Possibly have someone else run the park, take responsibility for it and pay the
County to use the facility. Mr. Hammer felt as though if it is a viable business
enterprise the County should look at ways to put it out for an RFP.
ITEM 6 – NEW BUSINESS :
Ron Parrish, St. Lucie County Fire Chief, would like for the different Homeowners
Associations to allow the Fire District to come out and talk to the constituencies
about the Fire District. How they operate, what they do, what their tax dollars
are going towards and to answer any question there might be. Please feel free
to call Catherine Whitaker at (772) 621-3333 to set up a time for them to visit.
Beth Williams stated on January 15, 2008 Lawnwood Regional Medical Center
would be celebrating their 30 year anniversary. The hospital will be giving free
health screenings and will have complimentary food. All of the Homeowners
Associations are invited to attend.
Mr. Hammer stated the water report is due this month and urged the local level
with the water shortage to think about an ordinance that requires xeriscaping on
new construction. Mr. Bangert said water restrictions should be enforced.
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January 9, 2008
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The University of Oregon has a facility coming to Torrey Pines. The University is
guaranteeing the State 200 jobs. This organization spun off 36 companies over
seven years. Commissioner Craft will look into getting Larry Pelton to speak at
one of the upcoming meetings.
Next month the South Florida Water Management District will be guest speaking.
With no further business the meeting adjourned at 11:35 A.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Stephanie Bush