Board Meeting - April 11, 2002


The Chairman, Dick Laughlin, called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. in the conference room of PBPOA. Present were: Kay Potter, Chuck Morris, Tom Toomey, Bob Andersen, John Iaizzo, Barbara Martin, Ted Raia, and Mike Coyne. Absent were Libbie Bramson who was taking her husband home from the hospital and Jim Hobin who was in Massechutices on business.



1. Mr. Laughlin gave some opening remarks because of the expected time required for the presentations:

-Attention should always be played to membership. It is important that the Association speaks for the vast majority of the residents of Pelican Bay. One of the basic problems is that each property owner cannot agree with everything, which is done. Unfortunately, the one item, which a resident does not like, will overpower the many that the resident does like. It is important that the Association make clear to its members that we are bringing all of the facts to the members so he or she can make their own decision. The Association is in a very unique position in that it does not have the confines of the Foundation and MSTBU being concerned with day-to-day activities, but can look at the long term matters which will effect the residents. A new letterform is being sent out for the membership drive to see how it performs.

-Oakmont extension (The part of Oakmont Parkway which extends from Pelican Bay Blvd. into the shopping center.) maintenance being worked out by Mike Coyne and Jim Hobin. Since it is not County property, Jim Ward of the MSTBU has resisted maintaining the road. We intend to work out the matter with the County and WCI so the County will accept the road. If this occurs, the maintenance by the MSTBU will be required. It is also the intention to talk to the owner of the vacant lot to see if the lot can be cleaned up. It is not make an attractive picture for the start of Pelican Bay.

-Web site changed from pbpropertyowners.com to pbpropertyowners.org with new features added. It is hoped that the membership will take advantage of the bulletin board.

-Clam Bay experts reported they do not know what is causing the problem of the dieing mangroves. It was suggested that the Association promote the installation of pipes under Vanderbilt Beach Road to allow drainage of the mangrove area. This was proposed by one of the experts as a possible solution. It was also one of the original requirement of the EPA when Pelican Bay was in the planning stage but subsequently dropped at the insistence of Westinghouse. Originally it was to be a culvert which was expensive but only piping can be done at a much lower cost.

-Letter written to Edison College to support Computer Club and keep the college's computers in Pelican Bay. The Foundation has informed the Computer Club that it will have no room for its computer classes after the middle of October. This Association offered to underwrite the expense of maving movable tables for the computers. The Computer Club is making its own, independant proposals to the Foundation.

-Foundation made a proposal to the MSTBU to widen the North beach by the addition of sand but the MSTBU has taken no meaningful action. The Association support this proposal. It is proposed that the Association take more active participation to get the project moving. Measuments made by Bob Anderson show that the present width is about its historical width and therefore any widening will be new beach. The Foundation is also trying to develop plans where users of the beach can be dropped off at various locations rather than at one spot as is presently done. South beach has been renurished by storm and looks very good, being substantially wider than the original beach. When Pelican Bay reaches buildout the beaches will be very crowded.



2. Year-Rounders

Barbara Martin reported that the first party would be on May 20, 2002 at the Sandpiper sponsored by Key Bank. The charity that will benefit will be the Neighborhood Health Clinic. The sponsor has picked Mash as the appropiate theme.

Sponsors for the other monthly affairs are very slow in responding because of the economy. Any personal contact any of the Board members can make with sponsors will be appreciated.



3. Treasurer's Report

Tom Toomey mentioned that the liability insurance policy for the directors is in progress. The treasurer's reports for February and March are attached.



4. Presentations by Landscape Architects Re Concerns of Berm along US-41: Noise, Security, Carbon Monoxide



John Iaizzo reported that a number of landscape architect companies have expressed an interest in the Pelican Bay Berm Improvements contract. Preliminary proposals were received from three companies, even though there was no guarantee that the project will receive the necessary funding. Each firm was in attendance to explain and define their proposal:



Stephen Trudnak, PA

Mr. Spencer of MSA Design, Inc.

Don Kuhn of Square's Landscaping/Nursery, Inc.

(1) Mr. Trudnak's proposal was high at $2.3 million estimate but it covered the most additions including a rock wall to contain the berm which would be rebuilt. He stated that the cost possibly could be reduced after a detailed Berm analysis was conducted at a price of $12,000 with a turnaround time frame of 6-8 weeks.



Mr. Spencer of MSA Design, Inc.



(2) Mr.Spencer's proposal did not include a cost estimate nor the cost for a

Detailed visual walk-through of the area but his presentation did identify what

he could produce as a result of a visual walk-through. From digital photos of the existent Berm, he could then super-impose various vegetation and plants for a conceptual view before the actual design is in place. A good idea but time is of the essence.



Don Kuhn of Square's Landscaping/Nursery, Inc.



(3) Mr. Kuhn's proposal was straightforward and directly to the point. He

identified his cost, his landscape plan and exactly what it would produce, the

number of meetings he would conduct to firm up the landscaping plan and the hourly cost should we exceed the three meetings.



He also supported the Board view of a test by partial berm development of a thousand feet in lieu of a full development of approximately 10,000 feet. This could add more time to the project but it would provide important feedback as to the remaining cost, time and expected results dealing with noise attenuation, air pollution and security, which is paramount to the PB Community.



-Bob Andersen to investigate the use of noise messaging boxes as was utilized some years ago at the Naples Airport to see if the use of such boxes could be fruitful for determining the level of noise along US-41.

-Barbara Martin reported that her condo association at Hyde Park had installed ficus to block the noise from Gulf Park and after a few years of growth it had been successful.

-Kay Potter pointed out that for any test it would take several years for sufficient growth of the plantings to occur so that a conclusion could be reached.



It was the Board's consensus that a proposal should be received for a test of about 1000 ft. to determine the best course. John Iaizzo to obtain such a proposal and present it to the Board for approval by e-mail.



5. Meeting with Bill Schmigle

It was decided that lucheon meetings would be held with each of the Foundation Board members if possible, so that our Board becomes more familiar with the operations.



The first such luncheon was held with Bill Schmigle. WCI had agreed to relinguish its place as Declarant under the Charter but at the last minute withdrew its offer after considerable expense in legal fees by the Foundation. Ways are being investigated to make the Fundation the Declarant on the Charter. In furtherance of this object a lucheon meeting was held with Bill Schmigle to hear first hand about the problem and the reasons for WCI changing its mind.. The meeting was attended by the Chairman, Ted Raia and Jim Hobin. Mr. Schmigle heads up the legal committee of the Foundation and was very impressive with his knowledge of the Foundations operations. Bill Schmigle has directed his attention to trying to make each of the pelican Bay groups more cost conscience with the purpose of getting control of the budget and expenses. Ted Raia reported on this meeting with covered some other areas. (See attached report.)



6. Security



Mike Coyne commented that he and Ted Raia would explore

the cost factor of private security force for Pelican Bay. The Board gave its general approval of this project.



6. Mangrove Action Committee

Because of the length of the meeting Kay Potter referred the Board to her article in the Post to bring everyone up to date.



7. Beautification of Route 41

Bob Anderson reported that the MSTBU was proceeding with the beautification of the north median section and it was out for DOT approval. The MSTBU expects to have the project finished this year.

Discussion followed on various issues: relations with other groups in Pelican Bay, should Board members go to association meetings to explain the function and background of PBPOA, the participation of the PBPOA in various activities and the MSTBU limiting the walkway around Lake Oakmont to exclude bicycles and skaers.



8. The President attends various regional property owners associations and reported separately to the Board members by e-mail. The use of e-mail will be stressed to keep every board member uptodate as possible on all activities.



9 New Projects

(a.) Dick Laughlin pointed out that under the terms of the repealed ordinance negotiations were to be had with the County concerning turning over agreed upon real property to the board established in the ordinance. It was recommended that the Association should discuss continuing such negotiations so the property could be turned over to the Foundation. With the Foundation controlling the property there is less likelihood that it would be developed to the detriment of Pelican Bay. Jim Ward, in discussions with the County pursuant to the repealed ordinance, before it was repealed, had developed a listing of such property.



(b.) Construction of an innocuous, park appearing, one tier parking garage at the Commons to allivate the parking problem was discussed by Ted Raia. Some publicity in the Post will be obtained to soliciting comments by Pelican Bay residents. Chuck Morris mentioned that the farest North tram station also has parking problems which should be considered.



(c.) Ted Raia and John Iaizzo are drafting a bike policy for Pelican Bay to be presented to the residence for comments.



The meeting concluded at 6:00 p.m. The Chairman reminded the Board that the next meeting will be on May 9, 2002, 3:00 p.m. in the second floor in the Board Room of the SunTrust Bank.



Respectfully submitted,





Chuck Morris, Secretary