Board Meeting Highlights: October 26, 2016

Mrs. Townsend reported that the year to date actuals through September were within the budget.

The Board approved a contract to power wash, paint and seal the Tarpon Harbor boardwalk. The Board also approved removing the huge sea grapes from the edges of the Boardwalk and possibly replacing them with a more suitable plant for the area.

Carol Morgan reported that the Audubon Club was accepting pre-sales of coffee table book for $28. The book is a collection of the artistic talents of Riverwood residents including photography, poetry and prose.

Mr. Codi reported that the redesign of the RCA web site is being undertaken by the web task force under the Communications Committee.

Mr. Knaub reported on the Grounds Committee recommendations. The Board approved the first phase of the 5 year landscape plan which is the renovation of the common areas at the intersection of Club and Riverwood Drives which will commence in November.

The Board approved the recommendations of the river front task force which is a transition plan for the maintenance of the uplands and mangroves along the river, which is paid for by the river front residents. The plan includes guidelines and permitting for these regulated, environmentally sensitive areas.

Mr. Knaub stated that the landscape bid committee would be re-convening to discuss the current status of the landscape contracts and contractors and to make recommendations to the Board.

The Board approved a detailed landscape evaluation checklist which will be utilized by Mr. Veater. The neighborhood Presidents have also been asked to use the checklist and choose a few properties to evaluate the landscaping in their neighborhoods in order to obtain the neighborhoods’ perspective on the landscaping.

Mr. Stanley reported that the Legal committee was planning to combine the covenants and amendments into one document to make it easier to work with the documents. He also stated that the committee would be ask-ing neighborhoods if they would like to change or add supplemental neighborhood covenants.

Mr. Heyman reported that the Safety and Security committee recommended new colored decals for the front windshield of cars. He stated that it has been years since they were replaced and there may be many cars with blue decals owned by people who no longer live in Riverwood.

He noted the problems with the back gate have been due to water intrusion into the board, and lightening in-terference due to lack of grounding. He stated the CDD was working on these issues.

Upcoming meetings: A tentative Town Hall Meeting Date was set for December 3, 2016 at 2pm. The next Board Meeting is scheduled for November 16, 2016 @ 2pm.

Submitted by: Gerry Townsend, RCA Board Treasurer

IT’S DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME 

Make sure that you turn your clocks 

Back 1 hour on  

Sunday, November 6th.  

RCA 2017 Budget

   

  At the presenta on on the 2017 Budget, the RCA Board announced an assessment increase of $19 per quarter for a total RCA budget of $2,067,639. The Board’s goal is to hold down spending while providing services to residents. The major increases were due to a Federal Department of Labor requirement which increased the number of employees subject to over me pay, an increase in the contribu on to the reserve budget, a requirement to power wash sidewalks which are a common element and a con ngency for unan cipated projects. 

 

  The 2017 budget priori es are: to ensure adequate funding of reserves for long term maintenance repair of the RCA’s assets; improve the surplus balance for cash flow and con ngencies; con nue the five year landscape renova on plan; maintain the RCA preserves in accordance with the regulatory permits; and implement a preven ve pond maintenance plan recommended by the Pond Task Force; to maintain the value of our homes. 

 

  The Board presented a historical view of RCA assessments from 2011‐2017. Despite increases in the RCA common      assessment since 2011, when combined with the neighborhood assessments six neighborhoods actually had a decrease or stayed the same in total assessments! Five neighborhoods had less than a 10 percent increase and three had less than a 20 percent   increase over six years.  

 

  The Board’s goal to shore up the surplus balance is based on the recommenda on of its auditors to have a balance of three months of bills or approximately $500,000. In 2011, the first year a er the developer turnover, the surplus balance was $170,518. By 2014, the surplus had been depleted to $95,156. By controlling spending and living within the budget, the Board an cipates a surplus balance at the end of 2016 of $185,000 which is 37 percent of our target amount. 

 

  The reserve budget is used for long‐term required maintenance and repair of RCA assets and is es mated at $563,000 by December 2017. Based on a reserve study, the reserve budget is at approximately 73 percent of required funding. The reserves are funded annually and are necessary to avoid a special assessment for major maintenance and repairs. 

 

The 2017 budget provides funds for the opera on of the RCA which includes security, resident ac vi es, resident              assistance, all landscaping, maintenance of the tennis courts, croquet court and pool, light building maintenance and cleaning, maintenance of the roads, sidewalks, sewer culverts, irriga on controllers, fencing, ponds and preserves in Sawgrass, Myakka Point and Tarpon Harbor, educa on of residents on deed restric on compliance and overall governance of the associa on. 

 

A copy of the detailed 2017 budget is posted on the RCA web site. 

 

Submi ed by:  Gerry Townsend, RCA Board Treasurer 

 

Maintained (Unincorporated) Neighborhoods  The associa on is receiving many ques ons regarding landscaping maintenance. On the page above is a brief summary of the landscapers’ requirements under the contract.  Residents who wish to receive service outside the contract may contact the RCA            landscapers for a quote, or use a licensed and insured landscaper of their choice. Please do not stop the landscapers as they are working through the neighborhood since they are re‐quired to adhere to the rota on schedule in the contract. You may contact the landscapers with    service requests or for quotes at: Mainscape 800‐481‐0096, Bucaneer 888‐798‐6484.  Due to the excessive amount of rain, the contractor may at  mes delay mowing to avoid crea ng ruts or ruining the turf.   For ques ons about the contract contact the Field Manager at 941‐764‐6663 or email:  RiverwoodFieldManager@gmail.com.   Please remember that all landscaping debris generated by the homeowner, should be neatly bundled and placed at the curb on Monday morning for pickup by Charlo e County. The landscaping contract does not provide for removal of owner generated landscape material by the RCA landscapers.  Submi ed by: Gerry Townsend, Ground Commi ee Vice Chair  

 

NEW PROJECTS The Grounds Commi ee is excited to announce that the first phase of the five year landscape plan is underway.  There will be a significant landscape renova on to the “Gateway” of Riverwood at the corners and median of Riverwood Drive and Club Drive. The commi ee selected this area as a high priority due to the visible nature of the area and the poor condi on of the current plants.  The project will be star ng in November. 

 

The commi ee had walked all of the Riverwood common areas to assess the condi on and visibility of the areas and developed a priority list of areas needing renova on. The areas of greatest need and visibility were given the highest priority for renova on.  

 

The commi ee has con nued to recommend the replacement of dead plants throughout Riverwood. The ongoing replacement plan in               conjunc on with the Field Manager’s oversight of the landscapers, has resulted in improvement to the landscaping. The commi ee will do a   follow up walk through and plan revision in order to start working on phase two of the five year plan which will be implemented in 2017. 

 

The River Front Task Force of the Grounds Commi ee, Chaired by Dave Andrews, developed a transi on plan for the trimming of RCA conserva‐on areas along the river front. These areas are environmentally sensi ve 

and highly regulated by the governing authori es. Mr.  Andrews worked with the task force to establish permissible trimming standards in accord‐ance with the regulatory permits with input from river front residents. The plan provides a transi on from individual resident trimming to establish‐ing an RCA permit for all of the RCA owned river front proper es, and an automa c trimming schedule with the costs voluntary assumed by the residents who benefit. 

 

The Grounds Commi ee is Chaired by Denny Knaub and comprised of four members from Sawgrass, one from Myakka Point and three members from Riverwood South.  One of the members owns a development/landscaping company and another is a master gardener.  In addi on, there is a River Front Task Force and a Ponds and Lakes Task Force comprised of interested residents who assist the Grounds Commi ee. The members’ enthusiasm is evident in their  me and commitment to maintaining the beauty of Riverwood’s environment. 

 

Submi ed by:  Gerry Townsend, RCA Board Treasurer 

DEED RESTRICTIONS   

We are going to try something different with the Deed Restric on process this year. We will do 1 round of 3 inspec ons which will begin with a “Courtesy” inspec on that will be done by Neighborhood beginning December 1, 2016. The 2nd inspec on will 

be completed on/or a er January 3, 2017. The final inspec on will begin on/or around the beginning of February 1, 2017. 

Therea er, we will a empt this manner of inspec ons annually. Once the inspec on process is complete for the year, only obvi‐ous, odd infrac ons will be cited as no ced. This would include trash cans le  out, parking viola ons, pet viola ons, ornamental 

items in your yard that are not approved, etc. 

Below is an example of what we will be looking for during Neighborhood inspec ons beginning December 1, 2016. 

 

 

RESTRICTION  INFRACTIONS Please Check 

14.24.2  Stained / Discolored Driveway / Private Walkway(s)   

14.7  Stained / Discolored Roof   

14.24.2  Mailbox / Lamp Post Stained or in Disrepair   

14.24.7 Ar ficial Vegeta on (Sculptures, Shepherd’s hook, bird feeders / baths, fountains, lawn ornaments, etc.).   

14.24.1  Signage (Adver sing, Contractors, Banners, etc.)   

Sec on 10  Dead Palm Trees or other dead plant material.   

   Other   

       

 

 

 

 

If you would like to adver se in the Heron, 

please contact Kelly at  

riverwoodac vi es@comcast.net or  

941‐764‐6663. 

 

 

 

The Communica ons Commi ee is looking for 

human interest stories and neighborhood          

ar cles for the newsle er.  

Any help from the RNC Presidents would be 

greatly appreciated in finding someone from 

each neighborhood that would be interested 

in wri ng neighborhood ar cles for the 

monthly Heron. 

If you would like to submit an ar cle in the 

Heron , Please submit your ar cle by the 15th 

of each month and email it to Kelly:   

riverwoodac vi es@comcast.net  

 

 

THE RIVERWOOD LIBRARY 

The Riverwood Library Commi ee 

hopes you enjoy reading our books 

and magazines and would like to ex‐

plain our recycling  procedures.  Due 

to the age and condi on of some of 

our book dona ons, they are not 

placed on our library shelves.  Instead, 

we band these with blue tape on the 

spine and stamp “Discarded” inside 

the front cover. We then place these 

books in the bin by the entrance door 

of the library for any resident to take 

home and keep.  Please do not           

re‐shelve these books.   

We then recycle the remaining books to      

chari es, public libraries, and veterans’ 

groups. 

We  appreciate  your  dona ons  and 

hope  to  provide  you  with  an  easy‐to‐

use  and  interes ng  place  for  your  lei‐

sure reading. 

WELCOME BACK 

 

November 7, 2016 @ 7PM 

Stars: George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Jack O'Connell 

In the real-time, high stakes thriller Money Monster, George Clooney and Julia Roberts star as financial TV host Lee Gates and his producer Patty, who are put in an extreme situation when an irate investor who has lost everything (Jack O'Connell) forcefully takes over their studio. During a tense standoff broadcast to millions on live TV, Lee and Patty must work furiously against the clock to unravel the mystery behind a

conspiracy at the heart of today's fast-paced, high-tech global markets. 

NOVEMBER 14, 2016 @7PM Stars: Emilia Clarke, Sam Claflin, Janet McTeer |

Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick. What Lou doesn't know is she's about to lose her job or that knowing what's coming is what keeps her sane. Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he's going to put a stop to that. What Will doesn't know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of color. And neither of them knows they're going to change each other for all time. 

NOVEMBER 21, 2016 @ 7PM Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Danielle Nicolet

When a career accountant reconnects with a former classmate who now works as a CIA operative, the mild-mannered number-cruncher soon finds himself

waist deep in a lethal counterespionage operation.

 

RIVERWOOD AT 8:30AM 

 

    

 

 

 Prompt‐limo.com 

Auto & Marine

Transporting available

***DON’T MISS THIS EVENT!  TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE*** 

 

The 2017 Riverwood Directory went  to print on                                        

November 1, 2016.                                                              

The directory will be available to pick up at the Management 

Office in January, an email blast will go out to let you know 

when they are available for pickup. 

Any changes that are made after November 1, 2016 will be in 

the following year’s directory. 

WELCOME HOME RESIDENTS We would like to welcome you all home to Riverwood.

We hope you enjoyed your summer and time away. Just wanted to keep all Residents reminded to make sure all guests and vendors are registered on the gatehouse web system. This will keep the entry moving more quickly. If guests or vendors are not registered, the guards will turn them away until they contact you. You may also go to www.riverwoodflorida.org (Riverwood website, and click on “Register My Guest” to add your own guests and vendors. See instructions in this newsletter, on the next page. We are sure you will find this web module much more convenient and it puts you in control of your visitor list. Please remember to watch your speed and all stop at all stop signs.

Welcome home, we are looking forward to a great season.

Ron Lesinski

Chief of Security

 

Mondays & Wednesdays 

9:30AM‐10:30AM 

Ac vity Center Pool 

Come join the fun!!! 

War on the Peace 2016

Dragon Boat Festival on the Peace River

The Riverwood Dragons, our community team, participated in this year’s War on the Peace. At Laishly Park in Punta Gorda the 2016 dragon boat festival had 30 boats signed up to race on Sat., Oct. 29th. It was a popular event, raising money for Take Stock in Children, the mentoring and college scholarship program managed by CLEF, Charlotte Local Education Foundation.

Riverwood Dragons, sponsored by Riverwood Realty, had 23 paddlers and a drummer on race day. With the exception of the captain, all were new to dragon boating. They were able to get in 1-2 practices, learning how to paddle and getting to know the commands before the festival. Race day was very windy, the Peace River was very rough and community teams were cut down to 18 paddlers. No teams were allowed drummers as they sit up high on the boat and it would have been very risky. Riverwood Dragons paddled hard, fast and were awesome! I’m very proud of the team. They kept paddling through the choppy conditions of the Peace River all the way to the finish line without capsizing. We were wet enough though, with waves coming over the gunnel as we paddled. Yes, the river was demanding and not easy to paddle. The wind was not on our side, but the Riverwood Dragons were tenacious.

Since it was halloween weekend, the paddlers all donned fake black mustaches and dragon tattoos. Our drummer, Brenda Jaskot, was dressed in costume and had she been allowed on the boat she would have helped keep us in sync with her drumming. It was a great day despite being cut short.

If anyone is interested in racing dragon boats, my contact info is below. We presently practice at the Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club.

Studies have shown that dragon boating makes you more awesome than the general population. ;-D

Maureen Winsor