Habitat
Community Development District

The regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of the Habitat Community Development District was held via web conference on Tuesday, October 20, 2020 at 4 p.m.

Attending via web conference authorized by Executive Order 20-69 waiving the quorum requirement were:

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

Also present by web conference were:

Greg Urbancic – Attorney
Charlie Krebs – District Engineer
Chris Pepin – Field Manager
Tad Kring – Irrigation Specialists
Christopher Dudak – PDM Assistant to the District Manager
Nancy Dudak – Premier District Management
Several Residents

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

FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS

Call to Order and Roll Call

The meeting was called to order by the Chair, and Cal Teague, District Manager, called roll. All Board members were present, except Joe Napolitano. Also present were Attorney Greg Urbancic, Engineer Charlie Krebs, Field Manager Chris Pepin, Assistant to the District Manager Christopher Dudak, Tad Kring from Irrigation Specialists, and Nancy Dudak, Premier District Management.

SECOND ORDER OF BUSINESS

Pledge of Allegiance

THIRD ORDER OF BUSINESS

Approval of Agenda

The Agenda was reviewed.

FOURTH ORDER OF BUSINESS

Audience Comments on Agenda Items

There being none, the next Order of Business followed.

FIFTH ORDER OF BUSINESS

Approval of Meeting Minutes

A. Draft Meeting Minutes from September 15, 2020

The meeting Minutes from September 15, 2020 were reviewed with a revision on line 78.

SIXTH ORDER OF BUSINESS

Staff Reports

A. Irrigation Contractor

i. Valve Replacement Update

Tad Kring commented that all the irrigation functions were operating normally.

He said he is about $5,000 under the limit approved for valve replacements and that is sufficient to replace the last two which are scheduled to be changed.

He sent out a caution letter to all contractors because the District received a notification from South Florida Water Management District that they are exceeding the average usage amount of water allowed within the water use permit.

B. Chair

i. Emergency Ingress/Egress

The Chair presented an aerial view of the proposed road right-of-way and bike path. He stated that the Village of Estero and the master HOA agreed to install a bike/pedestrian path closer to the northern berm/ridge. He explained the process by which it will happen and expects proposals by the December meeting. He asked Supervisor Licht to work with the Field Manager and landscapers to hide electronic equipment and for the development of the green space along the exit road. The Chair said there will be a construction phase and landscape phase of this project..

ii. Corkscrew Widening Update

The Chair said the Corkscrew Widening project will start in the Spring and it may take two years.

iii. Property Transfer Considerations Update

The Chair expects that the Engineer will have the legal survey completed next week. Then the Attorney will prepare a quit claim deed and other legal paperwork, and then the Chair will sign and send them to the HOA for their signature. The Engineer will then prepare an application for an amendment to the Limited Development Order (LDO) for the Village. Once this is completed, the documents for the land transfer of the pump stations will be prepared.

C. District Manager

i. FEMA Update

The District Manager said that funds were finally being released and that he had received two checks totaling $41,210.86 with $9,000 still expected.

ii. FEMA Required Contract Language

The District Manager reported that FEMA requested an amendment to the PDM contract that requires that any contracts awarded that exceed $100,000 must include a certification of compliance with the Byrd Anti-Lobbying Amendment. The Board discussed authorizing the Attorney to amend their contract to include this language and the Chair to sign it.

The Chair mentioned that FPL has agreed to replace all current LED light heads with down lights at no cost to the District. The Attorney had reviewed the amendment to the contract that FPL was requesting and had no issues. The Chair said that the work may be completed by February 2021.

D. Field Manager

i. Field Report for October

• The Field Manager reviewed the monthly report with the Board. He said he spoke with someone at Waterworks Pools who does not feel that they need a filter in the Clock Tower fountain because the water quality going in is potable water from the County. The Board asked about staining the bowls on the fountain, and the Field Manager stated that either once a year, or every other year, he was going to paint the bowls and they were sealed several years ago when painted. Several Board members said they do not concur with the pool representative comments about not needing a filter in that fountain and the Field Manager is to look at it again and that it will be addressed when all parties can take a look at it.

• When discussing the Preserve treatment schedule, the Board asked the Field Manager to find out the days that there will be spraying in their yards so they can send out a blast email to the neighborhood so they know who is in their back yards.

• When asked about the new shed, the Field Manager stated that he researched having a power source brought into the shed, but the price was too high. He also stated that there were electrical issues at one of the pump stations.

ii. Project Updates

a. Stormwater System Inspection Update

The Field Manager reported that the system inspection will be completed later this week and the report should be ready for the next meeting.

b. Clock Tower Door Replacement Update

The Field Manager reported that the door will be ready for pickup on October 22nd and the contractor will install it by November 6th.

c. Cypress Tree Planting Update

Lake & Wetland Management should have the trees in stock now, and within the next week or so, the Field Manager said he will be flagging the locations a few days prior to their installation. The tree planting is expected to be completed in about two weeks.

d. FPL Light Pole Numbering Update

The Field Manager said the light pole numbering is 50% complete.

e. Maintenance Shed Update

This was discussed above in the Field Manager’s October Field Report.

f. Clubhouse Crosswalk Striping, Curb and Hydrant Painting Update

This task was scheduled to be completed on October 22nd and 23rd, but the Field Manager was informed last week that Premier Pressure Washing started the pressure washing project this week, so he pushed back this task until after they are completed. The Field Manager was questioned about grease and stains on sidewalks and he said he will monitor it.

E. Attorney

The Attorney reported that this will be the last meeting that the Board has to meet virtually. He said the Governor reluctantly approved an extension for one month, so as of November 1st they need to use their facility and comply with Chapter 286 and the open government procedures while making sure they comply with the HOA regulations for the use of the facility, along with general Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines. Three supervisors must be present to conduct the meetings. The Chair stated that he would like to continue recording the meetings and would like to post them on their website. Christopher Dudak said a link can be added to post them. The District Manager said he will facilitate having it available.

F. Engineer

The Engineer said that his crews will stake the emergency exit areas if the weather holds off. He said that the permitting applications are done. The Chair authorized the District Manager to sign them.

SEVENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS

Discussion/Action Items

A. Guardhouse Renovations Discussion

Several supervisors were concerned that expansion of the guardhouse will not solve safety and traffic delay issues. The Chair said that only 60% of the cars in the community are registered. Supervisor Licht expressed that if residents had transponders, it would hasten their entrance into the community. Vice Chair Roth said that residents often do not register their visitors at the gate. Supervisor Licht said that if they are not going to make changes for awhile, they should at least update the Guardhouse that looks very bad. The Chair said she and the District Manager should compose a letter to the Master HOA from the CDD that states that they are concerned about the appearance of the Guardhouse, and they have an agreement requiring that the Master maintain it. The Board agreed to table this issue until January.

B. Roadway Sealcoating Discussion

The Chair expressed concern about closing the roads for 24 hours to facilitate the sealcoating. He said that Tuesdays and Wednesdays are bad because of the sanitation trucks. The Engineer said that in other community resurfacing events, residents were given notice when it was going to happen. The Chair did not feel there was support for the roadway sealcoating at this time.

C. D&G Striping Proposal for Entire Community

The Board discussed the D&G proposal for $6,885 to re-stripe the entire community for safety purposes.

D. Clock Tower Tile Cleaning Discussion

The Field Manager discussed the proposal from Water Works Pools for $5,680 to replace four of the LED submerged lights at the clock tower. He said he can buy the lights for half price from a pool supply company and he asked West Coast Electrical if they can do the work. The total cost would be $3,673.

The Field Manager spoke with Iggy Sprude, Water Works Pools, who gave him a quote of $7,900 to clean the tile on the clock tower. Since he has never done a large job such as this, the Chair suggested that they concentrate on the filters, which may solve the problem. Supervisor Licht said they have not found anyone who could adequately clean the calcium off the tiles. Supervisor Gibson asked if a water softener could work. The Field Manager will continue to look for cleaning alternatives.

E. Speed Cushions at 21819 Bella Terra Proposal

D&G provided a quote to install two sets of speed cushions for $9,350. The Engineer proposed a couple of locations where they could try to control speed around the curve. He commented that the type of speed bumps that were proposed are the kind that the police and EMS do not like because it slows them down in an emergency. He suggested that they check with the Estero Fire Department to see if they would have objections to them. Supervisor Licht would like to see a more permanent solution presented. The Engineer said that everybody will be required to get a permit on new ones and they have to be approved by the Fire Department. The Chair asked the Engineer to do more research for next month’s agenda.

EIGHTH ORDER OF BUSINESS

Financial Reports

A. Financials for September 2020

The September 2020 Financials were discussed. There were questions about which fiscal year the $50,000 from FEMA will go into, and the District Manager explained why it will go into last year’s budget.

NINTH ORDER OF BUSINESS

Communications

A. Estero Council of Community Leaders

i. New Greater Estero Community Report

a. https://esterotoday.com/research-and-reports/

ii. Online Meetings and Agendas

a. https://esterotoday.com/reports/

TENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS

Supervisors Requests and/or Comments

• Chair Novitski commented on the violation letters and the compliance process they are using. He said he takes pictures to monitor violations.
• Supervisor Licht talked about light pole rehab, asked about the newspaper advertising requirement, and asked about an assessment item on the contract. She also asked about the emergency ingress/egress proof of denial for the emergency exit. The Chair told her that there was an email giving them three reasons it cannot be done that was in their packet. She voiced objection that they never applied for the permit.
• Vice Chair Roth asked if there were any issues that should be raised at the President’s Council. He talked about the violation letter to residents whose children ride in golf carts, and for those who leave trash in the gutters.
• Supervisor Gibson raised the issue of invasive oak trees and the cost to the community. Supervisor Licht said the landscape committee discussed that some of the trees are on private property and the process by which they can be removed. The District Manager stated that there had to be a certain amount of canopy coverage in the original community plan. Vice Chair Roth asked if there are any issues that need to be raised at the President’s Council. Supervisor Gibson asked that the President’s Council see about getting blanket approval to replace Oak trees.
• Supervisor Gibson commented that an ornamental tree replacement in a cul-de-sac that was identified in the Field Manager’s report was not a CDD obligation. She said she thinks they should be paying for the replacement of the trees, but not buying the ornamental trees.

ELEVENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS

Audience Comments

• Rob Warner commented that photo IDs are provided for residents to get auto-renewed every three years. They must go to the office and register every car.  Also, he said that the seal coating worked at Grandeza, and he thought it may have been less tacky. 

TWELFTH ORDER OF BUSINESS

Adjournment

There being no further Orders of Business and,

Next Meeting: November 17, 2020 at 4 p.m.