Foothills Sentry - October 2024

Foothills Sentry Page 2 OCTOBER 2024 jadtec.com 714 282 0828 aco# 4202 You Who Lurking Never Know Is jadtec.com $ 15 95 /mo as low as SECURITY JADTEC Local condo complex inspires state legislation By Carrie Graham Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bipartisan housing pack- age on Sept. 19 that includes 32 bills aimed at reducing homeless- ness and increasing accountabili- ty and transparency, one of which was inspired by a community in the City of Orange. The bill, SB900, was authored by Senator Tom Umberg (D- SD34) and passed unanimously, after hundreds of residents in the La Veta Monterey Condo com- plex were left without access to hot water or stoves for four months, starting in June 2023. After residents reported a pos- sible natural gas leak to SoCalGas in May, service was shut off on June 5 to locate and repair leaks. But as the work progressed, a number of issues arose and the timeline for completion was re- peatedly extended, with some residents not regaining access to gas until October. Leak became a torrent It was eventually determined that the complex’s entire 51-year- old gas pipeline would have to be replaced with cost estimates in excess of $1 million. Excavation became so extensive that the city even considered red-tagging the community, or deeming it unsafe to inhabit. “In response to the La Veta Monterey crisis, I introduced Senate Bill 900 to protect home- owners during utility service in- terruptions. SB900 stipulates that an HOA must take action on util- ity interruptions that impact resi- dential units within 10 days of a disruption,” Umberg said. SB900 amends the Davis-Stir- ling Common Interest Develop- ment Act, a 1985 set of legisla- tion to regulate housing com- munities, including HOAs. It is estimated that just over 82% of homes in Orange County belong to an association, double the state average of 41%, with 288 HOAs in the City of Orange alone. HOAs must step u p The bill will require an associa- tion to address issues that pose a risk to public safety within ten days, with repairs to be complet- ed within one month when utili- ties have been shut off. It also ex- pands the recognized list of pub- lic safety risks to include natural gas leaks. Additionally, SB900 will allow HOA boards to vote electronical- ly to approve emergency repairs and gives them the ability to seek loans if reserve funds are not suf- ficient to cover repair costs. However, the legislation also removes the limit on emergency assessments billed to owners within the association. Under current law, an HOA can only bill individual homeowners for 5% of the association's gross expenses for the year. Anything higher requires a vote from the owners themselves. While it seems like a relatively small amount, it can add up. In La Veta Monterrey's case, before some residents had even received gas services again, owners were sent an email by then-property management company Hunting- ton West Properties, informing them that either a lump sum of $4,800 or a first $800 installment payment for emergency assess- ments was due in 30 days. If residents can't pay their emergency assessments, the as- sociation can put a lien on their property, or even foreclose on their home. More housing accountability Newsom also passed laws in- creasing accountability and trans- parency from local governments to prove they are working to meet the affordable housing needs of their communities, and laws to streamline the process of build- ing more housing units. The headliner of the package is a Prop 1-funded Project Home- key+. The program is an expan- sion of the pandemic era Project RoomKey that facilitated the purchase of rundown and disused hotels, converting them to hous- ing units for vulnerable popula- tions. The new initiative would use this model to create just over 4,000 new units statewide. While Project Homekey already exists and has funded over 15,000 hous- ing units since it began, the plus sign added to the name indicates the additional mental health sup- port these new units will offer. Half will be reserved for veterans struggling with behavioral health issues. Treats in the Streets finds a fundraising sponsor The popular Old Towne Or- ange autumn festival, Treats in the Streets, will continue this year after the Old Towne Preservation Association (OTPA) agreed to or- ganize and raise funds for it. The city council had cancelled the event as a cost-cutting mea- sure to ease Orange’s multi-mil- lion dollar deficit. It was one of several events – the annual Tree Lighting, Concerts in the Park, Veterans Day commemoration – axed by the city, in hopes that a community group would take over the responsibility. The Orange Master Chorale immediately offered to raise funds for the Tree Lighting cer- emony. Concerts in the Park fin- ished its summer run, with help from Wilson Automotive; AYSO Soccer will host the final Movie in the Park. The Veterans Day commemoration may be com- bined with the Foundation of Orange’s Field of Valor, although sponsors for a separate event are still being sought. Treats in the Streets, however, remained orphaned. At the Aug. 25 city council meeting, a rep- resentative from Target reported that the store was willing to do- nate candy for the event. Coun- cilwoman Arianna Barrios said her company, The Communica- tions Lab, would pay for the DJ. Resident Brandy Romero told the council that she could raise the money needed to pay for the event from local merchants and residents. “I got on the phone the next day,” Romero said, “and raised $20,000 in a short time. Dona- tions and sponsorships poured in from local businesses; Council- members Ana Gutierrez and Jon Dumitru kicked in.” The rest of the council has promised to do- nate as well. At the Sept. 10 city council meeting, Barrios announced that the Old Towne Preserva- tion Association committed to host a less extensive Treats in the Streets this year. It will take place Thurs., Oct. 24, from 4 to 7 p.m. Working with the city’s Com- munity Services Department, the original $67,000 cost of the event was shaved to $38,000. Some children’s activities were scrubbed, but Romero notes that if contributions and sponsorships continue to roll in, they may be reinstated. Target is supplying 10 pallets of candy; the Communi- cations Lab is paying for the DJ, printing and decorations. A Go- FundMe has been set up, and the Grocery Outlet donated 10% of its Saturday morning, Sept. 14, sales. OTPA is still a bit shy of the needed $38,000, but Romero, chairman of the Treats in the Streets Committee, is convinced the goal will be met, and then some. “We have donation prom- ises from several more busi- nesses and the GoFundMe page had raised over $5,000 by mid- September.” The group continues to accept donations. Visit com- munity@otpa.org or call Brandy Romero at (714) 757-0180.