HASLEY HILLS NEWSLETTER

August 2004
 

Next Meeting

Please note the open session meeting of August 26, 2004, has been changed.  The scheduled times for hearings remains the same.

The next open session will be Thursday, September 2, 2004, at 7:00 p.m., at Castaic Union School District office, located at 28131 Livingston Avenue, Valencia, CA.

Special Meeting

We will be having a special meeting to introduce the Neighborhood Watch Program to our community on Thursday, September 23, 2004, at 7:00 p.m., at Castaic Sports Center.

We have invited Deputy Gerri L. McCorkle, from the Santa Clarita Sheriff’s Office to give a presentation.

Homemade cookies will be provided by the Hasley Hills Ladies Social Club.  Coffee and beverages provided by Debbie and Dwight Hawkins – Realty Executives.

Please plan on attending to learn more about our Neighborhood Watch Program and to meet your neighbors!!

Good News

The installation of the traffic signal at Hasley and Cambridge has begun!!  The anticipated operational date is late August or early September, 2004.  We would like to take this opportunity to thank Carmela Bertrand for her efforts in collecting signatures, letters, and persistence in having this project expedited.

Website

We are putting together a website for Hasley Hills HOA.  The website will provide very valuable information at the click of the mouse.  The website will also reduce the necessity of mailings and will ultimately result in a substantial savings to the HOA.

Please check out the website at http://www.hasleyhillshoa.org .

Your suggestions for content are greatly needed.  Contact the webmaster at webmaster@hasleyhillshoa.org   to offer suggestions.  Keep in mind the website will be a continual work in progress.

Volunteers for Committees are needed!!

Neighborhood Watch

The Neighborhood Watch Committee is actively seeking block captains.  Please contact John Toungaian at 818-554-0815 or e-mail John at jtoungaian@comcast.net.

You are your neighbor’s best friend and a criminal’s worst enemy.

Your eyes, ears, and awareness are the best protection your neighborhood has against criminals who would steal your possessions, vandalize your home, and disrupt the tranquility of your family.

Do you work?  Does your neighbor work?  Who is looking out for your interest while you are gone?  The family pooch is not always the answer.

Are you familiar with your neighbor’s vehicles – the color, year, or make?  Would you know if a strange vehicle cruised your neighborhood?  That strange vehicle may be a thief deciding which house would be easiest to rip off.

It’s nice to know the guy next door is paying attention to who parks in your driveway when you’re not home, or if someone is making inquiries about your habits under the guise of an acquaintance or an official.

Neighborhood Watch is YOU being that interested neighbor.  We’d like you to join us.  Look out for yourself and your neighbor and your neighbor will look out for you.

John Toungaian, Neighborhood Watch Chairman

Finance Committee

The two members that comprised last year’s Finance Committee are now on the Board of Directors.  This leaves no one on the Finance Committee.  We are actively seeking volunteers with financial backgrounds (MBA or extensive experience or both) to plan budgets (~$1,000,000 annually), monitor and report on operations, manage reserve funds (~$400,000 and growing), perform ad-hoc studies, etc.  If you would like to volunteer your expertise and prepare yourself for a possible run for the HOA Board of Directors, this is a great way to get started.  Please contact Mharcy Uyeda of LB Poprty Management by e-mail at muyeda@lbprop.com or by telephone at 818-793-2004 to volunteer.

 Homeowners Compliance Committee

The Board of Directors would like to take this opportunity to welcome the newly appointed Homeowner Compliance Committee Chairman, Don Jeffries.  Don has served as Homeowner Association President and brings a wealth of knowledge to the community.  We would like to take this opportunity to thank Don for accepting this challenging position.

The board has a large backlog of hearings to complete regarding noncompliance with HOA CC&R's, Bylaws, and other rules.  On advice from our attorney, the board is creating a Homeowner Compliance Committee that will be tasked primarily with hearing cases of noncompliance.  We are actively recruiting members for the new Homeowner Compliance Committee.  If you are frustrated by the noncompliance that is evident throughout the HOA then this is your opportunity to get involved and make a difference.  Please contact Mharcy Uyeda of LB Property Management by e-mail at muyeda@lbprop.com or by telephone at 818-793-2044 to volunteer.

Architectural Compliance Committee 

The Board of Directors would like to take this opportunity to welcome Paul Bertrand as the newly appointed chairman.

We will be replacing the two vacant positions on the ACC shortly.  If you are interested in applying for the Architectural Committee, please send a brief note about yourself with your qualifications, and why you would like to serve the community.

Please send an e-mail to Mharcy Uyeda at muyeda@lbprop.com.

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors serves a 2-year term.  The position is a volunteer position.  There are 739 homeowners.  The present Board of Directors continues to have more work than an established Board of Directors due to the budgetary issues with KB.

Your present Board of Directors are Kathy Waggoner, President; Bob Throckmorton, Vice President; Roger Ludwig, Treasurer; Larry Totter, Secretary; and Donna Covert, Member-At-Large.  How can you assist with our dilemma?  Be respectful of your neighbors.  Comply with the rules and regulations.

Keep in mind, the Purpose of the Homeowners Association is to maintain property values and protect the aesthetics of the neighborhood.

The most heard complaints by homeowners:

1.        Traffic

2.        Parking

3.        Pets

4.        Trash cans

5.        Mailbox postings

6.        Weeds

7.        Front and Rear Yards Installation.

8.        Construction Debris.

Traffic

We have had numerous complaints about Hasley Hills homeowners driving too fast in our community.  We have had complaints of homeowners passing other vehicles on Cambridge and Gibralter.  We all need to exercise care, caution, and courtesy while driving in our community.

Please remember the following traffic-residential areas:

1.      Please remember the speed limit for a residential area is 25 m.p.h.

2.      Please remember to do a full stop at the stop signs.

3.      Please do not pass.

4.      Please watch for children and pedestrians.

5.      Thank you for your consideration of others in the community.

Pets

Barking dogs.  Any per owner or custodian who allows a dog to bark continuously or for an extended period of time in a manner that annoys the neighbors and disturbs the peace and tranquility of the neighborhood may be guilty of allowing a public nuisance and punishable by a misdemeanor with a fine up to $1000 and/or six months in jail (California Penal Code 373A and L.A. County Code Sec. 10.40.065).  If you have a noise compliant, contact your local Department of Animal Care and Control agency or submit an Animal Complaint Form.  The phone number is 661-257-3191.  Forms are also available online at http://www.animalcontrol.co.la.ca.us .

Please keep tags on your pets for identifying purposes.

Please pick up after your pets!!  For details, see CC&R Article 8, Section 18 .

Trash Cans 

Please remember that trash cans must be kept behind the side fences or in the garage.  For details see CC&R Article Section 8.18.

Mailbox Postings

We have had numerous complaints about people posting flyers for garage sales, furniture for sale, basketball leagues, job opportunities, etc. on the mailboxes.  The mailboxes belong to the post office.  This is a misdemeanor for defacing public property.  If you have to post something, please have the common courtesy to remove it within a few days.

Parking

Boats, trailers, RVs, and commercial vehicles are “prohibited vehicles” that must be kept in fully enclosed garages, except while loading or unloading, for up to 24 hours of any week.  Homeowner’s cars shall be parked in garages and driveways.  Repairs and restorations are only allowed in garages and cannot be performed as a business or create a nuisance.  For details see CC&R's section 8.12 b.

While loading and unloading and parking, please exercise common courtesy to your neighbors.  Please do not park in front of your neighbor’s house or block your neighbors driveways.

Weeds

Please help maintain your property.  It is each homeowner’s responsibility to water, trim, weed, and mow their yards.  This enhances the overall appearance of our community.  For further information see CC&R Article 10.2.

Mandatory Installation – Front and Rear Yards

We are now past the 6 months for the entire community for front yards.  The CC&Rs specifically state the installation of the front yards must be completed by 6 months.  Most homes are now past the 1 year for the rear installation.  The time is now to perform.  You will be called into hearing for failure to have your front yards installed.  Virtually the entire community has now reached the year for the rear yard installation.  It is time to have your rear yards installed!!  For further information see CC&R Article 8.3.

If you have not performed your front and rear yard installation, you will be receiving a letter and will be called into hearing and may be subject to fines.

Debris

It is up to the individual homeowner to continually keep their yard and street neat and in order while there is construction in progress.  For further information see CC&R Article 10, Section 2.  The cleaning process is for consideration to your neighbors and safety to the community.

Please show courtesy to your neighbors.  Do not put the dumpster in front of your neighbors’ houses or block their driveways.

Construction

If you need to have water shut off for some time during construction, please call Mharcy at LB Property Management, 818-981-1802.  She will be happy to assist in coordinating with the landscape company.

As a reminder, an ACC application must be submitted prior to beginning any construction.  An application can be obtained by contacting Mharcy at LB Property Management.

Special Thanks

The Board of Directors would like to take this opportunity to thank Trudy Cousineaus and Peggy Otis for their service on the ACC and volunteering their time to the community.

Critter Sightings

A homeowner on Hayward returned home approximately 9:00 p.m. to be greeted by a rattlesnake on their front porch.  The homeowner called Animal Control at 257-3191.  Animal Control was out within 15 minutes to remove the rattlesnake, who turned out to be a big one - approximately 4’ long and 2” in diameter, with 7 rattles.

Please be aware of your surroundings and please do not pick up any snakes.

The coyotes are out.  Please do not feed them.  Keep your pets inside.

We have seen roadrunners, raccoons, various species of hummingbirds, and tarantulas.  Additional information on wildlife in our community is available at the website http://animalcontrol.co.la.ca.us.

Regular Monthly Meetings

Revised

Your Board of Directors decided to standardize the monthly HOA meetings.  They will be held at the Castaic Sports Complex whenever it is available.  Hopefully, the regular meeting schedule and location will make it easier for people to plan to attend.

Open Session Meeting on First Thursday of Each Month

After considerable debate your Board of Directors decided to standardize the monthly HOA open session meeting schedule n the first Thursday of each month, at 7:00 p.m., instead of the fourth Thursday as was previously announced.  Sorry for any confusion this may have caused.  Hopefully, the regular meeting schedule and location will make it easier for people to plan to attend.

The meetings will be held at Castaic Union School District Office, located at 28131 Livingston Avenue, Valencia, CA.

Get HOA Financial News by E-Mail!

Financial information will be posted on the HOA website when it goes online.  In the meantime, your HOA Treasurer will begin distributing monthly financial information in the form of Adobe pdf e-mail attachments to those homeowners that provide an e-mail address.  the data will consist of year-to-date balance sheet and income statement information, along with summary graphs.  The list of distribution e-mail addresses will not be shared with anyone, and the e-mails will be distributed by blind copy (BCC) to keep e-mail addresses private.  If you would like to receive the monthly financials in your e-mail inbox then please send a blank e-mail message to HasleyHillsNews@yahoo.com with subject: “START HOA NEWS”.  The sender e-mail address from your blank e-mail will automatically be added to the distribution list (body of e-mail will not be read).  Later, if you prefer to stop receiving news e-mails, then send a blank e-mail to HasleyHillsNews@yahoo.com with subject: “STOP HOA NEWS”.  The sender e-mail address from your blank e-mail will automatically be de-listed from distribution.  All other e-mails sent to HasleyHillsNews@yahoo.com will be automatically deleted.  (Please send all e-mail communication to the HOA using e-mail address muyeda@lbprop.com.)

Management Company

LB Property Management Company is our management company.  The address is Sherman Oaks, CA.  The phone number is 818-793-2044.  Mharcy Uyeda is our representative.  She can be reached by e-mail at muyeda@lbprop.com.

CC&R's, Bylaws

The Board of Directors has repeatedly been told that homeowners have not received copies of the CC&Rs and Bylaws.

Please contact Mharcy at LB Property Management to purchase a copy.  It is each homeowner’s responsibility to know the rules and regulations.

Wrought Iron Fences – Richmond Section

Just a reminder, fences are scheduled to be painted beginning the week of the 20^th.