Board Members Present:
Jerry Smith (President)
Pat Kingshott – Vice
President
Ernest Garza – Treasurer
Bill Beverley - Secretary
Don Garrido
Don Pyka
Tim Parker – New member
Chris Myles (management
company representative)
Others Present:
David Crockett, Barbara
Michlowitz, Mary MacDougall, Lih-Lan Hu, Chris Jenkinson, Jim Finch, Ed
Kingshott
Open Forum:
The vice president explained that 20 minutes
prior to the meeting there will be an open forum for homeowners to ask questions
and voice their concerns. Previously it was used
to discuss the Car Wash and Gordon Hartman Homes.
The homeowners asked when
the BOD had decided on a new President. It
was explained that after the Annual Homeowners meeting and election (March 10,
2004), Jerry Smith was elected President of the Shavano Ridge Homeowners
Association (SRHOA). Pat Kingshott
will remain Vice-President, Bill Beverley Secretary, and Ernesto Garza
Treasurer.
A homeowner, who had
previously painted the guard rails on the sidewalk overpasses, asked the
president if he was interested in getting the rails repainted
The president said the unsightly ones should be painted, and all should
be inspected.
Denton Development Company
will provide the City and City Councilman Art Hall’s office with plans for a
proposed park and nature trail to be associated with the construction of the
Storage Unit and Lutheran High School. These
plans were shown to the homeowners present. A homeowner asked where the entrance
to the park would be. The president said by the railroad tracks.
Deed restrictions are in the process of being drawn up with the City
Council. The development of the park will be paid for by the 2003 Bond issue and
from City Parks and Recreation funds.
The president talked about
the need for a left turn signal light at the intersection of DeZavala and Rogers
Parkway. A prior traffic study had
recommended the addition of a left turn signal. It was suggested that Shavano
Woods Board be contracted to get their support for the light.
Agenda:
Harmon Homes Update
Entrance
Issues regarding Covenants
Bank New Signature Cards
New Business:
Annual Meeting and
Bylaws
CAI/ Legal fees
Community/Neighborhood Chairperson
Landscaping on Rogers
Parkway
The minutes of the Feb. 10th
meeting were accepted, seconded, and approved. No corrections were made.
It was decided that the
minutes from the General Meeting (March 10th, 2004) were to be
reviewed. The treasurer
wanted more time to look over the minutes prior to their approval because it was
such a substantial document. He proposed a motion to wait until the June meeting
to approve the minutes; the motion was seconded and approved.
The vice president read the
Presidents report; she thought it was too long and may need to be edited
for the newsletter.
The treasurer will review
the budget report to make sure it is correct.
The results of the vote on
the Bylaws change were counted.
Financial Report: It was noted
that the Management Company has a new financial software program that makes it
hard to read their ledgers. Year to Date (YTD) budget comparisons varied from
annual budget comparisons.
Some spending went over
budget such as printing/coping:
Budget = $800.00; cost to
date = $1263.00.
Extra costs were attributed
to a second newsletter for the year.
It was noted that the
builder of Gordon Hartman Homes has already filed covenants, so he has paid
$2,112 for 33 lots. With the addition of the extra Hartman Homes fee, the
association is under budget for the first five months of the year.
The
vice president said the expense of a second mailing for the General Meeting
proxy form was due to an incorrect date, which required additional copying and
postage. She said that we have had two newsletters so far and that sometimes the
printing and copying costs are mis-categorized.
She
then asked the management company representative about picking up this cost
since it was their error. The
representative could not answer
whether they will pay the expense because his boss is out of town.
Then she
asked the management company representative about the discrepancy in insurance
costs; the management company representative showed her the statement with the
correct costs.
The
treasurer expressed his concern that billing errors were becoming much too
common and suggested that he and the vice president keep a close eye on all
bills, especially those for irrigation and landscaping.
Welcome Committee:
No welcome packages have been delivered lately, but two houses sold recently so
there will soon be two new residents.
Crime:
Some vehicle damage was reported, and a
street sign was knocked downed. These
events were thought to be related to a weekend party in neighborhood.
It was noted that a second
block captain is needed for Ridge Farm.
Publication
Committee: It was noted that articles
for newsletter are needed, especially cooking recipes.
The newsletter will be sent to the printer tomorrow (April 14th);
the Block Captains will receive copies by Monday or Tuesday (19th or
20th).
ACC:
A number of requests were made: repaint houses (3), siding replacement (1),
cedar fence (1), solar screens (2) and lighting (2).
Two are pending because no colors were mentioned. Some requests were not acted on because the committee members are
still considering them.
Grounds
Committee: The president informed
the management company representative that the entrance area near the rock wall
has anthills and weeds that are not being treated
as per the contract with the gardeners. Also, no fertilization of the grass area was done as per
contract.
Covenant
Committee: Letters sent out to six homeowners regarding lawn maintenance and one
regarding a barking dog. The management company representative added these were
friendly reminders.
Yard
of the Month: This observance will start the first week of May; an advertisement will
be placed in the newsletter requesting nominations.
Unfinished Business:
The vice president said that at the annual meeting, a summary of the key dates
of the subdivision was presented. This information will go out to all homeowners
as an insert in next newsletter.
She emphasized the
important items as being:
On Jan. 23rd
1996, Denton Development turned over control of the SRHOA to the homeowners.
In Oct. 1998, the SRHOA requested declarant status, which
Denton declined to grant.
In 1999, Denton started
developing 44 homes in Shavano Bend (unit 6).
In the summer of 2002, at
the suggestion of councilwoman Bonnie Conner, Gordon Hartman Homes contacted the
SRHOA to inform them of his intention to purchase Unit 7 from Denton Homes and
to develop commercial or residential property behind Shavano Ridge.
In Aug. 2002, the board met
with Mr. Hartman. Together, they composed an information sheet and organized an
open forum with homeowners.
On Oct. 3rd
2002, an open forum was held. Fourteen homeowners were present along with the
board of directors, Mr. Hartman and his staff.
Board decided that
single-family homes would be the best option for the community and signed an
agreement with Gordon Hartman. The
agreement would require a change in the zoning ordinance.
The board proposed that Mr. Hartman accept a quarter vote for each of his
64 lots for a total of 16 votes. These votes will decrease in number as the
homes are sold. The new homeowners will be full members of SRHOA.
A City Commission meeting was held on March 4, 2003:
Four Shavano Ridge board members voted for zoning change.
Three Shavano Bend members
voted against the zoning change.
No
Shavano Ridge homeowners were present.
Currently, five homes and
two models are being constructed; it was said that five of the homes were sold
as of last week (early April 2004). The model homes opened in March 2004.
For the units that have
sold, the average cost of the Gordon Hartman Homes (including upgrades) is
between $100/ and $110/ per sq. ft.
New homeowners will get welcome packets. This
information will be provided in the next issue of the newsletter.
It was said that the homes
in the neighborhood were selling at 98% of the asking price; however, it was
also mentioned that some have fallen out of escrow.
Some issues with the
Gordon Hartman homes were discussed.
The fencing that was
initially used was pine, but it has been replaced with cedar.
The fence was also off center.
It was noted that the fence
posts that support the fence separating the new street from the quarry
were not placed parallel with the street.
Although the positioning of the poles was in accordance with the original
plans, the positioning was changed when the president talked to the builder.
The two house colors
(“light yellow and a darker yellow”) were discussed.
The Hartman Homes designers selected these colors.
The president suggested that it would be good to have a mixture of colors
and styles. This issue is being discussed with the builder.
Model home signs outside SR
are folding signs and put out on weekends only. There are some signs inside SR,
near the Pizza Hut, which are acceptable.
The new mailboxes are of
wrought iron and arranged in groups of four and are placed on the opposite side
of the street from the homes. They don’t match what is already in the SR
neighborhood and some security issues were raised. The Post Office provides a
choice of lockable boxes in singles, doubles, and fours or larger. The president
talked to a Gordon Hartman assistant and the postmaster about this issue and
found the decision is apparently up to the builder.
It was
noted that there was a difference between the setbacks of the SR homes (75 feet)
and the Gordon Hartman Homes (35 feet) were noted. Where was no further
discussion.
Irrigation system to be
used, if any, and the type of landscape are being addressed with the builder.
The cost of irrigation was a concern.
Xeriscaping was considered
but it was noted that even xeriscaping requires water. It was determined that
gravel would be the cheapest to maintain. No decision was made.
The traffic signs on the
central island of the new street directing cars to the left and right are
considered too large; the issue is being brought up with builder.
There
are outside speakers playing music in the two model homes. These are on a timer
that goes off after the models close at dusk.
Where was no further discussion.
There are no streetlights
in the area yet, but they will all be placed on the “house side” of the
street. The builder is adding more stucco to the houses (3/4).
Phase one improvement of
the entrance was discussed.
Electric plans have been submitted for new light toppers (The glass
filament enclosures).
Sign companies have yet to
be contacted by the management company representative, but 3 bids will be
obtained by end of the month. The job will require some electric work, toppers
for lights, and a new sign. One bid
also includes moving the larger plants in the planter box back behind the
floodlights.
Covent
Issues: update no action.
Bank Signers for the
Association:
Information was provided for the signing of association checks to Jerry
Smith as the new President.
Bylaws
Change: A homeowner made a motion at the General meeting to amend the bylaws so
that complaints against homeowners are to be put in writing
(letter, email or FAX), signed, and dated.
The motion was seconded and a vote was recorded.
A count (which included Proxies) was made
after the general meeting; the Board recorded 65 no votes to 46 yes.
The motion failed, so there will be no change.
As requested at the general meeting, the accounting of CAI payments and
all legal fees has been compiled for homeowners. The summary will be published in the next newsletter. It was
thought that no names be used in the newsletter just a summarization so as not
to offend any homeowners.
The “Unofficial SR website’s Open Forum” was mentioned by a board
member; he noted that individual board members were named in the comments by
homeowners. He asked Mary
MacDougall to remove his name from the website. He
accused another homeowner (who was present) of putting his name on the website.
That homeowner asked that he not make unfounded and untrue assumptions. Mary
told the board that the homeowner comments were made directly to the website and
she would speak with Dorian about having his name removed. The name was removed
from all homeowner’s opinions.
The president mentioned a need for starting a new committee to devise a
better system for handling community complaints. At the general meeting, a large
number of homeowners expressed concerns about the nature of the letters sent to
homeowners by the board. A review
of what is done by other communities was suggested. The management company
representative sends the violation letters. He patrols the neighborhood every two weeks and notes
violations of the Code of Compliance. The homeowners want the board to take a
more neighborly approach. Board members know about the violations prior to the
letters being sent out. The Board
sees the timeliness of response as an issue.
Ideas talked about were a call to the homeowner by a board member, or a
note. Concerns were raised by board members about visiting the homeowners
because of the fear of potential violence. The president is forming a committee
and has talked to three homeowners about serving on it. The board decided that
violation letters will continue to be sent until the BOD resolves the issue or
develops a different system.
The management company
representative left the meeting at 9 pm.
Bill Beverley has been doing extra duties for the association, but
replacements are needed for some of these activities. He asked that he not be the chair of the Covent Committee. A
new Covenants Committee member and website person are needed.
A new website person has been identified but a committee member is still
needed. Mary MacDougall volunteered
to serve on this committee or any other committee.
The vice president asked whether a letter thanking the MacDougalls for
repainting their house was sent. Mary did not think a letter had been sent but
would check with Dorian and inform Pat. It turned out that the letter had been
sent.
The vice president
mentioned that the association’s former attorney, Chris Webber, tried to over
bill the association, but an agreement was made. There
was a question raised by the treasurer about the balance sheet regarding
delinquent fees comparing a March 31st statement of $1,025 versus April 3rd
statement of $1,381.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 P.M.