SAFETY and SECURITY
WORKING TOGETHER TO KEEP SONOMA RANCH SAFE
Attention all Sonoma Ranch Homeowners

As you all know our Board of Directors approved the installation of security cameras at all gated entrances and exits as well as the clubhouse, pool area, and sports courts. We thought you would appreciate knowing the general timeline for installation of these cameras. Installation is expected to start on or about April 12, 2010.

The order of gate installation is as follows: Main, Hills, Springs, Summit, Enclave, and finally concluding with the clubhouse, pool area, and sports courts. Our expected completion date will be on or about May 21, 2010 which includes a system tests of all installation phases to ensure satisfactory operation.

We hope you are as excited as we are about this project as we move forward to enhance our ability to protect our valuable Sonoma Ranch property and assets.

Traffic Study Results

Attached are some of the files from the recently conducted Sonoma Ranch traffic study. The traffic study was conducted by Kimley-Horn & Associates (KH). The results are currently being evaluated by KH and the SSC. The next SSC meeting is scheduled for April 13, at 6:30 at the Clubhouse.

SAFETY AND SECURITY COMMITTEE UPDATE:

RECAP OF THE SONOMA RANCH SAFETY AND SECURITY COMMITTEE ACTION ITEMS

The newly re-formed Safety and Security Committee has been very busy the last few months. Since we were re-formed in early November, our 10 person committee has met 7 times to discuss many of the concerns of the homeowners. Many of these concerns came to us from the Sonoma Ranch Survey that many of you fill out in 2009 as well as homeowners who attended the meetings. We all agreed that that while Sonoma Ranch is a wonderful place to live in there are things we can do to improve our safety and quality of life. After listening to all the concerns here are some of the major projects we are working on:

1. Sonoma Ranch to become a fully gated community 24/7 as originally planned

The Safety and Security Committee has listened to many of you and we have recommended that all gates remain closed 24/7. As you are all aware the gates are currently opened from 6:00 AM to 8:30 AM and from 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM every day. On February 5th, the board approved that recommendation. On March 22, 2010 ALL gates will be closed 24/7. A notice will be part of the newsletter. We urge residents to allow for extra time in entering and exiting gates. Please remember that tailgating can cause accidents.

2. Surveillance cameras will be installed at all the gate exits and entrances

Coinciding with the closing of the gates 24/7, surveillance cameras will be installed at all the gate entrances and exits. The Meadows are also in these discussions. The board approved this measure last year and after hearing all the concerns of the homeowners, the Safety and Security also approved this. This ratification and recommendation was then formally approved by the Board at the February 5th meeting. The cameras will not record voice, but will record in color, both during the daytime and at night. These cameras will help keep our neighborhoods safer both in the day and at night and these cameras will also allow us to recoup some of the expenses that we currently incur because we are unable to identify those who cause damage to the gates.

3. Speeding

Speeding has been the number one concern of all our homeowners. There is not a day that goes by that I do not receive emails from our homeowners on this problem. We took this concern very seriously and decided to seek outside help and hired an engineering firm to perform a traffic survey of Sonoma Ranch.

Some of you may have seen cables that were stretched along certain streets of Sonoma Ranch a few weeks ago. These cables were attached to a box that record average speeds and traffic volume information. Preliminary data from this engineering firm confirms that Sonoma Ranch does have a speeding problem. In fact, over 80% of the vehicles that use Candelaria, in the Summit and Reserve, exceed the speed limit.

The speed limit is 25 mph. The most notorious location for speeders seems to be Southbound on Candelaria in the Summit. 40% of the vehicles at this location exceeded the speed limit by over 10 mph. This is just one example of the information that the engineering firm has presented to us and they have similar information on other main streets throughout Sonoma Ranch. We are currently exploring ways to slow down these speeders at these locations and other locations throughout the community and installing the proper speed humps is one of these ways.

The new speed humps will be an approved typed specified by the engineering firm. The existing speed ”bumps” will be removed and replaced as required with new speed humps as indicated by the engineering firm. I can assure all of you that we, as a committee, truly have the best interests of all our homeowners in mind and we will research all means in order to resolve this problem.

You are always welcome to attend any of our Safety and Security Committee meetings. They almost always take place during the second week of every month at 6:30 PM in the Sonoma Ranch Clubhouse. The specific date will be posted on the Sonoma Ranch Website every month. We welcome your attendance and your input and I thank everyone who has worked with us over the past 4 months.

Regards,

Mike DeFilippo
Safety and Security Committee Chair
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SPEEDING

This is perhaps the most reported offense that has been increasingly problematic. The speed limit for ALL areas of SONONA RANCH is 25 MPH.

Because we have repeat violators, this has warranted the implementation of Speed Bumps.

We are all part of this neighborhood. Please talk to your neighbor about speeding.

This speed limit monitor will be placed at problem areas around the neighborhoods. Please observe the speed limit!

CRIME

The best way to avoid crime is deterrence. One way that you can help is decreasing opportunities for crime by keeping valuables out of sight; don’t leave laptops or pocketbooks in your car where you create opportunity. Keep garage doors closed, when you are not outside. If a crime should occur, please contact the SAPD or the Bexar County Sheriff’s office depending on where you live. Also, please send a message to our onsite manager so that we may post limited details on our website so that others may be aware –keep lights on—be on the lookout. That will force would be criminals to move to another area.

REPORTING:

If an EMERGENCY:
CALL 911 (If you are not sure, you should still call 911. All incoming calls are triaged. The police dispatcher determines what IS an emergency or not and will make the decision on Prioritization, so you need not be concerned that something does not warrant a 911 call or not.)
Certain crimes may be reported ONLINE:

The San Antonio Police Department has recently begun taking certain reports ONLINE via its website:

www.sanantonio.gov/sapd

This service allows crime victims to file a police report from the convenience of work or home, while simultaneously reducing calls for service on field units. A reduction in call volume means patrol officers can spend more time deterring crime, rather than responding to crime that may have already occurred.

At the present time, crimes reported online must meet the following criteria:
  • The suspect(s) are unknown
  • Theft under $500 (no firearms)
  • Burglary of vehicle
  • Criminal Mischief (vandalism) under $500
  • Graffiti under $500.00
  • Theft of Service under $500.00
  • Lost Property
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WILD ANIMAL SIGHTINGS:

A coyote was spotted on December 1 in the Summit/Reserve area. It does not seem to be afraid of humans, and it has been seen roaming the streets during the day.

Please be very careful with these animals. They are very unpredictable. If you see a coyote in your neighborhood, you should immediately contact the local police (i.e. SAPD or Bexar County Sheriff) or even the Game Warden at 1-800-792-GAME.
These will be posted with date of report and area for reference.