Minutes

(On-Site Meeting at 1678 Victoria Way-Jeanne Yazinski’s House)

Board Member Attendees: Jeanne Yazinski (President), Tera Pauley (Vice President), Dexter Blois (Treasurer)-By Phone, Mike Pastor (Secretary), Heather Peery (Community Oversight Committee Chairperson), Matt Gillis, Martin Isales.

Board Members Absent: None

Resident Attendees: Diane Johnson

The meeting was called to order at 7:03 PM.  This meeting was audio recorded by Mike to aid minutes preparation.

Winter Garden Police Department (WGPD)  (Tuscany is in District 2)

A recent home burglary in Tuscany prompted us to reach out and invite WGPD to join us at this H.O.A. Meeting.

WGPD Officer Tim Thatford came to discuss crime statistics in Winter Garden, in Tuscany and nearby areas and best practices to deter or prevent crime.

He indicated that an officer could come to our meetings as often as we’d like.  It was agreed to request an officer on an “as needed” basis.

Officer Thatford ran a report of recent crime statistics for February 1^st thru May 1^st (today). The two biggest events here was the 1 residential burglary and attempted vehicle burglaries.  The attempted vehicle burglaries was two individuals dropped off that went car to car checking door handles for unlocked vehicles. Rarely do they see cases of broken window car burglaries and when they do, it’s almost always at commercial properties (shopping areas) like Winter Garden Village-Fowler’s Grove when valuables are left out in “plain view”, such as a Gucci purse.

“Keep home and car doors locked” to prevent easy crimes of opportunity.

There has not been an uptick in crimes locally.

Nationally there has been a significant increase in car thefts among certain year/models of KIAs and Hyundais due to a well-publicized situation that allows them to be easily stolen posted to TikTok.  Hyundai Elantra and Tucson and Kia Optima and Sportage (possibly others) from 2011 to 2022. Some insurance carriers may be refusing to cover them.  Mike, the H.O.A. Secretary, suggests for more information search the internet for local news and updates, including a recently settled national class action lawsuit.
   Suggested search terms: Hyundai Kia car thefts Orange County Florida
   Other search terms to consider: “steering wheel lock”

Outdoor lighting & watchful neighbors are most effective to deter neighborhood crime.

WGPD is focusing effort to catch whoever is doing ”donuts” in nearby neighborhoods and intersections.

An officer is always in each District for faster response to calls. Tuscany is in WGPD’s District 2.  The 911 dispatcher will contact the closest officer for a fast response and should be on-site in a matter of a few minutes.

Secretary’s Report

        April Board Meeting Minutes were e-mailed to board members on Sunday, 04/30/2023.  Dexter made a motion to accept, and Heather seconded the motion.  It was approved unanimously.

Treasurer’s Report

        Account Balances are:

          Checking:   $22,959  

          Savings:   $13,533     

          Fidelity (1-yr CD):   $30,064.58 

In March $30,000 was transferred to Fidelity’s 1-Yr C.D.  One month of interest (for April) was $64.58 compared to less than a dollar interest for a simple savings account.

Pond Maintenance had $0 budgeted. We incurred $3,888, as the H.O.A.’s portion of the Pond Aeration Project that we received Orange County grant money of $4,000 to install.  If need be, we can transfer money from Savings to cover this later this year.

Mike made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report and Tera seconded the motion.  It was approved unanimously.

Dexter emailed the Financial Report as of April 30, 2023, earlier today, however Jeanne was the only recipient.  It was e-mailed again to all board members following this Board Meeting on 05/01/2023.

Community Oversight Committee – Heather Peery

ARB REQUESTS RECEIVED/APPROVED:

1677 Malcolm Pt – Fence

1652 Victoria Wy – Painting House & New Mailbox

1519 Cashiers Dr – Fence

VIOLATIONS:

1652 Victoria Wy – Pressure Sidewalk

1656 Victoria Wy – Pressure Sidewalk

1569 Victoria Wy – Fence Disrepair

1504 Cashiers Dr – Leaves built up on roof (now Notice #3)

1624 Malcolm Pt – Pressure wash sidewalks/driveway.

YARD OF THE MONTH – Went to 1555 Victoria Wy (The Clancy’s).

MULCH COMMON AREA – Hoping for completion Thursday this week if product is in stock.  We’ve requested either black or dark brown mulch.

IRRIGATION – Working, however vendor was here today, but unsure why. Hedge line sprinklers are working now.  There were three “missing” valves, one wasn’t working and was fixed.  A box was buried about 2 feet deep with a timer fed by a long wire.

PRESSURE WASHING COMMON AREA SIDEWALKS – In Process.  Two-step process. First, they are pressure washing, then they’ll come back to do rust stain removal.

HEDGE IMPROVEMENTS – Deferred until we can apply for the next county grant.  Since the Pond Aeration grant was applied for in 2022, but not approved and installed until 2023, we are hopeful we can apply for the next (Every Other Year) grant in 2024.

OLD BUSINESS –
 

1. County Grant (Add Aeration to Retention Pond)

Aeration was installed and is working well.  The water is clearer, and fish have been seen.

2. Tuscany street Resurfacing.

Dexter investigated the possibility of having separate irrigation non-potable (untreated/not drinkable) water lines installed before streets get resurfaced which would delay it 3 or 4 years. The water bill rates are the same as current drinkable water, however without sewer charges getting applied.  It will cost $1,050 for each homeowner to get a 2^nd meter installed by a licensed plumber.  Since this would take over 5 years, or longer, to payback it is best to allow the city to resurface our streets without delay.

NEW BUSINESS

None.

The next H.O.A. Board Meeting will be held on June 19th, 2023 at 7:00 PM, at Jeanne’s house at 1678 Victoria Way.

Adjournment – Mike moved we adjourn, Jeanne seconded it. All Board Members agreed.  The meeting adjourned at 7:35 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Michael Pastor, Secretary

The mission of the Tuscany Homeowners Association is: To institute and enforce rules, regulations and legal restrictions designed to ensure that the Tuscany neighborhood is a safe, attractive and desirable community where property values and resident satisfaction are maximized.