The Election of Officers for 2018 was called to order by President George Guerra at 7:32 p.m. on Thursday, February 15, 2018 in the card room of the Presidential Condominium.

President Guerra congratulated his team of Directors from 2017 for winning reelection to the 2018 Board. He also thanked the board for its confidence in his leadership, and proceeded to open the Election for Officers in 2018, handing out a one-page ballot that listed the 7 unit owners elected to the board and the four open seats for President, Vice President, Treasurer and Recording Secretary.

He reminded the board that by State Law he could not be a candidate for President in 2018 since he had already served as President in 2017 and 2016.

When asked by members if he would be interested in running for another position, such as Treasurer, since he had such a broad knowledge of the budget and other workings of the association, he declined saying he needed a break after a very stressful two years putting the association on an even keel, stopping short-term rentals and securing the building with security guards and surveillance cameras. He also commended the directors for their solid backing and said that he sees improvements continuing in 2018.

Nominations began with the post for President. Linda Ringler was nominated for President and accepted, Jeff Locke was nominated for Vice President and accepted, Miguel Remon was nominated for Treasurer and accepted, John Harvey was nominated for Recording Secretary and accepted.

Board members then voted by secret ballot for the four Constitutional Officers. President Guerra collected the 7 ballots and asked a unit owner in the room, John Zinn, to count the ballots and submit the counted ballots to the board.

The four board members who were nominated were elected. The officers for 2018 are Linda Ringler, President, Jeff Locke, Vice President, Miguel Remon, Treasurer and John Harvey, Recording Secretary.

On Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, a duly scheduled legal meeting of the Board of Directors was held to consider and adapt the latest fiscal budget. Votes for a budget with “No Reserves”, 19; Votes for a budget with reserves 54.

Based on the number of votes received, the Board of Directors accepted the votes and voted for a 2018 fiscal year budget with reserves. The new 218 monthly maintenance fees are effective Jan. 1, 2018. The new few is the same as the fee for 2017 with no increase: $372 for one-bedroom units; $362 for deluxe studio units; and $349 for studio units. The new 2018 monthly maintenance fees are effective Jan. 1, 2018. Please remember that maintenance payments are due the 1st. of each month and a late payment of $25 will be assessed for any unit that fails to pay its monthly maintenance fees by the 10th. of each month.

On Feb. 8, 2018, the annual meeting and elections for the Presidential will be held at 7:00 p.m. in the card room for the purpose of electing seven (7) directors and two (2) trustees and such other business as may be lawfully conducted.

Any unit owner who wishes to be a candidate for the board of directors/trustee of the Association must indicate his/her intention in writing. All such writing must be directed to Mr. John Harvey, the Secretary of the Assn. and delivered to the Assn. office no later than Dec. 29, 2017 at 12:00 noon. Candidates must be in good standing regarding monetary obligations with the Assn. Candidates may also submit a one page info sheet providing his/her name and personal qualifications no later than Jan. 4, 2018 at 12:00 noon in order to be included in the election package mailing that will be sent from the Main Office on or before Jan. 24, 2018.

Written responses of candidates should be directed to the Secretary of the Association at the following address:

Mr. John Harvey, Board of Directors Secretary, The Presidential Condominium Owners Association, 401 Ocean Drive, #200, Miami Beach, Florida 33139.

On Dec. 1, 2017, President George Guerra sent an information packet including a budget ballot for 2018, notice of annual meeting and elections to all unit owners.

Unit owners should return their budget ballot, marking with or without reserves to the Main Office on or before Dec. 21, 2017. Monthly maintenance fees would remain the same as this year for a 2018 budget with reserves. Under Florida State Law, unit owners must vote every year whether to have a budget with reserves or a budget without reserves. Funds in a reserve account can only be used to paint the building, put on a new roof and pave the parking lot. Look at your recent Presidential packet for details on the budget with and without reserves.

The annual budget meeting on Dec. 21, 2017 will include a counting of the ballots for the 2018 budget with reserves and without reserves and will consider and adapt the 2018 fiscal year budget.

We need your help ASAP! We are assessing damages to the building following the wrath of Hurricane Irma. Please notify the office, ASAP, if you have any damages to your unit caused by the hurricane. Please submit, email if you can, photos showing damages and possible mold. Thank you for working with us on this important issue. We look forward to your information, especially any photos showing the damage.

June 2017 is Bike Rack Spring Cleaning Month at the Presidential. If you own an old bike that is attached to the bike rack but does not appear to be in use anymore, we will be removing it and trashing it by June 15, 2017.

Bikes that have flat tires, missing parts and excessive rust are an eyesore – and a sure sign that they have not been used in a while. This annual spring bike cleanup will help keep our building tidy. Thanks for removing any old bikes that are no longer in use.

To keep your bike off the endangered cycle list now and in the future get an official Presidential Bike Sticker from the office. It’s available to any owner or renter, and it’s FREE. These stickers will help us to find you in the event we need to make any changes to the bike rack in the future. You can email – info@PresidentialSouthBeach.com or call 305-673-4965 to make an arrangement for a sticker.

Recently, AT&T approached the Board of Directors about updating their equipment in 401 and installing Fiber-Optic cables at no cost to the Presidential. To implement this upgrade, AT&T needs access to all of the units. The Board of Directors is in favor of this upgrade. Any unit owner who opts out of the upgrade to Fiber-Optic will be financially responsible to have AT&T set-up Fiber-Optic at a later time. AT&T will begin the upgrade on June 1, 2017, starting on the second floor and working their way up to the eleventh floor. Please contact Monica in the office to set up an appointment for entry into your unit or to opt out of the AT&T upgrade, advises Jeff Locke, Vice President of the Board of Directors

By an overwhelming number of votes, members of the Presidential Condominium Association on Thursday evening, February 9, 2017, voted in favor of all seven of the directors from the 2016 Board of Directors to continue running  the association in 2017.

Some nine unit owners ran for office. Here is the official vote count and place per candidate: Jose Calderon 103 votes (2nd place); Athan Castiglia 91 votes (7th place); George Guerra 99 votes (3rd place); John Harvey 95 (6th place); Joseph Iacono 21 votes (Did Not Place); Anouck Jourdaa 105 votes (1st place); Jeffrey Locke 96 votes (5th place); Miguel Remon 97 votes (4th place); James Rogers 24 votes (Did Not Place).

The new board is meeting Thursday, February 16, 2017,  at 7:30 p.m. in the Card Room to elect officers for 2017.

To improve the looks of the building and the 4th street parking garage entrance, to keep it clean, tidy and free of illegal dumping,The Presidential Board of Directors recently moved the RECYCLE DUMPSTER to the trash room on the west side (front) of the building. The board will also be placing smaller BLUE recycle bins throughout the lower garage area for use after hours when the room to the larger recycle container is closed. The larger container will be available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Please remember to break down all cardboard boxes before dropping them into this bin and do not include any garbage in your deposits. ILLEGAL DUMPING HERE IS AGAINST THE LAW Anyone dumping anything here will be fined!

Life Safety Plan: Mr. John Ward from SLS Engineering is currently working on the Life Safety Plan. Once we know more of what is required to complete and get City of Miami Beach approval, we will let the owners know. Restrictions (PETS): As a reminder due to the amount of DOGS observed in our building with persons whom should not have them, please refer to our condo doc’s 12.3 and Florida and Government laws pertaining to Service Animals and ESA’s. If you have any questions on the topic, please contact the Association office. Short-Term Rentals: Short Term Renting at the Presidential Condominium is not permitted and is illegal. We are not a Hotel, Motel or a Time Share, we are a Residential Building.

The Association has identified over TWENTY (20) unit owners that appear to be participating in short term renting. On August 15, 2016, the first group of PRE-ARBITRATION DEMAND letters were sent out by our Association attorney. We are currently working on the final group and the road map to ARBITRATION for those whom fail to comply with our governing documents and City of Miami Beach laws.

We are currently working with the City of Miami Beach Commissioner Michael Greico and our attorney Keith Backer to address the on-going short term rental in the building.

On September 14, 2016, At a scheduled City of Miami Beach Commissions meeting, the first seating of SHORT TERM FINES and CONDO APPROVAL PRIOR TO A BTR for our ZONE will be heard.

IF YOU ARE A SHORT TERM RENTAL OWNER…. STOP YOUR ILLEGAL AND UNSAFE ACTIONS IMMEDIATELY. Furthermore, the unit owners involved in the illegal short term rental business at the Presidential Condominium are causing a security breech to the building, un-necessary wear and tear to our common area, extra work on our maintenance and cleaning personnel, additional costs for trash pick-up, excess water usage and just a total disregard for our governing documents and rules and regulations for their personal monetary gain.

Residential Use: Owners please be familiar with our governing documents 12.1 when it come to the residential use of your unit. Also, please be advise that other Dade County Housing rules may apply to the amount of people/guests that your unit can occupy by the square footage of your unit.

Trash too Big for your BIN: Drop it off at one of Miami Beach’s bulk drop sites during wasteful weekends, which take place the first weekend of every month from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. at 500 block of Jefferson Avenue (east side of the street) or 75^th Street and Dickens Avenue. Please see the flyer below for information, dates and requirements.