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Front Page - 2006
The next 14 articles below were posted by The Lakesite News Committee on November 27, except for the one four articles down from the Compliance Committee.
NO ASSESSMENT INCREASE FOR 2007!
The LABR’s Board of Directors voted not to increase the Annual Assessment for 2007 at its November 20 meeting. Quarterly fees in 2007 will remain at the same $368 per quarter amount that they were for 2006.
A reminder that we are switching from coupon books to quarterly statements in 2007. The first such statement will be mailed to you on December 15.
HOMEOWNER DELINQUENCIES
Early this year the Board of Directors initiated a crackdown on homeowners who were delinquent in paying their maintenance fees.
The HOA has since recovered about $150,000 that was past due, and continues to pursue aggressively all outstanding amounts still owed. In that regard, it has filed liens against more than 30 homes in the Lakes, 11 of which are now in foreclosure.
Unresponsive homeowners will end up paying a lot more than they originally owed, as they will be assessed legal fees and other costs associated with the collection process.
To put a fine point on the importance of paying on time, the Board has raised the late fee on quarterly fees from $25 to $50 beginning with the first quarter of 2007.
GOVERNING DOCS REVISION COMPLETED
The first comprehensive revision of the HOA’s Governing Documents since their 1985 inception has now been completed.
The revised Declaration of Covenants was approved by homeowner vote on July 10 and was posted on the website soon thereafter.
The Association’s Board of Directors approved the revised Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws on September 18, which have now been posted on the website following review by Counsel.
The new fourth section of the Governing Documents, Rules & Regulations, was passed by the Board at its November 20 meeting. It too has just been posted on the website.
You can now access any of these four sections of our Governing Documents by clicking on the Documents tab on the Home Page menu. A Table of Contents has been added to make it easier to zero in on whatever you are looking for.
To look up the rules that are now being enforced by the Compliance Committee, go to Declaration of Covenants, Article VI and Rules and Regulations, the new fourth section of the Governing Documents.
COMPLIANCE COMMITTEE DEBUT
by the committee members
Greetings fellow LABR residents.
As you are no doubt aware, in their ongoing efforts to improve all our lives here in the Lakes, the Board recently moved to revive the Compliance Committee. The committee’s responsibility is to work with homeowners to ensure we all understand and meet our obligations as association members.
It is not the committee’s intention to be punitive; in fact our sincerest wish is to have no work to do at all. We do, however, recognize that in certain circumstances a financial penalty for non-compliance is both appropriate and warranted. With this in mind, the committee will be imposing fines per the schedule below should it prove necessary. (EDITOR'S NOTE: THE ORIGINAL SCHEDULE HAS BEEN DELETED BECAUSE IT WAS OBSOLETE. TO VIEW THE CURRENT VERSION, CLICK ON THE BASIC INFORMATION TAB AND THEN ON VIOLATION FINE SCHEDULES.)
The property management company will be making regular tours of all subdivisions, issuing friendly reminders about things we may have forgotten to attend to and sending out violation letters where appropriate.
In addition, the committee strongly believes that quality of life is important to everyone. Several of the items listed under Transient Violations relate to behavior that in some way demonstrates a lack of consideration for others. All residents are free to bring any such matter to our attention by contacting Office Manager Allison Waldman in confidence at the HOA office in the Recreation Center.
With everyone’s co-operation, we will have an attractive and relaxed neighborhood in which to live and raise our families.
NEW ELECTION PROCEDURES
The revised Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws include a fundamental change in our election procedures.
Beginning in 2007, Members will vote only for the new Director from their own subdivision. Previously, all Members were entitled to vote in the election of new Directors from all 10 subdivisions.
Five Directors are elected to two-year terms every January. The change in voting procedures means that only Members from Cape Sable, Cypress Bend, Harbour Lakes, Pelican Cay and Symphony will be eligible to vote in January, 2007. New Directors from the other five subdivisions will be elected in January, 2008 by only the Members from those same five subdivisions.
ANNUAL MEMBERS MEETING
The 2007 Annual Members Meeting will take place on Monday night, January 29 at 7:30 pm at Eagles Landing Middle School.
The new Bylaws provide for a quorum of 15% of Members in order to conduct the Annual Members Meeting. Previously, a quorum of 30% was required, which was not obtained in 2006 or in a number of earlier years. The lower quorum is expected to virtually guarantee that the Annual Members Meeting can be held as planned, and that Directors will be elected at that meeting rather than subsequently appointed by the Board.
COMMON AREA SIDEWALKS
The HOA has hired a high tech pressure cleaning company to clean all 25,000 linear feet of our Common Area sidewalks as well as the roofs of the three buildings at the Recreation Center. America’s Choice heats the water to 200 degrees before spraying. The nearly boiling water cleans better and lessens the need for the chemical spraying of mold and mildew. The company will begin work the first week of December and should complete the entire job within two weeks.
If you’re interested in hiring America’s Choice to pressure clean your roof, driveway, or sidewalk while they are working on the Common Area of the Lakes, you can reach them at 1-888-892-7437 or admin@americas-choice.net. The HOA is providing this information only as a public service to Owners, but assumes no liability whatsoever in the event you hire America’s Choice to do work on your property.
COURT RENOVATION
The HOA has signed a contract with Fast-Dry Courts, Inc. to resurface our four tennis and two basketball courts starting the second week of January. The plan is to do two courts each week while keeping four open for play.
The tennis courts will get new nets and net poles, as well as 6’ high windscreens. The basketball hoops and poles will be replaced with brand new equipment that includes two adjustable-height hoops to accommodate younger players for whom 8’ baskets are more appropriate (the Board thanks former Director Frank Bracciale for this suggestion).
The color blue will be retired. Court renovation should be completed by the end of January.
REC CENTER RENOVATION
The Board voted at its November 20 meeting to fund a comprehensive renovation of the bathrooms and the HOA office. Work on both is expected to begin sometime in December. Clubhouse rentals have been suspended until this renovation is completed.
ENHANCEMENTS FOR 2007
The Board plans to continue its renovation program in 2007. High on the list of priorities is the resurfacing of the pool deck area and the repair of the coping around the pool, replacement of the fence surrounding the pool, new pool furniture, new grills for the barbecue pavilion and refurbishment of the clubhouse.
THE ACC NEEDS YOU!
The Architectural Control Committee needs volunteers!
The ACC meets on the second Tuesday evening of every month. Its function is to approve or reject homeowner applications to make exterior changes such as paint colors, new roofs, new front or garage doors, new windows or shutters, swimming pools, major landscaping alterations etc.
To signal your interest in serving on the committee or to find out more, please contact Office Manager Allison Waldman in our on-site HOA office at 477-3199 or labrpm@aol.com.
WEST BOCA COMMUNITY COUNCIL
The West Boca Community Council is an umbrella organization of condo and homeowner associations west of the Boca Raton city limits. It’s a strong and respected advocate on behalf of West Bocans with local and state governments.
The Council meets the second Tuesday of every month at 7:30 at the Coconut Cove water park within South County Regional Park. Its meetings are open to the public.
If you would like to be a member of the official delegation representing the Lakes at the West Boca Community Council, please contact HOA President Rick McCarley at ophtecrick@aol.com.
ATTENTION NEW HOMEOWNERS
The Lakes has just launched its digital welcome wagon for new homeowners.
If you haven’t already figured out everything you need to know about your new community, click on the Basic Information tab and then click on Welcome New Homeowners!
MAILBOX REPAIRS
If you live in Amber Bay, Harbour Landing, Harbour Lakes, Port Cayman, Lacrosse, Symphony, Cape Sable or Cypress Bend, you are responsible for maintaining your mailbox in good condition. Failure to do so will trigger a violation letter and potential fine levied by the new Compliance Committee.
To avoid such a fine, please make arrangements to get your mailbox repaired by calling Postalcraft America at 954-971-7650. Be sure to tell them you live in the Lakes – Postalcraft is the company that installed your mailbox several years ago.
REC CENTER HOURS
by Allison Waldman, Office Manager
A reminder that the HOA office is now open full time on Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, except when I am out conducting property inspections. When you come to the Rec Center on weekdays, please remember to bring your security key card so you can get through the front gate without having to ask the office to buzz you in.
Please note that the Rec Center is open from dawn to dusk, so it will be closed before 6:00 pm until March. Official HOA events are excepted, as are private events for which the clubhouse has been rented.
LACROSSE BOARD VACANCY
The Lacrosse seat on the Board of Directors is still vacant. The Board hopes to appoint a new Director from Lacrosse at its December 18 Board meeting to serve the rest of the current term, which expires in January, 2008. Any homeowner in Lacrosse interested in being considered for this appointment should contact Allison Waldman, the Office Manager of our on-site office at the Rec Center, at 477-3199 or labrpm@aol.com.
The Board had previously announced the appointment of Mimi Markus as the new Director from Lacrosse, but she changed her mind prior to her first Board meeting.
HARBOUR LANDING BOARD VACANCY
The Harbour Landing seat on the Board of Directors is also vacant. The Board hopes to appoint a new Director from Harbour Landing at its December 18 Board meeting to serve the rest of the current term, which expires in January, 2008. Any homeowner in Harbour Landing interested in being considered for this appointment should contact Allison Waldman, the Office Manager of our on-site office at the Rec Center, at 477-3199 or labrpm@aol.com.
HALLOWEEN PARTY RECAP
by Maj-Britt Strife
The annual LABR Halloween Party was a big hit, with many colorful costumes and lots of kids eagerly taking part in the activities planned for the day.
In the clubhouse, D.J. Frank Edwards played spooky music and kept the kids busy with hoolahoop contests and other games, giving out prizes to all who participated. Our talented fortune teller, Michelle McCarley, spent the afternoon predicting the future of numerous ghosts, goblins, witches and other creatures.
Under the pavilion outside, people were busy doing Halloween crafts. The ‘tattoo parlor” had more than a few takers. Five piñatas with candy were raffled off and taken home by their happy winners. Popcorn and ghoulish punch were served throughout the day.
The office was the site for the very popular art of cookie decoration. One incredible masterpiece after the other was created throughout the afternoon. The delicious cookies, which were the size of flying saucers, were baked and donated by the West Boca High School Culinary Academy. Social Committee member Margie Shedd, whose son Jeremy attends the Academy, reports that they have a holiday pie sale. If you would like to support the Academy’s pie fundraiser, please call 672-2074 to order pies for the holidays. All pies are $10 each.
The Social Committee would like to thank all the volunteers who helped out. Without you, parties like this would not be possible.
Many thanks to our faithful "Teen Squad", Nora Josaitis, Austyn Bynon, Kaley Lankenau, Rachel Solly, Victoria Basso, Madison Zauner, Carlan Dunlop, Catherine Garcia and Jamie Goodman.
Also thanks to Claire Basso, Loren Kellock, her sister Helene Montali and photographer Jeff Clark, who captured the event with many terrific pictures that you can see on this website’s Photo Album.
Our next events for early next year are likely to be an Adult Social and a Talent Show for teens and tweens, both planned for early 2007. If you have a child between the ages of 10 and 17 who would like to take part in the talent show, please e-mail us at lakesitenews@aol.com.
CALLING ALL TWEENS & TEENS!
By Maj-Britt Strife
Got a special talent? Then we’re looking for you.
The Social Committee is putting on the first ever TALENT SHOW in The Lakes come February, offering those aged 10 to 17 to showcase their special talent before an audience of Lakes residents.
To sign up for this exciting event, please go to the FORMS section on this website and download the TALENT SHOW form for complete details.
WELCOME NEW HOMEOWNERS
updated 11/07/06
Please welcome the following new homeowners to the neighborhood:
Amber Bay: Marcos & Ursula Moran, 10263 Islander Drive
Cape Sable: Thomas Hatami, 18641 Cape Sable Drive
Harbour Lakes: Geraldo Perpetuo, 10774 Sea Cliff Circle
Peter & Elizabeth Tufo, 10732 Sea Cliff Circle
Lacrosse: Robert & Alexis Reynolds, 18849 Mariner Inlet Drive
Daniel & Mari Green, 10664 Pebble Cove Lane
Silvia Sakker, 10628 Pebble Cove Lane
Orlando & Adinilte Pereira, 10574 Pebble
Cove Lane
Dennis Morgan, 10555 Pebble Cove Lane
Pelican Cay: Dan & Penny Look, 18441 Old Princeton Lane
Michael DeFalco, 10962 Danbury Way
Port Cayman: Weimar Taborga, 10639 Plainview Circle
Robert & Edie Novak, 10627 Plainview Circle
Shari Kasner & Fernanda Oriquela, 10688
Plainview Circle
Alfredo & Ana Carnero, 10564 Plainview Circle
Symphony: Bill & Michele Blackwell, 10789 Crescendo Circle
Woodstream: Chrissy Mena & Anthony Mancuso, 10298
Riverbend Terrace
(The next eight articles below were posted by Alan Kellock 10/24/06)
COMPLIANCE COMMITTEE SET TO GO
(updated 11/22/06)
Our new management company G.R.S. has begun its new inspection program. Every parcel will be inspected at least once a month for violations of our Governing Documents. Violations will result in letters that can result in fines up to $1,000 imposed by the new Compliance Committee, which will meet on the fourth Tuesday of every month starting November 28.
The Board of Directors, whose members cannot serve on this committee per state law, have appointed the following homeowner volunteers to the Compliance Committee:
Amber Bay: Rob Laubenberger
Cape Sable: Annabelle Hornyak, Michelle Homaky, & Linda Petersen
Cypress Bend: Larry Greenberg
Lacrosse: Phil Abisognia, Roy Holmes, Jerry Wisotsky
Pelican Cay: Greg Nicholls
Linda Petersen is the chairperson.
To avoid incurring fines starting November 28, homeowners are urged to use the remaining weeks before that date to address potential violations such as a dirty roof, driveway or sidewalk, stains on house exterior walls, and removal of loose roof tiles. Fines will also be imposed for failing to maintain the Association’s landscaping standards, apply for and obtain ACC approval for improvements made to private property, and making necessary mailbox repairs.
If you’ve been parking a commercial vehicle on your property, you will need to find a way to keep it in your garage or otherwise make other parking arrangements outside the community (see Article VI, Section 14 of the new Declaration of Covenants in the Documents section of this website for the definition of what constitutes a commercial vehicle).
SAY HI TO LORENZO
The Lakes has hired a full-time maintenance person to service our community Monday through Friday. Lorenzo will be responsible for general repairs throughout the Common Area, including our irrigation system, monuments, signing, athletic courts etc. You will often see him out on the golf cart under a pith helmut, picking up debris from the grassy areas that border our sidewalks and streets throughout the Lakes. He will also be responsible for making sure our Rec Center complex is kept tidy and in good repair on weekdays.
A separate janitorial service will clean the Rec Center on weekends.
ARE YOU AN ARCHITECT?
The ad hoc renovation committee that is working on the refurbishment plan for the Rec Center bathrooms, office and clubhouse is eager to get the input of any architects or professional designers who live in the Lakes. Any such person interested in volunteering a few hours of their time should contact Office Manager Allison Waldman at 477-3199 or labrpm@aol.com.
NO MORE COUPONS
The Board has voted to do away with the annual coupon books used for mailing in our quarterly maintenance fees. The books will be replaced by a statement mailed quarterly to all homeowners with a pre-addressed reply envelope. The statement will show any past due balance, unpaid fines, the surcharge paid by all homeowners in Symphony and any other assessments, in addition to the fees due for the current quarter. The first statement will be mailed to you on December 15 for the first quarter of 2007.
The Board of Directors will establish by majority vote the amount of the quarterly maintenance fee for 2007 at its regular monthly meeting on November 20.
SECOND STORY ISSUE
Further to the subject of Harbour Landing, which is the only subdivision in the Lakes that is comprised exclusively of one-story homes, a homeowner there recently requested permission to add a rear addition with a second story to their existing one-story home.
The Board of Directors devoted considerable time at its September and October meetings to a discussion of this request, and also conducted a meeting with Harbour Landing homeowners on October 5. While some homeowners in that subdivision were vehemently opposed to allowing a second story there, 37 others signed a petition stating they had no objection to adding a second story to the property in question, though several signers subsequently disassociated themselves from the petition. There are 49 homes in Harbour Landing overall, including three absentee owners who reside outside Florida.
The matter was resolved when the Board vote ended in a 4 to 4 tie. Approval of the request required a vote of at least 5 to 3 in favor.
LAWSUIT SETTLED
The defamation lawsuit filed in June, 2005 by Bob Berry against 15 homeowners in the Lakes has been settled out of court.
New Fining Committee
posted 9/26/06 by Alan Kellock
The Board of Directors has voted to establish a committee of homeowners with the authority to impose fines for violations of the Association’s rules.
The establishment of the Compliance Committee (CC) is part of a larger campaign to improve the look of the Lakes that includes the hiring of a new management company to inspect home exteriors throughout the Lakes on a regular basis and report violations to the CC for their decision about whether to levy fines on a case by case basis. This campaign will be aided by the recent revision of our Governing Documents, which improves the Association’s ability to enforce its rules and regulations.
The Association has been lenient about violations in the wake of the extensive damage caused by Wilma and the many difficulties of getting repairs done and insurance claims settled. But HOA President Rick McCarley notes that “Wilma was nearly a year ago – it’s time to get the appearance of our community back to where it was before the four hurricanes of the last two years.”
State law provides that Owners can only be fined for property violations by a homeowner committee of at least three members appointed by the Board. The maximum fine per violation is $100, but an additional $100 may be levied for each day of a continuing violation up to a maximum of $1,000.
In addition to fining, state law and our Governing Documents also give the CC the authority to suspend the rights of an Owner to use the Common Area, inclusive of the Recreation facilities.
A fine or suspension may not be imposed by the CC unless at least 14 days notice is given to the homeowner, coupled with an opportunity for a hearing before the committee.
A fine or suspension can only be imposed when it is supported by a majority of the committee members present at the hearing. The committee’s decision is final – state law prohibits an appeal to the Board of Directors.
Board Directors or their families cannot be members of this committee. However, our Governing Documents provide that the Board shall establish the guidelines by which the Compliance Committee carries out its mission.
NEW MANAGEMENT COMPANY
posted 9/26/06 by Alan Kellock
G.R.S. Management Associates, Inc., the new management company hired by the Board of Directors, starts officially on October 2.
Also effective October 2, the HOA office will be open full time to better meet the needs of the residents of the Lakes. The expanded hours will also enable more effective oversight of the Association’s numerous vendors.
The new HOA office hours will be 9:00 to 5:00, Monday through Friday.
The new full-time office manager is Allison Waldman, who can be reached at 477-3199 or labrpm@aol.com.
Allison will work under the direction of Rachel Cohen, an experienced, licensed property manager who will be in the Lakes on an as needed basis.
G.R.S. manages over 100 communities throughout Palm Beach County, including our neighbors The Shores to our immediate west. The Board of Directors chose G.R.S. in part because of their excellent reputation for financial management, which was a high priority given past difficulties in that area. The Board was also impressed with the G.R.S. approach to vendor management and property inspection.
For further information about G.R.S., please go to Current News and click on Property Manager's Corner.
BOARD APPROVES NEW DOCS
posted by Alan Kellock 9/26/06
The Board of Directors has approved by unanimous vote the revision of the Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws proposed by the Governing Documents Committee.
Both revised documents have now been sent to Association counsel for a legal review, following which they will be posted on this website in the Documents section and filed with the county clerk.
The Association’s Governing Documents have been comprised of three components since the founding of the Lakes at Boca Raton in the 1980s. The primary component is the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions, the revision of which was approved by homeowner vote on July 10 and subsequently posted on this website and filed with the county clerk.
The Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws make up the other two components. Unlike the Declaration, any changes to which require a homeowner vote, the Board of Directors is authorized to amend the Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws by a majority vote of the Directors.
Once the Articles and the Bylaws are filed with the county clerk later this year, copies of the revised Governing Documents in their entirety will be made available to all homeowners.
The Governing Documents Committee is now working on the last phase of its mission – the compilation of the Association’s rules and regulations. They have been passed by various Boards over the years, but have never been organized into a single document for convenient reference by homeowners. When this project is completed, Rules and Regulations will become the new fourth component of our Governing Documents.
TENNIS/BASKETBALL COURT UPDATE
posted 9/28/06
The repair/replacement of the tennis and basketball fencing began on September 26 and should be completed by the end of the first week of October.
The contract for this work was signed back in July, shortly after the HOA finally settled with its insurance company over Wilma-related damages. The vendor we chose had a 10-week backlog, which explains the time gap between contract and performance.
We have received a bid from this same vendor to resurface the tennis and basketball courts, and are soliciting other bids for this work as well. The schedule for re-surfacing has not yet been established, but the Board hopes to complete this work as early in 2007 as possible.
WEEDS IN OUR LAKES
posted 9/28/06
The explosion of weed growth around our lake banks stems from a decision made by the 2004 Board to suspend the monthly spraying of weeds, which had been going on since at least 1997. It appears that the rationale for this decision may have been faulty. In any case, the current Board decided at the September Board meeting to resume lake bank weed spraying in October. There will be an aggressive weed spraying program for the next four months, and it will take the better part of a year to get the weed problem completely under control.
SIDEWALKS IN THE COMMON AREA
posted 9/28/06
The Board plans to select a vendor to pressure clean all community sidewalks at its October meeting. The work, encompassing about 2500 linear feet of sidewalk, should be completed in early November.
REC CENTER BATHROOMS
posted 9/26/06
Several bids to completely renovate the bathrooms will be considered at the October Board meeting.
Other refurbishment projects on the Board’s to do list include renovating the HOA office, resurfacing the pool and pavilion deck, new poolside furniture, new barbecue grills, pool fence repair and replacement of the awning over the bulletin board. The Board will hold an open budget meeting on October 4 at 7 pm to prioritize these and other projects for 2007.
GATORS BACK!
posted 9/28/06
Within hours of removing this summer’s gator alerts from our website on the assumption that the roaming season was over, a six-footer was spotted in late September sunning itself on the sidewalk between Harbour Lakes and Pelican Cay. That should be a reminder for all of us to stay alert, especially when there are small children or pets under foot.
NEW FENCE RULE
posted 9/28/06
When replacing 50% or more of a damaged fence, the repaired fence is deemed a new fence and must comply with our current fence rules. That means if the old fence was wooden, it must be replaced by a metal rail or PVC fence. If less than 50% of the old fence is being replaced, the same fence material can be used as long as it matches. Also, an application must now first be submitted to the ACC for all fence repairs.
NEW RULE FOR ADDITIONS
posted 9/28/06
If you are planning to do an addition on your single family house that adds to your living (i.e. “under air”) space, an application must be submitted to the ACC as before. What’s new is that all such additions now require Board approval following the approval of the ACC.
WHAT’S GOING ON BEHIND WOODSTREAM?
posted 9/29/06 by a Woodstream homeowner
Commissioner Burt Aronson held a meeting in the police substation conference room on September 27 to review the county’s plan to build a library just north of CVS and assess its impact on neighboring Woodstream, the villa and townhouse subdivision of the Lakes.
The subject land is 40 wooded acres total, stretching from CVS to the area just east of the northern tip of Woodstream where Woodstream Drive ends.
The county will begin construction on a $12 million, 20,000 square foot library in 2007. It is scheduled for completion in 2009. The library will be situated on the northern half of the 40-acre site. It will be separated from Woodstream by a rectangular 4-acre lake and a treed landscape buffer. The library and adjacent parking will be situated very close to the 441 side of the lot, a football field away from the edge of Woodstream.
The county has donated to FAU the southern 20 acres immediately north of CVS, where most of the birds nest. This land can only be used for educational purposes or development by FAU – it cannot be sold to developers for any sort of commercial purpose. There are currently no plans to build anything on this lot – it could remain as it is now for another five years or so.
Two additional buildings will be erected adjacent to the library in 2013 at the earliest that will house government offices. But contrary to a rumor circulating in Woodstream, there is no plan to build a jail on this 40-acre lot!
Anyone interested in finding out more about the development of this land just east of Woodstream can attend one of the following meetings:
October 5 – Zoning Commission hearing
October 26 – County Commissioners meeting
November 30 – Zoning Commission final hearing
AUGUST BOARD MEETING
by Alan Kellock
posted 8/25/06
President Rick McCarley announced that the services of Hawk-Eye Management Inc. will be terminated effective in late September. Hawk-Eye has managed The Lakes since May of 2005.
The Board of Directors authorized McCarley and Executive Vice President Frank Moeller to conduct the search for a new management company, preferably one that has an excellent track record in fiscal and vendor management. The new company will overlap with Hawk-Eye to help assure a smooth transition.
When the new company takes over, the HOA office will be staffed by a full-time office manager, who will be supervised by a licensed property manager. The office manager will be the contact person for homeowners, conduct property inspections, and handle a variety of routine matters.
The property manager, who will only be on site as needed, will focus on the overall management of our community. He or she will oversee our regular vendors and recommend specialty vendors to the Board for projects like major pool repairs, tennis and basketball court refurbishment, and the planned renovation of the Rec Center office and bathrooms.
Chris Miller from Southern Weed Control Management, Inc., which has maintained our lakes for the last nine years, addressed the Board about the extensive weed growth around our lake banks. The 2004 Board had terminated the monthly spraying of lake bank vegetation on the apparently erroneous belief that such spraying contributed to our lake bank erosion problem. Miller made a persuasive case that the Board should resume weed spraying, and advised that it would take up to a year of ongoing effort to get the current weed problem fully under control. President McCarley asked Miller to submit a proposal for the resumption of weed eradication that the Board will review and decide on at its September meeting.
There was considerable discussion about the ongoing problems with the Rec Center pool. The Board authorized Director Vinnie Aquilina, a construction professional, to talk with the vendors concerned, choose one, and get the pool fixed and re-opened as soon as humanly possible.
The Board also authorized Exec VP Moeller to take charge of getting the awning in front of the HOA office replaced ASAP to provide our young people with shelter from rain while waiting for school buses.
The Association signed a contract with Fast-Dry Courts, Inc. in late July to repair/replace the fences and gates on our tennis and basketball courts. The work is scheduled to be completed in early October.
Fast-Dry has also submitted a bid to resurface our tennis and basketball courts. The Board is in the process of soliciting two additional bids before the decision is made to go forward with resurfacing sometime after the fence/gate work is completed.
The two 8-foot high basketball hoops will be raised back to regular 10-foot high hoops in the hope of curbing the chronic damage caused by people hanging on the rims.
A number of homeowners who are delinquent in their maintenance fees have requested payment schedules to reduce their balance due over time. The Board voted against sanctioning payment schedules, noting that it wasn’t fair to the majority of homeowners who have routinely paid their maintenance fees on time quarter after quarter. Therefore, continued delinquency will incur the late fees and interest charges as provided for in our Governing Documents.
The Board reviewed two vendor proposals for pressure cleaning all sidewalks in the Association’s Common Area. As the cost of doing the entire job will be in excess of $15,000, Director Vinnie Aquilina will discuss with each vendor the alternative of doing a section of sidewalk every month in order to spread out the cost.
After a long, arduous and expensive effort, we finally have signed audits of our financial records for 2003, 2004 and 2005. Any homeowner is entitled to a copy of these audits upon request. You can arrange to have them mailed to you by e-mailing lakesitenews@aol.com or by phoning the office at 477-3199.
The Board also discussed the problem of trash on the Common Area, particularly in the swales. A review of our current janitorial service is underway and a solution will be addressed at the September Board meeting.
SOUTH COUNTY REGIONAL PARK
by Alan Kellock
posted 8/26/06
Commissioner Burt Aronson hosted a meeting to update West Bocans on the progress of South County Regional Park’s ambitious and exciting expansion plans.
He began with a pledge that the Amphitheater, but for an act of God, will open on July 4, 2007 with an awesome fireworks display. From that day forward, he pledged, residents in our area will no longer have to travel to the beach area to enjoy holiday fireworks.
The Amphitheater, which will be named for the late Fran Reich in honor of her tireless devotion to environmental causes in West Boca, “will showcase the best cultural events that Palm Beach County has to offer” including Shakespearean theater, Aronson promised.
The Amphitheater, which will include a food court, will accommodate thousands of people comfortably and offer ample parking facilities.
The county has earmarked $28 million for this expansion project, covering 400 acres of land that was donated to the county many years ago by the developers of Boca Greens and Loggers Run.
The expansion will include Osprey Point, a 27-hole golf course similar to Okeeheelee Golf Course in West Palm Beach that will include a driving range and a pitch & chip facility. Green fees including carts are expected to be about $40 in winter and $20 in summer for county residents. Osprey Point will offer extensive golf instructional services, especially for young golfers. The course will feature a rolling contour, unusual for South Florida where most courses are pretty flat. The grass will be planted in March, 2007 and the course will open before the end of that year.
There will also be a dazzling expansion of the Dagger Wing nature center, which will eventually include a planetarium as well.
NEW GOVERNING DOCS ADOPTED
Posted by Alan Kellock on 7/11/06
The proposed revision of the Governing Documents was adopted by homeowner vote at the July 10 Special Members Meeting, which was attended by over 100 people.
The final tally was 219 in favor, 83 opposed.
HOA President Rick McCarley conducted an interactive discussion during which every homeowner present had the opportunity to ask questions or make comments about the proposed changes prior to the casting of ballots.
The voting was specifically about the first ever comprehensive revision of the Declaration of Covenants, which is the main section of the Governing Documents and the only such section that requires a homeowner vote to approve any changes to it.
The Board of Directors, by majority vote, has the authority to make changes to the other three sections of the Governing Documents – the Articles of Incorporation, the Bylaws, and Rules and Regulations. The current version of these three sections will be added to the Documents section of the website later this summer once they are fully converted to digital format. At that time, an index will be added so one can easily look up any provision by subject without having to wade through dozens of pages of legalistic prose.
Once the complete set of the Governing Documents is online, new homeowners will be able to download a set for free rather than having to buy a paper version at the HOA office for $50. And the rest of us will be able to access the Governing Documents on the website with the assurance that they will be the current and complete version.
CAR BURGLARS CAUGHT
Four teenage boys who live in West Boca were arrested in Saturnia on Thursday night, June 29, caught in the act of robbing unlocked cars there.
Police don’t yet know if any of the four were involved in a string of unlocked car robberies in The Lakes a few weeks ago.
However, those apprehended did tell police that The Lakes was a prime target for car robberies because so many people here leave their cars unlocked when parked in their driveways or in front of their house.
Captain Matt Eisenberg, who commands PBSO south of Clint Moore Road, called to urge everyone in The Lakes to take heed of this information and get into the habit of keeping our cars locked at all times.
CAR THIEVES HIT THE LAKES
by Alan Kellock
posted 6/14/06
Car thieves struck our community on Saturday night, June 10.
According to police reports, cars were burglarized at three homes in Symphony and one in Lacrosse.
Captain Matt Eisenberg, who commands PBSO south of Clint Moore Road and west of the Boca Raton city limits, reports that a total of six cars were burglarized. In each case, entry was made through unlocked doors. Two packed suitcases were stolen from one of the cars in Symphony. Captain Eisenberg urges all residents to make sure their cars are locked at all times when parked in their driveways and on adjacent streets.
Additional car burglaries reportedly took place on June 10 in Amber Bay and Cape Sable that were not reported to the police.
Captain Eisenberg advises that all such burglaries should be reported to the police, even if the value of the items stolen is minimal.
The articles below were posted on this website on May 18.
HOME BURGLARY ALERT!
On Tuesday, May 9, two homes in the Amber Bay subdivision were burglarized during the day. In one case, it appears that entry was gained through an unlocked sliding glass door at the rear of the house. In the other, the locked front door was smashed open, “possibly by a crowbar”, according to the police report. The owners of both homes lost jewelry and other valuables from ransacked bedrooms.
The two homes were about eight houses apart but not visible to each other. Police canvassed the neighborhood but were unable to find anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity.
Although it’s of little comfort to the victims of these two burglaries, Captain Matt Eisenberg, who commands the PBSO south of Clint Moore and west of Boca Raton’s city limits, is eager to assure residents of The Lakes that the recent rate of home burglaries in our area is not on the rise. But he took the occasion of an interview with thelakesitenews.com to remind all of us of the following measures to guard against home burglary:
Make sure all doors and windows are locked when you leave home;
If you have an alarm system, use it;
Take pre-cautions regarding people you hire to work in and around your home who, Eisenberg said, account for a significant number of home thefts in West Boca;
Keep garage doors closed, as an open garage often means an open house;
And, with hurricane season fast approaching, be mindful that generators are a prime target of thieves.
MOTOR VEHICLE SECURITY STICKERS
The Board of Directors wants to revitalize the vehicle sticker program as a useful security tool and encourages residents to put stickers on all motor vehicles belonging to each household in The Lakes.
To simplify cooperation with the Board’s decision, stickers will now be free of charge. In addition, you can download the vehicle sticker order form elsewhere on this website from the Forms section. Just mail in your sticker order to the HOA office, and your stickers will be mailed back to you. There is no longer any need to come to the office to be in compliance with this program, which will continue to be mandatory for all resident owned or leased motor vehicles per our Governing Documents.
NEW CLUBHOUSE POLICY
At its May 15 meeting, the Board of Directors voted to raise the fee for renting the clubhouse for private functions to $250, effective immediately. The security deposit remains at $200, and is refundable subject to a post-function inspection for cleanup and damage. The new application for clubhouse rental can be downloaded elsewhere on this website -- click on Forms, then click on Clubhouse Rental Application.
The Board also voted to end the practice of renting the HOA office for private functions, effective immediately. This space, which the Board plans to renovate in the near future, will be used only for office space, HOA meetings, and storage.
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