Miramar Plaza HOA

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  1. HOW DO I GET INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THINGS WORK AT MIRAMAR PLAZA?

The Association has a website that contains information that is essential to know as a resident of Miramar Plaza HOA as well as an order form for keys & remote control devices, and a handy Contact List. The website address is

  1. WHAT SHOULD I HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE SELLER?

You should have received the following keys from the seller: Front door, mailbox, pool, and pedestrian gate (next to the electric gates at the entrance). In addition, you should have received a remote control for your garage as well as one to open the electric gates.

  1. WHERE IS MY MAIL BOX?

Mailboxes kiosks are located throughout the Association; the kiosk closest to your unit will contain your mailbox. Make sure that you get the key and location of your mailbox from the seller prior to close of escrow. The mailboxes are the property of the USPS; therefore, neither the Association nor our Property Manager has replacement keys. Contact the local post office if you have questions regarding your mail service (see Contact List).

  1. HOW DO I GET MY NAME & PHONE NUMBER PROGRAMMED INTO THE PHONE SYSTEM AT THE GATES?

As soon as you move in, contact our Property Manger (see Contact List) to update your information to the phone directory system at the gates. They will program your phone number into the system and they will add your name to the roster in the display case. This will enable visitors to ring your unit from the front gate. Be aware that, until you provide our Property Manager with your contact information, the seller’s information will remain in the system and visitors won’t be able to ring your unit.

  1. HOW DO THE MAIN ELECTRIC GATES WORK IF I’M IN A CAR?

There are two gated entrances: The front entrance on Halford Avenue and the rear entrance on Miramar Way. If you are in your car, you can open either gate with a remote control device similar to a garage door opener. If you didn’t get one from the seller, additional openers can be purchased from our Property Manager (see Keys – order form on the website).

  1. HOW DO MAIN GATES WORK FOR PEDESTRIANS, e.g., IF I GO FOR A WALK?

There are two options: 1) Use your pedestrian gate key. If you don’t have one, contact our Property Manager (see Keys – order form on the website), or 2) enter # (pound) on keypad at the kiosk followed by the last four digits of your phone number, e.g., #1234. Note that you must be programmed into the system (see #4).

  1. HOW DO MAIN GATES WORK FOR VISITORS?

Guests must find your name and access code on the directory in the display case and then use the phone system to call your unit using this code (provided that you have been ‘set up’ on the system). This will ring your unit; if you are on the phone, every three seconds a gentle beep will be heard. To open the gate for your guest, firmly press "9" on your home phone. This will open the gate and disconnect you from the caller.

Resident directories and phones are located at both entrances. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with this system so that you will know what your guests must do when they come to visit.

  1. ARE THERE ANY OTHER WAYS INTO THE COMPLEX?

There are two pedestrian gates in addition to the vehicle gates; they are next to the front and rear electric gates and they require a key for access. Extra pedestrian gate keys can be obtained from our Property Manager (see Keys – order form on the website).

  1. WHAT ITEMS CAN I HAVE ON MY BALCONY?

The following items are allowed on residents’ balconies: Outdoor patio furniture, potted plants with drip pans, BBQ grills, and welcome mats. All potted plants require drip pans because water will cause the deck wood to rot and deteriorate. Rugs and indoor/outdoor carpeting, e.g., Astroturf, are not allowed for the same reason.

  1. CAN I MAKE CHANGES TO MY UNIT OR TO THE PATIO / BALCONY?

Because it is what is known as exclusive use common area, any changes to the outside of your unit require the prior approval of the Architectural Control Committee. See the Common Area Modification Guidelines for a specific list. In general you can do whatever you want to the inside of your unit, except for removing a wall, which requires prior approval. To gain approval, submit your proposed change(s) to our Property Manager along with an Architectural Change Application (ACA); your application will be reviewed at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting. All of these documents are available on the website.
Regarding installing a satellite dish, see the Satellite Dish Rules (also available on the website).

  1. HOW CAN I SHUT THE WATER OFF TO MY UNIT WHEN I NEED TO DO INTERIOR PLUMBING WORK?

The short answer is that you can’t. The reason is that we have a sophisticated hot water delivery system with pumps running all day and most of night. If you shut the water off, it can burn up an expensive pump—it has happened! But you should also know that many operations, including replacing faucets, changing a toilet, or installing a new washing machine don’t require shutting off the building water. For these procedures, you can simply turn the water off at the valve or angle stop connected to the pipe coming out of the wall.
If, however, you need to replace an angle stop or your shower faucet, you will need to shut off the building water. Here is the general procedure:

  • Call our Property Manager so that they know when the water will be shut off.
  • Call the Association’s plumber (see Contact List) and schedule a time for him to shut off the water—even if you are using your own plumber for the work inside your unit.
  • 48 hours before shutting off the water, place notices on the front door of every unit in your building with the estimated duration of the shutoff
  • When scheduling the work, try to avoid evenings and weekends before noon

You may wish to use the Association’s plumber for your plumbing repair project; this is simply a suggestion for your convenience.
If you have a plumbing emergency, please make sure you say so when contacting the Property Manager and they will handle it as such. On evenings and weekends, they have an emergency pager to alert an on-call manager who will dispatch the proper service people.

  1. WHAT SERVICES DO MY DUES PAY FOR?

Your homeowner's dues pay for the following:

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  • Financial services (collect & & deposit dues, file tax returns, provide financial reports to board, etc.)
  • Property management (newsletters, answer questions / solve problems, manage repair projects, etc.)
  • Insurance on the common area
    (but not for your individual unit)
  • Fire alarm system – maintenance & 24/7 monitoring
  • Landscaping
  • Common area maintenance (paint, repair exterior wood, clean stairwells, pool maintenance, etc.)
  • Garbage & recycling service
  • Water for common area & units
  • Electricity for common area lighting
  • Contributions to our Reserve Fund (long term savings account)

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  1. WHO DO I CONTACT REGARDING HOMEOWNER'S DUES?

The Association contracts with N.A. Shade & Associates for bookkeeping and accounting services. Contact them with questions about dues, including how to get set up on automatic dues payment (see contact list).

  1. WHAT DOES THE ASSOCIATION'S MASTER INSURANCE POLICY COVER?

The Association has blanket coverage for its buildings against casualty, fire, and general liability. In addition, we have directors & officers liability coverage, and flood insurance on buildings 1901, 1902, 1903, and 1904 (the only buildings in a flood zone), and limited earthquake coverage. The Association's insurance does not cover the contents of your home or against liability for incidents that may happen in your unit. We suggest that you carry this coverage, known as a personal property & contents policy (aka HO6 policy), or if you are a landlord, a landlord’s policy. If you have questions regarding the Association's policy, contact our insurance agent (see Contact List).

  1. WHERE ARE THE DUMPSTERS AND WHEN ARE GARBAGE PICK-UP DAYS?

Garbage dumpsters are located in eight locations throughout the complex (see the map for locations and the Contact List for the garbage company’s current pickup days).

  1. WHAT SHOULDN’T GO IN THE DUMPSTERS?

The following items are not allowed in the dumpsters:

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  • TVs
  • Computers
  • Furniture
  • Mattresses
  • Bed frames
  • Appliances (large ones such as stoves, refrigerators, dishwashers, and water heaters; small appliances are OK)
  • Gas barbeques
  • Construction debris (minor amounts are OK)
  • Liquid paint (solidified paint is OK)
  • Chemicals
  • Motor oil
  • Car batteries
  • Tires

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See the Contact List for how to dispose of these items.

  1. HOW DO I RECYCLE ITEMS?

There are recycling toters next to or within each dumpster area. Please break down large cardboard boxes and try to keep the area clean.

  1. WHAT ARE THE INTERIOR PAINT COLORS?

The original interior wall colors were Kelly Moore Bone (color #27) and Frost (color #?). Of course, your unit may have been painted with another color since then, so these colors are not guaranteed to match your current inside color.

  1. WHAT ARE THE EXTERIOR PAINT COLORS

See the paint color list on the website under the Documents & Forms button. At the time these FAQs were written, the Association didn’t have a loaner paint program, but one may be created in the future (check recent newsletters). In the meantime, touch up paint may be purchased at Kelly Moore Paints; there is a store nearby on El Camino Real.

  1. WHEN IS THE POOL OPEN & WHAT ARE THE POOL HOURS?

The pool is heated from early May until mid-October. You are welcome to use the pool during the off-season, but it is not heated during this period. You should have received a pool key from the seller; extra keys can be obtained from our Property Manager (see Keys – order form on the website). Please be sure to review our Pool Rules (available on the website), observe all posted rules, and be considerate of others.

  1. WHAT ARE THE ASSOCIATION’S PET RULES?

Up to two common household pets less than 20 pounds apiece may be kept in each unit, provided they do not become a nuisance. When in the common area, dogs must be on a leash held by their owner. Pet owners shall be responsible for the immediate removal and disposal of their pet’s waste. Specifically, dog owners should always bring a plastic bag along when going for a walk. Direct complaints about repeated dog barking to the Santa Clara Police Department (see Contact List).

  1. WHAT ARE THE ASSOCIATON’S PARKING RULES?

See the Street & Parking Rules on the website.

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