Tip: Power companies are asking for voluntary compliance to reduce energy use. Raise your home thermometers to 78 degrees or higher. Avoid using significant appliances (dishwashers, washing machines, etc.) between 4:00 pm and 9:00 pm. https://www.iid.com/Home/Components/News/News/1026/793
To see more videos, visit our Videos page by clicking here.
The HOA Office will be closed on Monday, September 5, 2022, in observance of Labor Day. We will reopen Tuesday, September 6, at 9:00 am.
Have a Safe and Happy Labor Day.
Tip: Everyone in your family should have their own “Go Bag” that contains a minimum of 72 hours’ worth of essential supplies, including medicines. If you own pets, don’t forget pet food and water for your four-legged family members.
These kits are collections of supplies needed when an earthquake strikes, or an emergency evacuation is ordered. Personalize kits and keep them where they can easily be reached – at home, in the car, or at work.
The opening has been filled. Thank you!
A volunteer is needed to deliver The View magazine in area #2, near Calle Ebano in Phase 2.
Volunteers are notified at the end of the month when the magazines for their area are ready for pickup at the Santa Rosa Clubhouse.
If you are interested in volunteering, please email view@scshca.com or call 760-345-4349 ext. 2204.
The re-striping of the street lines for Sun City Blvd (Phase I, II, III) and Avenida Sombra will begin on Monday, August 29, and is scheduled to be completed on Tuesday, September 13.
We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause you and we thank you for your cooperation.
For more information, please contact the Facilities Maintenance Department at 760-345-4349 ext. 2401.
Just a reminder that due to an increase in reports regarding pets off leash while in common areas, homeowners must be aware that dogs or other pets must be securely restrained by a leash not exceeding twelve (12) feet in length. The owner or keeper of a pet shall not allow or permit the pet to run at large in any common area, except the pet park(s), or in rear yard. Pets must not be left unattended in the association's common areas, including the pet park(s).
Pets are not permitted on any golf course at any time. Dog walking at Avenida Sombra, where Avenida Sombra meets Sun City Blvd., behind hole number 7, is not permitted. In all other areas, you may walk your dog along the edge of the golf course as long as you and your dog do not walk beyond nine (9’) feet from the edge of the street. Pets are not allowed on the lot of another owner without permission and should not be allowed to soil another owner’s property. Pet owners are responsible for removing and disposing of their pet's litter from Association common areas, including the pet park(s).
We request your immediate compliance. Violators may be cited and be subject to monetary penalties and/or suspension of common area privileges.
Rules & Regulations, Section 2.20.4 - Responsibility of Pet Owners
☞ Schedule of Monetary Penalties
Thank you for your cooperation.
Thursday, August 25, 2022
Montecito Clubhouse
Photos by Patricia Cochran
Printed copies should be expected in your mailbox the first week of September.
Check out the archive of past issues at: www.scshca.com/view
As published in The View, September 2022:
The Road from Budget Meetings to the 2023 HOA Assessment
In my July and August articles, I laid out how our HOA functions, including an overview of our financial operations. That now brings us to “budget season,” which happens every year starting in August with meetings open to all homeowners. I strongly recommend, if you have the time, desire to be part of the process, or wish to comment on the process to your Board, that you attend all of the budget meetings. Or, if you would rather, you can watch the meetings from the comfort of your home as each video is posted.
What is the process? Spreadsheets are prepared for the Board to review, detailing each budgeted category and comparing this to what has already been spent and what will be spent by the end of the year. The Financial Advisory Committee reviews the data ahead of time for accuracy and reasonableness.
The Board uses this historical data as the starting point for the 2023 budget. Evaluating the new budget begins with looking at the 2022 proposed budget and comparing the year-to-date actual money spent in each category. This will show us how realistic our estimates were for 2022. Then, we go line item by line item and evaluate all the factors affecting the future budget. We rely heavily on data that has been gathered for us by the Advisory Committee Chairs, Desert Resort Management (DRM), Troon, and others.
It is only natural that there will be differing opinions about how the Board should spend the HOA’s assessment dollars. Because the outcome of the total dollars budgeted determines the 2023 HOA assessment (your monthly dues), the budget is not final until the Board votes on it in an open session in October. Up until the Board votes, all homeowners are encouraged to submit questions and suggestions to the Board. After all, this is your money.
This year, we as homeowners are already experiencing many cost increases in all aspects of your personal daily lives. During the budget process, your Board will have to deal with many similar issues on a much larger scale that reflect our common community expenses that we all share. The Board already knows that HOA insurance has dramatically increased in the second half of 2022.
Another example is the big increase in the cost of grass seed, included in Troon’s part of our budget. In 2021, the cost was $1.96/lb. In 2022 we paid almost $2.75/lb. And in 2023 we expect to pay around $3.00/lb. We use about 60,000 pounds of seed each year.
These are non-negotiable expenses. We must have insurance, and we have shopped for the best economically available policies at this time. All insurance rates are increasing exponentially. And it goes without saying that we must buy grass seed to protect our golf course and to safeguard SCSH home values.
I want to be upfront with you, as I have been in all my interaction with you, going into this budget season. I am committed to the hard work of scrutinizing every item in the budget. Last year we were fortunate to keep the assessment increase low, but that is not likely to be the case this year. I am asking that everyone, please, remember this when presenting any “wish list” to the Board at the upcoming sessions. Every $40K that we add to the budget in new spending adds $1 to each homeowner’s HOA assessment.
The Board will be weighing all options during the budget process and doing its very best during this difficult economic period for every homeowner.
Contact the author at john.macdonnell@scshca.com.
By Robert “Bob” O. Jester
Finance Advisory Committee Chair
As published in The View, September 2022:
Question of the month: How is the Association Budget for 2023 created?
It would be an understatement, if I said it was anything but a complex process, but I think that you should be pleased that a great deal of time and effort goes into creating each yearly Association Budget. It starts with the General Manager meeting with each department head and reviewing the past year’s budget and how the department succeeded or failed in meeting that budget and then the discussion turns to the coming year. Questions like what are your department’s needs in 2023 and then the obvious inquiry: “is that something that is really needed in the coming year?” After those series of meetings and discussions, a draft budget is prepared and then the real work begins. It is said that every $40,000 increase in the budget raises your monthly assessment by $1, or $12 a year. Now you see why this process is complex and really calls for complete and accurate reviews with a little prayer thrown in for good measure.
The draft budget is sent to each department for further review, and it is presented to the Finance Advisory Committee (FAC). The FAC, by Charter, is assigned the responsibility to assist the Board in the review, evaluation, and preparation of the budget(s). I say budget(s) as we are not discussing just one budget but a budget for the Association’s Annual Operating Fund and a Replacement Fund budget, as well. The FAC is also to work with all the other Advisory Committees who have requested budget allocations and it must carefully review each such request for its level of need and necessity and report to and make recommendations to the Board.
Once a draft budget has been created and reviewed and revised extensively, it is time to open it up to public inspection and review by our residents. There are three public meeting held each year in which the budget is displayed for the residents and comments are taken for further review. This year those meetings are at 10 am on August 24, September 21, and October 19 in the Montecito Ballroom. This will not be a normal year in which to create a budget because the US economy is experiencing inflation in the area of 8 to 12% and the investments of the Association funds have been affected as well by a weak financial market. Please join the FAC members and attend the public meetings and help the Association create our budget for 2023.
See you in the next scheduled Budget Meeting at 10 am in the Montecito Ballroom.
Contact the author at finance@scshca.com.
The next budget session is scheduled on Thursday, September 22, 2022, at 10:00 am.
The Lifestyle Department is planning bus trips to NHL Hockey games. Let us know which games you are interested in attending.
Good morning Shadow Hills Homeowners,
We wanted to keep you apprised of a situation regarding the greens on the South Course. Two weeks ago a fertilizer application was applied on the greens by our grounds maintenance team. There was what appears to be an equipment issue that led to fertilizer burn on the greens on holes 10-17. Our superintendent Tom Johnson immediately sprang into action and diagnosed the issue and has begun a treatment. Today you will see portions of the putting surfaces to be off color however they have received appropriate treatments and we are seeing them on the path to recovery.
We anticipate that the greens will return back to their amazing condition very soon.
Phil Vigil, PGA
General Manager
Shadow Hills Golf Club
Tip: Your home should have a fire extinguisher to deal with kitchen fires. Your local hardware store has these available.
Paint El Paseo Pink is happening on Saturday, October 8. It is a Coachella Valley community walk that takes place annually on the second Saturday in October, on El Paseo, to help raise awareness for breast cancer and to raise much needed funds for Desert Cancer Foundation (DCF). This year, we are sponsoring a team from SCSH called the Sun City Shadow Hills Steppers. We want to join together with our friends and neighbors in the fight against cancer. Your support and all funds raised will help provide for residents who need financial assistance with cancer care and treatment, for all cancer!
Paint El Paseo Pink is always an exciting and inspiring morning! It’s a special day to honor our survivors, including those currently battling the disease, and remember our loved ones whose journeys were cut short by cancer. Together, we will celebrate, shout out, cheer, shed tears. We will step up for breast cancer awareness and raise funds for all cancer care.
We encourage everyone to wear lots of PINK and get out your walking shoes for the 2 mile round trip walk! The walk is open to all men, women, children and dogs! Your $35 registration includes a PINK commemorative t-shirt, but the more PINK, the better!
Go to: PaintElPaseoPink.org, select Join A Team, select Sun City Shadow Hills Steppers, and proceed with your registration under our team name. Let’s join together, because together, we are better!
THANK YOU! Please know you are supporting a great cause and helping our valley residents in a time of great need as SCSH steps out to fight cancer!
Tip: Your basic disaster supplies kit should contain:
Thursday, August 11, 2022
Montecito Clubhouse Ballroom
Tip: Wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunblock, and light-colored loose-fitting clothes. At first signs of heat illness (dizziness, nausea, headaches, muscle cramps), move to a cooler location, rest for a few minutes, and slowly drink a cool beverage. Seek medical attention immediately if you do not feel better.
Many residents take vacations across the nation or to foreign shores. Yet some prefer to stay home and enjoy a Desert Fun-Cation! Our temperatures rise during the summer, but you and your guests can still enjoy the amazing free activities available in our community. Following is a list of free indoor and outdoor activities and a reminder of HOA rules for guests.
Fabulous Free Outdoor SCSH Activities:
Fun-Filled Indoor SCSH Clubhouse Activities:
HOA Guest Regulations:
We hope you and your guests enjoy a wonderful SCSH Desert Fun-Cation this summer and all year round. Don’t forget to wear sunscreen, drink plenty of fluids, and indulge in delicious meals at Shadows, our fabulous restaurant!
Thursday, August 4, 2022
Del Mar, CA
SCSH Residents,
I wanted to send this note to say “Thank You” for the time I was able to spend at Shadow Hills Golf Club in the role as General Manager for Troon Golf. My time here was very pleasant and my hope is that your property will thrive in a way that will benefit everyone moving forward. We have found a very capable candidate to replace me and he will be transitioning to the property toward the middle of August. Phil Vigil is a resident of the area and has been in charge of several properties in his time in the valley. I will be assisting Phil into the month of August remotely and will provide him the tools needed to transition into his new home at Shadow Hills Golf Club.
I’m grateful to have developed relationships with a few of you and with your wonderful staff personnel. Thank you again for receiving me with open arms and best wishes for success!
Sincerely,
Mike Dunlop
General Manager
Shadow Hills Golf Club
Tip: Being prepared for emergencies reduces stress and makes it easier to enjoy life.
To see more videos, visit our Videos page by clicking here.
