MINUTES OF MEETING
NORTH SPRINGS IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICT
The regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of the North Springs
Improvement District was held on
Present and constituting a quorum were:
Salvatore J. Mendolia
President
Steve Mendelson
Secretary
Also present were:
John Petty
Manager
Michael Pawelczyk
Attorney
Jane Early
Engineer
Brenda Schurz
FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS
Roll Call
Mr. Mendolia
called the meeting to order and called the roll.
SECOND ORDER OF BUSINESS
Approval of the Minutes of the December 17, 2006
Meeting
Mr. Petty stated each Board member received a copy of the minutes of the
There not being any,
On MOTION by Mr. Mendelson seconded by
Mr. Mendolia with all in favor the minutes of the
THIRD ORDER OF BUSINESS
Consideration of Permit Modification 97-4 for
Ms. Early stated this is a typical surface water management permit. It includes an existing permit. They are adding an additional building
to the site. We reviewed the
surface water calculations to make sure it conforms to the original permit. It is going through the existing
system. We are asking them to
provide evidence the existing system is clear of debris.
On MOTION by Mr. Mendelson seconded by
Mr. Mendolia with all in favor the modification to permit 97-4 was
approved.
FOURTH ORDER OF BUSINESS
Consideration of Change Order No.10 – Florida Sewer and Water
Modifications to Cypress Point (Formally Known as Heron Bay North Plat 1, Phase
1, Heron Bay North Access Roadway and Heron Bay North Lift Station TPC #9) for a
Net Increase of $50,800.60
Mr. Petty stated Ms. Early has updated information she brought with
her.
Ms. Early stated this is for Cypress Point, Phase 1. This project was designed by DeGirolmo
& Associates, Inc. It is a
multi family parcel. They submitted
their final pay estimate. What we
did was a final balance and change order.
The original bid included three different sets of plans. There was the parcel, an entrance road
and a lift station. When it was bid
his quantities did not include all the items on all three plans. There was an overage on the water and
sewer. I had someone go through all
the as builts to verify the quantities were correct. This is how we came up with the fact it
was not included in the original bid.
This summarizes the quantities for the balancing change order. There is a $92,000 addition to the
District’s contract and $25,000 of it was for the lift station. The majority of it was for sanitary
sewer, which was not in the original line items. They were in the original plans, but he
did not add all the plans together.
This is a final balancing change order and these quantities were
verified.
On MOTION by Mr. Mendelson seconded by
Mr. Mendolia with all in favor Change Order No. 10 for Florida sewer and water
modifications to Cypress Point (formally known as Heron Bay North Plat 1, Phase
1, Heron Bay North access roadway and Heron Bay North lift station TPC #9) for a
net increase of $50,800.60 was approved.
FIFTH ORDER OF BUSINESS
Consideration of Award of Contract for Purchase of Aquatic Weed Control
Chemicals
Mr. Petty stated
the bid you have a copy of is the same as you have seen in the past years. We bid the aquatic chemicals we use to
control plant material. We award
the bid on each chemical to the lowest responsive bidder.
On MOTION by Mr. Mendelson seconded by
Mr. Mendolia with all in favor the contracts for each individual aquatic weed
control chemical was awarded to the lowest responsive bidders as indicated in
the bid tabulation sheet.
SIXTH ORDER OF BUSINESS
Staff reports
A.
Manager’s Report – Discussion of Rate Sufficiency
Study
Mr. Petty stated
I would like to turn your attention to the rates we charge for water and
sewer. Our rates are set up into
three different categories. There
is a connection fee we get from a new home, which helps us pay for the
subdivision lines. The mains are
paid for out of the capacity portion of the bill. The monthly bill has two parts: the
capacity, which is our fixed cost and the user fee, which is for chemicals,
electric and other consumables.
We have not looked at this for five years. We have not done an annual cost of
living increase and our cost of operation has gone up. It is time to take a look at this. Staff usually looks into this. It is called rate sufficiency and it
does not cost the District extra money.
We do not charge a fee for it because it is part of our duties. We look at the revenue as well as the
cost and show you the difference in order to see if you have a plus or a
negative. This way you will know if
you have to adjust the rates. We
will be bringing this to you in either February or March.
Let me also talk to you about our capital improvement program. You have a short term program, which has
been on hold. We have been building
lines, but we have not done any construction on the utility side for a
while. Mr. McKune has a capital
improvement program, which he had approved just before I got here. I believe it is approximately a year and
a half to two years old. It sat
there. We have a few things, which
have gone flat. They are over the
$4,000 limit. These are major
valves and pneumatics. The entire
thing cost approximately $125,000 on one piece and $50,000 on another
piece. They put it into the program
hoping it will go. We have not done
the next expansion to the plant yet.
We have not hit the trigger on homes yet. We do not have a great rush of sales at
the moment to push us into it. I
still have this short term capital improvement program.
We want to do a couple of things.
We first want to come to you with a financing mechanism so you can
consider these things without issuing long term bonds. We basically want to get a line of
credit and bring it for your consideration. We can do it at next month’s
meeting. In the meantime we would
like to have Mr. McKune come up with a short term program and explain how it
will roll into the long term program, which is CH2M Hill’s responsibility to
do. We will work with Ms. Early on
a long term capital program presentation update for the Board. We would like to do the reconsideration
of rates along with any capital program we see. The plant has one major expansion
forthcoming along with a normal renewal and replenishment
program.
The last item I have is with regard to our field inspector, Mr.
Waypa. We would like to share him
with CSID to be an inspector on their capital improvement program. We will share him with your permission
and take some of his costs out of our budget.
Mr. Mendolia stated we approve.
Mr. Petty stated in regard to our payment times on the requisitions, the
paperwork is voluminous. We have
stacks to go through. I am trying
to get through it on a quicker pace.
I spoke with Ms. Early about submitting them directly to me so I can time
stamp them. We are working on
it. We are trying to get the
payments out as quickly as we can as long and due diligence is done. We will be working with our vendors and
our engineer to speed things up.
B.
Attorney’s Report
Mr. Pawelczyk
stated I took a call from Ms. Delgolf.
I asked her for an update on the amendment to the special act, which went before the Broward County
Delegation. It was approved
unanimously, but they asked for one change they are making. One of the residents must be from
C.
Engineer’s Report
Ms. Early stated
I have one other item regarding the clubhouse deck. At the last meeting we discussed
replacing the tile and looking at the possibility of pavers. I received a price for pavers, which was
steep. We agreed to go with nonskid
tile and put a spray deck on top of the shell area under the overhang.
The first item was the chimney repair I brought up last month, which they
have to do in the amount of $4,765.
It will be $54,300 to do the spray deck and replace the tiles. The total change order is for
$59,065.
On MOTION by Mr. Mendolia seconded by Mr.
Mendelson with all in favor Change Order No. 3 with
SEVENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS
Approval of Requisitions and Invoices
Mr. Mendolia
asked where does the $5,126 for management fee for Severn Trent Services
go?
Mr. Petty responded it goes towards the management contract. It is broken up in monthly
installments.
Mr. Mendolia asked are we done with the tennis court
repairs?
Ms. Early responded the repairs are finished.
On MOTION by Mr. Mendelson seconded by
Mr. Mendolia with all in favor the requisitions and invoices were
approved.
EIGHTH ORDER OF BUSINESS
Supervisor’s Requests and Audience Comments
Mr. Petty stated we have a
gentleman here from North Springs.
Mr. Gilliam came to my office earlier this month. He wants to talk to the District about
creating recreational facilities around the lake where his community lies. They have a large green space area
around the lake. The residents
would like to consider the possibility of using small boats. They investigated what is available from
the state as far as grants for such recreational facilities. There is one available from the Florida
Inland Navigation District.
It is not unusual for water management facilities to have recreational
overlays as long as there are no restrictions. This lake is one of the largest ones we
have in the District. It is very
deep. We discussed the pros and
cons of it. If it meets with the
Board’s conceptual approval, staff will continue to gather information. Mr. Gilliam is looking to continue in
the process of gathering data and checking the pros as well as the cons. I spoke with counsel who wants to make
sure there is no restrictions on the water management facilities if they are
used for recreational issues as well as drainage and to make sure there is no
revision clause.
Mr. Mendolia stated if we approve something like this, people will be on
the water. How is the insurance
covered? It is still under our
jurisdiction. If someone drowns,
who is negligent?
Mr. Petty responded we have the same risk regardless. We have statutory limitations. I do not feel this materially affects
our risk exposure; however, you are correct. If someone dies in the lake, they will
knock on our door. They will still
knock on our door if we do not put in a recreational area.
Mr. Mendolia stated everyone can go out on the waterways we have, but it
is not with our authority.
Mr. Petty stated these are waters of the state. If these residents have legal access to
the waters, they can put a boat in.
It is not within our powers to restrict their access. In the past we have discouraged the
activities because it is a water management facility and we are spraying
chemicals. In this particular
location I do not have problems with aquatic application for weed control. For them to have a recreational facility
is within our mandate. It is
something we can consider, but it is a conceptual change.
Mr. Mendolia stated we will have a case where other communities will want
to do it also. I am for it, but I
am looking at all of the ramifications.
If they can have their recreation and we are not responsible, that is
great. If other people want to do
it, they will do it in my development as well as other developments. We will have recreations all over the
place. Who will be
responsible?
Mr. Petty responded we can take care of the liability issue. The issue of setting the precedence is
one, which has my concern. This may
be one of three places in NSID, which can do this. This lake is big enough to handle small
boats. If you will allow
recreation, you will have to close it off to navigation. Most homeowners are not going to want
people in boats coming near their backyards. The canals are not very big and they
will also start worrying about security.
The precedent is going to be the issue.
The HOA, which owns the green space park to the lake can take a look at
this. The issue came up and the
reason they came to us is because the Florida Inland Waterways grant can only be
given to another government agency.
If it becomes a recreational facility of the District, it will have to be
open to the public. It is currently
gated.
Mr. Gilliam stated we do not have a problem with it. We discussed it at our board meeting and
it was approved unanimously.
Mr. Mendelson asked are you telling me you can walk in, sit down and go
fishing?
Mr. Gilliam responded yes.
Mr. Mendelson asked what if someone comes and wants to put a boat in the
water?
Mr. Gilliam responded they can bring in a boat.
Mr. Mr. Pawelczyk asked is there a ramp?
Mr. Gilliam responded there is no ramp. It will be more of a passive
park.
Mr. Petty stated these are all conceptual thoughts.
Mr. Pawelczyk stated public access is one issue. Another issue will be insurance. You will have to check with the
insurance provider if they are going to increase insurance or not. If someone drowns anywhere in our
canals, we will be named in a lawsuit.
The question is whether or the not the District is
negligent.
Mr. Gilliam stated we do not have a problem sharing our
grounds.
Mr. Pawelczyk stated the liability is associated with whether or not the
District is negligent. If you are
opening up in some form, you have a duty of care to make sure it is safe. If you breach this duty of care, you
will be found negligent.
Mr. Mendolia stated these are the only questions I have. If we can solve them and get around
them, be my guest.
Mr. Gilliam stated we are willing to do what it takes to make this a
reality.
Mr. Petty stated if I understand the Board’s direction, it is that policy
precedent is troubling because we cannot give it to everyone in NSID. The only thing we have left to discuss
is how to give it to only a portion of NSID. In the past we have always dealt with
these types of issues as an easement permit if someone wants to do something
special around the lake. I will be
glad to discuss with Mr. Gilliam what the HOA can do with an easement permit
from us.
Mr. Mendelson asked who will maintain this
property?
Mr. Gilliam responded we will have to.
Mr. Mendolia stated we are still involved because NSID has to clean the
lake.
Mr. Petty stated we can work with them on getting some improvements out
there as long as they do not have to go through the District as a policy
issue.
Mr. Mendolia stated we have to look into the questions we
raised.
NINTH ORDER OF BUSINESS
Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was
adjourned.
Steve Mendelson
Salvatore J.
Mendolia
Secretary
President