A shout-out of recognition to the Amenity Authority Committee (AAC) Board of Directors and its District staff for updating its website to more accurately reflect the powers and responsibilities per the 2008 Interlocal Governmental Agreement (IGA), Exhibit B.
The update is a great improvement and almost there. The second paragraph still requires better congruence with the IGA. The following recommendation is proposed with wording directly from the IGA. I feel confident that we can all work together to finish this important task that accurately defines the AAC.
Current: The AAC is responsible for amenity services north of CR 466 and provides input, explores issues and provides advice and recommendations to the Village Center Community Development District on issues related to the Recreation Amenities Division (RAD) Fund.
Recommend: The AAC has operational control over Amenity Facilities and services north of 466, with discretion over expenditures of all non-bond-required amenity funds. The AAC directs the Village Center Community Development District on issues related to the Recreation Amenities Division (RAD) Fund.
As detailed in my April 22, 2025 editorial It’s time for the AAC to act, the AAC’s February 18, 2025 workshop focused on two agenda items: 1) powers, and 2) a rate cap, for the AAC’s February 18th workshop. This excellent workshop provided the information needed for the AAC Board of Directors to decide and move forward to represent you.
If you’re new to this topic, my February 16, 2025 editorial, The AAC needs to take back its power, provides additional historical detail.
The AAC has accomplished a significant improvement to its website, and by improving the second paragraph, it will ensure that residents who are potential future AAC Board candidates have an accurate understanding of the AAC and may be more inclined to step up and run for the AAC Board of Directors positions. For too long, AAC members referred to themselves as committee members without authority. Now everyone can see the correct definition and the improved responsibilities.
If you support improving the second paragraph, inform your AAC geographical area representative. Please attend the next AAC meeting on Wednesday, May 7th, at 9 a.m. at the Savannah Center.
https://www.districtgov.org/districts/committees/amenity-authority/
If you use the group email at the top of the page, this distribution includes all major District Staff. You can click on the email to expand it and see who is included.
Now that we have almost completed the first topic’s actions from the February 18th workshop, I want to touch on the second and even more important topic of an Amenity Fee Freeze (a.k.a. rate cap, deferral). You can read a summary about this in my February 16, 2025 editorial, The AAC needs to take back its power.
The AAC Amenity Fee Freeze must be voted on by the AAC Board of Directors by the June 11th meeting to take effect in the next fiscal year.
Next week, I will provide a detailed editorial on the proposed freeze of the AAC Amenity Fee. This will help you understand the definitions of what is discussed, along with some facts and figures, to ensure you can accurately discuss this topic and develop an informed opinion supporting the proposed Amenity Fee freeze.
Join us for an Amenity Fee Freeze Rally during Don Deakin’s Q&A meeting on May 5th at 7 p.m. at the Mulberry Recreation Center. We want to ensure that residents have every opportunity to understand what this is, how it affects them, how it was successfully done before, and how it will work for them now.
One of my goals in engaging with readers is to raise awareness, foster understanding, and educate residents on where to find information.
We are all retired from diverse backgrounds and moved to The Villages for our “fun” life phase. Typically, the last thing we want to do is engage in governmental or political issues, other than driveway discussions. However, many of us are arriving here young and plan to live here for the final decades.
We often hear rumors and fears about what “the developer” is doing, and an us-versus-them atmosphere ensues. And yes, we sometimes need to pay attention to the developer’s actions, as our interests do not always align. The developers are in business, while we are here for fun and a promised lifestyle.
Occasionally, we must get involved. This is why you must elect skilled neighbors for the various boards to represent you daily so that you can enjoy your retirement. Realizing that your elected neighbors are either not paid at all, as in the different committees, or receive only a stipend of $200/meeting for a district seat. Indeed, no one is in it for the money.
However, a partnership must exist between residents and their elected neighbors to ensure everyone stays informed. Then, when asked for support, you will understand the situation well enough to get involved.
To recap, THANK YOU, AAC and District Staff, for the website improvements. We look forward to the last website improvement of the second paragraph.
Now we tackle the proposed Amenity Fee freeze!
Patsy Oburn is a resident of Community Development District 1.