​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the things that Board and committee members have heard from VI property owners is that the Deed Restrictions (DR)s are “out of date,” etc…  The Deed Restriction Revision Committee (“DRRC”) has been working hard over the course of the past 2+ years to identify DRs that need to be amended,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:

• March 26 – Neighborhood Walk
• April 9 – VI Yard Sale from 8:00am till 12:00 noon
• October 29 – Octoberfest which will be held at the Kansas South cul-de-sac

Emails will be sent with details of each of these events.
 
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
rscanlon@ourvi.org

Dear VI Residents:
 
I hope everyone had a safe and happy Thanksgiving.  Over the next several weeks VI will be “lit up” for the holidays culminating in the lighting of luminaries along the seawalls on December 24.  The Hospitality Committee will be selling candles again this year.  Your block’s candle seller will be reaching out to you shortly and details will also be available on ourvi.org.  Don’t wait till the last minute to get your seawall candles as they always go fast!!! Also, the VI Holiday Food Drive has been set for December 12 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the intersection of Grand Canal and Overlook. Donations will benefit the St. Pete Free Clinic.
 
COVID-19 has forced us to curtail many of the usual VI activities including Oktoberfest, the New Homeowner’s Reception and our Annual and General Meetings so we are excited to kick off 2022 with an “in person” Annual Meeting on January 20, 2022, at Lutheran Church of the Cross (“LCC”).  The meeting will start at 6:30 pm with a “social time” and at 7:00 pm for the business meeting.  Obviously, this will be pending no further outbreaks which would cause LCC to re-impose the prior level of restrictions against allowing outside groups to use their facilities.
 
Topics to be discussed at the Annual Meeting include:

• Election of VIHA Officers and Board Members for 2022 (we had three property owners submit a Nominations Form to serve for 2022);
• Review of VIHA operations from the date of the last Annual Meeting in 2020 and presentation of the budget for 2022; and
• An update on the Deed Restriction (“DR”) revision process with the first three proposed DR revisions going to the property owners in January 2022. 

 
The Board has approved an increase in VIHA annual dues from $180 to $200 for 2022.  This is necessary to offset increases in VIHA insurance, utilities and legal expenses.  As a reminder, VIHA members may request a copy of the annual budget.
 
I want to share a feel-good story.  Several weeks ago, a “solicitor” convinced an elderly VI resident to write a large check to his “cause.” The solicitor showed the check to another neighbor trying to convince him to contribute.  Fortunately, he recognized the name on the check, knew the person was suffering from dementia and contacted her family.  The family was able to put a stop payment order on the check.  Just a great example of one neighbor looking out for another.  Let’s try to exhibit more of that in VI!!!!
 
At recent VIHA Board meeting we discussed putting up “No Soliciting” signs at the entrances to VI.  Subsequent to that Board meeting we learned from Don Herring, our Community Policing Officer, that if signs are installed and the SPPD is made aware of a solicitor then they will, depending upon available manpower, respond to the complaint.  While this approach may be helpful, the most successful approach may be for a property owner to install a “No Soliciting” sign at your door to, hopefully, preclude people from knocking on your door.  The best of these signs that I have seen in the neighborhood is: “No Soliciting – Unless You are Selling Girl Scout Cookies!!!”
 
There are a couple of other things to make you aware of:

• I get a report each week from Don Herring, our Community Service Officer with the SPPD. Lately there appears to be a higher frequency of thefts occurring from docks.  Just a reminder to secure your valuables whether they are on a dock or in your car and please keep your car doors locked; and,
• We have received a few complaints lately about “light pollution.”  We live in a very compact area and while I understand the need to make sure your home is safe and secure, please consider the impact that any high-intensity lighting may have upon your neighbors and their ability to enjoy their property as well.

 
We have been contacted by Hotwire Communications about offering a “Fiber to the home option” for bulk cable and internet. We think this service might be of great benefit to VI residents by providing better service at a lower cost. We are looking for VI residents who can lend their expertise and help us get a better understanding of what this potential option entails. Please contact me if you have experience in this area and can assist us in investigating this further.
 
Finally, a big “shout out” to Brooke and Craig on Carolina Ave. for continuing to organize Friday Food Truck Events.  This has proven to be a great way to bring VI residents together and meet their neighbors.  The December Food Truck Friday is scheduled for December 17 in front of 2020 Carolina.  Details about the event can be found on ourvi.org.    
 
I look forward to seeing you around the Isles during this holiday season.
 
 
Rich Scanlon
VIHA President
rscanlon@ourvi.org
 ​

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Dear VI Residents:
 
As you know, we are going through a process to “revitalize” the Deed Restrictions (“DRs”) as required under Florida statutes. I would like to thank the approximately 200 homeowners who have returned their signed Consent Forms and believe, as I do, that the DRs are the foundation for making VI such an attractive and desirable community, where property values have increased faster than the market over the past year.  A small, but vocal, minority is trying to convince you otherwise, even though everyone who purchased a home in VI should have been informed about the mandatory DRs prior to their closing.  Before you make your decision, I want to address some of the misinformation that has been circulating:
 

1. The Revitalization does not change any of the existing DRs and, most importantly, it does not make membership in the VIHA mandatory (this would require 100% approval of ALL the property owners in VI).

 

1. The DRs are not redundant to the city code. Many of the DRs address items not included in the city code such as clean roofs, protecting water views, maintaining eighty-foot waterways, parking RVs, and prohibiting chicken coops.  However, the VIHA Board recognizes that certain DRs need to be revised or eliminated. A diverse committee has been working on this, but their efforts have been interrupted by the Revitalization effort in 2020 and now in 2021.  We are required to revitalize the DRs “as is” before we can begin updating them. 

 

1. The DRs can only be changed with approval of two-thirds (66.7%) of homeowners, not by the VIHA Board.  The Board’s responsibility is to enforce the DRs approved by the property owners, not to unilaterally create new ones.

 
I understand that this is a complex issue and there are plenty of discussions occurring online and “in driveways” which is to be expected.  Let’s keep up the discussions but keep them factual and avoid criticizing individual perspectives.
 
I have included some FAQs below based upon conversations with property owners. If you have additional questions or would like to discuss this important decision further, please reach out to any member of the Organizing Committee.  Thank you.
 
Rich Scanlon
VIHA President
rscanlon@ourvi.org

ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED REVITALIZATION PROCESS QUESTIONS
 
Q. Why do we need to repeat the Revitalization process when we just did it last year?
A. After the DR Revitalization was approved in March 2020, an objection was filed. Based on an eight-month review, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (“DEO”) concluded that certain documents should have been provided to property owners in 2019/2020.  As a result, we must repeat the Revitalization process and have included the required documents in the information packets that were provided to property owners.
 
 
Q. What is the difference between the previous Revitalization Packet and the 2021 Packet?
A. All the documents are identical, except for the following:

• The 2013 By Laws have been added in the current packet.
• The Fifth Amendment to the DR’s (Deed Restriction 53 allowing wrought iron fences) has been removed from the current packet.
• A list of property owners & legal descriptions of the properties has been added to the current packet.

 
Q. What does it mean if I sign and return the Consent Form?
A.  Signing and returning the Consent Form means that you are in favor of keeping Venetian Isles (“VI”) a deed-restricted community and reinstating the previous DRs.  If 50.1% of the property owners return signed Consent Forms, the DRs will be reinstated.
 
 
Q. I am in favor of some DRs but I do not like all of them, can we just reinstate some of them?  
A.  No. Per Florida statutes, the DRs must be revitalized “as is.”  Once the DRs  have been revitalized, we can begin the process of updating them.  There are several revisions to the DRs have already been proposed and we will begin the revision process once the current DRs have been revitalized.
 
We invite you to join the Deed Restriction Revision Committee (“DRRC”) if you are interested in participating in this project.  The Committee also welcomes your suggestions for what you would like to see added or eliminated.  Once we can safely meet, the plan is to convene a “Town Hall” meeting to review the changes to the DRs as proposed and have an open discussion.  Please email admin@ourvi.org to get involved with this, or any other committee.
 
As a reminder, the DRs can only be modified if 66.7% of VI property owners approve. Neither the DRRC nor the Board can unilaterally change any of the DRs.
 

Q. If the Revitalization is approved by the community, does it mean that the VIHA will become a mandatory (Section 720) association?
A.  No. Membership in the VIHA will remain voluntary and payment of dues will NOT become mandatory.  A transition to a mandatory association membership would require approval by 100% of property owners.
 

Q. I am in favor of DRs but I do not like how they are enforced, should I sign the Consent Form?
A.  The Revitalization is to determine whether property owners want VI to continue to be a Deed Restricted community or whether we should let the DRs expire permanently.  If you would like to see changes to how the DRs are enforced, we invite you to join the VIHA Board and/or the Deed Restriction Committee so that you can provide your input on the enforcement process. 
 
Please note that if the Revitalization is approved, we will reengage the third-party property management company, QPM, to ensure that the DRs are enforced fairly, evenly and consistently.
 
Q. What happens if the DRs are not Revitalized?
A.  Properties will only be subject to City Codes.  As a result, there will be fewer protections against blocking water views, parking of RVs and boats/trailers, maintaining eighty-foot waterways in our canals, and keeping chicken coops, among other things that the City Codes permit.
 

Q.  I have heard that some residents have opted out of the association and are no longer subject to the DRs. Can I opt out of the DRs?
A.  No. A State ordinance allowed residents to opt out of certain homeowner associations during a one-year period which expired October 1, 2019.  All properties currently in VI, whether or not property owners pay dues, will be subject to the DRs once they are revitalized.  This excludes the properties on Point Overlook and three properties who provided the requisite notice to “opt out” prior to October 1, 2019.
 
 
Q. Why is the VIHA collecting 2021 Dues if the DR’s need to be Revitalized?
A.  The VIHA continues to incur expenses such as utilities and is committed to maintaining and improving the entrances and bridges in VI, including landscaping, lighting and mangrove trimming.  We are in the process replacing the sod by the Overlook Bridge after it was ruined by the Sugarcane Mosaic virus.  In addition, we have recently put in 65 plants on the Iowa Bridge and installed flowers and lighting at the Mermaid Point entrance.  We continue our communications to residents including distributing the updated Homeowner Directory to 2021 VIHA members.  We are also planning to resume our community events in the fall.
 ​