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, January 21, 2025 at 4 p.m.

Present and constituting a quorum were:

Larry Roth – Chair
Norman Reno – Vice Chair
Linda Lea Gibson – Assistant Secretary
Jenny Licht – Assistant Secretary
James Meek – Assistant Secretary

Also present:

Cal Teague – District Manager, Premier District Management (PDM)
Mandie Rainwater – Assistant District Manager, PDM
David Schmitt – Engineer, Bowman Engineering
Chris Pepin – Field Manager, Community Field Services
Fifty Residents

Attending remotely:

Greg Urbancic – Attorney, Coleman, Yovanovich & Koester, P.A.
Melissa Gindling – Assistant District Manager, PDM
Forty 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 the roll was called. All Board members were present. Also in attendance were Cal Teague, the District Manager, Mandie Rainwater, Assistant District Manager, David Schmitt, the Engineer, Chris Pepin, the Field Manager, and Fifty Residents. Attending remotely were Greg Urbancic, the Attorney, Melissa Gindling, Assistant District Manager, and Forty Residents.

Supervisor Roth requested to move 6Eii – Road Project to the top of the Agenda.

Supervisor Roth read a statement concerning the time limits for speaking and the need for decorum. He reminded the Audience that they may only speak to items on the Agenda for three minutes.

At this time it was discovered that the audio in the online session was not working properly.

Gayle Wood commented on the road project.
Dennis Kenney commented on section 6Bii – Drainage Concern at 21019 Torre Del Lago.
Lou Tancredi commented on testing for the road project.
Jeff Belago commented on the roads and provided photos.
Mark Novitski wondered what the Board may be gaining from this project.
KJ Moses commented on the auxiliary lot, and the state it is in after the project crew’s work.
Norm Arflack commented on the road project.
Jacki Channey commented on the road project.
Jim Chasse commented on the road project.

6Eii – Road Project was moved to the beginning of the meeting. The audio recording was started after Item 4 – Audience Comments on Agenda Items.

Assistant District Manager Rainwater presented an outline of work completed so far on road rejuvenation.

Engineer Schmitt distributed a handout indicating the work that has been completed in the community. Engineer Schmitt stated that there are a number of issues and these include traffic management, as well as, the vendor’s procedures when applying the product.

There was discussion, including comments and questions from the Audience, and the Board expressed their dissatisfaction with the vendor’s work. Vice Chair Reno stated that he is opposed to road rejuvenation and would rather mill and pave the roadways. The Board decided to ask the vendor to correct their procedures, and if this is not completed to their satisfaction, the contract will be terminated.

Engineer Schmitt stated that he has a meeting scheduled with the vendor to discuss the issues, so that work can resume.

A. Items to Be Pulled for Discussion

There were no items pulled.

B. Motion to Approve Consent Items

C. Consideration of Items Pulled for Discussion

D. Consent Items

i. Draft Meeting Minutes for December 17, 2024

ii. Financial Report for December 2024

iii. Project Tracking Logs

A. Irrigation Contractor

There was no irrigation report.

B. District Manager

i. FEMA Reimbursement Update

District Manager Teague reported that all of the claims have been denied. Staff will prepare a final appeal.

ii. Drainage Concern at 21019 Torre Del Lago St.

This area was approved to be regraded while the work on Lake 5 is being completed. The Board previously approved sending a letter to the resident for the $500 proposed cost for removing the additional silt from his pool project. The resident was in attendance and stated that he would like to meet with the Engineer onsite. Engineer Schmitt will contact the resident.

iii. Debris located at 21001 Bella Terra Blvd

District Manager Teague reported that the debris has been removed, and a letter was sent to the resident requesting payment. The Board asked staff to send another letter.

iv. Letters to Residents

Assistant District Manager Rainwater stated that Field Manager Pepin supplied a list of residents who had issues which he discovered at his last inspection. There has been no response from the residents at 20507 Torre Del Lago, and 13585 and 13623 Troia Drive, whose violations include placing cut trees in the preserves and placing landscaping debris in the preserves. The residents at 13226 Boccala Lane, 20599 Torre del Lago, and 13274 Lazzaro Court have corrected their issues and sent in photos indicating their completion.

C. Field Manager

i. Field Report

Chris Pepin presented his field report and the following was discussed:

He observed shoreline weeds in the lakes which will be removed.

He reported that all of the aerator issues have been resolved.

He stated that a resident has been asked to remove coconuts from their property.

He stated that the muhly grass was planted.

He stated that trash in the preserves has been removed. A fallen pine tree has also been removed.

He stated that some exotic Brazilian pepper will be removed.

Estate workers ran into a fence around a pump station, and they will repair it.

The Napier Enterprises quarterly pump maintenance proposal will be discussed later in the meeting.

ii. Project Updates

a. Storm Water Management System Inspection Update

Field Manager Pepin reported that the inspection started approximately two weeks ago and should be completed in the near future.

D. Attorney

i. Mary Ann Lauria Update

Assistant District Manager Rainwater reported that information has been provided to the claims attorney, and she noted that most of the requested information does not match the dates of CDD meetings. The claims attorney has been provided with the police report and the guardhouse report.

iii. Kenneth Jay Riha Update

There is no update.

E. Engineer

i. Emergency Exit Update

a. Quote for Oaks

This project was approved by Chair Roth and District Manager Teague, and the trees will be ordered and installed at the cost of $4,617.06.

ii. Road Project Update

This was discussed earlier in the meeting.

A. HOA/CDD Maintenance Contract Negotiations Update

i. Executed Extension With HOA

The current extension expires on Jan 31, 2025.

ii. Current Draft of Contract

The current draft is in the packet. Attorney Urbancic stated that there is an issue that seems to be the use of the word “public” to describe the roads in Bella Terra. The HOA would like the reference minimized or removed from documents, and Attorney Urbancic is opposed to these deletions. After discussion, Vice Chair Reno asked if they should retain an impartial party. Attorney Urbancic stated that this could be an option if all parties agree to attend and agree to abide by the results. Supervisor Meek reminded the Board that another county forced all communities to open their gates. He also stated that the previous CDD attorney agreed with Attorney Urbancic’s opinion and, in addition, public roads were referenced in the post orders at one time.

iii. Guardhouse Door Handle Update

iv. Post Order Revisions

B. Lakes to be Transferred from HOA to CDD Follow-up

C. Water Quality of Clock Tower Pools

D. Clock Tower Tile Replacement Proposal

E. Cul-de-sac Ride Around Report

F. Irrigation Pump Repairs Proposal

A Continuation Meeting is on January 29, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.
The Next Regular Meeting is on February 18, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.