Minimize financial hardship by organizing important documents, strengthening your property, and considering insurance.
Earthquakes may last only seconds but they can shake up our lives for weeks and months to come. You can minimize your financial hardship by organizing important documents, strengthening your property and considering earthquake insurance.
You may need to leave your house quickly after an earthquake. Consider what documents you will need if you are away from home for an extended time.
Put all of these important documents in a sealed plastic bag, then place it into your disaster kit “grab-and-go” bag. (Backpack or other small bag.) Leave your “grab-and-go” somewhere you can get to easily.
Consider what important documents you will need:
Copies of identification.
Copies of insurance cards.
List of emergency contact numbers.
Photos of belongings in your home. (This will help you file an insurance claim.)
For more information on minimizing financial hardship, click here:
The best way to be prepared is to practice. Watch for daily updates and plan to participate in the 2018 Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill on October 18 at 10:18 am.
As a part of the budget process, there has been an examination of the Fitness Classes and their related costs. The Board is considering an increase in the Fitness Class fees to cover costs and that has many asking the question as to ‘Why’. Very simple, but complicated question, but I will do my best to cover many points about the class rates and costs to help explain our predicament. Please understand that these are my comments and not necessarily the opinions of other Board members. Nor do my comments mean the Board will vote a certain way.
Many have asked why the Fitness classes aren’t subsidized at the same level as Golf. Golf operations are subsidized more than other areas, that is true. That operation takes more money to maintain, just like security takes more money to maintain than the fitness dept. When we all moved here we agreed to these costs as part of living here, and that is paid for from the monthly assessments. There is no surprise in paying the cost for maintaining the golf course or paying for security, etc. because we all knew about these costs when we moved in. The future goal is to maintain the level of services in a cost-efficient way without raising monthly assessments unreasonably.
Currently Fitness classes have a yearly pass (use all the classes you like in one year), a monthly pass (use all the classes you like in one month), or pay each time one at a time. Keep in mind the golfers pay for every round they play. That is part of the equation. There are no passes at a yearly rate to reduce the costs of each round. Clearly if we did that the subsidy would have to increase because we would be getting less money for each round played. That is the difference between the yearly passes for fitness classes and golf fees. Golf is pay as you go, so costs are distributed equally among the users.
Fitness classes currently do not operate this way. About 1.5 years ago, at the request of residents, more classes were offered, but it was done on the expectation and condition that the program would break even. So, many classes were implemented, and projections were made to break even so that homeowners would not have an increase in the monthly assessments for the classes. This concept seemed reasonable because these classes were never part of the fitness budget, so to increase the cost of classes to all residents by increasing their monthly assessments did not seem fair.
Part of the projection at that time was a yearly, monthly, and day use fee for the classes. This was implemented and has been tried for the last 1.5 years. The problem is we now have too many people using the fitness classes that are not paying for the cost of the class, so the subsidy would have to increase to all residents if we are to maintain that same program. This was not the intention or plan in expanding the number of classes.
The current cost to the HOA per fitness class is about $65. If residents paid $4 per class, we would need about 16 people in the class to break even. As the program grew, the problem became yearly pass holders given their cost of the pass. At $200, if a person were to take a class twice per week, their cost would be less than $2 per class. This would mean we would need 32 people in each class to break even. The situation gets worse the more people use the pass. Example: one person contacted me and said they would be willing to pay $400 for the pass because they use it six days a week. This person is only paying about 65 cents per class. This is the problem. The concept of a yearly unlimited pass will conflict with the actual cost of providing the class, the more it is used, the more money the HOA loses, and the more money all residents will need to pay as a subsidy.
Even if people are willing to pay $400 for the pass, individual costs of the classes would have to increase to make up the difference in costs. This becomes the complex decision of the Board on how to distribute those costs fairly. Should residents be subsidizing classes along with individual users so yearly pass holders pay little for any class. I am not sure at this point that is fair. The best way to maintain services equally is to have costs distributed equally among the users. This is the platform of golf users. Each person pays as they play, with no special benefit for a monthly or yearly pass. This way we can track the costs for golf and if necessary raise the golf fees up to cover the cost, but it is done for everyone equally.
I don’t believe you can have competing systems in place at the same time; Yearly passes vs. individual pay as you go fees. These two systems conflict and will ultimately lead to yearly pass holders being subsidized by increased costs to residents and daily fee users. The most efficient and fair way to spread costs is everyone pays their fair share of the costs. I favor this approach for a program that needs to break even. If the cost of the classes were to stay at $4 per class, with no yearly or monthly passes, then costs can be tracked, classes with too few people eliminated, and remaining classes can be offered long term without increasing the monthly costs to the homeowners.
The current proposed budget by the fitness dept. was an increase of about 40% in subsidy, this is just too high for all residents so that about 200 people can take classes far below market rates. If we provide the classes at a set fee for everyone, then just like golf, everyone that uses the classes will share equally in the cost. This is maintainable. Otherwise daily fees and monthly assessments to all residents will have to increase. I would be concerned about raising monthly fees to 3,450 homeowners for the benefit of 200 yearly pass holders. Although I understand everyone would like the costs to be low, but sometimes that is not realistic. I also don’t think $4 per class is unreasonable for the benefit, the same as I don’t think golf fees for $42 to $52 dollars is unreasonable.
This program of classes was never part of the original subsidy agreement to residents for the fitness department, so we must find a way to break even if such classes are going to continue. Naturally I am giving you my thoughts, the Board may, and can decide as they wish when a vote comes for the final budget.
I think it wise and reasonable to campaign to the Board for whatever outcome you would like to see take place. That is how the system works, and the final vote for a budget and how classes are offered will not happened until the next Board meeting.
This step is crucial and should be started ASAP. It’s also on the overwhelming side, so take it slow and steady. Convenience is the key here. Be sure you store your kits in locations that are easily accessible at home, at work and in your vehicle. Backpacks or other small bags are best for disaster supplies. You can easily “grab and go” if you have to evacuate.
Here is a partial list to get you started:
Medications, prescription list, copies of medical cards, doctor’s name and contact information. Consider completing a “Vial of Life,” available free of charge at the Lifestyles Desk.
First aid kit and handbook (Consider taking a basic first aid course. Knowledge on hand is quicker than relying on a handbook!)
Examination gloves (non-latex)
Dust mask
Spare eyeglasses or contact lenses and cleaning solution
Bottled water
Whistle (to alert rescuers to your location)
Sturdy shoes
Emergency cash
Road maps
List of emergency out-of-area contact phone numbers
Snack foods, high in water and calories
Working flashlight with extra batteries and light bulbs, or light sticks
Personal hygiene supplies
Copies of personal identification (drivers license, work ID card, etc)
The best way to be prepared is to practice. Watch for daily updates and plan to participate in the 2018 Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill on October 18 at 10:18 am.
Plan to be safe by creating a disaster plan and deciding how you will communicate in an emergency. Make sure that your emergency plan includes evacuation and reunion plans; your out-of-state contact person’s name and number; the location of your emergency supplies and other pertinent information.
The following list will get you started:
Keep shoes and a working flashlight next to each bed.
Get a fire extinguisher for your home.
Teach everyone in your household to use emergency whistles and/or to knock three times repeatedly if trapped.
Identify the needs of household members and neighbors with special requirements or situations, such as use of a wheelchair, walking aids, special diets, or medication.
Know the location of utility shutoffs and keep needed tools nearby. Make sure you know how to turn off the gas, water, and electricity to your home. Only turn off the gas if you smell or hear leaking gas.
The best way to be prepared is to practice. Watch for daily updates and plan to participate in the 2018 Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill on October 18 at 10:18 am.
It is that time of year to complete the budget for next year which always raises the question from many, “Are the monthly fees going up”? I guess I could end this story quickly by simply saying ‘Yes’, but it is always fun to explain why so we all have an understanding.
I believe we all have a responsibility to each other to maintain the facilities and services that were installed when we moved here. That is our agreement with each other. It is in our long-term best interest to never let facilities become tired, but to maintain those facilities and services to meet the expectation of all of us and future residents. This way property values stay as high as possible and we all get to use the services for our own enjoyment.
Budgeting then becomes the art of maintaining the facility in the most efficient way possible, without sacrificing long term benefit. Too often cuts are made which can then lead to diminished care, something that needs to be avoided.
Understanding that we don’t want to sacrifice quality, if all things remain equal, given that costs go up each year, to maintain the facility at an equal level we need to match those cost increases so that we don’t reduce quality and services. Reduction of quality and services will ultimately lead to lower property values.
Inflation is currently about 2.7%. That means we can count on costs probably going up about 2.7% next year, which means to maintain the facility at its current level we will need to increase monthly dues at least 2.7%. I have always been an advocate of modest, responsible increases that match inflation to maintain facilities and services. A 2.7% increase would mean a monthly increase of about $7 per month. That would be my goal. I much prefer steady, inflationary increases long term that we can plan for rather than some years with no increase and then some years with high increases. When people come to buy your home, they want to see responsible financial planning with no assessments. When people can plan on the future, and can see history to support that planning, home values will then stay as high as possible.
Given that goal, our first task is to maintain current facilities and services, and only after that can we discuss increasing services which will lead to an increase in costs. Such increases need to be in the best interest of the greater good and not just a benefit to a few. Costs can creep up when new services are put into place that only benefit a few, even though all residents pay for the subsidy. Let’s use caution on any new services which will increase costs to everyone, and keep in mind, our first responsibility to each of us is to maintain existing facilities well before taking on new projects which will only increase monthly costs over time.
The final budget meeting will be 10/23/18 when all the details will be finalized so Board may approve the Budget for 2019 at the October meeting. The meeting on 10/23/18 is open to all homeowners so please attend if you have comments or suggestions on the future planning. If you are not available, please write to the Board with any suggestions or comments.
Earthquake shaking can move almost anything, even large heavy items. Imagine your home being picked up and shaken sideways. You get the idea. Start now by moving furniture such as bookcases away from beds, sofas or anywhere people often sit. Move heavy items to low shelves.
Then continue your “hazard hunt” to help identify and fix things such as unsecured televisions, computers, bookcases, furniture, unstrapped water heaters etc. According to a study from the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA), 55% of the injuries during the 1994 Northridge earthquake were caused by falling furniture or objects.
Try securing one item per week. Start with the easy ones you can do yourself or with minimal assistance. For a complete list of items to secure and how to do it click here:
The best way to be prepared is to practice. Watch for daily updates and plan to participate in the 2018 Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill on October 18 at 10:18 am.
There’s no doubt Mother Nature will have her way, but there’s A LOT we can do to prepare. The Earthquake Country Alliance has worked with experts and developed Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety. Following is an overview of each step.
PREPARE
Step 1:
Secure your space by identifying hazards and securing moveable items.
Step 2:
Plan to be safe by creating a disaster plan and deciding how you will communicate in an emergency.
Step 3:
Organize disaster supplies in convenient locations.
Step 4:
Minimize financial hardship by organizing important documents, strengthening your property, and considering insurance.
SURVIVE
Step 5:
Drop, Cover and Hold On when the earth shakes.
Step 6:
Improve safety after earthquakes by evacuating if necessary, helping the injured, and preventing further injuries or damage.
RECOVER
Step 7:
Reconnect and Restore
Restore daily life by reconnecting with others, repairing damage and rebuilding community.
The best way to be prepared is to practice. Watch for daily updates and plan to participate in the 2018 Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill on October 18 at 10:18 am.
Let’s face facts, Sun City Shadow Hills is a 55+ community. We’re a community full of active, fun-loving adults. We are also a community with residents uncomfortable or unable to DROP to the floor/ground when the shaking starts.
Adapt for your situation
If you have difficulty getting onto the ground, or cannot get back up again without the help of a caregiver, then follow these recommendations:
If you are in a recliner or bed: Cover your head and neck with your arms or a pillow until the shaking stops.
if you use a cane: Drop, Cover, and Hold On or sit on a chair, bed, etc. and cover your head and neck with both hands. Keep your cane near you so it can be used when the shaking stops.
If you use a walker or wheelchair: LOCK your wheels (if applicable). If using a walker carefully get as low as possible. Bend over and COVER your head/neck with your arms, a book, or a pillow. Then HOLD ON until shaking stops.
The best way to be prepared is to practice. Watch for daily updates and plan to participate in the 2018 Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill on October 18 at 10:18 am.
United States Flags to Half-Staff on Sunday, October 7, 2018 in Honor of National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service
The United States Congress created the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to lead a nationwide effort to remember America's fallen firefighters. Since 1992, the tax-exempt, nonprofit Foundation has developed and expanded programs to honor our fallen fire heroes and assist their families and coworkers.
103 Fallen Firefighters will be honored during the 37th National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service on Sunday, October 7, 2018. The U.S. Fire Service will pay tribute to the lives of 80 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2017 and 23 firefighters who died in previous years.
In accordance to Public Law 107-51, the American flag should be lowered to half-staff on Sunday, October 7 sunrise to sunset in observance of National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service.
Consider what may happen when an earthquake shakes our valley. Plan what you will do now to protect yourself.
Protect Yourself
Your past experience in an earthquake may give you a false sense of safety: you didn’t do anything, or you ran outside, and you survived without injury. Or perhaps you got under your desk and others thought you overreacted. It’s likely you have never experienced the kind of shaking that is possible with the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that is predicted for the Coachella Valley.
Sudden and intense back and forth movement of several feet per second will cause the floor or the ground to jerk out from under you and every unsecured object around you could topple, fall or become airborne. This is why you must learn to immediately protect yourself at the first jolt.
Don’t wait to see if the earthquake shaking will be strong.
In most cases you will reduce your chance of injury if you:
DROP, COVER and HOLD
DROP to the ground before the earthquake drops you.
Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table and
HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops.
The best way to be prepared is to practice. Watch for daily updates and plan to participate in the 2018 Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill on October 18 at 10:18 am.
What if on October 18 at 10:18 you are somewhere other than the HOA office, the Montecito Clubhouse or the Santa Rosa Clubhouse, can you still participate?
YES, you can.
In 2017 more than 56.2 million people worldwide participated. Everyone is welcome to participate - individuals, families, schools, government agencies and organizations.
Earthquakes can happen anywhere you live, work or travel. Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills are a chance to protect ourselves and for everyone to become prepared. The goal is to save lives and prevent disasters from becoming catastrophes.
Invite family and friends to participate for their safety too. Participating in your home works.
The best way to be prepared is to practice. Watch for daily updates and plan to participate in the 2018 Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill on October 18 at 10:18 am.
Remember fire drills when you were a kid. The alarm would go off, and because you had practiced, you and your chums knew exactly what to do. That’s the goal of the Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill - to prepare us, and our chums, to know exactly what to do in the event of an earthquake.
What to do: DROP, COVER and HOLD ON
DROP to the ground before the earthquake drops you.
Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table and
HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops.
Stay Indoors until the shaking stops
Unlike a fire drill, where exiting the building is number one, in an earthquake you are safer if you stay where you are until the shaking stops. Look around you now, before an earthquake, and identify safe places such as under a sturdy piece of furniture or against an interior wall.
What if you are outdoors?
If you are outdoors when the shaking starts, find a clear spot away from buildings, trees, streetlights and power lines then DROP, COVER and HOLD ON. Stay there until the shaking stops.
What if you are driving?
If you are driving, pull over to a clear location, stop and stay in your vehicle with your seatbelt fastened until the shaking stops. Once the shaking stops, proceed with caution and avoid bridges or ramps that may have been damaged.
The best way to be prepared is to practice. Watch for daily updates and plan to participate in the 2018 Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill on October 18 at 10:18 am.
Ok, we’re having an earthquake drill on October 18 at 10:18 am, what exactly should you expect?
On October 18, 2018, members of the Shadow Hills Emergency Preparedness Subcommittee, EPSC, will enter the HOA office, the Montecito Clubhouse and the Santa Rosa Clubhouse at approximately 10:00 am. Committee members will be wearing EPSC vests and will be easily identifiable.
The EPSC members will read from a prepared script and gently inform everyone present that at 10:18 am the Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill will occur.
At 10:18 am the drill will commence. Simultaneously at 10:18 am, earthquake sound effects will be broadcast over the clubhouse speaker systems.
The EPSC members will encourage folks to DROP, COVER and HOLD ON during the 90-second drill. The idea is to get on the floor/ground before the earthquake drops and injures you. Of course, participation is optional.
EPSC members will act as coaches during the drill and will demonstrate how to appropriately DROP, COVER and HOLD ON and where to do so. Please plan to participate.
The best way to be prepared is to practice. Watch for daily updates and plan to participate in the 2018 Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill on October 18 at 10:18 am.
These are lyrics from the 1971 hit song, I Feel the Earth Move, by singer songwriter Carole King. Don’t think she was referring to the same kind of “earth moving” that we can expect living in the Coachella Valley.
What can we expect?
What we can expect is a 7.8 magnitude earthquake starting in our Coachella Valley. Experts predict it is not IF but WHEN the “Big One” hits. Obviously, Mother Nature is in charge here. There’s nothing we can do to prevent - but there’s plenty we can do to PREPARE.
The Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill
The HOA Board has approved our community’s participation in the 2018 Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill. The drill will be held on October 18 at 10:18 am. This is a 90-second long training drill with a focus on what to do when you “Feel the Earth Move Under Your Feet.”
Drop, Cover and Hold On
DROP to the ground before the earthquake drops you.
Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table and
HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops.
The best way to be prepared is to practice. Watch for daily updates and plan to participate in the 2018 Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill on October 18 at 10:18 am.
Although I will never tire of the beautiful sunrises, I am sure many of you are tired of reading about the CC&R and By-law changes. But a ballot was mailed to all residents on April 19, 2018, and we need you to vote to complete the process. A copy of all the documents is available on the HOA website.
There are four items on the ballot for your consideration. After many comments from residents, the Board decided to present the following four items for a vote:
Item 1 includes all the proposed changes to remove Pulte from the documents where applicable, and all changes required because of new state laws. If item 1 passes, then the CC&Rs and By-laws listed would become the current documents. Since Pulte is no longer here, it seemed responsible to remove them from the documents wherever possible. The other changes are changes that are required because of changes in the law. If item 1 passes, the documents will become clearer without Pulte being listed where applicable and, since we must implement new laws anyway, the documents would reflect that which is required by law.
Item 2 is a vote to remove term limits on committee members. Currently, there is a two-term limit on committee members. Some have felt that some committee members should stay longer if they are willing because of their expertise. A vote in favor of this item supports removing term limits.
Item 3 is a vote to remove cumulative voting for Board member elections. Currently the HOA uses cumulative voting every other year in the election process when three Board positions are up for election. When only two positions are up for election, regular voting is used. In regular voting you may not put more than one vote to any one candidate. In cumulative voting, you may put more than one vote to any one candidate. This is the difference between the two voting methods.
Item 4 is to change the minimum rental period from 90 days to 45 days. It will also remove the language, which allows homeowners to rent for less than 90 days, if they use a management company to rent their homes. Current language allows homeowners to use a management company and rent for as little as one day. So, if this item passes, no resident will be able to rent their home for less than 45 days, and there will be no more exceptions.
These are the four items to vote on for the changes to the CC&Rs and By-laws. It is important that all homeowners vote so we can conclude this process, which began about three years ago. The HOA has spent over $40,000 on the process to update our governing documents so they are more concise and easier to read. We need everyone to vote so this effort is not wasted. Homeowners may mail back their ballots or place them in one of the ballot boxes located near the reception desks at each of the clubhouses. If you need another ballot, for any reason, please contact the HOA office and we can provide one to you. We are trying to complete this process by November 13. So please send in the ballots right away.
If you have questions, please let me know or contact other Board members or staff.
Once you send in your ballot, take a break and watch the beautiful sunset, and once again we can all understand and say, “It doesn’t get any better than this.”
The Design Review Committee is looking for new sub-committee members!
The committee meets periodically to review and approve/disapprove propose architectural and landscape changes/improvements to all residential lots. The Committee will best assure that the aesthetics of the Community are not compromised and the intent of the Association's CC&Rs and Design Review Guidelines are not violated.
Fly the United States Flag at Half-Staff on Tuesday, September 11, 2018
Please be advised, that the flags will be lowered to half-staff on Tuesday, September 11, 2018, in recognition of Patriot Day. By a joint resolution approved 12/18/2001, (Public Law 107-89) has designated September 11th of each year as "Patriot Day" which also directs the flags be lowered to half-staff for the entire day on September 11th.
This week Bob interviews Shannon Shea, the founder of Elder Love USA. Elder Love is a non-profit that provides in home care for seniors who are above the poverty line, and would like an alternative to "for-profit" companies.
Please listen, as you may have a neighbor or friend who can benefit from this service.
