HAWKES HAPPENINGS
The Newsletter of the Hawkes Bluff Homeowners' Association
Volume 10 Number 3 February / March, 2001
COMMUNITY-WIDE YARD SALE
Saturday the 17th and Sunday the 18th of March, 2001
NEWS FROM YOUR BOARD
The most recent quarterly meeting at the end of January saw a light attendance from residents. Howard Neu introduced Dean Alexander who is campaigning for election to the Davie Town Council and he spoke briefly about his accomplishments and plans, if elected.
Howard read a letter to Florida DOT regarding I-75 landscape issues and our need for a sound barrier. This continues to be a problem area and the association is working with DOT to try to reach a better solution.
The budget for the new association year was reviewed and passed. One new item budgeted this year is for security (using off-duty police officers) prompted by the recent spate of vandalism and other concerns.
There were updates on several topics and various questions and comments from the floor. As usual at quarterly meetings, refreshments were provided using monies allocated to the social budget. Thanks go to Mo Christie for bringing and setting up the refreshments.
As usual there has been activity by your board in recent weeks. Residents with access to the internet are encouraged to check the association web-site on a regular basis, especially the new editorial section.
Director at Large Mike Murphy has resigned from the board as he is leaving the area. Chester Gladue, runner-up at the last election, has been asked to join the board and we look forward to working with Chester. We would like to thank Mike for all his hard work as a board member and wish him luck in his new venture.
Your board looks forward to seeing residents at the April quarterly meeting to be held Tuesday April 24th Other meeting dates for 2001 are
Quarterly meeting July 24th
Nomination meeting September 25th
Annual election meeting October 23rd
WATERING RESTRICTIONS
Effective January 17th, Phase 2 restrictions against lawn watering and car washing were put into effect by the South Florida Water Management District. Lake Okeechobee, a regional water supply, is 3.7 feet below its normal level and falling. Restrictions apply to water supplied from utilities, individual wells and surface water sources such as canals, lakes, ponds and rivers. All wasteful and unnecessary water use is prohibited.
Please note that these are not restrictions enforced by your homeowners association - they are mentioned here only as a reminder to our residents.
Failure to comply with these restrictions is a second degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to 60 days in jail and fines ranging from $75.00 to $500.00
Some of the residential restrictions are: WATERING OF LAWNS AND WASHING OF CARS is permitted during the hours of 4 to 8 am on the following days only: Wednesday and Saturday for odd numbered homes. Thursday and Sunday for even numbered homes. Readjust sprinkler timers to comply with these restrictions HAND WATERING (with a hose with a shutoff nozzle) is also allowed on your day (specified above) from 5 to 7 pm
CARS MAY BE WASHED on a paved surface only if the water runs into an area that drains back into the ground. We all have swales at the end of our driveways that run into grass, so this seems to indicate we can wash cars in our driveways. Better still, park the car on your lawn to wash it and the grass gets watered too.
Although low volume PRESSURE-CLEANING IS permitted and in many cases is very much needed residents should pay careful attention to the latest disputes regarding how appropriate this is during this water shortage. Recent news articles suggest that pressure-cleaning may soon be discouraged so if you are overdue to pressure-clean please do so as soon as possible. To quote from a recent newspaper article "the water district is considering mailing out letters urging cities and homeowner associations to hold off requiring pressure-cleaning of roofs and other surfaces for beautification until summer rains arrive to ease the water-supply strain". Until this happens please, please pressure-clean those dirty roofs!
It is likely that during March, we will go to Phase 3 which restricts watering to one day a week for 3 hours. If we still don't get any rain over the lake., Phase 4 will start in April, which will mean one hour one day a week. Should even more severe restrictions be needed then all outside watering would be prohibited.
If you observe anyone disregarding the restrictions, you may call the Town's Code Enforcement Department anonymously to report them (797-1111) or the Police Department. (693-8320). For more information on restrictions, call the South Florida Water Management District at 1-800 662 8876 or check their web site at www.sfwmd.gov. In the past few weeks, many residents have been spotted NOT complying with these regulations. Do please follow the guidelines and avoid possible arrest or hefty fines - thank you.
ANNUAL PICNIC SUNDAY 22nd April
LAWN CARE
The current water shortage has had a serious effect on some lawns. Those lawns that are doing well are the ones that are fertilized regularly. Please make a point of using an appropriate fertilizer regularly. You will be delighted with the difference it makes to your lawn
VANDALISM
Further vandalism to the sign at the north end prompted action again by your volunteer board members and a police report was again filed. Any persons caught vandalizing property maintained by this association WILL BE PROSECUTED. All our residents are encouraged to report any acts of vandalism on their property to the Davie police. Remember the costs of repairing damage caused by vandalism in the common areas maintained by the association does come out of your association fees. Additional funds were budgeted this year to allow for random security patrols in the neighborhood. These have already started (and no, we don't plan to tell you when!)
COMMUNITY-WIDE YARD SALE
The next community wide yard-sale is the weekend of
March 17th and 18th
This precedes bulk pick-up on Monday March 19~. The association has placed advertisements for this in local papers. Notice boards announcing the yard-sale will be placed at the entrances in the week prior. It costs nothing to take part - just put everything out and start selling. If doesn't sell and you want rid of it, then put it out for bulk pick up day. Good luck!
COMPLIANCE
Recipients of notices advising them to clean roofs, resurface driveways, etc are encouraged to handle the task suggested promptly. Little is to be gained by wondering who complained about your roof, driveway, etc. Please, just attend to what needs to be done, we are merely reminding you of items you have obviously overlooked. The intention is to keep the neighborhood looking good and therefore keep up the value of what is probably your biggest investment - your home.
WEB SITE - EDITORIAL PAGE
An editorial page was recently introduced on the web site. Residents are invited to submit comments, suggestions, complaints, etc. and these will be posted. Name and street must be supplied although this information will not be published if you request. Letters may be edited for legal reasons and clarity and will be removed after 60 days. Please check it out if you can.
ASSOCIATION FEES
A big thank you to over 260 of our residents who have already paid their association fees. For the other one-third of our residents please pay up ~ow. Reminders were recently sent out - those association fees were due by February 28~h. The board will not hesitate to file liens for non-payment. If you have a problem paying please contact the board as soon as possible.
BIKE HELMETS
Please make sure that your children wear their helmets when riding their bicycles - remember it is the law.
TOWN ELECTIONS
Elections for Town of Davie council members will be held March 13th. Remember to make your vote count.
TRASH AND CONTAINERS
Please do not place your trash containers by your swale any earlier than the evening before the scheduled pickup. Please remember that all trash containers and refuse must be kept either in your garage or in a side yard, out of view from the street. Thanks for your cooperation.
If you need a copy of the bylaws please read them on the web-site or contact your board for a copy, which will be provided at a nominal charge of 25¢ per page.
REMINDERS
Bulk pick-ups for 2001 scheduled
Monday March 19a
Monday May 14th
Monday July 16th
Monday September 17'
Monday November 12th
NEWSLETTER
The aim of the newsletter is to keep our community informed. Produced every few weeks it is normally hand-delivered by volunteers. If you are not receiving newsletters regularly please contact the association (see below) or phone Mo Christie at 434-8287 - thank you. The next newsletter is planned for mid-April. Please submit articles, advertisements, people news, or other items by April 8th. As always all items will be handled on a first-come, space-permitting basis. Thank you.
CONTACTING YOUR BOARD
The board encourages homeowners to put any queries or concerns in writing (indicating topic) either to the address below OR by sending e-mail. Since your board members are volunteers if you do phone please pick a considerate time, identify yourself as a Hawkes Bluff resident, be brief and keep to the point. Thanks.
President Howard Neu 434-4006
Vice President Mo Christie 434-8287
Corresponding Secretary Jay Stahl 680-8686
Treasurer Jeff Stoller 680-1965
Recording Secretary Gretchen Farmer 434-8337
Director at Large John Pickett 680-3835
Director at Large Chester Gladue
Please send any correspondence (comments, requests for construction approval, etc) via e-mail or to the mail box (located in the Regency Square Pak'n'Ship)
HAWKES BLUFF HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION
4839 SW 148th Ave PMB 400
Davie FL 33330
E-mail: hawkesbluff@hotmail.corn
Fax phone number: 680- 8650
Please check out our website for
plenty of useful info and links at:
http://www.hawkesbluff.com