Las Palomas

June '04 President's Comments

Jul 19, 2004

Las Palomas H.O.A.


Las Palomas ?“President?’s Perspective?”

To: Homeowners of Las Palomas
From: Ken Dry
Date: 07/19/04
Re: Summary of June Meeting
For the minutes of the June 2004 meeting, please log on to our website at: www.neighborhoodlink.com/scottsdale/palomas/. Copies of the minutes will be available at the Las Palomas office for homeowners still in Las Palomas for the summer months. We have enclosed copies to out of town owners without e-mail access.
At the meeting, Mike Frain and Russ Marohnic were introduced to all present as the new Board members to fill the open spots left by the resignation of Dr. Schriebman and Bob Catalana. Russ has taken on the chore of heading the Landscaping Committee. This committee will report to the Board at the advisor level. Russ is a Landscape Architect. He lives at lot 132, 480-314-4468. Please contact him for input pertaining to lawn care, plants and landscape design or to help out his committee
Mike Frain has specialized in home and business security systems. He is the Founder of a very successful company in the Chicago area. He has served with the Board on past advisory committees. Mike and his wife Pat live at lot 82 and are avid tennis players.
We would like to have a committee formed to review the Association?’s responsibility to maintain the exteriors of all the homes and their front areas as defined in the CC&R?’s. It has been suggested by a number of the homeowners that each lot / homeowner should be responsible to maintain their individual properties, at their own expense, conforming to the specifications of the Association. We need feedback on this issue.
I am asking John Randolph, Steve Stuhrmer, Dr. Schriebman, Richard and Joan Taras, Jean Roberts, Kim Stafford, Jim Hudson or anyone else who would like to participate in discussions to formulate policy to change or retain our current procedures for house paining and maintaining the front areas of the individual lots. We need a committee Chairperson. I would also participate as part of this committee. This topic is scheduled to be included in the agenda for the November Board meeting. We will also be finalizing the 2005 Budget at this meeting.
Thought for the Day: On the average, we have paid for our own house to be painted only once in ten years. All the other years, we have paid to paint someone else?’s house. We have been assessed an average of $11.67/month for house painting based on our budgets since 1996.
On the Lawn front, since the rye grass has died away, it is apparent that our root structure for the Bermuda grass is weak and we have large patches of poor cover. We have started to reseed the bare areas, covering the seeds with mulch and increasing the frequency of watering. We expect to see results within two weeks. Because we are in a drought period and our water bills are rising, if you think your grass is not getting enough water, please use your own water source to supplement your needs. Tampering with our sprinkler system is wasteful and illegal.
Please let me know your opinion:

1. Would you consider changing the true common areas to desert landscaping and conserve water?
2. Would you consider artificial grass as an alternative to real grass? (I saw some samples at the Home & Garden show that looked exactly like real Rye Grass.) For front areas of your lot? (Does not apply to all of you who have desert landscaping already). For the putting green area? For the pool areas?
3. What is more important, 1. Low monthly assessment payments with more frequent special assessments, 2. Higher monthly assessments with less special assessments, 3. Lower monthly assessments with the cost of some services being paid directly by homeowners on an ?“as needed?” basis
The topics we hope to cover at the July meeting are, lawn care and plantings for August and September and plantings for the Fall, and preparing preliminary budget figures or August discussion.
Have a great July.
Ken Dry