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| Four Seasons Hemet Herald | MARCH 2018 | 5 Folks, the Annual Membership Meeting is approaching and will be held next month on Wed., April 25. This year, there are four positions up for re-election for two year terms. In mid- February, a Notice of Election and "Request for Candidates" form was mailed out to all owners of record, both electronically and via first class mail. The Notice of Election contains election information, qualifications for running for the Board, and a "Request for Candidates" form for those who are interested in volunteering to serve as a director. All owners in good standing are eligible to apply. If we receive more than four Candidate Forms, a "Meet the Candidates" night will be scheduled and communicated to the owners. Beginning March 19, the Annual Meeting Notice and ballots will be sent via first class mail to all owners. It is very important that you exercise your membership rights and vote! If you have any questions about the process, please stop by the Lodge. I, or Mari (our Assistant General Manager) will be happy to answer your questions. I cannot stress how important and costly the election process is to the homeowners association if we don't achieve a quorum, so please vote! Also, be sure and sign the top left corner of the "Green" envelope. Responsible Pet Ownership: We continue to hear reports that residents have been observed letting their dogs run loose on the golf course and along the HOA's emergency access road next to the golf course hole number 10 at California Ave. Not only is it a violation of the association's rules, it is also a violation of Sect. 10.6 of the Hemet Municipal Code. PLEASE KEEP YOUR PETS LEASHED AT ALL TIMES! If your dog attacks another dog or a person and it is off leash, your homeowner's insurance policy may not cover the claim, and it could be very costly to you. Also, and this shouldn't even have to be said, PLEASE be a responsible and courteous pet owner by not allowing your dog to relieve itself on other peoples' lawns. Always pick up your dog's waste. On a final note, I have heard from folks who say there is a perception from landscape contractors that the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) is difficult to work with and is very picky about approving plans. I thought it would be helpful to clarify and define their role. The purpose and objective listed on the committee's charter is: PURPOSE: To ensure that the overall aesthetics of the Four Seasons at Hemet community is maintained for the benefit of its residents. OBJECTIVE: To review all submitted architectural plans in a timely manner and respond with a written approval or denial. The members of the ARC support a green community and the five committee members are fellow volunteer residents who take their responsibilities seriously. They are not the "police" but they are charged by our CC&Rs to ensure compliance with our architectural standards. They work in conjunction with management and the Board of Directors in a collaborative effort to keep the community looking its best. The management staff makes every effort to assist residents when their yards become a maintenance issue, and the ARC works with residents when their homes need painting or they want to make improvements. Another issue with which the ARC has been struggling is residents making improvements without getting approval. When the owner/resident's contractor is reported to be doing work, or management observes or verifies this, the unapproved improvements become an enforcement issue. Management contacts the owner and sends a "cease work immediately" notice. The owner is then instructed on how to fill out the Home Improvement (Exhibit "A") application. Upon review by the ARC management representative and found to be complete, the plans are deemed submitted and calendared for review by the ARC. This process can take several weeks. Meanwhile, the contractor is waiting and usually heads to another job and the resident is caught in the middle. Additionally, and here's the bad part, if the plans are not approved, the ARC has the authority to require the owner/resident to restore the area to its original condition because the owner did not get prior approval. All this can be avoided by simply contacting the Lodge and speaking with Maria, our administrative assistant, who is in charge of the ARC submittal process. She attends the committee meetings and knows what to look for on your plans. If you're not sure, ASK! Thank you to all of you who read our articles. Happy St. Patrick's Day! A Message From Your General Manager By Rick Ruth, CMCA

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