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March, 2010
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TH News Editor
The regular Tuscany Hills HOA meeting was relatively short and to the point on Wednesday, February 17.With all board members present, the Board spent most of its time discussing the new fertigation project that has been installed. Some 31 units are in the ground with liquid fertilizer that will run its first load test on Friday, February 21. The expected rains are scheduled to arrive on Saturday and if they materialize as predicted, the newest system meant to maximize growth of landscaping and minimize over water usage will result in "hug savings to the community," said former board president Lesa Miller.
The Landscaping Committee has been working diligently to get everything in place and what will occur with this newly installed underground system is a measured amount of special chemical and fertilizers that will be sprayed out through the irrigation system, along with water that will change the Ph levels of the rocky, salty Tuscany Hills surface, help break apart the shale and other stubborn areas which have difficulty in allowing proper root systems to flourish.
According to treasurer Craig Smith, the current water bills for the common areas have dropped dramatically since the Board and the Landscape Committee have been working with TruGreen and the fertigation company to ensure that every single drop of water arriving at common areas is not wasted.
One Landscape Committee member said that the nozzles on the sprinkler heads had been recalibrated to pump at 80 psi rather than the 140 psi levels required to pump the water up the hill, thus causing lines to frequently blow out and break. Audience member Jack Fagan asked if the reduction in psi level would cause the sprinkling heads to not irrigate the proper areas but was assured that the same amount of ground coverage could and would be watered.
The fact that rain gauges also have been installed throughout the community to accurately measure any rainfall will also help, and the Board pointed out to the small audience that sprinklers won't go on during any rain periods and won't be randomly working unless the soil moisture that is being monitored indicates water is needed.
All of these various actions are to keep water bills in common areas as low as possible on an ongoing basis.
Fagan humorously sang the Board a little song he learned about what the proper psi numbers should be and after a hearty laugh, everyone agreed that the new system should be given an opportunity to be tested.
The Board members asked for a little more time to read the new Landscaping Committee mission statement, but Craig Smith noted the statements are simply guidelines for the committee to follow and are subject to Board approval in regard to what they propose to do. However, there was approval for the 45 flats of color for the plantings around the monuments. Cost for the flats was $585.
The TruGreen representative spoke briefly about the weed abatement program underway and noted by May all weeded areas should be dead and cleared. There were at least two homeowner requests in regard to landscaping requests that were tabled until the March meeting to give all Board members to opportunity to see the areas firsthand before making any recommendations.
Of major concern was the damage left by the recent storms in late January that destroyed or damaged 24 trees, and water and slope sliding that sent mudslides, rocks and debris into the area around and by La Strada. The Board spoke of cleaning, creating and dealing with run-off that needs V-ditch construction, and vice president Tony Tate asked if first a geotechnical examination not be better since whenever construction occurs above the actual homes, the hillsides are often subject to slippage and give way. The Board agreed to monitor the problem that has created erosions and landscaping concerns for homeowners and will seek professionals to determine soil stability and the possible scenarios from future rains and storm impacts.
Waterfall damages discussed
In other business the Board turned to the ongoing problem of the community's waterfall that is the continual recipient of vandals that put colors, soap and shampoo into the system that causes the waterfall to turn into a bubble machine.
The constant costs of defoaming agents and the ongoing problem of why and who the culprits are created several suggestions from audience members and Board members alike.
Tony Tate commented the "best way to protect our community is for everyone to be watching and listening to what is going on," and he added he was in favor of putting surveillance cameras and signage letting people know 'you are being watched and recorded.' "
Audience members suggested special lights, cameras, and even motion detectors that would activate a dye solution that would not be easy to remove to "mark" those who continue to vandalize the area. Such systems are not inexpensive, but like the dye packs that are used to mark bank robbers when they open bags, the suggestion had merit. One audience member suggested putting guard dogs on special lines, another jokingly suggested the use of "trained snipers" with buckshot.
At the end of the discussion Darren Blackmer made a motion to obtain three bids for greater detection that might be affordable to the association that was approved.
Open Space Reserve
The Board briefly discussed the first quarter Open Space Reserve funding that had arrived from the city of Lake Elsinore. It was decided to put $15,000 of the $119,000 into the reserve account and wait for the second quarter amount before committing the amount to the reserves. Dealing with both the December and January actuals, the treasurer noted that he was "more comfortable" putting the money where the actual cash flow situation would not be compromised in meeting monthly commitments and Darren Blackmer agreed saying it was a more prudent move.
Open forum
At the Open Homeowners Forum, Gloria Healy was told her request for an extension would be taken under advisement for the March meeting. Architectural committee chair Jim Brady called for more volunteers to serve on the committee and also requested more residents come out to play pickleball to which Jack Fagan replied he was willing once again to not only serve on the committee "if needed" but was willing to "put the pickleball back into your court, Jim."
Cor Vos spoke about the need for horseshoe competitions and games for many of the older residents who enjoyed such past times and one gentleman asked about his water bill as compared to his daughter's bill over the same period of time. The daughter who lives in Chino Hills paid four times less for using roughly the same amount of ccfs and Board members informed him he had to take his complaint directly to the EVMWD offices.
