LOGAN GATE VILLAGE
SPECIAL DEPENDENT TAX DISTRICT
MONTHLY MEETING MINUTES
Monday, January 26, 2004
Winn Dixie Supermarket - Gunn Hwy., Tampa, FL
Board Members Present: Don Hardy, President; Malia Kapono, Vice President; Cynthia Anne Kapono, Treasurer; Dana Gilliam, Recording Secretary; Bill Daly, Member at Large
Board Members Absent; Mark Dufva; Marla Ruth
Residents: 7
Others: Rick Pitrowski, Communities of America; Deputy Brian Pille, Sheriff’s Office
1. Welcome – D Hardy called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM and welcomed all to the meeting.
2. Public Comments
Comments were made by the residents regarding the amount of trash, etc. that is being tossed on Normandie Rd. Presumably, some of it is coming from WalMart customers or others walking on Normandie. Mention of this will be made in the next newsletter as well as reminders about courtesy to your neighbors in regards to trash pick up in homeowners’ yards, barking dogs, loud music, etc.
3. New Business Items from the Floor and Public Comments
· Financial Status Report – D Hardy gave a PowerPoint presentation. Some of the points he touched on were Spending Patterns, our Returns on Investments, Expenses and Revenue, Drastic Actions Required, Cash in Bank, Expense Spending, etc. He suggested a 2-pronged approach: (1) institute a reduction in spending; and (2) seek a resident supported increase in the Special Taxing District Assessment Fee for the November 2004 ballot.
· R Pitrowski spoke about the proper way to pursue an increase in the Assessment and offered his assistance with this. Points made included:
1. Deadline for information to Country is May 1, 2004
2. Referendum will be during the August 31, 2004 primary
3. To be completed:
1. Wording of ballot
2. Wording of legal ad to be published
3. Fact of having 2 minority contacts (1 Black and 1 Hispanic) per the Justice Department requirements
4. Meeting minutes to reflect the Board approval to put issue on ballot and assume costs of the referendum
4. Prepare appropriate presentation for our Community
1. Better than last attempt which was last-minute on the Board’s part
2. Seek professional advice on running this campaign
3. Seek smaller increase ($24-$36) per year
4. Communicate to our community where our money has been spent in the past: mainly, maintenance and improvement of common areas and the drop in criminal activity due to the increase in our Security patrols
4. Approval of the Draft of November 2003 Minutes
All board members present indicated they had read the draft of the November 2003 Minutes.
C.A. Kapono made a motion to accept the November 2003 Minutes as written. M Kapono seconded the motion. Motion passed 5-0.
5. Reports
· Sheriff Deputies’ Report
1. Deputy Pille was present and reported that our Community had zero incidents in December 2003 and so far in January 2004. We were commended for the attention we give to this.
2. He addressed the matter of the motorized scooters: (1) they are a motorized vehicle; and (2) a Florida drivers’ license is required to operate them either on the road or sidewalks (thus eliminating minors from operating them). Parents are urged to consider this before purchasing for their children.
3. He suggested that we all take an extra minute throughout our days and nights to peek out our windows and report anything that seems suspicious for your area.
· Approval of November 2003 Treasurers’ Report
1. The Auditors’ Report was received and reviewed by D Hardy and R Pitrowski. William Johnson, our auditor, commended our Board for the attention given to our record keeping. Motion made by B Daly to accept the Management Assessment/Auditors’ Report for FY 2003 as presented and received by the Board; M Kapono seconded the motion. Motion passed 5-0.
2. CA Kapono presented the November and December 2003 Treasurers’ Reports and stated a December 2003 balance of $72,752 in our checking account. This includes recent receipts of tax monies from the County. Motion made by B Daly to accept the Treasurers’ Reports as presented; seconded by D Gilliam. Motion passed 5-0.
3. CA Kapono stated that the January 2004 bills have been paid. However, she is going to request of our vendors that we receive a better itemized invoice. There are too many non-specific items on some of the invoices that require substantial follow up work to confirm.
Homeowners Association Report
D Gilliam reported that the HOA will begin having semi-annual meetings; they will occur the first Monday of February and August.
HOA is hoping to have another Spring Clean Up. D Hardy is contacting an individual who will be up scrap metals, appliances, etc. No hazardous wastes to be picked up at this time.
· Communities of America - R Pitrowski
Again, an offer to assist with getting the necessary work done to get the tax assessment increase on the November 2004 ballot
Suggestion that he and D Hardy re-negotiate US Lawns contract to include additional services/tasks
Offered to take over the monthly financials at a cost of $75 per month which is a considerable savings. He will make changes of address so the community’s bills go directly to him. D Hardy will send a 30-day notice to Sarah Wilhite. Motion made by M Kapono to proceed with this; seconded by D Gilliam. Motion passed 5-0.
Since the monies are coming in from the County, the fountains will be repaired and the signs will be cleaned. The up-lights will be checked.
Nothing better found regarding the Liability Insurance and it is outside the District’s budget at this time. No further action and it will be removed from the Agenda.
Normandie Road Entrance - $8700 was appropriated for this. By identifying better, more suitable plants and having a Community Planting Party (instead of US Lawns), considerable money can be saved. M Kapono will head up this committee. Resident Brady offered to assist with this.
Suggestion that we seek out funds for drip irrigation for Normandie Road from the County or SWFMD prior to the planting.
This year’s Santa Float was another huge success.
County Donated Property Status – the parcel of land across from Villager Court reverts back to the County on March 16, 2004. We will request that it be turned over to the Community at that time. Adopt-A-Pond is a possible solution to the maintenance of this parcel.
VIII. Old Business
Pond Report – D Hardy will send notification to Applied Aquatics that we are terminating their contract
County Park Maintenance – D Hardy suggested that a Skateboard Park be installed at the Front Park. A parking area would also be necessary. The County discourages use of the Back Park for additional recreational development due to its location. However, discussion was held that the Back Park would be a possible and logical area to create a third entrance into our Community. D Hardy will contact the County, adding that this will be a long process but would help with the congestion on Henderson Road due to all the recent development.
Contact with Buddy Johnson, Supervisor of Elections might be made for a future meeting if he would be able to assist with the Tax Assessment Increase project.
It was noted that the sign variance that WalMart requested was denied.
CA Kapono, D Hardy and D Gilliam will attend the Neighborhood Conference on March 27, 2004. The Board will pay the $10 each registration fee.
The Citizen Board has contacted D Hardy regarding our application for the Moral Courage Award. It is expected that the winner will be announced at the Neighborhood Conference in March.
Traffic Calming – D Hardy reported that the traffic signal at Linebaugh Avenue has been adjusted to allow for more cars to pass through per cycle. He has also noticed a decrease in traffic through our Community; he will watch for another 30 days, re-evaluate the situation and contact the County is warranted. Currently, Henderson Road is not in the 10 Year Projection Plan for Road Improvements. The request for possible traffic tables for Rosemary Drive, Polly Place and Reef Circle was tabled until the February 2004 meeting.
The meeting dates for the Community’s monthly Board meetings have been published.
58950. New Business – none at this time.
58951. The next meeting will be February 23, 2004 at the same location.
58952. With all business discussed, M Kapono made a motion to adjourn the meeting. B Daly seconded the motion. Motion passed 5-0.
Submitted by: ____________________________ Approved by: _______________________________
Recording Secretary President
Date: ___________________________________ Date: ______________________________________