2020 Pool Closing for the Season


There might be some hardy polar bears left amongst us – but with the advent of cold weather, we will be formally closing the pool for the season on Monday November 23, 2020.  See you next April!

Also – while we have your attention – please don’t forget our last Scoops note on trash containers! They must be put away out of sight from the street or neighbors. Thanks!

Summerfield Scoops – Oct 2020


In this issue:

  • Pool Season Extended
  • Pool Maintenance
  • Pool Service Phone Line
  • Trick or Treat… or Not?
  • Scooters and Minibike Alert! Drive Safely!
  • New Green Waste Trash Bins
  • Fire Season Preparedness
  • HOA Contact Info and Board Members for 2020-2021
  • Owner’s Calendar
  • New to the Neighborhood? Change of contact info, new renters, new POA/Owner’s Representative?
  • Feeling Social?

Pool Season Extended

The Board has agreed to extend the pool season beyond the normal October 31 closing date, possibly to the end of November, weather permitting.

Please note that our solar heating system is a passive system which can only bring up the normal water temperature by about 10 degrees or so, depending upon the amount of sunlight. As the nights get cooler and the days shorter, at some point the pool will be unable to be warmed enough to be usable.

 


Pool Maintenance

We’ve had a number of inquiries about pool cleaning and maintenance and wanted to make sure we provided the following information.

  1. The pool is cleaned and checked for chemicals three times per week during the pool season. We have verified that the cleaning does take place as scheduled and that the chemical levels are maintained at safe levels.
  2. Water clarity has been a periodic issue this year with the water becoming “cloudy” at times. This seems to be the result of higher pool usage levels and may be related to things like sunscreen lotion dissolving in the pool water. The board is considering remediation measures which may include changing out the pool water in the upcoming off season.
  3. We have also had feedback that at times, there are numerous dead insects floating on the pool surface. Other than having the pool cleaned more frequently (which will be considered), this is an issue that will probably need homeowner assistance to remove dead insects (using the net at the pool) between cleanings.
  4. Another cleanliness issue is the existence of a “greasy” line on the pool tile at water level. This is very likely the result of various skin and hair lotions dissolving in the pool, floating on the water, and then sticking to the tile at the water line. The Board is considering periodic cleanings of the tiles during the pool season to address this issue.
  5. The cleanliness and condition of the pool plaster are also under review. During the upcoming off season, the Board will seek and review professional input to determine if anything is needed at this time in the way or maintenance or replacement of the pool plaster.

The community pool is the primary asset of the Summerfield HOA. The Board appreciates input regarding the pool and we hope to maintain it as a valuable recreational asset.


Pool Service Phone Line

We have added a phone line to be used when there is an urgent issue at the pool relating to sanitation, maintenance or safety. Please text this number or call and leave a message.

‪(858) 848-1026‬

 


Trick or Treat… or Not?

Summerfield has historically hosted hundreds of kids going door to door on Halloween evening. With the COVID-19 restrictions, many are concerned about what to do in the current situation.   Even the usual Nextdoor.com “Treat Map”  has removed the listings of where treats are given out and instead lists where people will decorate, have displays or dress up in costume to wave at neighbors.

Door to door trick or treating is not recommended by San Diego County: LINK   They do suggest alternative activities, please see their bulletin.

The CDC describes door to door trick or treating as ‘high risk’: LINK 

There was a good discussion on our Facebook group that many participated in, and as was pointed out – we do not have control over who enters our neighborhood, but we suspect most will decide not to participate.

If you usually give out treats but are not this year, you may wish to use the typical signal of turning off your porch light to signal that you will not be handing out treats. Another idea is to put out something like a ‘No treats this year – See you next year!’ sign.

In the end, no matter what your personal decisions are, please be respectful of others.


Scooters and Minibike Alert! Drive Safely!

We have seen a number near miss accidents involving small motor bikes/scooters in the neighborhood – please make sure to operate any motorized bikes in a safe and legal fashion (some bikes are not legal to operate on city streets!) Please consult the DMV website on miniature bikes, classes of motorcycles and the motorcycle handbook. This article may also be helpful. Stay safe!

Concerning cars speeding through the neighborhood, the board has previously been in contact with Poway traffic engineering, but the more residents that raise the issue, the more likely it is to get addressed.  You may wish to consider contacting them or the Traffic Safety Committee,  a member of the city council or the mayor to raise the issue as you personally see fit. Please note more information about “Traffic Calming” measures here. Level 2 measures (like speed bumps) have very specific requirements.

The speed limit within our neighborhood is 25 MPH, and we have a LOT of kids at play here. We encourage all residents to observe the speed limit and drive with caution at all times. If you see a delivery driver speeding, it may be more effective to get the vehicle number and call that delivery company and report any concerns. For example, if you receive an Amazon delivery and are asked for feedback through their site – and that driver was speeding, give them that information.

Help keep Summerfield accident free!


New Green Waste Collection Bins

EDCO has distributed the new green waste bins. Note that they no longer accept yard waste in bags or your own containers – we must use the bins they provide. You can get more or swap for smaller ones.  Please see their newsletter for more information: LINK

Please don’t forget our Architectural Standards requirement for ALL the trash collection bins: Placement of trash containers in front of a dwelling is restricted to a twenty-four hour period surrounding a scheduled pick-up. After pick-up, empty containers should be stored in the garage or behind the fence out of sight of passers-by on the street.


Fire Season Preparedness

We hope that we do not have another wildfire like the one in 2007 that caused our neighborhood to be evacuated— but it still fire season, and we should all stand ready to respond if needed.
We encourage everyone to subscribe to AlertSanDiego. This is the county’s “reverse 911” emergency notification system and the City of Poway’s primary resource for contacting you in an event that needs your immediate attention, such as an evacuation due to fires. All landlines are automatically a part of this database, but by registering your email address and mobile phone number, you won’t miss a notification.

Getting prepared for earthquake, storm, fire and utility outages? Check these links: http://poway.org/410/EmergencyPreparedness
https://www.sdge.com/safety

This has a list and map of major fire incidents.  http://www.fire.ca.gov/current_incidents
Useful Twitter account: https://twitter.com/CALFIRESANDIEGO


HOA Contact Info and Board Members for 2020-2021

SUMMERFIELD HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION
PO Box 28143, San Diego, CA 92198
[email protected]
https://summerfieldpoway.com

SHOA Board Members
• Tom Halfaker, President 858-774-4103
• Kim Caterina, Architectural Chair 858-859-1724
• Brad Phillips, VP & Secretary
• Michael Spring, Treasurer
• Bob McCleary, Special Projects


Owner’s Checklist

  1. Remember to get architecture committee pre-approval for exterior changes (paint, lawn, mailbox, etc.)
  2. New renters? Selling? Let us know!

 

New to the Neighborhood? Change of contact info, new renters, new POA or Owner’s Representative or Property Manager?

New owners and renters should learn about our community rules by reading the “Summerfield Community Information” document in the General Information section of the Policies & Procedures page.

Please email the HOA at [email protected]  to notify us of any changes in your contact information, changes in renters or new individuals with Power of Attorney or Owner’s Representatives or new Property Management company info. This newsletter and other important community updates are sent to all owners, renters and property managers via email as requested.

Note: Owners are required to provide and the Board is required to keep a current list of all owners and renters contact information. (California Corp. Code §8320(a). and Civ. Code §4740(d).)

Please keep us updated, so we can keep you updated!

 


Feeling Social?

Converse with the neighborhood on these independent websites— a great way to keep updated.  Need an invite? Contact us by email! [email protected]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/summerfieldestates/  https://summerfieldpoway.nextdoor.com/

Pool is OPEN!


We are pleased to announce that the Summerfield Pool is being opened in compliance with the county’s requirements.

The following are notable rules from our reopening plan we all need to observe:

  • Use First-In, First-Out (FIFO) approach when the pool appears to be nearing the recommended maximum capacity (15 in the pool, 30 on the pool deck.)
  • Maintain a minimum of 6 feet between persons not from the same household.
  • Avoid entering the pool facility if you have a cough or fever.
  • Wear face coverings when not in the pool.
  • Do not engage in unnecessary physical contact.
  • Use personal chairs and tables in lieu of HOA-owned equipment
  • Clean/disinfect restrooms after each use. EPA-approved cleaning supplies are provided.
  • Bring your own water in non-glass containers. Do not use the water fountain.
  • Do not use the pool area for large gatherings.

The SHOA Board thanks and commends the Pool Committee for their community spirit. Members are:

  • Sarah Orr, Chair
  • Mike White
  • Brooke Nevels
  • Christy Glenn
  • Francean Williams

Please support their hard work by complying with the rules and thanking them (in an appropriately socially distanced way, of course!)

For more information, see:

2020 Annual Update Presentation Posted


Dear Summerfield Homeowners,

As was indicated in a recent letter sent to all Summerfield Homeowners,  we have published this year’s version of the slide presentation which is usually presented at the annual SHOA meeting held each year in May. We are not holding the public meeting this year due to legal restrictions associated with the Covid-19 virus.

Link to presentation on the website: 2020 SHOA Annual Presentation

Two important points to make at this time:
1) Annual dues will not change this year. The amount is $320 per household. Invoices will be sent in the month of June.
2) The community pool remains closed until we are allowed to safely open it within regulations not yet issued by the County of San Diego.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact the board via email at [email protected].

Thank you,

The Summerfield Homeowners Association Board

Pool status update


We’ve had several questions about opening the pool.

The May 10, 2020 San Diego County health order states

13e: To enhance recreational opportunities in the county, private and public golf courses and, other public or private outdoor recreational facilities (other than community pools per State order), including recreational equipment (such as bicycle, boat, kayak, equestrian and surfboard) rentals may be open for limited use.

The order also states:

28: To the extent necessary, this Order may be enforced by the Sheriff or chiefs of police pursuant to Government Code sections 26602 and 41601 and Health and Safety Code section 101029.

Additionally, our pool operating permit is issued by San Diego County. We do not want to endanger our ability to open the pool as soon the county permits by taking measures that they oppose.

We realize that the rules are updated frequently, and we are watching to see what opportunities we will have to safely open the pool.

Thanks for your continued patience and understanding.
SHOA Board

WE NEED NEW HOA BOARD MEMBERS!


February 23, 2020

Summerfield Homeowners:

I am writing this on behalf of the Summerfield Homeowners Association (SHOA) Board of Directors.  Versions of this letter have been sent annually to Summerfield Homeowners seeking new volunteers for our Board of Directors.

In May of this year, we will be holding the annual election for SHOA Board Members. Please consider if you can volunteer to run for the Board.  The time is now to step forward and help preserve the benefits of the SHOA.  They are:

  1. Our dues are extremely low!  We pay only about $320 per YEAR in HOA dues.
  2. We have a beautiful neighborhood with well-kept homes!  This is the direct result of an active SHOA Architectural Committee and proactive standards enforcement.
  3. We have a great shared community pool!

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS FOR OUR
 HOMEOWNERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Your SHOA board is a five-member team of volunteers who meet monthly for a couple of hours.  In addition, board members typically spend an additional four to eight hours per month conducting board business.  Is this something you could do on behalf of your neighbors and community?

Please help us keep Summerfield the great neighborhood it is (with our low HOA dues afforded by volunteer governance).  Respond directly to this email with your interest to participate or contact one of the board members listed on the SHOA website summerfieldpoway.com.  Any of us would be happy to explain how the board operates and what you could expect if elected as a member.

You are also welcome to contact me by phone at 858-774-4103.

Thank you,

Tom Halfaker
President
Summerfield Homeowners Association

 

Crime and Safety Update


We are sorry to report that there have been at least two catalytic converter thefts in our neighborhood and more in the surrounding community in recent days.  The week before that, we had thefts of items from cars overnight. There are reports in Rancho Bernardo of mail being taken from mailboxes. And recently we had yet another side impact (T-bone) accident at the stop light at Summerfield and Espola.

We wanted to take this opportunity to raise awareness and provide some links to potentially useful information.

The ‘Crime & Safety’ section of NextDoor.com is a good place to receive and share local alerts.  See our 2019 annual meeting presentation for some tips on getting the most out of Nextdoor.

Pubic Safety and Services Contacts & Websites

Our Public Safety and Services web page has contact information for the Sheriff, services for daily crime email alerts (CrimeMapping.com), Cal Fire current incidents info, AlertSanDiego reverse-911 emergency alerting in the event of fires and links to other general emergency preparedness information.

Catalytic Converter Theft

Catalytic converter theft is a major problem since the catalytic converters can be very quickly cut out from a car or truck’s exhaust system and sold to a scrap dealer (for the platinum and other precious metals in them) for hundreds of dollars. Replacement can cost thousands of dollars. See: ABC10 4S Ranch video. The Poway Sheriff posted the following information on https://nextdoor.com/news_feed/?post=118082057

Vehicle catalytic converters can be targets for criminals due to expensive materials that are used in their manufacture. Tips to protect your vehicle include:
* Park in your garage or a secured area when possible
* Consider welding your catalytic converter to your vehicle frame
* Calibrate your car alarm (if you have one) to be vibration-sensitive
* Engrave your VIN on your catalytic converter
For questions about how to keep your vehicle safe, or anything related to crime prevention, please contact the Poway Station’s Crime Prevention Unit at (858) 513-2810.

Please note that there is discussion that welding the converter may not work, or may cause other problems. Some are recommending a ‘CatClamp’. Please see the discussions on NextDoor and do your own research.

Surveillance Cameras

  • If you are considering putting in video cameras, the reviews at sites like these may be helpful as you make your decision:  Toms Guide, WireCutter and PC Magazine.
  • In general, higher resolution video is better.
  • Infrared night vision systems will not work through a window.
  • WiFi connected systems may not stay online all the time if there is enough signal interference.
  • Battery powered systems will need to be recharged – sometimes the first day after you’ve left on vacation (speaking from personal experience here…)
  • Determine if the features you want require a monthly subscription in addition to buying the camera.
  • When installing systems, be sure to consider California regulations governing recordings: Ask a cop: surveillance cameras  and Home Security Camera Laws California: 3 Facts to Surprise You
  • And of course bear in mind – video cameras may serve as a deterrent and evidence in the event of a crime, but are no guarantee of safety.
  • If you are considering getting the ‘Ring’ video monitoring system – you may be interested in trying out the ‘Ring Neighbors’ app – it allows you to receive information from Ring system users about crime and safety reports (and sometimes local videos of coyotes and mountain lions), and is free and available to anyone whether using the Ring cameras or not.

Mail Theft

There have been videos and reports of cars cruising through RB going from mailbox to mailbox late at night. Apparently some checks have been stolen and the name on the check altered.  If you decide to change out your mailbox for one that locks, please remember to submit an Architectural Improvement Form. If you do experience mail theft or tampering, please be sure to report it to the post office.

Safety On Our Streets

We want to take this opportunity to remind everyone to be extra cautious when exiting the neighborhood at the Summerfield/Espola light. There have been multiple accidents at this intersection over the years. The board has previously been in contact with Poway traffic engineering, but the more residents that raise the issue, the more likely it is to get addressed.  You may wish to consider contacting them or a member of the city council or the mayor to raise the issue as you personally see fit.

The speed limit within our neighborhood is 25 MPH, and we have a LOT of kids at play here. We encourage all residents to observe the speed limit and drive with caution at all times. If you see a delivery driver speeding, it may be more effective to get the vehicle number and call that delivery company and report any concerns.

We have a number of small motor bikes in the neighborhood – please make sure to operate these vehicles in a safe and legal fashion! Please consult the DMV website on miniature bikes, classes of motorcycles and the motorcycle handbook, and stay safe!

Fire Season Preparedness

We hope that we do not have another wildfire like the one in 2007 that caused our neighborhood to be evacuated— but it is fire season again, and we should all stand ready to respond if needed.
We encourage everyone to subscribe to AlertSanDiego. This is the county’s “reverse 911” emergency notification system and the City of Poway’s primary resource for contacting you in an event that needs your immediate attention, such as an evacuation due to fires. All landlines are automatically a part of this database, but by registering your email address and mobile phone number, you won’t miss a notification if you’re away from home.

Summerfield Update for Architectural Standards and Assessment Collection Policy


Please see (Summerfield-HOA-Architectural-Standards_2019-07 redline) for a revision to the current architectural standards document. We ask you read it over and share any feedback with the board.

This is a ‘redline’ markup showing the additions and deletions. We will post an updated version after collecting comments for 30 days.

Summary of changes:

  1. Update to match current California Civil Code concerning enforcement of governing documents and dispute resolution.
  2. Renaming ‘Solar Units’ as ‘Solar Energy Systems’.
  3. Changes to comply with California Open Meetings requirements.
  4. Clarification that an officially declared drought overrides the requirement for watering lawns.
  5. Update from mentions of ‘CC&Rs’ to ‘governing documents’ to conform usage to current Civil Code 4150.
  6. Addition: Broken, ripped, and/or damaged window coverings need to be replaced.
  7. Clarification that the Board is responsible for decisions concerning violation notifications and fines.
  8. Clarification that owners are responsible for their guests, invitee, tenants and/or agents actions.
  9. Revision of enforcement procedures to invite an owner to a violation meeting prior to imposing any fines; to allow for suspension of voting rights or use of recreational facilities as a potential penalty; removal of violation appeals section (since the violation meetings with the Board will have already taken place).

Additionally, please see (SHOA Assessment Collection Policy 2019-07-15) for a revision to the Assessment Collection Policy. It has been extensively revised by counsel to match current California Civil Code requirements.

Please email your comments to [email protected].

Thank you!

2019 HOA Meeting Wrap Up


The meeting Wednesday night (May 22, 2019) was well attended. Thanks to all who participated and those who couldn’t attend but sent in their ballots (we needed 88 and we had them!)

Brad Phillips was re-elected to the board for a 3 year term, and Michael Spring was elected for a 3 year term, taking over for Kevin Lowitz.  Many thanks to Kevin for his service to the community!

We encourage everyone who may have any followup suggestions, questions or concerns to send them in to the board at [email protected].   Official election results will be posted after the next board meeting. The annual letter and presentation are available for review: