Assessments Due by April 30

If you have already paid your 2013 ALPHA assessment, please disregard this notice.

This is just a reminder that if you have not paid your 2013 assessment, it’s due by April 30 to avoid late fees. Any payments postmarked later than April 30 will be considered late regardless of the date on your check.

For those that have not paid yet, a paper invoice will be mailed within the next few days.

If you have questions about your assessment, please contact the Board of Directors by email to info@arnoldlilacparkhoa.org or by telephone to 209.795.3807.

Be Watchful – Theft is on the Rise

The number of reported thefts and burglaries in the Arnold area are on the rise and unfortunately, Lilac Park isn’t immune to it.

Just this past weekend, I received a report that a heathy, mature tree was cut down and partially removed from a homeowner’s property on Summit View. Apparently, the thieves were aware that the homeowners don’t live here full time and took advantage of their absence to steal a tree that was between 18 and 24 inches in diameter from a relatively remote section of the property. This is disturbing.

Over the last year, I’ve heard of several instances of cut firewood and other items being taken from various lots in the area, including Lilac Park. According to reports from several full time homeowners, break-ins over in Blue Lake Springs are up significantly and homeowners are frustrated because law enforcement is stretched pretty thin.

What can we do about it? For starters, make your home less of a target for thieves. Don’t leave valuables in plain sight and don’t leave curtains or blinds open. Consider an alarm system. The police may not be able to respond in time to catch a thief, but a loud alarm siren or bell will likely discourage a bad guy from going into your home should they force open or break a door or window.

If you see someone cutting trees on a Lilac Park lot and they don’t appear to be professionals (or they’re not the owner of the property), report it immediately to the sheriff’s department. Any living tree over 12″ in diameter requires the approval of the HOA and/or the county to remove. Trees already on the ground or that are dead, but still standing, may be removed without permission. All cut timber and slash MUST be removed in a timely fashion.

Recent advances in technology have made Digital Video Recording (DVR) systems relatively inexpensive and widely available. Installation is often no more difficult than installing a DVD player or other home entertainment device and can usually be done by homeowners with basic tools.

Take photos of valuables and record available serial numbers. While the sheriff’s office may not be able to investigate every incident, filing a police report increases your chances of the thieves being caught and the eventual return of your property. Report any theft, no matter how insignificant.

Finally, get to know your neighbors. Having an extra set of eyes on your property is never a bad thing, plus, you can keep an eye on theirs when you’re in town and they’re not.

Many of us come up to the mountains to get away from everyday life. Unfortunately, some elements of life will follow us regardless of where we go. We must be vigilant and take steps to protect our property.

~Mark

 

CalFire Inspections to Begin in May

CalFire VIP inspections are currently set up for the following dates. Start your lot clean up early. Please see the 2013 Spring Edition of the Treetop Times (our newsletter) for a comprehensive guide on getting your lot fire safe and into CalFire compliance.
Click Spring/Summer 2013 to view the newsletter.

  1. First inspections will be conducted May 24 – May 30, 2013.
  2. Second inspections will be conducted June 21-22, 2013
  3. If you have any questions for the VIP inspector, or need to leave a message, send email to lilacparkfirewise@yahoo.com
    This email address goes directly to the VIP inspector and is NOT received by any ALPHA Board Members.

ALPHA Board Meeting for April 2013

The ALPHA Board of Directors will be meeting on Saturday, April 6, at 2pm, at the Arnold Public Library.

All ALPHA homeowners are invited and welcome to attend.

Spring 2013 Edition of the ALPHA Treetop Times

The latest edition of the ALPHA Treetop Times has been published and is ready for you to download and view.

To view the newsletter, please click HERE.
(requires FREE Adobe Reader, available here)

For questions and comments, please send them to info@arnoldlilacparkhoa.org.

Reminder: ALPHA Assessments Due

ALPHA Homeowners – Just a reminder tha 2013 assessments are due and payable now, but late fees do not apply until after April 30.

You can send a check to PO Box 722 Arnold, CA 95223 or you can use your credit card by clicking the following link. (if you need the password, please drop us a note)

http://payments.arnoldlilacparkhoa.org

If you have questions concerning your 2013 assessment, please drop us a line. If you have already made your 2013 payment, please disregard.

Changes to Tenant Use of the ALPHA Pool

The ALPHA Board of Directors has opted to make some changes to how tenants of homeowners register to use the pool.

The right to use HOA common areas is automatically transferred to tenants of association members, including the ALPHA swimming pool. Homeowners cannot legally preclude tenants from using the pool. Our current method for tenant use of the pool requires the homeowner to complete an authorization form. If the homeowner doesn’t do this, our past policy restricted tenant’s use. This isn’t in line with state law.

That being said, it is also within the law for ALPHA to verify the identity of those using the pool so that it’s use is limited to authorized association members or their tenants.

For 2013, any renter or tenant of any improved lot may use the ALPHA swimming pool after they have provided the board of directors or its agent a copy of their rental or lease agreement.

This shifts the responsibility of registering tenants at the pool from the lot-owner to the tenant. If the tenant wishes to swim, they can do so without having to contact their landlord for authorization. Since the legal right to use the pool is automatically transferred to the tenant anyway, the only thing the tenant has to do is verify that they are a resident of Lilac Park.

A formal pool-use policy is being drafted for this year and will include these new rules along with general pool use information.

ALPHA Board Meeting for March 2013

The ALPHA Board of Directors will be meeting on Saturday, March 9, at 2:00pm, at the Arnold Public Library.

All ALPHA homeowners are invited and welcome to attend.

ALPHA Board Meeting for February 2013

CORRECTION: The ALPHA Board of Directors will be meeting on Saturday, February 9, at 10:00am, at the Arnold Public Library.

All ALPHA homeowners are invited and welcome to attend.

No Board Meeting in January

Just a reminder: there is no ALPHA Board of Directors meeting in January.

The next regularly scheduled board meeting will be on Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 10:00am at the Arnold Public Library.