Meeting Minutes for August 24, 2026
Colonial Country Club
Community Development District
The Public Budget Hearing, the Fiscal Year 2027 O&M Assessment Public Hearing and the Regular Meeting of the Board of Supervisors of the Colonial Country Club Community Development District was scheduled for August 24, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. in the Colonial Country Club Media Room in 9181 Independence Way in Fort Myers, Florida, and also via web conference.
Supervisors present and constituting a quorum:
Sally Hefti – Chair
Giovanna Scuderi – Vice Chair
Joe Zajac – Assistant Secretary
Howard Klein – Assistant Secretary
Supervisors Attending Remotely:
Tim Worthington – Assistant Secretary
Also present were:
Melissa Gindling – Compliance Manager, Premier District Management (PDM)
Matt Gindling – Assistant District Manager, (PDM)
11 residents
Attending remotely were:
Bruce Bonczyk
Bonnie
Anne Fornaro
Michael Miller
The following is a summary of the actions taken at the Colonial Country Club Community Development District (CDD) Board of Supervisors meeting.
FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS Call to Order and Roll Call
The Colonial Country Club Community Development District Meeting was called to order at 1:00 p.m., by Chair Hefti and Compliance Manager Gindling called the roll. Present and constituting a quorum were Chair Hefti, Vice Chair Scuderi, Supervisors Zajac, and Klein with Supervisor Worthington attending remotely. Also in attendance were Assistant District Manager Matt Gindling and 11 residents. Joining online were callers Bonnie, Bruce Bonczyk, Anne Fornaro, and Michael Miller.
On MOTION by Supervisor Zajac, seconded by Supervisor Klein, with all in favor, the Board approved the remote participation of Supervisor Worthington.
SECOND ORDER OF BUSINESS Approval of the Agenda
The Agenda was approved as amended, adding Agenda Items 4Ai, 5B and 10F.
On MOTION by Chair Hefti, seconded by Vice Chair Scuderi, 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.
FOURTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Public Hearing
On MOTION by Supervisor Klein, seconded by Chair Hefti, with all in favor, the Board opened the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Public Hearing at 1:02 PM.
A. Presentation of Proposed Budget
Compliance Manager Gindling presented an overview of the Fiscal Year 2027 proposed budget, noting that total revenues and expenditures were both projected at $630,822, resulting in a balanced budget. She reviewed the proposed assessment rates, which had previously been presented to residents and published as part of the budget process. The published budget reflected assessment rates of $350 per unit and $330 for Whispering Palms units. However, the Board discussed Supervisor Klein’s proposed revisions, which reduced the assessments to $330 per unit and $310 for Whispering Palms units.
Chair Hefti clarified that while the higher assessment amounts had been published as the maximum potential increase, the Board intended to adopt the reduced assessment rates. She also noted that this represented the first assessment increase in several years.
i. Proposed Budget Revisions from Supervisor Klein
Supervisor Klein reviewed his proposed budget revisions and explained the rationale for reducing several budget line items. The Board noted that the original budget had included higher funding levels to ensure adequate reserves and flexibility. Following discussion, the Board reached consensus to move forward with Supervisor Klein’s proposed revisions.
B. Public Comment
A resident requested clarification regarding total budgeted expenditures, and Compliance Manager Gindling confirmed the amount was $630,822.
A resident also asked why the proposed budget had been reduced, and Supervisor Klein explained that several line items had been slightly overestimated in the original proposal.
In response to questions regarding the need for an assessment increase, the Board explained that the District has incurred additional costs associated with aerator replacement, stormwater system maintenance, and planned boardwalk replacement projects. The Board also noted increases in ongoing operational expenses, including electrical utilities and vendor services.
Resident Anne Fornaro asked about the benefits of the new aerators. The Board explained that the aerators are intended to improve and maintain water quality and noted that, while there are no State-recommended aeration requirements for lakes, the District regularly monitors water quality and the South Florida Water Management District reviews conditions during its quarterly inspections.
C. Resolution 2026-07: Adoption of FY 2026-2027 Budget Appropriation
On MOTION by Supervisor Worthington, seconded by Supervisor Zajac, with all in favor, the Board approved Resolution 2026-07, adopting FY 2026-2027 Budget Appropriation, as amended to include Supervisor Klein’s updates.
Assistant District Manager Gindling will update the gross budget amount for the general fund on the resolution before finalizing.
D. Advertisement Notice Affidavit
Compliance Manager Gindling reported that the Affidavit of Publication was in the agenda packet, confirming that the public hearing notice had been duly published as required by law.
On MOTION by Supervisor Worthington, seconded by Vice Chair Scuderi, with all in favor, the Board closed the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Public Hearing at 1:15 PM.
FIFTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Fiscal Year 2027 O&M Assessment Public Hearing
On MOTION by Chair Hefti, seconded by Supervisor Klein, with all in favor, the Board opened the Fiscal Year 2027 O&M Assessment Public Hearing at 1:16 PM.
A. Presentation of Assessment Rates
Compliance Manager Gindling confirmed that, as amended by the Board, the final assessment rates would be $330 per unit for most properties and $310 per unit for Whispering Palms. The revised assessment rates reflected the budget modifications proposed by Supervisor Klein.
B. Public Comment
A resident asked whether the assessment increases required approval from the Finance Committee. The Board explained that the CDD operates independently of the Finance Committee and reviewed the District’s debt assessment structure. Supervisor Klein noted that debt service assessments remain substantially unchanged from the prior year despite adjustments between principal and interest payments.
Compliance Manager Gindling further explained that property tax bills display the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) assessment and debt service assessment as a single amount. However, the two components are separately identified on the District’s website for residents who wish to review them individually. The Board noted that the bonds are scheduled to be paid off in 2033, after which only the applicable O&M assessment would remain. It was further noted that debt assessments vary depending on a property’s location within Colonial Country Club.
Compliance Manager Gindling reported that staff had received correspondence from Resident Bernie Burckard of Whispering Palms regarding the assessments being levied within the neighborhood. The Board directed staff to coordinate with Supervisor Klein in preparing a formal response letter addressing the concerns raised.
C. Resolution 2026-08: Approving the FY 2026-2027 Assessment Levy
On MOTION by Supervisor Klein, seconded by Vice Chair Scuderi, with all in favor, the Board approved Resolution 2026-08, approving the FY 2026-2027 Assessment Levy, as amended to included the lowered assessment rates.
On MOTION by Supervisor Klein, seconded by Chair Hefti, with all in favor, the Board closed the Fiscal Year 2027 O&M Assessment Public Hearing at 1:20 PM.
SIXTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Approval of Meeting Minutes
A. Draft Meeting Minutes from July 27, 2026
On MOTION by Vice Chair Scuderi, seconded by Supervisor Klein, with all in favor, the Board approved the the July 27, 2026 meeting minutes.
SEVENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Old Business
A. FLGIS ROV Report
Compliance Manager Gindling reported that Phases 1 and 2 of the FLGIS ROV inspections have been completed. She noted that Phase 3 inspections are scheduled to begin in October, with the final report expected to be available in November.
i. Update on Stormwater Cleaning
Compliance Manager Gindling reported that APS had been onsite throughout the previous week performing stormwater system cleaning activities. The Board requested that Field Manager Pepin provide an estimated completion date for the remaining cleaning work.
ii. Proposal To Inspect Other Pipes
Compliance Manager Gindling provided an update on additional stormwater pipes identified during FLGIS’s earlier inspection. She noted that the proposal before the Board was for inspection services only. Following discussion, the Board agreed that the pipes should be inspected so the condition of the system could be evaluated before determining whether any further work would be necessary.
The Board approved proceeding with the inspections, and Compliance Manager Gindling will obtain an update regarding the anticipated inspection schedule.
On MOTION by Supervisor Zajac, seconded by Supervisor Klein, with all in favor, the Board approved the FLGIS proposal to inspect the additional pipes in the amount of $12,400.
B. ARC Suggestions Update
Compliance Manager Gindling reported that Cindy Smith of the ARC Committee declined the Board’s request to include District Rule 10-01. The Board noted that the intent of the request was simply to provide information to both parties and stated that it now considered the matter closed.
EIGHTH ORDER OF BUSINESS New Business
A. FY2026 Audit Process
Compliance Manager Gindling reviewed the audit engagement letter from Grau & Associates for the District’s FY 2026 annual audit services.
On MOTION by Supervisor Klein, seconded by Chair Hefti, with all in favor, the Board approved moving forward with Grau & Associates for the FY2026 Audit in the amount of $4,500.
NINTH ORDER OF BUSINESS District Manager
A. Financial Report for July
The Board noted that the District’s interest earnings were performing as expected and that there were no unusual items within the financial reports.
Supervisor Klein noted that the fountain expense was reclassified to capital outlay as previously requested and reported that the financial statements appeared to be in good order overall.
On MOTION by Supervisor Klein, seconded by Supervisor Zajac, with all in favor, the Board accepted the July Financial Report.
TENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Field Manager
A. August Field Service Report
Compliance Manager Gindling reviewed the August Field Manager Report and the following items were discussed:
- Overall lake conditions remained good, with reduced shoreline grasses, a slight increase in algae, low submerged weed levels, and water levels near seasonal averages.
- Several areas of spike rush in Lakes 3 and 32 exceeded the recommended width and will require maintenance treatment.
- Lake 3 – Following a report from a resident at 9137 Shadow Glen Way regarding a white fly infestation, Field Manager Pepin and Patrick Tohill inspected the area and identified a significant insect presence. Spike rush will be thinned to reduce breeding habitat, and the landscaping contractor was encouraged to investigate and treat affected vegetation.
- Alligator flag plants were observed along several residential shorelines and will be treated as needed to prevent view obstruction.
- New littoral plantings were installed in Lakes 7, 8, 12, 18, 20, 21, 28, 29, and 50. Pristine Lakes inadvertently planted the entire shoreline of Lake 21, resulting in insufficient plants for Lake 29. Field Manager Pepin noted that Lake 29 can be included in a future planting project.
- Several aeration system issues were identified and reported to Fountain Kings, including equipment malfunctions at Lakes 7, 20, and 32.
- The approved electrical replacement project for Lake 20 is pending an FPL power shutdown to allow the work to be completed safely.
- Water bottles were observed accumulating in Lake 20, and staff will contact Patrick Tohill to confirm landscaping crews are properly disposing of debris.
- Lake 50 West – West Coast Electrical replaced a repeatedly tripping main breaker, and the system has operated properly since the repair.
- The next quarterly maintenance event for the large preserve is anticipated in August/September 2026.
- Supervisor Klein requested that Field Manager Pepin closely monitor planktonic algae conditions in the Gateway Canal based on previous algae buildup concerns.
- Vice Chair Scuderi provided information for Acryfin Coating, a company specializing in dock coating and deck resurfacing. The information will be shared with Field Manager Pepin and retained for future boardwalk discussions.
- The butterfly gardens located at the boardwalk entrance were reported to be in good condition, with healthy plantings throughout both gardens.
B. Proposal – Ongoing Butterfly Garden Maintenance
The Board expressed support for establishing an ongoing maintenance program for the butterfly gardens, and several residents in attendance also commented favorably on the program.
On MOTION by Vice Chair Scuderi, seconded by Supervisor Zajac, with all in favor, the Board approved the Community Field Services proposal for providing general maintenance every other month at $350 per visit.
C. Ratification – Electrical Panel For Lakes 18 and 20
On MOTION by Supervisor Klein, seconded by Chair Hefti, with all in favor, the Board ratified the West Coast Electrical proposal for replacing the electrical panel in the amount of $1,975.
It was noted that staff consulted with Field Manager Pepin regarding alternative construction materials to replace metal; however, staff confirmed that other materials, including PVC, are not approved for use.
D. Follow-up Items
i. Preserve Non-Compliance Update
Referencing Field Manager Pepin’s email, Assistant District Manager Gindling noted that the District is currently at the County’s discretion on when they re-inspect the area and provide a new letter of compliance.
E. Project Tracking Logs
F. Update – Lake 50 Vegetation and Riprap For Dry Retention Catch Basins
The Board agreed that additional rip rap around the dry retention catch basins was needed but questioned whether the proposed cost was reasonable.
Supervisor Worthington suggested contacting Patrick Tohill to determine whether his staff could perform the work at a lower cost using available on-site materials, potentially reducing mobilization and material transportation expenses.
Staff will reach out to Patrick Tohill regarding a proposal, and further discussion of the rip rap project was tabled to the next meeting.
On MOTION by Supervisor Worthington, seconded by Chair Hefti, with all in favor, the Board approved the the Lake 50 Vegetation cleanup portion of the Pristine Lakes proposal in the amount of $1,100.
ELEVENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Attorney
There was no report from the attorney.
TWELFTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Engineer
There was no report from the engineer.
THIRTEENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Supervisor Requests/Comments
No comments were noted at this time.
FOURTEENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Audience Comments
A resident asked whether Patrick Tohill could provide services for smaller District projects. The Board clarified that any work performed would be paid from District funds in the same manner as other vendor services.
A resident reported that a fountain in a neighborhood lake was not operating. Staff confirmed that the fountain was located in Lake 50 and was the same fountain identified in Field Manager Pepin’s report as having been removed for repairs.