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, May 17, 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

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, except Supervisor Novitski. Also in attendance were Cal Teague, the District Manager, Chris Pepin, the Field Manager, Charlie Krebs, the Engineer, and Tad Kring from Irrigation Specialists. Participating via web conference were Greg Urbancic, the Attorney, and Gaby Novak, Project Specialist from PDM.

Diane Meek wondered if the rain gauges on the pumps had been checked, since the rainy season is beginning.

A. Draft Meeting Minutes for April 19, 2022

Line 33 Add traffic calming device “in the exit”
Line 61 Change beehives to “bat houses”

A. Irrigation Contractor

i. Monthly Irrigation Report

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

Tad stated that all pumps were operational with no issues reported.

He reported that the mainlines are still being flushed weekly.

He reported that snail complaints had gone down by 50%, but he is continuing to flush and chlorinate the lines before the filters. He will begin chlorinating the pumps during the rainy season, because they need to be turned off to allow the chlorine to dissipate.

A mainline had been damaged on Troia by Hotwire, which Tad repaired at no cost to Hotwire or the District.

B. District Manager

i. Fiscal Year 2023 Budget

District Manager Teague stated that the changes to the 2023 Budget, which had been requested at the last meeting, had been made, and, after review, the Board was happy with the proposed Budget. It includes a $100 increase in assessments that will be used to expand road reserves. Supervisor Licht presented and distributed a plan for new sidewalks and landscaping, which will be discussed at a later meeting. There are sufficient funds available for the project in the proposed Budget.

a. Resolution 2022-01 Setting Public Hearing for Adoption of Tentative Budget

The resolution was approved.

ii. Resolution 2202-02 Requesting the County Supervisor of Elections to Conduct the November 2022 Elections (3 open seats)

The resolution was adopted.

C. Field Manager

i. Project Updates

Field Manager Pepin reported on the following issues:

a. FPL Street Light Head Replacement Update

Chris reported that he had been contacted by the FPL project manager, who had received a call from Mary Gibbs of the Village. There seemed to be an increase in activity, which could be an indication of progress.

b. Damaged Drainpipe Behind Boccala Lane Repair Update

Chris reported that the project had been completed, with the sod being placed on April 14th. A resident requested more sod in this area, but Chris didn’t feel that the requested sod had been damaged during the project. The Board agreed not to accept responsibility for replacing sod in this area.

c. 2022 Community Concrete Repair Project Update

Chris stated that concrete shortages had been slowing down the project, but the contractor hoped to start the repair by middle to late June.

d. Clock Tower Pressure Cleaning & Painting Update

He stated that this project had begun and will soon be completed. During the project, the fountain bowls will be turned off.

ii. Current Field Report

Field Manager Pepin reviewed the report and the following was discussed:

Chris stated that the lakes were in overall good condition.

There was discussion on the installation of speed bumps, traffic calming devices, and crosswalks near the guardhouse, and removing the pavers at both the clock tower and the guardhouse. These projects can be included in the next fiscal year Budget.

Chris plans to pressure wash smaller areas in the community sidewalk system, which are very dirty from black olive trees.

He pointed out that kids are building structures in the preserve behind Ardore Lane. The Board requested that he add a trail camera to the area.

The gutters on Belvedere Lane were holding water, and Engineer Krebs stated that he will look at options to address this.

Chris stated that the stones that had been dug up by Hotwire and left in the drainage swale off of Torre del Lago could be unsightly. The Board asked that they be staged for future landscaping at the emergency exit entrance.

The blow off pipe at the end of Cosenza Court had been causing a washout, and Tad is having a difficult time repairing it. Chris will complete the project if Tad cannot complete it in the near future.

a. Service History Report

The Solitude service reports were included in the packet, and the Board had no questions.

D. Attorney

Attorney Urbancic reviewed the specific procedures required for the upcoming election. He also commented that the assessment increase for next fiscal year’s Budget will require a mailed notice.

i. Transfer of Ownership of Pump Station before Turf Block Installation Update

This was discussed during Engineer Krebs’ report.

E. Engineer

Engineer Krebs presented his report and the following was discussed:

i. Emergency Access Road Landscaping and Lighting Discussion

Engineer Krebs had no update from the County as to when utilities will be installed in front of the access gate. When the installation is complete, the turf block project can be completed.

Charlie also presented a lighting suggestion for the entrance from Corkscrew Road, and the Board commented that an LED light would be favorable.

Charlie reported that they are finishing up the property description for a deed transfer, which is needed for the ownership of the pump station.

A. Interior Gatehouse Renovations Update

Vice Chair Roth reported that Cindy, the HOA Manager, had found a contractor, but he felt that the proposal was too high, and he will continue to seek proposals from other contractors. It was also suggested that he consider just cleaning the floor and installing rubber matting, and he will look into this.

A. Financials for April 2022

Supervisor Licht asked about stormwater retention in the streets during the rainy season.

Jim Meek commented that at the Estero Council of Community Leaders meeting the Habitat Lake Maintenance efforts were highly complimented.

Michelle from the Master Landscape Committee stated that one light was completely blacked out, and several others needed to be cleaned, on Bella Terra Boulevard. She also asked if the Board would reconsider the decision to deny Estate access to the irrigation controls.

The Meeting was adjourned by Chair Napolitano at 5:44 p.m.

The Next Regular Meeting will be June 21, 2022 at 4:00 p.m.