Resources

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. 

 

 

Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.

Millions of neighbors take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities from all fifty states, U.S. territories and military bases worldwide on the first Tuesday in August (Texas celebrates on the first Tuesday in October). Neighborhoods host block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts and various other community events with safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel, exhibits and much, much more.

On May 29, 2017, the Texas Legislature concluded the 2017 legislative session. For the first time since the enactment of Chapter 82 of the Texas Property Code in 1993, the Legislature made no modifications to Title VII of the Texas Property Code (which governs condominiums) or Title XI of the Texas Property Code (which governs all property owners associations). In short, there are no new statutory laws that directly impact Texas condominiums and property owners associations.

 

That being said, the Texas Legislature did enact a few new statutory laws that indirectly affect Texas condominiums and property owners associations, and such new statutory laws are summarized HERE.  

Do you have what it takes to be a good board member? Chances are you do.

 

If you have a mix of some of the following traits and skills, consider running for a seat on the board. We’d love to have you.

 

Respect. If you can give others respect and expect it in return, you can help keep board discussions civil, productive and on point. We’re looking for people who can lead by consensus, not by command.

 

Good listening. People want to be heard. Can you listen to board members and residents with sincere interest? You may have a few ideas of your own, but everyone benefits by sharing and discussing.

 

Thick skin. Sometimes, residents—even other board members—can be mean and insulting. Are you good at turning a conversation around and finding out what’s really bothering people?

 

Egos aside. If you can give others credit, the board will operate better as a team.

 

Agenda aside. Members who come to the board looking to help only themselves are a problem. A board is more productive when members don’t have a personal punch list. Are you able to look after the community, not just your own interests? Are you willing to compromise? 

 

Skill. An association is a business. So having board members with accounting, organizational behavior and teambuilding backgrounds can help. Someone with a financial background, for example, might make for a good treasurer.

 

The ideal board comprises a mix of management styles, professional skills and temperaments. If you know people with some of these traits or relevant skills, ask them if they’d be interested in joining the board. Some people don’t think about running for a seat unless asked.

 

You don’t have to know everything when you join, but you should be familiar with the governing documents and the responsibilities of the job. Fellow board members and managers can help you with the transition and train you on board responsibilities, current work, projects and hot issues. 

 

Leaders can come from different places and backgrounds. There’s no one mode that fits all. Share your knowledge and passion with the community.
 

As a recognized homeowners association, our community has a board to help our HOA run smoothly. The board consists of volunteers who execute a wide variety of tasks you may not be aware of; however, their work affects every single resident. 

 

One of the most important things the board does is create and enforce the association rules. While some residents may not like being told what they can and can’t do, ultimately the board is looking out for the greater good. By enforcing the rules, the board is doing its best to keep property value up and conflicts down. Of course, the board wants to make sure the rules are beneficial for the majority—and hopefully all—residents. You are welcome to raise concerns about the rules at open board meetings.

 

Another major responsibility of the board is to collect assessments from homeowners. Collecting this money is important for the stability of the association, because the assessments pay for the common elements enjoyed by all residents. Assessments also help to replenish the reserve funds, which pay for any major repairs the association may need. The board is responsible for the association’s finances, and collecting assessments is how it ensures that the association remains solvent.

 

Finally, the board acts on behalf of the association by hiring managers, attorneys, contractors and other professionals who help better the association. Board members also help conceive and lead many of the projects that will improve the HOA.

 

While it’s a big job, board members are happy to serve the residents and make the community a great place to call home. So why not learn more about what these volunteers do by talking to your board members, attending an open board meeting or even running for a seat on the board during our next election? The more people we have looking out for our association, the stronger it will be.
 

Are you getting ready to make an addition to your house or build a new shed or fence in your back yard? Before you break out the miter saw, make sure to get your plans approved by our association’s architectural committee. 

 

While it may seem arbitrary from an individual homeowner’s standpoint, the architectural committee looks out for the entire community. Aside from stopping residents from painting pink polka dots on their houses, the committee’s job is to make sure that the size and style of the project, the type of building materials being used and the overall look of the new structure adhere to the association’s design requirements. Not only does this keep the community looking cohesive, it also helps to keep property values up by preventing individual structures from standing out. Of course, it’s also important to note that unapproved structures might legally have to be removed at the owner’s expense, so save yourself money and headaches by getting approval before building.

 

So when you’re ready to start your new project, or if the design of your project changes midway through building it, send your plans to the architectural committee first so that we can make sure they’re in compliance with the association’s design standards. If we do find any issues, we’ll let you know what they are and try to help you come up with other options. We appreciate all the hard work residents have done to make their homes and this community beautiful—help us keep this association looking great by keeping us in the loop of all your building projects.
 

As a homeowner in our association, you have certain rights—and responsibilities. 

 

You have the right to . . .

 

 

You also have the responsibility to . . .

 

We’ve got an election coming up, and even if you’re unable to attend the membership meeting and election, you can still vote by proxy. 

 

A proxy is the written authorization that allows one person to appoint another (the proxy holder) to vote on his or her

behalf. State law and the association’s governing documents specify that the association can use proxy voting.

 

Why would you use a proxy? Maybe you’re traveling during the election or have other obligations that prevent you from attending the meeting, but you still want your voice to be heard. 

 

If you’re interested in using a proxy, the manager or a board member for a proxy form. Cite the name and address of the individual you’re appointing to cast your vote. Then list your name, address and telephone number, and sign and date the form. 

 

The association can only accept one proxy form per person, so be sure to fill out your form accurately. By only accepting one official form, the association doesn’t need to check each proxy to determine if it's legally sufficient. It also eliminates any potential problems if the vote is close.

 

Just be aware that by assigning your proxy to another person, you’ve authorized the proxy holder to vote for you as he or she sees fit. The proxy holder is responsible for voting or abstaining from a vote. 

 

Essentially, a proxy is an act of trust—the proxy giver must trust the judgment of the proxy holder. The proxy giver may think the proxy holder will vote for a certain candidate or issue, but the proxy holder isn’t legally bound by that assumption unless it’s written on the proxy form.
 

If you rent a home in our community, you’re part of our community association, and we welcome you. We’d like to meet you at our community events, meetings, and social gatherings. 

Sometimes we can’t reach you to announce a party or meeting, especially if you’re leasing from an out-of-state owner or a corporation. If this is you, please let our manager or a board member know your name, address, and phone—and we’ll include you on all our mailing lists.

In case your landlord hasn’t passed along this information, here are a few tips to make living in our community enjoyable and stress free:

So, welcome to our community. We want you to enjoy your experience here—perhaps enough to become an owner some day.
 

Your association employs us as your professional community manager, and we think residents should know what the manager has—and has not—been hired to do. The manager has two primary responsibilities: to carry out policies set by the board and to manage the association's daily operations. 

 

Some residents expect the manager to perform certain tasks that just aren’t part of the job. When the manager doesn’t meet those expectations, residents naturally are unhappy. Since we want you to be happy, we’re offering a few clarifications to help you understand what the manager does.
 

We are here to help keep your community looking great and your property values high.  Please let us know if you have any specific questions on our services.  Additional details are located on our services page.  

Can't decide who will pay for the fence?  Property damaged by the neighbors?  Bruised by a dispute with your neighbor? The occasional conflict is a natural byproduct of living very close to one another. It’s possible to get your disagreement resolved before it escalates and certainly before you end up in court. You should consider mediation—a process that can save you money and aggravation and lead to more peaceful community environment.

 

In mediation, a neutral third party meets with you and your neighbor, often in an informal setting, to keep everyone focused on solving the problem. Mediation works particularly well by managing expectations; and, generally, the dispute is resolved within a day. 

 

For example, let’s say you’re battling your neighbor about noise. She works until 2 a.m. and infuriates you by making noise in the wee hours of the morning. Through mediation, each of you can talk, listen and learn about each other. She agrees to be respectful when she gets home; and you can call when there is a problem.

 

A mediators’ first task is to understand how and why the conflict escalated. He or she is trained to search through highly charged responses to understand the crux of the problem. Mediation is about compromise. Be willing to learn and hear. Be open-minded. Mediation tends to fail when people can't get beyond their emotions. 

 

If you go to court, one of you will win and one will lose. If you mediate your differences, both of you will find consensus-based, creative solutions to your problems. And that allows for more harmony in the community.
 

Few events in life are more exciting than buying your first home. We’re glad you’ve chosen us! You’re now a member of our community association. We’re proud of our association and trust it will contribute to the quality of your experience in our community. Here are a few tips and bits of information to help you make the most of community association living.

 

Your Own Space

 

There’s one important difference between renting and owning a home that you need to keep in mind. Unlike renting, your unit and its upkeep belong entirely to you. You’re responsible for all maintenance for any part of your home that is used only by you or your family. So, when the faucet leaks, the first person to call is your favorite plumber, not the association manager.

 

Common Elements and Assessments

 

The community has a number of common areas and services—like the grounds and the maintenance to keep them attractive and enjoyable. We share these areas and their expenses when we pay our assessments. 

 

Community Rules

 

Because many residents share the common areas, it’s necessary to have a few basic rules so everyone can enjoy the community. If you don’t have a copy of the community rules, please look at your communities page.  Rules for each association are located there.  

 

Membership 

 

When you bought your new home, you became a member of our community association. Membership entitles you to attend and observe board meetings and vote in board elections. You may even want to consider running for a board seat yourself. Our community thrives because residents volunteer for committee assignments and eagerly stand for board elections. Get involved—we need you.

 

Please contact us for more information or if you have questions about the association
 

Some residents think homeowners and condominium associations (generally called community associations) exist just to tell them what to do—or not do. Actually, the association is more like a housing management or service-delivery organization that provides three types of services to all residents---owners and renters alike.

 

 

Providing these services requires good management (whether carried out by a professional manager or a self-managing board of home owners), strong planning and organization, and carefully monitoring the association’s affairs. It isn’t easy, but by fairly and effectively delivering these services, community associations protect and enhance the value of individual homes and lenders’ interests in those homes.

Many of our youngest residents have the freedom to play outside to their heart’s content (or at least until mom or dad call them back inside). While we encourage kids to enjoy playing outside to the fullest, we also want everyone to stay safe. Here are a few guidelines

 

 

While there can be many hazards, there’s no reason your kids can’t come out unscathed (notwithstanding a few minor scrapes, bruises and bug bites, of course). To learn more about how you can keep your kids from getting hurt, visit www.cdc.gov/features/KidsSafety/ for a list of great articles. Stay safe.
 

In these times of economic distress, many people are concerned about the threat of rising crime in their communities. Fortunately, there are ways to help protect your home and your neighborhood from crime. From simple steps like keeping your doors locked to starting a Neighborhood Watch program, there are plenty of things you can do to prevent crime.

 

Work with your neighbors to keep your neighborhood clean and orderly. Keep spare keys with a trusted neighbor or nearby shopkeeper, not under a doormat or planter, on a ledge, or in the mailbox. Set timers on lights when you're away from home or your business is closed, so they appear to be occupied. Illuminate or eliminate places an intruder might hide: the spaces between trees or shrubs, stairwells, alleys, hallways, and entry ways. With many law enforcement agencies cutting costs, it has never been more important for citizens to work together to prevent crime.

 

SAN ANTONIO FEAR FREE ENVIRONMENT (SAFFE) consists of officers who focus on identifying, evaluating and resolving community crime problems with the cooperation and participation of community residents.
 

SAFFE officers are assigned to specific areas or neighborhoods within the city, and work closely with both residents and the district patrol officers also assigned to those areas. SAFFE officers establish and maintain day-to-day interaction with residents and businesses within their assigned beats, in order to prevent crimes before they happen.

 

SAFFE officers also act as liaisons with other city agencies, work closely with schools and youth programs, coordinate graffiti-removal activities, and serve as resources to residents who wish to take back their neighborhoods from crime and decay.

Advantages

• Effective in reducing vehicle speeds
• Relatively easy for bicyclists to cross

 

Disadvantages

• Makes traveling on the roadway uncomfortable for motorists and may increase noise
• Increases emergency vehicle response time by 8-10 seconds when installed in pairs
• Requires continuous maintenance

 

Eligibility Considerations

• A completed traffic calming request form, containing signatures of 2/3 of the residents whose property lies along the street segment of the study area
• The street segment must be primarily a residential street or provide access to abutting residential properties
• Street must not have more than one lane of travel in each direction
• Must not be a designated as an arterial street on the Major Thoroughfare Plan
• Speed limit must be 30 mph
• The street segment must be at least a 1/4 mile long without interruption by a traffic control device or other traffic calming feature
• The street segment must not be within 1/4 mile from a Fire Department facility that it significantly interferes with emergency vehicle operations

Did you know it is unlawful to keep or maintain swine, including pot-belly pigs, within the City (Chapter 5. Sec. 5-50.).  In addition to the city laws below, most HOA documents restrict livestock and animals within associations.  

 

Did you know that it shall be unlawful for any person to keep livestock in the city without first applying in writing and obtaining a livestock permit (Chapter 5. Sec. 5-114.).

 

Did you know that the total number of domestic fowl and livestock allowed at a residence is five which may include: (Chatper 5. Sec. 5-109)

• Up to three domestic fowl (chickens, roosters, etc.) and

All livestock and fowl must be restrained at all times in accordance with City law. Failure to do so may result in citations and/or the impoundment of the roaming animals.  HOWEVER - Check your HOA documents.  Most HOA's prohibit livestock or poultry of any kind and number.  

Removing a cat from an area does not "fix" a neighborhood cat problem. Cats are territorial and, as such, mark their territory. Removing a cat from a neighborhood just opens up their "territory" for a new cat to come in.

 

Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR) has proved to be the only long-term solution to humanely control cat populations