Wednesday, June 3, 2009

ANDRE'S QFR

Hi All,
Andre has posed some interesting questions in a Comment Stream on the BLOG. Below we will explore them; no doubt there will be some valuable comments and responses. As always, do not shoot the messenger:

My responses will be in red.

Acronym of the day: QFR = Questions for Record!
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Dave, I am trying to understand the process here.

-1) UCO is fully responsible for all operational cost required by WPRF to maintain the recreational activities of which the lakes and lagoons are part and parcel;
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Yes, per the Millennium Amendment to the Long Term Lease, UCO/CV Unit Owners are responsible for all Operational costs of the Recreational Facility.

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2) These operational costs are approved by the UCO Operations Committee which is chaired by the President of UCO;
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Yes, essentially correct.

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3) Once this approval is given to WPRF, Anita Cruz as the Manager, proceeds to spend that money and reports back to UCO as to the status of the account on a periodic basis;
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Yes.


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4) UCO would certainly not be allowed to go into the Hasting Clubhouse and do any type of physical changes to the building without the approval of the owner represented by WPRF;
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Actually, if UCO wished to effect reasonable changes in the Hastings Clubhouse, and if appropriate approval process was followed and was obtained from the Delegate Assemble to provide required funding, then indeed we could make changes in the Hastings Clubhouse or, for that matter, the main Clubhouse. The maxim is simple; “you can have anything you want, as long as you pay for it”
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Question

1: Under what authority is UCO authorized to restore the lakeshore without any approval from WPRF as stated by Mark Levy in his correspondence to me?
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Again, It’s not a matter of approval; rather one of tacit concurrence. Why would WPRF refuse, if the Unit Owners must pay for the work? WPRF states that they have not approved the plan, but It is clear that they are permitting the project to proceed.

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Question 2: What tender process is being followed by UCO to spend that kind of money which is held in a separate account by WPRF?
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This sort of project is scoped by the Operations Committee and funded through the Operations Budget. This process is clearly described in the Millennium Amendment to the long term lease. Please, everyone reading this diatribe must read the document.
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REF:
http://oris.co.palm-beach.fl.us/or_web1/or_sch_1.asp

Select the Book/Page tab:
BOOK: 11660 PAGE: 1550. Enter as follows: 11660/1550
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Consider attending the Operations Committee meetings, they are very interesting drama and they spend lots of our money.

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Question 3: When does the Delegate Meeting (the Board) happens to approve these kind(s) of spending?
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Don’t confuse the UCO budget process, approved yearly by the Delegate Assembly, with the WPRF/Operations Budget. Your monthly payment to WPRF consists of two main parts; one part is RENT the other part is MAINTENANCE. Do the arithmetic;


an average $100.00 per month across 7854 Units = $9,424,800.00.

Are we beginning to see the light? Again read the Millennium Amendment.
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Question 4: If WPRF is only holding the money bag and the work is to be executed under UCO sole discretion and authority, why didn’t UCO collected the money directly from the owners through the UCO fees?
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As noted throughout above, because it is an expense for Maintenance of the Recreational Facility per the Millennium Amendment.

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Question 5; Is there more here to this issue than meets the eyes? Thank you Andre
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Please be a bit more specific; and please do not shoot the messenger!

Dave Israel



5 comments:

George R. Pittell said...

Hi Dave
You mention Capital Improvements seemingly as opposed to Maintenance and Operational Costs. Is it something different and where does one end and the others begin?

UCO President said...

Hi George
Jun 3, 2009 11:06:00 PM,

This is probably the most incisive question, on this subject, ever asked on the BLOG.

I have stated elswhere in the BLOG that I consider this a question for Lawyers and Accountants.

It is in short "Beyond my pay grade"

Whose definition would be acceptable; I favor the Definition given by the IRS
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"There is no strict definition what is considered capital improvements and what repairs.

IRS determines Improvements as those that add to the value of your home, prolong its useful life, or adapt it to new uses. You add the cost of additions and other improvements to the basis of your property.

According to the IRS repairs maintain your home in good condition but do not add to its value or prolong its life. You do not add their cost to the basis of your property.

Examples. Repainting your house inside or outside, fixing your gutters or floors, repairing leaks or plastering, and replacing broken window panes are examples of repairs.

Exception. The entire job is considered an improvement if items that would otherwise be considered repairs are done as part of an extensive remodeling or restoration of your home. For example, if you have a casualty and your home is damaged, increase your basis by the amount you spend on repairs that restore the property to its pre-casualty condition

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It is just this sort of ambiguity that led to the conflict between UCO and WPRF, as regards the downtime of the Clubhouse.

If you read into the case in depth, the issues of what was repair and what was capital improvement were key points of conflict.

This sort of conflict has lead to many Court cases and Arbitrations.

The question will not be answered definitively in this BLOG.

Dave Israel

GIACOMO said...

I still wonder why the apple was eaten
in that millenium that has cause us all this nonsense we see and hear it every day we humans ,I am smart you are smart they are smart and then at the least we are trying to determind
word definiations the only resolve is that we are all given that great virtue of COMMONSENSE. I will now give my thoughts because I am smart the next generation coming to CV, will not be told could,would, should they are to BRAZEN if you know and see what I MEAN.

Anonymous said...

Dave,

You were elected to affect change in UCO. You held yourself out as a real live human being ,concerned with the welfare of the Unit Owners.

Boy are we disappointed.

UCO President said...

Hi A Nony Mouse
Jun 8, 2009 1:50:00 PM,

What, exactly do you have in mind?

I am but one voice in UCO.

Be specific, as to what you have in mind.

Dave Israel