February 8th Weekly Update
By: Jim Hilker, President Caribbean Village HOA
Meeting Minutes
A Board meeting was held on Monday February 3rd. The DRAFT minutes are available for viewing on the HOA Board page of this website.
Events
Please see the Events page of this website to see the meetings and fun events scheduled for February
Infrastructure Projects
Pool
As mentioned previous, two of the three pool heaters are non-functional, and the third is barely functional. They have reached the end of their life-cycle. We have received quotes for getting all three replaced and we are actively finalizing the details so that we can award the contract early this next week. We’re still probably 3 - 4 weeks from having this project completed. I’ll update you on this again next week.
This past week we discovered that a section of the coping (pool edging) on the West side next to the steps into the pool has come loose from its concrete setting and has shifted an inch or so toward the pool. You'‘ll notice it by the gap between the coping and the pavers. Currently it is not a hazard significant enough to warrant closing the pool, but please do not step or sit on this section of coping. We will get it repaired ASAP. During the repair the pool will be closed, which should not be more than a day or two. I’ll broadcast a notice when that will take place.
Gates
It has been brought to our attention that an increased number of residents are finding that their fob remotes are not opening the Venice Ave gate. We replaced the receiver and antenna this week as step one in rectifying this issue. Next we will be replacing the old call box with a new small key pad, as well as much of the wiring and eliminating the need for many wiring connections. When all this is completed, this should remedy the fob malfunction issue. In the meantime, you can use the Tap2Open mobile app or the callbox for gate access.
Irrigation
We are aware that some folks homes are not getting irrigated, as well as other's who have reported leaking / spraying / gushing water from broken drip-lines and/or sprinkler heads. Our technician (Justin) will be here Monday to remedy this issue. Read more about Justin in the Landscape update below.
Committee Changes
Let’s Beautify CV!
What has been the Maintenance Committee over the past several years is being expanded to include “Beautification”. We’re seeking additional volunteers from the community that would enjoy being part of this expansion, which is charged with identifying key common areas that need “sprucing up” by way of adding flowers and other decorative plants, minor shrub maintenance, minor cleaning and/or painting, etc. One of the first areas of focus will be the Venice Ave entrance, to get that looking gorgeous and inviting, and then moving to perhaps the circular planting islands at the ends of each cul-de-sac. There are many areas within our community that desperately need that “Beautification” touch and the expansion of this committee will get these done. If you enjoy planting flowers and decorative plants to make a beautiful difference, we would love for you to volunteer and help make our community shine with beauty. Click HERE to volunteer for the Beautification and Maintenance Committee!
Compliance Committee
The Caribbean Village Management Company, PMI-Capstone, will soon begin monthly “drive-thru” inspections of the CV community. This is to help identify landscape and maintenance issues, but also to identify and report homeowner violations as they pertain to the CV Governing Documents. (NOTE: every resident should be well versed in our Governing Documents).
Declaration of Covenants | Rules and Regulations
PMI-Capstone, with input from the CV Board, will begin issuing a violation notice to identified homeowners that are in violation of our Governing Documents. The notice will define the violation and ask the homeowner to correct the issue in a specified number of days in order to avoid a fine. By law, the homeowner is entitled to a hearing before a fine is issued. A non-compliance fine hearing letter will be issued to the homeowner with 14 days notice of the hearing; to include meeting place, date and time. IF THE HOMEOWNER DOES NOT RESPOND TO THE HEARING, THE FINE IS AUTOMATICALLY APPLIED TO THE HOMEOWNER ACCOUNT.
At this time, the Caribbean Village Board is in the process of establishing a COMPLIANCE COMMITTEE made up of volunteers from within CV. The role of the compliance committee is to oversee the non-compliance fine hearings; to resolve disputes; listen to the homeowner position and independently “judge” the validity of the violation and the fine. The Compliance Committee does NOT issue violations, does NOT enforce the financial delinquencies associated with fines, will NOT roam the neighborhood looking for violations, and does not have the role of revenue generation.
NOTE: FL Statute 720.303: Maximum fine is $100 per violation. FL Statute permits ongoing violations to be fined at $100/day up to $1000. IF not corrected further legal action against the homeowner can be taken if the fine reaches excess of $1000.
Landscape Company Changes
As previously announced, the HOA Board has severed our service agreement with Brightview, and have signed a new service agreement with Mint Condition Services. Brightview has agreed to conclude their service at the end of February. Therefore Mint Condition is slated to begin the landscaping services as of March 1st. Because of this, Mint Condition has moved their mulching schedule 1 week earlier and will now be spreading mulch the last week of February.
More about Justin, the irrigation technician. Many of you know Justin. He has been the one-and-only shining light within Brightview. I believe it may be possible that his work and devotion on our irrigation needs is the reason we stayed with Brightview as long as we have. It has been a sad spot with me knowing I would soon have to let him know that we were no longer going to use Brightview. This past week, just 1 hour prior to my “exit interview” with the Brightview leadership team, Justin sent me a text saying that he resigned his employment at Brightview, effective immediately. I called and spoke with him right then and informed him that we had terminated our contract with Brightview, to which he said he had already heard that from his manager. He also said he did not have any other job lined up. The next morning I called the owner of Mint Condition Services and told him about Justin, and asked if he would be open to having Justin come on his team to service our community, to which he was totally open to that. I then called Justin and told him of my conversation with Mint Condition bringing him on-board and he said he is also open to that, so I got the two of them connected and it looks like we are going to still have Justin providing his awesome irrigation service to Caribbean Village. I am super-happy that this worked out for him and us!! Justin said, “see you Monday!”.
Did You Know?
There are several common areas throughout Caribbean Village that are open areas for all CV residents to enjoy? The other day a group of kids were having a great time in the common are on the West side of Sea Trout St. Neighbors, feel free to utilize there areas anytime for family and fun events.
