Members vote in three new Board of Directors

The Canyon Lake Property Owners Association has a five-member Board of Directors who are collectively responsible for the management and operation of the Association’s business affairs. The two-year terms of Directors Bruce Yarbrough, Eric Spitzer and Edward “Ted” Horton expired on May 11. The four candidates running for the three open seats were Tom Nathan, Phil Hawgood, Paul Chenette and Michael Harris.

The Annual and Special Meeting of the Members held on Thursday, May 11, was adjourned due to lack of quorum. The meeting was rescheduled for May 13. Quorum was met and the results were announced as follows:

Tom Nathan – 1,320 votes

Phil Hawgood – 1,010 votes

Michael Harris – 906 votes

Paul Chenette – 849

Michael Cook (write in) – 3 votes

Chuck Moreno (write in) – 3 votes.

The members elected Tom Nathan, Phil Hawgood and Michael Harris to fill the three vacant seats on the board.

Tom Nathan said he looks forward to working with the POA board and staff. “Thank you to the members for their overwhelming support in this year’s election.  I look forward to working with the POA Board and staff to continuously improve, enhance and protect our private community.”

Phil Hawgood said he will represent the Canyon Lake Property Owners to the best of his ability. “I wish to thank each and everyone who voted, said Phil. “I am hoping that each vote cast is as important to you, the voter, as it was to me the candidate.”

Michael Harris said, “I am proud to become part of the solution to the numerous requests regarding security. Reviewing the security applications and interviewing the prospective companies will be our first goal.”

The election of the officers is as follows:

President – Paul Queen

Vice President – Dale Welty

Treasurer – Tom Nathan

Secretary – Phil Hawgood

Director – Michael Harris

There were two advisory votes on the election ballet this year, fence height restrictions and three-wheeled energy efficient motorized automobiles. The advisory votes will be used as a survey to help gauge interest in the future amendments and do not constitute a formal vote to amend the CC&Rs and are not binding on the Board of Directors.

Board members say the fence restriction is an important issue because it’s one of the items most often brought before the Architectural Control Committee and Appeals Committee. These committees have received many requests for taller fences over the years, but due to the current CC&R restriction, they have not been able to approve these requests.

The current fence height limit is restricted to five feet. The Board of Directors say two of the reasons often given for wanting taller fences is greater privacy and/or the fact that many of the standard fence heights for new pre-fabricated fences is six feet.

Board members, staff and residents themselves have fought for a fence height amendment over the years. The amendment was placed on the ballot in 2007, 2008 and 2009. A majority of the voters have shown in the past that they wanted the amendment to pass. However; it never passed because not enough voters voted.

The results of the fence height restrictions advisory vote are as follows:

In favor – 1,080

Against – 213

The majority is in favor of changing the five foot fence height restriction to a fence height not to exceed six feet.

The results of the three-wheeled energy efficient motorized automobiles are as follows:

In favor – 596

Against – 708

The majority is against amending the CC&R to allow future three-wheeled, energy efficient motorized automobiles within the Association’s jurisdiction.