As we talked about in our earlier post outlining our strategic priorities this year, the Board has been looking at our current policies and rules with an eye toward addressing complaints from Members about poor compliance with provisions of our governing documents that deal with aesthetic issues (among others) in the neighborhood. As the first of a series of planned steps to address these concerns, at the March 30th meeting of the Canyon Creek Board, the Directors voted to publish a proposed update to the Association's Fine Policy for violations of the Canyon Creek Restrictions (as that term is defined in our governing documents). There are two major changes from the current policy. The first, is that courtesy notices, prior to assessment of a fine for a violation is reduced from two to one. The second major change is that the initial fine amount for violation of a Canyon Creek Restriction is increased from $25 to $50 and will increase in $50 increments until the violation of that Restriction is kept cured for a period of six months. Our objective with these changes is not to raise revenue for the Association, nor to be punitive to violators. Instead, it is to have a policy strong enough to function as an effective deterrent to violations in the first place. Our feeling is that the current policy is inadequate in that regard and that these changes are necessary and for the betterment of the neighborhood as a whole.

Under our governing documents a vote of the Membership on the policy change is not required. Nevertheless, Members are invited to review the draft of the updated policy and offer their comments at the next scheduled meeting (date to the be determined) of the Board of Directors. We intend to carefully consider all comments prior to adoption of the policy in its final form. Members may sign up to speak for up to three minutes by appearing at the next scheduled Board meeting and signing in on the speakers sheet.