Pursuant to the authority granted to the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Victoria Park Homeowners’ Association (the “Association”) by:
the following Covenants Compliance Policy was adopted by the Board at a duly called meeting of the Board held on February 20, 2012.
The Covenants Compliance Policy set forth herein shall take effect on the 1st day of March, 2012
 
 
The Covenants. The Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (hereinafter referred to as the "Covenants") of Victoria Park was recorded on June 28, 1968 for Victoria Park No. 1, Victoria Park No. 2, and Victoria Park No. 3, and was recorded on March 01, 1979 for Victoria Park No. 4. The Covenants are a part of the legal title of every lot within Victoria Park.
The Importance of Voluntary Compliance. The Covenants contain general protective conditions and restrictions that define standards to which homeowners and residents must comply in order to preserve the general residential character and livability of Victoria Park. The chief means for preserving these standards is for each Victoria Park homeowner and resident to voluntarily fulfill those standards as described in the Covenants.
The Need to Create This Policy. This Policy is meant to guide the Board in bringing a Victoria Park homeowner or resident into compliance when voluntary compliance is missing.
The Board's Authority. The Covenants, Bylaws, this Covenants Compliance Policy, other adopted Policies and state law combine to create various remedies for use in restoring compliance. The Association’s remedies include:
Section 1. Authority Reserved To Association And To Each Owner. This Policy exists to advance the purpose of restoring compliance with the Covenants. It is not meant to impair the Association's ability to pursue this purpose. The Board retains whatever authority it otherwise has to employ any available means or remedy in pursuit of this purpose. This Policy is also not meant to impair a homeowner's ability to bring about compliance with the Covenants by another homeowner.
Section 2. Maintaining Awareness. To reduce the chance that an owner will violate any portion of the Covenants through ignorance or inadvertence, the Association may take actions to periodically remind homeowners and residents of obligations imposed by the Covenants.
Section 3. Identifying a Possible Violation. A possible violation of the Covenants shall be identified by a Victoria Park homeowner's written and signed complaint that is delivered to the Board of Trustees of the Victoria Park Homeowners’ Association. A complaint can also be received in the form of email so long as the email identifies the complaining individual and that individual is willing to verify the content of the complaint as a witness. The complaint shall identify the address of the offending homeowner, describe in detail the nature, scope and date of the Covenants violation, identify other witnesses to the violations, and any other pertinent details. A complaint may also be prepared and signed by a board member who, by personal observation, the circumstances reported by another individual
Section 4. Compliance Request. The Board may take enforcement action to restore compliance. This includes sending an owner a written Compliance Request. The Compliance Request shall:
Section 5.Hearing. If the homeowner of the property against which a covenants violation complaint has been filed makes a timely written request for an opportunity to be heard, then the person shall be given written notice of the date, time and place of the meeting at which the person will be heard (the “Hearing”). The Hearing shall occur not less than ten (10) days from the date the notice of the Hearing is issued. At the Hearing, the person has the right to give testimony orally, in writing, or both, and to otherwise present evidence. The rules of procedure here described may be supplemented by additional rules of procedure the Board may adopt to promote a prompt and orderly resolution of the matter. If so adopted, and if provided to the person before the Hearing, such additional rules will apply to the Hearing. The evidence received will be considered in making a decision. The person shall be notified of the decision in the same manner in writing within a reasonable time following the Hearing.
Section 6.
Section 6a. Fine Amounts. The Board may impose a fine(s) by following the procedure described in Section 4 above. The amount of the fine will be based upon the Fine Schedule attached to this Policy as Exhibit A. Whenever a homeowner has submitted a timely written request for an opportunity to be heard on the matter, the Board will suspend its attempts to collect payment of the fine until the Board concludes its hearing and issues its final decision on the matter.
Section 6b. Fines for Continuing Violations The Board may, but is not required to, impose a$25.00 daily fine for a continuing violation that the owner has not corrected and after the owner has received at least two prior written notices of the offense within the immediate six-month period. A continuing violation is one which exists for succeeding or continuous days. The Board also may exercise its discretion to impose a weekly fine up to a maximum of $300, or a monthly fine up to a maximum of $750 for continuing violations based on the level of the violation (minor, medium or serious) and other factors that affect the gravity of the offense. Note that violations of a Stop Work Order will incur continuing weekly fines of $350 (see below).
Section 6c. Fines Collection: Fines are collectable in the same manner as assessments, and must be paid to the Association within 10 days of notification that a fine has been imposed.
Section 6d. Fines Late Fees/Interest Any fines not paid within 10 days after the due date are subject to imposition of a $50 late fee per month. In addition, the Board may charge 6% interest for any fines that are not timely paid. Owners are responsible for payment of all collection costs including but not limited to attorney fees, court costs, etc. in connection with collection for any past due amounts. Unpaid fine(s) imposed against an owner constitute a lien upon the unit of that owner.
Section 7. Issuing a Stop Work Order. The Board may issue a Stop Work Order to any person engaged in an Unauthorized Activity. Fines are not an exclusive remedy. In addition to imposing a fine, if appropriate based upon the nature of the violation, the Board my issue a Stop Work Order to any person engaged in unauthorized activity. An unauthorized activity is any activity which requires the prior written approval of the Board or of the Associations' Architectural Control Committee, and which has not received prior written approval.
A Stop Work Order shall:
Section 8. Paying A Fine Does Not “Cure” A Violation. Paying a fine does not relieve a person from responsibility to cure a violation. Likewise, exercise of any hearing or appeal rights does not waive or suspend a duty to immediately cure a violation.
Section 9. Voluntary Compliance Agreement. The Board may reach a Voluntary Compliance Agreement with an owner in which the owner admits a violation exists, agrees to take specific actions to cure the violation within a specific time frame acceptable to the Board, and agrees that failure to perform the specified actions within the specified time frame will result in enforcement consequences.
Section 10. Board's Limited Discretion to Waive Fines. A fine(s) imposed under this Policy may be partly or entirely waived by the Board in its sole discretion and upon its determination that circumstances exist in the particular instance to warrant the granting of a waiver. This right to waive fines includes a right to suspend collection of a fine pending an owner’s fulfillment of promises the owner made in a Voluntary Compliance Agreement.
Section 11. Protection of Board Members. Persons exercising authority of the Board or of a Committee are not liable for action or inaction done in good faith. Association action under this Policy shall not create any liability of the Board, Association, or Committee, or any employee or member of the Board, Association, or the Committee.
The Board has classified violation of the Covenants into three levels with corresponding warnings and monetary fines for each level. Those classifications and corresponding penalties are:
Violation Level | 1st Offense | 2nd Offense | Subsequent Offense | Level 1 (minor) | Warning to owner | $50.00 | $75.00 |
---|---|---|---|
Level 2 (medium) | Warning to owner | $100.00 | $125.00 |
Level 3 (serious) | Warning to owner | $350.00 | $500.00 |
Violation | Covenants Section | Violation Level |
---|---|---|
Single family structures/buildings | Article IX, section 1 | Level 3 |
Unapproved structures | Article IX, section 2 | Level 3 |
Minimum lot size | Article IX, section 3 | Level 3 |
Business use of property | Article IX, section 4 | Level 2 |
Noxious or offensive activity | Article IX, section 5 | Level 2 |
Residential use of temporary structure | Article IX, section 6 | Level 3 |
Dwelling cost | Article IX, section 7 | Level 3 |
Prohibited use of utility easements | Article IX, section 8 | Level 3 |
Prohibited animals | Article IX, section 9 | Level 2 |
Signs | Article IX, section 10 | Level 1 |
Setback requirements | Article IX, section 12 | Level 3 |
Garbage and refuse disposal | Article IX, section 13 | Level 2 |
Oil or mining operations | Article IX, section 14 | Level 3 |
Sewage disposal | Article IX, section 15 | Level 3 |