TARAWOOD Special Dependent Taxing District NO. 32
MEETING MINUTES
April 9th, 2024 – 3103 Tarabrook Dr, Tampa, FL 33618
Trustee Terri called the regular meeting of the TSDTD to order at 7:30 P.M. Trustees attending included: Bob Terri, James Carey, James Osborne, Ben Golson, Daniel Cinquegrano, and Ronnie Bennick. A quorum was obtained. Property owners David and Kathy Sylvanowizz were in attendance as well. Being new property owners, they wanted to attend the meeting to learn more about the community in general, how the board works, and also had some specific input regarding the entrance revitalization project discussed in the meeting minutes below.
SECRETARY’S REPORT:
Trustee Osborne read the meeting minutes from March 12th, 2024. A motion was made by Trustee Terri to accept the minutes. Trustee Bennick seconded.
TREASURER’S REPORT:
Our account balance as of 2/29/2024 was $33,929.74, with an ending balance of $32,448.74 as of 3/31/2024.
The following bills have been accrued since the last meeting and are presented for payment:
- $697 Sutton Street Sweeping (March)
- $475 Big League Lawn Maintenance for monthly common area mowing
Trustee Golson made a motion to approve the above payments, seconded by Trustee Terri. The board unanimously approves.
OLD BUSINESS:
Since the last regularly scheduled meeting, Trustees have met with and provided the request for proposal (RFP) for the entrance revamp/landscaping project to 3 different landscaping companies. The RFP covered the removal of old/dead vegetation as well as mulching, but some contractors also bid on the irrigation/electrical/new plantings work as well.
The trustees provided the following updates to the board, along with the company bids for discussion and vote:
- Trustee Osborne and Trustee Bennick met with Everything Outdoors (EO). The company required a design fee of $309 to provide bids, paid out of pocket by Trustee Osborne. EO provided two separate bids, the first being the removal and prep portion of the project, phase I ($6,540), and a separate bid which covered the lanscaping/replacement phase, including electrical work, irrigation replacement, and new plantings ($48,787). The bid did not include directional boring, but instead running low voltage electric and irrigation lines thru existing ditch/water run tunnel.
- Trustee Bennick met with Northstar Landscaping. Like EO, the company provided and all encompassing bid for the removal phase, landscaping, and replacement, including electrical work and irrigation replacement and new plantings ($76,902). The difference with Northstar bid was that they provided a directional boring option to run the new electrical/irrigation conduit. This was the board’s preferred method of resolving this issue.
- Trustee Bennick met with Big League Lawn Care, Tarawood’s existing lawn maintenance company. Big League provided a bid for the removal phase, including irrigation repair work (other 2 companies would fully replace irrigation heads and piping). Bid of $13,560 with Sabal Palm removal and $10,380 with Sabal Palm trimming only.
The board discussed the above and compared the quotes and line items side by side at length.
It was resolved that the board’s preference was to go the directional boring route for the irrigation/electrical conduit repair at the Ehrlich/Scarlett entrance, and the only company to bid on that was Northstar. Board preference was also to keep existing Sabal Palms and Robellini Palms. Board has opted for a “a la carte” approach to Northstar’s bid, with the following items up for approval:
- Tree removal and stump grind, with overhanging trees trimmed ($9,500)
- Missile boring at intersection of Scarlett and Ehrlich ($5,500)
- Irrigation adjustments, new runs where needed, drip stations ($6,300)
- Total: $21,300
Trustee Cinequegrano makes motion to call Northstar Landscaping regarding the above line items, with cost expected to be decreased given resolved to keep existing palm trees and to trim only. Trustee Bennick to call this week to confirm above bids and start the project. Trustee Cinquegrano makes motion to pre-approve a payment not to exceed $21,300 to Northstar for the above work, seconded by Trustee Terri. After follow-up with Northstar, should the project change and further discussion be needed, the project start shall be delayed until next regularly scheduled meeting.
Trustee Golson to call TECO and attempt to get Former Trustee’s name off our account and switch it to a different trustee, or close account if we have to, with purpose of gaining access to online payment portal. Since the board has been stuck in a late payment cycle with paper billings. Likewise, Trustee Terri to go back to the Post office and ask what it takes to remove and replace Ron Fowler’s name as well. Both items may require a close and reopening of accounts/P.O. Boxes, but it is board preference to not close the existing.
NEW BUSINESS:
Trustee Terri provided an update on the process to remove former Trustee Fowler from the community P.O. Box. In order to switch the names of the account, this requires both the current nameholder and future nameholder to be there at the same time. Trustee Terri is to communicate with Trustee Fowler to find a date and time that works to complete this box name transfer.
Trustee Terri arranged with TECO to close the old account which also had former trustee Fowler’s name on it, and to open a new account with Trustee Terri’s name instead. The new account is #211030884988. The old account to be closed is #221005918521. There is an outstanding balance of $15.21 to close the existing TECO account. Trustee Terri makes motion to pay the outstanding balance and close the account. Trustee Golson seconds the motion.
Trustee Bennick has corresponded with Northstar many times since the last meeting, with the result being a new, revised bid of $19,500 which includes directional boring, irrigation repair, general cleanup and prep of all planter areas, and mulching. The board discussed, along with the property owners in attendance, the logic of having the existing rocks removed from the planter beds prior to laying new mulch down. Trustee Bennick to inquire if this can be added to the quote if the rock removal is not already part of the cleanup quote. It was also discussed that Northstar had referenced a S&S Drilling as the subcontractor to be used for the boring, and that we could call them directly if we wanted. The board has attempted to use this sub directly in the past without success, and it was generally agreed the better plan is to continue to go thru Northstar for project completion. Trustee Osborne made a motion to approve the bid at $19,500, with stipulation that there may be minor changes for rock removal. Seconded by trustee Bennick. Any additional modifications to the bid will be provided to the board and discussed in an executive meeting outside of the regularly scheduled meetings.
_______________________________
A motion was made by Trustee Osborne to approve all new business items. Trustee Terri seconded. The board unanimously approves.
A motion was made to adjourn by Trustee Osborne and seconded by Trustee Terri. The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
James Osborne
Secretary