mrhawk
Posts:57
 | | 01/01/2008 7:59 PM |
 Alert | Speaking of HOA fees, with the new monthly payment book was the 2008 budget. I'm hoping there is someone on the HOA board here that may be able to address my questions.
The largest sector of our fees are landscape related, which breaks down as follows (monthly):
Landscape Contract: 8807
Landscape - Other: 833
Sprinkler Repair: 168
Storm Damage: 741
Total: 10549
Note, there is also a 'common area maintenance' of 310 per month...not sure what that specifically covers, but I assume it's non-landscape things like trash clean up at the play areas, play area maintenance, cleaning graffiti, replacing the vandalized Desert Cedars sign, etc. Is that right?
Anyway, here are my landscape questions:
1) What are the terms of the landscape contract - annual? 2-year? Is there a bidding process?
2) Does the board or the management company handle the landscape contract?
3) Does the budget include incremental improvements (such as adding new/improved cacti/plants/etc in bare areas), or is it simply maintenance?
4) Does the contract specify a quantity of labor-hours (man-hours) per month and/or an hourly rate to arrive at the 8807 number? If so, can that be disclosed?
What is the preferred method to provide feedback about the quality of the landscaping/concerns? I suppose it's simply to email the president?
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twostep23
Posts:1689
| | 01/01/2008 8:58 PM |
Alert | All your questions are great questions that I will ensure that you get answers to. Our annual meeting will be on 1/30/08 where we can address each and every one of your questions. I am sure that other homeowners have the same questions.
If you would like to discuss before hand just let me know and we'll get together and I'll answer each and every one of your questions. Please send any questions or concerns that you might have to me and I'll answer each and every one of them. | |
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mrhawk
Posts:57
| | 01/02/2008 5:29 AM |
Alert | <div class='NTForums_Quote'>Posted By twostep23 on 01/01/2008 8:58 PM
All your questions are great questions that I will ensure that you get answers to. Our annual meeting will be on 1/30/08 where we can address each and every one of your questions. I am sure that other homeowners have the same questions.
If you would like to discuss before hand just let me know and we'll get together and I'll answer each and every one of your questions. Please send any questions or concerns that you might have to me and I'll answer each and every one of them.</div>
Thanks. I can already say based on past experience (late hours at work) and the expected arrival of a newborn, chances of me making an HOA meeting are slim.
I know that there are others in my same position, that want to stay in touch with the community, but may not be able to be physically present. While a public forum may not be the best place for these or other questions and discussion, do you think we could direct people to the private forum on the HOA website? Or it would be simple to set up a "Yahoo Group" or similar and have an email list. | | | |
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homeowner
Posts:31
| | 01/02/2008 7:11 AM |
Alert | | Dear Board member, please answer the questions above on this forum as much as possible. Directing the questioner to you privately serves no purpose. We can then see your current answers, which will probably provoke more questions. Thanks. | | | |
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twostep23
Posts:1689
| | 01/02/2008 7:58 AM |
Alert | Education is definitely the key. Which is why we promote attending the board meetings. I know that sometimes it isn't possible but being involved is really the key. All of your board members are more than willing to discuss anything with you.
As I've done in the past with other homeowners, I would be more than happy to arrange a smaller group or individual meeting to answer all of these questions and more if necessary with any homeowner. My door is always open or phone calls can be utilized.
There is nothing to hide or nothing to be avoided. It is just easier to explain then it is to type everything. | |
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homeowner
Posts:31
| | 01/05/2008 2:22 PM |
Alert | | Board Member(s): Why don't you answer whatever you can now. The board meetings aren't run very efficiently, the last one started late and unanswered questions weren't answered later. Your budget for 2008 shows that you anticipatge receiving $24,232 per month in assessments. This would be the 418 homes times the $57.97 each per month or 100% of the maximum. As you already know that about twenty five percent aren't paying, the budget is totally unrealistic and those paying are going to continue paying for those that aren't. Also, you show nothing in the budget for recovering any late payments so we can only guess that you don't think you'll be receiving any. You continue to budget $1600 per month in legal fees even though you don't anticipate receiving any income from these efforts. At the last two meetings it was suggested by someone that you take away the trash cans from those not paying. Have you done this? With fees and costs rising it seems time to do whatever possible to end this situation. Perhaps some type of association vote that would require you to disclose those not paying and not eligible to vote. | | | |
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twostep23
Posts:1689
| | 01/05/2008 8:41 PM |
Alert | If any questions went unanswered than that is the homeowners issue since there is a section that questions can be asked. In addition to that no one has been stopped from asking questions through out the meeting.
The last two meetings started late because there was hardly anyone there. We gave late comers 15 minutes. | |
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mrhawk
Posts:57
| | 01/06/2008 8:04 AM |
Alert | I do have a few questions about the HOA meetings.
When are the HOA meetings? Is it a set schedule? Where are the meeting times publicized? And are there agendas published? Is there a procedure to get an item on the agenda, or is it just an 'open forum'?
Perhaps meeting minutes could be published?
Like I said originally, chances of attending are slim just based on a demanding schedule. I think it would be great to embrace technology and allow more people to participate (as well as use the technology to the board's advantage in communicating things).
Again, perhaps a wide-open forum where non-Desert Cedars people can participate is not the best way. But as was publicized with the flier include along with the HOA payment books, Desert Cedars pays for it's own website complete with a members only message board.
Nothing beats a face-to-face meeting in terms of efficiency, but online forums have advantages too. Not only could others participate and have a convenient avenue to access the HOA Board, but online forums also allow for the posters and repliers to lay out their thoughts more clearly and research answers fully. | | | |
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homeowner
Posts:31
| | 01/06/2008 8:36 AM |
Alert | Board Member(s): It's obvious that you are unwilling to actually answer questions concernng the budget, especially the above questions about your budget expecting to receive all of the HOA fees when you know you're only receiving about 75% of them. Where are we able to view the actual checks paid for expenses from 2007?
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twostep23
Posts:1689
| | 01/07/2008 7:52 PM |
Alert | Nope not unwilling to answer at all. When doing a budget you list all monies that is expected to be received and expected to be paid out. Each of those numbers are actually an estimation based on information available at the time of creation. Either the actual past bills with an percentage of increased expected. The contracts already in place and a thought of what the future holds.
There was a shout out to ALL homeowners asking to be on the budget committee. Sadly there were no volunteers.
As for information that is being asked for can be seen on the desertcedarshoa.com web site. The minutes of previous meeting and agenda along with other documentation can be found there.
I think that your right and a public forum may not be the best place for these or other questions and discussion. I do think we could direct people to the private forum on the HOA website and utilize that forum just as the other communities do. I will be more than happy to answer any and all questions through our web site. I receive an email as soon as someone places a post so I'll know that a thread has been started.
Post away all!!!! | |
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mrhawk
Posts:57
| | 01/08/2008 7:01 AM |
Alert | <div class='NTForums_Quote'>Posted By twostep23 on 01/07/2008 7:52 PM
As for information that is being asked for can be seen on the desertcedarshoa.com web site. The minutes of previous meeting and agenda along with other documentation can be found there.
</div>
Thanks, but I guess I'm missing something. The calendar does not show the dates/times/locations of board meetings. Where is that information stored?
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twostep23
Posts:1689
| | 01/12/2008 12:01 PM |
Alert | | The information is now on the calendar as well as being front page news for the website. | |
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DesertScratch
Posts:33
| | 01/12/2008 1:42 PM |
Alert | Is there only 1 board meeting per year?
You have to be logged in to see the NEWS page. | | | |
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twostep23
Posts:1689
| | 01/12/2008 2:04 PM |
Alert | Nope board meetings are held quarterly for right now.
It only takes a few minutes to register. It is a great way to get information. All the minutes, budgets, forms and important information are posted there. In addition there is a forum exclusively for Desert Cedars.
Our goal is to get all homeowners registered so that we can stop spending money on mailings and use the information highway instead. | |
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Posts: 4625
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