RE: A Guide To Our Annual Budget Process
Thank you all for allowing me to submit this article and to present my honest points of view to everyone.
Dr. Roger J Geronimo
33 Alcira Court
posted June 8, 2008
RE: The Security Corner, 1st Edition
This is a wonderful and very positive posting. Thank you. I appreciate Mr. Murphy for sharing his expertise and offering his suggestions to our residents.
Dr. Roger J Geronimo
33 Alcira Court
posted June 5, 2008
RE: A response to Mr. Glasser
I would like to personally thank you for your words. If this community had more people like you, or if we could reach out to them, we could all become better neighbors.
As I had posted earlier, I share your concern about absentee owners and renters. That is one of the main reasons that I am passionate about working on solutions to increase our property values. Although we have no control over our national economy, I do feel that if we all band together as neighbors and implement fiscally responsible programs that we can come together as a community. If we can achieve this then a real sense of community pride will surface, property values will increase and our community, again, will become the desired place to live.
I personally do not want to see this become a rental community. Although this will never become a high end community, I would like to see property values increase to where purchasing for investment purposes, mainly rentals, would not be feasible.
As long as I am the Chairman of this committee our focus will constantly be geared toward increasing property values, using our community resources and knowledge to get things done in a cost effective way and giving our homeowners a communication tool in order to become involved in "Community" living. Again, thank you for sharing your wisdom and passion.
Keith Goldstein
18 Cristina Court
posted June 2, 2008
RE: Hurricane prep
After reading most of the communications on these subjects over the past week or two, it comes to mind that there will always be limitations to what responsibilities we want to delegate or abdicate to others along with correlating loss of freedoms. Maybe we need not try to create all inclusive mandates, but go back to original designed purposes of the term Condominium and the developing Association of homeowners.
At what price are the owners willing to support social security? When we bought into the concept of condominium living, most of us had to realize we would be sacrificing certain freedoms to get the afforded corporate benefits of living in tighter, common ground ownership. The major compromising documents had to be read and signed (hence agreed to) before the sale could be consummated. Part of those documents became the enforcement segment we commonly call the rules and regulations. To my knowledge, we have never been able to enforce completely what we have; it’s almost an impossible task!
With unconcerned non-owner occupied sales, we began the slippery slide brought on by non-complying renters and reticent owners. And isn’t it interesting how a few bad apples can cause so much turmoil? Maybe we should also be looking at compliance to preview renters and non-resident landlords with the same intensity as owner-occupants.
I digress—we will always have those owners that want more freedom and fewer restrictions and those that want more restrictions and less freedom—that’s life! For the most part, I think most owners were expecting to compromise but at the level of maintaining a right of quite domain at a reasonable cost.
If any of you have worked at establishing budgets for an Association (HOA), you know how difficult it really is trying to provide for future maintenance aspects (reserves), current and future management/labor/expenses and keep it all in a reasonable fee which owners can afford. Since we are not a high end community, we can assume most owners are looking for affordable living and the majority is either retired or approaching retirement thus looking at fixed incomes minimal fees, taxes, etc. Consequently, the pressure is extremely high to maintain lower fees. I personally believe, we have been very fortunate to have the reserves we have built and competent management to carry out the will of the Board. Yes, we would like to “see” more done, but with rising costs, moderation must be the order of the day.
There seems to be an abundance of qualified volunteers that could greatly help with beautification projects and possibly clean up campaigns that don’t require major costs or direction. And I think the concept of The Advocate being a positive watchdog is good! However, if it approaches revolutionary motivation, I think it dangerous. We have in place a ruling body which we elect to do the bidding of the people that operates within given parameters—the condominium documents. If we wish to change those parameters, we must vote on those changes.
Safety must always be a concern especially since we choose to live in a beautiful community close to water and subject to hurricanes and tidal storms. A coordinated effort to provide the community with the essentials of preparedness is a good goal but must be done within the established parameters of the local governmental authority that allows for mass exoduses in times of peril. As we look at the realistic options we have today, it is not encouraging. We have seen and some have experienced what happens at state called evacuations—hopefully, changes have been made to help with theses areas.
You have addressed most of the reticence of people to comply and the compounding results. The idea of coordinating with the Shores Association is essential and since we are limited to three area egress/ingress points to major exit routes for the entire Shores, we must be operating as part of the Shores and not as a separate community. I personally have taken proactive steps in a minor area—replacing my windows facing the east with PGT Windguard impact resistant windows which are expensive, but for my own peace of mind—a necessity.
I hope this helps clarify the discussion or at least brings efforts back to focus. I have been a resident of the Conquistadors’ for 14 years and an owner/resident for 13 years.
Thanks to all the concerned who have contributed; and keep up the good work.
Phil Glasser
6 Santiago Court
glasserpk@comcast.net
posted June 2, 2008
RE: Condo Association 12 Point Hurricane Preparedness Checklist
So, what happens when the elderly or disabled person, or even injured person wanders into the common area, post incident??? What a misunderstanding, I don't think the intent was to have the association responsible for anything, the thought provoking article was an alert to potential areas of concern, not a call to have the association do anything more than they are. However, we should all be more attentive to the needs of the people in our living areas, residents or not! I suppose we can all lean on the good Samaritan act instead of making a plan! Wow, had only the "residents" of Katrina disaster known?
"Murph"
2 Cartagena Court
posted May 28, 2008
RE: Condo Association 12 Point Hurricane Preparedness Checklist
Please remember that the Association is responsible for the common areas--they are not responsible for people.
It is not their job to, nor should they, get involved in areas that are not their responsibility. Calling us "residents" makes it sound as if the Association has some responsibility or authority over our behavior in emergencies.
For hurricanes, each person has to deal with things as if they were in private homes. By implying that such things as delivering water or ice is the Association's job, people may not follow the counties guidelines for individual preparedness, leaving them vulnerable. As long as there is no physical damage to thebuildings--no one--not the manager or the board is required to be on the premises.
As far as I know, the utilities (water, electric) are the counties responsibility and they need nothing from the Association in regard to this. It is especially important that vulnerable older or disabled people KNOW that they CANNOT count on help from the Association for their physical safety or cars. They sign up with the county--which DOES provide that service-- to be taken to emergency shelters. If I have said anything factually incorrect, please let me know.
Margaret M Nicholson
24 Catalonia Court
posted May 28, 2008
RE: Hurricane Season starts June 1. Are we prepared?
We have no committee to help evacuate people. Jeff will send out a letter to inform peple who have special needs that they need to contact the county for assistance in getting to safe places should an emergency occur. With our tree work we hope to minimize damage to our buildings. This was one of the goals==get trees away from buildings as best we could. We throw furniture into the pools and stash it in the bath houses. We, as individuals, need to pack our own parachutes when storms approach.
Evacuating with the major routes so overcrowded seems unwise. We will do whatever we should to help everyone be safe.
Eileen Colomb
President, Conquistador Condominium HOA
posted May 25, 2008
Bobcat Sighting
I wanted to let everyone know of a safety issue that has come up. My wife was met by a Bobcat by our car on Cartagena Court early in the morning. It did not seem to be afraid at all!
Many may have seen that a woman was attacked by a Bobcat in Tallahassee recently. I wanted everyone to be aware!! I have other safety and security issues and think that since we never got the security as promised we should at least be informed!!!
"Murph"
2 Cartagena Court
posted May 15, 2008
Name Change/Landscaping
You can post the following about the landscape--also I would like to suggest a more powerful name for the website instead of the 'victim' name--unhappy. How about something like The Active Conquistadors (notice the s).
Regarding the comments about landscaping, I think this approach makes the same mistake the Board makes--where is the research and plan to make a good Florida-friendly landscape? If people just put in different things they like that may not grow well or look consistent ...we are back where we started. Or even worse if inappropriate plantings require expensive attention.
I always imagined a group coming together to develop Xeriscaping – landscaping using drought-resistant and native plants and flowers. The research and planning is very easy today--there are many free or inexpensive courses, and every week in the St Augustine Record, there is a photo of such a yard.
The plan could include a list of the various categories --groundcover, plants, and flowers that could be used depending on the amount of sun and water needed. Then people who want to get their hands in the dirt could garden, but we would have the consistency needed. I do not have any details, but I was told Vista Cove instituted a landscaping plan that will make them water-free in five years. For the most part, we have landscaping that can only look good with constant attention which we can't get without a large increase in fees. Our fees for Baker and watering must increase every year unless we are willing to change our direction.
Margaret M Nicholson
24 Catalonia Court
posted May 12, 2008