ATTENTION: WE NOW HAVE AN HOA MEMBERS ONLY SITE

IF YOU'RE AN HOA MEMBER PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR NEW SITE MONTEREYVILLAS.ORG

Recent Comments

Thursday, October 9, 2008

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Sheriff Sandra Hutchens gave her 120-day report to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, with her Command Staff outlining for the Supervisors the specifics of changes and plans that have been undertaken since she was sworn into office.; Sheriff Hutchens OCSD; Sheriff Sandra Hutchens gave her 120-day report to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, with her Command Staff outlining for the Supervisors the specifics of changes and plans that have been undertaken since she was sworn into office.; Sheriff Hutchens OCSD; Sheriff Sandra Hutchens gave her 120-day report to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, with her Command Staff outlining for the Supervisors the specifics of changes and plans that have been undertaken since she was sworn into office.; Sheriff Hutchens OCSD; Sheriff Sandra Hutchens gave her 120-day report to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, with her Command Staff outlining for the Supervisors the specifics of changes and plans that have been undertaken since she was sworn into office.; Sheriff Hutchens OCSD; Sheriff Sandra Hutchens gave her 120-day report to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, with her Command Staff outlining for the Supervisors the specifics of changes and plans that have been undertaken since she was sworn into office.; Sheriff Hutchens OCSD; Sheriff Sandra Hutchens gave her 120-day report to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, with her Command Staff outlining for the Supervisors the specifics of changes and plans that have been undertaken since she was sworn into office.; Sheriff Hutchens OCSD;



Tuesday, July 15, 2008

HOA Meeting Rescheduled to Thursday

Attention residents, I have just been notified that the HOA meeting originally set for tomorrow night has been rescheduled for Thursday, July 17 at 7:00.

Friday, July 11, 2008

Santa Ana Pub Crawl - 07/12


Didn't get enough partying in this 4th of July weekend? No worries. This Saturday starting at 5PM, the downtown restaurants and bars will be hosting the Santa Ana Pub Crawl.

Stop off at any of the participating locations and pick up a "Crawler Card" for a chance to win free prizes. All you need to do is visit all of the locations featured on the card that night and get it stamped by an employee. Once you've got all of the locations checked off on your card, turn it in (at any of the locations) and you’ll be entered into the raffle. That's it!

Visit the Pub Crawl website for more details and be sure to sign up on the mailing list for information updates.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

THIS JUST IN, WE HAVE A NEW PROPERTY MANAGER!!!

I'VE BEEN SENDING MANY EMAILS TO CHARITY REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL WIRING TO OUR SECURITY CAMERAS AND HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY REPLIES. THAT WAS UNTIL THIS AFTERNOON WHEN I GOT THIS RESPONSE:

Hi Joe

I am the new manager for Monterey Villas. Let me make a few phone calls and get back to you.

Thanks

Shelley Coppi

Beacon Property Management

10300 Fourth Street, Suite 260

Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730

909-941-9866 Ext. 125

909-941-8812 FAX



I REPLIED ASKING WHAT HAPPENED TO CHARITY AND IF SHE WAS BRIEFED ABOUT OUR SITUATION. I ALSO CALLED BEACON PROPERTY EXT.125 AND ITS ROUTES YOU TO SHELLEY COPPI. HOPEFULLY SHELLEY CAN PULL US OUT OF THE "SHITTER"

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Montereyvillas.org - Getting Off to A Slow Start

*THE MONTEREYVILLAS.ORG SITE IS TEMPORARILY DOWN DUE TO SOME SERVER UPGRADES, PLEASE BE PATIENT, THE SITE SHOULD BE BACK ONLINE LATER TONIGHT*
07-08-08 3:30PM

Its been a couple weeks now since we launched the Monterey Villas HOA site, and it seems to be getting off to a slow start. Oh course we didn't expect 300 people to sign up for the site right away but we already have 20 residents registered. Montereyvillas.org goes far beyond what we could ever do here on the blog. I highly encourage everyone to check it out and sign up.

I'm happy to announce that our first classified ad has been posted, and it is for a 5 piece Dining Room Set. Click here to view the ad.

There is also a section on MontereyVillas.org which allows members to submit a service request straight to Beacon Property Management by simply filling out a form on the site. Here is the most recent submission:

Location:Between E and F, G Request:Each sprinkler head need to be checked so that new plants and grass are getting enough water. Some areas are so dry and plants and grass are dying. I'm currently using my own hose to water to keep the dry wilted plants from dying.


Here is a conversation from on of the topics in the discussion forum:

Creating more parking spots
As I as walking back to my condo the other day I noticed we have an opportunity to create a few more parking spots in our complex. I am referring to the area that is in front of the mysterious developer storage/golf cart location/few handicapped spots. There is a dumpster there which I believe hardly gets used (removing it would save our community fees), removing the little area which to me, is a waste of space, could add four of five more parking spots. Does anyone have any thought about this?

Cheers

It would be a quick fix I'm in...damn bro your ideas just keep coming. We could also get 1 more spot if we take out the wooden fence area where the big dumpster used to be on the long driveway near Albersons

I noticed that area too. Funny how it has a lock on it but the electrical junction boxes, phone junction boxes, sprinkler timer junction box, and cable junction box... nope, they don't need one! I would like to know what is in the storage area and who has access to it right now.

Cheers

Like everything else only the converters hold the key, I saw it open one day...looked like nothing but junk.

Also, there is space next to the dumpster across from the E Building facing Wellington that could be made into a compact space. There used to be a tree there, but it was cut down leaving a 2 inch stump. It's just dirt and flat dry grass/ivy now.


*Some features of the site are only visible to members so please sign up.*

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Happy 4th!

Here's wishing all Monterey Villas residents a happy and safe Independence Day celebration.

In case you are looking for something to do, here are some community activities in Santa Ana and Tustin:

Santa Ana: Renewing the American Spirit - a Fourth of July Celebration - a festival at Santa Ana High School. Noon - 5:00 p.m.

Tustin: July 4th Celebration - at Tustin High School. Concert at 6:30, fireworks at 9:00

Or, if you'd prefer to explore other cities in Orange County, check out orangecounty.net or the Orange County Register's event listings.


Other notes:

  • Remember, it is against association rules to use barbecues on your patio. However, if you have a barbecue, you may take it out to one of the bench alcoves scattered throughout the complex to do your grilling. The barbecue by the pool is also available on a first-come, first-serve basis for those who have their own propane tanks.
  • Use common sense when it comes to fireworks. Public displays are safest, but if you must buy your own, keep it legal and light them on paved surfaces well away from dry debris or plants. Have a bucket of water nearby to thoroughly extinguish used fireworks and sparklers.

Friday, June 20, 2008

NEW WEBSITE FOR MONTEREY VILLAS

Come check out the website created for you, MONTEREYVILLAS.ORG, the residents of the Monterey Villas. You will find announcements, contact forms, phone numbers, amenity hours and rules, as well as recaps from our monthly meetings.

Feel free to browse the site and if you don't see something that you think should be included, please to not hesitate to contact us!

Enjoy getting to know your neighbors and using the free resources available here. Register and you can get on the forums and chat, post your classified ads for free, share your favorite photos from the area, keep track of events coming up in your community, and much more. Bookmark it and use it often. The more you use the website, the better it will be.

Only registered members can access all the functions of the site, to become a member all you need to do is fill out and submit the Website Access Request Form. Your privacy is important to use, which is why we require an active email address in order to create an account for each and every user.

Once registered, you will have Full Access to all resources, including:
  • Adding photos to the neighborhood photo gallery
  • Participate in the many discussion and information forums
  • Advertise events using the Neighborhood Calendar
  • Whatever your interest, you're sure to find a neighbor interested as well.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

HOA Meeting Recap/Discussion

Hey everyone, I wasn't able to catch everything at the meeting because I had to man the parking permit booth, but I thought it would be good to have a post on the blog where people can comment on what happened and what was said at last night's HOA meeting.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Important Upcoming Dates

Attention Monterey Villas residents, please make a note of these important upcoming dates:

Tonight, Wednesday, June 11 - Representatives from the Enforcement committee will be near the pool to distribute parking permits from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Please bring your completed application, a form of ID and registrations for your vehicle(s).

Friday, June 13 - Water will be turned off for the entire community from 9:00 a.m. to Noon due to a plumbing repair required in F-9.

Saturday, June 14 - Parking permit distribution is scheduled for the pool area again from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Wednesday, June 18 - Enforcement of the new parking regulations will begin. Vehicles parked in open spots without displaying the proper permit will be subject to towing.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Help Wanted!!!

Due to my over demanding work schedule, and constant business trips I'm looking for some blog authors. I've already sent author invites to residents who are our committee leaders.

A blog author is simply someone who can start a post on this site. I just don't have enough free time as I'd like to devote toward the blog. I'm not stepping down from the blog, you'll see my post here and there but I feel that the Committee leaders can give you the best info about their meetings and intentions.

If you're knowledgeable of things going on in our community and would like to contribute to the blog please email me cyrusthevirus12@gmail.com and let me know who you are, where you live, and what you feel you can contribute to the blog.

I thank everyone for their participation and dedication to reading the blog to this point. I know that it can only get better from here. Please give the new authors the same amount of attention as you did toward me.

New Authors you are free and clear to start posting from here on out. If you have any trouble posting email me and I'll get back to you ASAP.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Holy Cameras!!!

Sorry I'm out on business again, I'm actually in Canada right now. Earlier this week I got an email from Joe stating:

Cyrus,
Please post this on the front page, " The security cameras are being installed, you will see , and hear installers throughout the week. Please be attentive when walking throughout the complex as the installer have had to dig some holes and cut cable piping for wires. The installers will be taping off these holes with CAUTION tape but everyone should still be aware of their surroundings especially at night. Don't forget to watch your dogs when you take them for walks. We tried to stay 100% wireless, but due to some of the tress we had to have some of the cameras wired. The installers have assured me that the holes and piping will be completely covered and sealed upon completion of the project. If anyone has concerns regarding the project, or a safety issue please do not hesitate to call me."
Joe Giese
Safety Committee Chariman

I added his phone number to the left side of the page. Sorry it took so long to post up but I haven't been able to get to a computer. Sorry I'm missing all the fun, I should be back this weekend, can't wait to see these things in action.
P.S.
Joe do you have anymore info about the gates?

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Camera Update! Mailbox Issue and wait, GATES?!

Joe posted this comment yesterday,

The F building mailbox panel appears to either have been not secured the postman or broken into. I reported the incident to the postal inspection service but due to the holiday I probably won't hear anything until later this week. The camera install got delayed toward the end of last week due to the rain, install will resume this week. I also have an appointment with a gate contractor this week.
-JoboCop
I was wondering why I hadn't seen any cameras up yet but it makes sense, electricity and water is no bueno! I'm a firm believer in gates, and would love to see that issue pushed.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

WARNING,THE BITCH SESSION!!!

WOW!!! LET ME JUST START BY SAYING NO MATTER HOW HARD I TRY, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RE-CAPTURE THE EMOTION FROM WED NIGHTS MEETING!!! FOR THOSE WHO ATTENDED, WHAT A MAY LAY THAT WAS, FOR THOSE WHO MISSED IT, IT WAS A GOOD ONE!!!

As I approached the clubhouse I saw a significant amount of people ready to enter the meeting, plenty of new faces I might add, as we walked into the clubhouse we were told that there would not be a meeting because we did not have a significant number of board members present. I was a little bit bothered, because I was missing the Laker game until Charity said that she would be taking Comments and Complaints individually and then we'd go home. The funny thing is that she said it like there weren't many complaints and we'd be out of there in a jiffy. Boy was she wrong, and I'm not sure she knew exactly what she was in for. She also informed everyone that Adriana was resigning as Chairman of the Social Committee and that she'd be looking for someone to fill her spot. She then decided to turn things over to us, but before any homeowners could start speaking, Sarah stepped in and said that since we have all of the committee Chairman present, we should at least hear from them.

First up was Joe from the Safety Committee. Joe told us that the cameras were on track to be completed next week and that we would probably hear people on our roofs during the day. He also mentioned that he brought in an ex-car thief to our community and had him do an assessment about our current vandalism situation. I was little surprised by this, and wondered how he was able to pull that one off, but I didn't bother asking questions as he seemed really into what he was saying. Joe told us that the ex-thief gave him some useful advice that he wants to relay to the community but needs some time to prepare it. (Joe, feel free to post it here or e-mail me.) Before he finished with his update Sarah brought up the idea of gating off the community and said that she and Joe would further explore the possibility of gates. Joe asked if anyone would like to step up and join the Safety Committee and one female resident proudly raised her hand and said that she would join the committee.

The female resident, whom I wasn't able to catch her name, began telling us that she was the one who had been the victim of the two home break-ins, here at the Monterey Villas. She highly backed the idea of the safety committee and said she would be more than happy to join. On another note she commended the Santa Ana Police Department for their quick response and attention in her matter, something that has not been said about them pertaining to other matters.

(I'm picking this part up on Monday afternoon, I made sure to get away for the weekend, you didn't really think all I did was blog about this place did you? Now let me tell you that it has been awhile since the meeting so some of details are going to be a little rough in my mind, if anyone has anything to add please do so.)

Things seemed to be flowing well at this point but then things started getting a little heated up. Danielle, a younger female resident from S building, was in attendance and decided to call out Charity. At first it seemed that she had a complaint about the increase in HOA fees, and her landscaping but soon after it was apparent that her frustration went beyond that. She straight up called Charity a liar, and said that she did not have a interest in our community. Danielle went off on her for a couple minutes, but all Charity could do is roll her eyes, and Danielle called her on that too. She told her that she shouldn't talk to us like children and believe me I hate when she does that shit too. At one point in all of this I thought Charity was going to cry, I'm sure that people feel sorry for her but a lot of times its easy to see that she just can't handle us as part of her job.

Sarah tried to play peacemaker in their argument but Charity had some very interesting words to say. She said that she understands people don't like her, and that words have been said about her publicly;I think she was talking about the blog. She proceeded to say that we are free to look for new landscapers, and what surprised me the most is when she said "YOU'RE EVEN FREE TO LOOK FOR A NEW MANAGEMENT COMPANY." Now I'm not the smartest person out there but doesn't that sound like a plea to get her out of that hole she's dug for herself?

Eventually Sarah had Adam speak on behalf of the Architectural and Rules and Regs. Committee and he told us that the parking permits will not be taking effect until the middle of next month. He will also be available June 11 and I believe June 14th to distribute permits for those who have not already received them. (Adam Please Confirm this date and reiterate what you said about the windows for the two bedrooms. I walked out to get some air and couldn't hear what you said about this.

Once Adam finished, Sarah told everyone that association dues were increased to compensate for the poorly thought out budget which was mimicked this past year. At this point, an asian male resident entered the meeting and interrupted everything. I know he had good intentions but his failure to show up on time almost took us back to the minute we entered the clubhouse. We found out that it was his first meeting in two years and he wanted us to conduct the meeting in an orderly manner. He was quick to hear from another resident that this was not an official meeting but rather a "Bitch Session." This seemed to keep him quiet for awhile, and he apologized for the interruption. Sarah tried to wrap up what she had to say but was constantly interrupted by residents. 

There were comments flying left and right, it even got to the point when one of the converters got right in face of a resident. Good thing the pool table was in the way or these two would have went at it. 

I wasn't too mad that I was missed some of the Laker game since Joe was giving us the score frequently,  but I had to leave the meeting before it ended to at least catch the fourth quarter. I'm sure the hiatus continued  throughout the night but someone else could add on to what I missed. The alcohol I consumed this weekend probably didn't help the second half or this post but hey I needed it. 

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

MONTHLY MEETING TOMORROW NIGHT!

Our monthly HOA meeting will be held tomorrow night @7pm in the clubhouse. Not sure if I'm going to be able to make it due to my new work schedule but I highly encourage everyone to voice their opinions at the meeting.

Saturday, May 17, 2008

May Art Walk

Tomorrow night marks the third Saturday of the month and you know what that means–The Santiago Art District Art Walk!

Visit the Santiago Art District website for more information and links to the gallery websites.

Photo of Studio 904 courtesy of Costea Photography.

Monday, May 12, 2008

Dumpster Overfill?


Can someone shed some light on what happened here? Was the dumpster overfilled, or did Waste Management miss a few things? This went down behind "R" building.

Apparently the dumpster area was full of trash and the dumpster had been pushed into the road way. Waste Management was called but the dumpster was just pushed back into its enclosure with all the trash still in there. I theorize that a homeowner pushed the dumpster back to avoid an accident but we're not sure. Can someone give some info?
Photo Courtesy of Aaron.

WARNING!!! NO WATER!!!

THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY WILL BE WITHOUT WATER FROM 9AM-3PM TOMORROW, MAY 13,

thanks to Footballrules for this one,


Alert!!! No Water. I have it on good authority that the water to the entire community will be turned off on Tuesday May 13, 2008 at 9:00 am for an emergency plumbing repair. The water is supposed to be off until 3:00pm.
I just got back from a business trip, more post to come later tonight.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

BATTER UP!

This one comes courtesy of Miss Behaven:


What is wrong with people in the world!! On Sunday night a car near the M building on the Williams side was being attempted to have their catilatic converter stolen. If not for the great watch of a resident in building L, who came out with a bat and confronted the guys trying to steal. And this was at around midnight! Our neighbor was unable to get any more info other than a silver older model Hyundai with no license plate, which now has a broken glass(our resident hit them as they were driving away!)Please be on the lookout and thank you to our great neighbor for stopping these scums of the earth from vandalizing our hard earned personal property!

Finally some vengeance, I'm trying to get a better description of the vehicle so that we can post up a similar picture here so that residents will know what to look out for.

Joe, not to bug but any news on the cameras? In the meantime can you relay any of this information to our security guard?

Sunday, May 4, 2008

GREAT PARTY

First off I would just like to say thanks to the Social Committee for putting on a great event. I didn't stay too late but I but my wife and I enjoyed it. I especially liked the signature game, you had to ask other resident's questions and get their signatures in order to win. It was like a scavenger hunt. We didn't win but it was fun. The tacos were great and so was the music. I was glad to see the turn out, I'd say a total of about 75 people were there when my wife and I stopped by and that was around 6pm. The kids were enjoying the pool, candy and Pinatas, we even sang Happy Birthday to one of our resident teenagers, Benny. I made sure to get in a couple games of pool being that the clubhouse isn't open too often. All in all it looked like everyone in attendance had a great time, to bad other people missed out. Once again thanks to everyone who went to the effort of putting the party together we need more of you here. SO WHEN'S THE NEXT ONE?

If anyone has pictures or videos from the party please email them to me: cyrusthevirus12@gmail.com

Bubbles of Troubles

The following is from an e-mail which I received from a resident:

Cyrus,

First I want to thank you taking the time to keep this blog up!!! It is much appreciated. I wanted to share an issue with you. Below is a copy of the email that I sent to Charity tonight.

I was out at the pool this evening and disturbed to see bubbles foaming up past the hand rail in the hot tub. There were 4 children playing in the hot tub, 2 women sitting at a table watching them. I asked the little boy (about 6 yrs old) "Did you put the bubbles in the hot tub?" He said said he did with a big smile on his face. The mom then jumped up and said, "No, it was here before we got here." I had been at the pool for about 15 - 20 minutes when I noticed the bubbles. I had walked right by the hot tub when I entered the pool area and did not see any bubbles. I have to believe the little boy was telling the truth. To make matters worse they also had a small dog at the table in the pool area. I told them that dogs were not allowed at the pool. They proceeded to ask "were does it say that?" I told them that it is in their CC&R's. We really do need signs posted!

Can you please have the pool guy come out again to clean this up? I'm worried this may cause more issues with pump.

I also wanted to mention that the rules for dog owners are not in the current newsletter. We are experiencing constant problems with dog owners who are not following association rules in regards to animal care. Can this please added to the next months newsletter. This was requested 2 months ago at the association meeting.
I remember us being told by Charity that signs were on the way but like everything else she just forgets about it and it never gets done until its too late. Well here is another instance. No signs of the signs or Charity.


Friday, May 2, 2008

I'VE HAD IT WITH HER!!!!

Has anyone heard from Charity in the last couple days? According to e-mails which I received this morning no one has been able to contact Charity. I'm sure this doesn't come to any big surprise being that this has become common practice here at the Monterey Villas. I know that we only have till November to deal with the converters, but how much longer do we have to deal with Charity, and Beacon Property Management? I'm pretty reasonable when it comes to giving someone the benefit of the doubt but this instance has surpassed that.

Charity, its obvious that you are overworked and don't have time for us, be straight up with us, yourself and your company and just say it; you can not manage our property. No had feelings, just stop dicking us around already. It may just be a job to you but this is our home. Believe me you're not the only person that works hard and gets stressed out. I'm sure that 80% of the people who live here have to deal with more shit and stress at work than you do. I'm not sure how often you read this blog, or if one of your puppets will send this to you but I'm sure you'll just roll your eyes like you do at our meetings. I'm sure anyone who's ever been in attendance at the meetings knows the look I'm talking about.


Feels much better now that I got that out. Time for a Cerveza hope to have some more manana.

TRES DE MAYO = CINCO DE MAYO

I'm sure you've all heard by now that our social committee is hosting a Cinco de Mayo Party tomorrow evening. All residents are encouraged to attend. I've been informed that the social committee is just about ready to kick things off. Anyone who is willing to lend a hand would be most appreciated. If you'd like to participate please meet the social committee out by the pool around 3pm. Take a look at the flyer to the left of the page.

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

More Break-Ins...What do we do?

blueprint said...

My friend's car got broken into last night! It happened between 9:00 - 11:00 pm. She was parked on Wellington Street. A police report was filed immediately but this is frustrating, especially since I heard this has happened a few times on Wellington. What can we do about this? Even if we install more lighting and security cameras in Monterey Villas, I don't think it will cover Wellington and Williams Street. The new parking regulation will be effective soon and most of us will end up having to park outside our complex if we're not doing that already. I'm sure I'm not the only one concerned about this. I would love to hear your opinion and suggestions. Thank you.

Safety Committee What's going on with the cameras? I know they won't solve all the problems but they should help immensely. I understand the reason for the new parking rules and I know there will be a lot more cars parked along the streets but what about having...say 1 camera pointed down Wellington and one down Williams? Just a thought. Joe any updates?

Monday, April 28, 2008

PARTY LIKE A ROCKSTAR!!!

JUST A FRIENDLY REMINDER, THE MONTEREY VILLAS SOCIAL COMMITTEE WILL BE HOSTING A CINCO DE MAYO THEMED PARTY THIS SATURDAY MAY 3RD, 5PM TO 9PM, IN THE POOL AREA. ALL RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND. 


I would like to thank the entire Social Committee for distributing the event fliers this weekend. It was great to open my door and see something other than a company advertisement. Hopefully the fliers weren't mistaken or thrown away by residents as this looks to be a promising event. I look forward to meeting new residents. 

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

WOODFLOORS!!!

Upper units are not allowed to have wood floors due to the amount of noise that can be heard in the unit below. Unfortunately not everyone complies with the rules. Mel, a ground floor resident had this to say:


HELP PLEASE!!! My upstairs have hardwood floors, I hear footsteps and their dog running around through out the entire day...especially late at nights and early mornings is when it is most disturbing. I have contacted Beacon Property/Charity for the last year and they have done NOTHING! I want the hardwood floors remove, it is in the Homeowner Manual that upstair units should NOT have hardwood floors. Can someone help me resolve this issue, I have been trying for the past year. Thank you in advance.
-Mel


What should be done? Does anyone else have this problem? Let's help him out. If I can hear my upstairs neighbors and they have carpet I can't even imagine how loud it would be if they had wood.

Mel your plea has been heard, hopefully someone will have an answer. Committee Chairs. hopefully you'll know what to do. It's not hard to believe that Beacon Property/Charity hasn't helped you out one bit.

Please Use A Name When Commenting!

Sorry that it's getting longer and longer in between post but I've been away on business lately. I wasn't here to write about the lights being out on buildings P and Q so I'm sorry for that but as of last night it seemed like that problem had been fixed. Its been a week since the association meeting and I haven't heard anything from our committee chairs so if anyone has information please advise.

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING:

I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOUR COMMENTS BUT PLEASE USE A NAME WHEN COMMENTING NOT ANONYMOUS. ITS FINE IF YOU MAKE UP A NAME JUST TRY TO KEEP USING IT. THIS WILL ALLOW EVERYONE TO RESPOND TO THAT PERSON. FOR INSTANCE SOMETIMES THERE ARE 4 ANONYMOUS COMMENTS ON ONE POST AND ITS NOT EASY TO TELL WHO SAID WHAT.

Here's how to leave a name when commenting:

  1. Open the comment box.
  2. Type in your comment.
  3. Scroll down to "Choose an identity"
  4. Select "Name"
  5. Type your desired name in the box.
  6. Click "Publish Your Comment"

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Meeting Recap

I was not able to attend last night’s meeting due to a work schedule conflict but Joe from the Safety Committee was going to video tape the meeting. Hopefully I'll post it online later today.

The Board didn't allow the recording of the meeting; Joe sent me an e-mail about an hour ago. Below is the second e-mail Joe sent me, wow, pretty specific, it sounds like I missed a good one. Thanks for the hard work Joe.


Input is highly encouraged.


Cyrus,
Let me start by saying that last night’s meeting was crazy, one you shouldn't have missed. The meeting got off to a late start because the executive meeting ran over a couple minutes due the budget review.

Before the meeting officially started I think I kind of rattled the board, and Charity's cage. I made an announcement that I would be videotaping the meeting for two reasons: 1) Some members can't make it to the meetings for various reasons and this would be a great tool to allow them to view what goes on in the meetings rather than just reading it on paper. 2) This would keep an accurate record of what is said at a meeting being that it is so difficult to obtain meeting minutes.

Once I made my announcement Charity informed me that recording is prohibited based on the Open Meeting Act, which I reviewed and it only states that recording is prohibited if it is strictly stated in our HOA by-laws or CC&R's. It should also be stated on the Meeting Agenda, all of which it is not. She said that she would ask the Board if they would allow it and Vijay, the President, told me that he wasn't comfortable having it recorded. I was upset and frustrated, but being a good sport I agreed with their decision not to video tape this meeting. But, I then requested that I would like to be shown in writing where it states that we are not allowed to video tape the meetings. I apologize to anyone who thought that I was being inconsiderate but Cyrus you and I both thought it would be awesome way for everyone to see what happens in the meeting, and maybe encourage more people to attend, although the clubhouse was packed for this one

The meeting flow went a little different this time around since we had two contractors present who would be informing the board and members of their proposed services:

First up was Bobby of LTS Lighting. His presentation covered the assessment, replacement, and construction of lighting throughout our facility in regards to the walk-through which was performed earlier this month. Members were informed of lights which were broken and told that it’s not just a bulb issue; it’s more of an electrical issue in most situations. He was a little confusing to distinguish exactly what his quote was proposing. From my understanding we already have an agreement for him to replace bulbs that are out, but not to repair or replace damaged housing, so I would say that his quote, $16,000, was to do that. He also proposed that his company would assess the electrical infrastructure in our laundry rooms at a cost $500. This assessment should help in distinguishing why the laundry machines constantly break down.

Next up was Andrew and Scott of Ultra Imaging, a video surveillance contractor. Their presentation was to inform the board and members of the benefits, equipment, and methods or installation they proposed in their bid for the installation of a video surveillance system at the Monterey Villas. After giving a brief introduction about their company Andrew went on to discuss how the cameras would help deter and catch criminals while monitoring and securing people’s assets. Along with the presenting the purpose of the cameras, Ultra Imaging provided some samples of their cameras and informed everyone that the setup would be wireless with transmission antennas. Redundancy seemed to be carried on throughout their presentation but they stated that their bid of $32,850.00 would provide the facility with enough cameras to cover a majority of the parking areas, 4 entrances/exits, the laundry rooms, pool area, and clubhouse. He stated that the cameras would give us roughly one month of coverage before in re-records over itself. Meaning that if you are out of town for two weeks and find that something happened to your vehicle we would be able to back track those two weeks and find out what happened. I can’t remember exactly what promoted him to, but just as Andrew ended his presentation he asked for members in attendance to raise their hands if they would like to have cameras installed. A few hands were blocked from my view but it looked as if everyone in attendance raised their hands. Their presentation ended and it was on with the meeting.

The meeting finally got on at 8pm. Charity read out the usual number for the financial report, if you really want those numbers I’ll post them in a comment. Charity quickly turned the meeting over to Committee Reports, first up was Finance Committee:

  • Sarah, the Finance Committee Chairwoman, informed us that we are in trouble for next year and a lot of research was done to establish the new budget. She quickly caught everyone’s attention when she said that there would be an immediate increase in the association dues. The board and Sarah agreed that a 10% increase ($20.00) would be essential in covering next years operating cost. The increase seemed to be understood by most members in attendance but there were some verbal outburst; questions came up as to what was being done with all the money, and are the converters paying for units they own? Sarah was quick to answer with numeric stats and assured everyone that the converters have been paying fees since their project first began. She finished her talk by telling everyone that in order to maintain accountability the Finance Committee would be reviewing expenses monthly.
  • Now came the big topic of the day, Parking Permits. Adam, the Architectural/ Rules Chairman, told us that upon further review the initially proposed parking permit rules needed modification and they had been done. Here are some of the highlights to the amendments:
    Every homeowner will be eligible to receive (1) Parking Permit
    Only uncovered stalls require a Parking Permit, you don’t need a permit for your assigned stall
    In order to obtain a Parking Permit valid vehicle registration will need to be provided
    Homeowners who rent out their units are responsible for obtaining the permits for their tenants, tenants will not be allowed to obtain a permit.
  • The new amendments will be sent out but to get things going Adam will still be on site this weekend to start the permit process. The time and date are still the same, I don’t have access to that information at this time.
  • Adriana, the Social Committee Chairman, reiterated that we’ll be having a residential gathering, Cinco de Mayo Fiesta, on May 3rd, 2008 from 5 pm to 9 pm. She also informed us that the Social Committee has been considering a revamping of the empty office space in the clubhouse. They would like to make the office space into more clubhouse space which would be open daily to residents. That would give two sections of the clubhouse, one for reservations and one for everyday use. This sounds like a great idea; I hope to hear more about it soon. In the meantime the Social Committee is going to establish rules for general clubhouse usage and hope to have the clubhouse open when not reserved and for sporting events.
  • Charity spoke on behalf of the Communications and Landscape Committee encouraged the board to at least have LTS assess our electrical problems in the laundry. She told us that rock installation and tree trimming had been completed. From the tree trimming we learned that there are some major irrigations problems throughout the facility. A landscape walk-through will be conducted on the 24th of this month.

    I spoke on behalf of the Safety Committee and reiterated an immediate need for the installation of security cameras. I say immediate need because of the amount of vandalism and break-ins we are suffering as a community. Statistics show that theft and vandalism seem to increase in the summer due to fact that teenagers are out of school. Cameras would be beneficial to us because they would allow us the ability to view capture footage of criminals and be able to turn it over to the police. Also we would be able to distribute posters throughout the community with images of such criminals. I highly encouraged that as homeowners we need to be policing our community. If you see someone that looks suspicious, don’t hesitate to call the police. We could have 600 plus eyes watching this community which would be much more effective than any one security guard can do. I feel that our security guard has been a huge waste of money. She is rarely seen anymore and has not been affective. During my speech Vijay suggested that if we terminated the security guard we would be able to use the budgeted money towards the purchase of security cameras. I think this would be a great idea being the fact that most people don’t even realize we have a security guard. Once again I’m sorry if I took too long but I wouldn’t have spent so much time if I didn’t think it was important.

Next up were the Agenda Items, like I stated in the previous e-mail I can’t really remember the specifics about the topics because it was hard to hear conversation between Charity and Vijay. Hopefully someone else who reads this can shed more details on this.

  • Pest Control Contract – The current pet control contract needs to be renewed or we need to hire someone else. Another company was brought up but I’m not positive on what they decided.
  • Roof Leak Repairs – It’s sad to hear that we still have roof leak problems because from my understanding these leaks have been going on for some time now with no attention. I know that the board approved a company to complete the repairs.
  • Street Sweeping – Charity mentioned that a street sweeping services has offered to clean our parking areas and driveways for $350. The board approved the contract. The contract includes blowing out and removal of all the trash under cars and the carports.
  • Tennis Court Wind Screen Replacement – After turning down the replacement of the wind screen last month the board reconsidered it this month and decided to replace the windscreen at the amount of $2,100 which comes from the reserve account.
  • Board Vacancy – As of April 1, 2008 there was a homeowner vacancy on the board due to the resignation of Vito. According to the by-laws the board can appoint someone to fill that position. According to the board they had two active homeowners in mind, Adrian and Adam. Vijay expressed that he thought either one would be a good fit for the position but before the position could be filled, Sarah nominated herself to be considered for the board position, and I seconded her nomination. She was progress she has made with the Finance Committee in such a short amount of time I felt that Sarah would make an immediate impact on the board and would really give homeowners a voice on most decisions. Vijay left it up to Adam and Sarah to decide after the meeting who would fill the position and I was contacted by Sarah stating that she would be filling the vacancy.
  • Lighting Repairs – The board was asked what they thought of tonight’s lighting proposal and they decided to consider other bids because the $16,000 sounded a bit high. Charity did encourage the board to at least approve the $500 for an electrical inspection. The board did approve that to happen.
  • Security Cameras – The board was then left with one last decision, the installation of security cameras. Vijay asked to see how much money was allocated in the budget for security cost. Sarah stated that next year’s budget will allow $23,000 towards security. Vijay came up with an idea, how about getting rid of our worthless security company and using the $23,000 to at least get some of the cameras installed. I thought that was a great idea, so he decided to make a motion on it. But, a board member did not second the bid, instead they decided to create a survey amongst homeowners to see if they would like the idea of having security cameras installed. This did not make homeowners in attendance happy. They stressed that everyone present was for cameras and that they would like to see this done sooner than later. One homeowner, who is a teacher, said that she knows that crime increases during summer and know exactly what I meant in my earlier speech. She also said that she and her husband have been victimized by vehicle theft and demanded that we move forward on installing cameras. Around this time Sarah did some math and found that the proposed bid was just other the cost for this year’s capital expenditure and the bid could be approved without a homeowner vote. Some words were exchanged from board to members then Vijay made a motion to accept the bid in full, but to check and see what kind of payment options we can have with Ultra Imaging.

After that was decided it was just about 10pm and I had to get out of there, I’m not sure if they still did a homeowner presentation being that there were so many outburst throughout the meeting. Anyone who stayed later could shed light on this.

Next Meeting Wednesday May 21st, 2008 @ 7:00pm.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Be There!!!

MONTHLY MEETING TONIGHT 7pm in the Clubhouse BE THERE, IMPORTANT ISSUES BEING DISCUSSED!!!!

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Association Meeting Tomorrow

Mark your schedule, our monthly meeting will be held tomorrow night 7pm in the clubhouse. I'm not entirely sure what is going to be discussed being that the agenda for the meeting still has not been posted.

From what I can recall from the last meeting and from some e-mails this is what I think will be talked about:

  • Finances, aka our new budget
  • Parking Permits
  • Security Cameras
  • Lighting
  • Cinco de Mayo Party
  • ...and I believe a representative from Coin Mach is to be in attendance.
I know its not just me but don't you really feel that Beacon Property is leaving us all uninformed? From what I can recall Charity mentioned to us that there are new laws requiring that meeting agendas be posted prior to our monthly meetings, I know we get our newsletters every month with our statement but really that just recaps what went on at the last meeting.

I think I'm going to spend some time researching HOA laws because shit here is really starting to stink and I think I have an idea of where its coming from.

Friday, April 11, 2008

THE LITTER BOX

This is in reference to a recent comment on a post entitled Here's a Long Shot:

Anonymous said...

Regarding the two tennis courts, one of the reasons I bought here is because of the 2 tennis courts. I have been playing tennis for 20 years and still loving it. I disagree putting a basket ball court next to a tennis court since tennis requires quietness for concentration. Besides. the two tennis courts looks really nice the way it is architecturally and they have been resurfaced recently by the builder. Other communities in Irvine have more than 2 tennis courts and they get used all the times. I play on these two courts 3 times a week. The tennis courts need some maintenances like trimming the trees away from the courts so the leaves wont fall on the courts. We need 4 chairs/ one trash can, one squeegee, a broom, a water fountain and a net trap.


I guess I never thought about it needing to be quiet to play tennis but I see your concerns. My general thought behind it was that it would be nice to have an extra amenity on our facility and one that would be used. I was pleased to see that some homeowners gave this idea voice at one of the recent meetings. Like a lot of post I write it was a mere suggestion.
Well maybe an alternative can be derived from this. What if we converted the volleyball court from a "Giant Litter Box" to a basketball court. I don't think we'd be able to fit a full court in its place but a nice half-court would be great. Has anyone every seen or used the volleyball court? How would you feel about this conversion? Those who live near the volleyball court, is this a thumbs up or thumbs down idea?

ABRA CADABRA!!!!

Don't you find it a little ironic that within a week of stirring the pot about those hideous golf carts they're now gone. If I would have known that's all it took I would have started this blog the day I moved in.

I'm starting to think that residents aren't the only ones reading the blog. With things finally starting to get done I would say that "The Converters" or "Beacon Property" are actually taking the time to read what people are saying. They probably didn't like the fact that I suggested the carts be towed being that they were parked in a handicap stall.

I'm anxious to see what happens at our monthly meeting next Wed. because I've been talking to quite a bit of residents who are completely fed up with the constant lies we've received from both "The Converters" and "Beacon Property." It's time to take some action homeowners, we will win this fight.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

The Trees!

It was a noisy week but I must say it was worth it. The stairwells are being filled and the sun actually shines through the freshly cut trees. The trimming was much needed but I really would recommend that they take on all the trees not only a select few. There are some trees still out there that hang down to the ground. That only took a year to get done.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

ONLY BEACAUSE THIS IS FOR A GOOD CAUSE!

How you can support Idol Gives Back 2008

IDOL GIVES BACK, the historic Emmy Award-winning television event and music celebration airing Wednesday, April 9 (7:30-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX, will raise awareness and funds to benefit six charities. including: the Children's Defense Fund, The Global Fund, Make It Right, Malaria No More, Save The Children, U.S. Programs and the Children's Health Fund.


On Wednesday April 9th, starting at 7:30/6:30c, FOX, AMERICAN IDOL and the Idol Gives Back Foundation present a second installment of the popular TV event to help children and young people in extreme poverty here at home in the U.S. and around the world.

This year's event, beginning at a special 7:30 PM start time, will be bigger and more ambitious than ever. Robin Williams, Celine Dion, Forest Whitaker, Billy Crystal, Dane Cook, Kiefer Sutherland, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Jennifer Connolly, Elliott Yamin, Fantasia and Amy Adams join previously announced international talent and sports figures Bono, Brad Pitt, Reese Witherspoon, Miley Cyrus, Mariah Carey, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Fergie, Chris Daughtry, Carrie Underwood, Annie Lennox, John Legend, Snoop Dogg, Maroon 5, Heart and Gloria Estefan.

During the show, viewers will be able to make donations via toll-free lines and the Internet. Idol Gives Back Foundation charitable causes are also generously supported by corporate partners.

Idol Gives Back Preview

CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW

Saturday, April 5, 2008

THIS JUST IN...CLUBHOUSE OPEN TODAY!!! FINAL FOUR

I JUST RECEIVED WORD FROM THE SOCIAL COMMITTEE THAT THE CLUBHOUSE WILL BE OPEN TODAY FOR THE FINAL FOUR!!! I'M NOT A HUGE UCLA FAN BUT ITS ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE A LOCAL TEAM IN A CHAMPIONSHIP!!!


This is awesome, I've been waiting to put that clubhouse to use and it looks like we'll have a chance to do so today. I believe the game starts at 3pm  so look for the clubhouse to be open sometime around then. 

ADRIANA OF THE SOCAIL COMMITTEE HAS TOLD ME THAT IT TOOK A LOT TO HAVE THE CLUBHOUSE OPEN SO WE NEED TO DO OUR PART TO TAKE CARE OF THE CLUBHOUSE. THE SOCIAL AND SAFETY COMMITTEES HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO CLOSE THE CLUBHOUSE AT ANYTIME., AND IF HOMEOWNERS BECOME DISRUPTIVE THEY WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE. IF YOU SEE A PROBLEM PLEASE ARISING PLEASE CALL:

JOE
714.200.4741
THE SAFETY COMMITTEE MEMBER ON DUTY TODAY. 

VIVA LOS VILLAS!


The Social Committee has been working their butts off to pull our community together and they seem to be on the right track. At their meeting this past week they discussed the upcoming CINO DE MAYO get together we're having on Saturday May 3rd, and the clubhouse usage. The party duties were distributed to the committee members and I was even asked to design the flyer for the party. {Click Flyer on the Left to View Large Image} The party is going to have food, drinks, music, games and prizes. They're putting a lot of effort into this so I hope that all homeowners take the time to show their community support by showing up on MAY 3rd.


They also talked about the clubhouse being open for general use. It seems there were some issues that needed to be discussed prior to opening the clubhouse for general use. I update I received didn't go into great detail about the new clubhouse rules but they did talk opening the clubhouse for major sporting events like but not limited to: NCAA FINAL FOUR, NBA PLAYOFFS, MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL AND MORE... Look to hear more about this soon.

Brighter is Better

In a collective effort this week the Architectural, Landscape, and Safety Committees met with our light vendor to do a night walk of our community. They were hoping to address our current lighting situation, and in a lot of places the lack of lighting. The committees  were able to point out non-functioning light while also suggesting where new lighting should be installed. 


The update I got didn't specifically point out where the new lights would be installed but it did say that the parking areas where the main focus and if we could have the parking stalls better lit if should drop the number of break-ins we encounter. Wait, there was a specific location in the update, the unit letters on the front of the buildings would be lit up. That would help when we have visitors stopping by, plus it would just look good.

Other lighting concerns discussed were replacing the broken light poles and fixing the electrical work which was the cause of most of our light issues.  Thank you to the committee members who take their personal time to make this a better place.

Friday, April 4, 2008

ROCKY, ROCKY, ROCKY...

In case you haven't noticed yet the rocks under the stairwells are currently being installed. I must say it was a very noisy install but what do you expect, they're ROCKS!!! They look good. Hopefully they finish up soon because those parking spots would really come in handy this weekend. I know I haven't been posting much lately but I've been a little busy at work. Look for things to pick up in the next couple weeks. I just got an update from the Landscape, Safety, and Social Committee's so I'll have something up later today or early tomorrow.


Here is a summary of what's ahead:
  1. More Lighting
  2. Clubhouse possible open to watch sporting events
  3. Cinco de Mayo Party  

Monday, March 31, 2008

Oh No....More Laundry Woes!!!

NOT AGAIN!!! This is just getting out of hand, washers and dryers are going doing again. COIN MACH must suffer for this not us. Let's get them out of here already. DAMN THIS ISSUE WASN'T HARDLY TOUCHED AT OUR LAST MEETING. CHARITY SAID THAT IT WOULD BE TOO EXPENSIVE TO HAVE AN ATTORNEY REVIEW THE CONTRACT IN ORDER TO TELL US IF WE SHOULD PURSUE LEGAL ACTION. WELL I SAY FORGET THAT!

I'm sure if the Budget Committee reviewed it we would most certainly find out that we could pursue legal action against Coin Mach. EVERYDAY THAT GOES BY IT SEEMS THAT OUR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY IS DOING LESS AND LESS FOR US, THIS BEING ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT DRIVES MY OPINION ABOUT THEM. Please report the machines to Coin Mach because us harassing them is the only way were going to get them out.

BUDGET COMMITTEE PLEASE REVIEW THE CONTACT FOR THE GOOD OF M.V.

I'd like to know a little more about Pepe's Towing is anyone has experiences with them please let me hear about it.

THE 2008 DOWNTOWN MIXER! (04/03)

Passing It Along!

Delilah Snell, owner of the eco-friendly Road Less Traveled Store, and Board Chair of the the Downtown Santa Ana Business Council asked me to pass along this invite to residents and friends of the Santiago Street Lofts.

This is an invitation to the Downtown Santa Ana Business and Neighborhood Mixer. Come and meet the many people who make Santa Ana a great place to live and work. Bring information about your business to share and sample delectable appetizers from Jason's Downtown Restaurant and Wine Cellar complimentary of the Downtown Santa Ana Business Council.

  • see upcoming branding and marketing images for the area

  • interactive website launching

  • receive a copy of the area's new map for visitors

  • view a list of 2008/09 events

  • share your thoughts with business owners, community leaders and residents
When: April 3rd from 5-8pm

Where: Jason's Downtown, 416 West 4th Street (across from the Ronald Regan Courthouse)

Who: you and others that you know, please pass this along!

Contact: Delilah Snell, 714.836.8727 for more information.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

BEWARE!!! MAIL THIEF!!!

It saddens me to have to post information like this but this is a huge issues which residents need to be made aware of, I received this e-mail today from Joe of the Safety Committee :

Cyrus,

Could you please inform the Monterey Villa residents that we may be victims of mail theft. Yesterday Maria, our cleaning woman and resident, informed me that on Monday afternoon, a female resident observed an older man standing near the mailboxes for an unusual amount of time. The resident was in the laundry room so she decided to step outside to have a better look, as she walked outside she noticed numerous mailboxes open and the man stuffing envelopes into his jacket. She immediately realized that he was not a postman so she asked him what he was doing and he replied, "I'm changing the keys and locks on these mailboxes." The woman, who had been at the recent board meeting, knew nothing of the locks being changed so she went to find help. When she returned with one of the landscapers the man was gone.

Maria knew where the witness lived so I tried to contact her for an interview but she was not home. Today I contacted the United States Postal Inspection Service to report the incident. I was given an incident report number of CO36968270, and told that I would be contacted by either the USPIS or the FBI within a day to further investigate the issue. I will update you as soon as I hear something. In the meantime I would encourage all residents to check their mail and contact me if anything is suspected missing. I can be contacted by e-mail at jegiese@ocsd.org.

Joe
Safety Committee
If you notice anything or anyone suspicious please call 911.

***NEW PARKING POLICY***

AS I POSTED IN MY MARCH MEETING RECAP, THE BOARD IS PROPOSING A NEW PARKING POLICY...AT THAT MEETING CHARITY SAID THAT SHE WOULD SEND OUT THE POLICY WITH THE NEWSLETTER. WELL IT HAS BEEN A WEEK AND NO NEWSLETTER, I WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN THE DOCUMENTATION FROM THE ARCHITECTURAL COMMITTEE SO HERE IT IS FOR YOU.

PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY! IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, OR CONCERNS POST YOUR COMMENTS HERE, E-MAIL CHARITY, OR COME TO THE NEXT MEETING APRIL 16TH @ 7PM. THIS WILL BE A RATHER LONG POST BECAUSE THE CC&R CHANGES ARE INCLUDED. I'LL HIGHLIGHT THE MAIN POINTS.

Re: Association Parking Policy

Dear Homeowner:

As we all know, parking is limited and of great concern to many of our residents. With this in mind, the Board of Directors is proposing the following policy in an effort to address parking in the community. In accordance with Civil Code 1357.130, the Board of Directors shall provide written notice of a proposed rule change at least 30 days before making the rule change which must be made at a board meeting.

The reason for the rule change is to allow members who live and pay association dues to have equal access to the common area and reduce the amount of stored vehicles on site. If you have any questions or comments regarding this proposed policy, please submit them in writing to the board, e-mail management or come to the upcoming board meeting scheduled for Wednesday, April 16 at 7:00 P.M. in the clubhouse.

Please review the proposed rules in their entirety and we expect these rules to be in effect by April 19, 2008.

Sincerely,

The Board of Directors

Monterey Villas HOA

P.S. Applications will be processed on site on April 19, 2008 & April 26, 2008 from 11:00am to 1:30pm near the club house. Upon approval of the application, parking permits may then be picked up.

Monterey Villas

Parking Rules and Regulations

In accordance with the Bylaws of the Monterey Villas Maintenance Corporation, the Board of Directors has established policies to curb abuses of the rules and to safeguard the proper use of the parking lot and spaces for the benefit of Monterey Villas Maintenance Corporation unit owners. These policies are provided here and can be amended at any time; any changes to the policies will be disseminated to the unit owners.

All unit owners shall observe and abide by all Monterey Villas Maintenance Corporation (Association) policies, as well as municipal parking and traffic law and regulations. Failure to observe and abide by these policies, laws, and regulations may result in vehicles being removed from the parking lot by an independent contractor at the unit owner’s risk and expense, for which the Association accepts no responsibility or liability.

I. General

A. The parking lot within Monterey Villas is for the exclusive use of Monterey Villas unit owners, visitors, and for those having business with the Association.

B. No open parking spaces are assigned (the only assigned spaces are the privately owned and covered carports).

C. Additional parking permits will be issued by the Rules and Regulations Committee on a case by case basis.

D. Fines may be imposed and parking privileges may be revoked as a result of consistent and/or repetitive infractions of the rules and covenants.

E. A unit owner who is a landlord may transfer the parking permit to the unit owner's tenant, and the tenant shall observe and abide by these policies.

II. Restricted Uses

A. Vehicles may park in any unrestricted uncovered space.

B. Restricted areas include but are not limited to: fire lanes, pedestrian access areas (striped areas), in front of trash bin enclosures and fire hydrant zones.

C. Vehicles must be in working condition. Vehicles in open spaces may not remain in one spot for more than 96 hours unless a written request is submitted in advance to the Board of Directors.

D. Only ordinary light maintenance on vehicles may be performed in the parking lot. (Such as cleaning interior or removing trash, changing a flat tire.)

E. Vehicles may never be driven or placed on curbs or grassy-garden areas.

F. Each unit owner (with two vehicles) who is current on dues and has no violations will be allowed to apply for a valid parking permit, only one parking permit per unit will be issued after the application has been reviewed, and the vehicle for which the permit will be used must have current registration. A valid parking permit is defined as one issued by the Monterey Villas rules and regulations committee to the individual unit owner, and one that contains a permit number that has not been voided.

(1) Parking permits will be issued only to unit owners who are current in condominium fees, late fees, and other financial obligations to the Association.

G. A unit owner who transfers a parking permit to a tenant must retrieve the permit from the tenant upon termination of the rent or lease.

H. Vehicles must display a valid parking permit when on the premises.

I. The parking permit must be displayed in the designated location, hanging from the rear view mirror or fixed to the top left driver’s side corner of the rear window. (Convertibles should display the permit in the top left driver’s side corner of the windshield or of course hanging from the rear view mirror as a hanging permit will be issued.

J. You may park your motorcycle, without a permit, in any of the marked motorcycle spaces. You may not park your motorcycle in any other parking lot space unless a motorcycle area has not been designated.

K. (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of rule, regulation, or policy, upon receipt in writing from the Sheriff of Orange County, the Police Department of Santa Ana, the Fire Chief of Orange County, or their respective designees attesting that:

(a) a unit owner or tenant is an employee of that official's agency,

(b) a government vehicle has been assigned to the unit owner or the unit owner's tenant,

(c) such vehicle is to be operated exclusively by the unit owner or the unit owner's tenant in the execution of official duties, and

(d) such duties are in the furtherance of public safety, the Board of Directors may issue a parking permit for that vehicle upon approval of the aesthetics committee if the vehicle is not in violation of the association’s CC&R’s or Rules and regulations.

(2) A parking permit issued pursuant to paragraph (1), shall be affixed to vehicle in the above prescribed manner. The parking permit is transferable. If the Board of Directors finds that the parking permit has been illegally duplicated and affixed to multiple vehicles, the Board of Directors shall revoke the parking permit and cause the number to be voided. The Board of Directors shall not issue another parking permit for that unit owner or any other government vehicle assigned to the unit owner or the unit owner's tenant during the remainder of period during which the original parking permit would have been valid.

(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (2), in the event that the government vehicle to which the parking permit was issued is temporarily or permanently replaced during the period for which a parking permit is valid, the parking permit may be transferred after the official provides notice to the Board of Directors.

(4) Paragraph (1) shall not be construed to compel the Board of Directors to issue a parking permit. The decision to issue or revoke a parking permit is reserved exclusively to the Board of Directors and/or the Rules & Regulations Committee..

III. Enforcement

A. Failure to follow parking policies. Failure to abide by any Monterey Villas parking policies, rules and regulations may result in towing and/or the revocation of parking permits or privileges.

B. Counterfeit parking permits. Any duplication or facsimile of the original parking permit will be considered counterfeit, and the vehicle will be subject to towing and additional penalties. The parking permit will be confiscated and the number voided when the permit holder is found counterfeiting a parking permit. Revocation of the one allotted parking permit per unit means that the unit owner must pay $250.00 to get a new valid parking permit. In addition, the permit holder will lose the right to park in the Monterey Villas parking lot for 30 days, incrementing in 30-day periods per incident (e.g., 30 days for the first incident, 60 days for the second, and so forth).

      C. Financial delinquency. If a unit owner is more than ninety (90) days delinquent in meeting financial obligations to the Association, regardless of the amount, the Board of Directors shall provide the unit owner with notice and grant the unit owner an opportunity to be heard. The unit owner may respond by appearing in person before the Board of Directors at such time and place as provided in the notice or replying in writing by the date as provided in the notice. Failure to respond shall constitute waiver of all privileges, and the Board, shall revoke the parking permit and void the permit number, and the vehicle shall be subject to towing. A new valid parking permit may be issued if, at the time such permit is issued, the amount necessary to bring the account current has been paid and recorded on the books of the management company. Revocation of the parking permit shall result in the unit owner paying $250.00 to get a new valid parking permit.

      D. Towing. Towing of the vehicle will be carried out by an independent contractor. The Association accepts no responsibility or liability for the actions of the independent contractor.

IV. Voiding and Replacement of Permits

    A. A parking permit can be exchanged without charge for a new parking permit if it becomes damaged.

    B. Parking Permit numbers are voided when—

    (1) The unit owner sells the unit.

    (2) A parking permit is exchanged.

    (3) A new parking permit is issued.

    (4) The unit owner is 90 or more than ninety (90) days delinquent as described in III.C.

    (5) A parking permit holder is found to have counterfeited a parking permit.

    C. The replacement cost for a permit is $100, regardless of reason. (Free if damaged)

    D. The Board of Directors will consider appeals upon submission of a written request.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

URGENT!!! THIS WILL SAVE YOU MONEY!

ATTENTION, DON'T PAY MORE THAN YOU HAVE TO, FILLING OUT THIS FORM WILL SAVE YOU A BUNCH OF MONEY. ITS SAD TO SAY BUT OUR PROPERTY VALUE HAS DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY, HAVE YOUR PROPERTY REASSESSED SO THAT YOU PAY TAXES ON THE CURRENT VALUE.

Click here to view and print the Informal Property Tax Review Form, fill it out and postmark it by April 30th.

The form is a request for a reassessment of your property value. When you purchased your condo, the county reassessed your home at the purchase price. Your property taxes are a percentage of that assessed value. Now that values have dropped so dramatically, a reassessment would benefit you by resetting the value of your home to better match market conditions. The county tax rate will remain the same, so the same percentage of a lower assessed value means a smaller total tax burden for you.
-Pumkin828

As an FYI, the form asks for comp sales in the area, but you do not need to fill that out since the information is not readily available. I was told by the Assessors Office to put "Not Available" and that they would pull it up on their own. They have the information, but we do not since the auction prices were not identified by the converter in the grant deeds.

-Sarah
Kudos to Sarah for presenting this information at our March meeting. Tell your fellow neighbors about this ASAP. Also don't forget to spread the news about the BLOG. It is the best form of communication we have.

Monday, March 24, 2008

More Retail Space Nearby: Homeplace

I'm sure everyone has seen the recent construction taking place next to OSH on 17th, well thanks to Mr. Ben Dayhoe and Dr. Jason we have been given some insight on what's going to be erected there.Red Mountain Retail Inc is the developer on the project. They are the ones who are responsible for the construction which is taking place in front of Target on 17th and Grand. Good company in my opinion and here is what they had to say about what they are referring to as HOMEPLACE.

Homeplace Shopping Center is located west of Tustin Avenue on 17th Street in Santa Ana, California at 1935, 1943, and 1975 East 17th Street in close proximity to the 55 freeway.Located in the heart of the Santa Ana Enterprise Zone, this center will feature an approximately 21,000sf food court with patio space which will accommodate the high professional and medical daytime population. Traffic counts are very strong, with an estimated 68,500 cars ADT.

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Blog Ads!

In light of recent changes to the clubhouse rules, and inspiration again from Ben Dayhoe, I have decided to add ads to the blog. The revenue generated from these ads will help purchase items for our clubhouse/recreational use. These items will be donated to the Monterey Villas on behalf of all the blog visitors.

HOW IT WORKS:The way the ads work is that every time someone clicks on them it adds a few cents of revenue toward our purchase goal. Once we have enough money the item will be bought, donated and a new goal will be set.

WHAT ITEMS?: You might be asking what are we going to buy and who decides, well that's the best part YOU DECIDE, ( we'll after the first one, I had something in mind already.) While each goal is being fulfilled I will post an ongoing poll on the site to see which item the revenue will go for. The items in the poll will be realistic suggestions that you the resident provide. This has nothing to do with the Association Board or the Monterey Villas Budget, it's simply a way for us residents to get what we want and not have to get anyones approval.

WHAT IS THE FIRST ITEM:
Like I said before I had something in mind is something that I feel is missing in our clubhouse, a ping pong table. I thought of getting a conversion kit which would just turn the pool table into a ping pong table when needed, but having a stand alone ping pong table will allow more things to do in there. So here is an example picture of what the table will look like:

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Clubhouse Use


I just got this info, beginning next weekend and on weekends only, when not reserved for private parties, the clubhouse will be open for general use & locked at 11:00pm.

Thanks to some helpful input I've updated a few issues in the March recap so look for the "*UPDATE*" located in the last post to see whats new. There are some important changes regarding parking.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

March Meeting Recap!

Wednesday Night's meeting was the most productive meeting to date, and the attendance, 27 residents, reflected it. I made it just in time to catch the committee reports and here is a summary of what was talked about:

Committee Reports-
Adam spoke on behalf of the Architectural Committee and had some big news, he told us that the permit parking proposal along with some corresponding amendments to the CC&R's had been completed and would be submitted to the board. The proposal and amendments would be sent to all homeowners to review and an implementation date would be selected to start permit parking enforcement. The board approved the measure, and it was decided that the paperwork would be distributed with our next bill, so look for it soon. I'm not sure if the permits would also be sent with the letter but I'm sure they are soon to follow. Hopefully Adam or someone on the Architectural Committee could further elaborate on this matter.*UPDATE*Permits will not be sent with the proposed rule change. To get a permit homeowners will have to apply for one. Only homeowners with two vehicles need apply. Registrations must match the address here. Applications will be accepted on site on the weekends of April 19 & 26 near the club house between the hours of 11am & 1:30pm. Permits will be distributed on a first come first serve basis as there are only 109 free spaces, no sense in issuing more permits than there is room for.*UPDATE*

Adriana spoke on behalf of the Social Committee and informed us that the social committee would like to host a Cinco de Mayo party for the entire complex on Saturday May 3rd. The event was described as a way to unite the residents and enjoy a good time through music, games, and great food. In order to host the party the social committee was requesting $1,000.00 from the board. The board was hesitant to let the money go but through the strength in numbers, and comments, the residents were able to persuade the board members to allow the funds for the party. Judging from the Winter party we had, I'm sure the Cinco de Mayo party is sure to make a positive impact. The event has been listed as B.Y.O.B!

Charity spoke on behalf of the Landscape Committee and started brining in the Landscaping Contract into the conversation and it got a little confusing. But what I got from it was this; several walk-throughs have been conducted to determine current lighting and landscape issues. These issues will be targeted with upcoming vendor visits. Please direct any outside lighting or landscape issue to either Charity or Saul. The rocks under the stairways were briefly mentioned but I wasn't able to distinguish what was said about them, could someone clarify on that matter.*UPDATE* the committee will have to find a different style, when the original order was to be placed the vendor raised the price by $12,000.00 over what was agreed and the board refused to pay that much, so there will be a delay in getting the rocks under the stairs.*UPDATE*


Joe spoke on behalf of the Safety Committee and told us that the garage conversion idea had been thoroughly researched over the last month. As a result, it seems that although it is possible it doesn't appear to be probable. This is due to the overwhelming cost and lack of space which we would be left with if we did pursue this route. You can read more in-depth on this by reading the previous update the Safety Committee presented to us or click here. Those in attendance appeared to be satisfied with the research and results that he presented. As an alternative Joe suggested that we pursue security cameras as an immediate attempt to minimize our current vandalism situation, but also further research the possibility of adding gates to our facility. In reference to the security cameras, the board agreed to have one vendor do a presentation at the next association meeting.

Agenda Items
Landscape Contract-
Our current landscaper is requesting an $800.00 per month increase in pay. The board is offering a $400.00 increase but will not give them anything more.

Laundry Contract-
The board researched whether to seek legal action against Coin Mach but found that it would be too expensive to pursue. As an alternative Charity is requesting that a representative from Coin Mach attend our next Meeting to achieve a compromise for our problem. All residents are encouraged to present their laundry woes and wishes to the Coin Mach Rep.

Tree Trimming-
Trimming will start on April 10th, and will cover the entire facility.

Pest Control Contract-
There hasn't been anymore pest problems reported to Charity, so it looks like this issue has been resolved if you have a problem please let us know.

Fire Extinguisher Service-
A residential request to have the fire extinguisher replaced was denied, hopefully we never need to use them as a malfunction could result in a serious lawsuit.

Tennis Court Wind Screen Replacement-
A residential request to replace the torn wind screen was denied but the board agreed to look into having the screen repaired. Residential Tennis players attending the meeting to motion to have the actual game net be replaced, I'm not what was decided on this matter. *UPDATE* The tennis nets/ windscreens will be repaired not necessarily replaced.*UPDATE*

Janitorial Contract-
Filmore services, aka Maria, has asked for a $200.00 per month increase in pay. The board was skeptical on granting her this amount until we all heard how much work she does for us. Upon hearing her job duties the board did grant her the pay increase. One of Maria's concerns was who picks up the dog poop which is left behind by the pet owners. The answer is THE PET OWNERS. IF YOUR DOG POOPS OUTSIDE PICK IT UP!!! No one should, as a job duty, should have to pick up after your dog. OWNERS CAUGHT NOT PICKING UP AFTER THEIR DOGS WILL BE FINED!!!

Budget-
Talk started about us being over budget, and needing a revised budget for the next fiscal year; with this talk came a proposal to form a Budget Committee. The board approved the formation and four residents, (Sarah, Emilo, Gerald, Tom), volunteered to be on the Committee and develop a new budget by months end. Good Luck, and Thank You! This is much needed and overdue.

Homeowner Presentation
Here is a quick summary of what homeowners had to say:

  1. Security Company
    • The purpose and success rate of our "Security Guard" was questioned and the phone number for Securitas Inc. was requested. The number I found was 714-705-1530. If anyone has another number please post it.
  2. Save on Property Taxes, Posted Yesterday
  3. Clubhouse Usage
    • A request to have the clubhouse open for general use when not reserved was requested.
  4. Notification Signs
    • Request to have signs posted on dumpster and the near the pool were requested. The signs would read "Private Property..." and "Animals not allowed in the Pool."
  5. BBQ's
    • A request to have the CC&R's amended to allow the use of propane BBQ's on balconies and porches.
  6. Termites
    • If you have any termite issues call Charity ASAP as this is still covered by the converter.
  7. Pet Owner Provisions
    • According to the CC&R's, Pet owners are not allowed to leave pets unattended on balconies and porches. Don't be surprised to see a fine in the mail, or a visit from Santa Ana P.D. if you violate this. Hint Hint: white dog owner in "P" building.
The next association meeting will be held on April 16th, at 7pm.