Glencliff’s Bonnie Wells Named to WCA Board

With Director Joe Payne’s unexpected resignation in November, the WCA board had a seat to fill. In January they turned to Glencliff VM Bonnie Wells. The Jan.14 meeting of the Westchase Community Association (WCA) board tackled the empty board seat early. Charged with finding candidates for the seat, Director Mary Griffin reported that search committee members Nancy Sells, Bonnie Wells and she had been sending e-mails to Westchase Voting Members (VMs) appealing for volunteers. Griffin reported that the committee considered three names. Ultimately, however, the board unanimously passed a motion to appoint Wells to serve the remainder of Payne’s term, which expires in September 2010. Wells, who has been serving as Glencliff’s VM, immediately took her seat at the table.

The next business item was brought forward by Teresa Trubilla, secretary of the Westchase Artist’s Society. She stated the group had been using the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center’s meeting room for their monthly meetings. She acknowledged, however, that in recent months the group’s membership has changed so that only 50 percent of its members are residents, below the required threshold of 75 percent for the rent waiver. Trubilla stated the group has only 18 current members and the rental fee would be prohibitive.

Directors, however, stated that they were very supportive of the organization because they have donated art work to the community, including paintings of the Westchase area now hanging in the WCA offices. Several ideas were discussed with input from WCA Operations Manager Jan Smith. Director Mary Griffin ultimately made a motion to reduce the residency requirement from 75 percent of members back to 50 percent, which is what it was in the past. The motion unanimously passed and Trubilla thanked the board.

Next, Deputy Jenny Matera, Westchase’s Community Resource Officer, explained that a new computer system has been implemented at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO). The system no longer allows Matera to separate the crime statistics by Westchase village. Matera explained that the statistics can be queried by grid but that grids overlap Westchase neighborhoods and even include areas outside of Westchase. Because of these changes, WOW Publisher, Chris Barrett, has been able to publish the crime statistics by village. Matera will continue to ask the HCSO’s IT personnel for a resolution.

When directors heard their committees’ reports, Covenants Chair Bill Flood said that Keswick Forest Alternate Heather Greeley-Hessefort had shown interest in an open seat on the committee. A motion appointing her to the Covenants Committee, which assesses fines on homeowners for non-compliance with deed restrictions and guidelines, passed unanimously.

Griffin, who also serves as chair of the Government Affairs Committee (GAC) described concerns over the application for a 4COP liquor license for the new Bollywood Café. The restaurant is located in West Park Town Center in the space formerly occupied by Quiznos. Griffin reported that she had spoken with the owner to get an understanding of the theme and premise of the business. The restaurant’s Web site states it serves Indian cuisine while featuring Indian cinema during the weekends.

Griffin said that the owner explained that the only bar will be an indoor juice bar and that liquor would be offered as an incidental for people who wanted drinks with their dinner. The owner further stated that they are not marketing the business as a bar but as a restaurant and that it was only 1,200 square feet.

Board members, however, expressed the same concerns made when Maloney’s Irish Pub made their alcohol rezoning request. These concerned noise, litter, outdoor lighting and drunken behavior. Bollywood will be playing the movies on their outdoor patio so noise is the key concern for the surrounding neighborhoods. Director Brian Ross, who is an attorney, offered several ideas for stipulations the association could demand as part of the expanded license. Griffin will draft the list of conditions and meet with the owner to discuss them.

Addressing the board, Westchase Tennis Pro Mike Larscheid requested the ability to advertise the association’s adult tennis programs to surrounding communities. The fees for advertising will come out of the program’s funds. Director Brian Ross suggested that the advertisements should apply to any of the Swim and Tennis Center programs that have openings. Director Joaquin Arrillaga asked if residents would be adversely impacted by such things as overcrowded tennis courts. Larscheid and Operations Manager Smith explained that the adult tennis programs only utilize a set number of courts and non-residents still would not be able to reserve courts. Directors ultimately passed a motion allowing the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center to advertise their programs outside of the community when there are vacancies. Advertising expenses will be paid by the individual programs.

Quiros then brought up the old business item about securing electronic marquee signs for the Westchase entrances. WCA Manager MaryJo LoCascio reported that she had not yet received responses from other communities that have such signs.

Directors’ discussion then turned to Westchase parking issues. Quiros stated that parking is worst in West Park Village, where illegal parking, coupled with street parking, makes for dangerous situations. LoCascio stated she would like to implement a parking enforcement policy similar to our existing violation policy with letters and fines. The group agreed to follow up with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office to secure ticketing of illegal parkers.

Directors closed discussion by addressing the number of solicitors that frequent the Westchase community. Director Nancy Sells said that Harbor Links/The Estates’ neighborhood committee calls every solicitor that leaves fliers in the area to inform them that they need to respect the no soliciting signs and respect the residents. After directors discussed several options to curb the problem, LoCascio was directed to research additional signs for each entrance into the community.

The meeting adjourned at 9:23 p.m.

By Brenda Bennett

Bennett is a resident of West Park Village and can be reached at brendabennett@tampabay.rr.com.