The major construction fix to stop San Francisco’s beleaguered Millennium Tower from sinking further into the earth has been halted after the building suddenly sunk another inch within a few weeks, as first reported by NBC Bay Area. Read the entire article……………………………….
Free food pantry in American Canyon runs afoul of homeowner association rules (CA)
“No one should ever go to bed hungry,” said the American Canyon resident, who lives at 489 Canyon Creek Drive. “If we can help out, then we have achieved that goal.” But there’s just one hiccup, and it’s called an HOA. Zuniga rents her home in a neighborhood with a homeowner’s association (HOA). And that […]
HOA Homefront: Can we meet completely virtually (CA)
Q: Is it permissible for the board to be virtual? That is, do we need to physically be together, or can we be virtual? Our homeowners association is less than 50 units, so we are tiny. Likewise, some board members are landlords and so do not reside in the units. Read the Q&A………………………………..
Tahoe tourist startled by bear in dumpster sues over his injuries (CA)
A Tahoe tourist is suing after he alleges he was injured when a bear popped out of a dumpster in Incline Village, court documents show. Plaintiff John Donaldson says he suffered a torn Achilles tendon and was diagnosed with spinal compression after tripping and falling on Sept. 5, 2019, at Incline Crest Condominiums in Tahoe. […]
HOA Homefront – Reader Questions: My peeping doorbell camera, and where is MY parking space? (CA)
Q: Because of the type of work I do at home, I was required to install a security system in my condominium, including a front-door camera. My neighbor across the walkway is captured daily in recordings which show numerous occasions of various at-home liaisons with persons who are not his wife, and on other occasions […]
Santa Maria Raceway Suspends Operations in Response to Neighbors’ Lawsuit, County’s Fines (CA)
Duggan’s post continues to say that once new residents from the nearby Costa Pacifica Estates began to make noise complaints, the county Board of Supervisors required the raceway to file for an entertainment license, which was granted on a unanimous vote. Duggan said that the Costa Pacifica Estates Homeowners Association then filed a lawsuit under […]
Redwood Shores neighbors are alarmed over sex offender (CA)
A registered sex offender located at a San Mateo County-owned homeless facility has Redwood Shores residents on high alert and questioning how officials could allow the placement to occur given the site’s proximity to a child care center. Read the entire article……………………………….
HOA Homefront – Why aren’t CC&Rs online? (CA)
Q: In our recent HOA meeting, one question raised was, “Why isn’t our CC&Rs on the HOA’s website?” The answer from our manager was, “Someone could hack into our website and see our CC&R’s.” I find this difficult to believe since the CC&Rs must be recorded with the county recorder’s office and as such, are […]
HOA Homefront: Why can’t I keep my clothesline? (CA)
Q: I am a veteran trying to get a VA refinance, but the VA wants an HOA for our house. We live on a two-on-a-lot, with another separate home behind us. The city calls our place a condominium even though we are not attached. The VA says we need an HOA with all the documentation […]
Update: Judge orders water to be turned on at La Quinta golf course (CA)
During a court hearing Friday, a judge ordered the water at Coral Mountain Golf Course at Trilogy in La Quinta be turned on after owners shut off the water supply. During the hearing, Brendan Ozanne, an attorney who represents the golf course’s owners, revealed that some water services had resumed as of this morning already. […]
HOA Homefront: How to embrace hybrid meetings in your community (CA)
Before the pandemic changed our world in early 2020, who knew about WebEx, Zoom, or RingCentral, or the many other virtual meeting platforms used since that time to allow HOA members to “attend” board or even membership meetings? In what seems like one short year, HOAs large and small have found the virtual meeting to […]
Water shut off at La Quinta golf course as owner files for bankruptcy (CA)
News Channel 3 has learned exclusively that the golf course at Trilogy at La Quinta has declared bankruptcy and a partial owner has shut off the water unless the homeowner’s association pays tens of thousands of dollars. Read the entire article……………………………….
San Diego homeowner: Disconnecting a water meter could cost thousands (CA)
Jet Martin wanted to stop service to a water meter to save money for the homeowners in his Mira Mesa HOA. It turns out the city said doing that will cost thousands of dollars. “I was shocked when I heard an amount of $14,000 simply to discontinue water service,” Martin said. Read the entire article……………………………….
HOA Homefront: If it isn’t there, it didn’t happen (CA)
When a corporation acts, its minutes document and prove that it acted. If the minutes do not record that the board of directors by majority vote approved a decision, it did not happen. The corporate record is critical to document corporate decisions, and the minutes are a critically important part of the governing process. The […]
Association says ‘no cats allowed;’ HUD says that’s discrimination (CA)
Federal authorities have charged an Oceanside mobile home park with violating the Fair Housing Act by refusing to let a woman with mental health disabilities keep a cat as an assistance animal. Read the entire article……………………………….
Unlike Florida, California leaves the safety of aging high-rises largely in owners’ hands
Despite the tendency of the earth to convulse beneath them, California has sprouted some 20,000 buildings that are 14 stories tall or higher, according to international data. They’re office buildings and residential towers. They’re in Long Beach and Los Angeles, Irvine and Oakland, San Jose and San Francisco, Glendale and Riverside. Some of the oldest […]
Goats: unlikely allies in California’s fight against wildfires
Their mission, should they choose to accept it, is simple: graze. Goats are an unlikely but increasingly popular weapon in California’s fight against the wildfires that rage through the western US state every year. Read the entire article……………………………….
Calistoga Ranch sued by homeowners over $100M insurance breach (CA)
Homeowners at Calistoga Ranch resort have filed a $100 million lawsuit against Auberge Resorts for failing to provide adequate insurance coverage for losses sustained in the Glass Fire. Read the entire article……………………………….
HOA Homefront: How to avoid the overuse of closed sessions (CA)
Perhaps the most frequently abused HOA governance tool is the closed session. Boards justify the overuse of closed sessions for various reasons, such as their open meetings are too raucous and closed sessions are more productive. Read the entire article……………………………….
Court Confirms, Not Everyone is Entitled to a Protected View (CA)
In California jurisprudence, it is well established that a homeowner “has no right to an unobstructed view over adjoining property.” (Posey v. Leavitt (1991) 229 Cal. App. 3d 1236, 1250.) Such right may, however, “be created by private parties through the granting of an easement or through the adoption of conditions, covenants and restrictions.” (Id.) […]
Florida Condo Collapse Raises Local Concerns About Damage From a Major Earthquake (CA)
The incident has left some wondering if California buildings would sustain similarly severe damage following a major earthquake. “California building codes are considered one of the strictest sets of regulations in the country,” said Pasadena Planning Director David Reyes. “This includes building standards related to architecture, structure, fire, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, energy, and green building […]
‘Fractional’ home co-ownership: How Pacaso works (CA)
As some Sonoma residents continue to oppose the “fractional” home-ownership model of startup real-estate company Pacaso, confusion persists as to how the company’s shared-ownership template actually works. The company closed escrow on its first Sonoma Valley property – 1405 Old Winery Court – on May 17 and quickly relisted the $4 million home on its […]
Florida condo catastrophe raises concerns about San Francisco’s sinking Millennium Tower
San Francisco’s lavish Millennium Tower, with soaring panoramic views and world-class amenities, opened to great fanfare in 2009. A dozen years later, it’s still promoted “Your city within the city,” a 58-story monolith with more than 400 multimillion-dollar units in San Francisco’s tallest residential building. Read the entire article……………………………….
HOA Homefront: Some specifics about closed sessions (CA)
Q: When will it be legal for HOA boards to handle any business they want in closed sessions? Read the Q&A………………………………
‘We were ambushed:’ Coyotes kill several pets in SJ senior community, residents demand action (CA)
A coyote problem at a 55+ community in San Jose’s Evergreen Foothills is getting out of control. Residents at The Villages tell ABC7 News, the aggressive animals are attacking, and in some cases, killing dogs. Read the entire article……………………………….
HOA Homefront: Why is our attorney participating in closed sessions? (CA)
Q: Our board has had several closed meetings to discuss revisions to our governing documents. An attorney has been present at each of these meetings. Is this not in conflict with the Open Meeting Act since it is not discussing litigation? Does the fact that an attorney is present qualify these meetings as executive sessions? […]
Ladera Ranch Pride Event is Still on for Friday; HOA Responds to Controversy (CA)
Organizers say they’re moving ahead with their planned LGBTQ+ Pride event at Founders Park in Ladera Ranch on Friday — with no intention to restrict who can show up to an event they say is an all-inclusive celebration. “It’s going to be a gathering of Ladera communities and surrounding ones,” said Ladera Ranch resident and […]
Rossmoor directors seek to “tone down” rhetoric with RHA (CA)
A discussion regarding the establishment of rate increases for use of Rossmoor’s various venues also provided an opportunity for directors to express concern over internal strife between Rossmoor’s leading entities. While the Rossmoor Community Services District has some governmental powers over the unincorporated community of approximately 10,000 people, the Rossmoor Homeowners Association has a pipeline […]
‘Way better than humans’: Santa Cruz Gardens neighborhood turns to goats for fire safety (CA)
Residents of the Benson Avenue and Benson Court developments in the Santa Cruz Gardens area have long dealt with a conundrum: Their properties neighbor a five-acre preserve, which is a boon most of the time. But when fire season approaches every year, they’ve struggled to find a way to clear vegetation and manage the fire […]
RSF Association to provide aerial FireWatch maps to all homeowners (CA)
The Rancho Santa Fe Association continues to take preventative measures to reduce its wildfire risk and keep the community safe, from clearing out flammable invasive species and dead and dying trees to encouraging residents to create defensible space, the protective buffer zone between homes and vegetative fuel. Read the entire article……………………………….
Ladera Ranch HOA Refuses To Allow Pride Event At Neighborhood Park (CA)
Keith said the neighborhood homeowner’s association initially gave the event organizers a permit to hold the Love Pride Parade, but later changed its mind because there would be more than 25 people. “They will not permit something like this. They will not allow us to use the entire park, even though other events have been […]
HOA Homefront – Closed sessions often misunderstood (CA)
Closed session is a common point of contention in HOAs. This week begins a multipart series of reader questions on this important and often misunderstood HOA governance issue. Q: Is there a difference between Executive Session and Executive Meeting? Read the Q&A…………………………………..
HOA Homefront: Isn’t my service animal protected from HOA pet rules? (CA)
Who doesn’t love pets? Sometimes, it’s your neighbor! According to the American Pet Products Association, an estimated 67% of American households have a pet. Presumably, that means about two-thirds of HOA residents have pets, and sometimes they create problems. Read the entire article……………………………….
Birds of a Feather: TLHOA’s flamingo flocking puts the fun in fundraiser (CA)
Throughout the pandemic, our civic groups have worked hard to continue promoting community spirit while respecting social distancing guidelines. The Toluca Lake Homeowners Association (TLHOA) took its annual Turkey Trot virtual in fall 2020, but the modified event didn’t generate its usualRead the entire article……………………………….
HOA Homefront: What are the protections for pets (CA)
Who doesn’t love pets? Sometimes, your neighbor! According to the American Pet Products Association, an estimated 67 percent of American households have a pet. Presumably, that means about two-thirds of HOA residents have pets, and sometimes they create problems. Read the entire article……………………………….
Stevenson Ranch: Best-Laid Plans (CA)
At the May Stevenson Ranch Community Association meeting, the L.A. County Public Works Department presented its plan to rehabilitate the landscaping in the Stevenson Ranch Landscape Maintenance District. On the surface, it was a plan to deal with the deteriorating condition of the landscaping. Yet, it felt canned — homogenized, processed like a TV dinner. […]
Lake California evacuation worries (CA)
People living in Lake California a community just north of Red Bluff and in Tehama County, only have one route in and out. “It’s tree lined, there are heavy ditches and a fire apparatus would not be able to come up that road and have residents exit safely,” said Sharon Crawford, Lake California Property Owner’s […]
HOA Homefront: Who’s watching out for our association’s money? (CA)
Q: Are there laws governing the responsibilities and obligations of HOA boards, especially those related to limits on raising the monthly assessments that each resident in the community pays? Read the Q&A…………………………………..
BIRD NESTS AND SOLAR PANELS | Residents working to hold HOAs accountable (CA)
In the past month residents and neighbors of communities governed by Home Owners Associations are dealing with issues related to tree cutting during nesting season and forced removal of solar panels. The boards of HOAs are elected by the homeowners but stories of them running a bit outside the lines are common. Here are two […]
Residents concerned over Encinitas HOA’s extermination of beehive (CA)
The Encinitas Ranch Homeowners Association exterminated a beehive earlier this month despite growing local and national concerns regarding the population decline of bees. After a concerned citizen noticed a beehive housed in an electrical valve box near Ranch Paseo de las Flores Street at the Encinitas Ranch, the hive was exterminated within the following days. […]
Sheep arrive to eat up grasses on Eucalyptus Hill, reducing the threat in a high fire area (CA)
A difficult canyon to access is one of the main target zone for fire prevention in the Eucalyptus Hill area where sheep have been brought in by the homeowner’s association. The Eucalyptus Hill Improvement Association says it has been working with Santa Barbara City Fire, Santa Barbara County Fire, and Montecito Fire to “have these […]
Laguna Woods’ Third board tackles more questions on special election (CA)
Directors of the Third Mutual board fielded resident queries regarding a ballot proposal to revise its CC&Rs during a special town hall meeting Friday, May 21. Currently, the governing documents require Third to provide full insurance coverage of its properties. As proposed, a “yes” vote would loosen the language, holding Third accountable to provide a […]
HOA Homefront: What to do about that pesky tree (CA)
Q: Our condominium association CC&Rs state that plumbing problems that service only a single unit are the responsibility of the unit owner. If the main drain servicing multiple units is blocked it is the responsibility of the association. My question is about damage caused by tree roots. The association has repaired driveways and sidewalks — […]
Fire at Rancho Bernardo condo displaces 3
A fire caused $200,000 in damage to a condo in Rancho Bernardo Monday afternoon, displacing two adults and one child, San Diego fire officials said. Read the entire article……………………………….
82-year-old woman to lose her Inglewood home after owing $38K in HOA fees (CA)
When Marie Riggins moved into her corner lot home in Inglewood with her late husband in 1986, she thought they’d live there forever. The now 82-year-old widow and her late husband had bought their dream house, which had then been newly built in Inglewood’s Carleton Square gated community. Read the entire article……………………………….
Person Injured, Around $750K In Losses After Fire Burns At Modesto Condo (CA)
One person was injured after a fire broke out at a condominium in Modesto overnight, the fire department said. The fire, which was upgraded to three alarms, was buried at the corner of Scenic Drive and Rose Avenue. The flames became so intense, part of the building collapsed. Read the entire article……………………………….
Tahoe Keys association working on water solutions (CA)
The Tahoe Keys Property Owners Association is working on multiple solutions to the neighborhood water issues. Last December, uranium was discovered in two of the communities’ wells and since then, the residents have had limited access to water. Read the entire article……………………………….
HOA Homefront: Who watches the HOAs? In a word, no one (CA)
Q: Who has oversight of HOAs in California if someone wants to file a complaint against their HOA or management company? Read the Q&A…………………………….
Kalithea fencing punted to HOA (CA)
Frustrations ran high as district representatives sought resolution at this month’s El Dorado Hills Community Services District Board of Directors meeting. Although multiple residents reiterated desires to erect fencing around Kalithea Park, ultimately the decision was punted to the neighborhood HOA to handle. Read the entire article……………………………….
Special district’s fees up for vote; residents uneasy about increases (CA)
Residents of Green Valley Hills are in the throes of hashing out a tax hike. Because the 222-lot Landscape and Lighting Assessment District was formed without an inflationary factor, annual fees have remained at $76.90 per lot for more than 30 years. El Dorado Hills Community Service District Parks and Planning Director Tauni Fessler said […]