1. Discussion and approval, as the case may be, of the Civil Association's Constitution.
2. Naming of the Founding Members.
3. Determination of the Association's Purpose and Objective as well as its Domicile, Duration and Assets.
4. Naming of the Board of Directors.
5. Reading and discussion of the Association bylaws.
6. Approval of the Order of the Day.
7. Naming of a Special Delegate to carry out the formalization of said Constitution.

1. The forming of the Civil Association named "CONSEJO DE DESARROLLO DE AKUMAL", ASOCIACI�N CIVIL, is approved.
2. Miguel Angel Aban Mejia is appointed to represent the Association and its members before the Secretariat of Foreign Relations to request the corresponding permit, and if said name is approved, the Association will be established under the applicable dispositions of the Quintana Roo State Civil Code.
3. The following are named as Founding Members: MARIA DEL CARMEN DOMANI GARCIA, SALVADOR COMPANY LERMA, DANYA CHANEY RICHARDSON, MARIA ELENA CATALAN ROLDAN, GONZALO IVAN ARCILA GONZALEZ, GARY ANTHONY WALTEN, DIANE HAGEN MAHAN, DIEGO GERMAN PERALTA PERDOMO, and LAURA BUSH BETANCOURT.
4. The Association's legal domicile will be located at km 104 of the Puerto Juarez- Tulum Highway, Plaza Ukana I, Upper Floor Locale 3, Akumal, Quintana Roo.
5. The duration of the Association will be for a period of 99 years counted from the date on which the present Constitution is signed.
6. It is agreed that as of now, this Association will be governed by "Any foreigner who at the time of its Constitution or thereafter acquires an interest or participation in the association, shall be considered by that simple fact, as a Mexican national, thereby consenting not to invoke the protection of their government.".
7. The Association's assets will be made up of:
   1. The quotas and contributions provided by members
   2. The donations, subsidies and contributions made by any person, group, institution or company
   3. The movable and real property which it acquires using the above mentioned resources
   4. By the active work of its members

1. To pool knowledge, efforts and actions in order to carry out the overall development of Akumal, to establish all basic services pertaining to public order, such as security, cleaning, commercial regulation, signaling, thoroughfares and all that which is proper and necessary for the correct functioning of this community, and especially to coordinate efforts and actions pertaining to the urban planning of Akumal, with a long-term vision.
2. To provide representation before the required federal, state and municipal boards in order to promote the passing of effective regulation concerning the above-mentioned actions and make them legally applicable.
3. To fix, determine and as the case may be collect contributions or resources provided by private individuals, or companies in the hotel, restaurant or any other business.
4. Put on events which may at a given time provide the resources needed to carry out the purposes of this Association.
5. And in general, with the participation of as many members, contributors and benefactors as possible, carry out each and every one of the acts and actions that can bring about the improvement and development of the Akumal community.

• CHAIRMAN OR MANAGING DIRECTOR: Laura Bush Betancourt
• SECRETARY: Diego German Peralta Perdomo
• TREASURER: Diane Hagen Mahan
• VOTING MEMBERS:
• Gary Anthony Walten
• Maria Elena Catalan Roldan
• Gonzalo Ivan Arcila Gonzalez
• Danya Chaney Richardson
• Maria del Carmen Domani Garcia
• Salvador Company Lerma

• MARIA DEL CARMEN DOMANI GARCIA. SALVADOR COMPANY LERMA
• DANYA CHANEY RICHARDSON. MARIA ELENA CATALAN ROLDAN
• GONZALO IVAN ARCILA GONZALEZ. GARY ANTHONY WALTEN
• DIANE HAGEN MAHAN. DIEGO GERMAN PERALTA PERDOMO
• LAURA BUSH BETANCOURT

• FIRST ARTICLE-. The association will be named "CONSEJO DE DESARROLLO DE AKUMAL", followed by the words ASOCIACIÓN CIVIL or their abbreviation "A.C." The association shall commonly be referred to as "AKUMAL COUNCIL" which shall be considered an abbreviation for "CONSEJO DE DESARROLLO DE AKUMAL, A.C.".
  
  
• SECOND ARTICLE-. The duration of the Association will be for a period of 99 years starting on the signing date of the Constitution deed.
  
  
• THIRD ARTICLE-. The Association purpose will be:
  1. To pool knowledge, efforts and actions in order to realize the overall development of Akumal, to establish all basic services pertaining to public order, such as security, cleaning, commercial regulation, signaling, thoroughfares and all that which is proper and necessary for the correct functioning of this community, and especially to coordinate efforts and actions pertaining to the urban planning of Akumal, with a long-term vision.
  2. To provide representation before the required federal, state and municipal boards in order to promote the passing of effective regulation concerning the above-mentioned actions and make them legally applicable.
  3. To fix, determine and as the case may be collect contributions or resources provided by private individuals, or companies in the hotel, restaurant or any other business.
  4. Put on events which may at a given time provide the resources needed to carry out the purposes of this Association.
  5. And in general, with the participation of as many members, contributors and benefactors as possible, carry out each and every one of the acts and actions that can bring about the improvement and development of the Akumal community.
  
  
  
• FOURTH ARTICLE-. The Association's main domicile will be in Akumal, State of Quintana Roo, however it may establish offices or branches in any other place or places in Mexico or abroad and it may have other legal domiciles without it being understood that it has changed its main domicile.
  
  
• FIFTH ARTICLE-. "CONSEJO DE DESARROLLO DE AKUMAL", A.C., will be a nonprofit association and its capital will not be represented by shares. This Association will be governed by the following: " Any foreigner who at the time of its Constitution or thereafter acquires an interest or participation in the association, shall be considered by that simple fact, as a Mexican national, thereby consenting not to invoke the protection of their government."
  
  
• SIXTH ARTICLE: ASSOCIATION ASSETS-. The Association assets will be made up of:
  1. The quotas and contributions made by the members.
  2. The contributions and cash or tangible donations freely made by any person, group, institution and company.
  3. The extension of taxes or subsidies obtained, will be for the purpose of carrying out improvement projects that will benefit the quality of life in the Akumal community.
  4. The benefits derived from the organization of competitions and events.
  5. Movable and real property acquired using the aforementioned resources
  6. The active work of its members.
  
  This Association, for all effects of the above-mentioned paragraphs, and for all effects described in Article 24 of Income Tax Law, will comply in a timely manner with the dictates of Article 60-B of the mentioned Legal Ordinance. In the event that the institution is liquidated, the totality of its assets will be contributed to other entities authorized to receive deductible donations, or to federal entities, or to the same rural or municipal communities, within the terms of Income Tax Law.
  
  
• SEVENTH ARTICLE: CATEGORIES OF MEMBERS-. The membership categories are: Active Member-. Those members who are constantly active in all events and purposes mentioned within the project, who also contribute,support the council throuugh work and/or financially have a voice and vote. Through vote by the members, the council may establish minimum requirements for membership.
  
  
• EIGHTH ARTICLE: MEMBERSHIP RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS-. Membership rights and obligations are as follows:
  1. Each member at will enjoy one vote in the General Assembly.
  2. All members will have the right to oversee the proper application of quotas, therefore the members may examine accounting records and other documents.
  3. The quality of member (membership) is nontransferable.
  4. Members must fulfill the contributions and commitments to which they have committed.
  5. Members may resign from the Association voluntarily by providing two months advanced notice.
  6. Members may be excluded only for reasons described in the bylaws, members who resign or are excluded from the Association lose any rights to its assets.
  7. Members must obey the Association's bylaws and regulations, as well as comply with any decisions taken by an Ordinary or Extraordinary General Assembly.
  8. Members must pay their ordinary and extraordinary quota assessments in a timely manner as determined by the Board of Directors following consultation with the Members.
  9. If the Association is dissolved, members will receive their corresponding share of the Assets, the Assets shall be delivered to an appropriate civil organization selected by the board or the members, that is to say, whatever remains after all the Association's debts are paid.
  
  
  
• NINTH ARTICLE: ASSOCIATION BODIES-. The General Members Assembly is the supreme body of the Association. The bodies on which the Association may count to carry out its purposes will be those of private, institutional, and governmental organizations who help us to realize our purposes.
  
  
• TENTH ARTICLE: BOARD OF DIRECTORS-. The Association will appoint a Board of Directors will be elected by the General Members Assembly to coordinate the efforts of its members for the purpose of achieving objectives. This Board it will be composed of the Chairman, President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and six Voting Membersthe chairpersons of all standing committees established by the General Members Assembly, all of them with the power to substitute one another.
  
  
• ELEVENTH ARTICLE-. The members of the Board Of Directors will hold office for a period of Two Years and continue at their post until the Assembly appoints a New Board of Directors, they may be reelected, by means of a Secret Vote if the Association members so decide. In the event of a vacancy, the Board may appoint an interim to fill the vacancy until the next General Assembly.
  
  
• TWELFTH ARTICLE-. Persons occupying the position of Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Voting Member are required to be residents of Akumal, Quintana Roo, they All members of the Board of Directors must enjoy a good reputation as an honorable and honest person, they may not have any criminal record or be under investigation by the authorities, they may not have been found guilty of the misappropriation of funds, they may not have been accused of fraud, this last requirement will apply to every member of the Board of Directors. By vote of the Board of Directors, any member of the Board of Directors who is under investigation by the autoirities or accused of fraud may be required to suspend participation with the Board.
  
  
• THIRTEENTH ARTICLE: DUTIES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS-. The duties of the Board of Directors are:
  1. The Chairman-President->. Will organize and manage the Association's property. Will have the quality vote and their main function will be to supervise compliance with all commissions and the proper, transparent and honorable application of funds.
  2. The Vice President-. Will substitute for the President when the President is not available and perform other duties as determined by the Board.
  3. The Secretary-. Is responsible for taking attendance, keeping records and summoning members.
  4. The Treasurer-. Is responsible for proper administration, keeping an accounting record of all funds and producing a monthly financial statement.
  5. The Voting Members-. Will substitute the Secretary or Treasurer in case of the temporary or permanent absence of either one. The Committee Chairpersons-. Will be responsible for the activies of their subcommittees and shall represent the interest of their committee on the board. Each committee chairperson shall submit a written report prior to the annual General Membership Meeting.
  The administrative authority rests with the President and/or Treasurer.
  
  
  
  
• FOURTEENTH ARTICLE: POWERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS-. For Purposes of Administration and Management of the Association and all things pertaining thereto, the Board of Directors, will have broad legal powers of representation, for Legal Action and Collection, and for all types of Acts of Administration and Dominion, with all the general and special powers requiring a special Clause according to Law, without limitation whatsoever and with the scope set down in the first three paragraphs of Article 2810, of the Quintana Roo State Civil Code, and its correlatives in Mexican Law; which are described here in a specific but nonlimiting manner: to desist from writs of statutory protection, as well as to elaborate, grant and subscribe all types of public or private documents, manifestations, rebuttals, oaths, etc. etc., particularly those set down in the Mexican Constitution, Legal Regulations, especially those of Article 27 Constitutional, and of a Civil, Mercantile or other nature; grant, subscribe and issue Credit Titles of all types within the terms of Article 9 of the General Law of Credit Titles and Operations, warrant, endorse and negotiate them in any way. To appear and exercises powers before all types of private or moral entities be they Legal, Administrative, Civil, Criminal and Labor Authorities, Conciliation and Arbitration Boards, articulate and absolve positions, within the terms of Articles 310, paragraph 2 and 1216 of the Commerce Code before the Municipal, State or Federal authorities, in court or out, with the Broadest Power Possible and expressly to Freely Decide without major requirements, in the Association's name, the advisability or need to file complaints, quarrels, or accusations for offenses committed against it, grant pardons and constitute themselves as third parties assisting the prosecuting authorities, execute all agreements passed by the General Assembly, even though they may not have an express power; to sign by means of persons designated to that effect, all types of documents related directly or indirectly with the purposes of the Association for the purpose of granting General or Specific Powers as well as revoking them, and, in general to promote all types of recourse favoring the rights of the Association. As such, the Board of Directors is empowered to appoint a Managing Director and/or an Executive Committee, for all administrative effects, as well as those that are necessary for the proper accomplishment of the Association's purpose and that for such effect, it be conferred the specific Powers which that same body determines. If an executive committee is formed, it shall consist of at least the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
  
  
• FIFTEENTH ARTICLE: GENERAL ASSEMBLIES-. Reports: The Board of Directors, will have the obligation to produce an annual general activities report, or to do so extraordinarily when the General Assembly so requests, by means of an Ordinary Assembly. They will need to discuss and improve matters such as the financial situation, work report, policies, admission of new members, or nominations. Assemblies will be summoned eight days in advance and must have a minimum quorum of 5110 percent to be legally installed. The minimum of voting quorum will be 51 percent of those in attendance. Assemblies will be held on a monthly basisfour times a year with an Annual General Assembly meeting in July.
  
  
• SIXTEENTH ARTICLE-. Members will meet in Extraordinary assembly, to discuss and improve matters such as by law modifications, changes or the dissolution of the Association or any other eventuality. The Assembly will be summoned three days in advance with a minimum quorum of 51 10 percent to be considered legally installed, and it will require a minimum voting quorum of 51 percent of those in attendance.
  
  
• SEVENTEENTH ARTICLE: DISSOLUTION OR EXTINCTION OF THE CIVIL ASSOCIATION-. The following will be taken as sufficient cause for dissolution: a). For reasons established in the bylaws; b). By agreement reached in the General Assembly; c). At the conclusion of the established duration term or by virtue of having achieved the total realization of the purpose for which it was created; d). If it becomes impossible to accomplish the purpose for which the Association was formed; and e). By means of a resolution dictated by a competent authority through court action.
  
  
• EIGHTEENTH ARTICLE: COMMITTEES-. Creation-. The Board of Directors is empowered to create and makeup the working groups or commissions that it judges convenient, for the purpose of achieving Association objectives with prior acceptance from the General Assembly. By vote at a General Assembly, the Association may establish committees for the purpose of achieving Association objectives. The chairperson of each such committee shall be a voting member of the Board. Committees may be of a permanent or temporary nature, in accordance with the activities they are set up to carry out.
  
  
• NINETEENTH ARTICLE-. Character-. Commissions may be of a permanent or temporary nature, in accordance with the activities they are set up to carry out.ADVISORY COMMISSIONS-. The Board of Directors may form advisory groups for the purpose of achieving Association objectives and assisting the Board in fulfilling its duties. Such commissions shall be strictly advisory and have no voting powers. Commissions may be of a permanent or temporary nature, in accordance with the activities they are set up to carry out.
  
  
• TWENTIETH ARTICLE-. Validity-. The Bylaws will come into effect starting on the date of their approval, which date is to be chosen by the Association members.
  
  
• TWENTY-FIRST ARTICLE-. Transitory-. All matters which are not considered in these bylaws will be resolved by the members of the Association by means of an Extraordinary General Assembly called expressly for that purpose.
  
  
• TWENTY-SECOND ARTICLE-. The grantors and in equally the Members, expressly agree to submit to the courts and tribunals of the state of Quintana Roo in all matters related to the interpretation and compliance with this contract, thereby expressly renouncing any other jurisdiction which may correspond to them by reason of present or future domicile.
  
  
• TRANSITORY FIRST-. The subscribers hereto agree to appoint a Board of Directors until the General Assembly designates a new one to be made up of those persons chosen by an Extraordinary Assembly.
  
  

The General Assembly Meeting am started at 10:00 AM with over 30 attendees.

The meeting started with the audience expressing its thanks for the work done by Gonzalo and congratulations to Gonzalo for his new appointment in forming the Municipality of Tulum.

Outgoing President, Gonzalo Arcila, presented a general scenario of what is happening with the new Municipality of Tulum, and explained briefly what his position and commitments are:

• Gonzalo explained the the new Town Council of Tulum formed by 11 counselors, have ten months to prepare and create a whole government platform in order to be ready for elections next year.
• The Municipality is in transition from Solidaridad (Playa Del Carmen) to Tulum, and Solidaridad is delivering and making the change over of all documents, data, and information to the new Municipality of Tulum.
• In the meantime, the Municipio of Solidaridad has the obligation to continue providing all Public Services until the Transition Process is finished.
• Gonzalo has asked for the official Map of Tulum, so we can see exactly where the boundaries and limits of the New City (Akumal?) are, and he will let us know as soon as he receives all this information from CATASTRO.
• After his speech, Gonzalo thanked the support of everyone and said goodbye to The Akumal Council as a President. He will now dedicate his time to his new position on the Tulum Town Council.

Gonzalo presented the Directors of Police & Public Security and the Civic Protection.

The new Chief of Police, Mr. Michelle Tanuz, explained that they are working on a Master Plan for Security of Tulum, and he promised more presence in the whole Akumal area, more vigilance 24 hours a day, and he will assign a Sub Director specifically for Akumal. As a result of a question from the attendance he presented his background and credentials.

After the Chief of Police, we had Mr. Lucio Salvador Arguea, Civic Protection Director, in charge of Coordination for Special Events such as Hurricanes, and other kind of incidents. He offered training for our people in Akumal working on beach areas, in order to prevent accidents with tourists and also mentioned other services. His direct number is 984 807 2950.

The Council also decided to reorganize with standing committees and section committees whereby all committee chairs shall be on the board. The board was asked to provide written responsibilities, policies and practices for the committees. The board was asked to provide further clarification on the payment of taxes and fees during and after the transition to Tulum. The board was further asked to provide an exact map showing the new municipal boundaries and participation in both urban development and environmental committees.

Members expressed the need to have participation by and membership from residents of the Pueblo so that the Council would represent all of Akumal.

After the presentations and dicussions, the council had ELECTIONS.

After nominations and discussions, the new BOARD officers were elected unanimously as follows:

• Mary Carmen Domani / President of The Akumal Council.
• Paul Sanchez Navarro / Vice President.
• Din Richardson / Treasurer
• David Poor / Secretary.

For Section Committees, nominations and votes for committee chairpersons were as follows:

• Aventuras Akumal / Marcy Essy, Horacio Alvarez.
• South Akumal: Open.
• Jade Bay: Open.
• All Central Akumal: Open.
• North Akumal.
  • F: Wilma Arcila.
  • G: Open.
  • H: David Poor and Mary Henderson, co-Chairs.

• Security/Police: Laura Bush (chair), Mary Henderson, David Poor, Bart Smith, Jorge González, Katty Sonheim, Roberto Mulgrew, and Susan Mead.
• Membership : Bart Smith & Jennifer Smith
• Ecological Committee: Paul Sanchez (chair): David Poor, Linda Tate
• Community Services-Laison with Pueblo: Laura Bush (chair), Gaby Orvañanos, Linda, Mary Carmen Domani, Aturo Orozco, Linda Tate, Hilario Hiler, Nancy Serwin, and Hilario.

It was agreed there would be General Meetings 4 times a year starting next September with a scheduled date of 26-September. 2008. As a tentative schedule. meetings will be held in Sept., December, March and June. The officers of the Board will be sending exact dates as soon as we see agendas and schedules.

Paul Scanchez-Novaro gave a presentation about main ecological issues in Akumal, presenting the idea of "Akumal, The Ecological Destination" and gave an update on water testing work, and information on water quality and CAPA and the strategy to connect all of Akumal, the POBAk and Turtle Refuge Protected Area, and Recycling, and ending with the task of sending a summary of each item to the new Board. Because the projector was broken and the time was short, the full presentation will be sent out later.

The members gave thanks to former presidents LAURA BUSH and GONZALO ARCILA, and welcomed the new president MARY CARMEN DOMANI.

Respectfully submitted:

Sergio E. González, Recorder
David D S Poor, Secretary

The Akumal Council convened a special meeting on Thursday, May 15, 2008 to present what it knows about the new Tulum Municipality and answer questions about its impact on Akumal.  The meeting was chaired by Gonzalo Arcila, Sergio E. Gonzalez Rubiera, and Din Richardson.  The meeting was fairly well attended by about 16 members of the Akumal Council, including two accountants.

Gonzalo re-iterated a lot of what he distributed in his e-mail of 2008-04-26 (see April 26 letter) as not too much new has transpired since that time.  However, he did mention that he has been following this issue via information the government diligently posts on the Internet, and he read from a 5 page document – Tulum (municipio) - which he printed off the webs site at  Tulum Municipality.  This is an excellent description of the Tulum Municipality, albeit in Spanish.  As far as Akumal is concerned, the northern boundary of the Tulum Municipality is the southern edge of Yal-Ku Lagoon.

Timeline

• 2/21/08            the State Congress votes unanimously to make Tulum the 9^th Municipality
• 3/13/08            Tulum is ratified as the 9^th Municipality
• 5/6/08              Official Announcement on the Tulum Municipality
• 5/16/08            10 days later, Official Decree to be published Public State newspapers, making it official
• 5/27/08            (approximately 10 days later) State Congress to appoint the 11-person Municipal Council as an interim government until the elections in February 2009.
• 7/27/08            (approximately) the Interim Council has 60 days to invite the political parties to get organized and participate in the election process for 2009.
• Feb. 2009        the new elected Town Council and its Mayor will be in office for only 2 years (instead of the normal 3 years), in order to sync with the administration periods in the whole State. 

During the process of reception, the Municipality of Solidaridad must transfer all the available information to the new Municipal Government, such as tax information, subdivisions, records from Catastro, etc.  This process should include the transfer of all municipal obligations, services and infrastructure.  All paperwork, procedures and legal situations remain in the exact same status as they are now.  Same status quo, but under a new Municipal Government.

 The Akumal Council has made several statements in the press in order to call the attention of the authorities to the importance of the Akumal community.  It has requested that someone from our community be appointed to the board of the new Town Council.

 Gonzalo stated that he has been invited to several meetings with the active participants and politicians involved in this process, but that there is actually no official information about who and how they will be integrating this new position.

The meeting lasted over two hours, and there was a lot of discussion, but there were no new revelations.  Some of the discussions covered: 

• North Akumal Regularization.  This is a familiar subject at most Akumal Council meetings, and it was re-iterated that North Akumal was never regularized as part of the Cozumel or Solidaridad Municipalities; Solidaridad was created in 1993 when the municipality of Cozumel was split into two, with the mainland section constituting the new municipality of Solidaridad, which covers a total surface area of 4,245.67 km² and, in the 2005 census it had a population of 135,512.

North Akumal does not have the normal infrastructure (streets, sidewalks, street lighting, sewerage, water, etc.) that defined by a municipality, and while the battle/discussions go on, it is very possible that North Akumal will never be regularized and really recognized by any Municipality. 

It was explained and agreed upon, the need to continue in our process of Regularization and to finally deliver the FRACCIONAMIENTO (starting with Akumal North) to the Municipality.

• Akumal Membership on the Interim Council.  This seems to be a grey area with regards to how the State Congress will allocate the seats on the Interim Council, and the question was not asked (specifically) on when, where, and how Akumal might nominate its candidate(s).  There seems to be a willingness on the membership for Gonzalo Arcila to have a role in the Interim Council, and there was some discussion about Maria Del Carmen Domani being the Akumal representative, as Maria had once been a member of the Municipality Solidaridad.
   
• Continuation of Services.  This is a REAL grey area that nobody knows the answer to.  One of the major roles of the Interim Council will be to oversee a clean and clear transition of the related elements/services of the Municipality Solidaridad to the new Municipality Tulum.  What happens with the police coverage?  Garbage collection?  The pot-hole filler for North Akumal?  Water delivery.  The Tax Offices and services? And on and on…….?  TBD.
   
• An Observation, or the Facts of Life.  SteveC made a comment that there is absolutely no way that the new Tulum Municipality can continue, at least in the short term (2 years?), to provide the level of services and recognition we got from Municipality Solidaridad when you look at the size of the two.  As mentioned above, Playa del Carmen had a reported population of over 135,000 in the 2005 census, while the population of Tulum is set at just under 15,000. As a result of the population, and the fact that Playa del Carmen continues to be the fastest growing city in Mexico, you can easily see the services and infrastructure as you drive through on MX307.  There probably are more police with radar guns on MX307 within the immediate city limits than the entire police force in the sleepy little town of Tulum.  In Playa, they just recently expanded the fire house on MX307, and there are new government buildings being created over by the Mall of the Americas.  The process for paying taxes has been greatly improved. Consider all the hotel rooms within Playa del Carmen and Playacar, to say nothing of Myakoba.

 Admittedly, the Akumal Council has played a major role over the last 3 or 4 years to get Akumal recognized by Municipality Solidaridad, and this resulted in police coverage, garbage collection, and the pot-hole filler for North Akumal, among others.

 Where will we be once Municipality Solidaridad washes its hands of Akumal?  

• Akumal Master Plan.  Gonzalo had two pictures showing the layout of the infrastructure of the "new" Akumal to be built across the highway over the next 25 years.  These are available at  ? - image is too large for here; go to MAP.  Reportedly, the number of habitants here will be in the order of 150,000!  This REAL!!
   

• Sub-Committees.  Years ago, the Akumal Council had a number of sub-committees which worked to various degrees, and some just did not function at all.  Part of this is due to the membership and leadership, to say nothing of the object of the sub-committee.  So, the new Tulum Municipality is being viewed as an "Opportunity" whereby Akumal can be in on the ground floor as the municipality is being established, and a number of sub-committees could/should be formed to bring attention and focus on the important issue; i.e. regularization of North Akumal; police coverage; garbage collection; and water delivery by CAPA; among others.
   
• Akumal Pueblo.  The pueblo needs to be a part of whatever the Akumal Council does with regards to the Tulum Municipality, and it is recognized that there are some "issues" between the people in the pueblo, CEA, and the Akumal on the east side of MX307.  At some time in the near future, before the General Meeting on June 27, the Akumal Council and CEA will approach the leaders in the pueblo and solicit their involvement in the Akumal Council.
   
• Sergio E. González Rubiera.  It was acknowledged that Sergio will continue to be the consultant for the Akumal Council, and his role will continue as before, but now he will focus his attention on the Interim Council and the issues identified by the various Sub-Committees.
   

• Tulum Master Development Plan.  It is not the subject of this paper, but there is a small reference to the (Plan de Desarrollo Urbano, PDU) for Tulum on page 2.  It’s at Tulum PDU.

While things might appear rather bleak in the short term, the general mood seemed to be one of optimism and OPPORTUNITY.  It is absolutely imperative that as many people attend the Akumal Council General Meeting on Friday, June 27^th.

This was basically an informational meeting for the membership and all those who attended. We had a attendance of 17 people, members and non members, plus the BOD. Thank you all for coming.

Please recognize that this is only an informal report of what transpire at the meeting by one of the attendees.  And, the reporting attendee had to leave the meeting just after Agenda item number 4, so this is very incomplete.

This was designated as an INFORMATIVE meeting scheduled to go from 11:00 am to 12:15 pm, and it was held in the old Fidecaribe building at the end of the parking lot across from Akumal Real Estate.

 The published Agenda was: 

1. Welcome and List of Attendees
2. The Old Fidecaribe Building, now AKUMAL TOURIST CENTER
3. Police Report
4. Bus Stop at the Highway
5. Municipio de Tulum. Brief Report by Gonzalo Arcila.
6. Membership Report
7. Main Entrance Cleaning
8. North Akumal Management Plan Status

First of all, Gonzalo acknowledged and thanked David Wolfe for providing the electricity and air conditioning to the upstairs of the Fidecaribe building for the meeting, and Laura Bush Wolfe provided the chairs, tables, and refreshments.

The Old Fidecaribe Building
Without a handout on the specifics, some of what is reported here may be slightly different than the actual facts and dimensions.

The Akumal Council (AC) now has this building, and it is using the upstairs room for an office and meetings.  One of the on-going issues and concerns of the Akumal Council was the retrofitting and on-going maintenance and support of the facility and associated expenses.  The AC has found a company who is taking on a four year lease, and they will sub-divide the downstairs into equal sections, one for their use, and the other for the Police Station.

Unfortunately, I did not catch the name of the company who is taking the lease, or exactly what they are doing with their downstairs office, but it sounded like "legal Services" and/or Tourist Center.  What is most important though is that they paying rent of $600US per month for the first year, $700US per month for the second year, and $800US per month for the third (and fourth) year.  And, they have agreed to:

• remodel the first floor for a uniform image
• remodel the landscaping
• provide air conditioning for upstairs
• contract for the utilities; i.e. electricity and water
• pay all expenses of the building

Then a discussion came up on who from the AC authorized this.  Was it voted on by the general membership?  Anyway, the BOD was cool in explaining how they have been working on this project for over three years, and they decided and authorized this.  Anyway, David Poor made a motion for the general assembly to approve this work with the Fidecaribe building, and Jim Ferrell seconded the motion. It was voted on and unanimously accepted.

There still are some final negotiations/discussions to be held with the company taking the lease, but hopefully everything can be in place as a finished product well before the beginning of High Season.

Police Report
The Akumal Council BOD arranged to have two very distinguished representatives of the Municipality Police for this report.  They were:

Cmdt. Rodolfo Del Angel Campos
DIR. DE LA POLICIA MUNICIPAL PREVENTIVA
Tel. (984) 877-3340

Lic. Carlos Vincente Munoz Jimenez
SUBDIRECTOR GRAL. DE SEGURIDAD PUBLICA Y TRANSITO
Tel. (984) 877-3340 ext. 232   Cellular (984) 187-3597
e-mail seguridad_solidaridad@yahoo.com.mx

Lic. Carlos Vincente Munoz Jimenez did the presentation from a PowerPoint presentation he read from on his laptop computer.  This presentation is available at 

The first point was the influence his department had on working with the highway department to make MX307 safer for pedestrians and vehicles, because there have been way too many deaths on the highway.  They were instrumental in: 

• Building the pedestrian overpasses
• Installing the speed bumps and pedestrian signs
• Creating the trun-arounds and associated signs

The speed bumps are going to be painted, and additional signs BEFORE the speed bumps are going to be installed.

SteveC strongly suggested that they do something with the lane delineation along the highway, because in certain spots it is extremely dangerous, even for those of us who drive it on a regular basis.  The old (before 4 lanes) lane lines are still there, and in some places they are painted over with new ones.  In on place near Barcelo, the high speed lane just narrows into nothing, except the median strip.  This NEEDS to be corrected before high season.

The second point was that they are concerned about the safety of Akumal on both sides of the highway; i.e. the Poblado and the Tourist Beach area.  They have five (5) policemen assigned to Akumal, and that equates to one for every 400 people.  The have two pick-up trucks and two motorcycles assigned to Akumal, and they are no longer using the bicycles; Sergio commented that the motorcycles need maintenance.

The third point was that Akumal is a relatively tranquil area compared to Playa del Carmen and Tulum, and with the Police presence in Akumal, they have seen a  significant reduction in the home robberies.  The biggest security issue now seems to be with tourists and visitors leaving valuables (cell phones, watches, cameras, etc.) unattended on the beach, where they are easy pickings for any unscrupulous thief. 

The fourth point was a report of arrests for this year, up to July 31, 2007.  There were 31 arrests, and these were as listed here: 

• 26 were related to the consumption of alcoholic beverages
• 2 were related to being on the highway under the effects of drugs
• 3 were related to quarreling/fighting on the highway

Finally, the police cannot solve all the problems.  Many things are out of their control.  It is important to make the tourists aware of the risks and problems, and how to prevent violations.  They must be made aware of the importance of protecting their belongings, and if there are any security violations, call 066 (cell phone or Telmex) immediately; this number also has coverage in English.

Bus Stop on the Highway
This was a minor item that Gonzalo used as an example of the importance of the visibility of the Akumal Council.  A while ago, a business man approached Gonzalo with a picture of the palapa bus top on the highway in disrepair.  The man suggested he rebuild the palapa bus stop, as long as he could have an ad for his business on the side. Gonzalo agreed, with the stipulation that the Akumal Council also get an ad, and together they agreed if the first one worked out OK, he would also do the one across the highway; the second one never got done.

As this Agenda item was winding down, Gonzalo had Gary Walton talk a bit about what Loco Gringo did to help bring aid and support to the people down by Bacala and Chetumal who got hit bad by Hurricane Dean.  I left during this part, but it should also be noted that Rhett Schober also arranged a collection of food and clothing around Akumal for delivery to people in the Bacala and Chetumal area.  I am sure there were others doing similar collections and distributions as well.

I was not in attendance for the remaining Agenda items, but Sergio Gonzalez Rubiera provided following information.

Municipio de Tulum
Gonzalo offered a general scenario on this possibility.  There is nothing in concrete yet, but there is of course a serious project of the State Government to create a 9th Municipality in Tulum.  The question for us is, "Will Akumal belong to Solidaridad (Playa del Carmen) as it is now, or will belong to the new Municipality of Tulum?"

 As far as we know, this decision will be taken some time next year by the Governor, and we don't believe that they will take our point of view into consideration, but we have to show some position.  Gonzalo is recommending that whatever the final decision is, Akumal should ask for transparent information and demand the services we require as community. 

Gonzalo has more up-to-date information on this and will follow up soon.  For now, we will send an official letter from the Akumal Council demanding resources and funds to reconstruct Akumal, specially the North Akumal Road, after Hurricane Dean.

Membership Report
As of September 6^th, we have collected $38,489 US (approximately $423,378.00 pesos) from 46 members, and we have nearly $10,000 US in our bank account.  This report does not includes the Special North Akumal Road Fund.

Special North Akumal Road Fund
There is a non-Akumal Council Project focused on the road in North Akumal, going from the Akumal Dive Shop to the “old” Police Station/gate. The estimate to develop a new road with ADOCRETO is $50, 833 US.  So far North Akumal has pledges (in US dollars) from:

$  5,000 Susan Mead  
$  5,000 Oscar Constandce 
$10,000 Las Casitas 
$  3,000 Loco Gringo
$    500 Laura Bush
$    500 Akumal Dive Shop
$    500 Myrna Bush
$    300 CEA
$    250 TSA
$ 5,000 CAPA
$30,050 Total Pledged

 And, on the day of our Meeting we have received:
$    200 Rodney Flake
$    100 Lety Cordova

Gonzalo expressed confidence that we will have the new road by December 15th 2007.

Main Entrance Cleaning
This is a project to clean up the whole entrance to Akumal from the highway to the parking lot, including fixing the curbs and a general new look for of all the green areas.  It will take approximately $4,000.00 US, so the Board has decided to wait some time with this initiative.

North Akumal Management Plan Status
We are about to start the 3rd stage of this Four Stage Project, which costs approximately $4,000.00 US, in order to continue with the process to regularize Akumal and then present the entire Executive Project to the Mayor.

1. To include in the main document the existence of a vigilance committee to oversee the development of Akumal. This committee would be made up of members of all the Akumal communities (including Akumal Pueblo), with voice and vote.
2. That this Committee has representation (voice and vote) in all the annual meetings to review the plan.
3. To institute a control mechanism by requiring that all expansions of Akumal Pueblo have the proper contracts (CNA, CAPA, CFE, etc.) before they are authorized.
4. To have the guarantee that the 100 hectares of Fidecaribe property (the buffer zone between ourselves and the highway) will remain as an ecological zone.

More info

1. To establish an Agenda with the new Governor, Felix Gonzalez Canto, and our new Municipal President, Carlos Joaquin Gonzalez. Our main points of concern will be to find a solution to the legal status of North Akumal, to address our lack basic municipal services and infrastructure and to seek more environmental protection.
2. To continue our vigilance of the Akumal Master Plan, which includes a plan for a better "quality of life" for Akumal Pueblo.
3. To maintain the salary for Sergio Gonzalez, our advisor and representative, at $20,000 pesos a month, or about $22,000 USD per year.
4. To provide on-going maintenance of the website ($1000.00 USD)
5. Akumal police station
   To do the remodeling of Fidecaribe building into our police/information headquarters. The cost of this project is to be shared with the municipality, and our share is $14,000 USD. More info
6. To install an antenna for the police radio system ($1,200 USD)
7. To improve the entrance to Aventuras Akumal ($7,000.00 USD)
8. To maintain the North Akumal main entrance ($4,000 USD)
9. To keep up the monthly expenses involved in maintaining the police force, in the form of gasoline for the squad car and electricity and general maintenance for the building and motorcycles.

Dear members of the Akumal community,

I would like to bring to your attention certain events that took place lately of crucial importance for Akumal's future.

As most of you are probably aware, on February 21 the state Congress voted unanimously to make Tulum the ninth municipality. Forthwith, on March 13, Tulum was ratified as the ninth municipality and the Municipal Council that will appoint representatives to the upcoming Congress's 12th legislature will be formed on April 10. It is worth noting that Akumal North is now within the boundaries of Tulum Municipality, being formed geographically the southern shore of Laguna Yal-ku.

The Municipal Council that will appoint the new State Congress will also govern the new municipality until next year's elections. Ideally, this Council should be made up of people who are longtime residents, socially responsible, professionally and morally ethical, and above all, experienced.

Unfortunately being a protagonist in this historical event is a very sought-after appointment by those presently in power and wanting to remain there. Needless to say, the many new political and administrative positions available will also provide numerous opportunities for "compadrazco" [from the word compadre], the system in which jobs and appointments are handed out to family, friends and supporters.

This makes it now vitally important for all existing civic associations in the new municipality to consolidate and take positive action to claim their right to be represented in the new Municipal Council. As one of the most important communities in the new entity, Akumal must be properly represented. Especially now, during this historical beginning, we cannot afford to be represented by any administratively inexperienced person with ulterior motives of personal gain and power.

Therefore, it is extremely important that the Akumal Council act immediately by defining its position and determining to what extent it wishes to be involved in the process.

On Thursday, March 20, I was invited to attend a radio news conference produced by "Desde el Cafe". The invitation came through a personal phone call from Gilberto Gomez Mora, Head Councilman of the present Municipal Council. He has been one of the main promoters of the New Municipality and a strong contender for its interim mayor, to be appointed by the State Congress soon. The event took place at Hotel Bahia Principe.

Guests in attendance included the following personalities:

• Gilberto Gomez Mora, Head Councilman of the present Municipal Council

• Jorge Luis Pech, present mayor of Tulum

• Donato Castro Martinez, former municipal councilman

• German Gallegos "Don Cafeto", present State Government representative in Tulum

• Giovanni Avashadur, present Director of the Tulum Cultural Center

• Rosario Nieto Collin, Dept. of Communication and Transport delegate in Tulum (Cintra)

• Juan Carlos Gonzalez, Director of Revenue in Tulum

• Alfredo Soto Martinez, former municipal councilman and hotelier in Tulum

• Carlos Jasso Gutierrez, President of the Tulum Hotel Association

• Víctor Maas Tah, former head of the National Chamber Of Commerce and Touristic Services (Canaco-Servytur)

• Jorge Portilla Manica, Tulum businessman and hotelier, president of the Grupo Ambientalista Defensores de Tulum A.C. [environmental group]

• Gonzalo Arcila Gonzalez, President of the Akumal Development Council.

My contribution to the talks ran roughly as follows:

1. Acknowledgment of the volunteers who have taken up the task of anticipating and planning this important transition and birth of a new municipality, people who are working to have the best persons appointed to office during this crucial first stage which consists of forming the Tulum Municipal Council. I also thanked my hosts for calling this meeting in which many sectors of the community and geographic municipality were in attendance.

Long Term Projects

The results of our long term goals consist mostly of those things that you do not see, but that are ESSENTIAL to the future of Akumal.

• The Akumal Council
• Centro Ecológico de Akumal (CEA)
• Fundación Oasis
• Representative of the Akumal Hoteliers
• Architects College Group
• Ecological Foundation of Bahia Principe

1. Major Investments (in dollars)
   • Signage on the Highway:$ 2,000.00 usd
   • Topographical Survey
     • 1st phase of North Akumal Regularization Project: $7,590.00 usd (outside finding)
   • Publications
     • Statements, etc. $3,800.00 usd
   • Hurricane Emily clean up: $6,600.00 usd (road excavation and general debris removal)
   • Buoys for Akumal Bay $10,800.00 usd
   • Satellite image $1,200.00 usd
   • Gardens at the main entrance $9,700.00 usd
   • Security expenses in general
     • Maintenance to motorcycles, cell phones, accessories, etc. $ 6,500.00 usd
     • Security training courses More info
   • Gardens at the parking lot $10,000.00 usd (independent community funding)
   • Maintenance of the Police "Caseta", remodellings and painting $2,000.00 usd More info
   • Remodeling the old Fidecaribe building at the parking lot planned to become our new Police Station and information module (On going now) $4,500.00 so far More info
2. Total $64,690.00 USD
3. Almost $65,000 usd invested in one year on Akumal, funded by the membership of the Akumal Council. In addition, we have had several very generous, special contributions by Denny and Diane Mahan, David and Laura Wolfe, Kay and Gary Walten; Jamie Cost & Salvatore, who besides membership dues to the Council have made contributions to get things done. Thank you all !!

1. Buoy Project
   • Feb 7-10: Buoy Project meetings and discussions begin
   • Feb 10: The Agreement for the Buoy Project was signed, with the presence of The Port Captain. Total Investment was $10,800.00 USD divided by Laura Bush, Akumal Dive Shop, Akumal Dive Center, CEA, Las Casitas and The Akumal Council.
   • Apr 27: The official dedication of the buoys.
2. Gabriel Mendicutti meeting
   • Feb 22: The then mayor of Solidaridad came to Akumal to discuss several pending projects.
3. During Februray and March we developed the garden project for the main entrance to Akumal by the highway. $9,700.00 usd were invested from The Akumal Council.
4. Carlos Joaquin meeting
   • May 16: Working lunch with Carlos Joaquin the new Municipal President (or mayor), elected February 2005. At that time we presented our main projects and major concerns. We addressed both the Akumal Master Plan and The North Akumal Regularization Project.
5. Jun 10: Sergio Gonzalez presented to the mayor and the board of tourism (in which the Akumal Council has a chair), the "Municipal Council for Tourist Development of The Riviera Maya"; its mission, objectives and executive plan for 2005.
6. In June, one the most important achievements of The Akumal Council was acheived. The 100 hectares of Fidecaribe land were granted status as an Ecological Zone and included, as such, in The Akumal Master Plan.
7. July 2006. We started collaborating with the Spanish Investors from the all inclusives on either side of us, on the Akumal Master Plan of Urban Development. They became members of the council and started by building palapas at the bus stops on either side of the highway. Because many of our concerns for the area coincide, they can be a great asset to achieving our goals. Gonzalo Arcila and Sergio Gonzalez have been dedicating much time and effort in cultivating this beneficial relationship.
8. August. The Akumal Council invested $6,600.00 USD on the cleaning up after hurricane Emily. This is apart from the significant donation effort coordinated by Diane Mahan to cleanup North Akumal.
9. Aug 8: A meeting with Eng. Carlos Castillo from CFE (electrical commission) took place in Akumal. After many phone calls, letters, and statements placed in the newspaper, we finally got answers to our concerns about the poor quality of service we receive. We are still working on the improvement of the electrical service in all the Akumals.
10. Aug 25: We started the 1st Phase of the North Akumal Regularization Project. $7,590.00 USD were invested in the Topographical Survey. This was a necessary tool that will allow us to prepare a "Projected Plan" for the regularized development of North Akumal. Following phases of the project are still to come. Again Sergio and Gonzalo have been working long hours on this with the professional help of an architect who has experience in this work.
11. September. The new gardens by the parking lot were completed at a cost of almost $10,000 in special contributions.
12. October. "Wilma"....
    • After Hurricane Wilma, Sergio and Gonzalo wrote lots of letters to authorities and attended meetings and negotiations on behalf of Akumal. Sergio Gonzalez organized a list of special guests for a meeting with President Fox. Gonzalo Arcila was invited to represent the Akumal community.
13. Jan 2006. Began work on the final steps of The Akumal Master Plan of Urban Development 2006-2031.
14. March:
    • A variety of meetings coordinated by Sergio and Gonzalo.
    • March. Painting and general maintenance of the Police caseta: $2,000.00 usd. More info
    • We began remodeling the old Fidecaribe building by the Parking lot, supervised of the Walten's at a cost of $4,500.00 usd so far. More info
    • We had a meeting attended by the mayor where we drove him around town to show him our concerns. After driving down the road in Akumal North, he immediately agreed to send the municipal 'jet patcher' to fix the road. It arrived the next day and patched the entire road.
      More info

• We would like a new road for Akumal.
• We need to continue with the regularization project and that means we need funds to hire the architects and other experts.
• We need a solution to the accidents even if we have to fund the signals, traffic lights or whatever is needed.
• We need to reinforce our security and invest in new equipment, training for our force, etc.
• We still need to pay our Counselor and facilitator.
• We need to improve our image in general no only to the tourism but to our own comfort.

More info on membership

From Gonzalo Arcila

Thank you very much for your recognition.

The position I have been appointed to is of great responsibility and honorability. It represents now a great challenge, yet an opportunity, to make a difference for the good of the municipality.

I have sworn, and I am committed, to perform with clarity and to give the best of my abilities, knowledge and experience. I am committed to do so for the New Municipality of Tulum, and for Akumal especially. You can be sure that I am putting my heart into it and I will do the best I can.

For those interested in what my duties are (probably you have no idea) here is a direct translation an extract of the Law of Municipalities of the State of Quintana Roo, which describes the faculties and obligation of my position. Please feel free to share this information to any one interested. After you read it you might be asking yourself a question: Why in the world is he doing that??? The simple answer is…. “Service to my community.”

Thank You

Gonzalo

Of the Faculties and Obligations of the Municipal Receiver (Sindico)

Articulate 92. - To the Municipal Receiver (Sindico) the following attributions and obligations correspond to him :

1. To watch the correct operation of the Municipal Public Property and to preside over of the Commission of Property of the City council;

1. A copy of the receipt for your property taxes
   • 1 copy of the Predial Payment or your Cedula Catastral.
2. A copy of ID with photo (passport) of the property owner
   • 1 copy of the land owner's id with his picture.
3. A copy of the fideicomiso, or escritura, etc. for the property
   • 1 copy of the land rights or a purchase promise sale (Compra venta: telephone or electric bill)
   • In case you are not the owner please bring a letter signed by the owner saying that you can do it (Carta poder). In case you do not have any documents to prove you are the owner we can sign a paper (responsive) saying that you are responsible for it.
4. $2,500 pesos
5. If you have further questions please contact us at La Buena Vida this Wednesday and Thrusday; May 31 and June 1 from 10:00am until 2:00pm.

• Written request of service's feasibility directed to CAPA with a copy to the operator organism in the municipality in which the land is located.
• Copies of the title to the property.
• Certificate of no burden sent by the public registry of the property and commerce.
• In case the owner is not the person making the contract they will need a power of attorney (carta de poder).
• If the person making the contract is an enterprise they will need to present a copy of the enterprise constitutive letter with it's latest modification
• The petitioner should present a copy of the legal land use zoning (Constancia de uso de suelo) given by the Direction of Urban Development of the Solidaridad municipality.
• A map showing the exact location of the property in respect to the urban location
• Technical and descriptive memory of the project
• Hydraulic calculation
• Hydraulic and sanitation installation plans and architectural plant

• Placement of rocks along the border of the grassy area of outside parking lot to ensure cars and buses do not park there.
• Send a formal letter to the Comandante dePolicia of Akumal asking for his assistance in parking issues during peak times and Sundays.
• Hire someone from the Pueblo as parking attendant to work for tips taking care of the cars, and directing traffic and cleaning up. Council would provide uniform.
• David Poor will draw up a suggested plan to restructure the parking area taking into account his suggestion to have cars drive in through parking area. This would enable a security guard to stop all incoming vehicles for proper identification. ( this would include noting down taxi numbers in case they are involved in anything illicit).
• ID system was discussed. It was agreed we should consider what Puerto Aventuras does. Stickers on the cars for easy identification of locals and guests. Later on we could look at a system for permanent staff or construction staff that varies weekly.
• Letter to Tulum Municipality to explain the parking situation, giving them actions that must be taken in order to deal with the increase of visitors to Akumal and asking them for their assistance. Laura can draft the letter and ask committee to review before Mary Carmen approves it and signs.
• David Nelson suggested a Park N Ride system from the Pueblo. All overflow traffic could be directed to a parking area in the Pueblo that provides a shuttle service to the entrance of Akumal . This could be run by the taxi sindicate, the government, or the Pueblo.
• This shuttle service would also go to Yalku instead of having buses come in past the archway.
• It was agreed that it is very hard to limit or regulate the supply trucks that come in to Akumal.
• Susan Mead will be asked to clarify the generous offer she has made to provide a golf cart for dinner hour and Sunday support for extra security in order to move forward with it.
• Jorge agreed to investigate Nextel vs Telcel vs. Radios in order to link the Police with the private security in Akumal and the local residents when an urgent call must be made for assistance.
• The Security Council recommends all property owners have a file on each security guard they hire individually or through an outside security company. The file must include a picture, letters of recommendations, and certificates of no past criminal records. It is important to establish where they come from and that they were screened properly before hiring.
• The local Police need a digital camera in order to take pictures of anyone caught in a crime so the Council can circulate the information to the community.
• Anyone that can recommend a good security company with a good track record, should let the Council know.
• Juan Antonio Huerta, property manager of CEA, made his presentation which he will send separately in power point. The first phase is to be funded by the Akumal Bay Protection Program. ( POBAK), which includes security cameras and a life guard station. A short discussion about the POBAK ensued:
• POBAK – Currently we will be reducing the outside boat and tour traffic by about 75% with rules supported by the Port Captain and Environmental authorities. This, along with the other regulations that the local boats are beginning to follow will greatly improve the security ( and health) of the bay.
• Juan Antonio stressed the importance of continued lobbying with Government for providing more Public Beaches with services. Letters from the Council petitioning for this was highly recommended. Mary Carmen will be approached for all letters to Government as will Gonzalo for his guidance and counseling as to the best approach to take or person to contact.
• The second Phase was presented for Council Support. This includes an ambulance, and 3 defibrillators for Akumal. Total cost for 7 months is $13,380 USD but it could go down if the meals for the ambulance attendants are provided by local restaurants. David Nelson offered to give a few meals a week as did Laura.
• Corruption in gas stations and highway police- It was decided to pursue the gas station corruption only by writing a letter to the Tourism Board. As for the highway police, it was recommended that guests information books include a section on dealing with police if stopped so they will not be pressured into giving large bribes.
• PDU – David Nelson requested a copy of the Urban Development Program for Akumal. He said Jade bay would be more willing to participate with the Council if they had their needs addressed too. Laura mentioned that the new Committee based structure of the Council would allow for a Jade Bay Committee to submit their requests and projects.
• Lastly Laura mentioned that once a budget is established, that the Council would be able to prioritize projects, and set goals for the coming year.
• Meeting was adjourned at 11am.

Present at meeting.

Laura presented the new Delegado of Akumal, Santos Pech Leon. She explained how well the Fiesta went on Sept 15^th thanks to the donations made and to Santos’s efforts to ensure the town was given a cultural event they could remember and be proud of.  Some pictures were shown and Santos described the night’s activities.

Next,   Santos gave his presentation of needs for the Pueblo.

• Transportation costs – The kids that are going to high school in Tulum need help with transportation and meal costs. They could also use a part time job to help them out.
• Security- At present they only have one radio that can communicate to the base in Tulum. It cannot communicate to the police car. They have no land line and no cell phone. Laura offered to try to find out what land line was connected there a few years back so they can contact Telmex and have it installed again. A long discussion ensued on all security matters and needs for all Akumal.  Santos emphasized the need for more police presence, which he has already asked for, describing the types of situations that he is dealing with in the Pueblo.  With the money that he did not use from the Fiesta donations he received, he was able to buy a new battery for the motorcycle and fix the tires. 
• Public areas- The kid’s playground is in need of fixing. It is dangerous for the kids to use. It needs some sand and a fence for keeping animals out.  He also mentioned there are no park benches and in some small towns in Yucatan, they have benches with the names of those that donate them. They are made of granite but they could be of any durable material. Laura suggested that whatever family donates a bench that they also have the name of someone that lives in the Pueblo on the bench so they can take pride in them and take care of them.
• Sound system – they need to be able to announce important town meetings and only have the police car megaphone to go around the neighborhoods. They would like one from the Delegacion to announce while people are going to work. However Leticia Cordoba stated that this might not be necessary since the police car is more effective to get the word out in all areas of the town and suggested a community bulletin board instead.
• Public areas cleanup crew- They only have two workers to clean the streets and public areas. Laura suggested having the gardeners of the homes and condos of Akumal that live in the Pueblo donate a few hours of their work day to town clean up during these slow months. In this way, they are taking care of their town and being a part of the solution of littering.  Carlos Gomez mentioned that CEA will be donating a truck to the town which Santos said would be a great help with the clean up duties.
• Equipment- They need a digital camera to take pictures of all those detained in the jail and create a data bank. Laura requested pictures be sent to the Council in order to circulate them in the community and avoid hiring those that have a bad record.  They also need a computer. David Nelson said he can donate a working used one to them. Gabi Orvananos said she has a ceiling fan to donate which they also need.
• Sports field- They only have one and teams compete for its use. There is land for another but they would need fill, and machinery to place posts for lighting and they are going to see if the goal posts that were on the field behind Super Chomak can be used. Laura will ask her manager who was involved with the sports activities on it.
• Topes- there are places in the Pueblo where speeding is a problem and Santos would like to have concrete or rope topes put in.
• Clean up - Santos mentioned there are Archaeological ruins in the town and it is used for public vagrancy and trash dumping.  It was suggested that a cleanup campaign be organized amongst the residents to include that area. Carlos Gomez suggested that Mirna, the person in charge of the Education program at CEA, could help coordinate a Cleaning Up Contest, whereby the winner would receive free paint for the outside of their home.

Leticia Cordova presented her program, the FRIDA KHALO LIBRARY, in the Secondary School. This project involves getting enough funding to maintain the library, better equip it, pay the salary of the librarian, pay off the debt of the furnishings, and expand to outdoor space for reading and studying. It also involves providing a lunch room for the secondary school. The programs she would like to see are Reading Circles, English conversation sessions, and Tourist involvement.  Her wish list includes getting satellite TV, a television and DVD player, 3 computers, and getting a land line to have internet.  Mary Carmen suggested that Education have its own Committee since it is such an important need in the Pueblo.  Education was discussed at length with many ideas to help reduce  delinquency and vagrancy of minors with proper education opportunities.

Laura mentioned her project called PABLO BUSH ROMERO SCHOLARSHIP that awarded 7 children a stipend of $500 pesos per month for this school year in order to help them with costs. These kids are in first year of Secondary school. She mentioned that it is not only necessary to help them with expenses but also equally important to improve on the quality of the schooling. These kids are not at the level they should be at for their age and if the schools are not also helped, they are not learning enough to take them to the next level.

Communication: A long discussion ensued about priorities, strategies and best communication methods with the Pueblo. Arturo mentioned that in the small towns he has seen develop, the most important factor has been networking with the town people and that a priority for the Council should be to develop the relationships with the residents of the town. We talked about what the needs are and how best to work on them, but we should also develop a strategy for communication to reach the people and turn it into a team effort and mutual collaboration.

PRELIMINARIES:

• Call to order: 10:08
• Agenda Additions/Corrections:
  • Three guests from Tumum to present.
  • Committee reports: Security, Environment, Community Relations
  • Other Discussions:
    • Status of FidesCaribe building
    • Handicapped access
    • Map back to CEA
    • Security cart for N Akumal
    • Plans for bridge

President's Report
Mary Carmen gave a brief welcome and introduction to the items on the agenda.

Special Presentations

1. Director of Police: Michel Danuz, director general safety, public transit and firemen.
   Sr. Danuz gave an overview of activities and plans for security. Highlights included the implementation of an emergency number from any cell phone: *112. The security committee will work with all security personnel including official security authorities and private security services to develop a comprehensive plan for all of Akumal.
   [Scribe's note: The council has prepared magnetized business-card notices with the *112 number. These are available at CEA with proceeds going to the council: 2 for $5 or 10 for $20.]
2. General Director of Urban Development
   The main point of the presentation was to emphasize the need for regularization of all parts of Akumal. For much of Akumal, especially North Akumal, the model used by Playacar Phase 1 will probably work best as it allows a subdivision which is partially managed and controlled by the community, but is a part of the municipality. With the transition to Tulum, we have the responsibility to help get the records complete in Tulum and the opportunity to finally ge this done.
3. CAPA: Gilberto de los A. Gomez Mora: CAPA Manager (cell phohe: 984 807 7596)
   CAPA is working to get all of Akumal properly done to protect the environment and to get proper water and water treatment throghout the Municipaliry. There was some discussion of the current situation (some people have very poor pressure, some areas are not properly paying their share). There was a brief discussion of waste water management through a suction system. There is now a CAPA office near the San Francisco grocery in Tulum.
   [Scribe's notes: CAPA has assigned a staff member to work with CAPA on waste management options. The Akumal Council board will be directly involved with this effort.]

Motions:

• The minutes of the July 2008 General Assembly be approved
  Motion: Frank Hatch
  Second: Din Richardson
  Approved
• The By-Laws be approved as amended
  In addition to the proposed changes, there were several additional amendments:
  • Aticle 8 shall be modified so that assets be disbursed to an appropriate civil organization. We will get precise wording from CEA document.
  • Monetary commitments may be made and funds dispersed with the approval of either the President or the Treasurer and the approval of at least one other officer. Once such approval has been granted, checks may be drawn on Council funds with the signature of the Treasurer, President, or Vice President. The names of the officers approving each check shall be recorded.
  • Administrative authority: Officers of the civil organization, any officer may represent the organization following consultation with the President.
  Motion by: Laura Bush
  Seconded by: Mary Henserson
  Passed unanumously
• The officers are hereby auhorized to represent the organization in whatever actions are necessary to complete the transition to the new Board structure and to implement the By-Laws as ammended.
  Motion by: Lettie Cordoba
  Seconded by: Frank Hatch
  Passed
• Election of new treasurer:
  Thanks for Din for all her years of support and help.
  Nominations: Marcy Essy (nominated by David Poor)
  Unanimous vote in favor.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

• Security: Laura Bush
  Committee Meeting: September 9: Public safety and parking meeting.
  Laura indicated that lighting will be reestablished at entrance.
  Discussion from the floor concerning the break-ins and shootings by a gang in N. Akumal. Gonzalo: Took the chief of police and told about the trouble.
• Community Relations: Laura Bush Committee Meeting: September 24
  The Delegato: thanked the committee and the community for for funds for a successful independence day celebration. The committee discussed the massive education needs, including the possibe need for a dedicated education committee and funding.
  Akumal library is separately funded and for all ages.
  Pueblo library is for middle school.
  [Scribe's comment: A separate education committee was subsequently authorized.]
• Enviroment: Paul Sanchez-Navaro
  Tomorrow (Sept 27) 4PM presentation to tour operators at CEA.
  Need to work with CAPA to get good system.
  Short term "CLEAN UP" campaign.
  
• Section H: David Poor and Mary Henderson
  There is now a converted golf cart that is patrolling N Akumal from 5-9PM Monday through Saturday, and 9AM to 9PM on Sundays. (This is currently being paid for directly by David and Nancy Poor.)

DISCUSSIONS AND APPROVALS

• Gonzalo showed the chief of Police all of Akumal and the two possible buildings.
• Mary Carmen proposed several initiatives
  1. Education Committee:
     Based on the recommendations of the Community Liason Committee, Mary Carmen recommended approval of an additional committee, i.e. the "Education Committee".
     Approved.
     
  2. Blues Festival:
     Based on discussions with Q Roo oddials, May Carmen recommended that we approve the concept of having a Blues Festival in Akumal in May-June 2009. There will be $30,000-$50,000 USD funds from the depatment of tourism to help organize and promote the effort. Mary Carmen indicated that there would be an early October meeting with the secretary of State fo Q Roo on the matter.
     Approved
  3. 50th Anniversary Akumal Celebration
     Mary Carmen recommended that we approve the concept of a 50th Anniversary Akumal Celebration.
     Approved.
• FideCaribe building status:
  There was an update on the FideCaribe building status. The Akumal Council has received $300 for July, August, and September and should receive $300 monthly donation for the three or four years of the agreement which started in 2008.
  Discussion made it clear that the current situation is not what the members were promised as the building was to be the "Akumal Tourist Center".
• Handicap access
  There was a brief discussion on having Akumal Council meetings in a handicapped accessible loacation such as CEA which has appropriate ramps.
  Approved
• Large Aerial Map
  It was requested that the large aerial map be moved back to CEA.
  Approved.
• Petty Cash
  There was a discussion on having a petty cash account available. Laura Bush agreed to have her office handle the petty cash account.
  Approved.

Dear Sir:

We serve to represent the interests of all of Akumal (both Akumal Pueblo and Akumal Playa) and want to bring to your attention serious concerns regarding the proposed elevated road or bridge over the highway connecting the two sides of Akumal.

First, we want to forcefully confirm our support for the concerns of the residents, business owners, children, and students in Akumal Pueblo. As they have already expressed the reasons that they oppose this disruptive initiative, we will not re-iterate our joint concerns in this letter, but rather concentrate on the disastrous consequences on the playa side of the highway.

The biggest area of immediate impact is public safety: we believe that this proposed elevated road will have the unintended consequence of jeopardizing safety concerns, not relieving safety matters:

• All of Akumal depends on its tourists, many of whom drive down from the Cancun airport, often arriving after dark. We believe that the new bridge will make it confusing and difficult for new arrivals to get to their destinations no matter what signage is put up. Seeing a bridge, they are likely to get into the right lane as they approach Akumal. If they turn right before the bridge, they will end up lost in Akumal Pueblo. If they go past the bridge, they will find themselves in the wrong lane to get to the retourno resulting in likely accidents or at least frustration and confusion. We see this confusion now, even without a bridge and with signage on the highway.
• Both Akumal Pueblo and Akumal Playa already have serious parking issues. Akumal depends on two groups: tourists who stay in our hotels and houses, and day-visitors who come to enjoy the beauty and resources of the area. Day visitors include foreign tourists, Mexican nationals, and local residents. Although there is adequate parking for guests who stay at our hotels and villas, there is limited parking for others. We welcome all guests, tourists and our neighbors across the road, but we can not support an unlimited number of people or vehicles. Already, on weekends and holidays, the limited parking results in many improperly parked cars blocking roads and limiting access by public safety authorities including the police, ambulances, and bomberos. The elevated road will be an invitation for more people to come to Akumal and will result in unsafe conditions.
• If the bridge is built, some vehicles will unintentionally cross the bridge from Akumal Pueblo into the tourist area when they intended to go to the highway. They will end up on the only street on the playa side: the one that goes from the highway to the end of Half Moon Bay. Once someone starts over the bridge, there will be no good way to turn around and it will not be clear as to how to get back to the highway.
• The reverse is also true for cars leaving the tourist area. If tourists inadvertently cross the bridge, it will be difficult to get back to the highway, especially getting back to the highway heading North to the airport in Cancun!

Any action that potentially increases the risk to tourists puts the entire area of Akumal in jeopardy: if Akumal is seen as unsafe, the tourists will go elsewhere eliminating the jobs, tax base, and viability of the community.

The second area, that of sustainable tourism is even more important in the long run as Akumal is built on the ecology. This includes the water, the multiple beaches of Akumal, the coral, the turtles, and Yal Ku lagoon. The bridge will lead to increasing expectation of access to these resources and to increasing numbers of people coming to Akumal to use them. However, the capacity to take in more visitors is not there!

• Under the leadership of CEA, (Central Ecological Akumal), the community seeks to determine the limits of use of these precious ecological resources so that they can be enjoyed by tourists and residents alike for decades to come.
• With respect to the proposed elevated road, we support CEA’s efforts to ensure environmental protection for the area. To this end, CEA has sent a letter to SCT in Mexico City requesting a copy of the Environment Impact Assessment and Change in Land Use. We believe that the project should be suspended until these documents have been reviewed locally.

We are already close to the maximum number of day visitors and, on some days, we probably exceed the maximum resulting in degradation. Any action that potentially increases the risk to the ecology puts the entire area of Akumal in jeopardy: if the beaches are spoiled, if the lagoon is polluted, if the attractions are no longer attractive, the tourists will go elsewhere eliminating the jobs, tax base, and viability of the community. The bridge and its resulting traffic put all of these natural resources in jeopardy.

We are concerned with the cost of the elevated road and the economic impact on the businesses in both Akumal Pueblo and Akumal Playa.

• We are unsure of the reason the bridge is being built. If it is for better access from Akumal pueblo to the beach area, such a huge construction is not needed. The car traffic between the Akumal Pueblo and Akumal Playa is not excessive.
• An overpass similar to what is being built in Puerto Aventuras would suffice. The highway would remain for local traffic to get back and forth and the overpass would be for those not wishing to stop in Akumal. This would help the traffic flow and reduce accidents. The pueblo would not be affected either. Even better, a proper traffic light system, a traffic circle, or a good system of retournos would be better, less disruptive, and far less expensive.
• Our consultants and specialists in land use have assured us that the proposed elevated road is probably the worst alternative. We would appreciate the opportunity to help find better, less expensive solutions.

We want to emphasize that this project would have serious consequences for Akumal which is a private subdivision, not a municipal town as it would put in jeopardy our ability to ensure a viable destination for tourists: both foreign and Mexican nationals. Akumal is un fraccionamiento privado, and does not require a large bridge entrance.

Finally, the scheduled construction is during the critical high tourist season. Even if some construction is done, it is important that is be postponed until the summer, after the high tourist season is finished.

Based on the above and on the concerns that you have received from the Pueblo, we respectfully request you assistance in seeing that this project is stopped until our concerns can be addressed and modifications made based on further evaluation. It is important that the beauty of the entrances on both sides of the highway are restored while providing better access and safety for all.

Sincerely,

Signed by Mary Carmen on behalf of the Council

Called to order: 10:10

Attendance: 27: 17 people at the meeting plus 11 proxies.

• Motion to approve minutes of September 2009 General Meeting
  Motion: Mary Henderson
  Second: Cathy Sonheim
  Passed
  

• Treasurer's Report:
  See attached:
  Discussion:
  Sergio has given accounting summary to Mary Carmen and will shortly provide all of the documents so that we can give them to the account.
  
  We are requesting that the accountant do the work for the council pro bono. Several people indicated that they use the services of the accountant.
  
  Need for part time staff or volunteers to help with AC office. Person will need a full time job and do part-time work. Critical need to get current documents registered.
  

• Security Committee
  
  • Old Fides Caribe Building:
    
    • POLICE:
      We got the police station in our posession. Received the head of police for Tulum and discussed what they will need. We are working with an assistant to work out a plan and clearly specify the requirements for the police and the responsibilities of the police: Targeted for December 10 occupancy. Police want a temporary holding cell (needed for safety of security staff and police.) Also need bars over the windows and exterior lights, a telephone line, and a repainted wall (white) so that they can do the logo. (The police want large bright lights, while the Environmental committee recommends less bright, yellow lighting.)
      
      The police will provide 24 hours and at least 2 people all the time. Ideally tourist police who are trained in English and Spanish. The need for a written agreement was stressed.
      
      There is a telephone line to the building and the coucil will take over the line and provide an extension to the police station. We will look for a way to control outgoing calls from the line. There was a discussion whether we should also establish a Radio base at the police station so that all private security can have immediate contact with police. With a cost of approximately $12,900 Pesos, it was decided to see how it goes with the telephone connection before investing in a radio base and new radios for all security guards.
      
      There was a general agreement to approve expenses for security.
      
      
    • WATER:
      CAPA has requested $18,000 Pesos for connecting the building and we will ask them to waive the fee. We believe that the accounting firm that has the lease for the building will be responsible for paying the water bill but this has yet to be clarified.
      
      Gonzalo indicated that he will aske for 2 hookups from the CAPA office in Playa del Carmen, one hookup for the building, the other for the green areas from the highway to the parking lot.
      
      
    • WASTE WATER:
      There was a question as to whether there is a septic tank which was clarified in the affirmative as the building has a closed tank.
      
      
    • OWNERSHIP:
      Mary Carmen: the owner is Playa del Carmen, and the building will be transferred to Tulum. The contract is with the municipality. Because we don't have ownership, we can't have any contract.
      
      
    • AC OFFICE AND ADDRESS:
      There was general consensus concerning setting up a permanent AC office in the upstairs of the building. Once the papers are received from Sergio, we will formally transfer our legal address from Sergio's company to the building.
      
      This led to a discussion on the name of the building. Earlier, there was a plan to name it the "Akumal Tourist Center". Alternatives of "Akumal Business Center" and "Akumal Council Building" were proposed. It was agreed that we would use the lot number for the formal address and then worry about the name later.
      
      
  • PLAIN CLOTHES POLICE ON THE BEACH:
    There was a discussion concerning the special permission that is required for plain clothes police patrols. The security committee will continue to work on this issue. In any event, however, we will train police with beach requirements.
    
    
  • SECURITY COMMITTEE MEETING:
    Not as much follow-up as desired. Talked to police about traffic control and parking.
    
    
  • SECURITY CAMERA:
    There was considerable discussion on the use of the digital surveillance camera at the arch. After discussions, there was general consensus that the two main uses are (a) a deterrent and (b) collecting evidence after the fact. The possibility of having a live monitoring at the police station was deemed to not be a good idea. However, the need to make the camera more visible was discussed and it was agreed that the council would also develop and install a highly visible sign.
    
    
  • RECENT BREAKINS:
    Recent problems in Solomon Bay and Tanka Bay were discussed with the possibility of the gang coming toward Akumal. The police indicated that they have apprehended some, but not all of the gang.
    
    
  • BRIDGE:
    Pueblo got what they needed, we need to do the same. Need interim lighting. Need to come up with a plan up to the end of the parking lot. Need a private meeting. Need a letter from the council for both temporary and permanent lighting. Propose cleanup and pause by December 15.
    
    
  • PARKING ON AKIMAL STREETS:
    For parking: Put up rocks or wooden posts and ropes.
    
    
• COMMUNITY LIASON COMMITTEE:
  Need to have a meeting to decide on priorities. They have lists of needs from School, PTA, Delegado, etc... We have about $1,100 for community liaison committee. Akumal United... We will accept dedicated funds for Akumal United. Laura to create a Blog on Akumal United.
  
  
• ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE:
  
  • WASTE WATER TREATMENT:
    N Akumal. Working with CAPA and Delegado: Gomez Mora. Need additional plant. Find out what is possible. What can CAPA do and what is economically feasible and environmentally. CEA staff member assigned to the project.
    
    
  • PUEBLO:
    We need to get the "Hook a House" project to get Pueblo connected.
    
    
  • RECYCLING:
    CEA needs to get container samples. CEA does not have money to purchase the containers. CEA will get costs to get more containers. Possibly man with a cart for N Akumal, but will need to be subsidized.
    
    
  • CLEANUP:
    Most of the problem is with construction and debris. The council will send a letter to each homeowner concerning the need to cleanup. Need owners and managers. Need workers etc. Mary, Paul, David to cover all areas of Akumal.
    
    
  • RACCOONS:
    Need to trap and ship out. Need notice out: Do Not Feed Wild Animals: signs in English and Spanish. Paul to coordinate. Paul/David to draft letter.
    
    
• MEMBERSHIP:
  Need to send out solicitation for 2008 and 2009.

Respectfully submitted:

David D S Poor, Secretary

• 9/12/2008 Balance Checking $32,555.80pesos
• 9/08/2008 check (8,000p) accounting fees from past council
• 11/08/2008 check (5,000p) assistant fees
• 24/10/2008 to 21/10/08 Deposits $63,468.00pesos
• 
  Balance $83,403.58 pesos Checking Account

Payments can continue to be taken to Zona Maya Real Estate Office above the reception of Vista Del Mar office of MaryCarmen. When making your membership payment or any other payment please place in an envelope with your name and property name. This allows easier accounting. Your payments are posted in an accounting system you may request a report from. David can explain this system he has created to make your report easy to obtain and read.

Thank you for your opportunity to serve as treasurer. I look forward to progress of memberships to allow our committees to progress our community at large.

Respectfully
Marcy Essy
Treasurer

Meeting called to order 10:05

Approval of minutes: Moved, seconded, approved.

Reports:

• President's Report:
  
  Introduction of Jose as our new part-time assistant.
  
  Committees and Board are working well.
  
  
• Secretary’s Report:
  
  There are numerous documents and requirements that we have been working on to regularize the status of the Akumal Council:
  • LEGAL DOCUMENTS
    
    • COMPLETED: Official translations completed, reviewed and ready for filing. Notario will do a final review
      1. June 2008 Minutes (Election of officers)
      2. September 2008 Minutes (Election of Treasurer and by law amendments)
      3. By Laws as amended
    • IN PROGRESS: Drafted and under review by Notario:
      1. Amendments to the constitution
    
    
    
  • DONATIONS AND MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
    
    Membership drive depends on ability to provide receipts for donations and completion of on-line payment through PayPal.
    
  • COMPLETED
  1. PayPal account established
  2. HSBC accounts moved to Tulum with new signees
  3. US HSBC account applied for in order to complete PayPal requirements.
  • IN PROGRESS:
    1. Printing new Facturas (legal receipts)
    2. Getting all required documents to change fiscal address (needed for facturas)
    3. Changing over the phone bill to AC. (needed for change of address)
    4. Establish US HSBC account
    5. Get PayPal approval for donations & link to HSBC account
  
  
  
• ACCOUNTING
  
  Before we can get an accountant to accept our 2009 books, we need to close the 2008 books. We have received the records from the prior leadership. We have engaged the prior accountant to properly close the 2008 books and will start with a new accountant for 2009.
  
  
• MEMBERSHIP LIST AND SIGNATURES
  
  In accordance with Mexican requirements, after the June meeting we will formally file a list of all active members. This will require a signature and documentation of donations for each member. A signature book will be established at the AC office and signatures will be collected at the meetings. For those who can not attend, we will supply a form that can be signed and returned by fax.
  
  Going forward, the list will be registered on an annual basis.
  
  As the bureaucratic steps are completed, we will be sending out more on this via e-mail.
  
  
• 2009-2010 MEETINGS
  • Wednesday, June 24, 2009
  • Friday, September 18, 2009
  • Wednesday, November 18, 2009
  • Friday, February 12, 2010
  • Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Commitee Reports:

• Community Relations Committee
  
  New Municipal President is: Marciano Dzul Caamal
  
  Emphasis on elementary school, sports.
  See report: click here.
  
  
  
  
• Security Committee
  
  Discussion on police station and AC offices. There is a new commandante for Tulum so we will need to work with the new commandante to get police station manned.
  
  
  Comandante Fernando Lira Manzanero- Director of Public Security, Transit and Firemen
  
  
  Juan Antonio is coordinating the building readiness for the police:
  1. The lights for the entrance/parking lot have been acquired and installed.
  2. The CAPA hookup is completed and the plumbing issues are being worked on.
  3. Sergio (painter) did the painting of the building for both police and the AC office.
  4. We may need to do more work on the septic.
  5. The telephone is being transferred to the council name.
  6. The police station still needs the "fonza" installed.
  
  Working on plans for new traffic flow to increase security and monitor those entering Akumal.
  
  
• Environmental Committee
  
  See report: click here.
  
  Discussion on newspaper articles claiming that "Akumal is the most poluted" area along the Rivera Maya. CEA has been monitoring the levels. Acknowledged need to have a plan for waste water and get the plan implemented. There may be some Federal money to help defray the infrastructure costs.
  
  Discussion on need to move forward on recycling throughout all of Akumal.
  
  Discussion on mulching and chipping of organics.
  
  Discussion on new law on garbage requiring separation and separate removal for all trash that requires secondary processing. More to come as we get more information.
  
  

Other Matters (from the Membership):

• Toxic Smoke
  
  There have been multiple instances of toxic smoke over parts of the area. Apparently, CEA and the municipal government (Solidaridad) located the source. The municipality has filed suit against the land owner which may result in significant fines.
  
  
• Municipal Services
  
  It was suggested that the municipality of Tulum is not providing all of the services that they are required by law to provide. There was some discussion on sending a letter on this matter to the Municipality and others.
  
  
• Raccoons:
  
  The issue of the raccoons will be more difficult Profetta says we can not relocate them. Now we need to deal with the issue as a public safety matter.
  
  

Adjourned: 2:30 PM

Respectfully submitted:

David D S Poor, Secretary

1. Water Quality
   
   • Wastewater treatment for tourist area, from Yal Ku to Bahía Principe (septic or system)
   • Complete treatment system for Akumal and Chemuyil Pueblos (expansion of plant andnetwork)
   • Review of each house, condo building, and hotel in Akumal (proper functioning)
   • Water flow studies from Tulum north to Akumal (know where pollution comes from)
   • Ongoing lab analysis (prove quality)
   
   
   Calidad de Agua
   
   • Tratamiento de agua para el área turístico, desde Yal Ku a Bahía Príncipe (fosa séptica o sistema)
   • Sistema completo de tratamiento para Akumal y Chemuyil Pueblos (expansión de la planta y red)
   • Revisión de casa en casa, condominios, y hoteles en Akumal (funcionamiento correcto)
   • Estudios de flujos de agua desde Tulum hacia Akumal (entender de donde proviene la contaminación)
   • Análisis laboratorio continua (comprobar la calidad)
   
   
   
2. Waste Management
   
   • Improved separation and recycling for all of Akumal (recycling points, municipal pickup)
   • Awareness raising and involvement in Akumal Pueblo (recycling points, municipal pickup, jungle cleanup)
   
   
   Manejo de residuos
   
   • Mejora en la separación y reciclaje en todo Akumal (puntos de reciclaje, colección municipal)
   • oncientización e participación de Pueblo de Akumal (puntos de reciclaje, colección municipal, limpieza de la zona de selva)
   
   
   
3. Protection
   
   100 Hectareas (establish protected area / establecer área protegida)
4. Bay Management
   
   Yal Ku to Bahía Príncipe
   
   
   Yal ku hasta Bahía Príncipe

DELEGADO UPDATE

1. There is now a base radio at the Delegacion
2. They have a police car but no radio inside
3. The delegacion has a hard line with internet . tel. 875 9497
4. On Jan 6, he got 26 Kings bread and a clown show and soft drinks for kids for Dia de Los Reyes and has been able to do a community open party for all the holidays
5. He is helping the “maternal” school with getting electricity and water hook up. Donating bathroom fixtures and some cable. Now he just needs to negotiate with the company putting the lighting on the bridge to get them to connect light running a cable from the elementary school.
6. They need to get a septic tank made and connect to the drainage
7. CEA donated a truck and it has been very useful
8. He is organizing Carnival Feb 20-24 to raise funds for public lighting
9. They have the motorcyle and it is functioning but with only 3 police they can do very little.

Community Liaison Committee Meeting

• Treasury report from Marcy on Akumal United Fund:
  

  Donations
  

  • 12/16/08, Elsy Bush, $5,000 NM
  • 12/16/08, Laura Bush, $3,000 NM
  • 01/31/09, Paul S Navarro, $1,000 NM, sports program
  • 01/31/09, Marcy Essy, $1,000, sports program
  • 01/31/09, Linda Tate, $2,000, sports program
  • Paula Batson USD check, $200 USD Elementary School

  Pledges

  • Linda Tate $300 USD

  Total in Bank: $12,000 MN
  Total USD to be deposited: $200 USD
  
  

• Elementary School:
  
  
  • Situation was discussed at length with the Vice President of the Parent’s Association. ( Luis Aviles Camara)
  • Actions to be taken:
    1. Write a letter to the Regional Supervisor of the SEP to ask for assistance regarding the Principal of the school and lack of funding for infrastructure. ( Leti Cordova)
    2. Invite the Supervisor to a meeting with the Committee to reinforce our letter. ( Leti Cordova)
    3. Invite a representative of each class to attend a separate meeting with the Committee. Goal of the meeting: To get the parents to become more involved with the school. Let them know that with an action plan and working together with the Council, the school can make progress. ( coordinated by the Vice President of the Parent’s Association)
  
  
• Telesecundaria _ Middle School
  
  
  • Report from Leti Cordova and our guest, Luis Aviles Camara who is also the President of the Parent’s Assoc. of the Middle School.
  • The situation there is more stable although they do need to have better infrastructure, quality of teachers, and a more stimulating environment for learning.
  • The Frida Kahlo library needs a full time librarian and a program for helping kids after school learn better study habits and help with homework.
  • The need for teacher enrichment workshops was discussed as well as a good summer school program to keep the kids off the street and learning in a fun environment.
  
  
• Pablo Bush Romero Scholarship Fund
  
  
  • Laura B met with the 7 kids receiving $500 pesos per month this year to discuss their grades. They are not all doing well.
  • Laura invited them to the Feb 14th Fundraising event at Lolha for dinner. They will be present during the drawing of the raffle prizes. Guests will be able to meet them during the event. Laura hopes that they take the scholarships more seriously by being present when the fundraising event takes place.
  • Everyone is invited to attend this special dinner at Lolha. Reservations : email laura@hotelakumalcaribe.com
  
  
• Superbowl Report of Fundraising Event
  
  The fundraiser was a great success thanks to Charlene Powell and a great turnout of locals and tourists. Everyone was very generous. The betting pools filled up and most of the T shirts sold. ( Charlene has some smalls left )
  
  Total of proceeds to be deposited to the United Akumal Fund and earmarked for the Elmentary School.
  
  Total Raised : $22,286 Pesos

INFORMAL MEETING:

REGULARIZATION OF HOUSES AND BUSINESSES IN AKUMAL

1. The Council is not requiring that anyone do anything, but is trying to be an asset to the community in providing information and identifying resources available to the community.
2. If you are already fully regularized, great: there is nothing that you need to do.
3. There may be some lag in getting the appropriate documents transferred from Solidaridad to Tulum, and you may need to obtain official copies from Playa and deliver them to Tulum.
4. If you are a business, there are permits, taxes, and other responsibilities that you have above and beyond those of a property owner/resident. Note that if you advertise all or part of your property as available for rent, you are running a business and need to regularize your business.
5. It was strongly recommended that all residences and businesses in Akumal have full or proportional ownership of a Mexican company to handle all taxes, wages, permits, annual meetings, reporting, and related matters. It is clear that such companies can be for an individual residence or business or for a condominium organization. (It may also be possible to set up one company for a group of residences but this would require checking with a lawyer.) In general, a management company can not perform these functions for its clients.
6. The Council will post an initial list of documents that may be needed, and will revise and expand the listing as it is able to get better information on some of the pre-cursor requirements. As the list is refined, there will also be distinctions between merely owner-occupied residence requirements and business requirements. However, it was emphasized that each situation may be different and that there are many circumstances that may require different documentation.
7. Representatives of Tulum will be available at the AC office (upstairs in the old Fideicaribe Building) on July 8. Residents are encouraged to bring their questions to the representatives for clarification and assistance. (Plan to have the discussion in Spanish, not English.)
8. The Council will provide a list of accountants and lawyers who have successfully served members of the community for the benefit of those who do not already have appropriate resources.
9. For members of the Council, the Municipality has agreed to extend a grace period for completion of all documentation until at least November 15.
10. Individuals and businesses may join the Council. Click on the membership tab above to see the requirements: new members can sign up at the Akumal Council offices most afternoons.

Treasurer’s Report

• New Septic
• Protectors for Consejo building on all windows but lower frontage
• Holding cell police station
• New septic intalled
• Gardener hired
• Building, entrance, parking cleaned and improved
• 90 meters of fence along entrance

• Telephone ordered and installed
• Build a bodega behind the consejo building for gardener tricicleta and tools

Secretary’s Report

• The Minutes of January meeting were accepted.
• With a great deal of work by the board and our assistant José, we have made great progress in getting the Council itself regularized. However, it is still a work in progress although we hope we are nearly done.
• Membership: The secretary explained that formal, legal membership in a Mexican organization requires that the new members be formally accepted into the organization and that the membership list be registered. Until now, people who "joined" the Council gave direction to the board, but had no legal standing. Therefore, from now on, the Council will utilize appropriate procedures to ensure that all members are properly documented and have full voting rights. As a result, there are now both Council requirements and Mexican legal requirements for all new members. Between now and September, the board will draw up a set of recommendations for the organizational requirements so that voting members can approve or change those requirements at the September meeting.

Committee Reports

Security Committee:

• The police are manning the station at the parking lot on weekends only.
• He has 2 more police for Akumal and a 4 wheel which has allowed for better patrolling of the different bays.
• He is helping us with the Municipality to speed up the remodeling of the outside parking lot for better safety. ( see June 23 meeting below)
• He suggested the Council put up an observation tower if we want to have better control over the parking lot against thefts.
• His security program for the Riviera Maya has been implanted. . Involves training programs, and a strict code of conduct that serves at the internal regulation code for the force.
• Police now know what their rights are, how to protect citizen’s rights, how much force they can and cannot use, etc.
• He is also setting up a branch called the “ Direccion de Policia Ejecutiva” that will be available for private contracting. These police will be specifically trained to work in the private sector, and with tourism. They will be able to carry a gun.
• It should be ready to operate by October.
• Some of the courses given to the police: Biologist , Juan Carlos Alvarado Padilla, from Xcacel on the guidelines for being on the beach ensuring the safety and protection of the turtles.
• Immigration: How to deal with people of different nationalities to ensure they are identified and present proper documentation when detained.
• Emergency First Aid and CPR.
• They are in need of first aid kits for their police cars.
• His focus is entirely on training the police to deal with tourism properly and to know how to ensure that their stay is not marred by a negative experience.
• He gave one example: If a tourist has had too much to drink and had done nothing else wrong, he will be escorted back to his hotel only, instead of sending him to the police station.
• He also suggested we sponsor signs at each end of the bridge saying NO PEDESTRIANS. They are not using the pedestrian walkway and there he is afraid someone will get run over.
• Also to have a tope made where the bridge meets the feeder lane that brings cars in from the south.
• Although he has 200 km 2 of territory to cover and 17 mayan communities, he is working with what he has and trying to get federal subsidies. There was an 11 million peso federal subsidy given to Solidaridad that was supposed to be divided up with Tulum but never did. That is why they have brand new motorcycles and cars today, and Tulum is still struggling.

Environmental Committee

Community Liaison Committee Report

To organize a project to build a Civic Plaza To bring together the Parent Assoc and the Administration of the School To further our involvement and Communication with the School.

Infrastructure Disciplinary guidelines for the school Motivation for the kids to become leaders in student Government Help with a summer program to keep the Frida Khalo Library opened. They need volunteers. Full minutes in Spanish by Leticia Cordova.

• Call to order
• Members Present:
  Mary Carmen Domani
  Laura Bush
  Paul Sanchez Navarro
  David Poor
  
• Procedure for new members: the procedures for signing the membership were explained and a sign up sheet was provided.
• Acceptance of new members: the 24 new members were accepted, consisting of:
  1. Steve Clouther
  2. Mary Henderson
  3. Robert Sapia
  4. Kiyami Ortega
  5. Rey Ortega
  6. Beryl H. VanLierop
  7. Susan Hogeland
  8. Didier Jackson
  9. Mariece White
  10. Peter Raap
  11. Pablo Diaz
  12. Maueli Aparicio
  13. Playa Caribe Condos (Business)
  14. Carol A Flores
  15. Yool Caanal (Business)
  16. Ruth G Margolis
  17. Gabriella Orvallanos
  18. Rhett Schober
  19. Roger Pech Yerbes
  20. Gerardo H Dominguez
  21. Jacobio J Van Oeveren
  22. La Bahia (Business)
  23. Nancy F Poor
  24. Eddelfrant Green
• Adjournment.