Ralston Management
41800 Enterprise Circle South, Suite F
Temecula CA 92590, Tel 951-296-9030
Member requests for any action must be a written request sent to Ralston Management. To receive the Newsletter by Email contact Ralston Management.
HOA ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Teresa Owens, CPA and Inspector of Elections reported that 2 more ballots were received since the May 17, 2009 Annual Meeting for a total of 23 ballots equaling 197 acres or 29.62% of total acreage. The votes were counted by Teresa Owens, Inspector of Elections, Tammy Wagonis and Catherine Richell.
Teresa Owens reported that the new BOD for 2009/2010 would be Joe Kenitzer, President; Kevin Mc Daniel, Vice President; Robin Seal, Member at Large; Ethelene Owen, Treasurer and Louise Kenitzer, Secretary.
YOUR HOA
Duties of Your Board of Directors
HOA Officers as well as Committee members are held to high standards called Fiduciary Duties. The definition of “Fiduciary Duties” is a duty to act for someone else's benefit, while subordinating one's personal interest to that of the other person. It is the highest standard of duty implied by law (e.g., trustee, guardian)." Upon their election, directors become fiduciaries with two primary fiduciary duties: DUTY OF CARE (Due Diligence). Directors must be diligent and careful in performing the duties they have undertaken.
Directors must:
1. Attend and participate in meetings so they can be informed about the association's business.
2. Make reasonable inquiry before making a decision. Board may rely on professionals (attorneys, CPAs, consultants) unless director suspects misrepresentation by the person offering the advice.
DUTY OF LOYALTY (No Self-Dealing). Directors must act in the best interests of the association even if at the expense of their own interests. Violation could result in (i) liability for all profits received, (ii) all damages caused by the breach, and (iii) punitive damages. Conflicts of interest do not necessarily create liability.
RGO HOA Vice President
Each quarter we will highlight the duties of one of our officers or committee heads.
The HOA Vice President acts in the place and stead of the President in the event of absence. Exercises and discharges such other duties as may be required by the Board.
The Vice President is the HOA liaison to the community and briefs the RGO HOA BOD on community meetings attended, impacts to our HOA and recommends follow-up actions to be taken. Records, during BOD and Annual meetings, action items, assignments and due dates for completion. Keeps track of action items in the HOA five-year plan and assigns, with BOD approval, action items and due dates from the five-year plan to be accomplished in the current year.
Manages, with the approval of the BOD, changes and updates of CC&Rs, bylaws and policies/guidelines/rules of operation to incorporate new laws passed each year that affect the HOA.
Manages, suggests topics, gathers input from board and association members, edits and publishes the association newsletter every 3 months (quarter).
Works in conjunction with the Member at Large to communicate with, and respond to, HOA members.
Info for Members
Wildfire Prevention
Rancho Glenoaks HOA is one of more than 200 California communities in urban/wildland areas that are considered high-risk. These areas have the conditions that encourage the ignition and rapid spread of wildfires. The following characteristics put many people and homes at risk: Extreme terrain regions - mountains, hills, ravines and canyons, Abundance of fuel - trees, shrubs, dry grass and other vegetation, Fire weather - dry air, strong winds. Normally, July through October is fire season in our area, but in today’s world, if a fire starts anywhere in California, the firebugs come out, so always be alert.
Standard homeowners and renters' insurance policies cover fire losses, but by taking some precautionary steps, you can reduce the chances of becoming a fire victim.
The first and most effective defense against wildfire is to create a fire safe landscape of at least 30-to-100 feet around your home. This can be achieved by removing flammable vegetation, spacing trees and shrubs at least 10 feet apart, clearing away dead leaves on your roof and dry brush around your home.
In addition to creating a defensible space, consider the plants and trees in your garden as a form of fire defense. Junipers and eucalyptus trees, commonly used around homes, are extremely flammable. On the other hand, rose geraniums, ice plants and white rockrose withstood high temperatures for prolonged periods without igniting.
Check with your fire department or local nursery to determine which fire-resistive plants are adapted to the climate in your area. In general, fire-resistive plants grow close to the ground, have a low sap or resin content, grow without accumulating dead branches, needles or leaves and are easily maintained and pruned.
If a fire does threaten your home, the first few minutes are the most critical for saving it. The following steps give firefighters a better chance of finding and protecting your home.
Ensure that street signs, home address and fire hydrants are clearly visible.
Be sure that the road access can accommodate large emergency vehicles. All roads should have turnaround areas large enough for fire equipment.
If you have a swimming pool, be prepared to use it as a fire-fighting tool by purchasing and learning how to use a pool pump.
Your roof is the most vulnerable part of your house because it can easily catch fire from the wind-blown sparks of a wildfire. Build or re-roof with fire resistive or noncombustible materials. Your local fire department can provide specific roofing guidelines in your area.
In addition to ensuring that the outside of your home is fire safe, it's important to take steps inside as well. More than 50 percent of fatal residential fires occur at night when people are sleeping. Smoke detectors have saved many lives, and could save yours. Install smoke detectors on every level of your home and position them on the ceiling just outside each bedroom.
Also, plan and practice an escape route with all family members. Fire can spread very rapidly. Even with an early warning from smoke detectors, escaping a fire can be difficult. The following steps can help you plan your escape:
Draw a floor plan of your home and mark all possible escape routes.
Prepare a list of valuables to take with you in an emergency.
Remind everyone to close doors behind them as they evacuate the house to slow down the spread of fire, smoke and heat.
Decide on an outside meeting place to assemble your family and to make sure everyone is out.
Conduct regular home fire drills. You may be blinded by smoke, so try practicing your escape plan with your eyes closed.
Planting a slope to control erosion, be fire resistant, and conserve water
We are in a wildfire area, so you should be sensitized to the need for fire resistance when choosing trees to plant. Any cypress or conifer will contain lots of oil, and thus is highly flammable. Pine trees basically explode and Italian cypresses will go up like Roman candles, according to the fire department. Eucalyptus trees are equally undesirable in fire conditions. When planting a hillside one of the keys is to plant in masses so when they flower, you get a lot more impact if they're grouped than if they're planted apart. People often buy single plants, and end up with a weak hodgepodge on their hill.
This is where planning must take place. Buy in groups of at least five and plant a variety of heights, textures, and foliage colors. Doing so creates an appealing contrast on your hill. In Southern California you may want to incorporate four types of plants on slopes: Groundcover such as gazanias, a climbing plant such as bougainvilleas, a long-lived shrub that sends its roots deep into the ground like prostrate acacia, and a shrubby groundcover such as lantana for additional color.
Planting with a little strategy would give you yellow from acacias, bright red from bougainvillea "La Jolla," and a mix of red, orange, and yellow from lantana. Add cape plumbago, also known as imperial blue plumbago, which flowers in blue and you'll have stunning and colorful bank cover year-round. To cover a 40-by-60-foot plot of hillside, you could plant about 48 one-gallon plants ---- 33 acacias, five bougainvilleas, seven lantanas, and three blue cape plumbagos. The hillside should be covered within a year to 18 months.
The Housing Market
As the economy gets worse some of our neighbors may be losing their jobs which could mean that they may not be able to keep up payments on their homes and it will go into foreclosure. We not only lose a friend and good neighbor but our community gains an empty house. This not only puts the empty house in danger of vandalism but also puts all the neighbors in danger. In our area, if vandals come day or night, there is a chance that they can get lost and arrive at the wrong house, and it could be yours. During the day keep alert when you leave and return to your home and at night have sensors that turn your outside lights on if someone comes up to your home while you are sleeping.
Light Pollution
Did you know?
Researchers estimate that up to 2/3 of the world’s population can no longer look up at night and see the stars in the Milky Way because of light pollution. In our HOA we can still see the stars in the night sky but as there is more development in and around the HOA, the stars may disappear. What can I do?
When we think of pollution, we usually think about air and water pollution, but light pollution is increasing as suburbs—and the commercial, street and landscape lights they contain—sprawl into outlying areas. Homeowners can help reduce the amount of excess light emitted upward from their landscape by using strategically placed low-voltage lights to provide enough light for safety and security without lighting up the night sky. Using solar-powered lights are even better for the environment—and your wallet—since they don’t use household electricity.
Here is a summary of key new laws that went into effect January 1, 2009
Laws Which Encourage Solar Energy: Two of the new laws seek to encourage the use of solar energy:
The first solar related law states that any governing document provision which “effectively prohibits or restricts” the installation or use of a solar energy system is void and unenforceable. Associations can, however, impose reasonable restrictions on such systems. But, if an Association willfully violates this law, it must pay damages to the injured member, up to $1000 in penalties, and reimburse the member for their attorney’s fees. (Civil Code section 714)
The second solar energy law requires that any approval or denial of a solar energy system application be in writing. Furthermore, an application shall be deemed approved unless the association has denied it in writing within 60 days after receipt, unless the delay is the result of a reasonable request for additional information. (Civil Code section 714)
Disputes between an Owner and the Association: This addition to the Davis-Stirling Act applies to any dispute within the jurisdiction of small claims court between an owner and the Association regarding “any disputed charge or sum levied by the association, including, but not limited to, an assessment, fine, penalty, late fee, collection cost, or monetary penalty imposed as a disciplinary measure.” In such a circumstance, the owner may pay “under protest” the entire amount the Association claims is owed, and then file an action in small claims court to recover the amounts paid. (Civil Code section 1367.6)
Notice to Association of Trustee’s Deeds: Under this new law, an Association may record a formal request that any mortgagee, trustee, or other person who is authorized to record a notice of default, mail to the association a copy of any trustee’s deed upon sale. If such a request is recorded, then the mortgagee or trustee is required to mail that information to the Association within 15 business days following the date the trustee’s deed is actually recorded. (Civil Code section 2924b)
HOA POLICE?
Big Thanks
The HOA BOD wants to thank EMWD for putting together an HOA fire Hydrant location map and to Jerry Henson of Farmers Insurance for working with EMWD on this project to help lower our homeowners insurance. The map and a cover letter are available at Ralston Management and on the RGO HOA web site.
Vegetable Gardening in Small Spaces
"A number of edibles including herbs, small-fruited tomatoes, salad greens and peppers are suited to grow in containers." There’s nothing more satisfying than eating your own fresh-picked, homegrown vegetables, herbs and fruits. It’s easy to grow fresh herbs to spice up salads and soups. You don’t need a large garden to grow edible plants, just warm soil and 6 or more hours of direct sun. In a small plot, just a few containers or even a window box, you can grow and harvest delicious herbs and vegetables from spring until frost.
Getting started
To take full advantage of the space you have, you can combine flowers, fruit, herbs and vegetables so that your garden is both beautiful and bountiful. Potager is the French term for a kitchen garden, an idea that has been around for centuries. A garden located near the kitchen is functional, visually appealing and is easy to accomplish with some simple planning. A number of edibles including herbs, small-fruited tomatoes, salad greens and peppers are suited to grow in containers. Pole beans, cucumbers and squash can be trained to grow up a trellis, arbor or fence, providing vertical interest and plentiful production. For a beautiful and productive hedge, plant blueberries (combine 2–3 varieties for the best bounty). If the sun moves around your garden, consider using dollies so you can wheel plants to follow the sun. Once you're done harvesting cool-season crops such as lettuces and peas, replace them with fast-growing warm-season crops such as beans and summer squash.
If you stagger your planting times, your garden will produce more over a longer period of time. Be sure to mix in easy-to-grow herbs like basil, thyme and parsley. Interplant marigolds, fennel and parsley throughout your vegetable garden for color and to discourage insects. By spending a little time and money throughout the summer you will reap big rewards. Plant the right herb in the right spot. Lavender, marjoram, rosemary, sage, savory and thyme do well in hot sun and well-drained soil. On the other hand, basil, chives, coriander (cilantro) and parsley prefer richer soil with more frequent watering.
Bush beans are easy to grow from seeds or plants. Just a few plants will produce a harvest. Start some in late spring and add another crop in mid-summer. Pick beans regularly when pods are firm and fully elongated but before the seeds swell. This will encourage plants to keep producing. For small garden plots, consider companions like the dwarf sunflower, which grows to 2 feet tall with 6-inch blooms; they attract pollinators like birds and bees, as well as provide some welcome shade for your beans. Add another crop of sunflowers in mid-summer for blooms well into fall.
Pole beans are a good choice if you have very limited space. Train them up a bamboo teepee, arbor or fence. Cucumbers can also be trained to grow up a support. Varieties such as cherry tomatoes are tasty and heavy producers, ideal for containers or in the garden. Plant them deep—up to the second set of leaves from the bottom of the stem is fine. Combine them with herbs such as basil to help discourage insects. Start planting in late spring or early summer; add a few more plants in July and you’ll be able to harvest until frost. Plant early, mid-season and late varieties for maximum production.
Zucchini, an Italian squash, is prolific and easy to grow. You can start with 5 seeds in small hills spaced 2 feet apart. In cramped spaces, train them to grow up an arbor or fence. Add a few more plants to your garden in July for maximum production. Harvest zucchini when they are 6 inches long; any bigger and they may be too bitter.
Both hot peppers and sweet peppers are easy to grow in pots or in a garden. Sweet banana peppers, which start out yellow and turn brilliant red, are great for pickling.
end
Tomatoes can be planted in early, mid or late season depending on the variety. Interplant nasturtiums, which are colorful, edible and may attract aphids, thereby drawing the insects away from your vegetable plants. Plant tomatoes deeply—up to the second set of leaves from the bottom of the stem—whether in containers or in the garden.
