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SO WHAT DO WE DO NOW?  By Eric Glazer, Esq.

SO WHAT DO WE DO NOW?  By Eric Glazer, Esq.

  • Posted: Mar 16, 2020
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SO WHAT DO WE DO NOW?  By Eric Glazer, Esq.

Published by Glazer and Sachs, P.A. March 16, 2020 – Re published by SFPMA

 

Wow what a difference a week makes!  The world became different this week, like nothing most of us have ever seen or lived through before.  For the time being, this Corona Virus has changed life as we know it, requiring us not to stay inside and hide, but not to tempt fate, while staying smart and taking necessary precautions so that the disease doesn’t spread and we remain healthy.  

I can’t tell you how many calls and e-mails I received this week asking me about canceling meetings, having meetings by phone, shutting down the common areas and preventing visitors.  As you know, I canceled our Board Certification Seminar scheduled for Wednesday.

 

Here is what I can tell all of you with absolute certainty. NOBODY KNOWS FOR SURE WHAT YOU CAN AND CANNOT DO.  SO….. I CAN ONLY TELL YOU WHAT I THINK……AND WHAT MANY OTHER FLORIDA BAR BOARD CERTIED EXPERTS THINK. But certainly, not all of us agree on everything and some may not agree with my comments below.  However, the Board certified attorneys in this area routinely share ideas on topics on a fantastic e-mail exchange.  It is an honor to be able to share ideas and work with all of them at this crazy time.

So Florida has a law that relates to all community associations in response to damage caused by an event for which a state of emergency is declared.  Well……the entire State of Florida is under a State of Emergency.  However, it is not “in response to damage caused by an event…”  So, does this statute apply?  I’ll go on record and say yes.  What difference does it make why we are under a state of emergency?  The fact is that we are.  The important thing is that we are, not why we are.  Although it is possible, I cannot imagine a judge, arbitrator or the Division taking adverse action against any community association Board of Directors who relies on the emergency powers statute in good faith at this critical time in our history.  So I say….let’s use it.

Many of the statute’s provisions do not apply to our current situation as the statute was clearly designed to apply in response to a devastating hurricane.  I have chosen to leave those portions of the statute in this blog so that our readers can judge for themselves what the true intent of the statute is and if they believe it is applicable to our current situation.  Here is the condo version – similar to the HOA version:

 

718.1265 Association emergency powers.—

(1) To the extent allowed by law and unless specifically prohibited by the declaration of condominium, the articles, or the bylaws of an association, and consistent with the provisions of s. 617.0830, the board of administration, in response to damage caused by an event for which a state of emergency is declared pursuant to s. 252.36 in the locale in which the condominium is located, may, but is not required to, exercise the following powers:

(a) Conduct board meetings and membership meetings with notice given as is practicable. Such notice may be given in any practicable manner, including publication, radio, United States mail, the Internet, public service announcements, and conspicuous posting on the condominium property or any other means the board deems reasonable under the circumstances. Notice of board decisions may be communicated as provided in this paragraph.

 

 

My Comments: Use conference call lines – use GOTO Meeting or ZOOM.  Use any procedure where all unit owners who dial in or log on can hear and even see the Board members, and the owners have the opportunity to address the Board.

(b) Cancel and reschedule any association meeting.

My Comments: Any Association meeting means “any” association meeting.  I know there are many associations that even have their annual meeting coming up.  In an effort to limit large gatherings, Can the annual meeting be canceled and rescheduled?  In my opinion – absolutely.  However, before doing that the Board may consider other reasonable alternatives, such as limiting the physical attendance at the annual meeting to only the Board and management and allowing the others to attend via video conference.

(c) Name as assistant officers persons who are not directors, which assistant officers shall have the same authority as the executive officers to whom they are assistants during the state of emergency to accommodate the incapacity or unavailability of any officer of the association.

(d) Relocate the association’s principal office or designate alternative principal offices.

(e) Enter into agreements with local counties and municipalities to assist counties and municipalities with debris removal.

(f) Implement a disaster plan before or immediately following the event for which a state of emergency is declared which may include, but is not limited to, shutting down or off elevators; electricity; water, sewer, or security systems; or air conditioners.

(g) Based upon advice of emergency management officials or upon the advice of licensed professionals retained by the board, determine any portion of the condominium property unavailable for entry or occupancy by unit owners, family members, tenants, guests, agents, or invitees to protect the health, safety, or welfare of such persons.

My Comments: Many of you have called asking if the clubhouse can be closed as well as other parts of the common elements.  At this juncture I would again say Yes.  Any place where large crowds can gather can be closed as the board is certainly aware that every health official recommends no large gatherings.  The common element gym can certainly be closed as that may be the most dangerous area as people that go there are sweating all over the place.

What about limiting guests and visitors to the condo or HOA?  The Chief Judge of the Broward County Courthouse has entered the following order:

(1) The following persons shall not enter any state courthouse located in Broward County, Florida:

(a) Persons who have been in any of the following countries within the last 14 days:

  1. China
  2. South Korea

iii. Japan

  1. Italy
  2. Iran

 

In my opinion – if this order is appropriate for a courthouse where people do not live, it is certainly appropriate for a Board to implement in the building where families do live.  The reality however is that nobody will likely admit to being in any of these places.

(h) Require the evacuation of the condominium property in the event of a mandatory evacuation order in the locale in which the condominium is located. Should any unit owner or other occupant of a condominium fail or refuse to evacuate the condominium property where the board has required evacuation, the association shall be immune from liability or injury to persons or property arising from such failure or refusal.

My Comments:  Now this is a much tougher one:  Here, the statute was clearly intended to force EVERYONE out of a building that may be on the verge of collapse.   However, coincidentally, earlier this week, I actually won an injunction hearing where a judge prevented a unit owner from coming into the condominium because he was violent and a danger to the community.  I can certainly make the argument that a person infected with the virus is even more of a danger to the community as that person can potentially infect the entire population of the condominium.  It’s also possible to think that a judge would allow that person to get better in their own home – as long as they promise to self quarantine.  Again…..we are in unchartered waters here.

(i) Based upon advice of emergency management officials or upon the advice of licensed professionals retained by the board, determine whether the condominium property can be safely inhabited or occupied. However, such determination is not conclusive as to any determination of habitability pursuant to the declaration.

 

 

See my comments to g above

(j) Mitigate further damage, including taking action to contract for the removal of debris and to prevent or mitigate the spread of fungus, including, but not limited to, mold or mildew, by removing and disposing of wet drywall, insulation, carpet, cabinetry, or other fixtures on or within the condominium property, even if the unit owner is obligated by the declaration or law to insure or replace those fixtures and to remove personal property from a unit.

(k) Contract, on behalf of any unit owner or owners, for items or services for which the owners are otherwise individually responsible, but which are necessary to prevent further damage to the condominium property. In such event, the unit owner or owners on whose behalf the board has contracted are responsible for reimbursing the association for the actual costs of the items or services, and the association may use its lien authority provided by s. 718.116 to enforce collection of the charges. Without limitation, such items or services may include the drying of units, the boarding of broken windows or doors, and the replacement of damaged air conditioners or air handlers to provide climate control in the units or other portions of the property.

My Comments: No question that if the board wanted to triple the amount of personnel necessary for clean-up and disinfectant of the property in order to prevent the spread of the virus, this is perfectly legal.

(l) Regardless of any provision to the contrary and even if such authority does not specifically appear in the declaration of condominium, articles, or bylaws of the association, levy special assessments without a vote of the owners.

(m) Without unit owners’ approval, borrow money and pledge association assets as collateral to fund emergency repairs and carry out the duties of the association when operating funds are insufficient. This paragraph does not limit the general authority of the association to borrow money, subject to such restrictions as are contained in the declaration of condominium, articles, or bylaws of the association.

(2) The special powers authorized under subsection (1) shall be limited to that time reasonably necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the association and the unit owners and the unit owners’ family members, tenants, guests, agents, or invitees and shall be reasonably necessary to mitigate further damage and make emergency repairs.

So what’s the bottom line…………..I firmly believe that Board of Directors in Florida have the right to rely on the emergency powers statute.

What’s the other bottom line?  Stay calm, cool and collected.  This too shall pass.  While the Board has a lot of options, perhaps the smart move is to simply close down the clubhouse and party rooms for a few weeks, hire more staff to keep the place clean, and put all meetings on hold until further notice, even if they are the annual meeting or budget meeting.  In the grand scheme of things……so what?

In the interim………. be smart.  No large crowds.  Wash your hands.  Repeat and relax.

I wish all of you and your families nothing but good physical health and maybe more importantly mental health over the next few weeks.  And don’t forget to see if your neighbor needs some help, especially if they are elderly and shouldn’t be going into large supermarket crowds at this time.  While it’s important to know the laws……. I think it’s more important at this time to know how to be good people, friends and neighbors.

 

Glazer & Sachs P.A are members of SFPMA < View their membership page.

 

 

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Becker Suspends Community Association Classes in Florida, from now through April 30, 2020

Becker Suspends Community Association Classes in Florida, from now through April 30, 2020

  • Posted: Mar 12, 2020
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Becker has been closely monitoring the latest coronavirus (COVID-19) developments.

In the interest of the health and safety of our clients and colleagues, we have made a decision to suspend all Community Association classes from now through April 30.

For more information about COVID-19 (including what you can do to protect yourself and minimize risk in your community), please visit www.beckercovid19.com.

As always, we will keep you informed of any changes and updates.

We wish you safety in the days ahead.

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ATTENTION PASCO & PINELLAS COUNTY,  In light of COVID-19, We want to help our community. Bay Area Pressure Cleaning, LLC would like to provide sanitizing of playground equipment at local day cares and schools.

ATTENTION PASCO & PINELLAS COUNTY,  In light of COVID-19, We want to help our community. Bay Area Pressure Cleaning, LLC would like to provide sanitizing of playground equipment at local day cares and schools.

  • Posted: Mar 12, 2020
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 ATTENTION PASCO & PINELLAS COUNTY 🛑 In light of COVID-19, We want to help our community.

We are so pleased to report this to our industry! Showing our members Care! Everyone is doing their part to mitigate this virus! Members of SFPMA

 

Bay Area Pressure Cleaning, LLC would like to provide sanitizing of playground equipment at local day cares and schools. It is safe and very effective.
In order to mitigate the impact of the virus, everyone has a role to play and we are prepared to do our part! If anyone has contacts for local day cares and or schools, please pass them our info.
WE WILL BE DONATING THIS SERVICE TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY AND KIDS!!

 

Bay Area Pressure Cleaning,LLC
(727)877-4222
www.bayareapressurecleaning.com

Members of SFPMA:

 

Bay Area Pressure Cleaning

727-877-4222

Bay Area Pressure Cleaning is owned and operated by Tyler; born and raised in the Tampa Bay Area. Bay Area Pressure Cleaning takes great pride in providing both Pasco and Pinellas counties residential and commercial clients with reliable and efficient services. 100% customer satisfaction guaranteed! Bay Area Pressure Cleaning is a full service power washing and exterior surface cleaning company that is family owned and operated, with a mission to provide Tampa Bay with outstanding pressure cleaning service experiences. Owner Tyler says “We take great pride in providing our clients with reliable and efficient exterior cleaning solutions and our customers satisfaction is our primary objective!”

 

 

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ALERT: “Managing Your Residential Community & Common Housing Under the Threat of Covid-19”

ALERT: “Managing Your Residential Community & Common Housing Under the Threat of Covid-19”

  • Posted: Mar 05, 2020
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Managing Your Residential Community & Common Housing Under the Threat of Covid-19

by Donna DiMaggio Berger, Esq., Becker & Poliakoff

Managers are on the front lines of many challenging issues for private residential communities but managing a pandemic is uncharted territory for most. With the number of cases of Covid-19 increasing in Florida and the fact that Governor DeSantis has declared a State of Emergency, proactive community association management professionals are thinking about how this virus might impact their residential communities and what can be done to blunt the impact.

 

There is an increased risk of contracting Covid-19 for health care workers, individuals with respiratory and other underlying health issues, as well as the elderly.  Given the demographics in many shared ownership communities and particularly in “55 and Over” communities, managers should be prepared to contend with a fair amount of fear and confusion about the proper policies and protocols to follow to safeguard the community.

One of the first directives from a board may be to seal off the community as much as possible from outside exposure. The board may wish to limit guests, nonessential contractors and may even inquire as to whether or not residents who have traveled to high risk areas (China, South Korea, Iran or Italy) may be prevented from returning to the community.

Your first course of action is to calm some of the hysteria. If you think a directive sounds implausible, illegal or inadvisable, insist on contacting association counsel for a legal opinion regarding the proposed policy.

Overly restrictive protocol that unnecessarily impacts your residents’ freedoms and quality of life is not likely to withstand a potential legal challenge and also creates unnecessary strain in your community.  Prohibiting owners from having guests or undertaking renovation projects is not warranted at this time.

You can suggest that your members voluntarily reduce the number of guests they invite into the community but prohibiting guests altogether is not a viable option.  However, if your community’s governing documents prohibit short term rentals and you are aware that some owners are violating these restrictions under the guise of having non-paying guests when they are really renting out their units on platforms like Airbnb then working with counsel to curb this activity should be a priority. Limiting the amount of transient residents can reduce exposure.

It is also important to remember that not every private residential community will be impacted in the same way by the spread of Covid-19. In multifamily buildings where residents encounter each other frequently in the elevators, corridors and other common areas, the need to address preventative measures is much more pressing than in an HOA with single family homes and no enclosed common areas.

Draconian solutions to a problem often do more harm than good. There is no legal basis upon which you can prevent residents from returning to their homes. There is also no legal basis upon which you can deny a potential purchaser or potential renter who has recently traveled to a high-risk area.

Asking travel-related questions can have a chilling impact on the proposed transaction thereby exposing the association to a potential claim for interfering with a sale or lease.  Be sure to speak to association counsel before revising your application forms or asking intrusive questions during your interviews.

 

Since Governor De Santis has declared a state of emergency some boards may reasonably believe that the statutory emergency powers found in Chapters 718, 719 and 720 of the Florida Statutes have been activated. However, those powers were enacted to assist boards in dealing with post hurricane issues so applying them to a medical emergency would be a novel approach.

Don’t assume that your board can utilize the same emergency powers that are activated in response to damage caused by an event for which a state of emergency is declared; a legal opinion is needed before your board attempts to use any of the statutory emergency powers.

 

The board must continue to operate and administer the community’s affairs and holding regular meetings is a large part of that function.  Many boards regularly experience poor attendance at their meetings so there is little reason to be concerned about holding meetings unless you know that you have an active infection in your community. Boards that are concerned about having meetings can certainly use technology such as in-house cable channels or Skype to allow residents to view their meetings from the privacy of their homes.

 

If you wish to minimize the spread of Covid-19 or the flu, use all of your association’s communication channels (newsletter, email or text group, website, direct mail, and in-house cable channel) to remind your residents to wash their hands frequently. You may also wish to place hand sanitizer stations in high traffic areas in the community.  Advise your residents that if they are experiencing symptoms they should let you know and they should avoid using the recreational facilities such as the Clubhouse, pool and fitness room. Management professionals should follow suit and not report to work if they are feeling ill.

Let your residents know that if they are feeling ill or have any questions or concerns they can contact the Florida Department of Health’s 24-hour hotline that can be reached at ‪1-866-779-6121. 

Lastly, make sure you have updated emergency contact information for all owners including any residents who may be particularly vulnerable.  Covid-19 is the latest in a long string of challenges that those of us who serve community boards experience. This too shall pass but in the interim, prudence and caution is warranted.

 

Donna DiMaggio Berger is a Shareholder in Becker’s Community Association Practice in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. She is a member of the prestigious College of Community Association Lawyers (CCAL) and is one of only 190 attorneys statewide who is a Board Certified Specialist in Condominium and Planned Development Law. As Founder and Executive Director of Becker’s Community Association Leadership Lobby (CALL), Donna has led various community association advocacy initiatives, working with legislators and other public policymakers on behalf of those who live, serve, and work in common interest ownership communities.

Donna DiMaggio Berger
Shareholder / Ft. Lauderdale
954.364.6031
DBERGER@beckerlawyers.com

 

Again here are some tips for your community and you!

It is not too soon for condominium, cooperative and HOA boards to be discussing the issue of Covid-19 with their residents. We’ve already suggested to our CALL Members statewide that the following protocol may be helpful:

  • Urge residents who have frequent guests to limit or reduce guest usage for the near future.
  • If there is Airbnb and other short-term rental activity occurring in your community that violates your governing documents, work with association counsel to curb that activity.
  • Place hand sanitizer stations in high traffic areas in the community.
  • Speak to association counsel before engaging in conversations with potential purchasers or potential renters about Covid-19 and their possible travel-related exposure.
  • Speak to association counsel about the applicability of emergency powers now that Governor DeSantis has declared a State of Emergency in Florida. Don’t assume that this means that your board can utilize the same emergency powers that are activated in response to damage caused by an event for which a state of emergency is declared.
  • Make sure you have updated emergency contact information for all owners including any residents who may be particularly vulnerable.
  • Let your residents know that if they are feeling ill or have any questions or concerns that they can contact the Florida Department of Health’s 24-hour hotline that can be reached at ‪1-866-779-6121.

 

 

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O&S Engineers & Architects, performed inspections and structural evaluation of the building’s exterior façade, roofs, and developed a repair program.

O&S Engineers & Architects, performed inspections and structural evaluation of the building’s exterior façade, roofs, and developed a repair program.

  • Posted: Feb 27, 2020
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O&S Engineers & Architects

Members of SFPMA: Find out more how we can help with your Florida buildings,  O&S Engineers & Architects 

 

O&S Engineers & Architects is a multi-discipline engineering and architectural consulting firm specializing in the assessment, design and restoration of high-rise communities, commercial buildings and parking garages. 

Since 1996, our staff of licensed professionals have consistently and successfully produced positive results on numerous projects ranging from small properties to large developments. O&S has an impressive portfolio in numerous markets. 

 

O&S provides:

  • 40/50 Year Recertification
  • Architectural Design
  • Structural & Civil Engineering
  • Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing Engineering & Design
  • Capital Reserve Studies & Turnover Reports
  • Concrete Restoration
  • Building Envelope Design & Restoration
  • Balcony & Deck Restoration
  • Storm Damage Assessments & Inspections
  • Parking Garage Design & Restoration

For more information please follow us on social media or visit our website.

 

West Point Military Academy required a comprehensive structural assessment and exterior envelope renovation of the following buildings: Building 639, Water Treatment Plant, Scott Barracks, Eisenhower Barracks, The Fire House, and the Library Building. O&S Associates performed inspections and structural evaluation of the building’s exterior façade, roofs, and developed a repair program. O&S prepared repair drawings and technical specifications and made periodic observations of construction as part of construction management services.

The restoration of the buildings’ repairs was comprised of replacing the existing roofing with new cold-applied, built-up roofing, renovation of all exterior brick and stone façade elements, reconstruction of cracked and bulged brick masonry parapet wall, replacement of cracked and spalled brick masonry, removal and reinstallation of coping stones with new cap flashing, tuck pointing of brick and stone masonry, and installation of new windows, window sealants, and application of new surface sealer for the entire façade. Total cost of restoration was $14.2 million. O&S was selected to study the exterior envelope of several buildings at the West Point Military Academy and develop a repair program for a multi-year renovation project.

The existing roofing system at each building was deteriorated and leaking in multiple areas. All six buildings required a new roofing system. The total size of the roofs was approximately 800,000 square feet. The existing brick façade of building 639 needed extensive reconstruction. The water treatment plant, Eisenhower barracks, Scott barracks, and library building had ornate stone facade, cornices, and copings stones that needed careful design and construction.

 

Firehouse Building: The firehouse consists of a single-story, four-vehicle garage; a two-story center portion; and a single-story portion located to the left of the two-story portion. The garage portion and the single-story portion has a flat roof, and the two-story portion has a hip roof with roofing tiles (asbestos tiles). O&S provided the following repair program:

  • Replacement of flat roof
  • Removal and disposal of existing asbestos tiles at the two-story portion (asbestos abatement) and installation of new roofing shingles
  • Removal and reinstallation of precast coping stones with lead-coated copper cap flashing
  • Replacement of corroded lintels
  • Rebuilding of cracked corners
  • Tuckpointing of deteriorated mortar joints
  • Pressure wash clean and apply waterproof coating on inside face of parapet walls
  • Pressure wash clean brick facia and coping stones and apply water-repellent surface sealer
  • Remove joint deteriorated joint sealants and install mortar joints
  • Repairs were approximately $170,000

 

Building 639: Building 639 is an L-shaped building with five roof setbacks. The original building was built in 1937. O&S provided the following repair program:

  • Reconstruction of three corners with proper through-wall flashings and cap flashings
  • Existing limestone copings removed, saved, cleaned and reinstalled
  • Reconstruction of all other corners to introduce proper expansion joints at corners
  • Removal of about five courses of face brick or removal of limestone facia and reinstallation of the same after steel repairs
  • Replacement of deteriorated and/or spalled brick masonry as required
  • Introduction of two new vertical expansion joints on the North and South Building Elevations
  • Tuck-pointing of deteriorated mortar joints
  • Cleaning, sealing, and pointing of existing limestone copings
  • Cleaning by pressure washing and sealing the exterior brick masonry with clear penetrating water repellent sealer
  • Repairs were approximately $440,000

 

Wastewater Treatment Plant: The original water filtration facility was constructed in 1931. Several building additions have been made over the years in 1936, 1944, and 1945. O&S provided the following repair program:

  • Removal of all existing roofing and installation of new roofing
  • Removal of all coping stones, installation of new lead coated copper cap flashing, and termination of the roofing flashing underneath the cap flashing, and reinstallation of the coping stones with new anchors
  • Removal of sealants from the perimeter of all windows, doors, joints and openings and installing new sealants
  • Removal of delaminated concrete from walls and repair using polymer-modified mortar
  • Tuckpointing of cracked, deteriorated, and open wall joints
  • Repair of cracked corners of stone headers, sills, and stone trims around doors, windows, and openings
  • Replacement of rotted wood planking with new pressure treated plywood for roofing planks in Building B
  • Replacement of rotted wood beams with new beams in Building B
  • Repairs were approximately $570,000

 

Scott Barracks: The Scott Barracks consists of a main roof, approximately 166’ long by 46’ wide with three small high roofs. The rear parapet wall is 4’ high and the front and all other parapet walls are 7’ high. All walls are built with exterior stone facing and interior brick facing and with precast coping stones. O&S provided the following repair program:

  • Removal of precast coping stones, installing cap flashing, and reinstallation of the coping stones with new anchors
  • Removal of all sealants in mortar joints from the inside face of the brick walls and tuckpointing the brick facia as needed
  • Repair of precast stones that are chipped using repair mortars that match the stone
  • Repairs were approximately $245,000

 

Project Data:

O&S Associates was responsible for A/E Design, Construction Management, and Construction Administration on this 5-year Design/Build IDIQ at the United States Military Academy at West Point. The five-year contract included work at restoration work at multiple buildings around the campus. Most buildings were historic structures. The campus repairs included roof restoration, roof replacement, exterior wall restoration, asbestos abatement, waterproofing, and other related services. O&S also provided Construction Inspection services for the Waste Water Treatment Plant, the Library, the Firehouse, several barracks, and some educational buildings. Each set of buildings had different issues related to water infiltration. As part of the Design/Build team, O&S was responsible for ensuring the cost, quality, and schedule for the project.

 

Special Features:

O&S provided construction inspection services for multiple historic buildings at West Point Military Academy. Building 639 is an “L” shaped building with five roof setbacks. The original building was built in 1937. O&S provided a comprehensive repair program that included the introduction of two new vertical expansion joints on the North and South Building Elevations. The original water filtration facility was constructed in 1931. Several building additions have been made over the years in 1936, 1944, and 1945. O&S provided a complete replacement of the entire roofing system. O&S also provided services for other buildings at the West Point Military Academy Campus including the Library, Holleder Hall, Old Chapel Building, and the Eisenhower Barracks.

 

Owner:

United States Military Academy at West Point
Construction Cost: $14.2 million

 

 

 

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There are a lot more reasons to own a golf car, than just golf!

There are a lot more reasons to own a golf car, than just golf!

  • Posted: Feb 10, 2020
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Have you been going back and forth on whether you should buy a golf car? There are a lot more reasons to own one than just golf. Add a few of these reasons to your pro list!

  1. Getting around the neighborhood – Is your child’s bus stop not around the corner? Use the golf car to take them to and from. Plus add on an enclosure to keep everyone dry on those rainy mornings! Do you have a large neighborhood? Decorate your car for Halloween and take it around trick or treating! Plus use the car to get to the neighborhood clubhouse or pool. Maybe even up to the corner store.

2. Large Property – Do you love to garden but hate lugging the bags of soil or plant food out to your garden? There are utility cars such as the Yamaha Umax built just for that! If you have animals it is also great to carry food and supplies out to their enclosures. With a utility bed and easy unlock for dumping this utility car has it all!

3. Recreation – Do you love to go camping or fishing? A golf car is a great outdoors vehicle. There are even ones built for this such as the Yamaha UMAX Rally 2+2. This allows you to drive through any terrain while getting around your campsite or fishing spot.

4. Affordability – Golf cars are an affordable option compared to a car. An electric vehicle can be way more than the average budget allows but an electric golf car can be as low as $3,000 used. Golf cars come in both gas and electric and offer the flexibility of low gas consumption.

5. Work Vehicles – Do you own a company that could use the flexibility of a golf car? Do you work for an apartment or condo association where maintenance equipment needs to be transported? Does your work complex spread a large distance and having a golf cart to go between departments would save time and therefore money? All of these are great reasons for businesses to use golf cars!

6. Storage – Golf cars take up so little space you can easily store them in the garage or a storage shed. You can even keep them on a patio if needed. They are also easy to transport due to their size. A 5′ x 7′ trailer will easily transport one wherever you need it.

Last but not least golf cars are fun! You can customize them for what you want and need. Including decorating them for parades and holidays!

If you’re in the market and have any questions please contact us. We sell new and used Yamaha products to view our current inventory please visit our website. If there is anything you like but do not currently see it in our stock feel free to reach out and we can get you a quote!

The Golf Car Connection

  954-946-8008

Looking for a new or used Golf Cart? Look no further! Golf Car Connection makes it easy to find new and used golf cars for sale.

 

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Today We signed a Contract to produce and manage: The FLORIDA RISING MAGAZINE with F & C

Today We signed a Contract to produce and manage: The FLORIDA RISING MAGAZINE with F & C

  • Posted: Jan 21, 2020
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NEWS: Today We signed a Contract to produce and manage: The FLORIDA RISING MAGAZINE with F & C (Effency Publishing)

Stop and Take a Look when you see the FLORIDA RISING MAGAZINE IN A FEW DAYS.

We are the new marketing company for the magazine, Today We signed a Contract to produce and manage: The FLORIDA RISING MAGAZINE – Is one of 18 magazines we publish for other companies and some associations.

FRM has over 118,000 Emails in their Database and over 47,300.00 Paid Subscriptions to date. We will send this publication all over Florida and it even gets sent to property condo owners living up in the northern states.

Thank You for reading the FRM sponsored by THE STATE OF FLORIDA PROPERTY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION

The Publishing will still be handled by SFPMA, Noting will change. Only Graphic Design and Promotions will be at a different level.

We wish to take our publication to the next level so bringing in your agency will be a great help to our Members, Advertisers and our Industry. ~Frank J Mari / Executive Director

Effency Publishing is happy to be working with SFPMA.
https://sfpma.com/florida-rising/

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Five tips for new HOA board members

Five tips for new HOA board members

  • Posted: Jan 16, 2020
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Five tips for new HOA board members, From our friends at Vesta Property Services.

Welcome to the board! Being a new HOA board member, you are going to be wearing many different hats and stepping into a few challenging roles to help make sure your HOA is running smoothly. Now that you’ve been elected, the big question is…What’s next?

For many newly elected board members it is their first time in the position, presenting a pretty steep learning curve. Lucky for you, Vesta has a few tips to get you more comfortable in your new position.

Just follow these board member basics and you’ll have all the tools you need to become the best board member you can be! 

1. Understand your role

While you volunteered for this position, you also should realize that it is not to be taken lightly. The board is responsible for the management of all aspects of the association. You are a key element in ensuring that your association continues to operate and that all of the residents are happy with the HOA they chose to live in. Vesta has an article on understanding the roles of the HOA board that you can read here.

The best way to quickly learn how your association achieves these goals is to read your association covenants, by-laws and other governing documents. Don’t be afraid to ask veteran board members about their responsibilities and the minutia of the job. Often experience is the best teacher, so talking to seasoned board members is a great way to figure out what to do and more importantly, what not to do.

 

2. Team up with a great property management company that you can trust

If your board works with a property management company that you trust to do right by your community, you can use them as a resource to help you ease into your new role! Working effectively with your management company is a great way to make sure you’re getting everything you can out of what they offer.

Having a close relationship with your HOA’s CAM will open doors for you and the rest of your board that will lead to efficient and effective methods of management. As a part of their services, your CAM should be providing you and your residents with clear communication in enforcing your association’s policies and assisting with your budget, financials and even managing your vendors!

3. Participate

If you want your board to be effective, all board members should be participating, both during and between meetings. Make sure you’re going to every meeting you can, volunteering for projects and taking an active role in the management of your community.

Everyone on the board should be doing whatever they can to make every meeting count. When a meeting is run poorly, more issues are created than solved. While making sure your meetings are productive can be a tall order, it can really be as simple as following procedure, reading the agenda, keeping accurate minutes and reviewing what was discussed at the end of the meeting.

You can find some tips about leading productive board meetings here.

4. Communicate

Many of your neighbors will probably agree that communication between the board and community is vital to the success of a community. Transparency is necessary if you want to maintain a positive relationship between your board and your neighbors. Make sure you keep your community informed about issues, ideas and changes that are going on in the community you both live in.

5. Take advantage of the Community Associations Institute 

In their own words, CAI is an international membership organization dedicated to building better communities. CAI serves community associations by providing guidance through seminars, workshops, conferences and education programs for community managers and other industry professionals.

CAI offers many educational services including online training and in-person workshops that you can attend. Many property management companies also host board certification classes that you can attend

Volunteering for your community is rewarding and challenging; it’s important to take some time now to learn about your role as a board member and how to best serve your association. Following these guidelines is a great way to ensure your transition is smooth and that you enjoy your time on the HOA board!

 

 

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The Internet of things

The Internet of things

The telecommunications industry says the upgrades are needed by 2020 to meet the demand for faster internet speeds, smart cities, driverless vehicles, instantaneous 3D downloads, the “Internet of things” where machines talk to machines, and more.

The battle between infrastructure needed for fast digital service and property rights may soon come to communities across Palm Beach County. Right now, it’s playing out in Tallahassee courtesy of legislation before lawmakers.

“It’s a ticket for multi-billion dollar wireless communication companies to come into a city and do as they please in city right of ways,” said Riviera Beach Councilwoman Dawn Pardo.

The brewing fight is over technological advances. First there was 1G wireless technology, for “first generation,” and as telecommunications technology evolved, 2G, 3G, 4G and 4G LTE came to be. Now 5G, a fifth generation network technology allowing greater connectivity at higher speeds for many more devices, is on its way.

To place the infrastructure needed for 5G service, a proposal pending in the Florida Legislature would limit state and local control of public rights-of-way where the 5G equipment is being installed.

 

SFPMA feels that with the proposal in the Florida Legislature with some changes is what we need to advance this to all of our Florida communities, this upgrade is for reliability “If you are stranded in an heavy traffic area or one that has many customers using services at one time it slows down and this brings problems” Can you get through in an emergency? We have members right now that offer Building Owners the ability to place towers, on rooftops and other locations with need to advance the networks. Many of our building members can make money each month by the placement of these on the properties and in the communities they own and manage. 

Senate Bill 596 sponsored by Sen. Travis Hutson, R-Palm Coast, and House Bill 687, sponsored by Rep. Mike La Rosa, R-St. Cloud, would create the Advanced Wireless Infrastructure Deployment Act and prohibit the Florida Department of Transportation and local governmental entities from prohibiting, regulating or charging for collocation of small wireless facilities in public rights-of-way.

Municipalities say the bill is one-sided, would take away their ability to control where 5G equipment is installed and totally favors telecommunications giants such as AT &T, Verizon and Sprint. The companies want the right to install their equipment on utility poles, light posts, signs and traffic arms in rights-of-way.

Pardo was one of about a dozen officials from cities and counties across Florida, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale and St. Petersburg, who spoke against the bill before the Senate Committee on Communications, Energy and Public Utilities in Tallahassee on March 7.

Pardo told the committee the bill would eliminate residents having a say in the location of 5G facilities.

Currently, Riviera Beach requires “stealth designs” that are unobtrusive, and has other rules as well. The city doesn’t allow the equipment within residential communities.

“We have a couple of these wireless companies proposing to put towers in residential communities without any input from the public. This is unacceptable. This bill allows companies to put as many towers as they want,” Pardo said.

The proliferation of poles and equipment on rights-of-way would jeopardize public safety, entice kids to climb up the poles and create more debris when a hurricane hits, Pardo said.

Riviera Beach has spent a “couple million dollars” to bury utility lines, Pardo said, adding, “Then the next thing you know, we have these 100-foot poles in the middle of the sidewalk.”

Both bills have passed their first round in the Senate Committee on Communications, Energy and Public Utilities and the House Subcommittee on Energy & Utilities.

While the bills deal only with “small cells,” the suitcase-size to small refrigerator-size building blocks of the 5G system, some companies are also submitting applications for poles as high as 120 feet.

The telecommunications industry says the upgrades are needed by 2020 to meet the demand for faster internet speeds, smart cities, driverless vehicles, instantaneous 3D downloads, the “Internet of things” where machines talk to machines, and more.

Houston-based Crown Castle, the nation’s largest provider of wireless infrastructure, sought to install 50 to 60 poles all over Riviera Beach, but in September 2016 the city passed an ordinance regulating them. The equipment boxes must be grouped together in a single location and spaced a minimum of 2,000 feet from each other unless technical documentation is provided by the applicant and approved by the city management. If more than six poles are to be located within one linear mile of a city block, the manager must notify the council.

Crown Castle installed four poles prior to the regulations. Mobility had planned to install numerous 120-foot poles, but Riviera Beach’s ordinance does not allow the poles to be over 35 feet. That’s got municipal leaders worried.

Eric Poole, deputy director of public policy at the Florida Counties Association, spoke about SB 596 before the committee. The committee passed the bill on preliminary reading.

“This bill is a one-way street. It says the telecommunications industry can come into any county and city and require us to give them a permit to co-locate one of their small cell packages on any of our utility poles, light posts, signs or traffic arm signals. We can’t tell them no,” Poole said.

Poole said he first became aware of the 5G issue about 10 months ago when a wireless infrastructure provider submitted an application in a Florida county he did not mention by name, and said it had the right to use the right-of-way. In the past, such installations were typically done on private property, not on public rights-of-way.

The proposal states that if the local government doesn’t approve or deny the telecommunication company’s application within 60 days, approval is automatic. The maximum fee the companies can be charged for use of each right-of-way is $15.

Some local governments have declared moratoriums while they work with the industry, Poole said. He said his organization doesn’t want to stop smart schools, economic development and other advancements, but that the industry needs to respect home rule authority.

Advocates for the bill included representatives of AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile and other companies, as well as their trade groups.

Bethanne Cooley, legislative affairs director of CTIA, the trade association for the wireless communications industry, said networks need to be updated today to be ready for the next generation of wireless networks.

The fifth generation, 5G, will connect 100 times as many devices and be up to 100 times faster. It could create up to 3 million jobs nationwide over the next seven years, Cooley said.

A January report by the Florida Association of County Attorneys Cell Tower Right-of-Way Task Force states that numerous counties and cities in Florida have been confronted with applications from private companies wanting to place cellular telecommunications towers and small cells in the public right-of-way.

The companies are seeking to classify these cellular towers as tall as 120 feet as “utility” poles, but they are not, the report states.

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 and the Florida Statutes do not support a right of telecommunication firms to force local government to allow placement of cellular communication facilities in the local government’s own right-of-way, the report concludes.

Reposted by: SFPMA for the advancement of our communities. original published by; The Palm Beach Post (West Palm Beach, Fla.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

 

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Association Foreclosures Are Obsolete

Association Foreclosures Are Obsolete

  • Posted: Jan 10, 2020
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Association Foreclosures Are Obsolete

The Foreclosure Process and How HOAs Recover Money

In a condo or HOA the normal method to collect delinquent maintenance fees is to send an owner to the attorney. The attorney will then move the process through the courts. This means foreclosure for delinquent maintenance fees. The object is to foreclose and take “intervening title” on properties.

It’s “intervening title” because in most cases the unit still has a mortgage. Soon enough the lender is coming for their collateral. The association can hold title but they cannot sell the unit as it may have a debt attached to it. With luck the association can get this title without too much expense and rent out the unit. That is the only way the association can recover money if somebody does not bid the unit when it goes for sale.

The association foreclosure worked in the past but now it is becoming obsolete.

The rental revenue may cover losses for maintenance fees. It may also cover the rehabilitation of the unit, commissions and marketing of the unit to a renter. There are also the legal costs & fees that the association spent to get the title.

With luck the association can hold on to this unit long enough to recover their money. Its a hard way to recover delinquent maintenance fees. It is also an obsolete maneuver to foreclose to recover money.

This is how it has always been, especially during the real estate meltdown of the last decade. Now, the times they are a changing.

 

New Law Proposed in FL Removes Ability for Associations to Collect Rents

In Florida, an amendment to Florida Statute § 697.07 has been proposed. This new law will entitle banks to step in and take those rents. In essence this completely neutralizes the benefit of foreclosure for community associations.

Delinquent maintenance fees, legal costs, late fees, late interest will remain a loss. Only the lender will benefit when an association forecloses. In other words there will be no good reason for a community association to foreclose on a unit. They will not be able to monetize it should they prevail in court.

These are not isolated events but a trend. Banks may be slow learners but they will always make decisions that will benefit their bottom line in the end.

 

 

New Law Proposed in SC Removes Foreclosure as an Option for HOAs

In South Carolina a bill pre-filed this month would prohibit HOAs from foreclosing at all. This bill would strip this power from associations. “Real property used as a primary residence may not be sold if the action was instituted by a homeowners association attempting to collect unpaid dues, fee, or fines”, the proposed bill states.

These are not isolated events but a trend. Banks may be slow learners but they will always make decisions that will benefit their bottom line in the end.

Association foreclosures are likely to become less common nationwide. This is a good thing! Community associations and their attorneys have long abused this power. Small debts get inflated with legal fees, and the case gets moved to foreclosure. Ultimately this does little to benefit the association.

Eliminating foreclosures will limit community association’s power to collect delinquent assessments. Fortunately, there are other alternatives to recovering delinquent maintenance fees.

 

The Real Estate Meltdown is Over, But We’re Acting Like It’s Still Going On

People are fallible and don’t always manage their financial affairs well. Such people need a wake up call, NOT their home confiscated.

In 2009, during the height of the real estate meltdown, many properties did not have equity. Originally purchased by “Flippers and investors,” many were simply abandoned. Banks were stalling foreclosure and these properties were sitting there rotting. In those times it made good sense for the association to rush to the courthouse and foreclose on delinquent units.

Today most homes have equity and are appreciating in value. It’s unlikely the current owners would let the property be taken from them if they can avoid it. If equity outweighs the debt it would be foolish to lose a property. Most units delinquent in their maintenance payments will pay without legal intervention.

 

A Viable Alternative to Foreclosure Is Available for Smart Community Associations

Eliminating foreclosures will limit community association’s power to collect delinquent assessments. Fortunately, there are other alternatives to recovering delinquent maintenance fees.

Retaining a collection agency that specializes in community association debt is becoming an increasingly popular option.

Many collection agencies work on a contingency basis, while Lawyers get paid regardless of the outcome of the cases they take. This means collection agencies are much more motivated to seek a timely resolution.

 

Less Negative Impact on Community Members

Strategies employed by debt collectors have a much lower impact on your community. With a strategy of engagement and education, these agencies are looking to resolve issues and improve communications within the community. This is done with the use of proper notifications, outbound calls, credit bureau reporting, letters sent to mortgage holders, placing of liens, and other techniques.

Frankly, association foreclosure on delinquent owners is obsolete. Even without the change in the laws this method to collect on delinquencies needs to be reconsidered.

It’s time for management companies and boards of directors to think how the future collects and engage specialized collection companies to collect delinquent condo and HOA debts.

 

 

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Starting January 1, 2020, officers will start to issue citations….Florida texting law

Starting January 1, 2020, officers will start to issue citations….Florida texting law

Be prepared, Florida friends! While the new  took effect on July 1, 2019, law enforcement has only been issuing warnings. However, starting January 1, 2020, officers will start to issue citations. Check out our blog post for further details about the law.

New Florida Texting Law Effective July 1, 2019

By Ana Cristina Rossi, Esq.

Put your phone down while driving! We all know how dangerous it is to text while driving and the Florida legislature has done something about it. Florida joins 43 other states which allow law enforcement to pull over drivers for texting while driving.

The new law, which was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on May 17, 2019, went into effect on July 1, 2019. In explaining his support for the bill, Gov. DeSantis stated that Florida had almost 50,000 motor vehicle accidents in 2016 which were caused by distracted driving and 233 of these accidents resulted in fatalities.

Here Are Answers To Questions People Have About The New Law: Republished with permission from Cohen Law Group

How does this new law change the prior law on texting while driving?

The new law now makes texting while driving a primary offense, meaning that law enforcement can pull you over if they suspect that you are texting on your phone while operating a vehicle. Previously, texting while driving was a secondary offense, meaning that a driver could only be cited for texting while driving if they were pulled over for another offense.

 

What’s the penalty?

For a first offense, the fine is $30 and for a second offense, the fine is $60. You will also be responsible for paying court costs.

A first offense will be treated as a non-moving violation; a second offense will add 3 points on your license.

 

Can you use your phone while you are stopped at a traffic light?

Yes, the new law permits drivers to use their phones in a motor vehicle which is stationary.

 

Can law enforcement confiscate your phone if they see you texting while driving?

No, law enforcement are trained to detect the signs of texting while driving and are not permitted to confiscate or otherwise access your phone without a warrant.

While the law took effect on July 1, 2019, law enforcement will only be issuing warnings until January; after that, officers will start to issue citations.

Ana Cristina Rossi, Esq.

Learn more about Ana Cristina here!

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