We pay more than $800 a month to clean the areas around our trash dumpsters because people can't bother to put their garbage in them. That's nearly $10,000 a year!
Our property manager, Jennifer Robertson, has sought bids to get this done cheaper, but it's still money our HOA could spend on better things. If you don't know, the garbage truck driver does no cleanup. He (or she) simply drives up, empties the dumpster, and sets it back in place. Any extra garbage lying around gets left or, even worse, trapped under the dumpster. Yay! (not really yay)
At last night's HOA meeting, Jennifer told us that if we see a "trash disaster" around the dumpsters, even on weekends, we should call Excelsior's office number (813-349-6552) and they will get someone out there to take care of it, usually within a few hours.
"We treat trash as an emergency," she said.
What they also do? With gloved hands, they go through the garbage and try to find out from which unit it came so they can send a violation notice to the unit owner. Yes, that sounded extreme to me, too, when I first heard it, but if it will help cut down on the roughly 10 grand we have to spend cleaning up after people who trash our community, I say Yay! (yes, really yay)
Showing posts with label HOA Business. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HOA Business. Show all posts
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Monday, February 2, 2015
New Property Manager Has Taken Over
We have officially changed property managers. Excelsior Community Management now manages St. Charles Place. If you have questions about any common areas or services in the community, contact Jennifer Robertson at Excelsior.
The phone number is (813) 349-6552. Her email address is StCharlesPlaceHOAManagement@tampabay.rr.com
One more thing changes: the site of monthly HOA meetings moves to Excelsior's office at 6554 Krycul Avenue. That is almost literally across the street from the River of Life Christian Church, which has graciously hosted us for the past five years.
HOA meetings happen the third Wednesday of the month. The next one comes February 18 at 7 p.m.
The transition between management companies should appear seamless to you. The HOA has not changed the bank it uses to take dues payments so you mail them too the same address, or use the same online banking payee, as you have always done.
As always, you can send any questions of feedback to your HOA Board of Directors at board@stcharlesplace.us.
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
New Property Manager Same Payment Address
We get a new property manager February 1. However, we will not have to change the bank we use for HOA payments. This means that the mailing address, or electronic bill pay, if you bank online, does NOT change.
The HOA board will work with the new property management company to make as much of the transition invisible to you as possible.
Except the part where we get more visits to the property, and more hands-on service from the property manager.
The HOA board will work with the new property management company to make as much of the transition invisible to you as possible.
Except the part where we get more visits to the property, and more hands-on service from the property manager.
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
FOUND and Meeting
This very sweet, loving female cat walked up to someone's front door in our community. If you have lost her, you can contact Jessica at 813-468-8077.
This serves as another reminder that no pets are allowed outside without their owner's supervision. I saw a raccoon feeding on cat food someone left on their front porch. The food people leave outside for their pets often disappears thanks to other animals they did not intend to feed, and invites nuisance animals to the community.
Also, a reminder that our last scheduled HOA meeting of 2014 happens THURSDAY (not the usual day of the week) at 7 p.m. at the dining area of the Target store on Bloomingdale Ave. (also not the usual meeting location).
We'll talk tree replacement, and anything else that concerns residents of St. Charles Place. As always you can bring issues to the HOA board's attention by emailing board@stcharlesplace.us.
Friday, November 7, 2014
Next Meeting & Tree Replacement
Our next meeting, and the last one planned for 2014, will happen Thursday, November 20. We cannot get our regular meeting room, so we will meet at the dining area in the Super Target store on Bloomingdale Avenue. Start time is the usual 7 p.m.
A longtime discussion topic at board meetings is the long-term need to get some of the large oak trees away from our buildings. As they continue to grow, they will encroach ever more on our buildings, and eventually endanger their slab foundations.
That would be bad.
With an arborist and our landscape company, the board has begun a scheduled plan to remove the troublesome trees and replace them with ones better suited to live near buildings. We have narrowed the list of replacement trees to three kinds that stood out for their combination of attractiveness, heartiness in our climate, and ability to thrive close to structures and paving.
They are Dahoon Holly, Crepe Myrtle, Southern Red Cedar and Ligustrum Patio. Scroll down to see photos of each.
We’d like owners’ feedback on which you prefer. You can email board@stcharlesplace or show up in person. We would entertain others not among those three, but those are the ones that our landscaper and arborist recommend. Click on the images to see larger versions.
Crepe Myrtle:
Dahoon Holly:
Ligustrum Patio:
Cedar:
I might not have the correct cedar tree here, because I don't think we'd want them that large, but it's an evergreen and the photo should give you a decent idea.
We would not go exclusively with one kind throughout the community, but rather a mix to give our landscaping variety while having trees that work better close to buildings. This will be a long-term project with the oaks causing the most risk getting priority for removal.
The trees will likely be much smaller than the ones they replace, but in a few years, they will grow and mature into ones that give our community its distinctive look, without the danger of harming the integrity of our buildings.
Again, send thoughts to board@stcharlesplace.us.
A longtime discussion topic at board meetings is the long-term need to get some of the large oak trees away from our buildings. As they continue to grow, they will encroach ever more on our buildings, and eventually endanger their slab foundations.
That would be bad.
With an arborist and our landscape company, the board has begun a scheduled plan to remove the troublesome trees and replace them with ones better suited to live near buildings. We have narrowed the list of replacement trees to three kinds that stood out for their combination of attractiveness, heartiness in our climate, and ability to thrive close to structures and paving.
They are Dahoon Holly, Crepe Myrtle, Southern Red Cedar and Ligustrum Patio. Scroll down to see photos of each.
We’d like owners’ feedback on which you prefer. You can email board@stcharlesplace or show up in person. We would entertain others not among those three, but those are the ones that our landscaper and arborist recommend. Click on the images to see larger versions.
Crepe Myrtle:
Dahoon Holly:
Ligustrum Patio:
Cedar:
I might not have the correct cedar tree here, because I don't think we'd want them that large, but it's an evergreen and the photo should give you a decent idea.
We would not go exclusively with one kind throughout the community, but rather a mix to give our landscaping variety while having trees that work better close to buildings. This will be a long-term project with the oaks causing the most risk getting priority for removal.
The trees will likely be much smaller than the ones they replace, but in a few years, they will grow and mature into ones that give our community its distinctive look, without the danger of harming the integrity of our buildings.
Again, send thoughts to board@stcharlesplace.us.
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Pool Problems
Our property manager informed the board that someone broke the gate at the pool and tampered with with the pool equipment, which partially drained the pool.
This will cost money to fix. Money that we all pay because someone vandalized our property. If you see something suspicious anywhere in the community, you won't only do your civic duty by reporting it to police, you might also save your wallet a favor.
The HOA has invested in a new security system at the pool, which soon will help us identify people who break in and/or do damage in the pool area. Even then, nothing works as well as people caring enough about where they live to keep their eyes open and report what they see.
If you ever see something that looks wrong and wonder why no on has addressed the problem, email board@stcharlesplace.us and ask. It could be that no one on the board or the property manager has noticed the problem.
This will cost money to fix. Money that we all pay because someone vandalized our property. If you see something suspicious anywhere in the community, you won't only do your civic duty by reporting it to police, you might also save your wallet a favor.
The HOA has invested in a new security system at the pool, which soon will help us identify people who break in and/or do damage in the pool area. Even then, nothing works as well as people caring enough about where they live to keep their eyes open and report what they see.
If you ever see something that looks wrong and wonder why no on has addressed the problem, email board@stcharlesplace.us and ask. It could be that no one on the board or the property manager has noticed the problem.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
We Have Private Roads
At the end of this month, workers will install new street signs. We'll get blue ones that indicate that St. Charles Place has private roads. We have one already on Johanna Avenue at US 301. Our builder, KB Home, should have had blue ones throughout the community but did not.
Defining our roads better gives us more ability to enforce our rights. For instance, solicitors claim that the green signs give them the right walk our roads and knock on our doors, because green signs denote public streets. The blue signs, that also state "Private Road" on them, gives any resident something to point to to say, "you are trespassing on private property, and you need to leave."
This takes on more meaning when you consider a recent report by WFLA-TV about door-to-door magazine sellers. These are teenagers that a for-profit company has recruited to knock on your door and tell you that they're earning points for scholarships, or trying to help charities.
They're not. They're trying to sell you magazines, or gift baskets, or something else. A for-profit company has recruited kids to sell you things in what is basically an attempt to end-run non soliciting rules, and to put an innocent face on what is essentially a scam.
That's not the only one. People sell security systems (or say they do), cable and satellite TV, and any number of other things. Some merely aim to case possible targets for burglaries. It's a security issue. The blue private road signs don't do much by themselves. But they are more arrows in our quiver as we defend our community.
Defining our roads better gives us more ability to enforce our rights. For instance, solicitors claim that the green signs give them the right walk our roads and knock on our doors, because green signs denote public streets. The blue signs, that also state "Private Road" on them, gives any resident something to point to to say, "you are trespassing on private property, and you need to leave."
This takes on more meaning when you consider a recent report by WFLA-TV about door-to-door magazine sellers. These are teenagers that a for-profit company has recruited to knock on your door and tell you that they're earning points for scholarships, or trying to help charities.
They're not. They're trying to sell you magazines, or gift baskets, or something else. A for-profit company has recruited kids to sell you things in what is basically an attempt to end-run non soliciting rules, and to put an innocent face on what is essentially a scam.
That's not the only one. People sell security systems (or say they do), cable and satellite TV, and any number of other things. Some merely aim to case possible targets for burglaries. It's a security issue. The blue private road signs don't do much by themselves. But they are more arrows in our quiver as we defend our community.
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Security Cameras Coming
One of the most persistent issues residents voice concerns crime and security. Either luck has favored us, or the efforts we've made to inform people about ways to safeguard themselves and their community have helped protect us, or some combination of the two. We have few reports of crime (knock on whatever wood-like stuff constitutes this table), with the most recent being cars broken into.
Still the board has looked for ways to improve security. Soon, you will see several new things meant to do that.
Our first security cameras will go up in the pool area. The pool is our primary amenity, and has been an occasional target of vandalism, and people from outside the community using the pool. The outsiders, usually kids, and the vandalism may have a connection. At least I hope that our residents have not used the recently bought chaise lounges as diving boards.
Cameras won't stop misdeeds by themselves. They will deter some people, and they will give us something to show police if someone damages our property.
The board has also discussed, but not decided on, putting up other cameras to monitor our trash dumpsters, where people -- residents and not -- dump trash, furniture, tires, grills, and other refuse outside the dumpsters, which costs a lot of money to clean.
The board, in varying degrees, remains open to using cameras in other places. Some did not want them pointed at any units, though board member John McQuiston (also your humble blog author) says, "you are welcome to point them at my house!"
The board also decided to install an electronic key fob system for the pool that will replace the simple keys we currently use. This will prevent copying, and also help the community better govern pool use. It might also help the HOA collect outstanding dues. According to our governing documents, those who fall behind in dues payments lose privileges to our amenities. If someone's account gets more than 90 days behind, the HOA can disable his or her pool fob.
The board has also gotten bids on the cost of hiring security patrols. Board members at a recent meeting did not offer much enthusiasm for the idea, and our property manager did not express confidence in their effectiveness for the cost. The board also discussed trying to establish a community watch program. Its consensus was that people don't want to volunteer the effort or the time to do it.
This does not close the door on efforts to keep criminals out of St. Charles Place. As I have written before, our best defense is curious and engaged residents who know their neighbors and make it a habit of saying hello to anyone they see. If would-be criminals see that we notice things, they will look for easier targets where people don't look out for each other.
Still the board has looked for ways to improve security. Soon, you will see several new things meant to do that.
Our first security cameras will go up in the pool area. The pool is our primary amenity, and has been an occasional target of vandalism, and people from outside the community using the pool. The outsiders, usually kids, and the vandalism may have a connection. At least I hope that our residents have not used the recently bought chaise lounges as diving boards.
Cameras won't stop misdeeds by themselves. They will deter some people, and they will give us something to show police if someone damages our property.
The board has also discussed, but not decided on, putting up other cameras to monitor our trash dumpsters, where people -- residents and not -- dump trash, furniture, tires, grills, and other refuse outside the dumpsters, which costs a lot of money to clean.
The board, in varying degrees, remains open to using cameras in other places. Some did not want them pointed at any units, though board member John McQuiston (also your humble blog author) says, "you are welcome to point them at my house!"
The board also decided to install an electronic key fob system for the pool that will replace the simple keys we currently use. This will prevent copying, and also help the community better govern pool use. It might also help the HOA collect outstanding dues. According to our governing documents, those who fall behind in dues payments lose privileges to our amenities. If someone's account gets more than 90 days behind, the HOA can disable his or her pool fob.
The board has also gotten bids on the cost of hiring security patrols. Board members at a recent meeting did not offer much enthusiasm for the idea, and our property manager did not express confidence in their effectiveness for the cost. The board also discussed trying to establish a community watch program. Its consensus was that people don't want to volunteer the effort or the time to do it.
This does not close the door on efforts to keep criminals out of St. Charles Place. As I have written before, our best defense is curious and engaged residents who know their neighbors and make it a habit of saying hello to anyone they see. If would-be criminals see that we notice things, they will look for easier targets where people don't look out for each other.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Trespassers at Our Pool & HOA Meeting Tonight
UPDATE: Lightning knocked out power to the church where we are scheduled to meet tonight. Right now, the plan is to meet outside then decide what to do -- postpone the meeting until Thursday or wait until next month to meet.
It's summer. Kids are hot, they're out of school and even ones who don't live here are cooling off in our pool. Beyond the trespassing when they jump the fence, they have also damaged the pool area and the cabana. What can we do?
That will be one discussion topic at our HOA meeting tonight. Sometimes the offenders are residents under 16 there without their parents, as required under community rules. Often they are kids who don't even live here but find our pool a convenient place to play.
We could buy a new, stronger, taller and harder-to-climb fence. We could hire security guards to monitor the pool. We could buy a video surveillance system. Those are some the ideas bandied about so far. What do you think?
It really is an important element in the community's quality of life, whether rule-abiding residents feel uncomfortable going to the pool because of rowdy kids. Or residents who live near the pool who can't sleep because people are there after dark, when the pool is supposed to be closed.
Also, should unit owners be allowed to install storm shutters? And some residents have reported problems with ants. The board will consider what measures beyond the usual pest control it needs to take.
The meeting happens 7 p.m. at the usual location -- River of Life Christian Church, 6605 Krycul Ave., Riverivew.
It's summer. Kids are hot, they're out of school and even ones who don't live here are cooling off in our pool. Beyond the trespassing when they jump the fence, they have also damaged the pool area and the cabana. What can we do?
That will be one discussion topic at our HOA meeting tonight. Sometimes the offenders are residents under 16 there without their parents, as required under community rules. Often they are kids who don't even live here but find our pool a convenient place to play.
We could buy a new, stronger, taller and harder-to-climb fence. We could hire security guards to monitor the pool. We could buy a video surveillance system. Those are some the ideas bandied about so far. What do you think?
It really is an important element in the community's quality of life, whether rule-abiding residents feel uncomfortable going to the pool because of rowdy kids. Or residents who live near the pool who can't sleep because people are there after dark, when the pool is supposed to be closed.
Also, should unit owners be allowed to install storm shutters? And some residents have reported problems with ants. The board will consider what measures beyond the usual pest control it needs to take.
The meeting happens 7 p.m. at the usual location -- River of Life Christian Church, 6605 Krycul Ave., Riverivew.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Tree Line Approved
At the most recent HOA meeting, the board approved planting a hedge along two roads to increase the community's privacy, and to prepare for the day that developers destroy the trees and green space on the property between US-301 and Dartmouth Hill Road.
The first will be on the eastern side of Dartmouth Hill. When mature, the plants will provide a solid hedge line that will help block light — and some of the noise — from businesses and US-301.
We don't know when that property between Dartmouth Hill and US-301 will be developed, and when those trees that buffer us from US-301 will come down. But the land is zoned commercial and plans are already on file with Hillsborough County for a bank and a gas station to go in there.
It's going to happen; it's a matter of when.
By planting a hedge line now, when development appears to be years away, we buy plants when they're small and easy to install, and give them time to grow into a green privacy wall.
The other location is behind the units on Dartmouth Hill north of Johanna that back up directly onto US-301. Their homes are exposed to anyone driving by as well as noise and light from both the highway and the shopping center across the street.
As with the other hedge line, its benefits will not come immediately. But the board believed that making an investment now would pay much bigger dividends in the future.
The first will be on the eastern side of Dartmouth Hill. When mature, the plants will provide a solid hedge line that will help block light — and some of the noise — from businesses and US-301.
We don't know when that property between Dartmouth Hill and US-301 will be developed, and when those trees that buffer us from US-301 will come down. But the land is zoned commercial and plans are already on file with Hillsborough County for a bank and a gas station to go in there.
It's going to happen; it's a matter of when.
By planting a hedge line now, when development appears to be years away, we buy plants when they're small and easy to install, and give them time to grow into a green privacy wall.
The other location is behind the units on Dartmouth Hill north of Johanna that back up directly onto US-301. Their homes are exposed to anyone driving by as well as noise and light from both the highway and the shopping center across the street.
As with the other hedge line, its benefits will not come immediately. But the board believed that making an investment now would pay much bigger dividends in the future.
Friday, July 16, 2010
New Grass and New (Sort-of) Web Site
The website operated by board member Ed Palmer www.stcharlesplace.us is back up and running. Among its pages is a list of the HOA board members with e-mail addresses to reach them.
If you notice something that needs urgent attention, you should contact the association's property manager listed in the right-hand column of this page. Contact board members to express feelings about issues that affect the community on a longer-term scale.
Such as the new sod being installed. You'll notice, especially along Johanna Ave near the pool, large chunks of our sod missing. They have been torn out and will be replaced. You might not have noticed a need for its replacement.
The board accepted a recommendation by Gulf Coast Outdoors, our lawn maintenance vendor, to replace perfectly healthy grass because the original St. Augustine grass was being invaded by more aggressive Bermuda grass.
The board's vote was not unanimous. John McQuiston (your humble blog author) thought that the Bermuda invasion did not justify $9,000 in new sod when the grass we had, whatever kind it was, was healthy and green.
True, there were patches of brown that needed to be addressed. But those areas were just a small part of the sod being torn out and replaced. A question about why laying down new grass seed should be tried first was not answered.
The majority of board members believed that it was important to maintain a uniformity in the lawns of the community.
What do you think? The HOA board is simply a group of homeowners here in St. Charles Place that fellow owners elected to answer such questions.
However, your opinion matters — whether it's the type of grass we have, whether it's how we better secure the pool area from the kids who are breaking through the fence (literally) to use our pool, or whether we should get recycling dumpsters to replace the discontinued curbside recycling — your input is not only welcome, it is needed.
If you notice something that needs urgent attention, you should contact the association's property manager listed in the right-hand column of this page. Contact board members to express feelings about issues that affect the community on a longer-term scale.
Such as the new sod being installed. You'll notice, especially along Johanna Ave near the pool, large chunks of our sod missing. They have been torn out and will be replaced. You might not have noticed a need for its replacement.
The board accepted a recommendation by Gulf Coast Outdoors, our lawn maintenance vendor, to replace perfectly healthy grass because the original St. Augustine grass was being invaded by more aggressive Bermuda grass.
The board's vote was not unanimous. John McQuiston (your humble blog author) thought that the Bermuda invasion did not justify $9,000 in new sod when the grass we had, whatever kind it was, was healthy and green.
True, there were patches of brown that needed to be addressed. But those areas were just a small part of the sod being torn out and replaced. A question about why laying down new grass seed should be tried first was not answered.
The majority of board members believed that it was important to maintain a uniformity in the lawns of the community.
What do you think? The HOA board is simply a group of homeowners here in St. Charles Place that fellow owners elected to answer such questions.
However, your opinion matters — whether it's the type of grass we have, whether it's how we better secure the pool area from the kids who are breaking through the fence (literally) to use our pool, or whether we should get recycling dumpsters to replace the discontinued curbside recycling — your input is not only welcome, it is needed.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
HOA Board Opening
First, the site of the next HOA meeting is confirmed. It will take place at the River of Life Christian Center on Krycul. Map and directions are in the next post below. As mentioned there also, it's July 29 at 7 p.m.
At that meeting, the board will select a new member to replace Melissa Cosby, who has resigned. If you are interested in serving your community, email a letter of interest telling the board about yourself to Brian Wade at Leland Management. His e-mail is bwade@lelandmanagement.com. You must be a homeowner in the St. Charles Place townhome community to serve on the board.
At that meeting, the board will select a new member to replace Melissa Cosby, who has resigned. If you are interested in serving your community, email a letter of interest telling the board about yourself to Brian Wade at Leland Management. His e-mail is bwade@lelandmanagement.com. You must be a homeowner in the St. Charles Place townhome community to serve on the board.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Another New Property Manager
Leland Management notified the St. Charles Place HOA board that Brian Wade is now our property manager. You can reach him at bwade@lelandmanagement.com or by phone at 727-451-7908.
Monday, May 10, 2010
New Property Manager
Mary Fritzler is leaving Leland Management. Her replacement is Gary Vosselmann. You can reach him at 727-451-7906 or gvosselmann@lelandmanagement.com.
He's a good first stop for anything concerning the community and the first person to call in case of emergency, such water gushing from an irrigation sprinkler.
The property manager also issues citations for HOA rules violations and where you apply to make any renovations to the exterior or your unit.
He's a good first stop for anything concerning the community and the first person to call in case of emergency, such water gushing from an irrigation sprinkler.
The property manager also issues citations for HOA rules violations and where you apply to make any renovations to the exterior or your unit.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
New Rules
You might be hearing about community rules that you had never been aware of and wonder about all the new restrictions that your HOA Board of Directors has passed in the short time that your fellow owners have run it.
Here's the thing: The owner-run HOA has NOT WRITTEN A SINGLE RULE. Zip. Zilch. Nada. None. Never.
New rules? There are none. Passing any new rules would require a meeting of all owners -- 30% of whom must show up to reach a quorum.
Any rule we mention -- such as the restriction on the size of dogs allowed in the community -- is something that was in the documents to which every owner agreed before they bought a home in St. Charles Place.
It is apparent that many owners did not read the rules. The HOA board is trying to notify people of the agreements they signed before buying here. The new pool rules sign you might have noticed on the cabana wall contains nothing new. It merely reminds people of the rules that have been in place since the community's beginning.
Here's the thing: The owner-run HOA has NOT WRITTEN A SINGLE RULE. Zip. Zilch. Nada. None. Never.
New rules? There are none. Passing any new rules would require a meeting of all owners -- 30% of whom must show up to reach a quorum.
Any rule we mention -- such as the restriction on the size of dogs allowed in the community -- is something that was in the documents to which every owner agreed before they bought a home in St. Charles Place.
It is apparent that many owners did not read the rules. The HOA board is trying to notify people of the agreements they signed before buying here. The new pool rules sign you might have noticed on the cabana wall contains nothing new. It merely reminds people of the rules that have been in place since the community's beginning.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
HOA Fees Not to Rise in 2010
The HOA Board of Directors has approved a preliminary budget for 2010.
Despite a significant rise in electricity costs and the continuing effects of the foreclosure crisis, savings in other areas will let us keep the HOA assessment at $213 per month, while continuing to build reserve funds for necessary maintenance and repairs of our property.
Several mild hurricane seasons gives us a break on our insurance, which is our single largest expense. We also negotiated new contracts and hired new vendors for some of our services, such as landscape maintenance, that we expect will give us both better service and a better price.
This makes up for big rate hikes from Tampa Electric, which you will also notice on your own power bills. Foreclosures will cost the community because people not paying their mortgages are also not paying their HOA Fees.
Final approval of the budget happens at the Oct. 27 HOA meeting. Homeowners will receive copies of the budget with notice of the meeting in the mail in about five days.
Here again is the location of the HOA meeting:
River of Life Christian Center
6605 Krycul Avenue
Riverview, FL 33569
(813) 677-4453
View Larger Map
Despite a significant rise in electricity costs and the continuing effects of the foreclosure crisis, savings in other areas will let us keep the HOA assessment at $213 per month, while continuing to build reserve funds for necessary maintenance and repairs of our property.
Several mild hurricane seasons gives us a break on our insurance, which is our single largest expense. We also negotiated new contracts and hired new vendors for some of our services, such as landscape maintenance, that we expect will give us both better service and a better price.
This makes up for big rate hikes from Tampa Electric, which you will also notice on your own power bills. Foreclosures will cost the community because people not paying their mortgages are also not paying their HOA Fees.
Final approval of the budget happens at the Oct. 27 HOA meeting. Homeowners will receive copies of the budget with notice of the meeting in the mail in about five days.
Here again is the location of the HOA meeting:
River of Life Christian Center
6605 Krycul Avenue
Riverview, FL 33569
(813) 677-4453
View Larger Map
Friday, August 28, 2009
Parking Tickets
Cars parked illegally in the streets here in St. Charles Place were ticketed earlier this week. That was the first warning. Violators get one more.
Then they get towed.
Parking must be in driveways, garages or marked spaces.
Also, the prohibition on commercial vehicles is not simply a community rule. It's a county ordinance. Note:
Sec. 6.05.02. Parking And Loading Standards.
Q. Parking of Domestic and Commercial Vehicles, Private Pleasure Crafts, Recreational Vehicles, Utility Trailers and Hobby Vehicles on Residential Property
2. Commercial Vehicles. The parking of commercial vehicles in any residential district is prohibited. This requirement shall not be interpreted to prohibit vehicles from loading and unloading in any residential district. However, on residentially developed parcels in the AM, A, AR, AS-0.4, AS-1 and ASC-1 zoning districts, the parking of one commercial vehicle per deeded lot shall be permitted provided the lot is at least one acre in size and legally recognized under the provisions of this Code. In such cases, the commercial vehicle shall be exclusively operated by a resident of the deeded lot. These requirements, except for minimum lot size, shall not be varied. However, these requirements do not apply to the parking of commercial vehicles on agriculturally zoned parcels when such vehicles are utilized for permitted non-residential activities on the parcel.
That means that the HOA Board of Directors does not have the leeway to make exceptions. This rule is not new. It was in the documents every homeowner got when they signed the contract to buy the home.
Violators who have not been ticketed or towed before now should think of themselves as having a really long grace period. It has now ended. The community itself could face trouble from the county if commercial vehicles are found parked here overnight.
Then they get towed.
Parking must be in driveways, garages or marked spaces.
Also, the prohibition on commercial vehicles is not simply a community rule. It's a county ordinance. Note:
Sec. 6.05.02. Parking And Loading Standards.
Q. Parking of Domestic and Commercial Vehicles, Private Pleasure Crafts, Recreational Vehicles, Utility Trailers and Hobby Vehicles on Residential Property
2. Commercial Vehicles. The parking of commercial vehicles in any residential district is prohibited. This requirement shall not be interpreted to prohibit vehicles from loading and unloading in any residential district. However, on residentially developed parcels in the AM, A, AR, AS-0.4, AS-1 and ASC-1 zoning districts, the parking of one commercial vehicle per deeded lot shall be permitted provided the lot is at least one acre in size and legally recognized under the provisions of this Code. In such cases, the commercial vehicle shall be exclusively operated by a resident of the deeded lot. These requirements, except for minimum lot size, shall not be varied. However, these requirements do not apply to the parking of commercial vehicles on agriculturally zoned parcels when such vehicles are utilized for permitted non-residential activities on the parcel.
That means that the HOA Board of Directors does not have the leeway to make exceptions. This rule is not new. It was in the documents every homeowner got when they signed the contract to buy the home.
Violators who have not been ticketed or towed before now should think of themselves as having a really long grace period. It has now ended. The community itself could face trouble from the county if commercial vehicles are found parked here overnight.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
HOA Issues Clog Court Dockets
I came across an interesting article in the St. Petersburg Times today.
It concerns how disputes between homeowners and their HOAs can balloon into major and expensive legal cases for both sides. It's interesting reading from a number of perspectives. Some of them don't apply to us because, for instance, we aren't individually responsible for lawn care around our homes.
It discusses a State Representative from Tampa's effort to create an inexpensive way to resolve HOA disputes. Kevin Amber's Home Court Advantage program would allow mediation within 90 days at a cost of $300. Governor Crist vetoed the law last year and the state senate adjourned before considering the matter this year.
Another point it raises is how HOAs are compelled to enforce community rules without exception to protect the integrity of the HOA and the community rules.
One thing the article doesn't mention saliently is how the HOA is not some nebulous secret entity out there somewhere designed to cause people trouble. If you own a property here in St. Charles Place, YOU are part of the HOA. The board members you elected are your fellow owners. All of the current board members live in in the community.
The community rules aren't imposed on you from some invisible, faceless force. They're the rules to which you agreed when you bought your home here. In some cases, such as the requirement to pick up after your dogs, the community rules merely repeat county ordinances. (That's right! It's illegal in Hillsborough County to leave your dog's poop on the ground.) We could not change the rule if we wanted.
If you have concerns about the HOA and how it's run, get involved. Stay in contact with the board members. Show up to HOA meetings -- the next one is next Tuesday. The board does not -- and cannot -- meet without you being invited.
It concerns how disputes between homeowners and their HOAs can balloon into major and expensive legal cases for both sides. It's interesting reading from a number of perspectives. Some of them don't apply to us because, for instance, we aren't individually responsible for lawn care around our homes.
It discusses a State Representative from Tampa's effort to create an inexpensive way to resolve HOA disputes. Kevin Amber's Home Court Advantage program would allow mediation within 90 days at a cost of $300. Governor Crist vetoed the law last year and the state senate adjourned before considering the matter this year.
Another point it raises is how HOAs are compelled to enforce community rules without exception to protect the integrity of the HOA and the community rules.
One thing the article doesn't mention saliently is how the HOA is not some nebulous secret entity out there somewhere designed to cause people trouble. If you own a property here in St. Charles Place, YOU are part of the HOA. The board members you elected are your fellow owners. All of the current board members live in in the community.
The community rules aren't imposed on you from some invisible, faceless force. They're the rules to which you agreed when you bought your home here. In some cases, such as the requirement to pick up after your dogs, the community rules merely repeat county ordinances. (That's right! It's illegal in Hillsborough County to leave your dog's poop on the ground.) We could not change the rule if we wanted.
If you have concerns about the HOA and how it's run, get involved. Stay in contact with the board members. Show up to HOA meetings -- the next one is next Tuesday. The board does not -- and cannot -- meet without you being invited.
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