HCA ROAD STORM SERVICE UPDATE

From Blade Runners this morning:  "We are going to have a significant event during the day.  Our goal is to have things completed into the late evening.  Roadway plowing ... will begin in the next three hours ... .  Roadway ice control ... will be needed and we will report on this later."

HCA SPRING CLUSTER CLEAN-UP @ MAR 1 - APR 5

HCA has designated the month of March for Spring Cluster Clean-Up.  Directors will coordinate several Member-proposed projects:
BLOCK 1
  Various tasks, Saturday, April 4 ... Director Smith
BLOCK 2
  Remove streambed overgrowth and debris ... Director Poss
  Clean tree-discolored plaza railings ... Director Rowley
  Remove Common Area debris behind rear patios ... Director Travis
BLOCK 3
  Remove Common Area debris behind rear patios ... Director Cohen
  Remove Common Area 11532/40/42 HC overgrowth ... Director Poss
  Clear Common Area western storm drain blockage ... Director Poss
HCA also encourages Members to remove ivy from tree trunks and branches, and stack tree and other debris near curbs and footpaths for removal.  However, Members should not remove English Ivy growing on HCA Common Areas otherwise because it provides inexpensive ground cover that effectively controls soil erosion, even though it is an invasive species.  HCA will remove Fall and Winter stacked debris in early April, powerwash Common Area plazas in April or May, and post updates here when available.  UPDATES ... End date extended to April 5 due to early March rain and snow.  HCA requested Blade Runners debris removal as soon as possible after April 5.

HCA ROAD STORM SERVICE UPDATE

From Blade Runners this morning:  " ... 1 to 1 1/2 inches accumulation.  Road plowing, none planned.   Roadway ice control, planned for this afternoon. ... "

HCA ROAD STORM SERVICE UPDATE

From Blade Runners Saturday morning:  "As you know we are about to have a fourth event in the span of one week.  We plan to begin servicing all properties when we reach 2 inches of snow. ... "  For information on snow plowing challenges and concerns, visit the Blade Runners snow webpage.  NOAA National Weather Service forecast for Reston:  "Today, snow before 3:00 p.m then snow and sleet.  High near 29F.  South wind 9-13 mph with gusts as high as 20 mph.  Total daytime snow and sleet accumulation of 3-7 inches possible.  Tonight, rain, freezing rain, and sleet becoming all rain after midnight.  Low around 29F.   New ice accumulation of less than 1/10 inch possible.  New sleet accumulation of less than 1/2 inch possible."  UPDATE ... Sunday morning:  " ... With the warm temperatures to come in the afternoon ... salt will just wash away.  We plan to save this application for tonight when it is really needed.  Re-plowing and touch-up is a better remedy today ... . We do not want to do ice control until tonight."

HCA ROAD STORM SERVICE UPDATE

From Blade Runners this afternoon:  "We are going to have an event much like we did on Saturday night.  The difference is that we have a good deal of residual salt on the ground.  It is our hope that this will take care of this event but it is hard to tell.  Our plan is to wait and see until tomorrow morning."  NOAA National Weather Service 2:00 p.m. forecast for Reston tonight:  "Snow showers likely, mainly before 8:00 p.m.  Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 8F. Wind chill values as low as -3F.  West wind 11 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.  New snow accumulation of less than 1/2 inch possible."

HCA ROAD STORM SERVICE UPDATE

From Blade Runners this afternoon:  "As we all know at this point, there is going to be a significant event this evening.  We will begin by plowing and clearing ... roadways. It is likely plowing will continue into the afternoon tomorrow and multiple passes will be needed.  We will send out another update in the AM tomorrow."  NOAA National Weather Service 5:00 p.m. forecast for Reston tonight:  "Low around 14F. Southeast wind around 6 mph becoming northeast after midnight.  ... New snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches possible."

RA RELAC REFERENDUM DEFEATED AGAIN

RA announced late today that the recent RELAC referendum failed to achieve 2/3 or 67 percent of 272 votes cast, and therefore failed to repeal the Reston Deed Section VI.2(b)(15) Covenant requiring use of central air-conditioning chilled water service currently provided by Reston RELAC LLC.  As a result, the Covenant remains in effect for all 343 residential cluster homeowner eligible voters subject to it, and RELAC summer chilled-water service will continue for all 626 customers, including Hickory Cluster.  According to RA, voter turnout was almost 80 percent, with 154 or 57 percent No votes, and 118 or 43 percent Yes votes.  In 2005, 230 or 67 percent of 343 eligible homeowners voted, and 130 No votes or 57 percent of all votes cast defeated a similar referendum.

RA RELAC A/C VOTE ENDS JAN 30 @ 5:00 P.M.

YES ... REVOKE Covenant requiring RELAC.
NO ...  KEEP Covenant requiring RELAC.

Members can revoke Covenant 15 if 2/3 of all votes cast are YES votes.  As few as 69 YES votes (2/3 x 30% quorum x 343 eligible) could impact RELAC service for all 626 current customers.  But if all 343 eligible homeowners vote, 229 YES votes are required to pass the referendum, and 115 NO votes are required to defeat it.  In 2005, eligible homeowners cast 230 of 343 votes, 100 YES and 130 NO, to defeat that referendum.

IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE YOUR PAPER BALLOT ... immediately contact RA Board Liason Sabrina Tadele at (703) 435-6570 or stadele@reston.org.  RA mailed referendum ballots on January 5 to all eligible property owner Members of record as of December 1, 2014.  Voting will end at 5:00 p.m. on January 30, 2015, and results will be announced on February 9.  Online voting is available using your paper ballot username and password.

The 2015 core issue is the same as in 2005:  RELAC says it will not survive RA Covenant 15 revocation.  Referendum supporters disagree and want unrestricted choice.  See the HCA RELAC webpage for more information.

HCA BLOCK 1 WATER PIPE BREAK

An underground water pipe appears to be broken and bubbling up water tonight from beneath the pavement in front of 11520-26 Maple Ridge Road in Block 1.  Fairfax Water dispatched a repair crew after being notified by Block 1 Member Eric Lundberg.  UPDATE 1 ... Fairfax Water crews arrived, isolated the water leak, and started repairs to restore service to twelve Block 1 homes.  The rest of Block 1 and all of Block 2 were not affected.  UPDATE 2 ... Fairfax Water completed repairs at about 5:00 a.m.  Maple Ridge Road is open for business, but may need additional follow-up pavement work.

HCA ROAD STORM SERVICE UPDATE

From Blade Runners earlier today:  "Temperatures will be cold today and tomorrow.  We are scheduled for 1/2 to 1 inch of accumulation.  We plan to take a wait and see approach with this event.  As the morning progresses we will have an idea as to the need for ice control."  UPDATE 1 ... "Storm track has changed.  We plan to service properties for roads ... ."  HCA received at least 4 1/2 inches of snow, much more than originally predicted.