August 12, 2016
Dear Residents,
It’s time for another report from your community Board of Directors:
Security – Security is always a top priority for your Board. We would like to acknowledge that the Board and Management are aware of the challenges our community is facing with our security team and current security service provider, U. S. Security. Over the past several months, the Association has had many meetings and conversations with representatives from U. S. Security to address and resolve concerns with service deficiencies in Royal Oaks. We had been optimistic that improvements would be made to restore our confidence in their ability to maintain the safety and security of the community but we are prepared to make changes as needed to ensure Royal Oaks residents are protected and receive the best possible service.
We ask for your patience during this time and assure you that changes will be made in the best interest of the community. In the meantime, to ensure that all concerns expressed by our residents are addressed we are asking that in addition to reporting incidents directly to security, residents should send an email to management at dr@pmghouston.com to ensure follow up of matters reported.
Traffic Enforcement Policy – High on the list of community concern are the drivers within the neighborhood breaking traffic laws. We have heard time and time again that drivers are speeding and running stop signs. How simple is it to drive 20 miles an hour and stop at the few stop signs within the neighborhood? With the change in the HOA laws several months ago we had to go back to square one and implement a comprehensive policy that allows the Association to enforce what are basically Texas traffic laws, along with Association rules that were put in place when the community was formed.
Here is a link to that Policy:
https://rorcoa.com/new-traffic-rules-enforcement-policy-effective-06032016-3/
Board Meetings – The Board has met five times this year, with its last meeting being held on June 29. The next meeting is scheduled for September 19 at 11:30 a.m. Homeowners are always welcome at these meetings and are encouraged to attend.
Spring Fling – Royal Oaks Living sponsored the now annual Spring Fling. Various vendors displayed their wares and gave residents “goodies” to take home. There was good food, activities for the children, and a band! Thanks as always to Agnes Martin, her crew, and the volunteers who did their usual excellent job of putting this event together for the benefit of our community.
Wall Repairs – The repairs to the wall have been completed as part of our yearly wall maintenance.
Bonnebridge Esplanade – The Board approved a new drip irrigation system be installed at two areas on the Bonnebridge Esplanade. We were advised that the new system should prevent the excess flow of water down Bonnebridge.
Landscape Lights – Information on potential warranty coverage for the approximately 65 non-working landscape lights was obtained and warranty coverage is being pursued. These are lights that were installed only a few years ago. To date, nearly 87 of them have become inoperable. We are hopeful that the warranty will cover the situation, but much depends upon proper installation and a few other matters that were handled at the time. Please be patient while we pursue the warranty coverage.
Water Feature – Residents may have noticed that the lights illuminating the water feature were constantly changing colors. This was not planned but was apparently caused by an electrical issue. A new GFI was installed (under warranty) and the lights are now functioning properly.
Water Conservation – Last year the Board accepted a grant from our MUD to replace 15 year old water controllers with new controllers that were aimed at conserving water. We recently received a report verifying that the new controllers have saved the community $7,698.35 during the 10 months they have been in place and, more importantly, 1,707,000 gallons of water were saved over the same time period.
Park/Basketball Court – New trash receptacles were ordered in late June with a 6 week lead time and should be installed by the end of August.
Wildlife – For over 15 years the community has peacefully coexisted with wildlife in the area. We have rabbits, squirrels, poisonous and non-poisonous snakes, hawks, egrets, herons, raccoons, opossums, feral cats, and coyotes, to name those that readily come to mind. Unfortunately that peaceful coexistence ended with the death of a much loved pet that was left in a backyard overnight. Wildlife are just that – wild – and even though they are living within a large metropolitan area, their natural instincts continue to keep them alive. When p
ossible they will take the easy way to feed themselves – they will eat whatever animal food is left outside – and failing that we have all learned they may attack a living thing.
The Board has undertaken a review of what the community can do to combat the “urban coyotes”. What we have learned isn’t what we expected to learn. We spoke with neighboring communities and with Royal Oaks Country Club management. Both have hired wildlife control companies in the past and present and none have been able to capture a single coyote in our area.
We have also learned, quite surprisingly, that capturing and relocating coyote actually causes the remaining females to produce more pups in what is known as their survival effort.
So what do we do? The recommendation includes undertaking simple common sense actions such as not leaving pets, pet food or water outside. We are also told to “haze” the coyote. Examples of hazing include:
- Never run away from a coyote.
- Yell and wave your arms while approaching the coyote.
- Use noisemakers (e.g. your voice, whistles, air horns, bells, soda cans filled with pennies or dead batteries, pots and pans banged together).
- Use projectiles (e.g. sticks, small rocks, cans, tennis balls, rubber balls).
- Try other repellents (e.g. hoses, water guns with vinegar water, spray bottles with vinegar water, pepper spray, bear repellant, or walking sticks).
We ALL need to be diligent to keep our neighborhood safe.
Respectfully,
Karen Brand
David Muse
Kurt Prohl
Massoud Tabrizi
Lisa Prejean
