University Place considers gate changes

Whether the gates at the entrance to University Place will be partially manned or stay under 24-hour automated control remains to be determined, but University Place Community Development District supervisors are reserving room in their proposed budget for either scenario.

“Let us know how you feel,” CDD Chairman Ric Romanoff told residents during a June 28 meeting. “It could affect how we vote. We represent the residents.”

The proposed $751,288 fiscal year 2018 budget includes $105,053 for gate-related security expenses, which is $34,000 more than fiscal year 2017. The proposed budget also sets aside a combined $22,328 for gate reserves and gate repair and maintenance.

University Place Homeowners Association board member John Kerwin said at a recent meeting that HOA leaders were happy with the current arrangement with security provider Envera Systems and oppose changing to a manned gate. Some members of the community have requested gate attendants, prompting discussion on the issue.

Supervisors also are considering replacing and upgrading the community’s eight gate arms, which supervisors said are outdated and becoming costly to repair. Envera submitted an informal cost proposal for replacing the arms with more energy-efficient, faster-moving arms. Each would cost about $9,000, Romanoff said.

“I’ve seen them so I’m kind of sold,” Romanoff said. “Now, I’m trying to figure out how we can pay for them.”

Supervisor Frank Ingrassia said,  “I like everything but the price.”

Supervisors have asked Envera to come up with a more formal proposal that includes an option to roll those costs into an overall contract for security services.

The board will discuss the budget in greater detail at a July 19 workshop before adopting the budget in August.

In other business:

n The board approved for the district to move forward with a reserve study with Wisconsin-based Reserve Advisors at a maximum cost of $5,000. The previous major reserve study was completed in 2009. “We’d like to get a fresh look at it,”  Ingrassia said. “We want to be fully confident we have sufficient reserves.”