Question & Answer Archive

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QUESTIONS ADDRESSED ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2011

Question:
I'm curious as to why the lights have been removed from the palm trees at the entrance to our fine Club. The last I recall was that the lights would be turned off at 8pm to conserve energy - a prudent idea. Why have the lights been completely removed?

Answer:
The lights at the entry to Palmira are a community responsibility administered by the Palmira MHOA.

As you note, they are illuminated only during the holiday season so as not to incur extra electricity cost for the rest of the year.  (What was turned off at 8:00 pm were the range fountains, done both for expense and noise abatement reasons.)

For aesthetic reasons, the lights are removed after the holidays so residents and visitors alike don't have to look at the unlit strings.

QUESTIONS ADDRESSED ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 2011 (Questions posed from mid-December to current date)

Question:
When golf carts are on the main streets, aren't they subject to the same rules as cars i.e. stop signs??  I never see them stop-just roll through.  I imagine they will be the first to complain if they get hit.  And, in addition, why don't they use the golf cart paths?

Answer:
Operators of golf carts are expected to obey the rules of the road, as they share it with automobiles.  This obligation was highlighted in the Palmira Weekly in January 2012.

Regarding where they operate, the course cart paths are limited to golfers playing golf.  For someone traveling back and forth between clubhouse and home, they must use the roads.  Similarly, the owners of private cars often use their golf cart as a "second car" to get around the neighborhood, visit the RCC, go to dinner or visit a friend's home, requiring travel on our Palmira streets.

Question:
I would like to suggest that the Club be open for ala carte dining at least one evening Christmas week.  The Clubhouse is decorated so beautifully; it would be lovely to be able to entertain family and friends.

Answer:
The Club had six evening events in December following decoration of the clubhouse for the holidays.  Christmas week is normally a week when few members are at Palmira, but we will consider this for the 2012-2013 season.

Question:
There is still an issue at the health club at the RCC. For months, there has been a sign on the machines stating that we are working with Comcast to resolve the problem of people changing the channels on other people's machines. This problem is still un resolved

Answer:
The RCC has decided to purchase the Comcast solution to the TV tuning issue.  Installation date is TBD.

Question:
On the matter of the health club, there are machines that are breaking down. Machine 15 does not take the pulse rate. The TV with machine 13 does not work. Can we get these fixed?

Answer:
The necessary repairs have been completed.

Question:
I always here of San Remo being referred to as “Palmira.”  What relationship do we have with them?

Answer:

Question:
Is it possible to keep the Midway Cafe open until 5 P.M.? 

Answer:

Question:
Why haven't the impatiens been watered?  The flowers at La Tremiti and streets past look as if they're dying.  We had such beautiful flowers last season; what happened this year?  (it certainly hasn't been cold most nights)

Answer:
The landscape committee is aware of the issue and is working with the landscaper to address.  Some flowers were damaged by the early-January cold and will be replaced.  Water restrictions are another influence as is evaporation of water from the warm weather we are now enjoying.

Question:
The Nine & Dine and Sunday Couples Events are very popular and give members a chance to socialize with those who do not always play golf, why are there none scheduled?  Also, there seem to be many "competitions" scheduled on the weekends making it very difficult to have guests visit.

Answer:
The Club recently added a Nine and Dine on February 15th in addition to the one on April 3rd.

Sunday Couples golf has been added for March 18.

Added Couple on March 18th.

The early date for Easter this year pushed some events up into the calendar and the Beautification Tournament was also added this year.

QUESTIONS ADDRESSED ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2011

Question:
I have heard that once the grill room is built, it will be open every day. Since we have a beautiful dining room, why can't we open it up every day for the members to start using now. I don't understand how we can't manage it now, but we will be able to manage it when the grill room is built.

Answer:
As previously announced, starting in January the club house dining room will be open for a la carte lunch on Friday and Saturday in addition to the buffet lunches served on Wednesday and Thursday, so the dining room is available four days of each week during season.

Opening the dining room now means duplication of service staff with the Midway Café and an entirely separate kitchen staff.  The Grill Room will replace the Midway Café, avoiding that duplication in their daily service schedule.

In an effort to effectively manage costs, while still delivering the level of service members expect, we have tried to select the days of greatest lunch demand to open the dining room.  Sunday, Monday and Tuesday are typically low volume days where the offerings of the Midway Café can meet member’s food and beverage needs.

QUESTIONS ADDRESSED ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2011

Question:
Why do we not have a problem adding space and money for Bocce ball courts and have such a resistance to adding 2 tennis courts which are desperately needed in order to maintain our standing? We currently cannot host Finals for our Teams because of this. Do our Bocce Ball fans play in as many Leagues?

Answer:
The Palmira MHOA Board views these as two separate issues.

The one existing bocce court was used to capacity in 2010.  Additional bocce courts were proposed by a large number of residents, and after looking at the growth of this sport in Southwest Florida, the Board determined that it would be a worthwhile addition to our community.

Tennis is already an important part of the community and the Board supports its growth. However, after looking at issues including court utilization, it was determined that we have not reached a sufficient level of tennis membership to justify the construction of additional courts. This decision is subject to change in the future, and the level of membership we have in the upcoming season will be an important consideration.

Question:
Why can't the food minimum be used at the Village Grill? We love having lunch around the pool and find it difficult to use our minimum with the limited time we get to spend at Palmira right now and the limited hours of operation at the clubhouse?

Answer:
The dining minimum was implemented by the Club to assure that all members share equally in support of Club dining facilities.  The Village Grill is not a club-operated facility, so purchases there do not count against the minimum.

The Club offers dining opportunities eleven months of each year.  The annual club calendar (now available for club members in the club office and online) is one source for available events.  In addition, the online event calendar is updated weekly with new information and changes, providing the most current source of event information.

Question:
Does Palmira Members have a Cable Company recommendation for residents that need to have TV and Internet Service other than Comcast?

Answer:
No, there is no alternative recommendation.  For Internet, the CenturyLink does offer DSL service as an alternative to Comcast.  For television, the only alternative to cable (basic cable paid for in neighborhood association fees) is satellite.  Any installation of a satellite dish requires architectural review and approval prior to installation.  Check with your neighborhood association for their guidelines and submission requirements for architectural changes to the exterior of your home.

QUESTIONS ADDRESSED ON SUNDAY,SEPTEMBER 25, 2011

Question:
How are the plantings/water display designs determined for each neighborhood's marker? "BELLEZZA" seems to lack pizzazz in comparison to other entrance designs (urns filled w/cement instead of plants, lacklaster flowers, lighting,etc.) What procedure is necessary in order to improve this?

Answer:
This question, at least in part, came before the Palmira Master Homeowners Association Board of Directors last October.  From the minutes:
"Some neighborhoods have requested pots be placed at their entries.  The cost of the pots is $450 each.  If desired, the neighborhoods would pay to have them installed.  After installation, the Master would take over maintenance and upkeep."

Question:
Last season a number of members asked to start club events a bit later than 5:30.  It was approved that we would try starting events at 6 or 6:30. Most events were sold out; however, this upcoming season appears to be back to 5:30.  Please explain.

Answer:

Question:
Does Palmira have a community flag pole upon which the flags of the United States and the state of Florida are flown?

Answer:

QUESTIONS ADDRESSED ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2011

Question:
With the hurricane season almost upon us has any thought been given to the possibility of utilizing the clubhouse as a shelter?  I realize that it is not large enough to house everyone and supplies, however, perhaps for a short period of time during the heaviest part of a storm.

Answer:
The club and community are in the process of developing a disaster response plan(s), still a work in progress.  As of now, residents will be directed to county shelters, equipped and staffed to handle the refugees from a storm.  The nearest one of these to Palmira is the YMCA off of East Terry Street.  Lee County has a list of shelters at http://www.leeeoc.com/shelterevacuation/Pages/publicshelters.aspx with indications (updated as a storm approaches) of which sites are then active.

Question:
With golf membership capped @365 members, have you considered the impact this will have on residents who wish to sell their homes to potential golf members who will not be able to join the golf club if the cap is reached and in force?
Is there a solution to this situation?

Answer:
With any private club, there is a certain amount of membership attrition each year as members age, relocate, lose a loved one or have other changes in their family situation.  While activities to attract new golf members are ongoing, only 10 to 15 are likely to be added in an average year.  As a result, it may be as much as a decade before the 365 cap is reached.  We’ll be able to reassess things at that distant time.

Keep in mind, too, that the 365 maximum describes the number of memberships, not the number of golfers.  The number of memberships likely means 600 golfers with access to our 27 holes.

Question:
I agree with the member comment last week that the new golf membership restriction will be counter-productive.  How many golf memberships get transferred each year?  Please break this down into 1, 2, 3 and more months.  Are there any records kept on the number of membership transfer inquiries? 

Answer:
There are approximately forty properties at Palmira with a golf membership that are offered for rent by the owners.  Last season, there were 62 transfer transactions processed.  The demand for such properties exceeded supply, pointing to the interest our community has generated.

Question:
During the season, the early (5:00 pm) closing of the golf shop and clubhouse renders import facilities and services unavailable.  For example, members or guests with clothing or property in the locker rooms cannot access it after a late round.  Similarly, golf shop services like handicap input or tee time reservations are unavailable after a round.

Answer:
On days when the club is open for evening events, the clubhouse doors remain open into the evening.  For other days, the Golf Committee and Club management will be reviewing alternatives to see that member access needs are met as effectively as possible.

Question:
You wrote about the home development that will be eventually going up next to our property. Do you now the proposed price of the homes?

Answer:
At a recent presentation, GL Homes mentioned they would build homes in the $350-$500K range, consistent with the home types they currently construct.

QUESTIONS ADDRESSED ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 14, 2011

Question:
Why, in season do we close the pro shop at 5pm.  This seems to me far too early.  In my opinion the pro shop should not close November - March until 6:30pm and April / May 8pm.

Answer:
The operating hours for the Golf Shop will be reviewed by the Golf Committee.

Question:
The condition of the 2nd hole (of the Ibis course) off of Odanti Drive is horrible.
They have planted grass and some type of foliage.  First, they do scalp the grass as they cut it around the back of our home and secondly, they do not take care of the weeds that are growing out of control. Please have them take care of it.

Answer:
The golf course superintendent removed weeds from the areas in question.  In the fall, when grass growth and rainfall slow down, these areas will be mulched.

Question:
The new policy on transferring a golf membership to the same party for no more than three times is counterproductive and will not necessarily bring in new members. It will however hurt those parties who need to rent their homes and also have a golf membership.

Answer:
Palmira is a very popular rental site, with more potential renters than available properties.  By limiting the number of times a renter can obtain a golf membership transfer, the Club gives more people an opportunity to experience the benefits of Club membership.  This benefits the Club and its members

Question:
What was the revenue from non-member golfers aka 'walk ons' for the 2010 -2011 season from November 1st to April 30th who used the golf course? If members aren't using the course in the afternoon, why not allow outside play? Do you also think this new policy will bring in new members?

Answer:
Irrespective of the revenue, private club members expect their club to be truly private, as the Board recently elected to announce.  It was a decision that was believed to be in the best long-term interest of the Club, including the goal of membership growth.

Question:
Club property behind homes suffers from neglect; weed control, plant replacement, tree trimming and mulching are issues. We have expended time and money to maintain the area behind our home. How can you afford a Club House addition and fail to maintain the grounds to a commensurate image?

Answer:
The golf course superintendent removed weeds from the areas in question.  In the fall, when grass growth and rainfall slow down, these areas will be mulched.

QUESTIONS ADDRESSED ON SUNDAY, JULY 10, 2011

Question:
If would be nice to have a community garbage can that could be used to throw trash when leaving for the weekend.  What would cost of a community trash can be?  It could be put near the trash area behind the RCC by the tennis courts.

Answer:
This question was also answered in February (2/13 & 2/27) of this year.  Please visit those section of this digest for the dialog.  The answers have not changed.

The dumpsters used by the Club and Renaissance Center are reserved for business waste only.  Residents are urged to ask a neighbor to include waste with their garbage for the following week.

It is important that additional cartage expense not be incurred from resident disposal, which is why we have recommended that neighbors work together to see that each other’s waste is part of the scheduled weekly pickup. This service is already contracted and they will pick up as much waste as is left at the curb with no additional expense.

Additionally, resident use of the commercial dumpsters could expose the club or MHOA to additional liability if hazardous items were introduced into these containers

Public-use dumpsters will not be provided.

Question:
Is there any chance of having an outdoor volleyball court, maybe even sand (beach-style) or just mown lawn?  Maybe over by the tennis courts.

Answer:

QUESTIONS ADDRESSED ON SUNDAY, JUNE 26, 2011

Question:
First I would like to thank each and every board member for all the work involved in being a board member.  Will there be a day when all lakes look great with rocks and plantings.  I feel most of the lakes are eye sores and embarrassing from the course and houses.  A great example is Vanderbilt CC.

Answer:
Regarding the lake water levels, we are at the mercy of Mother Nature.  The lakes are as much as 18 feet in depth, with as much as ten feet of change in water level from season to season.

The Community Development District (CDD) has begun some work with plantings around the edges, but this will be a long term effort.  Course staff have been at work burying some of the drainage pipes that are visible at lake edges when the water level falls.

Some communities will be able to maintain higher water levels, since they have “recharge wells” to manage the water in their lakes.  Palmira’s design did not include this capability.  Vanderbilt, mentioned in your question, has two such wells and is able to maintain a higher visible water level as a result.

Question:
Is it possible to have a directory of the entire community and not just those that are members of the club?

Answer:
This question has been asked previously.  The Club is able to manage the information for its members as a private club.  However, each member is asked in the annual survey of information if they want their information suppressed, offering the opportunity to “opt out” if they so elect.

The Palmira MHOA, as a public entity, is prohibited from the disclosure of private information on residents, so it is not possible to deliver the directory you’d like to see.

Question:
Looking forward to returning this winter. Can you let us know how construction is proceeding for the new grill and for the bocce courts?

Answer:
Grill Room developments will be reported in the Palmira Weekly and also, as needed, in special e-mails sent to the club membership.  We have also installed a webcam that will be aimed at the construction once it begins so you can follow the work in real time.  That webcam image is available from the Members’ Resource website homepage.

On the bocce courts, the Bocce at Palmira group is staying on top of the planning and will be providing status reports for the Palmira Weekly and directly to those that expressed an interest in Bocce.  Please visit www.bocceatpalmira.com and sign up for the mailing list to receive updates directly on this project.

Question:
I recently traded cars and went to the guard shack for a sticker. I was amazed that a fee of $10.00 is required to REPLACE a sticker when it clearly states that as a home owner we are allowed 2 stickers for our vehicles. With all the fees we pay it would seem a replacement sticker should be no charge.

Answer:
The Bar Code policy, in place since 2008, entitles each homeowner to two bar codes for their vehicles.  Any additional bar code sticker is $10.  When a resident is changing vehicles, if the old bar code sticker is returned, there is no charge for the replacement sticker.

QUESTIONS ADDRESSED ON SUNDAY, JUNE 5, 2011

Question:
Whilst I am pleased to hear of the planned new planting on Egret 1, 3 and 5 (see Board minutes from the 5/19/11 meeting – ed.) there is a conspicuous omission of the lake on Egret 4. My home overlooks the lake to the green and it is an extremely embarrassing eyesore particularly when we have guests. Please, can this be considered?

Answer:
The plan is to ultimately address all of the holes on the Egret course.  We will have to see if the materials available this year enable the work to extend to the Hole 4 pond.

Question:
When will we have the golf and events schedule for Nov 2011 through march of 2012??  I'm going to start booking weekend and weeks to be in Palmira and would like to schedule the appropriate times to tournments and social events.
Thanks ....look forward to your response!!

Answer:
The calendar for the 2011-2012 club season is now being developed.  The dates for next season’s key events are now available.

QUESTIONS ADDRESSED ON SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2011

Question:
The midway cafe hours are 8 to 1. I have concerns that we are closing too early to accommodate the golfers. If we have people on the course, we should have the ability to buy lunch after a round. I have played at two clubs this week and both had the grill rooms open well past ours.

Answer:
During the warmer months, Palmira typically sees less than 100 golfer per day and most of them starting in the morning. We have geared the Midway Cafe hours to serve as many of these players as we can, both for before-round food, snacks on the turn and sandwiches for those who complete play early. While the standard closing hour is 1:00 pm, we have stayed open until 2:00 on days when there is sufficient play to warrant it.

Once available on 2012, the Grill Room will enable us to offer expanded service hours.

QUESTIONS ADDRESSED ON SUNDAY, MAY 1, 2011

Question:
It is difficult to have an enjoyable fine dining experience with the very loud noise level due to the bar location so that all can enjoy their experiences. Why can't it be relocated to the library that can be closed off?  Also, can this also please be considered for the new grill room, too? Thanks.

Answer:
The issue raised by this questioner is a by-product of the popularity of our dining events.  In seating reservations, we do our best to spread diners among servers to assure the best service, but this requires some diners sit near the bar.  Our members like to gather at the bar prior to dining and, though it has been tried, do not want to use the library as a gathering place.

With the opening of the Grill Room in 2012, we anticipate the ability to offer a richer fine dining experience in the dining room, as the demand for dining will be spread across two facilities.

The Grill Room, by design, will offer a pub, sports bar atmosphere and is intended as the primary casual dining location at the Club.  Closely-spaced table, multiple large-screen TVs and the casual atmosphere mean that it will not offer a formal dining ambiance and will likely be a noisy, fun, place to be.

Question:
I have been checking my statement but it is very hard to tell which items in the detailed statement are applied against the minimum.  Would it be possible to designate those items on our statements that go against the minimum as "food"?

Answer:
To check your statement online, each club member can visit the private members site, then log in with their member number and password.  (Any member that does not have a password can secure one by contacting the club administrative office.)  Click the “Your Statement” to view.  To see the details on a particular charge, click the reference number for that item, bringing up a copy of the “chit” for that item. 

QUESTIONS ADDRESSED ON SUNDAY, APRIL 17, 2011

Question:
How about a discussion regarding creating a community garden.  This would be an area we all could contribute growing healthy "green" foods and create another unique feature of our community.

Answer:
This is not a topic we intend to address in the foreseeable future.  Issues of the land, water for irrigation, tools and off-season care make a community garden impractical in Palmira where a resort-style lifestyle is the goal of the community.

Question:
Is it possible to have the USA Today newspaper at the RCC newsstand in addition to the local papers?

Answer:
The USA Today newspaper was formerly sold in a paper box outside the Village Grill.  Sales of the paper were insufficient and the paper removed the box.  An e-edition of USA Today is available for $99 a year, providing an exact replica of the paper in your e-mail inbox each morning by 5:30 am.  Visit www.usatoday.com for more information.

Question:
I noticed that the fountains at the aqua range are on but the lights are not working. Do you know why the lights are not working? They look so beautiful when the fountains and lights are both working. Thanks.

Answer:

Question:
What is happening to the old gourmet coffee shop next to the Rennaisance center?

Answer:
At this time, there are no plans to use the former Pronto Café premises.

Question:
Does the community prefer bicycle riders to be on the street or the sidewalk?

Answer:
Bicycles should be ridden on the street, as close to the curb as can be done safely, preserving the sidewalk for pedestrians.

Question:
Now that we have the new large recycle bins, what do we do with the old small blue bins? 

Answer:
The first week the new wheeled carts were in use, the waste management contractor did pick up the old bins if left at the curb.  To recycle the old bin, it is now necessary to contact Veolia Environmental Services at (239) 334-1224, option 4, and ask the customer service representative about having your old container picked up by a field supervisor.

QUESTIONS ADDRESSED ON SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2011

Question:
We have recycle bins for aluminum cans and bottles on the golf course, but we do not recycle around our club house.   I see all cans and bottles being put in the trash containers.  Nothing is separated.   Could someone please confirm why we do not recycle?

Question:
Would it be possible to do recycling containers at the pool?

Answer:
The RCC/Pool/Village Grill and the Club present two different sets of issues.

• At the RCC & Pool, the primary recyclables are plates and plastic glasses and not cans or bottles.  For these to be recycled, they have to be cleaned of food residue, which would involve staff time to inspect and clean the contents of any receptacle.  The effort to do so was deemed not affordable.

• At the Club, primarily the Midway Café, there are cans and bottles that could be recycled.  During the off-season, the cost, logistics and staff time of doing so will be assessed.

Question:
What are the rules and regulations of owning and using a personal grill, i.e,. not the one provided at the RCC.

Answer:
The issue of gas grills was addressed in the September 26, 2010 edition of the Palmira Weekly.  That release stated the following:

Please be aware that the storage of propane cylinders exceeding (2) cylinders containing a maximum of 1 pound of propane each, inside a residence, including garages, is strictly prohibited by the Florida Fire Protection Code and the 2004 NFPA LP Gas Handbook.

As a frame of reference the typical "barbeque cylinders" used on gas grills contain approximately 16 to 20 lbs. of propane when full. Accordingly storage of these barbeque cylinders inside a residence or attached garage is prohibited by the code. 

If you have any questions about this regulation or wish further clarification please feel free to call the Bonita Springs Fire Control & Rescue District at (239) 949-6211.

Charcoal or electric grills do not present the explosion hazard presented by a gas grill.  Nonetheless, storage of charcoal grills must assure that any ashes are completely cool.  For those living in coach homes, the condominium documents should be reviewed for limitations on where charcoal or electric grills may be used, as lanai usage may be prohibited.

Charcoal or electric grills do not present the explosion hazard presented by a gas grill.  Nonetheless, storage of charcoal grills must assure that any ashes are completely cool.  For those living in coach homes, the condominium documents should be reviewed for limitations on where charcoal or electric grills may be used, as lanai usage may be prohibited.

QUESTIONS ADDRESSED ON SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2011

Updates

• Several questions addressed interest in a community dog park for use by residents and their pets.  This was discussed at the March 15 Palmira MHOA Board Meeting, with a proposal on how to create such a facility to be presented by Ben Potter at the April meeting.  The meeting date will be announced in the Palmira Weekly and all residents are welcome to attend these meetings.

Question:
We pay a hefty price to play golf at Palmira.  Why then are we shut out of our course for 3 days during prime time for the Men's Invitational?  We should be able to at least play 9 holes.  Limit the field if necessary 

Answer:
As discussed in previous Answer Center replies, the work to create the 2012 Palmira event calendar will look at alternative tournament schedules and start times to make more weekend morning tee times available for those not participating in the event and address the needs of those members who are only able to spend limited time at Palmira.

However, the Men’s Invitational is a three-day, all-day, event for which members invite people for out-of-state to participate and is an excellent way to showcase our community and club to others.  It is unlikely this event’s format or schedule will be modified.

When a tournament is being held at Palmira, the Golf Shop will help players find an alternative course, if needed.

When making travel plans to visit Palmira, all members are urged to review the event calendar for activities that will occur during their stay and contact the club if they have any questions about an event’s impact on the ability to get a tee time.

Question:
Is it true that a developer has purchased the land south of 4 Egret, and that plans are to put in a road and high density low cost housing?

Answer:
This is a confusing situation, as two north-south roads are being discussed simultaneously:  County Road 951 and Logan Boulevard.

County Road 951 is being considered for the distant future in a plan that goes out to 2035.  The County Commissioner that brought it to the table wants to have conversations about it now, newspaper reports describe, so any planning for it can avoid preserve areas and areas important to our water supply.  Should this be built at some future date, it will meet Bonita Beach Road east of Village Walk.

Logan Boulevard is a more immediate issue, with reports that this road will be built in the 2014-1015 timeframe.  This road will connect Immokolee Road and Bonita Beach Road and run alongside Egret holes 2 and 3.  This will be a two-lane road.

The activities focused on this road more recently were the subject of a July 2010 agreement between GL Homes, owners of the property south of Egret hole #4, and conservation groups.  In the reported agreement, GL Homes will build 370 homes, no golf course, and add significant nesting and preserve areas (337 acres) for birds.  Logan Boulevard, once extended, will provide the only access available to this property.

QUESTIONS ADDRESSED ON SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 2011

Updates:

• We have received two questions about recycling at the Golf Club, on the golf course and at the Renaissance Center.  The feasibility of separating recyclables in community and club business operations is being reviewed, including the cost and effort of doing so.  An update will be provided at a later date.
  
  
• Several questions addressed interest in a community dog park for use by residents and their pets.  Discussions are underway to assess if, where and how such a facility could be created.  Details will follow as soon as they are available.

Question:
How does the recent approval of the 1.1 million dollar expansion of the "Grill Room" affect the social members?  Will our dues increase or will there be added assessments to our dues?  If so, How much?

Answer:
During the presentation to Palmira residents and members about the Grill Room project, it was stated that "there are no present or future plans for a dues increase or special assessment as a result of this project."  That statement remains accurate today.

Question:
As beautiful as the aqua range is, I find it odd that they’re no targets to aim for to gauge your distance and accuracy.  I ‘m sure I am not the first to mention this, but how come they’re no floating targets like the other high-end aqua ranges have in place?

Answer:

QUESTIONS ADDRESSED ON MONDAY, MARCH 7, 2011

Question:
We live in an amazingly beautiful community with impeccable landscaping.  Is something going to be done to remove the dead and broken (snapped from the two windstorms) palm tree branches that are hanging down all over the neighborhood? 

Answer:
The landscape committee and community management are working with the landscape community to remove the dead and broken branches.  Some of the higher trees may require a tree service to complete the trimming.  Note, too, that some species of palms are “self pruning” and cannot be trimmed – we need to let nature takes it course with drop the dead fronds when it is ready to do so.

Question:
Several months ago, the club hired an experienced Membership Manager/Director. My assumption is this action was taken in an effort to increase the Palmira Golf membership.

What was the Palmira golf membership at pre Membership Manager?
What is the Palmira golf membership at today?
What is the current by-law membership cap?
What is the Board of Directors Membership goal for Palmira?

Answer:
Membership activity has been extremely successful since the Golf Club at Palmira hired a professional membership director.  Sue Weber was also here during the days when the community was developer owned and many of the members remember her success in that era as well.

In 2009, the Golf Club at Palmira added 8 new golf members.  Since September of 2010, when the membership director was hired, 28 new golf members have been added to the club roster, a very successful level of membership growth.  We are now at 311 total golf members and 97 social members.

The Club membership plan states a maximum membership of 550, but that number dates back to the era of developer ownership.  The Board may reconsider this cap at a later date, once the membership reaches the 350 level.

At the club Annual Meeting, President Frank Percuoco reviewed a list comparing Palmira to peer private courses in our market area.  We are extremely competitive in term of initiation fee, annual dues an dining minimum, so there are no plans to alter these prices at this time.  (This comparison is available on the password-protected members website.)

The financial stability of the Golf Club at Palmira, the quality of the course and the most-important quality of the people in our community make membership here a most-marketable commodity that is selling well in the southwest Florida marketplace.

Question:
I know the majority of people that live in this community are retired. My husband works on the week days, so it’s difficult for us to attend any of the dances on week nights. Most clubs I know in the area have their dance events on Saturday nights. In the near future, do they plan to ever have dances on Saturdays?   I know we're a small number of people who work, but it would be nice to be able to participate in several of the social events.

Answer:
In an attempt to be mindful of costs, we have chosen to have most dances on off-weekend nights. Bands and DJ's cost about half as much on a week night verses a Friday or Saturday night. Since nearly every event has been sold out we hope that we are pleasing a majority of the members.

We also try to have events on the special day when possible. Valentines dance was February 14, St Patrick's dance is March 17 and the Spring Gala will be on Friday April 15.

In addition, some weekend dates are taken with functions connected to golf events, such as the recent Couples Member-Guest, the Member-Member Championship, etc., so these evenings are not available for other functions.

Question:
Is there a dress code for the club and if there is who is responsible to enforce it? At last Tuesday's function there were people in athletic shorts, jeans and men in sleeveless and collarless T shirts.

Answer:
Tuesday evenings are designated as “casual dining” nights with shorts and golf shirts, e.g, “golf attire” permitted (see definition below).  Friday nights are “resort casual” with long pants required for the gentlemen.  “Mock” collared shirts are permitted on casual dining nights.  Denim is not permitted in the clubhouse at any time.

Enforcement of the dress code is by club management and they attempt to balance compliance with not embarrassing the members or their guests.  If a member arrives in non-compliant clothing, they may be seated for that evening and privately counseled on what is appropriate attire for their next visit.

Golf Attire Definition:
Men: Shirts with collars (mock collars included of 1” width or more) and sleeves
and slacks or Bermuda shorts of mid-thigh length are considered appropriate
attire. Tank tops, tee shirts, mesh shirts, sweat pants, warm-up suits, blue jeans,
swim wear, short shorts, cut-offs, gym shorts, cargo shorts, tennis outfits, or
other athletic shorts are not permitted. Shirts must be tucked in at all times and
hats must be worn brim forward.

Women: Dresses, skirts, slacks, mid-length shorts and shirts with collars and/or
sleeves are considered appropriate attire. Halter tops, tee shirts, cut-offs, sweat
pants, warm-up suits, blue jeans, swim wear, tennis dresses, short shorts, cargo
shorts or other athletic shorts are not permitted.

Question:
This is not actually a question -- it is more of a suggestion.  As our community gradually gets older, single-family homeowners will be faced with the job of repainting or freshening up their houses. I think it probably isn't widely known that they have to submit their colors choices or any changes to the ARC (Architectural Review Committee), before they actually go ahead and do it.  Maybe just periodic reminders of those types of community requirements in the Palmira Weekly would be a good idea. I think the on-line Weekly and this answer column have turned out to be just great -- just a wonderful on-going, and very well-received, communication tool.  Congratulations on this.  Thanks.

Answer:
Thank you for your complimentary words on the Answer Center process.  It is proving to be an effective aid to good communication in our neighborhood.  However, one third of we residents do not read the Palmira Weekly, so there is still work to be done to keep everyone informed.

Compliance with ARC guidelines is the responsibility of the individual communities as well as the ARC itself.  We can include periodic reminders in the Palmira Weekly about the process and form to be completed and submitted, but there is no substitute for good communication in each individual part of Palmira.

If you see work underway that you question, inquire of your local community leaders on whether that work has received proper authorization.

QUESTIONS ADDRESSED ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2011

Question:
In the planning stages of the Grill Room, was the possibility of adding a second floor in order to enlarge the dining room considered?  As the active membership of our club grows, we are woefully short of space in our main dining room.  This could be constructed so that private parties could also be held in the new section without disturbing activities in the main dining area.  An enlarged dining room would be additional revenue for the more popular functions.

Answer:
We are asking the Architect to give us prices with upstairs expansion capability and without. If the expansion is reasonable and fits within budget we will include it in building plans.

Question:
I would like to know why the fountains on the aqua range are now running until 11pm. It was nice when they were shut off at 5 pm for those of us that live in that area because of the noise factor, not to mention the energy used to run them 6 hours longer each day, 7 days a week.  It was quiet and peaceful after they were shut off.  Would you consider an 8 pm or 9 pm shut off time or just running one fountain to cut down on the noise level?

Answer:
The agua range fountains were set to run until 11:00 pm to add to the ambiance when residents or visitors enter our community in the evening hours.  In light of the concern expressed in this question and the cost of running the pumps for the fountains, they will now cease operation at 8:30 pm.

Question:
I thought there was going to be a served dinner menu every Friday night.  Most members, including myself are tired of all the buffets and want to see more sit down menus.

Answer:
We offer a balance of a la carte and buffet experiences for the membership to enjoy.  With the overwhelming response to Friday night dinners and the volume limitations we have, we decided to rotate experiences to allow more members to enjoy the club.  We will continue to review our usage and when the participation starts to slow down we will resume some more ala cart experiences.

Question:
Who controls the dumpster in the parking lot next to the tennis courts? Who put a lock on it, and why? It would be a perfect place to dispose of garbage if you are leaving town instead of asking your neighbor to take it.

Answer:
This question was also addressed in Answer Center Q&A for February 13.

The dumpsters at the clubhouse and near the RCC and Tennis Center are controlled by the respective portions of our community

Dumpster capacity at the club and in the community is needed for RCC and club business operations.  It is important that additional cartage expense not be incurred from resident disposal, which is why we have recommended that neighbors work together to see that each other’s waste is part of the scheduled weekly pickup.  This service is already contracted and they will pick up as much waste as is left at the curb with no additional expense.

Question:
Is anyone from Palmira overseeing the new landscape company? I ask because things in the common areas are not being cared for as they should. Here are a few of the things I noticed today. Flower beds are full of weeds; Some sidewalks are covered with leaves, berries, and nuts; Trimmings are left on the ground around bushes. Dead trees and bushes; Large leafed plants look like they were trimmed with a machete. Trash under bushes and around ponds; Where there is a little mulch, it is half covered with leaves; Some sidewalks have mold, etc.   If any of the neighborhoods looked this bad they would fire the landscape company in a heartbeat. Whatever we saved with this new company was not worth it.

Answer:
The Property Manager and the landscape committee check the landscaping work on a weekly basis.  Both will be looking into the concerns raised in this question. (An MHOA representative has met with the resident raising this question and discussion with the landscape service to address issues has also taken place.)

Question:
Why is there a sign yield to golf carts on our roads?  Carts have stop signs to obey.

Answer:
By and large, the population of Palmira obeys the speed limits within the complex.  However, over the years, we have had several incidents where someone within Palmira was exceeding the speed limit and an accident with a golf cart was narrowly avoided.  As homes within Palmira continue to be sold and occupied the population and automobile traffic continue to increase.  Accordingly, the Board of Directors of the Master Home Owner Association voted to add the signs in the center of the road.  The yellow signs depicting a golf cart are present to alert drivers that a cart crossing is ahead.  The cart paths do have stop signs at each roadway intersection.  Many motorists do stop, as a courtesy, to let carts cross the road.  Both vehicle and cart operators need to exercise care in our community to avoid accidents and provide a safe environment for pedestrians.

QUESTIONS ADDRESSED ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2011

Question:
If I am leaving my home for a few weeks where can I leave my garbage before I leave? I do not want to but garbage on the street in a bag three or four days before pickup?

Answer:
Thank you for your consideration in not putting your garbage at the curb prior to the normal Monday pickup day. For those that will not be here on a Monday, there are two options.

Why not ask a neighbor if you may add a garbage bag to their waste container before you depart? This "neighbor helping neighbor" approach works well in many communities.

Question:
I love the fact that Palmira is a pet friendly community. However recently I have noticed an increase in "dog" refuse not being picked up by pet owners. Would it be possible for Palmira to purchase "pet debris disposal stands" for each individual community. They could be placed inconspicuously in the bushes along our walkways encouraging pet owners to pick up after their pets. And we wouldn't need a lot of them. If each community just had one it would be a help. When we lived on the east coast our community had them.....a pole with a sign that read "pet disposal bags" and a small garbage can below. The cans were emptied by the local garbage company. Thanks for your attention to a growing problem.

Answer:
Most dog owners are responsible about their pets and do pick up their pet's waste – the considerate thing to do. However, if a pet owner is not doing so, it is likely their behavior that needs to change more than giving them ready access to plastic bags.

We will highlight this issue in an upcoming Palmira Weekly. The best place to address this issue is through the neighborhood homeowners or condominium association. If a resident is not being considerate, the association should bring the need for appropriate behavior to that individual pet owner's attention.

QUESTIONS ADDRESSED ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2011

Question:
As we all know, the subject of the "Grill Room" has engendered considerable strong feelings on both sides of the proposition. I note with applause that the vote to elect four Directors to the Board is to be conducted by an independent auditor. My question is whether the same independent auditor process will be utilized for the Grill Room vote. My very strong opinion and recommendation is that the smartest way to attach 100% credibility to the vote tally is to have it conducted by an independent auditor.

I have a second question on the same subject--the Grill Room. Is the approval of the project based on a vote of the current by-law of 50% plus 1 of the number of members constituting a quorum; or is it to be based on the proposed by-law requiring 66% of the number of members constituting a quorum?

Thanks for your answers. I think this invitation to ask questions and receive straight answers is how you translate the word "transparency" into reality. My sincere congratulations to you for making this happen.

Answer:
The Grill Room vote is being tabulated by the same independent auditor that is handling the Board Vote. This auditor will report the results of both votes at the annual meeting.

For the vote to be valid, a quorum (50%) of members is required. Two-thirds (66%) of those who vote is required for the proposal to pass.

Members are asked to return their ballots by February 12 so that the results may be tabulated by the auditor and the results reported at the Annual Meeting on February 16.

Question:
Is there a possibility that the land around the children's playground could be fenced in to be used as a dog park? There are many residents with dogs, and it would be wonderful to have an area where they could run free and play while their owners get a chance to meet one another?

Answer:
The children's playground was, and is, intended as a clean, safe, place for children to play, so there are no plans for creating a dog park.

Question:
So many weekend tournaments take up the morning tee times. Some of our members only come on the weekends, or for a week at a time, and have guests for the weekend. We have been unable to golf in the morning the past 2 weekends. Between January and March, these tournaments need to be spread out, or scheduled in the afternoon. I think some thought needs to be given to meeting all the needs of the members - even those who are not here all week, or come down part time and expect to be able to play when they want to. Do these tournaments really need to last 2 days?

Answer:
The scheduling of tournaments is spread throughout the season from January to March. The fact that many people do come to their Palmira home only on weekends is one of the reasons that tournaments are held on those days. In January, the Match Play championship did span two weekends, but this past weekend, tee times were available at roughly 10:00 am for those not participating in the tournament.

Looking ahead to February, this weekend's Can-Am event and the Member-Member championship are the only ones taking place on a weekend. It is important to call the full seven days in advance to request a tee time to get the best selection. For example, there were tee times available for Saturday, February 5, from 8:00 to 9:00, but those were taken by Tuesday morning.

Members are urged to consult the club calendar, released in October, for the scheduling of events, both to plan for those in which they wish to compete and to guide their guest invitation planning.

Looking ahead to 2012, as the calendar is developed we'll be looking for creative ways to schedule tournaments and events to all for greater access to tee times by those not participating in the event.

Question:
Why do all of the parties start so early. If it's during the week, 5:30 or 6:00 is too early for people who work. And on Saturday, it's just too early, also. Any chance they could begin 6:30 to 7:00?

Answer:
This topic was addressed in the Answer Center Q&A of January 2. Please see the Answer Center archive for that date.

In short, attendance at club events would seem to demonstrate members are satisfied with the timing. Nonetheless, the club will experiment with some different start times for events not already announced with times and see what members have to say.

QUESTIONS ADDRESSED ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 16, 2011

Question:
Why was the arbitrary decision made to change the Friday night Village Grill Happy Hour to Saturday night?  There was no consultation with the membership as far as I am aware.  The Friday evening time slot seemed to be well attended and the perfect opening to segway over to the Club for Friday dinner.

Answer:
RCC Management has now decided to expand Happy Hour at The Village Grill to both Friday and Saturday evenings. This announcement was sent to all residents on January 10th.

Question:
Will a written and/or PowerPoint presentation of the new grill study be available for those who may not be in town during the scheduled January presentations?  Thanks.

Answer:
The Grill Room Committee will begin making presentations to the members beginning January 10th. Multiple presentations will be offered throughout much of the month.  A link to the full schedule of community meetings was provided in the Palmira Weekly of January 16, 2011.

Recognizing that some members may not be able to attend a meeting, despite the fact that we will be offering multiple times and dates, we are looking into offering a pre-recorded online presentation.  More details on this will be provided if we determine it is feasible. 

However, attending a live session, if at all possible, is best so that you can hear all the questions and be able to ask your own.

Question:
When participating in a golf tournament, such as the Couples Guest Tournament, what portion of the cost goes toward the $600 yearly minimum requirement?

Answer:
All events that include food will have a certain portion of the cost of that event credited against the participant's food minimum.

For example, the cost of the Couples Guest Tournament includes $48.38 per person for food. That amount will be applied against the food minimum.  Each members statement, viewable online at https://www.memberstatements.com/login/login.cfm?clubid=11915 after login with member number & password, will show the amount applied to the minimum.

Question:
Would it be possible to contact Lee County and request that our solid waste, recycling and yard waste schedule be changed in order to have all picked up on the same day?  Right now we end up with garbage cans in front of our homes for three days (in some cases).  People put their carts out the afternoon before for various reasons, and then we aren't done with pick up until late Tuesday evening.  I know it is difficult to "fight city hall", but we are paying for the service through our property taxes, aren't we?

Answer:
Lee County officials were contacted about this question.  Change is not in the offing.  County contracts with the collection firms call for recycling and yard waste to be picked up on a single day after the collection of regular garbage.  With cardboard often put with regular garbage, collecting recycling a day later assures that it is collected for recycling as required.

At least in the near term, it is recommended that you ask your local Homeowners’ Association to remind residents on the timing for placement and retrieval of trash and recycling containers to minimize the time we all have to look at them street side!

Question:
Is there, or has there ever been, an issue with burglaries or other crimes at Palmira?

Answer:
Captain Randy Holton, heading security in Palmira, reports that the last burglary he can remember took place about 4 years ago. He did report some minor vandalism taking place several months ago where some tee box markers and other similar items were taken and thrown into some of the lakes.

While we at Palmira are fortunate to live in a gated community with a pretty good track record in terms of safety, all residents should continue to take adequate precautions to protect their property and themselves. Doors and sliders should always remain locked and residents should immediately report any suspicious activity by calling 911.

Question:
Many of us are involved in volunteer activities, and would like to share our experience and involve other members.  Would it be possible to create an area of the website that would allow us to share strictly volunteer information?  For instance, "I am involved with the Blood Bank, and we are going to be in the area.  Interested in donating blood?"  Anyone doing solicitations for financial gain would be excluded.  Please consider it.

Answer:
This question is still being researched.  The outstanding support Palmira residents provide to charitable causes in our area is notable, for sure.  We share the questioner’s interest in expanding and continuing that support and making all residents aware of activities.

We are now working out the mechanics and logistics of including this information on the neighborhood or members’ websites, as the cause determines.  We want to have standards for what is included so that the approach is fair, equitable and avoids issues that are inherently controversial.

More details will be provided soon.

Question:
In our last HOA residence, social events were open to all homeowners without any initiation/annual membership fees. If space allowed, guests could be added.  Also, wouldn't it help reduce the deficit if some events were open to homeowners that do not hold social membership to increase participation; or permit them to attend, say from a waiting list, if any additional openings were available or more participation was needed.  Or have the dining facilities available during certain times or dates to all homeowners.  Some residents are at Palmira for only part of the year.  Not that $1000 annually is exorbitant, but some may hesitate to pay it if only here part time.  Anyway, just a few thoughts.

Answer:
The Golf Club at Palmira is a private membership organization, with only those who are members entitled to utilize the club facilities and enjoy the many features and benefits of membership.

It would not be fair to members who have paid for the privilege of membership to have non-members participate in club activities at no charge.

With the number of dining opportunities and events being offered to members in 2011, even part-time residents can find enjoyable ways to expend the annual dining minimum.

QUESTIONS ADDRESSED ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 9, 2011

Question:
May we bring our own bottle(s) of wine for lunch/dinner?  If so, what, if any, is the corking fee?

Thanks!

Answer:
The Club has had a policy in place to allow members to bring their own wine to enjoy with lunch or dinner. There is a $15 corking fee applied per bottle.

If you have not already noticed, the Club's Food and Beverage Director, Laurence Bell, has a real passion for wine.  This passion is evidenced by the many new additions that have made its way to the Club's wine list.  And, there are terrific options available at various price points.

Laurence will also be happy to provide recommendations that will pair well with Chef Robert's excellent cuisine.

Question:
We thoroughly enjoyed last night's Oriental Dining Event at the Club.  Each entrée we tasted was very flavorful and prepared to perfection!  Please send our compliments (and thanks) to Chef Robert and the entire staff.

Here are the questions - 1) who needs a Chinese restaurant? :) And 2) is this the proper way to forward this feedback?

Answer:
Feedback on the most recent special dinner has been very positive.  The House Committee really "aced it" with the hiring of Chef Robert and Laurence Bell.  The food at Palmira has been kicked up several notches as has the wine selections and service by the wait staff.
Palmira is offering more than 70 additional opportunities in 2012 than in 2011 for the members to enjoy and many of these events will feature different ethnic foods and themes.  Check the Club's calendar and be sure to contact Diane Willis to make your reservations early.

Question:
Has anyone explored the feasibility/cost effectiveness of remodeling the vacant restaurant space adjacent to the Village Grill and using that area as the new Grill Room?

Answer:
The House Committee formed a team to study the feasibility of a Grill Room for Palmira.  The committee has been conducting research, interviews etc. for many months and are about to present their findings to all members of the Golf Club. These presentations will take place during the month of January and all members will have multiple chances to attend a presentation.

Rather than respond to your question, we ask that all members wait for the official presentation.  The committee has spent a great deal of time on this project and we do not want to preempt them.

Question:
I was at the park area with my grandchildren walked past the fountain area.  My grandson remembered it and asked if I could start up the cool fountain.  So I thought I would inquire as to whether it still works and if the fountain will ever be used again or maybe turned on for certain times of the year or high season?

Thanks.

Answer:
With regard to the sprinklers in the playground area. the MHOA has analyzed the requirements for water quality imposed by Board of Health and the cost of complying with these more stringent requirements.  Based on this, the MHOA determined that it was not cost effective and the best use of the residents' assessments to continue to operate these sprinklers.

Question:
I agree with one of the questions as far as Happy Hour, it seems to me they should be competitive to the marketplace.  They would certainly get more business and further they can make additional money on the appetizers.  I would recommend a test to see if attendance increases. Happy Hour drinks in most places average $3.00 to $4.00

Answer:
Based on the suggestion submitted, the MHOA Board is going to offer specials during Happy Hour at the Village Grill as communicated to the residents in the January 5th community bulletin.

Did you know that effective January 3rd, the Golf Club has instituted The Palmira Sunset Hour (our own version of Happy Hour).  Monday - Friday from 4 to 6 pm, members are invited to enjoy cocktails with their friends.  Complimentary appetizers are provided to attendees.

If you're not a member and would like to take advantage of the Sunset Hour, along with the many other resort lifestyle amenities offered by The Golf Club, contact Sue Weber, Membership Director at 239-444-1167.  There are many different membership options available to choose from.

Question:
Last year a committee presented a written proposal for improvement of the present bocce court (a readable scoring post, bocce balls and storage cabinet and the creation of two new courts be built so that a league could be formed to meet the growing interest in bocce here at Palmira.  What is the progress of improving the existing court and installing the new two new courts?  Thank you.

Answer:
Last year, a committee represented by Jim Haberstroh presented a recommendation to the MHOA Board to build additional Bocce courts.  The MHOA Board reviewed the request and found that there would be a significant expense (estimated at $35K) to build the courts. The Board advised Mr. Haberstroh that in order to move forward, the group requesting the additional courts would need to make a financial contribution to fund the project. The Board has not heard anything further from the committee on this matter.

Question:
We have a group forming a Bocce league. A hurdle we can't seem to surmount is getting reserve times on the one court. I have been told that the pro shop has said there is no mechanism for reserving such time. Can we have reserve times such as tee times for golf or play times on tennis?

Answer:
The Bocce court is available to all residents on a "first come, first served basis".  We have no mechanism, system or personnel in place to reserve these courts and there are no plans in the future to do so.  The league is encouraged so establish their own scheduling mechanism.  A shared Google Calendar is one way to do this, with all participants having access to the same online calendar.

QUESTIONS ADDRESSED ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 2, 2011

Question:
I see where a $16,000 beautification plan was approved by the Board.  Were the recommendations from Gordon Lewis' people more extensive-$16,000 certainly won’t accomplish much.  Why don’t we spend more on Egret which is in desperate need of massive beautification?  You could certainly hold off for a year on the grill room and make golfing on Egret a much more pleasing experience.

Answer:

As mentioned in an earlier response, Gordon Lewis spent an entire day with us reviewing Egret and making recommendations to improve its appearance.  A plan was put together based on Gordon's recommendations that included improvements that would be made by both the Golf Club and the CDD who is responsible for maintaining the lakes.

The Golf Club's portion of the expense is $16,000.  The $16k represents material costs only, and does not include the labor that will be handled by our existing staff as well as by our members. This is separate from the expenditure that will be made by the Community Development District (CDD.)  For 2011, the CDD has again budgeted $25,000 for improvements to the lake areas.  As was the case in 2010, most of this expenditure will be devoted to Egret.

Material costs are just part of what is needed to maintain and improve our beautiful courses.  We also could use volunteers to assist our maintenance staff. Anyone interested in helping with our on-going efforts should contact Ben Potter.

The Golf Club's effort has already begun.  It will take several weeks for it to be completed.  The CDD effort to improve the areas around the lakes will begin in June.

It is premature to conclude that the effort to improve Egret will not succeed.  As with any planting effort, it will take some time before the flowering plants, shrubs etc. take hold and begin to grow and bloom, so you will need to take that into consideration when evaluating whether the effort to improve Egret has been a success.

Our goal to make golfing on Egret a more "pleasing experience" was in no way encumbered by our potentially building a Grill Room. We implemented a plan that was developed in conjunction with Mr. Lewis and a potential Grill Room expense had nothing to do with the development of that plan.

As was mentioned in the Board Meeting Minutes, The Club's financial position is very strong. We will shortly have cash reserves of $1 Million and that is after significantly reducing our mortgage. We are going to add all 2011 initiation fees into the reserves and are keeping dues the same in 2011 as 2010... despite that fact that we are adding more than 70 additional food and beverage opportunities for the members to enjoy.

Finally, regarding the Grill Room, presentations will be made to the membership and the membership will vote on whether we move forward with that effort. Whether we move forward or not will have no effect on our continuing efforts to make our beautiful golf course even better.

Question:
Has the golf club considered the possibility of members buying gift certificates for the dining room that would count against the new annual minimum charge?   This may be a good way to meet the minimum for members that are only here a few weeks each year or members that rent their property part of the season (include a gift certificate as part of the rental package).

Answer:
The Club had not thought about allowing members to buy gift certificates that would count against their food minimum.

Members who rent or transfer their property/ membership do have the expenditures made by the renter/ transferee count against their food minimum.  However, the assumption is that the renter would pay the food expense.

Your question prompted us to look into the feasibility of offering the certificates, as we thought that it might be a help to the member in renting their property.  Unfortunately, we don't have the systems in place to make this change at this time.  We will, however, keep this in mind for the future.

Question:
When is garbage/trash picked up at the 14513 CARINO TERRACE location (Belleza)?

Answer:
Regular trash is collected throughout Palmira on Mondays.  Get the Lee County details.

Recyclables (the blue container) throughout Palmira are collected Tuesday mornings.  Get the Lee County details on what is considered acceptable recyclables.

Question:
I don’t think you understood about the question on the starting times for the PARTIES-your answer seemed to address only dinner reservations times. Please re-answer the question about only the parties.  (See the original question in the Q&A for December 19 – ed.)

Answer:
While the turnout for parties and events has been very good, Club Management will experiment with pushing back the starting times for some events and cocktail parties to see which times the members seem to prefer most.  If the start time for an event is already on the calendar, it will remain as is.  If there is no start time indicated, we will experiment with later times.  Should attendance drop off because of the later start time, we will revert back to the earlier time.

QUESTIONS ADDRESSED ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2010

Question:
Why is fishing not permitted in the lakes? Can the policy be changed?

Answer:
There is no prohibition preventing residents from fishing in the lakes of Palmira.

Residents are encouraged to follow a "catch and release" policy and return all fish back to the lakes.  This is suggested for health reasons as well as to ensure that we maintain an ecological balance.

To help assure everyone's safety, fishing is not allowed from golf course property.  This means that fishing can only be done from the lake side farthest away from the golf course.

Question:
Naples/Bonita/Estero is Happy Hour Land...if you want to compete with their offerings you need to make your Happy Hour More Attractive...like 1/2 price aps and drinks.. You will make more money because more people will come!  Will you think about doing something like that??

Answer:
The House Committee has more than 70 additional opportunities for members to enjoy food and beverage at The Club in 2011 than was offered in 2010. Part of these activities includes the Palmira Sunset Hour (our version of Happy Hour) offered Monday through Friday between 4 and 6 pm beginning on January 3rd.

We developed the Sunset Hour to provide members with an opportunity to enjoy a cocktail in a safe and friendly environment.  Members will be able to enjoy a libation on premises without having to leave Palmira.  All of us have a social responsibility to not “drink and drive,” and the Sunset Hour provides members with an alternative that allows them to walk home or catch a ride with another member who has not consumed alcohol.

Sunset Hour will include complimentary snacks and food.  At this time, we do not anticipate offering special pricing on cocktails.  Unlike outside restaurants, the Club offers members everyday low pricing on food and beverages making it difficult to offer additional discounts on beverages during Sunset Hour. (It is not uncommon for an outside establishment to charge $11 dollars for a beverage compared to our everyday low pricing of $7.50.)

We hope that all members will enjoy The Club's Sunset Hour as well as all of the other exciting events that we have planned for 2011. You can find a listing of all of these events on our members’ website as well as in the 2010-2011 calendar that is available online and at the Palmira administrative offices.  

Question:
I see that you compare the club to others in the area.  You should check with our neighbor Worthington and confirm that their yearly rate is $5,500 and a cart fee of around $6.50 pp

Answer:
Palmira participates in a consortium of other private clubs where we share information and best practices. Evaluating what other competing "like entities" are doing is one of the factors we consider when deciding what is in the best interest for The Club.

Worthington is a bundled golf community, not a private club like Palmira.  Their model is significantly different from ours, so a comparison of the pricing and services offered by a bundled community versus a private club would not be appropriate.  Each entity serves different markets and provide different levels of service at different price points.

Question:
I don’t think you understood about the question on the starting times for the PARTIES-your answer seemed to address only dinner reservations times. Please re-answer the question about only the parties.

Answer:
Thanks for clarifying your question.  This topic needs to be discussed with some individuals that are away from Palmira for the holidays.  We will include a reply in an upcoming set of Answer Center replies.

QUESTIONS ADDRESSED ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2010

Dining Minimum Special Edition

Question:
I sat in the Master Home Owners Association meeting today and listened to the board approve $8500.00 expenditure for door lock and card reader system of which I'm not 100% sure is really necessary.  Although, if I used the Gym or pool facilities and asked for a towel to take a shower or lounge around the pool,  the answer I get "we no longer have those because some of the members had taken them out of the facility.  With good management that should never had happened.  Maybe we could take part of the $8500.00 and purchase some towels, than instruct management in a way to control the towels so they could not walk away.  Really, what’s a gym and a swimming pool facility without towels?

Answer:
The MHOA Board has approved a maximum expenditure of $8,500 to prevent unauthorized entry to the RCC from the Village Grill. The actual expenditure may indeed be less as additional research is taking place to see if there are more cost effective alternatives.

It is necessary to ensure that only members of the RCC have access to the facility. First, there is the issue of security. Second, in order to comply with the terms of our liquor license, we have to take steps to ensure that only members have access to the RCC. The most cost effective way to secure access is to require that all entry take place through the main reception area.

Regarding the availability of towels, the decision was made a little over 18 months ago to discontinue this service. The decision was not based on the fact that towels were being taken from the facility. In fact, we had experienced a loss factor of only 3%. The decision to discontinue the service was based on costs. In order to provide towel service, it would be necessary for us to contract with an outside laundry service. In addition, there is a replacement cost that would be involved due to wear and tear as well as the minimal loss factor (3%) that we had experienced.

As discussed at the MHOA Board meeting, the financial health of The Master and RCC have dramatically improved since we made the decision to discontinue the towel service. As such, we will now look into the feasibility of re-instituting this service. We will require a little time as we have to investigate alternatives for laundering the towels as well as establish a process for checking the towels in and out.

Question:
I have heard that there will be some much needed new planting on Egret. Can you tell me when this will be, and how extensive?  Many of the lakes are looking very bare, especially on #4 Egret, for example.

Answer:
Recently, Gordon Lewis, the designer who designed the Palmira Golf Courses, spent the day with various members of the Palmira Team to review all of the holes on Egret, with the goal of arriving at a plan to improve the aesthetics of the course in the most cost effective manner.

After the review, a plan was developed to add flowering trees and/or shrubs to every hole on Egret. The effort is already underway and over the coming days and weeks you will see more and more additions being made to the course.

Regarding the lake banks, these are controlled by the CDD. Plantings for the lake banks will begin in June 2011.

Question:
I do not agree with building (or remodeling) to add a grill. Why don't we use the upstairs facility for lunch during the day, like Ronto Group did?

Answer:
We have a committee formed who is putting together the final touches on the findings of the study they have conducted on the feasibility of a Grill Room for Palmira. The committee will be making presentations of their findings to all communities as well as several additional meetings to ensure as many members as possible can attend a presentation. The presentation will include a summary of all costs, both start up and ongoing, as well as cover the various options that were investigated and the resulting conclusions that were arrived at. Members in attendance will have the opportunity to ask questions and make suggestions at these meetings.

The plan is to begin the presentations to the membership after the New Year as we want to make sure that the members who are traveling to the North for the holidays will be back to participate. After all presentations are made, the issue of the Grill Room will be put to a vote by the membership. As previously mentioned in the November Board Meeting Minutes, in order for the Grill Room to move forward, it will require a majority vote of not less than two-thirds (2/3rds) of all Members constituting a quorum.

Regarding using the upstairs facility for lunch, the house committee is greatly expanding the food and beverage offerings to the membership. We currently serve lunch to the members on Wednesday and Thursday after the men’s and ladies play date events. Effective 1/1/2011, we will also begin serving lunches on Monday and Saturday.
(answer continued on next page)
As mentioned in an earlier Answer Center Response, members will have well more than 70 additional opportunities to utilize our Food and Beverage offerings in 2011 than was offered in 2010. Here is a summary of those additional offerings:

• January: 8 additional  lunches (Mondays and Saturdays);2 additional dinners and 20 Happy Hours (Monday-Friday)
• February: 7 additional lunches and 17 Happy Hours
• March: 9 additional lunches; 1 additional brunch; 2 additional cocktail parties and 17 Happy Hours
• April: 11 additional lunches and 18 Happy Hours
• May: 1 additional evening
• November: 4 additional evenings
• December: 2 additional evenings

Question:
Does the board make any decisions that are not based on what other clubs in the area do? It seems no matter what question comes up, the answer is based on comparing what other clubs do or say. Can you make a decision on what makes common sense to this club and its members only?

Answer:
The Board always endeavors to make decisions on what is best for the membership of Palmira. Being both members of the Club and residents, making decisions on what is best for Palmira is assuredly the primary component of our deliberations.

In arriving at those decisions, we often look at what other clubs in the SW Florida area are doing. One of the benefits of participating in the consortium of other clubs is that we share experiences on what has worked and not worked in the past. We attempt to gather as much relevant information as possible. What is happening at other clubs is part of that information.

In response to the statement that ..."It seem no matter what question comes up, the answer is based on comparing what other clubs do or say"... we have received a total of 15 questions as of the 12/12 issue of the Palmira Weekly. Two of our responses included mention of "what other clubs do or say".

Question:
Why do all of the parties start so early?  Our afternoon is cut short in order to arrive on time and the dinners are over by 7:30.  Is it possible to begin at 6:30? 

Answer:
(This was also addressed in the Q&A digest around the Dining Minimum for Club members, effective January 1, 2011.)

Selection of the hours when dinner is offered is a decision blending the hours at which the majority of members want to dine and best managing the expense of staff to prepare and serve to the membership.  Reservations are accepted up to 7:30 pm on our current schedule, so diners may request any seating time in that two-hour interval.

QUESTIONS ADDRESSED ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2010

Here’s what a resident had to say about the Answer Center:
Very good work on the Palmira Q&A and the weekly Palmira email!

Your answers are thorough and upbeat (even though the questions may sometimes be "pointed").  These responses are also helping to defuse some emotions that are "out there" and that is a very good thing.

Please keep up the great work - it's extremely important and appreciated!

Question:
What is the best email address to use to make a reservation for a club event?

Answer:
Actually, the preferred way to confirm your participation for a Club Event is by calling Diane Willis at the Club. She can be reached at 239-949-4466. We prefer this versus an email as we want to ensure that our members get the best possible customer service.

Question:
We transfer our golf membership to my parents for January, February and March. I just want to confirm that what they spend will apply to our $600 minimum. Thanks!

Answer:
We are happy to report that when a member transfers their membership, the food purchases made by the transferee do indeed apply against the member's food minimum.

Question:
Our club up north includes beverages in our minimum spending, is there a reason that our minimum is only for food?

Answer:
When deciding to implement a minimum, The Board considered several alternatives. One was food only and the other was applying both food and beverages.

Before setting the minimum, we surveyed other clubs in the Southwest Florida area. As you may remember from other Answer Center responses, Palmira participates in a consortium of other clubs in the SW Florida area to share best practices, discuss what works well, what does not work so well, etc.

We decided to set a minimum based on food only in order to minimize liability issues that could arise if we had set a minimum that included beverages (liquor). The amount we chose, $600, is well under what other clubs are charging for minimums that apply to food only. Clubs that include beverages against their minimums, have amounts that are even higher.

Question:
It was my understanding that when the residents took ownership and each of our 800+ owners then became members of the Renaissance center, that the Renaissance center would be closed to non-residents.  Is there a cap on the number of non-resident members?

Answer:
The Renaissance Center Club does allow non residents to become RCC members.  The MHOA Board will reevaluate this policy once Palmira has built a total of 821 homes.

The rationale of the Board is that the RCC is able to provide excellent services to all residents and the current nonresident members. The additional revenue generated by non-residents helps ease the monies that residents would need to pay for the RCC services. 

QUESTIONS ADDRESSED ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2010

Feedback on the new Palmira Club Board Meeting Minutes Digest

• The new & improved minutes from the Board meeting are a good improvement over the previous (brief) minutes.
• The ’digest’ is great idea. The results are outstanding and the Board and Committees deserve the thanks of all members.

Question:
Are we getting a new management company for the Master Association and Renaissance Club?

Answer:
The Master Home Owners Association (MHOA) is governed by a Board. The MHOA Board has not had any discussions about "getting a new management company for the Master Association and RCC".

Question:
I note in a recent answer you mentioned some 70 new dining, etc. options at the Clubhouse.  I remember seeing info before indicating we would be serving lunches at least 4 days a week, dining at least twice a week, and that the bar would be open most days at 4:00.  Are you cutting back on these plans? It would seem those opportunities would be far more than just 70.  Also, don’t we want at least 1 year "under our belts' before we would even think about physical expansion of the facilities.

Answer:
Earlier communications stated that we would have more than 70 additional dining opportunities in 2011 than we had in 2010. The actual amount is far greater! The Club is greatly expanding our food and beverage offerings in 2011 to make the Palmira experience even better! Here is a summary of the additional opportunities for 2011. More specific details will be spelled out in future Palmira Weeklies:

• January: 8 additional  lunches (Mondays and Saturdays);2 additional dinners and 20 Happy Hours (Monday-Friday)
• February: 7 additional lunches and 17 Happy Hours
• March: 9 additional lunches; 1 additional brunch; 2 additional cocktail parties and 17 Happy Hours
• April: 11 additional lunches and 18 Happy Hours
• May: 1 additional evening
• November: 4 additional evenings
• December: 2 additional evenings

Regarding physical expansion of our facilities, we will be presenting full details to the members early in 2011. These details will identify all costs, both start up and ongoing. The membership will then vote on whether to move forward with this initiative. In order to move forward, two thirds of the members constituting a quorum would need to vote for the expansion.
The Club would have had "at least 1 year under our belts" before proceeding with any expansion. More importantly, each member will have the right to vote and this measure can only be passed with a majority vote mentioned above and which is fully detailed in the November Board Meeting Minutes.  These are available for viewing on the Club's Private Member website. 

Question:
When are the Club Board Meetings, when are you going to start advertising notice of these meetings, and when are you going to begin posting the actual minutes, not what you want us to read?

Answer:
The bylaws of the Club require that Board Meetings be held a minimum of 6 times per year. In 2010, the Board met on 4/15, 5/11, 6/14, 8/26, 10/5 and 11/11. The next meeting is scheduled for 12/9.

In the past, we have posted signs in both locker rooms as well as in the golf shop. Notice of future meetings will be published in the Palmira Weekly and all members are encouraged to attend.

As for publishing the actual minutes of these meetings, there was a link at the bottom of the email with the "digest" of the meeting that users could click on to view the actual minutes. In addition, the minutes of the meetings mentioned above are available on the Club's member-only, password-protected website. Go to http://members.golfclubatpalmiral.org, click the “Members Only” tab, enter your member number and password, and then click on Club Info. PDFs of the actual minutes from this year's meeting are available. 

The "digest" of the Board Meeting Minutes were not meant to replace the actual minutes. It was published in an effort to encourage greater readership and involvement on the part of the members. In no way was the digest an attempt to mislead the members or just tell the members what "we wanted them to hear". That is why there was a link to the actual minutes at the bottom of the email.

Response to the "digest" has been very good. In fact, several members have already responded that this is a nice addition to the actual minutes that have always been made available to the members.

If you have additional recommendations on how we can improve communication and encourage greater participation on the part of the members, please let us know by submitting your ideas to the Palmira Answer Center. Or, as mentioned above, consider attending the Board Meeting in person as these meetings are open to all members.

Question:
What plans, if any, are there for the country club board to take over ownership of the Renaissance Center?

Answer:
The Renaissance Center Club (RCC) is already owned by the Golf Club at Palmira and is currently being leased to the Master Home Owners Association (MHOA) on a long term basis. The MHOA has a Board of Directors that is separate from the Board of Directors for the Golf Club at Palmira. The MHOA Board is responsible for running the activities of the RCC. 

Question:
Inasmuch as our community is an amalgamation of like-minded people, has there been any interest expressed or effort expended to compile a community directory?

Answer:
There is a roster of Golf Club Members available on the password-protected Members website.  You can access this site by going to the Members website, then clicking the "Members Only" tab at the top

If you would like the MHOA Board to revisit their policy on this subject, you should let the President or Board Member of your community know your thoughts on this subject. Or, better yet, consider attending a meeting of the MHOA and raise this topic for consideration.

Question:
Can non-residents join the Renaissance Center?  If so, how much is the membership?

Answer:
Non residents are allowed to join the RCC. The cost for joining is $1,200 a year plus taxes. In addition, non residents may also join Tennis at a cost of $750 a year. If you have a friend that is interested in joining the RCC, have them contact Ken Bloom at bloomk@kebmgnt.com

If you know of a non resident that might be interested in taking advantage of the Palmira resort lifestyle experience, you may also want to consider having them contact Sue Weber, Membership Director, for the Golf Club at Palmira. The Club has many different membership options available including a social membership and that might prove to be a terrific option for the person or persons you're thinking about.

Question:
In 2011, there is a $600/year dining minimum.  Do club events contribute towards the minimum? Will the club be open for dinner more than 2 nights per week so we can easily meet the minimum?

Answer:
Club parties, cocktail parties, special dinners, lunches in the club house, etc. all count toward the food minimum. Response to dining and events has been terrific in 2010. The addition of Laurence Bell, Food and Beverage Director and Chef Robert has made dining and events at Palmira the best it has ever been.

To better serve our members, we have purchased a piano for the dining room.  We are adding a Sous Chef and have more than 70 additional events planned for 2011 than we had in 2010 that will include food. As you can see, there will be ample opportunities for members to meet their food minimum and enjoy the resort lifestyle experience that is Palmira.

Question:
I heard a rumor that the Club's bar is open to a golf group on Monday - it has never been advertised to the entire membership. Can anyone go? How do other groups get such an arrangement?

Answer:
A group of members did indeed approach Club Management to request that the bar be open on Monday afternoons. There is a rather large golf group that plays each Monday afternoon and they felt that the availability of cocktails and lite snacks after the round would be a nice addition to their experience.

Club Management agreed to open the bar and assesses the turnout, revenue and costs on a week to week basis.  We will continue with the bar being open on Monday as long as there is adequate participation, and the economics makes sense.

The bar is open to all members, not just the golfers who participate in the event.

Club Management is open to fielding additional requests by members for additional food and beverage services. Naturally, the requests could not conflict with events that are already scheduled and would need to be evaluated on a case by case basis for participation and impact on costs. 

Finally, for 2011, the Club is going to offer more than 70 activities than we did in 2010 that include food. We will be sharing the details with the membership in a future Palmira Weekly.

QUESTIONS ADDRESSED ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2010

Question:
How much are we paying for the Chef a year? And for the General Manager? How is the restaurant financially? How many Golf Members are we? Thank you!

Answer:
Thank you for the question you submitted to the Palmira Answer Center.

We do not share salary information on any of the Club Personnel. This is standard practice within most Clubs. We feel that compensation is a private matter between Club Management and the employee. We want to assure all members that due diligence takes place with any job offer and on all Club expenditures.  Palmira participates in a consortium of many clubs in Southwest Florida where expenditure information is disclosed for all types of salaries and budget items. This provides us with a "measuring stick" to monitor our expenses and ensures we are competitive in the market place.

Regarding the question as to "how is the restaurant financially"... for 2010 we are estimating a loss of $138K. For 2011, we are estimating a loss of $176K. In 2011, we are offering more than 70 additional food and beverage opportunities (lunches, cocktail parties, golf events dinners etc.) for members to enjoy than we did in 2010. More details will be forthcoming in future editions of the Palmira weekly.

As mentioned above, Palmira shares information with many other clubs in Southwest Florida. The average loss of restaurant operations for the clubs participating in the study is $302K. So, as you can see, Palmira is performing far better than most clubs in our area.

We also feel that it is important to put the "loss" of the restaurant in proper perspective. Dining and events is a large part of the Palmira experience. Many members have selected Palmira because of the resort lifestyle that we offer our members. It would not be fair to look at the financial performance of the restaurant as a standalone service. The dining and events that we offer are key features that we offer our membership and we would not have as many members and the associated revenue with all of those memberships, if dining and events were reduced or eliminated. 

Finally, with regard to "how many golf members are we" ... as of the November 11th Board Meeting, we had the following:

• 299 Golf Members
• 19 Sports Members
• 5 Members on leave
• 1 Suspended
• 99 Social

Regarding membership, we are seeing terrific progress in adding new members. Since September 1, we added 16 new members (10 Golf; 6 Social).

Question:
We would like to bring some friends to join us for the Dec 18th Winter Wonderland Celebration at the RCC. As a club member are we permitted to bring guests to member functions?

Answer:
Thank you for the question you submitted to the Palmira Answer Center.
One of the many benefits residents enjoy as a result of living in Palmira is the ability for them to share the terrific resort lifestyle amenities with their friends and family. Residents of Palmira are indeed allowed to have friends join them at the December 18th party, and all other RCC functions.
When making your reservations, please be sure to let the RCC know how many people will be attending and make arrangements to pay for your guest's fees.

Question:
Is the Palmira Community considering the installation of speed bumps?

Answer:
Thank you for the question you submitted to the Palmira Answer Center.

The Master Home Owners Association (MHOA), not the Golf Club, is responsible for dealing with issues such as "speed bumps".

There is a security committee formed that is working on a plan to deal with speed control. This committee reports on its progress at each Palmira MHOA Board Meeting, to which all residents are invited to attend. It is too early to state whether the plan will include "speed bumps".

If you have an opinion on this issue, you should express your feelings to one of your community Board members or better yet, attend one of the MHOA Board meetings.