Real Estate Open Houses - While it's hard to fathom why anyone would ever want sell their San Marco apartment, it happens. If you decide to list your unit for sale, please don't forget that the San Marco Rules and Regulations document is pretty specific about Real Estate activity and Realtor Open Houses.

Signage of any kind is not permitted on the condominium property, and Open Houses must be by appointment only, with each visitor being received and escorted the entire time they are at San Marco.

Real Estate agents need to be informed of the condo rules as they relate to Open Houses ("Open House Real Estate Activity", page 15 of the R&R's) so that they don't festoon the property with "Open House" or other signage, attach notes to the entry screening panel by the front door informing anyone who sees them how to gain entry into the building, or worse, actually post instructions that reveal a security keypad combination that unlocks the entry door.

December 22, 2007 - Saturday

There are currently ten San Marco residential apartments (43% of the total number of units in the building) listed for sale. Over the past year there has been some fluidity in the number of listings and their asking prices. There are presently no residential apartments being occupied by renters.

The current listings include nine apartments that have never been occupied since the building was completed, and one owner-occupied unit. Asking prices run between a high of $799,000 and a low of $419,000, with price-per-square-foot ranging from a high of $419/sq.ft., to a low of $227/sq.ft.

Here's a general summary of the for-sale units as of December 20, 2007:

Floor List Price Square FeetPrice per Square Foot

$525,000

2093

$250

3 $798,000

2665 $299

4 $799,000 2411 $311

4 $744,000 2093 $321

4 $685,000 1843 $371

4 $525,000 1843 $284

4 $419,000 1843 $227

5 $693,000 2020 $343

5 $773,900 1843 $419

5 $685,000 1843 $371

June 18, 2008 - Wednesday

The Lobby Waterfall - At yesterday's Board meeting the Board of Directors voted unanimously to deactivate the water feature of the system bacause it has become a constant maintenance problem and has failed to operate reliably over several months. The closed design of the water delivery system cannot be easily checked, cleaned and maintained, and most of the time there has been a disagreeable chlorene odor in the lobby. The water sump will be closed over, and appropriate artificial plantings will be added.

The lobby air conditioner thermostat has been reset from 74 to 76 degrees.

There has been a slight delay in completion of the revised Rules and Regulations, and the document is now scheduled to be approved at the August Board meeting.

The July 2008 meeting of the Board of Directors has been cancelled. The next scheduled meeting will be on August 19, 2008 at 2:00 PM in the upstairs conference room of the downtown Selby Library.

There have been instancs of toilet flapper valves failing and needing replacement. Owners should be alert to "phantom flushing" of their toilets, indicating that water is slowly escaping from the tank through a failed flapper valve and the water in the tank is being periodically topped off. A quick leak test is to put a few drops of vegetable coloring or a blue leak detector tablet inside each tank and if blue water shows up in the toilet bowl in a few minutes, the flapper valve is leaking and needs to be replaced.

The Board of Directors has instructed the Manager, during visits inside each unit with our pest control contractor and the fire system inspector, to use leak deterctor tablets so all toilets in San Marco are periodically tested for leaking flapper valves. Since a leaking valve can cause a significant loss of precious and costly water which all owners pay for in their condo maintenance fees, defective valves must be replaced without delay. Thanks to resident Sue S. for finding out that the Sarasota government provides courtesy leak detector tablets upon request. They have ordered a good supply of tablets for San Marco.

During maintenance visits to unoccupied units the thermostat will also be checked to make sure that it is turned ON and set to no greater than 80 degrees, or the humidistat is set to 58 percent relative humidity.

Work has begun on removing overgrown pygmy palm trees and adding replacement shrubs, ground cover, and mulch.

The LED light that illuminates the main entrance sign is being replaced with a more appropriate, inexpensive fluorescent fixture that has a broader field of illumination. It is also more immune than the LED unit to power line surges.

June 27, 2008 - Friday Historic Crocker Church and Bidwell Wood House Restoration - As many residents know, efforts are being made by the Historical Society of Sarasota to restore Bidwell Wood House and the Crocker Church buildings located in Pioneer Park, just to the East of San Marco. Work has started on restoring the West wall of Crocker Church (the one we can see from San Marco walkways) using mostly volunteer labor. The next Volunteer Saturday will be in July, when volunteers, particularly those with carpentry experience, will continue to work on the restoration and add more siding the the West wall of the church.

For more details of the restoration project, or to volunteer your time, call Arnie Berns at 924-5224

Crocker Church and the Bidwell Wood House are two historic Sarasota buildings that were moved from private land to Pioneer Park in October 2006. Photos of the move of the buildings up Tamiami Trail and East on 12th Street can be seen by clicking on this link.

August 13, 2008 - Wednesday - CONDO INSURANCE

There have been some significant changes to Florida law pertaining to condominiums, and one of the most important is the requirement that all condo owners must purchase and maintain hazard and liability insurance for their unit.

Further, the condo association may request the owner to provide evidence of insurance at least once each year. If the unit owner does not comply by providing a certificate of insurance within 30 days of the written request, the Association may purchase a policy of insurance on behalf of the owner. The cost of the policy, plus any related expense to the Association, is the responsibility of the unit owner, and if unpaid, may be collected in the same manner as authorized for unpaid assessments.

What that means is that recovery of the expense to the association from non-complying owners can involve the added cost of administrative time, attorney collection and filing fees, penalties, interest, and ultimately, a lien on the condo unit.

This change to the Statute is relatively new, and we're not sure when and how the Association will request that owners provide evidence of insurance, but given the rather draconian measures that are intended to insure that all condo units are covered by hazard and liability insurance, the best course for owners without insurance is to immediately purchase the required insurance coverage on their units, and if they already have insurance, to be prepared to obtain a certificate of insurance from their insurance underwriter when it is requested by the Association.

New Residents: two new lessee families have moved into the building on the third and fifth floors.

Rules and Regulations: Be sure to keep the copy of the proposed Revision 2 of the Rules that were recently mailed to each owner. Once the Rules are approved this month, those copies will become your "official" version and should be safeguarded with your other condo governing documents. Ultimately, you must provide the most current version of all condo governing documents to the purchaser if you sell your unit, or you must purchase a new set of the documents from the Association.

September 4, 2008 - Thursday The San Marco Association needs to perform monthly elevator fire testing, and if a hurricane is imminent, we must deactivate the elevators on an upper floor until the storm is over. Both of these tasks will be normally be performed by San Marco resident volunteers who will have keys to the elevator equipment room and are familiar with the testing and deactivation procedures.

For the information and convenient access by future volunteers, a copy of the suggested testing and deactivation procedures has been added to this web site here and via a button link in the panel on the left.

Another unoccupied apartment has been sold at San Marco. Unit 402 is sold and will close in early October. The unit was offered for sale at $399,000, but the final sale price will not be known until closing, when it becomes a matter of public record. The sale was made by Rob Winfrey of Partner's Realty.

Reportedly, an unoccupied 1843 square foot 4th floor unit has also been placed on the market and offered by a bank as a "short sale", with an asking price in the high $300's.

September 17, 2008 - Wednesday

Yesterday the Board of Directors approved Revision 2 of the San Marco Rules and Regulations. Also approved were some last-minute revisions required as a result of recent legislative action that updated the Florida Condominium Statute. As a result, new pages containing revised text will be mailed to all owners so that they can insert the replacement pages in their copy of the Rules document that was mailed to them previously.

Owners are reminded that they should keep the new version of the Rules and Regulations together with all their other condominium governing documents, particularly if they plan to sell their unit in the future, when they will be required to provide the new owner with current copies of all governing documents.

One noteworthy change to the revised Rules is that electric grills and cookers may now be used on patios and balconies at San Marco. Fire restrictions still prohibit the use of any cooking device that has a flame (charcoal grills and bbq's, hibachis, propane or gas stoves or grills, smokers, and the like).

Also, owners are now required to insure the contents of their units and to obtain liability coverage, and to provide evidence of insurance to the Assocation when requested. (See Aug 13 item for more detail.)

September 19, 2008 - Friday The recent mailing announcing the annual meeting and election in November contained an error and gave the wrong date. The correct date for the annual owner meeting and board election is November 18, 2008 at 2:00 PM in the 2nd floor conference room of the downtown Selby library.

On Monday, September 22, 2008 at 6 PM the city commissioners will conduct a quasi-judicial public hearing regarding the developent of a yacht club facility six blocks north of San Marco, at 1889 N. Tamiami Trail.

The facility will have a 4,041 sq. ft. clubhouse, a 267-slip enclosed dry boat storage facility, and 18 wet slips.

Since this facility could contribute to the beneficial development of the general North Tamiami Trail area, San Marco residents might wish to attend the meeting and testify. Additional information can be obtained by visiting the Sarasota City Commission web site.

September 25, 2008 - Thursday

New Pool Rules Sign - With the increase in the number of children that live at San Marco, and their active use of the swimming pool, there have been instances where misunderstandings have occurred about the intention and enforcement of our pool rules.

One possible contributing factor was the Pool Rules sign that has been posted by the pool. It was a generic sign which did not address the specific San Marco pool rules as mandated in the Rules and Regulations document. In order to resolve any future misundersandings, a new Pool Rules sign was posted today, replacing the very abbreviated, generic version that was installed by the General Contractor when the pool was first constructed.

The new sign clearly states all the San Marco rules applicable to Pool use, and should help to reduce any confusion or misunderstanding as to pool usage that might have resulted from the inconsistency between our Rules and Regulations, and the former generic Pool Rules sign.

Window Washing - all inaccessible windows will be washed by our contractor on Friday, October 3, 2008. No action is required by residents, since only the outside of inaccessible windows will be washed.

October 27, 2008 - Monday

Budget - The Board of Directors has authorized the proposed 2009 Condominium Budget to be mailed to the owners for their information. The budget will be approved by the Board at their organizational meeting on November 25, 2008, one week after the Annual Owner's Meeting and Election.

As soon as you receive them, please be sure to return your election ballots and proxy choices as soon as possible so that the Association can achieve the required quorum at the Owner's meeting. Your vote, and your opinion as to how proxy questions should be handled is very important. If you have any doubt about being able to attend the Owner's Meeting on November 18, please mail in your proxy statement.

The proposed 2009 Budget includes three new Reserves categories that must be funded to comply with the Florida condo Statute. Even with the addition of the new Reserves funding for the elevators, domestic water pump system, and the fire pump and related diesel engine, the Budget for 2009 is less than the previous budget for 2008, meaning that each owner will have quarterly maintenance assessments during 2009 that are slightly less then they have been in 2008.

Two San Marco residentiual units have been sold.

Board of Director meetings starting in January 2009 will have a time change. Meetings in 2009 will now start at 4 PM rather than at 2 PM in 2008. Meetings will continue to be held in the upstairs conference room of the downtown Selby Library, the Third Tuesday of every month starting at 4 PM.

One scheduling exception: the Board Organizational Meeting on November 25 2008 will be held at 2 PM in the offices of Progressive Community Management in downtown Sarasota.

The Line-of-Credit balance will be paid off in November using available 2008 funds.

The lobby waterfall display has had the water feature deactivated because of continuing maintenance problems. A cover has been fabricated over the existing sump, and decorative polished stones will be added soon.

The commercial marquee sign at the entrance to the Visitor Lot has been changed to permit the additon of more business identification plaques.

Because of the problem of many dirty and unwashed windows that face the walkways, the Board has instructed the Manager to amend the current housekeeping contract to have the common elements cleaning people wash limited common area walkway windows every three months.

November 19, 2008 - Wednesday Election Results - At the Annual Owner's Meeting yesterday the owners elected the following association members to the San Marco Association Board of Directors (in alphabetic order):

Charles Bubeck, Ruth Fernstrom, Helen Margolis, James Moynihan and Darlene Williams.

In addition, the owners unanimously approved (present, or by proxy) the three proxy questions that were submitted to the owners for their consideration.

A Board of Directors meeting will be held next week on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 at which the annual 2009 budget will be approved and the board members will elect Directors (Pres, VP, Sec, Treasurer). Note that this meeting will be held at the offices of PCM, 1801 Glangary Street in downtown Sarasota, at 2:00 PM., not in the Selby Library, which is the usual location.

November 26, 2008 - Wednesday Budget: Yesterday the Board of Directors approved the 2009 Condominium Budget. Payment of the first quarterly assessment is due on January 1, 2009. Owners will be mailed payment coupon books showing the new assessment amounts for their units. Unit quarterly assessments are also shown in the Proposed 2009 Budget document mailed to each owner in October.

Officers: The Board of Directors has elected officers for the 2009 term: President - Charles Bubeck, Vice President - Helen Margolis, Secretary/Treasurer - Ruth Fernstrom.

The December Board of Directors' meeting has been cancelled. Beginning in January 2009 Board meetings will be held on the third Tuesday of each month at 4:00 PM in the upstairs conference room of the downtown Selby library. Note the change of meeting times to 4:00 PM beginning in January 2009. All owners are welcome to attend monthly Board of Directors' meetings.

The garage was pressure washed last Friday. The garage refuse can located by the lobby entrance door has been removed and residents are asked to dispose of litter in the trash chute on their floor.

Garage Speeding - residents are reminded that the speed limit in the garage is 5 MPH.

December 14, 2008 - Sunday Gallery Stuff: Chris Stakenborg, the proprietor of the former Stakenborg Fine Art at San Marco has opened a new fine art gallery at 1545 Main Street, and is completing the move of his San Marco inventory to the new location.

Chris has now partnered with another art expert. Chris specializes in classical and fine art, and his partner specializes in contemporary art. The new gallery is called Stakenborg & Villet Fine Art. We wish Stakenborg and Villet all the best in their new venture.

Holiday Appreciation Stuff: Lorraine Reed is our U.S.P.S. mail delivery person. Lorraine has been our letter carrier since San Marco opened. Adrianna is our common area janitorial and housekeeping person. Newspapers are delivered by Jose Luis Barajas and family.

Condo Stuff: the new Assocation assessment coupon books should be arriving in the mail soon. They will show your new quarterly fee. You can also learn the correct amount by consulting the copy of the proposed 2009 condo budget your received in the mail, where the 2009 quarterly fees for all apartments and commercial units are documented.

If you prefer to have your quarterly fees automatically deducted from your bank account you can set up a debit program with Colonial Bank (they manage the Association accounts), who will arrrange for the deduction from any bank account (not necessarily at Colonial).

To print a copy of the application form to set up the automatic payment of your quarterly Association assessments you can click here.

Garage Speeding - We are continuing to see speeding and irresponsible driving inside the garage. If you witness unsafe driving or speeding in excess of 5 MPH in the garage and you can identify the vehicle, please call the Manager so that corrective action can be taken to end this dangerous situation.

December 29, 2008 - Monday

New Speed Limit 5 MPH signs are now installed in the garage as a result of occasional speeding by some residents. While speed signs do not always reduce speeding, installing the signs in the garage places speeders on notice even if they have not read the Rules and Regulations, which set the garage speed limit at five miles-per-hour. In the event of an accident caused by speeding in the garage, the signs can help to remove any legal ambiguity or assertions of unfamiliarity of the speed limit.

The Association has replaced a motor in the main garage exhaust fan (located in the Southeast corner of the garage) because it produced an unacceptable level of vibration and noise.

Also, in the past we have had incidents where residents have locked their vehicles and returned to their apartment, but inadvertantly left their vehicle engine ON and running. While the garage is partially open to fresh air on the east side, there is still the potential for deadly carbon monoxide buildup and subsequent migration into residential units. To anticipate this situation the Association has installed a special fan motor controller that automatically turns on the garage exhaust fan if a sensor located on the garage ceiling detects an unsafe level of carbon monoxide.

Wagon Reminder: please return the Big Yellow Courtesy Wagons immediately to the garage. They should never be stored in your apartment or abandoned on the walkways or in the lobby.

January 23, 2009 - Friday

Using the South Elevator Operating Controls - Some residents are unsure how to use the supplementary keypad that is located above the standard elevator call button outside the South (service) Elevator on the Ground Floor.

The keypad is a security feature that controls the call button during nighttime hours and on weekends. It permits the elevator to be called to the ground floor and the door opened only if the correct security code is first entered on the keypad. Once the keypad code sequence is entered, the call button in enabled and can then be pressed to summon the elevator.

Please note that by pressing the code sequence on the keypad you are not actually calling the elevator, you are just enabling the call button. You must still press the call button to summon the South Elevator.

During daytime, Monday through Friday you do not have to use the security keypad to call the elevator. Just press the elevator call button and the elevator will come to the ground floor and the door will open.

Once your are inside the elevator, regardless of the time of day, or day of the week, you must enter a floor access code by pressing a series of floor number buttons in the proper sequence. These number sequences are different than the keypad security code, and are different for each floor.

If you are unaware of the after-hours keypad security code, or your specific floor number button sequence, please contact the Manager.

Except for the Ground and Second Floors, which do not require a floor button number security sequence, the South Elevator will not move unless you press the required floor number button security sequence.

Security requires that the keypad after-hours security code must NEVER be revealed to non-residents, under any circumstances.

March 6, 2009 - Friday Storage Locker Repairs Finally Completed

As originally installed, the apartment lockers in the storage room on the second floor were not properly reinforced. The installation contractor returned to San Marco and bolted together each of the individual metal "planks" that made up the floor of the upper lockers. In addition, metal cross braces and vertical support beams were installed to add strength and support to the upper locker floors. A cautionary sign was attached to each upper locker, warning that the upper lockers could not support a weight greater than 150 pounds.

Because of a communication breakdown, the contractor had neglected to reinforce several lockers, but Kellogg & Kimsey used their maintenance people to finish the job, which was competed in February.

While strengthened, the upper locker floors are still not designed to carry a heavy load. If you plan to store very large or bulky items please follow the weight limit of 150 pounds. The installation contractor suggested that for storing large items in upper lockers, they should be placed on a sheet of plywood to help distribute the load so that no individual metal floor "plank" bears the full weight.

March 20, 2009 - Friday

Palm Tree Trimming - From time to time, some of the palm trees along the front of the building grow fronds that grow over the terrace railings of units on the third floor. If palm fronds begin to grow onto your terrace deck those fonds can be carefully trimmed by a landscaping contractor. You should never attempt to remove any palm fronds, but should call the Property Manager who will make arrangements for the work to be professionally done.

The palms along the front of the building have grown to a level where they are now fully visible from inside third floor apartments. Palms may not be trimmed in order to open up your view, since apartment views are not guaranteed. But if some fronds begin to encroach agressively onto your terrace, they can present a potential pathway for ants and other critters to reach your patio, and they need to be trimmed.

Landscapers are instructed not to remove palm fronds that do not touch the side of the building or extend over terrace railings, so the natural look of our beautiful palms can be enjoyed by all residents.

May 1, 2009 - Friday

Security Camera Moves - Two of our security cameras have been relocated so that they can monitor more important areas involving access to the building. Both of the relocated cameras had been monitoring general areas inside the garage.

Camera 6 was moved closer to the lobby door leading to the garage so that any activity involving that door will be recorded on our digital security storage system. Camera 2 now monitors the South (Service) Elevator door, the adjacent outside mail box, and part of the loading area.

Housekeeping - In March the pool and plaza deck paver bricks were pressure washed to remove accumulated grime. Inaccessible residential and commercial windows located above the ground floor were washed on April 30, 2009.

Viewing the Security Cameras - Normally, residents can see a composite display of the outputs from the security cameras by tuning their TV to cable channel 57. However, with the introduction of Comcast digital preferred and High Definition service, some residents have been unable to view the camera outputs on Channel 57, and only see normal programming (Spike TV). If you subscribe to a Comcast service other than basic cable and use a cable box or cable card on your TV, and cannot see the Channel 57 security camera display, call Comcast and ask them to make the necessary code change to your service so you can view your condominium's internal security camera composite display on Channel 57. Depending on which service technician you speak with, it can be done while you are on the phone, or in the case of one resident, the technician was not skilled or familiar enough to make the change. In that case, call again to find another more competent technician. There is no charge. The Comcast phone number is 1 800 266 2278. You may have to reset your cable box for the change to take place. The phone technician will tell you how to do the reset, or you can just unplug the cable box power cord for about 15 seconds and plug it in again. The cable box will reboot and the boot cycle is complete when you can see the time of day on the cable box display.

July 22, 2009 - Wednesday

Pool Safety - Recent national news about individuals being trapped and held underwater against swimming pool and spa drains has prompted some residents to ask if the San Marco swimming pool is safe. The answer is Yes. Our pool was retrofitted with the necessary hardware several months ago, and the pool drain is in compliance with all safety and governmental guidelines.

Owner Survey - Owners will soon receive a short survey form that asks about low spots on patios and balconies. During the Turnover Study conducted in 2007, Association engineering consultants determined, among other things, that common element walkway surfaces had low spots that trap water and leave small puddles which can affect the longevity of surface coatings.

Some limited common element patios and balconies also have low spots that accumulate water in small surface ponds that do not flow away normally after a rain. While some low spots may not be of sufficient depth or size to require leveling and resurfacing, it is necessary for owners to advise the Association of any surface irregularities that cause standing water on balconies or terraces so the matter can be addressed when a final settlement agreement is reached with the General Contractor and Developer.

The Association attorney is in the final stage of negotiating a settlement agreement that will lead to the warranty repair of common element defects identified and documented by our engineering consultants, and he would like to make sure that all surface defects located on limited common element patios and balconies are also considered when surface repair work is addressed. Survey forms can be mailed or faxed to the Manager. Early attention to this matter would be appreciated.

August 3, 2009 - Monday

Darlene Williams Insurance Agency Closes - In a note to clients, and announced by a notice on the door of her San Marco office, Darlene Williams announced that she has sold her insurance business to another agency located on Bee Ridge Road in Sarasota. The office is now closed.

Cable TV Woes - Over the past month, San Marco residents have been experiencing unreliable cable TV service, particularly on High Definition channels. Efforts by Comcast service technicians were not completely successful, and they had various interpretations as to why signal strength was not optimized, particularly for the upper channels where the Hi Def program material was located, but were unable to solve the problem.

Yesterday, after finally determining that the signal was being degraded before it entered the San Marco property, technicians found a flaw in the underground cable between Cocoanut Avenue and San Marco. They rigged a temporary line which bypassed the flawed cable and service was restored to its original quality. A work order has also been initiated to dig a new trench from Cocoanut Avenue so the line can be properly buried. That could take up to one month.

August 10, 2009 - Monday

New Safety Railings - A contractor will soon be installing a new railing along the ramp leading to the main residential entry door. In addition, handrails will also be installed on the steps leading up to the entry door of one of the offices suites (the former Darlene Williams Insurance agency). These railings are being installed out of concern for safety, since there have been reports of visitors having difficulty in navigating the ramp and stairs, and the Board decided to address the matter to avoid future problems.

Stucco Repair - A leak in the pool equipment room caused some failure of the stucco and paint on the West wall above the garage. The Association is in the process of repairing the area.

Elevator Doors and Frames - Some elevator doors and frames have weathered and are in need of repair and repainting. The pool landing door has been painted by a contractor as a test, and we are getting bids to have the South (service) elevator, and perhaps the Passenger elevator doors and frames refinished.

Garage Windows - To make the contents of the garage less tempting to passers-by on 12th St., we have frosted two window panels to see if the technique will effectively obscure the garage contents from the outside, but allow light into the garage while maintaining a pleasant appearance. Initial indications are that window frosting will do the job.

September 2, 2009 - Wednesday - More Specimen Trees Removed from DAR Cemetery

. Yesterday, workmen removed a large, healthy Live Oak tree from the grounds of the DAR adjacent to San Marco. See photo below. Last year they also cut down many mature trees on the property. In both instances they claimed that the trees were threatening the building and undermining the stone railing that encloses the cemetery.

Local attempts to convince them to stop the cutting were unsuccessful. The DAR did get city inspectors to visit the site and approve their tree removal plans. Even the contractor who cut down the tree yesterday was incredulous that such a beautiful specimen would be sacrificed, and reportedly appealed to the DAR authorities to rethink their plan, even though he would lose the job. Alas, the tree, together with its beautiful mantle of Spanish Moss, was cut down and trucked away. Supposedly, there are no plans to remove any more trees from the DAR property.

LATE ENTRY: Actually, they cut down TWO large trees, not just the one in the photo. The other tree used to offer some privacy to residents using the Plaza Deck, which now has an unrestricted view to and from 12th St.

September 8, 2009 - Tuesday -- Changes to Community Cable TV Channel Coming Soon

Within a week Comcast plans to make changes to the San Marco condo "community channel", relocating the security camera views now on cable Channel 57, to new, higher cable channels.

Televisions which do not use a digital cable box will tune to channel 117 for the camera displays.

Televisions connected to a digital cable box will tune to channel 795 to view the camera displays.

There may be a slight delay in implementing cable channel 795, and in the interim, residents can view the camera displays (including the camera at the main entry door that can be used to screen visitors calling from the entry Speakerphone panel and requesting entry into the building. As before, when called, press "6" on your phone to unlock the front door; press # to end the phone call without unlocking the door.

September 14, 2009 - Monday Elevator Damage - Recently, deep scratches have been made in the interior walls of the Passenger elevator. It is likely that someone was carrying bulky or inappropriate items on the elevator, and they scratched the walls. Vandalism is not suspected - it was probably just poor judgment or carelessness.

Residents are asked to PLEASE use the South (Service) Elevator for all large packages and items that are too risky to carry on the Passenger elevator. When large furniture items, or contractor work materials are to be brought to your unit, please arrange (in advance) with the Manager for the South elevator to be draped with protective blankets.

While some residents use the Big Yellow courtesy wagons on the Passenger elevator, they are sometimes being overloaded and manhandled with large or bulky items that should not be taken into the Passenger elevator.

Temporary repairs have been made to conceal the scratches in the "wood" elevator paneling, but

replacement of the panels, or repair of scratched or damaged stainless steel elevator panels and doors can be very expensive. Residents are asked to be alert to abuse of the elevators and careless use of the Big Yellow Wagons, which frequently have been associated with the move of large items which should have been carried on the draped South Elevator.

November 4, 2009 - Wednesday

Janitorial - The janitorial person (Adriana) will no longer be working at San Marco, and Liliana's Cleaning Service has assigned a new person, Guido (Spanish pronunciation is Gee Doh, accent on first syllable).

Guido speaks English and appears to be a very motivated and pleasant person. Al, owner of Lilians's, has been working with Guido over the past two weeks to familiarize him with our janitorial routine, and initial impression is that things are looking up, and that cleanliness of the premises will be much improved.

Courtesy Carts - The two Big Yellow Wagons that have been used as courtesy carts by residents have been a mixed blessing. They are capable of hauling large loads, but also tend to scretch and bump the walls, door jams and elevator walls.

This week we purchased a new Grocery Cart that will become the primary Courtesy Cart. It is made of plastic and is the size of a medium cart as seen in grocery stores. Because it does not rust or corrode, the cart has a reported life expectancy of over ten years in normal service as a condo courtesy cart. The unit we purchased is favored by many condo associations in Florida because it is easily cleand with a quick hose-down, won't scratch walls and doors, and survives the damp outdoor environment well.

The Big Yellow Wagons will still be available for extra heavy loads, preferably carried on the South Elevator, but the new unit is expected to assume primary duties as our Courtesy Cart.

November 8, 2009 - Sunday

Drain Line Clog - Recently a drain pipe under the Pool Deck was dripping water when there had not been a rain for several days. A plumber found that a pipe was totally clogged with what appeared to be a sandy material that had hardened to a solid. Water became trapped above the clog and slowly leaked from a joint above the clog onto the garage floor. The clogged section of pipe was cut out and replaced, but the cause of the problem is still undetermined.

Theories include migration of residue from the mastic under the paver bricks on the Pool Deck, to foreign material poured into the floor drain on the pool deck near the hose outlet. If a contractor used the pool hose outlet to clean tools and containers after installing tile, particularly if epoxy grout was used on a tile job, the epoxy grout would most likely cure and adhere to the inside of the pipe and cause a partial or complete blockage.

Owners are reminded that before they hire a contractor to do improvements or tile work in their apartment, they need to notify the Manager. The contractor must be cautioned not to wash tools or containers anywhere on San Marco property, including apartment sinks and tubs, or common area floor drains.

We're still not sure how or when the clog occurred, but from the photos of the removed pipe section (below), it is clear that some type of foreign material was deposited in a pool deck drain, clogging the pipe completely. It could have been done when the building was being built, or later, by a contractor who did tile work in an apartment and used the pool deck hose outlet to clean tools and grout mixing containers.

Tile specialists at Home Depot caution customers who use epoxy grout for backsplash or tile jobs to absolutely NOT clean their tools or wash any used grout (particularly epoxy-style two-part grout down any drains, since that is very likely to cause clogged sewer pipes.

Had this clog occurred in a drain line inside a wall, or worse, in a line located below the concrete garage floor, the cost of repair would have been extremely high.

Clumping Cat Litter - Another potential drain line hazard is Clumping Cat Litter. This material forms clumps in the presence of moisture and can quickly clog a sewer line, usually at an inaccessible spot that requires expensive removal. Never deposit litter clumps from a cat pan into your toilet to be flushed away. Dispose of clumping cat litter (or any type of pet litter) in a sealed trash bag and deposit it in the trash chute.

November 18, 2009 Budget - The 2010 Condominium Budget was passed by the Board of Directors at their meeting yesterday.

At their Organizational Meeting after the Annual Owner meeting yesterday, the Board elected Directors for the coming year. The Directors are Charles Bubeck President, Helen Margolis Vice President, Ruth Fernstrom Secretary, Robert Smith Treasurer, and member-at-large Jim Moynihan.

Proxies: A surprising number of absent owners who did not attend the Annual Owner Meeting failed to send in their proxies. Proxies are needed to establish a quorum at the Owner Meeting, and it is important that owners take the time to return proxies if they are not sure they will be able to attend the annual owner meeting. Fortunately, this year a sufficient number of owners were present in person or by proxies so the meeting could be held.

December 1, 2009

Don't forget to plan for the new maintenance assessments starting in January 2010. The amount has changed from your current 2009 assessments. You will be receiving coupon books in the mail that show your new quarterly assessment. If you pay your assessments by a bank transfer you can find your new quarterly assessment amount in the coupon book or on the next to last page of the Annual Condominium Budget you received in the mail. Assessment payments may also be mailed directly to Prokop P.A., 1188 N. Tamiami Trail, Unit 108, Sarasota, FL 34236. Don't forget to indicate your apartment number on your remittance.

You will note from the 2010 coupon books that we now have a new bank to handle Association accounts: Florida Shores Bank. An Association committee did an extensive review and interview of area banks. They recommended Florida Shores, who is financially sound and has a strong reputation for quality condominium association service and customer support.

February 12, 2010 - Friday

Elevator Safety - In case you are stuck in one of the elevators you can press the button marked with a bell symbol to ring a local alarm bell to summon help. It is important to know that this bell only rings in the building, and unless someone is nearby to the elevator, nobody may hear it.

You can also press the button marked with a telephone handset symbol, and a phone call will automatically be made to an operator, who will be able to speak with you over a Speakerphone located in the elevator. It is important to tell the operator that you are located in the San Marco Condominium, located in Sarasota Florida..

Building Entry During a Power Outage - When there is a power failure that affects the building, or when the elevators have been shut down during a hurricane, the only way into the building and up to the residential floors is by way of the stairs. Use the South stairway during power outages, but since the ground floor door to the stairs, and all landing doors are locked for security reasons, you will need a key, which is different than your apartment key. Most owners have a copy of the stairway key, and we recommend that you keep it with you with your apartment key in case you need to use the stairs to reach your apartment. If you do not have the stairway key, contact the building manager who can provide one. Locking and unlocking the stairway doors and removing the key can be a frustrating experience without having some basic information.. To view a one-minute video showing how to do it, please click here.

New Commercial Tenant - A new graphics company, PLPinteractive, has leased commercial suite 105 (formerly occupied by Stakenborg Fine Art). This is a new venture started by former Ringling School of Art and Design students, and we wish them all the best.

Hurricane Shutters for Exercise Room - In order to qualify for insurance with the Association's new insurance carrier we have had to add hurricane shutters to the Exercise Room doorway. This will bring the building up to full compliance with windstorm standards, and will enable the Association to get a rebate from Citizens Insurance on our policy. All exterior openings of the San Marco building now meet design standards for hurricane protection. Our sincere thanks to the Insurance Committee members, who devoted a great deal of time and effort to get the best possible insurance coverage at a fair price.

Vacant Unit Air Conditioning - Residents are reminded that if they leave their apartment unoccupied while on vacation, or seasonally, our Rules and Regulations require that the air conditioner thermostat must be set at no higher than 80 degrees with the air conditioner remaining ON to prevent mold that can affect the common elements and adjacent residences.

March 10,2010 - Wednesday

Faucet Clogs - After a while, shower and sink faucets can accumulate lime and particular deposits that can slow the flow of water. Since each faucet has a removable filter element and flow reducer, is is easy to unscrew the assembly (the tubular section where the water comes out of the fixture) and clean out any accumulation of gunk or lime. Sand and other particles can also get in the water lines when local utility authorities work on water pipes, and in the process break loose sediment.

To remove the screen filter/flow restrictor on your faucet you need to unscrew it from the main faucet end. If necessary you can use pliers, but you should first cover the element with masking tape so that your removal efforts do not scratch the finished metal surface.

Make note carefully of the various washers and screens inside the removed element so you can reassemble them properly. If lime has adhered to any of the components, soak them in white vinegar for a few hours and the lime will dissolve.

Clogs can also affect the flexible supply lines in kitchen sinks, so if you are adventurous, you can turn off the water supply to the fixture and then unscrew the flexible line connections and clear them if necessary. As a last resort, call a plumber if your water faucets or showers seem to be losing pressure. Removing the water restrictor element inside faucets and shower heads is not recommended.

Fire Pump Testing - San Marco has an emergency fire pump that is driven by a diesel engine located in the utility room next to the exercise room. The system detects when any fire sprinkler has been activated in a unit or the common elements, and automatically turns on so that pressure to all the building sprinklers can be maintained regardless of how much water is flowing from sprinkler heads, low local water pressure, power failures, or any other adverse conditions. The diesel engine is large and makes a racket when it is running.

The fire pump system must be tested weekly to meet fire safety guidelines, and that involves starting the diesel engine and running it for thirty minutes. Our system has an automatic timer that turns on the engine every Wednesday at 11:00 A.M. and runs it for thirty minutes, after which it is automatically shut down. The process is automated, but some human oversight is required to make sure that the test has been run and that the engine and pump are operating safely and without any obvious leaks or other discrepancies, and that there is sufficient fuel in the diesel fuel tank, which is also located in the fire pump room. The fire pump system and the diesel engine are maintained by local service contractors, who also perform periodic tests to make sure the systems are fully operational and ready to run when needed.

March 22, 2010 - Monday

At their last meeting the Board of Directors amended the Rules and Regulations to prohibit dogs weighing 40 pounds or greater at their mature weight from being kept in a San Marco apartment. Original purchasers of San Marco units are exempt from this new restriction because of a right conveyed to them by the Developer in the Declaration, stating that they would not be subject to any future changes to the original pet restrictions for as long as they own their units.

The majority of the Board members agreed to this rule change because there have been recent inquiries from real estate agents as to whether new buyers would be permitted to have a very large dog. Most condominiums have established weight restrictions on pets, and the Board majority considered this a rule change that would benefit the majority of owners, and avoid future problems associated with very large dogs being kept in an apartment building.

Diesel Fuel Smart Pump - Last week the diesel fuel tank was topped off for the first time since the building was opened. The diesel engine is used to automatically maintain water pressure in the fire suppression sprinkler system throughout the building, even if local power is interrupted or multiple sprinklers are activated.

The Smart Pump (a Simplx Corp. brand name) is located in two cabinets located next to the North garage door. It allows a fuel delivery truck to pump fuel up to the tank in the second floor Fire Pump room, while preventing overfilling, since the tank cannot be visually monitored by the driver during delivery operations. The pump automatically shuts down when the fuel tank reaches the 90 percent full level. It can then be restarted and can pump again until the 95 percent full level is reached, but no additional fuel may be pumped into the tank as a precaution against spills. .

April 22. 2010 - Thursday

The Association has engaged a contractor to provide service to the potable water pump system that pressurizes and distributes water throughout the building. A check valve has been replaced because it was failing. Two years ago another check valve had to be replaced. It was sticking because of corrosion. The service contractor will visit San Marco every quarter to inspect and clean all valves and water system components. He has also recommended that the building install a water softener to help offset the problems of corrosion and scale buildup in the water lines and valves. At their meeting on April 20, 2010 the Board of Directors decided to postpone consideration of a water softener system until we see how the new preventive maintenance program is going. A water softener would cost about twelve thousand dollars, plus the cost of periodic salt deliveries. Since this would be an unfunded initiative, and is not considered urgent, the Board decided on watchful waiting at this time.

The Smart Pump system enclosures by the North garage door have been repaired and repainted (from the former white, to a less visible gray). The cabinets are also locked now to prevent any tampering or vandalism. Rain water had gotten inside the cabinets over time, causing a great deal of rust. New weather stripping along the door edges should resolve that problem.

May 19, 2010 - Thursday - Three weeks ago Guido, our janitorial person from Liliana's Cleaning Service, fell from the roof of his house and injured his back. He was put on house rest to heal the problem (reportedly a small back fracture), and in the interim, Alex has been doing an excellent job filling in for Guido.

Alex tells us that Guido will be returning to work next Monday, May 24. We wish Guido continued speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him again starting on Monday.

If your doorbell has stopped working, check that the sounder unit is plugged into a working wall unit in your apartment. The wall unit should be located in a wall outlet fairly close to the front door so that the low power radio signal from the door push button can reliably reach the sounder unit to activate it.

The door bell unit uses a small 12 volt battery, which normally lasts for at a couple of years, unless you have armies of visitors continuously ringing your door bell..

If you door bell has stopped working, notify the manager and your unit will be checked for a failed battery, in which case it will be replaced at no cost to you by a volunteer. If you want to replace the battery yourself, insert a very small screwdriver into the small slot in the bottom of the outside push button unit, and while pressing the screwdriver in with light pressure to loosen an internal latch, the push button unit unit can be swung up and out, revealing the circuit board containing the battery. Too much pressure can break the latch, and too little pressure won't allow the circuit module to be removed, meaning you may tear the entire door bell unit and its base from the door frame (it is attached with double-faced tape).

Remove the dead battery and install a new one, making sure to note the polarity markers on the circuit board and on the battery. Note that the battery does not have the traditional flat-negative, bump on positive terminal configuration that you normally see on a flashlight battery. Both ends look fairly similar, and it is best to look for the polarity markings on the battery (+ and --) to make sure you don't reverse the polarity.

The battery clips may need a gentle bend to make them tight on the new battery, which could be a slightly smaller size then the original battery.

Given all these caveats, it's best to just notify the manager if you need a new doorbell battery installed.

May 23, 2010 - Sunday

Guido Update - The return to work of Guido, our janitorial person, has been delayed by one week, with his return now scheduled for Monday, May 31, 2010. Al from Liliana's reports that Guido needs an additional week to get back in fighting form after falling from the roof of his house a few weeks ago. In the interim, Alex will continue to keep the building in top shape.

Main Door Unlock Delay - The period during which the main entry door stays unlocked after a resident presses the "6": key on their apartment telephone to allow a visitor to enter the building has been extended to give visitors time to open the door before it automatically locks again. Some visitors were having difficulty opening the door before time expired a relatively short five (5) seconds after the resident remotely unlocked it, leaving them stranded at the main door.

The time the door can be opened after a resident remotely unlocks it for a visitor has now been extended to fifteen (15) seconds. Visitors should be told on the Speakerphone that there will not be a distinctive loud "buzz" indicating that the door has been unlocked, and they should immediately unlatch the door and enter the building. As discussed in the past, the door can only be unlocked by the resident if they have been called from the main door Speakerphone Entry panel. The remote unlocking mechanism does not work if a visitor uses a mobile or cellular phone to call the resident to request entry. The call must be made only from the Speakerphone Entry Panel, where the visitor enters the three digit unit number they want to visit and are then automatically connected by Speakerphone with the resident.

Prokop P.A. Moving - The unofficial word is that Prokop P.A., our condo management company, will be moving from their San Marco offices to another location in Sarasota at the end of June* when their lease ends. Additional details will be provided when available, but we expect little change in the level or quality of support the Association will be receiving. However, it has been very convenient for our management company to be located in the San Marco building since last summer. *CORRECTION: Prokop will be moving on or about August 1, rather than the end of June as incorrectly indicated above.

June 20, 2010 - Sunday

A new business will be occupying the old Darlene Williams' Allstate Insurance offices, which were closed several months ago. The new lessee is also an Allstate Insurance agency. They are expected to open for business in early July.

Hurricane season is here again, and residents are asked to make preparations NOW. When a hurricane is imminent, balconies and patios must be cleared of ALL items. If you are an absent owner, you must make firm arrangements to have your patio cleared. The Association Management will be busy securing the common elements and will not be able to secure your property or take any action on your behalf when a serious storm approaches. Storm-borne patio items (furniture, planters, decorator items) can become deadly flying objects in a hurricane, and our goal is to survive storms and hurricanes with no damage or injury to persons or property.

The elevators will not be working during a hurricane, so be sure to carry with you a key to the stairway doors so that you can use the stairs to enter the building. Unlocking the ground floor stairway doors can be tricky, so if in doubt, check out this short video on how to do it properly.

Hurricane Guides are available from local newspapers. Also, please review the San Marco Hurricane Preparedness Guide that is available on this web site

June 21, 2010 - Monday

Yet another business is locating to San Marco. Commercial Unit 104 will become a Hair Salon in August or September. The business is owned by Mr. Paul Marquis.

Elevator Outage Early Warning - The Passenger elevator has a history of shutting down every six months or so, probably because of a sensitivity to power fluctuations. It turns out that when the elevator does not work (and it usually fails late at night), the morning newspaper delivery people can't get to the residential floors, so they leave the newspapers in the lobby. The Herald Tribune paper people are so reliable that if we notice no morning paper by our door at the expected time, we instinctively check whether the elevator is working. In most instances. no newspaper apartment delivery means a non-working elevator.

We can then usually do a quick reset of the system without having to summon Otis to come out on a service call.

These occasional elevator shutdowns do not mean that the Passenger elevator has a serious unresolved problem. It shuts down about once or twice in a year, probably as a result of a power glitch. Except for a couple of months ago, when the outage was caused by a failed part that Otis had to replace, we are usually able to bring it back to life by a simple self-help reset procedure.

August 12, 2010 - Thursday

Annual Unit Pest Control Treatment Scheduled for Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Massey Services, our pest control contractor, will be servicing the common areas and the residential and commercial units on Tuesday, August 31, 2010, starting on the top floor at about 10:30 AM (note change of start time from 9:00 to 10:30).

Each unit must be treated. If you will not be at home, or if you are an absent owner, the Association representative will accompany the Massey technician while in your apartment. Each treatment usually takes no longer than 10 or 15 minutes to complete.

If your apartment has an intrusion alarm and you will not be at home at the time of the visit, please contact the Property Manager (941 342-6444) to make the necessary arrangements.

Delinquent Owners - As of July 1, 2010, Florida has offered new legal remedies to condominium associations with owners who do not pay their periodic maintenance assessments. Delinquent owners can be deprived of their right to vote in association elections. If they have renters, the Association can demand that the rent be paid to the Association until the indebtedness has been satisfied. Also, renters of delinquent owners can be deprived of the use of common element facilities like the pool and the exercise room. However, they can still use the common elevators, parking and continue to have access to their units. Previously, only owners could be fined for rules infractions, but as of July 1, renters can also be fined and are legally obligated to pay after an optional appeal hearing affirms the fine.

PLP Interactive, the computer support and graphics startup that occupied a San Marco commercial unit earlier this year, have vacated their office. There is no word whether the company is still viable and has relocated to another office.

August 26, 2010 - Thursday New San Marco Maintenance Manager

With the relocation of the Prokop P.A. management company from their San Marco commercial office and relocation to Bee Ridge Road, some of the incidental tasks that they performed will need to be picked up by someone. The Association has hired Sean McDonald to be our new Maintenance Manager. His duties will be to oversee the physical plant and the common elements of the building, making repairs and performing preventive maintenance as required. Sean will begin his work by devoting about four hours each week, on average. He will not be here full time, but will be available to meet and accompany contractors, and perform some scheduled checks and take care of required maintenance.

For example, Sean will accompany the Pest Control Contractor next week when he enters each unit to perform the annual pest control treatment. Sean will escort the technician, and will also do a leak test of toilet flapper valves in unoccupied apartments to make sure that water, paid by condo maintenance fees, is not being inadvertently wasted through a leak in the valve. Sean will also supervise and direct our contractors (for example, landscaping and irrigation, fire and water systems, and the like).

Sean will not do any work inside condo units during his duty hours, and will limit his attention to the common elements and association resources only.

If you see anything in the common elements that needs attention, call the Property Manager or Bob Smith (941 951-1049), our Board of Directors maintenance coordinator who will prioritize and oversee Sean's work.

September 9, 2010 - Thursday

Toilet Valve Leaks - During the recent pest control contractor visit to all units at San Marco, the Maintenance Manager conducted tests in unoccupied units to determine if their toilet flapper valve was leaking. A leaking toilet valve can waste up to 200 gallons of water each day. Four units were found to have leaking valves, and a letter is being sent to the owners asking them to have the valves replaced as soon as possible. The Condo Manager can make arrangements for the repair if absent owners are interested. If the repair is not completed within a reasonable time, the Association will have the work done and invoice the unit owner. Residential toilet leaks can significantly increase the general water consumption, which is a cost paid by the Association as a common expense.

Fire System Jockey Pump - On September 8, 2010 (yesterday) the fire control system jockey pump failed. The jockey pump keeps the building fire sprinkler system at the proper pressure, permitting sprinklers to operate on all floors of the building. Without an assist from the jockey pump, city water pressure would not permit water to reach sprinklers on the upper floors during a fire.

Until the pump can be replaced (undetermined at this time), the Fire Department requires that the Association post a fire monitor in the building from 8 PM until 7 AM each day that the sprinkler system is not operational, with half-hourly check logs faxed to the Sarasota Fire Department first thing each morning.;

The Association Fire system maintenance contractor is preparing a proposal for the replacement. Until the pump can be returned to operation, the Association must continue to hire a contract guard service to perform fire watch checks throughout the building during nighttime hours.

October 20, 2010 Wednesday

A new floor fan has been added to the Exercise Room. There is also a new thermostat, so residents can adjust the thermostat for their comfort during workouts, and set it to a higher energy-saving temperature when they leave.

Our Housekeeper Guido will be leaving on Friday for one month to visit relatives in Venezuela, his country of origin. Guido will train his temporary replacement so we should continue to get the same level of common area care. This will be the first time Guido has traveled to Venezuela in seven years. Guido's nephew Diego will be filling in for Guido while he is away.

Owners will soon receive copies of the proposed 2011 Condo budget. The Board of Directors will approve next year's budget at their meeting on 16 November, 2010, immediately following the Annual Owner Meeting.

Our Maintenance Manager, Sean McDonald, is conducting a review to determine if the walkway fluorescent lights can be replaced with less complex fixtures that will accommodate standard, screw-in compact fluorescent bulbs that do not require an external ballast. Ballasts have been burning out at a high rate, and we would like to find a solution that provides more reliable common area lighting while still using low-energy, low cost, compact fluorescent lamps.

January 28 2011 - Friday

The Board has approved the installation of a flat-panel TV in the exercise room. It will be installed when arrangements can be made to set up a cable hookup in the room and the TV and mount hardware can be purchased.

Because of the successful repair of peeling paint along the walkway outer edges, The Maintenance Manager will also be repainting flaking paint along the outer edge of SprayCrete-finished residential patios and balconies.

The swimming pool heater is on its last legs and does not reliably maintain the desired pool temperature. The Board has approved the purchase and installation of the new heater. Bids are being obtained and we hope to have the new unit installed within a month.

Preventive Maintenance: Now is a good time to replace the thin plastic water feed lines on your toilets with more reliable armored hoses. They very inexpensive (under $4 at Lowe's and Home Depot) and replacing them is a simple do-it-yourself task, of you can have someone do the job at minimal cost. Also, if you have not replaced the hot and cold hoses on your washing machine you should do so. Broken and leaking washer hoses resulting in destructive flooding in condo buildings is a common problem, particularly if the water supply valves are left ON between washes. Good practice is to turn OFF the hot and cold valves after using the washer, and to install two armored water supply hoses to replace the original rubber hoses.

March 23, 2011 - Wednesday

Owners have been notified by letter that the construction defects matter has finally been resolved and a Settlement Agreement has been signed by all parties. The defects will be repaired starting in a few weeks, and the job should take about one month. Major construction will involve the ventilation duct shafts, which need to have louvered openings installed at the bottom of each shaft to allow for a proper updraft. This will involve cutting openings in the eight-inch thick garage ceiling.

Also, extensive work will be done on the Plaza Deck to correct drainage deficiencies. Some walkways, balconies, and patios will require work to correct drainage issues. Owners of those units will be advised when access to their units will be required.

The Board of Directors meeting in April will be held on the fourth Tuesday rather than the usual third Tuesday because of a scheduling issue at the library requiring that we slip our usual meeting by one week. The meeting will be held on April 12, 2011 at 4:00 PM in the upstairs conference room at the downtown Selby library.

The Board of Directors has approved the purchase of an exercise bike for the fitness room. It should be purchased and installed in a few weeks. Also, the flat-panel TV has been installed in the exercise room and is now fully operational.

The two public restrooms on the Plaza Deck have been painted an attractive light beige, and no-touch foam soap and paper towel dispensers have been installed.

Storage Room - While there is no imminent danger of flooding, residents with lower floor lockers are advised that they should consider keeping their belonging off the concrete floor and placing them in large plastic storage bins, or at the least, on wood boards separating items from direct contact with the floor, just in case there is ever a situation where water enters or floods the storage room.

Also, since the storage room is fire sprinkled, keeping your belongings covered from above, just in case one or more of the sprinkler heads is activated, is a worthwhile precaution.

Cardboard boxes tend to hold moisture, can contain insect eggs and noxious critters, and are generally not recommended for use in the Storage Room. Best practice is to obtain some large covered plastic storage bins (Target, Wal-Mart, etc) and use them for your stored items.

We are fortunate that even with no active ventilation or dehumidification, the Storage Room is remarkably dry, with no mold or mildew problems. You can do your part by keeping wet and damp items out of the room, and by not using cardboard boxes or paper bags to hold your stored items.

Of course, no flammable items may be stored in the room. When in doubt, keep potentially volatile and unstable items out of the Storage Room. This includes solvent or oil-soaked rags, which can self-combust without warning.

April 18, 2011 - Monday

Building Repairs - Repairs have finally begun, with the contractor focusing this week on cutting the vent holes in the concrete at the bottom of each vent shaft, and preparing the Plaza Deck concrete surface for new drains and related drainage upgrades. There will be some noise and dirt, but that should end by the end of this week. To give the contractor some working room, and to avoid damage to vehicles, all vehicles must be removed from the garage from 8 AM to 4:30 PM each day this week. Cars can park in the East side of the visitor lot, along 12th Street, in the public parking spaces adjacent to the historic buildings in Pioneer Park, and on the DAR property next to San Marco, in the back, under the pine trees.

New Exercise Bicycle - There is a new stationary exercise bike in the exercise room. Early users have mentioned that the seat is uncomfortable after exercising for a while. For hygienic reasons we can't install a soft cushioned cover on the seat, since it cannot then be adequately wiped down with sanitizer after each use. If you find that the solid seat is too hard, consider bringing a soft towel to sit on while exercising. There are also inexpensive "sheepskin" (fake fur) bike seat covers (check Google) that people who use the exercise bike might want to purchase and bring with them when they exercise. Regrettably, we can't install that type of seat for everyone to use because of hygiene concerns.

May 18, 2011 - Wednesday

Installation of the new Plaza Deck drains and related threshold upgrades has been completed. The drains have a much larger surface area, permitting water to pass through the drain covers from the top and sides (the part of the drain assembly facing the edges of the surrounding one-inch high paver bricks), greatly enhancing their ability to move storm water from the Plaza Deck. The new drain covers are also much less prone to being clogged with storm-borne leaves, twigs, and other material.

Openings have been made in the concrete garage ceiling to facilitate natural updrafts in the ventilation ducts connected to apartment range hood and bathroom exhaust fans. Because of the missing updraft openings there has been a tendency for apartment exhaust fan odors to linger in the vent shafts rather than to flow naturally out the rooftop shaft openings, resulting in cooking odors sometimes being noticed in adjacent apartments.

Work continues on additional construction defect repair items. .

June 9, 2011 - Thursday - Repairs - All the construction defect repairs have been just about been completed. Some repaired stucco needs to age and then be primed and painted, but the majority of the construction defects have been fixed. Thanks to our residents who may have been inconvenienced with occasional noise, parking, and other restrictions during construction.

Recently the elevator tile floors were cleaned and regrouted by Maintenance Manager Sean McDonald. The results were so successful that a contractor has hired to scrub the residential lobby and entry hall and seal the grout. The contractor used high pressure cleaning equipment and the floor is much improved.

Graffiti - A few days ago we noticed that the rear of the trash corral fence in the Visitor Lot had been "tagged" with graffiti, pretty much covering the entire rear of the large white PVC fence. We're not sure, but recent shrubbery pruning and cleanup around the corral may have exposed the rear of the fence to passersby on the Pioneer Park pathway, and the wide, inviting PVC fence material was probably too tempting a "blank canvas", prompting a local to tagger to leave his "handiwork".

The graffiti was quickly removed and the rear surface of the corral has been painted a dark earth toned color, making the fence blend more with the surrounding foliage. Darker colors also reportedly do not appeal to 'taggers", who apparently like their graffiti art (in this case, probably gang-related tags) to be shown in their best light.

We will be moving some plant material to the area behind the corral to further obscure the fence and make it even more unappealing to graffiti "artists".

New Drains Installed on Plaza Deck

The original floor drains on the Plaza Deck proved to be ineffective in very heavy rains, and as a result of the building defect claim, larger and more efficient drains have now been installed

The number of Plaza Deck drain lines were increased from four to six. The new drain assemblies have a much larger drainage area, with additional openings along the sides to allow water flowing from between the paver bricks to reach the drain pipe directly rather than to have to build up to a level where it would eventually overflow into the drain openings.

The sides of the new drains are not tightly butted to the surrounding paver bricks as were the originals, but leave room for rainwater to reach the side openings in addition to the main surface openings.

Below is a photo of a new drain assembly before installation on the Plaza Deck. Note that the sides of the stainless steel and bronze drains are also perforated to significantly increase the amount of water that can be drained from the deck.

August 17, 2011 - Wednesday

Maintenance - Pressure washing of the building has been completed. The exterior facade, all patios and balconies, walkways, the pool and Plaza decks, garage, stairways, parking lot, and sidewalks have all been given a good high pressure cleaning. The next step is to caulk some voids found in decorative elements on the front facade, to touch-up stucco walls and trim on patios and balconies, and to repaint the SprayCrete residential patio and balcony decks, and the Common Element walkways.

Normally, the cleaning of residential patios and balconies is the responsibility of the unit owner, since they are Limited Common Elements. Because the facade of the building was to be pressure washed, the Board of Directors reasoned that it was best to also clean patios and balconies so that eventual rain runoff would not stain the cleaned building facade. Owners are still responsible for maintaining their patios and balconies by sweeping and light periodic cleaning (with no water overflow onto the facade).

To prevent accumulation of road grime, rainwater that puddles on balconies and patios should be swept and squeeged so that it can dry quickly without becoming a dirt-magnet that captures dirt and road grime from vehicle traffic on Tamiami Trail.

In addition, the landscaping is being extensively upgraded, including removal of the unsightly grass from the planter strip adjacent to 12th St, and replacing it with low-growing decorative ground cover. Additional work is also being devoted to shrubbery along the building foundation. Palm trees will be pruned and an arborist will examine the Date Palm trees to make sure they are thriving, particularly those adjacent to the visitor lot, where pavement may restrict natural irrigation of root the structures.

August 18, 2011 - Thursday

Painting - Work is progressing on painting the recently cleaned residential patios and balconies, and the Common Element walkways. Emphasis is being placed on repainting the darker colored decorative trim, which has faded over the years. The main building elements are not being repainted, with only selective touch-ups on the stucco walls and vertical columns, since the wall paint is in good condition, has not faded significantly, and can be deferred until there is a complete building paint job in two or three years,

The photo (below, on the left) shows the recently pressure washed, sparkling front facade after the Unit 201, 202, 301 and 302 patio support trim elements have been repainted. The photo on the right shows Maintenance Manager Sean McDonald applying paint to one of the second floor patio applied decorative trim elements,

The paint used for the walkway, patio, and balcony decking is a very close match to the original SprayCrete surface color, but has additional features that should help it to resist abrasion, UV fading, and the effects of rainwater and organic contaminants. Sean McDonald formulated the new paint in consultation with a paint vendor, and has tested it for about six months on a section of the fifth floor walkway and along the edges of the walkways where the original paint had flaked and failed because of poor preparation and exposure to dripping rainwater. The new edge paint appears to be tenacious, and there are no signs of failure. In the past, painting contractors were asked to bid on repainting the failed walkway paint edges. They all were skeptical about achieving proper adherence, and gave cost estimates that were unreasonably high. Thankfully, that problem now appears to have been resolved.

September 7, 2011 - Wednesday

Rain Water Buildup in Sliding Door Tracks - When there is a strong tropical storm or hurricane, with winds and rain blowing from the West, driven rainwater may tend to build up in sliding door tracks that face the storm. This is normal.

The wind may even cause water in the track to bubble and splash, but if the weep holes in the window track are free of obstructions, the water will flow back outside, preventing an overflow into your apartment floor. If the storm is strong and sustained enough that the wind exerts sufficient pressure to prevent the track water from flowing freely out of the weep holes, you can minimize splashing onto the apartment floor by placing towels or other absorbent material along the inside raised threshold of the door to catch any splashes.

It is always a good idea to keep sliding door tracks clean and clear of dirt and other material that might obstruct the weep holes. Be sure to periodically check that the weep holes (actually, one-inch horizontal slots in the bottom of the window frames) are clear all the way through to the outside.

September 10, 2011 - Saturday - San Marco Landscaping

A great deal has been happening over the past several months to analyze, repair, sustain, and upgrade San Marco common element landscaping. Bob Carlson, Secretary of the San Marco Board of Directors and Landscaping Liaison, has prepared a summary that should be of interest to San Marco owners. Our sincere thanks to Bob Carlson, Sean McDonald, and Nancy Paul for their dedicated efforts. Here is Bob's report:

1. First priority was the upgrading and troubleshooting our irrigation system that was bleeding water, much of which was flowing on and into the drains of Rt. 41. After many hours of tracking leaks, replacing water lines and checking consumption rates, the irrigation system was (is) operating properly.

We were able to reduce our consumption rate 82% in comparable months of March 2010 (92,700 gal.) and of March 2011 (16,600 gal.) or a savings of $431 in a monthly cost ($709 vs. $278). Presently we are consuming approximately 3,000 gal. per irrigation cycle.

2. In addition, we installed a rain gauge to further reduce unnecessary irrigation and to become better stewards of the threatened water supply in southwest Florida.

3. We’ve also added an auto shutoff to the irrigation system so that minor leaks are shut down when the system in a standby mode.

4. With assistance of Nancy Paul, locally trained horticulturist, we replaced overgrown plants and poor dirt from the poolside planters and upgraded the irrigation.

5. Needed fertilization, insect treatment and pruning of the palms in the south parking lot and at the front and north sides of our building was subsequently addressed.

6. The north side, from curb to building, commanded our attention next. After obtaining the necessary permit from the engineering office of the City of Sarasota, we initiated Stage One plans by removing a 1,000 ft. sq. area of weeds, upgrading the irrigation lines. and planting over 500 minima jasmine plants, and spreading pine bark nuggets for ground cover (which we are consistently using throughout the grounds of San Marco).

Stages Two and Three will commence on Monday, September 12th. This will consist of transplanting some plants and adding additional plants (philodendron xanadu) and ground cover (perennial peanuts) that presently border the south parking lot), filling in where there are noticeable gaps, removing weeds, and upgrading irrigation lines.

Sandwiched in between these targeted efforts is the general care and pruning of all bushes and plants. For example, Sean McDonald is pruning the Fire Cracker plants in the pool deck area since they have become quite overgrown. They may appear rather ugly at present but will recover and should appear less crowded.

Future plans, in addition to maintaining the gains we have made this year, will most likely involve replacing the crinum lilies at the south and west side of the building. They are becoming a challenge to keep from overtaking their space, crowding out other plants. They are also quite disease prone and time consuming to maintain.

A similar concern in need of attention is our pigmy palms, which are becoming too tall at their present locations.

Residents are encouraged to pass along observations and suggestions to me at my email address (rvcarlson.abc@comcast.net).

Bob Carlson, Landscaping Liaison, San Marco Condo Association

October 19, 2011 - Wednesday

Quarterly Assessments - The Dreaded Fine Print

One quarter of each owner's annual maintenance assessment is due at the beginning of each fiscal quarter, on the first day of January, April, July, and October. Each owner is provided with a coupon booklet at the start of each calendar year, and may use the coupons in the booklet to pay by check. An automatic debit service is also available from Florida Shores Bank.

Details are in the payment book, or may be obtained by calling the Association Manager or Florida Shores. You may also set up an automatic debit program with your own bank or use on-line banking "Bill Pay" programs. Regardless of how you make arrangement to pay your quarterly condo assessment, it is important to understand that the Association has no discretion to allow late payments or other concessions associated with timely payment of assessments.

If your payment is not received by the tenth day of the month in which it is due, it will bear interest at the rate of 18% per annum, and be subject to a late charge. If your account remains delinquent after 30 days, it will be turned over to the association attorney for collection. The unit owner will then be responsible for all legal and filing fees, attorney fees, and all collection related administrative charges, together with interest and any penalty fees imposed on the delinquency.

New San Marco owners need to make sure that any arrangements they make for the automatic debit of their condo fees from a bank account, or other automatic recurring payment methods, have been checked and validated before assuming that all is well. New owners are well advised to call the Association Manager a few days after their first automatic payment should have been deposited in the Association account to make sure the the automatic debit procedure worked as intended. The greatest incidence of owners being in arrears is with new owners who assume that they have established the proper automatic debit procedure, only to find that they are in arrears for their quarterly assessment and are subject to interest and penalties.

The Association is obligated to follow consistent collection procedures, with no special accommodations made in regard to overdue accounts.

Renters and Pets - Owners who plan to rent their apartment are reminded that renters and their guests are prohibited from having any pet or bringing any pet onto the condo property, including their rental unit. This has been made clear in our Rules and Regulations, and conspicuously on the Renter Application forms that the owner and lessee sign as a part of the rental approval process. Exceptions cannot be made, since doing so places the Association in jeopardy of being accused of Selective Enforcement if the renter pet rules must be enforced at some time in the future.

Since the removal of a family pet from a rental unit, or the cancellation of the lease for a pet rule violation can be painful and upsetting, owners are urged to familiarize themselves with the condo rules regarding rentals, particularly the restrictions that prohibit renters from having pets, and make sure that their lessee does not have, or intend to acquire a pet at any time during the duration of their lease.

Video Security and Entry Control System

The Association is in the process of obtaining proposals to upgrade the existing Entry Access Speakerphone System, the Digital Video Recorder, and security cameras that monitor key areas of the condominium property. The goal will be trouble free, validated entry into the building by owners, residents, and their guests, a user-friendly LCD index display, an historical database of access transactions, and a more robust and reliable video monitoring system to keep watch over the property and allow law enforcement to have access to reliable video information if needed.

November 7, 2011 - Monday Water Heater Maintenance

Within the past few months, two water heaters located in apartments that were not occupied by full time residents needed to be replaced because of tank leakage. Fortunately, there is a collection pan below the San Marco water heaters, so water that leaks is captured and routed to drain pipes located in the garage.

It is important that water heaters receive periodic maintenance. The heater tank should be periodically drained (some experts recommend once per year) so that the accumulated sediment, scale, and gunk can be purged from the system. Low hot water pressure can sometimes be caused by a buildup of sediment material in the water heater tank.

Draining the tank is not very difficult, but it does require that a hose be attached to the drain fitting at the bottom of the tank and that the hose be routed to a drain point below the level of the tank drain fitting. That usually means running the hose outside your apartment and down to one of the parking lot storm drains (not draining onto the pedestrian walkways on each floor!), which requires a long hose. In a multi story condo building like San Marco, that can be a challenge.

A Plumbing contractor or handyman is probably better prepared to get the job done quickly and without a lot to fuss.

An excellent description of how to drain a water heater tank is located at this web site.

Water heater replacement can be expensive, so preventive maintenance to prolong the life of your heater is worth the effort.

Sarasota sewer department workers were called, and they opened the blockage in the sewer line. What actually happened was that the sewer pipe had been damaged, probably during original site construction, so that it eventually caved in and caused the backup. While the rubble was cleared from within the pipe and flow was restored, there was still a need to permanently repair the pipe at the spot where it had been crushed.

The other night at about 9, an army of large equipment trucks arrived unexpectedly in the parking lot, and along Tamiami Trail.

City contractors began working on a permanent fix, which involved internal repair of the broken pipe section, probably with a stent-like sheath so the original dimensions of the pipe were restored. Their work completed, they were gone in a couple of hours.

November 16, 2011 - Wednesday Budget for 2012 Approved: The Board of Directors approved the 2011 condominium budget yesterday. Owners will be receiving payment books from Florida Shores bank before the first quarterly payment is due. You can determine the exact amount of your quarterly assessment by consulting your copy of the proposed 2011 budget document that was mailed to you in October.

Air Conditioner Compressors - A resident recently was informed by their air conditioner service company that an external component on their rooftop compressor unit was corroded and was in need of replacement. Owners, particularly those who do not live full time at San Marco, should make arrangement for periodic service of their air conditioner system. The compressors are at least five years old and some units are showing signs of corrosion and rust after hears of being exposed to the elements.

Election - Board of Directors - At yesterday's board meeting, the five directors who served last year were again appointed to new 2012 terms. At their organizational meeting the directors elected these officers: Charles Bubeck, President; Ruth Fernstrom, Vice President; Robert Carlson, Secretary; Robert Smith, Treasurer, James Moynihan: Member at Large.

December Board Meeting Canceled - The next meeting of the San Marco Board of Directors will be on Tuesday, January 17, 2012. The December meeting was canceled because of the year-end holidays.

November 18, 2011 - Friday

New Quarterly Assessments - The Board of Directors approved the 2012 condominium budget, which means that your quarterly maintenance obligation will have changed slightly from this year's amount.

If you have an automatic debit program set up with your bank, please be sure to change the amount that gets debited before the payment is automatically made in late December. Otherwise, if you continue to pay the 2011 quarterly assessment fee your account will be in arrears and subject to the usual mandatory administrative machinations that can involve fines and interest.

If you pay your quarterly assessment by check, using the payment coupon booklet you will receive from Florida Shores Bank in December, the correct amount for your apartment will be indicated on each of the four 2012 quarterly invoices.

New owners are encouraged to check with their bank if they have recently set up an automatic debit program for the payment of their quarterly assessments to make sure that the payment will actually be made within the first ten days of each quarter. Checking with the Manager a few days after the start of a quarter the first time a new debit program has been initiated to make sure the Association has received your payment on time is highly recommended.

December 7, 2011 - Wednesday

The Law of Unintended Consequences - Curses, Foiled Again

Last month, the Association installed automatic motion-sensing light switches in all the trash rooms, the two Plaza Deck restrooms, and the Storage Room. Use of the inexpensive switches, which sense motion by detecting the difference between ambient room temperature and body heat, would solve the problem of lights inadvertently being left ON. So far, so good.

Alas, a couple of weeks after the changeover to the new switches, a resident was working in his locker located in the far back of the storage room. Since his second level locker is extremely wide, he carefully climbed up into the locker so he could position items, spread the load, and organize things.

After a while, the Storage Room went completely dark. The automatic light switch had timed out, and "seeing" no new motion in the direct field of view, it dutifully extinguished the room lights.

The Storage Room walkway meanders between rows of lockers toward the back of the room, with no direct visual line-of-sight to the locker area in the back of the room. While there was motion inside the locker, it was totally out of the field of view of the light switch sensor next to the room doorway, and after the timed period during which the light stays ON, and having no evidence of human activity in the room, the light was turned OFF.

The resident, in complete darkness (there are no windows in the Storage Room) had to carefully climb out of his upper locker and down onto the floor, where he moved toward the front of the room by feeling his way along the lockers lining the walkway. When he got in range of the automatic switch located next to the room entry door, it dutifully turned the room lights ON, but a lesson had been learned: Don't use a motion sensing light switch in a room that cannot be completely "seen" by the motion sensor.

While we could probably have redesigned the setup so there would be a series of motion sensors throughout the room, we bit the bullet, removed the automatic motion switch, and reinstalled the original toggle ON/OFF light switch.

Residents are reminded to turn off the light in the Storage Room upon leaving. Case closed!

January 18, 2012 - Wednesday

At yesterday's meeting the Board of Directors approved the purchase of a new pool heater. The existing heater has been chronically unreliable and is no longer operational. The new unit will be a more reliable design and better suited for the confines of the enclosed pool heater room.

The Manager will arrange a session with vendors who submitted proposals for the replacement of the existing DVR/Camera and Entry Control systems. Board members and interested owners can interact with the vendors and hear their proposals for the new systems. Both systems are in need of upgrade, and the new entry control system will probably use small proximity key fobs rather than digital keypads to unlock common area entry doors. The date and place of the session will be posted when it has been arranged.

February 3, 2012 - Friday

New Pool Heater - The new pool heater has been installed, and a new and more efficient exhaust system was also installed by our Maintenance Manager to speed the removal of chemical fumes and moisture in the pool equipment room, both of which tend to corrode the heater parts.

Concrete Repair - Next week one of the raised concrete entry pads in front of a commercial office along Tamiami Trail will be demolished and replaced. The pad had shifted and was preventing the door from operating properly.

Garage Painting and Sealing - The Board will consider adding an item to the Capital Improvements list that involves sealing and painting the inside walls of the garage. The raw concrete block tends to collect dirt and dust and harbor insects. In addition, the sealing would smooth out the surface, and the tinted sealer and finish coat would produce a more easily maintained, appealing, and practical surface. The new initiative would be in competition with other anticipated Capital Improvements, and based on its priority for funding, may not be approved or implemented immediately.

Service Elevator - Some residents with dogs who use the Service Elevator to exit the building and walk their pets after dark have been concerned about waiting for the Service Elevator to return to the ground level after they press the Call button. Since the Service Elevator is adjacent to the Visitor Parking Lot and to Pioneer Park, it is desirable that the wait time for that elevator, particularly after dark, be kept to a minimum.

As a result, the Service elevator program has been modified by Otis Elevator so that the car automatically returns to the ground floor after each trip to an upper floor, similar to the procedure followed by the Passenger Elevator. Now returning owners and their pets will be able to enter the elevator car immediately, without waiting for the elevator in an exposed area after dark.

February 22, 2012 - Wednesday

Short Term Visitor and Guest Parking - The governing documents for the San Marco Condo Association mandate that the majority of parking spaces in the Visitor Parking Lot must be reserved for use by commercial owners, their tenants, and customers.

Guests may only use one of the five Visitor space located along the East boundary of the Visitor Lot, between the Trash Container Corral and reserved space 57. Because of the limited amount of visitor parking it is important that these spaces are not used for extended stays by visitors and guests. Owners and renters with more than two cars may not use the Visitor Lot as a third parking space, but must locate the third car off the property.

Visitor lot spaces will soon be marked to avoid any confusion as to which spaces are for exclusive commercial use, and those which are for short-term guests and visitors.

March 16, 2012 - Friday

Janitorial Ground Rules - At the beginning of March, Centaurus Services began providing janitorial services to the San Marco common areas. So far their work has been very satisfactory. However, there is a problem that needs to be addressed.

Occasionally, owners may feel that John, the janitorial subcontractor may need guidance or "helpful" suggestions since he is new to San Marco. This is not recommended or desired. John works to a set schedule, with his duties and priorities established and approved by a representative of the Board of Directors. He is required to follow the approved schedule and cannot suspend his work in order to react to a suggestion or request by a resident, however well meaning.

Resident guidance and suggestions made directly to the janitorial person tend to blur the lines of supervision, cause confusion and inefficiency, and can do more harm then good.

If you notice an aspect of common area cleanliness that you think needs correction or special emphasis, please contact the Property Manager at (941) 342-6444, or by email at prokoppa@aol.com.

Please do NOT direct or suggest work assignments to the janitorial person or Centaurus Services management. The Janitorial staff has been instructed to continue with their approved work schedule and will not be able to take action on their own to address your request. Your cooperation will be appreciated.

March 25, 2012 - Sunday

Several months ago there was an incident involving graffiti on the rear of the trash corral fence in the Visitor Lot. It was quickly obliterated and there has not been a repeat. However, the dense vegetation behind the trash corral and the area along the pathway in Pioneer Park is probably a draw to "urban campers" who might see it as a pleasant and safe place to rest or bed down.

To prevent further problems, the Association has installed an inexpensive tracking flood light on an elevated pole attached to the rear of the corral. It senses motion in the area behind the corral and turns on a flood light, and then automatically turns the light to follow the source of the motion as it moves, keeping it illuminated. In most cases, this is enough to dissuade an interloper, vandal, or tagger to move on.

We also plan to test a revised version of the tracking light along the garage fence line. This inexpensive unit will illuminate and capture video of any source of motion detected along the outside of the fence. If this proves successful, two or three lights could keep watch over the entire fence at night.

April 19, 2012 - Thursday

San Marco Association Board Secretary Bob Carlson attended a public meeting yesterday to learn of the proposed plans to modify Tamiami Trail between 10th and 14th Streets, to include roundabouts. Here is his informative summary:

Yesterday at the City Hall Annex, a cabal of highway technicians shared with us an overall image of the conceptual plans to build traffic circles at 10th and 14th Streets and road modifications in between. Also attending this meeting was two reps from Broadway Promenade and five from SM. It was basically a Q&A session.

We observed a large map of the corridor with proposed modifications. A couple of observations worth noting:

1. It is estimated that it will take 4 years to complete the planning process before construction.

2. Construction will take 2 years.

3. The City Commission meets June 4th to discuss this project and we are welcome to attend and express our views.

4. For more info on this project visit: www.us41roundabouts.com.

5. Estimated daily traffic flow on 41 is 36,000-40,000 vehicles.

6. It appears the extra land needed to widen 41 to accommodate bike lanes and roundabouts will come from the Westside of 41 will not reduce the sidewalk space in front of SM.

7. Traffic should be slowed to 40 mph or less (less more likely) and 22 mph around the roundabouts.

8. Pedestrian crossings at roundabouts will have traffic lights for stopping traffic and permitting a safe crossing by walkers and bikers. If you have additional questions, let me know but the website helps visualize the landscaping and general layout. Bob Carlson