Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Westchase residents criticize landscaping

The community development district boards are taking a look at outsourcing the work.

By ELIZABETH MILLER
Published February 6, 2005

WESTCHASE - Westchase residents take pride in their flowers and trees and green lawns. They enjoy the sleek look of their well-manicured community on their way home from work or on a Saturday morning run.

For some residents, however, the appearance of the community's landscaping has left much to be desired in recent months.

"Landscaping is the largest and most visible issue," said Jim Mills, president of the Westchase Community Association. "The appearance of our community is why home resales have been so strong and why Westchase has been such a strong community."

Landscaping was the dominant topic at Tuesday's meeting of Westchase's joint community development district boards. Many residents showed up to voice their concerns about the way the CDD, which manages the common areas in Westchase, has been handling various issues.

One resident complained of tree trimming mishaps, while another complained of lack of communication on the part of the CDD. The replacement of dead sod was also a hot-button issue.

While individually, these complaints seem minor, Mills said, "CDD-related issues continue to dominate resident meetings. There is a concern about the continued deterioration in the level of service from the CDD."

Some board members of the CDD agreed that their level of service has been lacking.

"I am a resident. I notice that the flower beds are bad, that things haven't been getting done, and assessments are up," board member Bill Kermerer said. "We are perceived as not being residents; that's what bothers me. Even though we are a government body, we are residents and have the same concerns - and we are ready to move forward constructively."

Currently, the landscaping work is overseen by management company Severn Trent. At Tuesday's meeting, Jim Ward, Severn Trent's district manager for Westchase, produced a large document, which was intended to assess the community's overall landscaping needs to consider outsourcing the work and receiving bids.

Board members debated whether they felt qualified to review the document themselves and move forward to receive bids based on Severn Trent's assessment, or have an independent landscaping consultant review the document and later assist in analyzing bids.

"I've always been a supporter of our management company," said CDD board member Mark Ragusa on Wednesday, "but for the perception of the residents, it should be done by an independent third party."

The board ultimately decided in favor of receiving bids from independent consultants to assess Severn Trent's document. This is just a first step in determining whether outsourcing the landscaping work will be cost effective and improve the level of service.

In the meantime, Mills said he worried about the time frame it will take to bring about change. Mills said he was afraid the landscaping conditions will only get worse under its current management.

"The appearance of our community is at an all-time low since I've lived here," said Mills, a Westchase resident of six years.

Mills noted past problems with the irrigation system that will cost the CDD approximately $100,000 to replace sod. Mills used the sod replacement as an example of how he feels the landscaping maintenance is being neglected, and how the residents, rather than Severn Trent, are paying the price.

"I'm pleased with the fact that there is forward progress," said Mills, with regard to Tuesday night's decision to move toward an independent consultant. "My concern is the lack of responsibility on the part of the management company and the board's reaction."

Westchase East CDD board member Greg Chesney expressed satisfaction with Severn Trent's other services, such as financial and construction management, and sees outsourcing the landscaping as a step in the right direction.

With regard to Tuesday's decision, Chesney said, "For the first time, there is an objective and a clear strategy to obtain it."

Although Ragusa has been pushing for outsourcing for a long time, he's not too worried about the slow process.

"I'm not too frustrated by the time it takes. It's a lot of money, and it's significant to our community," he said. "We need to be cautious and take the right steps, even if they are baby steps."

[Last modified February 5, 2005, 09:49:05]