"We Love Esperanza Estates" Green Valley, Arizona 85614

Owners...
Information for Homeowners

Periodico de Esperanza
Homeowners Newsletter
May 27, 2003

Board Meeting of May 19 - - By Dave Lantz, President

The April Periodico included a questionnaire requesting input from the individual homeowners. Response was very good on several topics. Requests were made for additional coverage of the Board meetings to be included in the Periodico. Here goes!

Meetings are scheduled to start at 1:00 P.M. with the first 15 minutes allotted for Homeowner comments or suggestions. There being none this time, we proceeded directly to the printed agenda. The format is reasonably fixed with the Minutes of the previous meeting leading off, followed by the Treasurer's report. Finances are tracking quite well with projections in the budget. However, we will eventually, more sooner than later, have to recognize the need to rebuild the reserve fund which has yet to recover from the quad drive repair program. Also, there are a few smaller projects we would like to squeeze in this year if funds are available.

Following the financial report, we have the reports of the various committees, leading off with the Architectural Control Committee. Generally, this committee, lead by Paul Rowland, deals with requests for building modifications such as new arches over front gates, ramada additions, paint colors, etc. The scope of this committee was broadened at the May meeting to include such things as CC&R violations, structural deterioration or poor landscape maintenance which has proceeded to the point where the property is no longer in conformance with standards expected in the sub-division. To assist with the additional duties, and also to give the Committee better diversity , we will be adding two non-director homeowners. Until now, problems such as these were generally called to the attention of a Board member by a homeowner. The Board member would consult with other Board members and some course of action would be decided. The new arrangement should provide better service and avoid the appearance of a personal problem with a Board member.

There were no major surprises in other Committee reports which include Common Area Maintenance, Hospitality, Long Range Planning, Neighborhood Relations, Neighborhood Watch, Recreational Facilities, Volunteer Activities, and a report on the doings of the Green Valley Community Coordinating Council (GVCCC) by Sheila Bennen, our designated representative.

Where there is reasonable activity to report, the Committee chairs will follow with a report in the Periodico. I'll let the responsible people pick up at this point.

Facilities/Long Range Planning -- By Robert Frost, Chair

Work on the riprap in the wash between Holgado and Portillo is underway. Ken Miller and Robert Frost, with input from Bill Milne, have been discussing a strategy for reducing the runoff of both water and sand onto Portillo. This involves riprap to control erosion and settling basins to trap water reducing the stream flow. There is a series of "dry-wells" along the side of the drainage ditch, but their effectiveness may have degraded with the introduction of sand into the wells. These wells were dug with a backhoe and may be even more difficult to refurbish if the rock has to be removed, the wells dug out, and then the rock replaced. The dry well maintenance should consist of ensuring that the runoff is routed to each dry well and allowed to percolate down into the aquifer.

Placement of riprap requires excavation of the streambed. Removal of sand and widening of the channel will require equipment to dig and remove material from the streambed. The swimming pool budgets $9000.00 for gas to heat the pool. Solar heating is an option. One solar company has provided an estimate for an installed system. A second estimate has been requested as well as a projected cost savings.

The County owns roads in Esperanza Estates but maintenance of these roads is a low priority. An investigation of the method and cost for minor repair by utilities such as the water company has been requested by the Board.

Hospitality Committee -- By Phyllis Johnson-Frost, Chair

A total of 57 residents, plus two guests, gathered at our Pool-Ramada the sunny, breezy afternoon of Cinco de Mayo! The spirit of the bi-national celebration was caught in the playing out of a Mexican theme: mariachi music, the creative dress and the variety of piquant flavors of the potluck laid out on colorfully decorated tables--all highlighted by the buzz of the margarita mixers. Hospitality members, identified by our permanent name tags, were everywhere seeing that a good time was had by all socializing under the table umbrellas! The hilarious climax was Sheila’s tagging "volunteers" to try cracking the sweets out of the bouncing piñata donated by Norma Stanley. The decisive stroke came from the swing of Jerry McCall!

We experienced a bit of a hitch which served to dampen our enthusiasm during the party and which will affect future such events. We have no liquor license. Next time, we will need to find someway to stay legal, probably a BYOB approach will be the only real choice.

Gravel / Cement Removal and Disbursement -- By Sheila Bennen

If anyone is changing gravel or tearing up a cement patio please call Ken Miller at 393-1914 and he will use it in the drainage ways of our subdivision.

Esperanza Estates Leader Recognized -- By Bob Fallon, Editor

Kudos to Phyllis Johnson-Frost, who "recently received the Distinguished Service Award from the Kiwanis Southwest District and Foundation. The award was for her work in bringing numerous scholarship opportunities to local high school students and participating in other Kiwanis projects." (Green Valley News & Sun, May 8, 2003)

Phyllis is also the chair of the Neighborhood Relations Committee, a group that works hard to provide Esperanza Estates get-togethers.

Congratulations and Thank You !

Prescription Discount Programs -- By Sheila Bennen

I have been to a GVCCC meeting that covered different programs that help pay for drugs. The new Arizona plan covers all those who pay for their own prescriptions even if they receive Medicare. There is no income limit requirement. I have information on several different programs, if you wish to receive some info please call me, Sheila Bennen at 399-0501.

Correction to Last Month Article on the Esperanza Estates Home Tour -- By Dian O’Brien

SORRY, SORRY, SORRY! Inadvertently, Fred and Scottie Blum were left off the names of homeowners whose houses were featured in the First Annual Esperanza Estates Home Tour. How could we do that, especially to one of our Board members and the person who puts so much effort into keeping our pool running smoothly? SORRY, SORRY, SORRY!

Information Meetings -- By Sheila Bennen, GVCCC Representative

The President of GVCCC is inviting all homeowner associations to information meetings during June and July. Our meeting is scheduled for June 17th at 9:00 A.M. at Las Campanas. All officers and members are invited to attend. I hope many of you can come.

Found Near Napa and Placita Nueva — By Sheila Bennen

In early May, a bracelet was found near Placita Nueva and Napa. It appears to be a bracelet that would be awarded for years of service in an organization. If anyone has lost it, or knows who did, please contact Sheila Bennen at 399-0501.

New / Former Owners -- By Sheila Bennen

New: John R. Leach
211 Circulo Napa
Former: Robert Dwyer

New: Harold and Maretta Sholund
820 Circulo Napa
Former: Larry and Sandra Marsh

New: Alan and Stephanie Kentala
1097 Circulo del Sur
Former: Louis and Edna Caldarello

New: Rosemary F. Carlson
759 Circulo Napa
Former: Leo Zehrer

New Phone Numbers -- By Sheila Bennen

Roger Oster
281 Circulo Napa
625-0039

John and Barbara Lauber
842 Calle Regalo
399-3895

Neighborhood Watch -- Melodye Cooke, Chair

A reminder: As you leave for summer, or for vacation, call SAV (Sheriffs Auxiliary Volunteers) at 625-0139, and let them know. They will check your home from time to time while you are away, without any charge to you for the service.

You may also want to let one or more of your neighbors know your plans.

A Reminder to All Chefs and Cooks -- By Melodye Cooke

The EEHOA cookbook is in the workings. To make it a success, we need your input.

The coming hot months are a good time to go through your favorite recipes and share them. Please submit all of your favorites to Sue Thompson at eecookbook@aol.com or mail them to her at 743 W. Placita Nuevo (399- 7778), or to Karen Augustine at 785 W. Circulo Napa (625-1643), or to Melodye Cooke, 840 Circulo Napa, (399-0455). If more convenient, call Melodye and she will pick them up.

All recipes gathered will be compiled into book form and made available for sale, with the proceeds going to the EE Volunteers for their use in subdivision enhancements.

Common Areas -- By Tom Cooke, Chair

Things have been fairly quiet on the common area front. During my recent absence, Ken Miller, assistant Chair of the committee, kept order and took care of matters which came up. There were a few problems, but with Ken's guidance and AAA’ss assistance, they were handled. We continue to work on weed removal, and general cleanup and maintenance of the common areas. If you have or observe problems in these areas, please call 399- 0455, and let us know. Some of our 20 acres of common areas are more remote than others and we rely on residents to inform us of particular needs or problems.

It will soon be time for trimming the 50- plus palm trees that we maintain in the common areas. We are negotiating for the best price with the same service we have used for the last 2 years. In the past, we have been able to obtain a discounted rate for privately owned palms, and we hope to be able to do the same this year as well.

Accordingly, if you have palms in your yard that need to be trimmed, keep this in mind. We will announce further details of what we have been able to come up with in the June Periodico. Our landscapers, AAA, take care of common area palms which are 10 feet or less in height, but beyond that, we are obligated to hire a special service.

We want to thank Art and Janice MacLaren for the donation and placement of some fresh colored gravel in a common area adjacent to their home on Vereda Calma. We also wish to thank Dorothy Paul for her donation of an Easter Lily cactus for our cactus garden in Mt. View Park.

Peridico Survey Results

The percentages for each survey category are shown below to indicate those "favoring their addition to the Periodico."

Classified type ads: 57%

Commercial ads: 36%

Announcements: 57%

Recipes: 9%

Board meeting summaries: 59%

Humor/photos: 31 %

No changes to Peridico: 9%

There were also a few suggestions, such as publishing the Board financial reports, and articles emphasizing the parking and other constraints which are part of the CC&Rs.

You can see Board meeting summaries are high on the list of items of interest, although one member pointed out that most of what goes on at Board meetings appears now in the Peridico under the various committee headings.

The survey results will be studied for possible implementation at a future date. The Board extends thanks to all who participated.

In Memoriam

Elise Charlotte Ambach
1100 Circulo del Sur

Edward Kubicki
1185 Calle Excelso

May 7, 2003