September 13, 2010

Topics covered:

1. HOA Board monthly meeting September 13
2. The City of Indio has proposed Measure S (which is an increase in the Utility Tax from 3% to 5%) for the November 2, ballot. How do you feel about this? References: City of Indio mail circular of 9/2/10. Desert Sun Page Indio should vote to save vital services
3. What are your thoughts on either dropping charges or postponing the military tribunal of Al Nashiri the alleged mastermind behind the U.S. Cole attack. Reference: Wall St. Journal Page A14 Thursday 9/2/10. Washington Post Administration halts prosecution of alleged USS Cole bomber

national health care / California sales tax

This was the covered topic for our Monday, August 17 (changed from the 10th), meeting:

• What is the real Health Plan that is in Congress? Will it benefit us when it is passed? [sic]

See SCSHTD group (email archive) for past meeting notices. [It's been a privilege serving as chairman of the agenda committee. See my thoughts on that job. Also, see my entry on how SCPD does it.]

We touched on national health care recently. See my notes for our June 26 meeting.

NY Times opinion: Real Choice? It’s Off Limits in Health Bills , Get Real on Health Care

KCRW: Concierge Doctors: Primary Care and the Well-to-Do

AARP: Health Reform: Get the Facts

Newsweek: Give It To Us Straight

Here's one animated and simplified view.

I inquired with Lynn about when the homeowners would take control of the HOA. She replied as follows:

The governing documents do specify that the developer will lose 2 positions on the Board at the annual meeting following reaching 75% of the lots authorized in the tentative subdivision map being closed. Based on sales projections that I have been given by the developer that will not happen before the 2009 annual meeting but may happen prior to the 2010 annual meeting. I will be writing an article soon discussing the upcoming annual meeting as well as how all of this works as we progress from a majority of developer members on the board to a majority of homeowner members on the board.

And in the news ... some developers have walked away from their developments before completion. How has that affected the homeowners therein?

locally: Dream homes turning into nightmares

elsewhere: La Cresta near Orlando

I gave an update from resident Don Hauser about a/c problems; see my updated entry for our June 26 meeting. As regards such problems elsewhere, you might wish to look at this anecdotal site.

Housing Information Presentation

Our Housing Information Committee gave its presentation today to a full ballroom (from a full parking lot).  Here's a (Group) page with the agenda and some links.