Laura LeRoy

The session was a budget workshop to cover the high watermark for the fiscal year 2026 budget. Discussions focused on shared expenses, where the entity's contribution percentage increased from 14% to 17% of shared costs. Specific line items reviewed included moving utility irrigation costs to landscaping and discussing attorney fees, noting current expenditures were within budget projections. Engineering fees were discussed in the context of project-specific versus general allocation. Adjustments were made to the utility irrigation budget line item. There was also a review of proposed operating expenses for FY26 compared to FY25, noting that some public works staffing lines were moved or hidden, affecting variance visibility. Safety and security budgets were reviewed, specifically concerning the Wiser contract for services and associated holiday pay calculations, as well as increases in police patrol rates.

The meeting convened to hold two noticed public hearings. The first hearing concerned the consideration of adopting the fiscal year 2025-2026 budget for the district. The second hearing involved receiving public comment and considering the imposition of non-ad valorem special assessments on lands within the district to fund the adopted budget. Staff presented an executive summary of the proposed budget, detailing staffing changes (a net reduction of one position) and a 4% wage increase. The presentation covered budget figures, including capital projects, enterprise fund details, and assessment changes for single-family and multi-family units in Gateway and Pelican Preserve. Specific funds like the General Fund, Pelican Preserve O&M, Utility Department, and Debt Service funds were analyzed, noting significant capital expenditures covered by bond proceeds and carry forward balances. The board was presented with options regarding reserve utilization and carry forward balances to potentially mitigate the approximate 13% year-over-year assessment increase.

The meeting included public comment sessions where residents raised concerns regarding agenda items. One resident requested tabling action on agenda item 11d parcels within Pelican Preserve to allow for community awareness prior to transfer. Another resident addressed agenda item 11c concerning the Statewide security contract for Stonybrook, expressing concern over potential changes to road ownership and security checks. Public input was also provided on agenda item 11b (pavement dressing), questioning the $189,000 price which exceeded the engineer's probable cost estimate, and requesting details on whether a competitive bid was conducted. Residents also requested monitoring be added to the B14 Tract/Exotic Cleanup agenda item, funded by the O4 fund. Discussions also covered O1 fund contributions from various communities, including Pelican Preserve's separate assessment and their restricted access to certain amenities. Furthermore, there was discussion about the necessary upgrade and replacement of street lights on Pelican Boulevard and Cypress Scroll due to safety hazards from outages. Finally, the Board awarded a contract not to exceed $1.8 million to B&Z Diving Services for pond/lake work (Lakes 78 and 82). An alternative material (white shell) for pond edging, superior to the standard number four stone, was noted for future consideration.

Discussions centered on the consent agenda, including a request to defer an issue concerning Griffin Drive for further review. Key agenda items involved land access and conveyance issues for WCI and Area Nine, aiming to secure a permanent easement. There was significant discussion regarding the Lake Bank projects, specifically the pre-qualification of contractors, with a recommendation to approve four out of eight submitted vendors. Furthermore, the board addressed the status of the Daniels Preserve area wetlands transfer, confirming requirements were met for conversion to the operation base. A substantial portion of the meeting involved debating the need for dedicated project management or staff oversight for the Lake Bank projects, especially given the reliance on SRF funding, and determining the appropriate funding mechanism for such oversight resources.

The meeting extensively discussed drainage issues, specifically focusing on the acceptance of surface water drainage, the status of 8-inch pipes, and perpetual non-exclusive easements reserved for drainage and utility maintenance across property rear setbacks. Key concerns revolved around documentation gaps, such as missing videotapes and surveys, which prevented a definitive recommendation regarding compliance with permit criteria. Discussions included the responsibility for maintaining drainage boxes and the potential legal implications of accepting easements without clear delineation or transfer of rights to the HOA or District. Additionally, there was a request to establish a maintenance schedule for soccer fields in anticipation of summer use.