The board wanted to share the major things on our agenda over the past year, as we don't get participation from many homeowners at the meetings. Participation from homeowners is encouraged!!

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December 2010

As 2010 comes to an end, the members of the HOA Board of Directors reflect on the projects completed, projects yet to commence and long term objectives that will be required in the future years to maintain the integrity and value of our property.

Be aware the board passed a special assessment of $300 for each unit, due by June 30, 2011. This is to fund the reserves needed for large maintenance projects needed for the coming year.

Accomplishments in 2010:

This year marked the conclusion of a project started over five years ago. That project was to update the landscaping in all common areas of the six communities.  This project would include replacing shabby original vegetation in the interior common areas and exterior streetscape bordering Monterosa.  The goal was to achieve a fresher, updated appeal while benefiting from lower maintenance and water requirements.  With the exception of the front area that ranges between 3637 and 3631, plus some minor tweaking in a few other areas (replacing dead plants, etc) this major overhaul is close to completion.  The Landscape Committee spent countless hours pouring over designs, plant choices, the budget and many, many weekends engaged in back-breaking, manual labor removing old vegetation, digging holes and planting new.   The budget could not support having it professionally done, so if it were not for the Landscape Committee, Donnie Hightower, and a few homeowners and tenant volunteers that assisted, this landscaping overhaul would not have come to pass.

In addition to the landscaping work, our on-site maintenance man, Donnie Hightower, has been extremely busy this year working on many aesthetic improvements.  On top of his regular duties, he has touched-up paint on our buildings, patched stucco, painted fences and gates, and made necessary pool modifications for City code compliance.   Many roofing repairs were also completed throughout the year.

Looking Ahead:

While there are certainly some advantages to residing in older neighborhoods and owning older properties, the aging factor certainly predicts that future, capital maintenance projects will be necessary, i.e., asphalt re-paving of carports, painting all buildings, pool re-surfacing, new roofs, community building repairs, etc.  The monthly assessment that you pay goes into the General Operating Fund.  This fund is used for the monthly operating expenses, such as:  City of Phoenix (water/sewage/trash pickup), SRP electric (common area lighting/laundry facilities/pool filters), pool maintenance, landscape maintenance service, property management fee, insurance, maintenance personnel compensation, plus any unforeseen, unanticipated expenses throughout the year.  In addition to the General Operating Fund, most Homeowner’s Associations have a sizable Reserve Fund with monies set aside specifically for the above-mentioned capital improvements.  Monterosa Condominiums, however, has always maintained a very small Reserve Fund.  

This year the Board identified and prioritized key projects that will be essential for years to come.  Our small Reserve Fund cannot cover the costs of these very expensive repairs. If we wish to maintain our current monthly assessment at $185.00 without incurring an annual increase, funding for these much needed projects will necessitate Special Assessments.  Please be advised that a Special Assessment in the amount of $300.00 per homeowner will be due no later than June 2011.

 As homeowners, we do not receive City of Phoenix monthly statements that cover our water usage, trash & recyclables pick-up, and sewer usage for our individual units.  Instead, we have one (1) water meter per building, thus our pro-rata share of these services is included in our monthly assessment.  Therefore, it’s rather easy to be oblivious to the annual rate increases the City of Phoenix has imposed for the last six (6) years. The year of 2010 was the first year in the last six years that the rate increase was only a single-digit (7.25%).  In 2009, it was 11.5% and 2008–10.75%.  When the costs of services increase, it can force a rise in our monthly assessments. Just because we don’t see the Water Bill doesn’t mean we are not paying for it.    We urge everyone to be aware of your water usage and conserve water when possible.