The annual meeting of the Seven Isles Homeowners Association took place virtually on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. While being the first virtual meeting in the history of Seven Isles, more than 60 residents still chose to participate through 42 logins. During the meeting, a new slate of candidates for the 2021-22 Board of Directors was ratified by all members present. In March, 2021, the new board will meet to appoint officers in accordance with the by-laws. The list of the new board of directors is provided at the end of this article.
In addition to the election, members heard from guest speakers from Seven Isles’ security company, Admiral Security, and our off-duty Ft Lauderdale Police Officer Aaron Perdue. A security question-and-answer period engaged residents in a spirited discussion related to security issues and concerns. Pros and cons were discussed among residents related to our current Seven Isles Security. A synopsis of the comments and questions follows:
PRO: Seven Isles continues to have the lowest crime rate in the Isles area and one of the lowest in the City.
CON: The guards are often head-down when people drive into the neighborhood and are expected to look up and wave to acknowledge drivers, and to see what is going on around them.
PRO: The job of the guards is to observe and report. They are not armed and cannot directly engage in potential altercations.
CON: The guards need to do a better job of getting to know the residents.
PRO: Seven Isles has the benefit of having 2 types of services – guardhouse coverage with security cameras, which discourages would-be perpetrators from entering the neighborhood, as well as patrolling guards on neighborhood streets who can thwart perpetrators entering the neighborhood.
CON: This 2-service set-up requires two guards to optimize intended security; however, hiring two guards for every shift if cost-prohibitive to the HOA.
PRO: We have 75% of the neighborhood voluntarily contribute to the HOA Security fund via annual dues.
CON: Because the HOA is voluntary, 25% of the residents get security services while refusing to pay dues.
PRO: The new security cameras in the guardhouse have assisted the Ft Lauderdale Police Department in apprehending perpetrators in Seven Isles on multiple occasions.
CON: Because we are not equipped as a gated community, guards do not have the authority to stop vehicles entering the neighborhood.
In keeping with its primary duty of overseeing security and good will for the neighborhood, one of the first responsibilities of the new board will be to complete the annual review process of the existing security services.
After discussion about the security services, the meeting progressed on time with guest speaker Vice Mayor Steve Glassman, who provided members with an update on infrastructure improvements occurring in Ft. Lauderdale over the past year and well as those scheduled for the near term. He also discussed final recommendations for changes to the Las Olas Boulevard corridor coordinated through the work of the Las Olas Mobility Group over the last two years. Seven Isles HOA Board members have attended nearly all of these meetings to weigh-in and provide feedback related to several evolving design strategies over the course of the last 10-plus months, particularly those potentially impacting the Isles area.
Additionally, Vice Mayor Glassman responded to several questions related to water quality, sewage spills, upkeep and repairs to common areas abutting city property, such as our roadways and sidewalks, questions on the parks bond, and impending underground utilities.
Board Treasurer Debbie Fitzgerald provided highlights of our financials for Year 2020, and Board President Kathleen Moreo provided members with a “year in review” synopsis, identifying key issues handled by the Board in 2020. These include but are not limited to the following:
Seven Key Interventions by the Seven Isles HOA Board of Directors for 2020-21
- 1.Installation of new security cameras which greatly enhanced the ability to capture all cars coming into and out of Seven Isles neighborhood as well as read license plates day or night.
- 2.Coordination with the City of Fort Lauderdale to launch plans and procure a date to commence installation of underground utilities.
- 3.Conducted due diligence for an exposure review of Seven Isles’ insurance policies and completed a successful bidding process.
- 4.Conducted 2 virtual social events, including an October Halloween and Fall House Decorating Contest, and a December Holiday House Decorating Contest complete with cash prizes.
- 5.Initiated Welcome Packets for new residents to Seven Isles, including gift certificates from local vendors coupled with information about the Seven Isles HOA and community.
- 6.Initiated a new incentive plan for members of the Seven Isles HOA to receive discounts on membership dues with annual prepayment by January 31.
- 7.Received permission from the City of Ft Lauderdale, and commenced and concluded repainting of all the Seven Isles bridges, utilizing a beautification fund reserved for such a purpose.
The annual meeting of the Seven Isles HOA membership concluded on time at 8:30 pm.
Newly Elected Seven Isles HOA Board of Directors
- Aqua Vista Street Representative: Mark Conroy
- Barcelona Street Representative: John Fitzgerald
- Castilla Isle Street Representative: Bob Lietz
- Delmar Place Street Representative: Gerd Woort-Menker
- DeSota Drive/DeSota Terr Street Representative: (open)
- Pelican Isle Street Representative: Alex Spektor
- Sea Island Drive Street Representative: Donna Zalter
- Seven Isles Drive Street Representative: Carol Mashek
- At-Large Representative: Kathleen Moreo
- At-Large Representative: Debbie Fitzgerald
- At-Large Representative: Howard Steinholz
- At-Large Representative: Kirsten Uebrig
- At-Large Representative: Pam Steigerwald