West Villages Improvement District

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Saturday, December 3, 2016

From Herald Tribune: In surprise move, state OKs two Venice hospitals

Great news for the West Villages! Choice is a good thing.

From http://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20161202/in-surprise-move-state-oks-two-venice-hospitals

Competing proposals from Venice Regional Bayfront Health and Sarasota Memorial Hospital are approved.

By Barbara Peters Smith
Staff WriterFridayPosted Dec 2, 2016 at 9:48 AMUpdated Dec 2, 2016 at 5:52 PM
SARASOTA COUNTY — In an unexpected twist, state regulators on Friday gave a green light to competing bids to build two new hospitals in Venice, just one exit apart on Interstate 75.

Venice Regional Bayfront Health and Sarasota Memorial Hospital sought permission to develop large health care campuses on parcels of more than 60 acres east of downtown Venice. The two longtime health care providers' battle for the South County patient base goes back to at least October 2012, when Sarasota Memorial first moved to operate an urgent care center on the U.S. 41 Bypass.
If both facilities are built, south Sarasota County residents will enjoy an unprecedented choice between two state-of-the-art facilities — along with new access to maternity care and a community medical clinic for low-income patients at the Sarasota Memorial site. The presence of both hospitals could, in turn, prove a magnet that draws even more retirees to the area.
The total number of proposed patient beds — 210 for Venice Regional and 110 for Sarasota Memorial — comes close to the 312 now licensed at the 65-year-old hospital on Venice Island. State regulators may have concluded that this lack of a jump in the bed count justifies the close proximity of both providers.
But with the stakes high for dominance in a health care market where the population of Medicare recipients is projected to grow by 25 percent in the next 10 years, Friday's double approval is not necessarily the final word.
Any existing hospital in the area may challenge the state's decision in the next 21 days. A statement Friday from Venice Regional suggested that this privately owned hometown hospital could continue to resist incursion from the larger, nonprofit and public Sarasota Memorial.
Each argued vigorously against the other's proposal in statements filed with the Florida Agency for Health Care administration, the agency that approved both hospitals' applications. Venice Regional's sister facility, Bayfront Health Port Charlotte, also filed in opposition to Sarasota Memorial's plan. And both new campuses were deemed unnecessary by two HCA hospitals to the south, Englewood Community Hospital and Fawcett Memorial Hospital.
Venice leaders welcomed the state's decision with jubilation.

"They found a way to make it a win-win-win situation," said Mayor John Holic. "We're going to have 300 beds just like we had before, provided neither hospital contests it. Plus we’ll have two new buildings, plus we’ll have a choice."
Holic pointed out that north Sarasota County is served by Sarasota Memorial and Doctor's Hospital of Sarasota, adding that "there's no reason why it can't happen here."
Venice City Council member Rich Cautero agreed, saying his constituents welcomed the potential for competition to improve health care quality while keeping a lid on costs.
"From what I'm hearing, they seem to be very supportive of having two hospitals," Cautero said. "The city has experienced robust growth and that’s expected to continue; there’s certainly enough here to support them both."
A long-running feud
In recent years Venice Regional has been losing patients and doctors to Sarasota Memorial, a trend accelerated after state regulators cited 13 safety and health violations stemming from a large sewage leak in July 2015. Two months later, an overflowing toilet forced an evacuation.
But last summer the state rejected Sarasota Memorial’s initial bid to build a Venice hospital on land it purchased more than 10 years ago, near the Laurel Road exit on I-75, saying the region has too many empty hospital beds already. With its second attempt, the hospital offered to transfer 90 existing licensed beds from its Sarasota location to Venice.
Venice Regional’s proposal also drastically reduces its bed count, from 312 at its existing building to 210. The hospital's parent company has a purchase agreement for 63 acres just southeast of the intersection of Jacaranda Boulevard and East Venice Avenue.
The state agency does not comment on its decisions to license or deny new hospital construction. But its report released Friday indicated acceptance of both hospitals' arguments that demand from Medicare patients in this area will soon outstrip the existing supply of usable beds.
"Current and likely future levels of utilization are better indicators of need than bed-to-population ratios and similar measures," says the analysis by the state's consultant, Bianca Eugene.
Eugene acknowledged Sarasota Memorial's arguments that driving to its main campus poses a hardship for Venice's predominantly older population, that adding additional capacity on that campus is not an option, and that the South County population has an existing and future need for labor and delivery services.
Her report also highlighted Venice Regional's point that its building requires some $65 million in repairs — money that would be better spent on a new facility — and that the hospital's performance quality measures would improve with "the ability to focus on hospital operations in a contemporary standard of care."
Sarasota Memorial CEO David Verinder said he believed his hospital's offer to shift 90 beds from its main campus to the south helped state regulators solve a "math problem." With Venice Regional also giving up more than 100 beds, he pointed out, the countywide total will actually drop — a reflection that more medical care increasingly happens outside the hospital.
Verinder did not indicate any plans to oppose the state's go-ahead for Venice Regional's new building.
"We’ll go through our analysis on it," he said. "But our initial read is that we think there’s room for two hospitals in Venice. We’ve always believed that, and it doesn’t change our position now."
Approval for both projects, he added, "gives patients a choice based on cost and quality, and we think we’ll do very well on that."
Two hospitals by 2020?
If the state's decision stands, Verinder said, Sarasota Memorial's next step will be designing a hospital in consultation with community members and the medical staff. Construction could start "possibly 12 months from now. I think it would be great if we could open in three years. But this is an asset that’s going to be around for 50-plus years, we hope, so we're going to go about this carefully."
Earlier Friday, Verinder said in a statement addressing North Port city leaders' concerns about the lack of a hospital there that Sarasota Memorial remains "committed to investing in medical services in North Port and continuing to attract physicians to the area, with the goal of opening a hospital there as well. We believe that the establishment of the Laurel Road facility will greatly help in the recruitment of medical staff throughout South County."
Venice Regional also issued a statement thanking Venice residents for their support, but hinting that it may challenge the ruling on Sarasota Memorial.
"We remain concerned about the decision to approve an additional hospital on Laurel Road," the statement said. "We are carefully reviewing the details of the decision now and will explore all of the appeal opportunities available to us."
CEO John McLain said he hopes that Venice Regional can welcome patients in the new location by January 2020.
"In my head I felt like it was obvious we would be approved because of the age of our facility and our need to replace it," he said.
Regarding the potential for a rival hospital just up the interstate, McLain explained that he has reservations about a possible "duplication of services and the excess of beds. It's important at this point to review AHCA’s decision and then decide what’s the right course for us."
Still, he noted, "We both win today. Most importantly, the community of Venice wins."

The plans at a glance

Sarasota Memorial HospitalLocation: Southwest corner of Laurel Road and Interstate 75Estimated cost: $200-250 million, excluding landBed count: 80 for acute care, 10 for maternity, 20 for observationEmergency treatment rooms: 25Surgical suites: Four for general surgery, one for cesarean sectionsNew services: Labor and delivery care, community medical clinic, funding to enhance local transportation options for patientsArgument: Sarasota Memorial's application stressed that its new Venice campus will treat more low-income patients than the private Venice Regional; that it offers maternity care, which is not available in Venice; that a community health clinic would be part of the project; and that Sarasota Memorial's "proven existing quality ratings" would provide a "high quality local market alternative."
Venice Regional Bayfront HealthLocation: Jacaranda Boulevard and East Venice AvenueEstimated cost: $212 million, including landBed count: 210Emergency treatment rooms: 28Surgical suites: 15 for general surgery, two for endoscopy, two for open-heart surgeryNew services: Same complement of services as existing hospitalArgument: Venice Regional CEO John McLain contended that the Jacaranda site is more accessible for Venice residents; that his company pays taxes that the community needs and requires less state Medicaid funding than Sarasota Memorial would; that Sarasota Memorial's proposal would result in a duplication of services and the region does not need maternity care; and that comparisons with Venice Regional's quality of care are based on outdated data.

Link to article and photos here.

Ali H. Johnston, MHA, MBA in Real Estate

Realtor®, Lic. Broker #BK3284964

West Villages Realty LLC

Mobile: 941-460-3179

www.WestVillagesRealty.com

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

West Villages: Traffic light at IslandWalk and Gran Paradiso

Just received notice from Staff at Rep Julio Gonzalez' office that FDOT has approved moving forward with installation of a traffic light at the community entrances.

Email from Amy Miller copied below:

Good morning, All.

I just received this email from FDOT this morning. They have chosen to do a traffic light. Your developers are responsible for the cost and construction of the light per their contract with Sarasota County. FDOT is notifying the developers and the HOA’s. I am pasting the body of the email I received from FDOT for you below.

"Amy,

We completed our analysis of the intersection of US 41 and Corradino Boulevard/Galleria Boulevard. Based on the current conditions and need, we will approve the installation of a traffic signal by the developer in accordance with the development agreement with Sarasota County. The Department will be notifying the developer, in writing of our decision.

We will continue to evaluate the remainder of the US 41 corridor for planned developments in the vicinity. The evaluations will include identification of median opening treatments, and type of traffic control (traffic signal or roundabouts) as appropriate. We will evaluate this location and other locations along the corridor in the future as part of these evaluations as development in the area continues.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

-Zac"

Warm Regards,

Amy

Amy L. Miller

District Executive Secretary

Representative Julio Gonzalez

333 Tamiami Trail South #284

Venice, FL 34285

Phone 941-480-3560

Fax 941-480-3562

Ali H. Johnston, MHA, MBA in Real Estate

Realtor®, Lic. Broker #BK3284964

West Villages Realty LLC

Mobile: 941-460-3179

www.WestVillagesRealty.com

Monday, November 28, 2016

Renaissance at the West Villages

The time has finally come! The much anticipated release of the first home plans for Renaissance at the West Villages has happened. Plans, homesites, and pricing information are now available for the newest West Villages district community, located at the northeast corner of US41 and West Villages parkway.

Mattamy is making available both paired villas and estate size homes, which they call their "Executive" category. Model homes are expected to be ready in February or March of next year.

Unique to this community for the area is the variety of elevation styles that will provide a great diversity in the aesthetic of this mid-size neighborhood with grand plans for amenities!

Please, contact me for pricing, available spec homes, or with any additional questions you may have.

Thanks,

Ali

Ali H. Johnston, MHA, MBA in Real Estate

Realtor®, Lic. Broker #BK3284964

West Villages Realty LLC

Mobile: 941-460-3179

www.WestVillagesRealty.com

www.WestVillagesRealty.com

Saturday, November 26, 2016

WEST VILLAGES IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT: next supervisory board meeting

Sarasota Herald-Tribune
11/25/2016
Miscellaneous Notices
WEST VILLAGES
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
NOTICE OF REGULAR BOARD MEETING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Supervisors of the West Villages Improvement District will hold a Regular Board Meeting on December 8th at 11am in a Meeting Room of the City of North Port located at 4970 City Hall Boulevard, North Port, Florida 34286.

The purpose of the Regular Board Meeting is to conduct any business properly coming before the Board. The meeting is open to the public and will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Florida law. A copy of the Agenda for this meeting may be obtained from the District's website or by contacting the District Manager at (561) 630-4922 and/or toll-free at
1-877-737-4922.

From time to time one or more Supervisors may participate by telephone; therefore, a speaker telephone will be present at the meeting location so that Supervisors may be fully informed of the discussions taking place. The Regular Board Meeting may be continued as found necessary to a time and date specified on the record.

If any person decides to appeal any decision made with respect to any matter considered at this Regular Board Meeting, such person will need a record of the proceedings and such person may need to insure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made at his or her own expense and which record includes the testimony and evidence on which the appeal is based.

In accordance with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations or an interpreter to participate at this meeting should contact the District Manager at (561) 630-4922 and/or toll free 1-877-737-4922 at least seven (7) days prior to the date of the meeting.

Meetings may be cancelled from time to time without advertised notice.

WEST VILLAGES IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT

www.westvillagesid.org

PUBLISH: SARASOTA HERALD TRIBUNE 11/25/16

Hope to see you there!
Thanks,
Ali

Ali H. Johnston, MHA, MBA in Real Estate

Realtor®, Lic. Broker #BK3284964

West Villages Realty LLC

Mobile: 941-460-3179

My West Villages Site

If you are considering purchasing a home in this community, I can assist you. My services and extensive resources are of no cost to you, and in most instances, I am even able to save home buyers money. I do not work for any of the wonderful builders/developers in the West Villages Improvement District, or any others for that matter. My services and information (including the resources provided on all of my websites) are wholly independent of these developers. No other independent professional is more knowledgeable about this community, and enlisting me to assist with your transaction can provide you with a wealth of information as well as saving you money. Please, check out my Venice area website, and contact me for more information.Look forward to hearing from you!

Thursday, November 17, 2016

West Villages: Oasis Construction Open to Bids

Sarasota Herald-Tribune
11/16/2016
Miscellaneous Notices
WEST VILLAGES
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR
OASIS (UNIT 4)

AND

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING TO OPEN RFP RESPONSES

West Villages Improvement District, the Owner, announces that Services will be required for the project listed below:

PROJECT: Request for Proposal for West Villages Improvement District Unit 4 - Oasis.

The contract for construction related services will consist of water, sewer, drainage, roadways, etc., as more specifically set forth in the Project Manual for the Oasis development.

The Project Manual will be available beginning Wednesday, November 16, 2016 at Stantec Consulting Services Inc., 6900 Professional Parkway East, Sarasota, FL 34240.

A mandatory pre-proposal conference will be held on this project on Wednesday, November 30, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. (EST) at the office of the Owner, 19503 S. West Villages Parkway, Suite 14A, Venice, FL 32493. The pre-proposal conference may include, but not be limited to, a discussion of contract requirements, inspections, evaluations, and submittal requirements and may involve a site visit to inspect existing conditions.

Ranking of proposers will be made on the basis of qualifications according to the Evaluation Criteria contained within the Project Manual. The successful proposer(s) will be required to execute a contract with the District and file the requisite Performance and Payment Bonds and Insurance within ten (10) calendar days after execution of the contract. The District has the right to reject any and all proposals, make modifications to the work, award the contract in whole or in part with or without cause to one or more proposers, provide for the delivery of the project in phases, and waive minor or technical irregularities in any proposal, as it deems appropriate; if it determines, at its sole discretion, such rejection is in the best interest of the District. Any proposer who wishes to protest the Project Manual or any component thereof, shall file with the District a written notice of protest within seventy-two (72) hours after receipt of the Project Manual, together with a protest bon
d in a form acceptable to the District and in the amount of $10,000, and shall file a formal written protest with the District within seven (7) calendar days after the date of timely filing the initial notice of protest. Filing will be perfected and deemed to have occurred upon receipt by the District Engineer. Failure to timely file a notice of protest or failure to timely file a formal written protest shall constitute a waiver of any right to object to or protest the contents of the Project Manual. The formal written protest shall state with particularity the facts and law upon which the protest is based. Any and all questions relative to this project shall be directed in writing only to Kris Wilhoit, Assistant District Engineer, via facsimile 941-907-6910 or e-mail at kris.wilhoit@stantec.com, no later than Friday, December 9, 2016 at 5:00 p.m.

Firms desiring to provide services for this project must submit five (5) bound copies of the required proposal section(s) no later than 10:00 a.m. on Friday, December 16, 2016 at the offices of Stantec, 6900 Professional Parkway East, Sarasota, FL 34240, Attention: Mike Kennedy, District Engineer. Additionally, as further described in the Project Manual, each proposer shall supply a bid bond or cashier's check in the sum equal to five percent (5%) of the total amount of the proposal. Proposals shall be submitted in a sealed package, shall bear the name of the proposer on the outside of the package, and shall identify the name of the project. Proposals will be opened at the time and date stipulated below; those received after the time and date stipulated above will be returned un-opened to the proposer. Any proposal not completed as specified or missing the required proposal documents may be disqualified.

Notice of Public Meeting
to Open RFP Responses

A meeting will be held on Friday, December 16, 2016, at the offices of Stantec, 6900 Professional Parkway East, Sarasota, FL 34240. No official action of the District's Board will be taken at this meeting, it is held for the limited purpose of opening the RFP responses. The meeting is open to the public and will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Florida law. This meeting may be continued to a date, time, and place to be specified on the record at the meeting. Any person requiring special accommodations at this meeting because of a disability or physical impairment should contact the District Engineer's Office at 941-907-6900 at least five calendar days prior to the meeting. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the Florida Relay Service at 1-800-955- 8770, for aid in contacting the District Engineer's Office.

Date of pub: November 16, 2016

Monday, November 14, 2016

West Villages Improvement District: Work on River Road

Just wanted to note that work on River Road has started. Last night, we were on our way back from visiting family for the day, and took I-75 to our 191 River Road exit. There were dozens of dump trucks lined up in three sections, half the road was blocked off with traffic cones, and tons of people that looked like they were either giving or receiving instructions and assignments.

I was a bit in awe of how organized it looked. I mean, this is road construction. No matter how organized it actually is, it never looks it. This was a sight to see. Eric said, "I have never been happy to run into road work, until now."

So...it starts. 👍

Ali H. Johnston, MHA, MBA in Real Estate

Lic. Broker #BK3284964, REALTOR®

West Villages Realty LLC

Office: 941-460-3179

Mobile: 941-539-5771

Email: WestVillagesRealty@gmail.com

[office hours by appointment]

19503 S West Villages Pkwy, #A2

Venice, FL 34293

www.WestVillagesRealty.com