HOA Special Exec Meeting January 24, 6pm, Mariposa ST
This agenda was posted on the community board, but wasn’t included with the agendas that were sent via email.
Accounting By FirstService Residential
Update: FirstService sent an updated account ledger that appears to explain the discrepancy.
The HOA increased the $220 assessment by $12.45 on October 1, but they didn’t start billing for that amount immediately and later began recouping the money from homeowners. We started paying the full $232.45 before FirstService began billing for it. We pay our bill in advance each month. Therefore, on November 29, we had a credit of $232.45. But on November 30 AND December 1, they added the adjustment of $12.45
I hope it’s another issue of FirstService being confused by payments arriving early, but those who use automatic payment should be aware.
After a long time holding on the phone, because, you know, “Higher than normal call volume,” I spoke to a representative who pulled irrelevant billing from April. I pointed out that the zero balance on November 14 makes a better starting place. She would have none of it so I held longer for a supervisor who said he will look into it.
HOA Loses Lawsuit Because They Filed Too Late
The Sky Ranch HOA lost their lawsuit against the homeowners for a commercial grade pool slide to the roof and other violations. The court simply ruled that the HOA waited to long to file the case. The lawsuit was filed on September 2, 2020, but according to the judge (pdf) it needed to be filed by October 3, 2019.
It means that all of the money that the HOA spent on this litigation was wasted. Additionally, it is likely that HOA will have to pay the defendant’s legal costs. While the lawsuit was reasonable, the delay in filing the case was not. In one of his statements for the case, director Dave Quinsey states that he attended multiple events at their residence, and “The Association’s Board was hoping for an informal ‘over-the-fence’ resolution of the dispute…”
Board member(s) were chatting with their buddies and playing around with variances for them when they should have been filing the suit. We got the worst of both worlds: The rules weren’t enforced, yet we paid for the legal costs, and perhaps the homeowner’s legal costs.
The HOA did not inform the community about this lawsuit. Despite an HOA meeting earlier this week, they have not informed the community about the loss or the cost.
Hydroseeding to Begin This Week
The HOA submitted erosion control plans <pdf> that include hydroseeding that is expected to begin this week. The HOA has not disclosed this information, nor the cost, to the homeowners. Virtually all of the recent and planned landscape revegetation has been mandated by the City. Some of the areas by the sidewalks were recently planted or ground cover was applied at the strong “suggestion” of the City.
New Home Construction
Construction has started for a new home on Ruocco Drive, immediately north of the main Sky Ranch development. An 870 square-foot accessory dwelling unit (granny flat) was also approved. The review permit states that, “The accessory dwelling unit or the main residence will, as required by Deed Restriction, be owner-occupied as long as the accessory dwelling unit exists.” Obviously, there are a number of other requirements.
The accessory unit is single story and on the western side of the lot, which is good news for neighbors.
Cox Communications Makes Offers…Too Late
I’ve been a Cox customer for over 20 years. I had an old data plan with 150 Mbs which was adequate. When I canceled the TV service last week they raised my fee for data from $70 to $134. They said that I lost some “internal” bundle discount which wasn’t on my bill. Today, I canceled the service, but out of morbid curiosity and a chance to get information for others I listened as they made offers. I left the modem connected, but off my network so they could see that I still have Cox service (they checked). This took quite a while and they didn’t get to the 2nd offer until I rejected the first offer and they proposed setting a date for cancelation, but I told them to cancel it today.
1st offer: Gigabit internet data $90 for two years, then $120, plus two years of Complete Care.
2nd offer: Keep current data plan for $54 for two years
He said my price had been higher because I had an unlimited data plan. I said that wasn’t true because my bill says my data cap is 1.25 TB. He seemed to feign confusion. I said that these tactics were part of the reason I was leaving. I said they should be more up front if I ever come back shopping for a plan.
Cox Communications
Cox
TV $119 (no premium channels)
Internet $69.99 (150 Mbps)
Total with fees: $196.94
I called Cox to cancel the TV service. The representative told me that I’d lose my bundle discount. I said I don’t have a bundle discount because Cox dropped it when I canceled the telephone service. She said that I do have a discount. I said there is no longer a discount on my billing statement. She said it is “internal.” Huh? She said that the price of my internet service price will be $133.98. If my new service installation goes well, I’ll cancel Cox entirely next week. As I suspected, the discounts, fees, surcharges etc, are simply phony terms that they use to control the debate with customers. I mention it in case it helps anyone who negotiates with them.
Stunt in Sky Ranch
Dangerous driving in Sky Ranch
Property Management
I don’t know the California Terraces community, but I suggest that they get a different management company.
Sky Ranch 2021 Annual Meeting letter.