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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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WE ARE CONTINUING  TO CERTIFY HUNDREDS OF YOU! by Eric Glazer

WE ARE CONTINUING TO CERTIFY HUNDREDS OF YOU! by Eric Glazer

  • Posted: Jun 01, 2020
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WE ARE CONTINUING TO CERTIFY HUNDREDS OF YOU!

Just because we’re stuck in our homes doesn’t mean we can’t get together —- and learn together — remotely – in a safe and fun way.  NO EXCUSES.
Florida law allows the Board Certification class to be taught via a video conference and that’s exactly what we’re doing.
Turn off the news for a few hours and let’s try to have some fun instead. 
 

We have ANOTHER class scheduled:

NEXT CLASS – JUNE 11th, at 6:00 P.M.

If you want to sign up, just provide us with an an e-mail address.  I will then send you a link that you need to click on to start the live seminar.  Make sure to go to: GoTo Meeting
in advance to simply download the program.
Like always……IT’S FREE.
So let’s do this together!

If you want to register, send an e-mail to:

lydia@condo-laws.com

 

Just say you are registering for the class. You will then get a copy of the link to click on before the seminar starts.
After the on-line seminar, you will be e-mailed your certificate and materials.
Let’s make the best of the cards we were dealt.  Let’s get together and do something fun and useful.
In the mean time, our firm and all of the sponsors of the Condo Craze and HOAs radio show wish all of you and your families nothing but good health and good spirits.  We will all get through this in time.
Hoping to see you (on my computer).
Sincerely,
Eric Glazer
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The Property Manager’s Guide to Social Distancing

The Property Manager’s Guide to Social Distancing

  • Posted: Jun 01, 2020
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The Property Manager’s Guide to Social Distancing

by Concierge Plus Inc.

The COVID-19 crisis has presented new and unique challenges for everyone. As with past disruptions, technology will be a key part of the solution for businesses to survive this crisis and thrive in a “new normal” environment. By talking to property managers across North America every
day, we have found what’s working and what’s needed to operate your community remotely and virtually.))
This is the)only)guide published for property/association managers and board members with best practices, tips and tricks on social distancing
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Happy Hour with Cohen Law Group to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation a Charity Event/Virtual Happy Hour/Harvey Q & A on Wed., May 27, at 5pm. 

Happy Hour with Cohen Law Group to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation a Charity Event/Virtual Happy Hour/Harvey Q & A on Wed., May 27, at 5pm. 

  • Posted: May 25, 2020
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Happy Hour with Cohen Law Group to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation

Cohen Law Group and several other organizations will host a Special Event.

Charity Event/Virtual Happy Hour/Harvey Q & A on Wed., May 27, at 5pm.

MAKE A DONATION

REGISTER FOR THE EVENT

 

We challenge your organizations and business to step up and join us to raise money for the amazing Make-A-Wish Foundation!
Fun Facts-
•Harvey will match donations raised during the event up to $5000.
•Pre-register attendees from your organization
•Live donation and donor acknowledgement during event
•Entertaining Games, Contests and Prizes
•Your organization logo marketed on flyer in blasts
•Guaranteed to be a lively event while Making Wishes come true!
We are looking for organizations, businesses and sponsors to participate and market the event to your contacts, members and employees. We will create marketing materials you can distribute.
If you would like to participate, we ask that you do the following-
· Market Event to your contacts, CO-workers, family, friends.
· Participate in Event
· Donate Raffle Prizes – gift cards from your business or Visa, MC or American Xpress, etc. Free 1 year membership to your organization, etc.
· Optional- Match funds up to a specific dollar amount like Harvey!
· Email your logo, your contact information and Raffle Prize, etc. if you wish to participate.
*One of our contests will be Team Tally- Tag-A-Friend or Tag-A-Coworker- Whoever tags and gets the most participation from their organization wins a prize for themselves as well as the entire organization!
SFPMA – for a lucky company SFPMA has donated a Full Lifetime Company Listing and a Full Page of Advertising in our FLORIDA RISING MAGAZINE for one year.  (Let us help you get noticed in the industry)
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Events Calendar can now be viewed in a List Format

Events Calendar can now be viewed in a List Format

  • Posted: May 25, 2020
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We have been asked if we have a Monthly List of all events, We have added this Data from our Calendar.

Clients can now use the navigation bar’s drop down under the Events Section to find  > MONTHLY EVENTS CALENDAR (LIST VIEW)
  • Members can send us events to be added each month, let us help you by informing our industry of educational events. Access the Members Portal when you sign in where you can Add Articles, Add Events, Make Changes to your Listings, and other actions.  We are currently working on Sales and Specials for members to send to us, this is being integrated into our platform and directory pages. Clients, Board members and managers will be able to find sales from our members saving them money before they select a company to hire…..

WEBINAR: CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION BOARD MEMBER CERTIFICATION MAY 27, 2020

WEBINAR: CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION BOARD MEMBER CERTIFICATION Date/Time Date(s) – 2020-05-27 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Location Pompano Beach Office REGISTER HERE Join our own Andrew Black, Esq., a Board Certified Specialist in Condominium and Planned Development Law, online for distance learning with the Condominium Association Board Member Certification Course. This provides CE credit for CAMs and fulfills state requirements for Condo Association Board Members. Course Number: 9630075 | Provider Number: 0005092 Two (2) CEU’s in IFM or ELE Note: This webinar is limited to the first 100 to register.

 

ADVANCED BOARD MEMBER TRAINING

ADVANCED BOARD MEMBER TRAINING Date: Thursday, May 28, 2020 Time: 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm Location: https://zoom.us/, Zoom.com How to prepare for and conduct a meeting. Myths about Robert Rules of Order Agendas, Minutes, and More Provider: 0007237 Course: 9629074 Instructor William and Susan Raphan Credit Information 2 Hours Manager Continuing Education Elective Credits

 

Condo Craze & HOAs HOSTED BY – ERIC M. GLAZER, ESQUIRE SUNDAYS AT 11:00 a.m. ON 850 WFTL

Condo Craze & HOAs HOSTED BY – ERIC M. GLAZER, ESQUIRE SUNDAYS AT 11:00 a.m. ON 850 WFTL May 31, 2020 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Condo Craze & HOAs HOSTED BY – ERIC M. GLAZER, ESQUIRE SUNDAYS AT 11:00 a.m. ON 850 WFTL The show is streamed live on the web at www.850wftl.com and on your mobile device. Presents a forum for Board members and owners to tell their side of the story. The show randomly has guest speakers who are experts on the daily problems associations encounter. All issues that our associations encounter each day are proper topics for discussion. Expect to hear from politicians, Board members, owners, tenants, community association managers, developers, community association accountants, construction industry personnel and other government officials. Listeners call in and ask questions of attorney Eric Glazer and his legal team as well as any guest present. Eric has been practicing association law since 1992, and his firm Glazer and Associates has represented associations and unit owners throughout the state. There is lots of great discussion and we have certainly had some screaming and yelling, not unlike your typical Board meeting. However, at the end of each show, our listeners come away with a greater understanding of the law and hopefully an appreciation of the various sides of this ongoing debate.

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Property Management and Social Distancing by Concierge Plus Inc.

Property Management and Social Distancing by Concierge Plus Inc.

  • Posted: May 25, 2020
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Property Management and Social Distancing

by Concierge Plus Inc.

COVID-19 has presented new and unique challenges, such as social distancing, which is having a profound effect on the property management industry. The pandemic has accelerated a digital transformation of property management operations, and this is a sharp wake-up call for managers who must be prepared to operate remotely and virtually in a ‘new normal’ environment.

What makes the COVID-19 virus outbreak challenging, is the fact that property management is a ‘people’ business. How do managers keep their staff on the same page when they can’t even be in the same room? How do they get closer to their clients when social distancing keeps them from getting within six feet of them? The solution is to use technology made specifically for the needs of residential property managers. By utilizing communication and tracking tools available in property management platforms, managers can maintain a strong and cohesive operation.

Property managers have two primary responsibilities: to carry out policies set by the board and to manage the community’s daily operations. However, now, residents see managers as trusted advisors and their expertise is being used to guide communities through the pandemic.

The following are a few options to consider as you work to reduce risk in your community.

 

Communication

Communication during crisis situations is crucial and a resident portal is an instrumental channel for managers to effectively communicate with ­­residents. Residents expect to be kept in the loop with important information and welcome the opportunity to have a say with regards to important topics. Managers can use the resident portal to ensure residents are apprised of the latest information. This can be done by sending out announcements on how they are managing the outbreak.

With our Announcements solution, you can create, edit, and distribute announcements easily and effectively by email, text message (SMS) or automated phone call. You should also consider broadcasting announcements via display screens strategically placed in the lobby, and within elevators to maximize the effectiveness of audience engagement.

 

Record keeping

HOAs and condominiums are required to provide access to important documents in the form of document inspection requests, a common practice that will continue even during this pandemic. We expect COVID-19 to affect the normal course of business throughout 2020, especially as we practice social distance and handling physical materials.

Managements should consider uploading community documentation to their resident portal. Using our simple drag-and-drop system, you can upload and distribute documents such as board minutes, forms, by-laws, floor plans, photos, and videos. Permission-based controls allow management to determine exactly who sees what.

 

Amenity bookings

As cities throughout North America gradually gear up for reopening and ease some COVID-19 restrictions, there are proactive measures and legal concerns communities might want to think about when it comes to managing and maintaining amenities like pools and fitness rooms.

We expect residents to no longer be able to use a pool or fitness room without a reservation due to social distancing. Residents will have to reserve an amenity for any available time slot and should receive scheduled reservation notifications.

 

Digital future

With our platform you can streamline the management of amenity bookings with an easy-to-use online form. Email updates are sent automatically when a request is approved or updated. Your residents will love being able to see a detailed list of common amenities as well as a calendar view of their availability. You can even accept online payments for bookings by credit card.

Many property managers have already realized the benefits of running their business on our cloud-based property management platform built with automation at its core. They are using our platform to collect online payments, communicate instantly, support dispersed teams and much more.

It is important to understand that even after the ‘end’ of the coronavirus pandemic, COVID-19 is going to have a lasting impact on how managers and residents communicate for a long time to come. Managers must therefore get ahead of the inevitable digital future of communication within property management.

 

To help property managers and associations navigate these issues, we created a webinar specifically relating to COVID-19. Entitled “COVID-19 and Technology: Resident Communications, Virtual Meetings, and Electronic Voting,” we invited experts in the field of property management technology to give helpful tips and advice for successfully managing a property remotely and virtually in a ‘new normal’ environment.

 

 

 

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PALM BEACH & BROWARD COUNTIES RELEASE NEW OPENING ORDER PROCEDURES AFFECTING COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS by Kaye Bender Rembaum

PALM BEACH & BROWARD COUNTIES RELEASE NEW OPENING ORDER PROCEDURES AFFECTING COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS by Kaye Bender Rembaum

  • Posted: May 21, 2020
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PALM BEACH & BROWARD COUNTIES RELEASE NEW OPENING ORDER PROCEDURES AFFECTING COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS

by Kaye Bender Rembaum

To further address the re-opening of both Palm Beach and Broward Counties new Orders have been issued and are already in effect. Links to each new order are located below this article. In all instances, social distancing and wearing of masks when in public is still advised.

Has your association considered adopting new rules consistent with social distancing policies and wearing of face masks when members are in common areas and common elements? Discussion with your association’s attorney is warranted when preparing such rules for board adoption.

Remember too, so long as the State of Florida remains under a State of Emergency as declared by the Governor (due to expire July 7), the statutory emergency powers remain available to community associations which includes the power to close amenities when based upon the advice of licensed professionals or emergency management officials. With that in mind, after consultation with the aforementioned licensed professionals or emergency management officials, amenities can be closed. Moreover, there is no obligation to open amenities if the board believes, that in its reasonable business judgment, doing so would create an unsafe condition and/ or if compliance with local, state, and federal orders cannot be met.

Our comments to assist your understanding of each of these orders are provided in red text. Stay safe!

 

PALM BEACH COUNTY – ORDER 2020-07

In addition to addressing other re-opening directives, Palm Beach County Order 2020-007 addresses tennis courts, swimming pools along with other amenities. It became effective May 18, 12:01 am.

 

TENNIS COURTS:

Applies to Community Associations

Tennis and outdoor racquet facilities may reopen, and doubles play is permitted, provided that CDC Guidelines, including all social distancing guidelines, are adhered to. In addition, the following restrictions shall apply:

  1. No congregating on the court or sidelines is permitted.
  2. Locker room and shower facilities shall remain closed. Restrooms must be cleaned and disinfected regularly throughout the day. Soap and water or hand sanitizer and/or disinfectant wipes shall be provided in each restroom.

  3. It is the responsibility of staff or management to ensure compliance with this order.

  4. Tennis instruction may be conducted on an individual basis where strict social distancing is followed.

 

COMMUNITY POOLS:

Applies to Community Associations, and while the requirement for on-site supervision is removed, the association is still responsible to ensure compliance!!!

  1. For purposes of this Order, “Community Pools” are defined as any and all pool decks and/or pools, whether of a commercial or noncommercial nature, other than one located on a single family residential lot, a single townhouse unit, or any part of a duplex lot, and which is utilized only by inhabitants of that lot or unit. Examples of Community Pools include, but are not limited to, hotel pools, motel pools, apartment building pools, homeowner association pools, condominium association pools, aquatic centers, or any other facilities that are authorized for use by more than one family.​
  • Community Pools may reopen provided that CDC Guidelines, including all social distancing guidelines, are adhered to. In addition, the following restrictions shall apply:​

  • a. Pool capacity shall be limited to ensure that social distancing in accordance with CDC Guidelines is maintained at all times.

    ​b. Locker room and shower facilities shall remain closed. Restrooms may remain open and shall be cleaned and disinfected regularly throughout the day. Soap and water or hand sanitizer and/or disinfectant wipes shall be provided in each restroom.​

    c. Pool deck seating or lounging shall be restricted to ensure social distancing in accordance with CDC Guidelines.

    d. Staff that is authorized to manage the Community Pool, or their designee, including, but not limited to, Community Pool staff, management company staff, volunteers, board members, or any other authorized persons, shall provide notice, either electronically, by mail, and/or by posting at the Community Pool or any other place where messages are traditionally posted, one or more notices indicating that all users of Community Pools shall abide by any and all social distancing guidelines, including, but not limited to, the CDC Guidelines, and that said users of Community Pools bear the responsibility of such compliance and assume the full risk of utilizing the Community Pools.

    e. Staff that is authorized to manage the Community Pool, or their designee, including, but not limited to, Community Pool staff, management company staff, volunteers, board members, or any other authorized persons, shall ensure compliance with all guidelines and requirements set forth in this Order. Such compliance may be accomplished by any reasonable means, including, but not limited to, periodic spot checks, video or other electronic monitoring, and/or compliance hotlines to allow for reporting of violations that are thereafter promptly investigated. In the event that repeated violations occur, staff authorized to manage the Community Pool, or their designee, shall take corrective action, including, but not limited to, closing the Community Pool, limiting access to the Community Pool on a reservation basis only, and/or limiting access to Community Pools to times when staff is present to monitor for compliance.​

    [Emphasis Added]

     

    RESTRICTION OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN PUBLIC PARKS, PRIVATE PARKS, AND NATURAL AREAS:

    While not directly applicable to community associations, this section does provide limited guidance as to how similar amenities are being treated by local government.

    1. All park playgrounds, play and exercise equipment shall remain closed.

    2.  Picnic pavilions shall remain closed.

    3.  Use of water fountains is prohibited.

    4.  Basketball courts may be open.

    1. Tennis, racquetball, and pickleball courts may be open.
  • Recreation buildings and gymnasiums may reopen subject to 50% capacity limitations and social distancing guidelines included in State of Florida Office of the Governor Executive Order 20-112 and related subsequent orders.

  •  

    In addition to addressing other re-opening directives, Palm Beach County Order 2020-007 addresses tennis courts, swimming pools along with other amenities.

    It became effective May 18, 12:01 am. Find it HERE or copy and paste this link into your browser:

    https://kbrlegal.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/PBC_EO-7-with-attachment.pdf

     


     

    BROWARD COUNTY ORDER 20-10

    Broward County Order 20-10 addresses re-opening community rooms, fitness centers and gyms in housing developments (i.e., community associations) and re-affirms prior pool re-opening mandates. The order went into effect May 18th at 12:01 am.

     

    Attachment 6: COMMUNITY ROOMS, FITNESS CENTERS, AND GYMS IN HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS

    No community room, fitness center, or gym is required to be opened if the housing development does not wish to do so or believes it cannot do so safely and in full compliance with the requirements of this Emergency Order; any decision by a particular housing development is also subject to any applicable internal rules or regulations of that entity.

     

    A. Capacity Requirements

    1. Maximum 50% occupancy. Social distancing requirements do not apply to members of the same household.

    1. Community rooms, fitness centers, and gyms shall be limited to residents of the housing development only. No guests shall be allowed.
    2. Exercise machines, equipment and tables must be rearranged and/or closed for use to ensure at least 6 feet of distance between patrons using such machines, equipment, or tables. Social distancing guidelines provided by the CDC shall be adhered to at all times.

    3. No gatherings or multi-player games (e.g., mahjong, poker, etc.) are permitted in the community rooms between persons who do not reside in the same household.

     

    B. Sanitation and Safety Requirements

    1. Before reopening, the community room, fitness center, or gym (as applicable) must be thoroughly deep cleaned, disinfected, and sanitized. After opening, community rooms, fitness centers, and gyms must be deep cleaned daily.
  • Housing developments shall provide disinfecting wipes, and residents shall be required to wipe down each machine they used after each use.

  • Hand sanitizer shall be available at the facility. Patrons must be informed that they must sanitize their hands when entering the gym and prior to utilizing each piece of equipment.

  •  

    C. Gym and Fitness Center Amenities

    1. Hot tubs, saunas, steam rooms, and shower facilities shall remain closed.

     

    Section 9: Public Community Pools and Private Club Pools.

    Recreational Pool Amenities as defined in Emergency Order 20-08 that were permitted to operate under that order are excluded from the scope of this Emergency Order and may continue to operate subject to the CDC Guidelines and the requirements of Emergency Order 20-08.​  For your ease of reference as per Broward Order 20-08 these include, “pool decks or pools in multi­ family housing developments, condominium developments, condominium hotels, or single-family homeowner associations (collectively, “housing developments”) provided the pool deck and pool are used only by current residents of the housing development; six (6) foot social distancing CDC guidelines are adhered to; pool deck and pool occupancy are limited to no greater than 50% capacity; and either:​

    (a)   the use of the pool deck and pool are supervised by a sufficient number of employees or other person(s) designated by the housing development during the hours in which they are used to ensure compliance with the requirements of this section, and employees or other designees of the housing development sanitize the facility’s pool chairs, railings, gates, tables, showers, and other equipment at the pool and pool deck on a regular basis; or​

    (b)    all furnishings are removed from the pool deck.

    Any use of pool decks or pool areas that deviate from the CDC Guidelines or these requirements remain prohibited.”​

     

    Broward County Order 20-10 addresses re-opening community rooms, fitness centers and gyms in housing developments (i.e., community associations) and re-affirms prior pool re-opening mandates.

    The order went into effect May 18th at 12:01 am. Find it HERE or copy and paste this link into your browser:

    https://kbrlegal.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Broward_EO-20-10-with-att6.pdf


     

    The Kaye Bender Rembaum Team Remains Available To You and Your Community Association.  Please be Safe. 

    1200 Park Central Boulevard South,
    Pompano Beach, FL. Tel: 954.928.0680

    9121 North Military Trail, Suite 200,
    Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Tel: 561.241.4462

    1211 N. Westshore Boulevard, Suite 409,
    Tampa, FL. Tel: 813.375.0731

     

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    Upcoming Events for the week of May 18

    Upcoming Events for the week of May 18

    • Posted: May 21, 2020
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    Upcoming Events for the week of May 18-23

    You can View the events on our Calendar

     

    ASSOCIATION CONTINUITY and OTHER COVID-19 CONCERNS: Episode3

    Thursday May 21, 2020
    12 Noon – 1:00pm
    Castle Group’s Craig Vaughan and Attorneys Michael Bender & Jeffrey Rembaum bring you this event.

     

     

     

    BOARD CERTIFICATION FOR CONDOMINIUMS, COOPERATIVES AND HOMEOWNERS’ ASSOCIATIONS

    May 21 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
    Learn the basics of Fiduciary duty, financial reporting and budget preparation, meetings and meeting notices, elections, fraud prevention, and much more! Enjoy a fun class while at the same time fulfilling the State’s Board Member certification requirements.
    Provider: 0007237 Course: 9626870
    Instructor: William and Susan Raphan / Katzman Chandler

     

    Condo Craze & HOAs HOSTED BY – ERIC M. GLAZER, ESQUIRE

    SUNDAYS AT 11:00 a.m. ON 850 WFTL

    May 24 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

     


    Become a Licensed Property Manager

    Online Courses for Licensing can be completed while your at home.

    This might be a great time to Take your online Testing and become a CAM

    CAM License Courses and Board Members Certification in Florida

     

     


     

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    Bay Area Pressure Cleaning, LLC is excited to help promote and support ‘Move for Hunger’ Pasco County’s Families in Need – Drive Thru Food Donation! Monday, May 25th

    Bay Area Pressure Cleaning, LLC is excited to help promote and support ‘Move for Hunger’ Pasco County’s Families in Need – Drive Thru Food Donation! Monday, May 25th

    • Posted: May 20, 2020
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    Bay Area Pressure Cleaning, LLC is excited to help promote and support ‘Move for Hunger’ Pasco County’s Families in Need – Drive Thru Food Donation! Monday, May 25th

     

    Bay Area Pressure Cleaning, LLC is excited and proud to be partnering with Florida Main Movers, INC to help promote and support ‘Move for Hunger’ Pasco County’s Families in Need – Drive Thru Food Donation!

    All donations will go to Florida Food Force, Inc – a local food bank located in Odessa to help feed our local families in need amidst the pandemic.

    Our team will be practicing social distancing by allowing cars to simply drive thru, and pop their trunks!

     

    We will be collecting all non-perishable food donations on Sunday, May 31st in the parking lot of ‘The Columbian’ located at 5850 Farrell Way, Port Richey, FL 34668 from 9am – 5pm!

     

    Starting Monday, May 25th Bay Area Pressure Cleaning, LLC will gladly be picking up non-perishable food donations after 5pm from those of you who would like to donate but are unable to make it to the drop-off location. Please text or call 727-877-4222 or send us a message with your address to arrange a donation pick-up!

    If you have any other questions regarding this event you may also reach out to Florida Main Movers, Inc at 813-863-5177!

    Our community needs us! Even the smallest donation can make a big difference to a family in need. We’re all in this together!

     

     

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    FLORIDA RISING MAGAZINE: A New Issue Has Been Published  MAY 2020

    FLORIDA RISING MAGAZINE: A New Issue Has Been Published  MAY 2020

    • Posted: May 15, 2020
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    A New Issue Has Been Published  MAY 2020

    May 15, 2020

    Dear Reader,

    A new issue of Florida Rising Magazine May 2020 Edition publication has been published.

    You can now access it instantly HERE.

    • We had to hold this edition to aid our members as many Articles and Ads were changed due to webinars and working conditions. Next month we will not wait. 
    • Published the first week of each month.

    Frank J Mari / Executive Director

    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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    Have your services been affected by coronavirus?

    Have your services been affected by coronavirus?

    • Posted: May 14, 2020
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    Have your services been affected by coronavirus?

    We know businesses like yours may be struggling to keep customers informed right now.

    To help we’ve released help for Members We want members businesses to communicate changes and promote their available services.

    (For example) a members business could write an article tell us what you offer or that they’re temporarily closed or Let us know that you are OPEN and ready to help Condo’s and HOA’s. We will repost these members articles and send these out to our Industry.

    Once normal service resumes, or you reopen you can easily send another article for the service update, SFPMA will help by sending these to our Industry.

    We have a large reach for our Blog. We send Hundreds of Thousands of Emails to industry professionals and more if you also add every member company and subscriber.

     

     

     

    Need more resources? Think about taking out Advertising on our website or in the Florida Rising Magazine.

    At SFPMA, we’re committed to providing members businesses with as much support as possible during this challenging time. 

    Send us an Email: Membership@sfpma.com

    Frank J Mari / Executive Director

     

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