I'm still on vacation...

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, Neighbor!

Your 2009 Board of Directors (which is unfortunately IDENTICAL to the 2008 Board due to a lack of NEW volunteers) is looking forward to a challenging year in which we continue making substantial, forward-looking changes in Westlake Village. Here’s a quick update on what we’re up to:

1. The playground is in the process of being remodeled. The selected pieces of equipment have been removed (per our safety audit report) and we will be meeting with vendors to make plans for a new playground for our neighborhood children.
2. Some of you may have seen the downed palm tree on the southern end of the Blvd…yes, it was hit by a vehicle. The Board has contacted the Florida Highway Patrol and is in the process of tracking down the driver for reimbursement.
3. Some may have seen the new combo lock on the front door of the Clubhouse. Starting mid-February, the lock will be engaged and you will need the combination to access the Clubhouse, Office, Rec Room, and Pool area. The new code, which will be printed on the resident ID cards, will be disseminated to all members who have paid their annual dues.

The Board is STILL looking for residents to assist us in running the Association. We currently have a couple open Board positions…please make it a New Year’s resolution to volunteer in YOUR community.

Warmest Regards,

Rich Cornelius, President

December

Our monthly meeting is tomorrow, Dec 15, 2008, at 7p sharp at the Clubhouse - we'd love to see you there. We'll be adopting our 2009 budget, electing positions, and discussing other regular business.

Our playground will be under construction for a little while. We will be removing selected pieces the week of Christmas in order to meet our goal of 1/1/09. The existing equipment will be modified as well.

Don;t forget to visit your citrus groves! The association installed a low-volume drip irrigation system to promote deep, nourishing irrigation and the grapefruit look great this year! Help yourself and give them to friends and family. The more that gets picked, the more grows next year (or so they say!).

As always, we're looking for Board volunteers. Please think about volunteering a fraction of your time for your neighborhood.

Watering Restrictions increased due to severe drought

PLEASE DO YOUR PART AND HELP US CONSERVE!

Additional Water Restrictions Adopted
Utilities Customers Urged to Increase Water Conservation Measures
November 7, 2008

Pinellas County, Fla.—With a continued rainfall deficit in the region, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board has tightened water restrictions for all of Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough counties. In addition to continuing lawn watering restrictions to one-day-a week and prohibiting watering between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., the new water shortage order calls for local governments to strictly enforce the rules which include:

- Hand watering or micro-irrigation of non-lawn landscaping is permitted only before 8:00 a.m. or after 6:00 p.m.

- Customers should avoid an increase in lawn or landscape water use—including postponement of any planned turfgrass renovation or lawn replacement

- Establishment period for new sod and landscape has changed to allow watering only three days per week from day 31 to day 60 (even addresses on Tuesday, Thursday, and/or Saturday and odd addresses on Wednesday, Friday, and/or Sunday)

- Decorative fountains and waterfalls may only be operated four hours per day

All observed violations after November 15 will result in a citation

Irrigation Using Reclaimed Water
Resolution No. 01-329

Irrigation on a voluntary watering schedule.

If your house number ends in: Then water on:

EVEN number (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday

ODD number (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday

Sunday is a watering day for all users



Morning Hours Evening Hours
12:01 AM to 10:00 AM 4:00 PM to 11:59 PM

Pinellas County Utilities has numerous programs to help residents conserve water and lower their water bills. These include rebate programs for ultra low flow toilets and installation of alternate water sources for lawn irrigation. Various publications are available to assist with leak detection, sprinkler system calibration, leaky flappers and indoor/outdoor water conservation initiatives. Utilities customers may also request free low flow shower heads, water saver kits, rain gauges and hose shut-off nozzles to further enhance conservation efforts.

For more information about watering restrictions and ways to conserve water, please visit www.pinellascounty.org/utilities or contact Pinellas County Utilities at 464-4000.

ANNUAL MEETING TUESDAY NOVEMBER 11 @ 7p

Pls plan on attending our Annual Meeting tomorrow (Tuesday) at 7p at the Clubhouse.

Oct 08

Happy Halloween!

Just a couple of things to touch on:

1. NO POLITICAL SIGNS ALLOWED. Part of what makes our neighborhood special are some of the rules that keep our neighborhood looking exclusive. That would include nice lawns, maintained homes, and the absence of SIGNS. Have you noticed that we lack that classic picture of For Sale signs lining out streets. There’s a reason for that: 1) WLV only has about 1% of it’s homes for sale and 2) our rules do not allow the regular For Sale signs. Article VIII, Section 11 of our deed restrictions specifically prohibit signs that have not been approved by the Board. It is my personal request that all homeowners abide by that rule and keep our neighborhood visually DE-CLUTTERED. Thanks for your help with this…
2. EVER SCREAM WHILE A VACUUM IS RUNNING?!? That’s what your Board is doing now…we need so much help from residents, but no one seems to be hearing us. There may be quite a few Board members who decide they have had enough and come the December meeting, we may be without a quorum. That would be sad, but not unexpected. There is a direct correlation between an active and healthy BoD and home values…in this day and age, isn’t it in your best interest to protect your house value??? I’ve heard all the excuses for NOT volunteering…I challenge residents to MAN (or WOMAN) UP and pitch in for YOUR FAMILY! If things continue status quo, one day these articles will stop appearing and you’ll wonder why…
3. In an effort to promote fiscal and environmental responsibility, the BoD has discussed ceasing the mailing of the Village Voice in favor of the following delivery options:
   
   · Email delivery via www.WestlakeVillageHoa.com registration
   · Posted on www.WestlakeVillageHoa.com
   · Flyer box in Clubhouse parking lot
   · Pick up from the Clubhouse Office
   · Mailing at the specific request of our members (contact the office)
   
   Come 2009, residents will be able to receive our VV via the methods above. This will save the Village money spent on printing, folding, and mailing, as well as lost productivity from gathering/designing ads, taking the VV to the printer, and driving the VV to Tampa Int'l Airport for mailing. While ad revenue does partially offset our costs, we have lost much productivity in getting the VV to residents (as well as the environmental impacts of having it mailed/delivered to you). With the budgetary restraints we are under, all spending is under the microscope.
   
   As always, any questions or concerns pls call 417.8814

Playground Equipment Removal

Neighbors,

I wanted you to inform you of our latest project and also ask that you inform any curious neighbors who might ask you about it.

Earlier in the year, at the behest of our insurance company and also out of concern for the safety of our children, the Board paid a Certified Playground Safety Specialist to audit our playground and recommend a course of action to bring it inline with nationally-accepted safety standards. That lengthy report is on file at the office.

The inspector reported that appr. 7 pieces of equipment are classified as "Class 1" hazards...that means the equipment poses immediate real and serious threats to children which may result in serious injury or death. It was his opinion that the cost to modify those pieces of equipment (if even possible) is more than the value of the equipment, thus we should remove it as soon as feasible.

The Board has given this topic much thought and research. Dimitri Leventis and Toni Benton have been instrumental in gathering add'l information the playground equipment. For now, the Board has placed yellow caution tape around the equipment designated as Class 1 safety hazards. We want to inform residents to the best degree possible that 1) we have identified certain playground equipment for removal 2) We will remove this equipment in a timely fashion 3) We intend to replace the equipment with safety-certified pieces as our finances allow.

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, pls contact me, the office, or any Board member.

Bits and pieces

It's been very very quiet throughout the community as we get the kids back in school, close out the summer, and look to the holidays! Your association staff have been busy with our annual audit (completed), tracking unpaid dues, and preparing for the Annual meeting scheduled in November.

If you have walked by the citrus grove recently, you may notice a couple things: light green growth on the trees, new growth almost to the ground, and the new low volume, continuous flow irrigation system. Part of our vision for the grove was to emulate the professional citrus groves that were once abundant in our area. It is common practice in these groves to have a continuous, low volume irrigation system and to allow the branches to grow to the ground - the branches prevent light from reaching the base of the tree, which curbs weed growth (a problem we have had) and keeps moisture from quickly evaporating.

We have added sophits to our pumphouse (courtesy of Mr. Jim Brasby) and will be focusing on other low-cost improvements as we finish out our fiscal and calender year.

As always, we encourage resident participation and welcome your thoughts and comments.

Some happenings...

1. Jim Brasby, our Building & Grounds Supervisor, recently welcomed a new addition to his family - Anthony (AJ) Brasby! Almost 9 lbs, he and mom are doing wonderful.
2. The Board is gearing up for our Annual Meeting in November and we're piecing together an '09 budget. Anyone wanting to assist, please call the office at 784-3054.
3. BOO! We're having a Halloween Party, courtesy of the hard working resident Dawnmarie Schnauder. It's Oct 31 - check out the September VV for details!
4. There are quite a few hurricanes heading in our general direction...a great resource to stay ahead of these storms is the Nat'l Hurricane center website www.nhc.noaa.gov. They update all tracks and storms at 5a, 11a, 5p, & 11p (every 6 hours).
5. We have several openings for different positions within the Association...we can't function efficiently without volunteers. Make a change and consider donating an hour or 2 per month to your community.

Ciao, baby!

THE BAD NEWS:

Recently, some of our residents have received a letter from the Association attorney with regards to a lien being placed on their property due to unpaid 2008 assessments. The Board has made numerous attempts to let our residents know that unpaid 2008 assessments will be collected according to the legal requirements of Florida statutes. We have had a disappointingly large amount of unpaid assessments this year for a variety of reasons. Please know the Association and each Board member is extremely sympathetic to resident’s situations, however collecting unpaid assessments is an unpleasant duty which we are tasked to complete. Interest and legal fees actually cause the unpaid assessment to almost double, which makes it even MORE IMPERATIVE that residents contact us in the future if the full assessment cannot be paid by the regular January 31st due date. Like any other debt, communication is the best policy – before the collection letter is sent and a property lien is filed! Once an account is sent for collection to our attorney, we cannot accept just the unpaid assessment.

The GOOD NEWS:

Our year-end financial picture has improved somewhat. Due to the large amount of unpaid assessments, we will barely break even in terms of annual revenue vs. expenses BUT NOT make our scheduled contribution to the Replacement Fund. Should we receive the unpaid assessments by years’ end, we should be able to make a partial contribution to our Replacement Fund.

The OTHER:

I wanted to inform you of the upcoming Run to the Rock 5K/1M event in Palm Harbor on Saturday, September 20, 2008. As in the past, this event runs North on Westlake Boulevard from Nebraska Road to Alderman Road in the curb lane only of Westlake Boulevard. Westlake Boulevard will have some traffic restrictions in place during the hours of 7:30am until approximately 9:30am on that morning. During that time, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office will have 11 Deputies stationed along the course to control traffic at each street intersecting with Westlake Boulevard. FYI.

PCSO Patrols

Every month, the WLV Board contracts with the PCSO for "off-duty" patrols in addition to the great regular coverage we already receive. The dates and times change all the time, but below is the report for July. Officers completing the off-duty patrols utilize their cars, bikes, and on-foot to give us the best possible security. The Board takes the security of the Village very seriously and feel this is money well-spent...even if you don't see them, the PCSO is always there for us.

07/04/08
Friday
Dep. S. K.
No traffic violations observed, all quiet. Four juveniles were lighting fireworks in the park and they were asked to leave, which they did.

07/05/08
Saturday
Dep. B. S.
No traffic violations observed. Community was quiet this evening.

07/08/08
Tuesday
Dep. K. S.
Very quiet and little traffic. No incidents / activity to report.

07/17/08
Thursday
Dep. S. E.
Very quiet this evening, no activity to report.

07/25/08
Dep. S. E.
Very quiet this evening, no activity to report.

07/29/08
Tuesday
Dep. R. S.
Very quiet and little traffic. No incidents / activity to report.

Early August update

1. PLEASE LOCK YOUR CAR DOORS! We had a rash of burglaries in WLV and surrounding N. Pinellas communities over the past couple of months. The best defense is to check your doors EVERY night. A locked door will cause them to move onto the next house - don't be that NEXT HOUSE!
2. We did some tree trimming this past week. If you saw the brush piles, we apologize for the short-term eyesore. You'll be happy to know that we were able to chip the debris and use the resulting mulch on property. Now that's recycling! And it didn't cost us a dime - our current lawn contract includes tree-trimming anything below 12'.
3. Our annual meeting is in November - we elect 3 new Board members and firm our 2009 budget. Now is a great time to get involved - we'd love to see you. Call the office at 727.784.3054 or email westlakevillage@verizon.net .

Peace!

Looking towards 2009

We just recently completed our July meeting. Aside from the normal business, we also appointed 2 committe chairs to focus our attention on 2009 - an Annual Meeting Committee and a Nomination Committee.

Our annual meeting will most likely be held at the Clubhouse on November 11th @ 7p, the 2nd Tuesday of November. We'll catch you up-to-date on our finances, any challenges you should be aware of, and what has been accomplished ytd. We will also offer anecdotes on what to expect next year and of course we'll make our please for more volunteers.

What a great segue! Our nominating committee has also been set up and will be canvassing the neighborhood looking for volunteers to help us run the Association. Please don't shy away from serving on the BoD - it's an engaging, thoughtful experience that will reshape your views of how an Association meets the needs of residents in accordance with state and local laws. Volunteerism is the lifeblood of our community and helps us keep costs down, which in turn allows us to concentrate on improving infrastructure and squirreling away funds for the future.

CONSUMER ALERT!!

I am the first person to recommend a great vendor for all different kinds of home services, such as lawn-mowing, painting, roofing, etc. I have never had such a BAD experience that I have publicly declared that others should exercise EXTREME CAUTION when employing a certain vendor. But that's about to change. (PS...this is not libel as I am recounting my firsthand experience with this vendor)

I solicited a bid from STEVE'S EXPERT TREE TRIMMING for a rental property I manage. Steve Luttman, the proprietor, gave me a competitive quote which we signed off on. Despite the fact he kept calling me to start the job EVEN though I told him I would call him, I continued forward with our agreement. At one point, he started work without my authorization, at which time I promptly asked him to cease and desist. He did, but not before making a massive pile in the front yard. I felt he was trying to force my hand, which I did not appreciate.

When I gave him the green light, they started immediately (good) but delayed their return to finish the job for 5 days (bad). He asked for 50% halfway through the job, which was ok by me. After completing the full cut but before he took the 1st load to the dump, he asked for the balance. Stupid me should have gave him half of the remaining balance, but I made the regretful mistake of paying him in full, trusting that he was an ethical businessman who would not want to sour a future relationship. Plus, he only had 1 more load to take to the dump.

Long story short, he never returned for that 1 load. I had new tenants wondering why there was a heap of debris in their yard, neighbors were giving me dirty looks (I deserved it!), and I ultimately had to haul the rest to the Tarpon Springs dump at a cost of $50 + the 4 hours of my day. He never returned any of my phone calls, but that's what happens when 1 person screws another.

I ABSOLUTELY RECOMMEND STAYING AWAY FROM THIS LYING, UNETHICAL TREE TRIMMER. You will save yourself time, money, grief, and aggravation!!!

June goings-on

Hello Neighbors!

Hopefully, this issue of your Village Voice finds you high and dry and doing well.

Before I go any further, I wanted to mention the sad and unfortunate passing of 2 of our neighbors, Brianna Foley and Dorothy Schneider. Both residents and their families are in our hearts and we grieve with them for their losses.

July is upon us and the Board of Directors is looking towards 2009 and the financial challenges that await us. At the present time, we have appr. $30,000 in 2007 & 2008 HOA dues outstanding (repaid: unpaid). It has put a significant burden on the Association’s finances and has caused us to suspend any future projects until our income stream stabilizes. The Board has made contact with all late homeowners and has moved onto the unfortunate process of establishing liens on the properties that have not paid. We certainly don’t want to do that, but we are obligated to protect the financial interests of our community on behalf of all the residents that live here. If you have not yet paid your 2008 assessment, please contact the office at 784-3054.

You may have noticed the many improvements being completed by our Director of Maintenance, Jim Brasby, and our Lawn Care Tech, Andy Franek. The most recent projects include:

· Re-sodding of the South Entrance (timed for the late June/July rains)
· Re-Painting of the repaired tennis hut
· Re-painted North Entrance sign
· New drip-line irrigation system in citrus groves (new growth already being seen)
· Augmented irrigation system in Park north of Lake
· New trash cans throughout the park
· Expanded garden in front of Clubhouse
· 2 new 3 HP pool pumps (both impellers and motor assemblies failed w/i 1 week of each other)
· Pressure-washed and sealed fencing in front of clubhouse
· Pressure-washed and sealed Pool deck

These are just the major projects and don’t include the smaller, day-to-day items. If you see either one of these fine gentleman around the neighborhood, let them know you appreciate the hard work they are doing!

Hey, we still have 1 spot open on the Board – we have so many candidates, we’re doing a drawing and the lucky winner gets the LAST spot on the Board. Call the office for details!

Now is the time to conserve our precious reclaimed water so we have it through the drier winter months. With it raining almost every day, walk out to your timer and and turn it to off. Should we hit a few days with no rain, the lawn will let you know if it needs any water. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure (I finally used that saying, Mom!)

Have a great July!

Sad news...the passing of a friend...

Briana Foley

Briana M. Foley, 49, of Palm Harbor won her final & everlasting reward June 18. Her 6 year battle with cancer was completed & she is with the Lord. Briana is survived by husband of 27 years, Greg; daughter Elizabeth; father Daniel Moriarty, Rockaway, NJ; brother William, Marblehead, MA; sister Sheila, Millstone, NJ; sister Mary, Coram, NY & 18 nieces & nephews. A dedicated teacher serving 24 years as a music educator in Pinellas County, she also leaves many proteges & colleagues that will carry on her legacy of love, tolerance & an appreciation of the arts.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Briana Foley Trust Fund, 740 Sandy Hook Rd, Palm Harbor, FL 34683, or to the Hospice of the Florida Suncoast.

Published in the St. Petersburg Times on 6/21/2008.

Reclaimed water users asked to limit irrigation

Pinellas County officials ask reclaimed water users in Palm Harbor, Crystal Beach, Ozona and parts of East Lake to immediately limit irrigation of lawns and landscaping. Due to dry conditions, there has been a dramatic increase in reclaimed water use and the county's system is being stressed beyond its limit. If reclaimed water use is not reduced voluntarily, water use will be controlled by zone. For information, call (727) 464-4000 or visit pinellascounty.org/utilities.

Man, it's hot out there...hopefully, rain is in our forecast.

The Borad would like to extend to allour volunteers our most sincere thanks for stepping up and making this community better. We have accomplished so much in the last 6 - 12 months, but we have so much more to do! The playground remodel is our biggest and most ambitious project yet...if you are interested in assisting with this large project, please contact Rosemary in the office 727-784-3054.

We have laid new sod at the south entrance - I apologize to the residents who thought we had let it die and planned to do nothing about it. In reality, we applied 2 treatments of herbicide to ensure no weeds pop up. Unfortunately, it dictated that the area not look good for those weeks.

We have our new drip line irrigation system in the grove delivering much needed water directly to the base of each citrus tree. Our lawn tech, Andy Franek, expertly installed the new system and is ensuring it's 100% operational.

With the hurricane season upon up, homeowner's may want to consider trimming their trees to prevent damage from high winds. There are good deals to be had with tree trimming companies - I finally got around to removing the 2 mature carrotwood trees on my property - $500 to completely remove both trees and haul away!

Have a great day!

Where are the May Showers???

Hello Neighbors! Hope June finds you all well and happy. Your Association is super-busy with a multitude of projects and initiatives, some visible and some not. For the latest weekly updates on what’s going on, visit the President’s Corner blog at www.WestlakeVillageHOA.com (upper left corner). Here are some thoughts as we approach the summer months:

Pool Safety (yours and ours) – I don’t have to tell you Florida leads the NATION in child drownings. If you don’t have one, please consider some sort of protective boundary around your pool to prevent this tragedy (even if you don’t have kids) – fencing, screened porch, pool alarms, etc. Also, parental supervision is MANDATORY at the Clubhouse pool. We do not staff lifeguards and our pool attendants are not able to provide lifeguarding duties. Our pool is a SWIM AT YOUR OWN RISK pool. A full list of pool rules is down at the Clubhouse. Thanks for assisting with this.

In mid-May, the Sheriff’s Office, based on a tip from a resident, apprehended individuals caught with stolen items. If your home or vehicle was burglarized and items were taken, please contact the PCSO to file a report. THE PCSO reports that there are many items in the possession of these criminals that cannot be accounted for AND if claimed, will build a stronger case against these individuals.

Playground Committee – In the furtherance of safety, the WLV Board completed an audit of our playground a little while ago. We now need resident guidance on how to best meet existing safety standards while meeting the needs of residents. This will have a far-reaching effect on our community and we appreciate your support.

JOIN "SAVE THE PLAYGROUND" Committee Now!

The preliminary review of the playground report recommends drastic changes. The committee thinks every effort be made to make residents aware and brought into the process. This will make all residents aware that changes will be made to the playground.

Dimitrios Leventis, a Director on the Board, has volunteered to spearhead our playground review committee but he needs YOUR help. He has scheduled a meeting for JUNE 2, 2008 at 7p at the Clubhouse.

Please contact Rosemary at the office 727.784.3054 to join our committee.

Car Burglars Caught!

Last night, May 15th, Pinellas County Sheriff officers apprehended 3 individuals as they tried to evade arrest for burglary of a conveyance (aka car burglary) in the Westlake Blvd/Pinewood Terr area. The PCSO is asking ANYONE who suspects they may have had their car broken into OR has had their vehicle broken into previously to report it immediately to the PCSO at 582.6200. Just tell the dispatcher that you would like to report a vehicle burglary and they will point you in the right direction. Even if you had happened to leave your doors unlocked, it is still a FELONY! REPORTING THESE CRIMES IS IMPERATIVE! In order to build solid cases against them, they are asking for our help. This may also be connected to the burglaries of at least 1 home in our neighborhood.

Thank you all for your attention to this matter and please keep your eyes open. The PCSO is working hard to keep our community safe and free of crime.

WLV update...

1. Our Lawncare Tech, Andy Franek, has started installation of the Board-approved drip irrigation system for the grove. This improvement should show an immediate benefit, as it was the opinion of Brian Snell of Snell Groves in Pasco County.
2. Andy has also sprayed herbicide on selected parts of the south Blvd area. We will be replacing sod as soon as the area has been treated, just in time for the summer storm season.
3. Jim Brasby, our Dir. of Buildings & Grounds, is busy on many fronts. The most visible of his projects will be repainting the north entrance signs - if you see one missing, don't fret. He has no electric out there and we decided taking it back to his office for repair would be better.
4. We still have 1 open Board spot and need add'l committee members for Architectural, Beautification, Activities, etc. Let us know if you're interested...we have a ton of things going on.

Hola!

Slow Down! The Pinellas County Sheriffs Office is increasing patrols of our neighborhood, common areas, and Blvd. They recently issued a motorist a speeding ticket for doing 49 mph down the Blvd – ouch! Also, the “rolling stops” at our intersections may cost you, as the PCSO regularly picks high-traffic intersections to monitor. It’s not only costly, but it may save the life of a child…

We just inked our insurance policy for ‘08/’09 and we saved some dinero! Last year, we spent $15,262 on a comprehensive commercial insurance policy. This year, we have the exact same coverage for $13,600! Plus, we added rising floodwater coverage for only $348. I would like to credit Pete Altmeyer for introducing us to Carlisle Fields in Clearwater last year and enabling us to get great coverage at affordable rates!

We have just 1 Board member position open – please don’t all run down to the Clubhouse at the same time ;-) Not only is it good policy to have a full complement of 9 Board members, but with a year over year turnover of 3 Board members, we need as much continuity as possible.

The pool’s open – except this past Sunday. I received 2 calls about the pool being locked and I must apologize. I am not sure how the Clubhouse got locked, but we will try to avoid it in the future. Our pool is too beautiful to not have residents using it! Sorry!

If you want to get on our "hotline" and received immediate news and updates, please send me your email address and I'll add it to our list...no spam, no junk - just news you can use!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

As summer approaches, our to-do list continues to grow as we identify more areas we would like to improve. But before we get into that, I would like to welcome Matt McKeown, his wife Tiffany, and their young son to the neighborhood. Matt grew up in WLV and his parents still reside here, so it’s like a homecoming of sorts. Matt has volunteered to be on the Board of Directors and Tiffany will be helping out on the Architectural Committee, which still has a need for more volunteers. Thank you, Matt & Tiffany, for volunteering!

Back to our list…we just finalized our 2008/2009 insurance policy with Carlisle Fields in Clearwater. We were able to continue our exact coverage at a premium of $13,600 – which was $1600 less than last year’s premium! A copy of our policy is in the office.

Our Director of Maintenance, Jim Brasby, has been busy finishing up various projects. The tennis hut, benches, garbage cans, wooden pool deck, and installing signs have kept him very busy lately. He also tiled the pool deck countertop and repainted the cabinetry. He is planning on re-surfacing our 2 parking lots, adding handicapped parking spots, and repainting the lines in the near future…

If you haven’t gotten us your 2008 Annual Dues payment, please do so as soon as possible. The Board of Directors budgets according to expected dues income and we have a higher-than-average number of delinquent accounts.

Have a terrific May!

Latest

Please read and heed.... and stay safe:

Wednesday, 4/2/08:

HO on Rolling Hills Drive called to let the BOD know that there has been auto break ins. Her husband's vehicle was one of them and they did call the PCSO to file a report.

Friday, 4/4/08 4 PM:

A homeowner, in Westlake Village, told us that three teen age boys tried to break into one of her windows. They tore open the screen and tried to push the window open. Her daughter was home at the time and was able to get a description of the three boys. This homeowner called the Sheriff's Department, they came to her home and a formal report was filed.
Saturday, 4/5/08 @ 2 AM:
Last night a strange man walked into a home at a home on Village Way. He was drunk and not in his right mind. He walked in the front door which was unlocked and made it all the way to the pool patio before he was escorted out by the homeowner's 21 year old son who deposited him on the front lawn after "restraining" him. A deputy arrested him when he was found hiding in some bushes a few houses down. A helicopter was used to locate him. This was around 2AM Saturday morning.

Where did March go????

The Association, on behalf of our residents, would like to thank Colleen Bemis and her troop of helpers for spearheading a neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt at the Clubhouse and playground a few weeks ago. Although Saturday got rained out, Sunday was a huge success! We hope to repeat this great event (and others) in the future. If you are interested in organizing future events like the Egg Hunt, please contact Rosemary at 784-3054. We do allocate funds in our budget for these types of happenings, as they are integral to keeping Westlake Village the neighbor-friendly place we love to live in!

We are receiving reports of overnight auto break-ins on the east side of Westlake Village. The Sheriff’s Office is increasing patrols of our neighborhood with an emphasis in that area. Please call the PCSO if you see or hear anything suspicious. It is NOT advisable to confront suspicious individuals. If the PCSO doesn’t know about it, they can’t help us! The Board also voted at the March meeting to begin additional off-duty PCSO patrols throughout the neighborhood. You may not see them – without giving too much info away, they have been VERY successful keeping a low profile while conducting surveillance in Westlake Village. We do receive monthly reports from the PCSO, which are always available in the office.

Here are some of the items that the Board will be addressing in the near future:

Playground Equipment Audit – WLV contracted with SafetyPlay, Inc in St. Petersburg to conduct a safety audit of our playground equipment. The safety of all is paramount and WLV is committed to keeping our equipment safe and enjoyable – the report should be submitted soon and the results will be publicized shortly.

Westlake Blvd South Entrance – We are coordinating with our Lawn Care Tech, Andy Franek, to get costs for replacing sod in various locations at the south end of the Blvd. An estimate is forthcoming and this will be discussed at the April Board meeting.

Citrus Grove – After consulting with Andy Franek & Bryan Snell of Snell Groves in Pasco County, it was the recommendation to the Board that a drip line irrigation be re-installed in the grove to combat the loss of trees. The Board approved the expenditure at the March meeting and installation is being coordinated.

Our Maintenance Director, Jim Brasby, has been very busy with various projects in our neighborhood – sealing the park path, pressurewashing the wooden deck in the pool area, sealing the Pumphouse roof, installing motion-sensing lights in the pool baths, and much more.

AS ALWAYS, WE WELCOME YOUR VOLUNTEERISM – PLEASE CALL US TO HELP OUT!

I am by no means a "greenthumb" and fail miserably at keeping potted plants alive. However, I seem to have a little luck with my St. Augustine lawn, which is now 2+ years old. As the growing & mowing season quickly approaches, I wanted to share with my neighbors some things that may help you keep your lawn a little greener...

1. St. Augustine is actually a NON-NATIVE WEED that has come to represent the classic Florida lifestyle. Being that it's a weed, it has a tendency to replace competing grasses, which is good. If you need to cover a bare spot, don't hesitate to use plugs or even just keep the area bare and moist. Chances are the grass will grow right in.
2. If you have driven by my home, you may question why I let my grass grow so long. 2 reasons: 1) Pure laziness ;-) 2) When the grass hits a certain height, you will notice the seed stems that seem to stick up everywhere. My thinking is that the longer I go between mowing, the more seeds are matured and dropped back into my grass, which means the effective age of my St. Augustine stays low. Theoretically, it's being recycled. On the contrary, if your lawn gets a buzzcut every week, there is a good chance seeds do not have a chance to sprout and then regrow, which means your grass will become "older" and more prone to problems.
3. OverWatering - overwatering will kill any St. Augustine, but not immediately. Overwatering tends to keep the grasses roots close to the surface, where water is plentiful. Unfortunately, when April/May comes around and the rains stop, your roots are left close to the hot, dry surface with no chance of getting water. If you water less frequently, it forces your grass' roots to search out water from below, which means they are better prepared to withstand drought conditions.
4. Pesticide. Chinch bugs, among other pests, will decimate a lawn like the Bucs O-Line at a buffet! You can treat it yourself, but be aware that many pesticides sold to the public must be "watered down" for safety and regulatory purposes. For those whose expenses allow, consider getting a lawn company. I use Scotland Yards. They fertilize my lawn and treat pests in my front yard for $40 every 2 months...what a deal to protect my home's value and lawn.
5. Mowing. Don't buzzcut your lawn. use a slightly higher setting and "mulch" it so it falls back into the lawn. I have heard that lawn cutting have 40% of the nutrients required by lawns - because they are composed of the same things. Also, cut all of your St. Augustine before you move onto an area of weeds or different grasses - sometimes the seeds can be transported and you will unknowingly "re-seed" your beautiful St. Augustine with weeds!!

I guess that's it...it's not really rocket-science, so to speak. This is my first lawn and it seems to be holding it's own after 2+ years. Let me mention that my lawn is Southern-facing with full sunlight - results may vary with lawns of different locations. If 1 or more of these ideas saves you time and/or money, then just send me the money, you keep the time, and we'll call it even ;-)

BOLO - Be On the LookOut!

THE GROVE MEETING HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO MARCH 13, 2008 AT 6P AT THE CLUBHOUSE.

EASTER EGG HUNT MARCH 22, 2008 AT THE CLUBHOUSE. SEE THE VV FOR DETAILS...

Teenagers Assualting Traveling Cars


- from a concerned (& angry) resident...



I was traveling in my van South on Westlake Blvd Tuesday , Feb 20th, at 5:10pm when my vehicle was hit by a grapefruit in the side panel of my car.I noticed one boy was on the \"lookout\" for upcoming victims as I waspassing and then we were hit by another boy who threw the grapefruit hardenough to scare both of my children. I then saw the boys running away as Istopped my vehicle and caught up with them to have a chat. This happenedjust North of the intersection of Westlake Blvd and Linden. I called thepolice and asked if they would patrol the neighborhood looking for threeteenage boys around 14 years of age with full descriptions of two of them. I suspect the boys live nearby since they were all on foot without a vehicleor bike. This delinquent behavior will not be tolerated and if I were not onmy way somewhere important I would have met with the police to file a reportfor these boys to learn the consequences of their actions. If the grapefruit had hit and shattered thewindow it could have seriously harmed my three year old son. What sometimesseems to be a harmless prank can cause big problems for the victims. Isuspect our chat gave them a good scare, but please be aware of threeteenage boys roaming the neighborhood looking to cause mischief.

Below are the minutes from our Grove "Town Hall" mtg...FYI we need MORE VOLUNTEERS!

Grove Townhall meeting 2/19/08

PLEASE NOTE: IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT THE BoD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OVERALL OPERATION OF THE GROVE. THE INFORMATION BELOW IS INTENDED AS A RECOMMENDATION THAT WE HOPE THE BOARD STRONGLY CONSIDER AS IT’S LONG RANGE GROVE REJUVENATION PLAN.

Long Term Goal: Rejuvenate a targeted section of the grove (appr 50 trees) due to financial, material, and manpower constrains. When the “section” is fully sustainable, then consider expanding with new trees & irrigation.

Short Term Goal: Determine best section of trees to “save”
Rehab existing trees w/i that section
Plant new trees to fill vacant spots w/i section


Priority of Tasks

Employ citrus specialist to assess the best section of the grove based on location, health of existing trees, survival probability of new trees, etc. (Appr $250)
Consult w/ Andy to determine cost of running drip-type irrigation to the base of each tree in the “section”. (Appr $2000)
Increase granule fertilization in good “section” from 2 to 3 times per year when irrigation is in place. (Appr $750)
Continue present fertilization of rest of the grove (dead and dying)
New Tree replacement consisting of various types of citrus (See Cost Schedule below)
Bait/Spray pesticide on selected trees to kill carpenter ant colonies
Remove those selected dead trees (12-15) using excavation company to fully remove the trunks and rootstock and haul offsite.

Supplemental Tasks

Consult with USF/UCF/USDA for any possible grants available to WLV
Consult with USF/UCF/USDA for any possible donations of time and/or material

Cost of New Trees (Summary)

It was decided that it is in the best interests of the Association to purchase high-quality citrus trees from nurseries that specialize in citrus. There is an acceptable increase in cost of the citrus because (theoretically) they will produce better fruit, more fruit, live longer, and be less susceptible to disease and pests due to good rootstock.

The costs below were supplied by Andy and are for the tree, delivery in covered trailer, and INSTALLATION:

· 3 gal $55
· 7 gal $85
· 15 gal $150
· 30 gal $250

It was NOT decided which size and how many trees would need to be purchased because the section has not been determined.


Plan of Action:

Rich will consult with Andy to bring a qualified citrus consultant on property to determine “section” to reclaim.
Reconvene townhall meeting to review consultant recommendation and settle on “section” to preserve/rejuvenate
Consult with Andy to plan/implement new augmented irrigation system
Consult with Jim to eradicate current colonies of carpenter ants
Jim to gather estimate to remove 12-15 dead/dying trees identified by consultant

Feb Happenings

Ahhh...love is in the air! Here's a few things that are on our plate at the moment...

1) If you know someone in the neighborhood with a Green Buick, please check to make sure they are OK. At appr 12:56a on Sunday morning, a green Buick took out a Progress Energy light pole on the Blvd between Maple Ridge and Alderman. The PCSO handled the crash and reported that although Rescue was called, no one was taken to the hospital. I hope the passengers involved are ok. I have called Progress Energy and requested they install a new light pole AT NO COST to the Association. The driver may be on the hook for a new one, however...

2) Green Belt Survey. A few months back the Association sent a letter to every homeowner whose property borders Association "Common Area" such as the park or the Green Belt. It is the result of a situation with another homeowner whose fencing encraoched onto Association property. It was mentioned that other residents appeared to have fencing over their respective property lines - the Association felt, to be fair and impartial, that a full survey (at a cost of $1500) was necessary to resolve these encroachment issues. Well, the survey is back. We have approximately 10 properties whose fencing encroaches anywhere from 1/2" to 16 FEET! If you think your fence is on Common Property, come and talk to us - we want to work with you to resolve the situation amicably and move forward with clear boundaries FOR ALL RESIDENTS!

3) Playground. At the request of our insurance company and in light of the terrible tragedy that befell the little girl in Manatee county, we are contracting with a licensed Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) to conduct a thorough audit of our playground equipment and make recommendations that will bring us in line with legally accepted playground principles of safety. Stay tuned for those results.

4) Dues. We have received a large number of dues payments (THANK YOU!) and also a handful of reports of dues letters NOT being received. If you have not received your dues notice, please call Rosemary in the ofc 784-3054 and let her know.

5) 3035 Committee. What's "3035"? In short, it's new legislative rules that have been handed to HOA's statewide and require comprehensive reviews of existing rules and limitations. There is no doubt that this new set of laws will change the landscape of Architectural enforcement and rule-making, so we are asking for your help! If you would like to be a part of this committee and over insight into the path WLV will be taking, please call Rosemary in the ofc and a Board member will get back to you. This is very important and the results WILL impact your homes future value!

6) My fingers ache from typing...see y'all next week.

February is here – let the romance begin.

Let me start by saying I LOVED the garage sale this year – our household netted $185!!! Hopefully you did, too. If you didn’t participate, start planning for next year’s sale by collecting sale items in one spot. Another easy way to be compensated for your used items is Goodwill, the Salvation Army, FL Sheriff’s Youth Ranch, or any other charitable organization. You won’t get cash, but the tax deduction is just as good – but consult your tax advisor – I don’t want the IRS after me!

I also want to show a little LOVE for our director of maintenance, Jim Brasby. Wait, let me re-phrase that – I LOVE the completed projects he has overseen:

· Pumphouse exterior repair/remodel
· Installation of signage as dictated by our insurance co.
· Renovation of the Tennis Court hut
· Removal of dead, dying, and downed trees throughout our neighborhood
· Countless other stuff he does without being directed to do so.

When you see him, show him a little love – it goes a long way and he will appreciate your comments!

We all LOVE the grove, right? We can’t sit on our laurels anymore as the grove continues to decline. Join your neighbors at the Clubhouse at 6 PM ON TUESDAY FEBRUARY 19th to discuss what we all can do to rejuvenate the grove. It will be a town-hall type meeting with lots of give and take, comments, and suggestions. ALL ARE WELCOME!

Now I know you LOVE sending in that dues check every year ;-) Well, when you do, please know that you are meeting your duties as a landowner in Westlake Village and helping the Association maintain the common areas of our Neighborhood as well as the financial interests in which you hold a share. Right now, assessments are past due (due 1/31) so if you have misplaced that bill or forgot to pay, please let the office know and Rosemary will make arrangements to catch you up.

Mid Jan report

Here's what's going on:

1) The Community garage sale was a SUCCESS - at least for my household. Over the 2 days, we sold appr $200 worth of "stuff" that we had been planning to dump. Not only do i have a few more shekels in my pocket, I regained the upper-hand on my garage "chaos".

2) We're still looking for volunteers for just about everything.

3) We have started light remodeling of the Pumphouse, at the direction of our insurance carrier. We will be working on the Tennis Court hut next.

4) January Dues are due by 1/31/08. Please make an effort to furnish FULL payment by then so we can continue the financial business of WLV.

5) Do you have a suggestion for ways we can streamline our operations and increase the efficiency of the HOA? We want to hear from you - call or email us.

This and That...1-16-08

Hello everyone!

Now that you have probably gotten your credit card bills from Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, better get to e-filing those taxes so you can get your return quicker!

On the homefront, here is a quick hit:

1. We had a reclaimed water main break on the Blvd on 1/15/08. The spill drained into the lake (good for us) but the county had to close down WL Blvd (bad for us).

2. Our Garage Sale is this Sat & Sun from 8a - 3p. We have advertised on numerour media sites and expect a great turnout - pray for dry weather!

3. The Board is looking for a Maintenance Chair, Activities Chair, Architectural Committee members, and 2 Board members. Anyone interested can call me 417-8814 or Rosemary in the office 784-3054.

4. **HOA dues are to be paid by 1/31/08** Without your dues, we can't continue the process of making this neighborhood as beautiful as possible. Thanks.

Have a great January - talk soon!

~Rich C.

Happy New Year.

I know – not very enthusiastic. Unfortunately, I cannot muster the exuberance or excitement for the new year after learning of the devastating fire experienced by some of our neighbors in the Townhomes section of Westlake Village on the night of January 2nd.

I have very little detail on the fire, except that appr. 4 of the 6 units in that particular cluster were severely damaged either by the fire or the amount of water required to put out the 2 alarm blaze.

At this time, our neighbors victimized by this tragedy are in temporary housing and the Association’s insurance company is evaluating the situation. On January 3rd, I contacted Ken Hopkins (Townhomes Assoc President) and offered our condolences and any support or resources the Civic Association can offer to them.

Our hearts go out to our neighbors and they are certainly in our thoughts and prayers.

COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE! We will be having a community-wide Garage Sale on January 19th & 20th so dig deep, dust off your “junk”, and get ready to wheel and deal. Your Association will be advertising the Garage Sale in the Penny Saver, online, and in various other areas so we expect a strong turnout. With good weather, everyone should have a terrific time!

VOLUNTEERS! The Board is looking for an Activities Chairperson to spearhead the various events we have every year, such as Springfest, the Annual Garage sale, and more. If interested, let us know.

-Rich C