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OAKS NORTH MARBELLA NEWSLETTER
July 2009
NEW WATERING GUIDELINES / MAINTAINING YOUR PROPERTY
A lot has been published concerning the water restrictions that became effective
June 1. We would assume that by now, you and/or your gardener have made the
necessary adjustments to be in compliance.
While we all have to make a concentrated effort to conserve water, we also have
an obligation to maintain the appearance of our properties. Cutting back your
watering schedule to less than called for or ceasing to water yards and slopes
will result in dead and dying grass, trees and plant material. This is hardly
attractive and could create a fire hazard.
Failure to maintain your property is also a violation of the C.C.&R.'s, Article
9.9.18, which states, "Each owner will keep, maintain, water, plant and replant
all slope banks and other landscaped areas on such Owners lot, so as to prevent
erosion and to create and maintain an attractive appearance..." Non-compliance
is not an option.
LANDSCAPE CORNER
As mentioned in the last Newsletter, we were
hoping to take advantage of a rebate program for new "Smart" irrigation
controllers. Unfortunately, that did not work out for us. We have since
engaged the services of a company that is helping HOA's to redesign their Common
Areas and implement better irrigation technology. We recently did a lengthy
walkthru of our greenbelt and along Paseo Del Verano with an Irrigation
Specialist and Landscape Architect. Within the
next couple of weeks we expect to be presented with irrigation suggestions and a
landscape design. Providing we are happy with
the ideas and design and feel we are being offered a viable solution to our
greenbelt woes, we would then like to schedule a special meeting for a
presentation to residents.
There is grant money available to fund all or most of the expense, that we of
course, would like to take advantage of. We're hoping to be able to schedule
this meeting the end of August or beginning of September. We will be sending
out notification of the presentation / meeting.
WATER USE RESTRICTIONS
-Water lawns and plants between 6p.m. and 10 a.m.
-Sprinklers can only run for 10 minutes per station
-Odd numbered addresses: Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday
-Even numbered addresses: Saturday, Monday, Wednesday.
Questions or concerns about the Common Areas, contact Karen Wiley,
Larry Allen or Jim Coote.
O.N. ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE (ARC)
Permission for any exterior changes or alterations is necessary.
Forms are available at the Community Center Office and also online at
www.oaksnorth.org.
The ARC meets the 2nd and 4th Tues at the Community Center each month.
The forms must be submitted by the Thursday, prior to the meetings at the Center
Office. The Board has been involved with the review and processing of all
requests for some time. That participation has been a great help to the
Committee and has expedited the process for our residents.
UNIVERSAL WASTE
The O.N.C.C. is assisting residents with properly disposing of
Electronic Waste that is banned from California landfills. They have positioned
a collection container in the front office vestibule near the first aid
container. They will accept the following batteries, Dry cell
alkaline(AAA, AA, C, D, 9V, and lantern), cadmium, iron, magnesium, mercury,
nickel, metal hydride, silver, zinc and carbon batteries.
They will not accept lithium, lead acid or wet cell batteries.
MARBELLA SPEED LIMIT
We are once again getting reports of some residents driving much to fast
through our community. The speed limit is 25 MPH. Going over
that speed has the potential of hitting one of our one legged and/or four legged
residents. Please slow down!
GARAGE DOORS
A Marbella resident, living on Avenida Marbella, recently had an expensive
vacuum cleaner taken from her garage while the garage door was open. Leaving
your garage door open and unattended is an invitation for theft, as well as
unwanted entry into your home.
“THE” BENCH
The long awaited bench is now complete and installed on the
greenbelt. We invite all the residents to rest a while and enjoy the view!
Your donations paid for all the materials and the
installation at the site.
A heartfelt thank you to the following neighbors who
contributed…Geraldine Benson, Roberta Cantow, Karin Coote, Ann Karnopp, Judith
Markley, Maurice Nahum, Helen Willey and the “Guadalmina Girls”.
We also want to thank Board member Jim Coote for
volunteering his time to make the new bench!
WATER SAVING TIPS
We wanted to share with you a few tips to help you save
water during this drought:
·
Check your sprinkler system frequently and adjust sprinklers so
only the desired area is watered. Be sure to notify your gardener of the
watering restrictions (three times a week, 10 minutes per valve, and only
between the hours of 6 p.m .and 10 a.m.) if you have someone taking care of your
yard.
·
Consider installing a drip irrigation system in your yard to save
more on water.
·
Put a bucket in the shower to fill while you are warming up the
water. Then use that bucket to water your plants. You can also do the same at
your kitchen sink.
·
For a FREE water evaluation, you can contact the City Water Dept.
at 619-570-1999.
MARBELLA BOARD ELECTIONS
There will be two positions open for candidates in the upcoming election in
October. For those of you who are new to Marbella
and may be unfamiliar with Home Owners Associations,
consider this HOA 101.
The Board is comprised of Marbella residents who offer to volunteer their time
to run for election and serve on the Board The minimum term is two years. The
main duty of the Board is to enforce the Articles of the C.C.&R.'s It is also
necessary to oversee the maintenance of the Common Areas. It has become
practice for this Board to assist the Oaks North Community Center Architectural
Review Committee (ARC). The Board can and has elected to provide other services
like the information included in this newsletter and compiling and updating the
Telephone Directory The Board meets once a month to conduct business, but is
frequently active in matters throughout the month.
It is vital for residents to get involved, to maintain the continuation of
decision making without Property Management
involvement. To go that route is easier perhaps, however, these
companies have other properties to oversee, all with individual concerns.
Hence, a little fish in a big pond, theory.
There is also the matter of cost. We have a very modest quarterly per
house assessment of $170; with Property Mgmt. that could very well double and
become a monthly cost per house.
That's why the Marbella community needs its residents to come forward and get
involved. It's unrealistic and unreasonable to expect the same people to serve
on the Board year after year, after year.
If you are interested, we would need to know by
September 16. This Board meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m.
at the Community Center. Come join us; see how it's done. Get involved!
COMMUNICATIONS WITH
THE BOARD
All communications, including complaints,
should be in writing and mailed to: Oaks North Marbella HOA, P. O. Box
300164, Escondido, CA 92030. You can email the Board members at the
following:
Karen Wiley: karewile133@wmconnect.com
Larry Allen: lallengolf@aol.com
Marilyn Tipler: mdtipler@yahoo.com
Maurice Nahum: mhuman@aol.com
Jim Coote: jcoote@san.rr.com
Questions regarding your billing, refinance
information or escrow information should be directed to our accounting service
at (760) 751-5444.
Copies of Board meeting minutes and financial
statements are kept in the Oaks North Community Center Library for your review.
The notice and agenda for the monthly Board
meetings are now posted on the Community Center bulletin board four days in
advance of our meetings.
The Board meets on the 3rd Wednesday of the
month at 10 a.m. at the Oaks North Community Center. The meeting is open to all
owners. Please come and join us!
STREET CRACKS
The Board has
tried, unsuccessfully, to get the City to come out and repair the cracks in our
streets. We are suggesting that individual residents file complaints with the
City about the street cracks near their homes to see if they get a better
response. You can call the City’s Street Maint. Division, Mr. Hasan Yousef,
Deputy Director, at (619) 627-7504 or email him at hyouse@sandiego.gov.
UNSCRUPULOUS
CONTRACTORS
Recently someone was delivering flyers in the neighborhood for a handyman
service. In checking the license number listed on the flyer, it was found to be
bogus. We suggest that you do not go to the yellow pages or hire someone
going door to door. Do ask friends and neighbors for recommendations and
always check with the San Diego Better Business Bureau (SDBBB) and the State
Contractors Licensing Board
(www.cslb.ca.gov)
to
insure that who you hire is reputable
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