Meeting Minutes for June 19, 2024
Laguna Lakes
Community Development District
The regular meeting of The Board of Supervisors of the Laguna Lakes Community Development District was held at the Laguna Lakes Clubhouse, 15250 Lakes of Laguna Boulevard, Fort Myers, Florida and also via web conference on Wednesday, June 19, 2024.
Present and constituting a quorum were:
Jonathan Busa – Chair
Mark Wessler – Vice Chair
Michelle Martel – Assistant Secretary
Bruce Given – Assistant Secretary
Attending remotely:
Mike Cutler – Assistant Secretary
Also present were:
Cal Teague – District Manager, Premier District Management (PDM)
Melissa Gindling – Assistant District Manager, PDM
Mandie Rainwater – Assistant District Manager, PDM
Vickie Rose – Resident
Rudy Bailey – Resident
Attending remotely:
David Schmitt – Engineer, Hole Montes & Associates
The following is a summary of the discussion and actions taken at the Laguna Lakes Community Development District (CDD) Board of Supervisors regular meeting.
FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS Call to Order and Roll Call
Four Board members were present, and Supervisor Cutler attended remotely. The District Manager, Cal Teague, called the meeting to order. Also in attendance were Melissa Gindling, Assistant District Manager, Mandie Rainwater, Assistant District Manager, and Residents Vickie Rose and Rudy Bailey. Attending remotely was David Schmitt, the Engineer.
On MOTION by Chair Busa, seconded by Supervisor Wessler, with all in favor, the Board approved Supervisor Cutler’s attendance remotely.
SECOND ORDER OF BUSINESS Approval of the Agenda
On MOTION by Vice Chair Wessler, seconded by Supervisor Given, with all in favor, the Agenda was approved, as presented.
THIRD ORDER OF BUSINESS Audience Comments on Agenda Items
There were no Audience comments on Agenda items.
FOURTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Consent Agenda
A. Items to be Pulled for Discussion
No Items were pulled.
B. Motion to Approve Consent Items
On MOTION by Supervisor Martel, seconded by Supervisor Given, with all in favor, the Board approved all of the Consent Items.
C. Consideration of Items Pulled for Discussion
D. Consent Items
i. Draft Regular Meeting Minutes for May 15, 2024
ii. Financial Statements for May 2024
iii. June Field Report
iv. Irrigation Work Orders Log
FIFTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Old Business
A. Irrigation
i. Irrigation Monitoring and Schedule Update
District Manager Teague stated that Insight Irrigation began their monitoring contract on June 1st. They are currently developing the schedule and map, and setting water windows which designate when water is available. This will take 2-3 months to complete. Also, they are still working to establish connection with 3 of the Tucor controllers, and are troubleshooting with Tucor and No Limit. There is a possibility that the controllers will need replacement.
District Manager Teague reported that there has been good communication between staff and Insight and communication has improved with No Limit. Angie from Insight has been sending email updates once or twice a week, and any pertinent information will be forwarded to the Board. The Board also directed staff to forward any relevant irrigation updates to the HOA CAMs.
The Board also asked staff to modify the irrigation hotline to state that residents will not receive a call back, so there is no need to leave multiple messages, and that emergencies will be addressed within 24 hours, while non-emergencies will be addressed within 1 week.
ii. Consideration of Pump Maintenance Contract with Napier Enterprises
Now that Insight Irrigation is monitoring the pump alerts, they recommend that Hoover provide any required maintenance, so that the warranty is not voided. The first year of maintenance from Hoover was included in the price of the pump. The Board agreed to terminate the pump maintenance contract with Napier Enterprises, asking the letter to thank him for his service.
On MOTION by Supervisor Martel, seconded by Vice Chair Wessler, with all in favor, the Board approved the termination of the contract with Napier Enterprises.
SIXTH ORDER OF BUSINESS New Business
A. Discussion of Bass Road Vegetation and Irrigation
At the May meeting, the Board asked for suggestions on the Bass Road vegetation maintenance and irrigation. District Manager Teague stated that No Limit is still checking out the area when time allows and will be sending a proposal with their recommendations in the near future. Field Manager Pepin also reported that the vegetation along the wall is beginning to age, so, regardless of irrigation improvements, plants will need replacement from time to time.
B. Miscellaneous Landscaping Items to Address from Field Report
Field Manager Pepin reported that 2 areca palms on the south berm need replacement, and a hong kong orchid needs to be removed before it reaches the power lines. He also reported that some additional sod and the completion of fill work is needed at the irrigation pump. The Board approved this proposal.
On MOTION by Chair Busa, seconded by Supervisor Given, with all in favor, the Board approved JVM to replace 2 areca palms on the south berm, remove a hong kong orchid, additional sod, and fill work at the irrigation pump, not to exceed $1,060.
SEVENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Field Manager
Field Manager Pepin’s report was in the packet, and the following was discussed:
A. Project Updates
i. Sod on Belleza Way
Field Manager Pepin reported that the sod farms are currently flooded, so the work is not scheduled as of yet.
ii. Sylvester Palms Behind the Monuments
Field Manager Pepin stated that irrigation bubblers were added when the palms were originally planted, but they still have a poor appearance. Hopefully, the rain last week will help them, and Chris will also ask JVM to fertilize them. Vice Chair Wessler wondered if the palms were receiving too much water. Staff will continue to monitor.
iii. Additional Irrigation Zones at 9250 Paseo De Valencia
This project is scheduled to be completed during the week of June 17th.
iv. Fountain Repairs
The repairs have been completed.
The Board also approved staff to always have an extra faceplate for the irrigation controllers in stock, so that, if another one goes down, we do not have to wait for the part to be ordered and shipped.
On MOTION by Chair Busa, seconded by Vice Chair Wessler, with all in favor, the Board approved that an additional faceplate be kept in stock, so faceplates can be replaced, when needed.
EIGHTH ORDER OF BUSINESS District Manager
A. Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Discussion
The Board approved the proposed budget at the May meeting, and if any changes are requested, District Manager Teague asked that the Board send them to staff. He stated that the Public Budget Hearing will be during the August meeting.
B. District Goals, Objectives, and Measures Annual Reporting Document
Staff has drafted a reporting document, and it was presented as a handout that could be customized for the District. Staff also requested proposals from several firms to assist in its completion, and also provide a cost estimate for PDM to complete, if necessary.
Chair Busa reported that he attended a presentation with some of the legislators that developed this bill, and the legislators stated that this new bill’s intention was to ensure that all special districts are operating with a purpose.
NINTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Attorney
There was no report from Attorney Cohen.
TENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Engineer
Mark McCleary finalized the water use permit renewal last week. Engineer David Schmitt has suggested a few minor changes to modify the permit from the way the permit was renewed, related to the service withdrawal facilities and the new pump station. Engineer Schmitt expects these changes to be addressed with a letter, and expected the budget to be $1,500. If SFWMD requires a formal permit modification, the cost would be an additional $1,000. The Board approved this work by the Engineer.
On MOTION by Vice Chair Wessler, seconded by Supervisor Given, with all in favor, the Board approved the modification of the water use permit, not to exceed $2,500.
ELEVENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Supervisor Requests/Comments
Supervisor Martel wondered if a reminder was needed regarding the berm rules and regulations for residents. She thought it would be helpful to send out this information as an e-blast. Staff will draft an overview of the requirements for the Board to review.
Supervisor Martel also asked about the growth of littorals in the lakes, which has been reported to be excessive, and staff will investigate.
Supervisor Cutler asked about the irrigation schedule status, and if a maintenance program for the controllers was recommended. He wondered what the useful life of the controllers was, and if they need to be completely replaced. Chair Busa asked staff to provide an update on what the problem is with the three irrigation controllers, and once that is received from the vendor, staff will give an update to the Board.
TWELFTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Audience Comments
Rudy Bailey asked if the rain gauge on the irrigation pump will shut down the pump. He also wondered how the landscapers perform wet checks when the pump is shut off. Chair Busa clarified that the new monitoring company will shut down the pumps if a significant amount of rain is received. Staff clarified that the Hoover Flowguard app allows the landscapers to bypass the pump to perform wet checks when needed.
Rudy also commented on the flooding along the eastern berm, and suggested that the CDD provide a newsletter to the parcels.
There was discussion on the irrigation monitoring system, and Chair Busa provided an overview of how the stormwater system was connected to the roads and residents’ driveways.