Personal Notes HOA Meeting 06-26-2025

HOA Meeting Notes 06-26-2025 5:03 pm

Meeting conducted via video conference (Microsoft Teams)

Directors Present: Chris Andre, Dave Quinsey, Mita Schumacher, Ed Wenz

Directors Absent: David Samo

FirstService Residential

Tiffani Rivers - Community Manager

Carrie Heieck, General Counsel, Tinnely Law

III. HOMEOWNER FORUM

Homeowner #1

Dead plants were not removed as she was told they would be. They continue to irrigate the dead area.

Homeowner #2

Again, the link for the meeting was not provided in the email. It is convenient for the property management contractor, not the homeowners. Contractors have it good with the HOA. Imagine being a landscape contractor for an HOA that doesn’t make them grow the plants, irrigate properly, or maintain the fire zones.

The board has openly talked about not irrigating, despite the CC&Rs requiring the HOA to maintain the landscape. When discussing a tree that died, director Samo asked why because it will die again. Using that logic why replace anything that dies?

Homeowner showed photos of Cala Lily slope. Most of the ornamental plants are gone, except the trees. What’s left is largely brush, weeds, and tall grasses. Cala Lily, like the other roads is a Fire Apparatus Access Road. Code requires it to be maintained to FMZ 1 standard 50 feet from the road. The fire department no longer calls this a shelter in place community. There might be a reason. The HOA will not have the immunity that the city has if a fire blows through the community, and the HOA doesn’t have enough insurance if homes burn.

Homeowner suggested that during the landscape committee drive-through, they should ask the contractor why loads of prohibited Acacia are on the lower part of Mariposa. The HOA contractor previously proposed planting many of that prohibited plant.

Chris said they opted for a more natural look. Homeowner responded that the HOA let it degrade to “natural.” The homeowner suggested that the HOA create a new landscape plan and get it approved by the City, which is required by the CC&Rs, rather than just piecemeal neglect.

Chris said the HOA spends a lot on water. Homeowner agreed it’s expensive, as is his own water.

Homeowner #3

Thanks for retaining wall. It looks great.

When are they going to add top soil, not just bark?

Can tall sprinkler heads be lowered for better aesthetics?

Will we be impacted by a county increase to property tax for trash collection?

Homeowner #4

Camera signs installed at the bottom of the hill are not apparent and serve less of a deterrent.

When will the broken fence be fixed?

Rivers: vendor has repeatedly ordered the wrong color. There was a delay due to insurance and inspections. Chris: still 3-4 weeks until fixed.

Homeowner #5

5th and 6th request for this. You must go through the portal to get the agenda and link to attend the meeting. Put the link in the email. Rivers: I will tell some additional assistants to include the link in the email. Contact me before the meeting if they fail to include the link in the email.

Homeowner #6

She wasn't able to unmute. Chris told her to send an email.

Carrie Heieck HOA lawyer attended via audio while on the road, not via video. She reported on two lawsuits.

Lawsuit #1

Homeowner was awarded damages. HOA won more causes of action. Both parties filed to recover fees and costs. Judge will determine the prevailing party July 18.

Lawsuit #2

Case was dismissed, meaning Sky Ranch won.

The HOA will request attorney fees and costs.

IV. COMMITTEE UPDATE & INVITED GUESTS

A. SOCIAL COMMITTEE

Shannon Q.

Picnic in the park upcoming this Sunday.

August 20, Ice Cream Social.

Reimbursement checks can't go to social committee member home address, but it can be sent to a director, in this case Mita S. A debit card costs 3.5% so a check is preferable. Funding continues to be an issue, but Rivers is checking. Treasurer would like to be able to log in to view the account. Rivers said the accountant prefers that the checks be sent to FirstService. Rivers said an employee left the FirstService finance office and some money was not moved, but will be in the future. Shannon Q said Amber needs access to check the account, but would not need to see other accounts.

Chris: Newsletter will be sent soon. Rivers said it will be sent with statements.

B. FINANCE COMMITTEE

Shannon Q. They have a draft budget.

Chris said the monthly assessment in the unfinished draft is $298.30. The budget should be done on time.

C. LANDSCAPE COMMITTEE

Cathy J met last week. Mark attends for fire abatement.

They will look at Cala Lily. She said it is natural and there is nothing they can do. They will look at plants at the corners. She said the fire department told them their abatement is compliant

D. WELCOMING COMMITTEE

Two homeowners welcomed.

Two sales are pending, Cala Lily, Bella Vista.

Rivers said they need to update the letter because the contact person on the letter no longer works for FirstService.

Rivers: The empty lots have sold. There will be 8 new homes.

Chris said the homes will have to comply with Sky Ranch guidelines.

V. REPORTS

A. MANAGEMENT REPORT

Rivers: July 24 Annual Meeting, ballots in the mail

July 4th parking passes in the mail and electronically.

Reserve study should be ready by July 11

Claret wall complete but not replanted yet.

Concrete fence repair already discussed.

Noon to midnight July 4th, all vehicles must have the access pass or they will be asked to turn around. Electronic copy of pass via phone is OK.

Fireworks are not allowed in Sky Ranch.

B. WORK ORDER REPORT

C. LANDSCAPE WALKTHROUGH/PUNCHLIST

D. ARCHITECTURAL REPORT

VI. CONSENT CALENDAR

A. OPEN SESSION MEETING MINUTES - MAY 1, 2025

B. FINANCIAL STATEMENT - MAY 2025

A&B approved unanimously without discussion.

VII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

A. NEW GARBAGE RECEPTACLE LOCATIONS

No further discussion until the next budget.

VIII. NEW BUSINESS

A. LANDSCAPING PROPOSALS

Sevilla monument: mulch will be installed. [Some redactions at request of the HOA. Note: Chris said that online posting of these notes caused them problems. I don’t recall a single redaction request that wasn’t honored. I also limit the use of names beyond what occurs at meetings. I’ve made additional redactions to protect them from liability and when the comment isn’t clear and could create liability for them and me.]

Note: The proposals are presented in a chaotic manner, going back and forth between proposals, and the plant names are sometimes difficult to document when rattled off quickly. There may be errors and omissions below.

Bouganvilla, Bonsai variety near monument. $678 from landscape reserve. Approved unanimously.

Cala Lily

3 Bouganvilla, $195, Approved unanimously.

3195 Mirador

Coast Live Oak damaged by gophers. $200 from dead landscape reserve to replace it. Rivers said the pest control company is having trouble getting rid of the gophers because of the slope. She said they will check with other contractors. Tentative unanimous approval pending resolution of gophers.

3165 Mirador

Sage Leaf Rock Rose $120

Cala Lily

Lady banks

$651 total for all

Cathy J suggested the brush be cut first.

Note: There was no formal vote that I observed.

Claret & Castilla

Wood fence needs to be painted first. There is homeowner and HOA fence there.

5504 Claret

2 Myoporum

No action taken

B. BASIN MAINTENANCE

City has cited Sky Ranch previously. There is a current need to clean out the basin.

$2025. Approved unanimously

C. 4TH OF JULY STREET CLOSURE UPDATE

Discussed earlier

D. COMMUNITY PATROL UPDATE

Security company, Secure IT, starts August 1st.

E. 2025 - 2026 BUDGET

Reserve study expected July 11.

Chris asked Rivers to update the 2024 template that he edited to create the draft.

F. COMMUNITY PATROL AND CAMERA SURVEY

Determine community knowledge, inform homeowners of cost, get feedback from homeowners. It will be sent via Survey Monkey and paper.

G. NEWSLETTER

Discussed

IX. NEXT BOARD MEETING

The Annual Open Session Meeting is scheduled for July 24, 2025 at 5:00pm via Teams.

X. ADJOURN

6:21 pm

Note: Do not count on these notes for all meetings. I was only able to attend this meeting due to a last minute change of plans.