Personal Notes, HOA meeting 4/13/2017, Sky Ranch Community Association
Personal Notes, HOA Meeting 04-13-2017
Directors Present: Chris Andre, Scott Kiefner, Dave Quinsey, Tom Wright
Absent: Ed Wenz
FirstService Residential, Richard Ford, Senior Community Manager
Work order: Sidewalk not HOA responsibility
Wright asked if rebar sticking out of straw waddle had been addressed. Yes, by the curb, not by ditch. Referred for work.
HOMEOWNER FORUM
KOA Sky Ranch, RV’s parked beyond 48hr limit: Ocotillo, bus-sized RV with slide-outs extended, possibly occupied, electrical connections across sidewalk. Repeated violation on Bella Vista, RV in street beyond allowed limit, and commercially signed vehicle. FirstService inspection once per month is insufficient as directors turn a blind eye.
Pitfalls of attorney running an HOA. They make money off conflict. HOA has needless conflict. Executive session agenda “legal item,” litigation, etc. despite minimal enforcement. Rarely agenda items such as contract negotiation or personnel. HOA attorney now spending time and money researching documents for Lot L, because HOA wouldn’t discuss.
Open Session Agenda item repeated "Architectural Modification Status." To decode, the HOA lost track of notices of completion. In other words, lost track of files regarding which homeowners completed their landscape. Landscape must be installed within one year of moving into new homes. They all should have been done years ago but the board can't enforce what they don't track. Had the board not been so heavy handed after the recall of the prior board they might have gotten cooperation. Instead, they immediately kicked all of the former board members off the committees. It shouldn't be surprising that the transition failed, enforcement lacks, and design review doesn't appear fair.
Meanwhile the board focuses their efforts on changing rules to lower standards and ensure their re-election rather than enforcing the rules and taking care of the landscape--the basics. Notified FirstService of a valve leak including a photo. Ten days later the leak remained. Called the emergency line to notify FirstService of a large irrigation line with sprinkler heads running 11 hours per day. Wasn't given any information or told that someone would call. Later discovered a voice message. "Hi Mike Sherry from First Service I'm just calling and responding to your emergency page." No call back number or information was given. Irrigation issue continued for days. Request to see prior and March water bills at the next meeting. FirstService again failed to send agendas via email or post them on the FirstService site. They haven’t posted committee minutes since July. These are the types of issues the board should work on, not changing rules.
Homeowner picks up a lot of litter. Some seems to follow trash collection. Litter up on Morella every weekend. Evidence that there is drinking up there near the bench where the fence blocks the road. Friday, Saturday, Sunday morning there is usually trash at Morella. Typically, convenience food type of trash. Usually doesn't happen during the work week. It also occurs on Ocotillo. Often it looks like it was deposited over the fence. The trash on Morella is 10ft from a trash can. It trashes the neighborhood and is upsetting. Quinsey suggested putting a note in the newsletter suggesting that homeowners carry bags to pick up trash as they walk. Landscapers will be reminded of their responsibility to pick up trash.
Tree across from house is leaning. Reported it to FirstService. Quinsey said he believes it grew that way, can’t be corrected. Homeowner requested that it be trimmed.
END HOMEOWNER FORUM
CC&R Amendment
Last month decided not to work on it this year.
Bylaw Amendment
Variances & Ending Cummulative voting. 75% approval required. Drop the issue for now.
<Note—Previous meeting, Ford said in his opinion it is not a majority as the board had believed, rather 75%, though he will present it to the attorney for an opinion.—Assume the attorney told them 75% required though this wasn’t stated in the meeting.>
Move forward with staggered election and insurance provision. Send to attorney to review particularly regarding election threshold required for passage.
Monument Lighting Proposal
Similar to existing lighting--$1895
LED three times as much. <Price not stated for audience.>
BRM Proposal: $2325
Andre will check with BRM to see if warm white LED is available.
Northstar & Sky Ranch cost sharing. Ford still researching. Need to schedule meeting including a director or two.
Design Guidelines Revision tabled in absence of Wenz. Directors had an opportunity to make submissions for revision.
Architectural Submission Review Service. Ford recommended Lightfoot Planning. Ford found them to be hands-on, and had good experience with complicated situations. Board wants to meet with them because prior reviewers were a "train wreck," for example, approving things that shouldn't have been approved.
Reserve Study
Need a level three $500 review, site visit not required.
4th of July Logistics - Closing Sevilla Street. Get estimate for Ford to oversee it. $100 per hour plus mileage. Capped at 5 hours.
Graves Street Landscaping
Andre suggests improvement of Graves Street landscaping to increase property values. Need a pump that costs $35,000 to allow irrigation. He suggests cost sharing. Quinsey and Kiefner said we can't pay to irrigate City property. Unclear why some areas are landscaped well on Graves while others look bad. Will review further.
Security Camera
Andre suggested installing a camera at the entrance. City suggested methods other than installing a gate, a camera being an option. Wright & Quinsey opposed. What can you do with the information? Andre says it is a deterrence and it may assist the Sheriff. Kiefner not convinced it will deter. Kiefner said it might help but it might not be worth the cost. Kiefner says a license plate reader would be an invasion of privacy that he would oppose. Andre said the sign regarding cameras would be a deterrent. Kiefner said post a sign saying cameras in use, after all many homeowners have cameras.
Formation of CC&R Review Committee
This idea was presented to deal with lack of unanimous consent by the directors. Wright says he is working on other things and other homeowners could work on it. Quinsey said it seems unlikely to get 75% approval. Kiefner says adding more people will not increase consensus. Andre says adding more voices from the community would help. Kiefner says he and Quinsey talk to homeowners. Kiefner questioned whether another committee would speak better for the community than the board. Andre said they would go door to door. Kiefner said it could be manipulated. Wright sees no problem with the committee, it could be like a landscape committee. Kiefner said that they spent a lot of time on it and the five board members didn't reach consensus. Andre said a committee could do a survey. Quinsey says getting 50% of homeowners to vote is difficult, much less 75%. Quinsey said they've never had 75% of the people vote, much less vote for approval. Andre said that people didn't think the recall of the board could be done. Kiefner thinks it may be a disservice to get people worked up.
Andre motion to form a CC&R Bylaw Committee, Wright & Andre in favor, Quinsey & Kiefner opposed. Andre invited to bring a more structured proposal e.g. process for voting on committee members.
Annual Budget Preparation: Ford will supply a spreadsheet for directors to edit.
Bank Account Balance Limit: Ford said there is a "Quite a portfolio of accounts," and some have approached FDIC limits. Ford recommends more active management by Meryl Lynch. Quinsey asked about fees. There is an account for which a decision is necessary tonight. Wright asked for additional information. Voted to move money from an account reaching $250,000 limit.
Next meeting May 17th, Wright will be late because of other commitments. Instructed Ford to email and post agenda on website.