HASLEY HILLS HOA NEWSLETTER

January 2005

 Final Mailed Newsletter
 

Cost Savings

Through-out this newsletter, there are underscored items that will assist the HOA in saving money.  Please make a note of them.

 

Next Meeting

Please note the next open session meeting will be Thursday, January  6, 2005, 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

If you have not made arrangements with LB Property Management, you will no longer receive a mailed copy of the newsletter. 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.

 

Change the Rules

Many homeowners have expressed an interest in changing some of the existing rules and regulations that are in our Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CCR’s).  The Board of Directors does not have the authority to change the rules and regulations with a simple  vote.  The process of changing the rules is not an instantaneous process and will require a lot of leg work.   The Board of Directors is  willing to work with you on these changes.  We have prepared a hand-out which is included in the newsletter that will assist you in pursuing  any  changes.

 

Annual Election

The annual election for the open seats of the Board of Directors will be held in May, 2005.  There will be 2 seats available.  The term is a 2 year term.   A reminder to all, if you would like to assist in cutting costs, please return the proxy vote you receive in the mail for the election.  If you do not know any of the candidates, please vote for quorum purposes only.  Last year of  739 homes, only 60 proxies were returned by mail.  This meant we did not have a sufficient number to hold the election and the HOA had to incur the cost of an additional mailing, additional  room rental and  business was delayed.

This is your opportunity to serve the community and begin working on all the changes you would like to see in our community.  The Board of Directors does not receive  compensation, or a reduction in HOA fees.  The position is a volunteer position.

  

Annexation

A petition regarding the interest of Hasley Hills will be circulated in January, 2005.  We are looking for volunteers for each block, and volunteers to assist in the coordination with North Bluffs and Live Oak.   There will be a sign up sheet for volunteers at our next open session.  We will be discussing the Annexation process also at this meeting.    

Our Hasley Hills web site  http://www.hasleyhillshoa.org  provides additional information.

 

Volunteers for Committees are still 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.

We need Block Captains!!

 

Architectural Control Committee

Please note, your ACC approval is only approved if you have met and complied with all county requirements.  Please check with the county for all code and permit requirements.  We are providing an information sheet from the county.  Additional information can be obtained at  661-222-2940, or the web-site http://planning.co.la.ca.us/                                     

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 now been completed for more than 6 months. You should  have your front yards landscaped by now. If you have lived in your home a year, your rear yard should also 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.

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 loose.     Please pick up after your pets!!

 

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.  Please do not park in front of your neighbor’s house.

 

Traffic

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

 

Traffic Violators

We have been advised that the CHP will investigate traffic violations, such as the delivery trucks, school buses, homeowners driving too fast, or passing on the wrong side of the street.  Here’s what you need to do.  Call the CHP at 661-294-5540, and advise them you would like to report  a traffic violation.  You will need to provide the following information:  1)  license plate number of the vehicle  2)  color and type of vehicle, 3)  type of violation, and 4)  the location of the violation.  

 

Mini-Motorcycles (Pocket Bikes)

We have had numerous homeowners complain about the operation of mini-motorcycles (pocket Bikes) on our streets.  The CHP provides guidelines on their  web-site, http://www.chp.ca.gov/html/pocketbikes.html.  The CHP has indicated that the pocket bikes are not manufactured with a conforming 17 digit vehicle identification number (VIN) and are not for not use on a roadway.  Since they are not manufactured with a Vin number, they cannot be registered as a legal motor vehicle or as an off-highway vehicle.  Therefore, they are illegal for use on the highways or as an off-highway vehicle.   Please see the CHP web-site for additional information.

 

Parking

If you have a concern with a suspicious vehicle, over-extended vehicle parking, or an abandoned vehicle, please contact the CHP Communication Center at 323-906-3444, and provide them with the 1)  license plate number of the vehicle, 2)  color and type of vehicle, 3)  nature of your concern, and  4)  the location of the vehicle.   It will be necessary for you to follow-up with the CHP. 

 

Vandalism

Recently an act of vandalism occurred at the end of Shadow Place near the water tower.  A huge mainline was smashed with a rock.  There are 40 valves on this clock.  The clock has to go through all the valves to determine which one is broken before the clock shuts down.  It takes 1 minute and a half to go through  the valve.  So the water ran for a while before it was shut down. 

The costs will include an irrigation technician to come out and repair the mainline,   our landscape expert to do an emergency service call, and  our landscape service to perform temporary emergency work.  This is a cost which will have to be absorbed by the HOA.  Could this have been avoided?  Absolutely, by keeping children and pets off the slopes. 

Please talk to your children and make sure that they understand that damaging the sprinklers and equipment is costly to the HOA.

 

County Trees

If you have a county tree in front of your home that is dead and you would like it to be replaced.  Please contact Scott Thompson-LA County Department of Public Works at 661-222-2948.

 

Coyotes

A homeowner wrote in concerning the abundance of Coyote sightings within our community.  The homeowner called the Castaic Animal Shelter and was referred to the LA County Department of Fish and Game at 858-467-4201.  According to the representative I spoke with, there is not much the county can do with the coyotes unless they display aggressive behavior or unfortunately attack someone.  Here are some tips from the county. 

1)    If you see a coyote lurking near your property (say, on the other side of the property fence)  throw rocks at it, chase it away.  In a sense, you are being “territorial” by letting the animal know that this is your territory, not theirs.

2)    Keep small pets and pet food inside the house.  Leaving your pet food outside will also attract coyote prey (like squirrels, rabbits and mice).

3)    Coyotes are looking for sources of water. Try to cover your pool or spa.  They are an easy source for water.

4)    Coyotes can jump.  If a coyote sees something in your back yard and is desperate enough, don’t discount the chance.

5)    Make your property an unwelcome place for the coyote.  We can’t eliminate the coyotes, but we can supervise our kids while outside, and be aware and mindful of your surroundings when outside.  Remember the coyotes were here first.

 

KB Update

The Mediation Date that was scheduled for January, 2005, has been cancelled at  KB’s request.  Presently, the new date has not been set.    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 has been working diligently on identifying all the items and issues that otherwise would have gone unnoticed until the developer was long gone.

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.  A copy of the first page of the Summons and Complaint is enclosed in the newsletter.  

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. 

KB has acknowledged that they have made an error, and it was not of an  insignificant  amount in the square footage of our slopes.  KB has also acknowledged that they will owe the HOA money, but how much and for how long will be the question to be resolved.  An example of KB’s mistake was the number of acres in the maintained slopes included in our development reported to the Department of Real Estate (DRE) the number of maintained slopes contained 668,689 square feet.  The actual number is 3.2 million.  The fuel modification number reported was 2,278,804 million.  The actual number is 3.3 million.  The difference between these numbers means the budget has been significantly understated since the inception of our development. 

A web-site is available for other developments in which homeowners have issues with KB.  The web-site is http://www.kbhomesucks.com

   

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.  If Ellen is not available, please ask for Keila Miramontez, Ellen’s assistant,  at extension 221.

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

The Board of Directors has spent an enormous amount of our own personal time on issues KB left us with.   These issues do not fall within the scope of what a routine Board of Directors should do.  

For example, the lot lines through-out most of the project have been the fence line.  In the Richmond Section, there are certain lots that the lot line is outside the fence.  How would the HOA know that?   Now, easements have to be granted and coordinated between developer, homeowners, and attorneys.  KB has not stepped up to the plate and provided us with an expert to coordinate all these unresolved issues.  So, phone calls to all parties, photocopies of documents, e-mails have to be sent. 

On Byron Court, KB went onto our property and began repair work which included changing our slope, and drainage.  KB did not consult us.  KB did not provide us with a scope of work.  We had to have our attorney’s advise KB to cease and desist with the work until such time as our expert had the opportunity to take a look at the area and determine what course of action should be taken.  This took numerous phone calls and e-mails.

KB is attempting to get the streets turned over to the county.  To do so, all the street trees must be in place.  The county required KB to move certain trees and plant additional trees.  KB did not have the common courtesy to notify the BOD, the management company or the affected homeowners, that trees would be planted or removed from the easement area.  

These issues do not fall within our management contract.  The Board of Directors is doing their best to follow up on these issues.   If you want to be angry at someone please direct your anger at KB.  KB has displayed nothing but a total disregard for our community and has refused to  accept their responsibility in the numerous issues. KB has  failed to  perform in a timely manner when it is obvious that the problems were created by KB.