Special Meeting Minutes for April 19, 2024
Renaissance Community Development District
A special meeting of the Board of Supervisors of the Renaissance Community Development District was held on Friday, April 19, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. at the Office of Knott Ebelini Hart, 1625 Hendry Street, Suite 301, Fort Myers, Florida.
Present and constituting a quorum were:
Doug Dickey – Chair
Linda Stuart – Assistant Secretary
George Pattee – Assistant Secretary
Chris Bezaire – Assistant Secretary
Also present were:
Cal Teague – District Manager, Premier District Management (PDM)
Tom Hart – Attorney, Knott-Ebelini-Hart
Asher Knipe – Attorney, Knott-Ebelini-Hart
Joe Cox – Attorney, representing Kirsten Ferrera
Charles Van Meter – Trustee for Ms. Ferrera’s estate
Kirsten Ferrera, Resident
Karem Hernandez, Resident
Allison Humbert, Resident
Mr. & Mrs. Fornear, Residents
Residents
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 special continuation meeting was called to order, and District Manager Cal Teague called the roll. All Board members were present. Also attending were Tom Hart, the Attorney, and Asher Knipe, Attorney. Joining after the Closed Session were Joe Cox, Attorney, Charles Van Meter, Trustee, and Several Residents, including Kirsten Ferrera, Karem Hernandez, Allison Humbert, and Mr. and Mrs. Fornear.
SECOND ORDER OF BUSINESS Approval of the Agenda
Add Item 9: Annual District Registered Voter Count (485)
Add Item 10: Proposal for Miscellaneous Vegetation Maintenance Items.
On MOTION by Supervisor Stuart, seconded by Chair Dickey, with all in favor, the Board approved the Agenda, as amended.
THIRD ORDER OF BUSINESS Audience Comments on Agenda Items
There were no Audience comments on Agenda items.
FOURTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Board Counsel Discussion of Concert Renaissance Lawsuit
There was no discussion on the lawsuit.
FIFTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Closed Session for Discussion with District Attorneys on Pending Litigation: Concert Renaissance LLC vs. Renaissance Community Development District Civil Action No 23-CA-011452
On MOTION by Supervisor Pattee, seconded by Supervisor Bezaire, with all in favor, the Closed Session was opened at 9:09 a.m.
On MOTION by Supervisor Bezaire, seconded by Supervisor Pattee, with all in favor, the Closed Session was closed at 10:47 a.m.
Joe Cox, Attorney, Charles Van Meter, Trustee, and Several Residents, including Kirsten Ferrera, Karem Hernandez, Allison Humbert, and Mr. and Mrs. Fornear joined the meeting.
SIXTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Board Motions for Action from Closed Session
There were no Board Motions for Action.
SEVENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Request to Adjust Fountain Schedule for Lake 8 Follow-up
This was a continuation of the discussion from the last meeting, when the Board decided to change the Lake 8 fountain run time from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Attorney Joe Cox, who was representing Kirsten Ferrera, stated that she had accepted the Board’s agreement that she pay for the fountain, and the CDD would install and maintain it. She suggested that, since she paid for the fountain, a contract was broken when the Board decided to change the run time for the fountain. Attorney Cox asked that the CDD change the time, so that it is equivalent to all other fountains in the community or that the CDD reimburse her for the cost of the fountain. The Board asked if there was a written contract in place, and Attorney Cox confirmed that there was an oral contract and not a written contract.
Chair Dickey stated that the Board had required that she speak to her neighbors requesting their consent and this was not done properly. Ms. Ferrera stated that she had a discussion with District Manager Teague, wrote a check, which was cashed, and then he requested that she speak to her neighbors. Residents Manual Hernandez, Allison Humbert, Mr. and Mrs. Fornear and Ms. Ferrera discussed the history of giving support and opposition for the fountain. Charles Van Meter, the trustee for Ms. Ferrera’s estate, stated that she had received approval from four residents, and he implied that since she paid for it, she would like the fountain to run at the same time as other fountains in the community.
District Manager Teague stated that they had received verbal confirmation that 4 residents approved the fountain installation. He discussed the Board’s policy that, if there was a request for a fountain, a resident would pay for it, and then the CDD would install and maintain it. At the time, a verbal approval was acceptable, however, the Board is now requiring residents to provide a written document with signatures, reflecting support for the installation of a fountain.
Chair Dickey suggested that the homeowners agree on a run time, or the CDD would buy back the fountain and it would run at the same time as all of the other fountains in the community. There was discussion between the residents for some time, which did not result in any fountain run times that all could agree on.
The Board rescinded the decision to change the run time made at the last meeting which was 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. With that decision, it will run from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m., which is the same time as the other fountains in the community.
On MOTION by Supervisor Stuart, seconded by Supervisor Pattee, with all in favor, the Board rescinded the decision at the last meeting, which was that the Lake 8 fountain would run from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
District Manager Teague suggested that, if all homeowners in the neighborhood could unanimously agree to a run time, they could provide a document with signatures and bring this back to the Board for consideration.
Attorney Cox, Charles Van Meter, and all of the residents left the meeting.
Supervisors Stuart and Bezaire suggested writing a policy, to use for future fountain installations. Supervisor Stuart will work with Assistant District Manager Gindling and bring a draft to the next meeting.
EIGHTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Water Use Permit Status
Attorney Hart reported that the water use permit expires on August 9, 2026, and the Board should apply for renewal before that date. The Board asked that this item be added to the April, 2025 meeting, if there are no updates before that time.
NINTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Annual District Registered Voter Count (485)
District Manager Teague stated that an updated registered voter count is provided by the County each year and is included in the minutes each year, per Florida statutes. The fiscal year 2024 registered voter count is 485.
TENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Proposal for Miscellaneous Vegetation Maintenance Items
Field Manager Pepin reported there are a handful of vegetation items that should be addressed, and Pristine Lakes sent over a proposal to address all of them for $7,000. The Board approved this proposal.
On MOTION by Chair Dickey, seconded by Supervisor Bezaire, with all in favor, the Board approved Pristine Lakes to address vegetation issues, not to exceed $7,000.
ELEVENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Supervisor Requests/Comments
Supervisor Stuart asked if the Board will be installing locks on the fountain cabinets. The Board agreed to put locks on all fountain cabinets.
TWELFTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Audience Comments
There were no Audience comments other than those expressed earlier in the meeting.