editor's corner palma sola trace activities digital ... newsletter... · • master hoa...
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Editor's Corner Digital Tracings
Spread the Word - This electronic newsletter and our community websites are our primary information resources for residents regarding Board activities, social events, and community news. It is very important that as many residents as possible have access to this information. Please forward this newsletter to any neighbors you think may not have signed up yet. To be added to the delivery list, residents should send an e - m a i l w i t h " N e ws l e t t e r " i n t h e s u b j e c t l i n e t o : [email protected].
Keep Your Information Current - We don't always know if newsletters are received. Don't forget to tell us if your e-mail address changes so that we are sure your newsletter reaches you!
Check the websites for News and Information - Master HOA
http://www.palmasolatrace.us/index.htm Villas HOA-http://palmasolatrace.org/index.html
Condos HOA - http://pstcondos.com CDD - http://palmasolatracecdd.org/
Reporters Wanted! - Our newsletter is for all residents of our community regardless of whether you own or rent - or if you live in a condo, villa, or single family home. We encourage everyone to send us suggestions for articles that would be helpful. Contributions from everyone are also encouraged - let us know about your travels, favorite restaurants or recipes, helpful tips for Florida living, noteworthy events or charities, etc. We need reporters, so please let us know if you have news to share!
Palma Sola Trace Activities Calendar Online
The very latest information is always available on the PST website calendar page. To go to the monthly calendar, all you have to do is click here.
Giving Back – Wow! This month we donated 103 pounds of food to the Food Bank of Manatee County. Thanks for your generosity! Please encourage neighbors who leave to go north to bring any non-perishable food that they don’t want to keep to the clubhouse so we can donate it to the Food Bank.
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Florida Living
Landscape Information and Schedules BrightView Landscape Schedule (other than Villas)
• Combined Commons and Landscape Single Family Homes Meeting with BrightView on Tuesday, April 4, 2017 at 10:00 AM in the Clubhouse. The mowing schedule varies at times but usually is:
• Common Areas – • Mow – Friday every other week • Trim and Detail – Friday
• Single Family Homes - • Trim and Detail – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday • Mow - Tuesday every other week
• Condos – • Mow – Friday every other week • Trim and Detail – Thursday
Bloomings Landscape Schedule (Villas) - Posted in owners’ area of villa website and at mail kiosk
You can find the monthly landscape committee reports for the Master HOA, on the community website www.palmasolatrace.us. The reports explain in more detail what is being done. These are found under the Board Minutes Master tab on the left side of the home page. PSSSST-Did You Know? Information About Our Neighborhood
Master Association Management Company-During the recent HOA meeting, there was much discussion regarding addresses/contact information. It's necessary for Associa to have your correct address (or addresses) in order to communicate important information (notices about fees, problems with your property, violations, etc.). You can print out the "Owner Information Form" from the February, 2017 newsletter and follow the directions to get the information to Associa. Stephanie Burtwell from Associa encouraged homeowners to register on the Associa web site so their contact information would be there also. Go to www.associaonline.com; click on register (You'll need your account number from your payment coupons and your zip code.); then you choose a user name, password, and a security question and answer; if you agree to their terms you get a message that your account is set up. Then go to My Account, click on preferences to add other email addresses and/or phone numbers. Click on notifications to opt for an email when a payment is made on your account and when a work order activity occurs on your account. We do live in a maintenance provided community and your yard work gets done even if you are traveling or enjoying cool temperatures up North. However, there are situations that occur where management needs to contact you. We have had several instances where the GFCI outlet that controls the irrigation to a home has failed. When that happens, access to the garage is necessary. If we cannot reach owner it's highly likely that the turf would "burnout" resulting in the owner being responsible to re-sod the yard, which is very costly. Please contact Associa and make sure they have this information and update your info in the PST Directory by contacting [email protected]. It is also important to have an emergency contact person (a relative, friend or trusted neighbor) who can access your home in case of emergency.
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Single Family Home Paint Schemes-Sherwin Williams on Cortez Road has created a book of paint schemes that are currently part of the Design Review Manual. Peg Silva (chair of the Design Review Committee) has a copy and there is also a copy at Sherwin Williams. Peg’s book will also include all color schemes that have been approved by the DRC even though they are not included in the pallet as defined by the DRM. Those colors will not be in the book at Sherwin Williams. Contact Peg ([email protected]) Committee Members Needed- Volunteering for a Committee is a great way to have some input into the community and to help maintain the high standards of Palma Sola Trace. We cannot function without our committees. Please consider volunteering for one of our committees. The Design Review Committee is looking for two community members to join their committee. If you would like more information contact Peg Silva ([email protected]). The Buildings and Grounds Committee is seeking new members. Contact Caryl Mason ([email protected]). Preparing to go North for the Summer? Here are a few things to remember:
• Register for emergency weather alerts at https://www.mymanatee.org/home/government/departments/public-safety/emergency-management/codered.htm
• to help keep you informed about weather situations in Bradenton. • Place all items on your lanai in your garage. • Remove wall hangings and decorations from your doorway and lanai. • Plant all container plants in the ground or have a neighbor move them to your garage when/iF a storm
approaches. Remember, anything not "in the ground" can become airborne and cause damage to your home or your neighbors' homes.
• Contract with a service to install your hurricane shutters if/when a storm approaches and have a neighbor check to be sure it’s done.
• Stop your papers and mail (and have someone check to be sure they aren’t delivered while you’re gone. Also, ask a neighbor to check for packages or other materials delivered to your door.
• Water Shut-off: While it may prevent damage if you turn off your water inside your unit, it has no impact on your utility bill. To have your utility (water) service put on hold, you can go to the City of Bradenton website, click on utilities/ customer service. Then click on seasonal plan. You can then simply enter your information including date to turn off. There is a $15.00 service fee, but you don’t have to pay your monthly water bill. http://www.cityofbradenton.com/index.asp?Type=SUPERFORMS&SEC=%7b816A7137-3D30-4984-993C-C29C44202C80%7d
• Many people think it’s a good idea to put bleach or white vinegar in their toilets and cover them with plastic wrap.
• The Disaster Planning Committee has obtained Disaster Planning Guides from Manatee County. These guides include many suggestions for preparing for many types of disasters and emergencies. It also includes a map of the Manatee County evacuation zones and shelters. These guides will be available in the lobby of the clubhouse while supplies last and they might give you some other ideas for ways to prepare your home before you leave.
E-Scrap Disposal-Unwanted consumer electronic items (irons, radios, cell phones, computers, DVD players, hair dryers, TVs, printers, etc.) should not be placed in your trash. On April 22, 2017 from 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM you can take these items to the Manatee County Utilities Administrative Complex at 4410 66th Street W (Just a little south of Cortez Ave. on 66th St. W) and they will dispose of them safely at no charge. Trash Shed-Recently we have added trash pickup at the clubhouse. Our cleaning contractor collects trash from the clubhouse, pool, and play area twice a week. The requirement in the community is that trash cans be stored inside your garage (or a DRC approved enclosure…sheds are not approved) except from dusk the day before collection until 11:59PM the day of collection. Since there is no garage at the clubhouse the Master Association will erect a small shed to house the trash can adjacent to the city lift station. This is an exception and in no way indicates that similar structures would be allowed at homes.
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And Speaking of Trash-The trash containers at the mail kiosks, play area and the pool are not the appropriate places to deposit your dog poop! I am sure you know how nasty it can smell if you put it in your home trash container. Well, think what it smells like when it has been in the public trash containers for a couple of days. Be considerate of your fellow residents, our vendors and our mail carriers and deposit your dog waste at your own home. Did you know…? There is horse racing in Tampa. Tampa Bay Downs offers live horse racing from November through June. Check out their website for further information www.tampabaydowns.com Community Safety Reminders- So I’m driving in my neighborhood and come to this:
An open invitation for criminals
And I say to myself: • Boy, do those people have a lot of stuff! • Aw! How nice it is to show the crooks what I have for them to steal. • I think that garage door was open when I left for work this morning. • Looks like an open invitation to pick up a new bike.
Whatever you say to yourself, please be aware that garage doors should remain closed for your protection and mine. An open door invites crime. It only takes a few minutes for someone to steal what you have, or to slip into your home from the garage door. It encourages a thief to come back to the neighborhood to watch for a good moment to take things from any of us. Please protect yourself and all of us. Close your doors, all of them. Submitted by Susan Crumpler-Your SFH Watch Leader
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Board Updates News from our Palma Sola Trace Board Meetings
CDD Updates The following issues were discussed at the February 23, 2017 CDD Meeting:
• Operation and Maintenance Expenditures for November and December 2016 were approved. • Resolution Re-Designating Treasurer was approved. • A Thank-You letter to Greg Cox (previous District Manager) was approved. • A discussion on the LED conversion was held. • Aquagenix Newsletter Article was reviewed. • Two new streetlights at Penny Lane and one at the Clubhouse were installed. • CDD responsibility to trim palms in the drainage easements was discussed. • Master HOA revision to documents and CDD involvement was discussed. • Easement to Master HOA at the south property line was discussed. • Irrigation in the North Berm at Pond #9 and #10 was discussed. • Presentation of the CDD Monthly Financial Status was given. The District is in good financial shape. • A discussion was held regarding repainting of the Street Lights Bases was held. • Next CDD Meeting is Thursday, April 27,2017 at 1:30 pm.
Submitted by Peter Gelman
Condo HOA Update
New Condo Board members – Ray, Toni, and Michael
• The new Condo Board was elected at the annual Condo HOA meeting March 20, 2017. They are:
• Ray Waterbury President /Treasurer [email protected] • Toni Fleming Vice President Secretary [email protected] • Michael Bellerose Director [email protected]
• Removal of the dead and overgrown shillings and replacement with Green Island Fichus in front of buildings 24,25,26,3,4,28, and 29 is completed.
• Irrigation heads near the A/C units have been changed to microjets. • Brightview Landscaping has increased the irrigation from 2 days a week to 3 days a week. • Next Palma Sola Trace Condominium Association Inc. Board meeting will be on Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at 3
PM in the PST Clubhouse.
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Master HOA Update
• Fines were levied against three homeowners. • In addition to painting the interior of the clubhouse Meyer Painting will be painting the playground
equipment, bike rack and pool bathrooms. • In conjunction with the painting of the interior all hard surface floors (including grout) will be cleaned and
the curtains and throw pillows will also be cleaned. • Painting will necessitate the closing of the clubhouse for about one week. We will wait until after the
season to lessen the impact on the community. • A small shed will be installed adjacent to the parking lot to house the garbage can. Homeowners are
reminded that their trashcans must be stored in their garage. An exception is being made since there is no garage at the clubhouse.
• We will continue monitoring the suggestion box in the clubhouse. Residents are reminded to put their name and contact number on their suggestion.
• We will be installing plantings around the backflow areas in the single-family homes. The estimated $4,000 will come from a single-family home credit we have with Brightview.
• We will be trimming the hardwoods along the path to the bridge ($450). • As soon as the compensation agreement is approved by our attorney that along with the contract for
bulk TV and Internet services with OpticalTel will be signed. The end of the contract with Spectrum (Brighthouse) is January 31, 2019.
Villa HOA Update
• Villas paint project is almost complete. Final inspection is due on March 28.
• The Villas Board of Directors approved the Landscape Committee Charter. On Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at 9:00 AM, there will be a villas landscape committee meeting.
• Oak Tree removal is moving forward. The City of Bradenton has been contacted, a representative has reviewed the trees marked for removal and a meeting will be scheduled with city officials.
• Fining Rules and Procedures for the Palma Sola Trace Villas was sent to our attorney for review and legal modifications as needed. On April 4, 2017 owners will be sent a letter explaining the new rules and procedures that will become effective starting on April 20, 2017.
• The board approved the appointment of Alan Ekiert to the Villas Fining Committee. An additional volunteer is needed for the fining committee and volunteers are needed for the villa buildings and grounds committee.
• Shady Lady Tree injections were discussed and the Villa Board of Directors decided not to proceed with this treatment.
• The Villas Residency Directory Update is on hold for another month.
• Sidewalk/Driveway Cleaning - 2nd quarter cycle update. The schedule calls for the cleaning of 38 driveways. Currently we are looking for contractor bids.
• Please note that we are looking for volunteers for the Villas Building and Grounds Committee.
• Sod and plant/bush replacements will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Any sod, plants or bushes damaged by the owner will be replaced at owner’s expense.
• The next Palma Sola Trace Villas HOA meeting will be held at the PST Clubhouse on Thursday, April 20, 2017 at 3:30 PM.
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PST News
Sunday, April 2, 2017 5:00 PM Spring Potluck Dinner (Please note that we changed the time to 5:00 PM to facilitate clubhouse cleaning.) Bring a salad, veggie, entrée, or dessert to share as we say good-bye to some of our seasonal neighbors. We’ll provide plates, “silverware”, napkins, coffee, and water. If you’d like something else to drink, please bring your beverage and a glass. April 6, 2017-Book Club at 1:00PM- The PST Book Club meets the first Thursday of the month in the clubhouse. Come join us for a discussion of this season’s books. April - When Breath Becomes Air, by Paul Kalanithi & Abraham Verghese May –The Secret Chord, by Geraldine Brooks June- The Yonhlossee Riding Camp for Girls by Anton Disclafani Thursday, April 13, 2017 at 11:15 AM- Ladies’ Lunch – Lunch will be at The Colombia Restaurant in St Armand’s Circle. We will meet at 11:15 at the PST Clubhouse. Please RSVP to Therese Staskiewicz, [email protected] or call 941-795-2335, no later than Tuesday April 11th. Friday, April 21, 2017 at 5:00 PM Social Hour/Cocktails- Bring an appetizer to share, your own beverage and a non-perishable food item to donate to the Food Bank of Manatee County.
Weekly Events – Mah Jongg, Pilates, Yoga. Don’t forget to check the PST Events Calendar on the PST
website for the dates and times for these regular events. http://palmasolatrace.us/htdocs/htm/events.htm Come join the fun!
Palma Sola Trace Ladies Golf League- League play officially begins on Friday, January 6, 2017 at 10:00 AM at Timber Creek Golf Course off Cortez Rd. W. This league is non-competitive, one can keep score or not. Beginners are welcome. Lunch usually follows at a local restaurant. For further information, contact Nancy Willeman [email protected]. Event News – Email updates available. If you would like to be added to the mailing list for updates about social activities, please contact us at [email protected]
Save this date for future activities:
Saturday, May 6, 2017 at 5:00 PM Kentucky Derby Party-More information next month but you could start decorating your hat!
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Joys of Tech
Rule of thirds - Critter getting ready for a run in the dog park.
One of the delightful tools that we have in modern cell phones and cameras is the rule of thirds grid overlay. Whenever you turn it on, a set of two horizontal lines and two vertical lines show up on the screen. It looks like a tic-tac-toe grid and its purpose is to help you line up your subject before you snap the shutter. According to studies, our brains are wired to look at the four points where the lines intersect first. If you are like most people, 41% of you looked at the dog’s eyes area first before anything else. Second would be the intersection below that at 25%, third the top right intersection at 20%, and fourth is the bottom right point at 14%. Try it on your phone and you will be pleasantly surprised how it helps you to create better images. If you want to go into some more detail on it, here’s a good link to follow: https://designmodo.com/rule-thirds-grid-outline/ It’s also handy for getting the photo straight as you have a built-in reference point and you just have to turn the camera or phone a bit to get it straight. Our Local Plants, Wildlife and Ponds- CDD asked Aquagenix to write some information about the care they provide for our ponds. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce Aquagenix, briefly outline the services we provide to the residents of Palma Sola Trace and discuss stormwater systems. Aquagenix is a full service environmental consulting company providing pond and wetland maintenance throughout the state of Florida. To learn more visit http://www.aquagenixaquatics.com/. Aquagenix’s parent company DBi Services provides infrastructure maintenance, operations and management solutions in North America and Europe for government agencies, utilities, private industries, railways, retailers and other infrastructure owners. To learn more visit http://www.dbiservices.com/. Aquagenix has provided pond maintenance services for Palma Sola Trace since January of 2007. We service the ponds monthly. During our scheduled visits our licensed aquatic technicians work to enhance and protect the stormwater system. We utilize algaecides, herbicides, bacteria products, perform manual removals, install native vegetation and install and maintain aerations systems in an effort to minimize algae blooms and control non-native / invasive vegetation.
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The purpose of our efforts is to protect the functionality of the storm water system, ensure compliance with state and local regulatory agencies, protect the native vegetation in the designed littoral areas and enhance the appearance of the stormwater ponds. It is important to understand that the 10 “lakes” in Palma Sola Trace are stormwater ponds. The primary function of the ponds is to collect, store and control stormwater runoff. The ponds protect against flooding and work to improve water quality. During a rain event water enters the ponds as runoff from the yards and streets caring with it sediment and pollutants. The ponds store the water allowing the sediment time to settle to the bottom and natural processes to work to breakdown pollutants and the sediment. If the system is functioning properly the water that exits the system, via the outflow structures on its journey to our rivers and bays, is cleaner then it was when it entered the ponds. Aquagenix technicians work to maintain balance in an ever-changing eco-system. The composition of the pond water can change overnight with a rain event. Even though the homeowners keep fertilizers away from the water’s edge, a rain event will carry fertilizers from the front yards to the street, to the curb drains and into the ponds. Odds are that any trash you see in the ponds came from the streets via the curb drains. The technicians utilize bacteria products to augment natural processes working to break down organic sediment. They utilize algaecides to control algae blooms resulting from nutrient rich water. They also use herbicides to control non-native vegetation that can overrun a pond, which would adversely affect the functionality of the pond by reducing its holding capacity. You also may have noticed that several of the ponds have areas of aquatic vegetation. These areas are called littoral zones. The purpose of a littoral zone is to further clean the water and provide habitat for fish and fowl. Littoral areas are a permit requirement and regulated by state and local government agencies. The vegetation on the littoral areas help to remove phosphorus and nitrogen dissolved in the water through plant respiration. The vegetation also traps trash preventing it from exiting the ponds via the outflow structure. The vegetation further benefits the environment by creating a mini estuary for fish and fowl. Aquagenix technicians work to protect the native vegetation by targeting non-native invasive vegetation that would out compete and overrun the native vegetation if not kept in check. Periodically Aquagenix technicians will manually remove dead vegetation and trash to improve the appearance of the littoral area. The predominate species of native vegetation in the littoral zones are Spike rush (Eleocharis interstincta), Pickerel weed (Pontederia cordata), Arrowhead (Sagittaria lancifolia), Canna (Canna flaccida) and Bulrush (Scirpus spp.). Pickerel weed; Arrowhead and Canna are flowering plants. The pickerel weed has a long purple flower, the arrowhead has small white flowers and the Canna has a large yellow flower. This time of year the aquatic vegetation is normally dormant and can be brown and appear stressed. By the end of March, the plants will rebound and should be in bloom in April. A healthy well maintained littoral area can be quite beautiful when in bloom. For those of you who would like to learn more about aquatic vegetation The University of Florida Center for Aquatic and Invasive Vegetation has an outstanding website complete with pictures, descriptions and videos of aquatic vegetation. To learn more visit https://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/plant-profiles/. You may have noticed that the water level of the majority of the ponds is low. Portions of the bank that were underwater during the summer are now exposed. This exposed bank can be unsightly and give off a foul odor. The odor is a result of decaying material now exposed to the air. Unfortunately, Aquagenix can do nothing to combat the odor. The technicians are applying herbicide to the exposed pond bottom to prevent terrestrial vegetation from growing, specifically torpedo-grass. This vegetation if left unchecked would cause problems when the water level returns to normal elevation. As I mentioned previously the water in the ponds comes from rain in the form of runoff. Rest assured water levels will rise again come the rainy season. I appreciate the opportunity to introduce Aquagenix, briefly outline the services we provide to the residents of Palma Sola Trace and discuss stormwater systems. We look forward to continuing to serve, protect and enhance a crucial component of the Palma Sola Trace infrastructure. If you have questions, please feel free to contact our office. Sincerely, Michael D. Kaighin Branch Manager Aquagenix / DBI LLC