CDDs near agreement on gate costs

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Supervisors of Lakewood Ranch Community Development Districts 2, 5 and 6 may have a simple solution to an issue that has confused and divided residents in their respective districts.

At board meetings March 20, CDD supervisors, who have held collaborative monthly meetings since August, likely will vote on an interlocal agreement to share the cost of maintaining and operating the gate at Balmoral Woods Boulevard and the gate at Legacy Boulevard.

Currently, CDD 6 exclusively bears the cost of the Balmoral Woods Boulevard gate, while CDDs 2 and 5 share the cost of the Legacy Boulevard gate. Both gates are open to public traffic.

“It’s a simple financial document that indicates the CDDs share costs on an EDU (equivalent dwelling unit) basis,” said Bob Burstein, chairman of CDD 6, which maintains the Balmoral gate because it is located within the district’s boundaries.

In response to a draft of the agreement posted earlier this month to the Lakewood Ranch Town Hall website, chairmen of neighborhoods within those districts circulated emails expressing concern with the proposed agreement.

As a result, more than 100 residents attended the CDD 6 meeting Feb. 20, forcing staff to open an additional salon to accommodate them.

But, during a lengthy public comment period, few individuals in the audience spoke about the interlocal agreement. Instead, attendees talked about gate security and recent burglaries in the Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club community.

James Rogoze, secretary of the Country Club West Homeowners Association, asked the CDD 6 board to gather public input regarding the interlocal agreement and to hold a special meeting for residents before any decision is made. Supervisors did not comment, but vowed to include the community in whatever decision they make.

Under the most recent draft of the agreement, CDD 6 would pay 20.27% of costs related to the gatehouses, while districts 2 and 5 would pay 35.70% and 44.03%, respectively.

The interlocal agreement, if approved by the majority of CDD 2, 5 and 6 supervisors, would take effect Oct. 1 and last two years.

“No one is giving up authority,” Burstein said. “This is nothing more than a cost sharing agreement. It in no way gives up rights that CDD 6 has, which seems to be a perpetual concern to those opposing this. I am hopeful we can finally put this behind us.”

In a memorandum to his fellow board members, CDD 6 supervisor Richard Williams, who cannot attend the March workshop, rejected the proposed agreement.

Audit reports approved
Supervisors from each of the Lakewood Ranch Community Development Districts and the Inter-District Authority approved their 2013 audit reports at their Feb. 20 meetings.

Joe Welch, of Purvis, Gray and Co., the accounting firm that conducted the audits, complimented Town Hall’s internal controls and deemed each of the districts to be in good financial health. 

“The overall transparency and documentation of the district is very good, probably a little above average for an organization your size,” Welch told CDD 5 supervisors, a sentiment he shared with all the boards.
This is the first year that the boards contracted with Purvis, Gray and Co. to complete the annual financial report.

The audit reports were for fiscal year 2013. 

Board members described an auditing process that was more efficient than in recent years.

“This is the first time we have had an audit in decent amount of time and it looked effortless,” said June Stroup, representing CDD 1. 

Welch also recommended each district provide a more detailed depreciation schedule of its capital assets.

Steve Zielinski, chief financial officer for Lakewood Ranch Town Hall, said he felt confident he could obtain the information for future audits.

IN OTHER BUSINESS
CDD 1:
• The district has collected 90.3% of its assessments, compared with 89.3% at the same time last year.

CDD 2:
• Wild hogs are damaging landscaping in the Edgewater community. The board authorized staff to hire a trapper, if necessary.
• The district has collected 89.3% of its assessments, compared with 88.9% at the same time last year.

CDDS 2 & 5:
• The boards approved redesign and repairs to the Legacy Boulevard gatehouse for a cost not to exceed $36,000, with CDD 2’s contribution not to exceed $16,120.80 and CDD 5’s not to exceed $19,879.20. The second-floor overhang has sustained water damage. Because the cost is unbudgeted, money will come from reserves. Staff is pulling permits for the repairs this week.

CDD 4:
• The district has collected 91.7% of its assessments, compared with 89.7% at the same time last year
• Spectrum Underground Inc. completed repairs to an eroded riverbank on the Braden River, behind Greenbrook Adventure Park. The contractor finished the work on time and in budget.

CDD 5:
• The district has collected 91.7% of its assessments, compared with 90.3% at the same time last year.

CDD 6:
• Building off a 10-point security plan proposed by supervisor James Hill and adopted by the board in December, Lakewood Ranch Town Hall staff prepared a draft of a comprehensive Balmoral gate policy that contains the board’s contract with U.S. Security Associates, the protocols the company must follow and any other information relevant to managing the gate. The board will vote to accept the document, which formalizes rules already in place at the gate, at its March meeting.
• CDD 6 has collected 83.4% of its assessments, compared with 84% at the same time last year.

IDA:
• Landscape contractor Down to Earth has staged its equipment at the new maintenance facility but will not occupy its trailer on the property until March 1.
• Board members approved the installation of a weather camera at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall.

Contact Josh Siegel at [email protected].