![]() | Community. It's not just where you live, it's how you interact. Here at High Desert, we believe communication is the number one way to build our community: communication between neighbors, among homeowners and with management. This website is designed to keep every High Desert resident informed and up-to-date on the vital issues that affect us as homeowners. Here, you'll find quick access to our governing documents, policies and procedures, calendars of upcoming community meetings, copies of our latest newsletter, home improvement information, links to Village news and the e-mail addresses of your officers and directors. We hope this information will provide High Desert homeowners with what they need to know...and when they need to know it. For the latest news, scroll down or click here. (Photo at left: This fluffed-up Roadrunner sits patiently on a rock at the Michial Emery Trailhead during a snowstorm in mid-December. |
Nominating Committee Seeks Volunteers Interesting in Running for Open Positions on HD Board of Directors
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The High Desert Nominating Committee is currently soliciting motivated individuals to fill three expiring positions on the Board of Directors. Any homeowner can be considered. It is not necessary to be proposed by a third party; a personal Statement of Interest (click here to download the pdf) is all that is needed. The forms need to be received at the High Desert office by Monday, February 15. The committee will review the submissions and interview the selected candidates in March. The Board meets formally once each month, and intermittently from time to time. The issues covered range from policy development to budgeting and accounting oversight. We also review and bid out or renew from one to three annual contracts each year. The day-to-day operations and supervision are handled by our management company which works closely with the Board. Once each year, through our local village representatives (Voting Members) we elect three or four neighbors to sit on our Board of Directors. This year there are three seats to be filled. The election will occur at the April Voting Members meeting. The current Board has appointed a Nominating Committee -- a Chair (David Blacher) and four non-Board community residents -- to meet in February and March for the purpose of soliciting volunteers to fill these positions and selecting a slate to present at this meeting. Currently, the positions held by the following Directors will expire this spring: Ray Berg, Reg Rider and Tom Murdock. |
Opera Trip Set For "Madame Butterfly" on August 14:
Tickets Are Limited So Sign Up Now!
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High Desert residents can plan on another first class trip to the Santa Fe Opera this summer. Ellen Levy, High Desert resident and Chair of the Opera Committee, says this year’s choice is "Madame Butterfly" set for Saturday, August 14, 2010.
"Madame Butterfly," written by Puccini, is perhaps the most beloved of all operas. It is the story of a naval officer, Pinkerton, and Cio-Cio-San, a geisha (also known as Madame Butterfly) and their romance in Japan. As always, Madame Butterfly will feature world class sopranos and tenors. Tickets are limited and issued to High Desert residents on a first-come, first-served basis. Download the pdf form (click here to download) and mail with your check to the High Desert office address given. |
Voting Members Discuss NCC, Snow Removal and Elections at Quarterly Meeting
Voting Members were asked to consider serving on High Desert's New Construction Committee (NCC) at their regular quarterly meeting January 14 at the James Dwyer APD Substation. The New Construction Committee is charged with considering all new construction in High Desert, approving or denying building plans and with maintaining compliance with the CC&Rs. Ray Berg, President of the High Desert Board of Directors, told Voting Members that the NCC will use the services of architects, hydrologists and other experts to determine if proposals meet standards. "But we need residents to make sure those reports are obtained and presented in a timely manner," he said. Until recently, the developers of High Desert, High Desert Development Company, oversaw all new construction. That responsibility was turned over to the High Desert Residential Owners Association last year. Owners interested in the NCC should send a "Statement of Interest" form to Dave Janik, Community Manager. The form is available as a pdf by clicking here. Currently the Board is working on the Policy and process for the NCC. Appointed NCC members will have an opportunity to help design the process, forms, and other committee operational details. |
Snow Removal In High Desert
Snow removal from streets outside of the gated villages in High Desert is ultimately the responsibility of the City of Albuquerque (CABQ). If you have a concern about snow removal from streets (except gated villages) you may contact the CABQ Mayor's Hotline at 311. The city's representative should give you a reference number and put the request on their priority list. You can call back after a period of time to check on the status of your request. In the past they have been very responsive; however, many factors bear on when the city gets to the residential area of High Desert. The amount of snowfall, when the snowfall begins, which areas of the city that may be receiving a greater amount, etc. are all factors in how quickly our streets get cleared. Additionally, residential areas receive a lower priority than major arteries as well as roads providing emergency service access.High Desert Residential Owners Association has entered into a contract for snow removal this year in certain areas. While the primary purpose is to ensure safety at the entrances and exits of the gated villages, other areas will be plowed and/or treated. When the conditions reach preset levels the removal actions will begin.
The snow removal contract applies to the gated village entrances/exits, the five major intersections involving Cortaderia, Imperata, Spain, Academy, and High Desert, in addition to bridges. They will be made as safe as possible as soon as practical. To reduce the risk of damage to the gates and facilitate snow removal, gates will be held open until the areas around gates can be made safe for normal operation. Any additional removal of snow on streets inside gated villages will be done on a case by case basis.
Residents may contact the Guardsmark Patrol with urgent concerns regarding the snow conditions. The patrol number is 362-2314. If there is no answer, leave a message as there may be numerous simultaneous calls to the patrol or they may not be able to safely answer at the specific time you’re calling . |
High Desert Candidates Needed For Voting Member Positions:
Mountain Highlands, Desert Sky and Wilderness Estates Have No Representation
| Several villages in High Desert continue to lack any representation at the quarterly Voting Member meetings, despite repeated calls by management and board members for volunteers. Mountain Highlands, Desert Sky and Wilderness Estates continue to have no representation at all. Elections for those villages remain on hold until volunteers step forward to represent their village. Recent elections were held successfully for Voting Members and Alternates in Canyons, Desert Mountain and Trailhead. Click here to go to the Village News page to see the names and contact information for the elected homeowners. Each of the 24 villages in High Desert is required by association bylaws to provide elected Voting Members to represent residents in that village. Each village is allowed one Voting Member for each 50, or fraction thereof, owners in a village. If a village has 75 properties, for example, then bylaws permit two Voting Members, each representing 37.5 property owners. Voting Members meet four times a year (with each meeting lasting one to two hours) to discuss community issues and to elect members of the Board of Directors each April. Elections for all the villages are staggered throughout the year. To see an election schedule for all villages, click here. If you are interested in being considered for election, please contact Dave Janik, Community Association Manager: David@hoamco.com or (505) 314-5862. Click here to download a Voting Member Statement of Interest form. Click here to view a pdf of the current Voting Member Job Description. |
Classified Ads for High Desert Residents...
| Looking for someone to shovel snow? Want to sell that extra futon in the guest room, those bicycles in the garage, the blender you never use? Are you looking for a lost pet? The High Desert Online Classifieds are free to residents selling household items or posting lost and found ads. Click here to see current ads and find out how to submit your own. Online ads can include photos, too. |
Board Seeks Owners to Serve on New Construction Committee
"There are more than one hundred vacant lots in High Desert," said HDROA President Ray Berg. "We can expect to see new homes built on those lots within the next five to ten years." He added that maintaining the high standards for new construction that have been upheld since the inception of the High Desert community is critical to protecting property values and ensuring an ongoing quality of life for residents. "We now have the unique opportunity, for the first time, to engage our current owners and residents in these efforts," he said. If you are a property owner in High Desert, you have a vested interest in sustaining the values that make our community a great place to live. If you would like the opportunity to get in on the ground floor of this effort and help shape the direction of new construction in our community, please contact David Janik at 314-5862 or by e-mail at david@hoamco.com for more information, or submit the Statement of Interest form noted above to volunteer for the Committee. |
New Emergency Number Set For High Desert After-Hour Calls
A new emergency maintenance telephone number is in effect specifically for High Desert residents calling HOAMCO after regular business hours. The new number is: (505) 508-9568.
Residents calling the regular High Desert office at 505-314-5862 after regular business hours will hear a voicemail message that says "If this is an after-hours High Desert maintenance emergency, please call 505-508-9568."
Once residents call the new number (508-9568) the voice mail states that the caller has reached an emergency cell number and directs the caller to a pager number if there is no return call after 30 minutes. Dave Janik, Community Association Manager, will answer the emergency number. However, he emphasized that the new number should be used only for maintenance emergencies that absolutely cannot wait until regular business hours. For other emergency calls not pertaining to maintenance issues, residents should call 911 followed by a call to the High Desert Courtesy Patrol at 362-2314. |
Help High Desert Succeed:
Volunteers Needed for High Desert Committees
| High Desert needs its homeowners to step forward and contribute their time and effort by serving on a committee. A number of vital groups meet throughout the year to plan, upgrade and promote this community. Some of them need new chairpersons. All of them need volunteers. "We need these committees in order to function as a true community," said Ray Berg, High Desert Residential Homeowners President. "When homeowners step up and contribute their time and expertise, everyone benefits." Residents can volunteer to serve on committees that range from Tramway litter cleanup to advising the Board and management on landscaping issues in High Desert. Residents can help maintain and promote High Desert Park as part of the Adopt A Park Committee, or assemble welcome bags for new residents as members of the Welcome Committee." Volunteers are needed to plan summer trips to the Santa Fe Opera, and the annual Evening in the Park event held in June. Residents are needed on the Crime Prevention and Neighborhood Watch Committees that work to control crime in High Desert. Some committees are in need of a new chairperson and all open committees welcome new members."Volunteers are vital to achieving our community goals," added Ray. "Without volunteers, High Desert is simply a development. But our committees turn this collection of houses and streets into a functioning community where neighbors work together to make things happen." To see a listing of current committee openings and volunteer opportunities, see the High Desert Committees page. |
For More News...
| To read more about what's happening in High Desert, click here. |


Tickets include round-trip bus fare on a chartered Herrera 47-seat coach leaving High Desert at 4:15 p.m., a four-course dinner with wine at the restaurant
Voting Members were asked to consider serving on High Desert's New Construction Committee (NCC) at their regular quarterly meeting January 14 at the James Dwyer APD Substation.
Snow removal from streets outside of the gated villages in High Desert is ultimately the responsibility of the City of Albuquerque (CABQ). 
Residents can volunteer to serve on committees that range from Tramway litter cleanup to advising the Board and management on landscaping issues in High Desert. Residents can help maintain and promote High Desert Park as part of the Adopt A Park Committee, or assemble welcome bags for new residents as members of the Welcome Committee." Volunteers are needed to plan summer trips to the Santa Fe Opera, and the annual Evening in the Park event held in June. Residents are needed on the Crime Prevention and Neighborhood Watch Committees that work to control crime in High Desert. Some committees are in need of a new chairperson and all open committees welcome new members.