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Minutes 07-29-97 MINUTES OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD SUMMIT MEETING HELD AT THE CIVIC CENTER, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ON TUESDAY, JULY 29, 1997, AT 7:00 P.M. PRESENT Hank Ackermann, Neighborhood Project Specialist Guest Speakers Bill Lynch, President, Boynton Leisureville Community Association Jerry Broening, Board of Directors, Inlet Cove Association INTRODUCTIONS Mr. Ackermann welcomed everyone to the meeting at 7:14 p.m. He hoped this will be the first of many gatherings of neighborhood associations. He stated that we all need to be part of building a better Boynton Beach, and we all need to be part of the solution. It is time for all of us (neighbors, neighborhoods, citizens, City staff, elected officials) to get together to make this City the place we really want it to be. One of the best places to start is taking pride in our own neighborhoods, working with our neighborhoods, and understanding the each neighborhood is not an island onto itself. We all take part in the City of Boynton Beach. We like the things that we get from the City and we also need to give something back to the City and work together as partners (private and public). He advised that representatives from the consulting team are present this evening . The team that is consulting with the City to help formulate some plans that we are going to be implementing. They displayed maps so that the people can identify on the maps the boundaries of their associations. There are many neighborhood and homeowner associations in Boynton Beach. We need to help new associations get formed. One of the reasons we are here tonight is to help one another and dispel some of the myths so that we can see that we are all neighbors. He introduced Mayor Jerry Taylor, Commissioners Jaskiewiecz and Bradley, and City Manager Kerry Willis. Michael Brady of LB Limited and Associates public relations, the communitiy involvement specialists on the Vision 20/20 team. He said he will be available after the meeting to help identify neighborhood associations on the map. INTRODUCTION OF ASSOCIATIONS The following associations were represented at this meeting: Lakes of Tara Golfview Harbor Sterling Village Condominium Association Boynton Intracoastal Group Village Royal on the Green Inlet Cove Association NBCIA (North Boynton Community Improvement Association) Boynton Leisureville Homeowners’ Association Skylake Property Owners’ Association Woodcrest Manor Homeowners’ Association (prospective association) Mr. Ackermann advised that there is a distinction to be made in the concept of neighborhood associations. There are many different kinds of associations. There are a large contingent of homeowner associations and neighborhood associations, and Mr. Ackermann thought it would be helpful to hear about the distinctions of the two. He introduced Mr. Lynch and Mr. Broening. The reason we are here tonight is to talk about neighborhoods, neighborhood concerns, ways in which we can benefit and help each other. WHAT IS A HOMEOWNER’S ASSOCIATION? Mr. Lynch explained the different documents that are impressed upon his community. Articles of Incorporation – We incorporated on January 10, 1974 as a retirement, adult community. We are also incorporated as a corporation not-for-profit in the State of Florida. Our incorporation papers specifically spell out what the association must provide to the community as far as services go. Some of those are that we must pay the ad valorem taxes, we must hire an attorney, we must have insurance covering all of our recreational lands. Boynton Leisureville is made up of 892 single family homes. They are owned individuality. The only obligation we have is on the common areas and the recreation. We also must pay and take care of all our interior roads. We must operate and maintain a sprinkler system throughout the community. Declaration of Restrictions – These dovetail into the Articles of Incorporation. They specify almost identically what the Articles of Incorporation say. This is the document that gives us the authority to levy monthly maintenance, to take care of all the responsibilities that the Board of Directors have. It states that everyone in our community will pay a pro rate share of the ad valorem takes to take care of the sprinkler system, insurance, attorneys, paving of the streets, swimming pool and recreational facilities. At the present time, the monthly maintenance fee is $45.00. The Declaration of Restrictions also tells us what we can and cannot do in the community. We cannot have a truck over a half ton in the community. Boats and boat trailers are not allowed to be parked in the community. No signs can be displayed unless they are approved by the Board of Directors. You cannot put hedges or fences to delineate any property in Leisureville. This document mainly gives us the authority to make monthly assessments to the people to pay for the articles contained in the articles of Incorporation. By-Laws – The by-laws give us our voting rights, the quorum for our meetings. They dictate the number of people on the Board of Directors. They also tell us what we must do as far as our bank deposits. All our funds must be kept in a bank. We cannot dabble in real estate or stocks and bonds. They also dictate our budget and time it has to be presented to the community. We have to have an annual budget meeting. The budget must be ratified by the community at the meeting, and it also dictates that we will have an annual audit at the end of our fiscal year. Rules and Regulations – These dovetail with all the above documents. They reenforce the does and don’ts that we have in the community. These documents also give us the authority to enforce these documents by action at law, if necessary. We have a very happy and active lifestyle. We have a turnover in our community of about 50 homes a year. This lifestyle is something that you must want. One of the other declarations is that no child under 16 years of age can resident in Boynton Leisureville. In the Rules and Regulations, the one that is most binding on us is the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1989. In order to maintain our retired adult community status, 80 percent of the homes in Boynton Leisureville at any time must be occupied by one person 55 years of age or older. Our interpretation of the Federal Fair Housing Act also gives children 90 days in the community before they are considered a permanent resident so that grandchildren can visit their grandparents during the summer, etc. The upside of this is that the property values in Boynton Leisureville are always at a maximum, as reflected in the resales of the homes in the community. The average home right now is about $80,000. The down side is that it is a restricted community as far as what you can and what you cannot do. However, if this is the lifestyle you want, the property values, the entertainment, and the lifestyle is terrific. WHAT IS A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION? Mr. Broening advised that his neighborhood association has been in existence for three years and is now incorporated. They spent a lot of time defining what it is they wanted to be before being incorporated. A neighborhood association is not like Mr. Lynch’s organization, exept that both organizations have common objectives. There is some common objective, purpose, or goal that binds before together. His association spent a better part of a year determining what it is that they wanted to be. This association consists of three neighborhoods. These three neighborhoods spent a year discussing what they wanted to do. Their purpose was to improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods. Several things became salient in the quest to improve the quality of their lives, such as crime. We all had the same problem—drugs and prostitution along Federal highway. We also thought we needed to be included in community decisions and should have a say in determining the policy that affects us. Communication – finding out what was going on in the City, State, and County, so that we might have a headstart on figuring out what the things were that were going to be important to us. With those three items, with built a purpose statement. Then we came to the impasse of whether or not to incorporate. There are benefits for incorporation. The benefit is that it gives the officers some protection from liability. It also gives you the ability to get certain grants and get through some cache with municipalities and other organizations. THE CITY’S NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THE CODE ASSISTANCE TEAM (CAT)