Arizona HOA Owners Voice

Important Questions Homeowners Should Ask at Annual Meeting

2013-01-11T18:09:00.000-07:00

The financial statements usually given at the annual meeting consist of the Balance Sheet and Budget Comparison. They are intended to give the reader a picture of the financial health of the community. The problem is that they fail to give a complete picture.

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AT&T's Proposed Tower

2012-11-15T11:45:00.002-07:00

Folks, this has got to be an embarrassing moment for AT&T. The FCC if forcing AT&T to install a tower in Mesa to cover gaps in coverage. The proposed tower is supposed to be disguised to make it look like something other than a cell tower. In this case it's supposed to look like a palm tree. It looks more like a photo of what we can expect it to look like in 5 years or after a Haboob? Because it is just unacceptable by any standards.
Read on to see photo.
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Protecting the Ownership

2012-10-29T04:26:00.001-07:00

HOA BoD has a duty to take reasonable steps to protect the ownership from liability from losses. This includes keeping owners safe, ensuring that vendors are supervised and aren't breaking into peoples homes or cars, taking steps to keep kids from getting run over, etc.

The one thing that I haven't seen homeowners complain about or even think about is ID theft. As homeowners we can take steps to protect ourselves from ID theft. However, there is one simple step that can be taken to possibly prevent ID theft that isn't being done by HOA boards.
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SB1468 - The Only Way to Keep Board Members in Check!

2012-10-15T20:02:00.004-07:00

I recently ran across a site that appears to be a Community Associations Network site. It's very well written and has great tips. And expresses how we all feel about HOA boards who just don't get it. Those of us who suffer from headaches and hope that common sense will prevail in HOAs. Suffer from them due to head trauma from banging out heads against the wall, desk, floor, or other hard surface hoping the horse will drink the dam water.
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How does Your Board Interpert the Declaration and Statues?

2012-09-06T15:00:00.001-07:00

The rules and regulations of the community are adopted from the provisions within the declaration. However, there are portions of the declaration that are ambiguous and only act to restrict or limit the board. The board may have policies and procedures to follow but, these aren't derived from provisions in the declaration.

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Maintaining Landscaping is More Than Mowing and Trimming

2012-08-30T23:01:00.000-07:00

It amazes me the amount of people who think you just water, mow, and trim trees and shrubs thinking that is all landscaping is about. They must think that if you just put gas in your car and keep the tires inflated and your done. No No No! If that is all you do to your car it isn't going to last very long.
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Board Members Have a Duty to Protect the Communities Best Interests

2012-08-20T17:51:00.000-07:00

When owners elect board members they are placing their faith and trust into them. We trust that they will not just focus on one area of the community. That they will benefit the masses not just themselves. We are trusting that these people will take more than a few seconds to consider if something should be done or not. Just because the law gives the board members an out if they rely upon the advice of a professional. Does not mean that the court will allow this as a viable reasoning if board members did not use common sense.

Board members still have to take into consideration who the information is coming from. It doesn't matter if it's a law firm, landscaper, utility company, the city, or builder. Every company even if it's an individual is in business to turn a profit. Therefore, everyone at the company is nothing more than a salesman. For the company to get the contract the person you are talking to must make you like them and make you comfortable. Hence, they must sell themselves.

To do so they must act as if they are your friend and are giving you some really good deal. Then they turn on the charm to get you to trust them and remember them. It's the same as interviewing for a job. Because that is what they are doing after all.

In the creative process board members will and should allow the contractor to point out possible problems and make suggestions. However, keep in mind they are in business to make money. So, some suggestions are going to be viable and great ideas and some are not. When dealing with something that is charged by the square feet the larger the area the lower the price per sq ft becomes.

For instance, if you have a community with 200,000 sq feet of grass that is maintained and the goal is lower water usage. The contractor may suggest converting small areas to a desert landscape to save water. The area they may suggest could be only 300 sq ft or 600 sq ft. and cost $15,000.00 or $25.00 per sq ft. to remove and redesign and plant. This is when you have to pull out the thinking cap.

Let's say the current water bill runs $40,000.00 a year and the cost to mow is $60,000 a year. If we use 600 sq ft and figure out the percentage it is of 200,000 sq ft. We get .003 or .3% of the total sq ft. Of the total 200,000 sq ft only .3% would be converted. Now .3% of the yearly water consumption comes to $120.00 per year and of the mowing costs is only $180.00. Meaning the 600 sq ft costs $300.00 annually to maintain. The cost to convert 600 sq ft is $15,000.00 meaning it would take 50 years for the money saved in water and mowing before any savings would be seen.

Common sense tells us that 600 sq ft is an insignificant amount of area to convert when there is 200,000 sq ft to maintain. Common sense also tells us that the only person or persons benefiting from such a project is the contractor. This project is not in the best interest of the community.

The community is better off just shutting off the sprinklers and stop maintaining it the area than to pay someone to dig it up. Because even if you get a bid that is for $5,000.00 it will still not be in the best interest of the community. Your better off just letting the grass die off by its self and covering it with rock.

Board members need to use common sense and logic. Business is business and those in business are in it to turn a profit. Nobody is in business to lose money! Not even an HOA.

Which Reserve Study Items Have to Be Replaced Now and What Can Be Delayed?

2012-08-15T23:06:00.001-07:00

You've got your reserve study updated, now what. If your surprised at the increase in replacement costs your not alone. But, the first thing you should do is break down the list of items by way of importance.
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How HOA Boards Get Around a Required Vote to Charge a Special Assessment

2012-08-14T13:07:00.000-07:00

The blog article below is written by Robert M Nordlund, PE, RS founder of Association Reserves. I'm including his biography as an example of the backgrounds of the people who evaluate and prepare reserve studies. I find it to be very disrespectful and a huge waste of money when board members purchase studies and act like they don't have to follow them or it's a scam. I once heard a property manager say that it's just a guide you don't have to follow it. To them I say, architectural guidelines are just a guide and we don't have to follow them. I wish!

Not All Licensed Contractors Are Created Equal

2012-08-10T21:51:00.003-07:00

If your like most people when you need an appliance serviced or some other repair or maintenance work done. You pick up the phone and call a few places to get prices ask if they are licensed then select one to do the work. The person who comes to do the work may come alone or with another person. Depending upon the type of work being done the repair person or people will be independent contractors or employees of the company. It's common among appliance repair industry for the person to be an independent contractor or subcontractor. These guys typically have to purchase the parts they carry on the truck. Other in home service companies like landscapers; are employees of the company that you called. We assume the person or people doing the work are licensed contractor but, that isn't so.
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Former Climate Skeptic Now Says Global Warming is Man-Made by Liz Goodwin Yahoo! News

2012-07-31T14:37:00.001-07:00

Details I found interested are highlighted.

About-face: Former climate change skeptic now says global warming is man-made

By Liz Goodwin, Yahoo! News | The Lookout

National Affairs Reporter

He finally came around to what other climate scientists have been spouting for years. Richard A. Muller, a physics professor at the University of California-Berkeley, announced over the weekend that his much-publicized investigation into climate data has found that humans' production of carbon dioxide is causing the world to slowly warm up. And this process could speed up dramatically in the coming years.
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Cummlative Voting vs. Single Non-Transferable Voting (SNTV)

2012-07-31T01:10:00.000-07:00

There has been some talk over the years in some communities to change board member terms and how votes are cast. Trust me the authors of the governing documents are not stupid people. They may not have been able to predict how people would twist and justify the words in the documents. But, they know a thing or two about the structure of a governing body and politics.
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Scottsdale Candidates for 2012 City Council - Not Much of a Choice

2012-07-29T01:25:00.000-07:00

After reading the statements written by the candidates running for Mayor and City Council. I was left with the feeling that nothing will change. It really doesn't matter who wins, when they still don't get it. It cannot be business as usual anymore. They city has to focus on the individuals and families of Scottsdale and not on big businesses.
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More twists as Zimmerman takes his case public - Trayvon Martin - MiamiHerald.com

2012-07-19T22:56:00.001-07:00

$200,000 in 11 Days

That is what Zimmerman managed to get in donations according the article in the Miami Herald (See link below). I just want to know why are they donating to begin with. It's likely that if he is found guilty that the HOA will be the ones ultimately responsible They asked him to become the watch captain, knew he carried a gun on community property but, did not govern how the position was to be done.

Here's what is unclear to me with regards to the donated funds.
If Zimmerman is guilty and the HOA is determined to be the one ultimately responsible. Zimmerman still goes to jail but, expenses from his defense become the responsibility of the HOA. Since those costs are already paid for by the donations. Zimmerman would be reimbursed, right? Are reimbursements of donated money still considered donations? If not, then he profits from a crime which is still illegal, right? Or does his wife and family benefit from the crime since he would be in jail? Or does it get returned to the people who donated the money?

More twists as Zimmerman takes his case public - Trayvon Martin - MiamiHerald.com

Zimmerman: Trayvon’s death was “God’s plan” - Trayvon Martin - MiamiHerald.com#moreb

2012-07-19T22:31:00.001-07:00

Wow! I'm left speachless. It's shocking. You can also view the video of the actual interview by using the link below.

Zimmerman: Trayvon’s death was “God’s plan” - Trayvon Martin - MiamiHerald.com#moreb

Think Twice Before Placing Blame on Owners

2012-07-17T01:40:00.002-07:00

You may want to think twice before pointing the finger at other owners in your HOA. My HOA has falsely accused owners of damaging common areas. Doing so causes owners to get suspicious of others and causes fighting within the community. This is when cameras start going up.
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Maintance of Existing Common Ground Before Doing Projects

2012-07-14T17:22:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's a gender thing, maybe it's excitement, maybe it's being to worried about the project getting canceled, maybe it's lack of help, maybe it's the intentional but, it's a problem for many HOA boards. Once the focus is shifted from maintenance of common areas to redesigning or redecorating projects they neglect to maintain it and everything else.
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Timeline and Map of Events Leading to Zimmerman Shooting Trayvon Martin

2012-07-13T23:52:00.001-07:00

This is the best visual aid that allows people to see the big picture.

http://www.miamiherald.com/trayvonmartin/

Defense: Zimmerman judge biased - Trayvon Martin - MiamiHerald.com

2012-07-13T23:42:00.001-07:00

Zimmerman wants a new judge because he feels that the judge is biased based on the things the judge wrote in the July 5, 2012 bond order. I posted the actual order written by the judge and the Miami Herald article below.
The judge isn't bias against Zimmerman. Zimmerman and his wife lied in the first bond hearing. Then decided to argue his case at the second hearing. If he could convince the judge that the states case was weak against him the bond would have remained the same. He could also determine the direction the judge was leaning in the trial. If Zimmerman didn't want the judge to respond to his argument he should not have raised the issue. Although this is just my opinion.

Read the article and judges order using the links below and tell me what you think.

Defense: Zimmerman judge biased - Trayvon Martin - MiamiHerald.com33

http://media.miamiherald.com/smedia/2012/07/05/13/18/1h9ymt.So.56.pdf

Medical records: George Zimmerman had black eyes, painful broken nose but no head trauma - Trayvon Martin - MiamiHerald.com

2012-07-13T22:45:00.001-07:00

Although this isn't new news I found it interesting that Zimmerman suffers from so many conditions and is over weight yet was still able to run.

Medical records: George Zimmerman had black eyes, painful broken nose but no head trauma - Trayvon Martin - MiamiHerald.com

Zimmerman changes details, makes claims inconsistent with other evidence

2012-07-08T20:31:00.001-07:00

Zimmerman changes details, makes claims inconsistent with other evidence

By Rene Stutzman and Jeff Weiner, Orlando Sentinel

6:22 p.m. EST, June 27, 2012

George Zimmerman talked to Sanford police a half-dozen times, going over what happened the night he killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. In the retelling, parts of his story changed. His account also does not line up with other evidence.

Here are some of the most prominent inconsistencies:

Where the confrontation happened

In his first recorded interview with police the night of the Feb. 26 shooting, Zimmerman said Trayvon popped out at him from "the bushes."

By the time he re-enacted the shooting less than 24 hours later, however, Zimmerman was much more precise, and the spot he pointed out had no bushes nearby.

As he walked police through what happened where, he said Trayvon approached him from his left rear and at a spot near the intersection of two sidewalks.

What Trayvon said

In that first taped interview with Sanford police Investigator Doris Singleton, Zimmerman said that when he and Trayvon came face to face on that sidewalk, Trayvon said, "What the [expletive][is] your problem, homey?"

During the next 24 hours, Zimmerman's version of what Trayvon said would change slightly, becoming less offensive with each telling.

In another interview later that night, he told Investigator Chris Serino that Trayvon said, "You got a problem?"

During the re-enactment the next afternoon, he told police that Trayvon yelled, "Yo, you got a problem?"

Also, a 16-year-old Miami girl told prosecutors she heard something different. She said she was on the phone with Trayvon at the time and heard him say, "What are you following me for?"

Dispatcher asked him to find Trayvon

After first spotting Trayvon and dialing a nonemergency police number, Zimmerman parked his truck while he talked with the dispatcher, asking that an officer come to the scene.

While still on the line, he drove a short distance down the street before parking again.

Why did he move his truck?

During the re-enactment the day after the shooting, Zimmerman told detectives it was because he had lost sight of the 17-year-old, and the dispatcher asked him to find him.

A review of Zimmerman's recorded call with the dispatcher, though, shows there was no such request.

Did he follow Trayvon?

In his call to police before the shooting, Zimmerman can be heard huffing and puffing as if he had been running or walking fast.

"Are you following him?" the dispatcher asked.

"Yeah," Zimmerman answered.

"OK, we don't need you to do that," the dispatcher said.

"OK," Zimmerman said.

But after the shooting, he offered a different reason for getting out of his truck. Serino pressed him for an explanation three days later.

I was "just going in the same direction he was," Zimmerman said. He had exited his truck, he said, to get a street address for authorities.

"Did you pursue the kid? Did you want to catch him?" Serino asked.

"No," said Zimmerman.

Serino challenged him further: "How do you not know the three streets in your neighborhood [where] you've been living for three years?"

Zimmerman replied that he had a bad memory and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Other inconsistencies

Investigators also pointed out to Zimmerman in a Feb. 29 interrogation several other discrepancies, but he did not clear them up:

•He had said that during their struggle, Trayvon covered Zimmerman's nose and mouth with his hands, but in a recorded 911 call from a neighbor in which someone can be heard screaming for help, none of the cries sound muffled.

•Zimmerman had injuries but not ones that matched the severity of the attack he described, according to Serino. If Trayvon had been banging Zimmerman's head on the sidewalk, the Neighborhood Watch volunteer should have had skull fractures, not just cuts, Serino said.

•There were no defensive wounds on Zimmerman's hands and just one small scrape on a finger of Trayvon's left hand, Serino said — little evidence of life-and-death struggle.

rstutzman@tribune.com or 407-650-6394. jweiner@tribune.com or 407-420-5171.

Copyright © 2012, Orlando Sentinel

Reducing Utility Expenses is Easier Than You Think

2012-06-24T14:46:00.004-07:00

Take a look at your communities electric bills. You probably see several meters being billed to the community. Now take a closer look.

How many meters are billed for small dollar amounts? Something in the neighborhood of $15.00 to $30.00 per month. Now look closer. How many are billed for 3 to 5 KWH each month? I found 5 meters being billed for small amounts of usage. In fact the taxes and usage costs were around $1.50 per month for each of the 5 meters. The meter rental fee is more than the cost of the electricity around $17.00 per meter.

If these are meters running to the irrigation system then get controllers that use batteries. It could add up to a savings of around $900.00 per year.

Look at the Soil in Your HOA as the Source of Landscaping Problems

2012-06-22T14:40:00.001-07:00

The soil in which you are cultivating dictates the plants that will grow and how much water needed to grow them. Soil that is good for growing sugarcane is considered to be poorly draining soil for growing wheat. Growing plants purchased from a nursery may be grown in the area but, aren't growing in native soil. These plants are growing in rich black soil that drains well with organic matter and lots of nutrients.

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Scottsdale Water Rates Increase July 1, 2012 Updated

2012-06-14T01:58:00.001-07:00

Some board members have been using the scare tactic that if we don't reduce usage the city will go to a tiered billing system. Scottsdale has always been on a tiered billing system for water. The base fee is based on the meter size and the usage is based on gallons used and has been for many years.
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Information Missing from Your HOA Budget

2012-06-10T10:03:00.001-07:00

A budget is more than just determining how much will be spent based on historical costs. It's more than just numbers on a paper to use as a guideline. It provides the information needed to make economical decisions and determine what is a bargin and what is not. The only problem is that most budgets are missing the information nessasary to know bargin shopping.