The Gull's Call - Jan/Feb/Mar 2025

AssociationNews Columbia by Sami Soogian, Association Manager COMMON AREA AND CURB STRIP LANDSCAPING: C OLUMBIA CONTINUES TO COLLABORATE WITH our landscape contractor to enhance the appearance of our curb strips and common areas. To ensure efficient maintenance and cost-effectiveness, Columbia is divided into five maintenance zones. This means that the landscape crew will visit your area every five weeks. If you notice any concerns or sprinkler issues, please reach out to Columbia’s Association Manager. HELPFUL REMINDERS FOR HOMEOWNERS: • Curb strips and common areas are maintained by the HOA. Only the landscape contractor is autho rized to plant in and maintain these areas. • Homeowners, DIYers, or privately contracted land scapers should bag or compost leaves and lawn debris—do not rake or blow debris into the street, as this can affect your neighbors. • Please avoid stepping on or damaging curb strip plantings. • Homeowners are responsible for keeping sidewalks clear of overgrowth from trees, plants, or shrubs. Please refer to Alameda Municipal Code 23-3.3 for more information. NEW LAW RESTRICTING WATERING OF HOA “NON FUNCTIONAL” TURF: California has introduced new restrictions on watering decorative turf. Assembly Bill 1572, signed into law by Governor Newsom in October 2023, mandates that prop erty owners—including HOA communities—remove or stop irrigating “non-functional turf” with potable water by the end of 2028. This restriction does not apply to single family residential homes. In response, Columbia is working with landscapers and EBMUD to develop replacement turf solutions, particular ly along the lagoon access trails from Sweet and Anderson Roads. A timeline for these changes has not yet been set, but updates will be shared as available. CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS: We invite homeowners to get involved and make a differ ence! Here are some volunteer opportunities:

• Landscape Committee: Work alongside the Asso ciation Manager, Landscape Committee Chair, and landscape contractor. Join monthly site walks to identify key areas for Board attention. • Project Architectural Committee (PAC): Review architectural applications to ensure compliance with Columbia’s Architectural Rules & Standards. Conduct final inspections once work is completed. ANNUAL PICNIC RECAP: The Annual Columbia Picnic on Swift Court was a resound ing success! It was a wonderful opportunity to meet neighbors and the Columbia Board of Directors while enjoying great food, and even some Mr. Softee ice cream. If you’re interested in helping with next year’s event, please contact Columbia’s Association Manager. Volunteer opportunities include: • Event setup and cleanup • Be Green: Help with trash, recycling, and composting (a great job for kids!) Thank you to everyone who contributed to making the picnic such a fun and memorable event! Harbor Pointe by James Allison M ONTHLY ASSESSMENTS FOR HARBOR POINTE owners will rise a modest 3.5 percent in 2025 after the board’s budget committee (John Wells and Lesa Ross) identified savings to offset the rising costs of insurance. The cost of insurance is one of the biggest budget challenges. It has risen 20 percent year-to-year and represents 25 percent of the Harbor Pointe’s operating budget. Notices of Annual Assessment were mailed out in November. In other news, Waterworks continues to near the finish line on the sewer lateral project, with a completion goal of this winter. The firm is working with EBMUD to schedule testing, which is dependent on the utility district’s availability. Finally, a clarification on the previous issue’s article about a neighborhood potluck: Luci Ackhart and Beth Sibley deserve credit for getting the ball rolling and planning the August 18th gathering. A total of 34 neighbors attended.

32 January | February | March 2025

The Gull’s Cal