HASLEY HILLS HOA NEWSLETTER

December 2004

Happy Holidays!!!
 

Next Meeting

Please note the next open session meeting will be Thursday December 2, 2004, 7:00 pm.   The meeting will be held at the Castaic Union School District office, located at 28131 Livingston Avenue, Valencia, CA.

Website

Please check our new Website for information!!!
The Website address is http://www.hasleyhillshoa.org  

Effective January 1, 2005, unless arrangements are made directly with LB Property Management, the newsletter will no longer be mailed. It will be posted on our website. The website will reduce the volume of mailings and will result in a substantial savings to the HOA.

Annexation

The Board of Directors and homeowner Mitch Green have attended several meetings with the Castaic Town Council, Castaic Vision Committee and Santa Clarita City Management regarding the Annexation plans for Castaic.  

Presently, the Annexation plan by Santa Clarita calls for the Annexation of the Industrial Center eliminating any prospect of Castaic becoming it’s own city. The Castaic Town Council is opposed to any Annexation until they can explore all alternatives.  Hasley Hills expressed our opposition to the Annexation plan as it exists, but would consider being annexed with the Industrial Center, Live Oak and North Bluffs.

We are providing the Annexation Considerations and Facts which have been given to us  by the City of Santa Clarita along with the newsletter.

We will be discussing this topic at the next open session.  Our Hasley Hills web site  http://www.hasleyhillshoa.org provides additional information.

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.

Block Captains are needed on Gibraltar (from Hasley Canyon to Liverpool), Gibraltar  (from Liverpool to Springvale), Gibraltar (from Springvale to Cambridge)  Berkshire Court, Alton Way, Somerset Court, Glendower, Castlebury Lane, Castlebury Place, Teasedale, Pickford, Byron Place, Picadilly, Shadow Place, Bridlewood (from Cambridge down), Medford, Penrose, Holmby Court, Loudon, Kessler, Thorne, Galbreth, Alton Way (close to Cambridge)  Alton Way (close to Gibraltar)  Creekbed, Cambridge (from Hasley to Alton)  Cambridge ( Alton to KB Models)  Cambridge (KB Models to Gibraltar)  Cambridge ( Bridlewood to Hayward)  Cambridge ( Hayward to Galbreth)  Cambridge ( Galbreth to Kessler)  Cambridge ( Kessler to Loudon)  

Homeowners Compliance Committee

The board has a  backlog of hearings to complete regarding noncompliance with HOA, CC&Rs, Bylaws, and other rules.  There is one opening on this committee,  if you are interested please contact Ellen Ford at LB Property Management  818-793-2044.

Architectural Control Committee

Newly revised ACC guidelines have been mailed out to the community. 

Please remember to submit your ACC plans prior to construction.  The ACC Committee has 45 days to approve your plans.

As a reminder, all homes have been completed for over 6 months. You must have your front yards landscaped.  If you have lived in your home a year, your rear yard should be landscaped.  If your landscaping has not been completed, you will receive a letter and will be called for a hearing. Unfortunately fines may result.

Purpose

The purpose of the Homeowners Association is to maintain property values and protect the aesthetics of the neighborhood.  The HOA does not wish to fine homeowners.  The HOA would appreciate compliance with the rules and regulations.

Pets

Please keep tags on your pets. Some dogs are masters of escape, it  would be helpful to include your address or phone number on the tag.  Petsmart  has personalized tags for a couple of dollars .Animal lovers will call you or walk your dog home if they see it out.     Please pick up after your pets!!

It should be noted that, you will be held responsible for damages if your dog bites someone or another animal while off-leash or off your property.

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.

Certain streets have more parking problems than others. Please be mindful of your neighbors . Please park in your driveway or garage whenever possible.

While loading, unloading and parking, please exercise courtesy to your neighbors.
  Do not park in front of your neighbor’s house or block their driveway.

Traffic

Please drive carefully and with caution through-out the community.  Please remember the speed limit for a residential area is 25 mph.

Landscape Maintenance

Landscape Maintenance paths are provided behind landscaped and irrigated slopes only.  Landscape Maintenance is performed on a rotating basis throughout the community.  The rotation is between 4 to 6 weeks.  Irrigation issues are addressed within at least 2 working days from the date of the report.  Many of the areas are still filling in due to immature plant material.  Appearance of dirt in slope areas is not considered a maintenance deficiency, but rather these areas require several seasons in order to fill in.  The HOA asks that the homeowners be patient.  If additional plant material is required, planting will be conducted in the spring. 

Native Slopes

Native Areas are weed abated once a year in May/June to comply with the Fire Department Regulations.  No other landscape maintenance is conducted in these areas during other times of the year.

Rodent Control

Rodent Control is performed by the Department of Agriculture.  Please call the Management Company to request rodent control service for common areas.  Rodent control services include, rats, mice bee hives and gophers.  Other wild life found in the community is not covered under the HOA contract.  Animal Control can be called for mountain lions, coyotes and snakes.  The number is 257-3191.  You may contact a private pest control to relocate any other animals that are not covered by the HOA contract.

Emergencies

Irrigation emergencies

A broken mainline that has not shut down or an irrigation valve that has been on for more than an hour. 

If you have a service need or emergency, please call Ellen Ford at LB Property Management at 818-793-2035.  Please leave your name, your address, your phone number, your lot number and state the nature of the problem.

Dormant Season

Some of the plant material will be going into their winter mode and will appear less than attractive. (Remember last winter.)  The Honeysuckle groundcover and the Cotoneaster are the two that are the most noticeable plants.  This appearance is normal for this type of plant material and is not due to lack of maintenance or irrigation.

KB Update

Our  Mediation Date was rescheduled at  KB’s request.  As you are aware, we have  Budgetary Issues, and  many additional issues that need to be resolved with the developer. These issues include but are not limited to,  our pump equipment being improperly wired, pump houses needing repair or replacement, 140 Lot Line Adjustments, Easements, Homeowner Pools on HOA Property,  KB Wrought Iron Fences, missing components in our reserve study, deeds not being recorded.  This list is not all inclusive. We are continually uncovering more items.

The BOD on behalf of the HOA, has secured the services of the law firm, Castro and Associates, who specializes in Complex Litigation and Construction Defect to assist in the resolution of our issues.  Castro and Associates has filed a lawsuit on our behalf. 

The cost of   services for this specialty firm are not insignificant.  We may have to use our reserve funds to pay for these services.  You will be notified if this is required.  Ultimately, the cost of these services are recoverable. 

While KB has expressed an interest in resolving our budgetary shortfall, our subsidy runs out at the end of the year.  KB is  under no obligation to continue with the subsidy.  However, in good faith and fair dealing, the BOD is hopeful that KB will continue with the subsidy.

Management Company

 LB Property Management Company is our management company.  The address is 4730 Woodman Avenue,  Sherman Oaks, CA. 91423.    The phone number is 818-793-2044.  The fax number is 818-986-1214.   Ellen Ford is our representative.  Her e-mail address is Ellen@LBProp.com.

When calling in or e-mailing  a complaint or service request, please leave your name, address, lot number, a brief description of the your concern and phone numbers where you may be reached.   This will assist the management company in processing the request.

It frustrates the management company not to be able to take care of a request, because of insufficient information .

Note from the President

I moved into the community January 2002.  At that time most of the front yards in the Richmond section were dirt.  Most of the rear yards in all sections  were dirt.  Our hillsides were deficient.  The streets were not paved.  My, how far we’ve progressed. 

As I drive through the community, I am in awe of what a great looking neighborhood we’ve become.  The slopes are starting to fill in. The slopes give a  lush-looking appearance.   I stand in admiration of the creativity of my neighbors with their  landscaping and hardscape. Real pride of home ownership is apparent in our community which will ultimately increase our property values.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all the members of the community who have volunteered their time, efforts and energies to make Hasley Hills a great place to live.

While 2005 presents challenges with our KB litigation.  I am hopeful we will be able to resolve our differences and move forward in a positive manner. May your  Holiday Season be filled with family  and friends and may you have a Prosperous New Year.  

Kathy Waggoner –Hasley Hills HOA President