To help ensure that the beauty of our neighborhood is not diminished by neglectful homeowners, the Board has enacted a Lawn Maintenance Policy that establishes basic standards. Most already go well above and beyond these standards but the new policy enables the Board to hold those who don’t accountable. To read the new policy, select from the main menu above “HOA Business”; submenus “Records & Documents”; “Policies.”
Category Archives: Records
Amended Governing Documents Are Now Valid & Enforceable
The amended governing documents that were approved by vote of the Homeowners were recorded with the Rockwall County today, which means that they are now valid & enforceable. Homeowners will be receiving paper copies of these documents within sixty (60) days.
Homeowners Approve Amendments to CC&Rs & Bylaws!!!
It’s official! The Homeowners have spoken!
During tonight’s Board meeting, the votes in the Ballot Initiative were tallied and recorded resulting in at least sixty-seven percent (67%) of all homeowners in Quail Creek approving all amendments to the CC&Rs (Initiative #1) except for Amendments to Articles 4.8b, 4.8h, & 8.2. Seventy-one percent (71%) of homeowners also approved the newly amended Bylaws (Initiative #2). The amendment loosening the garbage can restriction (Initiative #3A) passed with sixty-nine percent (69%) support and the amendment to loosen the restriction on signs (Initiative 3B) also passed, capturing seventy-five percent (75%).
However, sixty-seven percent (67%) of homeowners rejected the amendment loosening the trailer restriction (Initiative #3C), where it garnered just thirty-three percent (33%), or one-third(1/3) homeowner support. Of the sixty-seven percent, twenty-seven percent (27%) voted to tighten the restriction with the rest preferring to keep the restriction as is. What is clear from the vote is that the overwhelming majority of homeowners do not support the storage of trailers in Quail Creek.
State law dictates that for any amendment to a declaration to pass it must have 67% approval of all homeowners (not those who vote, but all homeowners). Therefore, anyone that did not submit a ballot effectively voted to reject the amendments being proposed.
Remarkably, sixty-one out of the sixty-nine eligible members of the Association participated in this initiative including eleven of the twelve homeowners in Phase 1!
As part of the effort to protect and ensure the integrity of the process to tally the vote, all ballots were scanned & digitized. Only the voter signature pages (that include the homeowner’s name and ballot ID number) will be kept from distribution (both the digital files & hard copies of these signature pages will be kept on file indefinitely).
The Board hopes to have the revised CC&Rs & Bylaws recorded with Rockwall County by the end of next week, which will make the instruments official. Copies of the newly amended CC&Rs & Bylaws will be distributed to Homeowners soon. They will also be made available to homeowners on the “HOA Records” page on the HOA website.
“Recount of Votes Policy” Adopted in Advance of Ballot Initiative Vote Tally
A Recount of Votes Policy was adopted during Tuesday’s regular Board meeting to help ensure that the Association will not be responsible for the costs associated with such a request. The policy mirrors Texas Property Code Section 209.0057(b), which requires any party making the request to pay all costs associated with a recount unless the recount changes the results of a vote, wherein the Association would then be responsible to reimburse the requesting party/parties.
This comes on the heels of a frivolous open-records request by a homeowner who was demanding that the Association (fellow homeowners) foot the bill for the time and materials invested for “all” records in the Association’s possession. However, just days before the request the Board adopted the Records Reproduction & Copying Policy in accordance with Texas Property Code requirements, which would have cost homeowners several hundreds of dollars, had the policy not been in place. After standing it’s ground to require payment from the homeowner in accordance with the policy and after a final threat of legal action by the homeowner against the Association, the Board closed the matter when the homeowner in question failed to respond within 30 days to a certified letter demanding prepayment.
The vote tally will occur during an open meeting of the Board where homeowners may come and observe. The process to tally the ballots was reviewed during Tuesday’s Board meeting to help ensure that the process will be open and transparent to help alleviate the need for any homeowner to question the results.
Board Adopts New Fine & Enforcement Policy
By unanimous consent, the Board adopted the first Fine and Enforcement Policy. This policy establishes the guidelines for the Board when enforcing the CC&Rs against homeowners who are out of compliance as well as the rights granted to homeowners under the law.
Article 7.15(a) of the CC&Rs establishes that fines assessed may not exceed the then in effect annual assessment, per violation. For homeowners, this means that beginning January 1, 2015, the maximum that any homeowner may be fined is $319 per violation, which is equal to the 2015 annual assessment. This does little to motive those who wish to disregard the restrictions and pay the penalty instead. This is why, the policy establishes that once the violator has reached the maximum allowable fine amount based on the set timetable, the immediate next step is for the Board to seek injunctive relief.
If successful, the non-compliant homeowner shall be accountable to the court from that point forward, for as long as they own the property. Therefore, the decision for the Board to file with the court now becomes the non-compliant homeowner’s to bear. Pursuant to the law, the homeowner will also be required to pay all legal costs associated with the case.
NOTE: Beginning January 1, 2012, the Texas Legislature enacted new laws governing HOAs in the Texas property Code, which requires all HOAs to adopt a Fine & Enforcement policy, among others. The Bylaws, under article 3.04, grant the Board the authority to adopt, publish and enforce rules and regulations (policies). The law firm of Horton & Archibald provided the Board with a set of draft-ready policies for the Board to adopt, which is the template that was used for this policy.
Harvard Bus. Prof.: Faith’s Influence in Respect for the Law
Click to view video
YES, this applies to our Quail Creek HOA!
Dr. Clayton Christensen highlights (in this short (1:39) video) the catalytic impact of religion in America to provide order. He argues that as Americans abandon their faith, so too is the rule of law.
As in society today, most in our neighborhood abide by the “Covenants” voluntarily, not for fear of a Board that may enforce, but because their faith drives them to live in ways that demonstrates love & respect to neighbors.
Quail Creek’s system of governance by a Board comprised of neighbors, elected by neighbors, is established on the expectations that homeowners desire to live within the constraints of established written guidelines, memorialized formally at closing, by signing a “covenant,” or promise. When it comes to these agreed and established guidelines then, the fundamental purpose of a governing body is simply to hold one another accountable to promises made, not to deny or suppress the rights of anyone.
For a Board to deny a person’s rights would mean that the homeowner never signed the governing instruments. That someone may not have read, or fully understood the promises made upon signing is inconsequential to their responsibility to abide by the guidelines. Therefore, when it violates its fiduciary duties by failing to uphold the governing documents, the Board denies and suppresses the rights of the majority in favor of the minority.
Following the logic of Dr. Christensen, that someone may insinuate that a governing instrument of the Association is somehow invalid &/or unenforceable, or argue that others are not held to account, would make little difference to a person of faith as a promise made is a promise kept.
Despite Christensen’s assertion that faith makes a difference in voluntary conformity of law, or in our case, “restrictions,” people of faith can still act defiantly by disregarding their promises made. Whenever this happens, a homeowner is exhibiting disrespect and contempt to neighbors and for the guidelines that they committed to uphold. Greater still, disregard for these promises can often communicate a great deal about a person’s faith or belief in, and about, God.
Driving Responsibly: A Resolution & Appeal
By unanimous consent, the Members of the Quail Creek Homeowners’ Association, on October 21, 2014 during the Annual Meeting plead for all members to consider the following resolution for the protection of our community.
A RESOLUTION FOR RESPONSIBLE USE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE INSIDE OF THE QUAIL CREEK SUBDIVISION
Whereas, Quail Creek is a family oriented rural neighborhood, which requires a “commuter lifestyle” for most;
Whereas, many Quail Creek families drive multiple vehicles in and out of the neighborhood several times each day;
Whereas, people of all ages walk &/or run as well as ride their bikes in and around the neighborhood;
Whereas, there are many children who are part of our community ranging in ages from newborn to high school;
Whereas, children sometimes play &/or congregate on our streets;
WHEREAS, children can run onto the street without regard or respect to oncoming traffic;
WHEREAS, studies demonstrate that children do not match adults in their ability to detect an automobile’s approach, where they cannot reliably detect a car approaching at speeds higher than 20 miles per hour and is why the third leading cause of death for children ages 5 to 9 years old is getting hit by a car, and children up to age 15 make up a disproportionate number of pedestrian casualties worldwide; [1]
Whereas, at various times of the day and night there are children on our streets that operate low profile, conveyance devices, like tricycles, pedaled and foot propelled cars & trucks while others operate motorized vehicles like golf carts, go carts, motorcycles, scooters, and many others that that lack motor vehicle visibility & safety standards;
Whereas, children that operate conveyance devices of any kind on our streets and driveways can exhibit erratic control and perform unpredictably;
Whereas, in violation of neighborhood restrictions, there are occasions where Quail Creek family pets run loose, on our streets into oncoming traffic;
Whereas, the homes in Quail Creek have large stone/brick mailboxes that can easily conceal the presence of a person or animal from an oncoming motorist;
Whereas, in an effort to ensure safety for all, the subdivision was established with a posted speed limit of 20mph to help ensure that motorists have ample time to react to changing conditions;
WHEREAS, excessive speed above 20mph can pose a danger to the safety and well being to anyone who is on or next to the streets;
Whereas, the combination of excessive speed and driver distraction is the single greatest contributor of motor vehicle fatality accidents against pedestrians inside of neighborhoods with posted speeds of 30mph or less;[2]
Whereas, pedestrians in Quail Creek expect motor vehicles to adhere to the established and posted speed limit;
Whereas, driver inattention and excessive motor vehicle speed can be common for families in Quail Creek whose schedules are hectic and where time is precious;
WHEREAS, distractions that come from inside a vehicle can further inhibit a driver’s ability to observe and react to unforeseen obstacles on a street;
WHEREAS, distractions include talking to passengers, eating, drinking, adjusting the radio, and most alarming of all is the use of mobile phone devices, especially texting, which requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver;
Whereas, some motorists in Quail Creek are observably inattentive or distracted and fail to obey the posted speed limit and/or stop signs;
Whereas, many neighbors have observed close calls that could have resulted in the injury or worse to people, other vehicles, and/or property;
Whereas, in a County as large as Rockwall, it is unlikely that local law enforcement can dedicate time to enforce the posted speed limits or stop signs; and
Whereas, for homeowners, honoring the posted speed limit and stops signs is less about adhering to the law and more about showing respect for neighbors as well as demonstrating care and concern for the safety and well being of everyone.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, as Homeowners and Members of the Quail Creek Homeowners’ Association, affirm our care and concern for the safety and well being of all who use our streets, especially the children who are vulnerable to being hit by a motor vehicle, and declare our commitment to drive responsibly as a demonstration of our respect to others while operating a motor vehicle on the streets of our neighborhood.
RESOLVED, we shall hold the members of our family who operate a motor vehicle inside of our subdivision to the same standard.
RESOLVED, when we observe our guests &/or visitors failing to meet these standards, we will encourage them to drive responsibly when operating a motor vehicle on the streets inside of the Quail Creek neighborhood.
[1] Reference: Why Kids Get Hit By Cars, by Wray Herbert; March 15, 2011, Association for Psychological Science. http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/news/full-frontal-psychology/why-kids-get-hit-by-cars.html
[2] Reference: Distraction.gov, the official US Government website for Distracted Driving (http://www.distraction.gov)
What is a Covenant?
A “covenant” is an agreement or promise by one to another. Originally derived from the Bible, it is one of the oldest historical terms of legal validity known to exist whereupon it reflects a one-sided promise that is irrespective of what others may do. The CC&Rs, technically, Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, & Restrictions, is a homeowner’s promise to live by certain standards for the benefit of the neighborhood.
Some have argued over the seeming unfairness that some were granted the right, through a variance, to violate certain restrictions and because of that have stipulated that they too are rightfully deserving of a variance How a neighbor may or may not abide by the Covenants doesn’t change our responsibility to comply, however.
That we may take exception with one or many of the restrictions contained in the governing documents does not change the fact that we, by signing the document at the time of purchase, agreed to uphold our responsibility to abide by them, which include any and all amendments.
Notable Changes to Texas Property Code
The 2011 Texas Legislature enacted major changes to the Texas Property Code, especially as it relates to HOA’s. These changes, most of which went into effect on January 1, 2012, have had a dramatic impact on Quail Creek and the manner in which we are governed. These changes have been highlighted in the attached document.
Over-Regulating Rule Violations?
By HOAleader.com…………………….
Do your HOA’s board members patrol the grounds with a cautcha-breakin’-the-rules mentality? One Michigan HOA resident thinks hers do.
She recently revealed that her HOA’s board members routinely cruise the grounds in golf carts noting minor breaches of the HOA’s rules. In her case, she was sent a note that the dog waste bag she’d set outside her garage (until she could remember to access the garage–and thus her garbage bin–through her unit) needed to be removed. Sure, she was probably breaking a rule for a few hours. But was it really necessary to send her a note?
Here, our experts explain whether boards can be too punctilious, irritating good neighbors and even pushing those owners away from volunteering and participating in HOA governance. We also offer tips on knowing when to mention violations and when to give owners time to correct the violations themselves.
When Vigilance Turns into Pickiness
“Overregulating is just as bad as not enforcing your governing documents,” explains Robert M. DeNichilo, an attorney at DeNichilo & Lindsley LLP in Irvine, Calif., who specializes in representing community associations. “Enforcement has to be reasonable. Is it reasonable to not give someone a chance to rectify a situation before you’re immediately on them?”
Violations are violations, right? So why shouldn’t you just kick out violation notice after violation notice if you see even a minor infraction? That can dampen community spirit. “It fosters the negative image that many people have of HOAs because they’re overregulated,” says DeNichilo. “HOAs are supposed to be preserving and maintaining property values. The whole goal is to make it a nice place to live. By overregulating, boards aren’t doing that. That’s why it falls into the category of unreasonable enforcement of CC&Rs.”
Of course, your board has to be aware of violations. “I think it’s good to be vigilant, but you can certainly take it too far,” agrees Matthew A. Drewes, a partner at Thomsen & Nybeck PA in Edina, Minn., who represents associations. “It’s a reasonable concern for an association or board to make sure they’re not allowing violations to go unchecked for lengthy periods of time and making sure there aren’t noxious or harmful things being left untended.”
The answer may be to make your inspections routine and expected. “We always encourage boards to do routine, community-wide inspections, unless they’re responding to some kind of complaint or concern,” says J. Roger Wood, an attorney with Carpenter, Hazlewood, Delgado & Wood PLC in Tucson, Ariz., who specializes in representing community associations. “In some communities it’s every six weeks. I have others that are more fastidious. But I don’t have any concerns about the golf cart drive-by as long as it’s what the community is expecting. Some HOAs are very strict. Obviously, when you’re driving by every day, there are going to be more letters. You’re going to catch people before they have a chance to do anything about the problem, and that’s frustrating to owners.”
How to Handle Violations
You can’t ignore owners’ violations. But are there instances in which you can give owners a little time to fix the problem? “The HOA is charged with enforcing the CC&Rs, and it has to enforce them equitably and consistently,” agrees DeNichilo. “So your actions depend on the violation. Everything goes back to being reasonable. Bagged dog poop left out is very different from someone who hasn’t sought approval starting a home construction project. One you have to act immediately on. But the other, is it really worth spending on the violation? If it hasn’t happened before, do you really need to send a letter?”
Drewes agrees that there are gradations of violations. “If there’s a violation that’s not dangerous or likely to cause panic in the streets and chaos to ensue–and the owner appears otherwise to be a law-abiding citizen–reason may say you may get away with giving them time to cure. Or you may knock on their door or call them.
“Sometimes people get a little defensive because the board is contacting them,” adds Drewes. “I had a situation where the board sent out a preemptive letter to six home owners who happened to have units on a street where there was no parking because the street’s on a tricky curve. One of those owners has had problems with the board in the past and immediately assumed she was being singled out. There will be those misunderstandings, and the best you can do is to try to be reasonable and send a nonthreatnening communication. It might say, ‘I noticed that… Please let us know if there was a reason or problem that led to that situation because we don’t want to run into complaints about it.'”
But you can’t ignore violations because you don’t want allegations that you’ve waived enforcement or you’re treating owners differently. “My advice is not to disregard violations that are brought to your attention,” says Drewes. “Think about whether they need to be addressed. What HOAs are specifically worried about is waiver. In Minnesota, that’s the voluntary relinquishment of a known right. Your behavior should be at least adequate to show that you’re not conceding a violation is OK.
“Maybe it’s OK if it’s something that occurs temporarily, but then you have to be cognizant of the fact that another owner might see the violation occurring or react negatively, thinking another owner is getting a break they didn’t or conclude they don’t have to comply with the rule themselves,” adds Drewes. “If you don’t have any written record that you followed up on the violation, you’re subject to the argument that you communicated it was OK or failed to communicate that it wasn’t OK. The argument will be that Joe got a letter, but Sally didn’t, and they’re treating Joe differently because of some protected classification. A well-meaning treatment of a violation can land an HOA in a tough spot.”
Drewes is dealing with a potential violation issue right now. “It’s a 55-and-over community, and the declaration says no children under 18 may stay more than 30 days in a calendar year,” he explains. “Nobody’s standing at the door checking names and days on the calendar to make sure it’s exactly 30 days. But the HOA does need to pay attention.”
Explain Your Violation Process
Be sure any notices you provide also explain the entire process of hearings and fines. “If you’re doing routine inspections, you should have an enforcement process to go with it so owners know what’s going to happen,” says Wood. “A knee-jerk board fining owners for thousands of dollars of violations before it gives owners a chance to cure–that’s a problem.
“Be courteous in giving people time to correct the problem so they know the first violation isn’t the death knell,” adds Wood. “If you’re inspecting regularly, the letters have to be equally friendly, saying something like, ‘We’ll come back in another three weeks, and it’ll probably be fixed by then.’ You’ll always catch people after the infraction if you’re doing routine inspections. What happens in that next step is where boards run afoul of the law and courtesy to their neighbors.”
Also remember that you’re not an HOA czar. “Sometimes board members think being a director gives them powers,” says DeNichilo. “But the source of the board’s power comes from acting together. When board members are walking around and spotting violations, they should report them to management just like any other home owner would. Then the board would get together and review them to determine whether to send violation notices.”
Posted August 2011