Recap of December 2009

# of Calls for Service by Security: 94

# of Member Communication Forms Received at Association Office:  26

1 - One (1) complaint regarding a fallen branch from an oak tree.  The complaining party was concerned about the health of the tree.

Action: Code Enforcement photographed the tree and prepared an incident report which is on file.  The tree shows no signs of instability at this time.

2 - One (1) complaint about an erratic driver who crossed over into on-coming traffic and almost hit the complaining party.  The license plate was provided, but no description of the driver was available.   

Action: Security Officer interviewed both parties, with the owner of the vehicle denying the allegations.  No citation issued.

3 - One (1) complaint about the condition of a property related to debris.  This property is occupied by a tenant.

Action:  Code Enforcement notified the owner.  The property was is the process of being cleaned up when notified.  Code Enforcement will continue to monitor.

4 - One (1) complaint regarding the dirt road access from G-14 into Tract 1990 via Holly Drive.

Action:  GM explained status of dirt road to the complaining party, which involves a non-exclusive easement granted to the owners of a ten (10) acre parcel which is landlocked within Tract 1990.  HROA intends to eventually install gates, and provide keys to those who have rights for ingress and egress.  GM directed Maintenance to install a sign indicating “private property, not a through road” in the meantime.

In addition to the above, HROA received twenty-two (22) comments (negative and positive) about the sheep grazing at Heritage Ranch in preparation for a meeting held before the HROA Board.  Five (5) of the above were submitted by the same individual.

Action:  At the December 11, 2009 HROA Board Meeting, the Board agreed that HROA and the lessee would work together to better monitor the sheep, including: cleaning the roads, sheep getting onto private property, sheepherder’s dogs, and location of sheep grazing, and continue to provide written incident reports regarding complaints received; with the overall goal of developing a written grazing plan.

# of Citations Issued: 34

Parking Violation = 1

Parking of Boat, RV, Camper = 8

Driving / Parking in Common Area = 1

Failure to Stop = 1

Excessive Speed = 1

Unsafe Driving / Passing = 5

Illegal Entry = 3

Aiding Illegal Entry = 4

Vehicle not in HROA System = 1

Foul Language = 1

Disturbing the Peace = 1

Unleashed Dog = 4

Impounding of Dog = 3

Barking or Nuisance Animal = 2

Lot – Weeds / Debris = 1

Lot – Stripped / Junk / In-Op Vehicle = 2

Other = 2

(Multiple Violations = 7 Written Warnings Issued = 27)

Summary of action taken at Board Meeting(s) for December 2009

In December 2009, the Board of Directors held their regularly scheduled monthly Board Meeting on December 11th. The following appeals / security related issues were discussed or acted on (by agenda item):

6.  Approve/Disapprove a second 90-Day AEC extension for Ortiz, Lot 270 / Tract 452, Landscape and Driveway Project   SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1On January 22, 2009 the Ortizs received approval from the AEC Committee for a landscape and driveway project.  The approval stated they had six months to complete the project.  The completed project requires a final sign-off from HROA.  No Compliance Deposit is required for a project such as this.

On July 8, 2009 the Ortizs received a 90-day extension from the AEC Committee to complete the project. On October 30, 2009 the Ortizs were notified by letter that their extension had lapsed.  On November 8, 2009 the Ortizs notified HROA they needed an additional extension, at which time they were notified the matter would be referred to the HROA Board.  Action:  Approved a 60-day extension

 SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 112.  Property Owner Appeal – Walbey, Lot 5/Tract 1910, AEC Compliance Deposit Forfeiture of $2,500.00 (7:00 p.m.)  Action: Postponed until January 2010, pending additional information to be obtained by HROA/Member

13.  Property Owner Appeal – Lake, Citation #9540, $100.00, Unsafe Driving (7:15 p.m.)  Action: Upheld

14.  Property Owner Appeal – Quick (Tenant), Citation #9654, $300.00, Illegal Entry and Aiding Illegal Entry (7:30 p.m.)  Action: Reduced to a warning

15.  Property Owner Appeal – Hayden, Citation #9688, $50.00, Altering Common Area and Illegal Sign (7:45 p.m.)  Action: Upheld $25.00 Illegal Sign, waived $25.00 Illegal Business

16.  Property Owner Dispute – Coffman, requesting to be taken off the “Revoked Privilege List” (8:00 p.m.)  Action: Reduced citation to a warning, which removes the debt owed

You can find the agenda and minutes for all meetings by clicking on the CALENDAR found on the front page of the HROA website at www.hroa.us

Summary of Security-Related Activities

HROA Security continues to assist law enforcement with twenty-seven (27) law enforcement related incidents, including but not limited to: 6 disturbing the peace, 8 check the welfare, 8 possible prowlers, 5 vandalisms, 3 illegal dumping incidents, 1 theft and 1 burglary.  HROA Security also handled an additional 25 dog related incidents.  

Fifteen (15) reported crimes required an investigation, which includes the following:

Two (2) incidents were related to the New Year’s Eve party: one (1) was a hit-and-run traffic accident which was investigated and solved by HROA Security.  The CHP was notified, but due to their call load, they were unable to respond.  Both parties have exchanged information and now it is in the hands of their insurance companies.  The second incident involved a drunken individual, identified as Dennis Quick.  While being escorted from the party, Mr. Quick became combative and assaulted HROA Security Officer Garner.  Mr. Quick was held for the SLO County Sheriff’s Department; he was arrested for assault and public intoxication.  Mr. Quick was a guest of a tenant at the time of the incident; the owner of the property was cited.

A burglary occurred at 5002 Meadow Lark Lane.  The occupants were in the process of moving.  Two (2) juveniles entered the residence and vandalized the interior and removed a laptop computer.  They also vandalized the exterior of the property.  Due to the quick response by HROA Security Officer Arnold and a neighbor who heard the victim yelling for help, both juveniles were taken into custody.  The property was recovered and they were turned over to the Sheriff’s Department for prosecution.  The juveniles are not being identified due to their age.

A theft of wood occurred at the end of Edgewood Court in Tract 1990.  The unknown suspects also damaged HROA property by driving off-road.  The Sheriff’s Department was contacted.

Three (3) domestic disputes were reported and handled by HROA Security along with the Sheriff’s Department.  One (1) dispute resulted in the arrest of an individual related to the incident.  

Three (3) illegal dumping incidents were reported.  One (1) was at the Holiday House Condominiums (Tract 466), one (1) was at the day beach behind the Country Store, and one (1) was at the Tract 447 dumpster enclosure.  Through follow up investigation, the Tract 466 dumping was determined not to be illegal.  The remaining two (2) are still under investigation.

Five (5) vandalisms were reported, four (4) of which involved HROA property.  The four (4) HROA vandalisms included: the Gateway Park restroom, the men’s restroom at the campground, a light post at the Recreation Barn, and the women’s restroom at the Heritage Park pool.  HROA’s policy is to notify the Sheriff’s Department who assigns a crime case number.  The reason for the case number is if the suspects are identified through follow up investigation, HROA will prosecute those individuals.

HROA Security’s goal is to provide services to HROA Members that will most benefit them.  If you wish to speak to me directly, call the Association Office at 805-238-9641, leave me a message and I will return your call as soon as possible.  Our goal is to maintain your confidentiality, if you are complaining about another member.  Please keep in mind that certain complaints by their nature might require your cooperation in order to process them to your complete satisfaction.                

Sincerely,

Butch Cantalupo

Security Consultant for HROA

Tip of the Month – Mailbox Thefts/Vandalism

In the past, Heritage Ranch members have experienced mailbox thefts along with vandalism of the same.  The vandalism can mask the fact that mail may have been stolen.  Identity theft is on the rise, and thieves are looking for such things as social security checks, state and federal tax returns, along with other such personalized information that get placed in unlocked mailboxes.

Locking your mailbox is encouraged by both HROA and the U.S. Post Office.  You can use an individual or a group mailbox.  The local Post Office will equip the locking mailboxes with their lock so they can deliver your mail.  Tracts 1910 and 1990 have group boxes.  View their setup and speak with your neighbors about purchasing a group mailbox. 

Remember, that HROA has a locking mailbox you can use for your outgoing mail.  It is located alongside the exit lane at the Main Gatehouse.  It is easy to avoid becoming a victim with a little work.

PLAY SAFE

BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR

BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS

HELP US, HELP YOU