Our Board of Directors works tirelessly to keep Cantamar a nice community
to raise our families and know our neighbors.
This page details some of the items the Board of Directors and our Property Manager
have been working on for our Association.
A lot of what the Board does is behind the scenes and isn't visible to the Homeowners.

If you have any issues you’d like the Board to address, please e-mail board@cantamarhoa.org.

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October 2011 Update:

Where has the summer gone? It was too short and went by too fast! The Board of Directors at Cantamar has been extremely busy. Here's some of what they've been doing:

All new renters are being interviewed after undergoing a background check that ensures our new neighbors are respectable, law abiding citizens.
James Popadak, our property manager, worked with the Town of Cutler Bay to have bougainvilleas planted in the 208th street median to enhance its appearance.
The Board hired off-duty police officers to patrol our community. They have been instrumental in ordering non-residents who like to cross through our community to go around instead.
An ice cream social was held at the end of summer to mark the beginning of the school year (thanks to Claudia!)
The Board initiated an image enhancement project. They hired a consultant to update the website to better portray how great our community is. This project is in the works and should be completed by the end of the year.
On the 4th of July, our community woke up to a sea of American flags on their front lawns. This project was coordinated by your Board.
Distressed homes (foreclosed or otherwise) continue to be maintained by the HOA to keep the community looking great.
In the past quarter no consequential criminal activity was reported in our neighborhood.
We advised Mayor McDougall of a low point area on 92nd Avenue that floods when it rains, so preemptive action can be taken before a hurricane hits us.

May 2011 Update:

The Board continues to monitor violations (along with the Violations Committee) and get them corrected. Several issues have been corrected over the past couple of months.
Management arranged for removal of Muscovy ducks.
Approval of renters is now in place and the procedure was enacted for the first time the first week of May.
Dead palms were replaced and additional landscaping was done.
Arranged for additional landscaping on 208th Street which is scheduled for the third week of May to take advantage of the upcoming rainy season.
Arranged for police patrol of the neighborhood afternoons between 2:00 and 4:00 pm and nights between 10:00 pm and 5:00 am to monitor traffic violations and crime..
Discussed additional means to calm traffic. Management is meeting with the Town of Cutler Bay regarding a traffic study and the possibility of speed humps.
The Board is looking into the legality of installing security cameras around the neighborhood.

January 2011 Update:

Lighting was completed at the newly landscaped front entrance "park".
Management met with the Town development planner regarding an smaller entrance sign at the 92nd Street entrance (the Town had earlier rejected the larger sign that had been proposed). Drawings have been submitted to the Town and we are awaiting a response.
The fire hydrants throughout the neighborhood were painted. Marine paint was used so the paint job should last many years.
Management met with the Town's public works department about Cantamar donating additional plants for the median on SW 208th Street. They are open to the idea. A sketch and list of plants was submitted. The Town requested a revision that will save the HOA money. Bids wil be voted on by the Board at the February meeting.
Landscaping the 87th Avenue canal area has also been discussed. The canal is a shared item belonging to Miami Dade County and South Florida Water Management. Management indicated this will be the most difficult to get approved and we will probably need serious landscape architectural plans.
Signs on SW 208th Street have been straightened.
Screening of renters was approved by the community (by proxy ballot) and will go into effect in March 2011. A mailing describing the requirements will be sent to all owners in February.

October 2010 Update:

Tree trimming throughout the neighborhood has been completed.
The front entrance landscaping has been completed. And the lighting has been contracted for
with an estimated completion date of November 1st.
The lakes are being cleaned up & the Muscovyducks are being removed (by October 15th).
Maintenance of houses in foreclosure is continuing.
Collection of signatures to amend the by-laws to allow for screening of renters continues.
The notice for the October 20th meeting has been mailed out.
Coordinated with the Social Committee on the End-of-Summer Splash, and the summer Wine and Cheese party.
Contracted for a new Entrance Sign at the west entrance at 92 Avenue (completion due in December).
Arranged for power washing and painting of Main Entrance Signs.
Gave approval for painting of Fire Hydrants.

May 2010 Update:

Arranged for cleaning, painting, and repairing of front entrance signs.
Arranged for the removal of 25 Muscovy ducks from the front lake.
Cleaned up the canal (water) and the banks along the canal.
Repaired the irrigation system around all lakes.
Remulched the common landscaped areas.
Collected signatures to see if there was interest in amending the bylaws concerning renters.
Worked with the social committee to present the Casablanca Movie Night.
Worked with the Crime Watch committee to host the CrimeWatch meeting.
Worked with the landscape company pertaining to re-landscaping the front entrance.
A new rendering is being done and the contract for the work is being "bidded out".
Replaced two signs at the southern entrances to Cantamar off SW 208th Street.

January 2010 Update:

Hired a new landscaping company for better services.
Repaired the three irrigation systems.
Had the lakes cleaned.
Treated the ficus hedges for white fly twice.
Trimmed the community trees, and had the strapping and stakes removed.
Added solar lights to illuminate the signs at the front entrance on 87th Avenue.
Met with a landscape architect for suggestions on a new landscape design for the entrance and community. Two plans should be available for review at the February Board meeting.
Maintained the outdoor appearance of houses in foreclosure.
Met with the Town of Cutler Bay to influence the redesign of 208th street as a "two lane" road with parking spots.
Worked with the Social Committee to offer social activities.

February 2009 Update:

Worked on and approved the 2009 Budget
Had common areas fumigated and fertilized
Working on getting all sprinkler systems in community common areas properly working
Worked together with Social Committee on the Halloween event, Winter celebration, and future events.
Ordered 4 flood lights and are currently installing at community's front entrance signage on SW 87th Ave (special thanks to homeowner Mike Finn for his help)
Recently rebid landscape maintenance for common grounds
Authorizing landscape maintenance on foreclosed homes to help keep the aesthetics in the community
Continuing to work with Cutler Bay on SW 208 Street remodification
Working on setting up Crime Watch in Cantamar
Installed seasonal flowers at front entrance signage and median
Discussing possible improvements for the community for 2009

October 2008 Update:

Your Board of Directors has been working on the following:

Have requested and obtained an updated insurance policy that does not reflect a cement wall around the community (as referenced in our Association Docs, but never installed). This has saved us quite a bit on insurance premiums.
Been working with Cutler Bay regarding:
• Speeding on SW 208th Street. We requested a speeding trailer on SW 208th Street to help reduce thePspeeding on this road. It was placed there for a couple of weeks last month.
• Setting up Crime Watch. We met with Officer Gigi Ortiz from the Cutler Bay Police Department in reference to setting up a Crime Watch in our community.(If anyone would be interested in joining please email your board).
• Changes to SW 208th Street to make it safer and more residential. We recently held a meeting where the residents of Cantamar had an opportunity to meet with representatives from Cutler Bay including Mayor Paul Vrooman. At this meeting we discussed and reviewed possible remedies to SW 208th Street. We are working with the town on the possibility of adding a traffic circle, swales, bike path, narrowing the road to two lanes and adding a landscaped median. Learn more.
We have been working with FPL to correct the light posts in the community that are burned out.
We are currently working with our neighboring community Pelican Bay to obtain bids for landscape maintenance. We advised the vendors presenting the bids that the winning vendor would obtain both jobs. The advantage of volume will allow us to obtain better pricing.
We are currently working on the 2009 Budget.
We are working together with the Social Committee on plans for a Halloween party and a Winter celebration.
We recently had the community perimeter Ficus hedges treated for White Fly, a bug that had started to consume some of the Ficus in our area. At this point, the affected hedges are coming back and look better than ever. We recommend that if you have any Ficus hedges on your property to also treat them. Learn more.
We recently had our irrigation system fixed. There were a few sections in our common area that weren't working. They are now in operable condition.

June 8, 2008 Update:

Working on getting quotes to irrigate, fertilize, mulch around the community
Working on getting quotes to light the front entrance
Working on financial books left by Courtesy to see where we stand
Issuing violations and penalty fees around the community
Working on obtaining a release from Courtesy
Reviewing our current insurance policy to ensure it is accurately insuring us
Exploring the possibility of adding irrigation lines around canals on 87th Avenue

March 22, 2008 Update:

For 2008 we, the Board, have a common goal to not only maintain but also improve the community. Not only are we Board members, but we are also your neighbors; we pay association dues and live here in the community. In order to achieve our common goal, we are trying to cut costs where they do not need to be spent and use those funds for community improvements.

To reach our goals, your Board of Directors has been working diligently on the following:

In order to provide the best possible service to our community, your Board has been interviewing several property management companies over the past several months. After careful consideration, comparing services and cost, we have chosen T & G Management. Our choice was based on their outstanding work ethic, reputation and cost-effective approach. In other words, T & G will provide us with professional service and help us save money.
We have also decided to change our financial institution to Colonial Bank. Our current institution has been charging us unnecessary monthly bank fees. Colonial Bank waives these fees and will provide the homeowner with the ability to use a major credit card to make monthly HOA payments, should they choose to.
We are in the process of interviewing several law firms to represent Cantamar Homeowners' Association. With changing times in the real estate market, unfortunately there are several circumstances that call for us to have to use a law firm -- for instance, foreclosures, collections and delinquencies. When these circumstances arise, the association hands over the case to our law firm. The law firm then charges us for handling the issue (thus we are out-of-pocket not only the HOA dues, but back-charged legal fees). Our current law firm charges us directly and then we try to collect from the homeowner. These fees. over time, can add up, until they are collected from the homeowner in question (and that is if we ever end up actually collecting). The law firms we are currently interviewing charge the actual homeowner and not us. This will save us a considerable amount in legal fees.
We have requested that our new property management company rebid all of our current contracts of services for our community. This will allow for competitive pricing without compromising service.
We attended the last Cutler Bay Planning and Zoning Work Shop on Wednesday, March 12, 2008. This is where the homeowner with a pending litigation with the HOA presented his case to the panel in order to obtain a variance (thus lift the stop-work order issued) for building a structure that the approved permits did not included. The next hearing will be at the Town of Cutler Bay Council Meeting on Wednesday, April 16, at 7 PM. The meeting will be held at the South Dade Regional Library, 10750 S.W. 211 Street, 2nd Floor. All are welcome to attend and voice their concerns.
Last, but not least, our Homeowners' Association dues will not be increasing.

As always we welcome suggestions, comments, or concerns. You can email your Board at: board@cantamarhoa.org.

Actions of the ACC Committee

1) Guidelines: The ACC has completed Deed Restriction Guidelines and Clarifications. They are currently with our attorney for approval and will be distributed to Homeowners soon.

2) Paint: Adrian Lopez of the ACC met with Sherwin Williams Paint. They prepared a color palette matching our existing colors with sample swatches. They also worked out a significant discount for Cantamar Homeowners. Sherwin Williams is located at 19720 S Dixie Hwy, Cutler Bay. Find out more about paints available and pricing.