SEMINAR NOVEMBER 14, 2008
CONDOMINIUM INFORMATION ON ELECTIONS AND BUDGETS
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Division of Florida Condominiums, Timeshares and Mobile Homes will be presenting information on elections and budgets relating to condominium associations. The seminars will include question and answer sessions and educational materials. All seminars are open to the public. The dates, times and locations are listed below. Reservations are not necessary.

PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS
West Palm Beach Palm Beach County Governmental Center County Commission Chamber, 301 N. Olive Avenue, 11th Floor,West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Friday, November 14, 2008, 10:00 to 1:00
(561) 355-3575
Tara Laxer,Legislative Aide to Senator Deutch of District 30
324 Senator Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, Fl 32399-1100
1-850-487-5091
15340 Jog Rd, Suite 201
Delray Beach, Fl 33446
(561) 496-5939
(561) 496-5941 FAX
Laxer.Tara.S30@flsenate.gov; senatedeutch@yahoo.com
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MESSAGE FROM COMMISSIONER AARONSON
I recently learned that Palm Beach County has over 1,000 employees that are veterans. According to Craig Carr, the Coordinator of the County’s Veterans Services Division, our veterans served in every war from World War II through the current Iraq War. He singled out two employees, one was a Marine who served from 1943 to 1945 in the South Pacific and another, also a Marine, who participated in D-Day.

This is a good time to remind all of you that the County’s Veterans Services Division is dedicated to veterans, widows and children of veterans. The office serves all military veterans and their dependents including the Merchant Mariners and other auxiliaries. Craig and his staff have been specially trained to act on behalf of veterans. They maintain accreditation and certification through both the U.S. and Florida Departments of Veterans Affairs.

Veterans Services provides assistance in developing and filing claims and appeals with the Veterans Administration. They will help veterans, widows and children of veterans with applications, eligibility determinations and certification of various services such as compensation, pension, medical care, education, home loans and burial benefits. In addition, they can provide referral to other sources of help that may be available.

The main office of Veterans Services is located in West Palm Beach. You can call Craig and his staff Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm at 561-355-4761. In addition, staff is available on Wednesdays between 10:00am and 4:00pm at the County’s Library on 95th Avenue South in west Boca Raton and on Thursdays between 9:00am and 4:30pm at the County’s library on Hagen Ranch Road in West Delray Beach. I urge you to call or stop at one of these locations if you have any questions or need information.

Veterans Day reminds us to honor the many dedicated men and women who have served our country and preserved our democratic way of life. We must also honor our future veterans, those currently serving in the armed forces in Iraq, Afghanistan, Germany, Korea, the United States and many other places. They are all heroes. They deserve our love, respect and never-ending thank you.

Finally, Sheila, my staff and I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving. I also want to thank you for the support I received during our recent election. I appreciate your confidence in me and I am proud to be your District Commissioner. I will continue to do all I can to insure that you, as well as all the residents in Palm Beach County, have the highest quality of life possible.

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Information courtesy of Donna D. Berger, Esq.
Executive Director of the Community Advocacy Network (CAN)
Telephone: 954.315.0372, Facsimile: 954.315.0373 Web: www.canfl.com
Email: dberger@canfl.com

(An abbreviated version due to blog space limitations.)
On December 19, 2007, the President signed into law the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (the "Act"). This law was named after the daughter of Nancy Baker and the granddaughter of former Secretary of State James Baker who drowned in June 2002 after the suction from a spa drain trapped her under the water. This Act was first introduced by Florida Representative Debbie Wasserman-Schultz.

The Act specifies that on or after December 19, 2008, swimming pool and spa
drain covers available for purchase in the United States must meet specific
performance requirements. Additionally, public swimming pools, wading pools,
spas and hot tubs must meet requirements for installation of compliant drain
covers. New drain covers which meet the current standard are now beginning
to make their way into the marketplace. Additionally, in certain instances,
public pools and spas must have additional devices or systems designed to
prevent suction entrapment.

The Act defines the term "public pool and spa" to include a pool or spa that
is open to residents of a multi-unit apartment building, apartment complex,
residential real estate development, or other multi-family residential area.
Thus, pools and spas found in condominium, cooperative, homeowners'
associations, timeshares, and mobile home communities must be in compliance
with the Act.

These federal safety requirements will apply to your community association
pool regardless of when the pool was constructed, as of December 19, 2008,
unless there are multiple drains already in place.
If your pool is not in operation on December 19, 2008, these requirements
will not apply until your pool returns to operation.

The requirement that a public pool or spa be equipped with an
anti-entrapment device or system applies to public pools or spas with a
single main drain other than an unblockable drain.

Thus, a plain reading of the statute indicates that pools and spas with
multiple main drains are excluded from this provision.

If a pool or spa subject to the Act has more than one independent drain
served by a separate, dedicated pump, then each such drain is a "single main
drain" and must comply with the requirements of Section 1404 (c)(1)(A)(ii).

*This federal law contains no provision on its preemptive effect and,
therefore, does not by its terms expressly preempt state law. However,
section 1404(b) of the Act has been deemed by Congress to be a "consumer
product safety rule" under the Consumer Product Safety Act. For this reason,
it is believed that the preemptive provisions of Section 26 apply directly
to the Section 1404(b) requirement that all swimming pool or spa drain
covers manufactured, distributed, or entered into commerce in the United
States conform to ASME/ANSI A112.19.8. Drain covers or other anti-entrapment
systems or devices marketed or sold in the U.S. on or after December 19,
2008 need to meet the new federal standard.

The fact that the Act lays out "minimum" requirements
suggests that States can pass greater restrictions in this regard. The
impact of the Act on a particular state law or
regulation needs to be analyzed on a state by state basis.

If your community has a pool or a spa, please make sure to discuss these
federal safety requirements with your property manager, your association
attorney and/or a licensed engineer to determine whether or not your pool or
spa will meet these requirements as of December 19, 2008. If you have more
questions about whether or not your community pool or spa will be compliant
come December 19, 2008, please contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission at info@cpsc.gov or by phone at 800-638-2772 (TTY 800-638-8270). Hotline staff are available from 8:30 to 5:00 ET or you can leave a message any time to receive a return call.

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Residents are invited to join their local legislators to participate in public hearings to raise and discuss issues that affect our community. To be placed on the official agenda, presenters must submit a completed request form and have submitted all printed materials to the delegation office at least five business days prior to the scheduled hearing. The maximum allotted time for each presentation is three minutes. It is requested that presenters meet with at least one delegation member before t he scheduled hearing in order to familiarize them with the issue at hand. The hearings currently scheduled are as follows:

Palm Beach County
Monday, November 10, 2008 - 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Palm Beach County Solid Waste Authority (7501 North Jog Road, West Palm Beach)

Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Mae Volen Senior Center (1515 West Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton)
Tuesday, December 2, 2008 - 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Belle Glade City Council Chambers (110 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Belle Glade)
Friday, January 2, 2009 - 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Village of North Palm Beach Council Chambers (200 Military Trail, Jupiter)
Friday, January 23 2009 - 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Boynton Beach Intracoastal Park (2240 North Federal Highway, Boynton Beach)
Broward County
Thursday, November 6, 2008 – 4:00 p.m.
Broward Governmental Center (115 S. Andrews Avenue., Room 422, Ft. Lauderdale)
Monday, November 24, 2008 – 3:00 p.m.
Aging and Disability Resource Center of Broward County (5300 Hiatus Road, Sunrise)
Monday, December 1, 2008 – 1:00 p.m.
Atlantic Technical High School (4700 Coconut Creek Parkway, Coconut Creek)
Thursday, December 4, 2008 – 5:00 p.m.
Broward Governmental Center (115 S. Andrews Avenue., Room 422, Ft. Lauderdale)
Monday, January 5, 2009 – 3:00 p.m.
Broward General Medical Center (1600 S. Andrews Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale)

For more information, to request placement on the hearing schedule, or to contact your county’s Legislative Delegation Office, please call (561) 355-2406 in Palm Beach County and (954) 357-6555 in Broward County. To contact the offices by mail, please send information to 301 North Olive Avenue, Suite 1001.11, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401 in Palm Beach County and 115 South Andrews Avenue, Room 429, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301 in Broward County.

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Wed. Nov. 5: Hospice of Palm Beach County, 2 PM. J. C. Stern of Hospice will present "Life in a Crayon Box." The world is a crayon box and each of us is a different colored crayon. What color are you? When we understand that we are all shades of each others crayons then we can better live together in harmony.

Thurs. Nov. 6, 10 AM: Mouse Around (Hands On). Learn how to use a computer mouse in this instructor led class. For beginners. Sign up at Information Desk. (60 min.) Conference Room.

Thurs. Nov. 6, 13 & 20, 1 PM English Exchange. Practice your English conversation skills with Literacy AmeriCorps member Paula Alexander. Basic English speaking skills required. Call 649-5495 to preregister. Study Room.

Thurs. Nov. 6, 1:30 PM How to Ensure Joint Health as you Age. Dr. John Conde will reveal the top strategies for promoting joint health. (60 min.) Meeting Room.

Fri. Nov. 7, 10 AM Beginning Internet. Basic introduction to the Internet, explaining what it is and how it works. For beginners. No previous computer experience necessary. (60 min.) Meeting Room.

Fri. Nov. 7, 2 PM Storytelling: "I'll Tell You Mine If you'll Tell Me Yours." Get together with storyteller Glad McLeod and have fun and pleasure sharing our stories. (60 min.) Conference Room.

Fri. Nov. 7, 2 PM Discover the World Book Discussion Series. Barbara Harnick will lead a discussion of "Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace-One School at a Time," by G. Mortenson and D. Oliver. (60 Min.) Meeting Room.

Sat. Nov. 8, 11 AM Anti-Aging Medicine. Dr. Harlan Bieley will explain bio-identical hormone replacement therapy fo men and women. (60 min.) Meeting Room

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At the South County Civic Center:

Guest Speakers: Dan Weisberg, P.E.Director, Traffic Division
Palm Beach County Engineering and Public Works Department

Laila A. Haddad, Public Information Officer-Florida's Turnpike Enterprise
Learn What Government Regulators Decided: Boys Market, Intersection Traffic Controls, and Florida’s Turnpike

Also, status reports from County Administrators, Elected Officials and current Information.

The Public Is Welcome

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Wed. Dec. 3, 2:00 p.m.--Discover the World Book Discussion series.
Roberta Proctor will lead a discussion of "Breath, Eyes, Memory," by Edwidge Danitcat.60 minutes in Meeting Room.

Thurs. Dec. 4, 10:00 a.m.--Basic Windows (Hands-on). Sign up at the Information Desk. (60 mins.) Conference Room.

Thurs. Dec. 4 1:00 p.m.--English Exhange. Join Paula Alexander, Literacy Ameri Corps member where you can practice speaking English. (2hr.) Call 561-649-5495 to preregister. Study Room.

Thurs. Dec. 4, 2:00 p.m.--Making People Happier. Local psychologist Dr. Ann Ruben provides tips on how to bring more happiness into your life. (45 mins.) Meeting Room.

Fri. Dec. 5, 2:00 p.m. Storytelling: I'll tell you mine if you'll tell me yours. Get together with storyteller Glad McLeod and share your stories. (60 mins.) Conference Room

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Our offices are preparing for our property tax season, which launches next month. Please read the information below which will help our office serve you better.

Not Updating Your Address Could Cost You
Florida Statutes place the burden on the taxpayer to know when taxes are collectable, even if a Tax Notice is not received. During the past two years approximately 50,000 Tax Notices were returned undeliverable to the Palm Beach Tax Collector due to incorrect mailing addresses.
Whenever a taxpayer’s mailing address is changed, in addition to notifying the United States Postal Service the taxpayer must also notify the Property Appraiser, in writing with a signature. Contact the Property Appraiser’s Office to update the correct mailing address on record by calling (561) 355-2866 or visit online at http://www.pbcgov.com/papa/AddressChange.htm. If an address change is not submitted to the Property Appraiser’s Office by the first week of October contact the Tax Collector’s Office at www.taxcollectorpbc.com to ensure receipt of a tax notice.

Property Tax Notices to be Mailed October 31
The Tax Collector’s office will mail 2008 property tax notices on October 31. Property taxes are collectable November 1 - March 31. Discounts for early payment are allowed as follows:
• 4% in November
• 3% in December
• 2% in January
• 1% in February
No discounts are allowed in March. Taxes become delinquent on April 1st. The discount is determined by postmark of payment. However, the amount due on a delinquent payment is determined by the date received by our office, not by postmark. The Tax Collector’s website offers a new and improved fast payment system to process property tax payments at www.taxcollectorpbc.com.

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