Island Park Property Owners Initiative

Meeting Agenda Oct 3 2017 Terraverde CC 7pm

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1. Intro Ted Ehrlich

a. Welcome to all HOA Bd members or attendees
b. Ted E Bio Tidewater Resident, Veteran, Businessman
Saw a need, and trying to get people together who are impacted
and have suffered losses, and use the power of numbers to take
whatever actions possible to get our problem solved.
c. Committee
i. Karl Landsteiner
ii. Julie Adams
iii. Nancy Stewart
Committee members were brought on early in the process as they
expressed a common interest and need for recourse. All are
residents of communities off Island Park Road,
d. Meeting format
i. Comments brief and not repetitive please. 4 minutes max each
person
ii. Any votes by show of hands
2. Meeting Objective
a. Form an Organization/Coalition of the affected parties (those harmed by
flood)
i. Homeowners (expand to other side of 10 mile?) All homeowners
who were present agreed that the residents in this area should be
part of our process.
ii. Businesses (Forest CC and Rte. 41 and Isl. Park Plaza etc.) All
homeowners who were present agreed that the businesses in this
area should be part of our process.
iii. Insurers (All insurance companies who have had flood related
losses) All homeowners who were present agreed that the insurers
in this area should be part of our process.
b. Discuss lack of County Response to problem before, during and after
flood. Lack of police and fire department presence during 2 nd flooding
event as they were evacuated prior to the storm. Not as much support for
neighbors to get to /from homes.
c. Create an understanding of the flooding problem
i. Contributing factors
1. Drainage map showing flows to 10mile (10 Mile Canal was
never finished) Please see attached drainage maps with
arrows. Weirs (red dot) noted on map as well as the funnels,
which are located throughout the 10 mile canal. Many areas
go from a wide area to a much narrower part of the canal
and are possible causes for flooding.
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Meeting Agenda Oct 3 2017 Terraverde CC 7pm
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2. Weirs and Dams

a. Weirs are commonly used to prevent flooding,
measure water discharge and help render rivers more
navigable by boat. In some locations the terms dam
and weir are synonymous, but normally there is a
clear distinction made between the structures. A dam
is usually specifically designed to impound water
behind a wall, whilst a weir is designed to alter the
river flow characteristics.
3. 50/100 Year Rainfall Events
Residents shared other concerns and contributing factors
besides the 10 mile canal. A Forest resident mentioned that
their canal/drains have not been properly cleaned by the
county in at least 15 years.
One resident shared that the KB home drains and culverts
were overgrown and filled with debris.
Residents of Timberwood shared that the flow of water
coming from the 10 mile canal was quick and you could see
that it clearly was coming from the 10 mile canal.
One Woodland resident stated that the water was flowing
from the 10 mile canal and was waist deep at the dock.
ii. Identify All Responsible parties
1. Lee County: Planning, Permitting, Zoning, Engineering etc.
A committee member has been in contact with a developer,
who in the1970s worked alongside the county and was an
instrumental part in the development of this area. We plan to
utilize him as an expert or resource .He believes that the
county was well aware of the potential issues with the 10
mile canal many years ago.
2. State of Florida: South Florida Water Management
3. Federal Govt: US Army Corps of Engineers
It was agreed by the committee that in order to rectify this
issue, all above parties, from the local to federal level, share
the responsibility to correct this situation.
iii. Identify All affected parties who have suffered losses
1. Homeowners:
a. Property loss, personal belongings, lost income,
b. Health and Safety Compromised: No access for
ambulances and Fire Dept closed
c. Property values decreased due to flooding history
d. Insurance premiums increased
2. Businesses:
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Meeting Agenda Oct 3 2017 Terraverde CC 7pm
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a. Property damage losses, increased costs, lost

revenue and profits
b. Property values decreased due to recent flooding
history
3. Insurers:
a. Insurance Companies have suffered losses for
property damage claims
b. Federal Flood Insurance program pays for flood
related losses

3. Potential Actions to solve the flooding problem

a. Dredge and deepen 10 mile from Old 41 to and including Mullock Creek
b. Complete development of 10 mile never finished from 70s (Paul Jacobs
narrative)
c. Raise Height of Weirs above the FUNNEL to retain water during major
rain events. One resident suggested that the water leaving the airport was
high enough to flow over the weir intended to stop it.
d. Keep controllable Weirs/Dams to max height or to have heights
increased.One resident mentioned that the fire department at a certain
weir did not know how to open and close the weir.
e. Reverse/divert flow from Airport/Fiddlesticks/Alico Rd canals and reroute
to another area or canal away from 10 mile canal. One resident had heard
that the Fiddlesticks community kept their weir open to allow the flow out
of the community.
f. Clean all drainage pipes and RE DIG/Clear ALL drainage ditches along
the Island Park Corridor both North/South and East/West.
g. Create more large water retention ponds throughout the 10 mile canal
water management area.
h. Widen constricting areas along 10 mile canal south of 41.
i. Develop a maintenance routine to keep 10 mile canal south of 41 from
building up silt in bottom.
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4. Potential Courses of Action

a. Meet with County officials and discuss problem and solutions. See if they have
any money or plans to address this in the immediate future. (Houston 60 minutes
story)
b. Engage a law firm and file a class action suit against the County and other
responsible parties.
c. DO NOTHING and wait for the next flood to come!
All residents agreed that it was necessary to take action. While meeting with local
county officials is a goal, it is also important that we reach out to and voice our
concern at the state and lfederal levels as it is felt that all are responsible.

5. Costs of this effort and how to handle:

a. Law Firm for class action lawsuit. While a class action lawsuit may not be the
course that is taken, residents feel that it is important to consult with an attorney
who is familiar with these type of cases.
b. Engineers and Hydrologists to study problem and evaluate current causative
problems and solutions. Residents feel it is also crucial to consult with an expert
in this field.
c. IPPOI or (other name) committee will have to spend significant time to direct and
manage the effort. A name will be decided and shared
d. How will we pay the costs?
i. Assessment of all Homeowners
ii. Funding from Insurance Cos who have paid losses and stand to
recoup?
Some residents felt that all homeowners should be asked to
contribute. A Go Fund Me Page was mentioned as some residents
voiced their concern about asking all residents to donate to a fund.
A resident mentioned that some of the homeowners in his area are
without a home and it may be unrealistic to think that they are able
to contribute.
e. Each HOA will have to contribute based on # properties in the HOA. Individual
homeowners will also have to pay the same rate per property.
i. How do we make this happen?
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6. Next Steps
a. Form this organization officially.
b. Set an official committee for the organization (6-8 persons with expertise in key
areas from IPPOI communities)
c. HOAs to notify all their residents. Committee notifies individual homeowners
d. Get insurance company contacts from all persons with losses
e. Engage Businesses.
f. Engage property owners/HOAs on East side of 10mile and south of 41.

7. Adjourn

Additional Notes

These meeting minutes and agenda will be shared through HOAs with all members
of their communities,

We are looking for additional committee members who want to lead our efforts. We
will break up into sub-committees, If you are interested in getting more involved,
please email Ted Ehrlich. Ted@goneflying.com

There was discussion to coordinate a meeting with elected county officials.

WINK news showed up at the meeting and was kindly asked to leave as this
meeting was meant to be an organizational meeting and we were not ready to
discuss our course of action.

If you know of an attorney (not local) who would be willing to consult with us, please
contact Ted,

If you know of an engineer or other export resource, please let us know.

Approximately 90 residents showed up last night. The meeting was intended only for
committee members and HOA presidents, although all who came were able to
participate.
Lets all work together to save our neighborhood!