Southgate
Official Publication of the Southgate Homeowners Association
The
Southgate G
azette
July 2011
Welcome To The Southgate Gazette Official Newsletter of the Southgate Homeowners Association The Southgate HOA Newsletter is a monthly newsletter mailed to all Southgate residents. Each newsletter will be filled with valuable information about the community, local area activities, school information, and more. If you are involved with a school group, play group, scouts, sports team, social group, etc., and would like to submit an article for the newsletter, you can do so online at www.PEELinc.com, or you can send an email to southgategazette@gmail. com. Personal news (announcements, accolades/ honors/ celebrations, etc.) are also welcome as long as they are from area residents. GO GREEN! Subscribe via Peelinc. com to have an email sent to you with a link to a PDF of the newsletter, or have an email sent to you instead of having a newsletter mailed to you!
Copyright © 2011 Peel, Inc.
Volume 1, Issue 4
Safety Topics at Home • Being safe at home means that when you arrive home, you don't become complacent about safety just because you are in a familiar place. Accidents, such as slips, falls and fires, can happen when you become unconcerned about your home surroundings. You are the best person to make your home a safe place to live. Kitchen Safety • Kitchen cabinets seem to be one of the over looked items in the household. As a safety precaution we should all make sure that we have not over loaded our kitchen cabinets with too much weight. All the wonderful dishes we place in them can cause an extreme amount of weight. So, as a precaution, check around the kitchen walls where the cabinets are connected and make sure they are not pulling away from the walls. By checking your cabinets, this makes for a safer household kitchen. Safety Planning • Develop escape plans to be used if an emergency such as a fire happens, and practice them once a month. Everyone in the house should know where and how to exit the house in case of any emergency. Alternative escape routes should be developed as a backup plan. A meeting place in front of the home should be discussed so that everyone can be accounted for. Disaster Preparedness: A Checklist ___ Make a list of important phone numbers, such as nonemergency numbers for the police and fire departments, FBI field office, and local emergency management office, and post it by your telephone. ___ Make sure children know how to dial 911 or “0” in an emergency. ___ Develop a communications plan for your family. Choose someone who does not live with you (preferably out-of-town) that you and other family members can contact to check on each other in the event that you are separated during a disaster. Carry the number in your wallet and/or program into your cell phone. ___ Establish a meeting place for family members if home or neighborhood evacuation is necessary. Pick one place near your home and one outside your neighborhood in case you can’t return after a disaster. (Continued on page 3)
The Southgate Gazette - July 2011
Southgate Important numbers Emergency Emergency........................................................................911 Poison Control................................................. 800-764-7661 Pearland Police................................................. 291-997-4100 Schools Laura Ingalls Wilder......................................... 281-245-3090 Mary Marek..................................................... 281-245-3232 Manvel Junior High......................................... 281-331-1416 Alvin Senior High............................................ 281-331-8151 Manvel High.................................................... 281-245-2235 Alvin ISD......................................................... 281-338-1130 Utilities Reliant Energy.................................................. 713-207-7777 Center Point..................................................... 713-659-2111 Trash Removal . ............................................... 281-652-1600 City of Pearland City Hall.......................................................... 281-652-1600 Water Dept Billing........................................... 281-652-1603 Animal Control................................................ 281-652-1100 Post Office....................................................... 281-485-2132 Southgate information Articles.......................................
[email protected] BOARD..........................................
[email protected] Web......................................http://southgatecommunity.info LPI Mgmt Company........ 281-412-2580 or
[email protected] Publisher - Peel Inc...................................... www.peelinc.com Advertising....................................................1-888-687-6444
Article Submissions Interested in submitting an article? You can do so by emailing
[email protected] or by going to http:// www.peelinc.com/articleSubmit.php. All news must be received by the 8th of the month prior to the issue. So if you are involved with a school group, scouts, sports etc – please submit your articles for The Southgate Gazette. Personal news for the Stork Report, Teenage Job Seekers, special celebrations and military service are also welcome.
Home Safety Tips Do you have a home safety tip to share? If so, please send an email to
[email protected]. Include the words “Home Safety Tip” in the subject of the email. We’ll do our best to include these tips in future newsletters.
Community Weekly Bible Study/Prayer
Do you have questions about the Bible? Is there anything you would like us to pray about? We will be praying for the needs of the community, along with a short, encouraging Bible Study. 11409 Harris Avenue (we are on lake side of Southgate) Fridays @ 7:30 p.m. For more info, email
[email protected]
Go Green Go Paperless Sign up to receive The Southgate Gazette in your inbox. Visit PEELinc.com for details.
Yard of the Month Congratulations to the June Yard of the Month winner Ms. Lou Ann Walker of 11211 Freestone. The Yard of the Month winner receives a well-deserved Home Depot gift certificate.
Congrats Neighbor!
advertising info Please support the advertisers that make The Southgate Gazette possible. If you would like to support the newsletter by advertising, please contact our sales office at 512-263-9181 or
[email protected]. The advertising deadline is the 8th of the month prior to the issue.
The Southgate Gazette - July 2011
Copyright © 2011 Peel, Inc.
Safety tips. - (Continued from Cover Page)
Safety Topics cont. Assemble an emergency preparedness kit that contains the following supplies: three- to five-day supply of water (one gallon per person per day) __ food that will not spoil and requires no cooking __ first-aid kit and needed medicine __ e mergency tools, such as a battery-powered radio, cell phone, __ Flashlight
Southgate Common Code Violations in The City of Pearland Violations concerning items with a registration number are investigated by the Pearland Police Department Sec.13-17 Weeds and other Vegetation It shall be unlawful for any owner , tenant, lessee, agent or occupant of any premises to permit any weeds, grass or brush to grow above the height of twelve (12) inches upon any premises owned, leased, occupied, or controlled by such person, or upon the unpaved portion of any street right-of way abutting said property. Ordinance No.1286 Junked / Abandon Vehicles
__ Extra batteries __ Personal items like toilet paper and plastic garbage bags __ Change of clothing and blankets for each person __ Portable generator if possible
A junked vehicle, including a part of a junked vehicle, that is visible at any time of the year from a public place or right-of way is detrimental to the safety and welfare of the general public, tends to reduce the value of private property, invites vandalism, creates a fire hazard, is an attractive nuisance creating a hazard to the health and safety of minors. Ordinance No. 181-5 Sec. 12-2
__ Take a basic course in CPR and first-aid. __ Learn how to turn off water, gas, and electricity at main switches. __ Learn about emergency plans for your children’s school or day care Center. __ D raw a floor plan of your home and mark two escape routes from each room. Practice your evacuation plan. __ Know your community’s evacuation routes. __ Work with your Neighborhood Watch group or civic association to create a community disaster preparedness plan.
A person, owner, tenant, agent or person responsible for any premises, occupied or unoccupied, commits an offense if said person maintains or places garbage/waste at curbside for collection prior to schedule collection date. Violation of this ordinance shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed 2,000.00 dollars. United Development Code Chapter 2 Outside storage in the front yard is prohibited, except for storage within leased portable containers such as PODS for no longer than seven ( 7 ) calendar days. Complaint Line: Please call 281-652-1766 if you have a complaint about code enforcement issues such as health complaints, junk vehicles, vehicles parked in the street, etc. Leave a detailed message and phone number where you can be reached. The voice mails are checked daily and the necessary actions will be taken. Once your complaint is received, a Pearland Police Officer will investigate the complaint and, if requested, will respond to you within 48-72 hours.
Looking to get an edge on selling your home for top dollar.....
Ask about the no obligation FREE home consultation. Ready to buy a home...ask about the no obligation FREE buyer blueprint. Southgate, I am “Providing The Expertise Necessary To Serve You!”
www.mymove2houston.com Copyright © 2011 Peel, Inc.
Chalmette Chalmette Ray Ray Keller Keller Williams Williams Realty Realty Real Estate Estate Consultant Consultant Real 713-591-5922 713-591-5922 The Southgate Gazette - July 2011
Southgate Pearland to Install Advanced Traffic Light System The city of Pearland is hoping to reduce traffic congestion by installing an advanced traffic light system. It’s planned for FM 518 between Kirby and FM 1128. Traffic can get really congested in and around the Highway 288 and 518 interchange and it stays that way through Silverlake. The system will collect traffic data through the use of detection cameras and use the data to determine the amount of time a light stays red or green. The project is expected to be completed in August.
Late Fee Policy
WATER CONSERVATION TIPS One of the most important ways to help meet our water supply demands for today and tomorrow is through conservation, which is the efficient and effective use of water. Use these simple ways to conserve water and save on your water bill. INDOORS • Find and repair leaks on faucets, sinks, and toilets - leaks are often silent, which allows loss of water to go undetected for long periods of time. An average leaky toilet can waste about 200 gallons of water per day. • Install low volume showerheads - a water saving showerhead should have a flow rate of 3 gallons or less a minute. Standard showerheads use from 5 to 10 gallons a minute.
Did you know Southgate has a late fee policy for annual assessments? Assessments received after January 31st in the year that they are due are subject to an initial $25 late fee and $10 per month thereafter. Late assessments are also charged 18% interest beginning on February 1st in the year they are due. Our annual assessments are only $200, significantly less than all surrounding communities. Our assessments pay for maintenance of our common areas and the upkeep of our entrances. Assessments not paid after 3 months can be turned over to the attorney for collections, up to and including foreclosure! You can review our Late Fee Policy at http://southgatecommunity. info. Click on HOA Docs then Deed Restrictions and Other Docs. If you haven’t paid your assessments for 2011, contact LPI TODAY!
• Install faucet aerators - the standard faucet flow rate is 5 gallons a minute. A low flow aerator can reduce this flow to approx. 2.5 gallons a minute.
Fine Policy
• Use mulch around trees and in flowerbeds. Mulch helps retain moisture and moderates temperature.
The fine policy for Southgate Community took effect on June 1st, 2010. Fines will be assessed for deed restriction violations including landscaping violations. The fine policy can be viewed on our website at http://sgatehoa.org
Fireworks Safety The City of Pearland Fire Marshal would like to take a moment to remind Pearland residents that open burning and the use of fireworks is strictly prohibited within the city limits of Pearland and the surrounding Pearland ETJ, as stated in the City of Pearland Ordinance (Ord. No. 513-2 , § 1, 6-11-90). If you have any questions regarding this message or need to know if you are in an area affected by this ban, please contact the Pearland Fire Marshal Office at 281652-1954.
The Southgate Gazette - July 2011
• Change water use patterns o Use the minimum amount of water needed for a bath. o Take shorter showers. o Turn off the water as you brush your teeth, wash your face or shave. OUTDOORS • Water lawns during the early morning hours or early evening hours when temperatures and winds are at they’re lowest. This reduces losses from evaporation. • Do not use sprinklers that produce a fine mist.
• Use a broom to clean leaves and other debris from sidewalks and driveways rather than a hose. For more water conservation tips, please go to http://www.cityofpearland.com/index.asp?Type=B_ BASIC&SEC={79363929-C720-49C8-BFB3-1FB62FD0854C}
Cypress Fellowship Offers Coupon Class Learn to save serious money on groceries, at restaurants, and even at clothing stores. The Women’s Ministry of Cypress Fellowship will offer a class on “couponing” to the community on Sunday, April 10 2-4 pm. The cost is only $5 and includes class materials and refreshments! Contact Erica Ryan at
[email protected] for more information! Copyright © 2011 Peel, Inc.
Southgate WATER CONSERVATION TIPS One of the most important ways to help meet our water supply demands for today and tomorrow is through conservation, which is the efficient and effective use of water. Use these simple ways to conserve water and save on your water bill. INDOORS • Find and repair leaks on faucets, sinks, and toilets - leaks are often silent, which allows loss of water to go undetected for long periods of time. An average leaky toilet can waste about 200 gallons of water per day. • Install low volume showerheads - a water saving showerhead should have a flow rate of 3 gallons or less a minute. Standard showerheads use from 5 to 10 gallons a minute. • Install faucet aerators - the standard faucet flow rate is 5 gallons a minute. A low flow aerator can reduce this flow to approx. 2.5 gallons a minute. • Change water use patterns
o Use the minimum amount of water needed for a bath. o Take shorter showers. o Turn off the water as you brush your teeth, wash your face or shave. OUTDOORS • Water lawns during the early morning hours or early evening hours when temperatures and winds are at they’re lowest. This reduces losses from evaporation. • Do not use sprinklers that produce a fine mist. • Us e m u l c h a r o u n d t re e s a n d i n flowerbeds. Mulch helps retain moisture and moderates temperature. • Use a broom to clean leaves and other debris from sidewalks and driveways rather than a hose. For more water conservation tips, please go to http://www.cityofpearland.com/index. asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={79363929C720-49C8-BFB3-1FB62FD0854C}
National Night Out Mark your calendar for the 28th National Night Out on Tuesday, October 4th. Most of the country will celebrate on August 2nd, but because of our heat Texas opted to change our date to October 4th several years ago. Go to http://www.natw.org/ nno/about.html to read the history of the event. Contact the board at
[email protected] if you want to serve on the committee. We could have block parties, or have an event at our new community park. Don’t forget to mark your calendar now! More information will be provided in future newsletters.
it’s Heating up! Save on Your Energy Costs with StarTexPower. Sign up online TODAY at
www.StarTexPower.com. Be sure to use
“Neighborhood Newsletter” as your referral!
We pride ourselves with low rates, award-winning customer service, and no suprises. Listen to Alan “Petrodamus” Lammey, host of ‘Energy Week’, every Sunday on 1070 KNTH in Houston. To speak to Alan Lammey about your electricity needs, call: 281-658-0395 PH: 866-917-8271 PUCT #10089 Copyright © 2011 Peel, Inc.
The Southgate Gazette - July 2011
Southgate Board Of Directors Meetings
The Southgate HOA Board of Directors meets the 2nd Wednesday of every month at the Shepherd of the Heart Methodist Church from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. The church is one-half mile west of Kirby on CR 59. All homeowners are welcome to attend. At the June 8th board meeting, the board voted to place “Amendments to the By-Laws” on the agenda for the July 13th board meeting. These By-Laws have been in place since the inception of our neighborhood and have never been addressed by the current or previous board members. Contact the board at:
[email protected] our new email address. Check out our new website at http://sgatehoa.org and get your own login to your personal account.
%DVKDQV3DLQWLQJ +RPH5HSDLU &RPPHUFLDO5HVLGHQWLDO )UHH(VWLPDWHV
FHOO ,QWHULRU ([WHULRU3DLQWLQJ *DUDJH)ORRU(SR[\ +DUGL3ODQN,QVWDOODWLRQ
&XVWRP6WDLQLQJ
:RRG5HSODFHPHQW
5RRÀQJ
6KHHWURFN5HSDLU
*XWWHU5HSDLU5HSODFHPHQW
,QWHULRU&DUSHQWU\
)DX[3DLQWLQJ
&DELQHW3DLQWLQJ
'RRU5HÀQLVKLQJ
:DOOSDSHU5HPRYDODQG 7H[WXUL]LQJ
:LQGRZ,QVWDOODWLRQ
3UHVVXUH:DVKLQJ
&HLOLQJ)DQ/LJKW)L[WXUHV
)HQFH5HSDLU5HSODFHPHQW
7UDVK5HPRYDO
5HIHUHQFHV$YDLODEOH)XOO\,QVXUHG 123$<0(17817,/&203/(7,21 EDVKDQVSDLQWLQJ#HDUWKOLQNQHW
The Southgate Gazette - July 2011
ACC Requests – Frequently Asked Questions Q: Do I have to get approval for any exterior work? A: Yes Q: Am I required to get a permit for my project? A: Most likely, YES. Check with the City of Pearland before beginning any project. You may be required to undo your work at your expense if you don’t have the proper permits. Q: I’m only doing the same upgrades my neighbor did. Why do I need approval if they already got approval? A: It’s possible your neighbors didn’t obtain ACC approval. If their upgrade was not approved, they may need to remove it at their expense. If you proceed with your project without approval, you may need to remove it at your expense. Q: Are you saying I may need to remove or undo my work, at my own expense if I don’t obtain approval? A: Yes. If your project violates the deed restrictions or is denied by the ACC, you will be asked to remove it. Q: What if I refuse to remove it? A: You may be taken to court. If you lose, you will be ordered by a judge to remove your project and will be required to pay all court costs. Q: Do the deed restrictions REALLY give the ACC the power to deny my ability to perform exterior maintenance on my home? A: Yes Q: I never received a copy of the deed restrictions. Am I still bound by them? A: Yes. Every homeowner should have received a copy of the deed restrictions when they bought their home. If you need another copy, they are available on our website at http://sgatehoa.org At no time will any source be allowed to use The Southgate Gazette's contents, or loan said contents, to others in anyway, shape or form, nor in any media, website, print, film, e-mail, electrostatic copy, fax, or etc. for the purpose of solicitation, commercial use, or any use for profit, political campaigns, or other self amplification, under penalty of law without written or expressed permission from Peel, Inc. The information in The Southgate Gazette is exclusively for the private use of the Southgate HOA and Peel, Inc. DISCLAIMER: Articles and ads in this newsletter express the opinions of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Peel, Inc. or its employees. Peel, Inc. is not responsible for the accuracy of any facts stated in articles submitted by others. The publisher also assumes no responsibility for the advertising content with this publication. All warranties and representations made in the advertising content are solely that of the advertiser and any such claims regarding its content should be taken up with the advertiser. * The publisher assumes no liability with regard to its advertisers for misprints or failure to place advertising in this publication except for the actual cost of such advertising. * Although every effort is taken to avoid mistakes and/or misprints, the publisher assumes no responsibility for any errors of information or typographical mistakes, except as limited to the cost of advertising as stated above or in the case of misinformation, a printed retraction/correction. * Under no circumstances shall the publisher be held liable for incidental or consequential damages, inconvenience, loss of business or services, or any other liabilities from failure to publish, or from failure to publish in a timely manner, except as limited to liabilities stated above. Copyright © 2011 Peel, Inc.
Southgate Homeowner 2011 Maintenance Assessments
Are you paying your Homeowner Assessments via Escrow? Before you answer, be aware that this is a trick question. No homeowners are paying HOA Assessments via Escrow. When you bought your house, you likely paid your assessments for the current year, and depending on when you bought your house, you may have paid the following years assessments as well. The assessments were paid out of CLOSING COSTS. Escrow will not collect money for Assessments. Escrow is used to collect money for Homeowners Insurance and Property Taxes only. When you receive a bill for your HOA Assessments, remember it is your responsibility to pay them on time. Your Escrow account will NOT pay them.
Homeowner 2011 Maintenance Assessments Thank you for your 2011 Maintenance Assessments. If you haven’t already paid your 2011 maintenance assessment, it is late. The invoices were sent out in early December 2010 and payment was due December 31st, 2010. If payment was received after January 31st, 2011, 18% interest is added to the bill, and late fees are assessed monthly, in addition to all legal expenses. Several homeowners have asked us if assessments are necessary and if there are repercussions if you don’t pay – the answers to these questions are “yes” and “yes”! Your annual assessments are used to maintain the landscaping and lighting of our entrances and common areas and other items including deed restriction enforcement. The management company, LPI, maintains all bank accounts, generates billings, pays bills, and coordinates all other administrative needs of our community. The Board of Directors also directs funds into long-term reserves each year for use on larger projects that may need replacement or repairs in the future. Examples of these projects include the sidewalk behind Harris Street and the maintenance of the entrances on County Road 59. Bad debt associated with residents who did not pay their assessments or who suffered bankruptcy also plays a critical role in the budget. Our attorneys continue to monitor these accounts daily. Failure to pay can and will lead to foreclosure and eviction. If you were unable to pay your assessment in full by the January 31st, 2011 deadline, contact LPI immediately. Thank you for caring about our community.
H^da UaXT]Sb PaT^da UaXT]Sb &DOOWRGD\ WROHDUQDERXWRXU UHIHUUDOSURJUDP
$ ! !%" ( ' Copyright © 2011 Peel, Inc.
The Southgate Gazette - July 2011
Southgate
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE
308 Meadowlark St. Lakeway, TX 78734-4717
PAID
PEEL, INC.
SGG
ADVERTISE
Right on mark for your target audience Cal l To d a y 5 1 2 - 2 6
3 - 9 18 1 . 3((/,1& FRPPXQLW\QHZVOHWWHUV ZZZ3((/LQFFRP
The Southgate Gazette - July 2011
Copyright © 2011 Peel, Inc.
