August 2020 E-Newsletter

Table of Contents

Preserve Vistoso and The Conservation Fund Partnership Update

In July 2020, the Town of Oro Valley announced the postponement of neighborhood meetings for Romspen’s proposed General Plan Amendment and Rezoning applications regarding the Vistoso property until the spring of 2021. This will provide additional time for the proposed open space purchase negotiations to continue between Romspen and The Conservation Fund (TCF).  See more details HERE.

Our partnership with TCF is a major step forward.  We are pleased to report that TCF is now in escrow to purchase the property subject to an executed formal contract that it has with the property owner, Romspen.  As part of TCF’s due diligence during the coming months, steps will be taken so that TCF may evaluate the property’s finer details including, but not limited to, the results of a future appraisal report that will establish the fair market value of the property.  Ultimately, if TCF is successful with its negotiations with Romspen, TCF intends to use its internal “Revolving Fund” to provide the ready capital for the land acquisition. TCF also is working with the Town of Oro Valley to establish mutually acceptable terms for the property to become part of the Town’s public open space area.  TCF will place a conservation easement on the property to ensure that it is preserved as public open space and protected in perpetuity.

While Preserve Vistoso is not a party to the negotiations with Romspen, we support TCF and are focusing on raising funds to replenish TCF’s Revolving Fund that will be deployed to acquire the Vistoso property.  While fund-raising efforts began prior to TCF’s involvement, Preserve Vistoso is confident that our community will continue to give and support this important effort to secure the benefits of open space for years to come.  The Preserve Vistoso Board of Directors thanks its members for their support and salutes two founding Preserve Vistoso members, Rosa Dailey and Tom Stegman, for initiating contact with TCF.

Preserve Vistoso is offering virtual ZOOM meetings to provide key updates about our progress to protect the Vistoso property so that it will be used as a public nature preserve and community trail. These informative meetings will provide you key details about our fundraising efforts and any outstanding matters that concern the property.  We’re ensuring these meetings are held with small groups so that each attendee has adequate time and opportunity to gain insight about the project.  To schedule a virtual meeting or obtain further information, please contact Gerald Bren, PV Board of Directors, at [email protected] or call (612) 834-8891.  We also offer socially distanced in-person presentations and conference calls with our team. The permanent protection of this property means it will remain public open space forever.  For general inquiries or information on ways to give towards the preservation of the Vistoso Property, please contact Kirste Kowalsky, Arizona Field Representative for The Conservation Fund at [email protected].  Additional details are also at https://www.conservationfund.org or PreserveVistoso.org

Message from the Manager: Colleen Holland

As I surpass my one-year anniversary as the Vistoso Community Association General Manager I am pleased with the progress we are making throughout the community, both on the common area and in our governing processes.  A part of this progress that we are making is the increased participation of YOU, our homeowners.

The Vistoso Community Association (VCA) is over 6000 homes, condominiums and businesses strong and growing. The Board of Directors and staff, on their own, cannot possibly meet all the wants and needs of a diverse community such as ours. We need your help. Volunteers are the lifeblood of a community. Volunteers are the people we count on.

One of the best ways to serve our community is to volunteer to be on a committee. Committees provide many critical functions for our community. They assist The Board of Director’s by giving information and advice on matters that the Board will have to make decisions on. Committees are where some of the best ideas come from. Committees are your opportunity to have input into how your community functions. By serving on a committee you are helping not just yourself but your friends and neighbors. You are part of the solution. You can make a difference.

I invite you to bring your ideas and interests for the betterment of your community.  Please visit the VCA Website to review Committee activities and join today! As we progress, new committees will be formed giving more homeowners an opportunity to participate. 

Message from the President: Sarah Nelson

When I look at my calendar, the first thing I notice is that we are four short months away from Thanksgiving. How is it possible? It feels like I have lived a year’s worth of hard days since the last time we met in the VCA Board room on February 27th. Although there have been many distractions (dare I call an international Pandemic a “distraction”?) over the months that keep us socially distanced, we are hard at work. We are embracing and mastering the use of technology that keeps us functioning at a high level with our Board and Committee requirements as well as staying in close touch with FirstService Residential (FSR) management and executive team members as well as department heads at the Town of Oro Valley.

As an outcome of the 2020 Board of Directors election and subsequent resignations, the required 7-member Board now has 5 new members, several of which are new to our community. All board members have spent over 30 hours in trainings, provided by many community resources. The FSR management team keeps us focused on building and implementing best business practices to move us forward with solid, sustainable procedures and policies. We are all working overtime to clean up a bit of a backlog of projects, plus bring into focus the current necessary maintenance and reserve projects.  

We live in a beautiful and peaceful community. Keeping it beautiful and peaceful is, in fact, purposeful, and it takes each one of us to contribute and participate. FSR staff is available daily to answer questions and provide information. There are several easy ways to connect to us.    Phone, email, meeting times. My hope is that you will consider downloading the ZOOM app and join us for board meetings and committee meetings.  

I invite you to visit our updated VCA Website and check the calendar for upcoming meetings.  You will find information how to join the conversation on the calendar events. All meetings are open for our members, with the exception of Executive sessions. In response to our member requests, we are now sending out monthly digital newsletters through Mailchimp. Please sign up for the newsletter HERE.

We welcome volunteers – many of the committees have more individuals than are required by the committee charter because the community members want to participate in the conversation by contributing experience, skills, and abilities.   It gives me great joy when joining a committee meeting and listening to conversation led by community members about community needs.

Lastly, I want to assure you that I am 100% focused on leading conversations that ensure our community will be beautifully maintained and peaceful. We will continue to work with homeowners to ensure private property is maintained appropriately. When we work together as neighbors, we will exceed all expectations – it truly takes all of us moving in the same direction.  I appreciate the confidence you are showing in the Board of Directors – we are listening. I hope to see you on ZOOM!  

Stay safe and healthy!

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Sarah J Nelson, President, Vistoso Community Association

August Landscaping from AAA

The AAA information for August includes caring for grass, flowers, and vegetables along with helpful tips for pruning trees and shrubs as we move into fall.

Remember the important Care Tips for this month:

  • Don’t over water
  • Watering at night can lead to fungal disease
  • Don’t add fertilizer to dry soil

Download the full color flyer and all the Tips for August HERE.

AAA-Flyer_aug-Web-Content

Share Your Photos!

The VCA would like to share resident community photos in the monthly newsletter.  Please consider sharing your photos (for use in the VCA newsletter only) by sending them here:

[email protected]

Compliance Update

In July, 2019 a new paint palette for homes in the VCA was introduced.  Thank you to those homeowners who have repainted their homes and there are still homes in need of repainting. In addition to citing the standard property violation, the Compliance Coordinator will now begin sending out violation letter to homeowners whose houses need repainting.

To review the paint palette, visit the VCA Website. When planning to paint your home, an Architectural Request Change Form (ARC Form) is required and approval is needed before starting the project. The ARC form can be found HERE. Please return forms to the Assistant Manager, Trenais Bryant at [email protected].

ARC Forms are also required for any exterior modifications that are done to the property, including backyard modifications prior to the project commencing. Examples may include but not limited to adding/removal of landscaping, adding rock, painting,  pavers, etc.

The Compliance Committee is currently updating the VCA Fine Policy with anticipation of an approval at the August 27th Board meeting. As a follow up to July’s article, remember that overnight parking as well as sidewalk parking is prohibited. Thank you!

Congratulations to Alexa Byrd, the current Administrative Assistant, who has been promoted and will be moving locations to another FirstService Residential community in Tucson. A warm welcome to Michell Alvarez, the new Administrative Assistant/Compliance Coordinator for our community. You can reach Michell at [email protected] or call the onsite office at (520) 354-2729.