Eagle Crest

Meeting Minutes - 2003 

1. January
2. February
3. March
4. April
5. May
6. June
7. July
8. August
9. September
10. October
11. November
12. December

 

January

Eagle Crest Home Owners Association

Minutes of January 8, 2003

 

The Meeting opened by Association President, Lance Lubin, who identified first time attendees and introduced City Public Service representatives, Susan Fuchs,?  City Codes Compliance Officer, Faye Lewis, Councilman Richard Kriseman and Community Police Officer, Ron Wolfson.?  He also welcomed Vince McCune, computer repairman and handi-man, Clay French.?  Both residents of Eagle Crest.

 

Crime Report:?  Officer Wolfson reported there is a rash of auto thefts across the City.?  Target vehicles are late model GM cars, Saturn's, Chrysler Concords, Intrepids and Pick-up's and Toyota Camry.?  Any owners of these make of vehicle, can visit the St. Petersburg Police Department with their auto registration and pick up a free anti theft "club".?  The Honda is the most frequently stolen car in the nation.?  32% of cars stolen in this City have the keys left in the ignition.?  This is against the law and you can be ticketed for leaving your keys in your car while you are absent from it.

 

Library Update:?  1/2 of the property on 69^th street will be given to the Library and 1/2 to the neighborhood.?  A portion of the library property will be used as a bike trail and for utility buildings.?  7^th Avenue will then be a dead-end street with a major speed calming device at 7^th and 70^th.?  They hope to move the extra Augusta bricks from 69^th to the current paved area on 70^th.?  The next step is for the College to send a letter to all local residents regarding design concerns.?  Then they will close 69^th Street.?  There will be no non-resident parking on streets by the college.?  Decals will be issued to all homeowners.?  Construction will be accessed by 5^th Avenue and 66^th Street only.?  Lars Hafner is the contact at St. Petersburg College regarding this project.?  The majority of student parking will be on 5^th Avenue through 67^th Street.?  The project will also improve drainage.?  Eagle Crest Lake will remain the same size.? 

 

Councilman Kriseman Report:? ?  The focus is to create two main public entrances to the college.?  8,000 sq. ft of the new library will be dedicated to children for a total project of 50,000 sq. ft.?  16,000 sq ft will be allocated for public use with a gift of $40,000 in new books purchased by the College.? 

 

The City is considering a 311 alternative phone system, for non-emergency City calls only.?  When you call, you will be given a case number (if applicable) to track on the internet.?  211 is for all social service inquiries.?  311 is mainly software driven.? 

 

A program called Service Learning integrates community service into school curriculum.?  Ex: shop student works with Habitat for Humanity.?  If approved by the City, this pilot program will be in two local high schools with a total commitment of75 hours per student over a four year period.?  The program is already mandatory in the State of Maryland which boasts a 99% graduation rate - only 47 out of 26,000 students did not graduate for failure to fulfill the 75 hour commitment.

 

The City Council has taken a formal stance to keep Albert Whitted Airport in place with adjustments to the current structure.? 

 

Treasurers Report:?  There is currently $2,410.36 in the Homeowners Association Account.

 

Other Business:

It was noted that there is a dog park at Walter Fuller Park.? 

 

No further business / Meeting Adjourned.

Next meeting, February 11,2003

Back to Top

February

Eagle Crest Homeowners Association

Meeting of February 12, 2003

Minutes

 

Meeting was opened by President Lance Lubin,?  who welcomed guests and new attendees.

 

Association members gave a round of applause for departing Codes Compliance Officer Faye Lewis who, effective March 1^st, moves to another City assignment.?  Faye?’s efforts have been very much appreciated by residents.?  We welcomed replacement,?  Pat Simpson, who can be called at 727-892-5469.? 

 

Treasurers Report:?  ? ? ? ? ?  Current bank balance is $2,604.42.

 

Crime Report: ? Officer Ron Wolfson discussed monthly crime statistics.?  The current predator listing was made available to all residents.?  In the coming months, Officer Wolfson will be attending training classes offered by the St. Petersburg Police Department to enhance his services to the community.

 

New Library Update?  Candy Lavoie, recently honored as Neighbor of the Month, will be Eagle Crest Association liaison for the new St. Petersburg College project. Project meeting dates were listed in the last newsletter with Candy?’s request for an additional resident to serve as her alternate.? 

 

?“West Cresters?” (resident?’s living west of 66^th Street) have formally petitioned in writing to seceed from the Garden Crest Homeowners Association and formally join Eagle Crest Homeowners Association.?  A vote was taken and passed unanimously.?  This will enable these extended blocks of homowners to be eligible for 25 mph speed limit signage.?  They are also part of Pat Simpson?’ area for codes compliance.?  Their Community Police Officer will remain Officer John Douglas.? 

 

Special Guest:?  Dan Woody, Senior Loan Officer, refinancing and home equity mortgage representative; Wells Fargo Mortgage Company.? ?  Two types of refinancing options were explained and discussed: 1)?  Rate and Term:?  refinances existing mortgage to a new mortgage.?  2)?  Cash Out Refinancing?  Requirements for both types were explained with handouts reviewed.?  Question and answer period followed.?  It was noted that the interest rate you receive when refinancing is in direct proportion to your credit rating.?  Credit rating scores of 700 or higher gets you lower interest rates.?  Scores of 680 or lower means higher interest rates.?  Mr. Woody encouraged residents to check their credit ratings annually to make sure that ?“identity theft?” has not taken place.? 

 

Other Business:? 

 

-?  Eagles Eye Newsletter:? ?  U.S. Postal Service has cited EagleCrest for delivering monthly newsletter, Eagles Eye via home mail boxes.?  Newsletter Deliverers, please note that Eagles Eye can no longer be placed in resident?’s mailboxes.? 

-         Garage Sale:?  A garage sale has been set for Saturday, April 12, 2003 from 7 a.m. till ????  As last year, a block ad will be taken out in the St. Petersburg Times with participating residents contributing $5 for the ad.?  (Last year?’s garage sale took place April 20, 2002.)

-         A neighborhood wide brush pick up day will be set for March.

 

No further business.? 

Meeting Adjourned.

Next meetings:?  March 12, 2003 / April 9, 2003.? ? ? ? ? 

Back to Top

March

? Eagle Crest Homeowners Association

Meeting of March 12, 2003

Minutes

 

Meeting was opened by President Lance Lubin,?  who welcomed guests and new attendees.

 

Treasurers Report:?  ? ? ? ? ?  Current bank balance is $2,581.32.

 

Crime Report: ? Officer John Douglas gave monthly crime statistics, the majority of crimes being auto related thefts.?  Please don?’t leave keys in the ignition when unattended and always lock your doors.?  It was noted that Office Ron Wolfson has gone ?“Hollywood?” by a recent walk-on appearance in the popular sitcom, ?“Frasier?”.?  Celebrity autographs may be obtained at the next Association meeting.

 

Carol Rodriguez representing Prevatt Funeral Home, announced that Prevatt?’s and the St. Pete. Police Department will host a Bike Safety Day on Saturday, May 3, 2003 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the St. Jude School parking lot.?  The day will include bike registration, an obstacle course, child fingerprinting and Ident-A-Kid.?  Free child safety helmets will be available.? ? 

 

SPC Library Update?  Candy Lavoie reported that the list of contractors has been narrowed to: Builtmore, Holder and Creative Contracting.?  The City meets 3/19 to make the final decision.?  The City is working hard to meet the needs of the neighborhood.?  Candy meets with Deputy Mayor Mike Dove and Transportation Director, Mike Fredericks to discuss project. Construction begins June 2003 with the closing of 69^th Street, completion date targeted for January, 2005.?  On 3/19/03 another public forum on the new library will be held at 7 p.m., St. Pete. College Music room.?  All interested homeowners should attend this meeting and give their input as the new library construction will impact Eagle Crest.? ? ? 

 

? Special Guest:?  Andy Garr, Neighborhood Planner, City of St. Petersburg.? ?  Mr. Garr?’s office exists to help neighborhoods find solutions to their problems!?  Mr. Garr?  provides information on everything from bike laws to tree dedications.?  There are currently 106 associations in our City.?  That means 99% of the population lives in areas with associations.?  This is quite unusual as most cities are not that organized.?  Associations make good things happen in neighborhoods as long as ?“infighting?” among leadership does not exist.?  There is a lot of movement across the country to ?“connect?” neighborhoods because it helps a City market itself.?  Florida is a leader in this type of connection.?  This year is the 100^th Anniversary of our City with many official celebrations scheduled to take place.?  He encouraged our association to develop a ?“resolution?” and a long range plan.?  These tools help an association react quickly to changes proposed by the City.?  He spoke of ?“catalyst criteria?” where one good thing makes three good things happen.?  He reminded us that there are approx. 40 corporations that surround our area and they all have foundations!?  Approach them for financial support through grant monies.?  Monthly meetings on Land Development Regulations affect our city?’s 20 year plan.?  A representative of each homeowners association should attend these meetings if at all possible.?  If you don?’t make your concerns known while the plan is being developed?… then you have no voice after the fact.?  Lastly, Mr. Garr invited everyone to join him on weekly anti-drug marches that take place each Wednesday.?  Call Andy Garr at 893-4110 for more information on any topic relating to our City and he will try to help.

 

Other Business:? 

Eagle Crest Homeowners Association will team up with Lake Pasadena Homeowners Association for a ?“Lake Clean Up Day?” to eradicate choking water lettuce from our pristine Lake Pasadena.?  More information will be forthcoming in the April newsletter.? 

No further business.? 

Meeting Adjourned.?  Next meeting:?  April 9, 2003.? ? ? ? ? 

Back to Top

April

 Eagle Crest Homeowners Association

Meeting of April 10, 2003

Minutes

 

Meeting was opened by President Lance Lubin,?  who welcomed guests and new attendees.

 

Treasurers Report:?  ? ? ? ? ?  Current bank balance is $2,567.27.

 

Crime Report: ? Officer Ron Wolfson reviewed monthly crime statistics and distributed the monthly predator report.?  Officer Ron reminded everyone involved in the upcoming garage sale to be vigilant, keeping all house doors locked,?  not letting anyone in your home, no matter?  their reason; don?’t flash large amounts of cash.?  Officer Ron is now the bike policeman for the Pinellas Trail for our area and is also Chairman of the Pinellas Trail Safety Committee.? 

 

SPC Library Update?  Candy Lavoie reported that the last meeting dealt with traffic calming issues and devices (ex: closing the median at 8th Avenue and 66^th Street).?  The main entrance to the Library will be located at 9^th Avenue and 67^th Street.?  Special care will be taken with landscaping etc. to beautify the entrance.?  Speed limit on 70^th Street will be 20 mph from 5^th Avenue to 9^th Avenue and brick speed bumps will be installed.?  Library security guards will be deputized to give parking tickets as necessary.? ? ? 

 

? Special Guest:?  Bob Jeffrey?’s, City of St. Petersburg Urban Design and Development Manager, gave a comprehensive overview on zoning and land development issues that affect our daily lives.?  Vision 2020 concerns the issue of City ?“corridors?” which are unattractive to visitors and too congested.?  Current zoning codes will be rewritten in the months ahead to address these issues.?  Our City zoning codes began in 1920 when John Knowland wrote three excellent development plans and a comprehensive grid system for our City.?  In 1940, Harland Bartholomew enhanced the grid system so that we have 90% grid and 10% roadway (which is ideal).?  In the 70?’s well intentioned but short sighted planners took our City into a major decline with too many variances too hard to obtain, discouraging homeowners from improvements to properties City ?–wide.?  St. Petersburg is now in an expansion mode and ready with a three-phase process:?  1)?  Conversations with home and business owners.?  There is a?  General Information Session ? scheduled for April 14, 2003 at 7:00 p.m., Bayfront Center Sun Pavillion Room.?  These sessions will take place the 2^nd Monday of every month for the next several months.? ? ?  Current zoning regulations are ?“skewed?” towards engineers and developers.?  They need to be balanced between the needs and wants of homeowners, engineers and developers.?  We need to make our concerns known while the plans are being developed!?  Otherwise you have no voice after the fact.?  2)?  There will be 15 different committees which will meet over the next 8 months to discuss the outcomes of the general sessions and lastly?… ? 3)?  In December, 2003, the results go to the Council, the County and the State for plan review and approval.? 

 

Active Associations really benefit from all the City has to offer.?  The need is to build up all the neighborhoods so that there is equality for all.?  It was noted that the Bert J. Harris Property Rights Act states that once a project is applied for, there is no recourse to fight it unless the second party pays the first party the difference of what the first party would stand to lose if the project is denied.? ? ?  A question and answer session followed Mr. Jeffrey?’s presentation.

 

Other Business:? 

 

Sincere thanks to Jeff Ulrich, new Web Master for the Eagle Crest Homeowners Web Site!

 

Sincere thanks to Susan Fuchs and Pat Simpson of the City, who arranged for the clean up of

Eagle Lake at St. Petersburg College and for providing dumpsters for Lake Pasadena clean up.

 

Lake Pasadena Clean Up Day:

From 9 a.m. till ???, on April 19, 2003, the Eagle Crest Homeowners Association will team up with Lake Pasadena Homeowners Association for a ?“Lake Clean Up Day?” to eradicate choking water lettuce from our pristine Lake Pasadena.?  Please help us renew this beautiful natural resource!? 

 

Petitions Distributed:?  Two petitions were offered for signature.?  One was for park development at Albert Whitted Airport and the other was to limit restaurant development on Tyrone Boulevard.

 

No further business.? 

Meeting Adjourned.?  Next meeting:?  May 14, 2003.? ? ? ? ? 

Back to Top

May

 

Back to Top

June

 

Back to Top

July

 

Back to Top

August

 

Back to Top

September

 

Back to Top

October

 

Back to Top

November

 

Back to Top

December

 

Back to Top

 

Author: Jeff Ulrich
Copyright ?© 2003  Eagle Crest Neighborhood Association.   All rights reserved.
Revised: 04/19/03.