1 of 5 12/1/2017, 10:24 AM View this email in your browser Winter Newsletter December 2017 Contents: From the HOA President Election & Candidates BOD Meeting Schedule Survey Results Water, Cable & Trash Neighborly Reminders TNTW Website Annual Meeting 5:15 PM February 15th Omni Resort Hotel Room TBD Please plan to attend. We encourage your comments, suggestions and participation. The Board of Directors of the Tucson National Townhomes West Homeowners Association extends holiday greetings to all residents and a warm welcome to new owners who have joined our community. With property values inching up throughout our area, it s imperative that we maintain the appearance and quality of life in our community, and we encourage your comments, suggestions and participation at the coming annual meeting. The Board has worked very hard to manage the Association s improvements and maintenance budgeted for this year. During the 4 th Quarter the Board renegotiated the trash pickup and Comcast cable for the Association. The latest Comcast cable contract will cover 5 years with a cap of 5% increase annually. The new contract provides basic cable at $31.49 a month versus $35.49 a month in the previous 5 year contract. On behalf of the Board and myself, it has been a pleasure working for the Association. Fred Sadri, HOA President
2 of 5 12/1/2017, 10:24 AM Election / 3 year Term With the advent of Gregg Willits resignation, the Board appointed Ponciano (Jun) Millan to fill out his term. Jun Millan consented to be elected to fill the open position vacated by Gregg Willits for a three year term. Meet the Candidates: Jun Millan has been a resident of Arizona since 1980 and moved to Tucson as fulltime resident in the community since 2013. Jun s career spanned 26 years with Honeywell Aerospace. His volunteer history includes President of the Arizona/American Society for Metals, member of the Arizona Game & Fish Native Trout Conservation Project; instructor in First Tee of Arizona, and trainer with the Arizona/USA Swimming team. Bob Heller purchased his home in the TNT West community in 2012. Became year round Tucson residents in 2016. Currently full-time care giver for my wife, Linda. Previously performed many financial roles including chief financial officer in high tech businesses, registered investment adviser, and CPA. Previously volunteer trustee in private school (K-8) founded to serve gifted children. 2018 Schedule The Board selected the following dates, times and locations for their meetings to be held in 2018. Annual Meeting February 15, 2018-5:15 PM - Omni Resort Hotel (Room TBD) May 14, 2018-3:00 PM - Omni Resort Hotel (Room TBD) August 13, 2018-3:00 PM - Omni Resort Hotel (Room TBD) November 12, 2018-3:00 PM - Omni Resort Hotel (Room TBD) Survey Results - water, cable & trash By the end of the year, the Board will be renegotiating two important contracts - trash pickup & Comcast Cable. The Board has an opportunity to receive discounts on their
3 of 5 12/1/2017, 10:24 AM services by providing an accurate count on the resident's status in the community. In addition, the Board is concerned about water consumption for home front landscape plantings. We emailed residents a survey soliciting their feedback on the water issues to helped us determine the best approach for the community. We appreciate all those who did complete short survey, thank you. Seventy three (73) residents received the survey either by email, or postal service mailing. Thirty eight (38) survey responses were completed and submitted. Front Yard Watering Out of thirty eight (38) responses, twenty one (21) residents noted they rely on the Association to provide water to their front yard areas. Seventeen (17) residents water their own front and back yards. The Board assumes the thirty five (35) residents that didn t submit the survey represent an equal mix of those who water their own front yards and those who rely on the Association s water system. Desert Plantings Twenty seven (27) residents cited they have desert plantings in their front yards. Ten (10) residents noted they have no desert plantings. And, one (1) resident did not indicate what plantings they have in their front yard. Resident change to desert plantings Sixteen (16) residents indicated they do not plan to change their front yards to desert plantings. Twenty (20) noted they would change their front yards landscapes to desert plantings. Two (2) residents did not provide an answer to change or not change their front yard landscapes. Ideas and comments provided by Residents The Board reviewed the ideas and comments submitted in the survey. Most residents are concerned about the level of water consumption in the community and efforts to use less water with desert plantings and emphasize xeriscape front yards. Several residents expressed feelings about retaining the HOA water system, while a significant number wanted to shutdown the system and water their front yard desert landscapes. Other residents suggested to monitor the current system in terms of better water schedule management during the seasonal changes, better maintenance and repair of the numerous leaks in the neighborhood and to increase dues to create a sinking fund for irrigation system replacement. Specific remarks are as follows The Board needs to present an accounting of what the dues would (be) with the existing irrigation system and without it. Proper centralized planning, maintenance, repair, replacement, and updating are necessary for a cost effective system We re not in favor of neglecting or eliminating the
4 of 5 12/1/2017, 10:24 AM common area water system. Have homeowners water the front yards like they do the backs. The front watering system is so messed up anyways. Be done with it. It s been an ongoing issue for years. We should also be vigilant in reporting drip systems that are no longer watering any plant. Conversion to desert landscaping is one suggestion; another would be to monitor your monthly water consumption making sure there are no leaks in your irrigation system. The irrigation system is ancient and irreparable; cost of replacement not worth the expense to the community. Monitor the irrigation output from each valve throughout the HOA water system. Verify the watering schedule and adjust the valves accordingly at change of seasons. Xfinity ( Comcast) Cable The bulk cable renewal option selected reduced the current rate from $35.49 to $31.49. The retail rate for this package is $70.99. The bulk renewal option will be for five (5) years and the annual rate increase will not exceed 5%. Since the contract agreement was renew this year there will be no rate increase until 2019. Trash Removal Residents Year Round vs Seasonal From the responses received, twenty two (22) residents cited as being year round and fifteen (15) as being seasonal residents. The Board submitted the information to Republic Services Trash Haulers to receive a cost reduction in trash removal during the summer season. Although the Association would not receive the best cost savings with the modest survey responses from residents, pre-contract negotiations indicate that TNTW may receive some seasonal rate in trash pickup costs during May through September, a "roll-back" on the current $800 monthly rate, and a new contract for thirty six (36) months effective January 1, 2018. Neighborly Reminders Front Area Water Leaks: Please take time to cruise your front area for water leaks. If you resided next to a common area and observe a water leak, please call AME Management 742-3018 or email at amemanagement@comcast.net Selecting Desert Plantings: An array of current desert plantings recommended by local horticulturalists and nurseries can be found on the Association s website www.tntwest.net
5 of 5 12/1/2017, 10:24 AM Overnight Street Parking: For fire and traffic safety purposes, please avoid parking overnight on the streets in the community. Architectural Renovations: Front exterior renovations require Committee review and approval. Please complete and submit the ARC form found on the Association s website www.tntwest.net before starting renovations. Communications TNTW Website A professional webmaster maintains and updates the TNTW website keeping it current, informative and user friendly. The website provides our community with important information from CC&Rs & Bylaws & Rules, Minutes, Forms, Announcements, News & Updates and more. We are open to your constructive suggestions. General communications regarding social activities, committee requests, landscape maintenance, etc. will flow through our direct-to-member email system. So that we may respond and keep you in the loop, please make sure we have your current email address by sending it to our property manager, AME Management amemanagement@comcast.net Our pledge to the Association: (1) All member requests will be acknowledged within 24 hours. (2) You will not be inundated by trivial matters. Copyright * CURRENT_YEAR * * LIST:COMPANY *, All rights reserved. * IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE * * LIST:DESCRIPTION * Our mailing address is: * HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML * * END:IF * Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. * IF:REWARDS * * HTML:REWARDS * * END:IF *