Below is a recap of important items coming out of the HOA open meeting Tuesday, September 21:

• The golf course owner, Morgan Creek, LLC, responded last Friday to Placer County’s 28 pages of questions concerning their application for development. Our attorney is reviewing the submission. We’ll provide more details as they become available.
• The resignation of two members of the Landscape Committee was announced by Chris. Volunteers needed. Much of the open forum centered on landscape issues including landscaping complaints and issues surrounding the resignations. Key issues are how contracts are let and contractors managed as well as how the Committees interact with Associa and the Board. Following attempts at gathering more accurate information this will be discussed in more depth along with suggestions for further action in a follow up Post next week.
• It was announced that the remaining four lots of the seven lot townhouse development on Morgan Creek Lane have been resold to a new developer. The ARC is reviewing plans. The good news is this means the HOA can finally start collecting dues on the properties. About time!
• Safety committee reported that two speed monitors have been installed, one on the north side and one on the Pinehurst side. They are moveable and only monitor speed, no cameras. Apparently two cars were clocked on Westchester at over 50mph? Hopefully they’ll make a difference. One owner suggested speed bumps on Morgan Creek Lane, a hot spot for violations.
• We have a Welcome Committee. It was announced they pass out welcome bags to each new resident, eighteen in the last few months!
• Citing local residents for parking violations while visiting others in the community was a significant discussion topic. The Safety committee and the board have been looking at changing the CC&R’s to address this. They currently prohibit residents parking in the cutouts. This BLOG has a simple suggestion to mitigate the issue. It will be addressed for comment in a subsequent Post.
• One owner suggested that the accounting system used by the community does not properly account for reserves, expenditures and budgets. More clarification is needed. The board recognized that, though legal, we have been underfunding our reserves. They indicated that we are increasing allocations to catch up. More and simpler reporting may be needed to improve transparency. Currently we receive voluminous financial statements for year-end with no easy to understand analysis or commentary.

As always, comments are encouraged.

The Homeowners meeting will be held next Tuesday at

Creekview Ranch School – Multi-Purpose Room
8779 Cook Riolo Road, Roseville, CA 95747

As far as we know, there are no new developments to be discussed concerning the golf course.

The Board has agreed to discuss some of the issues raised by two members of the Landscape Committee in their resignation letter, including progress on the villas common area. Since landscaping is one of the areas which should be of concern to all of us in keeping our community attractive, we urge you all to attend to find out what’s happening and ask any questions you may have.

An Open HOA Meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 20th at 6pm at Sierra View Country Club, 105 Alta Vista Avenue, Roseville. The Golf Course Preservation Committee will be available, and our attorney will be there to answer questions about the Application filed with Placer County to develop homes on the golf course. If you have any questions for our attorney, please email them if possible to Vicky at vicky.lentz@associa.us so he can be better prepared. There will be an open forum as well.

Show your support. Be there.

Below are the results from the Landscape survey put out to the community in June.  We received a total of 71 responses, 9 from Town Square and the rest from the McOwners blog.  Of these responses, 60% came from the North Side, 30% from Pinehurst and 10% from the Villas.  One clarification: “hardscape” does not mean cement, but barks, stones and other non-turf landscaping solutions.  Based on this, the Landscape Committee will be evaluating options and making recommendations th the HOA Board. Thanks to all who responded.

SURVEY/QUESTIONNAIRE RESULTS 

Villas Greenbelt: 

• If refurbished, I would use the putting greens regularly            12.5% 

• I would use the putting greens, but don’t think we need 3        21% 

• I would like to see less lawn and more use of

          hardscape/drought tolerant plants                                   36% 

• I would use permanent 4 seat tables for gaming                        6%

• I would use permanent benches for sitting, reading,

           conversation                                                                 24.5% 

• I don’t wish any changes to the current greenbelt                      0% 

• I never use this area, so it doesn’t matter to me                        0% 

Comments: – Would like to see an additional bocce court with seating – Repair existing bocce court – No picnic tables & benches – Like ambiance of Villas greenbelt 

President’s Park: 

• I use the horseshoe pit                                                             7% 

• I would like to have another game area installed such as

           bocce or corn hole                                                          21%

• I would use permanent picnic tables and trash receptacles

          for family or group activities                                             29%

• I would like to see this area converted to hardscape                   36% 

• I do not want this area to change, it’s fine the way it is                7%

• I never use this area, so it doesn’t matter to me                          0% 

Comments: – Add bocce (x2) – Want pickleball (x2) – Needs shade over picnic tables 

Pinehurst Park: 

• I use this area for children playing                                              17%

• I would like to see adult game area installed                                12% 

• I would like to see some of this area converted to hardscape         12% 

• I would like to see benches and tables installed                            42% 

• I do not want this area to change, it’s fine the way it is                 17%

• I never use this area, so it doesn’t matter to me                            0%

Comments: – Want bocce on south side (x3) – No more hardscape – Want off-leash dog park with doggie bag trash stations – Clean up gate entry area, it looks bad General comment: Change CC&Rs to encourage blue oak trees and other drought tolerant plants for this community

An Open HOA Meeting will be held on July 20th at 6pm at Sierra View Country Club, 105 Alta Vista Avenue, Roseville. The Golf Course Preservation Committee will be available, and our attorney will be there to answer questions about the Application filed with Placer County to develop homes on the golf course.

Here is the full application with numerous Placer County comments, questions, and requests for more information.

Clearly this is not a rubber stamp application. Here is just one example of an information request:

“Financial Analysis of Golf Course Operations: The project description includes information stating that the cost of golf course operation and maintenance relative to golf course revenues does not support continued operation of the golf course, though the claims do not go so far to state that revenues are inadequate to cover cost of ownership, operation, and capital upkeep.

If the project proponent desires the County to consider these factors in the analysis of this project, a financial analysis of the golf course operations should be provided. Due to likely concerns pertaining to the sensitive proprietary nature of this data, Placer County can arrange, at the applicant’s sole expense, to have an independent third party financial consultant receive and review golf course financial data and prepare an independent report to disclose its findings without disclosure of sensitive financial data. That information may be useful in evaluating the feasibility of the project and the EIR analysis of alternatives to the project. In absence of an independent review of financial information, the County staff cannot take these statements as fact and evaluate their merits as they apply to the project nor prepare any findings relative to these claims.”

Please read te whole, fascinating document and, if you can, email your questions for our attorney in advance to VickyLentz vicky.lentz@associa.us. This will help our attorney prepare for specific questions.

EDUCATE. PATICIPATE. YOUR INPUT IS VALUABLE.

As always, comments welcome.

Here is the latest from the HOA Board.

“The Application from Morgan Creek LLC is still going through the various departments in the County for comments. This comment process could be done by June 18th and then the County would probably get back to Morgan Creek LLC by the next Monday, June 21st. The Community will be notified on the outcome of this process. This is a frustrating time in this process but letters to the Planning Department at Placer County do make a difference. You can write or email Alex Fisch, Supervising Planner, afisch@placer.ca.gov and EJ Ivaldi, Planning Director, ejivaldi@placer.ca.gov, 175 Fulweiler Ave, Auburn, CA 95603. Your Board does have legal arguments against the development and continues to work everyday through our Attorney to Save the Golf Course and our home values and the values of this beautiful open space in Placer County.

~ Sent on behalf of the Morgan Creek Board of Directors”

If you haven’t done so yet, please write. Tell your friends and neighbors to do so as well. Please see our “GLOVES ARE OFF” Post from June 1 for some suggested topics.

We recently put out a call for volunteers to help form a small committee to prepare print and distribute a flyer, door to door.  The intent was to raise awareness of what is happening with the golf course plans to build homes, and to tell people how to stay in touch and get involved, principally through this BLOG and Town Square.  Our sincere thanks to the many who came forward and volunteered.

Since our last post, we have been in touch with the HOA.  They have urged us to Unite and speak with one voice.  They are reforming a committee called the Golf Course Preservation Committee.  We’re told  the committee already has a plan in place to do the flyer we were proposing. 

It has been going on three weeks since Morgan Creek, LLC submitted their development proposal to Placer County.  This Blogger believes the Community needs to unite and be prepared to send a strong message ASAP.  However, we are open to giving the HOA and the Golf Course Preservation Committee a chance to get the ball rolling.  Therefore, for all of us, and especially those who volunteered, I propose we wait a week or two to let the Committee act to get the word out.  If they need help, we will pass on the list of volunteers.  Failing that, we will let you know how to proceed.

For those of you who responded to the call to write letters to County officials, thank you.  For those who have yet to write, PLEASE DO!  The addresses can be found in the June 1 post on mcowners.com.  

There will be a West Placer MAC meeting this Wednesday, June 9 at 6:30 pm. This will be the first in-person meeting in a long time. It is at Dry Creek Joint Elementary School District Office, Community Room B, 8849 Cook Riolo Road, Roseville. Morgan Creek is not on the agenda. However , there is always a public comment time, each person having 3 minutes to voice their opinions and concerns of community interest.

As with the recent Zoom meeting, we urge you all to ATTEND if possible to continue speaking out against golf course development.

Also, please save the date, July 14, for another MAC meeting, same place and time. There is a chance Morgan Creek will be on the agenda. We’ll let you know as the time gets closer.

You received an email notice of an earlier post, “Landscape Committee Needs Your Input”. It was not made clear in the email how to complete the survey. In that email you need to click on the Post title. That will redirect you to the BLOG where you will find the survey. Thanks for your participation.

To view the questionnaire from your email , please click on the title above which will direct you to the BLOG.

The Landscape Committee would like your input on how we can bring our community together through better use of our common areas. It has come to our attention that not all residents are aware of the various facilities throughout the community. Some common areas include:
• The Greenbelt area in the Golf Villas (3 putting greens maintained by the Golf Course and a bocce ball court);
• President’s Park near the lake (a horseshoe pit);
• Pinehurst Park (children’s play area);

In addition, with drought, the cost of irrigation continues to climb,
so, we are also seeking ways to cut back on the lawn
areas which require a great deal of water.

From this email, click on the Post’s title above. You will be sent to the mcowners website and see the Questionnaire. Answer the questions and provide additional comments. Check all that apply.

We will use your suggestions and present your ideas to the HOA Board for their consideration. We will announce the survey results as well in a future BLOG post.

Please return your comments by June 20th. We look forward to hearing from you.