Verandah View
Another Seabreeze Publication VOL. 9 NO. 6
A publication of the VCA www.seabreezecommunications.com
A Word From The Board Fiber optic is coming to Verandah – We are pleased that Comcast has started the process of laying fiber optic cable throughout Verandah. Over the next twelve-plus months, they will use directional drilling to install the fiber cable in conduits (protective sleeve) under our roads and driveways. In your yard, the fiber cable will also be placed in a conduit and installed six to eight inches below the surface. Comcast has extensive experience, and we’re told there should be minimal disruption to your lawn and landscaping. It will be connected to the current Comcast box on the side of your home. When they complete the installation of the fiber in your neighborhood, they will then contact each homeowner to set up the new service into your home. You may opt to use wireless connections to your devices, or they can use your existing wiring connections. Homeowners on the Verandah Cable Committee will also be available to help you transition to the new service. (Good news – when Comcast completes
the installation process, they will remove all of the unsightly green telecom boxes that dot our landscape.) This is a very big project, and we ask for your patience. We will keep you updated as the work progresses. Michele Boose is now leading the day-to-day operations of the VCA – we are very pleased to report that Michele’s orientation as our new General Manager is proceeding smoothly. She began work in April and has already made some good improvements. We hope you were able to join us at the Meet and Greet with Michele and, if not, please feel free to stop by the VCA Office at 11390 Palm Beach Boulevard and introduce yourself.
2023 VCA Budget Overview New to the community and need information? Need clarification on a modification to your landscaping or your home’s structure? Report a streetlight out? Irrigation or lights not working in your community’s monument? An area of community space not being appropriately maintained? All of these matters generally involve reaching out to the office of the VCA. The VCA office is staffed by a group of professionals whose primary responsibility is to not only address all of our issues but also to make sure that our Verandah is continuously maintained at that high standard that we all expect. Unfortunately, that support and ongoing maintenance is not free and there is only one source of support. That is our homeowner assessments, the fee that you pay quarterly to the VCA. What does your fee pay for? First it provides your home with cable television, Internet services and the ancillary equipment necessary to provide those services. The retail value of those services being provided exceeds $100 per month per household. Secondly, as you drive into our community and along Verandah Boulevard, the meticulously manicured lawns, shrubbery and trees are all assessed regularly, with maintenance provided as necessary and in accordance with a maintenance schedule. It is not just mowing, but irrigating, mulching, plant replacement and so on. That is the second largest expenditure of the VCA at approximately $100,000 per month or almost $1.2 million in 2023. The third most significant expense is administrative, which also exceeded $1.1 million in 2023. This is the “catch all” for everything not specifically allocated and includes the VCA office staff, property insurance on VCA assets such as buildings at each of our entrances, liability insurance, management fees from Evergreen Management (who provide accounting services such as billing, collections, payables, etc.), legal expenses, office lease expenses, etc. The
list just goes on! The fourth major expense which is allocated to all homeowners is the “community patrol” expense which includes staffing for the front gate, the newly installed Envera system, the community patrol vehicle as well as all gate arm/ gate operations and maintenance. Our community is not an inexpensive place to maintain. However, the Board is committed to setting and maintaining high standards for the community and to accomplish this in a cost-effective manner, both for today and for the years to come. The VCA is responsible for a wide range of community assets that comprise our infrastructure. Examples of these include our roads, curbs, gutters, and catch basins; boardwalks, bridges, and walking paths; sidewalks; common area landscapes; perimeter walls and fences; gatehouses and related infrastructure; street signage; and assets used for maintenance and community patrol. As these assets will deteriorate as they age, they will eventually require replacement. To prepare financially for the eventual repair and replacement of these assets, an updated Reserve Study has been authorized by the Board. This is expected to be completed by late summer. Monies in the Reserve Fund come from home buyer contributions when they purchase a new or existing home. The current contribution amount is $3,000. As the community continues its buildout, new home sales will decline and disappear over the next few years. Beginning in 2023 and now in 2024, there is a reserve line item in the operating budget to assure we continue accumulating the funds we will need in the future. If you would like to learn more about Verandah’s Reserve Study and its Reserve Fund, please visit https://www.vcalife. com/folder/reserve-study-reports/.
2023 Budget Overview – Where Did It Come From? Where Did It Go?
JUNE 2024
Prepare For Hurricane Season 2024 Hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. We can’t stop a hurricane but we can be prepared to keep ourselves and our homes safe. Right now, before storms begin to form, is the best time to prepare for a storm’s onslaught. VCALife.com has a good number of excellent hurricane preparedness guides. From the VCALife.com homepage, click on Helpful Documents, then select the Hurricane Information folder. There you will find everything you need to know for your safety and your home’s safety. The VCA staff is in readiness with established plans for before, during and after the storm. Please know that Verandah Club also has an extensive plan to keep residents, staff, buildings and equipment secure in every area from the golf course to the River House kitchen. Stay Safe—Be Prepared.
Golf Carts And Crossings
Can you tell the difference between these signs? They are both red octagons with white lettering and say “STOP” in white capital letters. Both signs are meant to stop the driver so he/she can look both ways before proceeding. The sign on the left almost always causes the driver of the car to stop before proceeding. It is located where two streets come together so the driver can stop to see if another car is coming. The sign on the right does not always cause the driver to stop. It is located where a golf cart crosses a street to continue on a cart path. It is placed there so the golf cart driver can stop to see if a car is coming. For years, golfers have assumed that they had the right of way when crossing a street. This is NOT the case! Walkers have the right of way, but not golf carts. They are to stop at the stop sign when there is one. If an oncoming car sees you and waves you through, the sign still says to stop first. Then go. It is only a matter of time before a car and golf cart collide crossing the street. The golf cart driver will be at fault for not following posted signs, along with probably getting the worst of the accident. Please follow the rules of the road even if you’ve been blowing through the cart path stop signs for years. We all want to enjoy our years of leisure safely.