The Annual Membership Meeting of the Seven Isles Homeowners Association (HOA) took place at All Saints Episcopal Church in Fort Lauderdale on Feb 10, 2022. Homeowners unable or unwilling to attend the in-person meeting also joined by a convenient Zoom link. All homeowners heard presentations from 3 guest speakers from the City of Fort Lauderdale code compliance division, as well as obtained key updates on our security services and highlights of other problems tackled by the board of directors throughout last year. Homeowners also voted on a new 2022-23 board of directors, which includes 8 street representatives and 5 members-at-large. Seven Isles is fortunate to have 13 highly dedicated volunteers who pledge their time and efforts to ensure our neighborhood is one of the safest and most desirable neighborhoods in the city.
Newly elected 2022-23 HOA Board of Directors:
- Aqua Vista Street Representative: Mark Conroy
- Barcelona Street Representative: Debbie Fitzgerald
- Castilla Isle Street Representative: Bob Lietz
- Delmar Place Street Representative: Gerd Woort-Menker
- DeSota Drive/Terr Street Representative: Gloria Gebbia
- Pelican Isle Street Representative: Alex Spector
- Sea Island Drive Street Representative: Donna Zalter
- Seven Isles Drive Street Representative: Fred Brodsky
- At-Large Representative: Kathleen Moreo
- At-Large Representative: Howard Steinholz
- At-Large Representative: Kirsten Uebrig
- At-Large Representative: Pam Steigerwald
- At-Large Representative: Carol Mashek
Renting Docks, Dock Space and Boat Rentals Are Prohibited in Seven Isles
In addition to electing the new Board, meeting attendees engaged in a highly interactive question-and-answer session with 3 Code Compliance Inspectors from the City of Ft Lauderdale. The City’s Community Enhancement and Compliance Division works 7 days a week to ensure Seven Isles and other neighborhoods remain a beautiful and safe place to live.
During the presentations, attendees learned a lot about code requirements and code violations commonly impacting Seven Isles, and what residents can do to mitigate code compliance issues in partnership with the City. Attendees also learned how seemingly minor code infractions can become large problems. Compliance Officer Manny Garcia reinforced actions that are prohibited but may be common in Seven Isles, such as the renting of dock space. He provided vivid examples of how a seemingly innocent gesture to rent out your dock space can catapult into a major expense for the homeowner, including a hefty lien on the property with daily accumulating fines. Code compliance officers also discussed other common code compliance issues, such as those pertaining to short-term rentals in our community. Handouts were provided to all attendees with pertinent information.
HOA Key Actions in 2021
Attendees also obtained a summary of key HOA actions in 2021. These are summarized below for those of you who were unable to attend the meeting:
- The HOA Board of Directors conducted due diligence and hired a new security company, SIG9 Global, on July 1, 2021. SIG9 Global will present a summary of their services and observations during tonight’s meeting. Information and bios of the leadership and guards are on our website.
- Our HOA regularly participates in civic and government planning meetings when decisions can affect our community. Over the past year, these have included the Ft. Lauderdale Neighborhood Association Presidents’ Roundtable; the Las Olas Mobility Project; City of Ft. Lauderdale District 2 Updates; Lauderdale Tomorrow; and the Council of Fort Lauderdale Civic Associations.
- If you are reading this, you know that the HOA regularly publishes a monthly digital newsletter that provides a wealth of information pertaining to happenings in Seven Isles. These newsletters are available on our website at www.sevenisleshoa.com and are sent directly to your email – but only if you opt-in to the website and sign up for Newsletter at: www.sevenisleshoa.com/contact.
- The Seven Isles HOA website is actively monitored and regularly updated with helpful phone numbers, garbage pickup schedules, monthly news from the City Mayor, information on our security guards, news and events around the town, and Watch Order forms, as well as posting our monthly newsletters.
- Any HOA member can request an enhanced House Watch if he/she is going out of town. Simply go on the website and complete the “Vacation Notification Form” at www.sevenisleshoa.com/watch-order. In 2021, our security companies conducted more than 50 requested Watch Orders, some of which were for extended periods of time.
- Our HOA sponsored 2 neighborhood events in 2021 in addition to our annual meeting: the Second annual Halloween and Fall House Decorating Contest in October; and the Holiday House Decorating Contest in December. These contests included cash prizes for many winners. Information is provided in our November 2021 and January 2022 digital newsletters, available on our website.
- Our HOA continues to provide Welcome Packets to new homeowners with information on our neighborhood as well as HOA membership.
Update on 2021 Underground Utilities in Seven Isles
Undergrounding in the DeSota section of Seven Isles was conducted by FPL in 2021 at their own expense, without oversight by the City or the HOA. In other locations throughout the neighborhood, AT&T has conducted both aerial work and underground boring in right-of-ways for installation of new fiber and conduit for a new high- speed network.
In 2013, the Seven Isles HOA submitted an application to the City to request coordinated undergrounding by all utility companies with oversight by the city. This application was shelved by the City until recently; they are now preparing to move forward. As such, the recent undergrounding is NOT part of the planned process to be conducted through the city.
An application was resubmitted by the HOA to the City in May 2021 and accepted.
Update from the City: Las Olas Isles is currently serving as the first Isles’ testing site. Idlewyld is expected to be next, followed by Seven Isles, followed by Riviera Isles. Due diligence will be spearheaded by the City, with updates provided to the Board, which will then be shared with homeowners. Before undergrounding can occur, the City needs to estimate project costs, then identify a per-household assessment fee which will be provided to Seven Isles homeowners in order to seek a majority vote required by the City to proceed. The City will also conduct due process through the City Commission. If the project is subsequently approved, the City anticipates actual undergrounding work would commence about two years from now.
More detailed information can be found in our 2021 digital newsletters posted on our website.