Manager's Report

March 6, 2007

Today we have spaces 958 full, 781 owners and 177renters. This compares favorable with last years 764 owners 163 and renters for a total of 927.

These are busy times around here. We have a new board, many activities, a budget for fiscal year 2008 to prepare, and many visitors here in the park for Spring Break. And just in time for Spring Break, the weather has turned warm with no precipitation in sight. This is the Arizona we all know and love.

Because we have more children and grandchildren in the resort this time of year, I remind residents that the rules for both pools are posted. No children under 12 are allowed in the big pool. Because the weather is warming up so nicely, I remind all of you that it is necessary to make some allowances for other people’s guests by sharing the pools just as you would want others to share pool time and space with your own grandchildren. Remember, we are the adults and the grandparents of these kids also pay their assessments.

Last Friday, David Guthrie, from Insurance Services was in the resort at the request of our insurance company to rate our fire suppression sprinkler systems and fire alarms. Because we have the water flow tested and repaired annually and have the fire suppression hood over the grill in the kitchen tested every six months, we are in great shape. We are scheduled to have the system in the kitchen checked again on April 19^th by Metro Fire. We also have the appropriate K type fire extinguisher in both the front and back storage section of the kitchen. I am hopeful that our insurance rates will go down, or at least not up. The renewal is in June. Last year our insurance cost $26,000.

Many of you noticed last week that the East gate was malfunctioning. We had worn out the rollers. Not too surprising considering the number of times that gate is opened and closed. We also had to replace the battery back-up which opens the gate automatically if the electricity goes out.

We have ordered the new tables and chairs for the Navajo Room and the Small Card Room courtesy of the Activities Office. The Design Team and representatives from the card players worked together to find just the right ones. I hope we will take delivery before everyone leaves. They are a wonderful choice and will be a great asset to the resort.

An additional billiard table has been ordered to replace the Snooker table that doesn’t receive much use. The Billiards Club will trade in the snooker table and pay the difference of $2500 themselves. Hopefully, the additional table will provide space for more players and afford the Billiards Club with many hours of enjoyment.

Located at the front office is a sign up sheet for people who wish to have their palms skinned. A vendor is in the park skinning trees for $3 per foot. This is a good price, as others have charged as much as $10 per foot in the past. He is doing a good job and cleaning up after himself. He places a tarp under the tree and places the bark on the tarp and then hauls it away. Remember, palm trees are only supposed to be skinned until the underneath is wet or spongy. Palm tree trimming is a different process. Fronds are cut from the top of the tree and this is done by the resort during August. Both are messy projects.

If any resident wants to have his/her palm tree cut down, please see Larry Martin in the ARC office for a permit. A permit is necessary for any work done outside on your property. Just a reminder, palm trees that meet the criteria for damaging the curb, gutter or street, are removed by the resort at no cost to the resident. Other palms are removed at the expense of the homeowner. The rules have changed regarding palm trees: All palms removed must be replaced by either a windmill palm (pygmy Mexican fan) or pygmy date palm. These are the trees approved by the board during the 2003-2004 season. If the resort takes the tree down, replacement will be the expense of the HOA, but if residents have a palm removed, the replacement cost is theirs. If you have questions concerning the palm tree removal and replacement, please come see me or Larry Martin in the ARC office.

We repaired the wall behind the lift. It was bulging out which caused the lift to be off balance and rub against the wall. We plan to do a more permanent fix on the wall this summer.

As summer draws closer, I hear many people talking about leaving during the month or at the end of March. Please remember to check out at the office and if you haven’t done so already, find a caretaker for your property while you are gone. Caretakers provide the first line of defense against damage to your property during storms, etc. It is also a good idea to have them spray weeds so the resort will not be inundated with them during the summer. There is a list of caretakers at the front office from which to choose.

Don’t forget to stop and say good bye before you leave, so I can wish you Happy Trails and a good summer.