Fox Point Update: December 2022 Edition
- On December 7, 2022
President’s Letter
By Abe Ryder | Email
Greetings Fox Point Neighbors,
As we enter the final stretch to conclude 2022, the Fox Point Board has been extremely active with multiple working sessions to determine the operating and capital needs for the 2023 budget, meeting with the Finance Committee to gain their input and guidance, finalizing the nominees for the Fox Point Board, updating our digital architecture to ease administrative tasks, bringing the wall portion of the monument walls to conclusion and of course planning the Santa visit! What a month! Thank you Board members for all of your hard work across all of these areas and then some!
From an operating budget perspective, we are experiencing inflation that has resulted in substantial increases in our insurance and we expect across-the-board increases in lake and pool maintenance. Specifically, for the pool, we are seeking to supplement our existing contract with increased training for our lifeguards to enhance the overall pool experience. From a capital budget perspective, we plan on a refresh of the boat dock area as well as adding to the reserves. As you know, Fox Point has had major capital improvements over the past seven years such as the pool rebuild, the pool house renovation, and the restoration of our monument walls. It is now time to start replenishing our reserves.
That said, residents can expect an increase in our annual assessment of $175 for 2023. For additional details, please refer to Kyle’s report as well as attending our Annual Meeting of the Fox Point Homeowners’ Association on January 23, 2023.
From a Nominating Committee standpoint, I am happy to report that we have four candidates to fill the four open Board spots. They are Criss Chang, Lindsay Keenan, Melissa Pohl, and Taylor Shanfeld. We thank these neighbors for their interest in volunteering to lead the association. Please read on to see their respective bios. Thank you to Steve Kipferl for leading the Nominating Committee again this year.
The monument walls project has nearly concluded and has been on budget! A big thank you to Jay Roberts for his tremendous management of this project. The walls are restored to their former glory and with an installation of a new drainage system, we aim to move water away from the walls, so they may last for generations. There are a few clean-up items that need to be pushed to the spring. Overall, this has been a huge success thus far!
Please read on for the other Board Member reports.
Our next meeting will be held on Monday, December 19th at 7 PM via Google Meet. As always, we encourage homeowners to attend our monthly Board Meetings. We welcome ideas, suggestions, and feedback as we all have a vested interest in this community we call home.
ANNOUNCING YOUR 2023 FOX POINT HOMEOWNERS’ ASSOCIATION BOARD MEMBER NOMINEES
Criss Chang
Criss Chang and his wife, Valerie moved to Fox Point in 2019, after living in the Village for 4 years. Together they have 3 boys, ages seven, five, and two. Criss will be entering into his second consecutive term on the Board seeking to continue his role as Pool Chair. As a dad to his active children, Criss has coached his sons in baseball, soccer, and wrestling. Previous to joining the Fox Point Board, Criss held Board level positions for the Chicago Triathlon Club, Barrington Endurance Club, and his condo association.
Criss works for Kemper Corporation, a financial services institution offering specialized insurance products to individuals, families, and small businesses. With over 25 years of experience at this firm, Criss currently leads Strategic Partnerships and Investment Operations. Criss holds a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Illinois and an M.S. in Business Information Technology from Depaul University.
In the 3 years of managing the Fox Point Pool and participating on the Board, he has learned that the diversity of views and opinions shared by the Board leadership is critical to running this neighborhood. The numerous amenities and community programs that make Fox Point a special place to live are maintained by the guidance of Board volunteers and residents taking an active role.
Lindsay Keenan
My name is Lindsay Keenan, and I am very excited to be running for the Fox Point Homeowners Association Board. My husband, Kevin, and I moved to Fox Point in 2013 and we have three boys ages 11, 8, and 5.
We have loved our 10 years in Fox Point and have been actively involved in everything the community has to offer. I have previously assisted with numerous Fox Point social events including Fall Fest and the Pool Party. I was also involved in organizing the Kids Triathlon last summer, and most recently I have joined four other women on the Fox Point Swim Team Committee.
Before recently transitioning to a full-time mom, I was a practicing attorney for 14 years. Specifically, for the last 7 years, I concentrated my practice in the area of residential and commercial property tax appeals. While I will not actively represent Fox Point as their counsel, I do believe my expertise in law and contracts would be a valuable resource to the HOA.
I care deeply about our neighborhood and want to be part of a team that preserves what Fox Point has been, but also works to make it even better. I have enjoyed my previous neighborhood volunteer positions and it would be an honor to join the Fox Point HOA and continue to strive to make our neighborhood a desirable place to live and raise a family!
Melissa Pohl
Hi Neighbors! My name is Melissa Pohl and my family and I moved into Fox Point in 2017 after moving from Annapolis, MD. I grew up on the East Coast but meeting my husband has brought me here to this beautiful suburb! Dan grew up in around these parts, living in Schaumburg and Mundelein while attending Catholic Schools in Arlington Heights. We have two wonderful children, ages 7 and 5.
To be honest, seeing Fox Point was love at first sight. When considering our return to Illinois, Dan knew RIGHT where to look. We enjoy walking the neighborhood and visiting with friends, joining social activities, spending as much time at the pool as possible, and using the playground often. Our son joined the swim team last summer and loved it! Our daughter can’t wait to catch up to big brother this year. We are also looking forward to skating with friends around Lake Louise this winter!
Professionally, I work right here in the Barrington 220 schools as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Go Broncos! I work with some of our most challenged students in the district and it’s an absolute privilege and pleasure to serve our broader community by spending time with our most special students. I have been working in the field of Autism and Special Education for 16 years and I absolutely love what I do!
We love all the wonderful families we have connected with over the years and I look forward to getting to know all our neighbors better and representing our common interests. My family and I are fully committed to Fox Point as we feel it is the perfect neighborhood to raise a family and I am hoping to volunteer my time to bring us together more with our social events in the coming years
Taylor Shanfeld
Hi Neighbors! My name is Taylor Shanfeld and my family and I moved to Fox Point from the city in 2016 when our oldest was 2. My husband, Steve, and I have two girls ages 8 and 5. Both of us grew up in Barrington and for me in Fox Point, specifically! I lived here from kindergarten through 6th grade at which point we moved to Kansas City for 4 years due to my dad’s job. We moved back to Fox Point into the house next door to my childhood one as I started my junior year at BHS. My parents still live in the same house and the treehouse my dad and grandpa built still exists next door.
Taking tennis lessons each summer at the Fox Point courts is a great memory for me. I went on to play in high school and have hardly played since then but truly hope to jump back in with the opportunity to be the tennis chair.
Tennis is also what introduced me to my profession as a physical therapist when I endured a rotator cuff injury. I have been a PT for 15 years and work as a pelvic floor physical therapist at Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital.
My love for Fox Point runs deep for so many reasons and I am excited to be able to contribute to upholding our great tennis program.
Treasurer Report
By KYLE POWAL | Email
As 2022 comes to an end, the board has finalized the 2023 budget. We spent hours discussing and planning our anticipated expenditures for the coming year. We continue to be mindful of all Fox Point’s assets as well as the costs to maintain, repair, and eventually replace them. Inflation is not new to any of us as we have witnessed rising costs throughout most facets of our lives. Our HOA is no different and we must remain responsible while planning for years to come. While there is no clear end to rising costs, the board has approved a 15% increase in our annual assessments. The 2023 obligation will be $1,350 per household.
While our cost of goods and services increases, your board has some exciting plans for 2023 and beyond. We are beginning to explore a refresh of the boat yard. The property is underused and we would like to rehabilitate the area with some additional amenities. Stay tuned for more information. We are also exploring the idea of adding a grill or two at the pool. This would allow families to enjoy more food options than what is available for delivery. We would also be able to offer freshly grilled food while hosting swim meets, which will help pay for the disbursement. These are just a few of the projects your board is working on.
There will be plenty of opportunities to pitch in and volunteer your time and talents over the coming months. Please reach out to a board member or join us during our monthly meeting. It is incredible how much we can accomplish with a bit of organization and a small donation of our time. We would love to hear your ideas and look forward to seeing you around the neighborhood!
The proposed 2023 Budget is the framework of an intention to spend, and consists of 3 components:
- Operating- These are recurring annual expenses to support the daily/seasonal operations.
- Capital Reserves. These are monies that represent the approximate depreciation of common assets, over time, set aside for future major cyclical maintenance expenses, major repairs, restoration, and replacement of assets.
- Annual Assessment- Each owner’s equal share of Operating Expenses and allocation to Capital Reserves which approximates the annual deterioration (depreciation) of all hard assets and funding towards the health of the Lake, Creek, and Pond assets.
Proposed 2023 Operating Budget- $271,250
There are six components within the Operating Budget: Administration, Pool, Lake Management, Tennis Common Grounds, and Social. Within these components Insurance, Professional Pool Management and Landscaping are the most significant expenses. Our pool management spending is projected to increase due to our need for a Pool Director in 2023 who will manage our pool staff on a daily basis.
Proposed 2023 Capital Expenditures- $220,000
There are several projects planned for 2023:
- Masonry Wall Restoration – $35,000. This is not a new or increased expense for 2023 but simply estimated expenses that are carrying over from 2022 for the completion of this project.
- Pool Surface Refinishing/Painting – $36,000. Pool surfaces require resurfacing/repainting every 7-10 years.
- Grills – $5,000. We plan on adding one or two gas grills near the pools. These grills will have a dedicated gas line (with built-in timers for automatic shutoff) from the pool house.
- Phoslock Treatment – $36,000. We remain in the early phase of restoring the overall health of Lake Louise. While phosphorus is an essential element for plant life, too much phosphorus can speed up algae bloom and unpleasant odors, common in lakes throughout the world. This multi-year treatment is intended to reduce excess phosphorus, common in lawn fertilizers that drain into the lake.
- Lake Inspection – $10,000. We are going to work with licensed engineers to develop a long-term strategy for our lake rehabilitation.
- Boat Yard Refresh – Phase 1 – $65,000. Details are still being ironed out so please stay tuned for more information.
- Cul-de-sac Restoration – $10,000
- Dead Tree Removal – $11,000.
- Fish Restocking – $7,500.
- Tennis Court Cleaning and Tree Trimming – $8,000.
We will be increasing our Capital Reserve Fund by $63,600 in 2023.
Proposed 2023 Annual Assessment – $1,350
The Annual Assessment funds the Operating budget, Capital expenditures, and depreciation of assets over time so that there are adequate funds available to take care of business when it becomes necessary to do so. In 2023, we intend to allocate the annual Assessment as follows:
48.9%- Operating Expenses
51.1%- Capital Reserves
For 52 years, FPHA has maintained one overall financial goal – AVOIDANCE OF DEBT and thus avoiding the need to impose Special Assessments on all owners.
We have invested nearly $3 million into capital projects (replacement of 50-year-old Pool, Tennis Courts and major, top to bottom, renovation of the Pool House, etc.) over the past 6 years and intend to invest an additional $220,000 in 2023. We have done so without incurring debt/ imposing a Special Assessment because our Capital Reserves have been adequate to take care of business.
To avoid debt, the value of an HOA’s Capital Reserve needs to be tied to its future liabilities. We have 30 high-level common assets with hundreds of moving parts behind them. Sooner or later, everything wears out and requires restoration or replacement. The allocation from the Annual Assessment to Capital Reserves should approximate the annual rate of depreciation of all assets. Inflation is also a factor in restoration and replacement costs.
The Lake/Pond /Creek has been on the back burner while the restoration /replacement of many major hard assets occurred. We are committed to restoring the health of the lake, going forward.
The 2023 calendar year Annual Assessment will be invoiced in late February and is due March 31, 2023.
2023 and Beyond
State law requires us to project capital expenses and disclose whether borrowing funds/imposing a Special Assessment is contemplated two years into the future.
Our projections follow the Proposed 2023 Budget and include the replacement of 3,020 linear feet of wood fences along the north and south side of Lake-Cook Road and the replacement of 5000 square feet of asphalt in the pool parking lot and boat dock area. We also plan on replacing the playground equipment.
Social
By Rena Slovick | Email
January will conclude my 3 years as self-proclaimed “Director of Fun” on the Fox Point Board. Time sure does fly during a pandemic! Thank you to everyone who has volunteered & spearheaded committees over the years. None of this is possible without you. The “Assistant to the Social Chair” is pretty excited about my retirement but those of you who know me are aware I won’t be able to remain there for long.
See everyone in the New Year & behind our Instagram handle.
Architecture
By Andrew Shwarz | Email
This time of year I am grateful for the pride of ownership displayed so broadly by our neighbors of Fox Point. From the general upkeep of our properties to the joyful displays of holiday lights, thanks for doing your part in keeping our community well-kept and beautiful.
Along those lines, thank you to the many homeowners who consulted the HOA Board regarding their exterior alterations. This year, on average, we partnered on at least one project application every month; and my position remains ready to help with any exterior/architecture questions or plans you have for the new year. Please do reach out! Until then, our Board is continuing our migration of all HOA administrative activities into our own Google Workspace, with full adoption slated for the new Board term in January.
Happy holidays to you and yours.
Pool
By Criss Chang | Email
The 2022 pool season had many highlights. Here are some of them:
- A new pool heater was installed
- The front desk accepted digital payments, no more cash
- Pool entry converted to resident membership setups by an admin
- Which made guest entry and fees much easier, increasing pool use
- Swim Team had nearly 100 kids participate
- Swim Lessons had 35 early swimmers participate
- Fox Point residents swam with Barrington Masters on weekday mornings
- The Fox Point Kids Triathlon made a comeback after 7 years
- Many thanks to all residents that participated in these programs. Your time and efforts make these Fox Point summertime experiences so special. In 2023, we look forward to keeping these programs running strong and adding some new programs and amenities to enhance the pool experience. One thing to look forward to is a fresh coat of paint for the main pool prior to opening day. See you next summer!
Common Grounds
By Jay Roberts | Email
Happy Holidays everyone!
To end the year, we’ve wrapped up construction on the monument walls! This includes all the mason work to rebuild the walls and the new black fence that was added just a couple of weeks ago.
For the most part this year during the rebuild we stayed on schedule. Due to bad weather and some other scheduling issues, we will not be able to complete the final phase until spring.
The final phase includes the leveling of the grade surfaces for each landscape bed/area in front of each wall, a new drainage system, and new replacement landscaping. In total this will be about a 4 to 5-week process. We were advised by our vendors to push this back to the spring due to cold weather and the ground starting to freeze. I did not want to create unneeded debris that would fill the drainage system just to get it in this year.
Please understand that the new walls will NOT be impacted this year by not putting in the drainage system this year. The foundation will be left open and the trench that was created will be left until the spring. As we go through winter this will more than likely be covered with snow and something that is not noticed.
Once spring hits next year, we will hit the ground running and complete the final phase in better working/growing conditions.
If you have any questions, please feel free to let me know!