If you are considering purchasing a home in this community, please let me assist you. My services and extensive resources are of no cost to you, and in most instances, I am able to save home buyers some money. I do not work for any of the wonderful builders in the West Villages Improvement District, or any others for that matter. My services and information (including the resources provided on all of my websites) are wholly independent of these developers. No other independent professional is more knowledgeable about this community, and enlisting me to assist with your transaction serves also to fund these resources to keep them available for you and others on an ongoing basis.
The monthly West Villages Improvement District meeting will be held tomorrow, Tuesday, April 28th, 2015 at 11:00 am in the City Commission Meeting room of the North Port City Hall building.
Address:
4970 City Hall Blvd.
North Port, FL 34286
Check out the meeting book and attend the meeting!
See you there,
Ali
If you are considering purchasing a home in this community, please let me assist you. My services and extensive resources are of no cost to you, and in most instances, I am able to save home buyers some money. I do not work for any of the wonderful builders in the West Villages Improvement District, or any others for that matter. My services and information (including the resources provided on all of my websites) are wholly independent of these developers. No other independent professional is more knowledgeable about this community, and enlisting me to assist with your transaction serves also to fund these resources to keep them available for you and others on an ongoing basis.
If you’d like more information on anything in particular, just let me know. Also, I would love any feedback on what you would like to see for future blog topics.
Please, comment or email me at: ali-johnston@live.com.
Thanks for reading and have a blessed day!
Ali
If you are considering purchasing a home in this community, please let me assist you. My services and extensive resources are of no cost to you, and in most instances, I am able to save home buyers some money. I do not work for any of the wonderful builders in the West Villages Improvement District, or any others for that matter. My services and information (including the resources provided on all of my websites) are wholly independent of these developers. No other independent professional is more knowledgeable about this community, and enlisting me to assist with your transaction serves also to fund these resources to keep them available for you and others on an ongoing basis.
Sandhill Cranes in Gran Paradiso at the West Villages
I just love Florida, especially in the spring! The sandhill cranes absolutely fascinate me. These birds are so majestic, and their offspring seen this time of year are incredibly awkward and adorable. This region is so rich with amazing wildlife, I thought I would share a little about one of my favorites. The picture was taken recently in the community of Gran Paradiso, and the information to follow about these lovely creatures comes straight from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation site.
One thing of great importance to remember with Florida wildlife, really typical of anywhere, is to remember not to feed them. With alligators, it is of particular priority so that they do not associate humans with food. Feeding them becomes life-threatening to both them and their human neighbors. Likewise, cranes being fed by humans become aggressive to people.
Sandhill cranes are cherished members of the Florida ecosystem. They stand almost 4 feet tall and their bugling or rattling calls are haunting and beautiful. Sandhill cranes occur in pastures, open prairies and freshwater wetlands in peninsular Florida from the Everglades to the Okefenokee Swamp.
Florida sandhill cranes are present in many urban areas and some unlikely places such as golf courses, airports and suburban subdivisions. This is probably due in part to the rapid development of their native habitat by humans. Cranes are probably attracted by the open setting (mowed grass) and availability of some foods (acorns, earthworms, mole crickets, turf grubs).
People inadvertently put them in harms way when they attract these birds to their yards with feed. Some “feeding” is accidental such as when bird seed is spilled from feeders by other animals onto the ground below making a nice feeding station for cranes. But, some people deliberately feed sandhill cranes. In 2002, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission made it illegal to feed sandhill cranes (Florida Fish and Wildlife Code 68A-4.00(3)).
Why is feeding cranes prohibited?
Cranes fed by humans can become aggressive toward people. In several instances, children have been attacked by cranes. Cranes fed by humans also have been known to damage window screens and do other property damage. This behavior is probably a response of the birds to seeing their reflection, bringing out a territorial defense behavior (scratching at windows or shiny automobiles). Cranes also are more likely to tangle in human garbage in areas populated by people. Cranes are more likely to crash into power lines in urban areas where such aerial hazards are concentrated. Cranes attracted to people’s yards for feed are put at risk as they walk across roads. Many sandhill cranes are killed each year on Florida roads (see photo). Attracting cranes to urban areas increases the threat of predation (especially to young cranes) by dogs or cats. Further, the cranes’ diets, which normally are quite diverse, are disrupted when they eat one food item (such as corn), consistently. Heavy pesticide use in urban lawns also is of concern. Young sandhill cranes have died from pesticide poisoning.
Conclusion
It’s never a good idea to feed wildlife. People inadvertently put cranes in harms way when they attract these birds to their yards with feed. Florida sandhill cranes have an abundance of natural foods (insects and small animals) and they do not need handouts from humans. There are many reasons why cranes should not be intentionally fed by humans. For the good of the cranes, please do not feed them.
Four things you can do to better coexist in “Crane Country”
Never feed cranes and encourage your neighbors not to feed cranes. Cranes are less likely to inhabit urban areas if easy meals are not provided.
Cover or move automobiles so that cranes cannot see their reflections in the shiny surfaces. Windows or glass doors that the cranes attack can be temporarily covered with material so that the birds do not see their reflections.
Temporarily cover windows or screens. A string mounted on stakes about 2.5 feet off the ground will provide an exclusion “fence” around the parts of homes (window or pool screens) that are being damaged by cranes.
Accept some digging for food. Cranes sometimes damage lawns and gardens as they dig for food such as mole crickets and beetle grubs. The birds, in this case, provide natural “biological control” of these common pests of turf.
Sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) are long-legged, long-necked, gray, heron-like birds with a patch of bald, red skin on top of their head. Cranes fly with necks outstretched like geese, whereas herons fly with necks tucked in on their backs. For positive identification, look for reddish skin on top of the crane’s head.
Habitat:
Two subspecies of sandhill crane occur in Florida. The Florida sandhill crane (G. c. pratensis), numbering 4,000 to 5,000, is a non-migratory year-round breeding resident. They are joined every winter by 25,000 migratory greater sandhill cranes (G. c. tabida), the larger of the two subspecies. The greater sandhill crane winters in Florida but nests in the Great Lakes region. Sandhill cranes nest during late winter and spring on mats of vegetation about two feet in diameter and in shallow water.
Behavior:
Two eggs are normally laid. Cranes are monogamous breeders. Within 24 hours of hatching, the young are capable of following their parents away from the nest. Together, they forage for seeds and roots, crop plants such as corn and peanuts, insects, snakes, frogs and occasionally young birds or small mammals.
Cranes are quite omnivorous feeding on seeds, grain, berries, insects, earthworms, mice, small birds, snakes, lizards, frogs, crayfish, but do not “fish” like herons.
Resident sandhill cranes are usually seen in very small groups or pairs. In November and December, however, large flocks of northern cranes move in, more than doubling the population in the state and then leave during March and April. The sandhill crane is a close relative to the nearly extinct whooping crane, which is being reintroduced into the state. Young sandhills weigh about twelve pounds, males are larger than females, but external markings are identical. Cranes live to be older than most birds, some reaching 20 years old.
If you’d like more information on anything in particular, just let me know. Also, I would love any feedback on what you would like to see for future blog topics.
Please, comment or email me at: ali-johnston@live.com.
Thanks for reading and have a blessed day!
Ali
If you are considering purchasing a home in this community, please let me assist you. My services and extensive resources are of no cost to you, and in most instances, I am able to save home buyers some money. I do not work for any of the wonderful builders in the West Villages Improvement District, or any others for that matter. My services and information (including the resources provided on all of my websites) are wholly independent of these developers. No other independent professional is more knowledgeable about this community, and enlisting me to assist with your transaction serves also to fund these resources to keep them available for you and others on an ongoing basis.
The most recent meeting of the West Villages Improvement District Supervisory Board was held last Tuesday, March 24th. The meeting book, which includes the approved minutes from the last meeting as well as the current meeting outline and supplemental materials, can be found at the WVID.org website. The meeting itself was generally uneventful, but some interesting new topics and developments to previously discussed items were raised.
One item that is under consideration is the expansion of district boundaries. There are a couple of reasons for this. First, a new medical facility is of Sarasota Memorial Healthcare System is planned by SCF. The specific nature and type of the facility was not discussed, but it was mentioned that SMH plans to use the location to coordinate efforts with SCF nursing school. This could be quite a benefit to the neighborhood, but the real relevance to the WVID entity relative to expansion is in the use of district infrastructure (roads). Also, IslandWalk at the West Villages was permitted for expansion by the City of North Port, but this also is not currently in the plans laid out for the unit.
As time has passed and plans have changed, including potential changes as in the district boundary expansion, it was mentioned that a revised methodology of assessment may be warranted. Yes, even the suggestion of reviewing the annual assessments billed with taxes strikes an immediate, white-hot flame of fear. However, it was said that it is strongly felt that changes going forward will translate to a reduction in these bills, and since that statement came from a voice of experience, that is actually fairly reassuring.
Also, three past items that are progressing or resurfacing:
Candidates for district engineering services have been reviewed, and the top 3 will offer presentations and answer questions at the next meeting.
Sod replacement along the 41 corridor has been revived. Responsibility for comprehensive review and recommendations generation has been placed with Mike Smith, the district’s Operations Supervisor.
There may be a possibility of getting the DOT to permit the traffic light on 41 at the entrances of the current communities. This (permit) being sought. The responsibility for installation, though, falls on the developers. So, district representatives are about to open that dialogue with them.
If you’d like more information on anything in particular, just let me know. Also, I would love any feedback on what you would like to see for future blog topics.
Please, comment or email me at: ali-johnston@live.com.
Thanks for reading and have a blessed day!
Ali
If you are considering purchasing a home in this community, please let me assist you. My services and extensive resources are of no cost to you, and in most instances, I am able to save home buyers some money. I do not work for any of the wonderful builders in the West Villages Improvement District, or any others for that matter. My services and information (including the resources provided on all of my websites) are wholly independent of these developers. No other independent professional is more knowledgeable about this community, and enlisting me to assist with your transaction serves also to fund these resources to keep them available for you and others on an ongoing basis.
If you are considering purchasing a home in this community, please let me assist you. My services and extensive resources are of no cost to you, and in most instances, I am able to save home buyers some money. I even offer (*with a couple exclusions) $500 towards closing costs to my clients*. I do not work for any of the wonderful builders in the West Villages Improvement District, or any others for that matter. My services and information (including the resources provided on all of my websites) are wholly independent of these developers. No other independent professional is more knowledgeable about this community, and enlisting me to assist with your transaction serves also to fund these resources to keep them available for you and others on an ongoing basis.
Well, I have been putting off my follow-up post that was promised in the blog about the Supervisory Board meeting from the beginning of this month. Don’t worry. It is not that there is bad news or anything. If you read my post about the September 23rd meeting, you may recall that a new position was created. I wrote:
-A particular item of interest to point out, though, is that a new position has been created for a part-time monitor of onsite grounds projects and liaison between the supervisory board and the residents. The position title is Operations Manager, and a person with construction and project management background will be sought. Residents will also be able to contact the individual directly regarding issues and concerns.
The position has now been filled, and the gentleman (Mike Smith) hired into the position was introduced at the last meeting. Mr. Smith described his extensive background in construction and project management and stated that he lives minutes away from the West Villages communities, so he will be readily accessible when needed.
Good news, right? “Why delay sharing that,” you ask? It was also said at the meeting that Mr. Smith’s contact information will eventually be posted on the district’s website. I was hoping to include that information for your reference within my post. As of this morning, his contact information is not on the site. Anyway, in probably the worst case scenario, it is likely to be shared at the next meeting in a couple of weeks. I will share it when it is made available.
Speaking of the district website…new state legislation mandates that special districts have a web presence and that certain information be publicly shared through it. Most of the new directives are already met by the West Villages Improvement District, including such requirements as posting both complete financial information and the contact information for each governing body member. And, with the new legislation, means for district accountability and oversight was also established. A link to the Special District Accountability Program is to be shared on each district website. Special districts have until October 2015 to fully comply with all of the new mandates.
It has come up occasionally where individual residents have expressed concerns over the ethics of some arrangements and decisions, two items in particular of which I am aware. The new program will provide a reporting system for such concerns and means to hold them accountable. Let me also speak directly to the couple of concerns that I have heard, though, as well…
The first that came to my attention was that there were some ill at ease with the fact that developer representatives held seats on the Supervisory Board. As this post is already getting lengthy and there is considerably more to come, I will not go into detail on the Statutes (special districts and community development districts – Chapters 189 and 190, I believe) that outline the process whereby elected residents progressively take over the Supervisory Board seats. Do know that it is a process defined in state law, and that process is being followed. The first elected resident seat was opened last spring and filled through a popular vote this past summer. I will only provide here what I see as the logic behind developer appointees filling the seats at the outset. Keep in mind that the developers of these communities do not build houses on public land, they own the lots until they sell them to new residents/landowners. And, it is landowners that get to vote on elected seats. So, if a neighborhood has 1,000 parcels to be built and 300 of them are complete and sold to individual landowners, it is still the developer that owns the majority of parcels in the neighborhood. It would not make sense to hold a vote where 70% of the eligible votes come from one source.
That is my take on it at least.
The second of the two concerns, really just a couple of queries that came up, revolved around costs incurred for community plan changes and why the district would be responsible for such expenses. To provide an example, a question came up as to why the district was responsible for the expenses that arose as a result of a request for changes to the number of lots within one of the communities was approved. The adjustments resulted in special assessment (district tax/CDD) projections and calculations needing to be professionally reconfigured, which incurs a fee for that service. It was asked why the district would pay the fee rather than the developer that requested the change. Essentially, the assessment calculations are a district administrative obligation. It is up to the supervisory board to understand all of the implications of decisions that they make for approvals or denials, and to make decisions with those implications in mind.
Also, regarding costs of building the communities themselves, each of the developers has their own agreement with the district as to what is district responsibility and what is the developer’s, or even how responsibility may be shared between the two. Lennar, for instance, agreed to take on most of the financial burden from community infrastructure that would typically be publicly funded, as that unit of the district was in such financial distress when the company purchased the development. Other developers may submit to receive funding of all or a portion of eligible community structure elements, depending on the pre-established arrangement in place.
Hope that all helps to clarify some. I would be happy to answer any specific questions for you. If you’d like more information on anything in particular, just let me know. Also, I would love any feedback on what you would like to see for future blog topics.
If you are considering purchasing a home in this community, please let me assist you. My services and extensive resources are of no cost to you, and in most instances, I am able to save home buyers some money. I even offer (*with a couple exclusions) $500 towards closing costs to my clients*. I do not work for any of the wonderful builders in the West Villages Improvement District, or any others for that matter. My services and information (including the resources provided on all of my websites) are wholly independent of these developers. No other independent professional is more knowledgeable about this community, and enlisting me to assist with your transaction serves also to fund these resources to keep them available for you and others on an ongoing basis.
West Villages Improvement District 