RGO HOA Environmental Liaison
Each quarter we will highlight the duties of one of our officers or committee heads.
The HOA Environmental Liaison Committee (ELC) works with the BOD, ACC and CEAM to ensure compliance with landscaping and erosion control and coordinates HOA development and activities to be in concert with governmental and environmental agencies.
To do this the ELC identifies current and potential threats to the environment
to include threats to endangered flora fauna and to wildlife, and endangered
species within our HOA.
The ELC also alerts the HOA BOD to potential erosion problems/issues and
pollution control (dust, hazardous waste, Illegal dumping of trash, etc.) caused
by, and effecting, property owners within the HOA, HOA maintenance, and
property owners outside the HOA.
Some other of their areas of interest is to establish “environmental rules of operation” (policy) for:
Brush clearance/removal (flammable materials),
Grading, Erosion control (planting/v-ditches/culverts/collection basins/water fencing),
Recommended list of plants for this area (fire retardant/drought resistant),
An equestrian/hiking/bike Trails Development Plan to preserve the rural environment.
Info for Members
Environmental Protection
Our Neighborhood is the environment in which we live and play. Recognizing how important it is to our community to keep our neighborhoods healthy, happy, and attractive, the HOA has CC&Rs, along with County of Riverside ordinances and laws, to safeguard our valuable environment. Protecting the environment for our homes can help keep our neighborhood safe and pleasant.
Here are some actions that can change our environment:
Grubbing or Clearing property by destroying native vegetation, by
removing or disturbing the root system by any means including chemical,
is prohibited. Mowing vegetation on property protects it from fire, yet
keeps native vegetation root systems intact for new growth to prevent
water pollution, runoff from rain, and irrigation.
Altering the Drainage Pattern on an existing lot, thereby impacts
adjacent properties. If you illegally cut into the slope bank on your property, or import fill to increase the level portion of your yard which causes dirt to be distributed on an existing slope bank, you are in violation and could be creating an unstable slope on your property. Obtain a grading permit prior to conducting any grading as this permit requires the property owner/developer to compact the soil.
County permitted methods for clearing properties include disking, hand labor, and mowing. Typical grading violations occur when private property owners or developers begin clearing vegetation on slopes, have large equipment onsite that is altering the land form and/or impacting existing drainage conditions, and/or when soil is being deposited or excavated onsite.
Gardening
Growing Fruit Trees
Growing fruit trees is an exciting and worthwhile endeavor. Although it takes a
couple of years to see fruit, you will reap rewards in the long run.
Water well: Deeply water newly planted trees (those that have been in the
ground for 2 years or less) about once a week (6–8 gallons of water per tree)
if there’s been little or no rain near the base of the trunk as roots are still
concentrated in that area. Try a drip- or micro-irrigation system to keep your trees well-watered.
Water established fruit trees if they receive less than 2 inches of rain during any 2-week period between bloom and early fall. If no rain has fallen for 2 weeks, this means you need to add 1 gallon of water per square foot of rooting area, which extends several feet farther from the tree than its drip line. When watering mature trees, don’t soak the area around trunk as this could encourage pests. Use a rain gauge to measure rainfall and water from sprinkler systems. The most critical time to water is during fruit expansion, but don’t apply more than 2 inches at any one time. Excess watering can cause fruit to expand too much and be more prone to rot.
Mulch to control weeds: Spread 4–6 inches of mulch around the trees to their drip line to conserve moisture and control weeds. You can use bark mulch or other attractive mulches and plant spring bulbs and shallow-rooted annuals around the trees. A wide variety of mulches are available at your local nursery.
Ground covers: You can grow a ground cover in the mulched areas around the trees. Try planting quick-growing annual crops such as buckwheat and annual rye during the first few years to provide organic matter but, as the trees get older, you’ll need to establish a permanent ground cover.
Legumes such as bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus) or crimson clover (Trifolium) are attractive. Ground covers that don’t require mowing include wildflowers and evergreens such as vinca minor and creeping phlox. Avoid warm-season grasses and competitive ground covers such as pachysandra.
Keeping up with BOD actions
With this new addition to your Newsletter, the Board wants to keep our members
informed of what the Board is, or has been, discussing and working on during the
quarter. (Taken from Board minutes.)
1. Legal action to stop access road closure, Gray Squirrel “prescriptive rights”, by property owner
2. Environmental issues
a. Action in response to received HOA enviornmental code violations
b. Common areas preparation for 2009-2010 winter rains
c. Identifying environmental problems affecting common areas
d. Writing of a HOA Best Management Practices required by Riverside County Code
Enforcement
*Review of BMP by Riverside County Code Enforcement
* BOD review, discussion and acceptance
e. Submission of Landscape plans by property owners
*Submission of plans by property owners for the prevention of water runoff pollution from
rain and irrigation on to adjacent properties and roads
*Riverside County Code Enforcement will be monitoring private properties for water runoff
pollution in violation of environmental laws
f. Discussion of future development of Jogging/Biking/Equestrian Trails within the HOA
*The BOD voted to not develop the Equestrian Trails within the RGO HOA at this time
3. Responsibility of property owners to repair damage to common areas, roads, and easements,
caused by home construction
4. Research Hahn’s restrictions for properties in the HOA
5. Working with various agencies to apply for grants for common area environment, repair, etc.
6. Working with EMWD and ISO on new Fire Station and fire hydrant issues for the lowering of Fire
Insurance Rates
7. New street signage for Calle Jerez, Calle Titania and Loren Way/Via View
8. On Friday, Sept. 11, 2009 RGO HOA Directors met with Elsinore/Murrieta/Anza Riverside
Conservation District (EMARCD) BOD
a. To update them on our environmental actions and progress taken by our HOA
b. Request their assistance in obtaining environmental grants
The HOA Board is a HOA member elected body of five directors that is bound by federal, state, local, corporation laws and the HOA’s CC&Rs/Bylaws. Some people may not be aware of the legal & fiduciary responsibility of Board members to enforce the CC&R’s rules and regulations governing the HOA, manage the annual budget and run day-to-day business. When acting in their capacity as a Board member representing the HOA each director puts their own personal agenda aside and makes decisions for the good and well being of the entire HOA community.
