Meeting Minutes for November 17, 2025
Heritage Palms Community Development District
A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of the Heritage Palms Community Development District was scheduled on Monday, November 17, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. at the Heritage Palms Golf and Country Club at 10435 Washingtonia Palm Way, Fort Myers, Florida and via web conference.
Supervisors present and constituting a quorum were:
Mike Whitten – Chair
Stan Switzer – Vice Chair
MaryAnn Ferry – Assistant Secretary
Supervisors attending remotely:
Brian Anderson – Assistant Secretary
Supervisors arriving later:
Bob Breisch – Assistant Secretary
Also attending in person were:
Cal Teague – District Manager, Premier District Management (PDM)
Mandie Rainwater – District Manager, PDM
George Smothers – Resident
David Ward – Resident
Also attending remotely:
Chris Dudak – Client Services Manager, PDM
Attending remotely later:
Jamie Rivera – Engineer, AIM Engineering & Surveying
The following is a summary of the discussion and actions taken at the Heritage Palms Community Development District (CDD) Board of Supervisors Meeting.
FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS Call to Order and Roll Call
The meeting was called to order at 8:00 a.m., and District Manager Teague called the roll. Chair Whitten, Vice Chair Switzer, and Supervisor Ferry were present and constituted a quorum, with Supervisor Anderson attending remotely. Supervisor Breisch arrived at 8:05 a.m. Also in attendance were District Manager Cal Teague, District Manager Mandie Rainwater, and residents George Smothers and David Ward. Attending remotely were Client Services Manager Christopher Dudak and Engineer Rivera joined later.
On MOTION by Vice Chair Switzer, seconded by Supervisor Ferry, with all in favor, the Board approved the remote participation of Supervisor Anderson.
SECOND ORDER OF BUSINESS Approval of the Agenda
The Agenda was amended to include items 8C and 8D.
On MOTION by Vice Chair Switzer, seconded by Chair Whitten, with all in favor, the Board approved the agenda as amended.
THIRD ORDER OF BUSINESS Audience Comments on Agenda Items
There were no audience comments on agenda items.
FOURTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Consent Agenda
A. Items to be Pulled from Consent Section for Discussion by the Board
No items were pulled for discussion.
B. Motion to Approve Consent Items
On MOTION by Supervisor Ferry, seconded by Vice Chair Switzer, with all in favor, the Board approved all Consent Agenda items.
C. Consent Items
i. Draft Regular Meeting Minutes for October 27, 2025
ii. Financial Report for October 2025
D. Consideration of Items Pulled for Discussion
No items were pulled.
FIFTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Attorney
A. Memo on Open Carry
Open carry of handguns is now legal in Florida, but the recent ruling does not change the existing prohibition on bringing a handgun, whether openly carried or concealed, into a public government meeting. Long guns are treated differently and currently fall under a loophole that the Florida Legislature may seek to close. Privately owned properties may establish their own rules regarding weapons. If the Board attempts to prohibit long guns in District meetings without statutory authority, members could be held personally liable and subject to fines.
Supervisor Breisch arrived at 8:05 a.m.
SIXTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Engineer
There was no update from the Engineer. However, Engineer Rivera was available later in the meeting to answer questions regarding NPDES and other items.
SEVENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Old Business
A. Paver Repair at the Guardhouse Discussion
The Master Board at Heritage Palms is considering replacing some of their pavers. Club Facilities Manager Kevin Ammon obtained quotes for paver replacement at the guardhouse and two nearby cart crossings and shared the estimate with the CDD. Field Manager Pepin stated that the Master Association’s long-term goal is to establish consistent paver styles throughout the community. The Board discussed the proposal but took no action, noting that the cart path pavers were updated in 2020.
Engineer Rivera was asked whether special leveling equipment was needed for the sunken pavers. She advised that a simple “2×4 test” would be sufficient. Supervisor Anderson questioned whether 80 mm pavers would be more appropriate at the guardhouse due to heavy traffic, as the proposal specified 60 mm pavers; Engineer Rivera provided additional input on this later in the meeting.
The Board agreed to defer consideration of the guardhouse paver releveling project until the FY 2027 budget season.
B. Mill and Repave Preconstruction Meeting
This item will be removed from the agenda until March or April 2026, as the current plan is for the project to begin on May 1, 2026. The latest update on the Lodge is that the furniture move-in is scheduled for the end of December, with a soft opening planned for mid-December.
C. Report on Curb Striping Locations
Supervisor Breisch will complete his survey for the next meeting. He asked whether the survey should cover every road in the community or only those scheduled for repaving in May. Chair Whitten recommended surveying only the roads being repaved this fiscal year. Supervisor Breisch also questioned the necessity of placing four red markers at every stop sign and suggested reconsidering this requirement.
D. 11315 Wine Palm Ruts in Homeowner Grass Discussion
Homeowner Gayle Reinsma stated that she believed a CDD golf cart inspecting littorals created ruts in the grass behind her home. All CDD contractors have denied driving in that area or causing any damage. Chair Whitten investigated and found that the area has largely recovered on its own and was likely affected by an irrigation issue within the neighborhood association. A photo included in the packet shows no remaining ruts. Chair Whitten also noted that a neighbor reported a broken irrigation head in that location, which may have saturated the soil. As the area has now recovered, the matter is considered resolved.
Jamie Rivera called in at 8:28 a.m.
EIGHTH ORDER OF BUSINESS New Business
A. Resident Ward Request Driveway Expansion
Resident David Ward submitted a request through the HP Master ARC to cut into the sidewalks to widen his driveway. District Manager Teague suggested that an easement use agreement might be appropriate, allowing the modification while clarifying that the homeowner would be responsible for future repairs should any paver settlement create a trip hazard. The Board declined this approach, noting that no other homeowners have been required to obtain such an agreement. District Manager Teague confirmed that the CDD has no concerns regarding the driveway width itself and is responsible for the sidewalk and from there to the roadway. The Board approved the resident’s request, and either Chair Whitten or Supervisor Breisch will notify Jan Donaldson at ARC.
On MOTION by Vice Chair Switzer, seconded by Chair Whitten, with all in favor, the Board approved Resident David Ward’s request to cut into the sidewalk to expand his driveway width.
The meeting jumped ahead to 10A FY 2025 NPDES Costs Breakdown discussion.
B. Lakes 6, 19 & 21 Aerator Electrical Panel Replacement Proposals
The handouts included a proposal from West Coast Electrical to replace three rusting aerator electrical panels at a total cost of $4,391.00. The Board discussed seeking rust-proof materials for electrical panels, but noted that no suitable alternatives could be found.
On MOTION by Chair Whitten, seconded by Vice Chair Switzer, with all in favor, the Board approved the proposal for $4,391. from West Coast Electrical to replace three aerator electrical panels.
C. Citra-Shield Proposal for Sidewalk and Gutter Chemical Treatment
The handouts included information and a proposal for a chemical product called Citra-Shield, which can be applied to sidewalks, curbs, and gutters to prevent dirt and mold from adhering to the concrete. The product would be applied every six months, resulting in a cost more than double the current annual pressure-cleaning expense. The Board decided to remove this item from the agenda for now and revisit it during the FY 2027 budget season. Staff were asked to seek additional proposals in the hope of finding a more cost-effective option.
D. Pressure Washing Proposal by Guardhouse
The handouts included a proposal for $1,575 to clean the pavers at the guardhouse, as these pavers are not covered under Triple Crown Pro Wash’s service contract. The Board discussed the history of obtaining proposals for community pressure-washing projects and decided to not pursue the paver re-leveling by the guardhouse for now. .
On MOTION by Chair Whitten, seconded by Supervisor Anderson, with all in favor, the Board approved the proposal for $1,575 from Triple Crown Pro Wash to clean the pavers by the guardhouse.
NINTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Field Manager
A. Fountain Kings Report
No report was provided.
B. Current Field Management Report
The field report was in the handouts, and the following items were discussed:
- All aerators are expected to be completed this month, except for the Lake 7 aerator, which is releasing large bubbles. A proposal for its repair is pending and will be submitted to the Chair for approval once received.
- The Board noted that Lake 8 has room for improvement regarding submerged weeds and requested that this be reported to Gonzalo Ayres at Pristine Lakes and Wetlands for treatment.
C. Follow-up Items
i. Building up around Mistakenly Raised Catch Basin
Field Manager Pepin reported that the area around the catch basin has been regraded and new sod installed. Chair Whitten expressed concern that the catch basin may be higher than the cart path and could require lowering to prevent flooding. He will address this matter with Greg Kriesch.
ii. Lakes L- 6, L-7, L-8, L-9: Aerator Repairs
Field Manager Pepin reported that the aerator equipment is expected to arrive soon and should be installed by the end of the week.
iii. Lakes 29 and 33: Aerator Cabinet Repairs
Field Manager Pepin reported that the aerator equipment should be arriving any day now and should be installed by the end of the week.
TENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS District Manager
A. FY 2025 NPDES Costs Breakdown
The meeting discussion jumped here after Agenda Item 8A to minimize Engineer Rivera’s time.
The packet included AIM Engineering’s invoice for their NPDES work to date, which was noted to be very detailed. The costs were itemized by staff member and hourly rate, along with the annual NPDES fee of $560. District Manager Teague explained that some of the charges may appear higher because, after Atwell acquired Banks Engineering, certain items that Banks Engineering historically treated as non-billable were then billed by Atwell. Vice Chair Switzer expressed appreciation for the level of detail in AIM’s invoice, noting that his request for additional details on NPDES billing were now satisfied.
Staff asked Engineer Rivera to address Supervisor Anderson’s question regarding the appropriate paver depth: 60 mm versus 80 mm. Engineer Rivera recommended maintaining the same paver depth already in place to ensure consistent strength throughout the area. She offered to review the paver specifications provided by Atwell, but the Board requested that she hold off.
Engineer Rivera left at 8:44 a.m.
The meeting returned to Agenda Item 8B and resumed the proper direction through the agenda.
ELEVENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS H.O.A. Report
A. Safety Committee Stop Signs / Speed Hump Update
George Smothers reported that the stop signs and posts had been ordered for the approved 3-way stop at the intersection of Seminole Palm Way and Wine Palm Way.
Chair Whitten reported that the Golf Subcommittee for Enhancement had on its agenda a discussion regarding the addition of stop signs at all cart crossings.
On MOTION by Supervisor Breisch, and a second by Supervisor Ferry, the Board considered rescinding the Board’s prior approval at the October 2025 meeting to allow the Heritage Palms Safety Committee to pursue installing a 3-way stop sign on Wine Palm Way and Seminole Palm Way intersection; with Supervisor Breisch in support of the motion, and with four opposed, the motion failed to carry.
TWELFTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Supervisor Reports, Requests, and Comments
A. Next Meeting Quorum Check
The Board members who stated they will attend the December 15 meeting in person are Supervisors Whitten, Switzer, Breisch and Ferry; Supervisor Anderson will not be physically present.
Supervisor Breisch provided the Board with a copy of a letter from Sherie Lammers, the current owner of the 11206 King Palm Court, in which she requested that the ARC enforce “community standards” in support of her request to remove a coconut tree, which she believes poses a hazard to people and to her roofing tiles. The ARC is scheduled to discuss her request on Thursday. An arborist has reported that the tree is protected and should not be removed.
Supervisor Breisch referenced the history at 11206 King Palm Court, then owned by Mr. Crimaldi. In 2018, Mr. Crimaldi had ARC approval for a paver driveway but installed brick over existing pavers and widened the driveway by cutting through sidewalks without permission. The CDD sued and prevailed in the case, but the driveway was never corrected by Mr. Crimaldi. The issue resurfaced in April 2025 after a report that the home had been sold and a rumor that there might be an escrow account with money set aside to restore the driveway. Attorney Urbancic then noted that such information is not public. The Board voted to drop the issue, noting it was primarily an ARC concern.
Supervisor Breisch requested that the CDD sign a joint letter asking the current homeowner, Sherie Lammers, to restore her driveway, using the “community standards” language from her letter.
On MOTION by Chair Whitten, seconded by Supervisor Breisch, with three in favor and Supervisor Anderson and Supervisor Switzer opposed, to authorize the Chair to cosign a letter, to be drafted by the Master Association, along with the neighborhood HOA and the Master Association asking Sherie Lammers to restore her driveway to the condition before Mr. Crimaldi altered it, utilizing her “community standards” language from her letter to the Master ARC.
THIRTEENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Audience Comments
George Smothers questioned the cost of paver cleaning near the guardhouse, which is $1,575. He inquired whether a chemical would be used to remove grease stains and whether the cleaning would involve heat, steam, or cold water.