Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Table of Contents
- Why do we have Annual Assessments on Entrada properties?
- How do I pay my Annual Assessment?
- Do I have to pay my assessments if I don't agree with how the money is spent?
- What if I don't pay my assessment?
- Who is Vangarde Association Management?
- Whom do I contact when I have a complaint or issue to resolve?
- When and where are the monthly Board meetings?
- How can I get on the EPOA Board?
- When are the roads maintained?
- Why doesn't the Violations Committee go out looking for CC&R violations?
- What can be done about pets roaming the neighborhood?
- What is the Kolb Road Case?
- What is the Road Improvement District situation?
- When do I use a proxy and where do I get the form?
- What are the "Zoning" signs and "TDR" letters about and how do they affect me?
- What is Entrada's Conflict of Interest Policy?
Why do we have Annual Assessments on Entrada properties?
Answer: Assessments are used to fund Bylaw- and CC&R-mandated EPOA responsibilities. These responsibilities include maintaining 12 miles of road (Wilmot, Mann, Kolb, Camino Del Toro, Camino Aurelia, and Foresight), insurance, management company fees, legal fees, newsletter production, Web site costs, audit fees, and other items as determined by the Board of Directors and Entrada residents.
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How do I pay my Annual Assessment?
Answer: After the next year's assessment amount is determined at the December Annual Meeting, Vangarde Association Management will send a letter to each Entrada property owner to notify them of the assessment amount and request payment. One of two payment options are available: (1) single payment, or (2) quarterly payments.
Single payment. If you choose the single payment option, the entire assessment amount is due on 1 January of the assessment year. For example, at the 2 December 2007 Annual Meeting, the 2008 property owners assessment was set at $300.00. Therefore, the entire $300.00 is due on 1 January 2008. A late fee of $15.00 will be assessed if payment is postmarked after 30 January. Note: This is the only payment option available unless you notify Vangarde Association Management in writing prior to 30 January that you wish to make quarterly payments AND enclose the first quarterly payment.
Quarterly payments. You may notify Vangarde Association Management in writing prior to 30 January of the year the assessment is due that you wish to make quarterly payments. Each payment of one-fourth of the total assessment is then due on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July, and 1 October. A late fee of $15.00 will be assessed for each payment postmarked later than 30 January, 30 April, 30 July, or 30 October of that year. Follow the instructions given in the Vangarde letter as to how to set up quarterly payments.
| Annual Payment | Quarterly Payments | ||||
| Amount | Due | Late After | Amount | Due | Late After |
| 100% | 1 January | 30 January | 25% | 1 January | 30 January |
| 25% | 1 April | 30 April | |||
| 25% | 1 July | 30 July | |||
| 25% | 1 October | 30 October | |||
Checks should be made payable to Entrada POA. Send or take payments to:
Vangarde Association Management
P.O. Box 17750
Tucson, AZ 85731
Vangarde can be reached at (520) 750-0422 or at vangardemgmt@yahoo.com.
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Do I have to pay my assessments if I don't agree with how the money is spent?
Answer: Yes. The covenant you signed when you bought your property states that payment of assessments is required. If you have concerns over the use of EPOA resources, the best way to voice those concerns is by attending the Annual Meeting, which is held the first Saturday in December. It is at that meeting that budget issues are addressed and moneys allocated. You can also attend the monthly EPOA Board meetings and get involved in committees.
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What if I don't pay my assessment?
When assessment payments are not received on time, a letter is sent to the property owner notifying them that a late fee is being assessed. This will be repeated monthly until both the assessment payment and any late fee are paid. If there is no response after three (3) mailed notices, the matter will be turned over to the collection attorneys and a lien will be placed on the property. Payment arrangements can be made with Vangarde Association Management.
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Who is Vangarde Association Management?
Answer: Vangarde Association Management is the management company that has been retained to handle the accounting for the Entrada Property Owners Association. If you have questions about your payment record, contact Vangarde at the address and/or phone number listed above or on the Board of Directors page. Note: Vangarde does NOT handle complaints regarding road maintenance issues or any other non-accounting-related Entrada matter. See "Whom do I contact when I have a complaint or issue to resolve" below for contact information.
Vangarde Association Management
P.O. Box 17750
Tucson, AZ 85731
Vangarde can be reached at (520) 750-0422 or at vangardemgmt@yahoo.com.
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Whom do I contact when I have a complaint or issue to resolve?
Answer: Entrada currently has eight (8) Committees that are charged with carrying out most of the work of the Board of Directors. At present, some of these committees consist of just one member, such as the Nominating, Violations, Newsletter, and Web Site Committees (this can change if others volunteer). If you have something you need to discuss with the appropriate committee chair, please contact that person. If your call is not returned within a day or so, please contact any of the other Board members. See the Committee Web page for information on how to contact these individuals.
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When and where are the monthly Board meetings?
Answer: Monthly Board meetings generally are held the first Monday of each month at 7:00 P.M. at the American Legion Post 109 near the corner of Sahuarita road and Houghton Road. It is the building with the F-4 Phantom aircraft in front. Exceptions to the meeting dates are when the monthly meeting would occur during a holiday weekend, such as Labor Day. See the Meetings Web page for specific dates, times, and places.
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How can I get on the EPOA Board?
Answer: There are two ways to serve on the Board. The first is to be nominated to fill a vacancy at the annual meeting and be voted on by the property owners in attendance. Secondly, if a vacancy should open up mid-term (a member of the Board moves or no longer desires to serve), then the Board will announce the vacancy and seek property owners who wish to serve. From among all those who desire to serve, the Board will vote and the candidate who receives the largest number of votes will serve the remainder of that term.
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: Now is the time to seriously consider whether you would like to serve on the 2009 EPOA Board of Directors. Your experience and willingness to serve could be just what our community needs.
If you are interested, please download the Call for Nominations Info Sheet by clicking on the link. The info sheet will lead you through the steps necessary to have your name placed on the 2009 ballot. If you have any questions, please e-mail Nominating Committee Chairman Tommy Garcia at nominations@entradapoa.org.
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When are the roads maintained?
Answer: The Road Committee submits its yearly requirements to the Budget Committee. The Budget Committee, in turn, looks at the next year's projected income and expenditures and recommends how much of the Road Committee budget to allocate. The total budget is then presented to the Board, which, in turn, acts on the Budget Committee recommendations. The final determination, however, rests with the Entrada property owners and is decided at the Annual Meeting.
Based on funds available, the Road Committee schedules routine maintenance (grading) and whatever road improvements are deemed most necessary. The normal maintenance schedule calls for six (6) grading per year, or about one (1) every other month. The 2008 Budget allocated $54,000 for grading at $9,000 per grading, and $6,000 for road improvement. Also, the Board can allocate additional funds (when available) for emergency repairs. Such repairs were required several times during the 2007 monsoon season.
If you encounter a problem on the roads, such as a severely eroded condition or a potential safety hazard, please contact the Road Committee and it will be addressed. See the Road Committee Web page (under Committees) for more on our roads.
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Why doesn't the Violations Committee go out looking for CC&R violations?
Answer: The Violations Committee does not exist to patrol Entrada in search of neighbors violating the rules. However, alleged violations will be investigated when they are reported to the Violations Committee; but first they must be reported. To report a possible violation, call or e-mail the chair of the Violations Committee (see the Committees Web page) for instructions on how to proceed. If the violation is confirmed, Section 3.5.1 of the CC&Rs specifies the action the Board will take. It reads:
CC&Rs 3.5.1. NOTICE OF VIOLATION. A Lot Owner, upon written notification from the Association of a violation of the Declaration or the Rules of the Board of Directors, shall have thirty (30) days from the date of the notice of violation to remedy the violation or present a proposal for a written solution or alternatives to the Board. The Board shall respond in writing to the written proposal within ten (10) days from receipt thereof.
See also section 4.9.2 of the CC&Rs for other possible owner-initiated actions.
Remember, the purpose of the rules we live under is to help each of us maintain a lifestyle in which we can enjoy the peaceful, quiet desert beauty we moved to Entrada to enjoy. A little bit of common courtesy will help us all do just that.
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What can be done about pets roaming the neighborhood?
Answer: Sections 4.2 and 4.3 of the CC&Rs discuss the keeping of animals in Entrada. Sections 4.2.1 and 4.2.1.1 read:
4.2.1. Animals. The following types and numbers of animals are permitted, provided that all such animals are confined by fences or walls.
4.2.1.1. A reasonable number of dogs and/or cats (considered “pets,” as to not cause a nuisance to neighboring Lot Owners.
Sections 4.2 and 4.3 also limit the number of animals that are allowed.
If a neighbor is allowing pets to roam freely or otherwise violating the above CC&R sections, you can do a number of things.
 | If the neighbor will listen, discuss the matter with them. |
| You can call Pima County Animal Control, report the situation to them, and request they act on your complaint. |
| You can contact the Violations Committee chair by phone or e-mail (see the Committees Web page) for instructions on how to proceed with a formal complaint. |
Remember, not everyone may love "poochie" or "kitty" or "horsey" as much as you do. Let's all be considerate of our neighbors.
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What is the Kolb Road Case?
Answer: Please see the Kolb Road Case Updates Web page.
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What is the Road Improvement District situation?
Answer: Please see the Road Improvement District Web page.
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When do I use a proxy and where do I get the form?
Answer: A proxy allows someone to vote in your place at the Annual Meeting. Article IX of the Bylaws says this about proxies:
PROXIES
"Any vote of the Membership or the Board of Directors may be by proxy. Proxies must be in writing and signed by the Owner or Director, with the proxy being limited to a specific and designated meeting and any adjournment thereof of the Membership or the Board of Directors."
Proxies are most commonly used by persons who wish to vote at an Annual Meeting but for whatever reasons will not actually attend the meeting. CAUTION: Make sure the person to whom you give your proxy has YOUR interest a heart and will vote as YOU would. Be careful of people with personal agendas.
Click on 2008 Proxy Form link to download a proxy for the 6 December 2008 Annual Meeting.
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What are the "Zoning" signs and "TDR" letters about and how do they affect me?
Answer: If you live on or near Wilmot Road and the adjoining roads south of Camino Aurelia, you may have seen "Notice of Zoning Public Hearing" signs being posted on 9 November. You also may have received a letter from Pima County regarding some changes going on to the west, south, and possibly within Entrada. These changes, called "Transfer of Development Rights (TDR)," will have a significant impact on you and your lifestyle. Even if you don't live in that area, you still will be affected, as the changes will impact all of us in one way or another. Please see this topic on the Road Committee Web page for more complete details.
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What is Entrada's Conflict of Interest Policy?
Answer: At the 2 April Board of Directors Meeting, the following Conflict of Interest Policy* was adopted unanimously:
Resolved that this Association shall communicate to volunteers and Board Members the Association’s policy on Conflict of Interest. The Association’s policy on Conflict of Interest is that personnel in a position of trust are not related to each other; all transactions in behalf of the Association between Board Members and companies affiliated with or acting as major customers of such Board Member are adequately controlled by the Board by obtaining a minimum of two competing written bids from the other sources and that all such transactions are properly disclosed and recorded in the minutes of the Board Meetings. Such transactions shall be only in the normal course of business and approved by a majority vote of the Board of Directors as long as Board members notify the Board in advance of a relationship.
*The April 2007 newsletter incorrectly reported that ARS (Arizona Revised Statutes) 38-503 had been adopted.
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Being a considerate neighbor is very important!
There is no substitute for courtesy!