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Home My WebLink AboutSLC PHOA Minutes January 12 2011 ST. LUCIE COUNTY PROPERTY AND HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION Minutes of Meeting January 12, 2011 Convened 10:00 a.m. ____________________Adjourned 10:45 a.m. The meeting of the Property and Homeowners Association meeting was held Wednesday, January 12, 2011 in Conference Room 3 of the St. Lucie County Administration Annex Building, 2300 Virginia Avenue, Fort Pierce, Florida 34982. Members Present : Toni Trabolsi, Coalition of Sandpiper Bay Associations Andrew Stark, Palm Grove Charlotte Wollenhaupt, Oleander Pines Charles Gilsinan, Oleander Pines Diane Andrews, Queens Cove POA Robert & Linda Bollman, Indian River Estates HOA Charles Grande, Presidents Council Also Present : Commissioner Paula A. Lewis, Chairman Barbara Felton, Executive Aide to Commissioner Lewis Deputy Gary Gonsalves, St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Department Mark Boston, FLARA Larry Storms, Resident Stefanie Myers, St. Lucie County Community Services Katherine Barbieri, Assistant County Attorney Dennis Bunt, St. Lucie County Code Enforcement Supervisor Melissa Brubaker, St. Lucie County Code Enforcement Officer Audrey Jackson, Property Appraiser’s Office Sherry McCorkle, Congressman Tom Rooney’s Office ITEM #1 – CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Commissioner Lewis led the Association in the Pledge of Allegiance followed by self-introductions from the Association representatives and public attendees. ITEM #2 – APPROVAL OF MINUTES Dianne Andrews made the motion to approve the minutes of December 8, 2010. Andrew Stark seconded the motion and the minutes passed unanimously by voice vote. ITEM #3 – ST. LUCIE COUNTY SHERIIFF’S REPORT Deputy Gary Gonsalves reported that burglaries and car break-ins on the beach continue to be a problem. What deputies are seeing is when cars are being broken into the stolen credit cards are being replaced with similar cards from other victims, who don’t realize it is not their card until sometimes days later. Most of these incidents are done by organized professionals who are not from our area, but are believed to be from counties south of us (Broward County, Dade County). Purses and wallets are discarded along the highway – Turnpike, I-95. There were concerns about handicapped parking spaces in gated communities on the beach and how can violations be enforced. Deputy Gonsalves stated that that if the statutes of the State and County are not being met, it can be enforced and a ticket will be issued. There is no time limit on parking there. ITEM #4 – ST. LUCIE COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT REPORT No report was available at this point, but Commissioner Lewis made mention of the Citizen Fire Academy Class which will begin January 31, 2011. You can log on to their website www.slcfd.com/cfa.htm or call Catherine Chaney at (772) 621-3333. Flyers on this subject were available. ITEM #5 – GUESTS Stefanie Myers, Assistant Director of St. Lucie County Community Services, shared information about the VITA Program (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) being offered to eligible residents to get their income taxes prepared at no cost to them. The VITA sites are Mustard Seed in Port St. Lucie and Fort Pierce; Miracle Prayer Temple in Fort Pierce; Harvest Food Outreach in Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie Community Center. The VITA Program includes the four-county area and has assisted over 1,300 residents last year. Extended nights and weekend service will be available. The start date is January 24, 2011 and the cut-off date is April 18, 2011. Several handouts were made available. Dennis Bunt, Code Enforcement Supervisor was present to answer questions. One concern was in reference to a small hotel on North Hutchinson Island. Mr. Bunt state that Monica Barrios should have already been out to look at that situation. Katherine Barbieri, Assistant County Attorney gave an update on the County’s foreclosure cases. She stated the County has passed the Abandonment Property Registration Ordinance to try to help them deal with these cases. The problem is that once the bank files a Lis Pendens, when it goes to court proceedings, it stays all action out there so that the bank knows who has a lien on the property, and can provide them notice. At the end of the court proceedings when the property is sold, whoever buys it will have clear title with any incident. While that is going on, hopefully Code can do a ~ 2 ~ notice of violation to the property owner, but they cannot get an order out there. They are not able to bring it to the point of a fine or recording a lien because of Lis Pentens. The Abandonment Property Registration Ordinance does not have an effect if the homeowner is staying in the home and not paying the mortgage and just letting it go. The banks are now required to register with Code, the property manager and post on the property who that person is. There is a registration fee paid to Code for processing the paperwork. At that point the banks should be doing the yard maintenance. They probably will not be fixing anything major at this time until the foreclosure takes place. The members were advised to call Code Enforcement to make a complaint if they see overgrown property and other issues in their area. Ms. Barbieri stated that a list of foreclosure from the Clerk’s office is sent monthly. The County is sorting through it to see which are in the county and cities, and are forwarding them to the Code office. There was a concern that some property owners stop making payments and others can’t make payments and live on the property rent-free. Ms. Barbieri responded that until Lis Pentens is filled with the court, Code can treat it like a normal case and file a lien. The County is not first priority where liens are concerned. Commissioner Lewis gave an example of a case she knew about in a similar situation where the mother moved away and invited her son and a friend to stay in the home. The mortgage was not being paid and she began to receive calls about rodents, snakes, bugs, etc. on the property. ITEM #6 – OLD BUSINESS Dennis Bunt reported that the property behind the Winn Dixie plaza (Indrio Crossings) is a voided development and is not on the books to be developed. The site plans have been done away with and if they were to develop the property, they would have to start over with site plan approval, permits. Etc. Commissioner Lewis asked if anyone have problems receiving their agenda and minutes for the meeting. No one present stated they had a problem. ITEM #7 – NEW BUSINESS Dennis Bunt, Code Enforcement Supervisor stated that he will be attending the meetings along with Melissa Brubaker to give updates and to answer any questions or concerns anyone had. Stefanie Myers informed the group of an emergency cell phone through Safelink with 250 free monthly minutes for those who quality. Brochures were available for anyone interested and to take back to their Homeowners Association. ~ 3 ~ There was discussion on federal grant funding for low income families to receive free internet service. Ms. Myers will research the item and get back with our office. Topics for future discussion include: ? 211 ? Start date for work on Midway Road ? Geo-Plasma Update ITEM #8 – ADJOURNMENT Having no further business to discuss, Commissioner Lewis thanked the group for their participation. The meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Barbara A. Felton Executive Aide ~ 4 ~