Open letter to O’Neill Canyon Residents
Let’s get serious. As of today, our Los Padres Estates homeowner’s association is almost broke. We barely have enough money to send out this year’s bill for dues. Our homeowner’s dues are modest, to say the least. And we still have people who don’t pay them – ever. That means that if you DO pay your dues every year, you’re paying for your neighbor who doesn’t. Is that fair? I’d like you to think about it. The board would like you to be aware of exactly how the dues are being spent. To that end we include the following list of this year’s expenses:
Roadwork: $19,995.00
Green space clearing: $1,300.00
Insurance expenses: $20,605.86
Admin expenses: $1,420.00
We have occasionally raised the yearly dues, which increases the burden on those who do pay. We also place liens on the property of the homeowners who don’t pay their dues. This costs money. We could, by law, foreclose on property owners who don’t pay. Would you want to be responsible for evicting your neighbor? The board certainly doesn’t want to do this, but foreclosure and sale of even one of these properties might solve a lot of problems budget-wise. There are property owners in this canyon who owe thousands of dollars in homeowner’s fees. That means some haven’t paid in several decades. We have total outstanding past dues over $60,000.00. So far this year we have only collected $8,315.00. The roads will likely not even get patched next year, or the year after that. We simply don’t have the money.
The roads you use in this canyon are paid for with our dues. Technically, our roads start at the tanks, and they end at Bird, with certain side roads included. Our fellow O’Neill Canyonites who live beyond the Los Padres Estates limits, either at the beginning by the tanks or at the end past Bird, don’t contribute any money to the upkeep of the roads. All this means we can barely afford to patch them, much less repave every once in a decade. We also can’t afford to plow them when it snows.
After some research, we determined that if we dissolve the association the county will NOT take over the roads. Our roads are not up to code. The county will just let them fall into disrepair, and we would end up with roads like many in Frasier Park; so rocky and rutted that a normal sedan has difficulty using them. We would all be on our own as far as road maintenance is concerned, and that’s thousands of dollars to just patch. We would also each be responsible for any injuries anyone incurred on the road outside our individual properties. This means that if you have a pothole you can’t repair, and someone crashes their car because of that unmaintained road, you could be liable.
The other thing that the dues are supposed to cover is weed clearance every year for the seven green spaces owned in common. This is a very important item, because of fire hazards in this canyon. If you look around, some of your neighbors are NOT conscious of fire hazards. These are the folks whose yards are so full of junk and trash that they can’t even park in their own driveways. These neighbors don’t care about their property values, your property values, or the fact that if their place caught on fire there’s no way the fire department could get into their yards to put the fire out, and this whole canyon could burn.
A lawsuit against the association was brought by two of your neighbors who built unauthorized structures into a drainage easement, and then sued because those structures flooded during a rainstorm. This caused us to lose HOA insurance and the new rates are sky-high. We couldn’t even afford to pay the premiums in one lump this year, and are making payments instead. State money is unavailable to us, because we’re a private, unincorporated community. If we want to keep it that way, we have to be responsible and take care of ourselves. Step up and participate. Pay your dues and clean up your yards. Keep your dogs fenced. Keep your vehicles from blocking the roads so people can get where they need to go. Please note, a lack of response may lead to a dissolution of the Homeowner’s Association and a “survival of the fittest” community. If that’s what you want, then ignore this letter. The time to act is now.
Subject: 2026 Summer Cleanup Campaign
Dear Property Owners, May 25, 2026
It has come to the Association Board’s attention that the state of some properties in our neighborhood has fallen into a condition of disrepair and/or clutter. When this happens, it affects all of us as a neighborhood, for it poses issues such as fire hazards, community health, and rodent infestation, not to mention degrading our collective property values. So we are reaching out to our shareholders to join in a neighborhood effort to clean up our properties. Clearing our properties of fire hazards, weeds, brush, and dead tree material wherever possible is an important component of fire prevention. These materials are free to take to the local dump for residents. Appliances and larger household items may require a small fee. Outdoor items organized in a neat and orderly fashion contribute to our property values. As a reminder, weed abatement is a requirement to be taken care of by June 1, 2026. This “Summer Clean-Up Campaign” will help all of us. This effort can raise property values and remove eyesores that irritate neighbors. Recognizing that many of our neighbors are elderly, living on fixed incomes, and/or disabled, we hope that none of us will be shy in reaching out to offer to take a load to the dump or help with cleanup. This neighborhood belongs to all of us, so let’s take pride in where we live.
The campaign will run for two months, June and July, and if you require assistance, please contact any of our Board members for help or resources to get this done.
Sandi McElhenney 661-248-6330
Mike McNichols 661-248-6817
Joan Deascentis 661-248-6617
Sharon Dickerson 310-561-3381
Ursula Madrid 805-228-2338
We appreciate any and all participation and help with this important health, safety and pride in community matter.
Respectfully,
LPE POA Board of Directors
Subject: Notice of Road Paving Work – April 20, 2026
Dear Property Owners,
Please be advised that paving work will be taking place on Monday, April 20, 2026, from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the following roads:
During this time, access may be restricted and delays should be expected in the work areas. Please plan accordingly and use caution when traveling through the neighborhood
We appreciate your patience.
Respectfully,
Your LPEPOA Board
Dear Property Owners,
The estimated date of completion for PG&E is May 8, 2025. Asphalt repairs will follow shortly after with an estimated start date of May 12, 2025.
We appreciate your patience.
Respectfully,
Your LPEPOA Board
Dear Property Owners,
Due to the ongoing fires and windy conditions, the Los Padres Estates Property Owners Association is exercising caution to prevent any weather-related accidents. Over the next few months, we will be trimming trees along the main roads. Please reduce your speed and drive carefully when you see the workers on site.
Respectfully,
Your LPEPOA Board
Dear Property Owners,
As we all know PG&E is in the process of installing underground electrical cable throughout our canyon. PG&E has assured our board that they will replace and/or repair all damage sustained to our roads because of this work. This being said, your LPEPOA Board has voted only to fill and patch the most urgent potholes this summer and wait until PG&E has finalized their work when we will then evaluate & address any remaining road repair, we feel necessary at that time. Hopefully, after the first of the year, weather permitting.
We appreciate your understanding and patience during this vital process.
Respectfully,
Your LPEPOA Board