Estrella Community Bylaws of
Estrella Community Association
Any provision herein which
restricts the sale, rental, or
use of the described real
property because of familiar
status is invalid and
inenforceable under federal
law”
– TABLE OF CONTENTS –
Page
ARTICLE I. GENERAL 1
Section 1.1 – Organization and Scope 1
Section 1.2 – Definitions 1
Section 1.3 – Application of By-Laws 1
Section 1.4 – Association Responsibilities 1
ARTICLE II. VOTING RIGHTS 1
Section 2.1 – Majority Vote 1
Section 2.2 – Vote Indivisible 2
Section 2.3 – Designation of Voting Member 2
Section 2.4 – List of Members Entitled to Vote 2
ARTICLE III. MEETINGS OF MEMBERS 2
Section 3.1 – Annual Meetings 2
Section 3.2 – Special Meetings 2
Section 3.3 – Place 3
Section 3.4 – Notices 3
Section 3.5 – Record Date 3
Section 3.6 – Quorum 3
Section 3.7 – Voting 3
Section 3.8 – Nominating Committee; Nominations 4
Section 3.9 – Certification of Candidates 5
Section 3.10 – Election Committee 5
Section 3.11 – Annual Meeting Notification Procedure 5
-2ction 3.12 – Candidate Meeting 5
Section 3.13 – Director Voting 5
Section 3.14 – Schedule of Matters Precedent to the Annual Meeting 5
Section 3.15 – Informal Action 6
Section 3.16 – Irregularities 6
Section 3.17 – Adjourned Meeting 6
Section 3.18 – Order of Business 7
ARTICLE IV. BOARD OF DIRECTORS 7
Section 4.1 – Number and Qualification of Directors 7
Section 4.2 – Term and Organization 7
Section 4.3 – Removal of Directors 7
Section 4.4 – Vacancies on Board of Directors 8
Section 4.5 – Disqualification and Resignation of Directors 8
Section 4.6 – Regular Meetings 8
Section 4.7 – Powers and Duties 8
Section 4.8 – Special Meetings 10
Section 4.9 – Waiver of Notice 10
Section 4.10 – Board of Directors Quorum 10
Section 4.11 – Fidelity Bonds 10
Section 4.12 – Informal Action 10
Section 4.13 – Compensation 10
PAW
ARTICLE V. OFFICERS 11
Section 5.1 – Elected Officers 11
Section 5.2 – Term 11
Section 5.3 – The President 11
Section 5.4 – The Vice President 11
Section 5:5 – The Secretary 11
Section 5.6 – The Treasurer 11
Section 5.7 – Resignation and Removal of Officers 11
ARTICLE VI. FISCAL MANAGEMENT 12
Section 6.1 – Depositories 12
Section 6.2 – Budget 12
Section 6.3 – Assessments 12
Section 6.4 – Records and Statements of Payment 14
Section 6.5 – Discharge of Liens 14
Section 6.6 – Fiscal Year 14
Section 6.7 – Contracts 14
Section 6.8 – Loans 15
ARTICLE VII. OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS 15
Section 7.1 – Maintenance and Repair 15
Section 7.2 – Costs and Attorneys’ Fees 15
Section 7.3 – Use of Common Areas 15
ARTICLE VIII. AMENDMENTS 16
ARTICLE IX. LIABILITY SURVIVES TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP 16
ARTICLE X. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY 17
ARTICLE XI. CONSTRUCTION 17
Section 11.1 – Priorities 17
Section 11.2 – Disputes 17
Section 11.3 – FHA and VA 17
ARTICLE XII. COMMITTEES 17
Section 12.1 – General 17
Section 12.2 – Neighborhood Committees 17
BY-LAWS
OF
ESTRELLA COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
ARTICLE I
General
Section 1.1 – Organization and Scope. These By-Laws shall constitute the By-Laws of Estrella Community Association, an Arizona nonprofit corporation formed for the purpose of serving as a property owners’ association for Estrella, a master-planned community, pursuant to the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, Restrictions and Easements for Estrella to be recorded in the Official Records of Maricopa County, Arizona, as the same may be amended from time to time.
Section 1.2 – Definitions. Except as otherwise provided herein,
capitalized terms used herein which are defined in the Declaration or the Articles of Incorporation of the Association shall have the meanings set forth in the Declaration or the Articles, as applicable.
Section 1.3 – Applications of By-Laws. All present and future Owners and Occupants, or any other Persons with any right, title or interest in any Lot or Parcel, or who may have a right to use the Common Areas, are subject to the provisions of these By-Laws. The ownership, rental or occupancy of any Lot or Parcel shall be deemed an acceptance and ratification of, and agreement to comply with, these By-Laws by the Owner, Tenant or other Occupant.
Section 1.4 – Association Responsibilities. The Association, acting
through its Board of Directors and its Members, shall constitute a property owners’ association for Estrella. The Board shall be responsible for administering the Declaration and exercising the powers and duties provided for By-Laws and in the Declaration, except for such matters as are reserved to the Members by law, the Declaration, the Articles or these By-Laws.
ARTICLE II
Voting Rights
Section 2.1 – Majority Vote. A majority of the votes of Members
eligible to vote and present at any meeting (i.e., more than fifty percent of the votes of Members eligible to vote who are present and voting, either in person or by proxy), or Voting Members representing more than fifty percent of the votes of Members eligible to vote, as applicable, shall decide any question presented to the Members. unless applicable law, the Declaration, the Articles or these By-Laws shall require otherwise, in which latter event the voting percentage required by such applicable law, the Declaration, the Articles, or these By-Laws shall control.
Section 2.2 – Vote Indivisible. Joint ownership or ownership of
undivided interests in any property as to which a Membership is established pursuant to the Declaration shall not cause there to be more Memberships than the number established in the Declaration. A Membership shall be shared by any joint Owners of, or Owners of undivided interests in, the property interest to which such Membership is attributable. Fractional votes shall not be allowed.
Section 2.3 – Designation of Voting Member. Unless otherwise
provided in the Declaration or by law, membership votes shall be cast by the Voting Member elected from each Neighborhood as provided in Section 6.7 of the Declaration. For any vote to be cast directly by the Members, in the event that a Lot or Parcel is owned by more than one Person and such Owners are unable to agree as to how their vote or votes shall be cast, they shall not be entitled to vote on the matter in question. If any Owner casts a vote or votes representing a certain Lot or Parcel, the Owner will thereafter be conclusively presumed to be acting with the authority and consent of all other Owners of such Lot or Parcel unless objection thereto is made to the Board, in writing, at or prior to the time the vote or votes are cast. In the event more than one Person casts or attempts to cast a vote for a particular Lot or Parcel, all such votes shall be deemed void.
Section 2.4 – List of Members Entitled to Vote. Pursuant to Section 10-1025(A), Arizona Revised Statutes, the Secretary of the Association shall maintain, at the office of the statutory agent of the Association set forth in the Articles, a record of the names and addresses of Members entitled to vote.
ARTICLE III
Meetings of Members
Section 3.1 – Annual Meetings. The first annual meeting shall be
held on June 15, 1988. Thereafter, the annual meetings shall be of the Voting Members to be held after June 1 of each succeeding year, with the specific date of the annual meeting to be designated by the Board in its sole discretion. Subject to Declarant’s right to appoint a majority of the directors prior to termination of Declarant’s Class “B” Membership as provided in the Declaration, at each annual meeting of the Voting Members, the Board shall announce the results of the election of the Board in accordance with the requirements of the Declaration, the Articles and these By-Laws, and may also transact such other business as may be authorized to be transacted by the Voting Members at annual meetings.
Section 3.2 – Special Meetings. Except as otherwise provided in the Declaration, special meetings of the Voting Members for any purpose or purposes may be called by the President, by a resolution of the Board, or upon a written petition, presented to the Secretary, signed by Voting Members representing one-tenth (1/10) of the votes of the Class “A” Membership. A special meeting shall be held within 45 days from the date the petition is presented to the Secretary. No business shall be transacted at a special meeting except as stated in the notice thereof.
Section 3.3 – Place. All meetings of the Voting Members shall be
held at such place and time as shall be designated by the Board and stated in the notice of the meeting.
Section 3.4 – Notices. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to mail or deliver to each Voting Member, at least five but not more than 30 days prior to such meeting, a notice of each annual or special meeting, stating the time and place thereof. All notices shall be mailed to or served at the address of the Voting Member as it appears in the records of the Association.
Section 3.5 – Record Date. The Board may fix in advance a date as the record date for the purpose of determining Members entitled to notice of, representation at, or to vote at, any meeting of the Members or Voting Members, or to make a determination of Members for any other proper purpose. The record date shall be not more than 50 days prior to the date on which the particular action requiring such determination is to be taken, and, in the case of a meeting of the Association, not fewer than ten (10) days prior to the date of the meeting. Unless a different date is set by the Board, the record date shall be 40 days prior to the action requiring the determination. An Owner who is delinquent with respect to an Assessment or whose rights as a Member are otherwise under suspension pursuant to the Declaration as of the record date shall not be entitled to notice of, representation at, or to vote at, any meeting of Members or Voting Members noticed or held during the period of the delinquency or suspension. When a determination of Members entitled to vote at any meeting of the corporation has been made as provided in this Section, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof.
Section 3.6 – Quorum. Except as otherwise provided by statute, the Declaration, the Articles or these By-Laws, at any meeting of the Members in which the Members are entitled to vote, one-tenth (1/10) of the votes in each class of Members entitled to vote at the meeting, whether present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. For meetings of the Voting Members, the presence of Voting Members representing a majority of the total Class “A” votes in the Association shall constitute a quorum.
Section 3.7 – Voting. Voting Members may not vote by proxy but only in person or through their designated alternates. In situations where Members vote directly, a Member entitled to vote may do so by filing a written proxy with the Secretary before or at the time of a meeting. The proxy shall be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present, and may be voted by the holder of the proxy with respect to any business that may come before the meeting for which the proxy is filed. No proxy shall be valid after 11 months from the date of its execution, unless otherwise provided in the proxy. A Membership held by a duly appointed personal representative or by a court appointed receiver may be voted, in person or by proxy, by such representative or receiver without the transfer or such Membership into the name of the personal representative or receiver. Proxies shall be revocable unless otherwise stated therein and coupled with adequate legal interests. A revocable proxy shall be terminated by the Member’s subsequent filing of another proxy or the Member’s filing a written notice of termination of the proxy prior to the meeting. A proxy shall be automatically revoked upon termination of the Member’s Membership.
Section 3.8 – Nominating Committee: Nominations. A nominating
committee consisting of five (5) Members (or individuals designated by corporate, partnership or other non-individual Members), some or all of whom may be members of the Board, shall be appointed by the Board not later than 150 days before each annual meeting at which the Members are to elect one of its members to serve as chairperson.
3.8.1 The purpose of the nominating committee shall be to
select qualified candidates to succeed the director(s) whose term(s) will expire at-the next annual meeting.
3.8.2 The number of candidates selected by the nominating
committee shall exceed by two (2) the number of director(s) whose term(s) will expire at the next annual meeting.
3.8.3 Each candidate shall:
a. have been an Owner for at least six (6) months (or
shall be an individual designated by a corporate, partnership or other non-individual Owner which shall have been an Owner for at least six (6) months);
b. not be delinquent with respect to any Assessment or
Special Use Fee (nor, in the case of an individual candidate designated by a corporate, partnership or other non-individual Owner, shall the designating Owner be similarly delinquent; and
c. not have his or her rights under the Declaration
suspended pursuant to the provisions thereof (nor, in the case of an individual candidate designated by a corporate, partnership or other
non-individual Owner, shall the designating Owner have its rights similarly suspended).
3.8.4 The nominating committee shall schedule and publicize
two meetings during the period between 150 and 90 days prior to the annual meeting. At such meetings, individuals who wish to be considered as candidates may meet with the nominating committee.
3.8.5 It shall be the duty of the nominating committee to
select the best qualified candidates. The nominating committee shall not be
required to place any particular Owner (or the designee of any particular
nonindividual Owner) on the slate of candidates. If Voting Groups have been
established, the nominating committee shall have at least one eligible
candidate from the Neighborhood within each Voting Group.
3.8.6 Not later than 90 days prior to the annual meeting,
the nominating committee shall present to the Board the slate of candidates.
3.8.7 During the period between 90 and 60 days prior to the
annual meeting, any Owner may submit to the nominating committee a petition supporting that Owner’s designee’s (or, in the case of a non-individual Owner, that Owner’s designee’s) candidacy for a director position. A qualified individual will be added to the slate as a candidate if the Owner’s petition
in support of such individual is signed by Owners representing at least 1% of the total number of votes (other than Declarant’s votes) entitled to be cast at the election.
Section 3.9 – Certification of Candidates. Not later than 60 days prior to the annual meeting, the Board shall certify the slate of candidates to be presented to the Voting Members. The nominating committee shall prepare a brief biography (100 words or less) of each candidate, which shall be enclosed with the ballots to be distributed by the Secretary to the Voting Members eligible to vote at the annual meeting.
Section 3.10 – Election Committee. The President shall appoint five (5) individuals to an election committee, which shall supervise volunteer tellers approved by the President and otherwise assist in the conduct of the election. The election committee shall establish procedures for conducting the election, which procedures shall be subject to approval of the Board. The election of directors shall be conducted by mail ballot as provided below.
Section 3.11 – Annual Meeting Notification Procedure. Not later than 30 days prior to the annual meeting, the Secretary shall mail the following information to all Voting Members eligible to vote at the annual meeting:
3.11.1 A notice of the annual meeting;
3.11.2 The certified slate of candidates for the director
positions and the biography of each candidate prepared by the nominating committee;
3.11.3 A ballot and voting instructions;
3.11.4 Notice of the candidates meeting (as defined below);
and
3.11.5 A proxy card pertaining to the annual meet’;,g (for
Members only).
Section 3.12 – Candidate Meeting. Not later than 20 days prior to the annual meeting, the Board shall conduct a meeting of the Voting Members, the purpose of which shall be to introduce to the Voting Members the candidates whose name appear on the certified slate of candidates.
Section 3.13 – Director Voting. All ballots for the candidates for the director positions must be returned to the location designated in the voting instructions not later than 24 hours prior to the annual meeting. Ballots received after the foregoing deadline shall not be counted. The election committee shall count and certify the ballots during the 24-hour period preceding the annual meeting. The results of the election shall be announced at the annual meeting.
Section 3.14 – Schedule of Matters Precedent to the Annual Meeting. The following schedule shall be followed in connection with each annual meeting:
Date: Event:
Not later than 150 Board to appoint nominating committee
prior to annual meeting
Between 150 and 90 days
prior to annual meeting Nominating committee to conduct
two public meetings and invite qualified individuals who wish to be considered as candidates
Not later than 90 days Nominating committee to present
prior to annual meeting slate of candidates to Board
Between 90 and 60 days Qualified individuals may be nominated
prior to annual meeting nominated by an appropriate petition
Not later than 60 days Board to certify slate of candidates
prior to annual meeting
40 days prior to annual Record Date
meeting
Not later than 30 days Annual meeting information to be mailed or
distributed to all Voting Members eligible to vote at the annual meeting
Not later than 20 days Board to conduct candidate meeting
prior to annual meeting
24 hours prior to annual Deadline for return of ballots for the for
meeting the director positions
Annual Meeting Voting Members to conduct appropriate
business; election results to be announced
Section 3.15 – Informal Action. Any action required to be taken, or which may be taken, at a meeting of the Voting Members may be taken without a meeting if a written consent setting forth the action so taken shall be signed by all of the Voting Members entitled to vote with respect to the subject matter thereof. Each such consent shall be filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Association.
Section 3.16 – Irregularities. All information in calls or notices
of meeting and all irregularities in calls or notices of meetings, the manner of voting, the form of proxies, credentials and the method of ascertaining persons present at any meeting shall be deemed waived if no objection is made at the meeting or if the information or irregularity is waived in writing.
Section 3.17 – Adjourned Meeting. Except as otherwise provided by statute, the Declaration or the Articles, if any meeting of the Voting Members cannot be organized because a .quorum is not present, the Voting Members who are present may adjourn the meeting to a time not less than 48 hours from the time the original meeting was called. No new notice shall be required for
such adjourned session.
Section 3.18 – Order of Business. The order of business at all
meeting of the Voting Members shall be as follows:
3.18.1 Roll call and verification of proxies;
3.18.2 Proof of notice of meeting;
3.18.3 Reading of minutes of preceding meeting;
3.18.4 Reports of officers;
3.18.5 Report of the Board;
3.18.6 Reports of committees;
3.18.7 Unfinished business; and
3.18.8 New business.
ARTICLE IV
Board of Directors
Section 4.1 – Number and Qualification of Directors. The affairs of
the Association shall be governed by the Board. The number and qualifications of the directors shall be as set forth in the Declaration and the Articles. Upon approval by a majority of the Voting Members, the number of directors may be increased at any time after there is no longer a Class B Member, provided, however, that the number of directors shall not exceed nine (9).
Section 4.2 – Term and Qrganization. Subject to Declarant’s right to appoint a majority of the directors prior to termination of the Class B Membership, at each annual meeting the number of directors provided for in Section 6.9 of the Declaration shall be elected in accordance with the procedures set forth in these By-Laws. Directors shall take office following the close of the annual meeting at which they are elected and shall hold office until their successors have been duly elected and the first meeting of the new Board has been held. The organizational meeting of a newly elected Board shall be held within five (5) business days after the annual meeting at which the Board was elected. Cumulative voting for directors shall not be required or permitted.
Section 4.3 – Removal of Directors. At any regular or special
meeting of the Voting Members duly called, any one or more of the directors may be removed with or without cause by the affirmative vote of Voting Members representing not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the total votes eligible to elect such director, and a successor may then and there be elected by the Voting Members to fill the vacancy. Any director whose removal has been proposed to or by the Voting Members shall be given an opportunity to be heard at the meeting.
Section 4.4 – Vacancies on Board of Directors. Subject to
Declarant’s right to appoint directors prior to termination of the Class B Membership, all vacancies on the Board shall be filled by a majority of the remaining directors, even though less than a quorum. Each person elected to fill a vacancy shall serve as a director until a successor is elected at the next annual meeting of the Voting Members and the first meeting of the new Board has been held.
Section 4.5 – Disqualification and Resignation of Directors. Any
director may resign at any time by sending written notice of such resignation to the Secretary of the Association. Unless otherwise specified therein, such resignation shall take effect upon receipt by the Secretary. Except in the case of injury, illness or similar excusable circumstances, a director’s fourth consecutive absence from duly called regular meetings of the Board shall automatically constitute a resignation by such absent director, effective as of the commencement of the fourth missed meeting. In the event a director ceases to be a Member (or, in the case of a director who is an individual designated by a corporate, partnership or other non-individual designated by a corporate, partnership or other non-individual Member, if such designating Member ceases to be a Member), his directorship shall immediately and automatically terminate. No individual shall continue to serve on the
Board if such individual, or the corporate, partnership or other non-individual Member which designated such individual for candidacy as a director, is more than 30 days delinquent in the payment of an Assessment or Special Use Fee, and such delinquency shall automatically constitute a resignation by such director on the thirty-first day of the delinquency.
Section 4.6 – Regular Meetings. The Board may hold regular meetings at such time and place as a majority of the directors shall designate. Notice of regular meetings shall be given to each director, personally or by mail, telephone or telegraph, at least (5) days prior to the date designated for such meeting.
Section 4.7 – Powers and Duties. The Board shall have all powers
necessary to and shall be responsible for the administration of the affairs of the Association and may do all such acts and things as are not by law, the Declaration, the Articles or these By-Laws directed to be exercised solely by the Members. These powers shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
4.7.1 To make, collect, use and expend Assessments and
Special Use Fees to carry out the purposes and powers of the Association;
4.7.2 To employ, dismiss and control the personnel necessary
for the maintenance and operation of Lots, Parcels and the Common Areas, including the right and power to employ attorneys, accountants, contractors and other professional as the need arises;
4.7.3 To make and amend rules and regulations respecting the
operation, use and maintenance of Lots, Parcels and the Common Areas;
4.7.4 To contract for the management of the Association and
to delegate to the manager all or a portion of the powers and duties of the Association,
4.7.5 To manage the business affairs of the Association;
4.7.6 To use and disburse the proceeds of Assessments and
Special Use Fees in the exercise of its powers and duties;
4.7.7 To maintain, repair, replace and operate the Common
Areas;
4.7.8 To reconstruct improvements after casualty loss and to
make further improvements to Estrella;
4.7.9 To establish committees of the Board and delegate to
such committees the Board’s authority to carry out certain duties of the Board;
4.7.10 To enforce, by legal means if necessary and consistent
with Article 17 of the Declaration, the provisions of the Declaration, any Recorded Tract Declaration, the Articles, these By-Laws, the Guidelines and the Association Rules and any other documents and laws respecting the Association and Estrella;
4.7.11 To pay taxes and assessment which are liens against
any part of the Common Areas;
4.7.12 To pay the cost of all power, water, sewer and other
utility services rendered to the Common Areas and not metered and billed to individual Lots or Parcels;
4.7.13 To elect the officers of the Association;
4.7.14 To prepare the annual and other budgets;
4.7.15 To establish and collect the Assessments and Special
Use Fees, and to enforce such charges by Recording Assessment Liens and by initiating foreclosure proceedings in regard thereto;
4.7.16 To obtain necessary insurance for the Common Areas;
4.7.17 To grant or relocate easements for the benefit of the
Owners and Occupants;
4.7.18 To open bank accounts on behalf of the Association and
to designate the signatories therefor;
4.7.19 To invest any excess funds held or controlled by the
Association; and
4.7.20 To cooperate with the Joint Committee, if formed, in
carrying out its functions, including, without limitation, contributing to the expenses of such Joint Committee, maintaining the Community-Wide Standard, delegating responsibilities to or assuming responsibilities from such Joint Committee.
Section 4.8 – Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the President or Secretary or by two-thirds of the directors on three (3) days’ notice to each director, given personally or by telephone or telegraph, which notice shall state the time, place and purpose of the special meeting.
Section 4.9 – Waiver of Notice. Before, at or after any meeting of the Board, any director may, in writing, waive notice of such meeting; and such waiver shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice. Attendance by a director at any meeting of the Board shall be a waiver of notice by the director of the time and place thereof. If all of the directors are present at any meeting of the Board, no notice shall be required and any business may be transacted at such meeting.
Section 4.10 – Board of Directors Quorum. At all meetings of the
Board, a majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the acts of the majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the acts of the Board. If at any meeting of the Board there shall be less. than a quorum present, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting to a time not more than 48 hours from the time the original meeting was called, and no new notice shall be required for any such adjourned meeting. At any such adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called.
Section 4.11 – Fidelity Bonds. The Board may require that all
officers and employees of the Association handling or responsible for Association funds, and all other persons designated in the Declaration, shall furnish adequate fidelity bonds or coverage. The premiums on such bonds or coverage shall be paid by the Association.
Section 4.12 – Informal Action. Unless otherwise expressly
restricted by the Articles or these By-Laws, any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Board or any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all directors or committee members, as appropriate, consent thereto in writing. Each such consent shall be filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or the committee.
Section 4.13 – Compensation. No compensation shall be paid to
directors or officers of the Association for their services as directors or officers. No remuneration shall be paid to a director or an officer for services performed for the Association in any other capacity unless a resolution authorizing such remuneration shall have been unanimously adopted by the Board before the services are undertaken. Directors and officers of the Association may be reimbursed for any reasonable actual expenses incurred on behalf of the Association in connection with their duties as directors or officers.
ARTICLE V
Officers
Section 5.1 – Elected Officers. The principal officers of the
Association shall be a President, a Vice President, a Secretary and a Treasurer. Following termination of the Class B Membership pursuant to the Declaration, each officer shall be an Owner or a representative designated by a group of Owners in accordance with Section 2.3 hereof, or an individual designated by a corporate, partnership or other non-individual Owner. A person may hold more than one office, except that the offices of President and Secretary shall not be held by the same person simultaneously.
Section 5.2 – Term. The officers of the Association shall be elected annually by the Board prior to the organizational meeting of each new Board, and shall hold office at the pleasure of the Board. If any office becomes vacant for any reason, the vacancy shall be filled by the Board at any regular or special meeting of the Board.
Section 5.3 – The President. The President shall be the chief
executive officer of the Association and shall preside at all meetings of the Members and of the Board. The President shall have executive powers and responsibility for general supervision over the affairs of the Association, including but not limited to the power to appoint committees from among the Members to assist in the conduct of the affairs of the Association.
Section 5.4 – The Vice President. The Vice President shall take the place of the President and perform all of the duties of the President whenever the President is absent or unable to act. The Vice President shall also perform such other duties as may be imposed on the Vice President from time to time by the Board.
Section 5.5 – The Secretary. The Secretary shall: (i) issue notices of all meetings of the Members and the Board; (ii) attend and keep the minutes of such meetings; (iii) have charge of all of the Association’s books, records and papers, including the Member list; and (iv) perform such other duties as may be imposed on the Secretary from time to time by the board.
Section 5.6 – The Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have custody of, and shall keep full and accurate account of, all receipts and disbursements of the Association, in books belonging to the Association, and shall deposit all monies and other valuable effects in the name of and to the credit of the Association in such depositories as may be designated from time to time by the Board. The Treasurer may delegate the collection, deposit and disbursement of monies by establishing a reasonable method of accounting which shall be reviewed by the Board on a monthly basis. All books of account shall be kept on a consistent basis in accordance with generally accepted accounting practices. The Treasurer shall also perform such other duties as may be imposed in the Treasurer from time to time by the Board.
Section 5.7 – Resignation and Removal of Officers. Upon an
affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Board, any officer may be
removed, either with or without cause. Any officer may resign at any time by
giving written notice of such resignation to the Board, the President or the Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect upon receipt or at any later time specified therein, and unless otherwise provided therein, acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
ARTICLE VI
Fiscal Management
Section 6.1 – Depositories. The funds of the Association shall be
deposited in such banks and depositories as may be determined by the board from time to time, upon resolutions approved by the Board, and shall be withdrawn only upon checks and demands for money signed by ;such officer or officers of the Association or a management company as may be designated by the Board.
Section 6.2 – Budget. The board shall cause to be prepared an
estimated annual budget for each fiscal year of the Association. Such budget shall take into account the estimated cash requirements and income of the Association for the year. The annual budget shall also provide for a reserve for contingencies for the year and an adequate reserve for maintenance, repairs and replacements of those Common Areas that must be replaced on a periodic basis, as determined by the Board. To the extent that the Assessments and other cash income collected from the Owners during the preceding year shall be more or less than the expenditures for such preceding year, the surplus or deficit, as the case may be, shall be taken into account in determining the annual budget. The estimated annual budget for each fiscal year shall be approved by the Board, and copies thereof shall be furnished by the Board to each Owner not later than 30 days before the beginning of such year.
Section 6.3 – Assessments. Each Owner shall pay the Owner’s share of the Annual Assessments, Special Assessments, Maintenance Assessments and other charges as required by the Declaration.
6.3.1 Statement of Annual Assessments. The Annual
Assessments shall be payable semi-annually in equal installments due on or before June 1 and December 1 of each year. Upon determining the amount of any Assessment or Special Use Fee, the Board shall cause the Treasurer to send to each Owner a statement showing the amount due from such Owner. The failure to send or to receive such a statement shall not relieve any Owner of his obligation to pay such an Annual Assessment on or before the due date. All Assessments and Special Use Fees shall be payable to the Association. In the event the Board does not approve an estimated annual budget or fails to determine the Annual Assessments for any year, or shall be delayed in doing so, each Owner shall continue to pay the amount of the Owner’s Assessment for the preceding year, on or before the due dates for the current year.
6.3.2 Additional Assessments. The Board may levy additional
monthly assessments in addition to the Annual Assessments to meet the
Association’s expenses if the Board determines that such assessments become
necessary or desirable during the fiscal year. The Board may also levy
Special Assessments, Maintenance Assessments and Special Use Fees as authorized by, and in accordance with, the Declaration. Such Assessments and Special Use Fees shall be payable upon such notice as the Board may determine, or as set forth in a resolution of the Members.
6.3.3 Obligation. No Owner shall be relieved of the
•
obligation to pay Assessments or Special Use Fees by abandoning or failing to
use the Owner’s Lot or Parcel or the Common Areas. Any Person who becomes an Owner after the commencement of a fiscal year shall pay the Annual Assessment applicable to his Lot or Parcel as such becomes due, and shall pay any Special Assessment or Maintenance Assessment levied on or after the date the Person becomes an Owner. The previous Owner of such Lot or Parcel shall remain liable for all unpaid and delinquent Assessments and Special Use Fees levied against such previous Owner of the Lot or Parcel prior to such transfer of ownership.
6.3.4 Nonpayment of Assessments: Sanctions Upon
Delinquency. The Board may invoke any or all of the sanctions provided for herein or in the Declaration, or any other reasonable sanction, to compel payment of any Delinquent Amount. Such sanctions include, but are not limited to, the following:
a. Interest. Any Delinquent Amount shall have added
thereto a late charge of 15% if the Delinquent Amount is not paid within 15 days after its due date. In addition, the Delinquent Amount shall bear
interest from its due date until such time as it is paid in full at a rate equal to the greater of: (i) 12% per annum; or (ii) the then prevailing
interest rate on loans insured by FHA or VA;
b. Suspension of Rights. The Board may suspend for the
entire period during which an Assessment or Special Use Fee remains delinquent -the obligated Owner’s voting rights and rights to use and enjoyment of the Common Areas;
c. Collection of Delinquent Amount. The Board may
institute an action at law for a money judgment or any other proceeding to recover the Delinquent Amount;
d. Recording_of Notice. The Board may Record a notice of
lien covering the Delinquent Amount plus interest and accrued collection costs as provided in the Declaration. The Board may establish a fixed fee to
reimburse the Association for the Association’s cost of recording the notice, processing the delinquency and recording a notice of satisfaction of the lien; and
e. Foreclosure of Lien. The Board may foreclose the
Recorded Assessment Lien against the Lot or Parcel in accordance with then prevailing Arizona law relating to the foreclosure of realty mortgages (including the right to recover any deficiency).
6.3.5 Assessment Lien. It shall be the duty of every Owner
to pay all Assessments and Special Use Fees with respect to the Owner’s Lot or
Parcel in the manner provided herein and in the Declaration. Such Assessments
and Special Use Fees, together with interest and costs of collection as provided for in the Declaration, shall, until paid, be a charge and continuing servitude and lien upOn the Lot or Parcel against which such Assessments or Special Use Fees are made, provided, however, that the Assessment Lien shall be subordinate to only those matters identified in the Declaration. The Association and the Board shall have the authority to exercise and enforce any and all rights an!, remedies provided for in the Declaration or these By-Laws, or otherwise available at law or in equity for the collection of all unpaid Assessments and Special Use Fees, interest thereon, costs of collection thereof and reasonable collection agency and attorneys’ fees.
Section 6.4 – Records and Statements of Payment. The Treasurer shall
cause to be kept detailed and accurate records, in chronological order, of the receipts and expenditures affecting the Common Areas and any other property owned or controlled by the Association, specifying and itemizing the expenses incurred and expenditures made. All records authorizing such expenditures shall be available for examination by Owners at convenient hours designated by the Board. Upon receipt of a written request from any Owner or Occupant, the Board, within a reasonable period of time thereafter, shall issue to the requesting party a written statement stating that as of the date of the statement: (i) all Assessments and Special Use Fees (including collection fees, interest, costs and attorneys’ fees, if any, have been paid with respect to a specified Lot or Parcel; or (ii) if such Assessments and Special Use Fees have not been paid, the amount(s) then due and payable. The Association may make a reasonable charge for the issuance of such a statement.
Section 6.5 – Discharge of Liens. The Board may cause the
Association or any Owner or Occupant to discharge any mechanics’ or materialmen’s liens or other encumbrances which in the opinion of the Board may constitute a lien against the Common Areas. When less than all of the Owners are responsible for any such lien or encumbrance, such Owners as are responsible shall be jointly and severally liable for the amount necessary to discharge the same, and for all costs and expenses, including but not limited to attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with such lien or encumbrance.
Section 6.6 – Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Association shall be June 1 to May 31, except that the first fiscal year of the Association shall begin on the date of incorporation of the Association. The commencement date of the fiscal year herein established may be modified by the Board, subject to any necessary approvals by the Arizona Corporation Commission and the Internal Revenue Service.
Section 6.7 – Contracts. Unless otherwise provided by the board, all contracts shall be executed on behalf of the Association by either the President or the Vice President and countersigned by the Secretary. The Board may authorize any officer or agent of the Association to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Association, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. No contract or other transaction between the Association and one or more of the directors, or between the Association and any corporation, firm or association in which one or more of the directors is financially interested, is void or voidable because such director is present at the meeting of the Board or a committee thereof which authorizes or approves the
contract or transaction, or because his or her vote is counted, if the contract or transaction is just and reasonable as to the Association at the time it is authorized or approved. Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board or a committee thereof which authorizes, approves or ratifies such a contract or transaction.
Section 6.8 – Loans. No loan shall be contracted on behalf of the Association and no evidence of indebtedness shall be issued in the Association’s name unless authorized by a resolution of the Board. No loan approved by the Board in an amount in excess of $5,000.00 shall be contracted until approved by Voting Members representing two-thirds of the total Association votes.
ARTICLE VII
Obligation of Members
Section 7.1 – Maintenance and Repair
7.1.1 Maintenance. Every Owner and Occupant shall perform
promptly all maintenance and repair work required by the Declaration, any Recorded Tract Declaration, these By-Laws, the Guidelines and the Association Rules. Should an Owner or Occupant fail to perform or perform without due care and diligence any maintenance or repair required by the foregoing documents, the Owner or Occupant shall be liable for all damages caused thereby.
7.1.2 Reimbursement. In accordance with the Declaration, an
Owner shall reimburse the Association for any expenditures incurred by the Association in repairing or replacing any Common Areas damages through the willful or negligent act or omission of such Owner or an Occupant of the Owner’s Lot or Parcel.
Section 7.2 – Costs and Attorneys’ Fees. In any proceeding arising
because of an alleged default by an Owner of his obligation under the documents referred to in Section 7.1.1, the prevailing party therein, as determined by the court, shall be entitled to recover costs of the proceeding and such reasonable attorneys’ fees as may be determined by the court.
Section 7.3 – Use of Common Area. The Common Areas shall be used for only such purposes as may be permitted by the Declaration, these By-Laws, a Recorded Tract Declaration, the Guidelines and the Association Rules. All Owners and Occupants shall abide by such rules as the Board of Directors may from time to time adopt relating to the time, manner and nature of the use of the Common Areas.
ARTICLE Viii
Amendments
These By-Laws may be amended by Voting Members representing a majority vote of the total Association vote at any duly called regular or special meeting of the Voting Members, provided that the notice of the meeting shall contain a statement of the proposed amendment, and provided further that, so long as FHA or VA is making, guaranteeing or insuring loans secured by Lots or Parcels within Estrella, the FHA and VA shall have the right to veto any amendments while there is a Class B Membership. Notwithstanding the foregoing, these By-Laws shall not be amended to contain any provision which would be contrary to or inconsistent with the Declaration or the Articles as in effect from time to time; and any provision of, or purported amendment to, these By-Laws which is contrary to or inconsistent with the Declaration or the Articles shall be void to the extent of such inconsistency. Anything in this Article to the contrary notwithstanding, Declarant reserves the right to amend these By-Laws as may be requested or required by the FHA, VA or any other Agency with whom Declarant elects to do business as a condition precedent to such Agency’s approval of these By-Laws, or by any federally chartered lending institution as a condition precedent to lending funds upon the security of any Lot or Parcel or purchasing loans secured thereby. Any such amendment shall be effected by Declarant executing an amendment specifying the Agency or the lending institution requesting the amendment and setting forth the requested or required amendment(s). Execution of such a Certificate shall be deemed conclusive proof of the Agency’s or institution’s request or requirement and such Certificate, when executed, shall be binding upon all of the Covered
Property and all persons having an interest therein. It is the desire of
Declarant to retain control of the Association and the Association’s
activities during the period of planning and development of the Covered Property. If any amendment requested or required pursuant to the provisions of this Article deletes, diminishes or alters such control, Declarant shall have the right to prepare, provide for and adopt as an amendment hereto, other and different control provisions which shall be binding upon the Covered Property and Owners without a vote of the Owners.
ARTICLE IX
Liability Survives Termination of Membership
The termination of Membership in the Association shall not relieve or release a former Member from any liability or obligation under the Declaration, or in any way connected with the Association, incurred by the former Member during the period of Membership, or impair any rights or remedies the Association may have against the former Member with respect to such liability or obligation.
ARTICLE X
Limitation of Liability
Notwithstanding any duty the Association may have to maintain and repair the Common Areas, the Association shall not be liable for injury or damage caused by a latent condition therein or by any Owner or Occupant or other Person.
ARTICLE XI
Construction
Section 11.1 – Properties. Unless otherwise provided, any
inconsistencies or conflicts among the provisions of the Arizona Revised Statues or other applicable law, the Declaration, any Recorded Tract Declaration, the Articles, these By-Laws, the Guidelines and the Association Rules shall be resolved by giving priority first to the Arizona Revised Statutes or other applicable law, second to the Declaration, third to any Recorded Tract Declaration, fourth to the Articles, fifth to these By-Laws and sixth to the Guidelines and the Association Rules.
Section 11.2 – Disputes. In the event of any dispute or disagreement between or among any Owners relating to the interpretation or application of the provisions of the Declaration, the Articles, or these By-Laws, or any questions of interpretation thereof, the determination thereof by the Board shall be final and binding.
Section 11.3 – FHA and VA. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, to the extent that these By-Laws shall be contrary to or inconsistent with provisions of the rules and regulation of the FHA or the VA applicable to the Association, these By-Laws shall be considered superseded by such provisions, rules and regulations.
ARTICLE XII
Committees
Section 12.1 – General. The Board may appoint such committees as it deems appropriate to perform such tasks and to serve for such periods as the Board may designate by resolution. Each committee shall operate in accordance with the terms of such resolution.
Section 12.2 – Neighborhood Committees. In addition to any other
committees appointed as provided above, each Neighborhood which has no formal organizational structure or association may elect a Neighborhood Committee to determine the nature and extent of services, if any, to be provided to the Neighborhood by the Association in addition to those provided to all Members of the Association in accordance with the Declaration. A Neighborhood Committee may advise the Board on any other issue, but shall not have the
authority to bind the Board. Such Neighborhood Committees, if elected, shall consist of three to five Members, as determined by the vote of at feast 51% of the Owners of Lots within the Neighborhood.
Neighborhood Committee members shall be elected for a term of one year or until their successors are elected. Any director elected to the Board of Directors from a Neighborhood shall be an ex officio member of the Neighborhood Committee. The Voting Member representing such Neighborhood shall be the chairperson of the Neighborhood Committee, shall preside at its meetings, and shall be responsible for transmitting any and all communications to the Board.
In the conduct of its duties and responsibilities, each Neighborhood Committee shall abide by the notice and quorum requirements applicable to the Board under Sections 4.6, 4.8, 4.9, and 4.10. Meetings of a Neighborhood Committee shall be open to all Owners of Lots in the Neighborhood and their representatives. Members of a Neighborhood Committee may act by unanimous
written consent in lieu of a meeting.
ADOPTED BY the Board of Directors of ESTRELLA COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION at Phoenix, Arizona this c?…’S day of , 1
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CERTIFICATION
I, the undersigned, do hereby certify:
THAT I am the duly elected and acting Secretary of Estrella Community Association, an Arizona nonprofit corporation; and
THAT the foregoing By-Laws constitute the Amended and Restated By-Laws of such corporation, as duly adopted by unanimous consent of the Board of Directors thereof, held on the day of , 19/57
c:/
DOCS4017