Westlake Village HOA President's Corner

2010-10-26T09:32:00.000-05:00

Happy Fall to you!

I just finished filling out my Limited Proxy for the 2010 Annual Meeting – have you completed yours?

If you haven’t, please take a second and complete it. It’s a simple one page document that requires just your name, your picks for Board members (please write in yourself as a candidate!) and your address.

What a great segue…How in the world, with 585 homes, do we have ONLY 2 residents running for 3 Board member slots???? This is besides that fact that the 2 candidates are ALREADY on the Board! I am DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED that more residents are interested in helping current volunteers manage our $350,000 annual budget, $1M+ in assets, and 2 employees. I can only interpret this apparent lack of interest as a sign that residents are very satisfied with the work and efforts of the current volunteer Board members. Please know that current volunteers cannot volunteer ad infinitum…we will end our service and who will take over??? I cannot stress how important CONTINUITY OF THE HOA is to our community…your home’s value depends on it.

Also on the ballot is an amendment to the current overnight truck parking standard. The EXACT SAME amendment was on the 2009 ballot and almost passed but came up short. Regardless of how you feel about the topic, PLEASE VOTE!

Ok, now that you have filled out your Limited Proxy ballot, what do you do? Well, simply get it to Rosemary in the office NO LATER THAN:

Saturday Nov 6 if by mail
Sunday Nov 7 by 7p if utilizing the dropbox

This is important and I personally made this mistake my first year here – PROXY BALLOTS CANNOT BE ACCEPTED AT THE MEETING. We’ll just ask you to fill out a regular ballot instead.

The annual meeting is scheduled for TUESDAY NOVEMBER 9 at 7P at the Clubhouse. We need approximately 189 members in attendance (in person or by proxy) just to commence the meeting.

Please vote!

we need Board candidates

2010-09-20T22:08:00.002-05:00

This is a very simple request.

We need Board candidates for your 2011 Board of Directors.

Just like the Tea Party, we want you to "shake it up"!

We have 3 open positions that need to be filled.

At least give it a chance...you can always quit after!

Are you scared you might like it a little bit? Helping the community is contagious.

Joining the Board is kinda like flossing...it hurts a bit, you know you should do it more often, and when it's over your gums bleed...ok, so it's not ENTIRELY like flossing but you get the drift ;-)

Call Rosemary in the Office at 727-784-3054

2010-09-12T12:28:00.002-05:00

Good day.

I wanted to remind ALL residents of out Annual Meeting scheduled for November 9th at 7p at the Clubhouse. Ballots will be mailed out well in advance...I urge you to vote...we need your participation to have the quorum necessary to conduct the Annual Meeting.

The 2011 budget is being finalized and will be presented to the Board at the Sept meeting.

Pinellas County swept through the neighborhood trimming trees and clearing overgrown branches. That is why you pay your property taxes!

The pool will be shutdown in the next couple of months for a complete renovation. County and engineer-approved plans are on file in the office for residents to review at their leisure.

Jim, our Dir of Bldg & Grounds, and Rosemary, our Office Admin Asst, just reached their 3 year anniversary! If you see them, please let them know how much you appreciate what they do for our community!

2010-08-22T12:52:00.002-05:00

Good day...here are some quick tidbits...

1) Although our call for volunteers to assist the budget commitee has gone unanswered, the 2011 budget is being finalized and will hopefully be presented to the Board at the September meeting for review.

2) The SW corner of the South entrance has been approved by the Board for remodel. Perennial peanut, a florida friendly plant, will be installed.

3) Every year, we elect 3 new Board members at the annual meeting. Although members can nominate themselves from the floor, it's best to submit your name to be published with a list of candidates that is amiled out with the Annual Meeting notice and ballot.

Stay cool...

Board Meeting Monday @ 7p at the Clubhouse

2010-08-15T08:47:00.000-05:00

Board Meeting Monday @ 7p at the Clubhouse

2010-08-08T21:05:00.000-05:00

As summer wraps up, the Board is preparing for the end of the year, which means 1) Budget stuff & 2) Annual Meeting stuff.

First budget stuff. The budget committee is working on polishing our 2011 budget – if you are interested, your thoughts are welcome! Contact the office 784-3054 for info on how to assist.

Second, our annual meeting is November 9th at 7p at the Clubhouse. You will receive your Annual Meeting Mailing & ballot about 1 month before the meeting.

There are 2 ways to vote:

1) If you plan on attending, don’t send anything in – you can vote right then and there.
2) If you can’t make it, please send us your Proxy Vote by the date & time
specified at the bottom. WE CANNOT TAKE PROXIES AT THE ANNUAL MEETING

When I tell you EVERY vote is important, I’m not putting you on – in years past, we have not had enough votes to allow us to even convene the meeting, which means it has to be re-scheduled. Please vote in person or by proxy!

In addition, we elect 3 new Board members every year. We are looking for 3 or more candidates for the 2011 Board. Don’t be scared…we want YOU! Contact the office 784-3054 for info

August update

2010-08-01T13:46:00.002-05:00

Yes, it is that hot outside!

If you're feeling like you need to cool off, come and visit our pool! We're running at 100% and the water is FINE! Jim Brasby, our director of Buildings & Grounds, discovered that our "phosphate" level in the pool water was way above normal thresholds and MOST LIKELY the cause of many of our water clarity issues. It's rarely tested for and high phosphate levels is like dumping in fertilizer for any algae that may be in the pool - they eat it up.

Courtesy of Pinellas County, the Blvd trees were recently trimmed. In addition, our 60ish palm trees were trimmed according to our contract with Buccaneer. This was done at the beginning of hurricane season to limit as much debris as possible should a hurricane come through.

The Annual meeting is right around the corner and we need candidates for the 2011 Board of Directors. If you've thought about volunteering but always found a reason why NOT, I challenge you to find a reason WHY. There are so many "why's" it's easy.
Contact the ofc or anyone on the Board for more info on getting on our ballot. You'll be glad you did.

The Lake renourishment is a SUCCESS!

2010-07-25T13:04:00.002-05:00

Wow. what a learning experience.

I first want to thank Plan C, their organizers Claudia & Karen, and the WLV residents who volunteered their precious time on Saturday and Sunday to help us install over 1000 aquatic native plants at our community Lake.

To all those who missed out, I am sure you wanted to be there. You were missed. You also missed out on a great education about native aquatic vegetation, the different plants and where they grow, and how they interact within our little biosphere.

I was told to let the residents know the lake will look a little different now. Instead of the empty, eroding banks, you will see flourishing plants and insects and birds and (hopefully) more wildlife. It may take 2-3 years to fully grow in, depending on our weather, but it is sure to be beautiful.

It was a personal pleasure for me...I got to muck around in the lake, get dirty planting lemon bacopa and pickerell weed, and get to spend time with people who are concerned about the environmental impact we make on the world around us.

The next time a volunteer event is scheduled, I hope you make time to attend. I am a subscriber to the expression "many hands make for light work". The best gift you could ever give is something that will make this community better down the road.

2010-07-18T22:16:00.000-05:00

As we have mentioned in prior VV’s, the Board has been completing it’s due diligence with regard to the long overdue pool refinish work. Here’s a quick synopsis of what has transpired:

1) The Board voted to solicit engineering drawings and a detailed description of the work needing to be done from GB Collins, a local, well-respected engineering firm. These drawings are available in the office should you be curious.
2) The Board reviewed and approved the drawings and scope of work and determined it would meet both the short- and long-term goals we have for the pool.
3) The engineer’s drawings were approved by the Pinellas County Health Dept.
4) In May/June, the Board put our project out for bid. Pool contractors and suppliers were contacted concerning the remodeling project.
5) Over the course of June, myself, Dick Rayfield (Maint Chair), and Jim Brasby (Dir of Bldg & Grnds) met with various contractors to discuss in depth the scope of work required and their “vision” for implementation according to the engineer’s drawings.
6) Currently, bidding is now CLOSED for this project and WLV is in receipt of 7 bids.
7) At the July meeting, the bids were discussed and narrowed down to the most competitive.

The Board’s vision for the pool is multilayered:

1) Meet the current needs of ALL residents keeping in mind financial limitations
2) Bringing the pool up to both statutory requirements and generally accepted commercial pool standards and practices
3) Ensure the pool will meet the needs of residents for the next 20-30 years with as little cost as possible.

The pool will be shut down in late Sept/early Oct as we end the swimming season and prepare for the renovation. During this time, the ENTIRE pool deck will be closed as necessary to residents as it will be a work zone.

If you have any questions relating to the pool renovation, cost, timeline, or details, PLEASE CONTACT A BOARD MEMBER TO DISCUSS. We anticipate approving the pool contractor at our August 16th Board meeting at 7p at the Clubhouse.

2010-07-14T20:49:00.001-05:00

I was thinking about what to blog while cleaning my pool today and !voila! it came to me - pools. They are a MUST HAVE for many buyers and a HEADACHE for some sellers. The number of pools in Florida has been reported to be WELL OVER 1,000,000... unfortunately, we also lead the nation in drowning deaths as a result.

That said, maintaining a pool can be daunting for new owners. Lucky for me, my wife was a Certified Pool Operator (CPO) in VA and ran many commercial pools. She was always the one to let me know what I was screwing up and how to remedy.

Your husband/wife/significant other not a CPO? We can fix that - we have many local pool supply companies that will test your water for free. Of course, they hope you buy the chemicals their tests say you need. When we had our pool resurfaced, a condition of our warranty was that we had to have the water tested EVERY month. This I do at a local pool supply co.

I'm not going to go over the basics of pool chemistry, as I do not claim to be a pool expert. I have become comfortable with my own pool and spend just about 5-10 minutes PER WEEK cleaning it. BUT EVERY POOL IS DIFFERENT!

The purpose of this blog article was to bring to light something I found out today. During my monthly water test, I was told I had low "Total Alkalinity" and low "Calcium Hardness" due to the 8" of rain we have received. That reminded me I had to drain the pool TWICE this last week.

I googled my pool's "condition" and here's what I found:

The total alkalinity (TA) is a measure of how much of the alkaline substances there are in the water. In the swimming pool water, we are concerned with bicarbonate alkalinity, which should be between 80 ppm and 120 ppm.

When the total alkalinity (TA) is within this range, it prevents rapid pH changes and "stabilises" the pH level.

If the TA is too low, Marbelite and plaster walls will become etched, metals corrode, the pool's walls and floor can stain, the water can turn green, eyes burn and we can have pH bounce (pH rapidly going up and down, seemingly at random).

If the TA is too high, the pH is difficult to adjust, the water becomes cloudy, the pool constantly needs acid (according to your test kit) and the chlorine loses its efficiency as a disinfectant.

It is recommended that you test the TA regularly, but in practice it changes very little in a well-maintained pool.

As for the calcium hardness, I have seen it pull calcium from the pool surface when it is too low:

Low calcium hardness

Low calcium hardness results in corrosive water. The plaster surfaces or tile grouting softens and erodes, metal equipment and accessories oxidize and rust quickly, and the water becomes aggressive. This can lead to staining of the pool's surfaces as well as an eventual need for resurfacing.

Increase low calcium hardness

The calcium hardness level can simply be increased through the addition of calcium chloride or any commercial calcium increaser (which contains CaCl).

Alternatively, in swimming pools that suffer constantly of low hardness due to the quality of the fill water, calcium hypochlorite could be the chlorine of choice. This chlorine adds calcium to the pool water with each addition keeping the level up. Care must be taken to test Conditioner a couple of times a year as this chlorine (65% - 70% CHC) does not contain conditioner in its formulation.

High calcium hardness

High calcium hardness results in scale formation on the pool surfaces as well as scaling in the pipes, plumbing and filter. In extreme cases the water becomes dull and cloudy with the calcium precipitating out into the water rather than onto a surface. High calcium levels will also irritate swimmers, causing sore eyes in particular.

So if you have a pool and have rec'd a bit of rain, make sure you test your pool water. If anything, I hope this post saves you some frustration down the road...

2010-07-09T05:49:00.001-05:00

Our annual Budget Committee is being formed and we are asking for volunteers! Just a couple of meetings to help us draft the budget for 2011 and you'll be done!

Our kick-off meeting is July 14th at 7p at the Clubhouse. Let us know you're coming OR just show up - either way, we appreciate you!

2010-06-29T13:43:00.000-05:00

Yes, it is that hot out.

I called my AC guy early June to ask him to come look at my AC, as it was running non-stop trying to keep the house at a balmy 80 degrees. Turns out the AC is in perfect running order and he has been receiving similar calls non-stop.

In fact, his own AC system is running all day and finally shutting off around 10p-11p at night. Go figure.

If you want to save some $$$ on your electric, make sure your AC is in top condition…here are some tips:

1) Have it serviced for $50 - $75. They will ensure the refrigerant level is ok and also that the coil is clean (a dirty coil will kill your system). It will pay for itself really quick.

2) Change your filters monthly. It can be expensive UNLESS you know a local vendor that CUSTOM makes your size filters CHEAP. Call Holt Filters on Hercules in Clearwater (727) 449-8448. Filters start around $3 each

3) Make sure your AC condensation line is clear (will be part of service checkup)

4) Call Progress Energy for a FREE energy audit. They will give you a rebate for more insulation if needed AND a rebate for a duct check AND cover repairs to ducts up to $150. Unbeatable!

5) Consider putting solar film on your most sun-inviting windows – it will block out UV rays as well as heat! My brother just had 1 side of his house done for around $250.

6) Plant trees on the sunniest sides of your home. Absolutely no help this year (or next) but eventually they will block the sun’s rays.
Back to WLV for a moment…

…We are convening our annual Budget Committee to hammer out a 2011 budget. If interested please call office for more info.

…The Covenant Compliance Committee (CCC) is in full swing and the feedback and results have been terrific. The CCC handles deed restriction issues with as much compassion and understanding as possible. Enforcing deed restrictions is no picnic, but it’s VITAL to our community. If interested please call office for more info.

…The Maintenance Committee is looking for volunteers to assist with the planning and execution of maintenance issues. If interested please call office for more info.

…Our meetings are always the 3rd Monday of the month at 7p at the Clubhouse. Please consider stopping by to learn a little about how our community is run.

Stay cool!

Warmest (or Coolest) Regards,

Rich Cornelius

2010-06-22T13:06:00.003-05:00

MAINTENANCE UPDATE:
POOL: Take a trip down to the pool and you will see the 180 degree turnaround from the last 2 weeks. This is due solely to the pump repairs, which is now giving us adequate circulation and filtration.

IRRIGATION: Our Maple Ridge zone is up and running, but the repair for the Lakeview zone is much more complicated and costly. Initial estimates to run a new underground power line to power the irrigation controller/timer is appr $2500. For slightly less, $2300, Progress Energy will tap into a local feed they have and give us a new pedestal w/ 110V plug outlet (which we currently do not have). This needs to go through Progress Energy planning, which our electrician is working on right now. Pls bear with us as we deal with this untimely issue.

If your lawn is like mine you have an annoying weed that looks like the picture below:

This is Nutsedge.

One of our enterprising residents, Dennis Joyce, conducted his own research and found an excellent product that will eliminate this pesky weed AND will not decimate the soil (like Roundup will). The product is called 'Image', manufactured by Amdro, which is available locally at Ace hardware, Home Depot, and Lowes.

Application instructions and details at:

http://www.amdro.com/Image/Nutsedge/index.html

Another product which is highly thought of by the State Extension service is 'Manage' herbicide, by Monsanto. Details at:

http://www.pestproducts.com/manage.htm

While effective, Dennis learned that this product is not readily available to consumers through retail outlets (at least those he contacted), but may be ordered per the instructions on the site.

I want to personally Thank Dennis for giving us this timely tip and allowing me to pass it on to our neighbors.

2010-06-15T19:52:00.002-05:00

what a miserable start to June...

1) we had 3 blowouts with different segments of our irrigation system

2) via our electrician, we found 3 breaks in a power line to our irrigation timer by the tennis courts. Still waiting on estimate to repair.

3) we lost the 2 pool pumps w/i 24 hours of each other, leaving us with NO pumps and having to shut the pool down. we are still having a pump with issues and slowly the pool is returning to normal.

Despite these maintenance challenges, our Maintenance Chair, Dick Rayfield, and our Director of Bldg & Grounds, Jim Brasby, have tirelessly attacked these issues and continue to work to resolve them.

We could use extra hands on our maintenance committee. Pls consider volunteering and taking some o the burden off our current volunteers.

Respectfully,

Rich Cornelius

2011 Budget Committee looking for volunteers

2010-06-02T07:48:00.002-05:00

This is an all-call for volunteers:

As President, it is my duty to appoint a budget committee to study and assemble a budget for next year, 2011. I am looking for volunteers who can spend a few short hours discussing the budget and with their input, drafting a budget for next year.

Assembling the budget has a DIRECT impact on our projects, day-to-day operations, and where the Village goes in the future. There is perhaps no more important job than planning for the Village's financial future.

I also guarantee their will be some eye-opening moments as you learn how much we spend annually in electricity to operate the street lights, manage our liability with commercial insurance, and budget for the various duties we must complete.

Interested volunteers should contact me or the office at 727.784.3054.

2010-05-25T10:07:00.001-05:00

I wanted to take a moment to thank the various residents who has communicated with the Covenant Compliance Committee concerning their lawns. Let’s face it – it’s downright unpleasant to have to even write these letters. But by now, you know the spiel…the Board of Directors is bound to enforce our deed restrictions and the policies that support them.

You’ve probably seen me mention this before, but I will mention it again: when I was Vice President, I received 2 lawn letters myself. Pretty embarrassing, I must say. I was supposed to be setting the example. But the lawn was atrocious and I feel bad NOW that my neighbors had to look at it day in and day out for as long as they did.

No one will deny we had a very tough winter. Without my lawn service I probably would have lost a good portion of my grass. I know most of our residents are working diligently to get their lawns back into shape and we certainly appreciate that. Remember, Florida-friendly Landscaping is an EXCELLENT alternative to lawns and the Board has developed wonderful contacts to assist residents with this type of landscaping.

Before you curse me and crumple this newsletter, I would ask you do 1 more thing: drive through some neighborhoods WITHOUT lawn restrictions and compare them to Westlake Village. I grew up down the road in Wilshire Estates (Belcher & Solon) and Wexford West (off CR1 south of Tampa Rd). I drove through Wilshire Estates last Saturday and I was blown away at the appalling conditions of the lawns in the neighborhood. After that, drive over to Wexford East…nice homes but NO HOA. While you’re out, drive through Beacon Groves, which is a deed-restricted community that does not apparently enforce lawn restrictions. Again, a very stark difference between their communities and ours. It really gave me a deep sense of appreciation for our rules, as they keep us ALL honest and ensure our home values stay (more) stable than other areas.

Trust me when I say that enforcing deed restrictions is not pleasant for those tasked to do it. It’s a thankless job that angers most people who are on the receiving end – my pride was hurt when I received those letters about my own lawn. But, like taxes, the dentist, and in-laws, it’s a painful necessity. I would also say that, ultimately, it’s a benefit to EACH OWNER in our community, especially when they sell their home.

As always, thank you for your time and understanding as we work to make your community better than yesterday but not as good as tomorrow.

This and That

2010-05-16T13:54:00.003-05:00

1) Thank you to the residents who have been calling me to inform us about our irrigation (or lack thereof). we recently became aware of 2 major irrigation issues that have stymied our efforts to keep our common areas as attractive as possible. On the N end of the Blvd, we had a contactor burn out on our well pump. That has been fixed ($150). Just north of the tennis courts, our timer has been non-functioning. Unable to get power to the computer, Palm Harbor Electric has diagnosed a short in the main line feeding the computer. We will continue efforts to get power back and the irrigation on asap.

The warm weather is here and our pool is open from 8a - dusk. Please ensure any loose trash is bagged before throwing it in the large trash cans. We try to keep them as clean as possible so you can't smell them when you are enjoying the pool and deck.

With the return of more seasonal weather, the Board is going to begin re-focusing on making sure our lawns look the best they can. Remember, you do NOT need to have St. Augustine grass to meet the deed restrictions. Florida-friendly landscaping is fully embraced and accepted in our community - the Board has numerous contacts with organizations that can help you draft a plan and execute it. FL Friendly lawns needs little to no fertilization/pest control and by definition exist on our natural rainfall. Regardless of what avenue you select (St. Augustine, bahia, Fl-Friendly landscaping, etc) each homeowner is expected to maintain their property in a "neat and attractive" manner according to our deed restrictions. After all, the overall appearance of our community DIRECTLY affects your homes value.

As always, we're looking for volunteers to help us run this beautiful community. The donation of time is always free and everyone that helps makes us more of a "family".

2010-04-26T15:29:00.001-05:00

Happy May to you…this is a potpourri article.

1. At our April meeting, it was reported that our cumulative UNPAID dues is appr. $49,000, which encompasses ALL past years. Roughly $30,000 of that was for 2010 unpaid dues. This is unacceptable. I remind ALL HOMEOWNERS that payment of dues is not optional…when you drive down the Blvd and notice it’s nicely manicured with working irrigation, we are paying that with your dues. When you visit the pool and see how beautiful the water is or play on the re-done tennis courts, we are paying that with your dues. The street lights that you see on at night – we are paying that with your dues. Our 2 almost full-time employees are paid for with your dues. It is the position of the Board that nonpayment of dues will be pursued vigorously and via all legal options available to the Board, including placing liens and foreclosure litigation. Let me be clear – this is done with a heavy heart and ZERO satisfaction. However, the Board has NO ALTERNATIVE, as we are a business that can only operate on income derived from our residents via annual dues.

2. I would like to remind all residents that come to the office to please be respectful and considerate of our employees. Our employees are not involved in whatever issue you may have and being rude to them will not advance your cause. They function at the direction of your volunteer Board and are just doing the jobs assigned to them. Conversely, all employees should be respectful and courteous to you. Please contact me if you have any questions.

3. The Board has received from our engineer preliminary plans to remodel the pool and upgrade the filtration system to meet current accepted standards. Combined, this entire project should allow the pool to meet it’s designed requirements for the next 20 or so years. The Board will be voting on the proposed remodel at our May meeting and we will also be having a townhall meeting in the near future to discuss specifics, examine the current state of the pool and equipment, and answer any questions that residents may have. Construction, if approved by the Board, would start late this year.

4. Residents have heard our repeated calls for volunteers but we are not there yet! I urge you to get involved and move your community forward. Many hands make light work and there is no feeling like giving back to your community – it’s what makes us stronger. Call the office and let them know you are interested in exploring where you fit in at Westlake Village.

2010-04-04T22:20:00.003-05:00

To sell or not to sell, that is the question. If you ask realtors in my area what the HOTTEST selling properties are, they will tell you $300,000 and under. If you keep prying, you will find out homes UNDER $100k are selling like hotcakes (the nice ones that are priced well, at least).

Before I go any further, I will try to sell anything with a door and a roof regardless of price. If it helps my seller, I'm game.

One starts to wonder when you get into the $50's & $60's as to whether it is beneficial or not. Before you think I'm an egomaniac looking for the next big score, let's look at it from a business perspective as I am a sole proprietor running a small business.

Here's are some thoughts against taking an overly inexpensive :

1) The paycheck. When it comes down to it, was it worth your time and effort to get this sold. If you break down the approximate hours worked on this particular deal, how does it equate to other transactions? Will you wind up making less than minimum wage when it's all tallied up? If so, consider referring it.

2) Effort involved. Why is the home that inexpensive? Eaten through with termites, ravaged by black old, or so dilapidated you can't let buyers use the stairs (yep, I've been there)? Consider the extra effort it will involve to move this home...meeting with inspectors, municipal inspectors, the endless sign calls, the inspections that will inevitably fail, the repairs required by FHA financing...sometimes a lemon is a lemon.

3) You time. What is your time worth to you? Could you be out listing and selling a $250,000 home during the time you are listing the $23,000 home? If "you're in it to win it" then you know the answer already...steer clear and let another agent handle this. It's good experience and low risk for them.

4) Liability. Ehhh. You can't sneeze without being liable for something. A good entrepreneur will manage their risk and balance with the potential reward. Is your livelihood worth risking for a much smaller paycheck? Does the liability you are taking on adequately pay off in the end? Most likely not...tread carefully.

Ok, so those are some reasons to avoid discount-priced listings. But what's the payoff for working them like any other property you are marketing?

1) Living up to your reputation. I don't know about you, but my personal credo is to help homeseller's as much as I can. That includes Uncle Johnny who just found out he was willed Aunt Susie's 70 year old house. More so if the seller is out of state, financially strapped, or a client referral. It's just the right thing to do.

2) It's gas money. My father once told me that the smaller commissions pay the bills and the larger closing checks go into savings. I have tried to live to that standard and so far it's worked. After all, isn't it all about the bottom line?

3) Look at the leads. That mold infested home might not sell, but you are going to give it a shot. Good on ya! if you work it right, you may parlay some of the many leads you get into a sale(s). That's the real payoff in this business - helping seller's and ultimately assisting buyer's find the right home for them (and it may not be your listing!).

4) Stats. Everyone likes being on top. You won't get there as fast if you habitually turn away business. Plus, you may not want the reputation that you turn away business. This may turn off seller's who own a more pricey property as well as that inexpensive one.

5) Get your hands dirty. Ok, it/s not exciting to get a home that needs substantial repairs and is priced as such. However, the learning curve is very steep and a wise realtor will use these opportunities to their fullest. Learning about a different type of home (frame vs block), a different area than you normally work, a different class of Buyer (FHA vs Conventional) will make you a smarter realtor in the end, and intelligence is power in this business.

So what did you learn? Hopefully that there are pros and cons to that $15,000 listing with boarded up windows. Everyone needs to make a business decision that suits their needs - just make that decision with as much insight and info as possible.

Thanks to the Schnauders

2010-04-04T22:18:00.004-05:00

I want to personally thank Dawn Marie & Justin Schnauder and there wonderful children for making sure the Annual Easter Egg hunt happened this year. Dawn went wayyyy out of her way to bring smiles and squeals of joy to Westlake Village children (my son included) and her love of this community is so very appreciated. The next time you see them , please thank them for making this a lovely place to call home!

New organizational setup

2010-03-22T05:12:00.004-05:00

As you know, part of the mission of the Board of Directors, as directed by the governing documents of Westlake Village, is to ensure our residents are complying with our deed restrictions. It has been accepted practice that the Architectural Committee head this endeavor on behalf of and with the permission of the Board. This dynamic has become less and less "fruitful" as resident volunteers, not wanting to get involved with their neighbors, have become scarce. Unfortunately, enforcing deed restrictions for 585+ homes in our community is a labor-intensive job and one that CANNOT be dismissed.

As a realtor, I can tell you the appearance of our community has a DIRECT correlation on our home values and that's why ensuring compliance with the deed restrictions is so important to ALL OF US.

Desperately in need of dedicated volunteers, the Board has approved a change in the composition and duties of the Architectural Committee to encourage resident participation. In addition to the Architectural Committee, the Board has created another entity: the Covenant Compliance Committee (CCC). These 2 committees will have distinct duties yet operate in concert with each other.

Our new Architectural Committee will no longer be the entity monitoring and enforcing our deed restrictions. Instead, the Architectural Committee will go back to it's mandated job of:

1) Approving exterior improvements such as roof, paint color, fence, etc.
2) Developing and refining guidelines and policies for lawns, mailboxes, fences, etc.
3) Working closely with residents as a source of information to allow residents to achieve substantial compliance with out deed restrictions, ie Florida-Friendly Landscaping, native landscaping, etc.

The new CCC will take over the enforcement of our deed restrictions. It is comprised of volunteer Zone Coordinators (YOU), a Board member liaison, our part-time employee, and the office staff.

This new dynamic is a result of resident feedback combined with lack of resident participation/interest. Residents NOT wanting to volunteer due to the deed restriction enforcement issue are now free to volunteer for the Architectural Committee. There is still a need for volunteers on both committees!

It is the hope of the Board that with this new organizational setup will spur resident participation which will lead to an even MORE cohesive community....YOUR community!

Lake Restoration HERE WE COME!

2010-03-15T22:19:00.002-05:00

I am proud to announce that at tonight's Board meeting, the Board of Directors voted UNANIMOUSLY to fund the lake restoration proposal given to us by Project C, a non-profit group whose mission is to "re-introduce" native fauna in our area. Please look out for upcoming dates for the volunteer "workshop" where we will learn HOW to do the installation of plants AND the date of the project installation...

Also, the Board voted today to create a new committee to handle deed restriction enforcement, freeing the Architectural Committee to approve residents' exterior improvements, draft rules and guidelines, and work more closely with homeowners'. The new committee is called the "Covenant Compliance Committee" (CCC) and our new team is hard at work learning the ins and outs of the deed enforcement process.

Whether you like it or not (most don't), enforcing deed restrictions is a mandatory duty of the Board and also 100% responsible for the beautiful appearance in our 30 year old community. I'll be honest - telling a neighbor that their lawn is looking ratty (too many weeds) or that the mold on their roof w/ small weeds growing in the gutters is unsightly isn't always easy. However, imagine you are trying to sell your home is this miserable economy - wouldn't you want your neighbors homes to look their best???? Of course.

Would you be so hesitant to tell them to fix their fence if your buyers kept mentioning the neighboring home with the dilapidated fence as the reason they didn't like yours???

If you want to make a difference in your home's value, let me know. We might have an open spot for you.

South Entrance signs being restored

2010-03-07T20:58:00.002-05:00

You may have noticed the south entrance signs getting some attention recently. A much-needed overhaul was approved by the BoD at the Feb meeting and is just another example of your Board working hard to keep our neighborhood looking nice and your home values as high as possible.

We're always looking for like-minded, community-focused individuals to assist us as we prepare our Village for the next 30 years. Forget all the "stuff" you've heard about the Board and come see for yourself!

2010-03-01T19:39:00.002-05:00

Pursuant to my last post, I would like to invite Board members and residents down to the lake to ses the deteriorating condition and our vision for it. I will be holding a gathering for all interested parties at 6p on Tuesday March 9 down at the lake.

2010-02-15T22:41:00.002-05:00

Dear Resident

Pursuant to my meeting with the Swiftmud/PC Extension rep in early January, I have been in communication with Claudia Lewis of Plan C, a non-profit org in the local area dedicated to sustainable, environmentally friendly landscaping and assisting others with projects along the same track. They assisted in the design of the landscaping around the PH library, which is how I came to contacting them.

Essentially, the lake has been ignored for way too long, like other community assets – our playground, walking path, tennis courts, etc. It’s become more of an eyesore than the actual treasure it should be. It’s a magnet for waterfowl, turtle, fish, migratory birds, etc but it’s deteriorating….fast. Sometime before the March meeting, I am going to ask each Board member and residents to meet me at the lake so we can all see the current state of deterioration taking place – honestly, it’s mind-blowing how bad it is up close. Both the Pinellas County contact and the Plan C contact expressed dire concern over the state of our lake as an ongoing natural resource.

Based on Pinellas County recommendations, Dick Rayfield & I have made moves on the Maintenance end to mitigate further damage. We no longer allow the heavy lawnmowers to mow within 20-30’ of the shoreline. We have de-prioritized fertilization & irrigation and do not allow it close to the lake. Jim, our Dir of Bldgs & Grounds, is religiously cleaning the debris screens we placed in the spillways about a year ago to minimize trash and debris going into the lake. Dick & Jim removed appr 300 fish that would have contaminated the water as they decomposed.

Plan C has assembled a proposal to help us get the lake and lakeshore back on track to the road to healthy sustainability. I will be proposing in March that the Board approve the attached proposal to begin work to rejuvenate the lake. The entire lake will not be done at once. However, this proposal will put appr 2100 plants into the lake area. It was determined that a piece-meal, cost-conscious approach should be undertaken – only the northeast portion of the lake will be addressed in the beginning. Should it be deemed successful, future Boards may want to emulate what this Board has started. Ideally, the entire lake can be stabilized/rejuvenated w/I 5 years time at minimal cost each year.

A great example of what we should strive for is the Pinellas Cty retention pond on the West side of Belcher a ¼ mi south of Nebraska.

I value you your comments and suggestions and hope you'll partner with the Board as we seek to rebuild what is our great natural resource.

2010-02-08T14:30:00.000-05:00

1. The Annual Garage Sale has been scheduled for March 27. The Board’s new Activities Coordinator, Dimitri Leventis, will be coordinating the sale with local advertisers. Start preparing now…

2. Annual Dues were DUE BY January 31 and are now delinquent. Dues checks can be mailed in, dropped off in the Parking lot drop box, or walked into the office for a receipt.

3. In addition to our landscaping, the January freeze also killed quite a few of the fish in our pond. Our Director of Buildings and Grounds, Jim Brasby, collected appr 300 fish and brought them to the dump.

4. If your New Year’s Resolution was to get more involved in your community, a nice way to “dip your toe in” would be to volunteer for one of the committees in the neighborhood. There’s Maintenance, Architectural, Activities, and Welcoming committees that all need volunteers. If you can spare 1-3 hours per month, then you can EASILY help out your community.

2010-01-24T21:22:00.001-05:00

Please be advised WLV has experienced a rash of recent car break-ins over the past week. All cases being reported involved vehicles that were UNLOCKED. This is a crime of convenience.

If you were a victim or see any suspicious activity, pls call the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office at 727.582.6200.

Make a concerted effort to ensure your vehicles are locked and do not leave any valuables inside overnight.

2010-01-17T16:56:00.001-05:00

Warm greetings…hope your new year is getting off to a good start. I just wanted to touch on a couple of items:

1. Look for our Annual Garage Sale date coming soon. The Board’s new Activities Coordinator, Dimitri Leventis, will be putting together this fine event and will let us know when it will be. Start preparing now…

2. Annual Dues are DUE BY January 31. It is exceedingly important that our dues are paid on-time, as we have been experiencing a small percentage of non-payment that has adversely impacted the HOA. Dues checks can be mailed in, dropped off in the Parking lot drop box, or walked into the office for a receipt.

3. The hard freeze has also affected some of the communities landscaping, as I am sure it has affected yours. We will not know the full effects until spring – whether the plant/tree has survived. In any case, you can expect us to replant/repair to it’s prior condition, but that won’t be undertaken until well into March when any threat of additional freezes has passed. Just know that we’re aware and making plans to rectify.

4. If your New Year’s Resolution was to get more involved in your community, a nice way to “dip your toe in” would be to volunteer for one of the committees in the neighborhood. There’s Maintenance, Architectural, Activities, and Welcoming committees that all need volunteers. If you can spare 1-3 hours per month, then you can EASILY help out your community.

2010-01-08T19:09:00.001-05:00

This is a personal request to the person who keeps throwing out small bottles of SKUL VODKA and empty packs of 305 cigarettes on our Blvd – PLEASE STOP! Not only is this trash unsightly, but it washes right into our lake when it rains. To be honest, littering is one of the tackiest things you can do today…why would one even litter in your own neighborhood? If anyone has any info on this, please contact me or the office.

Also, if you need firewood, pls contact the office or stop in and see Jim, our Director of Buildings and Grounds. He has plenty of seasoned wood of all shapes and sizes. Obviously, this is a free service for Westlake residents only.

Achitectural Chairperson resignation

2009-12-21T11:27:00.000-05:00

It’s a sad day to report that Pete mansour has decided to resign his position
as Architectural Chairperson. However, he will remain on the Board as
Office Coordinator.

This action was precipitated by an unfortunate incident last week
where a resident threatened physical violence against him. It was so
unnerving that Pete and his wife spent the night at their daughter’s
home for fear of what might happen should the threats become real.

This is unacceptable.

To this end, I have requested a Special Meeting on Monday Dec 21 at 7p
for the purposes of accepting Pete’s resignation but also discussing
options with the Board concerning Architectural issues and deed
restriction enforcement going forward. I don’t think any one of us can
fully realize the immense vacancy this has created but it is up to the
Board to come to a resolution on how we will meet the
demands of our Bylaws.

December musings

2009-12-06T17:51:00.000-05:00

A representative of the Pinellas County Extension has asked me to request residents SKIP A WEEK of lawn-watering while winter is here. Watering on a weekly basis is not essential during the winter months.

I wanted to take a moment and thank the homeowners who have planted winter rye in their yards. YOUR ACTIONS HAVE NOT GONE UNNOTICED AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS! If you are having problems managing your lawn (St. Augustine especially) summer and winter rye are great grasses to keep your yard aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Please also remember that the Pinellas County Extension Service has a plethora of information concerning Florida-Friendly Native Landscaping, which is drought tolerant and requires much less maintenance, money, and time to maintain.

Speaking of, keep an eye out for our Lawn & Landscaping Town Hall. The Board hears many comments on the lawn deed restrictions (pro and con) and yours truly received 2 lawn letters WHILE I WAS ON THE BOARD no less! If you get a letter, it’s hardly the end of the world…there are a couple of ways to address the issue. We’ll discuss the matter in depth and we’re also planning on having a County Extension employee give a presentation on the Florida-Friendly Native Landscaping initiative.

A reason to give thanks...

2009-11-28T18:38:00.002-05:00

Annual Meeting results:

1. Overnight Parking of Trucks amendment did NOT pass
2. Directors elected: Rich Cornelius, Pete Mansour, and Richard (Dick) Rayfield.

Per the followup regular meeting of the Board, the 2010 Board of Directors is as follows:

President Rich Cornelius
VP Allan Lonschein
Treasurer Pete Mansour (temporary)
Secretary Susie Kaiser (temporary)
Architectural Chairperson Pete Mansour
Maintenance Chairperson Dick Rayfield
Activities Chairperson Dimitri Leventis
Security Chairperson Susie Kaiser

I had a “true Thanksgiving” moment while on holiday in the DC area. My mother-in-law lives in a beautiful 250 home, established community in Fairfax, VA, just outside the DC Beltway. When the developer built the community in the early 80’s, they also added a community pool, spacious Poolhouse with bathrooms, tennis courts, and large parking lot. However, the developer missed a crucial part – the HOA was “voluntary” and not “mandatory”, earning revenue by offering pool memberships.

Much similar to WLV, the new owners cherished their community and hosted community-wide tennis tournaments, pool meets, and other neighborly festivities. Over time, interest faded and revenues gathered through pool memberships declined because they were not mandatory. The Board struggled financially and at time did not have enough money to operate both the large pool (Virginia requires lifeguards at all times the pool is open) and mow the common areas of the community. An ill-timed Poolhouse fire further complicated matters.

At present, the pool is abandoned - really just a concrete hole in the ground filled with putrid green water surrounded by a rusted chain link fence. The pumps, filters, deck chairs, and other pool equipment have been sold to pay for the mowing of the community. The property is in the process of being given to the County government for the creation of a park, but first residents have to pay for the demolition of the pool, poolhouse, tennis ct, etc, before the county will take it off their hands. A true lose-lose for community residents.

This sad story gave me pause to reflect on the beauty of our community. Our children have a lovely pool to swim in, basketball courts to play on, a playground to run in. We have citrus to pick, trails to walk, and even a pond that makes a great background for pictures (we took my wife's pregnancy photos down there). I’m thankful for the assets my children will have access to and I pledge to you, the resident(s) of WLV, I will do my utmost in 2010 to:
· Encourage fiscal responsibility and cut costs wherewhen able
· Build reserves such that future improvement costs are well-funded
· Complete the necessary maintenance on our current assets to preserve them
· Make SOUND investments in the assets that need refurbishing
· Provide a strong, successful financial foundation for future Boards
· Make YOU proud of the community we all share.

I can’t do this alone, however. The current Board asks for your assistance, especially in the area of Treasurer and Secretary. Please consider volunteering.

2009 Annual Meeting results

2009-11-14T13:37:00.000-05:00

Annual Meeting results are below:

Elected Candidates:

1. Cornelius, with 209 votes
2. Mansour, with 153 votes
3. Rayfield, with 147 votes

The following candidates each had less than 134 votes; therefore, they
were not elected:

· vanHeyningen
· Breedlove
· Altmeyer

Truck Amendment:

224 YES;
112 NO;

however, the threshold to pass an amendment
must be 289 affirmative, unless 431 voted (only 355 voted by proxy
or in person)

We had 5 proxies that were in question that would not throw anyone
over as a winner, if used.

SFH move up, Condos move down - are we on the road to recovery?

2009-11-14T13:02:00.005-05:00

Everywhere you go, people are cautiously optimistic. The government threw some money at them and they purchased new cars. The government threw some money at them and they are purchasing homes. The Stock market flirts with 10,000 like unemployment isn't around 10% (published, not actual) and our deficit and debt aren't at record levels. Are we turning the corner?

Who knows...actually, no one.

But back to Tampa area real estate, our SFH market continue to slowly pick up steam as evidence in less inventory, increasing monthly sales, and a slight uptick in sales prices vs. listing prices over preceding months. That's the lipstick...

...the "pig", for lack of a better term, is the condo GLUT, especially on the beach. They are selling at the same pace as SFH's were about 1 years ago. On the beaches, just 5%-6% of all HOMES & CONDOS sell every month...not much to crow about. Condo inventories in all sectors increased, while sale remained virtually unchanged. This may be a statistical anomaly, but Tampa area condos are showing a final sales price of just 54% of the ORIGINAL LISTING PRICE. Normally it's in the low 70 percent range, so this month was steep!

There have been some calls for an "Investor Credit" similar to the Homebuyer Credit now in full swing. Such an investor credit would theoretically get more homes moving into the hands of fix-and-flippers, landlords, and 2nd home buyers. Theoretically, and if they qualify for mortgages, which are not as plentiful...

MLS MONTHLY REPORT Oct ‘09

TAMPA BAY AREA (tri-county) Homes Condos Total Units

Total Units Available: 18,199 9,287 27486

Total Units Pending: 3,156 1,129 4,285

Total Units Sold: 2,294 708 3,002

Absorption rate: 12.6% 7.62% 9.2%

Avg Days on Market 94 days 113 days 99 days

Months of Inventory 7.9 mons 13.1 mons 9.4 mons

Sold vs List Price % 94% 91% 93%

Sold vs Original List Price % 79% 54% 72%

PINELLAS COUNTY Homes Condos Total Units

Total Units Available: 6,646 5,583 12,229

Total Units Pending: 1012 542 1554

Total Units Sold: 754 351 1105

Absorption rate: 11.35% 6.29% 9.04%

Avg Days on Market 87 days 120 days 98 days

Months of Inventory 8.8 mons 15.9 mons 11.1 mons

Sold vs List Price % 92% 90% 92%

Sold vs Original List Price % 85% 81% 84%

N. BEACHES (476-478, 370-375) Homes Condos Total Units

Total Units Available: 581 1426 2,007

Total Units Pending: 51 110 161

Total Units Sold: 36 78 114

Absorption rate: 6.20% 5.56% 5.68%

Avg Days on Market 140 days 168 days 159 days

Months of Inventory 16.1 mons 18.3 mons 17.6 mons

Sold vs List Price % 85% 90% 88%

Sold vs Original List Price % 78% 80% 79%

November happenings

2009-11-09T09:12:00.002-05:00

I want to thank everyone who has called me about turning in the proxies - as you may know, we have had to rescheduled the Annual meeting for the last 2 years because of lack of resident participation. Not this year. The annual meeting will be held Tues Nov 10 at 7p at the Clubhouse. pls plan on arriving slightly early to ensure you have a seat - i believe it may turn into standing room only.

I received some calls on sidewalk repair being done throughout the neighborhood. FYI, this is a Pinellas County initiative as they are liable and responsible for sidewalks, not WLV. I am sorry if this has caused any inconvenience, but pls call Pinellas County DoT with any issues.

Along the same lines, I rec'd some inquiries about tree-cutting on the blvd. As with the sidewalks, this is also a Pinellas County project. I did have the opportunity to chat quickly with a field supervisor who said the trees being removed are NON-NATIVE (eucalyptus) and have caused repeated road cracking. They will work with us after winter to replaant native trees.

Don't forget the Annual Meeting Nov 10 @ 7p

2009-11-01T21:40:00.002-05:00

Don't forget the Annual Meeting Nov 10 @ 7p at the Clubhouse. I assure you that you will get your money's worth! ;-)

It is my pleasure to inform you that we have recently collected 3 YEARS of unpaid dues from a homeowner! Unfortunately, the Board had the unpleasant task of filing a foreclosure action against the homeowner. This was an action NOT taken lightly and it is my sincere desire NOT to have to repeat it. The intent was not to throw the resident out but just to reclaim the 3 years of back dues that were rightfully owed to the Association, which was accomplished. Unfortunately, the owner also had to compensate our legal counsel, which dramatically increased the monies owed.

It was the opinion of our legal counsel that most foreclosure filings against owners for deficient dues results in those dues being paid in full. If you aren't aware, HOA's are behind only Uncle Sam and your mortgage company as a lienholder on your home (and mine).

Action to foreclose will be a rarely used tool to recover the dues money that should have been paid in the first place. I pay my dues on time and you pay yours, so why shouldn't we ALL be held to the same standard? At the present time, the Board will apply various collection strategies, including foreclosure proceedings, on the most egregious of deficient dues.

FYI, the dues are NOT increasing for 2010.

Revised Lawn Policy incorporaating FL Statute changes

2009-10-27T09:53:00.003-05:00

In an effort to ensure we are meeting the new Florida Statute requirements, the Board of Directors has adopted an amended Lawn Policy incorporating the new standards for Florida-Friendly Landscaping. While we have been approving this type of landscaping for some time now, our documents did not reflect this recent change. Registered users can click on the following link to viw the document on our website:

http://westlakevillagehoa.com/modules.php?name=Documents&doc=Doc297.pdf

With thanks to Pete Mansour for his time and effort amending our rules, it is presented below:

WESTLAKE VILLAGE CIVIC ASSOCIATION, INC ARCHITECTURAL POLICY LAWNS AND OTHER LANDSCAPING

This policy implements Article VIII, Section Seven, Paragraph 1 of the Protective Restrictions to set standards for lawns in Westlake Village. Section Seven, Paragraph 1 is quoted in part:

"All lots, together with the exterior of all improvements (if any) located thereon, shall be maintained in a neat and attractive condition by their respective Owners. Such maintenance shall include, but shall not be limited to, painting, repairing, replacing and caring for roofs, screens, windows, gutters, downspouts, building surfaces, trees, shrubs, walks and other exterior improvements. Each owner shall be responsible for maintaining that portion of a street used as his yard which lies between a Lot and the paved street in the same manner as if said Owner owned it ... "

This policy also affirms the support of the Association for efforts by the State of Florida, other governmental agencies and district water resource boards to promote the use of alternate landscaping to conserve water resources.

Acceptable landscaping encompasses defined shrubbery and flower beds, lawns, hedges and Florida-friendly landscaping.

DEFINITIONS

1. LAWN - The lawn is considered that portion of the property that has been planted or seeded in grass. Lawn grasses are routinely mowed to maintain a short height. All areas of a lot not designated as traditional shrubbery or flower beds, hedges or Florida-friendly landscape areas shall be considered lawn areas.

2. XERISCAPING - See Florida-Friendly Landscaping below.

3. LAWN GRASS – The following are deemed as acceptable lawn grasses for use in Westlake Village and are pre-approved for use without the consent of the Architectural Committee.

St. Augustine (except Roselawn)
Argentina Bahia
Improved Bermuda (excluding common or Wild Bermuda)
Zoysia
Winter ryegrass (used as a temporary Winter-season grass

Lot owners may request approval from the Architectural Committee to use other grasses commercially available and sold as lawn grasses. Written documentation of the quality and durability of theses grasses is required. Varieties of grasses that do not meet the above requirements or for which specific approval has not been granted shall be considered to be weed grasses and are unacceptable for lawn grasses.

WESTLAKE VILLAGE CIVIC ASSOCIATION, INC ARCHITECTURAL POLICY LAWNS AND OTHER LANDSCAPING

4. FLORIDA-FRIENDLY LANDSCAPING – quality landscapes that conserve water, protect the environment, are adaptable to local conditions, and are drought tolerant. The principles of such landscaping include planting the right plant in the right place, efficient watering, appropriate fertilization, mulching, attraction of wildlife, responsible management of yard pests, recycling yard waste, reduction of stormwater runoff, and waterfront protection. Additional components include practices such as landscape planning and design, soil analysis, the appropriate use of solid waste compost, minimizing the use of irrigation, and proper maintenance.

Lot owners must submit plans for Florida-friendly landscaping to the Architectural Committee for approval and documentation showing that the shrubs, ground covers, grasses and other plantings are designated as Florida-friendly by an appropriate governmental or horticultural organization.
.
STANDARDS

These standards apply to all areas of a lot. The area routinely evaluated by the Architectural Committee is from the house to the property lines on the side of the house and the area located between the curb of the street and the front of the house. This includes the area (median) between the street and the sidewalk. These are those areas that can be seen from the street. The Committee may also evaluate and enforce these standards to other areas of a lot upon the written complaint from another homeowner.

LAWNS

Lawns shall meet the standard of "neat and attractive" if substantially all of the owner’s lawn is covered in one of the above listed grasses, or another grass approved by the Architectural Committee, in dense growth. Bare areas, areas of sparse growth and areas with growths of weeds or weed grasses are not considered to be covered with grass for purposes of meeting the "substantially all" standard.

This standard shall not apply to portions of a lawn that have recently been plugged, seeded or planted. The homeowner has the responsibility to water, fertilize and take any other measures to insure that the plugged, sodded or planted lawn meets the "substantially all" standard in a reasonable period of time.

Plugs must be place no further than 18 inches apart for jumbo plugs or 12 inches apart for regular plugs. Exceptions may be granted by the Committee.

Rye grass may be used to meet the "neat and attractive" standard during the winter months in cases where a Lot owner determines that it may be more difficult to grow one of the permanent type lawn grasses. When Rye grass is used, weeds must be killed prior to seeding and the seed must be evenly spread over all affected areas so as to give a "neat and attractive" appearance. The use of Rye grass does not reduce the requirement that weed grasses and weeds must be removed and bare areas covered in grass. Those owners who use Rye grass to meet the "substantially all" standard of coverage must plug or sod with one of the above listed grasses by March 31st of each year.

4. If one area of the lawn is bare and/or in weeds or weed grasses the whole lawn does not meet the "substantially all" standard.

Sidewalks, driveways and curb lines must be edged, lawn areas must be kept neat by regular mowing.

Homeowners are encouraged to periodically treat lawns for weeds, insects and lawn diseases to promote a neat and attractive appearance. Routine watering and fertilization are encouraged to promote healthy lawns.

FLORIDA-FRIENDLY LANDSCAPING, SHRUBBERY AND FLOWER BEDS, HEDGES

All designated areas shall be maintained free of weeds and the intrusion of lawn grasses.

Shrubbery, hedges and trees shall be kept trimmed in such a manner as to present a pleasing appearance and not present obstacles to passers-by or vehicles.

All dead vegetation must be removed.

COMMENTS

Given the availability of reclaimed water in Westlake Village, lawns and landscaping are able to be provided adequate irrigation to maintain them in a neat and attractive manner in spite of restrictions that may be imposed on other water sources.

Homeowners may substitute traditional landscaping and/or Florida-Friendly landscapes as alternatives to the planting of traditional lawn grasses. Landscape plans must be submitted to the Architectural Committee for review and approval. Plans should include a plot plan showing the area to be included and a list of the plantings that will be used and their arrangement in a landscape area.

All lot owners are reminded that, as required by the Covenants, all significant changes to the landscaping layout or composition must be submitted to the Architectural Committee for approval before work begins.

Reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors: October 13, 2009

Truck Rule amendment to be voted on by membership at annual meeting

2009-10-18T18:09:00.001-05:00

Ladies & Gentlemen,

Your annual meeting package was just approved and will be in your mailboxes shortly. In it you will find the standard annual meeting documents PLUS an amendment to the overnight truck parking rules.

***Let me be perfectly clear - the Board, as a whole, does not have an opinion on this matter and will continue to enforce the current restriction or the new restriction, whichever happens to be in force at the time.***

With that said, I will include below the final text of the amendment as approved by our legal counsel and the Board of Directors. It will be the duty of the incoming Board, should this amendment garner the necessary support of residents, to draft a set of additional definitions, i.e. rules, and solicit resident input and critique of those rules for final adoption. This will be in similar fashion to our current "Fence" Policy and "Lawn & Other Landscaping" Policy. Finer restrictions such as height, lighting, size, etc, of allowed trucks MAY be regulated by those rules. This is both legal, per continuing precedent and our lawyer, and within the powers of the Board. This will allow future Boards to adapt with changing times....which our documents have NOT allowed us to do.

Here is the text of the approved amendment you will be voting on. The bold language in red is the amended language:

"ARTICLE VIII, MAINTENANCE AND USE RESTRICTIONS TO SINGLE FAMILY LOTS
SECTION EIGHT. OTHER USES

3. Parking

a. No trucks, buses, boats, travel trailers, boat trailers, mobile homes, motor homes, recreational vehicles, vans (other than those used primarily to carry passengers), box vans, or other types of trailers or commercial vehicles shall be permitted to park overnight on a Lot, or in the streets abutting a lot, unless in an enclosed garage. For purposes of this subsection, the definitions as adopted by the Board of Directors, as amended from time to time, shall be controlling.

b. Notwithstanding the foregoing, pickup trucks used primarily to carry passengers are allowed to be kept in the community and parked overnight outside an enclosed garage. Pickup trucks which display or are equipped with any commercial markings, signs, displays, equipment, inventory or apparatus or which otherwise indicate a commercial or business use such as those which carry tools, equipment, storage boxes, racks, inventory, cargo, or other material used in commerce; which are equipped with camper tops or which have more than four wheels are prohibited from parking overnight outside an enclosed garage."

October happenings

2009-10-12T22:18:00.002-05:00

Our Annual Meeting is coming up and the ballot packages will be going out soon.
GOOD NEWS - Our annual assessments will be staying the same for 2010! This is a result of a stagnant CPI indicator, indicating consumer prices have come down overall.
Our Office admin, Rosemary Lehner, is on the mend from her accident and we can't wait for her to get back! She provides us with weekly updates and from her communications, she is well ahead of her rehab schedule! Thanks for your understanding with our reduced hours. Kudos to Pete Mansour and Susie Kaiser for keeping our affairs in order while Rosemary is out.
We're having a Halloween Party on 11/24! Bring a dish and a drink and enjoy the night with your neighbors.

Enjoy your new playground!

2009-10-06T08:23:00.002-05:00

I want to extend a hearty THANK YOU to the many volunteers who gave up their Saturday to install our new playground in the park. Spurred on by coffee, donuts, water, and pizza, we were able to assemble the playground in 1 day! I have a whole new appreciation for playgrounds...our vendor, Carl from REP Services, and installer, Doug, also went above and beyond and made this a less expensive possibility!

We are just waiting for the concrete to dry in and we'll mulch and be ready for kids!

You should also know your Director of Building and Grounds, Jim Brasby, played an instrumental role in setting up the area, dealing with all our vendors, and even gave up HIS saturday to help out. The next time you see him, please let him know how much you appreciate his efforts!

Our Board meeting is Tues Oct 13 @ 7p at the Clubhouse. Pls stop by and watch us in action. We also are accepting applicants for our open Driector positions...pls consider donating your time for this worthy cause...

The playground is coming!

2009-09-29T23:07:00.001-05:00

THE PLAYGROUND IS ARRIVING THIS WEEK AND WE NEED YOUR HELP!

THIS FRIDAY (Oct 2) at 1p - 4p - help prep for playground by digging post holes
THIS SATURDAY (Oct 3) around 8a - noon - Install/assemble playground

We need MANY VOLUNTEERS and their tools!!!!

TOOLS NEEDED:

4 large levels
10 rachet sets
10 wrench sets
4 hammers
2 tin snips
3 utiity knives
4 punches
4 round nose shovels
3 hand held post hole diggers
10 wheelbarrows
5 rakes

Please contact Rich at 417-8814 with any questions. We (and your neighbors) hope to see you there!!!

Rich is on vacation this week and his posts will return next week!

2009-09-21T07:25:00.001-05:00

Rich is on vacation this week and his posts will return next week!

2 IMPORTANT THINGS!

2009-09-08T07:34:00.002-05:00

1) CLEAR YOUR CALENDAR ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3 from 7a - ??? YOUR COMMUNITY NEEDS YOUR HELP! As many of you know, we are having a new playground installed and it will be delivered Thursday or Friday night (we'll need a few volunteers to offload the truck) and installed under the supervision of a professional playground installer! Remember: many hands make light work and this may be one of the biggest volunteer days in the last 5 years!

2) With all the rains we WERE having, we noticed their was quite a bit of trash accumulation in the lake. Remember, all the trash you see on the Blvd, streets, and park area will be dumped (by design, unforunately) in our lake via our culvert drainage system. Most likely it's people who are passing through who choose to through debris from their car, as I can't believe a resident would intentionally litter there own neighborhood. Ultimately, it's the innocent birds, ducks, turtles and fish that pay the price, as soda, tobacco, sports drinks, foil wrappers and other detritus get mixed into our lake and settle on the surface and bottom. Below is a cell phone picture I took recently...

2009-08-31T17:08:00.001-05:00

*******ATTENTION*******

*ALL WLV RESIDENTS WHO CARE ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITY AND HOMES*

I am personally issuing a challenge to each and every homeowner in WLV – your participation in our community is VITAL and NEEDED!

Our Annual Meeting in November is fast-approaching and the Board is soliciting ANY & ALL WLV residents to become Board members and participate in the administration of YOUR community.

This is about the time we start hearing the excuses so I’ll save you the time and summarize…you’re:

· too busy
· too tired
· involved in covert CIA activities and can’t blow your cover
· too involved in other volunteer things
· designated food shopping happens to occur anytime a Board meeting is scheduled
· (insert your particular excuse here)

If you are fine with leaving your annual dues money and WLV’s $330,000 ANNUAL budget to an ever-shrinking, over-burdened, dwindling pool of volunteers, than I demand you stop reading RIGHT NOW!

However, if you can:

offer a few hours per month
give topics a new perspective
provide insight to complicated issues
work well with others
discuss and arrive at conclusions to conflicts without violence ;-)

...than I hope you will consider submitting to the Board a short 1 paragraph bio of yourself and, should you be approved by the Nominating Committee, running for one of the three (3) open positions on the Board for 2010. Please contact Rosemary in the Office at 727.784.3054 for more info

August Musings

2009-08-26T14:01:00.003-05:00

Hello neighbors!

Our new playground is right around the corner! We are finalizing the colors and expect delivery within late sept/early oct. We will be posting the Playground Install date and we hope we can count on you to help us assemble and install the playground under the careful supervision of a playground rep.
Our Lawn contractor, Buccaneer Landscape Mgmt, is doing a wonderful job, as evidenced by the unsolicited compliments I am receiving. Being that this is the 1st contractor we have brought on in 10-15 yrs, there have been small "growing pains" but have been quickly resolved by Buccaneer. Remember, our annual cost savings will FULL PAY for the playground by this time next year...making our new playground revenue-neutral!
I have received some calls from homeowner who did not pay their annual assessments on time, failed to respond to our late notice, and were referred to our attorney for collection, subsequently resulting in a lien. Please understand that once the file is referred to ur attorney for collection of the outstanding dues, attorneys costs CANNOT be waived or reversed. Also, before we can accept 2010 dues, any balance from 2009 must be fully paid, including attorney's fees. The best way to avoid those charges is to pay on time. Luckily, about 95% of our residents pay ontime every time, which we appreciate.

Maintenance Update

2009-08-03T19:23:00.000-05:00

Hi, all…here's a Maintenance update:

- The parking lots have been sealcoated and look great.
- We saved $500 by having Jim re-paint the lines with the line striper machine we purchased about 18 months ago
- I am proud to announce that we have added 2 handicapped parking spaces w/ center loading area…it will provide easy access to any physically disabled residents and/or visitors we might have.
- Jim sealcoated 10 5-gal buckets worth on the path last week. The intermittent rain is a problem but he is committed to having the ENTIRE path repaired and seal-coated by end of summer.
- On that note, Jim repaired the path at the top of the hill (closest to Blvd) where roots uprooted the path.
- The pool had an outbreak of black algae after our rains, but Jim closed the pool for 2 days last week and cleaned it up. With the pitting in our marcite, the black algae willl never be fully removed, but Jim is taking steps to keep it at bay.
- Our wire culvert screens were cleaned and repaired…they are picking up a decent amount of debris, as hoped.
- Jim has met several times with our lawn care people on site to keep them abreast of our requests. We have had to ensure they know what our standards are…there is a “learning curve”.
- Jim mounted a green plywood board to the bottom of the SW corner tennis ct fence, as the gopher tortoise there was throwing dirt out on the court. Seems to have mitigated the problem.
- Jim added a white rock border to from SW corner of tennis court fence to electrical box to prevent erosion. He says we should do the same on the NW corner

Playground issue resolution, Truck Parking and Architectural Asst discussed

2009-07-27T06:34:00.005-05:00

Dear Residents,

It appears that after all the fervor, anger, and mis-information concerning the playground has subsided, the facts surrounding the playground have come to light. The Board did learn, as voiced by some residents at our last monthly meeting, that more publicity was required, especially concerning the financials of the playground purchase. Due to our procedures, the Meeting Minutes for the latest VV edition are always about 6 weeks behind. However, these issues were noticed in our agenda and discussed at length at the monthly meeting. I think this will be a learning experience for both the Board and residents:

The Board will step up our efforts to bring you the "raw" info asap
Hopefully residents will give the Board the benefit of the doubt and seek to verify info presented about the Board's actions, rather than assuming others' facts are accurate.

There are other issues that have been bantered about as well and I want to clarify the Board's position and actions with respect to those. If you have any questions, pls call or email a Board member. They will be very excited to provide you with any information they can, as we all love resident interaction in this ongoing process we call "the HOA"...

Amending Rules pertaining to Overnight Truck Parking

The Board has been regularly contacted by homeowners concerning the rule about no overnight truck parking. The Board’s standard response is that if there was enough support for amending the overnight parking restriction, the Board would assist in getting the amendment on the Annual Meeting Ballot to be decided upon by residents. Nevertheless, the Board continues to vigorously enforce the truck rule as outlined in the Green Book.

The recently formed Truck Committee, comprising solely of residents, is an advisory committee advising the Board as authorized by Florida Statute 720. The Board, upon direction from our attorney and with the assistance of the Truck Committee, mailed a survey to gauge whether there is any support for amending the truck restrictions. There appears to be sufficient support of residents to add an amendment the ballot.

At no time has the Board considered changing the governing documents without the 2/3’s majority vote as required by our governing documents. However, the Board fully supports letting the residents’ will be heard and plans to allow residents to vote on a proposed amendment at the Annual meeting in November. That is completely in line with our governing documents.

Let me be clear: The Board does not have an official opinion on the overnight truck parking rule. We are simply tasked to enforce what is currently in the Green Book. Ultimately, the voting residents are SOLELY responsible for any changes/amendments that occur to the Green Book, if any at all.

Architectural Committee Employee

It should be no surprise to anyone that the Board has been unsuccessful at acquiring resident volunteers to help run the many functions of the Association - we are in constant need for volunteers. In addition to the 3 current open Board positions, there is an ongoing need for a Maintenance Chairperson, Architectural Chairperson, Activities Chairperson, etc. To make my point, the ONLY 3 candidates for the Board at last year's annual meeting were present Board members. If they had not run, where would we be today?

To that end, The Board recently authorized a part-time employee to assist the Architectural Chairperson. The employee does the legwork that volunteers would/should be doing – driving around the community, checking on complaints, advising the Chairperson on the status of violations, etc. The Board has AND continues to retain the ultimate responsibility for enforcing the deed restrictions – the Architectural Committee is the long-accepted mechanism through which the Board accomplishes this.

The allegations are baseless. The assistant is performing at the direction of the Board, in the assistance of the Board, but not on behalf of the Board.

If we had volunteers willing to assist the Board with the Architectural Committee, then we would have no need for a part-time assistant. The same goes for the Office chores and the Maintenance department – in decades past, those responsibilities were taken care of by volunteers.

WLV BOard Response to Playground Allegations being made by certain members

2009-07-20T08:48:00.001-05:00

Introduction

I am writing this letter to answer a number of allegations by some members of the Association concerning the conduct of the Board of Directors as it relates to the replacement of our playground equipment. A telephone and email campaign is being conducted within the community to inform residents of the alleged misconduct of the Board. The allegations are serious; malfeasance, illegal actions, financial impropriety and the wholesale ignoring of the fiduciary responsibility of the Board.

These allegations are untrue, unfounded and malicious. As long as they were confined to a few members complaining to the Board they could be ignored. However, once the general population is being approached, we have an obligation to be sure you know the facts.

I am unsure as to some people’s intents, but I can tell you what I know…the simple and unabridged truth. For those that know me, I hope they will agree that I have no agenda EXCEPT leaving this community in better condition than I inherited it, which is probably the creed of every President and Board before us. With that said, let me present the facts surrounding the playground replacement and the allegations concerning the Board’s actions.

The Allegations

ALLEGATION: The Board removed the playground without foresight or cause.

FACT: This would imply that the Board simply decided to remove and replace the playground equipment with little or no thought. In fact, on 10/30/07 (almost 2 years ago), the Board was presented a 2 page list of “mandatory recommendations” compiled by our commercial insurance underwriter that identified 22 hazards that MUST be corrected/addressed to continue insurance coverage. #07-10 states: “It is recommended Insured remove or replace the playground equipment as it appears to be outdated and unsafe (emphasis added). Thus, the Board did not just decide to remove the equipment. The condition of the equipment posed such a potential liability that its removal and replacement became a condition for continued coverage by our insurance company. We formed a Playground Committee, did extensive research, received several proposals and had 2 presentations by potential vendors at Board meetings. Hardly “without foresight or cause”.

ALLEGATION: The Board removed playground equipment that could have been fixed.

FACT: The Board realized that the removal and replacement of the playground equipment would be an expensive proposition. Our capital projects plan prepared in 2005 simply anticipated some repairs to the equipment for approximately $14,000. Always cautious of major expenditures, the Board felt it wise to seek a second opinion and hired a qualified Playground Safety Inspector with litigation experience to advise the Board how to best meet our insurance company’s requirements and minimize our liability. The Playground Safety Audit was received on 3/18/08 and identified 7 structures that were an IMMEDIATE THREAT to life and limb AND that should be removed due to required excessive modifications. This inspection confirmed the recommendation of the insurance company. Repairs became a moot point.

ALLEGATION: The Board removed the Playground with little or no notice

FACT: The allegation contends that the Board somehow surreptitiously removed the defective equipment without telling residents that it was going to do so. I am not sure what the alleged purpose would have been. The allegation is untrue. Several Board minutes, the Village Voice, and my President’s corner blog (updated weekly) all reflect references to the future removal of playground equipment. The topic came up for discussion at the 2008 Annual Meeting of the membership. The unsafe playground equipment was finally removed in late December 2008, 9 MONTHS after the safety audit was received in order to prepare the membership for its removal.

ALLEGATION: The Board spent more than $50,000 replacing the removed equipment.

FACT: After getting the necessary bids, the Board of Directors, upon recommendation from the Playground Committee Chairman, voted to purchase the playground equipment through REP Services, Inc. of Longwood FL. The cost of the playground equipment, including charges for freight/delivery, assembly, 256 cubic yards of engineered wood fiber fill, 400’ of border, stakes for the border, and taxes is $33,921.00. That is a long way from $50,000. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT OUR PLAYGROUND HAS BEEN OUT OF SAFETY COMPLIANCE AS THE SWINGS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT HAVE HAD NO FILL SINCE THEIR INSTALLATION. There was, therefore, an additional expense for fill and borders for the remaining older equipment which totaled $9,230. This expenditure is mandatory even if no new equipment is purchased. Our total cost to purchase new equipment and bring existing equipment into compliance is $43,151.

ALLEGATION: The Board ignored that Westlake Village doesn’t have the money for this playground.

FACT: Yes, we do. In addition to the approximately $82,000 we have in our Reserve Fund, which is used to cover replacement, major renovation, and emergency repair costs for all our common assets, we have just negotiated a new 2 year lawn contract that will save us appr. $45,000 - $50,000 PER YEAR over what we have been paying from 2005 - 2009…or close to $100,000 over the next 2 years! This has not been publicized. After a Request for Proposal that netted us 20 bids, the Board selected Buccaneer Landscape Management as our new provider. By this time next year, it is anticipated that the ENTIRE Playground purchase of $43,151 will have been paid for with no impact on our budget…we were simply able to save in one place (lawn contract) to benefit another (playground).

ALLEGATION: The Board illegally signed a Promissory Note that puts our Common Assets in jeopardy.

FACT: That is incorrect - our Common Assets are not in jeopardy. The Board did sign a private Promissory Note after fruitless efforts to find an institutional lender to loan us the money with acceptable terms. Why a loan? In these uncertain times, cash liquidity is our greatest asset and the Board felt it prudent to maintain our cash liquidity at existing levels. As with all contracts over $5000, the Board consulted our lawyer, Robert Tankel, and the Promissory note was reviewed and approved by him personally. Attorney Tankel gave us the opinion that the Board does have authority to enter into loan agreements and borrow money.

ALLEGATION: The Board ignored a requirement in the Covenants that the membership has to vote on the expenditure for the Playground since the promissory note constitutes a mortgage which the Board cannot enter into without member approval.

FACT: This is incorrect. While we encourage member involvement, Florida law and our governing documents require no such membership vote on a situation such as the purchase of playground equipment or the execution of the promissory note. The Board is empowered with entering into financial arrangements such as this by our documents and Florida Statute 720. The promissory note was approved by our legal counsel and then approved by the Board at the June meeting. There is no mortgage on Westlake Village assets as a mortgage is by definition on REAL PROPERTY – the Clubhouse, pool, land, etc…the collateral for the loan is the Playground equipment itself, which is not REAL property by legal definition according to our lawyer.

Summary

I personally find it sad and disingenuous that a small group of members would be spreading these fabrications and distortions of fact. I have come to learn that as a President and Board member, I will never have the ability to please everyone all of the time. However, I have a fiduciary duty to ensure our neighborhood is properly cared for and prepared for the next 30 years to the best extent possible. We have faced other hard decisions in the recent past and successfully resolved those issues – issues that we would much rather have avoided.

Let me make this perfectly clear – despite what others may say, your Board has NO HIDDEN AGENDA with the replacement of the playground. We simply feel our dues-paying residents and our children deserve a playground that is SAFE, UPDATED, and a GOOD INVESTMENT for the future, in addition to minimizing the legal liability of Westlake Village by having ADA-compliant, industry-approved playground equipment.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. If you should receive a phone call or email concerning the playground project, I would ask that you keep the above in mind.

New Landscape contractor - Buccaneer Landscape Management

2009-07-05T20:30:00.003-05:00

If you were driving through the Village on Wednesday, you probably noticed an army of uniformed landscapers in orange safety vests "attacking" our property with mowers, trimmers, pole saws, etc! Don't worry, that was our new landscape contractor, Buccaneer Landscape Management. They had been delayed 2 days by the torrential rains and even had to work through the rain on Wednesday, their first day on property. We have high hopes for our new contractor and look forward to a great relationship with them over the next 2 years. If you should be driving and you see them working, make sure you give the hard-working landscaper a smile and wave and pull into the next lane when driving for safety's sake.

2009-06-23T14:04:00.000-05:00

I am pleased to announce that the bidding process for our 2009 – 2011 landscaping contract has been completed! We received appr 20 proposals from various companies throughout Tampa Bay. I would like to recognize our Dir. of Building and Grounds, Jim Brasby, for assisting me with the contract and giving “tours” of our property to perspective bidders. After much consideration and research, the Board selected Buccaneer Landscape Management to see out the contract over the next 2 years.

Buccaneer competitively priced their bid and, owing to their background as a large commercial landscape company, offered Westlake Village substantial cost savings. Their references include the City of Largo Parks and Recreation Dept, Colonial Bank, CVS, and commercial developers…I must say they come highly recommended. In addition to lawn maintenance, Buccaneer features in-house pest control and irrigation services, as well as other functions we may have need to use.

We intend to work closely with Buccaneer to ensure our grounds and shrubbery receive top care and we build on the solid foundation we have in place right now. The Blvd and the grove are top priorities, as well as maintaining our open areas that are most visible to residents and the general public.

Additionally, I am also pleased to announce the Board has selected Rep Services, Inc. as the vendor for our new playground. Masterfully designed with our children as the main focus, this playground will meet ALL county, state, and federal safety rules as well as provide ADA-required access for physically challenged children – all areas in which our previous playground structure(s) were deficient. The structure was designed for “continuous play” and use by ages 5 – 12. We hope to have the new playground installed and operational by the end of summer but that will depend on YOU! We were able to keep costs down by having a certified installer oversee the construction and installation of the equipment, similar to what the Palm Harbor YMCA did with their new playground. So be on the lookout for our “Playground Volunteer Day” coming soon!

At the risk of beating a dead horse, the Board is ALWAYS looking for volunteers…positions include Board Member (2 open), Architectural Committee, Maintenance Committee, and Activities Committee. If you’re interested in any of these, we could certainly use your help…pls call the office at 727.784.3054.

Volunteers needed for 2010 Budget committee

2009-06-09T14:32:00.002-05:00

Firstly, how weird does "2010' sound? Like a futuristic movie or something...but 2010 is just around the corner.

To gear up and start planning ahead, the Board of Directors, according to our documents, must appoint a Budget Committee Chairperson to oversee our budgeting process for next year. In years past, it has been our Treasurer who has chaired the committee and done most of the grunt work.

This year, it would be VERY refreshing to have some new faces analyze our present budget and find ways for us to save money next year. It's educational and sure to amaze you - I promise. Pls contact the office 784-3054 to volunteer.

Safeguarding your money

2009-05-31T14:22:00.001-05:00

I wanted to take a moment to discuss with you the financial security of Westlake Village and how the Board of Directors ensures that the integrity of our finances is ensured.

You may have read lately about a city employee in Safety Harbor who embezzled city funds for personal use or the property manager in Oldsmar who used her position to swindle monies from her employer and up to 20 communities. This is real, frightening, and becoming more of a possibility as our economy continues its’ downturn.

So how do we prevent this from happening in Westlake Village? There are quite a few ways, which I will elaborate on. While I would love to be able to tell you that no employee or Board member has the desire to defraud WLV, this cannot be assured – I am sure the city and the property management firm thought there employees were honest and forthright. So, without the ability to read people’s minds, we have set up safeguards to ensure our finances are protected properly.

First, our finances are audited annually by Spence, Marston, Bunch, Morris, and Co., a reputable CPA firm serving our area for 35 years. Knowing that we have a professional, thorough auditor who knows our finances well is an excellent deterrent for anyone looking to pilfer funds.

Second, our check-signing policy requires 2 signatures of officers of the Board in order to be valid. The bank does a very good job of verifying this. Thus, every check that leaves the office has had 2 Board members review the charge and approve via signature.

Third, it was at the Direction of the Board that we begin using credit cards to accomplish the business of the Village, including admin functions and maintenance of our community. Unfortunately, a Home Depot card and Office Depot card only go so far. These cards have small limits to limit liability and our auditor demands each charge be accompanied by a receipt. These charges are reviewed by the check signers (Board members) regularly before sign off.

Fourth, our insurance policy covers theft and/or criminal misuse of funds up to $1M. Obviously, you never want to use that coverage, but it’s there if we need it.

So, we have some checks and balances built in to our system. The security of your (and our) money is extremely important.

June approaches

2009-05-24T06:15:00.002-05:00

Hello, Neighbors!

It is my distinct pleasure to inform you that our Community Garage Sale for the Playground raised almost $1200! Every red cent of that will go towards our new playground, which the Board is fervently preparing to install.

Also, at our last regular meeting in May, it was motioned and approved to cease the printing and mailing of the Village Voice Jan 1, 2010, for multiple reasons:

The cost of printing, folding (now done by volunteers), and mailing the VV continues to increase
We run a small deficit EVEN after accounting for ad revenue
Feedback indicates many people just toss the VV when it is received in the mail
Production of the VV greatly decreases the effectiveness and efficiency of our Office Administrator, Rosemary
The environmental impact of printing, mailing, and delivering 2400 – 3000 sheets of paper monthly (600+ newsletters x 4-5 sheets per issue) is staggering

In an effort to promote fiscal and environmental responsibility, the BoD has voted to deliver the Village Voice via the following delivery options:· Automatic email delivery via

www.WestlakeVillageHoa.com registration (pls make sure your email is updated
Posted on front page of www.WestlakeVillageHoa.com (does not require login)
Flyer distribution box on Announcement Board in Clubhouse parking lot
Posted behind glass on Announcement Board
Pick up from the Clubhouse Office during Office hours
A reminder on our white boards that the VV is available

Come 2010, residents will be able to receive our VV via the methods above. Our advertisers will most likely stay with us because we will pass these HUGE savings onto them in the form of dramatically lower ad rates!

With the budgetary restraints we are under, all spending is under the microscope.

That A/C is running..have you changed your filters???

2009-05-17T20:47:00.002-05:00

If you have pets, especially ones that shed, you probably already know the importance changing your air conditioning filters. When I was younger, my folks were always replacing filters using those blue filament-type that are super-cheap. The old adage of you get what you pay for would now apply. They are pretty much useless, especially at removing the smallest particles from the air.

To be perfectly honest, I consulted with Tim Holt of Holt Filters in Clearwater (Off Hercules by the RR tracks) about the efficacy of filters. He said the #1 way to completely remove allergens and unwanted particles is a mobile filter with charcoal. Unfortunately, the model he recommended was about $500. So what's a homeowner to do???

First, consider the MERV rating. Filters are rated 1 - 16 (you might see that number in hundreds, such as MERV rating 6 as "600"). Below is a summary of MERV ratings:

MERV ratings range from 1 - 16 and measurements are in microns. Some of the common particles related to MERV ratings are pet dander, insecticide dust, smog, dust, viruses, wood, tobacco smoke, spores, bacteria and pollen.
Some of the most common filters found in residential use only have a merv rating of 1 to 4. These are typically disposable panel type filters and do not do a good job of filtering the air because they will not stop particles smaller than 10 microns.

Merv 5 to 8 rated filters are a better choice and are more commonly found in commercial applications. These filters will collect particles as small as 3 microns and are a good choice for home owners also.

Filters with a merv rating of 9 to 12 are used in commercial and industrial applications and will stop particles in the 1 to 3 micron range. These filters are a great choice for home owners who want the best dust control possible. When using filters with Merv 9 ratings and above it is important to clean or replace them when recommended by the manufacturer because they will have a negative effect on air flow when they become dirty. This can lead to performance problems and decreased operating efficiency.

The most efficient filters have merv ratings of 13 to 16 and will stop particles as small as .3 microns. These filters are used in hospitals and other super clean environments.

Long story short, high efficiency filters are very expensive, especially if you are replacing them every 2-3 months. Cut to Holt Filters in Clearwater...their custommade MERV 11 filters are VERY cost-effective...between $4 & $5 depending on size. So, gather all your sizes, call Holt Filters at 727.449.8448, and order those filters. I spent $45 and I won't have to buy anymore for the next year or so.

Westlake Village Lawn Maintenance Contract NOW ACCEPTING BIDS

2009-05-09T11:33:00.002-05:00

I wanted to pass along that WLV has opened up it's bidding process for our Lawn Maintenance Contract. Our internal rules direct the Board to obtain AT LEAST 3 estimates for any contract we enter into that is $5000 or greater. As Maintenance Chair, I decided putting the contract out to vendors, via a Request For Proposal (RFP), was the most efficient method for receiving at least 3 bids AND ensuring that we get a fair price.

Below is the RFP cover letter - contact me for a copy of our contract:

Dear Vendor,

Thank you for your interest in making a competitive bid to be considered as the exclusive vendor for the WLV Lawn Care Contract. The residents of Westlake Village take great pride in the appearance of our neighborhood. With over 30 acres of common area including a large pond, citrus grove, sports facilities, walking trails, wooded areas, and public right-of-ways, Westlake Village retains the charm and character the developer envisioned 3 decades ago.

Attached you will find a sample of the Lawn Care Contract you will be asked to sign if your bid is selected. The major duties of the Lawn Care Contract vendor are to:

-Ensure all Common lawn areas are mowed/trimmed/edged, including the medians on Westlake Blvd from sidewalk to sidewalk (appr. 8’ from road to gutter if no sidewalk).
-Ensure all irrigation systems (supplied via well & reclaimed) throughout the Common Areas are functioning correctly at all times.
-Ensure all Common lawn areas are fertilized and treated for pests.
-Trim trees in close proximity to public right-of-ways up to a height of 15’and palm trees on Blvd (appr 60 palms) once per year.
-Maintain 4+ acre citrus grove utilizing accepted methods of fertilizing, pest control, and irrigation.
-Maintain plant beds at North & South Entrance
Work closely with WLV Director of Building and Grounds to accomplish the contract.

Please see the full Proposal and Map of Westlake Village for additional details. FILL IN BLANKS WITHIN PRPOSAL WITH BIDDED VALUES.

Bids will not be accepted without:

Proof of Liability Insurance Coverage ($1M minimum)
Proof of Workman’s Comp Insurance (or exemption)

Please remit your proposal to the WLV Office in person or via mail NO LATER THAN JUNE 1, 2009. The office is located at 810 Village Way, Palm Harbor, FL 34683.

New Tennis Courts

2009-05-03T12:10:00.001-05:00

As part of our Capital Improvement Program to keep Westlake Village in tip-top shape, the Board is moving ahead with finishing the Tennis Court remodel after a year delay. The last 2 courts have been re-surfaced and are "curing", thus allowing all tennis enthusiasts to enjoy new courts all the time.

Notice how I said tennis enthusiasts…I have fielded reports from concerned residents about people using skateboards on our new tennis courts, which has already begun to damage the surfacing. At the same time, the fences are starting to show signs of bowing as people slam into them doing who-knows-what.

Additionally, I also hear complaints about people allowing their dog(s) on both the tennis court and in the pool area where they run free and do their business. This is unacceptable and I would expect residents who witness this to inform the people that this is not allowed in our community.

When it comes down to it, these Common Area assets are just as much YOURS as they are other resident’s and you should feel fully empowered to enforce the rules (and common sense). Please, no skateboards, in-line skates, hockey sticks, Razor scooters, bikes, etc on the tennis courts. Those tennis courts cost $10,000+ to resurface and we don’t want to resurface them again prematurely!

Adios.

We raised over $1,200 toward the purchase of a new playground!

2009-04-27T11:37:00.001-05:00

We would like to especially thank the following people for all their hard work and the hours out in to help organize such a huge, but amazingly fun, endeavor.If there is anyone we missed, please do not hesitate to let us know so we can give you a proper thanks!

Dorothy Moraca of 795 Rolling Hills (Dorothy was up bright and early on the day of the yard sale to help us get everything out of the clubhouse and on the lawn).

Dimitri & Tammy Leventis of 85 Woodcutter Ln. (Tammy helped during one of the donation collection days and during the entire yard sale. Dimitri helped sell items at the yard sale and he was quite a salesman).

Pete Mansour of 525 Lakeview Drive (helped set-up the morning of the yard sale)

Eric Mandell of 700 Village Way (helped break down the yard sale at the end of the day)

Dick & Carrol Rayfield - 877 Pinewood Ter. W.

Bill & Toni Benton - 858 Pinewood Ter W.

Rosemary Lehner - WLV Secretary (non-resident of WLV) (helped work part of the day at the yard sale)

Dave & Nida Stang - family of the Rayfield's & Benton's (non-residents of WLV) (worked part of the day at the yard sale and helped break down at the end of the day)

Kathie Keiderling - friend of the Benton's (non-resident of WLV) (put in countless hours sorting, pricing, setting up, and breaking down).

The anonymous hot dog donor (we really appreciated it!)

Thank you to all in the community that donated items for the playground fundraiser and to those who recognized and thanked us for all our hard work. We know many residents of WLV work and can not donate time, however, many of you stopped by to support the fundraiser by simply purchasing a doughnut, hot dog, and beverage. Some of you even contributed to the donation jar when you couldn't find a treasure at the yard sale.

This playground helps increase the values of our homes because it is a huge selling feature for our community!

We raised over $1,200 toward the purchase of a new playground!

We loved the sense of community this brought to WLV and we thought it would be a great idea to have a monthly BBQ over the summer at the pool to continue to help funds for the playground. We could call it a Pool Party Fundraiser, Picnic in the Park Fundraiser, or Poolside Picnic Fundraiser. The hot dogs seemed to be a big hit at the yard sale and it's fairly easy to do. We already have the pricing down. This would also be a great way to meet the neighbors! I also think we may want to move forward with doing some sort of community raffle and use the picnic fundraising dates as a way to get the community to come together. My friend Kathie and mom, Carrol, are on board and ready for the task! If these seems of interest to you please let me know and we can send a proposal as to how the raffle/fundraiser works.

Again, we take our hats off and bow to the terrific volunteers and donors of WLV.

Best Wishes to All,

Carrol Rayfield & Toni Benton
Playground Fundraiser Coordinators

2009-04-21T18:48:00.002-05:00

The Easter Egg Hunt was a great success! Thanks to Colleen Bemis and her band of happy helpers for putting on such a terrific event. There is already talk of a Fall Fest so stay tuned!

Next up is our Community Garage Sale with all proceeds benefiting the Playground Fund. Toni Benton has spearheaded this ambitious and outside-the-box event and participation has already been exceptional - WE HAVE SOOOOO MUCH STUFF TO SELL! The Sale will occur on Saturday April 25...pls drop off all your donated goods at the Clubhouse no later than the night before. Toni needs help pricing the items, setting up the tables w/ goods, and "haggling" with shoppers ;-) Please call Rosemary in the Office to assist 784-3054.

Please note that we are under severe drought conditions and minimizing water usage, even reclaimed, is the right thing to do. Did you know that leaving your grass height at more than 3 inches provides more shade for the grass root system and encourages them to go deeper?

2009-04-12T07:54:00.003-05:00

Happy (insert particular religious holiday, if you observe one, here) Everyone!

The Easter Egg hunt went very well - thanks to all the residents who donated their time to make this an annual ritual. Look for it again next year.

Also, this just in from a resident:

"My wife's car window was smashed and her purse stolen from the floor of her vehicle. This happen under a light at the YMCA between 7:45 and 8:30 on April 9. Two other cars were broken into in a similar manner.

While I was on the phone canceling her credit cards she called and told me the sheriff found out they broke into cars at Pop Stansel Park."

Let's remember to lock your cars at night and ensure your home is fully secured. Don't make it easy for these low-life wannabe thugs to make you and your family a victim.

2009-04-06T07:57:00.002-05:00

Our annual assessment numbers are in...to date, we have collected approximately 93% of our 2009 Annual Assessment dollars. When I was in school, 93% was the least you could get and still score an A...in this case, that 93% represents a DEFICIT of 7% of our annualized $350,000 budget. Or in other words, appr. $25,000!

Rest assured your Board is working proactively to collect these dues that are used to keep our community fiscally sound and protect our $1M worth of assets, not to mention our 30+ acres of common area. This week, our Treasurer has directed that all overdue accounts be sent to our attorney for collection. In addition to the invoice residents receive, a secondary late notice, countless blog and Village Voice articles, as well as signs at each entrance, overdue residents will now receive a final demand letter from our Attorney. This is a prelude to a lien being filed against the property, which will need to be paid before the home is sold, refinanced, transferred, etc. An unfortunate step, but necessary.

REMINDER:

Annual Easter Egg Hust at the Clubhouse on 4/11 at 10A
Community Garage Sale for our Playground on 4/25...pls donate your gently used items for re-sale.

Stay warm ;-)

2009-03-30T06:58:00.002-05:00

I was wondering what to write this week and then I received a phone call from our Dir of Building and Grounds, Jim. He proceeded to tell me that the pool is a disaster this morning - dirt and leaves in the pool, chairs in the pool, trash scattered around, etc. A couple of residents proceeded to tell him that the pool area was ground zero for unruly people this morning, which resulted in this mess.

What's unfortunate is that on the first day of Spring Break, we have to SHUT THE POOL DOWN until the water contamination issues are resolved. I anticipate this will result in some hard feelings, especially as people come to use the pool, but such is life. If residents (and their guests) cannot respect our facilities and treat them as disposable assets, then this is the result.

Jim has a ton of other things to attend to but they will have to be pushed to the wayside. How unfortunate...

April happenings

2009-03-23T07:45:00.000-05:00

First things first…The Annual Easter Egg Hunt is scheduled for Saturday, April 11th at the Clubhouse! It will, as always, be a fine time for the kids. Rain day is scheduled for the very next day, Easter Sunday. Come on out, bring the little ones, and grab the camera!

Second things second…WE’RE HAVING A COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE WITH A TWIST! Thanks to devoted volunteers, Westlake Village will be having a Community Garage sale on April 25th with items donated by our residents. 100% of all proceeds from the sold items will go to our Playground fund which will be used to buy the best-quality, safest playground equipment for our children. This is a perfect time to clean out your garage (I’m guilty of a cluttered garage myself!) and feel good doing it. Simply call 474-5409 OR bring your items to the Clubhouse between now and April 25th and we’ll make arrangements to have your items securely stored until sale day. We need volunteers to help us price items the night before, setup in the morning, and “haggle” with buyers ;-)
Contact the Association if you want to help out. Flyers are posted in the VV and at the Clubhouse.

Third, as I have mentioned in earlier VV articles and on my weekly President’s Corner blog (http://www.westlakevillagehoa.com/), we will be distributing Resident ID cards to all Residents whose dues are FULLY PAID through 2009.

*****IMPORTANT***** *****IMPORTANT***** *****IMPORTANT*****

These ID cards will contain a code to the electronic lock on the front door of the Clubhouse. The Board is also asking residents for their cooperation in keeping this code secure – vandalism and non-resident usage of our facilities costs us all.

Now I fully expect for some residents to arrive at the Clubhouse w/o the code…unless we can verify you have paid your dues, we will not be able to issue you the code. It’s standard policy for all residents to carry their resident ID card with them at all times when using the Common Facilities.

Happy Spring.

Community Garage Sale at the Clubhouse - 4/25/09

2009-03-19T07:24:00.002-05:00

Have you heard - we're having a Community Garage Sale at the Clubhouse on April 25th! We ask that residents donate their gently-used items for re-sale, with all profits going to the Westlake Village Playground Fund!

From n ow until then, please contact 727.474.5409 to make arrangements to get the items to our volunteers! We are very excited about this great opportunity and need your help before, during and after the event! If you'd like to pitch in and help us re-build the playground sooner, pls call and let us know!

Playground fundraiser

2009-03-09T08:51:00.003-05:00

As many know, the Board has taken steps to address our antiquated playground equipment and replace it with new, safe equipment that will last us 20 years into the future (at least!).

However, that cost is not cheap. We have received multiple proposals from various vendors and we are looking at a cost of at least $25k but more likely $30k - $35k after the dust settles and the playground meets ALL national safety standards.

To that end, one of our active volunteers, Toni Benton, has proposed a garage sale fundraiser with all proceeds going to the playground fund. Your participation is EASY! Just drop off any items you would like to have us sell at our community garage sale on 4/25 and all the proceeds go to the playground fund! All left over items will be donated to charity. It's that easy! More details are in your current issue of the Village Voice or click here and scroll to page 4 for our informational flyer:

http://westlakevillagehoa.com/modules.php?name=Documents&doc=Doc254.pdf

Any questions, pls call the office 784-3054

March roars in...

2009-03-02T20:05:00.003-05:00

On the subject of assessments:

I would like to thank our residents for working to keep our small corner of the globe moving forward through the payment of our annual assessments. As of this past weekend, we had collected 88% of our budgeted dues...compared to just 84% last year. We still have 12% outstanding, which equates to appr $40,000. Did you know our recurring monthly costs are appr $15,000 - $20,000 per month? You can see how this presents a problem...if you have not paid, please make an effort to do so. Homeowners associations are 2nd only to Primary mortgages on lienholder priority...

Maintenance update

2009-02-23T12:52:00.000-05:00

Jim has been busy with the pool and various small tasks around the community.

Here’s the latest:

1) A new flowmeter was installed in the pumphouse…old one was half-working and leaking at install point.

2) Jim has been working in the pumphouse w/ the sump pump to keep the leak from flooding the room. Repair scheduled for this week.

3) he just installed rock border around the planter in front of the pumphouse…the plastic “picket” border was not appropriate for the spot.

4) Jim has been painting garbage cans green (they were the stained, faded gray/tan)
most of the garbage can covers were cracked…he bought some bondo, sanded them, and repainted…they look good now.

5) the tennis parking lot was re-striped recently.

6) Jim replaced a mailbox along the trail

7) he monitored the reclaimed water hook-up on the blvd (waiting for elec co)

8) Jim totally remodeled his office with new shelving to make the outer office a “paint room”.

9) Tennis court has repainted benches (green instead of white)

10) Per susie’s suggestion, he installed a spring on the tennis court door to ensure it contacts the magnetic lock assembly.

11) Jim picked up the new office printer from my friend in NPR (req’d his pickup)

Our major project over the next 2 months is repairing and resealing the ENTIRE walking path. The repairs have to sit for 30ish days to fully harden, but he’ll be re-sealing during that time. There are probably quite a few things I either forgot to mention or don’t even know Jim did. Just an fyi

Leak in Reclaimed Main Line of Blvd

2009-02-16T11:49:00.002-05:00

We experienced a large rupture of the reclaimed water main line that runs the length of our Blvd last week. It was promptly repaired by Pinellas County and I have been assured that the full fix will be completed over the next 2 weeks, as they have to allow for the surrounding area to fully dry out and settle before it is re-paved.

Updates will occur as necessary. Thanks for your patience.

2009-02-09T11:33:00.002-05:00

As you know, we have experienced 2 freezes that left frost on our cars and a shiver in our walk. Needless to say, we've experienced a die-off of some shrubs and also the lawn in our common areas. According to our Lawn Maintenance contractor, grass in the vicinity of large trees survived while grass out in the open died. Luckily, the roots should be fine and the green will return.

Pinellas County has installed the reclaimed meter on the Blvd at Lakeview and WL Blvd. We'll be working intensely on bringing the grass back to healthy levels.

Have a good week.

2009-01-23T18:53:00.001-05:00

Each year your Board of Directors determines the annual assessment to provide the necessary funds for maintenance, landscaping and beautification of Common areas and recreational facilities and for their repairing and replacement as needed Each lot owner receives an invoice for the assessment prior to the beginning of the year. The entire amount is due and payable by January 31st of the new year. For your information, any assessment not paid within 30 days after the due date is subject to interest from the due date at seven percent (7%) per annum.

The Board recognizes that this country is in a deep recession affecting all of us to varying degrees and each of us must prioritize our needs and reduce our spending to the extent possible. That approach also applies to managing the finances of the Westlake Village Homeowners Association. The Budget adopted by the Board has been carefully drawn to keep our village as a beautiful and desirable place to live and at the same time to reduce expenses to a minimum. As expenses must be keep to a minimum so must income be maximized. Therefore, every resident has a stake in the outcome. Failure to pay an assessment by a resident has a negative impact on all residents.

Article VII Section Six in the Declaration of Covenants spells out the responsibility of the Board relative to non-payment of assessments. If your assessment is not received by March 2nd, your account will be referred to our attorney for collection. You will receive a Demand Letter from our attorney for immediate payment of the assessment plus interest and all legal expenses. Failure to pay within 45 days after the date of the letter will cause a lien to be filed. If, after another 45 days, the total amount is still not paid, the property will be subject to foreclosure.

The Board has agonized over how to best protect the financial interests of all our homeowners and feel this is the most impartial policy we can stick to...the prompt and full payment due as laid out in our governing documents. Thank you in advance for your support and understanding.

2009-01-09T15:17:00.002-05:00

District asks homeowners to "skip a week" of irrigation in cooler weather

In an effort to conserve water during the ongoing drought, the Southwest Florida Water Management District is encouraging residents who irrigate their lawns to "skip a week" during the cooler months of December, January and February.

According to research by the University of Florida, grass doesn't need to be watered as often during the cooler months. In fact, three-quarters of an inch of water every 10–14 days is sufficient.

“The cooler months are a good time to train lawns to need less water," said Sylvia Durell, Florida-friendly landscaping project manager. “Using less water will encourage deeper grass and plant roots, which makes them more drought-tolerant."

Over-watering can also encourage disease and pests.

Homeowners can determine when their grass needs water when:

• Grass blades are folded in half on 30 percent of the lawn

• Grass blades are blue-gray

• A footprint remains on the lawn for several minutes after walking on it

The region is experiencing the effects of a three-year drought and October through May is Florida’s dry season. All 16 counties within the District are under one-day-per-week lawn watering restrictions through Feb. 27, 2009. In addition, tightened restrictions are currently in affect for all of Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties through June 30, 2009.

Skipping a week of irrigation will help conserve drinking water supplies. Following this skip-a-week plan saves water that the public needs for other critical uses during the dry season.

For more water conservation tips, information about the drought and the current water restrictions, please visit the District's web site at WaterMatters.org/drought.

January happenings

2009-01-05T10:33:00.002-05:00

Welcome 2009.

If you have not already rec'd the invoice (you should have), your annual dues of $558are due by Jan 31.

The Pinellas County Hwy Dept has repainted the speed humps in and around the Village so they will be much more visible now. Pls remember school is back in session and residential speed limits are 25 mph. Speeding through the neighborhood might shave 15 seconds off your travel and is NOT worth the danger it entails...pls slow down.

If your New Years resolution was to join the Board of Directors, you're in luck!!! We have a couple open positions for Board members and quite a few open positions for volunteers.

Remember the annual garage sale, Spring Fling, Holiday parties, etc. We have note been able to schedule them because we are MINUS an Activities Chair. If this is your thing, come join us!

We had a resident question this week via email about why we close the pool at dusk. It's a very important question - here's the answer:

"It is a Pinellas County ordinance we must meet due to the fact we do not meet the county guidelines for sufficient illumination of our pool (inside & outside). Simply speaking, the existing lighting situation is below what the county considers safe, i.e. to illuminate sufficiently to see a swimmer at the bottom of the pool. In late 2006/early 2007 the Board conducted an audit and I believe the estimate was appr. $10,000 to retrofit/re-wire the pool to meet county safety code.

Seasonally, it has not drawn many complaints. Normally it's cold and no one wants to be in the pool day or night. It has been unseasonably warm and with dusk at 530ish, it has apparently become more of an issue. In the summer, dusk does not occur until after 8p, which has worked fine for most residents, I believe."

I'm still on vacation...

2008-12-28T20:20:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year!

2008-12-21T23:01:00.001-05:00

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

2008-12-14T21:26:00.002-05:00

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

2008-11-17T10:49:00.002-05:00

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

2008-11-10T15:49:00.001-05:00

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

Oct 08

2008-10-02T07:33:00.000-05:00

Happy Halloween!

Just a couple of things to touch on:

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…
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…
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

2008-09-17T09:21:00.000-05:00

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

2008-09-09T07:44:00.002-05:00

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.

2008-09-03T14:24:00.002-05:00

Some happenings...

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.
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.
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!
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).
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!

2008-08-19T14:36:00.001-05:00

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

2008-08-11T09:24:00.003-05:00

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

2008-08-05T07:34:00.002-05:00

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!
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'.
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

2008-07-28T08:48:00.003-05:00

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!!

2008-07-21T09:52:00.003-05:00

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

2008-07-14T10:50:00.001-05:00

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...

2008-06-25T12:53:00.000-05:00

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.

2008-06-11T06:50:00.002-05:00

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???

2008-05-30T19:08:00.000-05:00

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!

2008-05-21T13:35:00.003-05:00

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!

2008-05-17T10:50:00.000-05:00

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...

2008-05-12T16:45:00.002-05:00

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.
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.
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.
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.

2008-05-05T16:09:00.000-05:00

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!

2008-04-27T16:33:00.000-05:00

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

2008-04-08T09:18:00.001-05:00

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.

2008-04-02T04:36:00.000-05:00

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!

2008-03-18T15:46:00.002-05:00

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...

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.
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.
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.
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.
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!

2008-02-26T18:25:00.004-05:00

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.

2008-02-22T10:10:00.002-05:00

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

2008-02-10T16:38:00.000-05:00

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.