Page 8 - CRCCE0825

President’s Message

Safety and Security is the focus this issue.
Here’s a note I received from a resident last month

(names withheld to preserve anonymity)
Dear Mr. Hernandez,

We have been residents of Coral Ridge Country Club Estates for more than 30
years. We have thoroughly enjoyed being part of this community. We have been
homeowner association members until this past year when it was required to pay for
security patrol along with membership dues. We don’t feel it necessary to join
security patrol and be obligated to pay that fee. Can we look forward to being
association members without the obligation to join security patrol?
Here’s an edited version of my response, much longer with a broader audience in mind:
Hi there. Thank you for reaching out and for your support over the past 30 years.
Sorry for the delayed response, I was out of the country for the past two weeks, just
got back last night and have been catching up on calls and emails all day today. Is
it necessary to pay the combined Security Patrol/HOA fee? That is the only fee, so
it’s your decision. Should you do it? Yes. Following is my rationale.
Hopefully you are aware of all the work done by our all-volunteer board. If you
have been reading the newsletter, you are aware of the many improvements
implemented and initiatives undertaken over the past 5-10 years, most with the
intent of making the community a safer place. These include the installation of speed
cushions, the Bayview Drive roundabouts and sidewalks, the community entry
monuments, the security patrol program and our latest initiative, the installation of
license plate readers. And there are many more projects and issues that we spend
time on such as responding to neighbors’ complaints about code issues, monitoring
vacation rentals (see the previous issue) and development activity and preparing for
and attending hearings on proposed developments impacting our community (e.g.
Coral Ridge Publix and the infamous 3000 Waterside). Few of these projects and
initiatives are free and they all require an incredible investment of time.
When it comes to safety and security, we can argue the City should be providing
more police patrol out of the property taxes they collect, but the fact is they aren’t.
They tell us it’s a big city and many resources are channeled to neighborhoods with
more pressing needs (read: more crime). The police do their very best and we love
them but they are short staffed. They can’t provide the additional regular coverage
either they or we would like. More neighborhoods are therefore implementing
private off-duty patrols every year. Among others, Rio Vista and Sunrise Intracoastal
have had programs for years, and Bermuda Riviera and Coral Ridge have recently
started programs. These are all large communities. Unfortunately there are only so
many officers that can or will take on this extra work. And like everything else we
have experienced inflation. The cost of the patrols has risen from about $45 an hour
when we started the program to about $65 per hour now. That means we get fewer
hours of patrols for the same amount of money. And while we peaked at just over
300 members, we are down to about 260 now.

I’m not sure if you attended the Annual meeting in April, but here (pgs. 8 & 10) are
some key takeaways from the published Fort Lauderdale Police Department crime
CORAL R DGE statistics for our neighborhood. Note you can find updates at https://
COUNTRY CLUB ESTATES www.flpd.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/7368/638883725564370000.
C OMMUNIT Y ASSOCIA TION

6 CORAL RIDGE COUNTRY CLUB ESTATES COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

7/21/25 8:00 PM
CRCCE 0825.indd 6 7/21/25 8:00 PM
CRCCE 0825.indd 6