Aloha
Welcome to the October 2022 edition of the Makaha Valley Plantation newsletter! The aim of this newsletter is to bring you the latest MVP news, project updates, and help build community here on the westside.
Important Changes to the HOA Voting By Laws!
As you may recall our Bylaws state that candidate board members must reach a majority vote to be elected, as opposed to receiving the highest vote share. Unfortunately, this is a difficult threshold to reach, especially if there are many candidates running for election.
As such the board has been working towards amending the bylaws so owners will be receiving a letter and other information to vote on this change very soon. The proposed change will mean the candidates who receive the largest share of votes will be elected – a far more efficient and effective process! This will require 66% of owners to vote and approve of this change so please promptly fill out and return the voting letter as soon as you receive it, and if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Chester Reeves at Touchstone!
Spectrum Internet Upgrades coming to MVP in 2023
At the beginning of 2023 our Spectrum account is going through some major changes. We have made an agreement with Spectrum, taking advantage of our Purchasing Hui agreement, in which we have negotiated a new five-year agreement. This means we have locked in the current rate and will not be affected by price increases. The new agreement will increase our TV package to include all their non-premium channels; about 275 total. The new agreement will also include internet services at their Ultra-high-speed service which currently is at 500 Mbps. They will be providing two HD DVR boxes per unit. The modems will be upgraded to Wi-Fi 6 wireless routers. The pool areas will also be upgraded with community Wi-Fi 6 which provide better encryption and stronger signals at a faster rate. The office will also be upgraded to 200 Mbps. So, now you will be able to stream movies and other materials more easily. These services will all be incorporated into the maintenance fee.
For residents of the property, they will be able to cancel their internet package. Regarding their TV package, unless they want premium channels, they will have the largest selection available. This should save residents around $30 to $40 a month, if not more. Investors should be able to pass on these added expenses in maintenance to their tenants. It will provide MVP with the best possible communication features currently available. 2023 will have some exciting upgrades!
Updates on the Solar PV project
As you may have heard, the Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law by the Biden Administration. With it comes new regulation and incentives for projects like ours. The good news is that projects like ours can get larger incentives which will attract more investors or help retain existing investors. The challenge is there are several new regulations. One being to qualify for the rebates and tax credit the system must be no larger than 1 megawatt. Our planned project was aiming for 1.55 megawatts. As such we will build it in two distinct phases. That means some electrical and design changes will have to be redrawn. There are other requirements which require clarification and/or modification. So, a lot of things are in motion.
The current timeline is the heat pumps, solar thermal system, some tank upgrades, and the water temperature mixers are expected to start by the second quarter of 2023. The roof renovations, to prepare for the PV panels, will start around the third quarter and the PV panel installation for the 1s1 phase will start around the fourth quarter of 2023. The 2nd phase of PV panels will start around the second quarter of 2024. The electrical system upgrades will follow as the PV panels are being installed.
We also need to get in some painting prior to the Tesla Power Wall panels being installed on the building. So, during 2023 the delaminating panels on the buildings will have to be replaced with painting set to start at the beginning of 2024. The painting of the building will continue through 2027.
Public charging stations are planned but where they will they be placed has not yet been determined. We are planning on having a couple of them. In addition, you will be able to have a charging station in your own parking space, but that upgrade will be at your own expense. Your electrical panel inside your unit is adequate for your unit as it was originally built but if you are planning to do any upgrades such as adding a mini-AC unit you will need to upgrade it. We are working with Hawaii Unified to provide a bulk quote for replacing circuit breaker boxes at the owner’s expense.
Lots of construction, coordination and cooperation will be needed. We ask in advance that you be patient and understanding knowing that in the end MVP will be so much better than it is now!
Do Not Feed The Animals
A reminder to all residents to please not feed the animals on property. There have been 3 citations in the last month issued for the feeding of chickens and feral cats. Some residents have been doing it for a long time but it is not fair to our community. People don’t want to be woken up at 5 in the morning, or even earlier, by roosters crowing. Nor should they have to put up with the smells generated by the cats that hang around the units. The house rules are designed to correct bad behavior, not to make money through fines – unfortunately we have found that fines are the best way of getting attention and changing behavior that harms everyone.
For those of you that walk your dogs around property, please pick up after your dogs. Our employees do not need to find what they leave behind when using the weed whackers. It gets on them and our employees do not deserve that kind of disrespect.
H06 Insurance Consent Form Reminder
Thanks to everyone who has received, signed and sent in the H06 Insurance consent form! However there has been a little bit of confusion – please send in your written consent form as this is what will allow us to update our bylaws and make H06 insurance mandatory. Some folks have been sending in a copy of their own insurance policy which does not help with this matter. If you have any questions or need a new written consent form please contact Chester Reeves at chester@touchstoneproperties-hawaii.com
Time On The Job
We greatly appreciate the friendly relationship we all have with our security and groundskeepers, and we hope you feel that everyone is both professional and approachable. However, we would like to remind everyone that they have busy days and a tightly managed work schedule, so please be respectful of their duties and refrain from overly long distractions.
Checking Owner Accounts and Overdue Fees
It is every homeowner’s responsibility to pay their association fees promptly, as well as citations and other expenses. An overdue account can result in overdue charges and, if left unattended, the costs can rack up! The Board is giving owners 6 months to set up a login with Touchstone and determine if your account is accurate and up to date – otherwise you may find unexpected or unpleasant costs appearing.
To check your account, you’ll need to create a login with Touchstone.
- Visit https://www.touchstoneproperties-hawaii.com
- Click View your account or payment history – this will open the SKYLINE dashboard.
- You’ll need to enter a username and password and if this is your first time here you’ll need to call Touchstone on 808-566-4100
- Tell the operator you are signing up for a SKYLINE Dashboard Account and you will be transferred to accounting and can then request a username and password.
- Once you receive your unique username and password, write it down for future reference, and proceed with your login!
- You can then review your account history and make payments as needed.
If you have any issues with this process, please get in touch!
Mahalo,
MVP Board of Directors