HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 01-14-2009ST. LUCIE COUNTY
PROPERTY AND HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION
Minutes of Meeting
January 14, 2009
Convened: 10:10 A.M.
Adjourned: 12:35 P.M.
The meeting of the Property & Homeowners Association was held Wednesday, January
14, 2009, in the Board of County Commission Chambers of the St. Lucie County
Administration Building Annex, 2300 Virginia Avenue, Fort Pierce, Florida.
Members Present:
Craig Mundt, North Beach Association
Peggy Dravis for Toni Trabolsi, Coalition of Sandpiper Bay HOA
Charlie Brown, Indian River Estates HOA
Roger Bollman, Indian River Estates HOA
Kathleen Ivins, River Park HOA
Andrew Stark, Palm Grove HOA
Pat Pacitti, Presidents Council HOA
Bill Hammer, PGA Village HOA
Diane Andrews, Queens Cove HOA
Fred Cook, Port St. Lucie Emeritus HOA
Also Present:
Commissioner Doug Coward, Chairman
Charline Burgess, Aide to Commissioner Coward
Commissioner Chris Dzadovsky, District 1
Terri Ann Palumbo, Aide to Commissioner Dzadovsky
Commissioner Charles Grande, District 4
Liz Martin, Aide to Commissioner Grande
Lee Ann Lowery, Assistant County Administrator
Deputy Gary Gonsalves, St. Lucie County Sheriffs Office
Eva O'Donnell, Aide to Commissioner Craft
Mark Boston, Florida Alliance for Retired Americans
Swendy Ariyanayagam, St. Lucie County Code Compliance
Dennis Bunt, Code Enforcement Supervisior
Christopher LeStrange, Code Compliance Manager
Katherine McKenzie Smith, Assistant County Attorney
Beth Ryder, Community Services Director
Jessica Parrish, Housing Manager
Property & Homeowners Meeting
January 14, 2009
Page 2
NOTE: For the record, we had a total attendance of 73 including 52 residents that
signed in and the members of the committee and county staff. If I missed a members
name above, please let me know at the next meeting and I will revise. A copy of the
sign -in sheet will be made available upon request.
ITEM 1 — CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting was called to order at 10:10 A.M. Commissioner Coward led the
Association in the Pledge of Allegiance. The Homeowners' Representatives in attendance
gave self -introductions.
ITEM 2 — APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Commissioner Coward asked for a motion for approval of the December 10, 2008
minutes.
It was moved by Craig Mundt and seconded by Bill Hammer to approve the minutes of
the December 10, 2008 meeting. The motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Coward said that he would like to take a moment to give a brief overview
of the committee. The group meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 10:00
a.m. in conference room 3. They have one-on-one interaction with elected officials. The
board liaison changes to a different county commissioner each year. They all share
information and focus on the most pressing issues in the county or their neighborhoods.
He extended an invitation to anyone that wanted to attend.
ITEM 3 — ST. LUCIE COUNTY SHERIFF'S REPORT:
Deputy Gary Gonsalves stated that the department is still experiencing problems with
property thefts. Some current target areas are Lakewood Park and Spanish Lakes. He
said they have a COP program, where volunteers that have been trained to be the eyes
and ears for the deputies. They do not carry guns and have no authority to make
arrests. He said the department is going to be "beefing" up patrols and more volunteers
in those areas. He asked the members of the group to keep on the look out for criminal
activity. Several residents asked Gonsalves questions about incidents in their
neighborhoods. After answering some of their questions, he said the main number to
call for patrol or eviction units would be 772-462-7300.
Property & Homeowners Meeting
January 14, 2009
Page 3
ITEM 4 — INTRODUCTION OF GUEST SPEAKERS:
Commissioner Coward introduced Attorney Chris Draper, Managing partner for Litigation
and Collections/Foreclosures with the law firm of Becker & Poliakoff, P.A. in West Palm
Beach, Florida. He also gave a brief background of Mr. Draper's credentials and
experience.
Commissioner Coward also introduced St. Lucie County staff; Beth Ryder, Community
Services Director; Jessica Parrish, Housing Project Coordinator; Katherine McKenzie
Smith, Assistant County Attorney; Christopher LeStrange, Code Compliance Manager;
and many others that had taken time out of their busy day to attend this meeting.
Below is a brief overview Mr. Draper gave on foreclosures within homeowner
associations. His presentation included many more topics regarding this subject:
I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION
A. The purpose of and need for collection of assessments
B. establishing Assessment Authority
C. Board's authority to prepare a budget and levy special
assessments
D. Association's right to recover interest, late charges, costs and
attorney's fees in the collection and foreclosure process
II. COLLECTION PROCEDURES
III. FORECLOSING THE CLAIM OF LIEN
IV. BANK FORECLOSURE
V. OWNER FILES BANKRUPTCY
Mr. Draper took questions from the audience. He answered questions from residents
that are now in foreclosure, about to go into foreclosure and how to avoid foreclosure.
He also said that there is a "Call Alert" website for homeowner associations to find
answers. He said the site address is www.callbp.com or if anyone preferred to call him,
his information is listed below:
Property & Homeowners Meeting
January 14, 2009
Page 4
)tC-' Chris A. Draper
PC
F Attorney at taw
. #fxf.i(J.1Ygkg4 }S,Yx4 1)3.5
Becker & Poliakoff, P.A.
407.875.0955 Orlando
407.875.3401 Orlando Fax
561.655.5444 West Palm Beach
561.832.8987 West Palm Beach Fax
CDraper(a)becker-polia koff.com
www.becker-r)oliakoff.com
Ms. Beth Ryder stated that there may be help for some residents from upcoming
programs, specifically the "Neighborhood Stabilization Program," to help with problems
such as this. This is not money that is available for individuals facing foreclosure , but
the county will be developing that program in the near future and seeking public input.
She also said that there could be help from the Consumer Credit Counseling Service,
which she said is not free. Their number is 1-800-251-2227. She also announced an
upcoming workshop "Money Fest" being held on February 21, 2009 at the Havert Fenn
Center on Virginia Avenue. Ms. Ryder said that if anyone needed further information on
any of the St. Lucie County Programs, please feel free to call her or Ms. Jessica Parrish
at 772-462-1777.
Commissioner Coward thanked Mr. Draper, Ms. Ryder and staff for taking the time to be
with us today and for giving such an informative presentation. He also said that we
understand that there are many facets of this and many people are hurting and we are
trying to do everything we can to help those individuals. So please don't leave today
with the impression that we don't care, and that we are not going to try to help you.
We do care, and we will try to help you.
ITEM 5 — OLD BUSINESS:
Commissioner Coward stated that due to time constraints, we would have to continue
with any old business at our next meeting.
ITEM 6 — NEW BUSINESS:
Commissioner Coward stated that the members had specified topics for their upcoming
meetings, so the next meeting will be a presentation on the county budget. He invited
the residents to stay involved with the county and come to our monthly meetings.
Commissioner Coward thanked the members and the public for coming to the meeting.
With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 12:45 P.M.
pec Ily submi ed
10
Charline Burgess, Aide to
Commissioner Doug Coward
(772) 462-1412
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FROM THE DEC. 10TH
MEETING.
December 18, 2008
Commissioner Coward,
Below are the concerns and/or questions stated in the Homeowners meeting of Dec. 10,
2008 and the answers that we received from staff.
1.) Mr. Charlie Brown stated that he has not received a copy of the base facility
charge for Indian River Estates since 2007.
Answer., From Laurie Case, Utilities Director - When IRE customers receive
their bill the base facility charge of $29.55 and the charge for water
consumption is included in one line item. The base facility charge is
not a separate line item on the utility bill.
Mr. Brown also said Indian River Estates has a wonderful lift station, but nothing
to lift. There wasn't any money to run the pipes up through Easy Street to the
lift station. He asked for an update on when the county might have the money
to take care of running the pipes in the street.
Answer. From Mike Powley — County Engineer - I can only assume
Charlie was referring to the "pump station". A lift station is generally part of a
sanitary sewer system and of course none exists in IRE. The pump station will pump
storm water to a treatment area near the Savannas and help drain IRE after rainfall
events.
We are still pursuing grant funds to construct the second phase of the stormwater
retro-fit project. Unfortunately, it is my guess that it will take several more years
before Phase 2 can go to construction.
2.) Mr. Bangert brought up the high number of foreclosures in the area and how
the realtors are trying to get the foreclosures transferred to Section 8 housing,
which is not a good deal at all. He also brought up problem with speeding in
Holiday Pines
3.) Mr. Andrew Stark asked how do you get the banks to keep up the maintenance
on the foreclosed properties?
Answer.
These questions should be answered by our guest speaker today.
HOA meeting March 11, 2009 (Revised) (NEW BUSINESS)
Please provide order of topics for future meeting. The suggestions were as follows:
1.) (March meeting (revised topic) St. Lucie County Budget overview
> School Board issues — sidewalks, kids going to school too early, children's safety
➢ FDOT — update on current or pending projects
➢ Grants — our two grant writers have brought in an average of roughly ten to
twelve million dollars a year, this year they topped out at over forty million
dollars
Natural Disasters and emergency management issues
Tour of the Research and Education Center