CALL TO ACTION: Grand Haven Residents – Attend Tues., March 1st Palm Coast City Council Meeting
Make sure you get your share of the estimated $800K to $1M that the city has inappropriately collected from Grand Haven and its residents since 2004.
Palm Coast, FL – February 25, 2011 – The Palm Coast City Council will meet Tuesday, March 1 at 6:30 p.m. at the Community Center to approve a new Stormwater Ordinance. The new ordinance is necessary because the existing ordinance would not withstand a legal challenge. One of the ordinance’s most glaring deficiencies is that it charges a stormwater fee for properties that are not part of the stormwater system. Since adopted in 2004, the City has inappropriately collected an estimated $800,000 to $1,000,000 from Grand Haven and it property owners.The new ordinance recognizes that Grand Haven (the part east of Colbert Lane) is not part of the stormwater system. Its fees should be waived.
Why should you attend this meeting?
Council Members know that Grand Haven traditionally is among the highest turnout voting districts in the city. Council will pay attention to a large crowd with a united voice. A political solution on Tuesday is far better than a judicial solution down the road. You do not have to speak, but do show support with your presence.
Why is it so important?
The proposed ordinance contemplates refunding only fees charged since April 8, 2008. Folks, this is a bogus date. It has no legal relevance. The city knew long before that there was an issue at Grand Haven. Grand Haven property owners should be refunded in full all monies collected since the existing ordinance went into effect in 2004.
The ordinance (pages 9 – 11) requires property owners to file a request for a refund (within 90 days). Residents should make it clear to Council Members that the refund procedure should not mandate that individuals provide copies of all invoices for which they are seeking reimbursement. The city has records to which they can refer. In other words, Grand Haven residents have been hosed for years. The city’s procedure to obtain a refund should not be onerous. The City Council should instruct staff accordingly.
Contact all members of the City Council
Before Tuesday’s meeting, contact ALL City Council Members. Let them know what you expect them to do. They need to have your input because they’ve been poorly advised by city staff, the city attorney, and engineering consultants. Make sure they do the right thing. This will be your only shot.
Mayor Jon Netts: jnetts@ci.palm-coast.fl.us Phone: 455-2121
Councilman Bill Lewis: blewis@ci.palm-coast.fl.us Phone: 447-7725
Councilman Holsey Moorman: hmoorman@ci.palm-coast.fl.us Phone: 447-3860
Councilwoman Mary DiStefano: mdistefano@ci.palm-coast.fl.us Phone: 446-5780
Councilman Frank Meeker: FMeeker@ci.palm-coast.fl.us Phone: 445-0382
Send this story to your Grand Haven neighbors and friends. Make sure everyone knows about the importance of their support at this upcoming meeting.
Storm Water & New City Hall
If GH residentd get thier money back, will it have an impact on the new City Hall. Will the ploiticans have to make more money out of thin air? Want to see the magic tricks continue.
Please do not forget about us too
Being Palm Coast Pioneers we were exempt from stormwater/drainage fees for 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004. We have since been billed and have been paying since 2005 , but ,
We regularly ask what we are not exempt and ‘Grandfathered’ now, but, we don’t receive answers back for this or any answers for all the other Developer pledged Improvements/Amenities/their features/acreage. The sad thing is most are listed within the Federal ‘Consent Agreement’ C-2854 and Federally ordered ‘Compliance Report’ Exhibits A and Exhibits B.
Please remember what we have paid for and lost so have all of you and all other future Palm Coasters.
We support Grand Haven Community of Palm Coasters and wish you success during yet another ‘Palm Coast Predicament’.
Please don’t forget about us.
Thank you.
Grand here, a grand there
You must be thinking, all we have to do is tell them and show them we are mad. They are not going to listen, as it has to be delt with in court. The Lawyers that drew the idea up in the first place, need to be put in front of the courts to charged. The City Manager and the council and Mayor are not Lawyers.
Perhaps the State Attorney General could step in, and declare the statute illegal, along with many other spendings done by the City.
They operate the City like a child reaching into a cookie jar, time for a slap on the wrist.
Reply to George Meegan
The Jacksonville offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation have referenced us to the Office of the Inspector General of the Federal Trade Commission and the Offices of the State of Florida , Honorable Pam Bondi has referenced us to the City of Palm Coast.
Consequently, we did as directed and as Palm Coast Pioneers we just E-mailed the city and asked that the city does the right thing with our Fellow Palm Coasters living in the Palm Coast Community of Grand Haven. We did this because there have been so many ‘Palm Coast Predicaments’ and hopefully our request to the city will avoid yet another Palm Coast Predicament.
We ask, since there are alot of us Palm Coast Pioneers still around and since many of us are aging and/or disabled/have difficulty walking, that our fellow Grand Haven Palm Coasters ‘speak up’ for us at the upcoming meeting.
We just spoke up for you to the best of our ability, would you ‘speak up’ for us Palm Coast Pioneers and early Purchasers?
Please don’t forget about us!
Thank you Grand Haven Palm Coasters!.
P.S. we’ve also asked that the resources of the City be used to restore our Palm Coast Resort #2 on the Intracoastal back, Federal REDRESS for us, this way, those merchants at the European Village will have the people staying at the Palm Coast Resort to help patronize their businesses in the European Village; we feel that European Village Merchants deserve a break. We also asked that One of the Palm Coast Trolleys be electrified and restored, running a shuttle from Our Palm Coast Resort back and forth to the European Village to help them also. It would be nice to hear the Clang Clang Clang again. Additionally, we have asked that the resources of the city be used to give us back our beloved Matanzas Woods Golf Course, this way, the people living there in despair have some HOPE.
We’re trying; please help us Grand Haven Palm Coasters if you can.
Thank you.
Maybe helpful info. for our fellow Palm Coaster in
January 24, 1973
Mr. and Mrs. George E. Chuddy
28 Lake Drive
Darien, Connecticut 06820
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Chuddy
As I an sure you are aware, Atlantis Development Corporation provided water and sewer service at no charge to Palm Coast residents during 1972. It gave us great pleasure to extend this courtesy to you. We are also pleased to announce that a central water softening facility has been ordered and will soon be installed.
As indicated in my October letter to the homeowners, Atlantis Development Corporation is beginning operation with the start of the new year, in accordance with a uniform system of accounting as prescribed by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. Meter have been read and billings will be mailed to you monthly.
Enclosed you will find a booklet entitled, "General Rules and Regulations for Water and Sewer Service". We hope you will read this booklet , as it explains the functioning of the service. You will note on page three that reference is made to a signed application requirement. Because you are already enjoying the water and sewer service, this application requirement will not apply to you.
In the event you should experience a service problem or have questions regarding your bill, please call Mr. Mitchell Schneider at 439-2861. Also, in accordance with the enclosed rate card, please submit the required $30.00 deposit i the stamped, self-addressed envelop or deliver it to Mr. Schneider at the Flagler Beach Address.
We would like to welcome you as one of our first customers, and we are looking forward to providing you with the best possible services for many years to come.
Sincerely.
William M. Lapsley
Utility Accountant.
******************
Public Offering statement for Palm Coast, Inc.:
Encumberances:
There are no mortages encumbering this property.
The property is being offered for sale subject too:
1. Public streets and easement for drainage and utilities including community antenna television facilities.
2. Covenants and restriction imposed to limit use of the homesites to residential purposes, to create setback lines, and size requirements, to regulate the use of canals and waterways, to create an architectural control committee and to establish other standards and requirements which are customary for the preservation and maintenance of the residential character of the property being offered.
3. The right of ITT Rayonier, Inc. to harvest merchantable timber on the properties, including plantation timber, until such time as deeds are delievered to purchasers, after which such time rights shall cease.
4. Any applicable ordinances, regulations and statues.
ADDESS:
Access to the property is from Interstate Highway 95 to State Route 100 and then Old Kings Road to Palm Coast Parkway. Access to homesites will be over hard – surfaced streets.
LAND USE:
The Property is being offered for use as residential homestites. Certain areas of the property have been set aside for multi-family use, and these have been so noted in the Covenants and Retriction recorded in Flagler County. The topography is generally flat; the elevation varies from four to forty feet above sea level. The soil is sandy and supports a growth of pine, oaks, palm and cypress. ————->During wet weather the property does require drainage, provision for which has been made by the Company. Nominal fill may be required for home contruction. <———There is presently no zoning ordinance in Flagler County.
Stormwater Fees
Are there any other communities affected by this ruling?
Council’s Phone Numbers
I was able to contact all of the council members via the above listed phone numbers with a "please do the right thing message," except the mayor. The number listed for the mayor is no longer in service–at least according to my attempt this morning.
The Woodlands
Reply:
To our knowledge we allege that ‘The Woodlands’ had always been exempt from Stormwater/Drainage fees. We do not know WHY The Woodlands was; perhaps contacting the past Officers of ‘The Woodlands Association’ and see if they have the answer.
We hope this is helpful information for our fellow Palm Coasters in all the Communities of Palm Coast.
Thank You Terry Laydon
Reply to Terry Laydon:
A sincere ‘Thank You’ for your efforts in supporting the Palm Coast Commuity of Grand Haven and hopefully all of we surviving Palm Coast Pioneers and Early Purchasers also.
To the People in the Palm Coast Community of Grand Haven:
We know we have asked alot in asking for you to ‘speck up’ for us, but, please,if you can squeeze this in; PLEASE double check for continued exempt status also for the Palm Coast Community of The Woodlands also.
Again, Terry Laydon, thank you very much for your support; may you have all the blessing that life has to offer.
Thank you again for your support.