FALL 2020
NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE NORTHSTAR PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION
20 Power Outages 27
30
Martis Wildlife Area
Northstar Weed Warriors
2 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association
npoa
FALL 2020
inside this issue
04 | President’s Perspective 08 | GM Report 10 | Tennis News 11 | FAQs
20
12 | Civil Code 4041 14 | NCSD Update 16 | Fitness Corner 18 | Northstar Women's Golf 20 | Liberty Utilities 20 | NPOA Election Results 22 | Condominium Updates 27 | TRWC - Martis Wildlife Area
27
28 | Fire Department 30 | Weed Warriors
meetings 2020 dates
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.
October 24, 9am NPOA Board of Directors October 27, 9am Design Review Committee November 17, 9am Design Review Committee December 12, 9am NPOA Board of Directors
30 community comments policy
December 15, 9am Design Review Committee 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or incorrect statements, lacking clarity or having no pertinence to the Northstar community or the Association will not be published.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 | Fall 2020 | 3
npoa
president’s perspective For those who were unable to attend our News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association Board Members Michael Plishner, President mplishner@npoa.info John Bowe, Vice President jbowe@npoa.info Sue Cordonnier, Secretary-Treasurer scordonnier@npoa.info Steve Klei, Board Member sklei@npoa.info Peter Morris, Board Member pmorris@npoa.info
“virtual” Annual Meeting, let me fill you in:
NPOA Covid-19 Operations Update
The changes we have made since March
have taken a lot of effort by many people. When the statewide “stay in place” order was issued, our NPOA staff – essentially
overnight – made the switch from business as usual to full remote operations, closing down most of our physical facilities, and operating our essential services from
home. That did NOT mean that we “shut
Don Schreuder, Board Member dschreuder@npoa.info
down.” Our administrative staff remained
Paul Schumacher, Board Member pschumacher@npoa.info
our design review process turned from
Staff at NPOA Tim Fulton NPOA General Manager tim@npoa.info Nancy Barna NPOA Administrative Manager nancy@npoa.info Sean Cutunilli NPOA Operations Manager sean@npoa.info John Forni NPOA Maintenance Manager john@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 8am – 4pm, Monday – Friday Recreation Center Hours 8am – 7pm Daily (subject to change) Currently Reservations Required to use amenities. Book through the Appointy Reservation System Information on NPOA website www.npoa.info Advertising Sales CCMedia Every Impression Matters P| 775.327.4200 Cover Photo Olof Carmel of Carmel Gallery "Autumn Grove Path"
in operation, ongoing projects continued, on-site to on-Zoom, and our maintenance staff continued to come in to make sure
the physical facilities remained operational and survived the end of a Tahoe winter. A huge thanks to Tim Fulton and to Nancy
Barna for making this transition work, and
to John Forni and the maintenance staff for keeping the facilities up and functioning.
equipment into the Adult Building, moving our meeting space to the front building, and figuring out how we would create
more-spread-out seating space around the pool areas. Doing all this without knowing
when “opening day” would actually be was a challenge. Having summer seasonal staff (lifeguards, extra entry staff, cleaning staff) hired and ready to go when we had no
idea when, in fact, they would be able to
start working was difficult, but we relied on the expertise of Tim and Nancy to “make it happen.”
One of the Covid-19 challenges we faced was “capacity limitations.” We were told by the experts to cut capacity by 1/3 to 1/2. The solution we devised was the
reservation system we put in place in late June, to permit a set number of people
to enter the facilities every few hours. We worked with two different consultants,
Ask about monthly specials, and Northstar resident discounts.
Board members also pitched in to make
the transition to Covid-19 operations work. Between March and June, we formed a
“Reopening Task Force,” consisting of Tim, Board members Peter Morris and Paul
Schumacher, and myself, understanding
that whenever the authorities allowed us to reopen, we would likely be told on some
random Tuesday that we were free to open
• Locally owned HVAC Company
get ready. By mid-May we had a draft set
• 30 years experience
up on Friday – with little warning or time to of protocols done, anticipating we might be allowed to reopen by Memorial Day. As it turned out, the only thing we were
permitted to open then was tennis – but
we were ready to go with that on Saturday, May 23rd.
In the meantime, we had maintenance
(Tahoe Donner resident)
• Specialize in repair, maintenance & replacement • Service all makes & models
• We understand the challenges of second home owners
• We do our best to accommodate individual needs
staff working on split schedules to get the pools and grounds prepared. We also
reconfigured our space to allow for proper
social distancing, moving some of our gym
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4 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association
chose the “Appointy” reservation system,
So, how did it all work out? Certainly,
homeowner visits. This year, we had
unplanned work, not to mention cost, to
reservation system took a few weeks to
of the homeowner visits as compared to
and worked to test it. Again, a lot of get this all in place.
could start to open within a few days. Four days later, we announced the reopening
of almost all of our facilities, effective the following Saturday, June 20th, and sent
out a detailed set of reopening protocols
to you. We were able to get things open a week after the announcement because of
all the advance work which had been done over the prior two months. The staff and our Task Force made this happen.
Some facilities, of course, were still off-
limits. The State would not allow spas to open, so those remained closed. And
while we were able to open the gym on
June 20th, three weeks later the State put Placer County on the statewide “watch
list,” and ordered gyms to close, which we then did. We also decided we could not
visits were: 2019 – 11,000 guest visits.
some thought they were too short, and
others thought we should have more time slots with even shorter pool use periods
in 80% of the visits they made in the last “normal” summer season, while guests
limitations, I think we were fairly successful
It was gratifying that almost everyone
in accommodating our homeowners –
cooperated with the program.
which was our primary goal -- through this
Some interesting statistics for July and
difficult situation.
August – the heart of our summer season -- which show how things worked as
Obviously, people needed to make
in July-August 2019, we had roughly
pool session from 12:30 to 3:30 was not
compared with a “normal” year: Last year, 32,000 Rec Center visits. This year, we had
a total of 20,500 visits – or 64% of the visits this year as compared with a “normal”
necessarily available to everyone who
wanted it – but the earlier or later sessions were much of the time. Again, it was
members understood and accepted these
utilization by around 1/3 or so was met.
changes were needed to make things
work – given the reality of the Covid-19
homeowner visits vs. “guest” visits for
new world.
interesting and, we think, a product of
how the 7-day advance reservation system worked out in practice. A year ago, for
accommodations – the coveted “middle”
gratifying that the vast majority of our
season. So, the plan to be able to cut our
which we charge a guest fee, was also
and sauna in the locker rooms, and some
season. So, homeowners were able to get
were more limited. Given our capacity
-- but for most people, they worked.
closed – these included the game room,
the kids play structure, use of the showers
guest visits as compared with a “normal”
hour pool timeslots – not surprisingly,
Of this year’s visits, the breakdown of
we determined they too would remain
2020 – 3,800 guest visits – or 35% of the
Not everyone was happy with the three-
open and maintain some things safely, so
program, swim lessons and the like.
a “normal” season. The figures for guest
become fully functional. But, by early
July it was operating reasonably well.
On June 9th, the State announced we
summer programs like the Bear Hut
16,500 homeowner visits – or about 80%
there were some hiccups. The Appointy
July-August 2019, we had roughly 21,000
Most recently, Placer County was moved to Tier 2 of the State’s new four-tier
Continued on page 6
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www.npoa.info | Fall 2020 | 5
president's perspective continued from page 5 Covid-19 assessment system on September 8th, and we were
budget for “fuel abatement,” which is our spending on defensible
going forward. We will continue to do all we can to keep things as
we increase the pace and scope of this work (as they are doing we will be making a fairly significant increase here from $20,000
able to reopen the gym that week. We hope that will remain so
space work. The Northstar Fire Department is mandating that
“normal” as we can given the unique times we are in.
around your individual homes and condo complexes), and so
NPOA Finances and 2021 Budgeting
this year to $40,000 next year. The final budget component is a
NPOA’s 2020 finances were certainly impacted by the pandemic.
Between a hit on revenues (primarily guest fees) and extra costs to gear up for our revised operations, including consulting fees and new software for our reservations system, changed facilities and
supplies, Covid-19 will cost us roughly an unanticipated $75,000
this year. We also had some other unanticipated 2020 expenses: A
major spa repair on the large spa (leaks found underneath the spa) of $20,000; and extra costs of about $36,000 on our technology upgrades due to the need to replace all key cards and gates as
part of our property management system upgrade later this year.
Much of that will be covered out of our contingency. On the other side, we had some substantial personnel savings, due to the fact that we are filling two administrative positions much later in the
year than we had budgeted for. Net result of all this, we expect to finish 2020 somewhat better than our budget.
contribution to Reserves. You will recall that in 2020 we made no
contribution to Reserves, believing we were relatively well funded. We said that was a one-time event, since over the next four years
our estimated reserve expenditures are scheduled to exceed $1.7
million. We are budgeting for a contribution to Reserves of roughly $75,000 out of 2021 operating revenues. We plan to add to this a
transfer of somewhere in the range of $100,000 to $125,000 after January 1st out of excess funds from the 2020 budget year, for a total contribution to Reserves of around $175,000 to $200,000.
We will need to continue contributions in the $250,000 range in
future years to keep Reserves adequately funded given the future
expenditure estimates. We are not planning to make a contribution to the Capital Improvement Fund in 2021. We will be spending
most all of what we contributed in 2020 on the “Shade Structure” which has now been approved by Placer County and is being
We have begun work on our 2021 budget, which we will finalize in October. Covid-19 creates additional budgeting challenges, since we do not know to what extent our operations will be
impacted next year. We are planning that our revenues (guest fees and other summer fees) will still be well below normal,
reducing our revenues by at least $50,000. On the expense side, we expect (finally) to be fully staffed by the beginning of 2021. Beyond normal expected increases to insurance, utilities and
some contract services, we are planning on either steady-state or reductions in many expense areas. One exception to this is our
manufactured; it should be installed by next Spring, adding a
huge amount of shade at the end of the pool closest to the tennis
courts. While we would like to continue to have this kind of money available for similar projects (including another Shade Structure at the opposite end of the pool), we think this needs to wait for
a future year. Bottom Line: While the 2021 budget is still “in the
works” and not yet competed, our goal is to deliver a budget at
the same assessment level ($1200) as in 2020, while still making a significant contribution to Reserves – this despite lower expected revenues than we were projecting a year ago pre-Covid.
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6 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association
A Few More Items
• 2020 Board Election: Congratulations to Sue Cordonnier, Steve Klei and Paul Schumacher for being re-elected to
• Retreat-Martis Camp Litigation: Finally, some of you have heard that the Court of Appeal recently issued a ruling in the ongoing
the NPOA Board. These three board members have been
litigation over the gate between the Retreat and Martis Camp.
volunteer hours behind the scenes. Sue (who is a CPA) has
that the road behind the gate which abuts Mill Site Road was
all our finances and budgeting, as well as work with our tax
public transit (i.e., TART), and was never intended for private
advisors. Steve (who comes from the technology world) has
Retreat’s favor on 3 of 4 claims. The sole ruling in Martis Camp’s
as well as being the leader in thinking about the future of
State environmental act. We are working with the Retreat’s
up with concrete ideas for your consideration. Paul (who is a
support the Retreat’s position that the gate should remain closed
with our outside counsel on employment and HR issues,
past 5+ years.
mainstays of our 2020 operations, devoting countless
The opinion is highly critical of Martis Camp’s position, finding
been our Treasurer/CFO and responsible for overseeing
always intended to be used only for emergency vehicles and
professionals, auditors, reserve consultants and investment
vehicles from Martis Camp residents. The Court ruled in the
overseen our technology projects updating our infrastructure,
favor was on a highly technical legal issue under CEQA, the
NPOA’s facilities and working with our consultants to come
developers to address the one technical issue. We continue to
lawyer, business litigator and former businessman) has worked
permanently to private vehicle traffic, as we have done for the
updated many of our contracts, by-laws and election rules,
done a complete update of our Design Review Guidelines, and most recently, insured that our Covid-19 protocols met State/
County mandates. Thank you to all three of them and we look forward to their continuing contributions next year.
Mike Plishner, Board President
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www.npoa.info | Fall 2020 | 7
npoa
general manager's report For those who may have missed the
time clock management system. This
information was introduced by the NPOA
hours and create payroll reports within
annual membership meeting, a lot of great Board members and our guest speakers.
Please refer to the President’s Perspective
for more information. Also, the 45th Annual Meeting & Election Results included in this edition of Northstar Living.
For those who were not able to attend, I provided a summary of some of the
projects completed over the past year and have briefly summarized below.
Technology Projects:
will more efficiently track employee’s
the Paychex which we already used for payroll processing;
• worked closely with a consultant to select new accounting, property management, and access control system which we are implementing this fall;
Operations/Replacement Reserve Projects:
• sealing the asphalt for the recreation center parking lot and access road;
• Appointy reservation system selection,
• new pool and spa covers;
• installation of wi-fi equipment in the
• replaced lights strung up in the trees with a new light post near the shuttle stop;
set-up and implementation;
tennis pro shop this spring was the last phase of new wireless network;
• installation of a new security camera system at the recreation center;
• enhanced payment options and for
the first-time alternate methods for the
payment of assessments via a third-party PayLease;
• installation of a new VOIP phone system the last week of February turned out to
be critical to our communication during
the COVID related closure. The on-going monthly cost is a fraction of the cost of the previous phone system ($200 vs $1400 month);
• built out Point of Sale (POS) system
and report system within our existing payment processing system for front desk operations;
• installed new hardware and built out a POS system, reservation system
and report system within our existing payment processing system for the tennis operation;
• replaced hand written payroll cards with
• Tennis Pro Shops projects included replacing the exterior doors to the pro shop and the remodeled outdoor kitchen island area;
Administrative:
• CA Assembly Bill 5 (AB5) passage late 2019 required us to review our various existing employee and contractor relationships. The decision was made to make several organizational changes. 1) NPOA tennis professionals, who have previously been independent contractors, were brought on as employees this summer 2) Made the difficult decision to discontinue massage services 3) the operation of the snack shack continues to be an independent contractor. • We hired a DRC Consultant this spring to administer DRC requests. We are also collaborating on reorganizing and digitizing DRC related information. Information in paper file folders in the admin offices and hard copies of plans in Adult Building are being digitized. These documents will be combined with documents already existing on the server
Paychex True Shift which is an online
8 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association
and saved into a single folder for every single-family residence. • Dumpster Site Enforcement – as shared in several recent eblast communications, we are very actively identifying owners or guests who have used the site inappropriately and fining violations in an effort to encourage appropriate use of this site. Finally, I wanted to provide a hearty thank you to all of our members and your guests. Our hard-working team at the Recreation Center very much appreciates your patience, understanding, and support this summer and into this fall season.
Tim Fulton, General Manager
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npoa
tennis news up. Involve your legs, joints, back, shoulders and arms, and always get your body to be ready for tennis. We always recommend
dynamic stretching at the beginning (is a movement-based type of stretching), and a static stretching at the end (stretching poses that are being held for a period of time).
The other very important points are to learn how to use the right grips, stay hydrated, stay in good shape to be able to focus on
the technique and strategies of playing the game, improving your
reaction time, and your stamina, and the most important is that you can only play one point at a time, so even if you play the best/ worst
point of your life, you can always re-focus and keep going.
What Does It Take To Start Playing Tennis As A Beginner?
Guillaume Tonelli, Tennis Director
Here are a few tips on what is essential about starting to play
tennisnorthstar@gmail.com
tennis.
1. Choose the right tennis racquet.
Prepared for an Emergency?
There are many racquets to choose from these days and it could be very confusing. Racquets for juniors and beginners usually
come strung and are inexpensive. The key is to choose one that matches your body, athleticism, weight, and grip size. The best
is to ask the tennis pro or the tennis host, as they will be able to
guide you very easily. It is an investment as a good pair of skis, you can get the racquet re-strung and keep adjusting to make your game better.
2. Practice
Tennis is a very fun game, but as everything, it requires consistency. That means you can play well one week, and the next could be
discouraging. Don’t get down on yourself, this is very normal and it
NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH
will improve as your practice becomes more consistent.
3. Take some lessons
It could be intimidating to take tennis lessons, but that is the
perfect way to not develop bad habits and start with the right
technique. It is very easy to get started and hit the ball back and
forth, but you will stagnate pretty fast without the right methods. Do some research and find the right tennis professional that will
make it fun for you, will improve your game, and will motivate you.
4. Warm up and cool down
Warming up is especially important. Most injuries come from
jumping on the court and chasing a ball without a proper warm 10 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association
npoa
frequently asked questions Trash Disposal
Trash Disposal – Placer County requires
maintenance. Further, check out the
recently finalized terms of a new
for a list of Approved Bear Resistant
Sierra Disposal (TTSD) on behalf of
note trash cans installed inside the Bear
construction and remodels adding more
32 gallons nor 60 pounds in weight. TTSD
Family Residences (SFR), Placer County
of service curbside or from the Bear Box
bear box/bear resistant garbage can
If the Bear Box or closet is located more
Welcome NPOA's New Operations Manager
a “Bear Box”. Placer County also allows
there are there are three options:
Hi Northstar Property Owners! I
1) homeowner must bring trash cans to
myself as part of the NPOA team
mandatory trash service, and NCSD
Placer County website www.placer.ca.gov
service agreement with Tahoe Truckee
Garbage Can Enclosure vendors. Please
the Northstar community. For new
Box or left curbside may be no larger than
than 500 sq. ft. square feet to Single
will service trash cans left the morning
requires the installation of a bear bin/
within 25’ from the edge of the roadway.
enclosure most commonly referred to as
than 25’ from the edge of the roadway,
for bear closets which are integrated into the design of a house. Existing Single
Family Residences who do not currently have a Bear Box, but wish to install one, should visit the TTSD website www.
waste101.com for information on the
purchase and installation of a Bear Box
as well as recommendations for on-going
the curbside by 6am
2) sign a waiver with TTSD to allow them
to drive on your driveway closer to your shed or bear box
3) pay TTSD a trip charge for collection
personnel to walk to your shed or bear box.
Locally since 1976 CSL #400342
• Large Projects • Handy Work, Repair • New Construction • Home Additions • Kitchen & Bath Remodeling • Maintenance • Decks - Build & Repair • Tile/Stone • Drywall/Painting • Electrical/Plumbing Northstar Experienced since 1989
would like to formally introduce
for any members that may not have been listening in on our Annual
Meeting held earlier this month. My name is Sean Cutunilli and I have
been brought on to be NPOA’s new Operations Manager!
On a more personal note, I have lived in Carson City and Reno,
If the shed or bear box is more than
Nevada for the entirety of my life.
not selected, TTSD personnel will not
have spent the last 8 years or so
to have TTSD personnel inspect your lot
management positions, with recently
account for a trip charge, please contact
150 employees as the Guest Services
service is not coordinated at your home,
to the University of Nevada, Reno
of household garbage and recycling is
of Science degrees in Finance and
25’ and one of these three options are
Specifically, it is in Reno where I
service your residence. If you would like
in Hospitality supervisorial and
and possibly sign a waiver or set up an
managing 5 departments and up to
TTSD at 530.583.7800. As a reminder, if
Manager at the GSR. It also is home
the closest option for properly disposing
where I graduated with Bachelor’s
the Dumpster Site on Northstar Drive.
Economics in the December of 2016.
As a courtesy reminder, single family
the HOA business, eventually meet
residences may not take their household garbage and recycling to dumpsters at the condominium associations (Aspen
Groves, Gold Bend, Indian Hills, Ski Trails).
I am very excited to start my career in all of you owners, and maybe try
out this skiing thing I have heard so much about.
Those dumpsters are for the exclusive use of the homeowners and guests at those respective condominium associations.
530.546.7030 www.npoa.info | Fall 2020 | 11
npoa
civil code 4041
Request for Annual Notice of Address, Representative and Occupancy Status (Civil Code Section 4041)
Civil Code, §4041 requires each
homeowner to provide the Northstar
1. The mailing address to which notices from the Association are to be delivered:
Property Owners Association (NPOA) with the following information on an annual
basis. This request for information is also
required to be sent by associations to their members at least 30 days prior to making the Association’s own Annual Budget
2. An alternate or secondary address to which notices from the Association are to be delivered:
Report disclosures under Civil Code §5300.
Please complete this form and return it to the Association within 30 days.
NOTE: If an owner fails to provide the information set forth in items 1 and
2 above the last address provided in
3. The name and address of your legal representative, if any, including any person with power of attorney, or other designated person to be contacted in the event of your extended absence:
writing by the owner or, if none, the
property address shall be deemed to be the address to which notices are to be delivered.
Please return this information to the
association at the following address or email:
Northstar Property Owners Association
4. Is the separate interest that you own (check one):
Owner-Occupied
Rented Out
Vacant
Undeveloped
2200 North Village Drive Truckee, CA 96161 npoa@npoa.info
Property Address
Member Name
Date
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12 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association
We live in a special place. As a deeply committed community partner, the Truckee Tahoe Airport District cares about our environment and we work diligently to minimize the airport’s impact on the region. From new ADS-B technology, to using electric vehicles on the airfield, and preserving more than 1,600 acres of open space land, the District will continue to seek the most sustainable way of operating.
Photo by Anders Clark, Disciples of Flight
GOING GREEN TO KEEP OUR REGION BLUE.
Green Initiatives Over the past five years, we’ve developed a number of initiatives that reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and keep our community clean and blue.
Connected by More Than A Runway
New flight tracking program (ADS-B) allows for more efficient flying
Open-space land acquisitions for public use
Energy-efficient hangar lighting
Electric vehicles & E-bikes used on field
Land management plan for forest health and wildfire prevention
Implementation of Greenhouse Gas Inventory & GHG Emission Reduction Plan
Learn more at: truckeetahoeairport.com www.npoa.info | Fall 2020 | 13
npoa
ncsd update Think Before You Flush
Flush and Forget: it seems easy to dispose of almost anything in the toilet or down the drain. However, there can be costly and unhealthy consequences to sending the wrong items down the sewer pipe. Many items can clog your toilet and/or create sewage backups into your home or your neighborhood. They can also cause significant damage to pipes, pumps, and other wastewater treatment equipment. Certain items are worse than others and should be avoided at all costs.
Fats, Oils & Grease (FOG)
When Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) go down the drain, it builds up in the pipes causing obstructions. Restriction of flow can result in an unwanted discharge of sewer waste known as a Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO). • Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) + Food Waste = Obstructed Sewer Pipes • Obstructed Sewer Pipes = Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs) • SSOs = Threat to the Health of the Community and Environment
absorbent nature which makes them expand quickly. These products also contain cotton which snags easily on pipe joints or where roots infiltrate sewer pipes. Within a few flushes these sanitary products can create serious issues.
Cotton Balls & Swabs
It might seem like these tiny bathroom items would just get soggy and eventually break down, but they don’t. As mentioned above, cotton snags easily and can cause issues in the sewer system.
Paper Towels and Napkins
Paper towels are not designed to break down in water like toilet paper. Flushing them can result in blockages and expensive home plumbing problems.
Help Notify Us
If you see water and/or sewage bubbling up from a manhole or pooling in a grassy area, please report it immediately by calling the Northstar Community Services District at (530) 562-0747.
SSOs are trouble for everyone. They contain harmful bacteria that are unhealthy for people and pets. They also pose a threat to downstream waterways and ecosystems.
Diapers
Flushing diapers is more common than you might think, and they will easily clog a toilet or an outgoing sewer line. Disposable diapers should always go in the trash. A single diaper flushed down the toilet can create a huge problem as they are made from a material that is designed to expand when contacting water. The Northstar Community Services District operations team frequently unblocks sewer pipes that are clogged with diapers which is not a pleasant job.
Disinfecting Wipes
Disinfecting wipes, including baby wipes and “flushable wipes”, should be properly disposed of in the trash, not the toilet. In truth, there is no such thing as a flushable wipe. These wipes do not break down in sewer systems and frequently cause clogs and backups. Disinfecting wipes and baby wipes should never be flushed.
Tampons and Sanitary Napkins
Flushing tampons and sanitary napkins frequently cause clogs and sewage backups both in the home and public sewer systems. Like disposable diapers, these items have an
14 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association
Best Practices to Prevent Sanitary Sewer Overflows In the Home • Never pour grease down sinks, drains, or the toilet. • Collect cooking fats, oils, and grease (FOG) into a container and dispose of them in the garbage. • Before washing, wipe FOG from pans with a paper towel.
Restaurants and Building Owners • Recycle grease and oil. • Dry wipe pots, pans, and dishware prior to washing. • Do not pour FOG down sinks, floor drains, or onto a parking lot or street. • Use a grease trap or interceptor that is designed, installed, and maintained correctly.
• Catch food scraps with baskets or strainers in sink drains. Throw scraps in the garbage.
• Never put solids into grease traps or interceptors.
• Toilet paper is the only sanitary item that should be flushed down the toilet.
• Provide regular training to employees on proper disposal of FOG.
• Check and maintain grease traps regularly.
• Toilet paper is the only sanitary item that should be flushed down the toilet.
Mike Staudenmayer, NCSD General Manager
www.npoa.info | Fall 2020 | 15
npoa
fitness corner • Reduces melanoma (skin cancer) by over 72% • Improves digestion • Increases immune system function • Prevents up to 47% of cognitive impairment, 62% of Alzheimer’s • Enhances learning by 12 times • Decreases depression by 20%, including relapses • Decreases stress, body fat, weight gain Taking the stairs rather than the elevators with make a big
difference. Did you know that climbing stairs burns more calories per minute than jogging?
Quality Is Better Than Quantity
With the current situation closing a lot of gyms, here are a few ways of staying in shape doing easy exercises:
The first thing is, the world is moving towards digitalization.
If you can find some basic fitness equipment (Light dumbbells, a stability ball and jump rope can all be used for a great homeworkout.)
It has become quite easy to find work out videos on the computer
You can always be creative and use water bottles or such for light
virtually attend them (you can pause them, you can rewind, etc.)
of your furniture to help you do that too, for example box squats or
or TV. These routines give you so much flexibility, as you can
Walk when possible.
weights. You can use them to do curls or squats. You can use some step-up on chairs.
Walking is the MOST underrated exercise. You can listen to music,
You have so many body weight exercises available to you: Planks,
According to Mike Escobar, in “Fitness: the forgotten nutrient”, he
you. You can do some leg raises while watching tv or washing the
podcasts, you can bring your dog, friends, and make it a fun walk.
push-ups, squats, jumping jacks, step-ups etc, are all amazing for
describes that walking 30 minutes a day:
dishes. Cleaning or re-organizing the house is actually a great way
• Prevents up to 91% cases of obesity, type II diabetes
to get moving.
• Prevents up to 50% of all cases of heart disease • Normalizes blood pressure, reduces risk of developing high blood pressure
Guillaume Tonelli, Tennis Director
• Reduces risk of breast cancer by up to 60%
tennisnorthstar@gmail.com
• Reduces lung cancer, even in smokers, by 72%
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16 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association
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npoa
northstar golf
L-R: Margie Lockwood, Karen Olin, Linda Moore and Claudia Young, ready to drive to the first tee, take off their face masks for a photo opportunity. (July 2020)
Northstar Women's Golf Club Members Enjoy A "Social Distancing" Golf Season By Anne Middleton
The Northstar Women’s Golf Club (NWGC) started its weekly
Tuesday Play Days when the Northstar Golf Course opened in
play with us on Tuesdays, so call Anne ahead of time to be placed in one of our Tuesday pairings.
NWGC members range from those with long-established
handicaps – to those who did not have a handicap before joining NWGC. So, if you’re thinking about establishing a handicap
mid-July. With continued Coronavirus concerns, it was a very
different golf season – masks required until we reached the first tee, then we followed “social distancing” guidelines and stayed six feet apart from our fellow golfers.
The Northstar Golf Course staff did a great job at keeping things safe and sanitized for those of us who enjoyed playing until the course closed on October 11. Each player had her own cart
unless she chose to walk the course. Golf carts were cleaned and
disinfected after each use. Masks were required in the clubhouse and at “the turn” restaurant. There was no touching or removal
of flagsticks. Bunkers were played as “ground under repair,” and
there were no rakes. “Gimmies” were encouraged on the putting green to reduce crowding near the hole. All common areas,
restrooms and the Pro Shop were cleaned and disinfected. Hand sanitizers were available for public use and located in common areas.
There was no Club Championship this year, as we weren’t able
to meet in larger groups. All are hopeful that the Northstar Golf
Course will open earlier next year – and that we’ll resume a more normal course of play, with the opportunity to participate in a Club Championship and to interact more socially.
While our 2020 golf season ended in mid-October, prospective members can obtain information about the NWGC during the year by contacting Anne Middleton, NWGC President, at 858-
229-2140 or anne.middleton@me.com. Guests are welcome to
18 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association
L-R: Anne Middleton, Sandy Campion, Heidi Wilbert, Carol Pawlak, Marian Hansen and Kathryn Jaeger greet one another before joining their golf pairings. (July 2020) for the first time, come do it with us at Northstar in 2021. In
Our ladies’ group is friendly yet plays by USGA rules – while
Northern Nevada Golf Association (NNGA), GHIN handicap
course, in pre-coronavirus times NWGC members enjoyed
2020, NWGC annual dues of $70 included: membership in the services and reduced green fees at Northstar on NWGC Play Days (Tuesday mornings).
enjoying a beautiful golf course. While Northstar is a public
amenities more common at private clubs – a convenient bag
drop, talented golf professionals who offer individual and group
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Liberty Utilities determining if weather conditions warrant a PSPS. Liberty Utilities has deployed weather stations throughout the service area,
collaborates with a fire and weather scientific consultant, with
the National Weather Service in Reno, Nevada, and with local fire
officials to monitor real time local weather conditions to evaluate if and when a PSPS is required to limit wildfire risk.
No single factor will drive a PSPS, as it takes a combination of
factors reaching or exceeding a set limit to initiate a PSPS. Some of these factors include:
• Low Humidity Levels – Potential fuels are more likely to ignite when there is a lower amount of water vapor in the air.
• Forecast Sustained Winds & Gusts – High winds can result in
several factors that may cause a fire to ignite. Sustained winds
can also cause the fire to spread and even throw embers into the
Public Safety Power Shutoff Preparing for the Possibility
Liberty Utilities is working year-round to mitigate the risk of a wildfire caused by electrical infrastructure. While we are
making great strides addressing the safety and reliability of our grid, extreme fire conditions may still warrant preemptive de-
energization measures, also referred to as a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS). Therefore, planning for and knowing what to
expect from a PSPS should be part of your wildfire protection and preparedness efforts.
What Constitutes Extreme Fire Weather?
A PSPS is reserved for times when fire weather conditions are at
their most extreme and de-energizing a portion of the electrical grid is the prudent decision to best protect our customers, communities, and the environment.
air and create additional fires.
• Dry Fuel Conditions – Trees and other vegetation act as fuel for
wildfires. Fuels with low moisture levels ignite easily and spread rapidly as no heat energy is wasted trying to drive water out of the fuel.
• Red Flag Warnings – Issued by the National Weather Service to alert of the onset, or possible onset, of critical weather or dry
conditions that would lead to swift increases in wildfire activity.
How Will We Know if a PSPS is Activated?
Advance notification is critical in any PSPS scenario and Liberty will alert customers, public safety partners, and others at the
earliest opportunity. When possible, Liberty will directly notify customers of a PSPS approximately 48 hours before power is shut off, 24 hours before power is shut off, just before power is shut off, during the PSPS and once power has safely been
restored. Direct notification is the best, most effective way to keep
Many of the same factors that are used by Fire Agencies to determine a Red Flag warning are also considered when
customers apprised of a PSPS event. We strongly encourage every customer to call Liberty at 1.800.782.2506 to confirm their contact
npoa election results 2020 Annual Board Of Directors Results Election of Three Directors * Sue Cordonnier Stuart Feigin * Steve Klei Al Roth * Paul Schumacher
460 221 333 199 383
Standing Special Resolution
For 450 Against 7 Total Votes
457
20 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association
Quorum Summary
Total Valid Ballots Received Eligible Properties Required Quorum 10%
Other Information
Total Ballots Received Disqualified Ballots
613 1,480 148 632 19
information is up to date. If you have a loved one with access and
functional needs, help them update their contact information and consider adding yourself as a secondary contact.
In addition to direct PSPS notifications and updates, Liberty Utilities will post detailed outage information at www.libertyutilities.com, as well as on Facebook (@LibertyUtilitiesLT) and Twitter (@LibertyUtil_ CA).
Knowing if a PSPS event is coming, how long it will last, and who
it will affect is an important first step in being prepared for, and in staying safe and comfortable should a PSPS event occur.
How do I Prepare?
Once you have ensured your contact information is up to date, PSPS preparation is not much different than any power outage
preparation. Customers should consider the following to ensure their homes, businesses and families are prepared:
• Plan for medical needs that may be impacted by a power shutoff, including medications that need refrigeration or devices that
supplies and maps of the local area. For additional emergency kit necessities, consult Ready.gov.
• Store non-perishable foods and water to support your family and pets for a minimum of 48 hours.
• Keep a full tank of gas in your vehicle as gas stations may be affected by a power outage
• Keep cash available as ATMs and credit card machines may be unavailable during a power outage.
• Be sure phones and other critical electronic devices are charged and consider investing in a backup battery or power source, potentially one that can recharge with solar.
Liberty Utilities’ top priority is the safety of customers and our communities, and we will take every precaution to keep our
beautiful region safe from the risk of wildfire. To learn more about
our wildfire mitigation programs, customers are encouraged to call 1.800.782.2506 or visit LibertyUtilities.com.
require power. Be sure to register any medical-related energy needs at 1.800.782.2506.
• Create an emergency kit including flashlights, batteries, first aid
Article written by Lee Kiolbasa Emergency manager, Liberty Utitlities
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www.npoa.info | Fall 2020 | 21
Condominium Updates
Aspen Grove
What a year we have experienced!! First, the skiing was cut short and then NPOA was closed for some time due to COVID-19. However, with due diligence NPOA was finally able to open and has done a remarkable job in the midst of a pandemic.
The Aspen Grove Community is located in close proximity to the NPOA Recreation Center and the Northstar Village. The above improvements are intended to enhance our enjoyment of this beautiful area.
At Aspen Grove we have had a very busy summer season. Despite needing to cancel our annual homeowner’s cleanup of our common areas, the Northstar Fire Department has been proceeding with work on our defensible space. We have also been able to proceed with many of our other ongoing projects. We have finished the final phase of our re-staining project and have removed the stainless-steel chimneys from the Tower Buildings. We finished the second phase of our foundation repairs and have started replacing our old asphalt pathways with new paver pathways. These new pathways will have more steps than the former pathways, but this was necessary to meet code. Alternatives for highlighting the steps and additional pathway lighting are currently under consideration. This project will not only enhance the aesthetics of our community but will also address safety concerns. The paver project will take another year to complete. All new signage has been installed throughout the Aspen Grove Community, but we have been delayed in installing the two new monument signs. These last two signs should be installed before winter. The Aspen Grove Board is also considering installing automatic gates at the entrance to both the Aspen Grove and Silver Strike parking lots. This decision should be made by the time this article is published. Parking lot resurfacing is also under consideration. Finally, as soon as the remaining foundation work is completed, alternatives for covering the bare cinder block throughout the Aspen Grove Community are being explored and bids are currently being collected.
Gold Bend
With many improvement projects underway, there has been a great deal of activity at Gold Bend this summer. The three-year re-roofing of all of our buildings was completed in July. Don’t they look great? Also, our parking lots were re-paved in early September. Defensible space work, which is vital to fire prevention, continues in earnest. Besides the clearing of brush and pine needles, removal of tree limbs and some shrubs, certain trees are being pruned or removed to increase the defensible space distance from the structures and between groups of trees. In addition, the project focused on the reconditioning and staining of our buildings also continues. Many of the buildings will be completed this year but work on some buildings will carry over until next year. Our painting contractor has developed a process utilizing a new product that provides greater protection to the cedar siding, while also enhancing the wood’s appearance. And
22 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association
with the completion of the roofing project we should see fewer incidents of darkened areas on siding caused by runoff from the roofs. This, in turn, simplifies the cedar siding maintenance. The painter has also been contracted to paint the foundations of the buildings, which will enhance their overall appearance. This work will be done in conjunction with the staining of the buildings. The photo depicts how they will look compared to the way they are currently. The paint color will be the same color that is on the doors to the outside storage closets. We hope you plan to join the Annual Homeowners Meeting on November 14th. You will be receiving more information about the meeting, as well as a ballot to vote in the upcoming Board of Director’s election, soon.
Indian Hills
We have all been experiencing the stress and anxiety of the COVID-19 public health emergency and coping with it as best we can. One of the best things we can do is get outside and exercise at the level that we are able to. Indian Hills, and all of Northstar, was the destination this summer and fall for people to escape their normal routine and enjoy the mountains. This summer was different with the smoke from wildfires making even the simple joy of walking the trails in woods a challenge.
Even with the challenge of smoke and changing levels of services available people came to enjoy the area. So many people that we have experienced new challenges of higher occupancy! The most noticeable is the amount of trash we generate. Many owners are staying at Indian Hills for longer and doing improvements to their properties. Many renters are arriving with more in their party, and party they do, creating more noise, more trash and more nuisance to the quiet mountain lifestyle we all came here for. The trash issue was compounded by the Tahoe Truckee Sierra Disposal (TTSD) conducting an audit that has reduced the dumpster capacity in our community. Based on a formula of a 32 gallon can per dwelling unit, TTSD decided that we had too many dumpsters and too large a capacity. The same thing occurred at the NPOA Continued on page 24
www.npoa.info | Fall 2020 | 23
Condominium Updates Continued from page 23 Community Dumpster Area. Indian Hills HOA has set up an account with TTSD to arrange for additional pick-ups and additional capacity of our dumpster that will cost us approximately $17,000 a year. In addition, at the NPOA Annual meeting we learned that NCSD too will be paying extra for additional capacity, which we pay for in our property taxes. This means Indian Hills Homeowners, pay for condo trash pick-up in our property tax, pay for additional pick-ups from our HOA fees and now more of our taxes paid to NCSD will go for additional capacity at the community dumpster area . Past perception was that all NPOA members paid for all garbage disposal, and to some extent that was correct. However, now with the limitation of 32 gallons per unit and the capacity of dumpsters to match our number of condos, the use of the dumpsters by single family homes becomes a problem. It appears that only about 10% of homes have bear boxes for curbside pick-up. That leaves 90% of the homes with the option to use the community dumpsters or the condo dumpsters. While we really like our single-family homeowners in our neighborhoods, we would ask that you arrange with TTSD for curbside pick-up, using a bear box, or use the community dumpster area and not the condo dumpsters.
NPOA owners to continue to communicate with the Board on the issues important to us. There are no condo owners on the NPOA Board and it is understandable that the Board views issues through the eyes of single family homeowners. There is a NPOA Condo Committee that is working to raise awareness for our issues, and we encourage condo owners to be active in their own HOA as well as NPOA. COVID19 and wildfires present huge challenges to us all and we will get though this together. We will not be going back to what was but going forward to what can be!
Indian Hills Owners gathered for our Annual Meeting on Zoom, practicing good physical distancing and good video conferencing etiquette (mute when not speaking, keep your camera on, remember people can see you!). We also had to shift the format of our Annual Homeowner Breakfast and home tour. This year it was a virtual breakfast with people sharing their favorite breakfast item and beverage. The home tour this year was limited to a virtual visit and in person, with proper mask and physical distancing, of the prototype deck that has been installed at 6059 Rocky Point. You can see the deck from the outside from Bear Trap or contact Jim & Lee Kooler (onenorthstar@gmail.com) and they will be happy to show it to you if they are there. This project is being explored by the Board to update our decks to current standards. All who visited were pleased with what they saw, and further information will be provided to the owners on the next steps.
Northstar Club —An Employee Perspective
At our Annual Homeowners Meeting, the membership re-elected Tim Irvin and Bryan Miller to serve two more years on the Board. The Board has moved to maintain the slate of officers that have been serving our Community: Gail Riggins - President, Bryan Miller - Vice President, Rod Dutton -Secretary, Tim Irvin – Treasurer, and Jim Kooler – Member at- large. Our budget has been presented, with an optimistic level of funding for snow removal and a wish for a great ski season. Thank you to all who participated in the meeting and the service of the Board.
Club. Locals wished for more snow as we all had our fingers
Kudos to the NPOA staff for adapting to the working conditions during COVID to maximize our opportunities to enjoy the Recreation Center. Members and guests are reminded to wear masks with entering and when using the workout facilities. Thank you also to the NPOA Board for their service. It is important for owners in the five-condo association, which represent 45% of the
Beginning in November of 2019, I was in awe with the beauty and pleasantry of Northstar Club. I had recently moved from Texas to
Reno, and I was unsure on where to get started until Northstar Club hired me with friendly, open arms. It didn’t take long to acclimate
to this new lifestyle. At the time, I had thought of this as a seasonal job where I could enjoy the snow and daily drive for the winter. I
was happy to take on more than just a ‘front desk’ position, having
a good time with our complimentary breakfasts, happy hours, and activities! The kitchen area filled with excited faces ready to take on the ski day. The kids piled in to decorate Christmas themed cookies. Our members & guests gathered to share stories and
laughs. I’ve never in my life seen a happier environment - from staff to members it has always felt so warm and welcoming in Northstar crossed for Miracle March. As the months passed, March arrived and it was not as we expected. After 20 years of being open,
Northstar Club & its members experienced the first ever closure. It
was almost 3 months before we opened again, and stepping back into the nearly empty building felt strange. We all returned ready
to take the steps needed in having Northstar Club running again, while keeping everyone happy & healthy. It’s been a pleasure
brainstorming new ideas on how to accommodate for the services
we offered before. When we deliver happy hour surprises, we hear the ‘oohs and ahhs’ and it is so rewarding to know that everyone is
pleased. Our team continues to grow, understand, take precaution and have fun in everything new that we are implementing. As we
ease into this winter season, our team is ready to see what is next.
24 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association
Continued on page 26
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Condominium Updates Continued from page 24
Ski Trails
their Reno retail stores. Keep an eye out for a letter explaining all
prepare for winter, there will certainly be many new things we will
modem – it will continue to work, but only at the slower speed.
Our “interesting” summer has now come and gone, and as we
need to get used to besides wearing masks. Topping the list will
be Vail’s new reservation policy for skiing. We’re all very interested to see how well this will work.
Our annual homeowners meeting this past September was held as
a virtual, online-only event for the first time, and it went surprisingly well. A big virtual “thank you” to those who attended.
The big news from the meeting was our newly negotiated deal for
faster Internet speeds, up from our current 25 gigabits per second (Gbit/s) to 400 Gbit/s. The increase in speed also comes with a slight reduction in monthly costs – yes, you read it right, that’s
‘reduction’. We can thank our newly elected board member Mike Kim for negotiating the deal.
One thing you will need to do to take advantage of the faster
speed is to replace your current cable modem with a new, faster model. Again, the good news here is that Charter, our cable
provider, has agreed to provide the new equipment free of charge. We’re working with them now to make it more convenient for our owners to get the equipment – the alternative is to visit one of
the details. We should note you don’t have to swap out your old Charter says they will need to upgrade some wiring in our
buildings to support the faster speeds, but we’re trying to make that happen before winter sets in, something COVID-19 has
complicated a bit more than usual. Stayed tuned and keep your fingers crossed.
We’ve made some progress on a new monument sign we’re
hoping to place at or near the entrance to our property. It’s been complicated by the need to survey the property boundaries. It’s unlikely we’ll get much beyond that before the snows set in, so hopefully we’ll get started with construction next spring.
Finally, several other projects this past summer have been completed, including the installation of the pebble epoxy
overlays at all building entrances and the replacement of a couple sets of stairs. Another big one was the clearing of many trees,
branches and shrubs to create defensible space. This, too, will
continue come next spring. Given the horrific wildfires California experienced this year, I think we can all agree that this is an essential project.
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26 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association
Truckee River Watershed Council
Martis Creek during restoration: we’re restoring the meandering stream, increasing the creek’s access to the meadow floodplain, and allowing water to flow over the banks during high flows. This recharges ground water, creates cooler temperatures for fish habitat, enhances wildlife habitat, and slows the flow of sediment downstream for cleaner water.
Martis Wildlife Area By the Truckee River Watershed Council A Floodplain Reconnected, A Landscape Revived
The Martis Wildlife Area encompasses one of our area’s breathtaking – and environmentally significant – meadow wetlands. Our restoration project is restoring 70 acres of meadow and 2 miles of stream as well as planting native grasses and plants. Our work helps prepare this treasured area to be resilient from the effects of wildfires, droughts, and floods. You will see a greener, wetter, and wilder meadow in the future.
California Resort, and Northstar Community Service District. Thank you to the funders who are making this work possible the donors of the Truckee River Watershed Council, Bella Vista Foundation, California Department of Fish and Wildlife via Prop 1, The Martis Fund, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
Martis Creek before restoration (on the north side of Highway 267): a straight channel, disconnected from the meadow surface, with limited ability for water to spread out across the meadow, leaving the meadow drier, and surface waters disconnected from surrounding groundwater.
To learn more about this restoration project and others, go to: www.Meadowsforever.org @TruckeeRiverWatershedCouncil @trwcnews Visit our website to learn more about the Truckee River Watershed Council www.truckeeriverwc.org
It takes a dedicated team to do what we do. Thank you to our partners – the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northstar
www.npoa.info | Fall 2020 | 27
npoa
fire department violations decided to mitigate their
Defensible space mitigation work is
properties this year – instead of waiting
different than the periodic work that an
until next season to meet compliance
owner hires a landscaper to perform. Feel
statutes. The Northstar Fire Department
free to contact the fire department as well.
greatly appreciates your efforts in reducing the fire hazards to your property as well as to your surrounding neighbors.
not to complete their mitigation work
Wolf Tree, White Fire, Conifer, Lodgepole,
(correcting all violations) this season, the
Bitter Brush, and Whistle Punk. The fire
Northstar Fire Department would like to
department will inspect all properties on
remind you that you have until October
the aforementioned streets, and owners
1st, 2021 of next season, to bring your
will be given 30 days to bring their
properties under compliance. Typically,
properties under compliance should they
property owners are only given 30 days
have violations that must be corrected.
to comply and bring their properties
Seasonal Burn Ban Should Be Lifted Hopefully Soon!
extra twelve months to comply. The fire department will return to all properties that in violation of the defensible space codes/ statutes in the Spring of 2021. If we find a property to be out of compliance after October 1st, 2021, the fire department will have no other recourse but to begin enforcement proceedings. To see a copy of our District's Defensible Space ordinance (NCSD #35-19) and discover Abatement and Enforcement proceedings, please go to the following web address: https://www.northstarcsd.org/fire-codes. The fire department highly recommends that you contact a contractor at the BEGINNING OF NEXT SEASON (as early
The Northstar Fire Department is finishing-
as May of 2021) to make sure that they
up its defensible space compliance
can perform the mitigation work in time to
inspecting and enforcing for the 2020
meet the deadline.
Season. It was a very productive season. Over 350 properties were inspected for compliance. And, the fire department discovered that many of the owners who were found to have defensible space
that you will be a part of next year's 2021 focus area: Basque Drive, Skidder Trail,
pandemic, homeowners were granted an
Defensible Space Inspections & Mitigation Work Coming To An End
owners on the following streets know
For those property owners that chose
under compliance. However, in light of the
What is allowed and not allowed when Northstar's Seasonal Burn Ban is in effect.
Lastly, we would like to let the property
If you'd like to find out more information regarding defensible space, please consider going to our website at https:// www.northstarcsd.org/defensible-space.
28 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association
On June 15th, 2020, the Seasonal
Burn Ban went into effect. The ban legally prohibits the burning of solid fuels regardless if you are a single/ multi-family residence or commercial property/business. Usually, the burn ban is lifted each year in late October or early November. Continue to check the Northstar Fire Department website to discover when the burn ban is lifted. Important! If you are a Short Term Rental Owner‌ Placer County has permanently banned all outdoor solid fuel burning yearround (365 days) for all Short-Term Rentals (STR). At no time (regardless of the day, month or time of the year) is a STR allowed to burn solid fuels. For more information regarding this STR requirement, please visit www.placer.ca.gov/6109/Short-TermRental-Program. For more information regarding our District's unique burn restrictions, please visit www.northstarcsd.org/ BurnRestrictions.
Fire Department to begin Short Term Rental (STR) Fire & Life Safety Inspections
AS they receive such an inspection before
weathered storms taking shape, October
March 31st, 2023. If a fire & life safety
is always a good month to prep your
inspection has not been performed by this
indoor fireplace so that you can safely
The Northstar Fire Department is gearing
date, the STR owner's permit will not be
conduct those routine fires during the
up to begin performing Fire & Life
renewed, and the property can't be rented
cold, blustery days. Have you had your
Safety Inspections of Short-Term Rentals
as an STR.
fireplace and chimney inspected by a
sometime in December or January this winter.
To request a fire & life safety inspection of your STR, please visit www.northstarcsd.
Placer County passed a Short-Term Rental
org/ShortTermRentalInformation. Once
(STR) Ordinance that includes Northstar.
you are signed up, an inspector will
The ordinance requires the Northstar Fire
contact you to schedule an appointment.
Department perform one fire & life safety
The inspector should be contacting you
inspection on all STRs every three years.
sometime in December 2020 or January of
There are approximately 800 STRs in our
2021. Inspections will be scheduled in the
District.
order they were received.
The lack of a fire & life safety inspection will
Preparing for Indoor Fires
not hold up the STR permit process. The owner can still rent out the home AS LONG
As the temperatures begin to cool and
licensed contractor to check for an unsafe amount of creosote build-up in your chimney's flue? Have you examined the firebox and looked for any cracks, gaps, or signs of wear in the lining? How are the doors or the screen that prevents embers from escaping the fireplace look? Is your fireplace grate the right size or in need of replacing? A chimney fire can be very scary and destructive, so please take the time to make sure your fireplace (or, wood stove) is in good working condition.
the possibility of those late-Fall, cold-
www.npoa.info | Fall 2020 | 29
Weed Warriors of Northstar From left to right: Bryan Miller, Linda Oakland, David Welch and Marilyn Forni.
Thanks to The Truckee River Watershed Council and the US Forest Service, we can access a document that identifies
non-native plants. For help visit: www.
truckeeriverwc.org/wp-content/images/ documents/TNFWB_Web8-7-09.pdf If you would like to verify weed
identification, contact Kathy Welch,
510.332.7913. To report a weed to Placer County: Michael Plotz, Placer County
Agriculture Department, 530.889.7372 or
Once A Weed Warrior Always a Weed Warrior
mplotz@placer.ca.gov placed in dumpsters without the danger of
By Kathy Welch
spreading weeds further.
Just as we were planning the seventh
Community members also addressed
intervened. With this challenge came
flowering stalks of Poison Hemlock
annual Northstar Day, a global pandemic
Poison Hemlock. By removing the
opportunity.
before seed dispersal, we prevented the
During previous Northstar Days,
Hemlock seeds. Thanks to previous efforts
Homeowners joined forces with the
Management Groups at Northstar and
focused on controlling Bull Thistle and
Poison Hemlock. Both of these non-native invasive plants live only two years. The
dissemination of thousands of Poison
near the creek behind the Aspen Grove
Condominium complex, we have greatly
reduced the populations of this poisonous plant.
first year they form a rosette; the second
As Weed Warriors worked in the field,
which sets and disperses thousands of
plants that are almost impossible to
die. Fortunately, seeds already in the soil
up, we invariably leave root fragments
very successful in mechanically controlling
we recorded populations of Canada
Northstar Day.
clipped off the flowering plants at the
This year it was up to Individuals to
then relayed that information to the Placer
year, the rosettes produce a flowering stalk
they noticed perennial non-native invasive
seeds per plant. These biennial plants then
mechanically remove. If we dig them
only live about three years. We have been
which generate new plants. This year
these in the past during our annual
Thistle and Spotted Knapweed in flower,
continue the effort. We removed Bull
Thistle rosettes and placed them in the
sun to wither and die. Later in the year, we clipped off Bull Thistle flowering stalks,
placed them in plastic bags, and solarized them until seeds decomposed (@1-2
months). After solarization these bags were
base, bagged and solarized them. We County Agriculture Dept. They have
worked with Northstar for many years in
controlling class A & B noxious weeds, but they do not have the personnel to scout
the 7,000 acres in Northstar. Our job is to find the populations and report them to the county. Placer County does the rest.
30 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association
Success in most endeavors requires
persistence and cooperation. Even in
a pandemic the Northstar Community
continues its work in the control of nonnative invasive plants.
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News Magazine Of the Northstar Property Owners Association 2200 North Village Drive Truckee, CA 96161