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On T he Riviera“It’s Another Great Day in Riviera Bay!”

53rd YEAR • NOVEMBER / DECEMBER, 2013 ISSUE www.rbcanews.com

Happy Holidays in Riviera Bay!

Donna and I both hope that this holiday season

finds you and your family ready to give thanks and take some time to celebrate all of your blessings throughout the year. We’ve accomplished a lot in the last couple of months. We changed the life of one resident with our Carefest house painting, we had our Fall yard sale, we had a very successful meeting (75 people) all about changing flood insurance info, the city approved a plan to help us with storm water drainage and street flooding, we had our 1st Annual Riviera Bay Fishing Tournament and we broke ground for our new park off of 83rd Ave NE. Without a doubt, this park will be the most bestest thing to happen in our area in a long time.

I also want everybody to know that there are 2 separate holiday toy collection drives for Joshua

House and Toys for Tots starting soon, and that the Boy Scouts Riviera Bay Food Drive is on Sat, Nov 9th this year. (details inside)

Now I just hope that Donna and I can pull off a successful Thanksgiving dinner for you all and then I’ll be one happyerest camper. (details on flyer inside)

All that being said, the most important thing you need to do right now to preserve your way of life in this area is to write /email your Congress Members now about making some changes and/or delaying

the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act. (e-mail addresses in Flood Insurance Article)

Hopefully I’ll see ya at our Thanksgiving dinner and Happy Holidays,

Prez Dave

NEWSLETTER OF THE RIVIERA BAY CIVIC ASSOCIATION SINCE 1960

NEXT GENERAL MEETING THURS, DECEMBER 5thSt Pete Presbyterian Hall, 600 83rd Ave NE

(east of 4th St to church at corner of 83rd Ave & Macoma Drive)

Carefest “Gator” house after

Riviera Bay Fishing Tournament

Carefest “Gator” house before

Breaking ground for the new park

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Unless posted otherwise, all general meetings are held at St Pete Presbyterian Hall, 600 83rd Ave NE. Social starting at 6:30pm, meeting at 7pm.(East of 4th St to hall at corner of 83rd Ave NE & Macoma Dr NE)

November 9BOY SCOUTS FOOD DRIVE

November 21

THANkSgIVINg DINNERSee Flyer For Details

December 5

gENERAL MEETINg/PARTYSt Pete Presbyterian Church

December 24CANDLE LUMINARIES

& BOAT PARADE

POLICE & FIRE HERO PICNIC POSTPONED UNTIL NEW PARK OPENS

2013 RBCA EVENTS

The meeting was devoted entirely to Flood Insurance changes caused by the Biggert-Waters Act, and was

attended by 75 people. We had a Power Point presenta-tion and representative from the Pinellas County Prop-erty Appraisers office, a local Realtor, and a local Insur-ance company, with Q & A sessions after each speaker. (See articles in this issue)

RBCA October 17Meeting

by Prez Dave

Brief Recap

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Council Member Kennedy’s CornerThank you for the privilege to contribute to your November/December newsletter.

Rio Vista ParkThe City of St. Petersburg celebrated the ground breaking

of the new park at the former site of Rio Vista Elementary School on October 4, 2013. Many residents from the neigh-borhood came out to be a part of this momentous occasion, along with elected officials, members of the School Board, and Pinellas County Superintendent, Dr. Michael Grego. Construction of the park has commenced and is proceeding on schedule. There appears to be a strong preference in the name Riviera Bay Park. Please advise me of your opinions and thank you again for your support.

Stormwater Drainage VaultsThe Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street North Part 2 Storm

drainage Improvement project was approved by City Coun-cil on October 17. The construction cost is $5 ,959,060.60 and the contractor is Pospiech Contracting Inc. The construc-tion cost is jointly funded by the Southwest Florida Water Management District. The work includes upgrades to the Dr. MLK, Jr. Street storm drainage system from 83rd Avenue to 89th Avenue North by replacing 50 year old undersized pipes with new larger box culverts. These culverts are designed to reduce street flooding during storm events. The new cul-verts will also have underground vaults with a trash and de-

bris screening basket and sediment sump. These vaults will reduce the amount of sediment and floating debris carried into the 77th Avenue canal (Sawgrass canal), Riviera Bay and Tampa Bay. The work is expected to commence in mid January, 2014 and slated for completion one year later. Access to properties and one lane of traffic in each di-rection will be maintained during the work. For additional information, please contact Engineering/Construction at 727-893-7400.

Gandv Boulevard Overpass UpdateThe Gandy Boulevard overpass contract for 4th Street

North and Dr. MLK, Jr. Street North has been extended to November 15, 2013. The Florida Department of Transporta-tion is very optimistic all issues will be resolved prior to that date.

If l can be of assistance, please feel free to call me at 727-893-7117.

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WOW! What a difference we can make when we try.

We did our own “Extreme Make-over” to the exterior of a blue and orange “Gator” colored house for a cancer survivor and also cleaned up some landscaping for a resident that needed a little bit of help. As you can see from the house pictures, the change was dramatic. After some stucco, rain gutter, and porch re-pairs by Earl Gehringer, Larry & Connie Wysong cut down some big bushes and painted the whole house themselves. John, Barb, Joshua & Zach Frisco took out some big plants and a large shed in back. We also had help from 4 volunteers from the Shore Acres Rec

CAREFEST PROJECTSMany Thanks!

First I want to Thank the vol-unteers that showed up for

this year’s Neighborhood & Canal Clean-up, Carefest and Adopt-A-Mile projects. We have tried to improve and beautify the RBCA neighborhood by participating in these projects and once our new park is finished we will add an Adopt-A-Park Program. These can only be accomplished with neigh-borhood volunteers. We should add 4th Street to our Adopt a Mile clean-up since it is the entrance

into our neighborhood, but I need to know I can count on volunteers before taking on any more areas.

I know we are competing with other events from kid’s sports to city festivals, charity events, etc. but un-less we can get more neighborhood participation, we will have to can-cel or scale back on future projects like these. Please help us to help others in need and keep our neigh-borhood clean. These are great op-portunities to teach the next genera-tions the importance of keeping our neighborhood clean and helping

others in need. Please pick up any trash you see before it get’s washed into our canals, and don’t dispose of anything, including fruit, grass and cigarette butts into the canal.

I had to cancel the last 83rd Ave Adopt a Mile because I was the only one who showed up and I can not do it alone. If it weren’t for the crews from Avery Construction, Central Christian Church Band of Broth-ers and Shore Acre Rec Center, our Carefest projects wouldn’t have been able to be completed. The day of Carefest we had 8 people from the neighborhood and 17 from out-side the neighborhood.

Neighborhood Volunteersby Donna Hoover

Group who helped out at both locations. We also never could have finished the carport that day without a crew from Avery Construction who tore down and replaced all the lattice work out of their own pocket.

Future plantings will be donated and installed by 98th Ave residents Tom & Allison Musone, that always have great plants for sale during our yard sales.

We also want to Thank Toni Michalove, Jean Tyack and a team of 6 from the Cen-tral Christian Church Band of Brothers who helped Donna at the Carver project.

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Just a reminder that the Holy Fam-ily Boy Scout Troop #263 will be

around on November 9th for their Annual Food Drive pick-up. This is the 2nd year the RBCA has par-ticipated, so let’s do our best to help them beat last year’s donations.

Each year our family submits this reminder about collect-

ing toys for the children of Joshua House. In the 14 years that have passed I would like to again thank all the RBCA neighbors who have graciously donated over the years. Things have changed slightly at Joshua House; the state now plac-es older less adoptable children of Joshua House, children who are having a harder time getting placed in a permanent home. With the economic difficulty of our country more children are coming into the

14th AnnualToy Drive

By Debby Obst

system then are going out, there are not enough families out there to foster or adopt them. Florida ranks 3rd in the country with the number of children in foster care (19,100), 1,755 kids alone in Pinellas county with only 461 beds for them to be placed. Places like Joshua House are so needed. The goal at Joshua House is to give each child a few new items and clothes to make their holiday as special as it can be. We are asking RBCA neighbors to help by buying NEW games, sporting equipment, gift certificates (Target & Wal-Mart) and clothes for boys and girls ages 10-17 years old. Some of these teens leave straight from Joshua House and start living by themselves, on their own (called aging out in the system) so boxed

sets of plates, sheets, kitchen uten-sils and any household items are also appreciated. My heart breaks to think that these older children will be adults someday without a mom or dad to spend holidays and spe-cial occasions with but we can all make a difference now in their lives so please contribute.

These items can be dropped off anytime at 9399 Oak St NE between now and December 15th. If you have any questions you can call Debby or Lance at 727 578-9718 or 727 742-3043.

We hope this will be another awesome year for the Joshua House Toy Drive and we highly appreci-ate your kind support and very big hearts!!!

Annual Scouting Food DriveSat, Nov 9

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By Jimmy Shelton

I for one had a great time at the Zebco tournament. Only 20 entries but lots of people walking up and

saying they wish they would’ve done it .....oh well only had flyers up for two months. Actually some pretty nice fish were caught. Captain Nolan and his crew caught some nice reds, and Sarah Nolan took 1st and 2nd with her 12 1/2 inch snappers. His friend John took 1st place trout with a 21 7/8 incher, with Steve Brendla 2nd with a 17 5/8 fish. Kevin Stoft took floun-der with the only legal one entered. Yours truly took 1st and 2nd with a 27 5/8 and 27 1/4 inch mack and the overall biggest fish was a 37 3/4 inch bonnethead that Zach Barlowe caught on his spiderman zebco. Thanks

to Dan and Eric Gordon of the Sandbar and Grille for letting us set up there and thanks to Mitch’s Bait and Tackle on 4th St. & 83rd Ave for donating the nice star pole and reel and the other stuff too. Hopefully next year we’ll get a few more entries as I already have some good sponsors lined up

....fishin musician out.....

F i sh ing TournamenT resuLTs

1st Annual Riviera Bay

SPOTLIGHT ON Riviera Bay Business....

This column is to help promote the people that have business-es in the neighborhood. We highlight a business and invite

them to speak about their company for a couple minutes at our general meeting. Some pay for advertising and some we barter with donating door prizes.

Citrus Blossom Brand Scented Soy Candles is owned by Sandi Roper of Bay Street NE. Her

handcrafted candles contain the “yummiest” citrus and tropical scents that are energizing, refreshing, and uplifting. To ensure a quality product, each candle contains natural soy wax and the finest fragrances, along with a cotton core wick. The candles are hand-poured into bell-shaped glass containers in 27, 13 and

4 ounce sizes. Also, votives are available individually or in three-packs, and tealights are available in six-packs; both sets are packaged in mini citrus crates. Citrus Blossom Brand candles are perfect for special events, as gifts, or as a special indulgence for yourself.

For more product information go to www.citrusb-lossombrand.com/ Orders can be placed at info@cit-rusblossombrand.com or call 727-455-3539.

CITRUS BLOSSOM CANDLES

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Offering the Yummiest Citrus Scents

Sandi Roper727-455-3539

email: info@citrusblossombrand.comweb: www.citrusblossombrand.com

Free consultation and deliveryin the Riviera Bay area

Scented Soy CandlesCitrus Blossom Brand

Amy & Justin Greth of 259 98th Ave NE are hosting their 7th

annual Toys for Tots drive. Any-one that would like to donate can drop off a new unwrapped toy in the box on the front porch any eve-ning starting December 1st until 9 pm December 7th for the actual toy

drive event. Last year they collected 75

toys at this event and are hoping to break the record of 100 this year.

Please help make this year’s toy drive a booming success!! Any questions, please e-mail grethjc@gmail.com

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It’s that time of year again and we need a few volunteers for a couple of areas. Even if all you can do is store candles at your house for residents to stop by and pickup, or help the volunteers already assigned to your street.

As you can see below, some of our volunteers are handling very large areas. We would really like to split up some of the larger areas. This is a great way to meet your neighbors. Please call Jean Tyack (576-9300) to volunteer.

CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLE DISTRIBUTORS

1) Marc & Carrie Plotnick, 9001 Treasure Lane NE - 563-0599; 97th Ave NE, 1st Str NE & Oak Str NE1A) Nancy Haines 117 98th Ave NE 576-5659; 98th Ave N & NE2) NEED VOLUNTEER: Sun Isle Dr., NE and 96th Ave N3) Terri Hammer, 9200 Treasure Lane NE - 576-5257; Treasure Lane N, NE4) Debby, Lance & Crystal Obst, 9399 Oak Str N - 578-9718; 94th Ave N, Oak Street NE & 1st Str N off of 4th Street5) Dan & Sheryl Spencer, 9485 2nd Street N - 577- 6187; 2nd Street between 92nd & 97th Ave N and 93rd Ave N6) Karen Smith, 320 90th Ave N - 577-6717; 90th Ave NE6A) Kenny Turcotte, 9031 Bay Street NE - 579-4264; Bay Street & 1st Street between 89th & 92nd6B) Kim Triplette, 8965 3rd Street - 577-4117; 2nd Str & 3rd Str between 89th & 92nd Ave 6C) Sandy Mitchell, 200 90th Ave NE - 251-5054; 92nd Ave & Oak Street7) Mark & Julie O’Brien, 210 89th Ave N - 570-8114; 88th Ave NE & 89th Ave N, & Sunlit Cove Dr, 89th Ave NE & Bay Street between 89th & Sunlit Cove8) Sean & Lizz Singh, 134 80th Ave. NE - 540-8458; South of 83rd Ave NE including Riverside Dr NE & 80th Ave NE & area eastward to Rio Vista School area

9) Wayne & Ingrid Busselle - 215 Tallahassee Dr NE - 576-3656; Tallahassee Dr NE, 87th Ave NE, Riverside Dr NE, Orient Way NE between Tallahassee & 85th Ave NE10) Denise Spornraft - 641-8398 & Diane Croft 301 87th Ave N - 244-2712; North side 83rd, 84th Ave N, Diagonal Rd, Waverly Rd, 3rd Str N, Tobay & Riverside Dr N11) Mike & Mary Reed - 221 Freeport Ave NE - 576- 2144; Freeport Ave NE, 84th Ave NE between Orient Way NE & Riverside Dr N. Orient Way NE between 83rd & 85th Ave NE12) Dave & Bill, 954-7885; 87th Ave N & 85th Ave N13) Mike Clark, 241 82nd Ave. N. - 686-2316; 80th, 81st & 82nd Ave N between 4th Str & Riverside Dr N, Waverly Rd N, Riverside Dr N & 3rd Str N south of 83rd Ave N14) Don Steer - 201 87th Ave N - 578-2859 79th Ave N, 2nd Way N, 2nd & 3rd Street N15) Kathy Crow, 7919 2nd St N. - 578-7649; 78th Ave N & NE, 79th Ave NE, 1st Street NE

Please remember these people are all volunteers (your neighbors) and do not get any compensation for this. They are just helping to keep this long standing RBCA tradition going. You can also renew your RBCA Membership at this time. Some volunteers don’t like to ask, so ask them if you are interested in joining the RBCA or renewing your membership. They will also have membership cards available.

Jim Williams has agreed to lead our Christmas Eve Boat Parade this year. Again we would like to have

two categories of boats to take slightly different paths. Let’s start out with the larger boats which will turn around before the canals get narrow, then group the smaller boats to go all the way down the smaller canals

CHRISTMAS EVE BOAT PARADEto bring the parade to everyone ending with the Santa boat, that gives everyone in the homes time to come out and see Santa at the end. Everyone should meet at the boat ramp at 5:45 pm (dusk), monitor VHF Chanel 72. Rain date is Christmas night if you can make it.

You can contact Jim at jimmy.b.williams@gmail.com

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CHRISTMAS EVE LUMINARIESWe have been beautifying the area for close to

fifty years by decorating our streets and canals on Christmas Eve with the “farolitos” (little beacons). Christmas Eve is truly an impressive, almost spiritual, sight when entire streets are embraced in the soft can-dlelight. We always have great participation through-out the neighborhood. The candles are six (6) for $5.00 with bags. They should be equally placed along the street and canals and are lit Christmas Eve at dusk. The candles on the seawalls really help to guide the Christ-mas Eve Boat Parade also. In case of rain, they are lit on Christmas evening. If rained out both nights, our next rain date is New Years Eve. Please consider buying and displaying candles for residents that are unable to participate or who are out of town. This is also a great opportunity to renew your association membership for 2013.

Turn the top of the bag over three (3) times. Crease well to stiffen the bag. Fill 1/3 full with sand. Trim the wick if it’s long so the bag doesn’t catch on fire. Place bags on flat surface. Place candles straight up in the middle of the sand so a puddle of wax forms around the

wick. Also refrigerating the candles for a day before burning seems to make them burn longer.

The candles will be delivered to the homes of the distributors shortly after Thanksgiving. WE ARE AL-WAYS LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL VOLUN-TEERS TO HELP THOSE WITH LARGE AREAS TO COVER. The volunteers will be around to your homes and the candles will be available until Christmas Eve. If a distributor misses you in your area, please call one of the distributors and make arrangements to pick up the candles. Please remember, these are your neigh-bors delivering candles and all are volunteers willing to help your neighborhood. Please don’t give them a hard time. They don’t buy the candles nor set the prices, and don’t make a penny doing this. Please don’t wait till Christmas Eve as many of your distributors partici-pate in or set up to watch the Boat Parade. Let’s have a terrific Christmas Eve Luminary showing. We actually hear from people all over St. Petersburg that they look forward to seeing our display each year.

If you have any questions, please contact Jean Tyack 727-576-9300.

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By Kevin Hayes

Congress passed the Biggert Wa-ters Flood Insurance Reform

Act in July 2012. Key provisions of the legisla-

tion require the NFIP to raise rates to reflect true flood risk, make the program more financially stable, and change how Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) updates impact policyholders. Not every-one - only 20% of NFIP policies receive subsi-dies and an even smaller number will see immedi-ate changes. The proper-ties affected are identified as Pre-FIRM buildings constructed before ap-proximately December 31, 1974 and are located in Flood Zones A or V.

1. Owners of subsidized non-pri-mary residences in a Special Flood Hazard Area will see 25% increases annually until rates reflect true risk (began January 1, 2013).

2. Owners of subsidized property

FLOOD INSURANCE INFO – 3 Points Of Viewthat has experienced severe repeti-tive flood losses or that has incurred flood cumulative damage with flood insurance payments exceeding the value of the structure will see 25% rate increases annually until rates re-flect true risk, beginning late 2013.

3. Owners of subsidized business properties in a SFHA will see 25% rate increases annually until rates re-

flect true risk, beginning late 2013.4. Owners of substantially dam-

aged or substantially improved sub-sidized property will see 25% rate increases.

5. Owners of primary residences in SFHA’s will be able to keep their

subsidized rates unless or until they (1) sell the property (new rates will be charged to the next owner, if they insure; (2) allow the policy to lapse; (3) suffer severe, repeated flood losses; or (4) purchase a new policy (after July 6, 2012.)

Things that homeowners and business owners should do that might lower costs:

1. Talk to your insurance agent about your options. You will most likely need an elevation certificate to determine your correct rate. Higher deductibles and less contents coverage should lower your premi-um.

2. Consider remodeling or rebuilding – building or rebuilding higher will lower your risk and could reduce your premium. Consider adding vents to

your foundation or using break-away walls.

3. Talk with local officials about community-wide mitigation steps. A lower Community Rating System (CRS) rating could lower premiums for residents.

PINELLAS COUNTYPROPERTY APPRAISAL

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4. Please provide elevation certifi-cates and actual insurance quotes to the Property Appraisers Office.

REALTOR POINT OF VIEW

By Terri Hammer(RBCA Resident) – Charles Rutenberg Realty. www.TerriHam-mer.Listingbook.com

I’m a Realtor, specializing in home sales in our community. I verified

nearby waterfront home sales, ac-cording to MLS Realtor stats and found the Biggert-Waters Reform act has already had an effect. In Au-gust we had 9 sales, September 13 - mid way through October - ONE! From a Realtor and Riviera Bay home owner’s point of view here are a few suggestions you may find helpful:

1. Shop for better rates on the right policy. That one Oct. sale was right here in our neighborhood. The new owner received quotes of $6500 - $7500 for new Flood Ins. The experienced Realtor was able to refer the new owner to an agent who looked at the elevation cer-tificate, reviewed policy options, and was able to write a policy for $3800. Not exactly a steal... but much better than approaching eight grand.

2. You could pay off your mort-gage and self fund your flood ins policy. You still make monthly pay-ments, but you pay in to an invest-ment fund that you own, just like insurance companies do. Here in Florida, the risks have proven not to be so bad, if you look at the history. Florida policy holders paid over 16 BILLION DOLLARS in premi-ums, BUT, collected only about 4.5

BILLION DOLLARS in claim re-imbursements. That means we pay a lot of money to subsidize other parts of the US that actually collect our money for their damage repairs.

3. You could sell your home - head for higher ground! The news is not all bad. Interest rates are down and prices are up. A good Realtor can help you take the surprise out of the sale and that starts with getting an elevation certificate and shopping for the new owners Flood Insurance - in advance - no surprises. A good realtor will use special marketing ideas to get you the most money for your home. There are CASH BUY-ERS out there right now looking for a water front home in our neigh-borhood. The extremely high rates being expected of the beach front communities may just end up push-ing buyers in our direction.

(continued on next page)

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FLOOD INSURANCE INFO3 Points Of View (cont)

4. You could remodel your home, building it above the base flood elevation. If you make your home FEMA compliant, you will receive a new “Build Date” and be exempt from the new flood regula-tions. That’s what my husband Hal, and I did. We built on top of our ex-isting home, gained a lot of space and are paying only $600 yearly for our flood ins.

But most importantly: Get In-volved. Write to your Representa-tives in Congress.

We in Florida make up 40% of the National Flood Insurance policy holders and so we should have a very loud voice if we all start shout-ing. Write your Congress Members now:

www.flsenate.gov/Senators/Findwww.rubio.senate.gov/public/www.billnelson.senate.gov/contact/ legislation.cfmwww.house.gov/representatives/

Sign the Petition to Support Flood Insurance Reform:www.athometampabay.com/peti-tion-for-flood-insurance-reform/

INSURANCE COMPANY’S POINT OF VIEW

by Timothy F. Harrington, Sr., Principal Agent at Brightway Insurance – Harrington Agency, Palm Harbor,(RBCA Resident)www.BrightwayTampaBay.Com

This article is to try to assist with what we need to know about

the Flood Reform Act known as the Biggert-Waters Flood Reform

Act of 2012 (BW12). The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) was established by U.S. Congress in 1968 to provide Flood Insurance since flood damage is excluded by private Homeowner policies. Any home built after 1974 had to be built to the Flood Zone standards. In 1974, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) put together their official map of com-munities on which FEMA delin-eated the Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs), the Base Flood Elevations (BFEs), and the risk pre-mium zones applicable to the com-munities. Any homes built prior to 1974 (Pre-FIRM) are considered a building for which construction or substantial improvements occurred on or before December 31, 1974, or before the effective date of an initial Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM).

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Any homes built after 1974 are considered Post-FIRM building which is a building for which construction or substantial improvements occurred after December 31, 1974, or on or after the effective date of an initial Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM).

In the Riviera Bay area we are in a Special Flood Hazard Area that means most of the homes were con-structed before 1974 and before the first Flood Insur-ance Rate Maps. Most homes were built slab on grade and not elevated at the time and are in Zone A-9. The Biggert-Waters Flood Reform Act of 2012 (BW12) was passed July 6, 2012. The changes were implemented on October 1st, 2013. How does this affect you?

For Primary Residences the premiums will increase an average of 10% for the policies premium written or renewed on or after 10/1/13, plus Homeowners will see an added 5% reserve fund fee and a $4 increase on the federal policy fee. On Homes that are Non-Prima-ry Residences, Businesses and Severe Repetitive Loss Properties will see larger premium increases of 25% annually until their premiums are full-risk premiums. Subsidies will no longer be offered for policies cover-ing newly purchased properties, lapsed policies or new policies covering properties for the first time.

If you do not have a mortgage on your home you do not have to carry flood insurance but at a time of loss you would have the entire expense. If you do have a mortgage, most likely you have flood insurance. What has been advised to us from the Flood Representatives is to advise our customers to be sure that their premium payments are paid on time and that the policy does not lapse. If there is a lapse in the insurance you would then be considered under the new guidelines and would be paying the much higher rates instead of the increases each year. We have been advised that with the demand of approximately 52,000 Pre-FIRM subsidized policies in Pinellas County the cost of Elevation Certificates will undoubtedly go up so you may want to get this as soon as possible. There will come a point when the “elevated” rates will be lower than the Pre-FIRM sub-sidized rates, especially after the 20-25% increase are compounded after several years. Getting an Elevation Certificate early in the process will at least give you an idea as to where you stand. It is quite possible too that the elevations may be on the positive side, if not too far below Base Flood Elevation.

I have owned a home in our area since 1976 and have been in the Insurance Industry since 1977. I am personally affected by this Flood Reform Act on my Primary Home as well as Rental Properties.

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I wIll REMOvE ANyTHINg METAl yOu HAvE FOR FREE. Appliances, old car parts, window frames, any kind of wire, cans, anything metal. Email Prez Dave at daybugme2@yahoo.com or leave message at 727-579-3644.

FREE PlANTS: Jean & Rod Tyack have about 7 very young jacaranda trees and several young spider plants if you are interested call Jean at 727-576-9300

Member ClassifiedYour Neighborhood Church

Welcomes You!

600 83rd Ave. NE,St. Petersburg, FL 33702

727-329-6346www.stpetepca.org

Pastor Dave Harding

Worship on Sunday mornings at 10:15 a.m. Classes for all ages begin at 9:00 a.m.

Childcare provided in our excellent nursery facility for infants and toddlers.

By Donna Hoover

According to all the speakers at our last meeting on Flood Insurance changes, at some point you will

need a Flood Elevation Certificate to determine the level of your home which in turn will determine your Flood Insurance rates.

Flood elevation surveys can range from $175 up to $500 and some even higher. We found a survey company willing to provide the RBCA neighborhood a group discount of $75 each if we can guarantee them 10-20 at a time. They have been in business for 40 years, have 4 offices from Naples to Clearwater, and payment isn’t collected until you get the survey.

At this time we have 34 homes being scheduled before the end of October. If you are interested in being on the next list, contact me at donna.rbca@yahoo.com or leave your info at 727-579-3644. I will need your name, address and phone number.

For more information:FEMA’s website: This site offers a broad range of in-formation - www.fema.gov/flood-insurance-reform-act-2012

CERTIFIED FLOOD ELEVATION SURVEYGROUP DISCOUNT for RBCA RESIDENTS

Florida FEMA Representative: Susan W. Wilson, CFM Chief, Floodplain Management and Insurance Branch Mitigation Division DHS/FEMA Region IV 3003 Chamblee Tucker Road , Atlanta, GA 30341 (770) 220-5414, (770) 220-5440 (fax) mailto:susan.wilson@dhs.gov

JOIN RBCA FACEBOOK!Make sure you lIKE us

on FaceBook!You can see what your neighbors

are up to, post pictures, events, etc. You can find us going to FaceBook and typing in:

Riviera Bay, St. PetersburgSite maintained by Debby Obst

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16 RBCA

OFFICERSPRESIDENT: David Hoover ............................. 579-3644 / daybugme2@yahoo.comvICE PRESIDENT: VacantSECRETARy: Lori Intravichit ......................................................................576-2903TREASuRER: Donna Hoover .............................579-3644 / donna.rbca@yahoo.comCHAIRMAN OF THE BOARDSean Singh .................................570-8458 - seanbsingh@gmail.comBOARD MEMBERS:Pauline Foster ........................................................................576-1468Jenny Healy ...........................................................................576-2765 Dave Kandz ......................................... 642-8567 / dave@rbdigital.bizAndrew Smith ............. 813-453-3407 / andrewacs@tampabay.rr.comMEMBERSHIP: Donna Hoover .............................579-3644 / donna.rbca@yahoo.comNEwSlETTER EDITOR: Missy Martino ............................... 577-5500 / RBCAnews@aol.comNEwSlETTER ADvERTISINg:Al Martino ...................................... 577-5500 / RBCAnews@aol.comNEwSlETTER DElIvERy: David Hoover .............................579-3644 / daybugme2@yahoo.comCONA REP: David & Donna Hoover .............579-3644 / daybugme2@yahoo.com

COMMITTEES83rd AvE/SAN MARTIN BRIDgE: Lance Obst .......................................... 578-9718 - dobst@verizon.netAndrew Smith ................ 813-453-3407 / andrewacs@tapabay.rr.comRoy O’Neil ......................................576-8754 / royoneil@verizon.netgRANTS: Donna & David Hoover ..............579-3644 / donna.rbca@yahoo.comDebby Obst ......................................... 578-9718 - dobst@verizon.netDREDgINg:Dave Kandz ......................................... 642-8567 / dave@rbdigital.bizRoy O'Neil ......................................576-8754 / royoneil@verizon.netAndrew Smith ......................... 813-453-3407 / andrewacs@msn.com

ENTERTAINMENT:Pauline Foster .......................................................................576-1468Jenny Healy ..........................................................................576-2765

Donna & David Hoover .............579-3644 / daybugme2@yahoo.comCHRISTMAS EvE luMINARIES:Jean Tyack, Chairperson ......................................................576-9300 CHRISTMAS EvE BOAT PARADE:Hal Hammer ................................ 576-5257 / hammer8314@aol.com

uSEFul PHONE NuMBERSMAyOR'S ACTION lINE .................................................893-7111(locate any dept and phone number in the city)NON-EMERgENCy POlICE ..........................................893-7780COMMuNITy POlICE SERvICE SQuAD ..................551-3182(For ongoing problems and response within 24 hours)Mayor Bill Foster .............................. Mayor@stpete.org / 893-7201District 2 Councilman Jim Kennedy .....................................893-7117council@stpete.orgPublic Service Rep Debbie larson ....................................893-4138deborah.larson@stpete.orgPOlICE CONFIDENTIAl TIP lINE .............................893-4138ST PETE MARINE PATROl ............................................892-5247Fl STATE MARINE PATROl ................................. 888-404-3922Animal Control ....................................................................582-2600Chamber of Commerce ........................................................821-4069CODES INSPECTOR: Thaddeus (Thad) Mitchell ............551-3171Codes Compliance ................................................................893-7373Curb, Street, Sidewalk Repair ...............................................551-3151Neighborhood Partnership ....................................................892-5141Public Utilities ......................................................................893-7761Reclaimed Water ...................................................................892-5111Sanitation ..............................................................................893-7398Sewer Repair .........................................................................893-7261Street Light Outage ....................................................... 800-228-8485Street Signs/Traffic Signals ...................................................893-7421Water Resources: ext. 0 ........................................................893-7261Water and Navigation ...........................................................453-3385(Dock permits, report Mangrove cutting, etc.)Weedon Island Preserve ........................................................453-6500

The Riviera Bay Civic Association is not responsible for any dissatisfaction with any work or experiences

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Membership Renewal InfoWe are your neighborhood civic association and we work for you to maintain and improve your neighborhood. If

you have not joined or renewed your membership in the Riviera Bay Civic Association, please take a moment to fill out this membership form and bring it to the next meeting or send your dues to the address below. Please show your support by sending in at least $10.00. (A larger amount would be appreciated!) One association membership per household includes your spouse and children, to be purchased each calendar year.

I would like to join/rejoin the Riviera Bay Civic Association. Enclosed please find at least $10.00 (more is always appreciated) association dues for our family for January through December.Name: ______________________________________________________________________________________Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Phone: ___________________________________ Email: _____________________________________________Please make checks payable to: Riviera Bay Civic AssociationMail to: Riviera Bay Civic Association, 163 87th Ave. North, St Pete, FL 33702 (727) 579-3644