May 3 2016-Manager’s Meeting, Portofino South

Discussed:

Background checks for residents

Background checks are performed for all new residents. However, the association does not deny anyone on the basis of having a criminal record. The association’s next condo legal documents will have a provision that ownership can be denied to anyone with a felony within the last ten years.

Assessment

There will probably be a special assessment for owners, but the amount and date have not been decided.

Work on roof

Concrete restoration will take place on the roof next week.

New entrance

A new pedestrian entry gate to S. Flagler is being prepared.

Complaints about service animals and swimmers

Residents complained of wetness and feces in elevators from dogs and swimmers. The office will send a letter reminding residents to please stay dry in the elevators and use the service elevator if possible.

Pet regulations under the next condo legal documents

The next condo legal documents will make Portofino South a “pet-friendly” building. The association can then set rules about where pets can enter and exit the building and which elevators they can use. One cat or one dog will be allowed per unit. Service and emotional support animals regulations will not be affected.

Next condo legal documents approval

Board member GD thinks our new legal documents cannot be put to a vote by owners until November due to many people leaving for the summer.

Blog mentioned

This blog was mentioned by GD as “detrimental” to unit property values. Several people wanted the blog removed and several people had never visited the blog and wanted the web address for it. The blog’s most popular post appears to be “The Miramar”  my investigation of the history of the hotel that was here before the condominium was built.

Service Animals or Pets? in a No Pet Building

New law punishes people with fake service dogs from WPTV.com 3 day s ago WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Of the 130 new state laws going into effect July 1st, one is putting phony service dog owners on notice. Local businesses say it’s concerning when people pass their pets off as service dogs just to get them in a restaurant or movie theater, where pets usually wouldn’t be allowed. Don Chester, a West Palm Beach resident who depends on a service dog to help him get around, says he’s noticed the system being abused, and it’s hurting those who legitimately need a service…

I do not know the new laws but we have a real problem in the building. For years we have been a “no pet building” and then a few devious owners got their doctors to write a note and brought their dogs in. During the last board headed by M.Roefaro he tried to fight the puppy from the pound on the ninth floor but wasn’t very successful. Then last year the flood gates opened and more pets arrived. Even a couple that found the building through a board member and he knew they had a pet not a service dog arrived.The last time I looked we have only one legitimate service dog. There was a meeting and a vote on pets in the building but it was never decided or maybe decided but not told to the owners what our policy is going forward.

There was a discussion that this would help the value of our apartments to increase in value but has anybody seen the jump. What a pity we just finished re-carpeting the halls with very expensive carpeting. And what about the poor people that bought into the building because they were allergic to pets?

You are down there presumably and read local papers and if anything comes up about pets vs service I would love you to post it.

Newest rules about service animals

http://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm

This is the site for the latest update about service animals, which the bottom line is dogs, and in some rare cases miniature horses. Birds would fall under assistance animals, and the fair housing act and rules are much more expansive in allowing assistance or comfort animals within a living space.

Father David
Director of Disability Services
504 Compliance Officer