Meeting Minutes for May 17, 2023
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, May 17, 2023.
Present or attending via web conference and constituting a quorum were:
Jonathan Busa – Chair
Paul Rumbold, Jr. – Vice Chair
Michelle Martel – Assistant Secretary
Mike Cutler – Assistant Secretary
Also present or attending via web conference were:
Cal Teague – District Manager, Premier District Management (PDM)
Mark McCleary – Engineer, Community Irrigation Services
Diana Torres – Alliant Property Management
Melissa Gindling – Project Specialist, PDM
Residents
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
The meeting was called to order and 3 Board members were present, with Supervisor Cutler attending via web conference. Also in attendance were Cal Teague, the District Manager, Diana Torres from Alliant Property Management, Melissa Gindling from PDM, and Several Residents. Mark McCleary, the Engineer, attended via web conference.
SECOND ORDER OF BUSINESS Approval of Attendance Via Web Conference
On MOTION by Vice Chair Rumbold, seconded by Chair Busa, with all in favor, the Board approved Supervisor Cutler’s attendance via web conference, due to unforeseen circumstances.
THIRD ORDER OF BUSINESS Approval of the Agenda
On MOTION by Supervisor Martel, seconded by Vice Chair Rumbold, with all in favor, the Agenda was approved, as submitted.
FOURTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Audience Comments on Agenda Items
Vickie Rose commented that she hopes a new vendor is chosen soon to replace Irrigation Specialists.
FIFTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Consent Agenda
A. Items to be Pulled for Discussion
Pull Item Diii for further discussion.
B. Motion to Approve Consent Items
On MOTION by Vice Chair Rumbold, seconded by Supervisor Martel, with all in favor, the Board approved all of the Consent Items.
C. Consideration of Items Pulled for Discussion
Item Diii was discussed.
D. Consent Items
i. Draft Meeting Minutes for April 19, 2023
This was included in the packet, and there were no changes.
ii. Financial Statements for April 2023
This was included in the packet, and there were no questions.
iii. May Field Report
On page 7 of the Field Report District Manager Teague noted that the eastern berm needs to be cleaned up. The Board agreed.
Vice Chair Rumbold asked if the District could send a letter to the residents, updating them on hurricane cleanup and repairs, the fence repairs, and the status of irrigation vendors. After discussion, the Board agreed, and they requested that progress on the eastern berm, televising of the storm drains, and palm tree pruning also be included. It was decided that staff will draft a letter and forward it to Diana Torres from Alliant, and she will send an email to all of the residents.
There was discussion on a pool installation, and Field Manager Pepin had included photos on page 8 of his Field Report, which indicated that a large amount of dirt had been left on the CDD’s berm. The Board asked staff to send a letter to the homeowner, notifying them that the dirt must be removed immediately, and that they should repair any damage to the berm and swale.
Vice Chair Rumbold noted that the fountain in Lake 6 is running continuously, and he had reported it to Field Manager Pepin.
iv. FEMA Reimbursement Update
This was included in the packet, and there were no questions.
SIXTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Old Business
A. Irrigation
i. Irrigation Contract Update
Ed Napier’s proposal for pump maintenance was included in the packet, and it was noted that this includes diving and inspection of the pumps quarterly.
District Manager Teague stated that staff is currently negotiating a proposal with No Limit for irrigation services, and they are asking that No Limit dedicate one day per week to the community. When the proposal in finalized, Attorney Cohen will draft a contract, which will be signed by the Chair.
After discussion, the Board decided to have Attorney Cohen draft contracts with No Limit and Ed Napier.
On MOTION by Vice Chair Rumbold, seconded by Chair Busa, with all in favor, the Board requested the Attorney to draft contracts with No Limit and Ed Napier, with the Chair authorized to sign.
Diana Torres of Alliant reported that Ramirez has assisted with irrigation tasks when he is asked. She stated that they have been responsive when they are onsite, but they are not onsite every day of the week.
There was discussion on the Tucor system, and the Board asked staff to add Ed Napier, No Limit, Ramirez, and Field Manager Pepin to the online account. They also asked that staff contact Tucor to ensure that Irrigation Specialists has no access.
Chair Busa noted that a process needs to be developed for residents to submit emergency calls and report issues to Alliant.
District Manager Teague noted that there are multiple past-due invoices for Irrigation Specialists. He stated that he has been holding payment until all documents, such as flush valve locations, have been provided by Irrigation Specialists. This includes documentation and research the CDD had previously paid Irrigation Specialists to create and develop, but they have not been provided to the District as of yet. There had been a plan to swap the information for the payment, however, Irrigation Specialists continues to add invoices to the final amount due. The Board asked District Manager Teague to pay the invoices in full, as long as the amount does not include any late fees, and also to ask Irrigation Specialists to sign an agreement that no additional invoices can be billed to the District after this final payment.
On MOTION by Vice Chair Rumbold, seconded by Chair Busa, with all in favor, the Board authorized the District Manager to pay the invoices from Irrigation Services in full, not to include any late fees, and a signed agreement from Irrigation Specialists that no additional invoices will be billed to the District.
On MOTION by Vice Chair Rumbold, seconded by Supervisor Martel, with all in favor, the Board authorized the Chair to approve an additional 4 days of irrigation services, at the Chair’s discretion.
ii. Work Orders Log
The work order log was included in the Agenda packet. District Manager Teague and staff noted that it had been useful in tracking invoices and double-billing issues. In the future, this item will be placed on the consent agenda.
iii. Noisy Pump Follow Up
Field Manager Pepin’s report stated that the new Clusia plants have been installed around the pump station and are doing well. Chris also reported that the sound barrier has been ordered, and he expects that the installation will be completed by the end of the month. The Board asked that this update be included in the letter to residents, which was previously discussed.
B. Sod on Spring Mountain Way Follow Up
Field Manager Pepin reported that they are still waiting for the paver path to be installed before the sod goes down. The Board decided to remove this item from the agenda until Supervisor Martel has an update on the paver path.
C. GIS Project Update
District Manager Teague noted that the project should be complete around the end of June. One half of the street signs have been added to the program, and Field Manager Pepin will be identifying the flush valve locations, so they can be included. A link to the program has been provided to the Board.
D. East Berm Regrading Follow Up
Engineer Mark McCleary reported that he had developed plans to re-establish the berm in this area, and a map and plan were provided at the meeting. Mark noted that the fence repairs could be completed before or after the regrading, and he recommended planting grass and vegetation for additional stabilization.
On MOTION by Vice Chair Rumbold, seconded by Supervisor Martel, with all in favor, the Board requested staff to obtain a contractor for completing the regrading project as soon as possible, with the Chair authorized to sign, not to exceed $15,000.
SEVENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS New Business
A. Perimeter Palm Tree Pruning Quotes
Field Manager Pepin reported that he had obtained 3 estimates for this project. Pristine Lakes quoted $25 per palm, Terra Nova quoted $40 per palm, and ABC Tree Service quoted $70 per palm. The Board approved the Pristine Lakes quote for $10,725, as long as it included the 2 palms behind the monuments.
On MOTION by Supervisor Martel, seconded by Vice Chair Rumbold, with all in favor, the Board approved Pristine Lakes to prune the perimeter palm trees, including 2 palms behind the monuments, not to exceed $10,725.
EIGHTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Field Manager
District Manager Teague presented Field Manager Pepin’s report on the following:
A. Follow-up Items
i. Hurricane Ian Clean Up
Field Manager Pepin reported that the remaining stumps and damaged coco-plums have been removed from the sections of damaged fencing. They are still expecting the fence repairs to begin in late June or early July.
Supervisor Martel asked if the vegetation loss behind the monuments would be replaced, and District Manager Teague suggested that she work with Chris to identify the trees and plants that had been damaged or lost as a result of the hurricane, and request that he get a quote for replacement.
A resident at 15550 Laguna Hills Drive had contacted Field Manager Pepin and reported a tree that was lost during the hurricane on the berm near their home, and they asked for the tree to be replaced. Chris will investigate, and if the tree was on CDD property, he will get a quote.
NINTH ORDER OF BUSINESS District Manager
A. Proposed FY 2024 Draft Budget
i. Resolution 2023-03: Approving Proposed Budget and Setting Public Hearing
The draft Budget was included in the packet, and District Manager Teague stated that it is presented with no increase in assessments. District Manager Teague reviewed the draft Budget, and the Board considered its approval.
On MOTION by Vice Chair Rumbold, seconded by Supervisor Martel, with all in favor, the Board approved Resolution 2023-03 approving the proposed Fiscal Year 2024 Budget and setting the public hearing.
B. Audit RFP Selection Process
District Manager Teague stated that there are no issues with the current auditor, but the District is required to elicit bids for a new auditor every 3 years. The Board appointed themselves as the audit review committee, and the meeting date will be 15 minutes before the August meeting. Staff will publish the request for proposal and meeting notification.
On MOTION by Supervisor Martel, seconded by Vice Chair Rumbold, with all in favor, the Board appointed themselves as the audit review committee, and the meeting date will be 15 minutes before the August, 2023 meeting.
TENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Attorney
There was no report from Attorney Cohen.
ELEVENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Engineer
The report from Engineer McCleary had been presented earlier in the meeting.
TWELFTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Supervisor Requests/Comments
Supervisor Martel stated that a resident had asked her about the littorals present in a large part of the lake and wondered if they can be cleaned up to allow fishing access. District Manager Teague explained the process for requesting a cleanup of a particular area, and he stated that the resident should send a written request for the Board to discuss at a meeting. Chair Busa also noted that littorals help prevent lake bank erosion and improve water quality, which should be carefully considered before removing any plants.
THIRTEENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Audience Comments
A resident asked if the Sylvester palms behind the monuments will be trimmed, and District Manager Teague stated that they will be, and that this had been a part of the earlier approval by the Board.
FOURTEENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Adjournment
On MOTION by Vice Chair Rumbold, seconded by Supervisor Martel, with all in favor, the meeting was adjourned at 5:43 p.m.
The Next Regular Meeting is June 21, 2023 at 4:30 p.m.