An Important Message From the Civic League President Rich Licfold

Dear Neighbors,

 I hope this message finds you well and enjoying everything our beautiful Lago Mar community offers. As we continue to work together to enhance and maintain our neighborhood, I want to share some important updates regarding our Civic League, its budget, and your membership’s vital role in supporting our shared vision.

Our Civic League is dedicated to ensuring that Lago Mar remains a welcoming and attractive place to live. The membership dues, which are just $115 annually, go directly toward the following vital services that benefit us all:

Landscaping and Beautification
Maintaining the two entrances off Sandbridge Road at Camino Real and Las Brisas and cutting the grass along Sandbridge Road from Elson Green to Las Brisas. The cost of grass cutting alone is $1,112 per month. Additionally, hedge trimming, which includes shrub and tree trimming at both entrances, costs $3,145.00 each time and ideally should be done at least twice a year. The large hedges past Las Brisas require an additional $3,000 annually to keep them looking tidy. Of note: The bushes and trees are not the property of the Civic League. They had been maintained in the past as a part of the overall community beautification effort.

Enhancements at Entrances
Each year, we aim to add mulch and flowers to our entrances to beautify these gateways to our community further. Mulch costs $3,125 annually, and flowers cost $900.00 annually.

Community Events
Our Civic League also organizes two major events each year—the 4th of July Parade & Picnic and the Fall Festival (formerly Octoberfest). These events are highlights of our community life, bringing together 350-400 residents to celebrate, socialize, and enjoy activities for all ages. Hosting these events cost around $16,000, including food, non- alcoholic beverages, activities for kids and families, a DJ, and renting tents and facilities. A generous community sponsor provides the beer, so it does not impact our budget.

Our membership stands at 237 households, representing just 25% of the community. This level of participation has left us with a significant budget shortfall. In the past, with membership levels at 35-40%, we could fully fund these services and events. With current membership levels, we can only cover some costs, which has led us to make difficult decisions about where to reduce spending.

We have already suspended bush and hedge trimming to manage our limited budget and are looking for ways to reduce costs for the upcoming Fall Festival while striving to maintain the fun and family-friendly atmosphere that we all love. We do NOT plan to eliminate either of the community events as they serve as membership drives and, as such, are net positive in terms of cash flow. Other cuts may be necessary, including scaling back on entrance enhancements and potentially limiting other community services, if our membership does not increase.

However, with your help, we can turn this scenario around. If you’re already a member, I extend my heartfelt thanks. Your contribution makes all the difference. If you haven’t yet joined, I encourage you to consider becoming a member. Your dues will directly support the beautification of our neighborhood and allow us to continue our cherished events, and you’ll also be part of a community effort that keeps Lago Mar thriving.

In the coming weeks, we’ll send out a survey to our members, allowing you to help us prioritize spending. Your feedback will be crucial as we decide which services to maintain and which we may need to suspend temporarily. All members are also welcome to participate in Civic League meetings.

If interested, please email me at lagomarpres@gmail.com, and I will add you to our meeting reminder list.

Let’s work together to keep Lago Mar the beautiful and vibrant community we all love. Thank you for your continued support and for being a part of what makes our neighborhood special.

Warm regards,

Rich Lickfold
President, Lago Mar Civic League