Village Newsletter April - Ponderosa Leisure Farms

APRIL 2015
PONDEROSA VILLAGE MANAGER NEWSLETTER
PET IMMUNIZATIONS
830am, April 22nd
STREETLIGHT
MAINTENANCE FACTS
TRAFFIC DISCIPLINE
PONDEROSA VILLAGE
NEWSLETTER
Village Event - Pacquaio Fight May 3
We are inviting all Village Residents and Lot Owners to the Pacquiao / Mayweather Fight
on May 3, free of charge. Fight starts at 800 am, be early for best seats.
Our friends over at PLDT have offered us free access to the fight. The event will be held at
the Village Clubhouse with a large 7 x 14 foot LED screen. Food and drinks will be offered
in the event. Let the village office know and reserve seats now! A signup form is on our
website: Ponderosa.farm or drop by the Village Office.
PONDEROSA LEISURE FARMS - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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APRIL 2015
PONDEROSA VILLAGE MANAGER NEWSLETTER
This months Newsletter
In this newsletter, read about important upcoming Community
events, Pet Immunizations, explaining about Meralco street light
repairs, the ongoing elections issues, and more.
What we are
working on
Pet Immunisations
All homeowners are required to register their pets with the Village
Office and update records every year. As part of this process, you
must provide proof of immunisation of all pets against Rabies.
The Village Office is providing a service to you by having a
Veterinarian on hand to provide injections for Rabies for your pets.
This is happening on April 22 at 830am in the Clubhouse.
At the time of Immunisation, you will be required to update your
current records of all pets in your house. This is an Annual
requirement and despite what may have occurred in the past, this
is now being offered to you this year.
Pets included are both dogs and cats. In fact, feline rabies is more
prevalent as the canine variety, because cats love to stray and mix
with local feral cats, fighting at night and getting injured. No
matter how hard it may be for you to gather up your cats, please
comply and bring them along for shots at the Village Clubhouse.
For those of you that do not, the Village Handbook prescribes
penalties, including fines, for non-compliance. Given that residents
are receiving free vaccines and services, please comply and ensure
that not only your pets are protected, as well as safeguarding other
members of our community.
Power Savings Update
We have increased savings over forecast
We rely on all of
you to make
things change. Ideas are being
implemented.
Read up on
more in this
newsletter.
Landco had originally estimated the amount of power the village
consumed and paid for core power for the village, for things such as
our water system, the clubhouse and things such as this was much
more than we were actually using.
Action: We negotiated with Meralco and reduced our monthly bill
we were paying for this charge. A savings of over 190,000 PhP a
year. Yes, we had to make some investment to make the changes
required by Meralco to do this, but the return on investment will pay
for itself in 6 months. At which time we save going forward -forever.
Update: Comparison of bills against previous totals shows that in
the 1st 3 months, we are saving Php 21,000/ month, or Php 15,500
OVER our projections so far. This would equate to a total power
savings of Php 252,000, or Php 62,000 over our estimates for the
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APRIL 2015
PONDEROSA VILLAGE MANAGER NEWSLETTER
year. Even more to be happy about!
The damage from Typhoon Glenda- Update:
We have trimmed pine trees that were under power lines.
The Guard Posts have been replaced. The Security Office by the Clubhouse has been
updated and windows repaired, with a fresh coat of paint on the exterior of the
building.
We have repaired fences, 80 percent so far.
Update: 20 percent left that was Typhoon Damaged. Gate 2 to bridge is in work. Hills being a
problem from moving faster than we are.
Example of Board Action: The insurance company made offer to pay 911k PhP and after
deliberation the board agreed to accept.
The refocus on turnover from Landco
Landco and Village Engineering Committee / President and others had a brief meeting on Friday
April 10.
However, there is action:
Update: Road repairs start on April 16.
Numerous areas will be repaired, sealed and asphalted, depending on the extent of
damaged previously agreed to by the HOA and Landco in meetings.
Landco will lend their assistance in redesigning the architecture for the clubhouse
as part of the Renaissance project. This was agreed to in last weeks meeting.
Meeting to occur with Architect for next steps.
Post Lights- What gets repairs and how fast?
There are 2 different types of lights in the Village.
Ones that are on red posts, which are locally installed and
maintained security lights.
Ones that are on Meralco power poles, which are installed and
maintained by Meralco.
Ponderosa
Operations:
Explaining
processes so you
are aware and
informed
If there is a security light with a problem, we maintain it, replacing bulbs
and like, that normally takes a couple of days, depending on our workload
and the problem encountered. Sometimes we need parts like a breaker or
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APRIL 2015
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additional components.
For Meralco lights on their power poles,
those are replaced by Meralco. However,
that being said, since it is not directly
affecting power to a house, it is a lower
priority at Meralco. You report it to the
Village Office, we discuss it with the
engineer at the local Meralco Office,
which we have a relationship with, and
they investigate, order components if
they are out of stock, and repair. Not an
overnight thing.
Currently, we have several street lights
out in the Village. Our Security Group
submits regular monitoring report on
busted streetlights. These have been
reported to Meralco and they are back logged on light components. As soon as they get in, they
will schedule for repair. We follow up on a weekly basis on this. The consumer hotlines do not
track these items, since it is a business related issue with a low priority overall. Be patient. There
is a backlog on parts in Meralco, and we are following up, however these parts are coming in from
overseas and it takes time.
General Assembly and Elections
The village has yet to have volunteers for the Nominations and Elections Committee. A notice of
non-holding of elections and a request to take jurisdiction in the next special elections
tentatively scheduled for June 2015 is submitted to HLURB. We are coordinating closely with
them to receive updates. A formal notice from the Board of Directors to the general membership
was also sent out April 15. The majority of you should have received it already.
More updates regarding this on the next newsletter.
For those of you that are seriously behind on payments
If you are in seriously in Arrears on Association Dues payments, you will be getting
a letter from us. Please read it carefully, for it explains your options.
Those paying Lot Owners did their part, we need you to do yours and pay up. The
vast majority of Lot Owners are paid up, and they expect you to do the same. Now is
the time to contact the Village Office and make payments.
If you have proof you have paid, then please be prepared to show such.
PONDEROSA LEISURE FARMS - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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APRIL 2015
PONDEROSA VILLAGE MANAGER NEWSLETTER
Speeding and other Traffic Issues
We have been made aware that some individuals in
the Village have been passing information regarding
signage for posted speed limits as 15 Kilometers per
Hour. This is incorrect.
As you pass through the front gate, you will see a
clearly mounted board showing that you are subject
to Village Regulations when you come in. It also
shows the posted speed limit at 30 Kph.
Also, as you cross the
bridge entering the Village, note the speed limit sign which clearly
shows 30 on it. This is the speed limit. Please adhere to this limit.
When in doubt about Village regulations, refer to our online
documents at our website: Ponderosa.farm.
We have numerous children in the Village and we don’t want an
accident. The Village Regulations clearly state infractions that can be
cited and the HSS Committee has been tasked by the Board of
Directors to review these infractions to make sure we are as current as
possible. The results will be out in the next month as the Board
minutes are ratified by the Board members that attended the meeting.
The question arises from some of you as follows: “Can the Village cite me for an infraction?” YES,
you are bound by the information contained in the Village Handbook and are giving numerous
chances to change your behaviour. However people still run stop signs, speed around traffic
circles not using proper traffic discipline, not stopping at the white stop lines painted at
intersections, as well as other sundry infractions. Expect citations if this continues.
The other question is “Does Security personnel have to be deputised?” NO.
You are in a Village and the Village can issue a citation from the Village Office as a Village
Infraction. You are following the Village Regulations by operating a Vehicle within the confines of
the Village. This was run by the Corporate Secretary and has been brought up in other Villages he
represents. Of course if you choose to not pay the fine and become in arrears, your automobile
will not be allowed access to the Village. Up to you if you choose to not pay it, however this will be
the outcome if and when the time comes.
One last item: Children. We love them, think they are cute, fun and make us all feel young.
However, children must be supervised. The Village Handbook specifically addresses that children
under age 10 must be accompanied by adult supervision. We have had complaints of children
running and playing in streets unaccompanied, and this is a recipe for disaster. Again, common
sense prevails here.
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We have numerous play areas and your children may have playmates nearby. We
are all in favour of this, but please have someone escort them. Cars and children
are a dangerous mix, take time, tell your household to follow Village rules and act
responsibly. Play safe and be safe, that is our motto.
Bougainvilleas - Yes more are
coming and you will get your fair
share
Village continuity is a agreement you entered into when you
moved into Ponderosa. The right of way as defined in the Deed
of Restrictions includes the strip in front of your house. That
area is supposed to have Bougainvilleas, which are the
distinctive colourful flowers you see as you enter from the
main gate on both sides of the road.
However some of us, unknowingly have removed them for various reasons over the years. It is a
requirement to have those as part of the road landscaping along all roads and the Village will be
replacing these in front of your property. The curb line area is specifically addressed in the DOR.
The property you own begins behind that. Your monuments (those concrete cylinders with
markings on them on your property, denotes your area, if they were not moved by your
contractor). Between the monuments and the curb is set aside for the Village.
Why? Because we have gaps in our beautiful streets where we have long stretches of beautiful
flowers, our signature flower, and gaps where there is something different. As part of getting back
to basics with our Village Renaissance work, we are going through identifying these areas and
eventually replanting these areas. Be advised you will see crews doing surveying of what is there
and what is missing. Eventually plants will be bought and installed in front of your homes.
Questions on the Deed of Restrictions? Look at the DOR in the Ponderosa.farm website, then call
our office if there are questions.
The facts from the Board Meetings- Get the Source
Information, not Second hand
information
Cherry picking facts from one older board meeting to make a
point for something much later is not knowing all the facts.
Some groups it seems within the Village has chosen to take this
tactic under free speech for various reasons. I am not here to
engage in debate, just to allow Village Residents access to legal
documented Board minutes so you can see for yourself.
As a Lot Owner, you are entitled to Board meeting minutes. Keep in mind the Minutes of a Board
of Directors meeting is ratified the following months meeting. This is to ensure that all members
present in the meeting agree that was what was agreed to before it is published as a matter of
official record, hence the delay. The Corporate Secretary is present during meetings and takes
notes, which are converted into minutes, which then goes out to board members, and at the
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following meeting, they approve the minutes as discussed and documented from the previous
meeting.
Some groups within this Village have publish unofficial conversations with editorial commentary
of meeting minutes. As an informed Lot Owner, we highly suggest to request and obtain the
official meeting minutes, to review what occurred and form your own opinion, not base what you
hear from unofficial sources that may tend to be biased and discredit actual decisions that may
have taken several meetings to determine by the Board. By law these minutes are correct in any
court of law, so you can rest assured that they are the truth.
All you have to do is come by the Village Office or contact us directly. We can provide you the
actual ratified minutes, including past ones, so you can see what actually transpired, not a part of
a decision process. Rely on substantiated facts, not rumour and innuendo.
Note: Village Office Email Address
Our new email addresses are configured and ready to receive and send emails.
Village Office - [email protected]
Village Manager - [email protected]
Village Accountant - [email protected]
Village Admin & Accounting Assistant - [email protected]
Village Technician - [email protected]
Inquiries on water bills and association dues have direct links to our website.
Inquiries on Water Bills - [email protected]
Inquiries on Association Dues - [email protected]
We hope you found this months newsletter informative. I look forward to more developments
next month. Angela Lowe
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