Many of you may have read about a proposal to increase the fees that the residential homes in Oakbrook, Oakbrook West, Camino South, and Meadowgreen pay to the Clear Lake City Community Association (CLCCA). As with any change, some favor and some oppose the proposal. While I understand the reasons some do not feel that this is a good economic time to put forth this proposal, the fact remains that our association is at a pivotal point in its life. The community must act now to save the organization for posterity.
The Clear Lake City Community Association (CLCCA) has never increased your fee in its 47 years of existence. Imagine trying to live in 2010 at 1963 income rates. It hasn't been easy for CLCCA! Recently, the budget has begun to get tighter and tighter, and increasingly more residents have asked my office to consider the possibility of increasing the assessment.
The legal documents that we have to work with leave much to be desired compared to others of this nature. On a scale of 1-10 (1 being easiest and 10 being hardest) these documents are a 10 when it comes to changing them. The greatest challenge in amending the Community Service Charge (CSC) document is that ALL landowners get a vote on an increase whether the fee applies to all or a few. Arguably, some land owners receive more benefits for their money than others because of the proximity of their property to our parks, pools, and amenities. To help address this shortcoming in our current fee structure, we have developed what we believe to be a fair and reasonable plan - for all dues paying owners. Please understand that a fee increase is needed, in order to avoid the possibility of closing any more of the pools, parks, or other amenities which have helped make Clear Lake - a highly desirable place to live for almost fifty years.
After reviewing both the CSC Covenant and the 15 Residential Deed Restrictions for the four main cores, the Board is presenting to the residential owners a proposal to amend the deed restrictions. This amendment proposes to create a second fee (flat fee) on top of the original CSC fee in order to supplement the finances for CLCCA. The amendment must be approved section-by-section in 15 separate but identical amendments. And each section controls its own destiny! The concern that the commercial owners control the residential owners' assessment is eliminated.
Under the proposed amendments, residential properties within the four main cores (Camino South, Oakbrook, Oakbrook West, and Meadowgreen, where amenities are mostly located) will be charged just $80 more per year, we will still be well below the amount neighboring communities currently pay. Additionally, pool and tennis access will be offered to all residents of the four main cores affected by the increase at no additional cost. Here's an example of a Meadowgreen resident:
CURRENT NEW
|
Annual CSC Fee $69.58
Swim Tags $105.00
Total Annual Expenditure: $174.58 |
Annual CSC Fee $69.58
Auxiliary Residential CSC $80.00
(Includes Swim & Tennis)
Total Annual Expenditure: $149.58 |
Overall Savings due to "increase" - $25.00
The money generated from the new fee will be added to the general fund for CLCCA. If the amendments are passed the operating budget will be adjusted to better accomodate deed restriction enforcement/oversight, more frequent common area mowing, and to help prevent further pool/facility closures, as well as replenish our rapidly depleting reserve funds.
In order to pass this amendment a MAJORITY of homeowners in YOUR Section must vote in favor. There are 15 residential sections! (Oakbrook - 4; Oakbrook West - 5; Meadowgreen - 3; Camino South - 3) Your vote is needed!!! Remember this amendment requires the approval of a MAJORITY of homeowners (not homes), so if more than one person legally owns your property, each person may vote.
Soon you will receive a letter similar to this one that includes an informational brochure, the specific proposed changes, and a consent form. Please review the information and return your signed consent form as soon as possible. We know that even after reading this information, you may still have questions. Therefore, to make sure that you have every opportunity to be an informed voter, we have planned several informational meetings for October 7th, November 10th, December 6th, and January 12th. Our goal is to have each and every amendment approved before next year's billing cycle.
Please review the information package and act! Without your support and action, CLCCA will continue to fall behind other communities, with the long-term potential that more and more of the benefits provided by CLCCA may cease to exist. We need your support today, and ask that you vote in favor of the proposed amendment by returning your signed consent form.
Sincerely,
Leslie Alvarez
Leslie A. Alvarez, CMCA, AMS, PCAM
General Manager
Clear Lake City Community Association, Inc. | 
