Dear Waterleaf Homeowners,
As 2019 comes to a close, the HOA Board of Directors (BOD) would like to reach out to our neighbors to recap what’s been done over the course of this year, to let you know what we anticipate for 2020, and to touch base on some of the things that affect our community.
But first, please join us in welcoming our new Amenity Center Director, Brandon Hill. In addition to maintaining the various amenities and HOA common areas, Brandon will be working on community enhancement projects and upgrades. With his background in facilities management, we look forward to Brandon being an integral part of our HOA Management team.
You may have noticed that the Amenity Center was “freshened up” over the summer. The main structure, roof and sidewalks were pressure-washed and the trim and moldings were repainted. The wood ceiling was thoroughly sanded and restained, the light fixture casings were repainted and new ceiling fans were installed. More improvements are planned for 2020! The bathroom upgrades will include new countertops and new paint for walls and floors. The shade canopy at the pool will be replaced with a water-resistant and eco-friendly material. The basketball court will be completely renovated with the repair of all damaged pavement, a professionally resurfaced court and restriping of the court lines. The nature bridge that links Hindmarsh and Briarcreek will be refurbished as well. Boards will be replaced as needed and the bridge will be restained. Once the Kernan construction is finished, our entrance will be freshly landscaped.
Some residents have asked about adding security cameras to monitor our streets. While we do have cameras in place that monitor activity on HOA property, those cameras are installed in areas that belong to Waterleaf and thus have a limited range of coverage. We simply cannot place cameras throughout our neighborhood because HOAs have no authority to place cameras on COJ Rights of Way, or on JEA streetlight poles, or on private property. But the good news is that we recently invested in an Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) which will be placed at the entrance of Waterleaf. ALPRs are high-speed, computer-controlled cameras that capture all license plates that come into view. They are time/date stamped and can be uploaded for use by law enforcement if necessary. This is just one measure, along with patrols by Allied and JSO, that we’ve undertaken to help keep Waterleaf safe. However, according to JSO, the single most important factor in decreasing property-related crime, is simply making sure our cars and homes are locked. Don’t forget the 9PM Routine!
Parking is a concern for many residents. While the HOA cannot regulate parking or traffic on COJ streets, there are things we can all do to be more considerate of our neighbors. Whenever possible, residents should park in their own garages and driveways – not on the street. Vehicles parked in driveways must not block sidewalks, as this is prohibited per Florida Statute 316.1945. If you must park on the street, please do not park in front of a neighbor’s mailbox. Also, be aware that it is illegal to park within 30 ft. of a stop sign, or within 15 ft. of a fire hydrant, or within an intersection, or in front of a public or private driveway. The off-duty JSO Officer will issue citations for parking and traffic offenses to help ensure public safety in our community. Speeding is also a concern. Again, the HOA has no authority to change the speed limit, as the streets are owned by the COJ. Some residents have asked about installing speed bumps. This is not an option for Waterleaf because our neighborhood is not a “cut-thru”. Per the COJ Traffic Engineering Department, “…enclosed neighborhoods, and gated neighborhoods do not experience cut-thru traffic and are not eligible for speed bumps” (Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices).
All residents must comply with Jacksonville Ordinance Code 382.415 regarding Solid Waste Collection. Visit waterleafhoa.com and click on Resident Information for details specific to waste collection in Waterleaf. Please note that homeowners are responsible for ensuring that bulk trash (carpet, mattresses, furniture, fencing, etc.) is not placed curbside before 5pm on the day prior to pick up. Failure to comply will result in a violation and fine. Further, if bulk trash is left behind because it does not meet the COJ Solid Waste Division “Common Standards of Service” it is the sole responsibility of the homeowner to remove the trash from the curbside and dispose of it properly.
Homeowners with rental properties are reminded that they are responsible for ensuring their tenants comply with all of the Waterleaf CC&Rs, Bylaws and Rules. This includes compliance with Solid Waste Collection requirements. When tenants vacate the property, the homeowner must plan accordingly to ensure all bulk trash meets requirements of Ordinance 382.415. Failure to do so will result in a violation and fine to the homeowner.
Exterior modifications to homes and yards must be approved by the Architectural Review Committee, via an ARB application. This is one of many requirements listed in our Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions (CC&Rs), and every owner signed a document agreeing to them at the time they purchased a home in Waterleaf. Unapproved modifications may result in significant fines and may have to be removed at the expense of the owner. Proposed amendments to the ARB guidelines will be adopted at the HOA Meeting on January 9, 2020, and are included in the attachment to this letter. Please visit waterleafhoa.com to download the ARB application and for more information about ARB requests. If you have specific questions, you may contact our Property Manager, Anna, at (904) 642-7547.
Every year, the HOA receives complaints regarding traffic on Halloween Night. The BOD has tried to be proactive by cordoning off Waterleaf Boulevard to prevent non-resident parking, ensuring Allied Security is on-site all evening, and by hiring an off-duty JSO Officer to patrol. Nevertheless, Candlebark ends up in gridlock at some point in the evening. Given that we cannot control who drives down the streets in our community, we are not sure what other measures can be put in place to make traffic flow more easily. The JSO Officer is always asked to monitor traffic at the intersection of Waterleaf and Candlebark and to patrol as necessary. We have asked for the JSO Zone 2 Substation to provide some (free) coverage to Waterleaf on Halloween Night, but they are unable to accommodate that request. We are always open to suggestions, but bear in mind that we cannot block off city streets and hiring additional JSO Officers is expensive. The simplest solution may be for all of us to plan accordingly during peak trick-or-treat hours, and try not to be on the streets during that time.
A great big “THANK YOU” goes out to Tyler Shields and Angie Clausen, for volunteering to be on the Social Committee! Their first event will be Cookies and Cocoa with Santa on December 22nd. Bring your kids to the Amenity Center between 1pm-3pm to take a picture with Santa and meet some of your neighbors. As a reminder, everyone serving on the BOD and the HOA Committees is a volunteer – and we are always in need of more volunteers! Several committees remain vacant due to a lack of participation. If you’re interested in helping, please email us at support@waterleafhoa.com.
It’s that time again, and the semi-annual assessment of $293.00 is due JANUARY 1, 2020. Payments received after January 15, 2020 will be assessed a late fee. For your convenience, and to avoid a late payment, you may want to take advantage of the “auto-pay” option on the KW Property Management website. To access your online portal, visit www.KWPMC.com or www.waterleafhoa.com and follow the instructions. If you need assistance, please contact Anna.
Finally, please join us for the monthly HOA Meetings. They are regularly scheduled for 6pm on the 2nd Thursday of the month, at Waterleaf Elementary School. Our next meeting is at 6pm on January 9, 2020. We hope to see you there!
Sincerely,
Justine Wadyko, Susan Peters, Ruth Johnson, Mike Lee
Waterleaf Board of Directors
