Habitat
Community Development District

The regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of the Habitat Community Development District was held in the Bella Terra Clubhouse at 20070 Bella Terra Boulevard in Estero, Florida and also via web conference on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 at 4 p.m.

Present (or attending via web conference) and constituting a quorum were:

Joe Napolitano – Chair
Larry Roth – Vice Chair
Linda Lea Gibson – Assistant Secretary
Jenny Licht – Assistant Secretary
Mark Novitski – Assistant Secretary

Also present (or attending via web conference):

Cal Teague – PDM District Manager
Chris Pepin – Field Manager, Community Field Services
Tad Kring – Irrigation Specialists
Charlie Krebs – Engineer, Hole Montes, Inc.
Greg Urbancic – Attorney, Coleman Yovanovich Koester, PA
Gaby Novak – PDM Project Specialist
Residents

The following is a summary of the actions taken at the Habitat Community Development District Board of Supervisors Meeting.

The meeting was called to order and all Board members were present. Also in attendance were Cal Teague, the District Manager, Chris Pepin, the Field Manager, Charlie Krebs, the Engineer, and Tad Kring from Irrigation Specialists, and Gaby Novak, Project Specialist from PDM. Participating via web conference was Greg Urbancic, the Attorney.

Add 7K Solitude Irrigation Lakes Treatment Proposal

There were no comments from the Audience.

A. Draft Meeting Minutes for March 15, 2022

A. Irrigation Contractor

i. Monthly Irrigation Report

Tad Kring reviewed his report, and the following items were discussed:

He had increased the run time on the two recharge wells to 12 hours per day, and all mainlines are flushed weekly.

Tad will be addressing minor leakage on two mainline breaks on Bella Terra Boulevard, as time permits.

He attended a landscape committee meeting with South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and Villas III, and discussed two proposals, which were submitted to the CDD. After a candid discussion, there was a positive outcome.

He had seen a increase in snails, especially along Torre del Lago. He presented Proposal #3721 for $14, 763 to tap into the mainline and inject chlorine in front of the homeowner’s filters. He would also flush the lines 3 days per week for 6 weeks. Proposal #3722 for $4,000 was for installing chlorine injection taps at the pump stations.

B. District Manager

i. Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Discussion

District Manager Teague presented the draft budget for 2023. The Board suggested the following changes and additions, which will be reviewed at the next meeting:

Incorporate a $100 increase in assessments for road reserves.

Increase the cul-de-sac agreements by 7 1/2%, accounting for tree trimming within the areas where the CDD has maintenance contracts in place.

Retain the $20,000 place holder in the budget for removal of the pavers from the clock tower for future use, which could possibly be placed around the guardhouse.

Replace the pavers around the guardhouse, and consider a traffic calming device in the exit, such as raised pavers, rumble strips, or speed bumps. Field Manager Pepin and Engineer Krebs will prepare estimates that will be placed in the budget.

Increase sidewalk and Road R&M to $50,000.

Incorporate $10,000 for updates in the GIS program.

Increase all categories in the budget by 5%.

C. Field Manager

i. Project Updates

Field Manager Pepin reported on the following issues:

a. FPL Street Light Head Replacement

He had no update, and Supervisor Novitski stated that he would talk to Mary Gibbs of the Village about the reason for the delay.

b. Damaged Drainpipe Behind Boccala Lane Repair Update

A damaged 36 inch drainpipe was replaced, including the replacement of the sod, which had been approved at the previous meeting.

c. Air Pocket Under Roadway at 13093 Cardeto Court

Chris had been informed that there was another hole in front of the mailbox at the same location. Conidaris inspected the area, and they discovered several cracks in the nearby catch basin and storm drainpipe. They will patch the cracks and restore the area.

ii. Current Field Report

Field Manager Pepin reviewed the report and stated that several lakes had a high presence of climbing hemp vine. He had also removed a large amount of trash. The Board asked Chris to investigate the asphalt staining on Torre del Lago.

a. Field Service History Report

This was included in the packet.

b. FY 2022 Completed Maintenance Tasks Report

This was included in the packet.

c. FY 2022 Project Tracking Report

This was included in the packet.

D. Attorney

Attorney Urbancic updated the Board on several pieces of legislation.

E. Engineer

Engineer Krebs presented his report and the following was discussed:

i. Emergency Access Road Landscaping and Lighting Updates

He updated the Board on the County’s progress on the improvements to Corkscrew Road. He stated that the plans for lighting improvements had been completed, but the County is behind and would not be starting at Habitat for two more months, and it would be 5 months before the asphalt could be laid down.

A roadway maintenance analysis was submitted and discussed, and the engineer’s analysis determined that the road surfaces were in pretty good condition, and that they did not need to be resurfaced for 5-7 years.

The Eagle project for bat houses was discussed, and it was agreed that District Manager Teague remain the contact person for the project, and that he could sign anything related to the project. The project also includes the replacement of 5 of the current 15 bat houses.

A. Interior Gatehouse Renovations Update

Vice Chair Roth reported that a contractor had not been found as of yet, but he believed that Cindy had found one.

B. Potential Transfer of Ownership of Pump Station Before Turf Block Installation Update

Charlie had drafted a sketch for the transfer, and he had sent it to Attorney Urbancic, so Greg can draft a legal description that can then be approved by the Board at the next meeting.

C. Serre Drive Pump Station Access for Contractors Update

The Board tabled this project, and it will be removed from future Agendas, unless there is anything submitted to the Board for consideration.

D. Tree Trimming Cul-de-Sacs Update

This was tabled until the next fiscal year, but for now it is considered an HOA issue.

E. Homeowner Request: Pool Construction on 13268 Lazzaro Court Update

Tad and Chris stated that moving the irrigation line behind the homeowner’s house four to five feet would not be a problem. District Manager Teague recommended that a license agreement be drawn up for the homeowner to sign that would allow use of the easement. Attorney Urbancic will draft an agreement for the Board’s consideration.

F. Turf Blocks for Lift Stations Examples

Field Manager Pepin provided the Board pictures of the installed turf blocks at the Tampa Zoo, so they could see what they looked like after a few years.

G. 2022 Erosion Map

Chris had prepared and submitted an updated erosion map, which identified the current shoreline conditions throughout the community. It was determined that the map will be used for future planning of lake bank restoration.

H. 2022 Concrete Repairs Discussion

Chris presented an inventory of sections of sidewalk and curb and gutter that need to be repaired.

I. Clock Tower Pressure Cleaning & Painting (Estimate included)

Chris reported that he had difficulty pressure washing the tower with an extension pole, and he could not remove all the build-up. Upon his request, Gomez Painting provided an estimate for pressure cleaning all of the tower, applying sealant around the decorative trim and stucco surfaces, and painting the entire tower.

J. Ratification of Concrete Repair

The Board ratified District Manager Teague’s decision to repair the catch basin in front of 13093 Cardeto Court.

K. Solitude Irrigation Lakes Treatment Proposal

The treating of all the lakes in the community for snails was tabled until the Board could note the results of Tad’s efforts.

A. Financials for March 2022

District Manager Teague reviewed the Financials.

Supervisor Licht asked if Ernesto from the County Water Hyacinth District could suggest treatment for snails in the lakes. She also asked about the schedule for street sweeping.

Supervisor Gibson commented on bicycles’ and inline skaters’ safety when they are on the streets.

Vice Chair Roth commented on young children driving golf carts on community streets.

Jim Meek recommended that Vice Chair Roth remain as the CDD representative, even if he is appointed as a resident member of the Building and Grounds Committee. He also commented on Conidaris work on L-17.

Rob Warner commented on road ponding at 21616 Belvedere.

Diane Meek commented that an employee from Estate Landscaping was hurt, because he did not have access to the inside of the pump station when he was trimming the bushes along the pump station fencing. It was felt that he was trimming in the CDD area, and that the CDD should maintain that area. Field Manager Pepin will meet with Diane and Estate Landscaping to identify which areas are the responsibility of the CDD and which areas are to be maintained by the HOA.

The Meeting was adjourned by Chair Napolitano at 5:59 p.m.

The Next Regular Meeting will be May 17, 2022 at 4:00 p.m.