Workshop Meeting Minutes for April 18, 2023
Habitat
Community Development District
A workshop 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 18, 2023 at 3 p.m.
Present (or attending via web conference) and constituting a quorum were:
Larry Roth – Chair
Norman Reno – Vice Chair
Linda Lea Gibson – Assistant Secretary
Jenny Licht – Assistant Secretary
Also present (or attending via web conference):
Cal Teague – District Manager, Premier District Management (PDM)
Charlie Krebs – Engineer, Hole Montes, Inc.
K. J. Moses – President, Master Association
Landscape Committee – Bella Terra Community Association
Melissa Gindling – Project Specialist, PDM
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 workshop was called to order and four Board members were present. Also in attendance were Cal Teague, the District Manager, Charlie Krebs, the Engineer, K. J. Moses, President, Master Association, representatives from the Landscape Committee of Bella Terra Association, Melissa Gindling from PDM, and several Residents.
SECOND ORDER OF BUSINESS Pledge of Allegiance
THIRD ORDER OF BUSINESS Approval of the Agenda
On MOTION by Supervisor Licht, seconded by Vice Chair Reno, with all in favor, the Agenda was approved, as submitted.
FOURTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Audience Comments on Agenda Items
There were no Audience comments on Agenda items.
FIFTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Bella Terra Community Association/Habitat CDD Maintenance Agreement Workshop
The Board and K.J. Moses discussed the maintenance agreement concerning the HOA’s current responsibility for maintenance and their desire to have the CDD assume some of the costs.
There was discussion on options for determining the area being maintained by the HOA which is a CDD asset. District Manager Teague suggested that Engineer Krebs and Field Manager Pepin draw up a map, which would clearly define the ownership of the areas currently being maintained, but he stated that this was not in the agreement, and there would be a charge. He stated that this is the only way to their desire to have responsibility, and verify if it is 70% CDD owned.
As part of the discussion, Vice Chair Reno stated that the Board needs a summary of each budget item, and what the HOA’s current status is against the budget. It was stated that they could look at the GIS for specifics, but it would only provide acreage, and there would need to be an accounting of how many trees there are, for example. Supervisor Licht stated that the Board would also need an oversight committee to monitor what the HOA was doing. She also commented that the Board needs to be careful with what they are asking of the HOA, because those performing the tasks are volunteers.
The Board asked for clarification concerning the amount of funds that are being requested, and what it would be spent on. District Manager Teague stated that he had added a line item for landscape maintenance in the CDD’s Fiscal Year 2023 Budget, which could be used as a stipend for landscaping on CDD property, which would need approval from the Board.
It was agreed that the Board was open to potential revisions of the contract, and the CDD requested a copy of the HOA’s current budget, what the current maintenance funds are being spent on, and what amount of money the HOA is requesting. The Board decided to schedule another workshop for May.
District Manager Teague suggested that Field Manager Pepin and Engineer Krebs try to identify actual acreage of areas being maintained. He stated that there would be a cost if this is completed but was uncertain as to how much.
It was suggested that Vice Chair Reno could liaison with Estate and Field Manager Pepin to resolve some of the damaged sprinkler issues.
SIXTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Supervisor Requests/Comments
There were no Supervisor requests or comments.
SEVENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Audience Comments
A resident commented that costs are going up on everything, so it stands to reason that costs for maintenance in Bella Terra have risen.
EIGHTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Adjournment
Chair Roth adjourned the Workshop Meeting at 3:59.