Author: Mark Griffin

Good afternoon.  Please see below for items for your review.

PERMANENT LINKS:
PWCA Website: https://parkwestcommunity.org/
Parking Documents: https://parkwestcommunity.org/parking/
ACC Documents:  https://parkwestcommunity.org/architectural-control-committee/

Newsletters: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1e3sSwLuvg3GlRM6oGY_bylxPtVRFeJwJ?usp=share_link

SEASONAL LINKS:
2023 Annual Assessment Notice and Timeline: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1LpwaIZ5NVobKPDzCmuTnOy20KcwpxXXg?usp=share_link

2022 – 2023 Snow Removal Policy:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gtAkDqOQlg3InT0bmEnm6rrHYRaQrdnr/view?usp=sharing

COVID-19 LINKS:
CDC guidance: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Johns Hopkins Global COVID-19 Map and Coronavirus Resources: https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html
State-wide analysis and guidance: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/
County-specific guidance: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/covid19/
County Emergency Preparedness: https://fairfaxcountyemergency.wpcomstaging.com/category/coronavirus-covid-19/

INFORMATION ITEMS:

1.  HOLIDAY LIGHTING REMOVAL OF DECORATIONS; SATURDAY, JANUARY 7, 2023; 12:00PM; POOL PARKING LOT.  Thank you to the three other volunteers who showed up to help me remove the decorations from the pool house and entrances to our community.  Appreciate your efforts!

2.  CHRISTMAS TREE PICKUP/YARD WASTE SCHEDULE.  This morning was the second (and last) Christmas tree collection date.  All trees must be placed on the curb with all tinsel/decorations removed.  Trees should not be placed in plastic bags. Collection of Christmas trees may be impacted by the national labor shortage; if a tree is placed curbside for collection on yard waste collection day and is not picked up, please leave it out at the curb and collection will be completed as soon as possible.  See the website for further details.  Yard Waste collection will resume in March 2023 – please place any yard waste out with normal trash for collection.

3.  2023 TRASH AND RECYCLING COLLECTION CHANGES.   Starting January 1st, all bulk or special items will incur a fee.  The Environmental Control Committee plans to set up a sub-group to address changes to our pickup rules to minimize impact to the Association.  As a reminder – based on the 2022 bulk-item analysis I anticipate up to $20,000 non-budgeted Association impacts based on non-attributable bulk item pickups without changes to our current rules.  I advocated for pickup in front of homes at the Annual Meeting which was met with pushback from individuals who lived through the last implementation of this policy.  As such I’ll leave it to the sub-committee to bring up new solutions but without changes to our rules our Members should anticipate increases in costs based on historical trends.  Just one of the bulk dumps from May 2022 would of cost us more than $1,100 dollars – and that was one of many bulk dumps that occurred throughout our community.  Our trash crew elected to take all the items from that dump so we were lucky on that pickup.  I’d like to get whatever trials we want to start initiated by March 2023 so please volunteer as soon as practical if you’d like to have input on the decisions….

4.  TREE AND GROUNDS CARE WORK.  DCP-tasked Fall 2022 Tree Removal work remains ongoing.  The 2022 Bartlett Crew Day had to be postponed due to weather and should occur in the next few weeks.  Several projects are also ongoing in different areas of the community.  You will be seeing different types of crews and vehicles throughout the community through the end of January so please keep that in mind as you walk, ride or drive through our community.

5.  BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING; TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2023; 7:00PM; VIRTUAL.  The January board meeting will be conducted via the RingCentral virtual meeting framework. See the website under ‘Meetings’, select the year (2023), then the meeting (01 – 20230117). Document #01-1 contains the information to join the meeting.

6.  2023 ANNUAL ASSESSMENT NOTICE AND ASSESSMENT TIMELINE.  As presented at the Annual Meeting, the Annual Assessment for 2023 increased to $405.00 per quarter due on the first day of each quarterly assessment period (January 1st, April 1st, July 1st, October 1st). The 2023 Assessment Notice and the Quarterly Assessment Timeline were mailed/emailed to you in late November and may also be found on the website – link provided above in the Seasonal Links section.

7.  COLD WEATHER PREPARATION.  Check the November newsletter for an article on this important subject.  Each year there are challenges faced by homeowners – consider taking the identified steps to take to be prepared for winter and limit potential damage to your home. The PWCA snow policy is posted on the website and is linked above in the Seasonal Links section; please read and understand it before any snow emergency might be declared for the Community.  If/when snow or ice storms occur all residents are requested to shovel and de-ice the sidewalks in front of your home. Help your neighbors and your community by assisting others if needed, clearing around fire hydrants, and clearing the mail boxes.

I trust your 2023 has got off to a positive start.  Thanks again for all those who decorated their homes for the holiday season – you helped create a warm and welcoming environment for our visitors.

Regards,

Mark

Good evening.  Please see below for several items for your review.

PERMANENT LINKS:
PWCA Website:  https://parkwestcommunity.org/
Parking Documents:  https://parkwestcommunity.org/parking/
ACC Documents:  https://parkwestcommunity.org/architectural-control-committee/

Newsletters: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1e3sSwLuvg3GlRM6oGY_bylxPtVRFeJwJ?usp=share_link

SEASONAL LINKS:
2023 Annual Assessment Notice and Timeline:  https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1LpwaIZ5NVobKPDzCmuTnOy20KcwpxXXg?usp=share_link

2022 – 2023 Snow Removal Policy:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gtAkDqOQlg3InT0bmEnm6rrHYRaQrdnr/view?usp=sharing

COVID-19 LINKS:
CDC guidance: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Johns Hopkins Global COVID-19 Map and Coronavirus Resources: https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html
State-wide analysis and guidance: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/
County-specific guidance: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/covid19/
County Emergency Preparedness: https://fairfaxcountyemergency.wpcomstaging.com/category/coronavirus-covid-19/

INFORMATION ITEMS:

1.  2022 ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION, SYNOPSIS.  The Annual Meeting was held on November 15th at St. Mary of Sorrows Church (the Parish Center) in a parallel in-person/virtual format.  My thanks to those who braved the astoundingly bad weather to physically attend the meeting.  Marguerite Wiese, Joe Underwood, and I were elected for another three-year term of office.  Art Gile was appointed as the 2023 Nominating Committee Chair.  See the website for the meeting slide deck, the Year in Review slide deck, and other supporting documentation.  The draft Annual Meeting minutes will be posted to the website after being provisionally approved by the Directors at the December Board of Directors meeting.

2.  HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING SOCIAL, SYNOPSIS.  Thanks to the volunteers who set up the holiday lighting at the pool house this year and to the families who came over to see the pool house lit up for the first time this season!  If you’d like to contribute an ornament to the tree feel free to do so at any time during the season.

3.  TREE AND GROUNDS CARE WORK.  There are numerous projects going on currently.  Projects include: the Fall 2022 Arbor Care Work (pruning work finished, removal work to restart on December 8th), leaf removals (third removal visit just occurred, one more leaf removal visit in mid-December), J&J (grounds care) Crew Days (December 19th and 20th), a stump remediation project (December 21st), and a Bartlett Crew Day (December 23rd).  You will be seeing different types of crews and vehicles throughout the community through the end of December so please keep that in mind as you walk, ride or drive through our community.

4.  HOLIDAY TEMPORARY PARKING REQUESTS – AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BUT NO LATER THAN SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2022.  Please provide your temporary parking permit requests as soon as possible for visitors you may have through the New Year. We would like to provide our volunteers who create those passes for you the time to spend with their families and several of them are departing the local area during the holiday weeks so you will not have them as assets. Please see the website for a current list of parking officials – link provided in the permanent links above. If you miss the deadline listed above, have patience as it will probably take longer to generate passes for you.

5.  BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING; TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2022; 7:00PM; VIRTUAL.  The December board meeting will be conducted via the RingCentral virtual meeting framework. See the website under ‘Meetings’, select the year (2022), then the meeting (20221220). Document #01-1 contains the information to join the meeting.

6.  HOLIDAY TRASH, RECYCLING, AND CHRISTMAS TREE PICKUP/YARD WASTE SCHEDULE.  There are no calendar changes for this year’s holidays.  Christmas trees will be collected on WEDNESDAY during the first 2 weeks of January with the usual yard waste collection.  All trees must be placed on the curb with all tinsel/decorations removed and trees should not be placed in plastics bags. Collection of Christmas trees may be impacted by the national labor shortage; if a tree is placed curbside for collection on yard waste collection day and is not picked up, please leave it out at the curb and collection will be completed as soon as possible.  See the website for further details.

7.  2023 ANNUAL ASSESSMENT NOTICE AND ASSESSMENT TIMELINE.  As presented at the Annual Meeting, the Annual Assessment for 2023 will increase to $405.00 per quarter due on the first day of each quarterly assessment period. The 2023 Assessment Notice and the Quarterly Assessment Timeline have been mailed/emailed to you and may also be found on the website – link provided above in the Seasonal Links section.

8.  OCTOBER 2022 COMMUNITY RULES.  The updated Rules may be found on the website under the ‘Rules and Regulations’ sub-page.  New residents to our community receive a copy when they are getting their initial set of parking permits.  If you would like to have a hard copy of the Rules and are not a new resident, please email parking@parkwestcommunity.org to coordinate a time to receive a copy.

9.  COMMUNITY SECURITY.  With the holiday season upon us please remember to secure your packages, vehicles and homes. Keep your assets locked and thereby prevent a thief from having an easy opportunity. As a reminder, if any out-of-the-ordinary events occur or if you are concerned for your safety or security please call the Police non-emergency number at (703) 691-2131 to report the occurrence or incident – or 911 in an emergency.  Finally, please consider leaving your porch lights on throughout the night.

10.  COLD WEATHER PREPARATION.  Check the November newsletter for an article on this important subject.  Each year there are challenges faced by homeowners – consider taking the identified steps to take to be prepared for winter and limit potential damage to your home. The PWCA snow policy is posted on the website and is linked above in the Seasonal Links section; please read and understand it before any snow emergency might be declared for the Community.  If/when snow or ice storms occur all residents are requested to shovel and de-ice the sidewalks in front of your home. Help your neighbors and your community by assisting others if needed, clearing around fire hydrants, and clearing the mail boxes.

Please have a safe and joyous holiday season.  My thanks and appreciation for all the efforts by numerous homes to make the season festive and bright – it’s marvelous that so many take the time, effort, and care to generate such a welcoming environment.

Regards,

Mark

Good evening.  Please see below for several items for your review.

PERMANENT LINKS:
PWCA Website: https://parkwestcommunity.org/
Parking Documents: https://parkwestcommunity.org/parking/
ACC Documents:  https://parkwestcommunity.org/architectural-control-committee/

SEASONAL LINKS:
2022 Annual Meeting Documents: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1C4WkBigeD5kMYNh4Cvt8d1PvFUWZCPkV?usp=sharing

2022 – 2023 Snow Removal Policy: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gtAkDqOQlg3InT0bmEnm6rrHYRaQrdnr/view?usp=sharing

COVID-19 LINKS:
CDC guidance: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Johns Hopkins Global COVID-19 Map and Coronavirus Resources: https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html
State-wide analysis and guidance: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/
County-specific guidance: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/covid19/
County Emergency Preparedness: https://fairfaxcountyemergency.wpcomstaging.com/category/coronavirus-covid-19/

INFORMATION ITEMS:

1.  TREE AND GROUNDS CARE WORK.  There are numerous projects going on between the Fall 2022 Arbor Care Work (pruning work finished, removal work ongoing), leaf removals (next multi-day removal visit will occur next week), grounds crew days (November 16th and 17th and two more in December), and a Bartlett Crew Day (December 15th).  You will be seeing different types of crews and vehicles throughout the community through the end of December so please keep that in mind as you walk, ride or drive through our community.

2.  BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING; TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2022; 6:30PM; ST MARY OF SORROWS CHURCH (PARISH CENTER) AND VIRTUAL.  The Parish Center is located at 5222 Sideburn Road.  There will be signs to guide you to the room for the meeting.  This month’s board meeting will be conducted in an abbreviated manner before the Annual Meeting later that night.  The meeting will be available as usual via the RingCentral virtual meeting framework. For the virtual meeting information, see the website under ‘Meetings’, select the year (2022), then the meeting (20221115), and finally select “BoD”. Document #01-1 contains the information to join the meeting.

3.  2022 ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION; TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2022; 8:00PM; ST MARY OF SORROWS CHURCH (PARISH CENTER) AND VIRTUAL.  The Parish Center is located at 5222 Sideburn Road.  There will be signs to guide you to the room for the meeting.  All documents have been either electronically or physically mailed to Members of the Association. Those documents may also be found on the website.  The meeting will be available virtually in the same manner as our monthly Board of Director meetings via the RingCentral virtual meeting framework. For the virtual meeting information, see the website under ‘Meetings’, select the year (2022), then the meeting (20221115), and finally select “Annual”. The document “2022 Annual Meeting, Virtual Meeting Information” contains the information to join the meeting.  If you are a renter residing in our community please feel free to attend – you’ll receive a report of what has been accomplished in the last year and where we are going over the next year.   There will be some limited refreshments available for all attendees.

4.  2022 PROXY FORMS, PLEASE RETURN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.  For our Owners (Members), if you have not yet completed your proxy form please do so – even if you plan to attend the meeting.  If you do attend you will have the option to leave your proxy in place or vote at the meeting.  As a reminder – arrears in excess of $30 preclude you from voting.  If you are unsure your financial status with the Association you can log-in to the Vantaca portal from our website.  See the “Owner Account Portal” item below for additional information.

5.  ELECTRONIC CONSENT FORMS.  For Owners/Members of the Association who may not know, electronic consent forms provide the Association the ability to send certain communications to you electronically only, thereby saving us the cost of printing and mailing those documents.  The form is available on our website within Policy Resolution 17-04 and in the November 2022 newsletter.

6.  POOL HOUSE HOLIDAY LIGHTING SETUP; SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2022; 10:00AM; POOL PARKING LOT.  In preparation for the social occurring at 5:00pm that evening, we need some volunteers to come help set up the lights on the pool house and fence.  If you are interested please email me – I’d like to get the lights set up earlier in the week in case there are complications with the setup.  At a minimum final setup will occur at 10:00AM – possible the entire setup if we cannot determine any dates and times in advance of this setup event. 

7.  HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING SOCIAL; SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2022; 5:00PM; POOL PARKING LOT. Please come enjoy the start of our holiday season at the pool parking lot. If you’d like, please consider adding an ornament or two to the one tree we have remaining on Saturday afternoon (or once the tree has it’s lights installed).  Limited refreshments will be provided.  Please contact the Social Committee if you’d like to help with this event.

8.  OWNER ACCOUNT PORTAL.  Each owner has the ability to access their account through a portal Summit Management offers.  To access the portal, please go to our website and select the ‘Living in PWCA’ tab.  Scroll down the page to the button ‘Vantaca Owner Login’.  If you have not already done so, Vantaca will prompt you to create a login.  Once you login you’ll be able to access your owner information to include the status of your account.  This also provides an avenue to pay any balances due on the account.  

9.  COMMUNITY SECURITY.  We had a couple of vehicles that were rummaged through last night.  If you discover your vehicle has been impacted, please call the Police non-emergency number (703) 691-2131 to report the break-in.  If any other out-of-the-ordinary events occur and you are concerned for your safety or security please call that number also to report the occurrence or incident.  While we advertise a Neighborhood Watch on our signs there has been a lack of interest in the past to actually set one up.  If you are interested in participating please let me know.  If we have sufficient interest we will restart the process with the County but not before we see sufficient volunteers to make the effort worthwhile.  As always, please consider leaving your porch lights on throughout the night, remember to lock your vehicle and residence doors (remember the patio and deck doors…), and notify the non-emergency number should you experience some kind of security event in the future.

10.  NEWSLETTER.  The November 2022 edition of the Park West Pages has been published and is available on our website.   We will have limited copies available at the Annual Meeting if you’d like a paper copy.  Alternatively, you may also contact communications@parkwestcommunity.org to request a copy.

In honor of Veterans Day – please take a moment to recognize the sacrifice our service members have and continue to offer in service to the ideals of our great country.

Regards,

Mark

Good afternoon.  Please see below for several items for your review.

PERMANENT LINKS:
PWCA Website: https://parkwestcommunity.org/
Parking Documents: https://parkwestcommunity.org/parking/
ACC Documents:  https://parkwestcommunity.org/architectural-control-committee/
SEASONAL LINKS:
2022 Annual Meeting Documents: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1C4WkBigeD5kMYNh4Cvt8d1PvFUWZCPkV?usp=sharing

Director Application for Candidacy:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cnn33EERkBdAG-qMTEiiV4PWyHv3BnxJ/view

2022 – 2023 Snow Removal Policy: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gtAkDqOQlg3InT0bmEnm6rrHYRaQrdnr/view?usp=sharing
COVID-19 LINKS:
CDC guidance: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Johns Hopkins Global COVID-19 Map and Coronavirus Resources: https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html
State-wide analysis and guidance: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/
County-specific guidance:  https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/covid19/
County Emergency Preparedness: https://fairfaxcountyemergency.wpcomstaging.com/category/coronavirus-covid-19/

INFORMATION ITEMS:

1.  ROAD RAIDERS COMMUNITY CLEANUP ACTIVITY; SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2022, 8:00AM; ROBERTS ROAD AND COLLINGHAM DRIVE INTERSECTION.  The broader community also accomplishes cleanup events oriented at specific areas of the nearby King Park West community led by the volunteer group Road Raiders.  Here is the information for tomorrow morning’s event from Tom McCook:  “I hope you can join us on Saturday morning, 8-8.30AM at Roberts and Collingham intersection (just south of Commonwealth).  Our intention is to improve the walkability of the sidewalks on Roberts, by cutting the grass in the VDOT property areas, edging the sidewalks, removing other landscaping that impedes the area for walking.  Plus, of course – we’ll collect trash & plastic wastes where we see it.  Tools requested:  Lawnmowers, edger/ weed wackers and loppers (bush trimming cutting tools).  I’ll bring plastic trash bags and work (cotton) work gloves.  Please be prepared to walk amidst the tall grass areas (long pants & boots recommended)

2.  TREE WORK.  We are finishing the final parts of the Spring 2022 remediation work.  We also had additional storm damage occur during the last few weeks.  Finally, the Fall 2022 work is being finalized and Spring 2023 work scoped.

3.  FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING; TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2022; 7:00PM; VIRTUAL.  This Finance Committee Meeting will focus on a final review of the 2023 PWCA Budget in preparation for the Board approval of the 2023 budget on October 18, 2022.  Please attend to discuss the future orientation of the Association in consonance with the Governing Documents as articulated through our Strategic Plan. Please see the September or October 2022 Board of Directors Meeting document #01-1 for the link to to the virtual meeting.

4.  BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING; TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2022; 7:00PM; VIRTUAL.  This month’s board meeting will be conducted via the RingCentral virtual meeting framework. See the website under ‘Meetings’, select the year (2022), then the meeting (20221018). Document #01-1 contains the information to join the meeting.

5.  ELECTRONIC CONSENT FORMS.  For Owners/Members of the Association who may not know, electronic consent forms provide the Association the ability to send certain communications to you electronically only, thereby saving us the cost of printing and mailing those documents.  The form is available on our website within Policy Resolution 17-04 and in the August newsletter.

6.  ANNUAL MEETING – CALL FOR NOMINATIONS. In preparation for our Annual Meeting in November we attached a nomination form in the August newsletter.  At each Annual Meeting there are three of our nine-member Board of Directors are up for election.  Please consider submitting your name for consideration by the membership.  If that seems to large a step, consider volunteering for any one of our committees.  I KNOW they’d be happy for any assistance you could provide.

7.  OWNER ACCOUNT PORTAL.  As I’ve had a couple of questions on this – each owner has the ability to access their account through a portal Summit Management offers.  To access the portal, please go to our website and select the ‘Living in PWCA’ tab.  Scroll down the page to the button ‘Vantaca Owner Login’.  If you have not already done so, Vantaca will prompt you to create a login.  Once you login you’ll be able to access your owner information to include the status of your account.  This also provides an avenue to pay any balances due on the account.  

Enjoy the long weekend!

Regards,

Mark