Northcliffe

Articles from the June newsletter

May 28, 2007

WORDS FROM THE HOA BOARD PRESIDENT:

The annual Community Garage Sale was a big success this year with over 65 households from Northcliffe participating. Many households appeared to be making it a regular Block Party on their street. This year we coordinated with The Fairways and Whisper Meadow. While each of the subdivisions had to pay their own fee to the City, we were all able to share in the cost of advertising in the local newspapers. We owe a huge THANK YOU to Sylvia and Debbie for all of the work they put into making it a success. Also, a huge thank you to each homeowner who participated in this year?’s event.

A New Service to Everyone!

We have been asked how to get questions and problems to the Homeowners Association in an expedient and (if necessary) anonymous manner. Sometimes there might be a problem that you?’d like addressed, but don?’t want to make an issue of it for fear that it may cause problems with a neighbor. Your answer is here! Beginning with this issue, we are starting a new feature called ?“Ask Cliffy?”. ?“Cliffy?”, of course, is short for Northcliffe. If you are in the situation above, send an EMAIL to ncliffe2000@yahoo.com. Put ?“Ask Cliffy?” in the subject line. We will promptly address the subject, and respond to you directly as soon as we can. We will then publish the letter and response in the next newsletter (unless you ask us not to) to make the problem, or concern, known to all residents. We will NEVER give out anyone?’s name or address! We hope you will think this to be a valuable service, and hope you will use it to communicate with us. We are here to make Northcliffe a comfortable, pleasant place to live.


Debbie Bell

Ask Cliffy
Dear Cliffy,

I was wondering if there is any way that the association can get our neighbors to keep their grass cut. We try to keep ours as nice looking as possible, but there are those who do not, and this tends to make the neighborhood look bad. It?’s even a bigger problem after we?’ve had a lot of rain. Can you help?

Perplexed

Dear Perplexed,

All Schertz residents are required to keep their yards neatly mowed. If the grass gets over 8?” high, it is a violation of the following city ordinance: Chapter 50, Sec. 50-31, UNSANITARY, UNSIGHTLY CONDITIONS, ETC. ON PRIVATE PREMISES. Schertz officials have asked us to notify them and let them handle the situation. The City has recently hired a full time code compliance inspector. She notifies the homeowner of the violation. Once the City sends a notice, the resident has 10 days to comply or the city will have it mowed and bill the resident. We really don?’t want that to happen, and would urge all homeowners to ?“look out your window?”. If the grass is getting high, go out and mow it. It will make everyone happy, and make your block a prettier place to live. Remember, EMAIL ncliffe2000@yahoo.com and put ?“Ask Cliffy?” in the subject line.

Cliffy

WHAT?’S UP AROUND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD?


FREE LINE DANCE CLASSES

Classes are at the Old Northcliffe Fire Station on Thursday mornings from 9-11a.m. through 2007. Basic beginners?’ classes are held on Tuesday mornings at 9:00 a.m. in Schertz at the Community Center on Schertz Pkwy. What better way to exercise than to dance and socialize? These classes are sponsored by the Methodist Health Care System and for 55 plus seniors. Please call Dorothy at (830) 606-0501 for further information.

Country Club Boulevard

Schertz City Council recently authorized the city to contribute toward a project that includes erecting part of a fence along Country Club Blvd. The City Manager, Mr. Taylor, said that the move will help area developers establish a rock post and rail cap for a fence. This is a fence that will provide backyard privacy for homes in the Fairways subdivision, and will a more pleasant appearance along the Boulevard.

REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS

Some concerned parents wrote to us suggesting that we publish statistics on registered sex offenders living in our neighborhood. There is currently one residing on Columbia as well as two living in the Whisper Meadow subdivision adjoining us off of Cherry Tree and Wensledale. Anyone interested in more specific information please go to the following Website: https://records.txdps.state.tx.us/DPS_WEB/Sor/index.aspx?PageIndex=Search&SubmitType=Address
UNDERSTANDING DEED RESTRICTIONS

In an effort to insure that our community continues to be a pleasant place to live, the Association has been attempting to notify homeowners of violations of the subdivision?’s deed restrictions. It has become apparent, however, that some residents are unaware that these restrictions exist. We therefore consider it our duty to make a few things known to all of you.

Northcliffe is governed by a ?“voluntary?” homeowners association. This means that payment of dues (and, therefore, voting privileges) are optional. If you do not wish to vote on issues affecting the community, you need not pay the annual $25 dues. However, membership is NOT optional. As a homeowner you are automatically a member of the association, and, as such, subject to the rules and regulations of the association.

Northcliffe is a ?“Deed Restricted?” community. This is not a meaningless designation, but one that has been legally defined as such in Guadalupe County since 1976. Under this designation, these restrictions can be legally enforced by city or county agencies.

Although this is not a complete, or legally binding list, residents are prohibited from such things as:
?• Storage of trailers, boats, travel trailers, inoperative automobiles or campers in the public right-of-way or driveways. They must be out of the public view.
?• Lots need to be kept cut in a sanitary, healthful and attractive manner.
?• Trash may not be accumulated except for normal residential requirements or incident to construction or property improvements.

It is the Associations procedure to monitor the community, and if a violation occurs, to notify the homeowner by mail. The homeowner then has 10 days to correct the situation or try to resolve it with the Association. If the situation is not corrected within 10 days, a second letter will be sent. This is followed by a third letter, by registered mail, 10 days later. After sending the registered letter, the problem will be turned over to the Guadalupe County Justice of the Peace for further legal actions. It is our sincere desire to avoid these kinds of problems if at all possible. This is why we have established such a long process of trying to get things resolved ?“internally?”, before going to outside agencies.

We hope you understand that our only goal is to make Northcliffe a pleasant place for you and your neighbors to live. Additionally, adherence to these provisions will only serve to enhance property values. If you would like a complete copy of the Deed Restrictions document that apply to your street/section, please notify us via EMAIL at ncliffe2000@yahoo.com, and we will send you one in the mail.

2007 POOL OPERATION SCHEDULE

DATES OF OPERATION:
May 26, 2007 through August 26, 2007
For the complete please go to the back page of this newsletter.


NATIONAL NIGHT OUT/
COMMUNITY PICNIC

National Night Out is August 7, 2007, and plans are progressing for a multi-community picnic and celebration. Festivities will be held at the Northcliffe City Park from 6 to 9:30 p.m.

The "24th Annual National Night Out" (NNO), is a unique crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch. It is designed to promote neighborhood spirit and police/community partnerships in the fight for a safer nation.

We will give you a more detailed account of events in the July Newsletter.

ADVERTISING RATES-

the newsletter advertising rates are:
One liner- $3.00 per line
Business card size $15.00
Quarter page (3?½?” X 4?½?”) $20.00
Half page (7?” X 4?½?” or 3?½ ?“X 9?”) $35.00
Full page (7?” X 9?”) $65.00; Flyer insert $30.00
All prices are for each newsletter published every month. If you would like to advertise in our next newsletter please mail your check and a copy of your Ad to the HOA before the 10th of each month. You may also just mail in your check but email your ad to puttslow@aol.com. All ads must be print ready in exact size.
The Northcliffe HOA reserves the right to accept or reject advertisements.
Deadline is June10th for the July newsletter. For questions call Debbie at: (830) 609-1008.