R A N C H U P D AT E S The City of Scottsdale adopted a code in Sept. 2022
that states HOAs cannot require overseeding. The Ranch Association amended community standard DCRL-19 to reflect the updated municipal standard. DCRL-19 states lawns shall be mowed at regular intervals to provide a well-manicured appearance. Clippings should be removed when mowing. Lawns shall be neatly trimmed around plant beds, walkways, foundations, and other design elements. For homeowners that opt to overseed front yard turf, the overseeding shall be completed by Nov. 1 with perennial rye grass and be maintained within the turf border.
Dormant turf must be maintained and cover the entire designated turf area, ie. no bare dirt permitted. Turf lawns must be functional, usable and provide connectivity to outdoor living, and adding or altering the lawn requires prior approval through the modification process.
The Ranch Association will be overseeding all the common areas and parks in the community this year. The new Sustainability Committee will develop recommendations that may assist in water conservation in the future, potentially including reduction in overseeding of the non-playable surfaces.
DCRL-19 standard amended
2024 annual budget workshops Both the Community Council and Ranch Association boards
will vote to formally approve next year’s budgets following the annual budget workshops. The Community Council board will vote at its Nov. 2 meeting; the Ranch Association board will vote at its Nov. 6 meeting.
Residents are invited and encouraged to attend the upcoming annual budget workshops: Ranch Association
• Wednesday, Sept. 20, 3 p.m. via Zoom • Tuesday, Oct. 10, 6 p.m. at The Homestead Community Council
Fall into Conversations in the Park As summer heat subsides,
the Conversations in the Park series invites residents to discuss important topics with the Ranch Association and Community Council at their neighborhood park. Both Executive Directors and Board Presidents attend to connect with residents and discuss upcoming projects and items that may be of interest to your neighborhood. To schedule an event, contact your Neighborhood Voting Member. The Ranch Association will handle all preparation for the event including creating and posting event information, inviting neighborhood residents and bringing light refreshments to the park.
Save the date: Community Safety Forum
Attend the 5th Annual Community Safety Forum
on Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. at The Homestead. The City of Scottsdale Fire and Police departments, and the City’s office of Citizen Service will be on site to provide important tips on evacuation in case of a flood or wildfire, what resources are available to protect your property while on vacation and more. Snacks and beverages will be served. 4
Ranch N ews | September 2023
• Thursday, Oct. 19, 5:30 p.m. at The Homestead Although bees are allies when it comes to food production, we don’t always want them close to our homes. Have you discovered a beehive or swarm in DC Ranch common areas or on your property? Is the hive in a place where it could be unsafe and should be removed?
When you discover an unwanted beehive, there are two options for removal—relocation or extermination. Both methods remove the hive from your property but have very different ecological consequences that affect the local ecosystem more than you may realize. Honeybees pollinate 1/3 of the food we eat, so if we have the option to relocate them, it becomes a net benefit for both at the end of the day. • Preserve generations of bees Live bee removal
preserves the life of a hive so they can pollinate, produce honey, and create new generations of bees to carry on their important work.
• Harmless & safe Live bee removal doesn’t harm the bees. A specially designed vacuum is used to move them.
• Future deterrent Removing the hive eliminates the chances of a new hive developing from new bees attracted to the smell of wax left over from a destroyed hive.
When a beehive is treated with an insecticide, it not only eliminates the hive and all future generations, but bee colonies within two miles of the beehive can be affected. Honeybees are always on the move and continually scouting for new resources. If you see bees or a hive in a common area, please call 480.513.1500 to have the bees relocated. For help with bee activity on your property, contact a bee removal service company.
Bees and hives in the community