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Lake Management and Hurricane Season, by AllState Resource Management

Lake Management and Hurricane Season, by AllState Resource Management

  • Posted: Jul 16, 2020
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Lake Management and Hurricane Season

by AllState Resource Management

Many South Florida homeowners are not aware of the critical role their community lakes play in managing stormwater and mitigating local area flooding. With the start of this year’s hurricane season around the corner, now is the time to make sure that our lakes and waterways are ready to deal with whatever nature throws at us. The problem of flooding is a real issue here because our homes are built on relatively flat, low-lying ground. The thin layer of soil under our feet can become saturated quickly, and sits on a cap of coral rock that only allows for a slow flow of water down to the aquifers below. This, combined with the possibility of large amounts of precipitation in short periods of time creates conditions for major flooding in our urban areas.
When developers create residential communities and commercial areas, they need to take into account how much water needs to be stored or moved in order to prevent the project from flooding during major rain events. Through careful planning and design, they route stormwater away from our homes and into a system of lakes and canals. The size and number of lakes in our communities are a result of those calculations. Lakes are dug to create a storage area for water runoff from storms. The fill dug from the lakes is then used to raise the elevation of the homes around them.
Using a system of drains and pipes the water is directed from the developed areas down into the lakes. Some community lakes use weirs or culverts to connect them to the municipal canal system. This allows them to move excess water off the property once they reach a certain level. The system works well but requires regular maintenance in order to ensure that it works properly when needed. Scheduled inspections of storm drains and weirs is important to keep the water moving off our streets and properties efficiently.
These structures accumulate silt and debris, and will occasionally need to be cleaned out. The lakes themselves also need to be regularly inspected and maintained
Even though they are primarily man-made storm water basins, they do evolve and become living ecosystems like naturally occurring waterbodies. Aquatic vegetation begins to grow in all lakes eventually, and much like our lawns, require regular attention in order to avoid become overgrown. Exotic species such as hydrilla, hygrophila, and rotala grow quickly and can spread throughout acres of lake in a matter of months or less. Such infestations are not only unsightly, but all those weeds are filling up the lake and taking up space meant to hold stormwater runoff.
Floating weeds such as water lettuce and water hyacinth can rapidly cover a lake surface, clogging and even damaging weirs and other outflows. Excessive growth of vegetation near culverts and drain pipes can slow the flow of stormwater both into and out of the lake, causing backups of the system. The longer these plants are left to grow unmanaged, the harder the problem is to get under control and the longer it will take. Large scale infestations need to be treated in stages with regulated wait times between treatments. This is done in order to not deplete the dissolved oxygen in the whole lake. The other problem with established infestations is that the plants have had time to mature and grow extensive roots systems. These root systems allow the plants to re-grow quickly after initial treatments and quite frequently require multiple follow up treatments to bring under control. Even once treated, the herbicides take time to work and the plants take time to decompose and settle to the bottom. Unfortunately, tropical storm events do not wait until conditions are best suited to deal with the results.
The best way to make sure your community is protected is to be proactive and maintain your system regularly. Regular scheduled maintenance ensures that aquatic vegetation is kept at levels that don’t compromise your stormwater system and can potentially avoid costly repairs to its components.
Hurricane season corresponds with the time of year when these plants grow and spread the fastest due to the long, sunny days. We have learned that being prepared for hurricane season means taking precautions before the storm arrives. That wisdom should also definitely apply to
our first line of defense against flood damage in our communities.
Thank You to Colleen Sullivan for this Article.
Author: Stephen Montgomery / Senior Biologist
Allstate Resource Management   Members of SFPMA
– Over 25 years of experience in maintaining the health of lakes, ponds, wetlands, and stormwater systems. We have continued since our inception to be the leader in resource management. Our services include lake management, wetland management, stormwater inspections and maintenance, erosion control, fish stocking, native plantings, debris removal, water quality, aquatic pest control, and upland management.
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Owner’s Guide to 40-Year Recertification by Eric Glazer, Sinisa Kolar and DSS Condo FREE WEBINAR

Owner’s Guide to 40-Year Recertification by Eric Glazer, Sinisa Kolar and DSS Condo FREE WEBINAR

  • Posted: Jul 14, 2020
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Owner’s Guide to 40-Year Recertification by Eric Glazer, Sinisa Kolar and DSS Condo

FREE WEBINAR TONIGHT  JULY 14, 2020 @7pm – 8pm

Register Today

Jul 14, 2020 07:00 PM

Register Today

Did you know that all high-rise condominiums are required to have a 40-Year Recertification? In our 90-minute webinar, DSS Condo and industry experts will walk you through the process, explain the requirements, and provide you with the insight to successfully complete the required 40-Year Recertification for your building. Sign up today to secure your spot!

 

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Read the FLORIDA RISING MAGAZINE July 2020 Edition

Read the FLORIDA RISING MAGAZINE July 2020 Edition

  • Posted: Jul 09, 2020
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Read the FLORIDA RISING MAGAZINE July 2020 Edition

Have a Great Weekend!

July 2014 we Started the Magazine / Now in our 6th Year! 

https://joom.ag/8RNC
Direct Link to the July Issue
or Click the Cover!

As of June SFPMA has cancelled the contract with the Design Company due to contract issues:  Late Editions, Design Issues and other. We wish them well on the other business they have ongoing.

What this means for THE FLORIDA RISING MAGAZINE is: My Team will again publish and design the magazine as we did since its beginning! We are updating all areas, and will have the new sections ready for Aug 2020-  Thank You

If you are a Member of SFPMA and would like to contribute Articles Send them to us: membership@sfpma.com

We are here to help our Florida Companies that are having a harder time getting up and running, Contact Us we are happy to give you an Ad in the Magazine for a few months!

We send to over 214,000 Emails of Managers, Condo and HOA Owners and Board Members, Our Member Companies and many others who wish to have the magazine sent to them monthly. 

We do have advertising and some of the best rates / our Goal is: Get you in front of the Decision makers, Let them learn how you can help them.

Our Special Thanks to our Sponsors

 

Partners and Members

 

 

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The Plan – Identifying the Potential Consequences of a Disaster by BECKER

The Plan – Identifying the Potential Consequences of a Disaster by BECKER

  • Posted: Jul 01, 2020
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The Plan – Identifying the Potential Consequences of a Disaster

by BECKER

 

The first step toward developing and implementing a disaster plan is identifying the potential consequences of a disaster. The second step is to develop and implement a plan to mitigate the impact of a disaster to the fullest extent possible.

Evacuation

Emergency evacuation routes and special instructions regarding use of elevators and stairwells should be clearly posted. Don’t forget to rehearse evacuation procedures on a periodic basis.

Destruction of Real Property

Damage or destruction of real property is often the primary claim and causes the greatest hardship. The main areas of concern include:

  • Buildings and other structures
  • Landscaping
  • Roads and Pathways

Damage to Personal Property

The items most at risk during a disaster are furniture, fixtures, and personal property. The items of most concern include:

  • Electronic equipment, data and other forms of technology
  • Indoor and outdoor furniture, art, lighting, pool equipment, pool furniture and assorted fixtures
  • Documents and important papers such as governing documents, Association surveys, plans, insurance policies.
  • Rental and owner records and personnel files
  • Accounting records
  • Vehicles and equipment

Injury or Loss of Life

Carbon monoxide poisoning, heart attacks and drowning are the top three causes of death as a result of a hurricane. People over 75 are particularly at risk. Identify “high risk” individuals with disabilities or medical needs requiring special attention when preparing your community’s disaster plan.

Relocation

Your disaster plan should anticipate not only the possibility of a total casualty loss, but also the need to relocate, temporarily or permanently, depending on the level of impact. While many communities are able to clean up storm debris promptly, many others will remain in turmoil for quite some time after being impacted by a disaster. After Hurricane Opal and the BP Oil spill, some owners were unable to rent out their units which resulted in a loss of significant income to them and, in some cases, ultimately resulted in the loss of the property to foreclosure.

Impact on Employees

The board should consider the emotional impact a storm’s approach has on the association employees, particularly an onsite manager. Association employees will not only be responsible for preparing the community for a storm’s approach, but they are also concerned about preparing their own homes and families for the potential disaster.

Associations are well advised to task their attorneys with creating a reasonable approach to these pre- and post-storm employee policies.

Economic Impact

The economic impact of a disaster can be extensive. Unit owners displaced from work may be unable to meet their financial obligations to the association. Uninsured, underinsured or non-covered losses under both the association’s policy as well as the owner’s policy may require the board to pass special assessments. The higher cost of goods and services resulting from shortages further compounds the problem in the shortterm.

In sum, the impacts of a disaster will vary from event to event. It is advisable to prepare for all possibilities.

 


 

Becker Shareholder Donna DiMaggio Berger will join CASTLE for episode 12 of their webinar series “Combatting COVID-19 In Your Community Association,” on July 8 at 12:00 p.m.

She will be joined by CASTLE founder and CEO James Donnelly.

Register now: http://ow.ly/QCxl50Aneca #Webinar #CommunityAssociations #BeckerFTL

 

 


Planning for a disaster

Designation of a Disaster Coordinator or Disaster Committee

The ability of a community association to minimize its damages and speed up its recovery depends in large part upon its preparation.

Every disaster plan should include having a person or committee in place prior to the disaster with full authority to implement the Disaster Plan.

Designation of an Information Facilitator

In times of crisis, communication is key. A major hurdle to recovery is rumor and misinformation; both can hamper successful recovery efforts. An information facilitator can help to stop the rumor mill in its tracks. Today’s computer and smart phone technology provide the ideal vehicles to communicate with residents. Every association should have its own website, which can be a great resource for disseminating information and staying in touch with the unit owners. A text messaging system for community members is also valuable for disseminating information quickly.

Home and cell phone numbers must be collected before a disaster and stored in a safe, easily accessible location.

A properly prepared plan will include plans for temporary relocation of residents in situations where the community must be evacuated. This can include Red Cross or other emergency shelters, hotels, schools, or staying with family members in other cities.

Now that the Florida Legislature has granted emergency powers to boards, a board may require the evacuation of the property in the event that the local or state authority has declared a mandatory evacuation order. Owners who refuse to abide by that evacuation order do so at their own risk and without the possibility of pursuing the association for loss of life or injury to themselves or their property. Boards can also declare the property unfit for entry or occupancy based upon the advice of experts retained by the board or on the advice of emergency management officials.

Photographic Imaging

Your plan should include annual preparation of a date stamped video and photo documentation of the community such as all of the common areas, each unit owner’s home, the association’s office and property.

Digital technology and photographic records can be conveniently and safely stored off premises and easily retrieved, if needed.

What should be photographed?

Specifically include:

  1. Inside and outside of buildings and premises
  2. equipment, computers and books
  3. accounting records
  4. insurance policies, bank accounts, personnel records, records of units/ unit owners, as-built plans and specifications

You should prepare an inventory including the date, place of purchase, and purchase price of each item of personal property.

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

Many shared ownership communities have already taken the positive step of undergoing CERT training under the auspices of FEMA. A Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) can fill the large gap that often results when a disaster overwhelms local emergency services. CERT teams are trained in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. CERT members are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their communities.

Your board’s quick response in accordance with your disaster plan will minimize damage and promote a speedy recovery.

 


 

ACTIVATING THE DISASTER PLAN

Hurricane Preparedness and Recovery Guide

Following a disaster, the disaster coordinator and information facilitator move into action. The information facilitator opens lines of communications with the owners. The disaster coordinator contacts emergency services and notifies the contractors and employees, advising of their duties and needs. In some cases, it may be necessary to suspend or cancel on-going contracts such as lawn and pool maintenance. Hopefully, a provision was made in the contract for such right of suspension without monetary penalty in disaster situations when the contracted services are no longer needed. There certainly is no reason to pay to hedge the bushes when they have all blown away!

Knowing the whereabouts of all residents greatly enhances emergency response time following a disaster. In a situation such as a hurricane, in which there is advance warning, a committee should ascertain which residents are remaining in the community and which are evacuating. A temporary destination address and phone number should be obtained from those who are evacuating. Once disaster strikes, the board’s first action should be to direct emergency medical assistance to any residents in need. Naturally, if the community is under a mandatory evacuation order, that order should be obeyed by all.

Be sure to attend to the injured and secure the community from acts of vandalism and looting. Be sure to remove all storm debris.

“Drying In”/”Shoring Up” the building structures in order to mitigate against further damage.

“Drying Out” is the removal, where necessary, of wet carpet, wall board, cabinets, etc. when necessary to prevent the growth of mold.

The insurance carrier for the community must be notified immediately at the conclusion of the storm.

If the insurance carrier is not able to promptly inspect and document the damage from the storm, it may elect to deny the claim.

 

 

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Reopening a Fitness Center – How a Miami Luxury Hi-Rise Handled It.  by BuildingLink

Reopening a Fitness Center – How a Miami Luxury Hi-Rise Handled It.  by BuildingLink

  • Posted: Jun 29, 2020
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Reopening a Fitness Center – How a Miami Luxury Hi-Rise Handled It.  by BuildingLink

 

New York may be a long way from Miami, but Miami is deep into its Phase Two reopening and it can provide some lessons for building managers in the New York area who are eager to open up their amenities to residents.

On June 8, Miami-Dade County allowed fitness centers/gyms to reopen. A look at how one building reopened can provide valuable lessons. The Continuum is a 523-unit luxury condominium in South Beach managed by Marquis Association Management, and it is using a suite of products from BuildingLink to keep residents safe and reduce liability.

A fitness center or gym is by far the most difficult common-area amenity to reopen. No other amenity involves so much physical contact – and so much respiratory risk. The Continuum board wanted to ensure that the property reopened in a way that prioritized the comfort and safety of residents while keeping them informed of new policies.

“It’s a big moment for us, but we prepared properly and are ready for the residents to utilize the fitness center again” says Alex Varona, resort manager at the Continuum. It took a lot of work and planning.”

According to local regulations, fitness centers can operate at 75% of normal capacity with a minimum social distancing of 10 feet. It must also be cleaned and disinfected regularly. The Continuum’s fitness center spans three floors. Eighty is the normal occupancy level, but that has been reduced to 20 people. Many new programs and policies were put into place for safety. Equipment and soft goods, such as yoga mats, have been removed. Spacing between machines has been increased. Barriers were added. Drinking fountains were turned off and replaced by free bottled water.

In addition, as an advanced user of BuildingLink , The Continuum utilized existing BuildingLink features as well as new sensors from the Aware by BuildingLink team. The challenge: the gym ad to operate at less than full capacity while contending with pent-up demand for use. The solution was to configure the BuildingLink Amenity Reservations module to allow residents to make reservations for one-and-a-half hour workout slots. The 30 minutes at the end of each workout was reserved for the fitness center staff to clean the equipment and common areas.

 

The Amenities Reservation module provided the Continuum team with the ability to limit the number of reservations per resident and even to restrict new reservations from being made more than a day in advance.

“The system allows us the flexibility to change as needed in order to accommodate the rules and regulations being enacted by our local officials” says Ena Rivera, general manager of the Sporting Club and Spa at the Continuum.

It doesn’t stop there. As members enter the facility at their reserved times, they must first pass an automated health-check kiosk to take their temperature and verify that they are wearing a face mask. After that, they are welcomed by a message from the BuildingLink NetVoice Annunciator product. NetVoice is a network-connected speaker that is connected to a public address system to send scheduled and on-demand vocal notifications to residents. NetVoice also reminds the resident when it is almost time to leave, saying: “Dear residents, thank you very much for visiting us today. We hope you enjoyed your time in the Sporting Club. We kindly ask that you finish your workout in the next 10 minutes so that our team can clean and sanitize for the next group. We look forward to seeing you again soon.”

“The residents prefer to have the automated system reinforcing the rules and informing them of the gym schedule. It is less intrusive than having a person walk around and remind them,” explains Varona.

After residents depart, the cleaning crew begins its work. As the crew moves from one location to another, it uses the Aware button logging system to indicate which areas have been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. BuildingLink tracks this data for both residents and managers. Residents can see the data on their BuildingLink app or upon entering the gym, giving them additional peace of mind that the equipment is clean. Managers now have a log that the cleaning policy was enforced, thereby reducing potential liability if someone gets infected.

“The residents have been very supportive,” observes Rivera. “They all understand the situation. And they are excited to be able to get back into the gym. But they still want to protect themselves. BuildingLink’s tools and our policies have allowed them to feel comfortable and confident.”

 

Aware by BuildingLink

Aware is a division of BuildingLink that provides technologies that unlock building data and grant property managers the actionable insights needed to help reduce costs and improve the quality of life for residents and staff. Aware’s smart sensor solutions identify problems in buildings such as water leaks, mechanical system failures, elevators in need of repair, monitor noise situations, and manage parking systems.

For questions and inquiries contact: aware@buildinglink.com

Thank You for a great article – for SFPMA and its Members. 

Richard Worth
Regional Sales Director – Florida
407-529-6063
Richard@BuildingLink.com

 

 


More information:

Aware COVID Related Solutions: https://www.aware.buildinglink.com/covid

Aware Button Logging Solution: https://www.aware.buildinglink.com/button-logging

Aware NetVoice Annunciator: https://www.aware.buildinglink.com/netvoice

Aware Fitness Center Monitoring App: https://www.aware.buildinglink.com/fitness-center

 

 

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Attn: All Managers, Condo and HOA Boards. Sanctuary Gardens, A Full Garden Center for all of your Plant, Bushes and Tree Landscaping Needs

Attn: All Managers, Condo and HOA Boards. Sanctuary Gardens, A Full Garden Center for all of your Plant, Bushes and Tree Landscaping Needs

  • Posted: Jun 29, 2020
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Attn: All Managers, Condo and HOA Boards.
Sanctuary Gardens, A Full Garden Center for all of your Plant, Bushes and Tree Landscaping Needs

Fab Nunez V.P
954-394-4625
Sanctuary Gardens

New Members of SFPMA

Landscape with a Full Garden Center for all your design needs


Come visit our garden center, we offer a wide variety of palms, plants, trees, and accessories. We always do our best to accommodate our clients in every possible way. Whether you are looking for garden accessories or ideas you’ll be sure to find it here. We have a live showroom where you can see the type of waterfalls we do, interactive portfolio, and intensive detailed pictures of our landscape design. If we do not have what you are looking for, we will try all of our sources to find it for you. We also offer delivery to many parts of South Florida.
https://sfpma.com/listing/sanctuary-gardens/

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The future of cities:  How are public space and social life going to change with Covid-19?

The future of cities:  How are public space and social life going to change with Covid-19?

  • Posted: Jun 29, 2020
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The future of cities:  How are public space and social life going to change with Covid-19?

The Covid-19 crisis will bring big social consequences, which will radically change both our human relations and the spaces these inhabit. As the concentrated manifestation of the contemporary world they are, cities are going to be hit by this shifting paradigm.

Urban spaces will have to readjust their design and their infrastructures to the new reality. Also our social interactions will change. We will no longer have so much interaction with others when we go out. Some cultures –the warmest ones– will even have to change more dramatically. We wonder: What will happen with the two or three kisses, traditional in some Southern European countries? Or with the shake of hands, used in Anglosaxon cultures? This situation of “physical distance” will lead us to develop a more virtual life, where online platforms will become, even more, the new public sphere.

How is the future in our cities going to be? How is this crisis going to transform our public space and social life in cities? We do not know yet. The only thing we can do right now is to assess what is happening and learn from the outcomes in order to make cities better in the future.

 

 

 

1 | Bringing People Together but Keeping Them Apart

A big part of urban planning’s history has consisted of managing our way out of infectious diseases and pandemics. Today, Covid-19 is challenging urbanization again, re-opening the debate regarding which city model is preferable: urban sprawl or urban densification. While densely populated and hyper-connected cities are more efficient and sustainable, they can amplify pandemic risk of transmission.

Thus, cities –especially densely populated ones– will need to create and adapt public environments and infrastructures to be livable, safe, agile and adaptable. Hence, tactical urbanism –short-term, low-cost, and scalable interventions– can play a big role in shaping and implementing pilot projects. Likewise, community involvement is essential as it allows for the acquisition of local knowledge while ensuring public compliance with policy decisions.

 

2 | Adapting Urban Environments to New Necessities

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, both urban facilities —public transport, leisure, shops, etc.— and public spaces will have to adapt so all preventive measures are fulfilled. 

Indoors, regulations will be more rigorous: cleaning and disinfection will be done with higher frequency, new measures such as hand sanitizers use or shoe sole cleaning will be implemented, and their capacity will need to be reduced to comply with physical distancing. Additionally, protective equipment —masks, gloves, screens, sensors, etc.— and access control methods will be installed to avoid any risk of transmission and infection.

 

3 | Housing as a Right & Multifunctionality as a Must

Stay-at-home policies are exacerbating inequalities as large parts of the worldwide population live in slums or do not have a home at all. To top it off, common places to find shelter or bathrooms —libraries, gyms— are closed. Consequently, as the coronavirus spreads, these groups are the most vulnerable.

This leads to the conclusion that, after Covid-19, the design of indoor environments will have to change. If people are to spend more time indoors, homes will need to accommodate more uses. Apartments will have to be properly ventilated and better lit in order to improve living conditions and avoid entirely sealed buildings recirculating pathogens through their systems. Shared spaces will need to be rethought as well. 

 

4 | Adjusting Everyday Life to the “New Normal”

The pandemic affected almost every aspect of people’s life, and at the moment, going back to old habits does not seem a possible scenario. So what will the “new normality” look like?

Local and international mobility will be monitored and controlled, while cities are already trying to reorganize flows, reschedule working and school activities to avoid concentrations during rush hour. We will have to get used to new routines and social behaviors, which could radically change our way to use the public space.

The psychological effects of stay-at-home policies and physical distancing will be strong, especially in those cultures where gatherings and open-air activities are at the core of social life. Everything considered normal until a few months ago could dramatically change, not only because of the new rules and restrictions, but also because of people’s fear to physically interact with others.

 

5 | Physically Apart but More Connected than Ever?

The “new normal” will also have a direct effect on the use of urban spaces, in a context where there will be a drastic shift from developing social life outdoors to being more confined. A higher consumption of Internet-based activities (online shopping, telemedicine, macro-events, arts and leisure, etc.) will become more usual. Despite the big challenges this shift will bring, it also represents an opportunity for all these activities to reinvent themselves by means of innovation and new technologies. 

The counterside of this new virtual life’s technological high dependence will widen social inequality. As not everyone counts with appropriate Internet connection and digital devices, this crisis is an opportunity to rethink the future feasibility of telematic education and work models improvised during quarantine. In the applicability to the “new normal”, it will be essential to set up regulations that guarantee social inclusion.

 

6 | Building More Resilient Communities

The health crisis has clearly revealed the vulnerabilities of the most disadvantaged groups. The need to respond to their necessities during the lockdown has demonstrated to be even more pressing than before. Many municipalities developed plans to support low-income families, elders or precarious workers, but at the same time bottom-up mobilization of neighbors’ associations and self-managed organizations revealed to be very important assets for local communities.
 
Nevertheless, as the lockdown ends, the structural socioeconomic problems that the coronavirus has revealed will stay. This demonstrates the importance of establishing safe ways to assist elderly people and to protect precarious workers or domestic caregivers, as well as supporting parents in reconciling their professional and personal life. Achieving this will represent a major step towards a more resilient society.

 

Social inequalities and class differences have manifested more obviously – with “essential” workers having to go out to work; housing conditions being very different for everyone during the confinement or the impossibility to access new technologies for several social groups. Issues that have made even more clear the fact that we live in an unequal society that is susceptible to collapse in front of any crisis.

If in the last decades the way how governments and corporations gather data from individuals for Big Data purposes has been on the agenda of all discussions, the Covid-19 crisis will widen the debate. The need for more discipline and new regulations can inevitably lead towards a situation of social control. In this new context, there will be a need to find a balance between establishing safety, health and well-being for everyone, but respecting the individual and collective freedom at the same time.

However, despite the impact Covid-19 is going to have in cities, we should really consider this crisis as an opportunity to rethink our cities and create more resilient communities and livable environments.

 

 

By 

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Florida Rising Magazine – New Publishers for 2022

Florida Rising Magazine – New Publishers for 2022

  • Posted: Jun 22, 2020
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Florida Rising Magazine

Dear Reader,

publication coverRe: Florida Rising Magazine

To inform everyone involved:

In 2022 we contracted an outside company as per our board. to take over publishing the magazine.

Since 2014 our very first year, SFPMA had been publishing this in house and published the first week of each month.

Frank J Mari / Executive Director

Publisher of The Florida Rising Magazine

 


Viewing the digital publication doesn’t require special software and loads quickly in your web browser. Just click on the publication cover or link above to begin reading now!

 

 

 

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The Importance of Getting Permits For Additions and Improvements for your properties.

The Importance of Getting Permits For Additions and Improvements for your properties.

  • Posted: Jun 11, 2020
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The Importance of Getting Permits For Additions and Improvements

 

Getting Permits For Work at Your House is Vital

When you consider making improvements or additions to your home, it can be tempting to try and skirt the permit process. In some cities and towns, the cost and hassle of getting a permit can seem unnecessary, especially if you are handy and like to make renovations, or you have a friend who offers to do it for you.

Unfortunately, when you go and try to sell your home, the lack of permits can prove to be a real problem. Buyers may balk at purchasing a home that does not have permits – fearing that the additions may be unsafe or not properly done.

In the end, getting the property permits is always a good idea.

Often a home seller will say to me “I’m selling my home do I need permits for work I have done”? Unfortunately, the answer is usually yes you do.

 

The Temptation Of Avoiding Permits

The temptation to avoid getting a permit for home improvements is something every owner faces at one point or another. It is understandable, as the cost of home improvements and additions is already high in many cases.

The permit process – including the inspection to verify the work is up to standards – can seem like a pain. It may take some time to complete the process, time you may not feel like you have.

Those most tempted to avoid permits are homeowners that are interested in actually saving money by doing the work themselves, or bringing in a friend who has experience in home repair and renovation.

The friend – or inexpensive contractor you hire – may even imply that you do not need to worry about getting a permit. This, of course, is WRONG!

 

The Real Reason Why Most Don’t Pull Permits

The real reason that many homeowners don’t pull permits isn’t that of paying a few hundred bucks to the town hall or the inconvenience that comes with it. Nearly every city and town in America collects taxes bases upon the assessed value of a home. Assessed value is calculated by looking at the size and characteristics of property.

What is the gross living area? How many bedrooms does it have? How many bathrooms? These are all factors in determining an appropriate assessed value.

Guess what happens when the tax assessor knows about the luxurious new finished basement with home theater, wet bar, home gym and beautiful bath you just added. If you guessed your taxes are going up, then you are 100 percent correct.

When no permits have pulled the town most likely will not find out, and your taxes will not take the upward climb, they would have otherwise.

Homeowners can save thousands of dollars over the course of owning a home when permits are not pulled. When selling a home, this becomes very problematic. If and when the town or city finds out about it, the new owner is the one who will bear the brunt of the increased taxes paid.

This will often lead to disputing high property taxes. In the case where the town has not collected taxes in years, it may be harder to get a justified abatement.

 

The Problem With Not Getting Permits

When you go to sell your home, there will always be a home inspection and an appraisal conducted by certified professionals. This is just part of the selling process, and it helps buyers know what they are getting into before they buy the home.

The inspector and appraiser will likely go over your house with a fine-toothed comb, looking over every area to verify that the home is in good working order – sometimes even checking all public records on the home.

There are no requirements for the home inspector or appraiser to check on permits for improvements to the home, but this does not mean someone will not ask about them. The inspector, the appraiser, the buyer and the bank that is doing the lending, all have the ability to request public records from your home, which will include the permits that have been acquired for the home.

A good buyers agent should always ask if there were permits pulled when a significant addition or finished basement has been added. These types of improvements can have a significant impact financially for a new owner.

You can run into major problems when someone discovers that renovations were done to the home without permits. This can, in fact, stop a home sale. There is an especially high risk of getting found out if the improvements were made recently.

The appraiser can see what the house consisted of when you bought it, and will notice if there is not an extra bathroom, deck or finished basement. The bigger the addition or improvement to the home, the more likely that someone will notice that something is off.

 

Buyers Want Certified Work

Unless you are in an extremely tight housing market, where buyers are desperate and will take anything, you can expect people to be concerned with any improvements that do not have the proper permits.

A lack of permits implies several problems to potential buyers, including safety and quality issues.

 

Safety Concerns

Customers want to move into a safe home. They may be planning to start a family, or already have children. They may just be uneasy about any work that was not done by a certified professional.

Part of the permit process is intended to verify that the improvements to a home were made properly, according to regulations, by someone who knows what he or she is doing.

Knowing that all safety rules and standard building practices were observed gives buyers peace of mind. Another would be hiring the local handyman to do electrical wiring a licensed electrician should have done.

In some cases, it is even possible that you may not have insurance coverage if there was a major catastrophe like a fire. The perfect example is the owner who goes out and buys a wood stove for the fireplace and doesn’t bother to pull an installation permit with the fire department.

Good luck getting an insurance claim if the insurance company finds out there are no permits, and the stove was the cause of the fire.

 

Quality Concerns

Safety may be the first thing buyers think about when they see you lack permits, but questions about the quality of the work will come quickly after.

The fact that you do not have a permit makes buyers think that you were trying to cut corners. You may have hired someone that was not fully qualified to do the work, or you may have done the work yourself and not known what you were doing.

Whatever the truth is, buyers will suspect shoddy craftsmanship when there is a missing permit. No one wants to pour hundreds of thousands of dollars into a home with poorly crafted improvements.

A good example here is all the homeowners who had to deal with removing ice dams this past winter. There are a lot of negative things ice dams can do to a home including mold. In cases where mold is bad walls may need to be removed and rebuilt.

If it is bad enough, you may even need to relocate or replace the electrical wiring. Could a homeowner fix this themselves? I am sure many have. That doesn’t mean hiring a professional who pulls a permit for this kind of work is not the right way to go.

 

What Happens When I Don’t Have Building Permits

One of the questions I am often asked by homeowners when they are considering selling is what will happen if I don’t have a building permit for work done on my home. There is no clear cut and dry answer on this but in my experience, the local city or town will ask the homeowner to go through the permitting process.

The owner will, of course, have to pay all necessary fees involved with the construction. Each of the applicable inspectors will also need to come through and inspect the work.

Many homeowners are asking this question because they want to know if the town will make them rip out everything they have built and start from scratch. In my twenty-nice years of selling real estate I have not experienced this.

That, however, does not mean it is not possible. Homeowners should be very apologetic to the local building department when it has been discovered there are no permits pulled.

 

What Are Additional Risks of Not Pulling Permits

One of the other risks of not pulling permits is getting sued later on down the road by the buyer who purchases your home. Unfortunately, we live in a sue-happy society where people are always looking for someone to blame.

When you don’t pull a permit, and something tragic happens years down the road, who do you think they are going to come after?

In Massachusetts when selling a home, it is standard practice that homeowners fill out a form called the “sellers statement of property condition.” Lots of states use these forms.

They are primarily a disclosure of what the seller knows and doesn’t know about the home. One of the first questions on this form asks “have you done any work on the home in which a permit was required.” You better answer this one honestly folks for the reason above I just mentioned!

 

When Do I Need to Pull a Building Permit?

There is no clear cut and dry answer on when you will need to pull a building permit for an improvement to your home. The best way to find out is to pick up the phone and call the local building department or stop in for a face to face.

The building inspector should be able to quickly tell you if you will need a permit for your project or not.

It is safe to assume that anything safety related will require a permit. You can also expect that a permit will be necessary when you are doing something that will significantly alter your home.

One important reminder – When all the work has been completed don’t forget to have a final inspection and get the permit closed out! Over the years I have had several clients who have done the right thing and pulled a building permit but never closed it out once all the work was completed.

Closing out a permit is often called getting a certificate of occupancy. Recently while selling a home, I ran into this exact situation.

The owner pulled an original building permit but never asked for a final inspection, so the project was never filed as completed. Luckily, the building department did not make them do anything special other than getting a final inspection.

You could, however, find yourself in a situation where you are not so lucky if there are code changes between the time the permit is pulled and when you are selling your home. So make sure when the project is completed a final inspection is done, and certificate of occupancy is issued.

Here are some examples of items you will more than likely need a permit for:

  • A finished basement.
  • A bathroom remodel or adding a bathroom.
  • The addition of a deck.
  • The addition of a screened porch.
  • Changing or upgrading your electrical service.

These are just a few quick examples. There are many other items for which you will need to pull a permit.

 

 

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How Does ZUUL Systems Facilitate No-Contact Entry to a Gated Community?

How Does ZUUL Systems Facilitate No-Contact Entry to a Gated Community?

  • Posted: Jun 09, 2020
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How Does ZUUL Systems Facilitate No-Contact Entry to a Gated Community?

As your fellow neighbor, we understand recent shifts in society have greatly impacted communities all over the world. We’ve laughed together. We’ve overcome challenges together. Most importantly, we’ve learned individuals can adapt when hard times call for innovation. You’ve been through a lot, and ZUUL Systems recognizes the changes you’ve made to safely navigate daily life.

You, yes you, have made great strides to help our community stay healthy and flourish. You, along with other compassionate individuals, have adopted preventative tactics, like social distancing and contact-free communication, to maintain a safe quality of life until society finds its way back to a stable form of normalcy. Although the future is unknown, we can continue on this path of prevention to ensure our neighborhood’s well-being is preserved.

Our team at ZUUL Systems is taking note of seamless, no-contact living and its important contribution to society. Officials have encouraged individuals to avoid contact with frequently touched surfaces while performing necessary tasks outside of a home, as the virus affecting our community can survive stably on a hard surface or object for up to 72 hours. Now, there is a way to carry out day-to-day tasks and even commute while reducing the risk of virus transmission through touching surfaces or objects.

More specifically, ZUUL Systems facilitates no-contact entry to a gated community through its safe neighborhood access system. This completely digital platform allows users entry and exit into a gated community without the need for physical contact with strange gate guards, unfamiliar security personnel, and frequently touched objects. How exactly does ZUUL Systems pull this off? It’s simple.

Approved guests and community residents will use this no-touch system to filter in and out of the community, avoiding the need to touch a potentially contaminated call box, keypad, or identification card. All users need to complete a safe, streamlined entry would be a personal mobile device. For guests to enter, residents of a gated community will send a private QR code to an approved visitor via the ZUUL Systems app. This QR code will allow the visitor to easily enter and pass the security perimeter. The code can be issued as a single, one-time pass or a recurring pass. As the guest approaches the neighborhood entry gate, they will extend their mobile device to a ZUUL Systems scanner, and voilà. The approved guest is in.

This type of zero-touch entry system is particularly helpful for essential workers, like home improvement service providers and delivery people. They are the individuals navigating neighborhoods to complete essential services that propel our society.Can you imagine all the frequently touched surfaces and objects they encounter each day? By keeping essential workers and community guests at a safe distance, we can sustain a healthier lifestyle for all.

Alas, there’s always light at the end of the tunnel; or rather, at the end of the guard gate. With ZUUL Systems, you are in control of the distance you keep at all times, ultimately leading our society to a safer tomorrow. Learn more about the benefits of this contact-free access system by visiting ZUUL Systems.

 

 

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Here’s how the coronavirus pandemic will impact hurricane season in Florida

Here’s how the coronavirus pandemic will impact hurricane season in Florida

  • Posted: Jun 09, 2020
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Here’s how the coronavirus pandemic will impact hurricane season in Florida

COVID-19 forcing state to revisit evacuation, shelter plans

Preparing for hurricane season is always a daunting task for many Floridians, but with the coronavirus pandemic adding a few extra barriers, your preparations will likely require a few extra steps this year.

According to Eric Alberts, Orlando Health’s corporate director of emergency preparedness, thanks to COVID-19, there are quite a few extra things you’ll need to take into consideration and plan for before a storm.

For example, will you be able to find the supplies needed for your storm kit with stores sold out of certain items due to shoppers hoarding them during the pandemic? And if you’re one of the countless Floridians who is out of work because of the health crisis, how can you afford to properly prepare your home for a storm or repair damage still left behind from a previous one? Oh, and let’s not forget the price of insurance. What about shelters? What will those look like now that the CDC is asking everyone to practice social distancing?

We know those are probably just a few of the concerns you have, so News 6 anchor Ginger Gadsden spoke to Alberts to tackle them one by one and find out everything Floridians should consider when preparing for a storm.

 

Supplies

Let’s start by talking supplies.

Of course, you’ll need the items that have always been recommended in a hurricane kit – you can find a complete hurricane preparedness checklist available for download here – but that’s not all, according to Alberts.

“You can’t just think about having at least 72 hours of food and water, medications, flashlights, batteries and all that other stuff. You also have to think about your health,” Alberts said. You’re going to have to think through masks and whether you have additional masks, wipes or sanitary wipes. You’ve got to think through gloves in certain situations, protective clothing, in some regard.”

Some of the additional items Alberts listed, including masks and gloves, have been difficult to come across because of the coronavirus pandemic, which is why he recommends starting your supply search sooner rather than later.

 

“Start now and don’t wait until the hurricane’s here because you definitely won’t be able to get it then,” Alberts said. “And unfortunately, I don’t believe that these supply shortages are going to go away anytime soon. I think they’re going to last through at least the summer at some point.”

State officials have said they’re also taking this into consideration as they revisit their plans for hurricane season.

Division of Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz said his agency has arranged to add face masks to the state’s stockpile of storm supplies.

“We’re going to have 10 million masks in reserve by the time the hurricane season starts,” Moskowitz said. “And we signed a long-term deal with Honeywell to help get us 12 million N95 masks over the next year directly from the manufacturing plant, with a significant portion of that being delivered during hurricane season.”

Alberts said that even if the personal protective equipment shortages let up, it could still be difficult to find the right supplies because of shoppers who hoard them when they are available in fear of not being able to find them next time they need them (same goes for toilet paper, as we all know by now).

“Even if the items do begin to hit the market or go back on the market, some people will still do hoarding, they’ll still end up buying supplies for their families and their friends. They know they can’t get it and that will put a strain on the system for quite some time,” Alberts said.

Alberts said when it comes to hurricanes, the bottom line is: You need a lot of supplies. Add COVID-19 into the mix and you need even more. His best advice? Start gathering those items now, because they may only be more difficult to find when you actually need them.

 

 

Preparing your loved ones

Alberts said it’s important to not only get supplies and plans in order for yourself but also those with whom you live and others you might care for, especially if they have any special needs.

With many still feeling on edge because of the pandemic, it may be difficult to have the conversation, but Alberts said it’s important you don’t want to prepare your family’s emergency plan.

“Now’s the best time to get your kit and your plan together. So what I mean by that is, you know, you live with others, whether it be your significant other, your family or friends. Just get them together and just sit down and talk to them,” Alberts said.

While building your plan, Alberts said you should ask yourselves, “What is it we’re going to do if we experience a tropical storm or hurricane soon or later in this season?”

From there, he recommends you start writing things down and finalizing a game plan that you’ll all be ready to put into action at any given time.

“Whatever you talked about or you wrote down, make sure you actually do it. People need plans, they need education, they need training. And if you don’t have that, then you feel weakness, you feel fear, and you feel susceptible to rumors, and chaos and stress,” Alberts said.

He said having that plan in place and knowing everyone is on the same page will help ease some of the anxieties that could come with uncertainty in the future.

If anyone in your family has special health needs, Alberts said you’ll want to keep those in mind and include any extra steps you might need to care for them in the event of an emergency in your family’s plan.

 


 

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Alberts recommends individuals with special needs register with the Florida Special Needs Registry.

He said doing so will inform local officials that a member of the community is at risk and allows them to reach out before a storm and make sure the individual with special needs is safe. Officials can also reach out to those who are registered to follow up with them after a storm.

 

Caring for the elderly

Just as you should for other members of your family, Alberts recommends keeping the care of any elderly family members a priority in your preparedness plan.

Get any medication and other needed supplies in order ahead of time so they’re ready if and when your family needs to evacuate.

If your loved one is a resident at a long-term care facility, Alberts recommends having storm prep conversations with those who work at the facility, especially in the months following the COVID-19 pandemic, with visitations temporarily paused to protect the health of the most vulnerable population.

“Well, it really depends on where we’re at in response to COVID-19. They may still be in the status of not allowing others into their facilities. So if that’s the case, you really end up having to trust the management and the administration of that facility to do the right thing for your loved one. And you always have the right to call them and ask for their administration,” Alberts said.

He said you should ask the administration at the facility about their plans for emergencies so that, if you’re uncomfortable with them, you have time to make changes.

“I hate to say it this way, but put some pressure on them if you don’t feel comfortable with their actions. You know, if there’s a tropical storm or hurricane coming directly at that facility and you don’t feel safe with them being there, then you can really impress upon them how you feel and that your loved one really needs to be moved somewhere else,” Alberts said.

Alberts said don’t be afraid to call and ask to speak with the facilities’ leadership because the person at the front desk may not have all the answers.

He said to call and ask if you should drop off any extra tissues, sanitary or moisturizing cloths or even medication to let them know you’re planning for the care of your family member and they should step up their planning efforts, too.

 

 

Preparing your home

It’s not uncommon to drive around Florida and see blue tarps on homes months after a major storm hits part of the area. Something you don’t want to see, though, according to Alberts: Blue tarps still being used as we enter the next storm season.

Alberts said Floridians should work to have any home repairs completed by the time hurricane season arrives so that their home can better weather the next storm.

With many Floridians unemployed due to the pandemic, covering those repair costs may be difficult to impossible for anyone struggling to make ends meet.

Alberts’ advice is to financially plan as much as possible and look for any opportunities to save so that you have some extra funds available in the event of an emergency.

“One of the recommendations is to have additional monetary savings with you so that you’re able to pay for response and recovery efforts,” Alberts said.

Some people will opt out of insurance to save some money when their budget is tight, but Alberts said that presents its own set of risks and could actually cost you more down the road, should a storm damage your home.

“When you’re low on financial or monetary funds, you often think, ‘Hey, can I just not pay this insurance?’ or, ‘Hey, I don’t need this anymore,’ but with that comes a lot of additional risks or hazards or threats to your own financial well-being, right?” Alberts said. “So if you have damage at your home, or even your business, how are you going to go ahead and pay for that if you don’t have the necessary insurance?”

 

Safely seeking shelter

If you’ve ever visited a storm shelter while a hurricane was threatening Florida, you know they can get pretty crowded.

With social distancing now required or strongly encouraged in most places and COVID-19 still expected to be around through hurricane season, public shelters will likely look different than they have in the past, according to Alberts.

“When you think of shelters for hurricanes, and you’ve seen pictures or videos before, you’ll probably see a lot of mass gatherings of people for extended periods of time. Well, we can’t really do that now with COVID-19,” Alberts said. “So, you know, local, state and federal partners are really looking at the sheltering models to say, ‘Hey, what can and should we do in our shelters (to) minimize the impact of COVID-19 on the shelter as well?’”

Moskowitz said Florida emergency officials have been working with FEMA to revise their plans for evacuations and shelters.

In early May, state officials said they were looking at protocols for shelters that range from separating people based on temperature checks to non-congregated sheltering in hotels.

FEMA has since released its COVID-19 Pandemic Operational Guidance for the 2020 Hurricane Season, which outlines how the agency plans to adapt its response and recovery efforts in light of COVID-19.

Alberts said when it comes to evacuating to a shelter, Floridians should keep the following tips in mind:

“If it’s a shelter, just make sure you follow social distancing with COVID-19 and just take your extra precautionary measures with your personal protective equipment. Make sure that you’ve got your required medications and you’ve got your legal documents, any kind of insurance and identification. Make sure those are in a waterproof sealable bag because you don’t want to be hunting for those whenever it’s time to leave,” Alberts said.

 

Plan ahead

Alberts said planning for a hurricane requires a lot of preparation and supplies, and planning for storm season with a pandemic still underway requires even more. The most important thing Floridians can do to make sure they’re ready for hurricane season, according to Alberts, is plan ahead.

“The recommendation there is to start building your plan now, start building your kit now. Don’t wait until a hurricane is knocking at the door so to speak, you know, start the efforts now to get the supplies that you need. Don’t wait.”

 

 

 

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