Seasons Greeting

The Board would like to wish you a happy and safe holiday season.
All the best in the new year.

Christmas Tree Recycling Program

New this year – you have two options to recycle your real Christmas tree this year.
Weekend Pick up: Twice in January, Waste & Recycling Services will pick up Christmas trees from Calgary households that currently receive City residential garbage collection.

Have your tree out by 7 a.m. on one of the following Saturdays:
•Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010
•Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010
Place your tree where you normally put your garbage out for pick up. It will be picked up no later than Monday.

Drop-off: The City will also have eight temporary drop-off depots for trees:
•Fire Hall #15 – 6328 35th Ave. N.W.
•Fire Hall #22 – 7199 Temple Dr. N.E.
•Bottomlands Park – St. Georges Drive and Seventh Avenue N.E.
•South Calgary Community Association – 3130 16th St. SW.
•Parks Compound – 10312 Sacramento Dr. S.W.
•Spyhill Landfill – 69th Street and 112th Avenue N.W.
•East Calgary Landfill – 17th Avenue and 68th Street S.E.
•Shepard Landfill – 114th Avenue and 68th Street S.E.
Landfill hours and information found here.
The drop-off depots will be open: Dec. 26, 2009 – Jan. 18, 2010.

The trees collected by the program are chipped into mulch, put into windrows where the internal temperature reaches a point that will remove pests like gypsy moth larvae. The mulch is used in green spaces around Calgary and available at no extra charge to residents.
Keeping trees out of the landfills helps extend the life of landfills, reduces greenhouse gas and produces a useful resource. The annual Christmas tree recycling program is just one of many ways that Calgarians can reduce, reuse and recycle to help The City achieve its goal of diverting 80 per cent of its waste by the year 2020.

Bylaws - Past Due

If you have not already done so please submit your signed Bylaws form as soon as possible.

We must get the required number of forms by December 31, 2009 or start the process over again (which would be a waste of time and money). There needs to be 75% approval of the bylaws for them to pass.

Board members will be going door to door to get your completed forms.

Extension Cords

Please try to keep extension cords off the sidewalks. They create a tripping hazard for people using the sidewalks. They could also get caught in snow removal equipment and cause serious electrical shock. If you must use an extension cord during the cold weather, please take safety precautions and do not leave the cord for extended periods.

Snow removal

The snow removal contractors have been requested to place the sidewalk snow onto the lawns rather than on the street (for ease of those parking on the street). We have been assured that they will try to do this; however, there are some areas where there is a hill immediately next to the sidewalk which makes it difficult and so some snow will be going on the street.

Snow removal will be within 24 hours of the end of the snowfall or once within 24 hours during a continuous snowfall. We have a large property to maintain; please have patience during heavy snowfalls.

Please post your comments on the blog or contact Ultimate Property Management if you have any concerns.

New contact person - Ultimate Property Management

The Board would like to welcome Dee Jonasson as our contact person for Ultimate Property Management.

Furnaces

Effective January 1, 2010 the Alberta government will allow only installation of high efficiency furnaces.

Reminder - Signed Bylaws Due ASAP

Please mail, fax or drop off your signed form as soon as possible.

We are still missing signed Bylaws. There needs to be a 75% approval of the Bylaws for them to pass.

Please post your comments on the blog if you have issues with approving the Bylaws. We would like to know the reasons why were are not receiving signed forms, either of approval or non-approval.

Storage of items on or under decks and patios

Ultimate Property Management has notified the Board of Directors that some owners have submitted complaints following recent notices regarding removal of disallowed items stored on or under decks and patio areas.

A letter has been delivered to each unit outlining allowable items (as per the current bylaws).

The Board wishes to remind owners that, when they purchased their unit, they agreed to abide by the Mountview Parc bylaws, which are in place, in part, to maintain a consistent and clean look throughout the complex.

Garbage Pick-up

The Board has been made aware that the City has neglected to pick up some of the garbage in Phase 1 (between 32 & 33 Ave. and 5 & 6th St.).
The City was contacted regarding this issue and the garbage was collected.
Please contact the City at 311 if you have a problem with garbage collection.

Ultimate Property Management - contact person

Carole O'Neill is no longer with Ultimate Property Management. We will let you know as soon as we have a new contact name for our complex. Until that time, our interim contact is Judy Walker (judy.walker@ultimateproperty.ca or 403-287-3056).

Did you know?

ATCO Gas provides FREE annual furnace and natural gas appliance checks.

ATCO Gas Customer Assistance Centre - Calgary 403-245-7888

Bylaw Special Resolution—signed forms due ASAP!

Our bylaws are outdated and do not incorporate changes that have been made to the Condominium Act. Your Board has worked with Ultimate to update the bylaws. The majority of the changes are pursuant to the Alberta Condominium Act and can not be changed. A letter outlining what can and cannot be changed will be mailed to you in the near future. The bylaws are necessary for both owners and the Board of Directors in order that your property may be maintained and values kept. There needs to be 75% owner approval for them to pass.

Please mail, fax or drop off your signed form as soon as possible. Please contact Ultimate with any questions.

Special Assessment Due!

Special assessments for Phase 1 were due in August. If you have not already done so, please remit your payment to Ultimate Property ASAP.

Landscaping Contract Renewal

It’s time to sign a new landscaping contract for 2009/2010. If you have comments about the current landscape service, please post them on the blog by October 15th. Your comments will be taken into consideration when choosing a landscaping company and negotiating the new contract.

Fall Walk Around

A fall walk-around to inspect our buildings, landscape, and any work done over the summer was conducted on September 30th. The results of the walk around allows the Board to identify issues that need to be addressed and plan for future work.

New Blogger

A new member of the condo board will be taking over the blog. Please check back soon as new posts will be made frequently to keep you in the loop on what the board is up to.

Thank you for your patience during this transition.

Summer Holidays

The board is on Summer Holidays and will be posting to the blog again in the fall! Any questions or concerns you may have can be directed to Ultimate Property Management.

Thank you for attending the AGM!

Thank you to everyone who attended the AGM last night and welcome to the new members of the board. We feel the AGM went really well, we always welcome feedback from you to ensure we are making the right decisions to ensure our property is maintained according to the Bylaws and has a uniform look and funtion. Once all the new members are brought on board in the next few weeks I will add a post introducing them as your new representatives!

Thanks again for coming out!

Phase One Deck Construction Project - Starting Today, June 11!

Letters were distributed last night to owners who will be receiving a new deck this summer which means the construction of new decks in Phase One will be complete by the end of Summer 2009! We do apologize for sending out the letters with such short notice we were waiting for the vendor to determine when they would start construction. The demolition of the decks will happen quickly over the next 2-3 weeks so please keep your eye out and remove all items from your deck when Hammerdown is getting close to your unit. Thank you!

Our Lawn Can Breathe!!

As you probably noticed our lawn has been aerated and cut. Now it is our turn as owners to water the lawns so they become green and lush. I am sure you can agree the feeling of soft green grass between our toes has been a LONG time coming and watering your lawn is necessary if you want a healthy lawn. Click here to view the City of Calgary's tips on how to gain and maintain a Healthy Yard.

If there are areas on your lawn that are in need of some help please purchase some grass seed and use it to fill in the brown spots. Click here to find out why you may have dead grass patches on your lawn and how to fix them.

Whats going on around the city this summer?

Have you noticed all the potholes on city streets???

To help the City Roads department locate and make repairs quickly, you can submit an online 3-1-1 service request to report potholes found on Roadways or Backlanes/Alley. Click here for more information.

Ever wonder what plans the City of Calgary has for the future and how they will impact you...click here to find out!

Do you want to give back to your community get out doors and volunteer in a fun and festive event?

The City of Calgary's Canada Day Committee is looking volunteersto participate in the Canada Day celebrations at Prince's Island Park and at Olympic Plaza on July 1, 2009. Click here to go to the City of Calgary website to register.

Did you know Calgary has Award-Winning Day Camps and won the 2009 Calgary's Child Parents Choice Award for best programs for school-aged children in Calgary! Click here to read register and read about full day activities including sports, games, crafts and more that your children can enjoy this summer!

Click here for a full listing of Calgary Events this summer, fall and winter.

Like Golf? Check out the deal the City of Calgary has for you...click here

Reminder to all dog and cat owners

This message is for all you dog and cat owners out there, we know you love your furry little friends but we have to make sure we take care of them and their favorite spots on the grass! If any of the lawn around your unit is damaged from your animal is it mandatory you purchase grass seed and apply it to the areas according to the directions on the package. This will keep the exterior of your unit looking nice and will also please your neighbors. Thank you for understanding and compliance!

Updates from the board...

Thanks to Conscientious Owners!

Many thanks to owners that have gone above and beyond during the past few months. The first is a Phase II owner, whose quick thinking and diligence prevented a pipe break from turning into a flood. The second is also a Phase II owner, who spent some time cleaning up garbage from our common property. We truly appreciate your efforts! Let us know if you or someone you know has committed a friendly neighbourhood act and we will recognize the effort in the next newsletter and on the blog!

Garbage and Abandoned Items

We trust that you have received the letter mailed out on April 27,2009 regarding a crack-down on garbage and abandoned items. If you didn’t, please contact Carole at Ultimate Property Management for a copy. Because of a number issues of non-compliance with both City and condominium bylaws, effective immediately:

• Unapproved items found on common property (including directly beside a unit or privacy area) will be considered abandoned and removed immediately without notice

• Owners and residents who store unapproved items on privacy areas will be granted 15 days notice to remove the items. If items are not removed by the deadline, they will be removed by the Corporation.

• There will be no compensation for items that are removed in accordance with our condominium bylaws, City bylaws and/or this notice.

• Where substantive evidence ties the unapproved item(s) to a particular unit, the unit’s owner will be billed for the costs of removal, as per our current bylaws (Section62.b.xiv).

• Units which do not adhere to the City of Calgary Garbage Collection Bylaws will be reported to the City of Calgary Bylaw Authority. If you see someone abandoning an item on common property or garbage collection site, please be community-minded and approach them directly to remind them of the relevant bylaw infraction. In addition, we encourage residents to contact the City of Calgary to report City bylaw infractions. In the case of a Condominium bylaw infraction, we invite residents to submit substantive (e.g.photo) evidence that ties the item(s) to a particular unit, owner or resident to Ultimate Property Management for further action.

Updates & Reminders

Bylaw Special Resolution— signed approval forms due ASAP!

Our bylaws are outdated and do not incorporate changes that have been made to the Condominium Act. Therefore, your Board has worked with Ultimate to update them. A copy was sent out for your approval in early April. 75% of owners must approve these for them to be passed. Please fax or mail your signed approval to Ultimate ASAP. As usual, please contact Ultimate with any questions.

Phase 1 Special Assessment— due August 1, 2009

The special assessment for Phase I is due August 1, 2009. Those wishing to make monthly payments prior to August 1st may do so by post-dated cheques (automatic debit is not possible). Please send post-dated cheques (or cheques with full payment) to Ultimate along with a note stating the intent of the cheques, and your full name, address and phone number.

Specifications for Exterior Items

It has come to our attention that the specifications for some of our exterior items (e.g., doors) have become outdated. Your Board is in the process of setting specifications for windows, doors, screens, storage sheds (upon approval of new bylaws), mailboxes, lights, address numbers etc. Please feel free to make suggestions on the blog by creating a post to this update. Stay tuned for more info!

Window Cleaning

Your Board is organizing to have our hard-to-reach windows cleaned this Spring. The cost of this can be covered within the budget for Phase II. Phase I owners will have the option of paying separately by unit. Please stay tuned for more information.

Compost Bins

Please be reminded that, as per previous notices, all compost bins will be removed from the property after the Spring walk-around (by June 1, 2009). If you wish to give your bin to a friend or family member please do so before then. If you received Board approval to place a composting bin on common property and can provide Ultimate with written confirmation of that approval you will be reimbursed for the cost of the bin ($25.00).

Compost Bin Removal - Reminder

June is fast approaching and we wanted to remind everyone any composting bins on the property as of June 1 will be removed. The board has decided not to allow the large compost bins due to the large volume of units on the property. If you own a bin and have a copy of past condo board approval to have it on the property along with the receipt of payment for the bin the current board is prepared to reimburse you the $25.00 cost of the bin. If you would like to give your bin to family or a friend please make sure it is removed by June 1.

Thank you

Is Spring here yet????

When oh when will it stop snowing! It has been a long long winter and I am sure we can ALL agree we are getting stir crazy spending so much time in-doors and all we ask it that the snows melts and we can get out into our flower beds and dig in the dirt and plant our flowers!

It has been many many months we have been couped up listening to our neighbors do there thing next door. Since we all share walls it is important we are conscious of what we do and the noise levels that come from our unit. The board wants to thank everyone for being a good neighbour. The board is making final edits to the updated set of bylaws and they will soon be distributed for your review and approval. We hope the slight changes we have made will satisfy the way we all like to live in MountviewParc.

Thanks again for being a good neighbour! We all live under an extensive set of bylaws and it is hard to remeber all of them, if you witness a bylaw infraction taking place please take a friendly approach to remind your neighbor of the bylaw.

Thank you,

Do you have mice in your house???

Ultimate received numerous calls about mice in units. Mice are on the move this time of year and we suggest you call...

Cal Rid (403- 233-0646)
Exterminators for mice in units.
Problems that are out of normal control and where traps are not working.
Cal Rid to service units at Resident Tenants and Resident Owners Expense only.

OR

Click here for some tips on how to keep mice out of your home.

Ultimate and the board are in discussion about this problem. If there is a problem with the exterior of your unit and you think that is how the mice are getting in please let Carole at Ultimate know. It is also VERY important you keep your garbage bags in a sealed bin as outlined in the bylaws to keep rodents away.

Thank you,

What else is the Board up to these days?

The bylaws for our condo property are outdated and the Board is in the process of reviewing and updating the document to reflect the current state of the complex. Once a final draft is produced a copy will be sent to all owners and a 75% majority in favour of the new bylaws will be needed to pass them as the new legal bylaws for the condo. Please stay tuned!

Doggy do do...

As the snow melts around the neighbourhood we have noticed an abundance of dog poo on the lawns. Not all owners have dogs and they should not have to be exposed to it on the property. The bylaws state you must take your animal off the property to do it's business, if your dog happens to do it's business on the property while going for walks is extremely important you collect the poo immediately and dispose of it. If we continue to notice poo left on the lawns owners will be notified individually of the bylaw infraction and the necessary action will be taken. Thank you to all the dog owners for your cooperation and understanding.

Time to take down those Christmas decorations!

February 28 is the deadline to remove Christmas decorations. We noticed a few units still have garland and lights on the exterior of the unit and they must be removed as soon as possible. Decorations that are still up on March 1st will be removed and the unit owner will be responsible for the cost.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Address numbers on back of unit

You can go ahead and hang your unit number on the back of your unit at your own cost if you wish. The standard numbers you must use are black 5". Please send Ultimate an email or phone call letting them know you plan to add the numbers.

Update from January 19 Board Meeting

The board met last night and discussed the following topics. Please read the information below carefully as it applies to all owners at Mountview Parc.

#1. Composting Bins - The board received several inquires about composting bins. Some owners believe we should allow composting bins and some feel they are to large and clutter the property. The board had a lengthy discussion about composting bins, we all agree that composting is a valuable environmentally friendly way to dispose of garbage and do not want to discourage "green" behavior but since we are a condominium community and share common property composting bins are not appropriate. Therefore the board voted and decided not to allow composting bins to be placed on common property as of January 20. All composting bins will be removed from common property by June 1, 2009 (if you wish to give your bin to a friend or family member please do so by June).

What if I own a composting bin?

If you received board approval to place a composting bin on common property and can provide Ultimate with written confirmation of that approval you will be reimbursed for the cost of the bin ($25.00).

How can I compost indoors?

Click here to learn more about Vermicomposting!

#2. Phase One Special Assessment - Watch your mail boxes for a letter providing additional information about the Phase One Special Assessment due August 1, 2009. We have collected feedback for owners requesting more information about the assessment, if you still have outstanding questions or comments once you review the letter please contact Ultimate. To highlight one point, you may send post dated cheques to make monthly payments prior to August 1. Please send post dated cheques to Ultimate Property Management or pay the full amount anytime up until August 1 (automatic debts can not be set up)along a note notifying Ultimate what the cheques are intended for including your full name, address and phone number.

#3. Bylaw Review - The Mountview Parc bylaws are outdated and the board has partnered with Ultimate to update them according to the Condominium Property Act. Over the next few months the board will works as a team to determine how the bylaws will read. Once we have a complete set all owners will receive a copy and will have a chance to vote. The board requires a 75% approval vote from the owners for the new bylaws to pass and be registered. Stay tuned!

#4. Neighbor Disputes - We have all chosen to live in a townhouse community and with that decision comes wall sharing. Unfortunately neighbors can have opposing daily schedules and therefore noise can become an issue. The Condo Board and Ultimate Property are not professional arbitrators or mediators and must not become involved in minor neighbor disputes between owners.

Who do I contact if I have an issue with my neighbor?

If you have an issue with your neighbor and feel they are breaking a city bylaw please contact the City of Calgary Bylaw Services. If no infraction of a city bylaw is being committed please contact The Community Mediation Calgary Society(CMCS). The CMCS employs trained professionals equipped with the education and tools to help neighbors come to an agreement.

#5. Garbage Reminder - Once again we have a garbage offenders putting garbage out prematurely to pick up and owners are finding garbage blowing around there units. Please remember according to city bylaw you must keep your garbage in a sealed container close to your unit until the night prior or morning of garbage pick up day, for us that is Thursday. Thank you for your cooperation!

If you have any questions or comments about this information please contact Ultimate Property.

Thank you

Phase 1 Special Assessment - Due August 1, 2009

Now that we are through the Christmas season we will be putting monthly reminders on the blog and in the newsletter about the Phase 1 Special Assessment due by August 1, 2009. It is not the intention of the board to "bug" owners about this matter, it is simply a reminder because we all have busy lives...

You would have receive a letter with the approved 2009 budget outlining the special assessment for Phase 1 owners. If you did not receive this letter in the mail please contact Ultimate for more details. Specific questions about the assessment will not be address on the blog, please contact Ultimate.

Thank you,

Please Don't Feed the Rabbits

As you probably know we have a few rabbits that live in our area. For the most part they are harmless but we would ask that you please do NOT feed them. This will encourage them to remain in our area and could potentially increase the chances of them becoming a nuisance.

Thank you,

Stray Cats

We are experiencing an issue with stray cats in our neighborhood. If you own a cat please do not let it outside to wander on it's own. If you are an owner experiencing issues with cats spraying around your property please call the City of Calgary Animal & Bylaw Services so the cat can be impounded.