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April 2025
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Board Corner
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Spring Is Here!
Laura Trumbull, HOA Board Secretary
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Spring is upon us and with it comes wind. The last leaves will be blowing off trees and into yards. Trying to keep up with the various piles of leaves can be trying, but the wind will let up at some point. The wind also wreaks havoc with trash cans placed out the night before pickup. We who live in New Mexico don’t have natural disasters to speak of, so we tolerate wind, a small concession.
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Some homeowners have had notices sent to them regarding raised sidewalks in front of their homes, me being one. The City of Albuquerque is not responsible for the sidewalk in front of a residence, the owner is. I called the city to have an estimator come out and then an estimate was emailed. I also called my insurance company and was told that because the raised cement was due to a nearby tree, the cost was not covered by my homeowner’s policy, but this would vary depending on your coverage. I arranged with the city to have them replace the slabs, which should happen soon. The work is not cheap, but considering that many people walk in our neighborhoods, we need it to be safe. I walk my dogs almost every day and there are times when I haven’t had my eye on my path. I understand the need to have it done.
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We live in a nice neighborhood and want to keep it nice. The trail and streets have been littered with dog droppings lately. We have three trash receptacles placed along the trail at Sierrita, Seven Bar North and Farola. Each of these is stocked with bags to clean up after your dog.
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Mysteriously, we have also seen food droppings on the street. Food litter will attract pests such as coyotes and raccoons. Please use your waste containers to dispose of food waste.
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Enjoy your spring! We look forward to seeing more of you out and about enjoying our beautiful weather.
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The Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) will host the Spring Green Waste Collection Event Monday, April 28 through Friday, May 9. Residents will be able to dispose of their leaves, grass, brush, and trimmings at their curbside for no additional charge. Pickups will be during normal collection hours so residents are asked to have their green waste placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m.
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Residents with questions or those needing to report a missed Green Waste pick-up are encouraged to call 311 or 505-768-2000 for assistance. For additional information, visit: https://www.cabq.gov/solidwaste/green-waste
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Landscape and Maintenance Committee
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John Currier, Landscape and Maintenance Committee Chair
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Replacement of the irrigation lines along the east side of Seven Bar was completed and the system was turned on and checked in mid-March. Irrigation lines along both sides of Sierrita were replaced in January 2024. The irrigation line replacement project should be completed in 2026 with the replacement of lines on the west side of Seven Bar. The system lines were last replaced in 2010 through 2012. Should you note a leak, please immediately report it to Corder and Company at 505-896-7700.
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Trimming of dead limbs caused by wet heavy snow in early December will occur when they can be identified after leaf out this spring. HOA trees along roads and trails will be trimmed back as usual in the spring to ensure that they meet city code for height clearance.
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Several trees will be removed and replaced this spring. Bradford Pears and Purple Leaf Plum trees planted over 30-years ago are starting to lose their vitality and will need to be replaced to maintain the tree coverage along our roads. Additionally, some shrubs will be replaced and new ones planted along the roads and trails.
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The Yellowstone crew has focused their attention this winter on the main trail from Black Arroyo in the south to 528 in the north. All shrubs and bushes were pruned and the stones that had relocated onto the trail were removed. The stones posed a safety concern for those using the trail to run/jog who could have twisted or broken an ankle should they have stepped on a stone.
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The Yellowstone crew normally is on site Monday afternoons. They do a litter cleanup along Seven Bar and Sierrita and the entrances to the communities. Landscape maintenance, trimming bushes and shrubs, is also done along a section of the HOA property. The maintenance is on a 4-week rotation during the non-growing season and a 3-week schedule during the growing season. The work schedule is as noted below:
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Growing Season March – October
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Non-growing season - November – February
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Week 1 - Both sides of Seven Bar
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Week 1 - West side of Seven Bar to include the trails
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Week 2 - Both sides of Sierrita
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Week 2 - East side of Seven Bar to include the trails
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Week 3 - West side of Sierrita to include the trails
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Week 4 - East Side of Sierrita to include the trails
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Architectural Control Committee
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| Summer is right around the corner and home improvement projects have already begun. Please remember if you plan to do any projects that include work to the exterior of the home — landscape, driveway, or walls, you need to get approval from the ACC beforehand. |
Some examples that would need approval include raising block walls, installing a side gate, pouring a concrete driveway or pathway, building gazebos/patios, adding hot tubs, sheds, or wind sails. Examples of applications that were denied have been: paint colors outside the covenants' requirements, sheds that aren’t stuccoed, wood additions to block walls, and RV’s blocking views of neighbors.
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Just like every year, time-of-day restrictions start on April 1st and are in effect until October 31st. Water in the early morning or late evening to reduce water loss to evaporation and wind.
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Money Matters from your Managers
Jack Corder, Managing Member/Qualifying Broker
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Spring is on us with a FURY! The wind and lack of rain is causing all kinds of dust and sand to settle into our landscaping, at your home as well as alongside the roads and landscaping in the subdivision. This means that weeds will be coming up in abundance later this spring. I encourage you to not let the weeds get ahead of you and treat the landscaping before they come up.
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We are doing better with most of the homeowners paying their dues so far this year. So far about 80% of homeowners have paid 2025 dues. If you have not paid your dues yet, please do so as quickly as possible. The late fees are not large, but they do mount up. There was a $5.00 late fee in March and at the end of May there will be another $25.00 late fee charged. IF your account goes over the $500.00 threshold set by the Board to be sent for collections you can expect more charges to pay for the collections service as well as the past due amount shown on your credit report. If you are having difficulty, please contact our office so we can make payment arrangements BEFORE your account is sent to the collections service. Our collections service has collected over $20,000.00 for the association in the past 3 years.
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Your dues are important to your association. They help to maintain the landscaping and the walking trails in the subdivision. This together with property values makes 7 Bar one of the most desirable places to live in Northwest Albuquerque.
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Compliance
Michael McGuffin, Association Manager
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Compliance Violations are down for this summer compared to last year. Here are the current Year-to-date violations for 2025 and for the same timeframe for 2024:
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With the current weather trend, without rain, we expect weed growth to be down. Unfortunately, if we do get rain, we expect to surpass last year's violation numbers. This is because of the high winds that we have had recently. Winds bring in dust and debris, including seeds from outside the local area. Please take time to be vigilant about weed mitigation and blown sand removal, where appropriate. We also recommend spraying trouble areas with Pre-emergent.
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Modification of landscaping does not need to go through the ACC approval process. Please call Corder and Company if you have any ACC questions.
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- Dog feces can carry harmful pathogens such as E. coli, Salmonella, and Campylobacter, which can pose health risks to humans and other animals.
2. Dog waste is a major source of environmental pollution, especially when left on the ground where it can wash into storm drains and contaminate water supplies with bacteria and parasites.
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3. Parasitic organisms like roundworms and hookworms, often present in dog feces, can remain in soil for long periods and are transmissible to humans, especially children who play outside.
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4. Unlike manure from herbivores, dog feces do not make good fertilizer due to the presence of harmful bacteria and high acidity levels that can damage plants and soil health.
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5. Neglecting to clean up dog waste in public areas not only creates a nuisance but also contributes to the spread of disease and compromises community hygiene.
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7 Bar North HOA Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions
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Prohibited Uses of Subdivision
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All exterior spot or directional lighting of any sort, the light source of which is visible from neighboring lots, shall be approved, in writing, by the Architectural Control Committee prior to installation.
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Compliance may also be enforced by the City of Albuquerque. Call 311 to report problematic light trespass from your neighbor's lot.
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Albuquerque is still in a Sellers’ market and with 1,957 homes on the market, we still have a low inventory level. The higher interest rates and high prices are causing homes to be on the market longer. Mortgage rates have slightly lowered, but not enough to have a flood of buyers entering the market. Seven Bar North is still proving to be a highly desired neighborhood, and most homes are selling within a few weeks of being listed.
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