2022 Meeting & Event Calendar… Page 28 April/May 2022
The Official Publication of the Scottsdale Ranch Community Association
SRCA 2022 Board Election Voting Annual Homeowners’ Meeting SRCA Committee Reviews and Reports Plus… Scottsdale Ranch Real Estate Update By Peggy Rauch
10585 N. 100th Street, Scottsdale, Arizona 85258 | Office: (480) 860-2022 | Fax: (480) 860-8264 | www.scottsdaleranch.org
602-206-3336 Peggy@PeggyRauch.com www.PeggyRauch.com
Scottsdale Ranch Real Estate Update
Peggy Rauch
SOLD
SOLD
As we enjoy our absolutely delightful Spring weather we have noticed visitors staying longer and many new and later arrivals. Restaurants and golf courses seem to be operating at maximum capacity and the Scottsdale Ranch real estate market continues to perhaps, be hotter than the coming summer can possibly be. Here are some recent statistics . . . • In February 2022, the median listing home price in Scottsdale Ranch was $862.5K, trending up over 29.9% year-over-year.
9060 N. 108th Way 4 Bedroom, 2.5 Bath, 3697 SF
10513 E. Mission Lane 3 Bedroom, 1.75 Bath, 1,941 SF
SOLD
AVAILABLE RENTAL
• The median listing home price per square foot was $394. • T h e m e d i a n h o m e p r i c e w a s $ 9 0 0 K• Scottsdale Ranch continues to be a Seller’s Market as there are more people looking to buy than there are homes available. • On average homes in Scottsdale Ranch sell after 39 days on the market – a rate faster year-overyear from 2021. • Scottsdale Ranch is also one of the few communities with a complete basket of amenities – top schools, grocery stores, cafes, restaurants, gas stations, pharmacies, coffee shops, parks, gyms, etc.
9711 E. Mountain View Road 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath
10080 E. Mountainview Lake Drive, #139 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath, 1,152 SF
As always, if you are thinking of buying or selling please give us a call and let us add you to our ever growing list of satisfied customers and clients.
To see current Scottsdale Ranch Real Estate activity go to www.PeggyRauch.com and click on “Popular Communities” Thinking of selling your home? Tired of waiting for you home to sell? Looking to make a move now before prices escalate again? Why not give us a call and let us add you to our ever growing list of satisfied clients and customers. We have a proven track record throughout Scottsdale Ranch and surrounding areas. We have been here from the very, very beginning and our knowledge and experience allow us to stand above the crowd. Inventory is at an all time low so - jump in now and capitalize on the scarcity of available homes. We are here to help. PAID ADVERTISEMENT
Table of Contents
April/May 2022
Message From Your HOA
Stay up-to-date! Visit the Scottsdale Ranch Community Association website, www.scottsdaleranch.org Please support our advertisers, they make this magazine possible. Are you interested in advertising? Please call (480) 702-0458 or email: info@clcpublicationsllc.com.
Your HOA
Committee News
2
13 Treasurer’s Report Year-End Audited Financial Statement Comparison 14 Architectural Committee Review Communications Committee Review Community Leadership Committee Review 15 Lake Committee Review Social Committee Review 16 Thank You Volunteers! Election Committee Review
3 4
Meet Your HOA Quick Phone Reference Manager’s Report Board Briefs President’s Message Important Information About Assessments
Home & Landscape 6
From Your Homeowner Liaison Vote for your SRCA Board of Directors 7 From Your Architectural Liaison 8 What Drives Costs in Landscape Maintenance City of Scottsdale Collection Services 9 Home Renovation 10 Leaving for the Summer? Boat Owner Leaving for the Summer? Boat Identification Sticker It’s Springtime and Lake Serena Awaits You
Amenities 11 News From Laguna
Mercado Corner 12 Mercado Directory Mercado Coupons
In the Community 26 Summer Travel
In Every Issue IFC Scottsdale Ranch Real Estate Update By Peggy Rauch 28 SRCA Calendar of Events CLC Publications LLC
Social Life on the Ranch 17 SRCA Lake Festival 18 2022 SRCA Fishing Derby 19 Fishing Derby Winners Thank You Fishing Derby Sponsors Thank You Greg and Jeannine Mona Thank You Neighbors 20 Corks and Forks Donation Drive Jazz Night Knitwits Crochet Group 21 Annual Homeowners’ Meeting 22 Lake Serena Activities SRCA Block Party Trailer Retired Active Men’s Coffee Scottsdale Ranch Community Center 23 Young-ish Professionals of Scottsdale Ranch Food Truck Friday Scottsdale Ranch Golf Club 24 Scottsdale Ranch Women’s Association Children’s Storytime Wine Club Yacht Club
To discover Scottsdale Ranch is to discover a premier and forward-thinking residential community just right for you. At Scottsdale Ranch, you will find a community that reflects your taste and individuality. From luxury waterfront homes and spacious single-family dwellings to private patio homes, you will find a home to suit your needs. Scottsdale Ranch was established in 1981 and encompasses 1,118 acres bordered by 96th Street to the West, 112th Street to the East, and Shea Boulevard south to the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. There are 3,939 dwellings in Scottsdale Ranch. Scottsdale Ranch’s prestige is complemented by its luxurious amenities. Lake Serena, a forty-two-acre manmade lake offers fishing and boating and is considered the jewel of Scottsdale Ranch. Likewise, the Community Center, which also houses the administrative offices, provides a comfortable gathering place for parties, community events, or even a game of cards. Conveniently located at the corner of Via Linda and Mountain View is the Mercado which offers a variety of specialty stores, restaurants, a drug store, a gym, offices, and professional services. Centrally situated in the heart of Scottsdale Ranch is a 64-acre general public use area featuring many fine amenities such as Scottsdale Ranch Park, a world-class tennis facility, several lighted baseball fields, a beautiful Desert Garden, the Via Linda Senior Center, Virginia G. Piper Boys and Girls Club and Laguna Elementary School, an A+ School of Excellence. The Scottsdale Ranch Community Association and the active participation of Ranch residents design the lifestyle, integrity, and aesthetics of our community. Visit our website at www. scottsdaleranch.org for more information about our fabulous community!
For advertising call 480-702-0458 or visit www.clcpublicationsllc.com The Official Magazine of Scottsdale Ranch This magazine is delivered to all homeowners and businesses in the Scottsdale Ranch Community bi-monthly. This magazine is also distributed to surrounding businesses and office complexes. You have received this publication because your HOA believes you take pride in your home environment and community. This magazine provides you with HOA information and home product advertising that enhances your home comfort and increases the value of your home. We are always interested in your comments or suggestions. SRCA does not promote or endorse any advertisers in this magazine. While efforts to ensure accuracy are exercised, the publisher assumes no liability for the information contained in either editorial or advertising content. For advertising and editorial information please call 480-702-0458.
www.scottsdaleranch.org 1
Your HOA
Quick Phone Reference
Meet Your HOA
Police (Emergency).............................................911 Police (Non-emergency)..................(480) 312-5000
A seven member Board of Directors governs Scottsdale Ranch Community Association (SRCA). The Board establishes the basic policies of the Association and oversees the operation of the professional staff while demonstrating values of fiscal responsibility, openness and inclusiveness, legacy and innovative leadership. It is our vision that by basing our decision making on our shared values, new ideas will be implemented, property values and quality of life will be enhanced, residents will feel a stronger sense of belonging, leadership and facilities will be recognized as best in class and Scottsdale Ranch will be the most desirable community in the Valley. SRCA’s Board employs an Executive Director who oversees the administrative, landscape and building/lake departments including a full-time, on-site administrative staff and a contracted landscape maintenance company, who all work behind the scenes to implement the mission statement. Greg Mona Vice President
Fire (Emergency).................................................911 Fire (Non-emergency) Hydrant Leaks..................................(480) 312-5650 Matt Metz President
Scottsdale Ranch Community Association (After Hours SRCA EmergencyAnswering Service Number)..............................(888) 271-0019 Animal Control.................................(602) 506-7387 Arizona Public Service...................... (602) 371-7171 Mike Breslin Treasurer
The Board of Directors meets the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Community Center. These meetings are open to the membership. Meeting minutes can be found on our website at www. scottsdaleranch.org under SRCA Documents and Forms, Board of Directors..
Office: (480) 860-2022/Fax: (480) 860-8264 After Hours SRCA Emergency/Answering Service Number: 1 (888) 271-0019 Website: www.scottsdaleranch.org
Code Enforcement, City of Scottsdale.............................(480) 312-2546 Cox Communications.......................(602) 277-1000 CenturyLink...................................... (800) 244-1111 Nina Munson Secretary
Michele Holzman Director
Sonja Perez, Homeowner Liaison sperez@scottsdaleranch.org Genevieve Long, Community Relations/Events Coordinator glong@scottsdaleranch.org Ricki Stamos, Administrative Assistant/Bookkeeper rstamos@scottsdaleranch.org Joni Shepherd, Member Services Coordinator jshepherd@scottsdaleranch.org Diane Botica, Architectural Liaison dbotica@scottsdaleranch.org 2 April/May 2022
Humane Society...............................(602) 997-7585
Registrar of Contactors....................(877) 692-9762 Sanitation, City of Scottsdale& Dead Animal Pickup for City Streets.................................(480) 312-5600 Larry Schmalz Director
Jeff Spiller Director
Staff emails: Kathe Barnes, Executive Director kbarnes@scottsdaleranch.org
Dial-A-Ride.......................................(480) 497-7696
Road Construction, City of Scottsdale.............................(480) 312-5750
THE SRCA OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED FRIDAY, APRIL 1ST FOR STAFF DEVELOPMENT; APRIL 15TH IN OBESERVANCE OF GOOD FRIDAY; AND MONDAY, MAY 30TH IN OBSERVANCE OF MEMORIAL DAY. OFFICE HOURS: MONDAY – THURSDAY: 8 AM – 5 PM FRIDAY: 8 AM – 3 PM PHONE HOURS: MONDAY – THURSDAY: 9 AM – 5 PM FRIDAY: 9 AM – 3 PM
Boys/Girls Club North Scottsdale - Piper................. (480) 344-5520 Brush Collection Hotline, City of Scottsdale.............................(480) 312-5680
Association Information Scottsdale Ranch Community Association (SRCA) 10585 N. 100th Street, Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Scottsdale Ranch Community Association.................. (480) 860-2022
MISSION STATEMENT: “The Mission of Scottsdale Ranch Community Association is to serve as the organization through which its residents may sustain and enhance the character, quality of life, and desirability of our community.”
Sanitation, Recycling Hotline, City of Scottsdale............................. (480) 312-5611 Scottsdale Ranch Park, Tennis & Racquetball....................... (480) 312-7774 Scottsdale Unified School District..................................(480) 952-6100 Senior Center – Via Linda................(480) 312-5810 Southwest Gas................................(877) 860-6020 Street Light Repair Hotline, City of Scottsdale.............................(480) 312-5620 Valley Metro (Bus)........................... (602) 253-5000 Water/Sewer (Turn On/Off Service), City of Scottsdale............................. (480) 312-2461
Board Briefs
Manager’s Report By Kathe M. Barnes, CAAM, LSM, PCAM Executive Director
This year’s ballot includes proposed amendments to the Bylaws and CC&Rs. SRCA requested our legal firm review the Bylaws to bring them in line with the current laws and to make additional changes to that would help the association operate more smoothly and effectively. Also, an amendment is being proposed that will more clearly define the allowed construction hours on a property. In mid-March, all homeowners were sent a letter that outlined how to vote in this year’s board election as well as vote on the proposed amendments. Homeowners will have the ability to vote on each one of these recommended changes. Full details can be found on the website and homeowner portal. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Below outlines the proposed changes to the Bylaw provisions to comply with the law: Article III, Sec. 1 - Adds flexibility with regards to the date of the annual meeting while staying in compliance with the Planned Community Act (PCA) and the Arizona nonprofit corporation act (ANCA) Article III, Sec. 3 - Addresses notice of meetings of the Members to match while staying in compliance with the PCA Article III, Sec. 4 - Removes the provision allowing Members who are less than a quorum from re-convening a meeting of the Members (without notice to other Members), as a notice is required by the PCA Article IV, Sec. 3 – Updates the provision for the removal of Directors to refer to the applicable state statute on the steps to remove Article VI, Sec. 1 and 2 - Updates provisions regarding giving Members notice of Board meetings to comply with the PCA Article VI, Sec. 5 - Adds a provision addressing the Board’s right to meet in executive session and the obligation to provide notice of the same to the Members, as allowed by the PCA Article VI, Sec. 6 - Adds provisions regarding open Board meetings, Members’ right to attend and speak on an issue before the Board acts on an issue, and the obligation to make an agenda available to Members in attendance, as set forth in the PCA Article VI, Sec. 7 - Updates the provision regarding Board action without a meeting by unanimous written consent of all Directors and was added primarily to act as a reminder to the Board that there may be reasons under Arizona law why the Board should not decide by unanimous written consent. Article X - Removes the provision regarding an Owner’s obligation to state the purpose of their request to review and/or receive copies of
January 2022 • Approved the proposed Bylaw amendments to be placed on the ballot for a homeowner vote. • Postponed decision until February meeting for whether to meet in person or via Zoom for April Annual Meeting. February 2022 • Adopted new dumpster language addressing the height requirement used for certain hardscape materials. • Accepted the 2021 Annual Audit Report by Butler, Jones & Hansen. • Appointed Paul McDougall to the Finance Committee. • Approved the Appropriations Request in the amount of $7,841.12 to complete the work to clear the drainage area on the SRPMIC. • Approved holding the 2022 Annual Meeting and Election in person. • Approved holding board meetings both in person and via Zoom. The SRCA office will be closed the following days: Friday, April 1st for staff development. Friday, April 15th in observance of Good Friday. Monday, May 30th in observance of Memorial Day.
Association records, as this was not consistent with the PCA Article XII, Sec. 1 - Updates the provision regarding amending the Bylaws to match the provision of the ANCA Below outlines the proposed changes to the Bylaw provisions to help the association operate more smoothly: Article III, Sec. 5 - Adds flexibility to the provision regarding method of voting by members to allow for electronic voting and secret ballots, as permitted by law Article V, Sec. 2 - Adds a provision providing that cumulative voting shall not be permitted to be used in the election of directors Article VII, Sec. 1(a) and 1(b) - Updates the powers of the Board to adopt rules and to suspend voting rights to match the language in the Declaration (CC&Rs) Article VIII, Sec. 2 - Adds flexibility to the timeline for the election of officers Old Art. XII - Removes the provision requiring the Association to maintain a corporate seal which is considered outdated. CC&R amendment to Article IV, Section 2(f) - The current CCR’s allow landscape and construction noise to begin after 7:00 am, 7 days a week. This proposed amendment seeks to set start and end times on specific days for landscape and construction noise that may interfere with the peaceful enjoyment of neighboring properties. www.scottsdaleranch.org 3
Your HOA President’s Message By Matt Metz SRCA Board President
If you believed what you read in the newspapers about homeowners’ associations, you might think homeowners associations are oppressive, evil, dictatorial organizations set on taking away all your rights and liberties. But nothing could be further from the truth. Let’s think about all the benefits brought to you by your HOA. Amenities: Depending on which community you live in, your HOA provides common areas, a lake, a community center, perhaps tennis courts and exercise rooms, and maybe even a staffed entrance gate. SRCA’s community center is a hub for all sorts of community activities and clubs for everyone including knitters, wine-lovers, musicians, golfers, artists, boaters, food-lovers, mahjong players, etc. Activities and services: Your association provides lots of activities. Here at Scottsdale Ranch, these include Movie in the Park, Jazz Night, Children’s Story Time, a Fishing Derby & Lake Fest, information on City services, new resident cocktail parties, and access to a block party trailer. In condominium associations, your association may also maintain the roof and exterior of your home. Protections: Perhaps most important, SRCA provides and enforces architectural and property maintenance standards, to ensure your property values and quality of life are protected from those who are tempted to do substandard construction or landscaping projects. Many residents of SRCA may not be aware that our community provides very strict
protection from short-term rentals (those who would rent out their homes by the night much like a hotel). These short-term rental restrictions are much stronger than what is allowed by the City of Scottsdale. Similarly, Scottsdale Ranch provides better protection from commercial and recreational vehicle parking than the City of Scottsdale does. In addition, you may have noticed that Scottsdale Ranch further protects your property values by providing attractive and clean thoroughfares, traffic medians, and common areas. These are maintained to a much higher standard than you would see for city-maintained areas. SRCA also provides Mutt Mitt stations, more lush landscaping, and better litter control than you see in other areas of the city. All these protections, services, activities, and amenities are provided for the exceptionally affordable assessment of only $395 per year. Conclusion: Scottsdale Ranch has a well-earned reputation as a great place to live, whether you’re single, an empty nester, or part of a growing family. That reputation is no accident; it’s earned by setting high standards, and by consistently and fairly enforcing those standards. I’m reminded of a former SRCA board member who related the following story. Someone asked me where I lived, and I told him I lived in Scottsdale Ranch. He said, “That’s such a great place – it’s too bad they have an HOA!” Obviously that person didn’t understand that SRCA is a great place to live BECAUSE of the HOA, the sense of community it fosters and reinforces, and the high standards to which it holds itself and all its members. I’m hoping that the next time you engage with someone who asks about where you live, you will feel pride and brag about this wonderful place we call Scottsdale Ranch!
Important Information About Assessments By Ricki Stamos SRCA Bookkeeper
We’d like to take this opportunity to thank each of the homeowners who have already paid their 2022 Annual Assessment. By paying your annual assessment in a timely manner, you are not only ensuring that Scottsdale Ranch Community Association continues to remain in good financial standing, you are also helping to ensure that we are able to perform the many tasks and duties for which the association is responsible. As you are probably aware, the 2022 Annual Assessment, in the amount of $395.00, was due on January 1, 2022. Invoices were mailed to all homeowners in December 2021. Payment was considered delinquent if not received in our office by January 31, 2022 thus giving homeowners ample time to make a payment without incurring a late fee. A 10% late fee of $39.50 was added to any unpaid accounts on February 01, 2022. If payment on unpaid accounts was not received by February 28, 2022, interest was added to the account at the rate of 12% per annum. This fee will continue to be added to unpaid accounts each month until payment is received. 4 April/May 2022
If payment is not received by April 29, 2022, a lien will be placed against the property through the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office, lien filing/release fees will be added to the account and further collection action may be necessary. This means that the property cannot be sold until the past due payments have been paid and having a lien filed against your property could affect your credit. Should a homeowner’s assessment continue to be delinquent, their account may be turned over to an attorney for collection action without further notice from the Association. Failure to pay these assessments could also result in the filing of a personal judgment action and the homeowner will be responsible for all attorneys’ fees, document recording, and any other fees incurred to collect this debt. If your annual assessment has not yet been paid, we encourage you to contact the Scottsdale Ranch Community Association administrative office as soon as possible to discuss your account and how we can work with you to bring it current. If you need to arrange a payment plan, consideration will be given. If you have any questions regarding this matter, you may contact our Bookkeeper Ricki Stamos at (480) 860-2022 or via email at rstamos@scottsdaleranch.org. We are here to work with you.
For a record breaking sale, call The Mona Team, your local experts!
Scottsdale Ranch recent sales at ABOVE ASKING PRICE! ADDRESS
BED
BATH
SQ. FT.
LIST PRICE
SOLD PRICE
COE DATE
10109 E Topaz Dr
3
3.5
3,436
$1,199,000
$1,325,000
3/4/22
9475 N 105th St
3
2
1,866
$640,000
$690,000
3/2/22
9790 E Doubletree Ranch Rd
4
2.5
3,973
$1,900,000
$2,011,000
2/28/22
10560 E San Salvador Dr
3
2
1,846
$875,000
$965,000
2/22/22
9705 E Mountain View Rd #1190
3
2.5
1,371
$539,900
$565,000
2/18/22
9802 E Mission Ln
4
3.5
3,530
$1,700,000
$2,200,000
2/4/22
Whom do you know we may be of assitance to? Call 480-353-8231 or 480-747-8492 today! Jeannine Mona
Realtor® ABR, ASP, GRI, CLHMS, CNE, CSRES, RSPS 480.353.8231 J@Jeanninemona.com www.TheMonaTeam.com Scottsdale Ranch Resident
Gregory “Greg” Mona
Associate Broker, SFR CSSN, RESC Lic. Mortgage Loan Originator 480.747.8492 greg@gregmona.com www.TheMonaTeam.com Scottsdale Ranch Resident
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
Love Where You Live! www.scottsdaleranch.org 5
Home & Landscape From Your Homeowner Liaison By Sonja Perez, CAAM, CMCA SRCA Homeowner Liaison
CURB APPEAL – DOING YOUR PART What is meant by curb appeal? Curb appeal is a term used to describe the general attractiveness of a house or other piece of property from the sidewalk to a prospective buyer. This term is often used by realtors trying to sell or evaluate a piece of property. It is common knowledge that curb appeal affects a home’s value. When residents are trying to sell their home, it is not just their curb appeal that matters. Neighboring properties can impact a home sale too. The Association plays a large part in helping to maintain curb appeal and home values by enforcing the rules and regulation of the community. But pride of ownership plays a large part too. When potential buyers see a lot of vehicles parked on the street, trash or recycle containers out on non-trash days or unkempt yards, it may give those potential buyers second thoughts on a purchase. Below is a brief overview of some of the rules of SRCA that are enforced to preserve the look of our communities. For the detailed rules regarding parking, trash container and landscape please visit the SRCA website at www.scottsdaleranch.org. STREET Parking Before any vehicles may be parked on the street, all parking spaces on the Lot located within an Owner’s garage and on an Owner’s, driveway must be used for parking vehicles. In other words, if an
Owner has a two-car garage and a two-car driveway, two vehicles must be parked in the garage and two vehicles must be parked in the driveway before any vehicles may be parked on the street. If an Owner lives within a subdivision with more stringent requirements, the Owner must comply with the more stringent requirements of the subdivision in addition to any requirements imposed by the Association. Trash Containers and Collection The City of Scottsdale provides trash containers for waste and recyclables. Both trash containers must be concealed except for a reasonable length of time during collection times. Storing trash containers behind wing walls or shrubbery is not acceptable if either trash container remains Visible From Neighboring Property, streets, or common areas. Maintenance of Landscaping & Driveways • No Owner shall permit any condition to exist that induces or harbors infections, plant disease or insects. • It is the Owner’s responsibility to assure that any shrub, tree, hedge, or planting of any kind in areas for which they are responsible does not encroach upon any sidewalk or block visibility of oncoming traffic on any street. • All yards are to be maintained in a neat, weed-free condition. • “Neatly trimmed” shall be defined as: The removal of dead or diseased foliage, suckers, etc., allowing for the natural growth of the tree based on the standard of care. Enforcement action by the Association shall be reserved for serious maintenance issues that are readily apparent. SRCA is lucky to have well maintained properties and the pride of ownership shows. I am sure anyone who drives through a nonHOA community can tell the difference quickly. For any questions or concerns, please contact me at sperez@ scottsdaleranch.org or 480-860-2022. We appreciate all the owners that do their part to maintain the curb appeal in the SRCA communities. Keep up the good work!!!
VOTE FOR THE SRCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTION AND PROPOSED AMENDMENTS THROUGH THE HOMEOWNERS’ PORTAL! By now, all homeowners should have received the letter regarding the SRCA 2022 Annual Homeowners’ Meeting and Election. The letter contains information on how to sign up for the SRCA homeowner portal to vote electronically. This electronic voting system provides a secure and anonymous way to participate. In order to vote electronically, you must be registered for the homeowners’ portal. If you have already registered for the portal, no need to do so again. Just login and follow the steps to complete your ballot.
and homeowners’ portal to view the candidate’s biographies. Detailed information is available on the website and homeowners’ portal regarding the proposed Bylaws and CC&R amendments that are on the ballot for consideration.
Please note: You may request paper ballot be sent to you by contacting the SRCA office at (480) 860-2022. Paper ballots must be received at the SRCA office by April 18, 2022 or they can be brought to the annual meeting on April 21, 2022.
Candidates running for the 2022 Board Michele Holzman Sam Nili Marcus Meyer Matt Metz Stephen Philips Nina Munson
This year, there are 3 open seats on the Board of Directors and 6 candidates running in this election. Please visit the SRCA website
We want to thank the candidates running and willing to volunteer their time to serve our community.
6 April/May 2022
From Your Architectural Liaison By Diane Botica SRCA Architectural Liaison
Architectural Application Made More User-Friendly Scottsdale Ranch has made some updates to the process of submitting architectural packets easier for you to complete. When you submit an architectural application, it is in your best interest to submit all the required materials for processing. This is the only way your request can be reviewed. Signing off that you have included all the required information Most importantly, to help you with this process, a check box has been added to the application form to remind you to submit all of the required information as the application form alone is insufficient for processing. Please be sure to read this seciton (example below) when you check the box to ensure you are including all your required materials.
E-signature Filling the application form out online gives you the opportunity to E-sign the form. What is meant by e signing? An e-signature or electronic signature is an efficient, legally binding way to get approval on electronic documents. Secure and verifiable, it can replace a handwritten signature in virtually any process. If you are downloading the application from the SRCA website When downloading the application from the SCRA website, there are auto fill locations throughout the form to help remind you to fill in the sections. How to submit through the SRCA portal Submitting through the portal on the SRCA website - If you submit online through the portal, you will be filling in the submittal information and attaching your filled out and signed application, documents, and pictures all in .pdf format only.
Remember… when in doubt, submit for approval.
www.scottsdaleranch.org 7
Home & Landscape
WHAT DRIVES COSTS IN LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE By Randy Zellers SDL, Director of Operations
There are many factors that will determine costs in maintaining landscapes both now and in the future. Labor shortages, cost of water, style of pruning shrubs, plant selections and tree maintenance are all factors that will have a significant impact on pricing of landscape maintenance moving forward. Let’s take each category and determine how and why costs are being driven. Over the past two years, our labor costs have increased by 25%. Landscape maintenance was deemed an essential service during the early Covid pandemic and had to survive and thrive while many industries closed their doors or laid off employees. Even though there were seemingly more people available, it was the classic case of supply and demand in the labor pool. The demand for employees increased and contractors were faced with having to offer more money to fill openings. Potential employees became more selective due to the labor shortages and drove costs upward at a pace not seen prior to 2020. Landscape maintenance at its’ core is a labor business and defined by the frequency of each task to be performed. Controlling labor costs is the number one factor in landscape maintenance pricing and questions around how we reduce labor while maintaining our landscapes to ensure increased property values will be paramount to success for both communities and landscape contractors.
CITY OF SCOTTSDALE COLLECTION SERVICES April 11th & May 9th SCOTTSDALE RANCH IS AREA 3 This Information can be found on the City of Scottsdale’s website at www.scottsdaleaz.gov.
The earliest items can be placed out is the Wednesday prior to the week of pickup and must be placed out no later than 5:00 am on Monday the week of the scheduled pick up. Residents, please be considerate of your neighbors - do not put your items out before the designated dates. Placing items out before this time can result in hefty fines being assessed to your account. Please be patient as the city has all week to pick-up in our area.
The cost of water will increase with the ongoing demand due to a growing population and the drought conditions we have been experiencing in the southwest. Turf is the largest user of water in the landscape so managing and evaluating essential turf areas will be a priority in controlling costs in the future for homeowners’ association budgets. Do turf areas add enough value to the community to justify the cost of trying to maintain it? Turf area should always be functional and pleasing to the eye to continue to exist. This will be the ongoing discussion communities will have to answer moving forward when developing budgets for the community.
NOTICES FROM THE CITY OF SCOTTSDALE: Please separate your brush and bulk pickup into two piles – one for green waste and one for everything else. The piles will be picked up by separate trucks during your designated brush and bulk pickup week.
Pruning styles, select pruning vs shearing, has a direct impact on labor costs. Keeping shrubs tightly pruned increases labor because of the frequency needed to achieve the tight, manicured look. Selective pruning of shrubs has proven to be a healthier way to maintain growth and increase flower production in each plant. Select pruning styles and rejuvenation pruning will decrease labor to maintain shrubs by roughly 60% and the overall look of the landscape dramatically improves. Does it make sense to spend additional money on a tightly maintained landscape?
*Please refrain from placing trash containers or bulk trash where it blocks the sidewalk and would prevent pedestrians or wheelchair bound residents from passing along the sidewalk.
Choosing low water use plants and the location they will be planted will reduce costs to maintain. Desert adapted plants require less water and if planted in the proper location, will lessen the need to prune to fit the space. This reduces costs in labor and water and will enable communities have their dollar go further in future contract negotiations with contractors. This talking point is becoming more critical for communities as inflation rises and the dollar continues to buy less product and services. Trees are the most valuable commodity in landscapes due to the fact replacement costs for like size and species is exorbitant. Proper spacing for trees is key to how often you’ll have to prune. If trees are planted too close to one another, they will compete for sunlight and nutrients and canopies will often become entangled requiring separation and needless pruning that is ongoing without providing real value to the community. It is reactionary to a condition as opposed to being proactive with thoughtful foresight when planning landscape designs.
The use of SRCA facilities and amenities are voluntary and at your own risk. Scottsdale Ranch Community Association cannot ensure that all areas are free of COVID–19 or other pathogens. The Association is not the guarantor of your personal safety if renting the community center, recreational boat rentals, or attending any groups, clubs or SRCA events.
Hopefully, these topics will become discussion items with communities and landscape contractors to ensure both are viable into the future. Educating communities on where their maintenance costs derive from is the first step to honest and transparent communication. Better discussions lead to winning decisions.
For up-to-date information, please visit our website at www.scottsdaleranch.org or sign up to receive our weekly email blasts.
8 April/May 2022
Home Renovation Pergola Extension Project Description The south facing existing patio tends to get extremely warm due to the direct exposure of the sun. We wanted to extend the use of the patio by installing a sun blocker that filtered the heat. At the same time, we chose to not completely close in the extended area. By using a 1” spacer slat design, we were able to achieve, both the look and the feel of a light sun filter. The pergola members were designed to match the wood trim of the house. therefore, naturally blending in with the overall architectural theme. The Process After deciding on the concept of adding a pergola to our existing covered patio, the first task was to review the Scottsdale Ranch architectural rules for pergolas in backyards. Once we understood the constraints and restrictions, we took to the drawing board and sketched a conceptual design of what we had in mind. We then met with a patio cover vendor and reviewed our design with them. We specifically did not want to use posts to support the pergola, since posts would have negatively impacted the surrounding space. Therefore our pergola would be an attached cantilevered design. Using a light weatherproof material was also imperative, hence the pergola was to be made of alumawood. Once the vendor gave structural and visual validation, we began detail drawings. The drawings not only served as information for the vendor, but they were to be used for our Scottsdale Ranch Architectural Committee backyard pergola application. There was more detail for the SRC than typically required, however we felt that more information is better than open questions, which would have invariably delayed the approval process. Our next step was to present our concept to the SRCA and for us to answer any questions they may have had. The design was fine with the committee. Their questions were primarily confirmations centered around the impact on neighbors’ views. In our case, fortunately, there is little to no view of the pergola from any of our 4 neighbors’ homes. (2 side and 2 back). The application was approved!!! We informed the vendor who said to hang tight for 6 weeks while the pergola was manufactured. The anticipated day finally arrived, and two contractors assembled the pergola effortlessly within a few hours. BEFORE
The pergola has more than served its initial intention of a sun blocker, but it has added a welcomed layer to the backyard house elevation. It’s hard to imagine the house without it now! Tips for ANY submissions to the Scottsdale Ranch Architectural Committee 1. Do your Rules homework. 2. Spend more time than necessary creating visual representation of your concept. It is not necessary to have high-end drafting – just be visually clear. 3. When presenting to the committee, be open minded – sometimes there are great suggestions that you may not have thought of that would comply with the rules. 4. Try to ENJOY the process. SR Resident, Richard Graff AFTER
www.scottsdaleranch.org 9
Home & Landscape ARE YOU A RESIDENT LEAVING THE RANCH FOR THE SUMMER? It is important for the SRCA office to have your current contact information. If you would like to change your primary mailing address from your Scottsdale Ranch address to your summer address, please contact Ricki Stamos at (480) 860-2022 or by email at rstamos@scottsdaleranch.org, to have your contact information updated in our property management software. By doing this, you will be able to continue to receive important letters, mailers, invoices and the SRCA bi-monthly magazines over the coming months.
ARE YOU A BOAT OWNER ON LAKE SERENA LEAVING FOR THE SUMMER? If you are leaving for the summer, please make sure to loosen your dock line. This helps protect your boat and dock in case of an active monsoon season. Also, we’d like to suggest that if you know a neighbor who stays in town for the summer, that SRCA can contact in the event we are unable to get a hold of you regarding your boat, please call the SRCA office at (480) 860-2022 to give us their contact information. Please note that there is a Watercraft Tow Policy charge of $75.00 to homeowners who require their boats to be towed or rescued.
LAKE SERENA BOAT IDENTIFICATION STICKER Attention Scottsdale Ranch Boat Owners: All boat owners on Lake Serena must have a SRCA boating identification sticker visibly displayed on their boat. If you do not have an identification sticker, you will need to complete a Boat Sticker Application and submit it to the SRCA office to obtain one. You can find the application on the SRCA website at www.scottsdaleranch.org under Local Amenities / Lake Serena / Boating Guidelines. Please complete the application and email it to Joni Shepherd at jshepherd@ scottsdaleranch.org. If you have any questions, please feel free to call the SRCA office at (480) 860-2022.
It’s Springtime and Lake Serena Awaits You The Scottsdale Ranch Community Association prides themselves in meeting the continued expectations of the residents that share this community. The positive aspects for all who are living on the lake range from fishing for the children as well as adults to pontoon boating to relax the mind. The next time you take a stroll by the lake or you are at the SRCA Community Center, peek at the lake. A great way to enjoy Lake Serena is to just sit back and enjoy a cruise along our five miles of shoreline while one of our drivers takes you and your guests on the SRCA pontoon boat. We ask that residents cooperate with one another when fishing. Catch and release fishing for bass from the lake is a rule. The lake is enjoyed by many people and is an amenity to all. Water skiing, windsailing, inner tubes or the like is not permitted in the lake. When boating on the lake, all areas (with the exception of docking on another resident’s private dock) are open for enjoyment. However, please be respectful of the lakefront property owner’s privacy. Residents’ homes and dock areas are private property so please do not trespass onto their property. Moreover, vice versa, lakefront owners must be aware that there are no “private” areas on the lake. When boating, review your precautions such as driving on the correct side, your speed or sobriety level. All watercraft must display the proper lighting. All boats launched and docked on Lake Serena must display a Scottsdale Ranch blue and white boat sticker. The boat sticker should be placed in a visible location so that SRCA staff and other lake property owners know that you are a registered boat owner and resident of Scottsdale Ranch. Boat and fishing permits are also required and may be obtained from the SRCA administrative office at no charge. There are several areas that SRCA has posted “No Fishing” for safety reasons, it is important to obey those rules. Quite often we are asked where can SRCA residents fish that do not own lakefront property. Below please find a list of access points that can be used for your enjoyment: • SR Community Center Area - 100th Street/Shea Blvd. to include multiple fishing docks, picnic area, grassy areas and benches • Along Shea from 100th Street to Lakeview Drive • Mini-Park area - 99th Street and East Island Circle • Various areas along Lakeview Drive between Shea and Via Linda: 1. Between Unit 8 and the Waterfront 2. Between Landings and Monterey Point 3. Between Charter Point and Heritage Village IV 4. Between Scottsdale Bay Club and Lake Serena Estates adjacent to the SR Park The areas are posted stating that fishing is for SRCA residents only. Again, please remember that children must be accompanied by an adult while visiting the lake. No Swimming, rock throwing, feeding of waterfowl from any easement area or any property maintained by SRCA or an ancillary association. As a reminder, when you do visit these areas, please pick-up your trash and be courteous to the surrounding neighbors. Recently, there has been a significant rise in yard waste and landscape debris being dumped into the lake by landscaping crews. When you see someone littering or someone using the lake inappropriately, we ask that you call our office. Fines are being asserted for violations, so make sure any landscapers you hire are made fully aware that disposing of yard waste into Lake Serena is not allowed. This will help reduce the amount of decaying and floating matter in the lake that can be so unsightly. The SRCA Lake Committee also works very hard at finding a balance to keep this lake clean and healthy. With all of this care, we still need your help. Help us by remembering the lake rules and exercising a few social graces as we all share in the usage of our most valuable amenity, Lake Serena. Feel free to call the SRCA staff and we will be willing to address any concerns you might have. In closing, please be sure you have a SRCA Fishing permit to use our lake areas. Should you need a permit or would like to schedule a pontoon boat rental, stop by the SRCA Administration office or give us a call and we would be happy to assist you.
10 April/May 2022 Expires 11/30/20
Amenities
News From Laguna Elementary School By Dr. Brooke Williams, Ed.D, Principal
Spring is here and we are busier than ever learning and having fun at Laguna Elementary School! As a preschool through 5th grade STEAM School, we focus on Science Technology, Engineering, The Arts, and Math. We encourage our students to collaborate, think critically, think creatively, and communicate with their peers. We are fortunate enough to have a state of the art Makerspace, which spans two classrooms. Here, students can plan, create, and implement amazing inventions! Most recently, our school received the “Hometown Favorite” Trophy for our float in the Parada Del Sol Parade. Our students, along with teachers and parents, crafted an amazing float that was “STEAM: Out of This World!” Our students got to walk in the parade and show off their creation. The Parada Del Sol Committee recently presented us with a personalized plaque, which is proudly displayed in our office. Even during Covid, we managed to involve parents and families on campus. Families “visit” our classrooms as virtual “Mystery Readers,” read books, and chat with our students, which is lots of fun! We have also had “Family Math Night” for the past three years and just enjoyed another Family Math Night just last month. Our students love this hands-on approach to math and playing games with their families! We just had our annual “Laguna Laps” and again, outraised our funding goal! Our students learned about health, fitness, and
Expires 1/31/21
team-work all week, as they raised money for special programs at Laguna. Last year, even during Covid, we raised the most money at Laguna and set a new record! We are forever grateful to our families and community for supporting Laguna and its students. Thank you, everyone! One of the special programs we have at Laguna which sets us apart from other schools is our full-time Reading Specialist. She and her team “push-into” classes and work with small groups on specialized skills. Then, in the afternoons, they “pull-out” small groups into their newly designed “Reading Lab,” where they work on special skills in another small setting. We have already seen great strides in many students, especially those who fell behind due to the “Covid gap.” We are lucky to have a full-time Reading Specialist and team at our school! We are getting ready to take our 5th graders to STEAM Camp, which is often their first sleepaway experience. Students will get to sleep in cabins, study under the stars, go on nature walks, and bond with their parents, teachers, and friends. It’s a once in a lifetime experience for everyone involved. Our students have not been able to go in over two years, so you can imagine how excited the students are about it this year! We are slowly allowing visitors back on campus which is exciting for all of us, especially our students! So, if you feel the need to volunteer, feel free to call our front office and find out about exciting new opportunities, or call and see if there are things you do or donate to help your local school!
www.scottsdaleranch.org 11
Mercado Corner www.samuraisams.net
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Coupon must be present, one coupon per person only, not to be combined with any other offers. Expires 5/31/22
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Mercado
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Chiropractic Examination and X-Ray $49.00 Or 50% off Initial Massage Treatment
Mercado Chiropractic 10135 E. Via Linda #115 • Scottsdale AZ 85258 (480) 661-7000 www.arizonachiropractic.com Coupon must be present, one coupon per person only, not to be combined with any other offers. Expires 5/31/22
Indulge Yourself Salon by Joanne
Hair: Free Consultation Color/Highlights • Color Correction Cut & Style Hair Extensions Keratin Straightening
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Skincare: Full Body Waxing • Anti-Oxidant Facials • Enzyme Peels Schwarzkopf 10 Minute Color Now Available!
Featuring Schwarzkopf, Eufora & Moroccan Oil Products 10105 E. Via Linda, Suite A107, Scottsdale, AZ 85258 (480) 614-1717 • www.indulgeyourselfsalon.com Coupon must be present, one coupon per person only, not to be combined with any other offers. Expires 5/31/22
We encourage our residents to proudly fly American flags on Memorial Day to honor and remember those service men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country.
12 April/May 2022
Committee News Treasurer’s Report
Year-End Audited Financial Statement Comparison Revenue:
2020 Actual
2021 Actual
1,555,905
1,555,905
390,757
509,144
1,946,662
2,065,049
Landscape Maintenance
544,853
595,975
Lake Maintenance
Regular Other
By Mike Breslin SRCA Board Treasurer
All members of the board are responsible for the associations overall financial health; but the treasurer has specific duties to protect the associations assets. These duties and the authority to exercise them are found in the associations governing documents and also in state laws. It’s a big responsibility, but fortunately the manager helps with many of the detailed internal controls. Treasurers keep an eye on how the funds are being handled. For example, a treasurer would raise a red flag if a check made payable to Cash showed up in the association’s books. Records: Treasurers maintain financial and accounting records – or see to it that they are securely and properly retained, perhaps by the manager. Audits: Association financial and accounting records need to be audited periodically. It’s the treasurer’s job to ensure that a CPA undertakes this important activity at regular intervals. Budgets: Treasurers are responsible for preparing the annual budget. That doesn’t mean they actually crunch numbers or develop spreadsheets rather they work closely with the association manager or CPA to ensure the members’ values, preferences and needs are reflected in the budget. Insurance: Treasurers make sure the association has adequate insurance of all types – casualty, fidelity, worker’s compensation and other necessary protections. Investments: Treasurers are watchdogs for the association’s investments. They make sure investments are sound and do not jeopardize the principal. Boards generally have investment policies that guide their investment decisions, and it’s the treasurer’s job to see that the policy is followed. Assessments: Collecting assessments and monitoring delinquent accounts is typically a service provided by a manager or management company. The treasurer, however, keeps a close eye on the delinquencies and alerts the board to problem areas.
Total Revenue: Expenses:
106,657
129,651
Building Maintenance
90,110
94,027
Administrative/Office
676,549
766,308
Recreational Activity
42,812
52,179
Communications
8,412
9,517|
93,614
212,014
4,314
8,137
--
--
34,207
103,512
1,911
1,284
1,603,439
1,972,604
Total Income:
343,223
92,445
Depreciation
(89,245)
(86,492)
0
0
253,978
5,953
Capital Expenditures Contingency APS Power Project General Reserve Expenses Bad Debt Total Expenses:
Gain on Sale of Equipment Net Income (Loss):
(Figures taken from Audit Report as Reported by Butler & Hansen, PC)
Reserves: Treasurers ensure that the association periodically conducts a reserve study and that it’s adequately funded in the annual budget. Taxes: The treasurer is the board’s liaison to the association’s auditor and CPA. The treasurer monitors the progress of the annual audit and make sur ethe appropriate tax returns are filed on time. In short, the association Treasurer’s job is to maintain the integrity of the association’s finances. The Finance Committee along with staff have worked very closely with our outside independent auditors, Butler-Hansen, PC who recently completed our annual audit as required by the governing documents of SRCA. They conducted the annual audit in order to obtain reasonable assurance that the financial statements were free of material misstatements and to assess the accounting principles used. They evaluated the overall financial statements and line items presented in our reports and established that SRCA’s books and financial records are in good order and no issues were found. Their conclusion states “in our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Scottsdale Ranch Community Association as of December 31, 2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.” At a recent meeting with our auditor, I asked if there was anything that we should be doing to improve our staff who are responsible for the day-to-day maintenance of all our operations. Their response indicated that the way we operate could be a
model for all HOAs and we could be at the top of the list using best practices. As Treasurer and Chairman of the Finance Committee, I am most happy to report that SRCA ended 2021 in a strong and healthy financial position and your association has adequate reserves, proper financial record keeping and effective systems in place to maintain the highest level of service to the community in the years ahead. www.scottsdaleranch.org 13
Committee News Architectural Committee Review By Michele Holzman SRCA Architectural Committee Chair
The purpose of the Architectural Committee is “to ensure that the member’s property values are enhanced by external changes to properties”. That is an all-encompassing statement. What this boils down to is that volunteer residents on the Committee meet to approve external changes that go beyond previously set guidelines. The Committee meets twice a month and discusses each and every project submittal. Each Committee member actually visits the property location as to better understand the request. We only physically view the front of the property. Back and side yard submittals are discussed with pictures and information from your submittal. All residents are encouraged to attend the meetings. 2021 has been an exceptional year in so many ways: the pandemic has kept most of us in our homes more than we ever expected, home improvements have increased over 20% since 2020, and property values have soared. These phenomena have made 2021 a busy year for the SRCA staff and the Architectural Committee. The Scottsdale Ranch Architectural Liaison, Diane Botica, has seen over 1000 requests for external changes, of which several hundred have been referred to the Architectural Committee. Some of the most popular requests have been: • • • • • •
Changing out concrete walkways for pavers Changes to house paint colors Pergola and gazebo requests Front door enhancements Window, door and roof replacements Landscape changes such as artificial turf, xeriscape and tree replacements • Additions and major remodeling (including enclosing covered patios) As you start to consider changes you want to make to the exterior of your home in 2022, please remember the following: PLEASE GET APPROVAL FIRST BEFORE MAKING ANY CHANGES. Not only will this save you time but there is a $250.00 fine for some changes made without prior approval. The best place to start your project is a trip to the SRCA website that will guide you through the process. Please go to: www.scottsdaleranch. org and click on “Plan My Project Architectural Guide”. You can always call the SRCA office and ask for Diane at 480-860-2022. She is a fantastic resource and goes above and beyond to help you. Good luck with all your projects! We are here to help! 14 April/May 2022
Communications Committee Review By Nina Munson SRCA Communications Committee Chair
Keeping our residents informed of important issues in and around Scottsdale Ranch is a paramount goal established by the SRCA Administration and Board of Directors. The primary vehicles used to share information include our website www.scottsdaleranch.org, mobile app, email blasts, periodic postcard mailings, and bi-monthly magazines. If you are missing out on any of these, please inform the SRCA administration, and they will determine the best solution for remediation. It is also essential for the SRCA Administration and Board of Directors to understand the needs of our Ranch residents. By seeking and receiving your feedback, we are able to determine appropriate areas to focus on, allowing us to enrich the value and quality of life on the Ranch. In 2005, Scottsdale Ranch invested in a full-scale survey of all our residents with the intent of identifying issues of importance to them. From this information, we determined appropriate actions that could and should be taken. Recently, the Board of Directors reviewed this information, and upon reflection we saw how much change has occurred, which was driven by the residents’ ideas and input. We thought it would be informative and valuable to share with you that survey, the resident feedback, and the resulting actions/changes that were implemented. Log onto our website and you will find a summary of the survey, or if you are so inclined, you can review the entirety of the survey questions, results and actions. I know the Board members found this information very helpful, and I hope you find the same. After perusing the information, please advise the SRCA Administration of any questions you may have or let us know of any new ideas or suggestions that would benefit or enhance our community. We hope it inspires you to identify thoughts of how we can continue to maintain Scottsdale Ranch as the premier community in which to live.
Community Leadership Committee Review By Mike Breslin SRCA Community Leadership Committee Chair
The Community Leadership Committee’s responsibility is to establish and maintain open lines of communication with the sub-associations within Scottsdale Ranch. Scottsdale Ranch Community Association as the master association, maintains these open communications with the sub-associations, sharing knowledge and important information which helps assist sub-association Board members lead and manage their own communities. The Community Leadership Committee holds two to three seminars/ luncheons a year, bringing in speakers who provide education on various homeowners’ association topics. These seminars/luncheons are also a great way for sub-association board members to network with each other and share their best practices. Some topics that are discussed include legal, curb appeal, short-term rentals, water conservation, insurance and reserves. SRCA appreciates the willingness of our board and the sub-association leaders that strive to be good leaders and keep Scottsdale Ranch a premier community.
Lake Committee Review By Greg Mona SRCA Lake Committee Chair
The Scottsdale Ranch Lake Committee’s role and responsibility are to examine the overall operational costs and environmental quality of the lake and its water use in relation to the Department of Water Resources associated with maintaining Lake Serena. That’s the “official” description of what the committee does, but it is much more than that. Lake Serena is considered the “crown jewel” of Scottsdale Ranch, and for a good reason. For starters, it is available to all Scottsdale Ranch residents and their guests to enjoy, and not just those that reside by its shores. Besides being visually appealing, it provides opportunities for boating, kayaking, fishing, walking along portions of its shoreline, and other social gatherings and activities. Getting back to the Lake Committee, our main responsibility is to be a good and consistent steward of the lake to ensure its health and aesthetic value. We are responsible for decision-making when it comes to the management, maintenance, and improvements to the lake that serve our residents in the most favorable way. The committee takes these responsibilities very seriously, and no decisions are made without thoughtful dialog, and the appropriate thorough research when a particular issue calls for that. Lake Serena is an integral part of the Maricopa County Flood Control District’s stormwater management system. The lake receives a vast amount of stormwater surface runoff from several square miles to the north and east. With all this runoff, many things besides water get introduced into the lake, including dirt, silt, and other inorganic materials. Over time, these materials settle to the bottom, eventually building up and causing the lake to become shallower. About a year ago, and after several months of research, discussion, logistics, and financial impacts, the decision was made to have a major dredging operation implemented in two different areas of the lake: the cove area immediately to the north and east of the community center, and the cove area at the northeast portion of the lake just south of Shea Blvd. These two areas of the lake coincide with the major inflow points that contain the flows mentioned previously. The dredging operation was a great success. Several hundred cubic yards of material was removed, which increased the depth of the lake by a few feet in these areas. This will provide for easy navigation of boats in these areas for several years to come. With the lake being a bit over 40 years old, the entire lake bottom has accumulated anywhere from several inches to several feet of silt and organic materials. The committee was introduced to a natural and safe microbial treatment that can naturally “eat up” much of the organic matter while being perfectly safe for the biology of the lake. The first application was made in the spring of 2021 with two more subsequent treatments at set intervals afterward. Depth readings were logged at select locations throughout the lake to use as a benchmark for monitoring the effectiveness of the microbial treatments. The same regimen will be followed beginning in the spring of this year. We are confident this will work as anticipated and is a wonderful alternative to the other impractical means of removing these solids from the lake bottom. And now for a few facts about Lake Serena. It has a surface area of approximately 41 acres but has 5 miles of shoreline! The average depth is just under 9 feet, with a maximum depth of 16 feet. It is home to a plethora of wildlife, including birds, ducks, geese, turtles, raccoons, bobcats, and javelina. It also supports a variety of fish species, including Largemouth Bass (Northern and Florida Strain), Black Crappie, Channel and Flathead Catfish, Israeli and Common Carp, White Amur (Grass Carp), and several species of Sunfish.
Social Committee Review By Nina Munson SRCA Social Committee Chair
Gathering our residents together to participate in social events has been a great source of pride for us as Social Committee members and SRCA staff. It is one of the hallmarks that has helped define what we believe community living should be all about. As we faced another challenging year for social gatherings, it has not stopped the SRCA from being creative in its attempts to get our neighbors together. As we saw (and continue to see) Covid guidelines shift, we were able to begin resuming some of our favorite events. I hope many of you had an opportunity to rejoin us at Movie in the Park, our Fall Concert in the Park with special recognition of our Veterans, our Holiday Donation Drive, Fishing Derby and Lake Fest. We also were able to resume our tradition of welcoming new residents to Scottsdale Ranch with one of our most successfully attended New Residents Party to date. In our Social Committee planning sessions, we had to keep in mind the uncertainty of what limitations we continue facing. Outdoor activities seemed to be a fairly safe approach to consider in our brainstorming sessions. One of our most successful new events, Food Truck Friday, was created. It was such an overwhelming success (so much so that the Food Truck ran out of food at our first one), that we will be holding them in the months to come. I hope you and your families will join us for a future one. I also want to remind you of the myriad of Clubs that are available to you. You are sure to find a Club or two that meet your interests. Check out the listing of these Clubs on our website www. scottsdaleranch.org. If you don’t find something that represents your interest, perhaps you will be inspired to organize your own. The SRCA Administration is available to assist you. Simply contact them via phone or email and begin the planning process. For those of you interested in lending your creative ideas, please come join the Social Committee and help us identify new and fun events to keep our residents and their families connected. If time is a limitation, we always welcome your ideas. I look forward to seeing many of you at one of our upcoming events.
We encourage all of you to get out and enjoy Lake Serena and all it has to offer! Scottsdale Ranch Community Association 15
Committee News THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS! We would like to thank all the SRCA Committee volunteers for all their hard work, time and dedication to ensuring that Scottsdale Ranch continues to be such a wonderful place for all to call home.
Architectural Committee Michele Holzman, Chair Matt Metz, Vice Chair Carolyn Wheelock Tom Mitchell Richard Graff Communication Committee Nina Munson, Chair Greg Mona Kathy Hippensteel Barbara Sarwar Community Leadership Committee Mike Breslin, Chair Jeff Spiller Rickie Currens Barbara Sarwar
Governmental Committee Larry Schmalz, Chair Matt Metz Jeff Spiller Bill Howard Suzanne Mirasola Brian Munson Lake Committee Greg Mona, Chair Brian Munson Larry Schmalz Bill Williams Marilyn Wolfe Personnel Committee Matt Metz, Chair Mike Breslin Larry Schmalz Brian Munson
Election Committee Jeff Spiller, Chair Greg Mona Barbara Sarwar Nancy Jacobson
Social Committee Nina Munson, Chair Greg Mona Jeff Spiller Ellen Blum Sandra Galinski
Executive Committee Michele Holzman, Chair Mike Breslin Nina Munson
Teller Committee Nancy Jacobson Therese Hall
Finance Committee Mike Breslin, Chair Michele Holzman Larry Schmalz Brian Munson Bill Howard Thank you to those who have served and are no longer serving in their board and/or committee roles. Your dedication and support were truly appreciated! Joe Dawson, Steven Hillman, Mike Nelson, Lee Pagnan, Win Copeland and Loretta Colgan.
Election Committee Review By Jeff Spiller SRCA Election Committee Chair
Scottsdale Ranch Community Association (SRCA) Election Committee oversees the SRCA Board of Directors election process to ensure fairness and integrity. As you may know, any homeowner living in Scottsdale Ranch can run for an open position on the board. The only requirement is that you are in good standing having paid your annual assessments. Looking back, the SRCA 2021 Annual Election process was another success. SRCA successfully filled four open Board of Directors seats with the addition of myself, Larry Schmalz, Mike Breslin and Greg Mona. The addition of these strong candidates continues to support our SRCA mission and vision which we are thankful for all of their volunteered efforts. This year’s SRCA 2022 election cycle is heating up and we need your support once again. The Board of Directors seats held by Matt Metz (End 1st Term), Nina Munson (End of 1st Term) and Michele Holzman (Last Term) are the incumbent members up for re-election. The three board seats are challenged by six residents who are willing to volunteer their time to serve our community. Thank you all for considering to participate as board members in one of the valleys best community’s in Arizona. Also THANK YOU to all of our residents for the continued support and participation in this election process. In addition to the board candidates there will also be amendments to the SRCA Bylaws and CC&Rs on the ballot. Making amendments to the community Bylaws requires a twothirds of the votes cast by members in person or by absentee ballot. The Bylaws amendments presented on the 2022 ballot are recommended by the association’s attorney to update provisions to comply with laws and help the association run more smoothly. These recommendations have been reviewed and approved by the SRCA Board of Directors to be placed on the 2022 ballot. More details on the proposed amendments will be available through the voting app on the homeowner’s portal and the SRCA website. SRCA will continue to utilize the electronic voting system through the homeowner’s portal. New this year, SRCA will make available a laptop computer at the SRCA office conference room. The computer will be available from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on Monday, April 11, 2022 & Thursday, April 14, 2022, for those residents who would like to vote electronically but may need assistance. The computer will be cleaned after each vote for those concerned with COVID-19 so please utilize our voting options to make this a great turn out in 2022. As an added incentive to encourage community members to vote, we will be holding a raffle drawing for (10) $50 gift cards to be awarded at random from those members who cast a ballot by April 18, 2022. All you need to do is vote to be entered. Thank you for taking part in your community by casting your vote!
16 April/May 2022
Social Life on the Ranch
www.scottsdaleranch.org 17
Social Life on the Ranch
18 April/May 2022
Fishing Derby Winners! With it being such a chilly morning the day of the event, the fish weren’t out as much as they typically would have been, however we still had a lot of fun and there were some BIG catches!! 6 and younger age group No fish caught this year 7 – 12 years old age group 1st Place: Maverick Faber – 18.5” Catfish 2nd Place: Jeffrey Hyams – 12.5” Bass 13 and older age group 1st Place: Andrew Melchior – 19” Bass 2nd Place: Lori Berghorn – 12.5” Bass 3rd Place: Lori Berghorn – 12” Bass
Thank You to our sponsors at the SRCA Fishing Derby and Lake Festival! We appreciate your support!
We were happy to see so many participants! We’d like to send a special thank you to the SRCA Lake Committee for helping out!
Thank You to Greg & Jeannine Mona for sponsoring the beverages at the February Food Truck Friday event!
We had the largest turnout ever at our New Resident Welcome Party in February. It was great mingling with everyone! We'd like to give a special THANK YOU to our neighbors at the Mercado at Scottsdale Ranch, Goldie's Sports Café for donating $10 vouchers to each new resident, and Lee's ATA Martial Arts studio for donating raffle bags which included one month of free classes! Thanks for all who were able to join us and WELCOME to Scottsdale Ranch!
www.scottsdaleranch.org 19
Social Life on the Ranch
20 April/May 2022
www.scottsdaleranch.org 21
Social Life on the Ranch LAKE SERENA ACTIVITIES GET OUT ON THE WATER! ALL SR RESIDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO USE SRCA'S KAYAKS, PADDLE BOAT AND CANOE, FREE OF CHARGE! MAKE YOUR RESERVATION TODAY! TAKE A RIDE IN THE SRCA PONTOON BOAT! 1 OR 2 HOUR RIDES ARE AVAILABLE FOR A FEE. SEATS UP TO 9 PASSENGERS. A DRIVER IS PROVIDED. FOOD AND DRINKS ARE PERMITTED. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL ACTIVITIES AND MUST BE MADE AT LEAST 7 DAYS IN ADVANCE. RESTRICTIONS APPLY. PLEASE CALL THE SRCA OFFICE FOR DETAILS AT (480) 860-2022.
22 April/May 2022
Young-ish Professionals of Scottsdale Ranch!
What’s young-ish? If you think you are, you are!
FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY!
April 29th
SR COMMUNITY CENTER
5:00 PM 7:00 PM
It can be tough at times to connect with young professionals. Join us as we build a new family in Scottsdale Ranch! The group’s mission is to foster fun, positivity, and emotional safety while upholding kindness and respect of member differences. For more information, contact Elicia Nademin elician@gmail.com
Check out their menus and pricing: www.burgersamore.com www.pizzaarno.com. Scoop and Joy will offer single and double scoops of ice cream for purchase. SRCA will provide soda and water. BYOB!!
www.scottsdaleranch.org 23
Social Life on the Ranch
24 April/May 2022
Do you want to put your company in front of the Scottsdale Ranch Community?
Advertise in the official Scottsdale Ranch Community Magazine.
Call Today! 480-702-0458
Stuff your wallet. Randy Mueller Ins Agcy Inc Randy Mueller CPCU CLU ChFC, Agent 10575 N 114th St, Suite 111 Scottsdale, AZ 85259 Bus: 480-391-9390 www.randymueller.com
1201127
I can help you get all the discounts you deserve. Talk to me about a FREE Discount Double Check® today. Get to a better State®. Get State Farm. CALL ME TODAY.
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company State Farm Indemnity Company, Bloomington, IL Scottsdale Ranch www.scottsdaleranch.org Community Association 25
In the Community
Summer Travel
By Brian Hartman, #866 Scottsdale Police Department Crime Prevention Officer, Via Linda District
The hot weather is fast-approaching and that means many of us will be heading for the hills…or mountains, more likely. Wherever your summer travels take you, please remember the following tips to keep you and your family safe: 1. Make sure that your home appears lived in. Put your lights on a timer and keep your blinds and curtains closed. Have a neighbor pick up your mail and newspapers. Make sure that your lawn is maintained while you are away. 2. Make a list of credit card numbers and phone numbers for the card companies just in case you lose one. Let your credit card companies know that you are leaving so that the purchases that you make while on vacation are not flagged as fraudulent. 3. Consider leaving your tablets and laptops at home. Trust me, I understand how convenient those items are when traveling with children, but it is one more expensive item that could be lost or stolen. Travel as lightly as possible. Cash, credit cards, passports, and cell phones can be carried in fanny packs or other totes…just make sure that the strap is made of material that is not easily broken and/or cut. If you aren’t fashionable enough to wear a fanny pack, place your wallet
26 April/May 2022
in your front pocket instead of your back pocket. 4. Never leave your bags and belongings unattended. Not only does leaving your baggage unattended draw the attention of Airport Security Officers, it also makes an easy target for criminals. Travelers at airports, train stations, bus terminals, boat docks and car rental areas are especially vulnerable due to those being places with a lot of activity and confusion…and often a lot of stress. 5. When checking into a hotel room, make sure to do the obvious. Always lock the door and secure the safety chain. Check adjoining doors and all windows to ensure they are locked. Also, have at least two exit routes in mind in case of an emergency. Many hotel rooms are equipped with a safe in the room. Use it to keep your valuables safe when you are away from the room. 6. Talk with your family about whom to call and what to do in case they get lost or another emergency arises while you are on vacation. When traveling with kids, bring along an updated photo of each child—in case you become separated from them. Safe Travels.
10665 E Arabian Park Dr
$1,450,000
PENDING
4beds/2.5baths sqft:2,515
SOLD
9992 E Carol Ave
HUGE YARD!
2beds/2baths sqft:1,768
$575,000
NO INTERIOR STEPS!
We have BUYERS! Sell your house without it hitting the market
PENDING
10080 E Mountain View Lake Dr 140
3beds/2baths sqft:1,592
$550,000
10113 E Topaz DR
BAY CLUB
SOLD
3beds/3.5baths sqft:3,426
$1,175,000
LAS BRISAS
#1 AGENT IN SCOTTSDALE RANCH
480-338-4888 #1 AGENT IN SCOTTSDALE RANCH
Scottsdale Ranch Community Association 27 PAID ADVERTISEMENT
2022 SRCA Calendar of Events Please check with the administration office to see if the SRCA meetings will be held in person and/or via Zoom webinar. Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday 1
4
5
6
Knitwits 10:30 am
SRWA General Meeting 11:00 am
Yacht Club 6:00 pm
12 Children’s Storytime 4:00 pm
Jazz Night 7:00 pm
10
11
SRCA Social Committee Meeting 4:30 pm 17
18
19
25
1
MAY 8
8
9
13
14
15
16
Broker Tour 8:15 am
SRCA Finance Committee Meeting 4:30 pm
Good Friday - Office Closed
SRCA Architectural Committee Meeting 3:30 pm
21
SR Evening Bunko 7:00 pm
SRCA Annual Homeowners Meeting 7:00 pm
26
27
SRWA Board Meeting 10:00 am
SRCA Architectural Committee Meeting 3:30 pm
Monday
Tuesday
2
3
Jazz Night 7:00 pm
SRWA General Meeting 11:00 am
9
10
16
17
22
23
28
29
30
Wine Club 7:00 pm
Food Truck Night 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
4
5
6
7
11
12
13
14
Broker Tour 8:15 am
Couples Duplicate Bridge 6:00 pm
20
21
27
28
SRCA Architectural Committee Meeting 3:30 pm 15
Couples Duplicate Bridge 6:00 pm
Retired Active Men’s Coffee 8:30 am
SRCA Board Meeting 4:30 pm
Sunday
7
20
Knitwits 10:30 am
24
2
Office Closed Staff Development
APRIL 3
Saturday
18
19
Retired Active Men’s Coffee 8:30 am
Children’s Storytime 4:00 pm
SR Evening Bunko 7:00 pm 22
23
24
25
SRWA Board Meeting 10:00 am
SRCA Architectural Committee Meeting 3:30 pm
SRCA Board of Directors Meeting 4:30 pm 29
30
26
31
Memorial Day Office Closed
SRCA is committed to following state and federal fair housing laws. Neither SRCA nor any club using SRCA facilities shall discriminate in any of its activities or operations on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), disability, familial status, or national origin. This means all SRCA residents are welcome to join any club. 28 28April/May April/May April/May 2022 2022 2022
Also available to view 24/7 at www.scottsdaleranch.org/events/cal. Dates subject to change. Looking for your sub-association events? Check with your sub-association manager or board. Thank you.
www.scottsdaleranch.org 29 PAID ADVERTISEMENT
30 April/May 2022
