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We have at long last begun experiencing life in Ocean Hills that is closer to the norm we knew before 2020. Debates regarding mask-wearing seem to have disappeared from the walking lane on Leisure Village Way; we can enter and exit the Clubhouse without confrontation and drop by the swimming pool or hot tub whenever the mood strikes us. We have a canopy over the lanai and are again having our summer soirées. We are still tentative about some things and are still getting starkly conflicting advice from varying sources, but we are moving on with our lives. As I mentioned in my last President's Report, the Board has re- examined some opportunities for cost savings given the quality of our well water source. This is addressed further below as it was the subject of a lengthy discussion at the Board meeting on July 15. Meanwhile, work on the golf course continues and our contractor is striving to remain close to the original schedule. Most tees and greens have been graded, and drainage and water supply lines are being installed. Please note that almost all of the area around the golf course other than the "fingers" of land extending behind the homes is affected. There are many properties backing onto the golf course that appear to have benefited from "midnight gardeners" over the years and have special landscaping. The HOA and the contractor will not intentionally damage these areas, but please understand that installing the new irrigation system may affect that landscaping. Despite how much affection homeowners may have for those plantings, they are in the common area and belong to the HOA, not to the adjacent homeowners. We have had some minor setbacks to the renovation caused by homeowners' dogs being allowed to dig — and do the other unpleasant things they do — in the new sand. This has caused some delays and added expense to repair these areas. Dogs are not permitted on the golf course — not before, not now, not ever! Please respect our common property and keep them on a leash as our rules and the law require. Ballots have been mailed out for the annual election of Directors in advance of the Annual Meeting scheduled for Thurs., Aug. 19. While it is disappointing that we have more openings than we have candidates, it is very important that you mark your ballots and return them. We must have a quorum actively voting in order to meet our statutory requirements. In addition to the Director elections, there is the approval of the annual resolution to carry over unspent funds from the prior year into the next fiscal year. Once the election is over, the Board will need to fill the Director vacancy not filled by the election as soon as possible. For any of you who are interested in the rewards of serving your community on the Master Board, we encourage you to fill out the application on the website and throw your hat in the ring. Staffing continues to be a challenge. We have vacancies on the Clubhouse staff, maintenance staff and HOA Office staff. In addition, O'Connell is having difficulty hiring, Securitas continues to cover vacancies with overtime and extra shifts, and other vendors are struggling as well. Many of you may have noted this from your own experience in the local area, including the closure of restaurants or restrictions in their operating hours for lack of personnel. Give yourself a cookie for every "Help Wanted" sign you encounter and you'll soon have enough for a bake sale! The Board met in executive session on June 17 immediately following the Regular Monthly Meeting to address third- party contracts. We approved a revised proposal from Watkins Environmental to remove a length of transite pipe, backfill the trench and compact the soil for an amount not to exceed $16,050 to be funded from the Capital Improvement Account 9308 "Golf Course Irrigation/Well Conversion." (That work has now been completed.) The Board met for its Regular Monthly meeting on July 15 and: • Approved the Minutes of the Special Meeting on June 10 and the Regular Monthly meeting on June 17 • Approved the audit report for Fiscal Year ending March 31, 2021 from Newman and Associates to be distributed to the Members • Accepted the reports of the Executive Finance Committee for their meetings on July 9 and July 14 • Approved a series of fund transfers exceeding $10,000 • Approved a contract with Joe Bauer Construction to make cosmetic modifications to the front guard house for an amount not to exceed $2,190, to be funded from Reserves Account 3185 Guard House/Gate • Approved the reimbursement of $800 to a homeowner for repair of landscape damage due to a Master HOA irrigation breakage • Discussed at length the Board's exploration of lower cost alternatives for completing the well (Ultimately, the Board has not elected to take any action to alter the current plans, including the plan for construction of a small lake) • Announced that the golf course is not expected to be ready for play until the end of the year • Referred to legal counsel the issues surrounding a proposed sale of the vacant lot across Shadowridge Drive from the back gate • Appointed Bob Fisher to the Golf Irrigation Ad Hoc Committee replacing Paul Bellomo • Approved the donation of the old A-V equipment to Palomar College and to a Camp Pendleton organization • Referred several requests for Rule changes to the Property Access Committee • Approved the transfer of $2,605 in unclaimed property to the State of California in accordance with escheat law • Approved the use of the Overflow Parking Lot by the Garden Club and the Woodchucks on Nov. 13 for a drive-through fundraising event • Appointed Assistant Inspectors of Elections to assist with the Annual Meeting election • Reviewed and accepted guidelines submitted by the Citation Review Committee | OHCC LIVING | AUGUST 2021 | 3 President's Message By Gregory Kusiak Continued on page 4