Page Title

Valencia Hills Homeowners Association

Neighborhood News

KNOW YOUR DIRECTORS

The Valencia Hills Homeowners Association's Annual Meeting
has been scheduled for Wednesday, December 14, 2012, at
7 p.m. at the Valencia Hills Clubhouse located at 24060 Oak
Vale Drive, Valencia, CA. The current Board of Directors has
agreed to run for another term of office, but it's never too late
to throw your hat into the ring. If you would like to run for a
position on the Board, please contact Leah Thompson at
(661) 259-8400.

Please take a moment to read about your neighbors who are
willing to donate a year of their time to the business of the
Association.

STEPHEN JENKINS

My wife Linda and our two children, Christina and Jennifer,
moved to Valencia Hills over twenty years ago. We chose
Valencia Hills primarily as a result of the pride of ownership
exhibited by the residents.

I am a partner in a leading law firm in Encino, and believe that
I possess the knowledge and leadership qualities to lead our
community. With your vote and support, I would like to
continue the Board's efforts to protect our paseos and avoid
vandalism, to continue efforts to preserve our clubhouse, and
the architectural standards of our association. At the same
time, I would like to see our homeowners association continue
to provide us with relaxation and social events such as the
Children’s Halloween Party, Memorial Day, and Fourth of July
Barbecues, and swim team events. After all, when we return
home from our jobs and careers we should have a community
where we can watch our children play and grow up in a safe
environment, while at the same time socialize, and enjoy our
neighbors and friends!

JIM POWDER

I have lived in Valencia Hills since 1982 and have been
Treasurer of the Association since 1992. I have held financial
management positions (Division Controller, Corporate
Controller/Treasurer, Vice President - Finance) with several
companies.

I maintain the Association's relationship with our outside
accountants, and exercise due diligence oversight
responsibilities for the Association's accounting and treasury
activities.

I am seeking re-election to the Board so that I can continue to
provide my best effort to oversee the financial aspects of the
Association and to continue our current fiscal policies to curb
costs, increase investment income, and soundly manage the
assets of the Association.

KATHY PEER

My family and I have lived in Valencia Hills for fifteen years.
My husband, two children and I were actively involved with
swim team for many of those years. I have organized the
Children’s Halloween and Spring parties, the Memorial Day
and July 4th BBQ's, and have had the pleasure of being one
of the organizers of the successful Texas Hold’ Em
Tournaments. I would like to thank all the volunteer
homeowners who have helped me to make these events
successful. I would like to continue to be involved in activities
that all fellow homeowners and their families can participate in
and enjoy.

By serving as Member-at-Large, it would be my goal to bring
homeowners together through various activities, parties and
gatherings to enrich the experience of living in Valencia Hills.

ANDY TYZBIR

My family and I have lived in Valencia Hills for over twenty-
three years. We have come to enjoy the friendships we have
made and the amenities the Hills has to offer.

I have served on the Board for the past nine years.

I feel it is important to take pride in our neighborhood. Doing
so improves property values and also makes the Hills a more
desirable place to live. I would be glad to continue to serve on
the Board to support our community's efforts to maintain the
high standards set forth in our CC&R's. I also extend an
invitation to others to get involved.

LINDA JENKINS

I have been a resident of Valencia Hills since 1990, when my
husband, daughters and I moved here from Granada Hills.
Since moving here I have served as Swim Team Manager,
Canteen Manager for Swim Team, and I have served on
planning committees for some of the past New Year’s Eve,
Cinco de Mayo, Mardi Gras, and several other parties and
dances at the clubhouse.

I have been on the Architectural Committee for the past 5
years and was elected by the Board of Directors to fulfill the
remainder of Betty Lawrence's term as Chairman of the
Architectural Committee. It is my hope that with your support
and observance of the CC&R's, we will continue to maintain
the aesthetic integrity of our neighborhood, carry on our
tradition of pride of ownership, and keep Valencia Hills a place
that we can always be proud to call home.

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The Association works for the benefit of all of us, but it does
not run itself. The Board welcomes your involvement in the
Association and hopes that many of you will actively
participate in the community. The Architectural Committee, in
particular, would very much like to welcome "new blood" to join
in their efforts in ensuring that the aesthetics of our
association are pleasing and well maintained.

You have received your Annual Meeting packet, giving you
instructions, a proxy form, a large envelope addressed to the
association and a smaller blank envelope. Please follow the
instructions carefully; failure to do so may invalidate your
vote. Please return your proxy even if you plan to attend the
meeting. A majority of the voting membership must be
present or represented by proxy. Several years ago we were
unable to hold the meeting as scheduled because we did not
receive the required number of returned proxies, which
resulted in additional costs incurred by the association.

Thank you,
Leah Thompson, Association Manager

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A Word From Your Architectural Committee

Architectural Standards were established In an effort to
safeguard and protect the welfare of all residents, improve
and maintain property values, and preserve an aesthetic unity
within the Valencia Hills area. The Valencia Hills Architectural
Committee is responsible for ensuring that these standards
are upheld and that the area within our association is neat,
clean and in good repair at all times.

With that in mind, please be advised that the Committee is
actively patrolling all streets and cul-de-sacs and sending out
violation notifications to homeowners whose properties are in
non-compliance. Should you receive a notice please do not
disregard it...the Committee is operating in accordance with
the Association's governing documents (CC&R's) and in doing
so they are making every effort to continue to maintain the
integrity and aesthetics of our beautiful neighborhood. (Your
home is probably your biggest investment and if the
neighborhood goes to pot so does your investment!)

The Architectural Check List (below) is a good example of
what the Committee is looking for while patrolling the
neighborhood. How does your home stand up to these
guidelines?

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Architectural Check List

With the ever wonderful warm California weather, the
Architectural Committee would like to take this opportunity to
share the following architectural guidelines with you. Your
help and commitment in complying with the CC&R’s of the
association increases property values, and upholds the
standards of the community.

Stand in front of your home and view it as your neighbors do.

Is it neat and clean?
Yard free of weeds?
Planters are planted and dead plants or shrubbery removed?
Lawn mowed and shrubbery appropriately trimmed?
Hardscape is in good condition?
Fences and gates painted and in good condition?
Driveway clean and in good condition?
Newspapers and throwaways are picked up daily?
Mailbox is freshly painted and in good condition?

Is your house in good condition?

Paint fresh and in good condition?
Exterior is painted an approved color?
Garage door painted to match color of façade or trim?
Does roof show wear, need replacing or repair?
Window coverings in good condition?

Does your property look as good as your neighbors?

If your house backs up to a paseo, Wiley Canyon or
Tournament Road, please check your fences periodically to
make sure that they are freshly painted and in good
condition. There are a number of wood and wrought iron
fences on both the paseo and Wiley Canyon that are an
eyesore and desperately need repair and/or replacement and
paint.

And remember:
**All trash receptacles must be stored behind a gate or in an
area not visible from the street, common area, or neighboring
properties. Failure to comply will result in a $10.00 fine after
two warnings have been issued. If the gate behind which the
receptacles are to be stored is wrought iron, the Architectural
Committee will require the installation of a decorative mesh
material, (perforated metal), on the gate to conceal the visible
trash receptacles.

Additionally, trash receptacles can only be curbed for a period
of 24 hours. Trash service for Valencia Hills is normally
Friday, receptacles should be placed at the curb no earlier
than Thursday afternoon and returned to their storage site by
Friday afternoon.**

These are just a few guidelines, and we hope that you will find
them useful. Your neighbors as well as the Architectural
Committee appreciate your special attention to them.

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Parking

As a common courtesy to your neighbors, please park your
vehicles in your driveway or in front of your own house when
possible.

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Keeping the Neighborhood Litter Free

If you post signs advertising a garage sale, boutique sale,
etc., please don't forget to remove the signs after the event.

If there happens to be litter in the street in front of your house
it just takes a minute to pick it up and properly dispose of it. It
also helps keep the neighborhood streets litter and debris
free.

If you happen to see an abandoned shopping cart left in the
neighborhood, please call the shopping cart removal hotline
at (800) 252-4613 with the location. They will have it removed
within 24 to 48 hours.

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SPEEDING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

SLOW DOWN...since when did our streets become the
Indianapolis Speedway? The speed limit is 25 miles per hour
in residential neighborhoods...what's the rush? Is that extra 3
seconds really going to make a difference? Remember, we
are a family oriented neighborhood, we have children at play.
Please slow down!

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ARCHITECTURAL FYI

The fences on your property that back up to the paseo are
your responsibility. Please make sure that they are painted
and properly maintained.

Did you know that the City of Santa Clarita has a height
requirement for trees and/or shrubs that hang over the
sidewalk or street ? The height requirement for sidewalks is 8'
and the height requirement for streets is 14'. Please make
sure your trees and shrubs are trimmed up to the required
height.

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Tennis Court Gates

The tennis courts are in popular demand. If you would like to
reserve a court for a particular day and time, please contact
the Manager at 259-8400. If not, the courts are first come/first
serve.

And please remember to keep the gates locked. Why?? To
avoid vandalism and non-homeowner use of the courts.

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Paseo Trees and Shrubs

In 2000, a State Law was passed which prohibits homeowners
from removing any branches, limbs, shrubs, or trees from
common area property even if the branches or limbs are
hanging into the homeowner’s yard. Removal of branches,
especially on larger trees on slopes, can throw off the balance
of the entire tree creating a stability problem should high
winds or heavy rains occur. If a homeowner is caught
removing branches, limbs, shrubs or trees from the common
area they are in violation of this law and the CC&R’s of the
Association. Additionally, they are vandalizing the common
area property, and exposing themselves to liability for
property damage and/or personal injury should anything
happen as a result of the improper trimming or removal.
Homeowners failing to comply with the state law and the CC&R’
s are subject to a fine, and will be charged to “fix” or “replace”
what they have destroyed.

Any alteration of the areas within a landscape maintenance
district (our common area paseos and slopes) must be
approved by the City and performed by City authorized
crews. Landscape Maintenance District employees are
required to wear orange vests for identification purposes. If
you observe anyone performing any type of paseo
maintenance, (tree trimming, mowing, tree or shrub removal,
etc.), who is not wearing a green vest, we urge you to contact
the Association Manager (259-8400) or the LMD hotline (286-
4050) immediately.

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Paseos vs. Motorized Vehicles

21968 CVC states "No motorized skateboard may be
propelled on any sidewalk, roadway, or any other part of a
roadway or on any bikeway, bicycle path or trail, equestrian
trail, or hiking trail or recreational trail."

Motorized vehicles have been observed racing at extremely
high rates of speed throughout our neighborhood and on the
paseos. This is not only a danger to the operator, but also to
those enjoying a pleasant walk. Who is responsible if an
accident occurs?? If the vehicles are unlicensed are they
covered under an insurance policy?? And, according to the
previously stated section of the California Vehicle Code,
where can they legally be ridden??

Parents, if your children have dirt bikes, motorized scooters or
skateboards, please remind them to respect their
neighborhood and abide by the rules. Motorized vehicles are
not permitted on the paseos. The only exceptions are the
security vehicles for Santa Clarita Valley Public Safety and
authorized maintenance vehicles for Stay Green
Landscape.

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Pets and the Paseos

Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times, (while being walked
on the paseos, sidewalks, or anywhere else in the
neighborhood, even in your front yard). There have been
several reports by residents of dogs running loose or being
walked off leash on the paseos. Additionally, please make
sure that your dog/dogs are secured in your backyard (gates
are latched, fences are high enough and in good repair,
etc.). Allowing your pet to "run wild" is not fair to your
neighbors who may feel threatened if approached by an
unleashed animal. Please keep in mind that even though
your dog may be friendly it may be approaching another dog
who is not. If your unleashed pet attacks and injures a
leashed pet or an individual, you can be held responsible for
legal and medical expenses. There is a leash law, it was
designed to protect both you and your pets. Please observe
it.

Did you know that not removing dog or animal waste from
public areas such as parks, walkways, turf areas, planters and
slopes is a health code violation of the Clean Water Act and is
punishable by a fine of up to $500.00? On the February
paseo walk we noticed that there are a number of
homeowners that are in violation of this health code...there
are areas that are literally full of pet feces. Doggie waste
removal bag dispensers have been installed throughout our
paseo yet some homeowners are still not using them.

Please...please...please...keep your dogs leashed and help
keep our paseo poop free by cleaning up after your pets. If
you observe "roaming" or "unleashed" pets or homeowners
not cleaning up after their pets, I urge you to contact the
Association Manager (259-8400) or Animal Control at 257-
3191.

....But My Neighbor Did It....

A reminder from the Architectural Committee....just because
you see an exterior modification that the neighbor has made
does not mean that you do not have to submit an application
to the Architectural Committee.

Often times, we see an exterior modification that we would like
to do to our own homes. Full speed ahead, we start the work,
assuming its okay without prior approval. Just because you
have seen it done to another property does not mean it's a
"go" for you.

There are many properties with modifications that are in
architectural violation, and in the process of long and arduous
legal wrangling of CC&R disputes. PLEASE, PLEASE,
PLEASE...submit an application for approval before you start
to make any exterior modifications, which include but are not
limited to landscape, hardscape, roof, paint, or build. It saves
us all a lot of grief.

While we all like to see improvements, we are guided by the
parameters set forth by the CC&R's which we agreed to when
we purchased our homes. Let's keep our Valencia Hills
neighborhood beautiful. Applications are available in the
Clubhouse office, or you may contact Leah Thompson at 259-
8400 to receive one by mail or email valhills2@earthlink.net to
receive one by email.

Your Valencia Hills Architectural Committee really appreciates
your help!