Northstar Living Spring 2020

SPRING 2020

NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE NORTHSTAR PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION

18 TRWC - EPIC PROMISE FOUNDATION 19

22

Northstar Golf Clubs

7th Annual Northstar Day www.npoa.info | Spring 2020 | 1

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

npoa

SPRING 2020

inside this issue

04 | President’s Perspective 06 | GM Report 07 | Liberty Utilities 11 | NCSD Update

18

12 | Strategic Planning & Vision Committee Report 14 | Trash Disposal In Our Community 15 | Fitness Corner 16 | Tennis News 18 | TRWC - Epic Promise 19 | Northstar Golf Clubs 20 | Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation

19

22 | 7th Annual Northstar Day 24 | Condominium Updates 25 | The Bridge Table 29 | Fire Department

meetings 2020 dates March 31, 9am Design Review Committee Adult Center April 4, 9am NPOA Board of Directors Adult Center April 28, 9am Design Review Committee Adult Center May 26, 9am Design Review Committee Adult Center June 13, 9am NPOA Board of Directors Adult Center

22 community comments policy

June 30, 9am Design Review Committee Adult Center Meeting dates are subject to change.

Please check www.npoa.info for updated information.

Northstar Living welcomes your comments that are pertinent to the Northstar community and will publish those comments on a spaceavailable basis. Comments must be written by members in “good standing;” generally articles will be limited to 250 words. 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or incorrect statements, lacking clarity or having no pertinence to the Northstar community or the Association will not be published.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 nancy@npoa.info; or by fax to 530.562.0324.

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 | Spring 2020 | 3

npoa

president’s perspective This will bring you up to date on a number News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association Board Members Michael Plishner, President mplishner@npoa.info John Bowe, Vice President jbowe@npoa.info

of initiatives the Board and staff have been

working on and some other current issues.

Technology and Communications Improvements: Our Technology

and Membership Communications

Committees (led respectively by Steve Klei and Peter Morris) are currently working

Sue Cordonnier, Secretary-Treasurer scordonnier@npoa.info

on a new member website, which will

Steve Klei, Board Member sklei@npoa.info

more useful information and allow for a

Peter Morris, Board Member pmorris@npoa.info Don Schreuder, Board Member dschreuder@npoa.info Paul Schumacher, Board Member pschumacher@npoa.info

be far more interactive, contain much

“members only” section which will permit

communications with our homeowners of more sensitive information which would

not be made available to the outside world (as everything on our current website now is). This will also allow us to post more

of the information which has previously

Staff at NPOA Tim Fulton NPOA General Manager tim@npoa.info

been sent to you in email blasts in a

Nancy Barna NPOA Administrative Manager nancy@npoa.info

and communications with our staff. Look

Lisa Gaulin NPOA Operations Manager lisa@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

better organized format. Eventually, the

website will also have a portal to permit making online payments, reservations

for changes starting later this Spring or

Summer. In addition, we are proceeding

on a selecting a vendor for a new property management software system, which

will allow us to significantly upgrade our financial, accounting and budgeting

systems (which are over 20 years old and require almost every piece of data to be entered manually), as well as integrate

directly with our entry access and security

systems, web site data and the like. Finally,

Office Hours 8am – 4pm, Monday – Friday

we just completed installation of new

Recreation Center Hours 8am – 9pm, Daily 7am – 9pm, Daily starting June 6

more functional, and save us considerable

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digital/VoIP phone systems, which are costs from the analog system we previously used.

Near-Term Facilities Upgrades: As

you know, when we passed the 2020

budget last Fall, we included a total of

approximately $100,000 for near-term capital improvements. I noted in the

Winter edition of Northstar Living that one of the items we might use these funds

for was some permanent shade cover by

the pool area. This was one item which was overwhelmingly supported by the

community in the survey results in the Fall.

We are now working with our architect

and a contractor on this, and if all goes

well, hope to have a solution which would permit a first phase of this project – by the shallow end of the pool area below the

tennis courts -- to be completed before the Summer season. We are hoping to have a

specific proposal for the Board to approve in early April, obtain County permits after

that and start the work as soon as possible.

Depending on the projected cost and

member feedback after this first phase,

we hope to be able to expand this further to other areas around the pool as future funding permits. We are also looking at some other smaller projects, such as a

climbing structure for pre-teenage kids

and additional equipment for the Snack

Shack, but whether we can do any of those this year will depend on the cost of the

initial shade structure, given the modest amount of funding we are starting with.

Strategic Planning and Visioning (SPV) Committee Work on Possible Future Projects: Led by chair Steve Klei, this

Committee has been very, very active since the Fall. As you know, following

the member survey, in which almost 700 homeowners participated, we held two

workshops over the Christmas holidays – which about 100 members attended.

There we received a huge amount of

individual input, which was very useful in continuing to refine the possible largerscale projects we are studying. In mid-

January, the SPV Committee sent out a

detailed summary via email to you on the

ideas under consideration. (That summary

is available to you on the NPOA website, if you missed the earlier email version; see the “Winter Workshop Summary” under Latest News.) Please also take a look at

the separate section later in this issue of Northstar Living from the Committee,

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

which summarizes where we are and

significantly from one condo association

these services, but others which are rented

a further survey of all members which

family homes are ever rented out.

need to find a local operator willing to take

the next steps. A key next step will be

to another), while only about 25% of single

incorporates what we will have learned over the next few months about what

some of the possible changes might cost,

and how they might be phased over time.

This will allow us to determine whether

some, most or all of these projects have sufficient community support for us to

continue further. We are still some months away from an actual membership vote on any specific proposals, but we think this process will allow to see how or if they should be pursued.

Short-Term Rental (STR) Ordinance: In Tim Fulton’s General Manager report

in this issue, he provides background

information on the new Placer County

ordinance which went into effect earlier

this year and which included new County requirements for those who rent their

homes or condominiums. We also sent out a detailed email blast on this topic in February, including links to relevant

information from the County. Just to put

this issue in perspective, data from our Fall survey, as well as other available County

data, suggests that about one-half of the condos at Northstar are rented at least

occasionally (the percentage does vary

individually or through online services will on this role.

There has been an understandable

amount of confusion about the new

County officials have told us that if an HOA

rent, and about the ability of homeowners

associations applied for an “exemption”

live within an HOA such as NPOA or the

homeowners, the HOA would then have

at Northstar. Our staff has had a number of

and the “responder” for any complaints – in

of the STR program at Placer County to

for compliance with and enforcement of

mean if NPOA applied for an “exemption”

example of the issues the ordinance

the major requirements of the new STR

complained to the County hotline about

must provide a 24/7 contact person who

numerous cars were parked up and

neighbors, the County’s hotline personnel

progress, the HOA would be expected to

of a problem and be onsite within 60

would be at the property within 60 minutes

person must have access to the home or

condo and deal with the situation. A few

management of the unit to remedy any

or their condominium associations, ought

rented here at Northstar are rented

and staff considered these suggestions

ordinance and its impacts on those who

like NPOA or the individual condominium

to be “exempted” from its terms if they

from these requirements for their

individual condominium associations here

to assume the role as the “contact person”

conversations with the officials in charge

other words, the HOA then is responsible

clarify the requirements and what it would

the County’s regulations. To take a typical

on behalf of the entire community. Two of

is meant to deal with, if neighbors

ordinance are (1) that the homeowner

a home or condo being rented out where

is able to respond to complaints from

down the street while a noisy party was in

or local law enforcement in the event

have a 24/7 contact person available who

minutes to deal with it, and (2) the contact

and was authorized to go into the home/

condominium and authority to assume

homeowners have suggested that NPOA,

complaints. Many of the homes or condos

to provide this service. The NPOA Board

through local property management

companies which can readily provide

Continued on page 8

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general manager's report Winter 2019-2020 started out strong,

serviced with broadband Charter. In

in addition to the Transient Occupancy

strong start was followed by many weeks

available via a modern office phone

County. Included in the memo were

abundance of sunny days and groomed

is a fraction of the operating cost of the

awaiting Ullr’s return, we continue to push

the most recent invoice from AT&T had

with a good base early in the season. The

addition to many more features now

of spring like conditions including an

system, at $200 a month, the new system

runs. With the powder skis on the rack

previous phone system. For example,

forward on many projects.

increased to almost $1,400 a month!

Technology: As mentioned in the

system. We are optimizing the current

Second, is a new time and attendance

President’s Perspective, we have been

Paychex payroll system by replacing paper

moving forward with a new website.

time cards with a Paychex employee

Concurrently we continue to interview

technology companies for a new property management system. Our goal is to roll out the first phase of the new website

property management system is in place, we can continue to roll out additional

features within a members only password protected portal of the website.

into the payroll system, utilize biometric ensure compliance. In other words, this will be much more efficient use of staff time to process payroll with better accountability for hours worked.

Placer County Short-Term Rental

In the meantime, the network and wi-

Ordinance: In February, NPOA sent

fi improvements completed in 2019

an eblast memo to membership with

positioned us to move forward with

several smaller technology improvements.

First, was an update to the office phone

system. The current office phone system is about 10 years old and consists of analog

account. This system was replaced with an Intermedia Unite cloud-based platform

tracking and reporting, easy import

technology to clock in/out, and helps

this spring. Once a newly integrated

lines serviced by an AT&T commercial

time clock. This will allow for automated

information pertaining to the short-term rental ordinance recently adopted by

Placer County. The new ordinance went into effect January 1, 2020. Short-term

rentals were required to obtain an STR

permit beginning January 20, 2020 with a final deadline to obtain an STR permit of March 31, 2020. This new permit is

Tax (TOT) certificate required by Placer links to information on both Placer

County’s website as well as the Northstar

Community Services District website. We hope you found this information helpful to answer many questions within the

community regarding this new ordinance.

The NPOA Board's position regarding

seeking an “exemption” was also included

in this important communication. If you did not receive this eblast, please let our office know and we are happy to pass along this information again.

We further wanted to note that since the communication in February, we

understand the various condominium associations within the Northstar

community have been discussing

the subject of whether or not to seek

association exemptions. Further, Placer

County officials have been meeting with local property management companies

regarding the STR ordinance. If you utilize a short-term rental property management company, we suggest you talk to your

property management company about the STR process.

Continued on page 10

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

Liberty Utilities

The Future Is Looking Bright

Liberty Utilities is proud to announce that its recently constructed Turquoise Solar Facility has been brought online, adding an additional 10 megawatts of solar to our renewable energy

portfolio. With the new facility producing at full capacity, Liberty Utilities increases its total solar generation to 60 megawatts,

unequivocally committed to adopting sustainable energy sources for current and future generations.

To learn more about Liberty Utilities’ renewable energy goals

and eco-sustainability efforts, please visit LibertyUtilities.com and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

or approximately 30 percent of customers’ total energy consumption.

Located off Interstate 80, just east of Sparks, Nev., the Turquoise

Solar Facility is comprised of 160,500 solar panels. It will provide power alongside the Luning Solar Facility, which first introduced

50 megawatts of renewable energy to the grid in February 2017.

“Liberty Utilities is committed to clean and renewable power

generation,” said Travis Johnson, Vice President of Operations

for Liberty Utilities. “The addition of the Turquoise Solar Facility brings us one step closer to our goal of providing 100 percent renewable energy.”

In addition to our Turquoise and Luning projects, more than 200 Liberty Utilities customers have installed solar panels at their

homes or businesses and opted into net metering, a program in which over-produced electricity is sold back to the gird.

“In the last five years, we have made significant progress to

bring the greater Sierra region one step closer to 100 percent renewable power,” says Lindsay Maruncic, Sr. Manager

Renewable Energy and Assets for Liberty Utilities. “We still have a lot of work to do, but Liberty Utilities’ solar future is looking bright.”

Sustainability is part of the Liberty Utilities DNA and together with our parent company, Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp., we are

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president's perspective continued from page 5 at both the December and February meetings and concluded we did not wish to do this, for a variety of reasons: First, we do not

have the staff to provide this kind of 24/7 contact and coverage

for individual property owners, nor would we want to hire the staff to do this; second, to provide the kind of round-the-clock staffing

this would require would be an unnecessary financial burden on all

her new endeavors. We’ll be looking to replace Donielle’s position, with perhaps some changes in scope and emphasis. One part of

her past role, overseeing the Design Review process, will be filled instead by a part-time consultant who has done this kind of work for other entities.

homeowners for the benefit of those who happen to rent; third, it

At the same time, we are very pleased to welcome Lisa Gaulin as

naturally come with having access to enter individual homes and

where she was in charge of various member programs and special

it wise for NPOA to get into the “property management business.”

the 2020 budget. Lisa will fill a variety of roles, including helping

this issue and will report to their members on it, if they have not

the upgrading of our systems and overseeing our summer staff

to NPOA’s not to take on this role.

Please stop by and meet her when you are at the Rec Center.

would be unwise for us to take on the liability issues which would

our new Operations Manager. Lisa comes to us from Schaffer’s Mill,

dealing with potentially unruly renters. Simply put, we do not think

events. As you know, this is a new position which we approved with

The individual condominium associations are also considering

get our new web site up and running, helping lead the charge on

already; we know that some have already made a decision similar

and programs. We’re excited to have Lisa join the NPOA team.

NPOA Staffing: Finally, a few words about staffing to add to

Tim’s comments in the GM Report. We were sorry that long-time employee Donielle Summers decided to move on to a new

chapter in her life and has left NPOA; Donielle was a wonderful

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

Mike Plishner, Board President

general manager's report continued from page 6 Trash: As we head into the spring season, our local wildlife

Following numerous interviews, we were fortunate to find an

this issue related to proper disposal of trash.

Lisa Gaulin as the newest member to the NPOA management

becomes much more active. Please be sure to read the article in

NPOA Staff Update: Over the past 10 years, many NPOA

homeowners and return guests have become good friends

with NPOA administrative assistant Donielle Summers. Donielle has been an integral member of the team and has been very

interactive with our membership. Be it assisting homeowners and guests with various member services at the front desk, summer

activities for kids, escrow inspections, or processing Design Review Requests, we appreciate all of her contributions over the years.

For many different reasons, Donielle has decided it is time for a

new path in both her personal and professional life. While she has decided to pursue other endeavors, we all wish her much love

outstanding local candidate. The first week of March we welcomed team! Lisa is a graduate from the University of Nevada – Reno with a degree in Business Administration. She has worked the past 7

years as the Member Services Director at Schaffer’s Mill Golf, Lake, & Ski Club. In this role she planned, organized, and facilitated

major events; managed the on-site event venues including all

aspects of operations and vendor / member communications; new member engagement, membership sales, and communication. In her new role as NPOA’s Operations Manager, Lisa will jump right

in to our various technology related projects this spring help hire summer seasonal staffing, and plan out new, fun activities for the 2020 summer season!

and the very best in the next chapter of her life. While we take a moment to re-evaluate job responsibilities, we have engaged a

local professional to manage the design review process on a parttime basis.

Tim Fulton, General Manager

As mentioned in numerous previous communications, an

additional position was added to the operating budget for 2020.

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

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ncsd update

Green Waste Recycling Program

As part of the Northstar Community Services District Defensible Space and Forest Fuels Management programs, residential curbside yard debris pick up service is available to all NPOA members. This service is limited to pine needles and other green waste that originates on the property and is being removed for defensible space and/or forest health reasons. Pine needles are to be placed in bags free from dirt, rocks and other foreign debris. Slash is limited to tree limbs, branches, wood lengths, tree bark, old firewood, and tree rounds providing the material is stacked in an organized manner and can be lifted by

SPECIALIZED CARE WHERE YOU NEED IT

one person and placed in piles not to exceed 4’x 4’ x 4’. Please do NOT include grass clippings as they can be a source of ignition. Material should be placed near the front of the property, adjacent to, but not on the street. A maximum of four bags of pine needles and four piles of slash per week will be picked up

by District crews on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays beginning May 3rd through October 4th. Material in excess of these limitations may be deposited by property owners and/or their contractors at the District’s seasonal green waste recycling site at the Castle Peak parking lots where it is stockpiled, processed and transported to a regional bio-mass energy plant. Keys to access this facility are available at the District’s Administration office at 900 Northstar Drive during normal business hours (8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday). The District appreciates the attention to these programs to help make the community fire-safe.

Mike Staudenmayer, NCSD General Manager

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Next Steps.

As we begin to get clarity on preliminary estimated costs, we will convene another workshop to share the observations and discuss potential options. We expect this in the April time frame. You will receive an email if you have signed up and we will also post on the website.

Committee Work Continuing Our focus now is to explore, with our architects, potential options based on all the feedback to date. We will start to accumulate preliminary cost information, with the help of contractor consultants, that we can then assimilate into the process. We will still be working with higher level estimates since there will be many unknowns, but we believe it will help guide decision making and allow us to proceed.

Once through the workshops we expect to be in a position to send out another survey with more definitive information than the previous survey and accumulate Member feedback.

Strategic Planning and Visioning Committee Steve Klei, Chair Sue Cordonnier John Bowe

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

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Proper Disposal of Trash In Our Community Given the relatively mild weather this

For single-family residences, if you do

If inappropriate disposal of trash is

we wanted to address one recurring

Tough Trash Cans are available. These

homeowner. In the event of repeated

available in 96-gallon or 64-gallon sizes.

issue fines to ensure compliance.

winter and with spring around the corner, topic within the Northstar community which is the proper disposal of trash.

All Northstar Property Owner Association (NPOA) single-family residences and

condominiums are part of the Northstar Community Services District (NCSD).

Trash is billed annually by NCSD through each property owner’s county tax bill.

Note that your property tax bill lists a

“Northstar CSD solid waste fee” which

not already have a bear box, Toter Bear

observed, NPOA staff will contact the

wheeled garbage containers are typically

problems, NPOA may utilize its ability to

These may be securely stored in garages and rolled out the morning of trash

service and returned to your garage at the end of the day. One local option

for purchasing this container is through

Ace Hardware. These containers may be purchased on-line with free delivery to

the Ace Hardware store in Kings Beach.

funds the Tahoe Truckee Sierra Disposal

Trash bags left curbside outside of

The solid waste or trash removal

observed on several occasions recently.

(TTSD) services provided at Northstar.

services provided by TTSD includes the dumpsters in the gated dumpster area,

service to single-family residences, and

dumpsters at the original condominium complexes. Trash service at single-

family residences includes a) curbside service of trash placed in bear proof

trash containers left at the curb and b)

trash removal services from bear boxes attached to or adjacent to residences

(though note bear boxes located more

bear resistant containers have been

Unfortunately, these are often torn open and disbursed by wildlife, and then

further disbursed by snowplows. We

would like to remind all homeowners

to either deliver all trash to the gated

dumpster location on Northstar Drive, or to place all trash in bear proof

containers. Homeowners are also

responsible for the activities of any guests or renters at their homes.

The NPOA CC&Rs address the proper

disposal of trash as well as the potential

of fines for improper disposal. The NPOA Fine Schedule permits NPOA to issue

fines for violations in the range of $250

- $1000. While this may be an option for repeat offenders, our preference is to

educate the community about proper disposal.

Additionally, Placer County has an ordinance that deals with various

complaints, including inappropriate garbage disposal. According to our

service provider TTSD, if the County has

two documented complaints at the same address, they have means to require the installation of an approvable bear box

among other measures. Environmental Health Complaints can be reported to

Placer County at following link: https://

www.placer.ca.gov/FormCenter/Health-

Human-Services-Environmental-Heal-20/

than 25’ from the curb require the

Environmental-Health-Complaints-119.

homeowner to agree to additional terms and fees by TTSD).

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

- CALL US TODAY -

530 . 214 . 4133

npoa

fitness corner

Effects of Exercise

When we think of the effects of exercise,

3. Spend time outdoors. Take advantage

we usually think of the physical effects.

of this beautiful place we live and

far beyond the physical. Our mind,

breathing in the clean mountain air.

positively impacted by being physically

time in nature. If you meditate, doing

and outdoor activity to those who suffer

meditate, there are some amazing

However, the benefits of exercise extend

spend time outdoors each day

emotions and overall well-being are all

Nothing is more restorative than quiet

active. Doctors now prescribe cardio

so outdoors is incredible. If you don’t

from anxiety, depression and other mood

meditation apps you can try.

disorders. Exercise has been a proven remedy for low energy and chronic

fatigue. Even spending a short amount of time each day outdoors, getting

your blood flowing can do wonders

for your mental and emotional health.

I have a Spring Challenge for all of us.

I’ve highlighted some simple things we can all do to use exercise to benefit us completely:

1. Get moving! EVERYDAY. It could be a

short walk, a YouTube yoga session or

4. Allow your exercise to clear your mind.

While you are exercising, focus on the exercise, the way it makes you feel

physically and mentally. Don’t let the

thoughts of to-do lists, work projects,

etc. creep in. Just stay focused on the activity you are engaged in.

5. Lastly, HAVE FUN! A smile cures a

More than a great home addition for entertainment, a quality spa is an investment in your well-being.

thousand ailments. Whatever activity or exercise you choose, just enjoy it, smile and have fun.

going to the gym, just get that blood flowing!

2. Mix it up. Vary your work outs so that you are incorporating different parts

of your body and mind throughout the week.

Guillaume Tonelli, Tennis Director

tennisnorthstar@gmail.com

www.npoa.info | Spring 2020 | 15

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tennis news I hope everyone is as eager as we are for

Adult Camps - all levels

behalf of Northstar Tennis, I would like to

9am – 12pm

the tennis season to start at Northstar. On welcome back our returning members,

5-Day Camps: Monday - Friday

Cardio Tennis

Friday and Saturday 8 - 9am

Juniors

Junior camps all week and weekends

and to the new members, welcome to the

2-Day Camps: Saturday and Sunday 9am – 12pm

Private lessons: please call for availability

We would like to invite all of you to

Clinics

1 hour, 2 hour

best tennis facility in the Tahoe area.

our first social mixer on Memorial Day

weekend. Saturday May 23rd, at 12pm at the tennis courts. We will have food, drinks, and a lot of fun on the tennis/

Monday - Saturday 1 - 2pm Monday: Skill Development level 1.0 – 2.5

racquetball court for you.

Tuesday: Level 2.5 to 3.5

Here is an overview of what will be offered

Wednesday: Level 3.5 and above

this summer. For details and pricing visit www.northstartahoetennis.com

We look forward to another exciting

season at Northstar tennis. See you on the courts!

Individual, or group privates: 30 minutes,

Pickleball

Private and group lessons: 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hour

Thursday: Improve your doubles tennis game

Friday: Altitude acclimation Friday and Saturday: 12pm - Margarita social mixer - round robin

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

Guillaume Tonelli, Tennis Director

tennisnorthstar@gmail.com

SHERIDAN BROKERS—DICKSON REALTY

Northstar Real Estate

We believe that a keystone of building a community is being active and engaged in the community.

The scope of this service is not and should not be defined or limited. Additionally, we seek ways to partner and work with local non-profit organizations and it is not enough to solely fund/donate to them. We believe in taking an active role in making our communities better.

California Association of Realtors • CATT-Affordable Housing Solutions • Contractors Association of Truckee Tahoe • Cub Scouts Troop 734 • Donner Summit Association • Excellence in Education Foundation • Good Morning Truckee • Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe • KidZone • Lions Club Annual Sight Night Eye Glass Drive • Meals on Wheels • National Association of Realtors • Sierra Community House • Sierra Senior Services • Soroptimist International of Truckee Donner • Tahoe Donner Architectural Standards Committee • Tahoe Donner Election Committee • Tahoe Donner Giving Fund • Tahoe Forest Health System • Tahoe Kidz • Tahoe Sierra Board-Local Government Relations • Tahoe Sierra Board of Realtors • Tahoe Sierra Board of Realtors Foundation • Tahoe Sierra Multiple Listing Service • Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation • Tahoe Truckee Community Scholarship • Tahoe Truckee Waldorf • Trails & Vistas • Trout Unlimited • Truckee Chamber of Commerce • Truckee Community Christmas • Truckee Community Theater • Truckee Day • Truckee Donner AAUW Tech Trek • Truckee Donner Land Trust • Truckee Donner Park & Recreation • Truckee Follies • Truckee Optimist Club • Truckee River Watershed Council • Truckee Rotary Club • Truckee Tahoe Air Show • Truckee Tahoe Community Chorus • Truckee Tomorrow • Truckee Tribe Lacrosse Club • Truckee Volleyball Foundation • Truckee-North Tahoe Emergency Warning Center

11836 Donner Pass Road, Truckee 15947 South Shore Drive, Truckee 100 Northstar Drive, Truckee 289 Commercial Street, Portola

530.587.7444 | DicksonRealty.com www.npoa.info | Spring 2020 | 17

Truckee River Watershed Council Positive Impacts in 2019

In the Martis Wildlife Area, the TRWC and its partners, funders and volunteers, have: Restored 70 acres of meadow (.54 football fields) Created a gradual slope on the floodplain that reconnects streams and rivulets, reducing erosion and sedimentation Repaired 2 miles of streams and revived wildlife habitats Reconnected broken channels that slows run-off and prevents erosion making our water cleaner and keeps meadow wetter Re-established native species Put native plants, like lupine and rushes, back into the meadow which helps prevent invasive species from taking over

Epic Promise Foundation

Restored wet meadow which allows birds to nest, bugs to support the food chain, fish & frogs to thrive and wildlife to return

helps fund and support the Truckee River Watershed Council in

A functioning wet meadow buffers the effects of drought, thwarts fast traveling wildfire and abates downstream flooding.

Northstar California / Vail Resorts EpicPromise Foundation has

order to restore, protect and enhance the Truckee River watershed.

One example is our project work in the Martis Wildlife Area,

Mitigated drought, fire and flood

including Truckee River Day.

local “River Talk” -- an educational presentation on the state of

Martis Wildlife Area is in the heart of our community where

newsletter to stay informed about our ongoing projects at: www.

we recreate. Locals and visitors alike are drawn to its big sky

beauty, wildlife viewing and easy access. It’s also one of the most

the Truckee River and its surrounding land. Or sign up for our truckeeriverwc.org

environmentally significant parts of the watershed. It stores and

cleans water and nurtures plants and wildlife. It even helps mitigate the threats of wildfires, drought and flood.

The Martis Wildlife Area has been damaged from a long history of grazing and highway expansion. Meadow and forest habitat

is degraded, the stream is disconnected from its floodplain, and wildlife species are disappearing. The TRWC works to fix this.

Northstar California/Vail, through their EpicPromise Foundation, helps fund TRWC environmental restoration projects like this. In

addition, Northstar provides 200 lunches for our annual Truckee River Day, where many of Northstar’s employees volunteered the equivalence of $8,000 in labor, participating in hands-on

restoration work in Martis Wildlife Area to restore and protect these areas for our future.

Liberty Utilities’ customers are reducing our state’s carbon footprint one step at a time.

All residential customers receive a climate credit twice a year on their bill, and eligible small business customers receive this credit on their monthly statements.

Our entire community comes together for Truckee River Day to participate in the hard work and process of restoration in

one of our favorite local recreation areas. Local families spend time together with their kids doing something great for the

What does this mean to you?

It means real savings you can use to make energy efficient changes to your home or business — AND a cleaner planet for all of us.

environment, preserving the resiliency of nature and creating the

Local and Responsive. We Care.

next generation of stewards for our environment and outdoor recreation lovers.

To learn more about the work the Truckee River Watershed

Council (TRWC), its funders and partners do, sign up for the next 18 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association

www.libertyutilities.com

npoa

northstar golf Northstar Women’s Golf Club (NWGC) Players in August 2019 Club Championship. L-R: Carol Pawlak, Marian Hansen, Anne Middleton, Sandy Campion, Julie Bryant, Jo Ann Polverari, Margie Lockwood, Susan Safipour, Linda Morris, Marcia Gallagher, Astrid Cousins and Kathryn Jaeger.

Membership in the Northstar Golf Club is open to all levels of play. We have

members fine-tuning their single digit

handicaps but we also have plenty with 20+ indexes that are confidant that this will be the breakthrough year. The cost

remains $75 for those wanting to establish their NCGA GHIN with the Northstar Golf

Northstar Women's Golf Club

If you’re interested in joining the Northstar

Club and only $55 for those who have their

is recruiting new and existing members

Anne Middleton, NWGC President,

Contact Peter Morris 530.330.4300 peter@

to begin when the Northstar Golf Course

me.com. You can join anytime during our

or to become a member of the Northstar

Tuesdays, and our first tee time is generally

to play with us on Tuesdays, so call Anne

the Northstar Golf Course this summer as

The Northstar Women’s Golf Club (NWGC)

Women’s Golf Club, please contact

GHIN established at their home course.

for the 2020 golf season, which is slated

at 858.229.2140 or anne.middleton@

plmrealestate.com for more information

opens this spring. Our Play Days are

golf season. Guests are always welcome

Golf Club. We may see increased play at

about 8:30-9 am.

ahead of time.

another local course is closed for needed

Our ladies’ group is friendly yet plays by

Northstar Men's Golf Club

played over at Old Greenwood.

USGA rules. While Northstar is a public

course, NWGC members enjoy amenities more common at private clubs – a

convenient golf bag drop off, talented

golf professionals who offer individual and

group lessons, a restaurant/bar, and a wellequipped pro shop.

NWGC members range from those with

long-established handicaps — to those who did not have a handicap before joining the NWGC. So, if you’re thinking about

establishing a handicap for the first time,

come do it with us. NWGC annual dues of $70 include: membership in the Northern Nevada Golf Association (NNGA), GHIN

handicap services and reduced green fees at Northstar on NWGC Play Days.

Looking out over the 8th fairway and

seeing it almost devoid of snow gives me hope of an early start to the golf season this year. But we’ll have to wait and see what tricks Mother Nature has up her

2020. It needs mention that Dr. Richard

Park came very close to shooting his age

as he won the Senior Division in the Club Championship. Congratulations to each

of the Club Champions! I’m guessing the members will be vying to have either of

those two playing in their foursomes as we contest the ongoing weekly challenges summer.

Nine wherein members gathered for

a social lunch on the clubhouse patio

On NWGC Tuesday Play Days, you can use

around 12:30pm followed by a relaxed 9

“Mid-Week Morning pass; or pay a NWGC

We are planning to send at least one team

member discounted rate for the day. The

2020 NWGC discounted rate on Tuesday Play Days is $60 ($30 off the early season rate) through June 23. Starting June 30,

the discounted rate on NWGC Play Days is $70 ($35 off the summer rack rates).

ways of summer!

and carrying the Champion honor into

Last summer saw the start of the Monday

a Northstar “Unlimited,” “Late Morning,” or

season before you know it!…Till the fair

fall with Bill Anttila taking the overall win

of the Club Championship, members will the Northstar Clubhouse.

keep an eye on the fairways, it’ll be golf

The Club Championship was played last

played every Thursday throughout the

enjoy lunch and an awards ceremony at

Enjoy the balance of the ski season, but

sleeve for the remainder of this ski season.

The 2020 NWGC Club Championship will

be held on Aug. 25 & 26, 2020. After Day 2

renovations and a PGA Tour event is to be

holes of golf.

to represent the Northstar Golf Club at

the NCGA Senior Four-Ball Net qualifying tournament in the third week of August, with the Championship to be played at

Poppy Ridge in the middle of September.

www.npoa.info | Spring 2020 | 19

Truckee Tahoe Community Foundation | by Ashley A. Beck AI thought leaders have been working

for more than two decades to understand successful rural community strategies.

After years of working with rural leaders, AI identified an innovative approach

that drove success in rural community

development and coined the term Rural

Development Hubs. These organizations transform their communities by working Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation, a Rural Development Hub, launched the Mountain Housing Council in 2017. The Council convenes regional stakeholders and community members in collaborative action to accelerate housing solutions.

Rural America And Those Who Serve It For a long time, people thought of “rural”

financial resources. Philanthropy spends

even insignificant. Most policies translate

investors and big banks invest where they

at the root of local challenges. These hubs are any type of place-based organizations

that improve prosperity and well-being by harnessing local and outside resources to

design and deliver services and products.

areas as geographically isolated and

less than 5% of its giving here. Most private

AI developed the following common

“rural” to middle-America and agriculture.

know they’ll get impressive returns: cities.

Hubs:

However, Tahoe-Truckee is rural, and our culture, identity, and economy are all

linked to mountain recreation, tourism, and the San Francisco Bay Area.

As Rural America takes center-stage in

conversations of the media, politics, and

investment tables, who really understands what’s happening there? What is Rural America- and its people- all about?

So how do rural areas tackle challenges like poverty, housing crises, substance abuse, healthcare issues, and

1. Hubs use a regional mindset and pursue regional action that sometimes crosses town and state lines.

environmental concerns with fewer

2. Hubs assemble regional stakeholders

work?

3. Hubs are of their region: they know their

resources to do so? Who is doing the The Aspen Institute (AI) released a report in November 2019 to answer these

questions. AI is a widely-respected global

Rural communities operate differently than

nonprofit committed to realizing a free,

people to get the work done and fewer

through dialogue, leadership, and action.

cities and suburban areas. We have fewer

themes shared among Rural Development

just, and equitable society; it drives change

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

for dialogue and collective action.

home and are deeply trusted there.

4. Hubs think long-term and guide

community change strategies across decades.

5. Hubs bridge issues and silos across

social, geographical, and cultural gaps.

6. Hubs take a systems-level view

to identify and address potential opportunities and gaps.

7. Hubs collaborate and create structures, products, services, programs, and tools that foster collaborative doing.

8. Hubs translate, span, and integrate

action between local and national actors.

9. Hubs flex, innovate, and become what they need to become to get the job done.

10. Hubs take and tolerate risk.

11. Hubs hold themselves accountable to

the community — the whole community.

Rural America matters within the political, economic, environmental, and social tapestry of our country. It is just as

intelligent, inspired, and innovative as

other parts of America. Rural Development

Hubs are transforming their communities

Thanks to our donors, board members,

stakeholders and community members.

partners, we celebrate this recognition by

by working in collaboration with regional

The Institute declared that if America

wants to create stronger rural ecosystems, it needs to start with Rural Development Hubs . In the report, AI outlines ways for

investors, policy-makers, and organizations to effectively invest and work with Rural

staff, community members, and regional the Aspen Institute. To learn more, read

the Aspen Institute’s Rural Development

Hubs Report at https://www.aspeninstitute. org/blog-posts/rural-development-hubsreport/#spot

America.

Tahoe Truckee

Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation

Foundation

(TTCF) is honored to be listed as one of

43 Rural Development Hubs working to better Rural America. TTCF was formed

by and for our community in 1998. It has a track record of local impact that includes over $28 million in grantmaking and

scholarships, as well as significant work in housing, forest stewardship, impact

investments, and family strengthening.

Community

connects people

and opportunities generating

resources to

build a more caring, creative, and effective community. With $31 million in assets and

a history of community impact, TTCF is your partner in philanthropy. 530.587.1776 | Box 366 Truckee, CA 96160 www.ttcf.net

www.npoa.info | Spring 2020 | 21

7th Annual Northstar Day June 8, 2020

Monday, June 8, 2020 9am-12pm then lunch

Meet at NPOA Recreation Center parking lot for registration

Weeding isn’t sexy or enticing. Why then has Northstar Day increased

participation from forty people the

first year to sometimes more than one

hundred in subsequent years? Simple;

it is fun. Homeowners meet neighbors,

our firefighters, NCSD maintenance crew, and employees of Vail and Welk Resorts.

Often we have the General Managers of Northstar and NCSD plus our fire chief.

This is an opportunity to meet those who

call Northstar home and who work to keep this place great.

Ridding Northstar’s common areas and roadsides of bull thistle and poison

hemlock has been our primary goal. After

We have hire professionals, caterers, or

inundated with these noxious thistles and

people will enjoy. Call it bribery, if you will.

six years, we have transformed sites once poisonous plants to healthy habitats by

order from restaurants to serve a hot lunch

letting the native plants flourish without competition from weeds. A diverse and

Have you been reluctant to participate? You may be thinking...

native flora is important for a healthy ecosystem.

I can't tell one plant from another. Each targeted area has a site captain to help

Last year some referenced the experience

as a challenging Easter Egg Hunt because our target weeds were hard to find.

So why continue? Just one plant can

produce thousands of seeds reversing

our accomplishments in a single season.

Monitoring the target sites is key to

our success: an easy job when many volunteers cover a lot of ground.

Then as a reward after a morning of

weeding, we gather at NPOA’s Adult

Center for a scrumptious buffet lunch.

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

with identification. You also will be given an informative booklet “Invasive Weeds

of the Tahoe National Forest” which helps distinguish native species from our target weeds. After you become a pro, you can monitor your own property. Participants

often say Northstar is not viewed the same after learning more about the native and invasive plants.

I can't lift heavy objects. We have

young, strong volunteers who can lift the container of weeds for you.

Northstar Property Owners Association

for their monetary support and use of the facilities. We also wish to thank Truckee River Watershed Council for loaning

tools and providing plant identification booklets; Vail Resorts for use of safety

vests, road signage and to their employee volunteers; Northstar Community

Service District (Fire Department and Maintenance) for weed bags and the I want to help weed, but I only can work

after six years, as mentioned, volunteers

close to my home.We have a variety of

food through a caterer or restaurant. No

on mostly level land‌ in shady places‌ sites. Some with slopes, steps, ditches.

Other sites have flat areas like the golf

course or shady places near creeks. Just let

have high expectations. We purchase the cooking, just setting up the buffet and helping clean up afterwards. We also

need help with publicity and our volunteer

disposal of weeds plus the workforce of

volunteers, and Welk Resorts for providing employee volunteers. Also a special

thanks to professional photographer, Riley

Bathurst who memorializes our event each year at no cost except a nice dinner.

registration.

Please contact Linda Morris

I can't physically weed, but want to help in

Many local agencies and dedicated

questions or volunteer opportunities.

for all the volunteers is important and

of Northstar Day. A special thanks to

us know your preference.

some other way. Serving a delicious lunch

volunteers contribute to the success

(LindaMorris96161@gmail.com) for

Hope you can join us for the 7th Annual Northstar Day.

www.npoa.info | Spring 2020 | 23

Condominium Updates

Indian Hills

Life is good at Indian Hills with the Board actively engaging

February was one for the record books with the least amount of

aggressive identify and repair program on our siding as well as on

groomers at Northstar that maximize the snow we get and add to it

and reserve budgets.

Last year we had days when the roads were closed because they

unless we get some great spring storms after the writing of this

Well we started the winter off right with some great snow and

homeowners in the improvements in our community. With an

snow we have seen for many years. Luckily, we have the great

the roofs we are in a more confident position on our maintenance

with snow making when possible. What a difference a year makes!

We unfortunately may have budget savings in snow removal

could not clear them. The pictures are of a condo entryway last

article. We are also happy that the NPOA Improvement Project has

year and this year. Looks like Olaf may find out what summer is like sooner than expected!

scaled back to reasonable improvements and abandoned the idea Continued on page 26

CSLB #974246

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

npoa

the bridge table

This issues bridge article is by Michael

Berkowitz written on 2/22/2019. Michael is a well-known and respected bridge

teacher and writer. He grew up in a bridge playing household - both parents are

World Champion players - and learned to play bridge at age of seven, considered

himself a good player at 14 but didn’t get serious until after college. He worked as a

teacher and director at Honors Bridge Club in NYC and later become Head Director

for both Aces and Cavendish Bridge Clubs.

He’s known as New York’s most-loved

director for his friendliness, quick wit and compassion.

Opening 1NT with somewhat unusual hands can solve lots of problems: Q8

AQ76

AK743

Before picking your first bid (or pass), think

J6

You have two doubletons, so would you describe your hand as balanced?

Absolutely! 15 – 17 points? Yup! Those are our two requirements for opening

notrump. 1NT will save us an awkward rebid. Imagine 1 – P – 1 – P? Similarly, K7

AQ

J109765

AJ5

opening NT here avoids having to bid a

junky looking diamond suit twice. Having a six-card minor doesn’t disqualify our hand from being balanced.

Aside from saving us rebidding problems

Planning Ahead

“It’s easy,” my Grandmother explained as

I watched on. “You put oil in a pan on the

fire then you use a food processor to shred potatoes and onions and then add a few things. By the time the oil is hot you’re

and conveying our hand nicely to partner in one go, opening NT allows partner to place the contract most of the time. We

have lots of good tools available: Stayman, Transfers, etc.

ready to fry up latkes.” Going to school in

If we are worried that our opponents will

friends to this Jewish treat. I invited a dozen

With 5

put some oil in a pan on the stove and

possible. This will show your shape nicely. If

North Carolina, I was eager to introduce my or so people over, got all the ingredients,

looked around my dorm kitchen for a food processor. Then I calmly said “Oh $!&#!”

In cooking and in bridge it’s I important to

look to the next step before you commit to a course of action. Otherwise you may find yourself with hungry friends and a flaming pan of vegetable oil.

crowd out the bidding, get started early. AK953

K10986

The Bottom Line

about the way you will show your hand to your partner. If your ‘standard’ option is

going to leave you at a loss, consider doing something else.

Northstar Bridge Club plays on

Wednesdays from 1:30 – 4:30pm at the NPOA Adult Center. You do not need a

partner or have to live in Northstar to play.

Contact Astrid Cousins at 530.913.4020 or

astridwc@aol.com for more information and to sign up to play. Cost is $2.

Play is ‘duplicate style’ the first Wednesday of the month and can sometimes go until

5pm. You play with the same partner all day with duplicate boards following duplicate guidelines. Astrid Cousins runs the duplicate game.

Kathleen Semrad, The Bridge Whisperer

76

open 1 then bid diamonds when

you wait, you may never get a chance.

With two five-card suits, you will always start with the higher ranking suit. If you

have a six-card and a five-card major, make your plan before your first bid. With 5 K10843

AQ9854

7 you might

open 1 to allow yourself a diamond rebid.

GLOBAL RECOGNITION. LOC AL EXPER TISE.

Susan Safipour Global Real Estate Advisor

If you’ll have no clue what to rebid after a

Or you could open 1, but when partner

a different starting point!

diamonds rather than showing your five-

No Trump

showing a much stronger hand).

Chair of the Northstar Ski & Snowboard Team Foundation Auction and Founder of the Tahoe Peak Pickleball Tournament

If you have a hand that is 6-4 like

15-Year Homeowner

particular opening bid we should consider

card major (which would be a reverse

Consider this hand: KJ4

AQ1094

AQ

bids 1, you might get stuck repeating

876

5

Q1087

62 and

If you are one of those people who

KQJ954

important question is:

preempting one level HIGHER (3) than

this hand, if you instead open 1, it’s hard

this if your four-card suit is a minor or a

partner bids 1 or 1NT do you bid 2NT?

open two you will be tempted to bid again

to 2? Do you invite? That’s one reason it’s

free rein. Try to preempt as high as possible

doesn’t open NT with five-card majors, the

you’d like to preempt, you might consider

What is your next bid going to be? With

you would normally. You should only do

to know what to do after partner’s bid. If

really ugly looking major suit. If you only

Do you raise spades? What if partner raises

later on, giving your opponents too much

better to open 1NT.

the first time.

C o n n e c t e d . D r i ve n . S u c c e s s f u l .

+1 925-586-3812

susansafipour.com • susan.safipour@evrealestate.com

10091 Donner Pass Road Truckee, California 96161 CA DRE #02052939 ©2019 Engel & Völkers. All rights reserved. Each brokerage independently owned and operated.

www.npoa.info | Spring 2020 | 25

Condominium Updates continued of creating a restaurant/bar. We look forward to working with the

The final phase of our paver pathway project is also scheduled

improve our community. As we say goodbye to Springtime, we

pavers and then completed the first phase of our pathway

Condo Committee and Improvement Committee to continuously look forward to all the great thing Summer will bring to Indian Hills!

for this summer. We previously replaced all stairways with heated replacement last summer. We are hoping to complete all of the

remaining pathways prior to next winter. Water drainage is being

Aspen Grove

addressed with this project to avoid pooling and to direct water

season. We have a home-owners cleanup day scheduled for

New signage has been completed throughout our Association,

We cleaned up our common areas and significantly reduced

Grove and Silver Strike. These are on schedule to be competed

At Aspen Grove we are excited about the upcoming summer

away from our buildings.

Saturday, June 27, 2020. Last year’s cleanup was very successful.

except for the new monument signs at the entrance of Aspen

the fire danger by removing a truckload of pinecones and other

this spring or summer.

flammable materials. We hope to do the same this year.

The last phase of our repainting project is scheduled for this

summer. This should complete the repainting and staining of all of our buildings. We are also planning to repair six additional

foundations this summer that had been previously damaged by

increased ground-water levels. This will only leave four additional

foundations that need to be repaired next season. Water drainage is currently being addressed throughout the Association. We then hope to be able to coat these foundations with a more attractive

lots, we are looking into putting gates at the entrance of both Aspen Grove and Silver Strike. The decision to do so has not

yet been made, but we are currently studying the feasibility and desirability of doing so to limit unauthorized parking and trash.

Aspen Grove is located within walking distance of the Northstar Village and the NPOA Recreation Center and parking has been

difficult to enforce. We are proud of what we have been able to do to improve our community over the past few years, and plan even more improvements in the coming years.

Continued on page 28

C EL 15 EB YE RA AR TI S! NG

material on all of our buildings.

Finally, with Northstar charging parking fees at all of their parking

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

Condominium Updates continued

Gold Bend

codes. Other long-term projects being

in the mountains, CAMCO will begin

pathways with new asphalt or replacing

As we wrap up another glorious Winter ramping up the ongoing improvement projects to our community this Spring.

considered are either repaving exterior

the asphalt with pavers that are similar to what’s in the Village.

The roof repair and staining projects will

And a few housekeeping notes /

will provide owners with a schedule of

• If you are interested in becoming a

continue through the Fall of 2020. CAMCO when work is expected to begin on your unit. Owners who rent their units should arrange their rental reservations around

the work schedule, so their renters aren’t

inconvenienced. Please understand that, for logistical reasons, the schedules are difficult to change once set.

The Board is also continuing to explore

potential future upgrades, including new railings for the exterior stairways and

decks on each unit. This would not only

be an aesthetic improvement but would

also bring the railings up to current safety

reminders:

• If you are planning to do any

remodeling, please be sure and obtain

an Architectural Review of any planned

upgrades, regardless if County permits are required. Information on the

Architectural Review process can be found on the Gold Bend website.

• Mark your calendars! The next Gold

member of the Gold Bend Board of

Bend Board of Directors Meeting will be

commitment is minimal (4 scheduled

be sending out dial in information closer

to stay up-to-date with all the behind

to participate in the meeting via phone.

makes our community stronger and

participate and, as always, if you have

neighborhood wants and needs. The

to contact the Board via email. Email

at the July Board meeting for owners

Bend website (under “Contacts”).

Directors, please let us know! The time

held on Tuesday, April 21st. CAMCO will

meetings per year) and it’s a great way

to the date for any members who want

the scenes planning. Your participation

The Board encourages all owners to

more representative of what our

any questions or suggestions, feel free

Board will be hosting an “Open House”

addresses can be found on the Gold

to learn about serving on the Board.

Details, including the date, to follow.

Get up to the mountains and enjoy all that Gold Bend and Northstar have to offer!!

Ask about monthly specials, and Northstar resident discounts.

Indian Hills

At the time of writing this article, we only

Locally since 1976 CSL #400342

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

npoa

fire department

I urge you to check it out: NorthstarCSD.

life safety requirements. The Northstar Fire

significant overhaul of the website. The

over the next three years to schedule their

org. The department just completed a

number one goal was to make information quick and easy to find. Everything from

emergency notifications to homeowners' insurance and everything in between. If you have comments or suggestions for improvement to the site, please email them to the fire chief.

Figure 1 Angora Fire South Lake Tahoe 2007 Photo Taken by Northstar Fire Department

Summer is just around the corner. Here are a few items to be aware of.

Fire Department Website Overhaul

If you have not been to the fire

department’s website in a few months,

Short Term Rental Fire and Life Safety Inspections

Placer County passed a Short Term Rental (STR) ordinance that went into effect in

January. As part of that ordinance, all STR

owners are required to complete a fire and life safety STR Self-Certification form every year. In addition, local fire departments are required to inspect all STR’s every

three years for compliance with fire and

Department will reach out to STR owners inspections.

Defensible Space Inspections

Defensible space inspections will begin in early May. Defensible space requirements within the community go above and

beyond the state and county codes. I urge all homeowners to go to the Northstar Fire Department’s website regarding

defensible space before starting any work.

The department is here to help.

Every year the department selects an

area to focus on for our defensible space inspections and enforcement. This year’s focus area includes Big Springs Drive,

Woods Point, Gray Wolf, Red Tail, Eagle Continued on page 30

www.npoa.info | Spring 2020 | 29

Northstar Fire Department continued Feather, Grouse Ridge, Overlook Place,

round Professional Forester? Joe Barron,

Safe Council (federally funded) project

one of these streets, expect your property

California, has served the community

the Ritz Carlton, improve the reservoir

and North Summit. If you own a home on to be inspected for defensible space.

Owners will be receiving an email or

mailer (as early as late March) requesting a Right of Entry (ROE) to be signed and

returned to the fire department. A signed and returned ROE will allow the fire

department to come onto an owner’s

property. Even though we can still record violations from the street and common space, by allowing the fire department

to go onto your property to perform the inspection, you will significantly help

reduce the amount of uncertainty and

inaccuracies you or the contractor may have when completing the defensible space mitigation work.

a licensed Forester with the State of

for more than a decade by overseeing

the Fuels Management Department. His

commitment to the community and forest is evident in the open space common

areas within Northstar. The primary goals of the Fuels Management Department

are reducing the threat of wildfire while

restoring and improving forest health. In

the last twelve months, fuels management work has included the following:

• A California Fire Safe Council (federally

funded) project focusing on forest fuels reduction in the areas of Porcupine

Hill, U.S. Highway 267, and Northstar

Drive. Additionally, work is taking place

above the Ritz Carlton, the Aspen Grove

To help mitigate the cost, a Community

Condominium Complex, the NPOA

available to all residents of Northstar

Northstar Village.

Green Waste Recycling Center will be from May 1st through October 2nd.

Property owners can get a key from the fire department and take the material themselves to the location, utilize a

“curbside pick-up,” which will be available 3-days a week or have a contractor take the material to the center.

Fuels Management Work

Did you know the Northstar Fire

Department has its own full-time, year-

Recreation Center and east of the

• A collaboration with CAL FIRE and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers along

the Northstar’s northwestern boundary,

just west of Basque and Martis Landing, is underway. This project consists

of 78-acres of forest fuels reduction

and forest restoration. This project is

expected to be completed in the Spring of 2020.

• Another recently awarded California Fire

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

will expand acres to be treated above habitat and work with our neighbors

in Martis Camp by strengthening our western boundary.

• All of these projects couldn’t be

completed without the relationships and assisted funding of Vail Resorts (Northstar California), the Northstar Property Owners Association

(NPOA), Mountainside Builders, the

Condominium Association Management Company (CAMCO), and the Community of Martis Camp.

• During this dry winter period, forest

fuels reduction work has begun and

will focus on the forest fuels reduction

projects identified above. It will continue to focus on dead, diseased, dying, and

pest infected trees. If you have a tree or

forested area of concern, please contact the Fuels Management Department or go to the Forestry/Fuels Management

tab under the fire department’s website.

Homeowners’ Insurance

If you receive a non-renewal of your

homeowners’ insurance, you are not alone.

The Northstar Fire Department may be able

to help. Please check our website or contact Joe Barron jbarron@northstarcsd.org for assistance.

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News Magazine Of the Northstar Property Owners Association 2200 North Village Drive Truckee, CA 96161