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(corrected) Funding: Of the three funding options for the Federal beach re-nourishment project before the County Commission on Dec. 17th option “A”
Link to December 2019 communication to SLC Commissioners Click Here> (pdf attached in email) Access for additional Federal funding: The PC has been and is encouraging the County to develop and earnestly pursue a viable plan “B” for acquiring the 3 strategically located access points necessary to increase the federal funding by as much as +/- $6.2MM. Dec. 16th we were advised the County has been and is investigating alternatives that may be available with undeveloped property. As you may have seen, Gil Smart wrote an opinion column dated December 6th (updated on December 9th) on the beach access issue and options. (link to article) https://www.tcpalm.com/story/opinion/columnists/gil-smart/2019/12/06/st-lucie-county-being-penny-wise-pound-foolish-beach-project/2589349001/) Project Costs: The County continues to question the prospective agreement or "contract" with the USACE and hopeful that reductions may yet be forthcoming from the USACE's review and sharpening of their pencil. USACE Beach Project Costs. Includes the Presidents Council letter to USACE Col. Kelly (October 13, 2019) regarding Federal project inquiries, along with the USACE reply (November 6, 2019). Gil Smart's TC Palm Article (Updated & Corrected December 9, 2019) - "Should St. Lucie County spend millions to save millions on beach project? "  Beach & Dune Committee Update.
Funding: The Commissioners have approved a total of two prospective special taxing district options to date and either can be put in place in late 2020. In the new year, Commissioners will determine which might be adopted. Public Access for more federal funding: The PC has been encouraging the County to develop and earnestly pursue a viable plan “B” for acquiring the 3 strategically located access points necessary to increase the federal funding by as much as $6.1MM+/- (from 35% to 62%+/-). Recently, we were advised the County is investigating alternatives that may be available with undeveloped property. As you may have seen, Gil Smart wrote an opinion column dated December 6th (updated on December 9th) on the beach access issue and options. (link to article) Project Costs: The County continues to question the agreement or "contract" with the USACE and is hopeful that reductions may yet be forthcoming from the USACE's review and sharpening of their pencil. Governmental Affairs Committee Update. Baron Island Storage developer representatives have been holding meetings with the Associations near their proposed site. This storage facility will house 77 garages on the 2-acre property. The property owner, who has filed a suit against the County regarding the Atlantic Wellness project, will continue to contact any interested PC members as new information is available. At this time there has not been any new update. (see PC website for details) The Rivers Coalition has prepared a position paper on Lake Okeechobee management. The Presidents Council, as a member of the Rivers Coalition, supports this action. (link to the paper is on the PC website). Communication Committee Update. The Board of Directors has voted to change the PC fiscal year to a January to December calendar year, thus simplifying the accounting and renewal process. As a result the Communication Committee updated the membership renewal process, and renewal notices have been distributed to Property Managers. There will be no increase in the 2020 fee schedule. Please support the Council and respond to the renewal notice by the due date. The PC website continues to be updated. All the latest news, upcoming meetings, and links to websites of interest are available….check it out. December 17th meeting. Hotwire presented information on their services and capabilities on the Island. You may contact Jamie Lynn French (jamielynn.french@hotwiremail.com and Alex Stefanescu (alex.stefanescu@hotwiremail.com) for any additional information. Upcoming meeting. Hope to see you at the meeting on January 21st. The guest speaker is Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch, SFWMD Governing Board. We wish you and your families a safe and happy holiday….see you in 2020!  Presidents Council member takes action opposing the Atlantic Wellness project. (October 2019) Read all about it here.
Gil Smart's TC Palm Article (Updated & Corrected December 9, 2019) - "Should St. Lucie County spend millions to save millions on beach project? "
Email to Commissioner Dzadovsky dated December 6, 2019 requesting support in solving the drainage problems on the west side of A1A.
Dear Commissioner Dzadovsky, It has come to the attention of the President’s Council that there is a continual drainage problem on A1A between Waveland Beach and just south of the Holiday Out residential area. The problem arises when we get prolonged periods of rain causing the sidewalks to beunusable on the east side by Waveland and on the west side north and south of Holiday Out. The cause of the problem at Holiday Out appears to be A1A’s road height; observation shows a dramatic drop from the road to the residential area. The issue is two-fold. First, the pooled water increases our insect problem—mainly mosquitos—but also other creatures growing in the stagnant water, thus resulting in a possible health problem. Second, the pooled water means that citizens must walk on A1A several hundred feet in the bicycle lane to avoid the water, thus resulting in possible automobile and bike accidents. I have been told by an “old-timer” that the area once had a pump that drew water from the swale, but I have not been able to verify this and I doubt that it would meet environmental regulations. We are asking that you check into this problem. We are not sure whether it is a county or state problem. We have had numerous complaints about it and hope that you can help us with solving the problem. Best regards, Don W. Stacks Treasurer PCHI Board of Directors The President’s Council Website (pcofhi.com) implemented 2018, continues to be updated and refreshed. Provide feedback to email pcofhi@gmail.com.
President’s Council first survey was distributed to members January, 2019. Results were distributed to members and are available here. This is the start of a process to gain input from members on the direction and activities undertaken by the Council. The 2019 Membership Renewal mailing, distributed in early March, was directed to the management company for the current members. Any interested Associations that are currently not members, please contact pcofhi@gmail.com and membership information will be forwarded to you or complete the form on this website. SLC Utilities – Reclaimed Water As you were advised in October, after discussions between the County and the PC, the District agreed that reclaimed water distribution was part of our plant process and there would be no charge to customers for reclaimed water usage. In addition, the District claimed that based on identified repair and maintenance projects, there is a funding shortfall at the plant that will need to be covered by a rate increase.
After further discussion, the District agreed to spread this increase over 7 years, effective February 2020. The PC and the Utility District have agreed to continue the dialog regarding the plant funding requirements and rate schedules to ensure a better understanding of the needs of the SHI plant. The Utilities District has also agreed to schedule small tour groups (4-5 max) of the plant after the first of the year. If you are interested, you may send a request to pcofhi@gmail.com to be placed on the list. The Presidents Council established an Incorporation Committee to explore whether forming a township between the Martin County line and FPL power plant on Hutchinson Island was practical. The committee met for 4 months to perform a preliminary evaluation at no cost. If the result was to go forward, a budget would have been developed and funding sources explored.
The recommendation by the committee was to discontinue the project at this time, because there was no compelling reason to incorporate. The sense that most residents had that were talked with was that it would be costly to the taxpayers. (Hobe Sound we found had done an Incorporation Study that cost $140K between the feasibility study and PR campaign only to have the voters reject it by 60 to 40 percent.) |
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PRESIDENTS COUNCIL OF HUTCHINSON ISLAND | MISSION STATEMENT
The President’s Council, working together, seeks to maintain and enhance the lives of the owners and residents of Hutchinson Island. President’s Council serves St Lucie County, Hutchinson Island resident concerns, such as beach & dune, island safety & beautification, roads, future development and County services affecting us. |