Community Forum January 11, 2026 (tentative)
see below for prior forum discussion topics Our Community Forum's are open to all community members. This is a forum for Association Associates and other property owners and residents to discuss items of interest.
On Sunday January 12, 2025, a Community Forum was held at the residence of Bill and Joy McSpadden in Fase 8. Here are the Forum highlights for those that couldn't attend:
A.) A thank you was extended to everyone in attendance. Our forums serve as a town square opportunity. Most people avoid situations where they may receive negative feedback because it is painful, but face-to-face interaction is what builds an Association out of a community comprised of different viewpoints.
B.) A Treasurers update was presented at the meeting, and the latest statement is available for viewing by Associates on the Members page.
C.) Board of Directors Procedures
We are a formal non-profit organized under Costa Rican law which allows us to have a dedicated bank account but also requires a structure and constitution (bylaws) which regulate legal functions, requirements for gaining and keeping Associate status, and procedures for carrying out Association activities. Formed in a structure with a separation of powers like a democratic government in 3 distinct bodies, the elected Officers and Vocals (Executive) are empowered to conduct Association business, the Assembly of Associates (Legislative) is the only body that may establish fees and make or modify bylaws, and the Fiscal (Judicial) serves as an independent voice to monitor that Association activities and monetary transactions are done correctly and in accordance with the bylaws and Costa Rican law.
Fundraising/Expense process: With biannual roadwork, fundraising is a year-round effort. Starting in April at the beginning of our fiscal year, quota statements and requests for Dev fees are sent out. For the past 2 years, the beginning balance surplus and early contributors have enabled the July Road Work. Beginning in August, follow up emails are sent out by myself as the deadline is October 31st. This year BOD members have mentioned several times the need to emphasize this due date, so proper budgeting can be done in November when road assessments are conducted and spending estimated. Prior to the October deadline, the follow ups are conducted by emails, texting, calls and in person when possible. At this moment we still have 8 Associates that have not paid in addition to non-members that have not paid.
BOD meetings are held the 1st Thursday of every month. Besides the regular biannual road work which is extensively discussed throughout the year – any other expenditure that can occur such as road debris removal, vegetation chopping, or entrance cleanup as examples are always discussed in quorum at the BOD meetings and any spending must be approved by majority vote. There are no stipends or reimbursements for the time or expenses of any Board or Committee members – ALL VOLUNTEER, ALL FUNDS GO TO THE ROADS.
D.) Road Work Committee Report
Changes in Contractor/Equipment selection process – This past year the RWC transitioned from awarding the entire maintenance project to one contractor, to an a-la-cart format of hiring various contractors based on best cost utilization of equipment and directly supervising the work.
Looking forward to 2025 – The RWC will request the following items be included in the next Annual Assembly Work Plan.
a. Slide Area water mitigation
b. Turtle Bridge repair
c. Surfacing/drainage improvements on select inclines
E.) Municipality Report – Recently the new Alcalde published a report on the condition of the Municipality, and it is combined here with the most recent (2021) census data available. It is informative and useful to keep in mind these statistics when discussing what we may request or expect from the Municipality.
Provincia Puntarenas population 504,716,
Canton de Osa population 31,270
Distrito Bahia Ballena 3,468 (Ventanas, Uvita and Dominical)
Distrito Cortes 8,785 (Ojochal and Ciudad Cortes)
Distrito Palmar 9,719 (Palmar Norte y Sur and environs)
Pacifico Central Poverty Rate 22.5%
National Poverty Rate 16.5%
Pacifico Central Extreme Poverty Rate 8.4%
National Extreme Poverty rate 6.3%
F.) Working with the Muni on Road Work - Property taxes are frequently mentioned when the community discusses self-funding our road maintenance and repairs. PROPERTY TAXES DO NOT GO TO ROAD MAINTENANCE.
The Osa cantón is 1930.24 km², and the 6th largest by area in Costa Rica and the second largest canton in the province of Puntarenas.
In 2024 the Muni budget was US$15, 236,748
In 2024 Property tax income comprised 26,48% of the budget - US$4,034,690. None of those funds are used for road repair or maintenance. Street sweeping, garbage collection, and Park Maintenance are on your tax bill, those amounts collected do not cover the actual costs. Garbage fees collected do not cover expenses and are Subsidized by property taxes.
In 2024, 30% of the Muni budget or US$4,571,024 – the portion that IS USED TO FUND ROADWORK - comes via law 8114 and 9229 as a financial recourse transferred DIRECTLY FROM THE GOVERNMENT (fuel, import, IVA taxes) for the exclusive use of road infrastructure investment.
The Remaining source of funds towards the Muni budget are attained by all the assorted permits, licenses, concessions, and Maritime Zone fees.
36% of the annual budget expenditure goes to payroll, the Muni is a Patron and must also pay the 19.7% of employer responsibilities.
G.) Road Department Specifics - Unidad Tecnica de Gestion Vial (UTGV)
The UGTV has spent an average US$4,800,000 per year for the past 4 years and is responsible 949 kilometers of road infrastructure.
As of 2022 the attainment goals of 115 kilometers of routine maintenance and 10 kilometers of road improvements had fallen to 66% and 0% of those goals respectively.
Both the Alcalde and UGTV attribute this to aged equipment reaching 20 years and the frequent and ongoing maintenance not being performed. Only 2 vehicles were recently acquired, and they were financed.
Convenios and Muni Participation - Regarding roadwork, in addition to relying on assistance from CNE and MOPT, Alcalde Anchia is specifically calling out the need and reliance on ADI’s, and road committees (or Associations) to assist with community projects of infrastructure with Convenios of Cooperation by supplying material, labor or other goods for projects and has specifically mentioned their (our) role of road maintenance using our own resources.
H.) 5-Year Plan - To get that 30% transferred to the Muni to use to do road work, since 2017 the Muni has had to comply with 13 national laws, regulations and decrees to formulate a 5-year Plan. The 2025-2029 plan has recently been approved by the Concejo Municipal. Please note the following statement from the August 5, 2024, Community Forum.
“After attending a community meeting for Bahia Ballena this year, a participative diagnosis using stated Muni factors (daily use, population, construction, tourism, employment etc.) was submitted for what we call Cinco Ventanas Road. No other street in our community is included in the plan and will never receive any roadwork or resources. The coordinating Engineer has responded that our status for Cinco Ventanas Road has been improved from being only an inter-district connector, to being “among the first” of the higher category urban centers (Politico 1). The plan must be accepted and voted on by the Muni Consejo later this year. Follow-ups will determine what resources are to be received by this new designation. At the meeting it was stated that resource rich (read expat) streets would not receive resources as they have the funds to maintain roads themselves. The effort here is to receive Engineering assistance and expertise and equipment time in areas that exceed our ability such as major drainage improvements and road widening.”
` With the approval of the new 2025-2029 5-year Plan, we have been placed at an improved 101st place out of 292 priority roads in that same category. Although the format has changed which make an apples-to-apples comparison of the past and current 5-year Plan difficult, our priority placement has risen, and the Concejo Municipal has authorized US$1,349,537 to be spent on CV Road from the Costanera to the Rio Tortuga bridge over the next 5 years.
I.) LOOKING AHEAD ON MUNI COOPERATION – Over the past year there has been a shift towards placing more of the burden of cooperation on road projects to the various road Owners Groups and Associations when asking for Muni Assistance and they are requesting formal convenios de cooperacion agreements and engineering studies. Notwithstanding, the CVF8 Road Association will follow up with the Muni to discuss how and when the UGTV will allocate the approved US$1,349,537 so it may be combined with our efforts.
J.) Updates and review of previous Forum Topics (CVF8.ORG - Events)
Low or no participation in zones
Q: I contribute on my side road, but my neighbors don't, will you fix my road?
A: The Association will always guarantee vehicle access to all homes in our domain. On roads with little or no participation, the Association has stepped in several times to stabilize roads where access may become an issue. Sometimes this has been funded by other Associates in addition to their quota/fee participation. To help the Association and yourself, if you don't currently participate - PLEASE DO! Please encourage your friends and neighbors to do so as well! Many hands lighten the load, even if it is only financially and it is to everyone's benefit.
Personal spending cannot be applied to Fees/Quota
Q: I spend money on my section of the road, can that be applied to my fees?
A: The road work contribution quota/fee should be proportionately applied to the entire distance from your property to the Costanera, not just in front of or to benefit a specific property. Every road repair cycle, there are Associates that fulfill their quota/fee contribution and also contribute separately for road repair adjacent to their property taking advantage of the reduced cost by it being done in conjunction with Association Road work.
Vegetation Chopping
Q: Why aren’t you chopping the vegetation on my property?
A: Every property owner is asked to maintain the vegetation on their road frontage. This is for 2 very important reasons. The first is to keep the ditches clear of any obstructions for water management. Clogged ditches result in water going over the road and the subsequent washing away of road material. The second is to clear the foliage prior to road work. This helps determine where work may need to be done for water management. If road drainage needs equipment such as a backhoe to clean, the operator must be able to see what he is doing.
Process for determining how communal funds is allocated by section/zone
The worst results come from spending other people's money on a different group of other people who don’t contribute their fair share. The BOD monitors how resources are allocated in the fairest manner possible balancing road quality versus a minimum standard of road access. This will mean that zones that have little, low, or no participation, will not receive an allocation of funds for vegetation chopping and road repair donated by Associates from other zones unless it is necessary to maintain access. Funds will be allocated to zones based on fees received and allocating these resources to zones serving the largest number of community members possible.
PROCESS
a) A collaborative road work assessment is made by RWC members which prioritizes repairs and resources by zones that benefit the greatest number of users to those with less or no use. Financial contributions per zone are considered.
b) Calculations of machine time and material are estimated and proposed based on previous road work history.
c) The RWC assessment is reviewed and approved by the BOD and published for community feedback for at least 1 week.
d) The RWC and BOD consider all feedback received to modify the proposed road work proposal if necessary. Actual and projected financial contributions are considered.
e) The BOD approves contractor(s), road work proposal and budget by vote and authorizes roadwork.
K.) Recently the RWC and Board of Directors revisited the topic of Property Owner Best Practices and the revised recommendations will be published on the website.
L.) Development Impact Fees
This fee is asked of all owners that started or finished construction after July 1, 2022. This is to offset the additional and extraordinary road use of trucks and heavy equipment on our road network.
Without a doubt vehicular traffic for new homes contributes to road damage. Dump trucks, heavy equipment, delivery trucks and workers vehicles all put an additional strain on our infrastructure. Most people are unaware of how many load-trips they generate at just the driveway and building plantel phase. Generally, no one homeowner causes the damage, but it is a cumulative effect. The Association asks for a one-time development impact fee to offset the additional wear and tear on our roads. To the main point of the question however, road maintenance is needed on a regular basis. During a period of time when building permits were not available, our roads still needed repairs. Since building permits have again become easily available, there has been a noticeable increase in home construction. If you are building, please pay your impact fee so your neighbors are not paying to correct the damage.
Development Impact Fee – This fee has been in place since May 1st, 2022, and is a one-time fee for properties when transitioning from the minimum $100 lot fee, upon beginning any development and transitioning to the “house” amount of road fee determined by distance from the Costanera. Since inception it was simply designated as due upon “any construction on a property, even a driveway”. At that point your fee changes from the $100 per year “lot” amount to a 2x fee of your property “house” amount and is the simple 1x “house” amount annually thereafter. Over the past 2 years, the BOD has specified and published specific examples of “any construction” so that property owners understand when the fee is due. Some examples are creation of a plantel, driveway installation, water or electric meter installation, any earth moving, use of heavy equipment, material deliveries etc.
M.) Community Discussion - Fase 8 Zone 14/15
Road maintenance and road fee payment is not a chicken or the egg riddle, road fees must be paid first for the road maintenance to occur. In these zones which have low/no financial participation the Boards’ position is we simply will not take funding from where people have contributed their requested amount and where they would expect their money to be spent, to use on another less traveled zone where the property owners are not contributing their fair share.
A discussion was held regarding sections of road in Fase 8 designated as Zone 14 and 15. As a solution to the complaints about the level of Association maintenance due to a lack of financial participation in those zones to perform repairs, the property owners and Board Members in attendance agreed that if the funds were raised and fees paid by the property owners, the Board would use those funds to repair the disputed sections.
A direct dialogue was continued with all Forum attendees regarding the matter. In the final analysis, as of February 16, 2025, only 1 property owner who was not in attendance contributed fees, and no immediate road maintenance in those zones is contemplated.
Prior to the Community Forum, the Board had been presented with 3 other alternatives.
Previously those property owners have suggested they would self-fund their road maintenance.
Separately, several property owners on that section, understanding that there are limited funds for maintenance have stated they will look into repairing it themselves.
The owner of the property under construction in Zone 14 told us in November she would pay all fees, and the BOD had planned on using those funds to repair the road, but it has not been paid. At whatever point it is paid; those funds could be dedicated to that section of road
N.) Community Discussion - Las Brisas Zone 19
Road maintenance and road fee payment is not a chicken or the egg riddle, road fees must be paid first for the road maintenance to occur. In these zones which have low/no financial participation the Boards’ position is we simply will not take funding from where people have contributed their requested amount and where they would expect their money to be spent, to use on another less traveled zone where the property owners are not contributing their fair share.
Zone 19 was added to our network map when the Association was informed that VDP was developing property in Las Brisas. The intent was to anticipate property owner financial participation to maintain that additional section of road. Unfortunately, that financial participation never materialized so no road maintenance was performed. A property owner in Las Brisas has volunteered funds to repair the zone in discussion. Although it is likely that a Board Member will oversee or assist in this effort, the scope and type of work will be directed by the donor, and it is not an Association project. Should repair work be done in zone 19, future maintenance will be determined by payment of fees to the Association.
O.) Annual Assembly of Associates
It was officially announced that nominations for the upcoming March 16, 2025, elections at the Assembly are now accepted.
The positions open for election are President, Secretary, and 6 Vocal positions.
The period for proposals of by-law amendments and Association Work Plan proposals is also open for submission by Associates. As of the Forum, the only issue that has arisen is a vacancy of a BOD seat. The options at this point are to wait months until the next election in March, or to schedule an additional Extraordinary Assembly to hold an election for one position. Observing other Associations, a practice that is used (if stated in bylaws) is that the President may appoint an individual to fill the remaining term until the next annual Assembly when a vote is held. This amendment would need to be discussed and possibly proposed for the next Assembly in March 2025.
Associates – please look for other announcements and direct emails with Assembly information.