Las Palomas

July/August 04 President's Comments

Mar 14, 2005

Las Palomas H.O.A.
President?’s Perspective

To: Homeowners of Las Palomas August 24, 2004
From: Ken Dry

Summary of July Meeting and August events

A copy of the July minutes will be posted on the website at: www.neighborhoodlink.com/scottsdale/palomas/. You may also obtain a copy by calling the H.O.A. office and request a copy to be left at the gatehouse.

We had a nice turnout of interested homeowners who waited through the meeting to discuss my questions on last month?’s letter regarding landscaping and painting of homes. Between the attendees and e-mail I have received, there is a split in whether to change our common areas and front yards to a more desert friendly design. Of the owners who prefer conventional lawns, a majority who responded would consider a change if the availability of water and costs of maintaining the lawns became a mitigating factor.

THIS IS A TOPIC FOR GENERAL DISCUSION AND IS NOT UP FOR ANY KIND OF IMMEDIATE ACTION BY THE BOARD.

In the responses from the last newsletter, there was a general misunderstanding about how the Board would function if homeowners were responsible for painting or maintaining their homes and front lawns. In all cases, any work on the home and yard would require approval from the Board prior to any exterior maintenance or construction project. Also, the Board would retain the authority to direct a homeowner to correct any condition not consistent with standards set by the Board.

Currently, The Board decides when a house may need a touch up, when a yard needs to be maintained or when a true common area needs work and then schedules to work based on degree of necessity and budget. If a homeowner wants to do proceed on his own timetable, they may do so after obtaining approval from the Board and at their own expense. Completion of any work must conform to Association standards. Any changes to lot landscaping, not proposed by the Association, must be approved by the Board and cannot add to the maintenance cost of the Association. The Association will not be responsible nor maintain any landscaping that requires special treatment over and above the level of maintenance provided to all homeowners and the common areas. In these cases, the Board would require the homeowner to properly maintain their own property at the homeowner?’s cost. If there were elements of the landscape design that does not require special treatment, the association would maintain those elements. Examples of this type of landscape are lots #18 and #22. We cut the lawns and trim the trees. We do not prune their sculptured bushes.

Maricopa County Environmental Health Department inspected our pool area and
has specified changes that have to be made to our fences and gates. We have been given 30 days to submit a compliance schedule and take corrective action by December 30th. We are filing for an extension and will be requesting a variance for the county to accept our current configuration. This is related to the requirements set by our insurance carrier to conform to the changes in the rules and regulations regarding pool construction and safety passed in 2003. (See letter from Las Palomas H.O.A.)

As for insurance, we have contacted some more insurance companies to find alternatives to our current policy. We are getting more information on ?“self insuring?”. This requires our H.O.A. or the individual homeowner, to cover any loses not covered by a reinsurer?’s deductible. Our current master plan deductible is $10,000. If we raise the deductible to $25m, we lower the premium by about $3500. If we go to $50m it drops about $6000. We would probably have to fund at least $75m to cover any potential loss due to fires, storms or other possible damage. This relates to about $585 per lot up front for the first year-MINIMUM. I am guessing that the storm in Florida will not lower our insurance premiums.
A Note! Check with your condominium private policy provider to be sure the $10m deductible is covered under your current policy. The first $10m damage to your roof and exterior walls is not covered by the master policy.

The next meeting will be held at the Via Linda Senior Center. Please attend. If you have something you wish their board to discuss, please let me know in advance. I need to schedule time for everyone?’s participation.

Our primary agenda will be to continue discussion on the 2005 Budget. We will also review the following proposed projects and homeowner inquiries:

Fall planting, Clarification of Board policy on reimbursement to homeowners for expenditures not approved by the Board or covered by the current budget, mail box maintenance, reviewing scheduled ground maintenance and status of the Maricopa pool citation. See ?“Board Meeting Agenda?” for the meeting on September 15th, 2004.

I hope to see more of you there. We have rented this location in hopes of increasing homeowner participation..

Ken Dry