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12 | THE COLONY NEWS | JANUARY 2021 | COMMITTEE NEWS By Jane Payne January has always been a time of looking ahead, planning and setting goals. So, I would like to share with you some of the projects that we will be working on in 2021. TURF RENOVATION: G-13 (on the SE side of Colony Drive behind Via Isabella) is the last area to be renovated, and we plan on finishing it early in the year (January/February). WATER DISTRICT REBATES: During the first quarter, we anticipate receiving the turf renovation rebates from G-9, G-23, G-24 and G-13. Once the work has been approved, The Colony should receive rebates in excess of $185,000. NUTMEG GATE AREA: We are sprucing up the plantings around the entry and the newly constructed walls, which should be completed in the first quarter. SLOPES: Maintenance on the slopes will begin in February with the removal of the large, long-leaf Acacia and adding additional plantings. We will be starting with G-21, W-14, G-22 and W-15 and working our way clockwise around The Colony. G-53 (aka Boulder Yard): Located on the corner of Colony Drive and Avenida Florita behind Calle Lampara, this is currently a dirt lot with trees and a natural spring that goes under Colony Drive from W-5 to the golf course. This area is in the design stage, and we anticipate getting a proposal to the HOA Board this winter and landscaping the area in the spring. The New Year also makes me think about our new residents. I moved into The Colony three years ago and remember how much there was to learn. So, until the orientations begin again, I will be adding a section in the Landscape article for NEW RESIDENTS. This month I will focus on terminology. "G" or GREENBELTS: Within The Colony, we have 53 greenbelts or common areas. These are areas that you can enjoy walking by, and some have walking paths through them. They are each numbered and referred to as G-1, G-2, etc. Each is listed with its location in The Colony Telephone Directory on pages 67-68. "W" or WILD BELTS: There are 15 wild belts within The Colony and they are listed in the directory on page 69. These are very natural areas and not intended for walking. The most familiar one is W-5, which is at the north end of Avenida Florita off Colony Drive. GOLF COURSE FINGERS: There are about 10 sections of golf course property which are inside The Colony. Two of the most visible are on the opposite sides of Colony Drive off Avenida Florita. These areas are private property and we do not maintain them. WATER COSTS AND USAGE: Each month the LAC tracks the actual water costs versus the budget and usage compared to prior years. Below is an update as of the latest water bills from November 2020. The LAC spreads the annual water budget according to the historical usage based on the time of year. YTD as of November 2020, we show the cost is over budget by $10,930, or four percent. Please keep in mind that the current water budget of $367,904 was reduced by 13 percent from the prior year (FYE 4/30/2020 was $425,000) and the cost of water continues to increase by 4-5 percent each year. We compare the amount of water used to an average usage over the past eight years. This takes into account the turf renovation savings and changes in the weather. The good news is that YTD the usage is down 11 percent or 9,145 HCF (hundred cubic feet). MAINTENANCE UPDATES: As the growing season slows down, we are now in a seven-week cycle (versus five- week cycle) in maintaining the ground cover in the front yard planters, along the streets and trimming the shrubs. Also, Environmental Concepts is also doing a "hard" or lower trimming of the shrubs to ensure they stay within The Colony trimming standards. LANDSCAPE ADVISORY Landscape & Tree Concerns For all landscape and/or tree issues, questions, or problems, call The Colony Landscape line at (951) 698-0731. For after hours and weekend irrigation emergencies only, call the Main Gate at (951) 677-0238.

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