|
Dear VI Property Owner:
Every week our Community Policing Officer, James Fuchs, sends me a report detailing reported criminal activity in VI over the prior week. We had been doing really well for several months until I received the following report of two vehicle burglaries in the 2000 block of Michigan Ave. between 10 pm and11:30 am on April 21: One victim reported a firearm was stolen out of an unlocked vehicle. The second victim reported cash was stolen from an unlocked vehicle. This is the second firearm reported stolen from a car in VI in the last 2 years. I implore VI residents to remove valuables from your cars and lock car doors when parked in the driveway. These thefts are crimes of opportunity, mostly committed by youths coming into our neighborhood to see what they can find. I have yet to hear of a “smash and grab” from a locked vehicle in VI so let’s not make it so easy for them!!! As I’ve noted in prior Presidents’ Letters, there are 532 homes located in Venetian Isles on relatively small pieces of real estate. Literally, we are living almost on “top of each other” with on average 15 feet between houses. In addition to assuring some uniformity and maintaining / increasing property values, the goal of the Deed Restrictions (“DRs”) is to ensure that homeowners don’t negatively impact their neighbors by blocking views, failing to maintain their yards, not cleaning/repairing their seawall, etc. The Deed Restriction Committee (“DRC”), made up of residents of VI, recently completed a waterside review of all the homes in VI. The team identified a total of 75 DR violations, mostly for items such as a dirty roof, dead or weed infested lawns which are relatively easy to fix. To be certain, they also noted more serious violations such as general disrepair of homes, docks and seawalls. Upon receipt of a DR violation letter most property owners respond something to the effect that “I know my seawall needs repair but I can’t get on the contractor’s schedule for a couple more months,” or “I didn’t realize my roof was dirty but I’ll get working on a solution.” Generally, that is all the DRC members need to hear and the issues are addressed by homeowners in a reasonable time frame. There are only a small number of properties in VI that are in “perpetual disrepair” or blatant disregard for the DRs. I frequently hear from property owners who are frustrated that their neighbors’ houses are in a state of neglect, sometimes for years. The VIHA has two options for dealing with property owners who refuse to comply with the DRs despite repeated notices:
The members of the VIHA and all the committees are doing their best to maintain the safety and high-quality of life in VI that we’ve all come to appreciate. Let’s see if we can remember that all 532 properties of VI are in this together and show a little kindness and appreciation of our neighbors. Anne Barrins, who was heading the Hospitality Committee is turning over her duties to Sue Cooper as Anne and her husband, Ken Slaby, are moving to North Carolina. We want to thank Anne for her contributions to VI. If you are interested in volunteering on the Hospitality Committee, or any of the other committees that make VI A special place to live, please contact me. Stay well and let’s enjoy the good fortune we have of living in VI!!! Rich Scanlon VIHA President [email protected]
0 Comments
Dear VI Property Owner:
Spring has “sprung” in Venetian Isles and the neighborhood looks spectacular. I hope everyone is able to take advantage of the fabulous place we are able to call home!!! As beautiful as VI is, it is never too early to begin preparing for the upcoming hurricane season by trimming bushes and trees because we know what is coming. Over the holidays, there were two golf cart parades through VI in addition to the annual Seawall Luminary Lighting on December 24th . The Board would like to thank Janice Drinkwine who has coordinated the candle sale efforts of the past several years and is relocating from VI. We also would like to thank Amy Bridgmon for volunteering to step into Janice’s role. At the VIHA Annual Meeting on January 18, the officers and directors of the VIHA were elected, as was posted to the website. Subsequent to the annual meeting, Sue Cooper from Kentucky Ave. volunteered for one of the remaining open positions on the Board. It is great to have Sue join us and also to have Randy Havey back on the Board after a couple year hiatus. Please contact any of the Board members, who are listed at http://www.ourvi.org/board-members.html with any comments or questions about the neighborhood. The Annual Meeting also provided the opportunity to update attendees on:
As a reminder, any changes that you are planning to make to the exterior of your property need to be approved by the Architectural Review Committee (“ARC”). ARC approved 97 projects in 2023 and is on pace to approve 160 projects in 2024 which would be far in excess of the totals for any of the past 5 years. ARC’s average review time is 10 days but can be longer than that when insufficient information is provided with the initial request. If you are uncertain whether a project is subject to ARC approval feel free to review the checklist on our website at http://www.ourvi.org/architectural-review.html or reach out to one of the Committee members listed on the same webpage. I continue to receive complaints of dog walkers not picking up after their dogs and leaving bags of dog waste discarded on the street, on residents’ lawns and utility boxes. Please be considerate and dispose of your dog waste in trash bins. We all know that our homes in VI are located close together and that sound travels across the water and the canals. DR 41 requires homeowners to control their pets, including minimizing barking, so as not to infringe upon their neighbors. Regardless of the DR, this is just part of being a good neighbor. Please try and control your dog’s barking, especially during this time of year when windows and doors are wide open to take advantage of the pleasant temperatures. The Beautification Committee is working with the city to coordinate new landscaping along Grand Canal. We sustained massive damage after Hurricane Idalia and subsequent storms. The Committee is now doing its best to get the plantings back on track. We are looking for a volunteer to coordinate the neighborhood garage sale. If you are interested, let me know or send an email to [email protected]. Thanks to all the volunteers who help keep VI a truly special place to live. We are always looking for more volunteers. If you are interested in serving on a committee, please let me know or contact the committee chair. The 2024 Venetian Isles Homeowners Directory will be distributed to all dues payers in late March. If you have not yet paid your 2024 Dues, please do so now to ensure you receive your copy of the directory. If you have any corrections or changes to your directory listing please send them to [email protected] by March 8th. The VIHA Board would love to hear of any ideas to improve the quality of life in VI. Please let me know if you have any ideas via email at [email protected] or 727-560-3655. Stay well and let’s enjoy the good fortune we have of living in VI!!! Rich Scanlon VIHA President November 21, 2023
Dear VI Property Owner: This is a beautiful time of the year in St. Petersburg and I hope you are all enjoying all that Venetian Isles has to offer. Oktoberfest was a great success with over 300 people attending. Photos of the event can be found at http://www.ourvi.org/latest-news Thanks again to our generous sponsors - many of whom are VI residents - for making the event possible. Halloween night was a busy time in VI as kids enjoyed the trick-or-treating and adults enjoyed the opportunity to do some socializing!! With Thanksgiving approaching, holiday decorations are popping up all around VI. Our annual Seawall Luminary Lighting will take place at 6 pm on December 24th. Once again, the Candle Committee will be selling candles and bags. The Candle Seller for your block will be contacting you in the next week or so with information about purchasing candles and bags. If you’d like to volunteer to sell candles or to light candles along a section of Grand Canal Boulevard, please contact Janice Drinkwine at [email protected]. The Nominations period for the 2024 VIHA Board closes on November 30. Nominations Forms may be downloaded from our website home page at http://www.ourvi.org/ . If you are considering joining the Board, please feel free to reach out to me or any other current Board member for more information. Some other upcoming dates to mark on your calendar include:
We have recently received several complaints about bags of dog waste discarded on the street, on residents’ lawns and on top of utility boxes. Please be considerate and dispose of your dog waste in trash bins. The VIHA Board would love to hear of any ideas to improve the quality of life in VI. Please let me know if you have any ideas via email at [email protected] or 727-560-3655. Have a great Thanksgiving and be safe!!! Rich Scanlon VIHA President Dear VI Property Owner:
Thank you to all those who voted on the 6 proposed revisions to the Deed Restrictions (“DRs”) and to all the volunteers who helped collect ballots from property owners over the past few months. The following revisions to the Deed Restrictions (“DRs”) have been approved by more than 66.67% of VI property owners:
The following DRs did not receive sufficient votes and will NOT be changed:
The Deed Restriction Revision Committee (“DRRC”) will continue to advance additional DR’s to be updated or deleted to reflect the current needs and views of our community. Information on the DR’s can be found on our website: http://www.ourvi.org/deed-restrictions.html. There is a video titled Deed Restriction Basics, as well as other info, that is a helpful reference for all property owners. I’d like to address some comments that I have heard from Property Owners about certain properties in VI that are clearly in violation of one, or a number of, DR’s. There are numerous steps involved with remediating a DR violation, starting with a DR violation letter and follow-up phone call to determine a plan and timeline to resolve the issue, all the way up to legal action if there is still no compliance after multiple attempts at resolution. Therefore, if you see a property within VI that has clearly been in violation of a DR for a significant period of time, it is likely involved in the legal process and awaiting hearings within the judiciary system. This process can often take months or even years. Although we dislike having to go to this step, it is the only way to seek resolution of a situation that clearly impacts adjacent property owners and often the entire community. Please be aware that the VIHA is working hard to address the longstanding DR violations; however, VIHA does NOT have the ability fine or assess property owners for DR violations and, in essence, relies upon their good faith efforts to address the issue. If you see something within VI that needs attention from the City, please call Saint Petersburg’s Service Center at 727-893-7111, report it on the See / Click / Fix App (available from the Apple & Android app stores) or visit the City’s See / Click / Fix website at https://seeclickfix.com/web_portal/ToSSvrAG97kMGQQjvyonSxZY/issues/map?lat=27.773177615866242&lng=-82.63980388641079&max_lat=27.787226149833668&max_lng=-82.61903285979947&min_lat=27.759127267590852&min_lng=-82.66057491302209&zoom=14 Please “save the date” for the following VI events next month:
The Nominations Period for VIHA’s 2024 Board opens October 15 and runs through November 30. We encourage all residents to consider giving back to our community by running for a Board position. Nomination Forms will be posted on the website no later than October 15. If you have any questions about responsibilities, time commitment etc. please reach out to me or any other current Board Member. While we were extremely fortunate compared to our neighbors in Shore Acres, VI experienced unprecedented flooding from Idalia. Please continue to be vigilant in your preparations as we are not out of hurricane season yet. The VIHA Board would love to hear of any ideas to improve the quality of life in VI. Please let me know if you have any ideas via email at [email protected] or727-560-3655. Rich Scanlon VIHA President April 24, 2023
Dear VI Residents: This is a quick update to the Presidents’ Letter which was sent via two weeks ago. I would like to address some comments that I have received about the proposed revision to Deed Restriction (“DR”) 50 to reduce the number of votes to change or add from the current 348 to 315 “yes” votes. Based upon 522 properties in VI that are subject to the DRs, this represents a reduction from 66.6% required for a change to 60.0%. If the revision passes, a large majority of homeowners will still need to approve any DR modifications. It is hardly an attempt to impose unwanted changes on property owners. The main driver behind this proposed reduction is the significant amount work required to obtain the necessary 348 “yes” votes. Many residents agree that current the DRs are outdated and have requested changes such as those being proposed on the current ballot for DRs 8,9,30 and 34. However, in the 58 days since the DR ballots were sent to VI property owners only 244 ballots have been returned. - fewer than half! Our next step will be the very “labor intensive” effort of “knocking on doors.” to obtain unreturned ballots. This requires a significant effort by the small number of volunteers willing to assist time we send out a ballot. The change to DR 50 was suggested by the VIHA Board to reduce the amount of manpower required to accomplish a DR change while still maintaining an appropriate margin of approval from property owners. Please note that the proposed change to DR 51 is necessary if DR 50 changes because it references the percentage of homeowners needed to make a DR change. Please feel free to contact me or any members of the DRRC if you have any questions or concerns or if you need a new ballot. I’d like to thank Brooke Palmer and Craig Kuhl for another fun-filled Food Truck Friday on April 14 which benefitted Feeding Tampa Bay / News Channel 10’s Cereal for Summer program. VI residents were extremely generous and donated 250 boxes of cereal plus $2,000 in cash donations. Unfortunately, school meals are sometimes the only meals that many children have each day. Feeding Tampa Bay, Pack-a-Sack and other organizations attempt to meet the need on weekends and holidays, but the need is even greater during the summer months when school is not in session. All social events in Venetian Isles are funded through sponsorships and generous donations so we greatly appreciate Brooke and Craig’s efforts to give back to Venetian Isles and the St. Petersburg community with the Cereal for Summer event. I am happy to share that based on the weekly reports I receive from our Community Police Officer, there have been few instances of criminal activity in Venetian Isles since the beginning of the year. Let’s continue to stay vigilant by removing any valuables from vehicles, especially firearms, and keeping vehicles locked if left in the driveway. Finally, please extend a warm welcome to Savat, the new mail carrier from Overlook Drive to Carolina Ave. Sincerely, Rich Scanlon, VIHA President [email protected] Dear VI Residents:
We have been blessed with some superb spring weather and I hope everyone has been able to enjoy the great outdoors in VI. Some updates with respect to happening in VI are set forth below. DEED RESTRICTION REVISION UPDATE: A couple of months ago, all homeowners received packets by mail outlining proposed changes to the Deed Restrictions (“DRs”) along with a postage-paid post card ballot. The proposed changes are based on input from VI residents. We have received 212 completed ballots, under the threshold of 348 ‘yes” votes required to pass. Below are the number of “yes” votes for each proposed revision through the first 40 days of voting: DR-8: Clarifies that tile is not required on flat roofs, and defines the types of tiles that can be used on sloped roofs (204); DR-9: Makes the permitted height of structures consistent with the city’s building code, and permits flat roofs at the rear of dwellings (200); DR-30: Clarifies prohibiting advertising signage on the property except “For Sale” signs and contractor signs related to construction (193); DR-34: Defines the word “overnight” used in the existing DR (173); DR-50: Reduces the number of votes in favor of changing a DR or issuing a new DR from the present 348 to 315 (179); and, DR-51: Makes the number of “For” votes required for DR changes consistent with the requirement of DR-50 (175). The Board recommends a “yes” vote for all six of these proposed DR revisions.
The community on the whole has requested that the DRs be brought up to a more current status. We need your help in trying to accomplish this objective. If you have any questions pertaining to these proposed DR revisions or need another copy of the ballot please feel free to call me at 727-560-3655 or contact any other member of the DRRC. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! As I have written many times in the past, VI continues to be highly desirable community that it is largely due to the efforts of a small number of volunteers. Most of these volunteers have been serving in their roles for years and we need some new people to get involved so we can maintain the high quality standards that we all enjoy. Please consider volunteering for one of the committees that operate within VI and are listed on our website at http://www.ourvi.org/viha-committees.html. Particularly, if you are a recent resident of VI this is an excellent way to meet some of your new neighbors. DEED RESTRICTION COMMITTEE UPDATE: In 2022 the Board terminated the engagement of the property management company to assist with identification and notification of DR violations. Subsequent to that date, those roles have reverted fully back to the Deed Restriction Committee (“DRC”). A review of properties within VI was completed by members of the DRC in February/March. As a result of this review, a total of 47 “initial” DR violation letters were sent along with 11 letters to property owners who had not corrected the DR violation since the last property review in September. The violations were for the following DRs (some property owners were notified of multiple violations): DR-19: 19 (violations of house maintenance) DR-20: 24 (violations of the yard maintenance-flora) DR-25: 2 (trash can violations) DR-26: 15 (violations of equipment storage on the property) DR-34: 1 (violation of trailer storage on driveway) Most property owners who receive a letter from the DRC understand that there was a DR violation and resolve the situation quickly. The Board has reacted to comments regarding the manner of communicating DR violations and we are trying hard to strike a balance between being “neighborly” and “factual” in the DR violation letters. I would be happy to accept any suggestions on the approach that we have taken but, be advised, that any potential change must be approved by our attorney. UPCOMING EVENTS:
Finally, the 2023 Homeowner Directory has been printed and will be distributed to property owners who have paid their 2023 VIHA dues. If you haven’t paid yet, it is not too late! Your dues are vitally needed to support the community initiatives that maintain the high standards expected by property owners for VI. Go to www.ourvi.org and the instructions will be right at the top of the page. Thank you. Rich Scanlon, VIHA President [email protected] Dear VI Residents:
The holiday season is upon us and I hope you and all your family are well and busily preparing for this special time of the year. The community takes on a whole new feel this time of the year as decorations light up our lawns and homes. If you have not purchased your seawall candles yet, please contact the candle seller for your block (a list can be found on the http://www.ourvi.org/ website. Candles should be set out on your seawall on December 24 at 6:00 p.m. with a “rain date” of December 25. The following information was shared at the VIHA General Meeting on December 1: - James Fuchs, our Community Service Officer from the SPPD, provided an overview of crime trends in VI. Happily, the review was very positive, but he emphasized that we continue to remove valuables from our vehicles and lock the doors. He also reminded those in attendance that golf carts being operated on City streets need to meet certain requirements which can be found at https://www.flhsmv.gov/safety-center/consumer-education/low-speed-vehicles/ . - The Deed Restrictions (“DRs”) revisions that were approved earlier this year by over 66.67% of the property owners in VI were reviewed. - Input was provided from those in attendance about the next set of DRs that the DR Revision Committee (“DRRC”) should consider deleting, modifying or adding. Suggestions included allowing: o artificial turf in rear yards; o boat houses to be constructed on docks; o a “set back” of 20 feet from the street, reduced from 25, for properties in a cul-de-sac; o a boat and trailer to be parked in a driveway for a limited number of days; o “online” voting; and, o Revising the threshold of 66.67% of property owner approval for subsequent changes in the DRs. The DRRC will be meeting in early 2023 to start to assess which DRs should be addressed. If you have suggestions, please forward your thoughts to me and I will pass along to the DRRC. Just a reminder that any change to the DRs currently requires the approval of 66.67% of property owners. The Annual Meeting and election of VIHA Board Members for 2023 will be held on January 26 at Lutheran Church of the Cross. The social starts at 6:30pm with the business portion of the meeting starting at 7:00pm. Finally, I receive occasional notices from residents about coyote sightings within the community. Below is information from Councilman Ed Montanari’s office: The City of St. Petersburg and Pinellas County Animal Control Services do not handle wildlife trapping. Florida Fish and Wildlife (FWC) would be the best point of contact. Although coyote encounters are increasing in frequency, and even more so with the dissemination of pictures/videos on social media, they do not usually pose a threat to people. The FWC advises keeping trash secure and not leaving food outside for pets. Additionally, they have some hazing practices that can help deter coyotes from urban areas. More information can be found on their website : https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://myfwc.com/conservation/you-conserve/wildlife/coyotes/__;!!KXanIhAVSRGrIOBFHcg!fphYxaILqXgB5NCBBx7dsbDtTjoO_yHugnLnaWM0ZscWmimqeDhIGvO_LB40jtuxEAysZ3u5ueomZp561V3sWvY$ If there is a coyote acting strange, FWC urges residents to contact their local office. We fall under the Southwest Regional Office (863-648-3200). Other events in our community that we hope you would participate in: o Holiday Food Truck and Food Drive – Brooke and Craig Kuhl will be hosting a Holiday Food Truck Friday at 2020 Carolina Ave on Friday, 12/16. Donations for the VI Food Drive will be accepted at the Food Truck Friday and on Saturday 12/17 at the corner of Overlook and Grand Canal from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Rumor has it, Santa may make an early appearance!!! All donated food and hygiene items will be given to the St. Pete Free Clinic Food Pantry. Last year we collected nearly 1,500 pounds of donated items. o Monthly Neighborhood Walks – Join us every fourth Saturday at 9 a.m. for a short walk in the neighborhood led by resident Janice Drinkwine in partnership with Healthy St. Pete. Meet on the corner of Overlook and Grand Canal. o Career Night – date TBD – We’d like to bring together the many talented professionals in VI and the many high school juniors and seniors and college students who could benefit from their guidance on career opportunities. If you’re involved in a field that you think might be of interest to graduating students, please let me know if you’d be willing to share insights about your position. In addition to our primary role of enforcing the DRs, the VIHA Board continuously looks for ways to bring our community together and improve the experience of living in VI. If there is an event or activity that you think would be appreciated by VI residents, please let me know and the VIHA Board will try and facilitate it. Please note that all events are funded by donations and sponsorships, not by membership dues. The entire VIHA Board hopes that you have a joyous, and safe, holiday season!!!! Thank you. Rich Scanlon, VIHA President [email protected] Dear VI Residents:
We are well into hurricane season, and so far, so good! Although we have avoided any significant storms this year, please don’t let your guard down yet and continue with your hurricane preparations, particularly for the many new residents of VI. As we transition into fall, the VIHA Board wants you to know we have a jammed packed few months to close out 2022. Here is a glimpse of some of the “happenings” in VI that I hope you will be able to participate in:
In addition to our primary role of enforcing the DRs, the VIHA Board continuously looks for ways to bring our community together and improve the experience of living in VI. If there is an event or activity that you think would be appreciated by VI residents, please let me know and the VIHA Board will try and facilitate it. Please note that all events are funded by donations and sponsorships, not by membership dues. Speaking of the VIHA Board, we are always looking for new members who can commit some of their time and are passionate about improving the quality of life in VI. Nominations for the 2023 VIA Board will open up on October 15 and run through November 30. Board members will be elected by the VIHA members at the Annual Meeting in January 2023. Please don't hesitate to contact me or another Board Member if you'd like to learn more about joining our Board. Finally, I’ve stated this in the past, but it probably bears being restated. As a waterfront community, we live in close proximity to one another and that can be both a challenge and a benefit. Quite often I’ll get calls from VI residents complaining of “something” that a neighbor might be doing or not doing. Although myself, or another member of the VIHA Board, will often place a call to see if we can reduce any friction amongst neighbors, I’d like to suggest having a conversation and seeing if you can come up with a resolution before escalating the issue to the Board. Many times I’ve called a VI resident as a result of a complaint and the resident has said “I wish [my neighbor] had come to me directly without having to bother you!!!” James Fuchs, our VI Community Police Officer, has advised that vehicle break-ins have been increasing in the neighborhoods around VI. So far, he has not seen this trend in VI. However, please remember to remove any valuables from your car and lock the doors, even during daylight hours. VI is a great place to live. Please let me know how we can make it better. Thank you. Rich Scanlon VIHA President [email protected] May 18, 2022
Dear VI Residents: We have had the occasion to enjoy a beautiful spring in VI, one of the best times of the year in our neighborhood. Nevertheless, we all know what is coming with the summer, higher temperatures, humidity, and the increasing probability of late afternoon thunderstorms, tropical storms and hurricanes. It does not have to be a hurricane to cause significant damage in our waterfront community. Take the time now to start your preparation for the inevitable summer storms and potential for a hurricane. I encourage new residents, in particular, to review the storm preparation guidelines and sign up for alerts at https://www.stpete.org/residents/public_safety/hurricane_center.php. A bizarre series of incidents occurred on Mass. Ave South early in the week of May 9 where a resident's Ring camera recorded a shirtless/shoeless man ringing their doorbell asking to be “let in because someone was trying to kill” him. SPPD surmised that the man was, potentially, a “meth addict.” I have no further reports at this time but will advise the community of what we hear. We can never be too vigilant – please remove all valuables from your cars and lock the doors and secure your homes. If you see something call the SPPD immediately. The footage from the Ring camera has been uploaded to http://www.ourvi.org/incident.html The VIHA Board Members, as well as members of the Deed Restriction Revision Committee (“DRRC”), have been working hard over the course of the past months on the first of several proposed revisions to the Deed Restrictions (“DR”). As previously communicated, certain DRs are out of date and one of the Board’s primary objectives is to systematically update the DRs. To be clear, the intent is not to create DRs that are more restrictive, but to clear up any ambiguities and make certain DRs consistent with City Code. Input from the community was sought prior to this first round of DR revisions and input will be solicited prior to any upcoming rounds. As of May 11, progress on the three DRs that are included in the first ballot that you received a couple of months ago include:
In the event that we do not receive the required 66.67% approval of the VI property owners the changes that have been requested by the community will not be implemented and the DRs as currently worded will stand. As an example, if DR 53 is not passed then chain link fences will remain the only fencing option that can be installed in VI rather than the more attractive fencing materials that would be allowed under the revised DR (and that were allowed after the initial passage of DR 53 in 2015 until the Revitalization in 2021). The full list of current DRs can be accessed on the VIHA website at http://www.ourvi.org/deed-restrictions.html. A couple of dates for you to put into your calendar. Emails will be sent prior to each event with more details:
Also, there is a Neighborhood Walk organized on the fourth Saturday of each month by Janice Drinkwine in partnership with Healthy St, Pete. Please contact her at [email protected] for more information. The VIHA Board will meet on May 25 and then will take our traditional summer recess until September. Please let me know if you would like to attend the May Board meeting or if there are any items you want the Board to be aware of. One other item of note. Don Herring, a member of the SPPD for 32 years and our Community Policing Officer in VI for the past 6 years, is retiring at the end of May. Don has been a great resource to VI during this period. We would like to present Don with a gift certificate recognizing his service to VI. If you would like to contribute please email me at [email protected]. Don will be replaced by Officer James Fuchs who can be reached at [email protected]. Finally, many thanks to the 346 (66%) property owners who have paid their 2022 VIHA dues so far. Instructions for paying your dues can be found at http://www.ourvi.org/pay-dues.html. The 2022 dues are $200.00 and are the primary source of funding for all the VIHA activities including DR enforcement, beautification, utilities, insurance and other operating expenses. Your support is very much appreciated and necessary to keep up the appearance of our community. All 2022 current VIHA members should have received a copy of the 2022 Membership Directory. If you are a dues payer and did not receive your copy, please email [email protected]. Any additional homeowners who pay their 2022 dues will also receive a copy of the Directory. Thank you to all the residents who advertised their business in the Directory. Thank you. Rich Scanlon VIHA President [email protected] Dear VI Residents:
After a relatively “quiet” period in VI over the past several months, there was another auto theft this past weekend from the Carolina block. The vehicle was unlocked and still close enough to the key fob that the car could be started and driven away. If you have a key fob rather than keys I suggest you do what I did this afternoon: unlock your car, leave your key fobs where you usually do in your home and see if the car starts by just pushing the “Start” button. My fob was far enough away that the car did not start. On the same night at about the same time there was a burglary to another unlocked car on Carolina Ave. and a firearm was taken from the vehicle. Please remember to remove all valuables, including firearms, from your car and make sure your car doors are locked at all times. We had our first in-person VIHA General Meeting in January with the primary objectives of (i) providing attendees a review of 2021 and an overview of 2022; (ii) electing the VIHA Board for 2022 which includes 3 new members and, most importantly, (iii) describing the Deed Restriction (“DR”) revision process. One of the things that Board and committee members have heard from VI property owners is that the Deed Restrictions (DR)s are “out of date,” etc… The Deed Restriction Revision Committee (“DRRC”) has been working hard over the course of the past 2+ years to identify DRs that need to be amended, eliminated or added and we are now ready to put the recommended changes out to vote by the community. As I wrote in my January President’s Letter, the decision was made to present 3 DR revisions per ballot rather than including all the proposed revisions at once. The three DRs that are included in the first ballot that you received a couple of weeks ago include: Deed Restriction 03 – defines all setbacks and aligns with City Code. Deed Restriction 13 – defines ARC approval requirements for exterior improvements Deed Restriction 53 – fences, a new DR, defines materials and heights of fences Note that DR 53 was previously approved but because of the “Revitalization” of the DRs that was completed in 2021, it must be balloted and approved again. The only changes to what was approved previously for DR 53 is to make the measurements clearer. The full list of current DRs can be accessed on our website at http://www.ourvi.org/deed-restrictions.html. As a reminder, to amend, add or delete any DR requires the consent of 66.67% of the property owners in VI. Any ballot that is not returned is counted as a “no” vote. To date we have received completed ballots back from 44% of the VI property owners. If you have not returned your ballot, you will likely be contacted by a VIHA volunteer to make sure you received the ballot and, if you did, whether your failure to return the ballot was intended to be a “no” vote on these DR revisions. In the event that we do not receive the required 66.67% approval of the VI property owners that does not mean that these three DRs are eliminated or will not be enforced, it simply means that the changes that have been requested by the community will not be implemented and the DRs as currently worded will stand. As an example, if DR 53 is not passed then chain link fences will remain the only fencing option that can be installed in VI rather than the more attractive fencing materials that would be allowed under the revised DR (and that were previously allowed after the initial passage of DR 53 in 2015 until the Revitalization in 2021). As you drive into any of the three entrances to VI, I hope you will notice the “No Soliciting” signs that have been posted. These signs a result of an incident reported by a property owner involving a door-to-door solicitor she felt uncomfortable with. Now that the signs are posted, the St. Pete Police Department (SPPD) has the authority to investigate any similar incidents. Please report them to the SPPD non-emergency line 727-893-7780 and they will send an officer to investigate. I am still planning “VIHA Board Members in the House,” smaller meetings of Board members with residents of each street to hear of your concerns or ideas as to how to improve life in VI. Please contact me if you would be interested in hosting a meeting for your street in your home or on your lanai. A couple of dates for you to put into your calendar:
Finally, many thanks to the 306 (59%) property owners who have paid their 2022 VIHA dues so far. Instructions for paying your dues can be found at http://www.ourvi.org/pay-dues.html. The 2022 dues are $200.00 and are the primary source of funding for all the VIHA activities including DR enforcement, beautification, utilities, insurance and other operating expenses. Your support is very much appreciated and necessary to keep up the appearance of our community. Enjoy the spring, which is one of the most beautiful times of the year in VI. Thank you. Rich Scanlon VIHA President [email protected] |
Archives
May 2024
Categories |
RSS Feed
