Ops staff helps keep Canyon Lake beautiful

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That blue, blue lake isn’t the only thing that makes Canyon Lake special. The Operations folks in blue make it pretty special, too!

Operations staff clean up after the Lodge Tree-Lighting Festival on December 6. Operations set up and tore down for a number of community events and private parties over the holidays. Photo by Donna Ritchie.

In his January report to the CLPOA Board of Directors, POA Operations Manager Mike Morrow listed the department’s activities for the month of December. Among other responsibilities, crews brightened the holiday by installing the median Christmas trees and lights on trees in the common areas and at the Lodge. They also helped set up a number of holiday parties – all that in addition to getting the community ready for El Niño and the Fiscal Year 2016/17 Budget, among other responsibilities.

At the January POA meeting, POA President Bruce Yarbrough called the Operations crews “unsung heroes” and made a special point of urging members to read the December report, which is reprinted here.

Operations has 32 employees in several divisions: Office, Building Techs, Grounds, Janitorial, Campground and Equestrian.

According to POA Communications Specialist Tiffany Cribbs, the Grounds crew takes care of public works, which include maintaining the parks, streets and traffic signs. They take care of everything from potholes in the asphalt to repairing/removing graffiti off the street and traffic signs.

This division also maintains the lake amenities, including cleaning the launch ramps and docks, maintaining the buoys and removing trash. They also perform landscaping duties such as repairing irrigation, trimming trees and weed abatement.

The Janitorial crew takes care of cleaning all the facilities, including the POA Office, Lodge and Country Club, as well as the parks and entrance gates. They also are responsible for setting up, monitoring and cleaning up during many of the community events.

Building Techs maintain the Association’s assets with routine maintenance. They take care of electrical, plumbing, painting, drywall, HVAC, masonry and restaurant equipment, and cover repairs for a variety of situations. Anything beyond their scope of work is typically contracted out to a vendor.

A mechanic also works with Operations to repair the Association’s vehicles, boats, tools and equipment. The mechanic can fix or find a solution to repair almost any item brought in for repair.

Finally, the Ops Department has three dogs that are on duty from fall to spring to scare pesky coots off the Golf Course.

December Operations Report

New Director of Operations Mike Morrow joined the Association in March 2015 as Project Manager. He has more than 40 years of experience in construction and maintenance management. Photo by clpoa

Following is the Operations Department Report for December provided to the POA Board of Directors:

The Operations Department concentrated primarily on Budget Prep and worked directly with the Controller to prepare the first draft of the budget for FY 2016/17. The Operations Department also focused on storm prep and planning for El Niño. A recap of the month is listed below.

Capital Purchases:

• Golf Cart Purchase – Two new golf carts to be acquired to be used for maintenance of drought-tolerant areas.
• Log Splitter Purchase – One log splitter to be purchased for the Tuesday Work Group.

General Maintenance Items:

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  The Grounds crew had a big job cleaning up a mud flow on Black Horse Dr. on January 12. Photo by clpoa

  Storms/El Niño Prep – Stock of bags and sand on hand continues to be monitored by Operations. Sandbags are available at Blue Bird Hall and the Fire Station.

• Public Works – Streets, gutters and storm drains are being regularly maintained and monitored for debris and standing water. Operations has completed visual inspection of storm drains throughout the community.
• Canyon Lake Drive North Striping Project – Striping has been completed. This was a Board-approved reserve project.
• Installation of Golf Cart Crossing Lights – The flashing lights at the Main Gate golf cart crossing will be completed upon receipt of parts on order.
• Tree Maintenance – Tree Maintenance involving trimming and/or removal continues in accordance with approved schedule and based on priority.
• Backflows – Common area backflows were covered with insulation to prevent frost damage due to recently forecasted overnight freezing temperatures. Researching a more permanent solution.
• Water Heater at the Senior Center – Responded to a flooding issue at the Senior Center by quickly taking action to save the carpet, floors and walls from damage. It was determined that the water heater was leaking and had reached its life expectancy necessitating the purchase and installation of a new water heater to replace the existing one that no longer was functioning properly.
• Country Club Sign – We received final sign-off on the permit from the City of Canyon Lake. To illuminate the sign, temporary lighting was installed and put into place until a permanent lighting solution may implemented.
• Country Club Air Curtain – A new air curtain was installed to replace existing on the kitchen back door at the Country Club.
• Lodge Outdoor Heaters – New outdoor heaters were purchased for the Tree-Lighting event and will be used for future outdoor festivities and events at the Lodge.
• Portable Space Heaters for Gates – At the gates, new portable space heaters were purchased and installed to replace the old ones that were worn out and in need of replacement.
• Water Restrictions – Water conservation remains an ongoing effort.
• Resident Matters – Respond to residential requests and questions concerns as occurs.
• Vandalism – Graffiti removal and repairs to perimeter fence are ongoing. It is also unfortunate to report that holiday trees were recently damaged and some were also stolen by vandals. The monthly vandalism report is in progress.
• Keys and Alarm Codes – As a result of the new Food Beverage Director at Country Club and Lodge/ Lighthouse Restaurant, new staff in Member Services and other staffing changes, the Operations Department coordinated combo changes, administered new keys and processed appropriate paperwork for assignment of keys. Also coordinated alarm code changes and assignment of new codes due to staffing changes and new hires.

Functions with Staff Assistance:

• Holiday Trees – Operations set out all of the holiday trees along the Main Gate entrance median and maintained them during the windy month.
• Functions – Operations provided assistance to the Country Club, Lodge and Activities with various scheduled events, parties and meetings. This included set-up, monitoring and tear-down.

Landscape Maintenance:

• Regularly Scheduled Meetings with Valley Crest – Meetings are conducted with Valley Crest Landscape Maintenance to review water inefficiencies, irrigation issues and/or address any other landscape issues that may arise.
• Water Conservation – Conserving water has remained a top priority with Valley Crest.
• Gault Field Over-seeding – Ball fields at Gault Field have been over-seeded and are closed for use until February 6, 2016.

Golf Course Maintenance/Drought Tolerant Landscape Project:

The Grounds crew recently added new cement anchors to the pulley system on the deck of the rental dock at the Lodge. This prevents the docks from moving side to side in windy situation. Photo by Clpoa

Field walks continue with Valley Crest Golf Course Maintenance to discuss areas that need attention. Golf Course inspection was done on December 10, and no major issues were found; only minor projects are needed.

• Operations assembled a landscape maintenance crew to focus solely on maintaining drought-tolerant areas. The crew started working on December 1.
• Operations finished disbursing mulch on Golf Course no. 3 fairway.
• The crew first started on no. 3, doing work on both sides of the fairway, and completed the upkeep on that area.
• The crew proceeded to region behind the green on no. 12 and completed that area, especially because this was a very noticeable area from Canyon Lake Drive South.

The crew moved on to no. 2 on the right-hand side of the fairway (due to complaints) and completed maintenance on that area.

• The crew is currently back behind the green on no. 3, particularly because this area is noticeable from the street as well (Golden Gate).
• Going forward, the crew will to move to no. 6, by the tee box, and then complete one full round of the course without bouncing around into different areas (if possible).
• The crew has been diligently working and continues to do a good job maintaining the drought-tolerant areas.
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  The Operations Department has three border collies that help scare coots away from the Golf Course. They’re boarded at the Operations Yard Kennel, next to the North Gate. Stray dogs are kept in a separate enclosure until owners or animal control can get them. Photo by Donna Kupke

  Operations has also sourced a licensed contractor for weed abatement of drought-tolerant areas (on the Golf Course). The focus of weed control is the areas that have already been cleared out by the crew and spraying the area to thwart growth of Bermuda before it comes back (it is currently dormant, so we will not know effectiveness of treatment until the warmer weather begins). Spot spraying will be done in the mulched areas (these areas have minimal weeds, but need ongoing spraying to prevent them from rampant growth).

• Valley Crest has been going through the irrigation system and adjusting rotors for that area to prevent over-spraying, and replacing sprinkler heads that are inefficient (spraying too little or not covering the correct area).

Parks and Beaches:

• Moonstone Erosion – The last couple of loads of rip-rap were ordered and put into place. On December 23, grading and rip-rap was completed, and the total cost of this erosion-control project came in under the originally estimated cost. This was a Board-approved reserve project.
• Main Launch Ramp Dock at Holiday Harbor – New dock, by Big Bear Docks, was installed at Holiday Harbor on December 3. This was a Board approved project.
• Holiday Harbor and Steel Head playgrounds were ordered, with installation starting sometime in January. This was a Board approved project.

Lake:

Buoy Lights – Lights were installed on East Bay buoys for the annual Boat Parade on December 12.

Regulator/Compliance:

• Annual Permit to Operate – Renewed permit with the State of California/Department of Housing & Community Development, Division of Codes & Standards for Happy Camp Campground.
• Hazardous Materials Management Permit – Permit was renewed and issued on December l5, with the County of Riverside/Department of Environmental Health – Certified Unified Program Agency for Happy Camp Campground.
• Renewal of conveyance permits are pending for the wheelchair lift and elevators at the Lodge and POA from the State of Californa Dept. of Industrial Relations, Division of Occupational Safety & Health (Elevator, Ride and Tramway Unit). The State inspectors are behind schedule and, therefore, we have been provided with a letter that indicates we have done our due diligence by requesting the required inspections to renew our permits.

Training/Safety:

Training was conducted on “Electrical Safety.”

Committees:

Recreation Committee – At December’s monthly meeting on December 8, upcoming projects for 2016 were discussed. Meeting focused significantly on the request for a pickleball court at the tennis courts. Pickleball striping was added to tennis court no. 3.

Tuesday Work Group – At December’s monthly meeting on December 22, upcoming projects for 2016 were discussed. The Tuesday Work Group unanimously selected Jerry Tennery to be the new TWG Secretary. This recommendation will be going to the Board. John Christensen is stepping down as Secretary.

Green Committee – Was “dark” in December.

Equestrian Center – A recap of the month for the Equestrian Center is listed below.

• Equestrian Center Staffing – Equestrian Center Manager has returned to full-time duty following a leave of absence; therefore, Operations is no longer covering shifts.
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  An Operations crew works on the shade structure at the Equestrian Center. Photo by Clpoa

  Water Heater at Equestrian Center Manager’s Residence – The water heater reached its life expectancy necessitating the purchase and installation of a new water heater to replace existing one that no longer was functioning properly.

• Equestrian Center Shade Structure – Rebuild of the shade structure was completed at the Equestrian Center. The project included pole reinforcement on the shade structure. This was a Board-approved reserve project.

Campground/Happy Camp – A recap of the month for the Campground/Happy Camp is listed below.

• Water Heater at Campground Manager’s Residence – Water heater reached its life expectancy necessitating the purchase and installation of a new water heater to replace existing one that no longer was functioning properly.
• Permit is still with the Planning Department at the City of Canyon Lake for the electrical upgrades /remodel of the Campground/Happy Camp.