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New watering restrictions for residents put in place by the Third Mutual Board are aimed at conservation during California’s record drought.
Watering of outdoor personal plants using exterior mounted hose bibs is now limited to two days a week – Wednesdays and Sundays. However, residents may use watering cans filled inside their homes to water their outdoor personal plants any day of the week.
Further, watering of any plants in common areas is not permitted at any time.
Third Mutual directors approved the resolution 8-0, with one abstention, at their board meeting Sept. 20, after a 28-day period for review and member comments. The restrictions took immediate effect.
The water coming out of the exterior hose faucets is potable water, rather than recycled water, the directors explained, adding that the use of a watering can to water personal outdoor plants allows for greater control over the water flow than use of a hose.
“You can take a watering can, fill it up inside, and walk outside and water your plants any day you please,” Director Nathaniel Lewis said at the meeting. “You cannot connect a hose to a hose bib and indiscriminately water anything except on the two specified days.”
The irrigation system for common-area vegetation, including the golf course turf, uses recycled water. If residents see that common-area plants or trees look distressed and in need of water, they should call Resident Services to adjust the irrigation system.
“We don’t want you using potable water where the irrigation system can be done with recycled water,” Director Jim Cook said.
A handful of emails came in for the meeting from residents opposed to the restrictions; some calling them “too restrictive” and “overreaching.” Several residents were concerned about enforcement of the new policy, with the potential for neighbors ratting on neighbors.
“That’s not the purpose of it. It’s to preserve our precious water supply,” said Director Donna Rane-Szostak, explaining that limiting the watering to the two specific days is precisely the way for Security to enforce the policy.
Director Cush Bhada offered a practical reason for the watering restrictions.
“The main reason we have set up this policy is that we control our resource, which is water,” he said. “If our water bills go up, then we raise our HOA dues, then we will have another uproar from our members. So this is to keep that in check – to keep our wallets in check.”
Nothing has been determined yet regarding fines for violation of the watering restrictions, Third board President Mark Laws said in an email.
“I’m hoping that anyone who is caught violating this new policy will stop doing so once they’re fully aware,” he said, adding that “the first violation will result in a ‘courtesy notice’ clarifying the policy and expectations.”
Also at the meeting, Kurt Wiemann, director of Landscaping Services for Village Management Services, added a comment on fruit trees in the Village: “Fruit trees and vegetable plantings are banned in common areas, and all existing fruit trees are removed when the units are sold.”
If the landscape department sees new fruit trees planted, the residents will be notified to remove the trees, he said. If the trees are not removed, the matter will go to the compliance department.
Third board members also discussed the proposed Inter-Board Anti-Harassment, Anti-Abuse and Anti-Intimidation Policy and Charter for Joint Hearing Body, whose goal is to have a clear and consistent policy throughout the Village to address claims of harassment, abuse and intimidation by directors to VMS staff, fellow directors and residents, and claims involving residents to VMS staff, directors and other residents.
The proposed policy was originally introduced in May to the Golden Rain Foundation, the United Mutual board and the Third board and has undergone revisions since then. It came before the Third board Sept. 20 for a final vote.
After nearly 30 minutes of debate, with directors and residents (both in person and via email) mostly weighing in against the proposal, the board voted 2-6, with one abstention, to not approve the policy.
The Third board will continue to follow its own existing harassment policy, Laws said in the email.
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