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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 09-09-2009 ST. LUCIE COUNTY PROPERTY AND HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION Minutes of Meeting September 9, 2009 Convened: 10:00 A.M. Adjourned: 11:19 A.M. The meeting of the Property & Homeowners Association was held Wednesday, September 9, 2009, in Conference Room 3 of the St. Lucie County Administration Building Annex, 2300 Virginia Avenue, Fort Pierce, Florida. Members Present: Craig Mundt, President North Beach Association HOA Toni Trabolsi, Coalition of Sandpiper Bay HOA Andrew Stark, Palm Grove HOA Tony Roach, Pres. Lakeforest Pointe HOA Bill Hammer, Reserve/PGA Dot Dixon, Secretary for Lawnwood Place HOA Diane Andrews, Queens Cove HOA Walter Fauth, South Beach HOA Fred Cook, Port St. Lucie Reverend William Bradley, Pres. Sunland Gardens HOA Linda Bollman, Pres. Indian River Estates HOA Also Present: Commissioner Doug Coward, Chairman Charline Burgess, Aide to Commissioner Coward Swendy Ariyanayagam, St. Lucie County Code Department Sherry McCorkle, Field Representative, Office of Congressman Tom Rooney Deputy Gary Gonzalvez, St. Lucie County Sheriff's office Ethel Rowland, Resident/taxpayer Mark Boston, V.P. The Fla. Alliance for Retired Americans, Inc. Roger Bollman, Indian River Estates Ed Boslow, Oleander Pines HOA Charlotte Wollenhautte, Oleander Pines HOA Charles Gilsinan, Oleander Pines HOA Betty Bradley, Sunland Gardens HOA Property & Homeowners Meeting September 9, 2009 Page 2 ITEM 1 CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 10:00 A.M. Commissioner Coward led the Association in the Pledge of Allegiance. The Homeowners' Representatives and visitors in attendance gave self-introductions. ITEM 2 N APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Commissioner Coward asked for a motion for approval of the July 8, 2009 minutes. A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes of the July 8, 2009 meeting. The motion and second carried unanimously by voice vote. ITEM 3 N ST. LUCIE COUNTY SHERIFF'S REPORT: Commissioner Coward introduced Deputy Gary Gonzalves with the St. Lucie County Sheriff's office. Deputy Gonzalves stated that high crime is still an issue. Residents need to secure their vehicles, homes and valuables. He gave some examples on how to protect yourself. He also said there are many scams going on. If you want to verify whether or not an e- mail is a scam, and you have access to a computer; go to www.snopes.com enter the name in the subject line to find out. He closed by saying that if you ever hear or see anything suspicious, please call 911, that's what they are there for. He said citizen involvement is the number one key to catching the "bad guys." Deputy Gonzalves closed by announcing that they are doing free Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) etching on windshields for residents on October 17, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the St. Lucie County Court House Annex at 250 NW Country Club Drive in Port St. Lucie. Commissioner Coward thanked Deputy Gonzalves for being with us today. He asked if anyone had any questions for Deputy Gonzalves. There were no questions. ITEM 4: ST. LUCIE COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT REPORT N CATHERINE CHANEY, PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER (PIO) Commissioner Coward stated that Ms. Chaney had called, and that she was not going to be with us today. ITEM 5: GUEST SPEAKER AND TOPIC OF DISCUSSION EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN HARBOR BRANCH OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTE AND FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY (FAU) N BY MR. )ACK AYLOR, Property & Homeowners Meeting September 9, 2009 Page 3 DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AND FOUNDATION RELATIONS FOR THE TREASURE COAST REGION OF FAU. Commissioner Coward then introduced Mr. Aylor and thanked him for being here today. Mr. Aylor thanked Commissioner Coward and the members for inviting him to speak today. He said it is always exciting to be able to give a presentation on the educational partnership between Harbor Branch and Florida Atlantic University (FAU.) He then began his power point presentation. (Please double-click on icon to access the presentation) Mr. Aylor stated that FAU now has seven branches. He then went through each slide of the power point and explained each one. He also said that Indian River State College is now offering a four year degree for students. He stated where all of the branches are located and how many staff members and students that FAU and Harbor Branch have. He said some of their partnerships in the county include the St. Lucie County Schools, the Marine Ocean Academy at Westwood High School, and many other international type organizations. He said that the Board of County Commissioners bought about 300 acres through the Florida Forever program. He continued his presentation through each slide. Mr. Aylor said there are ways to support Friends of Harbor Branch (HBOI) through joining The Friends Annual Membership Program (Individuals and Families); Ocean Science Lecture Series; Ocean Discovery Center; Special Events and; receive Harbor Branch Communications (newsletters/updates.) He said there are also specialty license plates to help fund critical marine research, education and conservation efforts conducted by Harbor Branch. Mr. Aylor asked if there were any questions. Someone asked if HBOI has the ability to cater events. Mr. Aylor stated "yes they do." He said that Out-Of-Bounds Restaurant has their food contract and can provide catering for just about anything you would want. Mr. Craig Mundt stated that he had read that HBOI was getting ready to sell the submersibles and possibly their ship, what alteration would that make? Property & Homeowners Meeting September 9, 2009 Page 4 Mr. Aylor said that there should be a definitive decision by the end of next month as to what is going to happen with those programs. He said the ship and the submarine alone are about a 4.5 million dollar budget item every year. He said for us to be profitable, we need to be out doing something about 90 days and year, last year it was about 27 days. He said if someone wants to come in and use the ship and sub, it costs $35,000.00 a day. He said there has to be some changes, especially with the use of the ship and sub. Someone asked Mr. Aylor how to get in touch with him. (that information is listed below) Jack Aylor Director of Development and Foundation Relations Florida Atlantic University jaylor(c~fau.edu 772-201-3003 cell Treasure Coast Campus 500 California Blvd Port St. Lucie, FL 34986 772-873-3340 Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute 5600 US HVVY 1 N Ft. Pierce, FL 34946 772-465-2400 x204 I,`\ I~'E:R4171" ,-~U1'_a~C1r1iE\`T http:!/www.fau.edu http://www.hboi.fau.edu http: //www.fa uf.fa u.ed u Mr. Fred Cook asked whether or not sea-grasses can easily be moved in case of a construction site and adapt to a new area. He said that he was speaking about the bridge that they are trying to get built over the St. Lucie River for the Crosstown Parkway in Port St. Lucie, moving the sea-grasses further up the river in the sunny section rather than the shade of the bridge. Mr. Aylor said that it depends on the variety of sea-grass. He recommended to Mr. Cook that he ask a Research expert from HBOI to come and speak to their homeowner's group. He said that they have done enough research on sea-grasses that he could get an expert to get him an answer on that. Property & Homeowners Meeting September 9, 2009 Page 5 Commissioner Coward said that in 2006, HBOI had to make some tough decisions about determining the fate of their future. They were contemplating selling off some of their property to a developer out of Atlanta to build high-rise condos. He said that he remembered thinking, what a tragedy. So, to see what you have accomplished in 3 years is amazing. He said credit has to be given to Senator Pruitt, Frank Brogan, and Doug Anderson on behalf of the county to help formulate this way of us buying these environmentally sensitive lands through local tax dollars. Florida Forever, as mentioned earlier, was a major contributor, and then having FAU step in and build that partnership, it is absolutely incredible what has been accomplished. There was a general discussion regarding the partnership between FAU and HBOI and many other exciting things coming up including hiring 4 or 5 new researchers. Commissioner Coward said that when he visited the Grand Bahama Islands recently, as the Tourist Development Council Chairman, he found out that they were already working with HBOI. Mr. Aylor said that they have been in the Bahamas' for about 15 years with relationships there and we are actually doing some work there for the government. Discussion ensued regarding tourism and ecotourism resources that are right here in St. Lucie County. Commissioner Coward invited Mr. Aylor to come to a County Commission soon and give them an update where it will be in a televised format. There was a general discussion regarding acquaculture and setting up demonstrations with Dr. Megan Davis at HBOI. Commissioner Coward thanked Mr. Aylor for a great presentation. He told them that they had done a lot of great work, and he knows that there will be a lot more to come. There was a round of applause for Mr. Aylor. ITEM 6: OLD BUSINESS: Commissioner Coward asked whether or not there was any old business to discuss. Seeing none, he announced that Representative Adam Fetterman would be our guest speaker for the October 14, 2009 meeting. ITEM 7: NEW BUSINESS N PRIORITIZE FUTURE TOPICS OF DISCUSSION Commissioner Coward mentioned the update of the Airport Master Plan. He said that there are a group of citizens working with our staff to make recommendations on the Airport Master Plan (see attached notice.) He asked if the group would like the consultant for the airport to come and make a presentation to them. Property & Homeowners Meeting September 9, 2009 Page 6 They are asking for suggestions and recommendations to be made to them by the end of October, 2009. Commissioner Coward also said that it was suggested that at a future meeting we will have the County's TPO Director and FDOT in to speak about road projects, and the last one was a discussion about Martin Memorial Hospital and the new branch at Tradition. Commissioner Coward suggested having Representative Fetterman for the first half of the next meeting and then have the Airport Master Plan presentation. He asked for suggestions from the group. Discussion ensued regarding trying to get in two presentations in the next meeting. It was the consensus of the members to have Representative Fetterman as the only speaker for the meeting. Mr. Tony Roach said that he had wanted Representative Fetterman to come in and speak because all of the associations through-out the county are in a financial crisis over the number of foreclosures here, and how the state only allows condo's six months recovery and HOA's twelve months. He said that limitation has to be removed. He suggested that next month's meeting be well advertised about Representative Fetterman being here and possibly have another seminar. Commissioner Coward said that the response we had on the two seminars that we have already held, was phenomenal. He restated the names of the many volunteers that attended and how they gave their time to help the residents of St. Lucie County. He said that we now have time constraints regarding preparation of another seminar by October. He explained the legal procedures, along with the preparation of getting professionals to come in and speak. There was a lengthy discussion between Commissioner Coward and some of the members regarding the amount of foreclosures in the homeowners associations and the storm-water fee assessments now appearing on their taxes. They said that something should be done on a federal level. Ms. Sherry McCorkle, Field Representative for Congressman Rooney, said that homeowner's associations are a state legislation issue, not a federal issue. She explained that the banks are sitting on the money when it comes to foreclosures, so their hands are tied. Discussion ensued. Commissioner Coward said that the key is to try and get Representative Fetterman to consider submitting legislation and trying to get the State law changed. Draft up something and hand it to him personally, then he will know what you want. Discussion ensued.