The Close of 2013 at Devon-Aire Villas #1

It's hard to believe, but the year has come and gone and so much has been accomplished. With the 2013 new year, a new board was elected at the 2012 Annual meeting.  We set an agenda to improve the community and increase community involvement and awareness. These are a few of those accomplishments:

• Our Landscaping and Tree Trimming efforts were increased this year.
• Sidewalks in the park area were repaired.
• Speed bumps on both the East and West sides were added.
• We helped the community set up a Citizens Crime Watch.
• All Board members as well as our Property Manager, Scott Galya, actively participated in the effort to quash the proposed Killian Parkway/Turnpike ramp which would have been detrimental to our community.
• Board representatives have been attending MDPD CAC meetings.
• Devon-Aire Villas HOA # 1 is now a member of the Kendall Federation of Homeowner Associations.
• Due to increased crime in the community, our Board President, Jeff Kaslofsky, attended and graduated from the MDPD Citizens Police Academy to get a better understanding of Police procedures as well as challenges they face.
• After much research & deliberations, we have pulled permits for our first ever lighting project with installation occurring in the first quarter of 2014.
• The painted graffiti on the Turnpike wall which has been a blight on the community for the last year has caused the Board to take action which hopefully resolves the issue.  We did so by taking measures to deter the practice by taking away access, informing surrounding homes and involving police.
• This year we were able to send out two newsletters to residents.
• A new Welcome letter was created to distribute to new homeowners.  Our Rules & Regulations were spruced up and our Governing Documents were as well.
• We have had representation from Commissioner Lynda Bell's office at some of our Board meetings to hear community concerns.  They have gone above an beyond in addressing our residents concerns.
• We have helped honor two Miami Dade County employees with certificates of appreciation from Commissioner Lynda Bell.
• Last, but not least, we have created and maintain a web presence here at http://devonairehoa1.blogspot.com so that residents can stay up to date on community happenings and obtain useful information such as our governing documents, rules and regulations, meeting minutes, architectural information, community history, etc...

Although we didn't have enough residents this year to establish a quorum for the 2013 annual meeting, the Board would like to take this opportunity to thank all residents who take the time to attend & participate in our monthly Board meetings.  Your input has helped us immensely during the year and we appreciate your involvement.  With all that said, the Board of Directors wish you and your families a Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year. We look forward to seeing you in our January 14th, 2014 Board meeting.

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Certificate of Appreciation: Carlos Amézaga

Vice President Carlos Amézaga received a framed certificate of appreciation from Commissioner Lynda Bell at our December 2013 board meeting. This certificate was awarded to Mr. Amézaga based on the following -- A strong commitment to day to day operations, involvement in setting up our community's first Crime Watch, involvement in the landscaping master plan and setting up Devon Aire Villas #1 Web Site which includes community news as well as other great information for homeowners.

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2013 Notice of Annual Meeting & Election of Officers

This is just a reminder that the 2013 Devon-Aire Villas Homeowners Association # 1 Annual Meeting & Elections of the Board of Directors is scheduled for December 10th.  The time of the meeting has changed.  Sign-in will commence at 7:15 PM and the meeting will promptly start at 7:30 PM.  The meeting will be held at 14373 S.W. 142nd St as usual.

A third of the 302 homes that make up the membership of Devon-Aire Villas Homeowners Association # 1 is necessary to establish a quorum and proceed with the annual meeting.   In the event you cannot attend the annual meeting, please pass your (signed) proxy to another homeowner to ensure business can be conducted.  If you are able to attend, we highly encourage you to do so. We also ask that you please inform your neighbors in case they are unaware of this important meeting.

In compliance with Devon-Aire Villas Homeowners Association # 1 Bylaws and the Florida Statutes governing HOAs, a notice was mailed 15 days prior to our scheduled Annual Meeting.

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Theft Devon-Aire Villas #1 East 11/3-4/2013

We received a notification yesterday of two reported thefts on the East side on the 3rd and 4th of November.

Description	Case #	Location	Date	Map It
THEFT/LARCENY	PD131104407063	12000 BLOCK SW 110TH ST CIR	11/4/2013 10:41:00 AM	Map It
THEFT/LARCENY	PD131104407067	12008SW 110TH CT CIR	11/3/2013 11:00:00 PM	Map It

The address location isn't too specific as to where on the Circle the thefts occurred.  If you know the homeowners affected by these thefts, please have them contact us.

Also, as we start the Holidays, please stay vigilant and aware of your surrounding.  I recently attended the Crime Watch meeting which was held at Devon-Aire Villas #2 at the invitation of Ralph Balkin.  Attending MDPD Officer Aluart handed out a fact sheet with important safety tips.  I have placed that document online.  You can view it by Clicking Here.

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FDOT Cancels Florida Turnpike's Killian Parkway Ramp Project

I received an email early this afternoon from Carlos Garcia of RollBackTolls.com with some fantastic news.  He received an email from the office of State Representative Frank Artiles that contained an FDOT press release which stated that the proposed Killian Parkway/Turnpike ramp project has been canceled.  

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the residents of Devon-Aire Villas HOA # 1 who contacted local, state and school representatives to let them know how displeased we were concerning this project.  We also would like to thank the Board & Property Managers of Devon-Aire Villas # 2, 3, 4 & 5 for taking our calls with regards to this issue.  Many of us felt that having a new ramp at the top of the Killian/Turnpike overpass would have had a negative impact on Devon-Aire K8 Center, Devon-Aire Park, pedestrians crossing Killian Parkway as well as commuters in our surrounding communities.  

We would also like to thank Representative Frank Artiles for listening to the community and pushing very hard to have the ramp project canceled.  He stood up in strong opposition of the project in the October 3rd public hearing.  An additional thank you to Commissioner Lynda Bell's office (District 8) for also relaying community concerns to the FDOT.

Click Here to read the email sent to RollBackTolls.com.

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November 2013 Board Meeting

This is just a reminder that the November 2013 Board meeting is scheduled for the 5th.  The Board will be voting on the proposed 2014 Budget which was mailed out to all homeowners last month.  Meeting starts promptly at 7:30pm.

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Update: Crime Watch - First Meeting

Despite the weather, the residents of Devon-Aire HOA #1 held their first Crime Watch meeting this past Wednesday and it was a success.  We want to thank all residents that attended in spite of the light rain & wind. We would also like to thank everyone who went door to door to find those willing to participate.  You should have already noticed the Crime Watch signs have gone up at all three entrances.  The Police officers in attendance went over crime statistics, crime trends as well as safety tips.  They also went over what we should be on the lookout for.

If you attended the meeting, but did not receive a contact list, please let us know and we will get that information to you.  If you find any information on the contact list incorrect please let us know and we will update it.

Here are a few important notes:

• Please report any suspicious activity to the Police.
• Please do not engage individuals exhibiting suspicious behavior.  Let the Police sort that out.
• Report any non-emergency suspicious behavior by calling (305) 476-5423 or (305) 476-5423. Only call 911 if it's an emergency.
• Provide as much detail about what you observe when calling the Police.
• After calling the Police, please contact your block captain or contact Jeff Kaslofsky or Carlos Amézaga with what you saw so we can alert other residents.
• Stay alert for cars which may be slowly circling the neighborhood.

We will schedule another meeting with our Crime Watch partners in 4 to 6 months.  We would like to thank Alina Lopez from Citizen's Crime Watch and Officer Aluart for facilitating Wednesday's meeting.

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Devon-Aire K8 Center Town Hall Meeting Regarding Florida Turnpike/Killian Parkway Ramp Project

We have been notified by the Devon-Aire K8 PTSA that School Board Rep. Carlos Curbelo  will be holding a Town Hall meeting regarding the proposed Florida Turnpike/Killian Parkway express lane ramps.  This proposed ramp is expected to divert 7,500 cars to Killian to use these new ramps at a cost of up to $6 a trip.  Its is of course inevitable that the increased traffic will have a negative impact on our community and to children attending school there as well as those using Devon-Aire Park for extracurricular activities.  The meeting is scheduled for October 28th at 6PM and will be held at the school.  Please support our local school by attending this very important meeting.

As an update regarding the Florida Turnpike/Killian Parkway Ramp Project, we have been told that the project has been temporarily put on hold, however this does not mean that the project has been canceled.  We want to thank all Devon-Aire Estates, Devon-Aire Villas & other surrounding community residents that attended the October 3rd public hearing.  In all, 190 residents showed up despite FDOT/Turnpike complete lack of community outreach.  Those individuals that showed up did so by mostly by word of mouth.  Because of the overwhelming negative reaction FDOT received at that meeting, they have temporarily postponed the project.  This is of course why residents will need to continue to express to our local elected officials that this proposed ramp is not in the best interests of our community.

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Updated: Notice of Annual Meeting & Budget Meeting

UPDATED

Mailings have been sent out to all residents of Devon-Aire Villas HOA #1 advising them of the upcoming November 5^th Budget Meeting and the December 10^th Annual Meeting for elections.

The November 5^th Budget meeting will be held at 7:30PM.

As for the December 10^th Annual Meeting, sign-in will commence at 7:15PM and the meeting will promptly start at 7:30PM.

As part of the mailer, you will have also received the a candidate form as well as the 2014 proposed budget.  If you have not received a copy of this notice by postal mail, please Contact Us or our property manager, Scott Galya, by calling (305) 251-0777.

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Burglary Devon-Aire Villas #1 West 10/8/2013

A burglary has occurred at 12212 SW 110th Lane.  The resident's children returned home after school to find that the back sliding glass door had been smashed.  The resident reported that the burglar took several valuables from the home.  Anyone with any information is asked to please contact MDPD at (305) 476-5423 as well as Contact Us.

We will be having our first Crime Watch meeting Oct 23rd at 7PM.  We are asking for as many folks to show up as possible.  Click Here for more information. 

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Crime Watch: First Meeting

It has been a few months, but members of the community have managed to organize the first Crime Watch meeting for Devon-Aire Villas HOA # 1.  The meeting has been tentatively scheduled for October 23rd at 7PM.  It will be held on the West Side parking lot.  Click Here for location.  Organizers will be calling those of you who indicated that you would be interested in attending.  The meeting will be short and we encourage everyone to attend. A representative for Citizen's Crime watch along with an MDPD Officer will be at this meeting to discuss details.

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Metro Dade Citizens Police Academy Graduation

Jeff Kaslofsky, our Board President, recently attended and graduated Metro Dade's Citizens Police Academy.  The Citizens Police Academy is designed by Metro Dade to give individuals a better understanding of police work within the county. Jeff attended each class once a week for 13 weeks and did so after the recent crime wave which hit our community several month ago. His goals was to get a better understanding about police work which included the understanding of tactical and philosophical approaches to crime used by law enforcement. During the course, Jeff accompanied a patrol officer during an entire 8 hour shift. Jeff graduated from the course on September 23rd, 2013.  Congratulations Jeff!

Metro Dade county offers up the Citizens Police Academy once or twice a year and the course is free to the public.  We highly encourage you to attend this course.  For information on how to attend, you can contact Sergeant Joe Bermudez at the MDPD Public Information and Education Bureau at (305) 471-1716.

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Florida Turnpike's Proposed Killian Parkway Ramp: The Creation of Designer Roadways

The Board attended the second public hearing that was facilitated by Florida Representative Frank Artiles on Oct 3rd. From what we learned at their presentation and what we already knew, the Board spoke out in opposition to the project as it would have an adverse affect in our and other surrounding communities.  What we have learned is very disturbing and we urge you to contact Rep. Frank Artiles and express your concerns.   We also urge you to visit http://rollbacktolls.com get more information related to the proposed Killian Parkway ramp as well as their Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rollbacktolls to voice your concerns.  It is important to also remember, that this not only affects us at Devon-Aire Villas, but all surrounding communities.  Please pass this on to anyone that you know will be affected.

This is what we knew up until October 3rd.  On August 15th we were notified by Devon-Aire PTSA, that they were made aware a proposed Turnpike Ramp right in the middle of a residential area.  Apparently FDOT held a public hearing on August 6th at a meeting place in Bird Road about 10 miles away from the affected area and did not adequately notify local residents which would explain why only 5 residents showed up to that meeting.  They later claimed on the Oct 3rd meeting, that they sent out 67,000 mailings to alert the community of the project which is not true.  When the DAK8 PTSA notified local residents, many were very mad because of the lack of information regarding the project and secondly the proximity to the school and surrounding homes.  To put things in perspective:

• The proposed ramp will be constructed at the top of the turnpike overpass.
• DAK8 is just 300 yards away from Killian Parkway.
• DAK8 is about 600 yards away from the proposed ramp.
• Between the proposed ramp, there are already two traffic signals to which they propose to add a third right traffic signal at the top of the overpass.  That would mean that all three signals will be about 400 yards apart which will slow traffic further.
• That would of course further congest an already congested roadway, slow down traffic more and make things even more dangerous for pedestrian, joggers, children, etc... which either cross Killian or use the overpass on a daily bases to get to and from the 117th Ave shopping center.
• The new proposed ramp would be another accident magnet.  Any accident occurring on this ramp will trap cars between 122nd Ave & 117th Ave traffic lights with no way of escape.  That will of course only serve to further back up traffic as their are no routes that can get around that area without heading towards Kendall Drive or 120th St.
• Traffic on Killian Parkway in morning rush hour already extends to 137th Ave in the morning alone.

What I have listed above however is something you hear all the time when communities try to fight roadway expansions.  We contacted Representative Frank Artiles office when we first learned of the project and he was successful in facilitating the Oct 3rd hearing, but FDOT again did very little to communicate this new meeting to affected residents.  With some word of mouth and some community involvement we did get a lot of people show up, but the FDOT still provided little information or provided few answers to those attending.  What we did learn there really pales in caparison to what we now know about the project and how a State Government that claims they are pro consumer are actually attempting to gouge their own citizens.  So here is what we now know:

The Turnpike is a very congested roadway and the FDOT has done nothing to add new expressway systems further west as the population expanded there over time.  That of course leads to mass congestion in existing expressways.  Their solution for the Turnpike is to add designer express lanes on an already tolled system.

• The ramp they want to add to Killian would only be for access to an express lane system within the Turnpike expressway.
• The proposed Killian parkway ramp alone is set to cost over 26 Million dollars.
• The cost for this one way ride on the express lanes can be tolled up to 6 dollars for a one way non-stop ride to the 836 with some stating that over time that dollar figure can go up.
• There are already two ramps within 3 miles of each other which sit between the proposed Killian Parkway ramp in non-residential areas of which FDOT is refusing to consider for these express lanes. That would be the ramps at Kendall Drive & SW 120th St.
• Each of these two existing ramps receive about 45,000 cars daily, but this proposed ramp is only expected to receive 7,000 vehicles which would use these express lanes.

So therein lies the problem.  The FDOT is catering to the more affluent in the community which would be willing to shell out up to 6 dollars a trip while the rest of those using this toll road would remain stuck in traffic.  We, just like those who can afford this exorbitant toll, have to go to work everyday to feed their families but can not afford to spend up to $240 a month on a gouging toll.  The FDOT has chosen to create designer roadways for the more affluent in the community to bypass the less affluent.  This is outrageous and it’s not what the government should be doing.

What I described above is a trend that State Governments nation wide, pinched for cash, will being doing more of.  We are just the guinea pigs in this very expensive & ill conceived experiment.  RollBackTolls took video of the the Oct 3rd meeting and will be placing segments of the meeting online soon.  Please contact Florida Representative Frank Artiles to express your concerns.

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Update: October 2013 Board Meeting

There has been a last minute agenda update to the October 2013 meeting which should be of interest to you.  We have two guests which have requested to attend which represent interests against the Killian Parkway ramps.  They wish to spend 5-10 minutes to discuss the Killian Turnpike ramp issue as well as the upcoming October 3rd public hearing.  They are Carlos Garcia who is the Co-chair of RollBackTolls.com as well as Jane Walker who is a West Kendall Activist.  We encourage all residents to attend this meeting as well as any interested parties in the area.

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October 2013 Board Meeting

This is just a reminder that the October 2013 Board meeting is scheduled for the 1st of the month.  Meeting starts promptly at 7:30pm.

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Florida Turnpike Widening Project: Public Hearing

In this Sunday's paper the FDOT announced that they will hold another public hearing to discuss the proposed Killian Parkway ramp project.  The meeting is scheduled for October 3^rd at 6PM.  It will be held at the Killian Palms Country located at 9950 SW 104^th St.

We encourage residents to attend this public hearing and to pass this information along to other residents within the area.  It is important to remember that our options for entering and exiting Devon-Aire are limited and will be impacted by the extra traffic these new ramps will bring with them.  Parents with children attending Devon-Aire K8 who drive through 122^nd Ave to pickup & drop off kids can expect even bigger delays.  There is also the concern for pedestrian safety for those crossing Killian to get to and from the park/school as well as for those who walk /jog along the overpass to and from the Shopping center.

For more information regarding the new public hearing, please visit RollBackTolls.com.  They have posted more information on their blog here as well as on their Facebook page here. 

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Turnpike Expansion: Killian Parkway Exit

We were notified on August 15^th by the Devon-Aire K8 PTSA of a proposed exit ramp on Killian Parkway.  (Click Here to read their email)  This expansion will have a direct detrimental impact to our community.  The Turnpike authority has chosen to bury the notification in the newspaper and only notified those within 300 feet of the expansion.  Due to their substandard notification, a public hearing that was held on August 6th was very lightly attended.  This has caught many of us in the Kendall community off guard.  This proposed expansion will increase the traffic to an already congested Killian Parkway.  It will also make crossing that section of the street even more dangerous to youths and other foot traffic going to/from the school & park.  The Devon-Aire K8 PTSA has started an online petition (Click Here) to try an stop the proposed expansion into Killian Parkway.  RollBackTolls.com, a grassroots advocacy group, (Click Here) has more information related to the expansion.  If you you oppose the expansion, please sign the Devon-Aire K8 PTSA online pettion as well as contacting our local state representative which is Representative Frank Artiles @ (305) 252-4300.

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Certificate of Appreciation: Kenneth Spencer

With the help of Brittnie Bassant, our Community Liaison for the Office of Vice Chair Lynda Bell in District 8, we presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Kenneth Spencer who has been with Miami Dade Solid Waste for 16 years and currently is assigned to our community.   During the presentation of the award, many attending members made note of Mr's Spencer's professionalism and work ethic.  Many noted that on occasion he has been known to assist older residents getting their big green containers to the curb and doing so with a smile and without being asked.  As he travels the community he waves at local residents and always has a big smile on his face.  One of our members stated that we should have more folks like Mr. Spencer's working for Miami Dade County.  We want to thank Mr. Spencer for all he does for our community and Miami Dade County.  

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Certificate of Appreciation: Officer John Dalton

With the help of Brittnie Bassant, our Community Liaison for the Office of Vice Chair Lynda Bell in District 8, we presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Officer John Dalton.  He is an 18 year veteran with the Miami Dade County Police Department.  Jeff Kaslofsky, our Board President, is currently attending the Citizens Police Academy and recently was assigned to patrol with Officer Dalton.  Jeff noted that during his time on patrol with Officer Dalton, he was highly professional and committed police officer who is passionate about what he does.  We want to thank Officer Dalton for all he does for our community and Miami Dade County.  

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September 2013 Meeting

The September 3^rd Board meeting has come and gone.  These are some of the topics that were discussed.

• The Lighting Project: Our contractor will be using ground penetrating radar to ensure there are no sewer lines in the way during the course of digging.  He will also begin pulling permits for the project.
• Seal Coating: This has been delayed due to the lighting project until next year.
• Crime: Officer Dalton stated their were two arrests made for car burglaries in the area. 

Guests:

• Brittnie Bassant, the Community Liaison for the Office of Vice Chair Lynda Bell for District 8, attended our meeting to give us an update on community concerns discussed in our August meeting.  With regards to crime in our area, she was able to open up a line of communication between our HOA and our local Police Department so we can address our recent crime concerns.  Both Scott Galya, our Property Manager, and Jeff Kaslofsky, our HOA President, have received calls from representatives of MDPD to address our community concerns.  Her efforts have resulted in more regular patrols for all Devon-Aire communities.  She also handed out Certificates of Appreciation to individuals brought to her office's attention by members of our community.  They are:
• Officer John Dalton from the Miami Dade Police Department
• Kenneth Spencer from Miami Dade Solid Waste

We would like to that thank Brittnie Bassant and Commissioner Lynda Bell & her office for all the help they have rendered our community.  We can't thank them enough.

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August 2013 Meeting

The Board met with Brittnie Bassant who is the Community Liaison for the Office of Vice Chair Lynda Bell.  She came in place of Charlene Collazo who was originally scheduled to meet with us.  At that meeting, the Board as well as community residents talked about the recent spate of crime in the area and the turnpike east wall graffiti problem.  We want to thank Brittnie Bassant for taking the time to attend the meeting and patiently listening to our concerns.

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August 2013 Board Meeting

This is just a reminder that the August 2013 Board meeting is scheduled for the 6th.  Attending this meeting will be Charlene Collazo who is the Community Liaison for the Office of Vice Chair Lynda Bell who represents our district which is District 8.  She has asked to attend this board meetings to introduce herself and gather community issues and concerns.  We highly encourage all residents to attend this meeting and voice any issues or concerns they have.  Meeting starts promptly at 7:30pm.

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July Meeting Re-Scheduled

The meeting which was to occur on July 2nd has been re-scheduled for the 9th due to the July 4th weekend.  We encourage you to attend if you can.  Meeting begins at 7:30PM as always at 14373 S.W. 142nd St.

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Attempted Burglary at Devon-Aire #1 West 6/8/2013

An attempted burglary occurred on 6/7/2013 at 10PM at 12225 SW 111th Lane.  The homeowner was home in their bedroom at the time when they heard breaking glass in the kitchen.  When they they turned on the lights, they observed the back sliding glass door was smashed.  The person who smashed the glass was likely scared away when the lights were turned on.

We highly encourage all residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to police.    Please keep your front porch lights on at night and if you are an end unit with an area light please be sure that it is in working order. Community residents have been passing out flyers in an attempt to start a neighborhood crime watch within Devon-Aire #1.  If you are interested in participating, please send us your name, address & phone number by going to our Contact Us page.

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Theft on Devon-Aire Villas #1 West 5/15/2013

A resident on the west side of Devon-Aire #1 reported a theft at their residence on 5/15 at 2PM.  The police report did not specify the exact location.  The general location is the 11100 BLOCK of SW 122ND CT   If we receive any further information we will post it here.

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Florida Power & Light Underground Power Project

As a resident within Devon-Aire HOA #1, you have no doubt noticed little red flags littered across the community.  This has been FPL preparing for an upcoming underground power line project within our community.  FPL has started notifying resident by mail that they will commence work on May 8th, 2013 and expect to complete work on June 17th, 2013.  This will require that they dig around some of the community areas during that time.  They do not anticipate any power outages as the project moves forward, but if they do need to interrupt power, they will notify us in writing.  If you have any questions related to this project, you can call them at (800) 693-3267 and reference work request # 4970775.

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Burglary Devon-Aire #1 West 4/27/2013

Another burglary has occurred at 12221 SW 111th Lane.  The resident returned home at 4AM to find that the back sliding glass door had been smashed.  The resident reported that the burglar ransacked the home.  Anyone with any information is asked to please contact MDPD at (305) 476-5423.

We highly encourage all residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to police.    Please keep your front porch lights on at night and if you are an end unit with an area light please be sure that it is in working order. Community residents have been passing out flyers in an attempt to start a neighborhood crime watch within Devon-Aire #1.  If you are interested in participating,  please send us your name, address & phone number by using our Contact Us page.

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Theft on Devon-Aire #1 East 4/16/2013

A resident on the east side of Devon-Aire Villas #1 reported a theft at their residence on 4/16 at 7AM.  The police report did not specify the exact location.  The general location is the 12000 block of SW 110TH ST Cir.  If we receive any further information we will post it here.

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Burglary Devon-Aire #1 West 4/16/2013

After the attempted break-in a couple of days ago, another burglary has occurred at 10627 SW 123rd Place some time during the evening.  The The homeowner stated that they broke in through the back by smashing the back window.  Anyone with any information is asked to please contact MDPD at (305) 476-5423.

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Burglaries & Thefts at Devon-Aire #1 West 3/19/2013 & 4/15/2013

On March 19th, there was a reported theft on SW 122nd CT between SW 111th Street and SW 111th Lane.  

Today, April 15th at around 1PM, there was an attempted break in at 10836 SW 123 Place.  The burglar attempted to break in through the front door using a crowbar but was unable to gain entry.  The owner suffered extensive damage to the door frame.  Anyone with any information is asked to please contact MDPD at (305) 476-5423.

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April 2013 BOD Meeting

The Board of Directors meeting for April 2013 was held on the 9th.  The Board was able to meet with Alina Lopez, who represented Miami-Dade Crime Watch, and Officer Aluart, who represented the Miami-Dade Police Department.  They talked in detail on what would be needed to start a Neighborhood Crime Watch for Devon-Aire # 1, crime statistics for our community as well as patiently answering our questions.  We would like to thank them for coming to our board meeting.

As stated in a previous post, we will be contacting residents to gauge their willingness to participate in the next few months.  If you might be interested in helping out, email us by using our Contact Us page or contact Scott Galya @ 305-251-0777 and let him know.  As always, it is extremely important that all crimes and suspicious activity be reported to MDPD immediately.  As highlighted by Officer Aluart, most crime occurs between the hours of  10 am and 3 pm.

The next meeting is currently scheduled for May 7th, 2013. If anything changes, we will update the calendar.  Hope to see you there.

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April Meeting Re-Scheduled

The meeting which was to occur on April 2nd has been re-scheduled for the 9th.  We have also invited MDPD Citizens' Crime Watch representatives to this months meeting.  We encourage you to attend if you can.  Meeting begins at 7:30PM as always at 14373 S.W. 142nd St.

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Burglary at Devon-Aire #1 West 2/24/2013

On the 24th of February, there was a reported break-in at 10 in the morning at the Corner of 123rd PL & 111th Lane.  The homeowner observed a dark blue BMW leaving the location as they arrived.  Detectives apprehended a suspect a few days later in Coconut Grove as they were breaking into another home.  The suspect was driving a similar vehicle.  Unfortunately law enforcement was unable to recover any personal property lost to the thief.

We ask that all residents remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities that they observe in the community to law enforcement as well as our management company.  Be especially vigilant for vehicles which seem to be going around slowly as if casing homes in the community.  The board is also looking into the possibility of starting a Neighborhood Crime Watch program in the community to deter crime.  If you are interested, email us by using our Contact Us page or contact Scott Galya @ 305-251-0777 and let him know.

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March 2013 BOD Meeting

The Board of Directors meeting for March 2013 was held on the 14th and several topics were discussed.  The spate of recent burglaries was discussed at the meeting and the Board is very concerned.  The board will begin exploring the possibility of starting a Neighborhood Crime Watch for Devon-Aire #1 and will be contacting residents to gauge their willingness to participate in the next few months.  If you might be interested in helping out, email us by using our Contact Us page or contact Scott Galya @ 305-251-0777 and let him know.  As always, it is extremely important that all crimes be reported to MDPD.  Crimes which are left unreported skews statistics and leaves our community at a disadvantage when we engage discussions with local law enforcement.

Lighting for the community was also discussed at length in the meeting.  The board has initiated a property survey to identify where lighting could potentially be installed based on Miami Dade County code requirements.  The survey will be used to determine the cost of the project as a whole as well as allow the board to determine how many phases will be required to light up the entire community which could span 10 years.  The first phase of the project, if approved, would be to light up all 3 entrances with LED light-posts before year end.  This is a very difficult undertaking and we thank Roger Alvarez & Scott Galya for all the research they have put in over the last few months.

Other minor topics discussed included collections, seal coating, speed bumps for speed control and violations.

As always, the Board encourages active participation in the monthly meetings.  If you can attend, we certainly encourage you to do so.  The next meeting is currently scheduled for April 2nd, 2013. If anything changes, we will update the calendar.  Hope to see you there. 

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Burglary at Devon-Aire Villas #1 West 2/12/2013

On February 12th, 2013, there was a reported burglary at a home located at SW 122nd Ct & 109th Lane.  The incident took place at around 9:20 PM.  The thieves jumped the back fence and broke down the patio door to gain entry to the home.  

We again ask that all residents remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities that they observe in the community to law enforcement as well as our management company.  This is especially important near empty homes which have been abandoned due to foreclosure.   Please keep your front porch lights on at night and if you are an end unit with an area light please be sure that it is in working order.  Proper lighting will make the community safer and can help deter crime.

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MDPD Citizen Advisory Committee

On January 30, 2013, several members of the board attended the Kendall district's MDPD Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting to address some concerns from the recent robbery within Devon-Aire #1 East. At that meeting a presentation was made by Sergeant Joseph Bermudez related to programs that the Public Information & Education Bureau sponsor such as the Citizen's Police Academy, D.A.R.E., Citizens' Crime Watch, etc... One of the more interesting tidbits from that meeting was that citizens may call the Public Information & Education Bureau and request a crime vulnerability assessment of their home which can help owners better secure their homes to deter break-ins. Homeowners interested in participating in the program can call them at (305) 471-1900 or visit their site by clicking here. Homeowners can also inquire about participating in this years Citizen's Police Academy which President Jeff Kaslofsky and Roger Alvarez plan to attend. This course is free to the public and will provides hands-on training and insight into police activities.

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106th St Entrance Board Meeting Sign

Many residents in the past have asked that a sign be placed on the 106th St entrance to announce the monthly meetings similar to the ones placed at the 122nd Ave entrances.  We had a new sign made this month so all entrances will now have signs posted a couple of days before the scheduled Board meeting.  We hope this keeps residents better informed and perhaps increase participation in our monthly meetings.  Just as a reminder, the next Board meeting will be held Tuesday, February 5th. Hope to see you there.

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Community Improvement Projects

Between January 11th - 16th, work was commenced to replace the bushes which sit along 123rd Place with sea grapes.  The damaged fence in the same area was also repaired.  Below are before and after images of that work:




Also, some landscaping work was completed along the 106th Street island.

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Exterior Home Sidings

For the last few months, homeowners who have wished to change the exterior wood sidings have found that is is no longer available at the local Home Depot or Lowe's.  One resident recently found the clam shell paneling needed for their home at Shell Lumber & Hardware located at 2733 S.W. 27th Ave.  Their phone number is (305) 856-6401. You can visit them on their web site by going to http://www.shelllumber.com.  Please contact Scott at Brickell Property Management if you have questions regarding the exact type of siding required.

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January Meeting

In the January meeting, the Board met and discussed several topics related to landscaping, lighting, roofing shingles and traffic speed bumps.  Jeff Kaslofsky, President, also took the opportunity to again thank Mel Montes & Jack Goodwin for their long and dedicated service to the community for which we are extremely grateful.  Jeff awarded Certificates of Appreciation to both Mel Montes & Jack Goodwin.

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Burglary at Devon-Aire #1 East 12/12/2012

     On December 12, 2012, there was a robbery reported in our community at a home on 110th ST CIR East.  Please be sure that you keep your homes secure by ensuring your windows and sliding glass doors are properly secured before leaving your homes.  Also, please be vigilant and report all suspicious/criminal activity to law enforcement.

     If you would like to receive alerts from Law Enforcement related to crimes occurring within our general vicinity, you can subscribe to alerts by going to: http://www.crimemapping.com/.

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December 2012 Election

     On December 11th, 2012, Devon-Aire Association # 1 held its first known election since 1977.  With more than 30% of the membership represented in person or by proxy, four new directors have been elected to the board.  We thank the previous directors, Mel Montes, Sergio Ubilla, Rose Ubilla & Jack Goodwin for their years of service & dedication to the community.  Mel Montes & Jack Goodwin served the community the longest serving 7 years & 20 years respectively.

    The new directors for Devon-Aire Association # 1 are as follows:

• Jeff Kaslofsky
• Carlos Amézaga
• Joan Navarro
• Julio Dominguez
• Lee Harrison Griffis II

The new directors would like to thank the members who actively participated in this years election and look forward to serving the community.

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