The Vines Community Association Newsletter

Issue #139 November 6, 2023

Board News

Board Meeting

The next Board meeting will be held Monday, December 4, 2023 at 9am at Estero Country Club and via Zoom. The agenda for this meeting is the budget presentation. The Zoom link will be emailed to you the Friday before by Pegasus.

There is a change coming. In an effort to provide you with the most up-to-date information, the timing of the VCA Newsletter will change from one week before the monthly VCA Board meeting to one week after the VCA Board meeting. The information included in the newsletter will be summaries of the Board Members' monthly reports, items from the prior month's approved VCA Board minutes as well as updates of Estero Community news and events.

Continued thanks to Deb Moulton for her patience in sharing her expertise on upcoming newsletters.

A Friendly Reminder

As our neighbors return from their northern homes, it is a good time for all of us to review our Community documents. Whether you live on Vintage Trace or in one of The Vines communities there are rules and regulations which must be followed to provide quality of community lifestyle and safety.

VCA Rules and Regulations

Financial Statements

The budget presentation for VCA Board consideration will be on December 4, 2023.

The reserve study being performed by Association Reserves is underway. They were on-site November 3 to inventory and review The Vines and its' assets.

Some Ground Maintenance invoices ($36,795) were reclassified to Ian Storm Damage. Moving these expenses provides some improvement to the year-end operating deficit reported last month. However, a year-end operating deficit is still anticipated.

In addition, the VCA portal on the Pegasus site allows residents to view the above mentioned information as well as much more. Login with your email address and password. If you do not have a password, Pegasus can provide you with one.

Pegasus Web Portal

Architectural Review Committee

The ARC has suspended the use of the existing color palette as a general guideline. The Committee met with a Sherwin Williams consultant. They are proposing an expanded palette by adding a broader more inclusive color variety to the existing options. These options will include house body color, trim and door combinations. The new color schemes will be presented to the homeowners of Vintage Trace Circle for thier comments and consideration. The revised guidelines will be presented to the VCA Board for their final approval.

It is the responsibility of each homeowner to submit an ARC form to the ARC Chairperson, Rick Knox, at kbox5228@aol.com. VCA Rules and Regulations (Section 14). Rick has committed to a timely review of all color submissions in the ARC application process and will, if necessary, meet to discuss all color submissions with the homeowner and resolve any color variances.

Non-Resident Barcode Renewal

Non-resident barcodes will expire on January 1*. You may renew anytime after

November 1. To renew your barcode please present your driver's license, plus vehicle registration, along with a check in the amount of $50 payable to Vines Community Association to security at the main gate. Security will verify ECC membership using a list provided by the ECC. Barcodes are issued between 8 and 2 Monday through Thursday*.

Without the barcode you will not be able to enter the Nuthatch Lane gate and must stop at the main gate each time you enter The Vines.

Please refer to VCA Rules and Regulations (Section 2v,1-7).

*The information in bold print is updated.

Lake Water Quality

We have been notified by Lee County that our ability to receive water has been greatly reduced. The VCA and Estero Country Club are working together to resolve this issue which affects the irrigation of the entire Vines Community and the Country Club.

The VCA and Estero Country Club are continuing their work on the lake bank restoration project. Target areas and timeframes are being identified as well as financing options.

FPL Pole Replacement

Work is continuing. The west side of Vintage Trace Circle is complete. The east side will be next. Please use caution when driving in that area while FPL equipment is on the road.

Traffic on Vintage Trace Circle and in the neighborhoods

Please review the parking regulations for Vintage Trace Circle and for your community. (VCA Rules and Regulations Section 12 (D8.7) Caution is urged to protect vehicles, pedestrians and bikers. There are ongoing home renovations, roofing projects, etc. All of those trucks and equipment along with the usual commercial traffic make travel to and from U.S.41 hazardous. Please slow down to 23 MPH and give plenty of room to all using our roads. Pedestrians and bikers, please move to single file to allow cars, carts and commerical vehicles to pass safely.

See the VCA Rules and Regulations

Perimeter Barrier Replacement

It is time for decisions to be made regarding the various perimeter segments and the options we have. If you have an opinion you would like to share, please contact Linda Chain by e-mail only at lindyc47@gmail.com.

Efforts to identify and select a company that will provide the engineering, permitting, removal of existing wall/fence, hedge and vegetation, grading for replacement, installation of replacement barriers and landscaping are on-going. Each geographic segment of the perimeter requires different opportunities. All are costly.

Security Issues

If you didn't receive the notice from Pegasus, Ron Demaray, our Vines Community Supervisor since 2005, passed away Saturday, October 28 after a hard fought battle with cancer. Ron always went above and beyond to ensure that residents and our guests were safe come rain, shine or hurricane. During numerous storms, Ron was the last to leave and the first to return. Ron will be missed. Dawn Foye, Site Supervisor, will be happy to forward all condolence cards to Ron's family.

Please be sure that you follow the regulations for vendors while on property.(VCA Rules and Regulations Section 7 - C).The guidelines are clear about the hours vendors can be on premise, parking requirements, equipment on site, etc. Please do not put our Security personnel in the position of denying access or inconveniencing you, your neighbors or your vendor.

If you see a security issue that needs police attention, call 911 or the Lee County Sheriff at 239-477-1200 or 1000. DO NOT CALL THE FRONT GATE! Gate security personnel cannot report to the police something they did not see themselves.

Rails to Trails

Follow our Facebook and Instagram pages and click the “like” button on our posts.

Safe Trails Facebook Page

Safe Trails on Instagram

Community Relations

There are many Estero/Lee County meetings held at various times and sites. If you have an interest or specific expertise in community affairs and would like to help out with attending these meetings, please volunteer to do so. There are links attached to Village of Estero and Engage Estero below that provide topics/dates/locations for meetings. If you attend any meetings, please share the information by contacting Mike Johnson at michaelw2254@gmail.com.