STARLIGHT MESA
HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION
Minutes of August 28,
2013 Board Meeting,
Board Members Present: Glenn
Cunningham, <redacted>, Karen Levin and Trang Tran
1.
The meeting was called to order at 8:05 pm by the
President, Trang Tran.
2.
Approved the replacement of roof of the Fan residence
at 281 Starlane Drive. The property
owner complied with the Association’s guidelines for alternations and provided
the Board with a sample of the new material (light weight concrete shakes) to
be used.
3.
New Mesa residents announced:
a.
Gregory and Shirley Goechner at 172 Starlight Crest
(owner)
b.
George and Sheryl Hernandez at 5311 Pali Point Lane
(renter)
4.
Discussion of the Bergen fence and landscaping
agreement (submitted by the Bergens) status; discussions continue with the
Board’s Counsel; the Board has issues with: waivers of prescriptive rights,
exclusive versus concurrent maintenance, duration of the agreement, establishing
precedents, and the need for a collaborating property line survey; the Board
emphasized their desire for expediting the resolution of this issue; the Board
directed that its Counsel deal directly with the Bergens on the open issues.
5.
Annual Picnic (9/7/13) planning/coordination
a.
Trang has reserved tables and chairs, chaffing dishes
and table covers to be delivered on Friday; Trang will provide a BBQ, Mediterranean
food, candy in bags for accompanying the movie, desserts, card table for
sign-ins, table cloths, Asian food, two tables for food
b.
Tina Blum will provide sausages and potato salad,
piñata and candy, two tables for food
c.
Karen will procure heavy weight plates (2 sizes),
napkins, Sterno, name tags, electric candles, chips and other munchies, baked
chicken, salad, one table for food
d.
The Treasurer will provide cheese and pita bread,
drinks (beer, soft drinks, water), other Middle Eastern food items
e.
Chari will provide hotdogs and buns for the kids (to be
cooked on the grill with Tina's sausages). As well as two cases of wine.
f.
Glenn will provide the movie projection and sound
equipment, rent a screen, provide truck and manpower for logistics, wine cups
and beer cups, 3 Colman ice chests, 2 Styrofoam ice chests, 12 bags of ice, Chicken
fajitas, rice, beans, Caesar salad, tortillas, chips and salsa
g.
Michelle Kim will provide the movie disc, kid games,
h.
Set up time will be 3 pm
i.
Food to be delivered at 5 pm
j.
Buffet open at 5:30 pm
6.
Treasurers’ report
a.
The 2011 audit has been completed and will be
distributed to residents via e-mail, on the website and hardcopies to those
without e-mail
b.
The 2012 audit engagement letter has been signed and
the 2012 audit will proceed.
c.
The treasurer has a backlog of checks for signature due
to his holiday travel; the Board emphasized the need to expedite check signing
in order to satisfy our suppliers, and to make arrangements for alternative
delivery of checks in the absence of the Treasurer;
d.
Dues delinquencies were reviewed.
e.
Current expenditures were reviewed and found to be
equal to or less than expectations
f.
The Treasurer will once again speak to Cardinal
Management regarding the need to provide variances from the current year budget
in the monthly financial reports.
7.
Pool operating permit
a.
Glenn reported that Cardinal Management has paid LA
County for the annual swimming pool operating permit, but that the pool has yet
to be inspected this year. Last year we
had violations regarding the fading depth markers, and the lack of a capacity
sign that have yet to be resolved.
8.
Maintenance report:
Glenn and Karen reported that in past month:
a.
Directed Toribio Landscaping to spray the invading
Bermuda Grass in the Putting Green Park in order to try eradicate it.
b.
Directed Toribio Landscaping to remove a dying palm
tree long the west fence of the pool
c.
Removed a dead Juniper shrub south of the tennis court
d.
Restocked the pool restrooms with trash bags and toilet
set covers
e.
Periodically monitored the pool area for proper
operation of the filters/solar heaters/pool service performance, damage, etc
f.
Adjust the drinking fountain at the pool for proper
operation
g.
Directed Toribio Landscaping to check for the proper
the operation of all the irrigation
h.
Adjusted watering frequency in the Putting Green to
reduce “bogginess”
i.
Directed Toribio Landscaping to power wash the pool
deck before the picnic
9.
Maintenance plans for September
a.
Complete a master schedule for water frequency and
durations in all zones by season
b.
Adjust watering schedules based upon current weather
c.
Schedule Fall lawn fertilizing
d.
Install a hand washing faucet adjacent to the tennis
court drink fountain (task carried over from previous months)
e.
Plan for maintenance of the swales below Mariners View
prior to the rainy season
10. Discussed
the issue of the proliferation of ground squirrels near the tennis court
a.
Karen obtained a bid for $250 establishing poison bait stations
by each of the squirrel holes for a month or more; if accepted, the work would
be done after the picnic
b.
The reasons for not going ahead with the squirrel
eradiation was the safety concern for children playing by the poisonous bait
stations near the path to the children's play areas; as well as the squirrels
being indigenous to the area and therefore a constant problem. The Board, therefore, voted to attempt to
remove the squirrels using only water to flush the squirrels out and then use
stones to block their entrance and exit by the gazebo area as they may cause
the gazebo base to break.
11. Front
Lawn Watering Concerns
a.
The issue of some residents not water their front
lawns, an issue carried over from a previous meeting, was discussed
b.
It was agreed that Glenn would draft a letter for Board
review to be sent to residents who are not maintaining their front lawns to
standards set by other residents and as part of the effort by the HOA in
providing front lawn mowing in order to maintain a uniform up-scale appearance
of Mesa lawns.
12. Questionnaire
for residents’ feedback about the HOA
a.
In an item carried over from a previous meeting, the
Board discussed the pros and cons of submitting a questionnaire to residents regarding
common area maintenance, facilities, desires for future enhancements of the
Mesa, the Boards’ performance, etc.
b.
There was some sentiment that a questionnaire probing
specific items would not be useful or perhaps not well received.
c.
It was decided that a broad form appeal for
“suggestions” about the operation of the Mesa would be more appropriate.
d.
Glenn agreed to draft a letter to residents asking for
suggestions.
13. Annual
Association Meeting
a.
November 9th (with an alternative of November 16th
in case of inclement weather) was established for the Association’s Annual
Meeting of all residents. It would be
held on the pool deck (as it was on November 10th last year).
b.
Trang will interact with Cardinal Management regarding
the legal preparations required.
c.
Glenn will update the Reserves Study for review at the
next meeting.
d.
The Treasurer will prepare a draft budget for the 2014
calendar year for review by the Board at the next meeting.
14. Next
Board Meeting was scheduled for Thursday, September 26, 2013 at Glenn’s house
at 7:30 pm.
15. Approved
an invoice for $44.38 for reimbursement for supplies from Glenn; approved
prepayment for tables and chairs for the picnic by Trang.
16. Discussed
lobbying potential candidates for the 2014 Board
17. Refurbishing
the Gazebo
a.
Refurbishing the gazebo is the number 1 priority on the
Board’s list of improvement/maintenance projects for 2013.
b.
Karen has been investigating alternative approaches for
upgrading the existing structure and has found that achieving a permanent fix
built around the existing posts is not feasible.
c.
It was suggested that a preliminary plan for the
desired permanent upgrade be sketched out by Karen and then Glenn would submit
it to a contractor for a price out.
Respectfully submitted by
Glenn Cunningham
(Substitute Secretary)