Property Owners Association. M.O.P.A. Spring - Summer 2016 Newsletter

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1 Meadowmont Property Owners Association Telephone Fax P.O. Box 213, Arnold, CA M.O.P.A. Spring - Summer 2016 Newsletter MPOA Board of Directors President Don Cooper Vice President Dave Gallagher, Sr. Secretary/Treasurer Dick Brockett Directors Paul Gonzales Jill Micheau Pete Slagle Important Dates: VIP Training Snowflake Lodge 335 Blue Lake Springs Drive Friday, April 29th, 9:00 AM* Thursday May 5th, 1:00 PM* * Please see article, inside Wildfire Community Preparedness Day Meeting Independence Hall - White Pines Saturday, May 7, am to 12 pm The agenda is posted on our website. Fire Inspection Dates 1st Inspection: June 1st 15th 2nd Inspection: July 5th 15th (for those who are not in compliance only): Board Meetings are held the 2nd Tuesday of each month, except July, at 7PM in Building 1 across from Chapel in the Pines. Members are invited to attend. Meeting dates are: May 10th, June 14th, July 12th, August 9th, September 13th, October 11th, November 8th, and December 13th Annual Membership Meeting July 9th, :00 am Lion s Club Grove in White Pines Park Retiring Board Member Bill Nelson has retired from the Meadowmont Property Owners Association Board of Directors this February, after 11 years of volunteer service to our Community. Bill joined the Board in 2004 and became Chairman of the Building Review Committee in A fine job he did too! Bill has also served as Vice President of the Board. Always willing to express an opinion and never shy, Bill was always ready to help whenever needed. His experience and enthusiasm will be sorely missed by the Board and the effects of his leaving will be felt by the membership of the Association. Thank you Bill, for your many years of service and leadership! Don Cooper M.P.O.A. Board of Directors President and the rest of the Board Dues Increase Please review the information contained on the yellow center pages of this newsletter. Because we have been operating with a budget shortfall for the last two years, the Board has voted to increase our Regular Annual Assessment by $4.00, to $24.00 per lot, annually. Operating costs have continued to climb and the Board is mandated to meet its fiduciary obligation to our Membership. This decision has not come about lightly and the possibility of an increase has been discussed at length, over this two year period. The Board cannot foresee any of our costs coming down so to balance the budget, the increase is an unfortunate necessity Annual Membership Meeting and BBQ The Board of Directors of Meadowmont Property Owners Association encourages you to join them at the Annual Membership Meeting on July 9th, Registration 10:30am and the gavel 11:00am. This year s guest speaker will be District 3 County Supervisor Mike Oliveira. The agenda will be posted on our website: meadowmontpoa.com. Our meeting will be held at the Lion s Club Grove in White Pines Park followed by a free BBQ, catered by George Robbins Big Boy s BBQin. The menu will include a green salad w/italian dressing, potato salad, baked beans, apple pie, an assortment of sodas or water and your choice of Hamburger, Hot Dog or Polish Hot Dog. Please include your R.S.V.P. with your annual dues payment (due July 1st, 2016) and indicate how many Burgers, Hot Dogs and/or Polish Hot Dogs you and your family will eat. We hope you will come meet your neighbors and the volunteers on your Board of Directors and our new manager! 1

2 Improved Firefighting Capabilities May Lower Your Insurance Cost The Insurance Survey Office (ISO) conducted a 5 10 year evaluation of the Ebbetts Pass Fire District firefighting capabilities in The survey evaluates a wide spectrum of contributing factors for fire suppression, both currently and over the immediate past 3 years. The rating scale is from 1-9, with 1 being the best. The previous rating had been 4/9, a very respectable rating. The District is very happy to acknowledge that our rating is now improved to a 2/2x, effective February, Property owners in our fire district should let their insurance carrier know about this change in order to take advantage of the better rating. To read more about the Ebbetts Pass Fire District and the improved ISO rating, visit: Share the Road Please obey the 25mph speed limit on residential roads in Calaveras County! Vehicles share the roadway with pedestrians, bicyclists, skateboarders, dog walkers, children at play, and others not to mention, wild animals, large and small!!! With hilly crests, curves and trees blocking visibility, excessive speed is DANGEROUS!!! The Sheriff is watching Camanche and Mustang for speeders. New Water Main CCWD is scheduled to install a new water main along HWY 4 this May. It will run through Arnold from Chapel in the Pines to White Pines. Expect one-lane traffic delays. 2 SPEED LIMIT 25 Wildfire Community Preparedness Day Saturday, May 7, 2016 from 9am to 12 pm - Join the Hwy 4 Ebbetts Pass Community at Independence Hall in White Pines to get post Butte Fire information, learn about home evacuation and home inventory, development of Community Evacuation Plans, Firewise designation, home owner property insurance, Calaveras Amateur Radio Society, Inc., and Bark Beetle Pine Tree attacks. The agenda for the talks, which start at 9am, has been posted on our website: content/uploads/2016/03/agenda- May-7-Wildfire-Community-Preparedness-Day.pdf\ Visit the booths of our local Fire professionals: Cal Fire and Ebbetts Pass Fire District. In addition, a BBQ lunch will be provided By Cal Waste. Meadowmont Earns National Recognition of Wildfire Preparedness 2016 Meadowmont Subdivision has been recognized as a Firewise Communities/USA site by the national Firewise Communities program for its efforts to reduce the vulnerability of homes and landscapes to wildfire. The Firewise designation was achieved through the efforts of MPOA members to clean up their lots last spring and summer. The extensive application process included documenting hours and money spent on cleanup, interactions with CalFire officials, and an efficient and thorough inspection process executed entirely by volunteers. Congratulations Meadowmont! Look for these signs in the neighborhood soon. Trees: If you need to cut down a tree for a project or other reasons, prior approval is required. Specifically, any tree that is 10 inches in diameter at eye level on the uphill side requires prior approval by the MPOA Tree Committee before being cut. Failure to do so may result in a fine of up to $500 per tree being levied against the property owner by the MPOA Board. For more information and/or approval, contact the MPOA Office at (209) Dead Trees If you have dead trees that, when they fall could hit power lines, call PG&E at: 1 (800) PGE PG&E will send out an inspector and if approved, will cut down those trees. However, you will be responsible for removing the downed trees. If PG&E does not approve the trees for their tree removal program, you must obtain approval from and sign documents for M.P.O.A., before removing the trees. Contact: manager@meadowmontpoa.com for further information. If your trees were killed by Bark Beetle and you are not able to remove the logs immediately, wrap them in black, heavy millimeter plastic sheets to kill and contain any living larvae that may still be infesting the wood.

3 V.I.P. Training Dates Every year, a small group of dedicated volunteers inspects all 1,421 lots in Meadowmont to assure that residents and owners are in compliance with California Public Resources Code The code requires 100 feet of defensible space and reduced fuel zones around buildings. In addition to peace of mind, those in compliance avoid steep fines and court appearances. In recent years, a few loyal volunteers have tackled this big job, each inspecting over a hundred lots. We need more volunteers to get this job done quickly and efficiently. Please consider volunteering some time (as little or as much as you can spare) to help keep our Community safe. It s really a pretty easy task: We break the subdivision down into blocks of about 100 homes/lots. It takes about 4 hours to inspect 100 lots. If you can t do that many, we d be delighted if you can do just a few. Many hands make light work! Consider volunteering with a friend or family member. The process is EASY with a new checklist format. Each 1-page form is pre-printed with the property address, and you will be provided with maps, an ID badge, and training. Volunteers must be trained! There will be TWO training sessions at Snowflake Lodge in Blue Lake Springs. Training is conducted by CalFire. We will be joining volunteers from other local HOAs Blue Lake Springs, Lilac Park, Lakemont, etc. Dates for the training sessions are: Friday, April 29th, 9:00 AM* Thursday May 5th, 1:00 PM* *If you would like to help but are only available for training on a SAT- URDAY, please contact Jill and let her know! If there is enough interest in a Saturday class, we may be able to schedule one! Please consider helping with this effort. Call Jill Micheau ( ) to RSVP for Training Sessions! Defensible Space Inspections In the midst of the worst drought in memory, fire danger is still extremely high. Despite a nice wet January, we are still facing a severe drought. The Butte Fire was a sober reminder of how important it is to be prepared for a fire. Clearing your property of fire fuels can make the difference between having your home destroyed or passed over by fire. Defensible space works! Follow this link for some excellent videos showing how defensible space saves homes: Dates for Meadowmont property inspections are: FIRST INSPECTIONS: June 1st 15th SECOND INSPECTIONS July 5th - 15th (for those who did not pass the first inspection) This gives property owners until after the Memorial Day weekend to complete requirements before first inspections take place and second inspections will not take place until after the July 4th weekend. (Plan on attending the M.P.O.A. Membership Annual Meeting & BBQ on July 9th!) Call for Candidates The Bylaws call for our Board to consist of 7 Directors and Directors may serve consecutive terms. We currently have one vacancy on the Board. The term of office at this time is one year and all our 6 current Directors are up for re-election. They have all agreed to continue to serve the community. Thank you to all our Directors for their time and efforts on the Board MPOA property owners are invited to run for office so their name can be placed on the Ballot. Interested members who would like to volunteer, please contact our Manager NO LATER THAN June 1, 2016 so your name can be placed on the Ballot. There will be no election if the number of candidates does not exceed the number of chairs. New MPOA Manager, Don Shinn Please welcome our new MPOA Manager; Donald R. Shinn. Don started as the new manager in January 2016 and hit the ground running with immediate impact. He has over 30 years experience in property and HOA management. The Board members were particularly impressed with Don due to his extensive knowledge of the local Arnold and Calaveras County area issues. He is an Arnold resident and his day job is with Action Realty in Arnold. Don also manages two other associations in the area. We are very happy Don is managing MPOA. Stop in and say hello at our next monthly meeting. Concerts in the Cedar Center Once again, the Greater Arnold Business Association (www. cometoarnold.com) will sponsor the Concerts in the Park music series at Cedar Center. The music will run through the summer on Saturday evenings, 6-8pm and there is NO ADMISSION FEE! The concerts kick off on June 18th, with Ted Z and the Wranglers. They are a Southern California band who performed here for the first time, last summer and were very well received! We are happy to see them return! 12th Annual Cedar Center Car Show The 12th annual Cedar Center Car Show is on Saturday, July 16th 10-4 at Cedar Center with live music by the Bill Welles Band 6-9 pm 38th Annual Peddler s Fair Summer fun in Arnold will be kicked off by the 38th Annual Peddler s Fair, scheduled for the Memorial Day Weekend, (May 28-29) beginning at 9:00 a.m. For more information contact the Greater Arnold Business Association (GABA) or visit their website at 3

4 4 Calaveras County Fair May 19-22, 2016 Boots, Chaps & Cowboy Hats The Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee is coming up! Held every year on the third weekend in May, opening day (Thursday, May 19th) includes FREE child admission! Headliner entertainment this year includes a concert by Little Texas! Other bands include Boston Rocks the Ultimate Boston Tribute Band, Journey Unauthorized, and Boys of Summer Eagles Tribute Band. CCPR Rodeo and the Destruction Derby are also featured events, along with the world famous 87th Annual International Jumping Frog Jubilee. Last year s Frog Jump was won by a rented frog, so come try your hand at beating the 30 year record of 21 feet 5¾ inches!!! In addition, come see all the usual fair attractions: livestock events, carnival rides, entries by your neighbors in a myriad of judging events, and daily family entertainment. Maybe your interests lie with the Saddle Queen Competition, Miss Calaveras Scholarship Pageant or the Cowboy Poetry contest? Visit for all the information you need about online ticket sales, daily schedule of events and Frog Jump Competition rules and rental information, including the Fun Jump held on the Rosie the Ribbiter s Stage (located in the children s carnival rides area). Calaveras County Water District Water Conservation Measures The District thanks customers for their incredible conservation achievement of reducing use by 29% in 2015! Please note that many of the water conservation requirements listed below have been imposed by the State under Governor Brown s drought order. A districtwide 13 percent reduction in potable water use is required when compared to the same time period in The District requests that customers water only up to three days per week and avoid outdoor irrigation between the hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Water leaks in customer-owned plumbing shall be stopped or repaired by customers within 72 hours after being notified by CCWD staff. Excessive irrigation that causes water to flow or spray onto adjacent properties, streets or other right-of-ways is not allowed. Washing down sidewalks, driveways, parking areas, building exteriors, tennis courts, patios or other hard surface areas is not allowed, except to alleviate immediate safety or sanitation hazards. Avoid outdoor irrigation during, and within 48 hours after, measurable rainfall. Use a hose with an automatic shut-off valve/nozzle to wash vehicles, boats or trailers. Recirculated water must be used in decorative fountains and recreational ponds. Line flushing will not be performed, except when necessary to comply with state and federal public health and safety requirements for operation of permitted potable water systems. CCWD customers shall adhere to all other applicable water conservation requirements mandated by the State of California, including the Governor, the State Water Resources Control Board and the State Legislature. CCWD staff members are authorized to investigate alleged violations of this Ordinance, to make determinations as to whether a violation has occurred, and to issue warning notices and administrative fines under this Ordinance. For more information and water conservation tips, go to org or call (209) Code Red Emergency Alert System Calaveras County has partnered with CodeRED emergency notification service to alert residents and businesses by telephone, cell phone, text message, and social media, when there is a threat to the health or safety of residents. The system provides a number of ways in which the county may contact the community in the event of an emergency such as: evacuations due to wildfires, floods, urgent law enforcement operations, urgent public health issues, other issues of high importance to quickly communicate to the public. Answers to frequently asked questions and a link to registration can be found at: CodeRed.aspx. We strongly urge all of our property owners to register for and take advantage of this service!

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9 Spring Cleaning In the Spring, there is always a concerted effort to bring our properties into compliance with California Public Resources Code That is when CalFire s V.I.P. Inspectors walk our neighborhoods, educating property owner s on how to come into compliance with the law. But don t forget, compliance with PRC 4291 is required 365 days a year! California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has provided us with the following information: If you don t clear around your home, Mother Nature may do it for you, and with a heavier hand than you might have used. Fire moves just like water but in the opposite direction: The steeper the slope, the faster it moves upward. Fire does need fuel to continue moving. Remove the fuel, the fire will stop. BUT: fires can spot a mile or more ahead of themselves through burning embers carried on the wind. You may not be able to keep fire off your property but you can reduce its effects by reducing the amount of vegetative fuels around your home. Flame length and height will be at least 3 times the height of whatever is burning, becoming even longer in hot weather, still longer when it s windy (tall flames will bend over in the wind, parallel to the ground), and longer yet on slopes (the steeper the slope, the longer the flame). Separate and space your plants with worst-case flame lengths in mind: Separate short plants from overhanging limbs by at least 3x the height of the short plant. On flat or gentle slopes, separate shrubs by a distance of twice their height, and tree canopies by 10 feet. Double these distances on moderate slopes; triple them on steep slopes. To retain a continuous tree canopy (branches of one tree touching branches of another), or if there are ground covers such as mountain misery (bear clover) beneath your trees, remove limbs up to 1/3 the height of the trees, to a maximum of 15 feet. NEED TO BURN? CHECK IF IT IS AN APPROVED BURN DAY FIRST: (209) Green plants will burn. Many green plants are extremely flammable. Drought-tolerant and native plants usually contain large amounts of pitch, resin, and dense, dry, flammable twiggy material or thatch (especially evergreens such as juniper, rosemary, and lavender) keep these low and full of fresh green growth with frequent trimming. Remove dead limbs and twigs from manzanita. Prune pine, cedar, oak, and other trees. Thin and separate clumps of brush to reduce their flammability and slow the spread of fire. Replace flammable plants with fire-resistive plants: Fire-resistive plants have watery sap, little flammable material, and open, airy growth. Plants that provide fruit, or flowers for bouquets are usually fire-resistive. Overcrowded saplings will never become real trees: Dozens of seedlings growing in a few square feet harm large trees and will always remain skinny, unhealthy sticks. Look at normal mature trees and thin accordingly. Eliminate ember-catchers: Sparks, firebrands, and burning embers may blow miles from a wildfire and rain down for hours. These will land on, under, and around your house in any place that rain, snow, leaves, and pine needles fall. During fire season, frequently check and clean all nooks and crannies, especially on roofs and gutters; on, under and around decks, porches, stairs, deck furniture, potted plants, storage areas, and vehicles. Move woodpiles as far as possible from buildings, trees and power lines; at least during fire season. Surround with 10 of cleared area and cover with fire resistive material, securely tied down. Flying embers from wildfires can easily burn through plastic tarps and ignite woodpiles, creating an inferno beside your home. Would pets survive if you weren t home? Could your home stand alone without firefighter protection? A fast-moving fire may reach your home before firefighters arrive. Intense heat and heavy smoke from vegetation burning near doghouses, kennels, corrals and barns can kill your furred or feathered friends. Clear around your pets areas the same as you would clear around your own home. For more information on Public Resources Code (PRC) 4291 and making your home safer from fire, visit these websites: or contact your local CAL FIRE Station or the CDF Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit Fire Prevention Bureau at Bank of America Leaves Arnold Bank of America will be closing their Arnold Branch in July. The ATM machine at El Dorado Bank is available, for a fee. 4th of July Celebration in Arnold Each year, the Greater Arnold Business Association (GABA) sponsors the annual 4th of July parade in Arnold. It is held on the first Saturday in July, which is July 2nd. 9

10 AIR AMBULANCE MPOA has entered into a group rate provision for CalStar and PHI Cares air ambulance services. This group rate gives you an amazingly affordable rate for air ambulance insurance coverage. Membership provides insurance coverage for air ambulance transportation. This coverage can save you thousands of dollars should you need to be transported by air for medical care. Membership information is available at their websites:calstar.org and phiairmedical.com. BEAR VALLEY SKI CLUB: Did you know? The Bear Valley Ski Club is open to singles, couples and families who enjoy sports and socializing. They offer their membership access to an annual ski trip, discount lift tickets, golf, snow shoeing, X-country, kayaking, hiking, tennis, fishing, mountain biking, wine tasting, and more! Please visit their website for more information: DOGS AND CATS Please be a courteous neighbor and pick up after your dog and cat. Their feces do not disintegrate well, and with rain tend to mold and stink. It is becoming quite a problem for individuals who enjoy walking in our beautiful area.additionally, please keep your dog on leash for safety s sake. Thank you! 10 During an EVACUATION Remember the 6 P s People and pets Papers, phone numbers, & important documents Prescriptions, vitamins, and eyeglasses Pictures and irreplaceable memorabilia Personal computer hard drive and disks Plastic (credit cards, ATM cards) and cash Always keep a sturdy pair of shoes and a flashlight near your bed and handy in case of a sudden evacuation at night. Evacuation Guidelines There are three types of evacuation warnings. Implementation of one or the other is dependent upon the actual or potential danger to the affected population as determined by the Incident Command Staff or the Board of Supervisors. The three types of evacuation are: Evacuation Advisory Issued to the media to alert the public to potential evacuation orders. The advisory will contain general information on how to prepare for an evacuation. Evacuation Warning Issued when an evacuation order is imminent. It includes the specific geographical area that may be evacuated and procedures to be followed. Evacuation Order Issued when there is an immediate threat to life and/or property. The evacuation order contains specific geographic area to be evacuated and procedures to be followed. Garage Sales Garage Sale Today As a reminder, if you are having a Garage Sale, please take down all signs and notices once your sale is over. Your help to keep our subdivision neat and clean is appreciated. Evacuation Information Residents are encouraged to listen to one of the following radio stations during emergency situations. KKBN 93.5 FM KVML 1450 AM KZSQ 92.7 FM KOSO 93.1 FM (Modesto-Local EAS Station) In the event of any type of disaster, the County will open up Citizen/Media Information Lines. These phone lines are staffed by trained personnel who will assist you with any non-emergency questions you may have during an emergency/disaster. The phone number will be announced on the radio stations. Local on-line newspapers were also very useful in providing updated information on the Butte Fire ThePineTree.net CalaverasEnterprise.com MyMotherLode.com YubaNet.com WILDLIFE: Please, please, please do NOT feed wildlife. Most wildlife, fed by humans, fail to thrive and generally have a shorter lifespan than they would if they stuck to their natural foraging. For example, orphaned bear cubs have been seen in the area. Now, they are cute and it is enticing to offer them dog food, human treats or other goodies. However, the cubs quickly become dependent on such handouts and are not able to take care of themselves as Mother Nature intended them to. As they grow up, they become less and less afraid and potentially dangerous. Sadly, the end result is generally that they are deemed a threat and must be put down. If you want wildlife in the area to thrive, leave them alone.

11 MAKE YOUR HOME (AND COMMUNITY) FIRE SAFE Fire once played its natural role in California, keeping vegetation thinned out and healthy, which in turn kept fires small and beneficial. As humans moved into wildland areas and began suppressing all fires, vegetation increased to the dangerously overgrown levels we see now, resulting in extremely destructive wildfires. To maintain the safety of our homes, families, firefighters, community, and natural resources, we must replicate fire s traditional role by removing the excess vegetation around our homes and neighborhoods. CLEAR 100 FEET FOR FIRE SAFETY (or to your property line, whichever is nearest as required by California Public Resources Code 4291) 1. Remove dead vegetation. 2. Thin out live vegetation. 3. Prune up your trees. 1. Remove Dead Vegetation: The First 30 Feet: Remove everything that is DEAD: dead trees, branches, brush, all dry grass, leaves, and pine needles within 30 feet of all buildings and on roofs, gutters, decks, porches, and ground - including spaces under decks, porches, buildings on pier blocks, RV s, vehicle parking areas, etc. Chimneys: Remove all limbs within 10 feet of chimney. Install ½ screening on chimney outlets. Propane Tanks: Provide 10 horizontal and vertical clearance. Very low, well-irrigated groundcover and lattice fencing within 10 is permissible. No smoking or burn piles within 25 feet! The Next 70 Feet: Remove all dead trees, dead brush, and dead branches within 15 of the ground. Dry, cut grass, leaves, and pine needles may stay on the ground, 3-4 deep. Clearing beyond 100 feet will increase the safety of your home and property. 2. Thin and Separate Live Vegetation: Separate trees and bushes from each other and from dry, dead ground fuels such as dry grass (cut short as possible), pine needles, or live ground covers, according to possible flame heights and lengths on next page. Surround clumps of vegetation with cleared areas, according to possible flame heights/lengths on next page. Maintain a vertical clear space of at least 3 times the height of the shrub between any shrub and overhanging tree branches, or between grass and shrubs or tree branches. Interrupt fire s path by breaking up continuous shrub masses. Remove ladder fuels the vegetation that lets fire climb from ground level to treetops and roofs. Minimize the number and size of plants beside your house. Avoid dense privacy screens that could endanger your home. Separate plants using a diamond pattern to maintain privacy and fire safety, like this Replace highly flammable plants with fire resistive ones. not this 3. Prune Your Trees: Prune (remove limbs) at least 6 feet, more on slopes, if there is nothing but leaf litter or short, cut grass under your trees. You should be able to walk freely under your trees. Remove dead limbs within 15 of the ground. For a single ornamental tree with branches to the ground, remove all dead fuels within, beneath and beside it. Prune to the tree height, or 15 feet, whichever is less, if there is groundcover vegetation growing under the trees, or to retain a continuous forest canopy (limbs of one tree touching those of another). 11

12 Meadowmont Property Owners Association P.O. Box 213 Arnold, CA Notice of Dues Increase (see inside for details) We have a new FAX number Telephone number remains Meadowmont Property Owners Association Telephone: Fax: P.O. Box 213, Arnold, CA manager@meadowmontpoa.com 2016 Spring - Summer Newsletter