Question About VG's Websites

Question:   

On Apr 6, 2008, at 11:17 PM, (name removed) wrote:

Here all along I thought I had the correct website for information but I guess not.  Please remove the old Victor Garden website or else there are others who are also going to be having problems with this.  I signed on to the other site about 6 months ago.  I found a note attached to my door otherwise I would not have known it was different.

Thanks

Answer:

Thank you for your very good question.  The answer needs a little background explanation.  

Unfortunately the information on the http://victorgardens.lightblast.net site has been outdated for about two years now.  You might not have realized the posts are old because there is no year clearly attached to the postings.  If you read through them, most posts and other HOA documents are over a year old and no longer relevant.   From what I know, the only thing that the "Intranet" site is used for now is to publish the Neighborhood Activity Center's Calendar.

If you had been relying on information from the lightblast "Intranet Site" you would have missed a lot of news and announcements from the last year or more.  The Developer put that site in place in Victor Gardens' early years for marketing reasons and to inform residents at that time.  Unfortunately with budget cutbacks, no serious effort to update that site has happened in years.   A similar condition can be found in the outdated content of the marketing website for the neighborhood,  http://www.victorgardens.com  The "Intranet Site" is also expensive for the Master Association to host ($660.00).  For this and other reasons,  I believe in the next year, the old, original "Intranet" site may be taken down permanently.  

A year ago, after complaints from many residents I decided to do something to improve the situation.   I started a new website,  http://www.victorgardensnews.org   and have since regularly updated it with current neighborhood news, information, events and announcements.    Since then Jason Lanpher and Nikki Lanpher have been instrumental in continuing the effort to improve communications.  They've built a new resident-based email subscription list website.   Residents serving on a proposed new Master Board along with the various new Committee Chairs will use these lists to deliver their news and announcements right you your inbox.  Debra Bean and Matthew Collins, also part of our "Communications Group" volunteered to distribute the flyers you found at your door.  Our hope is through these efforts, residents will do a better job informing residents.  

I invite you to sign up, and register your email address with our resident-based http://lists.victorgardensnews.org .  Register for the lists that interest you.  You can also view current and past news articles and events notices published on our resident-based website:   http://www.victorgardensnews.org     To be clear, neither of these new sites rely on any Master Association funding. They're free for our residents.

Thanks again!

Mark

Neighborhood Clean Up Day - April 26

Website Upgrades

Victor Gardens News has been improving since it began last year.  Features have been added, speed has increased, and navigation has been simplified.  Opinions and comments are easier to add than ever before.  Many new search options are available too. Keyword browsing and a search field at the top of the site connects readers to the information they want. We hope you like using the new site.  

Pages of our old site are being phased out in the next few weeks. You may see a mix of both for a little while while everything is migrated over.  There is always room for improvement so please report any bugs or broken links to mark@victorgardensnews.org 

Sump Pump Issue to be Discussed at Annual Meeting

Victor Gardens Groundwater Study Complete.

Residents affected by groundwater, flooding, and sump-pump problems are urged to attend the upcoming April 16 Annual Meeting. 

Hugo’s Development Director Bryan Bear, informed me yesterday that the City had completed it’s groundwater survey in Victor Gardens.  Mr. Bear offered to discuss the results of the survey, and respond to resident questions at the beginning of the Single Family Village’s 6:00PM Annual Meeting on April 16.

The meeting will be held at:

Hugo’s Rice Lake Centre

6900 - 137th St. North  

click here for map & directions

6:00 PM

Board Advisory Group Met with City Staff

Yesterday, members of Victor Gardens’ Board Advisory Group met at City Hall to discuss the proposed turnover of the Victor Gardens Community Association (the master HOA) and the Single Family Village Association.  

The group met to discuss legal and financial issues as homeowners consider assuming control of the two associations.  A punchlist of unfinished developer projects, city projects, and items the Association is responsible for were also discussed.

More specific information will likely be available in the next week or so.

Another New Builder?

Here’s an item that someone brought to my attention regarding unsold Victor Gardens Single Family Lots.  It appears that a company, North Country Builders, is offering Victor Gardens lots for sale.   Among their many listings from a variety of neighborhoods is a price list itemizing the remaining unsold lots in the Victor Gardens Single Family Village.  (This doesn’t include Ryland Homes or Pratt’s Creekside Villa areas).  

North Country is not the first company to offer these lots for sale. Last year, CPDC’s alley-loading lots along Victor Hugo Blvd & Cossette Lane were MLS listings found on Edina Realty’s website including illustrations of Hartman Homes.  At this time, it’s unclear whether the North Country Builders website listings are outdated or whether they have a new relationship with CPDC and the Beard Group.    

I have not been informed by CPDC or The Beard Group of any recent news about lot sales efforts or marketing plans. 

To view the North Country listings, click here: http://www.northcountrybuildersinc.com/lots.html

Master Association Transition Meeting, April 16 at 7PM

The Victor Gardens Community Association (the master association) will be transitioned at the upcoming Annual Meeting.

Wednesday April, 16 at 7:00 PM

City of Hugo - Rice Lake Centre

6900 - 137th Street North (click for Map)

It is very important that everyone attend this meeting or return your signed proxy so that a quorum can be reached and Members can proceed with the meeting.  Proxies should be mailed in advance of the meeting.

According to the notice,

“The main purpose of this meeting will be to transition the Association from Developer control to Homeowner control and to announce the Directors of the Board of Directors.

The Master Board of Directors will be comprised of one appointed Director from each of the Village Associations.  Other matters concerning the affairs of the Association will also be discussed.”

If you have not received your ballots or notices for this meeting, please contact Gina Lampe at (763)225-6438.

Single Family Village Association Transition Meeting April 16, at 6PM

Residents of Victor Gardens Single Family Village Association should have already received notice of the upcoming Transition Meeting.  

Wednesday April, 16 at 6:00 PM

City of Hugo - Rice Lake Centre

6900 - 137th Street North  (click for Map)

According to the notice,

“The main purpose of this meeting will be to transition the Association from Developer control to Homeowner control and to elect directors to serve on the Board of Directors for the Association.”

With the proposed transition, homeowners have the opportunity to make positive changes in our community. There are five Board Positions available to Single Family Residents.   You may nominate yourself or another individual.  If you are nominating another individual, please verify their interest in serving on the Board of Directors prior to filling in their name on the ballot.

The master association’s Transition Meeting will follow at 7:00PM after the Single Family Village Association meeting is completed.

If you have not received your ballots or notices for this meeting, please contact Gina Lampe at (763)225-6438.

Subscribe to Victor Gardens Email Announcements

Feel like you’re not getting enough information on what’s happening in Victor Gardens?  

We’re trying to solve this problem by creating an email subscription system to keep everyone informed.  We ask that ALL residents register and sign up to receive email updates that are important to you.  Visit http://lists.victorgardensnews.org to register your email address.

WHY REGISTER?  

    Why have my dues increased?

    Will the Pool open this Summer?

    Why don’t I ever hear about social events?

By registering, you’ll find the answers to these questions and more.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE LISTS THAT INTEREST YOU:     1. Announcements List             Everyone who subscribes to this list will receive:                 Important meeting notices                 Parties & events invitations                 Committee news                 Occasional updates meant for ALL Victor Gardens residents.     2. Town Homes List             Subscribers to this list will receive information relevant to Town Home residents     3. Single Family Homes List             Subscribers to this list will receive information relevant to Single Family Home residents

STAY CONNECTED: Once you’ve registered, your neighborhood representatives will use the subscription lists to keep you informed.  They’ll phase out their old email lists and use email addresses collected by the new system. Of course, your information will be kept private.  It will not be sold or shared.  If you choose not to register, you won’t receive email announcements.

TECHNICAL NOTE: Please keep in mind that this is an all new system.  It does not share information with the old Victor Gardens Intranet Site.  Residents will have to subscribe and set up a new account. Your old Victor Gardens Intranet Site’s user name and passwords will not be recognized by this new database.  Even if you currently receive neighborhood emails, you’ll still need to register with the new site to receive future announcements. 

Thanks to Jason Lanpher, a Victor Gardens homeowner and President of Stealth Networking, Inc. who designed and hosts this new website. 

Please take a few minutes to complete the simple registration process. Soon after you register, your account will be activated. The subscription site's address is: http://lists.victorgardensnews.org

Learning from Liberty on the Lake

Members of the Board Advisory Group met this week with Sarah Buerkley.  Sarah lived in CPDC’s other community, Liberty on the Lake, when it was transitioned to homeowner control.   She served on Liberty’s master association’s Board of Directors for four years after the transition as President, Vice-President, and Secretary.  Victor Gardens Board Advisory Group asked a number of questions of Sarah in the hope that the group could learn from Liberty’s experience.

Here is a brief outline of what was discussed:

1. Liberty transitioned in 2003

2. The transition was planned for a period of months but took effect over the period of one Annual Meeting.

3. Liberty transitioned as originally planned, as a certain percentage of lots were sold.

4. The transition was viewed as a very positive experience for residents.

5. Question: Were there any problems that residents were surprised about or unprepared for?  Answer: Residents had not anticipated the level of costs that CPDC covered as part of the developers marketing budget.  The master association needed to increase dues after transition to maintain the level of amenities and services that residents had come to expect while under CPDC control.  The association also had to adjust their budget anticipate reserve fund needs.

6. Liberty’s master association is structured with a master board, and 3 sub-association boards.  

7. Liberty works with a management company whose responsibilities are similar to Victor Gardens management company.

8. Responsibilities for planning social events and some landscape planning is carried out by volunteers. 

9. Liberty’s day-to-day administration is carried out by their management company, Durand & Associates.  

10. The level of service and quality of Liberty’s amenities increased as a direct result of their transition from CPDC control.  This includes landscaping, snow removal, community center, overall appearance, etc.

11. Liberty’s current association does not rely heavily on volunteers to carry out the responsibilities of their association.

12. Liberty’s Architecture Review Committee was partially transferred from CPDC at the same time.  Before residents gained full ARC control, CPDC transferred some ARC control, notably to set and enforce landscape and architectural changes to existing homes. 

13. Liberty’s ARC consists of a group of 5 residents.  

14. Liberty’s association did not have outstanding debts that residents didn’t know about before transition. 

15. There were no major financial problems that resulted from the transfer.

16. Sarah was not aware of any legal problems that resulted from the transition.

Annual Meeting set for April 16

Gina Lampe has announced that the Victor Gardens Community Association’s Annual Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 16, 2008.  She confirmed transition plans for both the master association and the Single-Family Village.  

“We will be sending out the notice for the transition meeting.  We have it scheduled for April 16th; so the notice will be mailed out next week.  The annual meeting will be as one with the transition meeting.  Both the SF and the Master will be transitioning to homeowner control on the 16th.  If you have any questions regarding the transition, I would be more than happy to try and answer any questions you may have."  - Gina Lampe

Your Opinion Needed: Association Turnover

It is anticipated that two of Victor Gardens’ associations will be turned over to homeowners at the upcoming Annual Meeting.  As of now, the meeting is not confirmed, but will likely take place in mid-April.

Victor Gardens Community Association (the master association):

VG’s Developer, CPDC, has proposed the turnover of the master homeowners association to residents.  Residents, including those serving on the Board Advisory Group, are reviewing this proposal.  There are questions that residents will have prior to the turnover.  Please use the “Add A Comment” feature below to contribute to this process. Transition is a permanent change.  It is important that everyone understands the potential benefits or problems in advance.  From the information available at this time a VGCA Master Board would be comprised of one representative from each of the sub-associations.  Please refer to the Docs (Documents) page for an organizational chart illustrating the sub-associations.

Victor Gardens Single Family Village  (sub-association to the Victor Gardens Community Association): 

The Beard Group’s recent purchase of 26 lots in Victor Gardens East has fulfilled the pre-set requirement for resident turnover.   The Single Family Village marks VG’s third sub-association, after the Gables Association and Villas Association, to be transitioned from a Developer/Builder.

Future Board of Directors:

Both Associations will require homeowners to staff the future Boards.  As a part of the turnover process, new Board Members will be nominated and elected.  Residents have seen the great benefit of homeowner involvement over the last year.  It will be very important for homeowners to stay involved, ensuring the success of our neighborhood.

Please use the “Comment” feature to contribute your thoughts and questions about the proposed transition.  It’s best to carefully consider this issue before questions arise later.