Personal Notes, HOA Meeting 01-27-2022

HOA Meeting Notes 01-27-2022

Meeting conducted via teleconference (WebEx)

2:42pm

Directors Present: Scott Kiefner, Dave Quinsey, Chris Andre, Ed Wenz

Directors Absent: Tom Wright

FirstService Residential

Nadine Bell - Community Manager

FirstService Residential Regional Director Ian Navarro

Committee Update & Invited Guests

Scott asked if there were any questions. None. He said they are going a great job.

Reports:

Work Order Report:

Said there are several report

Landscape Walkthrough/Punchlist

Stormwater Inspection Report

Inlets being checked. This new company is checking them.

Scott asked if there were questions or comments. None.

Crews sent from O’Connell, more attention to trash. Asked to go through whole community. Started on the 20th. Street lights remain under control of Lennar until turned over to the City

HOMEOWNER FORUM

Homeowner talked about mailbox in front of her house. It was supposed to be moved after her house was built. There is no parking. Other homeowners block her driveway. Can the board help with this? Scott asked about Lennar. Amber said she was told it would be moved. It was placed there because of limitations during construction and was supposed to be moved. Scott said it is on the agenda and he will look into it.

Homeowner lives on Ocotillo. Kids at night loiter and smoke, throw trash etc. He picks up the trash rather than waiting for landscapers because the trash blows down the hill. He noticed the efforts made on Morella.

He suggested a more holistic approach. If Morella is taken, they go up Mariposa and throw their trash there. He has spoken to a number of them. Can we increase security patrols Fri-Sat-Sun night. Scott said his item is on the agenda.

Homeowner asked if the matter of the Ballo lawsuit been resolved. Where can I get the information? Scott said it is between the parties and won’t be discussed in Open Session.

Homeowner referred to the prior speaker who asked if the lawsuit is resolved. I’m not sure it is confidential. For all the things that the directors haven’t taken action on, it amazes me that you sued after the statue of limitations. She said that perhaps a new lawyer is needed.

Homeowners suggested another suitable time for meeting because it’s hard to make these 2:30 meetings. Scott: We’ve had more participation at this time.

Homeowner said, O’Connell landscape contract costs $18,534 monthly. Will you simply pay more without ensuring the do the work already required in the contract? Irrigation boxes were broken from November 18, and remained so as of January 25, with the same trash still by them. Plants are supposed to be cleared 18” from the fence, but they aren’t by my fence. Landscapers blow debris between the straw wattle and our fence so we have to clear it. Vegetation blocks sprinklers by our house. Sumac exceeds the height specified by the fire department. You said you were going to address rebar sticking up from straw wattle at Dracena/Claret. It didn’t occur to anyone to address it at other locations such as Calico and Mirador? Lot by our house is mostly weeds.

The most frequent type of lie by the board and FirstService is “We’ll get back to you on that.”

You said you would inform us what happened with the settlement in the case where you sued Lennar. It’s been two years since the case was settled. Don’t you think that’s enough time to consider your broken promise a lie? If you don’t provide the information by the next meeting, you are liars. The case must have been handled poorly. Did you file that one too late too.

Homeowner referred to the prior speaker’s question and said it is public information that the Ballo case was dismissed. Homeowners shouldn’t have to pay the legal costs for them because you waited over 5 years to file the lawsuit about the pool slide house. It illustrates another type of lie by the board where you say how long lawsuits take. Well yeah, if you haven’t filed it. You shouldn’t delay lawsuits or other enforcement to help your buddies or for any other non-legal reason. If your lawyer caused you to delay then maybe you need a new lawyer. If you delayed then shame on you.

END HOMEOWNER FORUM

Consent Calendar

Minutes: no comments. Scott abstained, not at the meeting. Otherwise Approved unanimously.

November 21 financials approved without discussion

Lien Approval $1787 (?), approved without discussion. No other number provided

Van Dyke Landscape & Pauma landscape met. See recommendations and meeting recap by O’Connell pg 92-95 in packet. Chris added that some of the concerns brought up about valve covers is included.

O’Connell Contract $19,460, increase of $900, for 2022. Scott said it looks like a standard increase. Scott asked if there was a motion to approve or deny? Chris asked if the landscape committee has thoughts on how long it is taking them to complete work e.g. the valve covers mentioned. Chris said it is taking a long time for items to be done because of the delays including having to wait for items to be approved at the meeting. Scott says homeowners have complimented them on improvements. Scott said landscape walks should be easier with COVID lessening. Scott says they will be able to do a better job of holding them accountable. Chris asked if will we still have a 30 day cancellation clause? Scott said that it is not a new contract. Ian Navarro said it is a rate adjustment not a change in the contract. Scott asked if this is typical. Navarro said they are typically increased annually, but more, especially now. Several comments were made about the minimum wage. Chris said it seems the increase is reasonable, but responsiveness is an issue. Scott said they had management changes and communication should improve. Motion to approve, by Chris. Bell said there is a method to track. Scott says they respond quickly to him. He said they communicated when some things were not completed as fast as they liked. Motion approved unanimously.

O’Connell Clean Up Proposal, going up Morella on the left. That property belongs to Lennar. Scott asked Nadine to work with Lennar.

Homeowner Correspondence

Mailboxes: Scott said they addressed it. He’ll look into it

Correspondence from homeowner, pictures of trash, cigarettes, debris from people parking. Scott questioned about what can be done about security. Scott says maybe security needs to be increased. He said Chris and Tom have made calls. Scott said they can look at cameras though he doesn’t know how well it would work. Scott also asked about Neighborhood Watch which Chris worked on previously. Scott said the streets will be turned over to the City in the future and it needs to be taken into consideration

Chris said Melissa J. initiated neighborhood watch. Eventually participation dropped. Melissa said she did start it, but at the time someone shot and killed an African American kid. Because she was on the board the directors decided she should turn it over to someone else. She believes it was turned over to Paula B.

Chris says it’s a nice idea, but it can die off from lack of homeowner participation. Chris said the cameras by Flock Security were presented. Rental cameras for the year or two years, video capture, license plate capture, make the information available to Sheriff.

Community patrol: used to be an onsite dedicated security patrol with a marked vehicle. Now they are here intermittently at night. Perhaps evenings on Fri,Sat dedicated patrol would be helpful. The streets were private at the time. There will be fewer limitations once the streets become public. Morella will still be a private street. Trails are also private. Homeowners may also call the Sheriff. Community says the Sheriff often doesn’t respond in time which wouldn’t be an issue with dedicated patrol. People have suggested a gate but there are hurdles including the City and NorthStar. He said the City suggested that we wait. There would be an assessment to pay for the park. Chris suggested that they conduct another survey of the community regarding cameras, security patrol, and gate. Homeowner said that the HOA would have to pay for streets and lighting. He said the Sheriff doesn’t prioritize loitering. He said they don’t know what is private. He said they will not prioritize loitering and trash throwing. He said he has asked about 50 people to leave when smoking pot and throwing trash. He said when they leave he doesn’t see the same people coming back. He said that over time they get the word that it’s not a good place to hang out. He said it is a matter of conditioning. He said security can provide the same conditioning, and building a reputation that this isn’t a place to hang out. He said security at night on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening to 1 am would help. He said it is about being persistent, present, and in their face. He said at least try it for a year, but it doesn’t have to be permanent. You put those barriers on Morella, so they drive up the street to park on Mariposa.

Homeowner2 suggested permit parking. Need to meet with the City to get their cooperation. It would also help with the shuttle parking on Calico.

Homeowner1: <permit parking> it is moot, people would have to contact the Sheriff

Homeowner2: Permit parking would allow the Sheriff to issue tickets. It’s better than homeowners risking their safety to confront troublemakers. The City, Sheriff, everyone knows their limitations. We’ve dealt with them. They can’t enforce infractions e.g. parking on private streets. To get a better response report crime e.g. public drug use

Scott: Nadine, put cameras on the next agenda. Chris, please continue working on it. Does anyone have time to go to the City to ask about permit parking, perhaps for some areas. Scott has reservations about permits. He has guests and kids, though he understands guest permits could be used.

Homeowner1 agreed to approach the City.

Homeowner2: Said that they tried it in the past but the City Engineer said the HOA needed to approach them. Keep in mind that is one person and approaches can change.

Next Meeting Feb 17, Thurs, 2:30