Meeting Minutes for February 14, 2022
Renaissance Community Development District
The regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of the Renaissance Community Development District was held on Monday, February 14, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. at the Club at Renaissance on 12801 Renaissance Way in Fort Myers, Florida and via web conference.
Present (or attending via web conference) and constituting a quorum were:
Doug Dickey – Vice Chair
Jim Mercer – Assistant Secretary
John Huether – Assistant Secretary
Sam Martin – Assistant Secretary
Also present (or attending via web conference) were:
Cal Teague – District Manager from Premier District Management (PDM)
Tom Hart – Attorney
Mark McCleary – Engineer
Bill Sowers – Assistant District Manager, PDM
Christopher Dudak – Client Services Manager, PDM
The following is a summary of the actions taken at the Renaissance Community Development District (CDD) Board of Supervisors meeting.
FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS Call to Order and Roll Call
The Renaissance Community Development District meeting was called to order, and District Manager Cal Teague called the roll. All Board members were present, with Supervisor Huether attending via web conference later in the meeting. Also present were Cal Teague, District Manager, and Mark McCleary, Engineer. Tom Hart, Attorney, and Bill Sowers and Christopher Dudak from PDM attended via web conference.
SECOND ORDER OF BUSINESS Approval of the Agenda
On MOTION by Vice Chair Dickey, seconded by Supervisor Mercer, with all in favor, the Board agreed to approve the Agenda, as presented.
THIRD ORDER OF BUSINESS Audience Comments on Agenda Items
There were no Audience comments on the Agenda Items.
FOURTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Approval of Meeting Minutes
A. Draft Regular Meeting Minutes from December 13, 2021
On MOTION by Supervisor Mercer, seconded by Supervisor Martin, with all in favor, the Draft Regular Meeting Minutes from December 13, 2021 were approved, as presented.
FIFTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Old Business
A. Board Vacancy
Jim Bond said he would accept the appointment to fill the vacancy on the Board. District Manager Teague and Attorney Hart will have him take the oath and complete Form 1 within 30 days.
On MOTION by Supervisor Mercer, seconded by Vice Chair Dickey, with all in favor, the Board accepted and appointed Jim Bond to fill the vacancy on the Board.
B. Water Use Permit Concerns and Recharge Wells
The water use permit is in the developer’s name, so the CDD does not have any official claim on the water. Attorney Hart recommended that there be an official agreement with the developer. Renaissance would like the developer’s attorney present when the agreement is drawn up, however, he is not available. Attorney Hart stated that the permit expires in 2026. It states that use is for community and golf course landscaping. Engineer McCleary stated that there is an agreement with Renaissance Community Association (RCA) for reimbursement, which means acknowledging that the CDD gets a portion of the water. Supervisor Mercer stated that the CDD should be a co-permittee, and then the recharge wells can be fixed, operations can be covered, and it shall be written that the CDD will receive 50% of the water. He also stated that the wells should be tested, the quality of the water and water levels should be checked, among other things, before negotiating with the Golf Club. Supervisor Mercer will contact Rodney before the next meeting.
C. I-75 Perimeter Wall Five Year Repair Plan
There were options or considerations provided. Construction of a wall would come to approximately $2.1 million, and installation of a chain link fence would be approximately $256,000. Supervisor Mercer suggested that the wall be surveyed for critical areas to see if it can be repaired, thereby getting 5 to 10 more years of life out of it and allowing for a savings period. A chain link fence is not a popular idea, and the current wall is not an effective sound barrier. It was suggested that vegetation could be planted for noise deafening. District Manager Teague stated that Field Manager Pepin and Engineer McCleary could identify problem areas in the wall. Engineer McCleary also recommended that a contractor survey it as maintenance, rather than new construction. It was decided that he will find a structural contractor.
D. Capital Improvement Plan
District Manager Teague wondered if the Board had anymore ideas to add to the five-year CIP plan. At this point they have discussed the need for addressing the wall, lake quality, aerator needs, lake bank erosion, and littoral planting. He stated that the Board can contact him with other projected needs.
E. Solitude Responsiveness Concerns
Their overall responsiveness had improved, as evidenced by their recent servicing of equipment in a timely manner.
SIXTH ORDER OF BUSINESS New Business
A. Midge Fly Treatment Proposals
Solitude had submitted three proposals to chemically treat all the lakes in the community. The long term solution consists of three stages, including aeration, reducing muck, and providing mosquito fish eating larvae to the lakes. It is very important to keeping nutrient runoff at a minimum. After discussion, the Board agreed to continue chemical treatment on Lake 9 and to treat any other lakes that need immediate treatment. All lakes will eventually receive treatment. Supervisor Martin and Field Manager Pepin will investigate this.
On MOTION by Supervisor Mercer, seconded by Supervisor Martin, with all in favor, the Board agreed to continue treating Lake 9, add mosquito fish to all the lakes, and treat any other lakes that need immediate attention, eventually treating all the lakes, not to exceed $9,000.
B. Residents Lake 9 Fountain Request Proposal
There was a request from a neighborhood to install a fountain. The Board agreed to allow the installation if they pay for it, and the CDD will be responsible for maintenance and electrical.
C. Solitude Preserve Maintenance Renewal Agreements
This is to put the agreements into Solitude’s name rather than Lake and Wetland Management. Attorney Hart mentioned that there is currently only a 30-day advance on renewal, and he recommended that it would be better with a 30-day free cancellation clause. After discussion, the Board approved the renewal of the contracts for continued treatment.
On MOTION by Supervisor Mercer, seconded by Supervisor Martin, with all in favor, the Board approved the renewal of the contracts for continued treatment, changing from a 30-day advance notice for renewal to a 30-day cancellation clause, with legal review and authorization of the Chair.
SEVENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS District Manager
A. Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Discussion
District Manager Teague reviewed the schedule, and a tentative budget will be available on June 15, 2022. The Board may want a workshop between April and June. Supervisors Huether, Bond, and Martin are requested to be present at the June 13, 2022 meeting.
Supervisor Huether joined the meeting via web conference during the discussion on the Budget.
B. Financial Statements for December 2021 and January 2022
District Manager Teague reviewed the Financials. The January 2022 Financial Statements were not ready, but the December 2021 Financials were accepted by the Board.
On MOTION by Supervisor Mercer, seconded by Supervisor Martin, with all in favor, the Board accepted the December, 2021 Financials, as presented.
C. Lee County Elections Board Composition
Lee County needed to be informed of the Board composition. Supervisor Mercer and Vice Chair Dickey are up for election in November, and the new Board member, Jim Bond, is also up for election.
EIGHTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Field Manager
A. Field Report
District Manager Teague reviewed Field Manager Pepin’s report and the following comments and requests were made:
Field Manager Pepin was asked to flag the lakeshore areas not in compliance with treatment responsibilities.
B. Follow-up Items
i. Lake 7 Erosion Project Updates
Field Manager Pepin reported that the needed filling of the low spots had been flagged and will be repaired by the end of the month. The Board will suspend final payment until the end of the month when Field Manager Pepin reports that the project is completed.
ii. Lake 7 South Washout Repair Update
All repairs had been completed.
iii. 9609/9605 Via Lago Way Shoreline Resod by Golf Course Update
Field Manager Pepin reported that, as of his last inspection, the area was still dirt.
iv. Cabbage Palm Trimming Update
This project is scheduled to be completed by February 21, 2022.
v. Berm Landscape Maintenance Updates
He reported that all of the areas had been planted. He will verify this at his next inspection.
NINTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Attorney
There were no further comments or reports from Attorney Hart.
TENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Engineer
There was no report from Engineer McCleary, aside from other Agenda items.
ELEVENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Supervisor Requests/Comments
Supervisor Mercer wondered about the treatment of the hydrilla on the lakes. District Manager Teague stated that Solitude will treat it.
Supervisor Mercer would like a macro view of the CDD’s current financial status in next month’s Financials, with a 3-year comparison.
TWELFTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Audience Comments
There were no Audience comments.
THIRTEENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Adjournment
On MOTION by Supervisor Mercer, seconded by Vice Chair Dickey, with all in favor, the Meeting was adjourned at 10:41 a.m.
The Next Regular Meeting is April 11, 2022 at 9:00 a.m.