Bobcat on Slope

While having breakfast this morning, a homeowner spotted a bobcat walking up the slope. It was large enough to easily kill a small pet in the backyard.

Annual Report

Sandblasted and repainted curbs

Sandblasting was never done before. Removed 20+ years of multiple layers of old peeling/flaking paint for a new clean (and long-lasting) look.

Resurfaced streets

Our 20+ year old streets are in great shape; timely resurfacing protects our biggest HOA investment.

Change of Landscape Contractor

Our landscaper's performance seriously deteriorated in 2019. The board tried to remedy the situation but was met with a take-it-or-leave-it attitude.  Newly hired Watersedge Landscape came highly recommended, with excellent references.

http://watersedgelandscape.com/

Corner of Via Cantebria and Garden View Rd

Continues to be a major eyesore.  Have been working with the city of Encinitas to compel the two non-HOA homes to do their part. Improvements have been made regarding landscaping and repair of irrigation to the outer perimeter.  Application to replace the wooden sections of the outer perimeter sound wall with a substantially conforming material was submitted to City of Encinitas planning on November 25; the official response expected this week.

Home Repainting

Record number of homes repainted.  Thank you to the community at large and the Architectural Committee efforts. 

Financial

All projects completed on or below budget. Reserves 149% funded. Lean and mean budget. Gradual increase in HOA fees, ($137.00/mo to $141.00/mo), due to landscape maintenance and irrigation repair.

Challenges in 2019 and Going Forward

- Aging/failing irrigation system

- Water loss due to undetected/unreported water leaks

- Aging landscaping.  Aging oversized trees.

Priorities

- Eliminate/minimize costly water loss

- Prioritizing and implementing of incremental landscape improvements throughout

Message from the President:

Fellow homeowners,

Ever since I got on the board in 2015, I've been doing all I can to keep our monthly dues low by cutting out waste and managing vendors to get the best return on our money. Our budget is lean and mean, and our reserves are healthy. But with the rising costs, we can only do so much cutting. The board has had to increase the dues to $141/mo to cover the higher cost of landscaping and irrigation. Please be assured that I will continue to do my best to keep our costs down while striving to improve the look of Mendocino.

Slav

Annual Membership Meeting

Mendocino at Encinitas Ranch HOA Annual Membership Meeting Tuesday, December 3 6:30 PM at: Starbucks inside Target at Encinitas Ranch Town center shopping mall

Call to Order 6:30 PM

- Quorum

- Approval of Minutes of the 2019 Annual Membership Meeting and Tax Resolution

- Annual Report

- Adjournment

COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE

Saturday/Sunday November 23rd & 24th 9am-4pm

Dear Neighbors,

We live on Monterey Place, Encinitas and are planning a community garage sale for Saturday and Sunday November 23rd and 24th. This is the week-end before Thanksgiving.

Unload your unnecessary, unloved, unneeded excesses and earn some extra money for Christmas or your next holiday!

You can decide if you wish to participate on only Saturday or Sunday or both days. Each participant will price and sell their items from their own driveway.

There is no cost, however, if you wish to help make and post signs on Friday evening or Saturday morning leading customers to our sale from Leucadia Blvd, Encinitas Blvd and El Camino Real, your help would be much appreciated. 

Would you like to participate? If YES, please text me so that I have a general number of participants. Oriana 858-705-9730

Kindest Wishes, Oriana

Update Re Corner of Via Cantebria and Garden View Rd

Our non-HOA neighbor at 1135 MP has been working with the code enforcement department and city planners at the City of Encinitas to replace the three wooden sections of the perimeter concrete sound wall with a permanent solution that matches the current design and is up to city code. They are currently going through a formal application process to obtain city approval for substantial conformance before any work can commence. 

1135 MP has also been working with our landscaper to improve the corner landscaping and provide irrigation water to the new plants.

Message From the President: New Landscaper

You've talked - the board listened

Fellow homeowners,

The number of landscaping complaints mushroomed in 2019. The board tried its best to work with our landscaper but in the end was left with a "take it or leave it" attitude.

We chose to leave.

The new landscaper, Watersedge Landscape, came highly recommended, with excellent references:

http://watersedgelandscape.com/photo-gallery/

We contacted dozens of landscaping companies with good ratings and interviewed four before finally selecting Watersedge.

The new company starts on November 1. Please bear with us during the transition period.


Slav

Side Yard Return Fence Extension

Be sure to check the updated Architectural Guidelines on the right!

You can now move your side yard fence forward to gain more private space.

Skateboarding Ban Takes Effect

The board received a lot of feedback from homeowners and carefully weighed the arguments for and against the ban. In the end the board voted for the ban for the following reasons:

1) Fiduciary duty to protect the HOA's  property and potential liability;
2) San Diego has a record number of first-class skateboarding parks. It is not the responsibility of the HOA to ensure that kids stay active outdoors.
3) It does not follow from a reasonable and necessary measure such as this that the board is going down a slippery slope of banning bicycling, walking, etc., as some suggested.

Mendocino at Encinitas Ranch HOA Agenda & Meeting Notice Tuesday, September 26 6:30 PM at: Starbucks inside Target at Encinitas Ranch Town center shopping mall

Call to Order 6:30 PM Open Forum 6:30-7:00 PM

Approve Minutes/Financials (Chris)

Project Status Update (Slav)

- Garden View HOA

Treasury

- Reserve Study and 2020 budget (Slav)

Landscape Committee Report (Slav)

- SML performance review and proposed solutions

New Business

- Rules and Regs changes (Slav)

- Election (Slav)

Executive Session - closed to Membership 8:00 PM

- Vendor management and contract formation

- homeowner issues

Adjournment

Message from the President: Where Do My Monthly Dues Go?

Fellow homeowners,

While working on the 2020 budget, I realized that many homeowners ask this question: Where do my monthly dues go? What am I paying $137/mo for?

Here's the breakdown for 2019:

Landscape Maintenance - $41.66
Reserves - $23.24 (street paving, fence painting, plant replacement, mailboxes, trails, irrigation, etc)
Water - $22.54
Property management - $18.24
Annual tree trimming - $9.84
Common area maintenance - $6.39 (pest control, street signs, etc.)
Insurance - $4.44 (liability, directors and officers, workman's comp)
Landscape extras - $4.23 (new plants, upgrades, etc.)
Irrigation repairs - $3.10 (broken sprinklers and valves)
Financial - $1.91 (reserve study, financial review, bank fees, annual disclosures, tax preparation and filing, etc.)
Electricity - $1.41 (street lights, irrigation)

Total - $137

Message from the President

Fellow homeowners,

In order to streamline and simplify the architectural review Report Card (RC) procedure, the AC will continue to conduct annual inspections and issue RCs to the homes that need attention (painting, repair, etc.), with a 6-month deadline to correct the issues. The AC will focus on major issues that require immediate attention. The Board believes that 6 months is sufficient time for the homeowners to decide on the best course of action, and line up a contractor.

Please do not ignore the RC if you get one. If the issues are not addressed by the deadline, the Board will be forced to call the non-compliant homeowner to a hearing. 

The response to the initial RCs has been very positive, with a record number of homes repainting and/or performing needed repair. The upgraded look benefits the entire neighborhood and enhances our property values.

Thank you all for making Mendocino the truly best place to live in Encinitas!

 IMPORTANT NOTICE

Dear Mendocino homeowner/resident,

We will be resurfacing the streets on July 16th & July 22nd

Tuesday, July 16, 2019 thru Wednesday, July 17, 2019 – Crack fill and Seal

** Lot closed to traffic and parking from 7am on 7/16/19 thru 5pm on 7/17/19

**Pacifica Place and Pacifica Way

Monday, July 22, 2019 thru Tuesday, July 23,2019 - Crack fill and Seal

** Lot closed to traffic and parking from 7am on 7/22/19 thru 5pm on 7/23/19

**Monterey Place

Please park your car(s) off the premises the night before the scheduled work and until the barriers are removed, and use sidewalks exclusively when getting in and out of Mendocino. If your car is parked in the garage when the work is being done, you won't be able to use it until the street is unblocked.

ALL VEHICLES PARKED ON THE STREET WHEN THE WORK IS BEING DONE WILL BE TOWED AT HOMEOWNER'S EXPENSE.

Please keep your pets indoors or on the leash on the sidewalk and off the streets.

There will be a security guard posted at the entrance to ensure no vehicular traffic.

This project is a major investment of HOA funds, and we will take all necessary measures to protect our investment. The surface coat needs time to dry and settle. If a vehicle is driven on it before it settles, the surface coat will not seal properly, resulting in damage to the HOA property. CC&Rs 8.5 stipulates that "...an owner who by his or her negligent or willful act causes damage to any portions of the Project maintained by the Association... shall bear the whole cost of repairing such damage." If an owner or resident drives on the new surface while exiting or entering Mendocino BEFORE the barrier is removed, the HOA will collect the cost of repairing the damage from the unit owner.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

If you have any questions, please call Mills Management Services at 760-978-9609 or e-mail at chris@millsmanagementservices.com.

Your board of directors