The TRUTH 2026
IF you read NOTHING else, please read the following 10 points that explain the differences between Team Paul Gaarenstroom & Dave Lysengen versus their opponents.
The Truth
Paul Gaarenstroom and Dave Lysengen are common sense, like-minded men who firmly support keeping La Cresta as it is. Beautiful. Safe roads. Trail access for families and equestrians. Lots of community events. Focus on maintaining property values. Low monthly dues. Fire Safe.
Team Opposition
- Woo and Williams are candidates for LCPOA’s Board of Directors.
- • They have rarely been seen attending POA meetings
- • They haven’t applied to volunteer for any LCPOA committee nor LCPOA events
- • Woo and Williams both have websites owned by Tsuni Wang’s wife, Jenny Wang
- • Both websites contain identical, false statements, allegations and accusatory language directed at our Board Majority (although Williams recently removed 90% of his website content after being called out on it at the Meet and Greet)
- • Their rhetoric attempts to discredit our Candidates’ integrity and good intentions while suggesting our Board Majority Directors are crooks looking to steal POA funds.
SCARY FACT!!
• At Meet & Greet #1 – the moderator asked Woo & Williams to explain our budget including operating and reserve accounts and where the funds come from for large road projects.
• Woo’s answer: “We are the newcomers. I’d love to learn. I understand that the roads were vacated in the past. So, whose responsibility are the roads to maintain?”
• William’s answer: “I don’t have the experience in HOA’s so I cannot answer the question”.
• The Truth: Road improvement and reserves have been discussed at essentially every single board meeting. Anyone with any interest in our POA who attends the meetings could have answered this question. And FYI – Dave Lysengen and Mr. Woo (who calls himself a 'newcomer") are both two year residents of La Cresta. The difference is that Dave is at ALL the LCPOA meetings and is an LCPOA volunteer. Mr. Woo is neither.
• The thought of Woo & Williams taking over responsibility of the POA’s finances is frightening.
ROADS: IF OUR ROAD CONDITION IS IMPORTANT TO YOU, READ ON
Dave and Paul will strongly prioritize keeping our roads safe and well-maintained. They also appreciate the importance of actively addressing the failing culverts before they result in road damage. Woo and Williams were not even sure where the funds to pay for our roads come from when asked by the moderator at the LCPOA Meet and Greet weeks back.
Trails
- WOO/WILLIAMS would NOT make a commitment for our TRAILS!!!! They tried to punt the responsibility of paying for our trails to volunteers so the POA would not have to.
- GAARENSTROOM/LYSENGEN are a resounding YES for our TRAILS!!!!
IF TRAILS ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU, READ THIS!!!
Below are quotes from Websites supporting Woo and Williams and quotes from the recent Meet and Greet:
• “I don’t use the trails. I grew up with horses and other vermin”.
• “It’s not fair for people who don’t use trails to have to pay for them”.
• “Get volunteers to raise money to pay for our trails so the POA doesn’t need to”
• “We question whether trails provide a proportional benefit to the broader membership, given that equestrian activities represent such a limited scope of property owners”.
• Their Board Minority supporters / members (Tsuni Wang and Michael Ghafouri) have voted NO on almost every single trails item for the past 2+ years. If Woo and Williams get elected, along with Michael Ghafouri, they would comprise the board majority. They would have the power to vote no on maintaining our trails, and vote yes on canceling our trails insurance which would leave trails liability to individual homeowners.
DAVE LYSENGEN and PAUL GAARENSTROOM on Trails
• Paul Gaarenstroom and Dave Lysengen will vote YES on Trails maintenance and support!!
• Trails are a huge priority for Paul Gaarenstroom and Dave Lysengen.
• Our trails are multiuse meaning they are used by hikers, equestrians and cyclists.
• Trails maintenance costs our Association about $6.80/month per ranch.
• Trails provide improved property values of at least 5% per local realtors.
LCPOA COMMITTEES:
Dave and Paul are incredible supporters of our large network of LCPOA committee volunteers. Both are active volunteers. Paul and Dave recognize that it is our committee and community volunteers who contribute so much to keep our community safe and beautiful and fun. Importantly, our Committee Volunteers endorse and proudly support Paul Gaarenstroom and David Lysengen for the 2026 LCPOA election!!
Commercial Business:
Paul and David do not support any businesses in La Cresta that result in noise, traffic, visual impacts, smells or that changes the nature of our residential community. They do support horse related activities that do not impact the community, however they are opposed to wedding venues, loud party venues and any out-of-residential character commercial businesses. They do not support ANY type of business that would change the look of our residential community in any way (stores, storage lots, towers, etc).
Radio/Data Towers:
Dave Lysengen and Paul Gaarenstroom do not support these endeavors and intend to oppose these projects to the extent allowed by law by writing letters, attending meetings and researching options.
ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units):
Paul Gaarenstroom and Dave Lysengen are very aware that state law trumps our CCRs on this topic. ADUs cannot be prevented because of state law. Paul and Dave do not support mobile homes. They will work with our Architectural Committee to impart strict guidelines pertaining to exterior esthetics, roof appearance, landscaping, etc. so the finished product matches the primary residence. Paul has worked with the Board Majority who hired a private attorney that specializes in ADUs to create a document with strict procedures that must be followed. Dave Lysengen has worked on the Governing Documents Committee to strengthen the language to prevent Mobile Homes which will support the Architectural Committee's ADU restrictions.
Cul-de-Sacs:
Paul and David Lysengen are aware that several attorneys and a court order have all ruled the POA has no financial obligation to maintain our cul-de-sacs. They are also aware that an asphalt contractor / engineer estimated the cost of paving and maintaining our culdesacs could be in excess of $20 million dollars to bring all up to a basic standard. They are both willing to listen to any plans to incorporate cul-de-sac maintenance, but it would need to make financial sense for the Association.
MISINFORMATION from our OPPONENTS' WEBSITES!!
Here are some erroneous posts from Mr. Woo and Derek Williams’ Websites. These quotes should make every LCPOA member frightened over their lack of insight and knowledge.
Misinformation from Woo / Williams Quotes 1-4:
MISQUOTE # 1. Budget Discrepancy: Why do road repair costs often exceed the approved budget?
Our Answer/Response: Where did they even come up with this? Our big Road Improvement Projects are created with input from our Road Committee experts plus outside engineers and contractors. Bids are collected. Contracts are reviewed and shared with the board. Road priorities are addressed, then the Road Committee’s recommendations are made and the Board votes. EVERYONE is aware of the scope of the project and the contract prices. This is always announced at the open board meetings which all members can attend. These big road projects have nothing to do with our ‘annual budget’ or the operating account. This is Finance 101 and Woo/Williams should already know this. So WHY are they asking this question on their websites?
MISQUOTE # 2. How does the Reserve spend $820,906.35 without notification to the members?
Our Answer/Response: Why do Woo and Williams think this large expenditure was made without the members knowing? Its part of their MO to create a cloud of mistrust surrounding the Board Majority and our candidates. This has all been announced and voted on at our open, monthly Board meetings.The only homeowners who would not be aware of these large Reserve expenditures are those who do not attend POA open session meetings nor read the minutes.
MISQUOTE # 3. The Dues Contradiction: Despite these healthy numbers and minimal upkeep requirements, we are still facing fee increases. Why are homeowners being asked to pay more? President Roy Paulson, VP David Boyd and Secretary/Treasurer Paul Gaarenstroom plan to raise your dues without cause or justification.
Our Answer/Response: This was all explained at the first Meet &Greet to Woo and Williams when both stated they needed audits and financials and other documents to know if a dues increase was in order. Clearly, in preparation for the Meet & Greet, they had not read the dues increase explanation letter nor the multiple supporting documents that accompanied it. This was all mailed out, emailed and posted on LCPOA.com for member reviews just weeks prior. The reason our Operating and Reserves look great today is because the projected $4.1-4.8 million dollars needed for our road improvement and culvert projects will be spent over the ensuing five years. This multi-million-dollar expense does not come out of the operating account; it is a reserves expense. It is mind boggling why Woo and Williams do not understand this after having received so much information on this topic weeks ago. One would think they might consider updating their website to clarify these misconceptions.
MISQUOTE # 4. The Board has indicated that reserve funding levels should exceed 50%. However, the Association’s principal long-term obligation is road maintenance that historically has been funded through the annual general operating budget.
Our Answer/Response: Woo and Williams got something right; the roads are the primary expense for this POA. However, they missed something HUGE. The funds to pay for the big road projects come from the RESERVES; not the Operating Account!!!! Not understanding the differences between these two accounts or what is paid from which is a serious problem if Woo & Williams believe they are equipped to handle our finances.
Election Season Is Here — Protect Your Vote!!
Election season is here. Your ballots have been mailed, and by now most residents should have received them. Unfortunately, election season also seems to bring out some of the worst tactics.
Going door-to-door asking residents to hand over their ballots is, quite frankly, scraping the bottom of the barrel. Your ballot belongs to you. It is your vote, your responsibility, and your opportunity to decide what is best for LCPOA.
And don’t confuse a badge with integrity. A retired law-enforcement badge does not automatically make someone more trustworthy, more credible, or entitled to your ballot. Those of us who have worn the badge, whether in law enforcement, fire service, or other public-safety professions, understand that using the badge or the authority it represents to influence people for personal or political purposes is not something that is respected by those who wore it with integrity. The badge represents service and public trust. It should never be used as a tool to convince someone to surrender their vote.
If you know the issues and the candidates, educate yourself, make your own decisions, and vote.
But if you don’t know the issues, please don’t let someone else decide for you. You may later discover that you were persuaded to vote for something, or someone, you never would have supported had you understood the facts.
My advice is simple: Keep your ballot. Read it. Understand the issues. Make your own decisions.
And if you genuinely don’t feel comfortable voting for any candidate or issue, you can still return your ballot without casting votes. We need residents to participate and help establish quorum, but we need informed votes, not ballots collected by someone else.
Don’t give away your voice. Don’t give away your ballot.
Dear Neighbors,
The upcoming LCPOA election is very important. There are several issues where the candidates diverge. This document will highlight one of them. For further details, please visit our website at LaCrestaLiving.com
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
One of the most important tasks for a POA Director is to honor and accept their fiduciary responsibility to ensure Association financial stability. Putting blinders on and ignoring our known road and culvert needs as documented by third-party experts is not fiscally responsible.
The recent dues increase is of significant interest to our community. No one wants to pay more. But it was the right decision, and Treasurer Paul Gaarenstroom and President Roy Paulson provided a detailed analysis to all property owners explaining why the dues increase was necessary. Please review this explanation, and the supporting documents, on LCPOA.com under the tab "DUES INCREASE" for more detailed information.
The POA has two primary accounts: Reserves and Operations. The discussion below will focus on the Reserve account as the funding source for our annual road improvement projects and our anticipated culvert repairs.
Reserve Account:
- Our annual dues income is just over $1 million, of which 50% ideally gets contributed to our Reserves.
- Recently, because of increased Operating expenses, the contribution to the Reserve has been diminished.
- Powerstone mailed the Annual Budget Report to all property owners on August 20, 2026. this can also be found on LCPOA.com (Finance & Budget)
- That report includes a “Disclosure Summary” that notes the following (projected as of 10/01/2026):
- The Reserve Fund Balance is expected to be $1,937,230
- The “Fully Funded Balance” is $2,886,162
- The “Percent Funded” is 67.12%
- The goal is to keep this account funded in excess of 60%, and never below 50%.
- An expert reserve analyst spent many hours reviewing our future needs and past expenses, then presented an annual independent "Reserve Analysis Report" which tells us what our projected expenses will be for the upcoming years.
The Bucknam and Downstream Reports (see LCPOA.com > Dues Increase for details)
- The required maintenance of our roads is our largest reserve expense.
- We also have over 100 aging culverts that are starting to show signs of failure
- If a culvert completely fails, the overlying road will be jeopardized. If a road fails, the cost to rebuild is prohibitive and will likely require a special assessment to repair.
- The Bucknam Report evaluates road conditions and prioritizes our maintenance efforts using a five-year projection
- The reports from Downstream Services Company, and Tory Walker Engineering, evaluates our aging culverts and projects repairs needed over the coming years
- Based on the information from Bucknam, Downstream and Tory Walker, the Road Committee reported to the Board in March 2026 that road and culvert repairs collectively over the next five year are projected to be between $4.1 - 4.8 million dollars.
- Providing adequate Reserve funding over the next five years will be key to managing this effort without resorting to a special assessment.
- Most contractors who bid on big projects want to know that funds are available for payment and, without these funds, securing the necessary bids on large projects will be impossible.
Why a Dues Increase is needed now with such a 'healthy' Reserve account?
- Our last reserve analysis report shows that without an adequate dues increase, our funding will drop into the 30% range – that is unacceptable.
- Increased operating costs are lowering the amounts we are able to contribute to our reserves.
- Recent video inspections of our culverts indicate more rapid deterioration than we had previously known.
- Inflation, and particularly increases in oil prices, have significantly impacted the pavement work in the past few years.
- We are told that we will be facing the wettest winter on record in California as a result of the developing El Niño.
If not now, when?
- Topics that continue to resurface from LCPOA’s past;
- Let’s put them to bed!
- These topics were all found on our Oppositions’ websites
- 1. ADU’s – an ADU was built in LCPOA. It went through the AC (LCPOA’s Architect Committee) and County planning/permitting. It met the AC’s requirements. This topic continues to resurface with different permeations. First, this project was started at least two boards ago. Opponents have stated the Board voted for this. WRONG. The Board NEVER voted for it. Opponents have stated the structure was a mobile home. WRONG. It was a manufactured home. Built off-site and made of the same materials as a stick home. Fact: This ADU project began before our current Board Majority was elected. Our current board, including Paul Gaarenstroom, hired an attorney to create stricter ADU guidelines. This project is being developed in conjunction with our AC to force future ADUs to be held to the strictest requirements allowed by law. The AC has limited ADU control outside of the esthetics of the structure because of state laws. David Lysengen, on the Governing Documents Committee is working with that group to ensure strict language is included in our CCR’s. Below is a photo of the finished ADU product; a far cry from what the opposition is screaming:
- “Our Board allowed a Mobile Home in LCPOA!!”
2. The “$150,000” El Centro Crosswalk – This project was approved multiple boards ago. It has nothing to do with this current Board Majority. Yet each year, our opposition promotes this crosswalk as “IRRESPONSIBLE SPENDING!” and points their finger at the current Board Majority. The opposition conveniently changes the price tag from year to year. We’ve seen numbers ranging from $80,000 to 200,000. Regardless, this project was 3 or 4 boards back. The actual construction cost was $75,851.77*. This project had nothing to do with Paul Gaarenstroom, David Boyd or Roy Paulson.
3. The Roses – Again, a topic of the past which was completely blown out of proportion. Historically, the roses were all a donation to LCPOA and they were maintained by homeowners. Eventually, Everthrive, as part of our POA landscaping contract, took over their care. Their primary expense continues to be the lack of water access requiring Evergreen to hand water them. Last year, a Beautification Committee member presented his proposal to take on a separate contract to pay for ongoing care and replacement of roses which were not getting watered. This was discussed and tabled at several consecutive Board meetings before it fizzled away. No additional money was ever spent on these roses as the Opposition continues to suggest. New roses were not purchased, and the “Beautification” proposed contract was never signed. Yet the opposition continues to suggest the Board created a $25,000 “rose contract”. That never happened.
4. The Snowplow – Another false accusation which our opposition seems to enjoy rehashing. They got their hands on a receipt for a Snowplow rental paid for by the POA. Opposition seems to believe they discovered something secret and illegal. The Truth: The horrendous SNOWMAGEDDON in LCPOA about a decade ago limited road travel for several days. People could not drive down the hill. Fast forward a couple of years later when another big snowstorm was predicted. The board preemptively, and in conjunction with a member from the Road Committee, agreed to rent a snowplow which remained parked on a contractor’s property just in case. Fortunately, that was never needed. No snow and nothing nefarious.
* excludes design cost