Reality Check: Who’s Holding the Matchbook?
For years, the Kelly Company and our previous HOA board operated under the mantra: “This is the way we’ve always done it.” That line might work for grandma’s cookie recipe, but not when we’re talking about thousands of dollars in HOA dues.
Our new Treasurer, Eddie Williams, has been knee-deep in the books, pulling weeds out of more than just the landscape. What he found? Misapplied funds, eyebrow-raising expenses, and a goat-and-sheep weed-abatement contract that smells less like barnyard and more like financial negligence.
The Consequences: $20,000 Gone Up in Smoke (or, More Accurately, Eaten by Goats)
Here’s the kicker: for years, the HOA has been paying $4,000–$5,000 annually to maintain a 75-foot “firebreak” along Bridle Ridge Drive. Landscapers, goats, sheep—you name it, Kelly Company billed it. Total tab since 2022? About $20,000.
That’s $20,000 that could have gone toward new security cameras, fresh asphalt, or keeping dues increases down. Instead, it went to feed livestock… on city-owned property.
And here’s the punchline: the City of Fairfield’s own ordinances make the City responsible for firebreaks on parkland. Their rules, based on the California Fire Code, say the property owner—yes, even when the property owner is the City itself—must maintain 100-foot firebreaks, chop weeds under four inches, and clear rubbish by June 1.
Translation: the City owns the park, so the City owns the responsibility.
The Law: When HOA Rules Collide With Reality
Our CC&Rs, written in a different era, still say the Association should maintain a 75-foot firebreak. But the Davis-Stirling Act (Civil Code §4205) is clear: when governing documents conflict with the law, the law prevails.
So while our CC&Rs may whisper “pay the bill,” the City’s fire code shouts louder: “City pays!”
Call to Action: Sheriff Eddie Rides Into Town
Eddie Williams is on it. He’s the “new sheriff in town,” corralling runaway spending and questioning every dollar Kelly Company once waved through. He’s pledged to report back at each board meeting and keep the membership informed.
Meanwhile, your new Board is asking the City of Fairfield to step up and maintain its firebreak, as the law requires. This isn’t just about saving money—it’s about fire safety, insurance costs, and restoring fiscal sanity to our community.
No more paying goats to do the City’s job.
Neighbors, stay tuned. The New HOA Board Members will keep you posted as the City responds and as our Treasurer digs deeper. Accountability is back in Eastridge Hills, and this time, the math actually adds up.
🔥 Did You Know? Firebreaks & Who Pays
The Confusion:
Our HOA’s CC&Rs say we must maintain a 75-foot firebreak along the City’s parkland. That’s why Kelly Company kept billing us for goats, sheep, and landscapers.
The Law:
The City of Fairfield adopted the California Fire Code. It clearly says:
- Property owners must maintain 100-foot firebreaks.
- Weeds must be kept ≤ 4 inches.
- Abatement must be completed by June 1 and maintained through fire season.
- If not done, the City can enforce and bill the property owner.
Since the City owns the parkland, the City owns the firebreak responsibility.
The Conflict:
CC&Rs vs. City Code → The Davis-Stirling Act (Civil Code §4205) resolves it: when HOA rules and the law clash, the law prevails.
Translation: City pays, not the HOA.
The Cost:
$20,000 of your dues (since 2022) went to do the City’s job.
The Fix:
Your new Board is pressing the City to handle its own firebreaks and keep HOA dollars where they belong—right here in our neighborhood.
