November 16, 2012

Boulevard Tree Pruning - Are you interested in hiring a pro?

Dear Single Family Village neighbors,

As many of you know, the City of Hugo asked me to communicate with our residents about our boulevard trees. The City eventually wants to see a 12 to 15 foot clearance under each of Victor Gardens' boulevard trees. This will likely be an ongoing, multi-year effort. I posted an article regarding this on our website a few weeks ago. Click here for the full story.

Since our boulevard trees are owned by each of us individually and not by the association, residents may hire a professional to perform this service or do it themselves. Victor Gardens Master Association and its various condo sub-associations are hiring Goetz Landscape to prune their collectively owned boulevard trees.

Dan Steuernagel from Goetz Landscape asked me roughly how many Single Family Village homeowners might be interested in specially priced tree pruning this winter. Goetz would like to offer our Victor Gardens Single Family Village homeowners a deal:
For those of you who are familiar with our neighborhood's yearly discounted (bulk rate) lawn detaching, sprinkler blow-out, and core aeration services- it would work similarly:

  • Trees would be pruned for a flat per-tree price; regardless of size, age, species, etc.
  • All work would be performed by Goetz on one pre-determined "Pruning Day" in December. 
  • Homeowners would need to sign up with Goetz on before this date (granting Goetz permission to be on their property and to prune their trees). 
  • Homeowners would need to have a check and completed permission slip ready at their front door (hanging on a doorknob or under the mat) before Goetz arrived on the "Pruning Day". 
  • If no check and permission slip was left, then Goetz would not prune the trees. 

As a neighborhood, we haven't done this before. I'm a little uncertain how many trees we're talking about. Goetz Landscape could offer us a better deal if more trees were included in the "Pruning Day". Dan can set a price if he knows roughly how many homeowners are interested. More trees = a greater discount for everyone.

Here's my question for you all:  Please reply
If you're interested in Goetz Landscape per-tree pricing to professionally prune your trees and remove the pruned branches, please let me know the following:

  1. How many boulevard trees on your property would you wish to have Goetz prune?
  2. How many other deciduous (leaf dropping) trees on your property (in your front, side or back yard) would you wish to have Goetz prune?
Please email me in the next few days if you're interested, and please answer the above questions. I'll share the raw numbers with Goetz and they'll make an offer to us based on those numbers.

- Mark

VG Long Term Planning Committee Meeting set for Monday Nov. 26

The newly formed VG Long Term Planning Committee is scheduled to meet:

Monday, Nov. 26
7:00pm
Hosted by Kim Scanlan, 4767 Dahlia Way N. in the Creek Side Villas area.

Tamarack Nature Center's Upcoming Winter Opportunities


Here are a few highlights of upcoming programs offered at Tamarack Nature Center. More opportunities for all ages available online via this link Think snow!

  • Adult Yoga - Nov. 28-Dec. 19, 5:30-6:30 p.m., $32/person
  • Nature Photography Club - Sat., Dec. 15 & Jan. 19, 10 am - noon
  • Winter Bird Banquet - Sat., Dec. 1, 1:00-3:00 p.m. $6.50/person, plus $2/supply fee

YOGA FOR KIDS, Sundays, 3:00 - 3:50 p.m. Session I: December 2, 9, 16 $19.50 series; or $7.50 Individual classes Session II: February 3, 10, 17, 24 March 3, 10, 17$45.50 series; or $7.50 individual classes Ages 5-12 years

VISION QUEST - WINTER PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP-TWO DAY CLASS (for adults) - Sat., Jan. 12, 1:00-5:00 p.m. and Sun., Jan. 13, 8 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.$65/person for the two-day class

TAMARACK NATURE CENTER PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB - Third Saturday of each month Dec. 15, Jan. 19 and Feb. 16 10:00 a.m. to noon



You can also drop us an email with your questions or requests at:tamarack@co.ramsey.mn.us

November 15, 2012

SFV Board Meeting Tonight, 7pm at VG Activity Center

Victor Gardens Single Family Homeowners Association  (SFV)
Board of Directors Meeting
Thursday, Nov. 15 , 2012, 7:00 PM Victor Gardens Neighborhood Activity Center
Directors: Julie Bixby, John Roehrich, Josh Berger, Terry Forbord

AGENDA

1. Call to order:

2. Approval of Minutes:
a.    4-18-12 Board of Directors Meeting b.    4-24-12 Annual Meeting
3. Resident Forum:
a.    SFV residents are encouraged to speak to the Board, ask questions, raise concerns, etc.
4. Financial Report:
a.    Current Financials b.    Collections Report
c.    Status of Master Association payable.
5. Committee Reports:
a.    SFV AAC Report:
b.    SFV ARC Report:
i.    Improving Architectural & Landscape Change Application ii.    Summary of Applications

6. Management Report:

7. VGCA (Master Association) Report:
a.    Master Board:
i.    Grantaire Green and Main Entrance electrification project. (Mark is working with City of Hugo, Goetz Landscape and Connexus Energy.)
ii.    Holiday lighting installations. b.    Social Events Committee:
c.    Long Term Planning Committee:
i.    New group met first time on 11-8-12.
ii.    Next meeting 11-26-12, 7:00pm at 4767 Dahlia Way. iii.    Currently evaluating scope of work.
1.   Could include:
a.     Recommending uses of property near VG pool. b.     Monument signage
c.    Other areas identified by a survey.

d.    Master ARC:
i.    New builder, Colfax Companies New model home approved for
14254 Victor Hugo Blvd. near tennis court.

8. Old Business:
a.    Gazebo, picnic structure, postal station, etc. repainting schedule.

9. New Business:
a.    Beavers
b.    Boulevard tree pruning Action required/requeste by the City of Hugo. c.     Hugo sign ordinance enforcement

10 Review of Action Items
11 Adjournment

November 12, 2012

November 11, 2012

Single Family Village Board Meeting

The Single Family Village will hold a board meeting at the VG Activity Center this Thursday, November 15th starting at 7P.   A formal agenda is still being drafted but topics will include beaver damage, new construction updates, Master Board updates, financials and more.

As always, SFV residents are encouraged to attend. There will be a portion of the agenda set aside for a resident forum.

Hope to see you there!