13
1 From all of us at Costa Pedasi we hope that you are staying healthy in these difficult times. The Board is sending out this second quarter 2020 newsletter to keep you informed. As of today, there are three reported COVID-19 cases in Pedasi. For now, the government has loosened many of their restrictions in Los Santos and Herrera provinces and we are able to travel freely on all days and can also go shopping in Las Tablas and Chitre. Much has been happening in our community over the last few months. Please review the activity and let us know which Committee you can join so together we can and will do more.

From all of us at Costa Pedasi we hope that you are ... · the website. We hope you find the new format easier to use. The software was upgraded and several people have remarked that

  • Upload
    others

  • View
    0

  • Download
    0

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1: From all of us at Costa Pedasi we hope that you are ... · the website. We hope you find the new format easier to use. The software was upgraded and several people have remarked that

1

FromallofusatCostaPedasiwehopethatyouarestayinghealthyinthesedifficulttimes.TheBoardissendingoutthissecondquarter2020newslettertokeepyouinformed.Asoftoday,therearethreereportedCOVID-19casesinPedasi.Fornow,thegovernmenthasloosenedmanyoftheirrestrictionsinLosSantosandHerreraprovincesandweareabletotravelfreelyonalldaysandcanalsogoshoppinginLasTablasandChitre.Muchhasbeenhappeninginourcommunityoverthelastfewmonths.PleasereviewtheactivityandletusknowwhichCommitteeyoucanjoinsotogetherwecanandwilldomore.

Page 2: From all of us at Costa Pedasi we hope that you are ... · the website. We hope you find the new format easier to use. The software was upgraded and several people have remarked that

2

Neil’sOutreachCommittee(KimiyeCronin,AbbeDrossner,TerryMaples,MelKenyonandJimGault)completedworkonthewebsite.Wehopeyoufindthenewformateasiertouse.Thesoftwarewasupgradedandseveralpeoplehaveremarkedthatthemobileaccessisagreatbenefit.

Newwebsitehomepage

InternetServiceProviderOptionTheHOAhasnegotiatedadealwithanewInternetprovider,PlanetTelecom,tosupplyservicestoCostaPedasi,Andromedaandtheimmediatearea.PlanetTelecomhasbeeninbusinessinPanamaforover12yearswithmanyclients,inmanycommunities.Thecompanywillsetupasolarpoweredtowerinthevicinityandstartwithinternettodishesonthehouse(similartocurrentdelivery)andwillbringinfiberdirecttothehomesinthefuture.Detailsofthecompanyandtheirplanswillbesenttoallmemberssoon.

Page 3: From all of us at Costa Pedasi we hope that you are ... · the website. We hope you find the new format easier to use. The software was upgraded and several people have remarked that

3

TowerbaseinstallationisscheduledtheweekofJuly26withcompletionAugust14andserviceashorttimeafter.ThisisPanamaandweareinPandemicbutwebelievethesedatesareachievable.PlanetTelecomanticipatesaugmentingthelocalstaffduringtheinitialinstallationstoprovideserviceasquicklyaspossible.TheyarearrangingtohireatechnicianandofficeadministratorfortheirPedasioffice.PlanetTelecom’sServiceDirectorwillhandleclientinstallationrequests.Installationswillbescheduledastheyarereceived.

BankaccountSinceMarchwehavebeenreceivingduesinandpayingbillsfromournewbankaccount.TheaccountissetuptoreceivemoneyandrequirestwoBoardmembersignaturesonachecktopaybills.Currently,threemembershavesigningauthorityandtheothertwomemberswillsoonbeadded.TheBoardhasbalancedthe2020budgetandweneedALLMEMBERStopaytheirHOAduesontimetomakesurewekeepthisbudgetontrack.TheTreasurerhassentoutbillsforJuly2020duesandallduescanbepaidtoourcorporate,nonprofitaccount(seewebsiteforwiringinstructions)orcontactMichaelMaxwell([email protected])forotherarrangements.FiscalUpdateDuringthe2019dryseason,theCPHOAwasspendingapproximately$11,000permonthonaverageonlandscapingandsecurity.Wearenowspending$5,800permonth;a

Page 4: From all of us at Costa Pedasi we hope that you are ... · the website. We hope you find the new format easier to use. The software was upgraded and several people have remarked that

4

reductionof53%.In2019wehada$40,000cashflowdeficit.Thisyearweexpecttobeeven.Wecut$4,848fromSecuritycosts,$29,400fromGroundsmaintenance,$12,000fromLegalRetainer,and$900fromInternetservicesforatotalsavingsof$47,148.EvenwithoutthesaleofLot51,westillmanagedtoputintoourwaterupgrades$24,200foranewwell,pumphouseand10,000-gallonwatertankwithinspectionladder.Theresultisanincreaseinproduction,reliablestorageandtheabilitytoincreaseourstorageto20,000gallonsduringthe2021dryseasonwiththeretrofittingoftheoldwatertank.ThiswasprobablythefirstyearwedidnothavetotextoutwaterrelatedalertstoCostaPedasiresidents,nordidweneedtobuywaterfromtankertrucks.Withtheabovesavings,youmaybethinkingweareswimmingincash.Notso!Asofthetimeofwritingthiswehave$960.94inourCPHOAbankaccountwith$1,237.50incollectableaccountsreceivables.Inaddition,weareinthewetseasonandourlotcuttingswilladdanother$1,800everytimeweweedwhackthevacantlotsandcommonareas.Weknewthisyearwasgoingtobeachallengegiventhe$22,000inlostRevenuetothePrepaidHOAfees.In2021,prepaidduesdropdownto$11,000.WehavegivenSeasideManagement90daysnoticefortheterminationoftheirSecurityandWaterContracts.Wewouldliketobringtheseemployeesinhouseandestimatethereisapotential$25,000savingsinannualcoststotheHOAwithoutareductionofservices.Plusweexpectbetterutilizationof

Page 5: From all of us at Costa Pedasi we hope that you are ... · the website. We hope you find the new format easier to use. The software was upgraded and several people have remarked that

5

staffthanwearecurrentlygetting.Thenextstepistoinvestapproximately$17,000inelectronicgateopenerswithamemberapprovalvote.Weshouldbeabletotransferstafftothegroundsmaintenancesideandreducecostsfurther.Withthesavings,wewillalsoinvestigatethepossibilityofhiringoneresourcetobearoamingnightsecurityguard.TheBoardexpectsthatoncealltheaboveisachieved;wecangetourOperatingcostsdownto$3,500to$4,000permonthexcludinganyCapitalupgradesorequipment.Allexcessfundscanthenbeputbackintotheinfrastructure.TheMonthlyexpenditures,Cashflow,andprojectedFinancialsareallonthenewwebsiteunder2020Financials.Ifyoudonotseeinformationyouareafter,[email protected].

NewwatertankTherecentlyinstallednew10,000-gallonwatertankhasbeenworkingfineandkeepingthecommunitysuppliedwithplentyofwater.Theoldtankisonthegroundandweareawaitingrefurbishingestimatessowecanuseitasbackupwatercapacityduringthe2021dryseason.

Oldwatertankbeingremovedandnewtankreadytoinstall

Page 6: From all of us at Costa Pedasi we hope that you are ... · the website. We hope you find the new format easier to use. The software was upgraded and several people have remarked that

6

Newwell#6locatedbehindcasa#60Thewellhasbeenoperatingsuccessfullyforseveralmonths.Theexcellentwaterflowratemeantthatforthefirsttimeinafewyears,thecommunitydidnothavetopurchaseexpensivetankertrucksupplementalwaterdeliveries.

OurcommunityhasoneofthebestwatersystemsinPedasi.Wehaveplentifulclean,goodtasting,testeddrinkingwater.Controllingourwatersupplyensuresthatthecommunityhasasteadywatersupply24hoursaday.Oftenthetown’swatersupplyisshutoffforseveralhoursatatimeindryseason.Ourplentifulsupplymeansthatweareabletoenjoynormalactivitieswithoutworryofrunninglowonwater.Thewatersupplyalsohastheabilitytoexpandandmeetthefuturedemandsofthecommunityasweaddnewhomes.AssociationgroundsmaintenanceMichaelMaxwellandseveralvolunteerscontinuetoremovesmallrocksfromcommonareasandusethemtofillinerosiondamageinotherareasofthecommunity.Thishasimprovedthecurbappealofthecommunityandreducedmaintenance.ThisphotoshowsthepreviouslysevereerosionareabetweenthesidewalkandcurbfilledinandtoppedwithplasticandfinishedwithstonebetweentheClancyandKornhomes.

Page 7: From all of us at Costa Pedasi we hope that you are ... · the website. We hope you find the new format easier to use. The software was upgraded and several people have remarked that

7

Wearenowabletocut28lotswiththelawntractorsavingtheHOAmoneybyreducinggrasscuttingcrewcostsandkeepourcommunitybeautiful.Weedcontrolbetweenthesidewalksandcurbhasbeencompletedandthishasgreatlyimprovedtheappearanceofthedevelopment.MichaelandLarryCronincontinuetotrimmanydeadpalmfrondsandwithJim’shelpmovethemtotheorganicpile.Thishelpstoimprovethebeautyofthecommunityandsavesusmorethan$2,400permonthinlandscapingmaintenancefeesinthedryseasonthatwepreviouslypaid.

Page 8: From all of us at Costa Pedasi we hope that you are ... · the website. We hope you find the new format easier to use. The software was upgraded and several people have remarked that

8

LoadingJim’struckwithtrimmedpalmfronds

Thenewwaterdiversiontrenchbehindlots62,63,64,65,and66isworkingasintendedtokeepwaterfromflowingoffcommonareasontotheselots.

Waterdiversiontrenchkeepingwateroffofmembers’lots

Page 9: From all of us at Costa Pedasi we hope that you are ... · the website. We hope you find the new format easier to use. The software was upgraded and several people have remarked that

9

FrontEntranceToimprovefirstimpressionswhenenteringthecommunity,thefrontgatecenterislandareaisbeingredoneandthearchhasbeenpowerwashed.Deadplantsandnon-workingirrigationlineshavebeenremoved.

Formerfrontentranceplanting

Inthisphoto,excessdirtisbeingwashedofftheroad.Newplantsandirrigationlinesarecurrentlybeinginstalled.

Frontentranceplantpreparation

Page 10: From all of us at Costa Pedasi we hope that you are ... · the website. We hope you find the new format easier to use. The software was upgraded and several people have remarked that

10

Newplants,freshsoilandstoneatfrontentrance

Unfortunately,therainyseasonreturnedandlaborrestrictionswerenotliftedintimetoallowthefrontarchtobepaintedthisyear.ReductionofexpensesThegatecommittee(Michael,Paul,JimSeaman,ToddandSusanSells,LarryCronin,andAbbe)receivedaquotefromanelectronicgatevendor.Theysubmittedalistofquestionstothevendorandheldaconferencecall.Discussedweregateoptions,cardreaderoptions,vendoraccessoptions,cameras,andcostbenefits.Additionalquestionsarebeingsubmittedtothevendor.SomemembersoftheCommitteedidasitevisittoChitrewherethegateisinoperation.Nextstepswillbecontactingthecompany’stwelveplusreferencesfromalloverPanamaandequipmentreviews.InformationandcostbenefitanalysiswillthenbesharedwiththeCommunity.

Page 11: From all of us at Costa Pedasi we hope that you are ... · the website. We hope you find the new format easier to use. The software was upgraded and several people have remarked that

11

RealEstateupdateTwohomesandonelotwentundercontractinthepastmonth.RealtorsaretellingBoardmembersthattheyhaveclientsinterestedinlookingathomesandlotsinPedasiandCostaPedasi.Onceairtravelresumes,theyareexpectingtoseesomepotentialbuyersvisit.Realtorsarealsotellingusthatcurbappeal,waterupgrades,andabalancedbudgetarekeyfactorsinshowinganybuyersthattheHOAisdoingagoodjobmanagingthecommunity.BoardofDirectormeetingsYourBoardcontinueswithbusinessviaZoommeetings.Agendasandminutesforboththemonthlyandexecutivemeetingsarepostedonthenewwebsite.WearedelightedthatZoomattendanceincreasesateachmonthlymeeting.PLGIupdateTheBoardisinregularcommunicationwithPLGI’sattorney,Nora.Giladhasgonesilentandnotspokenwithhisattorneyinseveralweeks.WearealsoindiscussionswithotherlawyerstopursuePLGItoobtaintheoriginallynegotiated14lots.WewillupdatetheCommunityoncewehavemoredetailstoshare.HOAlegalstatuschangeRecentduediligencebyourattorneyresearchingPanamaandHOAlawshasprovideduswithgreatnewswewanttoshare.Whenourdevelopmentwasfirstplanned,GiladhadstartedtheprocesstohavetheroadsinCostaPedasimade

Page 12: From all of us at Costa Pedasi we hope that you are ... · the website. We hope you find the new format easier to use. The software was upgraded and several people have remarked that

12

private.ThiswasdoneaspartofthefutureformationoftheHOA.ThismeanstheroadsandcommonareaswereseparatedfromPLGIholdingsattheonsetofthedevelopmentplanningandallpermitsandgovernmentapprovalsweredoneatthisstage.AttheformationoftheHOAin2017wehadachievedthelastcriteriabythePanamagovernmentforprivateroadsandourlegalstatuswentintoeffect.Whenthegovernmentofficesreopenedwewereabletoobtainthestamped,registeredpaperworkofourofficialstatus.WhatthatmeanstoCPisthattheHOAnowhasthelegalrightsunderPanamaLawresolution28-2003,February21,2003tochargeandcollectHOAduesfromalllandownersinsideofCostaPedasifortheoperationofthedevelopment.Alltheco-ownersofthedevelopmenthavetheobligationtopayallthefeesforthemaintenanceoftheroads,sidewalks,drainage,frontgate,refusedump,lights,lotcutting,waterpipesandrepairsareincludedaspartofthisagreement.Theby-lawsoftheEstatutothatpertaintotheseareasarealsoineffectandenforceable.Alllandowners’currentandfuturewillberequiredlegallytosupporttheHOAthroughpaymentofdues.AllpaymentsinarrearsfromtheinceptionoftheHOAin2017cannowlegallybepursuedandsupportedinPanamacourtsasrequired.Thedocumentisinclusiveofallroadsuptophase3(ourcurrentstatus)ofthedevelopment.Theby-lawsoftheEstatutothatpertaintotheseareasarealsoineffect

Page 13: From all of us at Costa Pedasi we hope that you are ... · the website. We hope you find the new format easier to use. The software was upgraded and several people have remarked that

13

andenforceable.ThenewlegalstatusunderPanamalawhelpsstrengthenourcommunitytobecomeself-sufficientandprovideamorestablefuture.InearlyJuly,allmembersweresentacopyoftheofficialdocumentinSpanishandalsoanEnglishtranslation.Foradditionalinformation,pleasecontactusatCostapedasibusiness@gmail.com.CostaPedasiBoardofDirectorsJuly18,2020