NORTH WOODLAND HILLS VILLAGE
SPRING / SUMMER 2010 NEWSLETTER

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A MESSAGE FROM YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dear residents, we recognize today’s economic environment is a challenge to all of us. We would like to thank all residents who have paid their dues on time! Unfortunately, this is not the case for all homeowners. As a HOA, we are required to make tough decisions affecting non-paying homeowners. The most important thing you can do in difficult times is to contact us to discuss your situation. This Board is committed to ensure everyone pays their fair share to keep this community looking sharp and the pool up and running. Legal fees to recoup dues are expensive and are the resident’s responsibility.

* * * * BOARD OPENING * * * *
We are currently looking for a motivated homeowner who wants to volunteer to join the Board! If you are interested, please come to the next Board meeting, or contact Mary Brown at Sterling ASI, 281-447-3388.

NORTH WOODLAND HILLS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION WEBSITE
Please visit our website for information on the Association, its board members, management company, schools, City of Houston phone numbers, newsletters, etc.

SPRING GARAGE SALE
Village-wide garage sale will be held on Saturday, April 24th, 2010 from 7am – 1pm. We will also have one the last Saturday in October. Outside of these two garage sales, all others are a violation of Deed Restrictions. The sale is restricted to your own yard, or neighbors can get together and have one large sale. There is no cost except if you advertise. We will post signs at the village entrances and advertise on our website and Kingwood.com.

SUMMERTIME MEANS POOL OPENING!
It has been approximately 20-25 years since our pool was replastered and we have been limping along for the past several years in hopes that our dues collection rate would improve. However, with our collection rate still at only 71%, we must once again put this item on the back-burner.

We are happy to report that our pool will again be staffed with Jeff Ellis Management guards. Sarah Powell is the Manager for the North Woodland Hills pool this year. Sarah has worked with JEM for many years and is looking forward to a great summer. Along with North Woodland Hills, JEM is now staffing guards at Bear Branch and Woodspring in Kingwood and Benders Landing in Spring. If you or someone you know is interested in lifeguarding this year, and are 15 years of age or older, please contact Sarah at miss_sarahp@live.com for additional info. She can also assist you with information on swim lessons, etc.

Jeff Ellis Mgmt presented the Board with two years of stats on pool use. After review, the Board has decided to change the pool hours to reflect the attendance. Hours of operation will be:

Closed Mondays for Maintenance/Cleaning
Tuesday – Friday: 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday: 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Opens for Summer: Saturday, June 5th, 2010*

Open for weekends only: May 29th – 30th
August 28th & 29th
Sept. 4th and 5th

Pool Closes: Sunday, August 23rd, 2010

*Even though the pool does not officially open for Summer until June 5th, you will see swim team activity at the pool in April and May.

POOL TAGS
North Woodland Hills is participating in the Pool Tag Program again for 2010. Pool tags will be distributed to all homeowners/renters whose dues are paid in full. We will have volunteers at the pool on two separate Sundays – April 25 and May 2 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Please make note of these dates. We will also put a reminder notice on the NWH website and signs will be posted at all three entrances.

If you are not able to pick up tags during the designated times, please visit the management company (Sterling ASI, 562 Kingwood Drive, Suite 13, Kingwood, TX 77339, phone number 281-447-3388). Their contract does not include distribution of pool tags and it takes time out of their schedules to perform this service.*

*Note: The lifeguards do not distribute pool tags. If you miss one of the pick-up times, you must go to the management company’s offices to purchase tags. Last years’ tags will not be accepted. Please do not argue with the guards when asked to leave because you do not have proper pool tags. They are only doing their job. Tags must be worn in plain sight to the lifeguards at all times. Each resident is welcome to bring one guest.

WOODLAND HILLS TRAIL ASSOCIATION
North Woodland Hills has three residents on the board: Marcia Powell, Betty Millard and Jack Warren. The remainder of the Board are residents of South Woodland Hills. The new member that was recently elected to represent the Woodland Hills Village Apartments has been transferred to a new sight. Therefore, there is currently one vacancy on the board. We encourage you to attend these meetings which are held the last Tuesday of each month in the South Woodland Hills Community Room on Shadow Rock. There are signs posted at all three entrances into NWH several days before meetings.

Plans are being made to power-wash North and South’s park areas (playground equipment, picnic tables, etc.)

You may have recently seen a little golf cart scooting down the trails. This was purchased by the Trail’s Assn for selected board members to use in managing the maintenance company that services the trails. This is the only “motorized” vehicle that is allowed on the trails.

If you are interested in becoming a Trails Board member, please contact Marcia Powell at marsho45@hotmail.com. Each and every homeowner of North Woodland Hills pays annual dues of $70 to the Woodland Hills Trail Association. Become involved. Know where your dues are being spent.

And remember, while you are enjoying the parks and many trails we have to offer, please help in keeping them clean. Be sure to notify a board member if you see vandalism, etc.

AMENDMENTS TO DEED RESTRICTIONS
The NWH Board has been reviewing the original community deed restrictions over the past year and has consulted with the Association’s attorney to bring the restrictions current. The original document is over thirty (30) years old and does not speak specifically to problems and complaints received from today’s homeowners.
Be on the lookout for additional info which will be coming soon in the mail regarding a “town hall meeting” for all residents of NWH in order to discuss and explain the changes being made.

NEW SECURITY LIGHTS AT NWH POOL
The Board is currently taking bids on having work done to the existing security lights at our pool. We would like to get lights similar to the new ones that were recently placed in our park area (thanks again to the Woodland Hills Trails Association!). There is increased vandalism during the Summer months and the new lights will be much brighter than the current ones. If you know of someone who would like to submit a bid, please have them contact Mary Brown at Sterling ASI, 281-447-3388.

ENTRANCE SIGN
It didn’t seem like it would ever come to an end, but we finally have our front entrance at Hidden Pines and Northpark complete. There is still tweaking to be done with the plants (the last cold snap damaged the ginger, aztec grass and knock-out roses). Other than that, the sign is up, the landscape is done, irrigation is running and the lighting is installed and working. If you have any questions regarding the work that was done, please contact Mary Brown at Sterling ASI, 281-447-3388.

SUMMER BREAK
Just a reminder that school will be out from Thursday, June 3rd, 2010 until Sunday, August 22nd, 2010. Please keep an eye out and be alert to children playing in the streets. Many children enjoy walking to the pool during the Summer; therefore, be especially careful in the 2100 block of Fir Springs where our park & pool are located.

KSA PARKS COMMITTEE
Completion and adoption of the Kingwood Service Association (KSA) Parks Master Plan for redevelopment of its three multi-use sports parks: Deer Ridge, located on Woodland Hills Drive about one mile south of Kingwood Drive, River Grove located at the south end of Woodland Hills Drive and North Park, located at the north end of Woodland Hills Drive.

Proposed improvements to these facilities will include updated and expanded soccer, softball, and baseball fields along with general improvements to the park infrastructure.

A comprehensive Sports Park Master Plan was created for the three Kingwood sports parks. Multiple community outreach meetings were conducted to engage and inform the community and gather feedback from its residents. Collaboration and input was received by representatives from area sports leagues to maximize the number and efficiency of each parks layout. A consensus was reached by the sports leagues and the community-at-large that will ultimately lead to an increased number of regulation fields that will be suitable for tournament play and expanded league participation.

In addition to meeting the needs of the sports leagues, each park site will be further developed to address the needs of all the Kingwood residents. Additional concession/restroom buildings, picnic pavilions, walking trails, playgrounds, update equestrian facilities, and reforestation efforts are included in the master plan.

With regard to many of the environmental challenges associated with development in flood prone areas, creative and cost effective solutions were also identified.

Implementation of the KSA Parks Master Plan is expected to be a multi-phased, ten (10) year endeavor.

For more information on the KSA Parks Master Plan, please visit www.kingwoodparks.com.

KINGWOOD SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL
Several years ago Kingwood SNC requested sidewalks be installed on Hidden Pines due to the expansion of the 9th grade campus to a high school. This project (#3684-43) would create a sidewalk which would run from Wilderness Point northbound to Aspen Glade. This project was submitted to the City again on 1/15/10. It has not been ruled on by the City.

If you have questions on this project, please visit the SNC website at http://www.kingwoodsnc.com or you can contact Bob Rehak (President) at 281-359-2524.

HOLIDAY DECORATIONS
It’s hard to believe we are already into April. Seems like yesterday we were turning in our picks for the Kingwood Civic Club’s annual Christmas Yard Decoration Contest. Congratulations to all residents that won! That being said, PLEASE REMOVE ANY LIGHTS YOU MAY STILL HAVE UP. Thanks!

PINE NEEDLES/LEAVES ON ROOFS AND STORM SEWERS
Keep your roof clear of leaves and pine needles. They are a fire hazards. Also, just a reminder that storm sewers are not to be used for dumping debris &/or yard trimmings. Please call the City of Houston at 311 and file a report if you witness this type of dumping being done.

TRASH CANS
No matter how often we remind homeowners, we are still seeing household trash, debris, trash cans, etc. sitting in front of garages, beside garages, etc. Please remove any trash or debris from view from the street. Trash receptacles are to be kept out of view from the street, except for pick-up days – Tuesdays and Fridays. Other than those times, please place your cans in your garage or in your back yard. Remember no trash will be picked up without the proper sticker displayed on the can. If you are a new resident, contact Waste Management at 713-686-6666 should you have problems with your pickup or to request a sticker.

BANDIT SIGNS
Bandit signs are those placards placed along streets and roadways by individuals and businesses. Such signs are not allowed in the City of Houston or Harris County. Further, the North Woodland Hills deed restrictions state that “no sign, advertisement, billboard or advertising structure of any kind shall be displayed to the public view on any portion of the properties or on any lot except” a sign on a property advertising that property is for sale or rent. Please help keep our neighborhood visually appealing by not placing these illegal signs, and by not allowing your home improvement contractors to place advertising signs on your property. Further you are legally allowed and are encouraged to remove bandit signs.

COH ORDINANCE/DEFECATION BY DOGS AND CATS
Did you know you can be fined for allowing your pet to use someone else’s yard as their own personal toilet? Thanks to digital photography, residents are now able to snap the culprits in action and immediately forward it electronically to the City of Houston. Do not risk being a pet owner “caught in action”.

It’s really quite easy – when walking your pets, bring along a plastic bag or the bags that come on local newspapers. Pick up the feces in the bag and throw it in your OWN trashcan when you get home. Simple as that. No muss, no fuss and you don’t get ticketed.

City of Houston Ordinance - Chapter 6, Section 24 Defecation by Dogs and Cats: Failure to promptly dispose of (dog) (cat) feces. As a reminder, the ordinance reads: It is the duty of each person in control of a dog or cat to promptly remove and dispose of, in a sanitary manner, feces left by such dog or cat. This includes feces left in neighbor’s yards and the greenbelt areas.

ANIMAL CONTROL
Stray dogs and cats can be picked up by the City of Houston through the Bureau of Animal Control (BARC) at 713-229-7300. Please note, BARC will not come out unless these strays are contained in a backyard, garage, trap or kennel.
Additionally, please be a responsible pet owner and spay or neuter your pets.

PARKING ON CITY STREETS
Work vehicles, trucks, trailers, etc. have become an increasing problem in our neighborhood. Officers are writing parking tickets for those vehicles (commercial or private) that fail to park legally. Remember when parking on our streets, ask yourself if a fire truck or ambulance is able to make its way to a residence.

NWH MANAGEMENT COMPANY:
Sterling ASI
562 Kingwood Drive, Suite 13
Kingwood, TX 77339
Phone: 281-447-3388
Contact Mary Brown or Zory Knerr
Email: mary@sterlingasi.com

WE WISH ALL OUR RESIDENTS A SAFE AND HAPPY SUMMER!!!

ANNUAL POOL PARTY PHOTOS!

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