WHAT THE HECK IS THE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION ANYWAY?

It never ceases to amaze me and our Community Association volunteer leaders that many residents, new and old, continue to wonder and ask, "What is the purpose of the Community Association and what does it do?"

Boca Pointe Community Association, Inc. (BPCA) is the master or umbrella association that governs and maintains the business affairs and property that contribute to the overall ambience and property values of Boca Pointe. Simply stated, the purpose of the Association is to protect and enhance the property values of our community.

It is the entity responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the road right of ways and medians on Powerline Road and Southwest 18th Street, as well as the roadways, street lighting, gatehouse operations and landscaping outside the grounds of the individual villages and not part of the Club facilities. We also operate the access control systems and oversee the roving patrol operation.

Boca Pointe is just over 1000 acres, consisting of 29 villages, the Club at Boca Pointe, the commercial area of the Boardwalk at 18th (formerly known as Wharfside Shopping Village), the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and B'nai Torah Synagogue. The community was master planned by Markborough Properties, a division of The Hudson Bay Company of Canada, and development started in 1981 by selling tracts of property to residential builders who developed the individual villages of Boca Pointe.

There are 3527 homes within the various villages, plus the assisted life care facilities of Stratford Court managed by Sunrise Senior Living and Edgewater Pointe Estates managed by ACTS Retirement-Life Communities. Both of these retirement residences are an integral part of the overall community and contribute substantial monthly assessments.

Each village is governed by its own village association board of directors and has its own set of governing documents. A few of our villages are "self-managed" by their boards of directors, others hire professional property management companies. BPCA is governed by a fifteen (15) member Board of Directors, who are residents elected by the voting members (who are the presidents of the different villages in Boca Pointe). This representative form of governance insures that the interests of all residents and all areas of our community have an equal voice.

The Board of Directors is given its power through the community documents, which include the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions, the Articles of Incorporation, and the By Laws. Since the Board cannot address every issue of interest to the residents of Boca Pointe, it has established committees to assist in the management of various responsibilities or carry out specific tasks as assigned. Each committee consists of a management staff member, board member(s), and resident volunteers. The standing committees include: Budget and Finance, Newspaper ("Viewpointe of Boca Pointe"), Architectural Control/Site, Access Control/Safety, and Governance. We also have an informal Council of Villages that includes the directors of all village associations.

The Community Association is a not for profit association with an annual budget in excess of five million dollars. The majority of our income is collected through assessments charged our residents and the two assisted life care facilities. The assessment amount charged per residence varies depending on which restricted area of Boca Pointe the residence is located, as expenses are allocated based on what services are utilized. Residents do not pay assessments directly to BPCA; our assessments are collected by the village associations as part of their monthly billings.

The Club at Boca Pointe is a separate entity from the Community Association with its own Board of Governors, management and employees. Although separate organizations, the management and staff of both work closely together in order to maintain the landscaped beauty and lifestyle for which Boca Pointe has become renown.

Every homeowner is a member of the Boca Pointe Community Association. Membership is automatic and mandatory if you own property within Boca Pointe. As a member of the Association, you have a responsibility to yourself and your neighbors to understand the guidelines and structure under which the Association operates, to be cognizant of the impact your actions have on your neighbors, as well as report any problems or concerns you may have regarding your community.

We must all work together to maintain and ultimately enhance the quality of life at Boca Pointe. If you have any questions or comments, please contact me via email at info@bocapointe.com.