W H A T ' S  N E W

October 2006

President´s Corner // Evening of Jazz // New Security Director // Holiday Illumination

Heart Association Walk // PHA Projects´Update // New AVI System

Vandalism & Graffitti

President's Corner

This past year has been one of many challenges and opportunities. Thanks to the help of many community leaders who served on your PHA Board and the many PHA Committees, we have successfully tackled the challenges and have exploited the opportunities to enhance the community's lifestyle and quality of life. In this regard we are investing wisely but aggressively to improve your surroundings and the services PHA provides you. Foremost among these is to improve security, provide adequate community facilities and improve community amenities.

For years now the community has continuously expressed its need for adequate common recreational facilities consistent with the pace of development of the Palmas community. We have undertaken several initiatives oriented toward satisfying this community need. These initiatives include adopting a conceptual Open Space and Parks Master Plan produced by Palmas del Mar Properties, Inc. to enhance certain areas within the community to provide for such opportunities. As part of this particular effort we have cleaned and refurbished the beach areas in the Surfside and Shell Castle areas, refurbished the pond between Harbourlights and Port Road, installed playground equipment at the Villa Franca center, cleaned canals and have prepared green areas for use as passive parks. Also PHA is working with the new developers of Punta Candelero to insure beach access, as required by law, remains available to the Palmas community in the years to come.

With the collaboration of Mr. Joaquin Soler, Palmanova Developer, another initiative undertaken by the PHA has been the acquisition of a 1.3 acre parcel behind the Tennis Center for the creation of a recreational park for the entire community. This effort has come out of the frustration with the pace of development of promised community parks such as the Candelero Park. In that specific case PHA had no recourse but serve a lawsuit to have the responsible parties make good on their commitment to provide the community with a park with ad-equate recreational facilities. parking for autos and golf carts and access to the beach.

I invite you to stay abreast of these issues, programs and initiatives by reviewing the minutes of PHA Delegates and PHA Board meetings posted at PHA's website www.palmaspha.com or by calling the PHA at 787-285-6425. Thank you for your steadfast support.

Luis R. Lomba, President

Evening of Jazz

PHA invites you to enjoy a tremendous evening of Jazz at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel & Casino in Palmas del Mar. This community event is scheduled for November 12, 2006 beginning at 6:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. and features continuous music with the famous Don Baaska Quartet (Piano, Word Upright Bass, Drums and Valli Scavelli on Vocals) and the Roy Perez Latin Jazz Group (Piano, Trumpet, Sax, Bass, Drums, Congas and Vocals). The evening includes a dinner buffet and the ticket price for the entire affair is only $35.00 (cash bar). Tickets are available in advance or at the door.

This is a collaborative effort between PHA, the Four Points Sheraton and the Palmas Academy. The proceeds from this event will go to the Palmas Academy for the school expansion program. Please, don't miss this great evening of fun and enjoyment with your neighbors.

New Security Director

PHA is pleased to announce the hiring of Luis López Lebrón as the new PHA Security Director. Mr. López Lebrón retired last year from the Puerto Rico Police as a Police Colonel.

Prior to his retirement he was the Deputy Police Superintendent in charge of all police community relations programs. He also served as Police District Commander and Police Area Commander in Carolina and Humacao. Colonel López brings with him vast experience across the spectrum of security, investigations and community programs. Among his primary tasks he will be focusing on the integration of individual community programs to enhance overall Palmas security and upgrading Palmas security services, personnel and procedures. You may reach Mr. López it 787-852-7730.

Holiday Illumination

PHA will be doing a special Christmas Holidays decoration of the Main Entrance and of the Candelero intersection. Lights will go on Thanksgiving evening. We invite all residential areas to get into the Christmas Spirit by decorating the main entrance to their complexes. Decorations should be in good taste and follow a creative theme incorporating nature with artificial decorations and illumination. This year PHA will select the best three decorated entrances and will present a recognition plaque to those residential areas at the Annual PHA Christmas Parranda to be held on December 15, 2006 - mark the date!

Heart Association Walk

The American Heart Association will be conducting a "Walk for Your Heart" event in Palmas del Mar on November 12, 2006. This event will be held at Punta Candelero from 12 noon to 5:30 p.m. and includes Health Clinics, Information Booths, Music and Artistic shows. At approximately 3:30 p.m., the three-mile walk will commence at Candelero Point, up Candelero Drive to Palmas Drive, down Country Club Drive to the Country Club Circle and return to Candelero Point via same route.

For more information, contact Edgardo Rivera at 787-766-7140.

PHA Projects Update

•The PHA Building is 41% complete, on schedule and within budget. The new building is located behind the existing trailer temporary facilities near the service entrance to Palmas.

•923 Service Entrance expansion and new guard-house is nearly complete. The new service gate will have five (5) lanes with the same access control system and AVI system installed at the main gate. This is a joint PHA/PDMPI project.

•The Artificial Reef Project study and design phases are complete. PHA is now working on developing construction costs and initiating the permit process. Initial estimates place the cost of this project at approximately $6 million. A cost-sharing and financial plan is being developed and envisions the participation of the Government, Palmas Developers and Palmas Homeowners.

•PHA has completed the clean up and refurbishment of the beach areas in Surfside and Shell Castle. We invite you to enjoy these areas. Please obey the posted signs and help us keep the beach clean by using the newly installed trash receptacles.

New AVI System

A new access control system has been installed at the main entrance to Palmas del Mar and will soon be installed at the service entrance to our community. This new system consists of special security cameras, monitoring and recording systems and a new automatic vehicle identification (AVI) system. You will be able to continue to use your old AVI card for another two months as we transition to the new system. During that time, both new and old systems will continue to function in the same manner as in the past. By the end of December 2006 only the new AVI system will remain operational.

We would like for you to stop at the PHA office between now and December 15, 2006 to obtain your new AVI cards. The new AVI cards, different from the old AVI system, consist of a decal strip to be placed permanently in the windshield of your automobile. New strict access control procedures have been implemented with the installation of the new access control system. Only vehicles with AVI cards will be allowed to use the fly by lanes appropriately marked for this purpose. All other vehicles must use the lanes closest to the gate house for appropriate identification or registration as necessary.

Vandalism & Grafitti

PHA Security and the Puerto Rico Police are in close pursuit of a group of youngsters in our community that have proclaimed themselves as the Palmas del Mar Gang (PDMG). This group is responsible for the wave of graffiti seen at Palmas over the past year, including vandalism of community facilities and the destruction of private property. Some of these youngsters have been identified to Palmas and police authorities. Once arrested they will be prosecuted to the maximum extent of the law. At minimum, ordinances call for $10,000 fines and mandatory 90 day jail terms.
Parents should be acutely aware of the consequences these youngsters face if apprehended. Graffiti signatures are easy to recognize and to match with the owners. Parents who suspect their children might be involved in this type of delinquent activity should contact the PHA Security Director at 787-852-7730 for advice and guidance.