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Heritage Isles Adds Pool Fees

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By GEORGE WILKENS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 26, 2007

Updated: 09/24/2007 08:55 pm

HERITAGE ISLES - The Heritage Isles Community Development District has adopted a $25 daily fee to charge uninvited nonresidents who use the community's swimming pool.

The fee schedule adopted at the meeting Sept. 19 includes restrictions on residents' guests, generally limiting free guests to six per household per week, with a $10 fee for each household guest exceeding six. Additionally, the number of guests is capped at 10 per week, and they must be accompanied by a resident.

There is an exception for residents' children and grandchildren younger than 21, who may use the facilities at no cost if accompanied by a resident.
Houseguests can buy a $40 seven-day pass or $125 monthly pass with no requirement that they be accompanied by a resident.

Guests may be restricted at peak times when pool capacity reaches the limit of 220 people.

Heritage Isles property owners pay assessments to operate the community pool and other recreational facilities. As a grass-roots government agency, however, Heritage Isles is one of many CDDs setting user fees for nonresidents, who would otherwise pay nothing toward facility-operation costs.

CDD supervisors also discussed fees to be charged for facility use in connection with banquets, parties and other special events booked at the clubhouse. The proposed hourly fees scheduled to be adopted at the October meeting cover rental fees for everything from the pool, pool deck, gazebo and tiki bar to the tennis, basketball and volleyball courts.

In other business, Dempsey Resort Management outlined a marketing plan for the golf course and restaurant it took over June 1.

Plans include a new sign at the community's main entry; mailings to select ZIP codes, from Zephyrhills to New Tampa; and, starting in October, a 'very affordable Sunday breakfast buffet,' with separate chef stations preparing waffles, pancakes, omelets and other egg dishes.

'This is something that's going to build over time,' said Pat Ciaccio, Dempsey's food and beverage director.
Ciaccio said the $12.95 buffet has proved popular at other facilities the company operates, including Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel.

'I like what I see in the marketing plan,' said Supervisor Jack Meehan, who asked that the CDD receive monthly progress reports. 'I'd like to see some kind of activity sheet on what they've done' in terms of buffets served, response to mailings and events booked, Meehan said.

Near the close of the nearly four-hour meeting, board Chairman Steve Stark relinquished his 'moderator' duties.

'I do have problems moderating a free-for-all,' Stark said.

'I'm trying to run it efficiently, and I can't,' faced with supervisors speaking without being recognized by the chairman and other procedural problems, coupled with sometimes-lengthy audience participation, Stark said.

Monthly meetings often last four or five hours, only to be recessed and continued to the following week, requiring several additional hours to finish the agenda, Meehan said.

'There are some issues I would pursue more aggressively' once no longer serving as moderator, Stark added.

District manager John Ricciardi is expected to chair future meetings.

In other action, the CDD board:

•Approved a $159,825 first-year contract with Pasco County-based Luke Bros. to provide mowing and other landscaping services for the community's common areas.

•Learned that new golf carts are scheduled to be delivered Monday or Tuesday.

•Scheduled an 11:30 a.m. Oct. 13 workshop to follow the 10 a.m. Heritage Isles Golf & Country Club Community Association meeting, also at the clubhouse.

Reporter George Wilkens can be reached at (813) 865-4847 or gwilkens@tampatrib.com.

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