As a retirement community The Villages is arguably the leader in providing its residents with facilities to promote an active lifestyle. The developer had the foresight to provide facilities to support many of the activities in which we like to participate now that we are retired. The recreation facilities that are available to the residents provide for a broad spectrum of activities for people in our age group.
Currently, the Village Center Community Development District (VCCDD) is charged with staffing our recreation centers. While most of the recreation facilities are still owned by the developer, some of the facilities are now owned by the Village Center Community Development District. The Amenity Authority Committee (AAC) is a unique committee of the VCCDD which has financial discretion over the amenity fees collected for the districts north of County Road 466 and the Town of Lady Lake. The committee members of the AAC are residents elected by the landowners in their particular district to represent the interests of the residents. The committee members are not appointed by the VCCDD. This structure gives residents of those districts an opportunity to make their voice heard concerning the expenditure of their amenity fees.
The districts south of County Road 466 do not yet enjoy a voice in how their amenity fees are used. It is still uncertain what will happen in those districts. Therefore, it is imperative that the AAC establish a good precedent for controlling the expenditure of the amenity fees. Residents should feel comfortable that the committee members are spending their money wisely.
Because the committee members are residents like you and I, we cannot expect them to be expert in all the areas for which amenity fees are spent. In recognition of this, the AAC has been given the power to appoint advisory subcommittees to make recommendations to the AAC. Currently, very few subcommittees have been established by the AAC to investigate various issues. Therefore, when an item is placed on the agenda of an AAC meeting, the members receive a formal presentation by the VCCDD staff for their consideration but do not have a corresponding report from the residents.
In The Villages we enjoy a lifestyle in which there is an abundance of recreation facilities. The VCCDD staff strives to ensure that these are quality facilities. However, given the diversity of activities available in The Villages, no one expects the staff to make expert decisions in all areas. There are, on the other hand, many interested and uniquely qualified residents who are willing to assist the AAC in making informed decisions, such as how to find better equipment at a lower price.
The VCCDD is charged with the day-to-day operation of the amenity facilities. The AAC has operational control over those facilities. The residents who use the recreational facilities need a voice in what improvements can and should be made. The AAC is intended to provide that voice, and advisory subcommittees composed of knowledgeable residents are the best way for the AAC to provide that voice. It is difficult for the AAC to make an informed decision on amenity fee expenditures when they rely solely on the recommendation of the VCCDD staff. The AAC should not overlook the valuable resource of knowledgeable residents. Advisory subcommittees can act as a watchdog ensuring that our amenity fees are spent prudently. Let’s encourage the AAC to form advisory subcommittees.
Bill Turechek is a resident of The Villages.
