The Articles of Incorporation for Covington at Cross Creek Homeowners Association, Inc. were filed on April 8, 1998 and assigned document number N98000002039. Covington at Cross Creek Homeowners Association, Inc. is a Florida Not for Profit Corporation.
ARTICLE I NAME
The name of this corporation is Covington at Cross Creek Homeowners Association, Inc., a Florida corporation not for profit, (hereinafter called the “Association” in these Articles.)
ARTICLE II OFFICE AND REGISTERED AGENT
This Association’s office is 2901 West Busch Boulevard, Suite 601, Tampa, Florida 33618, and its registered agent is David Shapiro who maintains a business office at 123 NW 13th Street, Suite 300, Boca Raton, Florida 33432. Both this Association’s registered office and registered agent may be changed from time to time by the Board of Directors as provided by law.
ARTICLE III PURPOSE
This Association does not contemplate pecuniary gain or profit to its members and the specific purposes for which it is formed are to provide for the maintenance, preservation and architectural control of all common areas and other residence lots within that certain tract of property (hereinafter called the Property) in Hillsborough County, Florida and more particularly described as Covington at Cross Creek.
ARTICLE IV POWERS
Without limitation this Association is empowered to:
(a) Declaration. Exercise all rights, powers, privileges and perform all duties, of this Association set forth in that certain Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (hereinafter called the Declaration) applicable to the property and recorded or to be recorded in the Public Records ofHillsborough County, Florida and as the same may be amended from time to time as therein provided, said Declaration being incorporated herein as i f set forth in full;
(b) In any lawful manner, acquire, own, hold, improve, manage, operate, maintain, repair, replace, operate, convey, sell, lease, transfer, assign, and otherwise dispose of property of any nature whatsoever, real, personal, or mixed, tangible or intangible, in connection with this Association’s affairs, specifically including the surface water management system as permitted by the Southwest Florida Water Management District including all lakes, retention areas, water management areas, ditches, culverts, structures and related appurtenances.
(c) Assessments. Fix, levy, collect, and enforce by any lawful means all charges or assessments established by, or pursuant to, the Declaration; and to use and expend the proceeds of assessments in the exercise of its powers and duties hereunder.
(d) Costs. Pay all costs, expenses, and obligations lawfully incurred in connection with this Association’s affairs including, without limitation, all licenses, taxes, or other governmental charges levied or imposed against this Association’s property; and contract for services, such as to provide for operation and maintenance of facilities.
(e) Borrowing. Borrow money and, with the approval of two-thirds of each class of members, mortgage, pledge, deed in trust, hypothecate, assign, grant security interests in, or otherwise transfer any or all of its property as security for money borrowed, debts incurred, or any of its other obligations.
(f) Dedications. With the approval of three-fourths of the members, dedicate, sell or transfer all or any part of its property to any public agency, authority, or utility for such purposes, and subject to such conditions, as seventy-five percent (75%) of the members determine.
(g) Mergers: With the approval of two-thirds (2/3) of the members, participate in mergers and consolidations with other non-profit corporations organized for similar purposes.
(h) Rules. From time to time adopt, alter, amend, rescind, and enforce reasonable rules and regulations governing the use of the Lots, Common Area, and Corporate Property consistent with the rights and duties established by the Declaration and these Articles and governing Members’ responsibilities.
(i) General. Have and exercise all common law rights, powers, and privileges and those that a corporation not for profit may now or hereafter have or exercise under the laws of the State of Florida, together with all other rights, powers, and privileges reasonably to be implied from the existence of any right, power, or privilege so granted, or granted by the Declaration or these Articles, or reasonably necessary to effectuate the exercise of any right, power, or privilege so granted.
G) Enforcement. To enforce by legal means the obligations of the members of the corporation; the provisions of the Declaration, and the provisions of a dedication or conveyance of the Corporate Property to the corporation with respect to the use and maintenance thereof; to sue and be sued.
ARTICLE V MEMBERSHIP
Every person who from time to time holds the record fee simple title to, or any undivided fee simple interest in, any Lot that is subject to the provisions of the Declaration is a member of this Association, including contract sellers, but excluding all other persons who hold any interest in any Lot merely as security for the performance of an obligation. An Owner of more than one Lot is entitled to one membership for each Lot owned. Membership is appurtenant to, and may not be separated from, ownership of at least one Lot that is subject to the provisions of the Declaration, and membership may not be transferred other than but ransomer of title to such Lot. Each membership is transferred automatically by conveyance of title of a Lot.
ARTICLE VI VOTING RIGHTS
The Association shall have two classes of voting membership:
Class A. Class A members shall be all Owners, with the exception of the Declarant (as defined in the Declaration), and shall be entitled to one vote for each Lot owned. When more than one person holds an interest in any Lot, all such persons shall be members. The vote for such Lot shall be exercised as they determine, but in no event shall more than one vote be cast with respect to any Lot.
Class B. The Class B member shall be the Declarant, and shall be entitled to three (3) votes for each lot owned. The Class B membership shall cease and reconverted to Class A membership on the happening of the following events, whichever occurs earlier:
(a) when the total votes outstanding in the Class A membership equal the total votes outstanding in the Class B membership; or
(b) on the anniversary date five years from the date when the first Lot is conveyed to an individual purchaser.
ARTICLE VII BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section l. This Association’s affairs are managed by a Board of Directors initially composed of three Directors. The number of Directors from time to time may be changed by amendment to this Association’s By-Laws, but at all times it must be an odd number of three or more but not to exceed five (5). The initial Directors named below shall serve until this Association’s first annual meeting. The term of office for all Directors is one year. Before any such annual meeting, all vacancies occurring on the Board of Directors, if any, will be filled by majority vote of the remaining Directors, even if less than a quorum. Any Director may succeed him self or herself in office. All Directors will be elected by ballot. Each member may cast as many votes for each vacancy as such member has; and the person receiving the largest number of votes cast for each vacancy is elected. Cumulative voting is not permitted. Directors need not be Association members.
Section 2. The names and addresses of the persons who will serve as Directors until their successors have been duly elected and qualify, unless they sooner die, resign, or are removed, are:
Name: Steve Burgard Martha Leger Serge Gootan
Address: 2901 West Busch Boulevard, Suite 601, Tampa, Florida 33618
ARTICLE VIII INCORPORATOR
The name and residence of the incorporator is:
Name: Judith L. James
Address: 325 South Boulevard, Tampa, Florida 33606
ARTICLE IX DISSOLUTION
This Association may be dissolved in the manner from time to time provided by the laws of the State of Florida and with the assent given in writing and signed by not less than two-thirds (2/3) of each class of members. Upon dissolution of this Association in any manner other than incident to a merger or consolidation, all of this Association’s assets must be dedicated to an appropriate public agency to be used for purposes similar to those for which this Association was created. If dedication is refused, such assets must be granted, conveyed, and assigned to any non profit corporation, association, trust, or other organization to be devoted to such similar purposes. In no event, however may any assets inure to the benefit of any member or other private individual.
ARTICLE X DURATION
This Association exists perpetually.
ARTICLE XI BY-LAWS
This Association’s By-Laws initially will be adopted by the Board of Directors. Thereafter, the By-Laws may be altered, amended, or rescinded with the approval of a majority of each class of members, except as to those provisions for Amendment to the By Laws which are provided in the Declaration or any Supplemental Declaration in which case those provisions shall control such Amendments.
ARTICL XII AMENDMENTS
Amendments to these Articles may be proposed and adopted in the manner from time to time provided by the laws of the State of Florida, provided that each such amendment must have the approval in writing of fifty (50%) of the entire membership, except as to those provisions for Amendment to the By Laws which are provided in the Declaration or any Supplemental Declaration in which case those provisions shall control such Amendments.
ARTICLE XIII INTERPRETATION
Express reference is made to the Declaration where necessary to interpret, construe, and clarify the provisions of the Articles. With out limitation, all terms defined in the Declaration have the same meaning where used in these Articles. By subscribing and filing these Articles, the incorporators intend its provisions to be consistent with the provisions of the Declaration and to be interpreted, construed, and applied with those of the Declaration to avoid inconsistencies or conflicting results.
ARTICLE XIV FHA/VA APPROVAL
As long as there is a Class B membership, the following actions will require the prior approval of the Federal Housing Administration or the Veterans Administration: annexation of additional properties, mergers and consolidations, mortgaging of Common Area, dedication of Common Area, dissolution and amendment of these Articles.