Northridge Parkway Homeowners Association

P.O. Box 642, Ames, Iowa 50010

Northridge Home Owners Association Annual Dues Increase Vote

October 11, 2022

Dear Northridge Home Owners Members:

We, the Northridge Home Owners Association Board (of volunteers), invite you to review the information available as to why you should consider voting yes for the proposed annual dues increase for 2023. After reviewing this information, please submit any questions you have in an email with your name, address, phone number and email to nrboard@northridge-ames.us

The benefits of a dues increase (beyond the allowed up to 7% annual increase) are to maintain the infrastructure of Northridge as an enjoyable, safe and desirable community for homeowners into the future.

  • Enjoyment of the commons areas and walking trails
  • Safety for homeowners and guests on bridges, trails and around the many trees
  • Preserve property values for homeowners and keep Northridge as a desirable neighborhood for ownership and as a place for families to want to live in

We are recommending this increase in the annual dues from the current (2022) amount of $152 to $250 beginning January 1, 2023. The Board approved this annual dues increase recommendation at our last meeting on October 08, 2022, and then a notification (this letter) to all homeowners is required, and then a homeowners meeting for voting (or proxy voting) is required. You are invited to come and vote for this increase at Northridge Village on November 14, 2022 between 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. We have designated this day and time as a meeting for this vote to take place. Board Members will be there to answer your questions and to tally your vote.

Optionally, to take advantage of today’s technology, for your convenience, you can vote “online” at any time prior to and including November 14th by using your computer, tablet or cell phone. A link is provided for the online voting to the right by scanning the QR code with the camera on your cell phone and can also be located on our website at northridge-ames.us. Your online vote will be considered a proxy vote in lieu of attending the meeting.

Click here for google HOA voting form

There is a problem with the QR code in the postal mailing this is the correct link.

The purpose of our homeowner’s association is twofold: first, to provide information and activities (on our website), and second, to accomplish the obligations to manage the communal green spaces (commons, trails, ponds, trees) maintenance and appearance, required by the covenants found in all Northridge property deeds.

We have been able to keep fees lower over the past several years with the guidance and contributions of many volunteers. This careful management began when the neighborhood was new in the 1990s. As with all things, the trails and ponds are aging and in need of repairs, the Derecho and the Ash Borer disease have caused many trees to be taken down, and preferably new trees to be planted. The current annual dues are sufficient for maintenance and some one-time efforts but are not sufficient for the increased costs of the infrastructure (trails, ponds, bridges) aging and the volume of tree removal and replacement.

Our available funds balance (Capital Reserve) has been decreasing over the last few years and this annual dues increase will allow us to build the reserve back up to adequately fund any unforeseen incidents in the future.

Suggested next steps for you to participate in this due increase proposal:

  • Review information on website northridge-ames.us.
  • Contact the board with your questions.
  • Vote on November 14th, at Northridge Village, 3300 George Washington Carver, just east of Bayberry entrance to Northridge. Greeters will be at the door to guide you to the voting room.
  • Optionally, leveraging technology in your home, vote on your computer, tablet or cell phone anytime between now and November 14th, on our website at northridge-ames.us.
  • Your online vote will be considered a proxy vote in lieu of attending the meeting.

Thank you for your support of Northridge Homeowners Association.

Ron Frantzen – Volunteer Board President

Simon Timmermans – Volunteer Board Vice President

David Farrell – Volunteer Board Finance

Charlie Weber – Volunteer Board Secretary

Don Wolter – Volunteer Board At Large

Kyle Hornberg – Volunteer Board At Large

Financial graphs for Northridge HOA Dues increase for 2023

The charts below are taken from the past financial records for the HOA and project the future financial conditions to 2030.

In this first chart shows that if the HOA only continued to do a 7% increase along with price increases, the HOA will not have the funds needed to be able to perform the needed maintenance by 2023 – 2024.

This chart assumes the HOA has approved the dues increase from $152.00 to $250.00 and with future price increases. The chart represents how the funds and expenses are readjusted along with building back the capital reserve for storm incidents where large expenses would have occurred.

This pie graph shows where the expenses are going for the year 2020 before price increases and without any major projects.

The future driving cost factors that need to be considered are:

  • Green space maintenance expense continues to go up (mowing, fertilizing, tree removal).
  • The Commons area with the HOA covers an area of 19 acres. There are 5 miles of trails. There are over 800 trees in the commons. There are 414 homeowner lots.
  • Increased trail maintenance expense with areas of replacement required. These trails range in age from 26 to over 32 years old since installation.
  • Pending storm retention ponds maintenance with dredging, returning ponds to healthy settlement areas; protect ground water runoff into water ways.
  • Replanting of new trees where trees have died and are dying due to Ash Borer disease. Nearly thirty trees have been removed since the Derecho in 2020. Many more are dead and will begin falling with future wind storms.
  • Three walking trail bridges require significant repairs. Approaches to each require maintenance to eliminate trip and fall hazards.
  • Fewer volunteers among residents are available to provide free or low cost labor as in the past for commons maintenance.

The Northridge HOA Board recommends this annual dues increase from $152 to $250 as necessary to maintain the beauty, safety and value of the Northridge subdivision into the future.

Meeting details for dues information and voting

  • Location: Northridge Village, second floor conference room
  • Date: Monday, November 14, 2022
  • Time: 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm.

Dues Increase Vote Results

The HOA volunteer board wishes to thank everyone who voted either in person or by using the online proxy voting. There will be an increase to annual dues to address expenses as outlined on the HOA web site.
The HOA covenants required a 66% or greater vote to increase the HOA dues. The final total percentage was 75.32%

Total Count YES NO Percent
158 119 39 75.32%

Effective annual dues for 2023 from all residences will increase from $152.00 to $250.00.