Northstar Living Winter 2023

WINTER 2023

NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE NORTHSTAR PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION

Community Compliance FAQs 08 Northstar Transit Shuttle Calendar 12 Northstar Golf Course Update 22

NCSD Wood Energy Facility Project at 26

npoa News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association Board Members Jackie Apple, President japple@npoa.info Paul Schumacher, Vice President pschumacher@npoa.info Mark Patel, Secretary/Treasurer mpatel@npoa.info Colette Findley, Board Member cfindley@npoa.info Steve Klei, Board Member sklei@npoa.info Al Roth, Board Member aroth@npoa.info Chris Somers, Board Member csomers@npoa.info NPOA Staff Tim Fulton General Manager tim@npoa.info Nancy Barna Administrative Manager nancy@npoa.info Sean Cutunilli Operations Manager sean@npoa.info John Forni Maintenance Manager john@npoa.info Greg Aiken Design Review & Community Standards Manager greg@npoa.info Contact NPOA/Northstar Living 2200 North Village Drive Truckee, CA 96161 P| 530.562.0322 F| 530.562.0324 website www.npoa.info Office Hours (Subject to change) 8am – 4pm, Monday – Saturday Recreation Center Winter Hours (subject to change) 8am – 9pm Daily For up to date information please visit the NPOA website www.npoa.info Advertising Sales CCMedia - Peggy McElfish 775.327.4200 | peggy@cc.media Cover Photo Olof Carmel of Carmel Gallery "Milky Way Tahoe"

WINTER 2023

inside this issue

04 | President’s Perspective 06 | GM Report 08 | Community Compliance FAQs 10 | Employee Spotlight 10 | Northstar Bridge Club 12 | Northstar Transit Shuttle Calendar 14 | Northstar Women's Golf Club 16 | Condominium Updates 20 | TRWC - Resilient Landscape 22 | Northstar California Golf TM

23 | Liberty Utilities 24 | Northstar Fire Department 26 | NCSD Update

meeting dates 2024 Meeting details will be sent via Eblast prior to meeting dates. If you are not signed up for electronic communications please contact the NPOA Office for a form: npoa@npoa.info or 530.562.0322.

January 17, 8am (if necessary) NPOA Board of Directors January 30, 9am Design Review Committee February 17, 9am NPOA Board of Directors February 27, 9am Design Review Committee March 20, 8am (if necessary) NPOA Board of Directors March 26, 9am Design Review Committee April 20, 9am NPOA Board of Directors April 30, 9am Design Review Committee

community comments policy

Northstar Living welcomes your comments that are pertinent to the Northstar community and will publish those comments on a space-available basis. Articles should be addressed to Northstar Living; signed by the author, unless sent electronically; and should include the writer’s name, his or her Northstar address and the telephone number at which the writer can be reached most easily.

Comments not meeting these requirements or containing solicitations, inaccuracies, libelous or incorrect statements, lacking clarity or having no pertinence to the Northstar community or the Association will not be published. Comments must be received by February 1, for spring issue; May 1 for summer, August 1 for fall or November 1 for winter. Comments are accepted in person at the NPOA office, by mail to NPOA, Attn: Community Comments, 2200 North Village Drive, Truckee, CA 96161; by email to sean@npoa.info.

Disclaimer : Readers are advised that the opinions expressed are those of the individual, not of all the association. The original content of these comments has not been edited.

www.npoa.info | WINTER 2023 | 3

npoa

president’s perspective Dear NPOA Members, We are thrilled to share the latest updates

and committee assignments for the NPOA Board, following our Annual Meeting and

Board Election. Colette Findley and I have been re-elected to the Board, while we

also welcome two new board members, Al Roth and Chris Somers.

Al Roth, will serve on the NPOA Board for a seventh term. He owns a condo

in Ski Trails and is a member of the Ski Trails Board of Directors as well. In the upcoming year, Al will participate on

the NPOA Condo Committee and the Activities Committee.

Chris Somers, a dedicated Northstar

enthusiast for over 33 years, brings a

wealth of experience as a homeowner previously in Gold Bend and now on

Skidder Trail. His passion for Northstar is evident, and we're excited to have

the NPOA Board President and will

Annual Budget and Policy Disclosures

Finance, Audit, Executive Finance,

and mail the Annual Budget and Policy

I am honored to continue my role as

Every November, we diligently prepare

actively participate in the Budget and Communications, Personnel, and Strategic Planning and Vision Committees.

Paul Schumacher has been re-elected as the Vice President of the NPOA Board

Disclosure Package to you. The disclosure package includes essential documents

such as the Pro Forma Budget, Reserve Summary, Insurance Summary and

policies such as updated NPOA Dumpster

and will remain engaged in several

Site Policy, Fines and Violations Schedule,

committees, including serving as the

Chair of the Communications Committee, Personnel Committee, Risk Management/ Legal Committee, Community

NPOA Revised Parking Lot Policy, Revised Design Review Guidelines, NPOA

Recreation Center Access Policy, and

several other important materials. We

Development Committee, and as a

member of the Strategic Planning and Vision Committee.

urge you to review these documents,

especially those we've updated, as our

NPOA staff and Board continually assess

We are pleased to announce Mark Patel as our new Treasurer and Secretary.

Mark will chair the Budget and Finance

Committee, the Audit Committee, and the Executive Finance Committee.

our policies to ensure they align with current needs and standards.

The 2024 Pro Forma budget is also

included in this package, along with an explanation of how it was created. The

him join the NPOA Board. Chris will

Steve Kei will continue as the Chair of the

budget, reviewed and approved by the

Committee, Budget and Finance

and the Technology Committee while

Board Meetings, acknowledges the

Committee. Colette Findley will maintain

including Pool and Spa Utilities, Pool

and the Activities Committee, and

Health Insurance, and Employee

Development Committee.

increases to expenses related to

be involved in the Executive Finance Committee, Community Development Committee, and will also be the Board

Liaison to the Design Review Committee.

We warmly welcome our two new Board members this year.

Strategic Planning and Vision Committee

Board at the October and November

also being a member of the Personnel

ongoing challenges in key expense areas,

her role as Chair of the Condo Committee

and Spa Supplies, General Insurance,

also will participate in the Community

Compensation. We've made modest

Check out Truckee’s great IN-doors.

Whether it’s fierce mountain weather, a need to escape the crowds, or you just want a break from the cold, local businesses offer a range of options to keep your hands, bodies and minds busy all winter long.

Learn more at: Truckee.com/BigLifeConnections

4 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association

homeowner events and activities, such as

upper tennis courts for both tennis and

yoga classes into the winter, and added

steps throughout the facility. These

the Annual Homeowners’ BBQ, extended more special events for homeowners.

In addition, we've allocated $50,000 to the Operating Budget for the painting

project of the buildings, which is funded separately from our Reserves Fund to

adhere to standard accounting principles.

For 2024, the Capital Improvement

Fund has been funded at $100,000, with the Board considering various

potential projects, including installation of snowmelt hydraulics under pavers,

a shade structure, a lounge patio, or a flexible outside workout space for the summer months. These projects are

pending further discussion, review, and Board approval.

We will continue to contribute $250,000 to our Reserves Fund in 2024. Keep

in mind that prices for materials and

labor continue to rise with inflation, and

therefore, it is imperative that we continue to make healthy contributions to our

Reserve Fund. Potential Reserve projects for 2024 may include updates to fitness

center bathrooms, replacement of tables/ umbrellas by the deli, ongoing pool/

spa maintenance items, resurfacing of

pickleball, and refurbishing of concrete projects are also subject to discussion, review, and Board approval.

With the increase in operating expenses

as well as the contributions to the Capital Improvement Fund and the Reserves

Fund, the Annual Assessment will increase to $1,650 in 2024.

Trash Talk

We kindly request that you familiarize

yourself with the NPOA Dumpster Site

Policy. Surveillance cameras are in place

to monitor the site, and we take violations seriously, imposing fines on homeowners who do not adhere to the rules. Please remember that these dumpsters are

intended solely for household garbage and recycling. If you are remodeling

for disposal. Condo dumpsters are for

household garbage only, and recycling

items should be taken to the NPOA site dumpsters.

Winter Activities at NPOA

Responding to homeowner requests,

we are pleased to offer yoga at NPOA this winter, with classes offered by our summer provider, Tahoe Yoga and

Wellness. These classes will be available on Saturday or Sunday mornings, and more details will be shared via email blasts.

We also hope to celebrate the holiday season with our community. Colette

Findley, Chair of the Activities Committee is working hard to organize a winter

event. Stay tuned for more information through email updates.

your home, your contractor should not

As we eagerly await a snow-filled winter,

furniture or sporting equipment in these

NPOA for a wonderful holiday season for

be using these dumpsters. Dumping old

we extend warm wishes from all of us at

dumpsters is also against the rules and

you and your families!

has resulted in fines.

It's also essential to note that condo

dumpsters are designated for condo

homeowners exclusively. If you live in a

single-family home, please use your own bear box or the NPOA site dumpsters

Jackie Apple, Board President

www.npoa.info | WINTER 2023 | 5

npoa

general manager's report Welcome to the winter edition of the

Northstar Living Magazine. As I write this article in mid-October, there is still mild

replacement behind the entry desk, office, and game room.

throughout our beautiful community.

Annual Budget & Policy Disclosures

2023 Fiscal Year Forecast

was distributed in November. Please

we wrap up the 2023 fiscal year. Since

important documents. If we have an

temperatures and changing fall colors

I wanted to include a few comments as the very beginning of the year, utility expenses continue to increase. Last

winter was particularly challenging given the huge spike in natural gas prices in

California. This spring, we were able to lock in a bulk rate through next winter in order to avoid this spike in rates. In

addition, the cost for pool chemicals and supplies continues to be elevated and

have been running over budget since the

beginning of the year. To help offset some of these operational cost increases, I

worked closely with your Board President Jackie Apple to restructure our tennis and pickleball operations through an

independent business vs in-house. Tony

Ramsdell did an excellent job this summer and is excited to expand these services in 2024. The operational savings from these operations helped offset some of the

aforementioned increases in other areas.

2023 Accomplishments

We are completing the last of the operating, reserve, and capital

improvements projects for 2023. The

Board has approved and the staff have completed a healthy list of projects

in 2023 including: Many pool & spa

components to keep our facilities open including heaters, pump motors, filter

pumps, chemical control pumps, pool levelers, UV filtration systems, and

new covers; Patio umbrellas; Flooring replacement in the Lounge; Lounge

furniture and improvements; Sealing and striping the parking lot and basketball

court; Resurfacing the pickleball courts creating six total courts; Flooring

The 2024 Annual Disclosure packet

For whatever reason, if you did not

receive the Annual Disclosure packet

or that Annual Assessment statement,

please contact our office at 530.562.0322 so we can issue a replacement to you immediately.

take a few minutes to review these

Game Room

electronic transmission consent form

Board meetings, the arcade vendor

on file, you received this information via an eblast. If you do not have an

electronic transmission consent form on file, you received this information

via first class mail. If you received this

information via mail, we also included an

Electronic Transmission consent form. We encourage you to complete to this form.

If you have any questions regarding this document or how to join the Resident

Portal, please contact Sean Cutunilli at 530.562.0322.

The 2024 Annual Assessment Statements

You will have also received the annual

assessment statement by the time you

read this article. In fact, we have already begun receiving payments for the 2024 fiscal year. When making payments,

remember that assessments for 2024

are $1,650. As in the past, payments are due January 1, 2024 and are considered

For those who have not attended recent we have had since fall 2019 made the decision to discontinue operations in the state of California. While finding a replacement vendor to service this

area has been challenging, we are very excited to have reached an agreement

with Summit Arcade. This transition was a good opportunity to replace the flooring in this space, which the Board approved in October. By the time you receive this article, the new flooring will have been installed and new arcade equipment

installed in the Game Room. The new

vendor is purchasing all new equipment.

And they will utilize game cards vs

quarters, which is much more common these days. Through these changes,

we hope to continue to improve the

overall owner and guest experience. In

addition, we will continue to offer several complimentary options such as ping pong and shuffleboard.

late past January 1st. Outstanding

In closing, I’d like to take this opportunity

delinquent and receive late fees on

members as well as our Board members,

assessments automatically become

February 1, 2024 so make sure to factor

in processing time and potential U.S. mail delays if scheduling a payment close to

the delinquent deadline date. Included

with the statements was a return envelope for those wishing to mail a payment

with the perforated coupon from your statement to the NPOA lockbox. You

to thank all of our wonderful staff

who donate many hours to NPOA on

your behalf, to a successful 2023. We

look forward to even more events and fun filled experiences in 2024.

On behalf of myself and the entire NPOA team, we wish you a safe and joyful holiday season.

may also refer to the “Online Payment

Reference Guide” which details how you can make an online payment.

6 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association

Tim Fulton, General Manager

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npoa

design review & compliance nighttime lighting

Northstar Property Owners Association

reduced sleep times,

to exterior lighting standards in both

is associated with

dissatisfaction with sleep quality and impaired

daytime functioning and obesity.

Excessive lighting is

wasteful with 30% of

outdoor lighting in the US wasted by lights

that aren’t shielded at a cost of $3.3B. Wasting

Did You Know...

Exterior Lighting

The Town of Truckee has recently

published the following information

and adopted the Dark Skies initiative for

exterior lighting standards. The Dark Sky

movement works to restore the nighttime environment and protect communities

and wildlife from the harmful effects of

light pollution. Over the past 12 years, sky brightness in the US has increased 9.6% annually due to light pollution.

Light pollution and artificial light disrupt ecosystems. Birds use the stars to

navigate during migration. Predators hunt in the light and prey hide in the dark.

Inspects are fatally attracted to artificial light impacting the entire ecosystem.

Exposure to artificial light at night can

harm humans health. Brighter residential

energy has huge

environmental consequences, producing 21M tons of carbon dioxide annually. To

offset that carbon dioxide 875M trees are need to be planted annually.

Since 2015, all new construction in Placer and Nevada counties must be Dark Skies compliant and follow Title 24 Building Energy Efficiency Standards.

What can you do to help?

• Turn off exterior lights by 10pm, including Holiday lighting

• Turn off exterior lights when not in using them

• Make sure exterior lights point down not up or multidirectional

• Use motion sensor lights if safety is a concern

• Spread the word: politely remind your neighbors to follow these guidelines

(NPOA) has specific rules that speak

the Design Review Guidelines (Section VI, #20) and CC&R’s (Section 6.17).

Highlights of these NPOA rules are: • All exterior lights shall be directed

downward and the light source shall be fully with solid or opaque materials

• Light levels shall be compatible with the neighborhood light levels with

emphasis on a few well-placed low intensity lights

• High intensity security lighting (motion

lights) is allowed is it is installed with an infrared detector and a timer (5-minute max)

• Minimize light trespass onto neighboring properties

Please refer to the photos above for

examples of some non-compliant lighting that you may not be aware violates our community’s rules.

NPOA rules include all exterior, landscape and festoon lighting!

Any Holiday lighting placed on the

exteriors of a residence or anywhere else on a lot may be placed starting

November 15th of each year and must be removed by January 31st of the following year (Section VI, #39)

Please join the Dark Skies movement and do your part! Stars shine brighter here in

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8 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association

help preserve the dark skies at DarkSky. org.

Greg Aiken, NPOA Design Review & Compliance Manager

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npoa

employee spotlight Eric Davenport, Rec Center Entry Desk

Howdy NPOA! My name is Eric Davenport, the one with the

curly hair who greets you at our wonderful Northstar Property

Owners Association Recreation

Center Front Desk. I am so lucky

to wake up every day in my own personal Disneyland called

Truckee! I am a former DJ of 20 years who still works on music

every day after my inspiring hikes with my 80 lbs. Labradoodle,

Molimo, “Bear walking in the shade”. My two boys, who reside in Southern California, visit often and are always excited for their next adventure in the mountains.

After my music career, I pivoted to the United States Forest

Service while supplementing my income working for Marriott International. I brought my passion for the outdoors to The

Ritz-Carlton just up the hill a few years back as a Concierge

and haven’t looked back. In addition to my current position at NPOA, you can find me working at the Truckee Welcome

Center downtown. I am excited to share my passion for outdoor recreation and hospitality with all the great people at NPOA.

Join The Bridge Club!

In Northstar, we have a group of players who meet every Wednesday from 1:30pm – 5pm at the NPOA Recreation Center. We are a friendly and social group playing Chicago style Bridge. The entry fee is $2, and we offer light snacks, and cash prizes are paid out to

the winners. If interested, sign-ups are due by Monday of each week. You may RSVP by

email to Astrid Cousins at astridwc@aol.com or by calling 530.913.4020 if you have any questions.

Seated: Margaret, Anne, Astrid, Nancy. Standing: Carolie, Bob, Ken, Jerry. Our awesome Bridge Club!

10 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association

Gifts that make memories atlantiscasino.com/giftcards STAY

DINE

IN DULGE

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1 2 3 4 5 4 5 6 7 8 7 8 9 10 11 12 11 12 13 14 15 14 15 16 17 18 19 ™ 18 Shuttle 19 20Calendar 21 22 21Northstar 22 23 California 24 25 26Transit 25 26 27 28 29 28 29 30

Mon

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1 8 15 22 29

2 3 4 5 6 7 NEIGHBORHOOD 9 10 11 12 13 14 5 6 16SHUTTLE 17 18 SERVICE 19 20 21 12 13 pleased 23Northstar 24 25 California 26 27 is28 19 20 30to be 31 able to offer this service 26 to27

January 2024 Wed

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February 2024 Sat

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our guests and are sharing the March 2024 following updated information: Wed

Thu

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Sat

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Sun Northstar Neighborhood Operating 3 4 Calendar Winter 2023-2024 10 11

Sat

17Weekdays18 Operates Mon- Fri. 8:00am-6:00pm 24 25 Weekends/Peak- Operates Sat/Sun. 7:30am-6:00pm New Year’s Eve Operates 7:30am-1:00am

April 2024

Mon

Tue

Tue

Wed

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1 2 3 1 2 HOW TO BOOK? 5 6 7 8 9 10 8 9 Guests need to download the 12 13 14 15 16 17 15 16 Transit 19Northstar 20 21 Village 22 23 24 app22on 23 Android to reserve a ride.

26iOS27and28 29 30 31 29 30

3 10 17 24

Thu

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November 2023 4 5 6 7 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri 11 12 13 14 1 2 3 18 6 19 7 20 8 21 9 10 2513 2614 2715 28 16 17

December 2023 Sat

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20 21 22 23 24 27 28 29 30 be able Guest to offermust this service to app our guests and are sharing the following updated information: use the to place

January 2024 calls for all rides, even departures Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun ok: from the Village.

2 Android 3 4to reserve 5 6a ride.

7 uests need download the Northstar Village Transit App on 1iOS and 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 uests must use theScan app tothe place calls for all rides, below code to even departures from the Village.

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 download the Northstar 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Scan the below code to download theApp! Northstar Village Transit App! Village Transit 29 30 31

Mon

Tue

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March 2024

April 2024

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We are pleased to be able to offer this service to our guests and are sharing the following updated i 

How to Book: o Guests need download the Northstar Village Transit App on iOS and Android to rese 11/01/23 o Guests must use the Updated app to place calls for all rides, even departures from the Village Scan the below code to download the Northstar Village Transit App! We carry high-quality hardwood flooring and carpet ideal for your mountain home. Visit us and explore our amazing selection at the Pioneer Commerce Center in Truckee.

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Upda 12 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association

Northstar Women's Golf Club other was usually there to help out. The

We hope that you would consider joining

Sandy Campion.

encouraging group, so if you are new to the

winners were the team of Carol Pawlak and The picture was taken on the last Tuesday

play day (October 10).

The weather turned from being 80 degrees

Women’s Golf Club members Astrid Cousins, Kathy Wilson, Carol Pawlak, Linda Sweeney, Marian Hansen, and Sandy Campion

Womens Golf Club

Before the golf course closed up on October, 14 we were able to get in a

few more rounds on Tuesday. Since our

tournament was over, it was time to start

taking things a little less seriously and play some games. We played a full scramble format were a team of two played best ball

from tee to pin. It was great because if one of the team members had a bad shot, the

us next year. We are a very small, fun and

“ We are a very small,

game or have been away from it for a while and would like to start back

up, this is a great place to do that.

fun and encouraging If you already have a low handicap, group, We hope that

we can match you up with like

on Sunday to less than

you would consider

players. The course also offers pass

autumn weather for

joining us next year.

They should be re-opening around

60 on Tuesday, typical Northstar,

it

even

managed to put down

"

a light dusting of snow that evening. The

game of choice was “Cryer’s Tournament”, you could take your three worst holes and change them to PAR. The winners were

Astrid Cousins with low gross and Marian

Hansen with low net. Thank you to Jo Ann

discounts to Northstar owners. mid-May, so if you would like

information on joining the group,

please contact Marian at sidebcorp@aol.

com or Carol at pawlakcarol@gmail.com.

We can send you an application to sign-up

for 2024, or just let us know that you want

to come on a Tuesday. We tee off around 9am. Come warm or cold weather.

Polverari for passing along the games, we

The Northstar Women’s Golf Club wishes

season.

a very Merry Holiday Season.

are determined to use more of them next

14 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association

all of the Northstar owners and employees

SHERIDAN BROKERS Northstar Real Estate

Make Northstar your Winter Wonderland!

11836 Donner Pass Road, Truckee 100 Northstar Drive, Truckee 289 Commercial Street, Portola 530-587-7444

npoa

condominium updates We continue to identify buildings that are on a regular rotation and maintenance

paint schedule. Touch up on front entry porches, steps and foundations are

continually monitored as are pathway stripping and repair.

The Landscape & Aesthetic Committee along with members of the Board of

Directors and Camco have completed a couple walkthroughs making sure

that all units are in compliance with the current CC&R's. A large percentage of

homeowners are presently in compliance.

Others have been notified of steps

Aspen Grove Condos

walk-on bark in this designated zone. The

approved a budget this Fall to move

other common area locations in Aspen

The Aspen Grove Board of Directors forward with some landscaping within a larger common area of our community.

In September we planted over 30 Aspen Trees in Silver Strike in an area that was affected by a lot of foundation work

done to our condo buildings the past

several years. The trees were planted,

wood chips spread and trees staked by a Camco crew of hard workers. Many

homeowners contributed their time and energy to flagging where trees should be located, working with the Villager Nursery in Truckee, watering trees

regularly, fertilizing and helping with onsite delivery. Next Spring, we will spread

Landscape Committee hopes to identify

Grove for additional landscaping projects.

Our two entrance gates at Aspen Grove and Silver Strike Road are functioning very well. There have been very few

bumps along the way with this new and welcome addition to our community.

Mostly, the gates have provided security

to our property and our homeowners at a much higher level than ever before. Our property looks better maintained, our

they need to take to meet community standards. Here's hoping for another successful winter season!

Gold Bend Condos

Greetings from the Gold Bend community!

This past summer gifted us with moderate

weather and notably clearer air compared to previous seasons. As we welcome

the cooler months and the gentle onset of snowfalls, we are preparing for the

upcoming winter with strategic community improvements.

dumpster enclosures are much cleaner

Last winter's storms resulted in damage

to those who are homeowners or are

building exteriors. Our summer efforts

and our parking lots are readily available renting from property owners.

16 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association

to both our community signs and to the Continued on page 18

CA LICENSE # 588872

Bring your vision to life.

Relationship-Driven▪ Employee-Owned▪ Detail-Obsessed▪ Whether it’s a cozy remodel, a spacious addition, or a new build in the Tahoe area,

we’re all ears and ready to bring your vision to life. Our clients have bold ideas and are eager to see them realized.

Partnering with a builder who emphasizes craftsmanship, is approachable, and ready to get started is key.

We can't wait to dive into the details of your next project. www.npoa.info | WINTER 2023 | 17

11260 Donner Pass Rd #C1-808, Truckee, CA 96161 | 530 777 0200 | mnbuilders.com

condominium updates continued from page 16 transition. With the decision to maintain the dumpsters at the NPOA site for the

upcoming winter season, we encourage

short-term rental operators to inform their renters about the proper guidelines for disposing of trash.

The Board has given preliminary approval to a fine policy and has proposed

updates to the governing documents.

All homeowners will soon vote on the

governing documents and will have an

opportunity to provide feedback on the

fine policy. We encourage homeowners

to remain attentive for further information involved rejuvenating the weathered

exteriors of specific buildings affected by

snow and ice damage and embarking on a comprehensive redesign and replacement project for the signage. Expect the

installation of durable, weather-resistant signs throughout our parking lot very soon.

about this and to participate in this process.

Moving forward, the Board encourages active engagement with the HOA

and participation in meetings. Your contributions are invaluable to our

community's enhancement. If you have ideas, suggestions, or concerns, please

The Board is also making headway in

don't hesitate to contact the Board.

coverage for our buildings. We empathize

community that we all take pride in. We

residents and are dedicated to finding

cooperation.

securing more cost effective insurance

Together, let's continue building a vibrant

with the ongoing frustrations among

deeply appreciate your support and

solutions that reduce premiums while obtaining the maximum available

Indian Hills Condos

coverage. Please keep an eye out for

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow! Indian

insurance coverage.

meet the 2024 ski season. Through the

further communications surrounding In an effort to address issues with

dumpster usage, a pilot program relocated the dumpsters from the Gold Bend

parking lots to the NPOA dumpster site

on June 16th. This move was prompted by concerns about trash and large items left

around the dumpsters, frequent visits from

bears scavenging for food, and contractors depositing materials improperly. Since

the transition, we've observed a reduction

Hills Condo community is excited to

Summer and Fall we have continued to

repair building siding and walkways. We are carefully managing our budget and not seeing an increase in our monthly

dues this year, while still contributing to

our reserves. We have added a plaque to

the bench at the shuttle stop on Mill Camp in appreciation for Gail Riggins, former

president of our Board of Directors, for her years of service to our community!

in litter and abandoned items, creating a

We are actively participating in the NPOA

our parking lots. The Board appreciates

about non-owner use of Indian Hills trash

cleaner and more spacious aesthetic in

the adjustments made by residents and

express our gratitude for their cooperation, contributing to the success of this

Condo Committee to address concerns

bins and parking areas. We have asked Vail to provide parking restriction signage and

18 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association

to direct day guests to park in designated public parking areas and not the condo parking lots.

The Indian Hills Condominium Board of

Directors is concerned about the NPOA

Board continuing to raise NPOA dues to implement projects that have not been

articulated or approved by homeowners.

We encourage all homeowners to

participate in the Board meetings and discussions about changes to our amenities.

We are prepared for another great ski

season, and it is yet to be seen if it will rival the record year we experienced last year!

Ski Trials Condos

separates successful HOAs from bad ones. In a place with such

only yesterday that we were skiing almost to Mother’s Day (!) after

of coordination and dedication to make all that happen. So our

winter at the Ski Trails Condos.

behalf, helping to keep Ski Trails one of the premier destinations at

Was it just us, or did 2023 just whip right past us all? It seems like

short seasonal work windows as the Sierra Nevada, it takes a lot

record snowfalls, and now we are ramping up for another fun

kudos and thanks to the CAMCO team for their hard work on our

It’s a good thing our association has not been idle during the relatively brief shoulder season this year.

Parking Update

Northstar.

What’s left?? SNOW!! Keep your fingers crossed for a terrific winter of consistent snowfall, safe travels, and good times at Northstar!

As of Northstar Living press time, we are close to rolling out our

new all-digital parking permits system. During the transition, we

will continue to allow paper permits (a new fire-engine red version for the coming ski season) but owners and guests will need to be ready for the shift to the all-digital version. We will keep our HOA

membership informed by email from CAMCO and by postings in the private Ski Trails group on Nextdoor (nextdoor.com). And by

the way, if you are not getting CAMCO emails, let them know. You

really don’t want to miss out on the important information that they send out.

And now, the rest of the story…

It might be hard to believe that there is something even more important than parking, but one of those things is fire safety.

The Northstar Fire Department has completed the defensible voter-approved Measure U funds. There are now over 100 piles

of cleared bark, needles, leaf litter, and cut branches and trunks!

These piles (above the water towers off Coyote Fork) will be part

of future controlled burns when conditions are appropriate. These efforts make our properties safer in terms of future fire-fighting

access and risk reduction; they also make our surroundings look

much cleaner. We are grateful to the Northstar Fire Department for

CA Lic #775721 NV Lic #075038

space work on the forested slopes around our condos using

their work and to the Placer County voters for funding it.

Less noticeable than an online parking system and piles of dried brush — but also important for keeping our units protected from the elements and the varmints — is the seasonal maintenance

that our partners at CAMCO complete each fall. This year, the

mesh crawl space covers at the bottoms of our buildings were

swapped out for solid covers, which will make them more resistant to mice and our plumbing has been winterized with heat tape

wraps to reduces risks of pipe freezing. CAMCO is also keeping our building exteriors in tip top shape through the ongoing

application of fresh stains and repairs to our decks including

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replacements of any aging deck planks.

tasks, but the commitment to staying on top of those things is what

www.npoa.info | WINTER 2023 | 19

Truckee River Watershed Council

Get Involved!

Ways you can get involved with

maintaining a sustainable and resilient community:

• Attend river talks to stay informed of past and present threats to the

Truckee River Watershed and learn

how you can protect and restore it. Or, host a River Talk by inviting a group of

8-12 of your friends to your home for a River Talk provided by TRWC.

• Participate in the Adopt-A-Stream

program to monitor water quality in

creeks and streams around Northstar using fun and easy-to-learn scientific techniques.

• Help on Truckee River Day with

your friends and family to repair our mountain home by planting native

vegetation, protecting sensitive areas,

and create resiliency in our landscape!

• Attend events like the River Breakfast

on May 15, 2024. Get to know a team

of dedicated environmental stewards in your community.

Truckee River Watershed Council 2023 Progress

In 2023, we have restored hundreds of

acres of meadows, streams, and forests.

Hundreds of volunteers helped restore our shared landscapes and monitored

water quality. Each partner, landowner,

funder, volunteer, donor, and individual who believes in our mission, and takes

action, provides a steppingstone towards a greener, wetter, and wilder place to

call home. Here are some of our project successes, implemented in 2023: Hoke Meadow

Restored 25 acres of meadow

Partner: the U.S. Forest Service - Tahoe National Forest

Benefits: restored connectivity between

the creek and nearby meadow into a wet meadow and protects existing spring-

fed tributaries supporting the meadow habitat.

Independence Creek Basin Forest Treated 400 acres of forest in Independence Basin

Partner: US Forest Service – Tahoe National Forest

Benefits: increased ecosystem resiliency by providing habitat for key species like

the northern goshawk and helps protect headwater streams including the Little Truckee River, increasing resiliency in

buffering the effects of extreme wildfire

20 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association

Lacey Upper Meadow

Restored 100 acres of historic meadow

floodplain and 3500ft of stream channel Partners: Truckee Donner Land Trust

and U.S. Forest Service – Tahoe National Forest

Benefits: increases groundwater and

late season flows, improved floodplain connectivity, increases riparian

vegetation, improved water quality

to support aquatic life, increases bird

diversity and special status species like

the bald eagle and marten, and increases carbon uptake

Snow Crest Tributary

Restored 2 acres of meadow, and

enhanced the 30-acre Bear Creek Lower Meadow completed in 2020

Partners: Alpine Springs County Water

District and U.S. Forest Service – Tahoe National Forest

Benefits: reestablished floodplain

connectivity, improved riparian habitat, improved water quality

Truckee Wildlife Area - Boca Unit Restored 15 acres of floodplain

Partner: California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Benefits: re-connected floodplain,

regained aquatic and riparian habitat, improved water quality and provides

more sustainable access for fishing and recreation

This project is part of our “Keep the Truckee River Wild” initiative

Community Foundation of Northern Nevada –Truckee River

the Truckee Rive through the heart of town. 12 more to go!

Nevada Conservancy.

with 14 projects identified for restoration along the main stem of

Fund, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the Sierra

It takes a dedicated team to do what we do. Thank you to the funders who made these 2023 project successes possible -

the donors of the Truckee River Watershed Council, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California State Water

To learn more, subscribe to our newsletter or get involved: www.truckeeriverwc.org

Resources Board, California Wildlife Conservation Board,

CO N T E M P O R A RY

A R T

F O R

M O U N TA I N

L I V I N G

P I P E R J G A L L E R Y.CO M | 102 50 D O N N E R PA S S R OA D, T R U C K E E | @ P I P E R J G A L L E R Y

www.npoa.info | WINTER 2023 | 21

Northstar CaliforniaTM Golf and ready for winter. The winter signs along the course are going up so please read those signs. As always, walking on cart paths is permitted, DO NOT walk on the grass. With freezing temperatures, walking on the grass can be very harmful. Also, a reminder to please pick up after your dog/s. We encourage all homeowner’s and guests to call public safety if you witness any unusual activity on the golf course. You can also reach out to Jarrett Bower, Director of Golf.

Thanks again for a great season as Northstar golf continues to make improvements as a top amenity for the Northstar community. 2024 season pass information and 2024 daily rates will be announced as we approach spring so please stay tuned.

Have a great winter season, stay safe and please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.

The Northstar Golf Course is closed for the 2023 season! We will announce opening day 2024 as spring approaches. We want to thank everyone for a short and successful 2023 golf season.

Big shout out to Marc McMullen and his maintenance team for providing the best course conditions we have seen in years.

The golf course is days away from being winterized completely

Jarrett Bower, Director of Golf Jarrett.k.bower@vailresorts.com 530.562.3887 Northstar Public Safety 530.562.2259

LET’S GET READY FOR

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22 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association

Liberty Utilities • If you are not in the area and your camera system or smart home

devices are not working, call your internet provider first to check if communications are down. Then check Liberty’s outage map prior to calling Liberty to report an outage.

• Report power outages by calling 1.844.245.6868 or visiting the Outage Center on our web page.

• Stay at least 30 feet away from downed wires and report them by calling 1.844.245.6868. Follow the power line safety tips in our video.

• Learn how Liberty restores power and why it may take a while for

Liberty Encourages Customers to be Prepared For the Winter and Potential Power Outages Winter is just around the corner, and with winter weather comes

the potential for power outages. Poor road conditions, challenges accessing remote areas, heavy snow, falling trees, and/or the

nature of repairs required can result in extended power outages.

As such, it is important to be ready when winter arrives.

Here are some tips to help you prepare: • Put together an emergency kit with flashlights, a battery-

operated radio, extra batteries, bottled water, warm clothing, blankets, and more.

• Store at least a 48-hour supply of non-perishable food and water.

your power to return.

• Estimated restoration times (ERT) may not be available right

away as crews need to assess the situations to determine repairs needed. Liberty will provide an ERT when available.

• ERTs are subject to change as new developments arise. Power restoration may occur before or after an ERT depending on weather, access, and repairs.

We understand that losing power is inconvenient. Liberty works

hard to provide you with safe and reliable service and prepares for potential impacts from winter weather.

In the event of an outage, our crews will work to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.

• Plan for medical needs that a loss of power may impact. Keep a list of the nearest medical facilities, hospitals, and nearest

accessible transportation. Consider creating a support network of people who can help you in the event of a disaster. Keep a

contact list in your emergency kit and on your electronic device.

• Keep your cell phones and other electronic devices fully

charged. Consider purchasing a back-up battery device to extend the use of your electronic devices.

• Create a plan to safely heat your home. Avoid burning coal or

wood in an indoor area without proper ventilation. For carbon

monoxide safety tips, please visit our Carbon Monoxide Safety page.

• Keep your contact information on file up to date to receive text, email, and voice notifications in the event of an outage. Call customer care at 1-800-782-2506 or click HERE to update.

• View outage updates on our outage map and follow us on

Twitter (@LibertyUtil_CA) or Facebook (@LibertyUtilitiesLT).

• For more helpful information, visit our Outage Tips page.

In the event of a power outage, here are some tips:

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breaker panel or fuse box. If the problem is not a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker, call Liberty to report the outage.

• Keep access to your panel clear of snow to help expedite repairs.

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npoa

fire department 2023 Northstar Fire Department Fuels Management & Fire Prevention Update With winter quickly approaching, the Northstar Fire Department (NFD) would like to thank the community’s constituents whose tax dollars have helped complete another successful year of Measure U fuels reduction and defensible space projects.

Below is a Measure U update and message from NFD’s Fire

Prevention Officer:New Fuels Management Department Website – The Fuels Management Department strives to differentiate the ways in which it can communicate with community

members. Recently, a new GIS powered platform called a

“Hub” was developed. The Hub is designed as a resource for

community members looking for information related to the fuels

Additionally, the Hub offers a way for community members to subscribe and receive email notifications any time new

information is posted. The Hub can be accessed through the following URL: https://northstarfire-ncsd.hub.arcgis.com.

Measure U Fuels Reduction – Fuels reduction for the season will end once ground conditions become too saturated to operate

heavy equipment. Mitigation work along the community’s primary evacuation routes including Northstar Drive, Big Springs Drive, Highlands View Road, Ridgeline Road, and within high priority

areas 300 feet from residential property lines will continue in the

spring. All 2023-24 project work will be completed by June 30th,

2024. Please refer to the Northstar Fire Department’s online Fuels Management Hub to learn more about specific treatment areas.

management work and wildfire risk research performed by the

Measure U Green Waste Curbside Pickup Program – After

and frequently updated. The Fuels Management Hub includes a

reevaluated this winter to determine the best path forward. Any

Fuels Management Department. The data within the Hub is live

hazard tree tracking system through which community members can notify the District’s primary land owners of dead, diseased,

dying, and pest infected trees within open space common areas.

two successful seasons, the curbside pickup program will be

decisions made regarding the program will be posted on the

online Fuels Management Hub and incorporated into curbside

pickups starting June 2024. Updates regarding the program will be posted no later than April 2024.

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24 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association

Winter Burning Operation – The Fuels Management Department typically builds slash piles over the summer months, which then need to be burned during the colder winter months. This year, Northstar Fire in conjunction with CAL FIRE will burn 382 piles between November and March. The slash piles scheduled to be burned are located behind Ski Trails Condominiums and

between the upper and lower EVA gates on Big Springs Drive.

Burning updates will be posted to the online Fuels Management Hub . Signs will also be placed throughout the District on days when burning is active. Fire dispatch will be notified.

Fire Prevention – As winter nears, the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning increases due to the potential for exhaust vents

being blocked by snow or dust build up. Carbon monoxide

is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is poisonous to

humans. A carbon monoxide detector is a safety device that can

detect and alert homeowners of a CO leak. It is important to note that carbon monoxide is heavier than air and therefore will sink/

settle in a room. Direct outlet plug-in devices work great as early

have been changed recently. When the CO detector activates it is critical to exit the building as quickly and safely as possible.

You should have a CO detector installed: 1. Outside of each separate dwelling unit’s sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedroom(s).

2. On every level of a dwelling unit including the basement.

3. When a fuel-burning appliance is located within a bedroom

or its attached bathroom, a carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed within the bedroom.

If you have any questions regarding the Fuels Management

or Fire Prevention Departments please contact Forester Joe

Barron at 530.562.1212 x2, jbarron@northstarcsd.org, Forestry Assistant Cooper Johnson at cjohnson@northstarcsd.org, or

Fire Prevention Officer Brandon Olk at bolk@northstarcsd.org, 530.562.1212 x1.

detectors due to their proximity to the ground. Please be sure that your CO detector has a battery backup and the batteries

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Liberty provides more than safe, reliable energy and water services. Our team cares about our communities and pitches in with helping hands and willing hearts.

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www.npoa.info | WINTER 2023 | 25

Northstar Community Services District environmental impact, and overall effectiveness of removing and

repurposing forest biomass in order to reduce wildfire risk and restore forest

and watershed health. This project has the potential to meet these objectives by offsetting fossil fuel consumption,

reducing operating costs, improving air

quality by lowering emissions of criteria pollutants, reducing greenhouse gas

(GHG) emissions, and eliminating the

need for costly offsite disposal of residual biomass.

NCSD has completed the CEQA analysis with a certified Mitigated Negative

NCSD Wood Energy Facility Project

practices for reducing hazardous fuels

(NCSD) continues to be actively

woody biomass that otherwise would be

in the surrounding watershed and for

Northstar Community Services District

recovering and using non-merchantable

engaged in efforts to implement best

pile burned, left to decay on the forest

floor or transported to distant disposal facilities at significant cost. Building on the results of a feasibility study, NCSD

continues planning for a thermally led

Wood Energy Facility that would connect to the Northstar Village and NPOA

Recreation Center and offset natural gas demands associated with heating the

various facilities. The project is planned to be constructed on the site of the former NCSD administration building located

behind the fire station on Northstar Drive.

Wood chips derived from regional fuel treatment projects would be delivered to the facility where they would be

burned in a highly controlled system

including state-of-the-art emission control technology. Water heated in a closed

loop system would be pumped through

buried insulated pipes to the Village and NPOA rec center where it would provide

thermal energy through heat exchangers on various existing boilers, significantly reducing natural gas consumption.

The stated goal of the project is

to: Improve the economic viability,

26 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association

Declaration and is working with Placer

County on land use permitting including a Conditional Use Permit (CUP), Placer County Air Pollution Control District permit, infrastructure easement

dedication, various HOA connected

entity agreements and final NCSD Board

approval to purchase capital equipment.

Over the course of the past year, the

District has been awarded a $2MM grant from Calfire, $50k from the Tahoe Fund, $20k from the Climate Transformation

Alliance and approximately $200k from the Vail Resorts Epic Promise program bringing the total secured funding to

$3.77MM. Additional grant funding is

being pursued with the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation and the Sierra Nevada Conservancy.

Currently, the proposed schedule would allow for construction to begin in the

Spring of 2024 with completion in early

2025 and heat delivery shortly thereafter.

Scan for more information.

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28 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association