SAFETY UPDATE
The Ocean Ranch Board of Directors takes the safety of our residents extremely seriously and are working tirelessly to define the right actions in the right sequence and within the framework that the law and our HOA covenants allow us to act as a community. As a result, we are increasing communication regarding community safety for the foreseeable future until our fellow neighbors have an opportunity to be heard and we can communicate an organized plan of action.
A Regional Problem
The burglaries that have impacted the Ocean Ranch community are part of a broader pattern of activity in Southern California and, according to numerous national news stories, Australia as well. We encourage you to visit https://www.crimemapping.com/map/ca/LagunaNiguel to see the widespread nature of the burglary problem that we are addressing in our community.
Immediate Gate Hardening Actions
Prior to the January 19 HOA meeting that initiated much community-wide discussion of the burglary issues, the Board of Directors had started working with Allied Universal to ‘strengthen’ and improve gate procedures to improve overall effectiveness. We also now check individual visitor identification and shortly expect to begin scanning driver’s licenses. We believe both these procedures will improve safety. We are also more closely monitoring UBER, Lyft, and food delivery services, including full identification verifications. We have asked the Ocean Ranch Patrol to enforce Ocean Ranch’s rules requiring vendors to complete their work and vacate the Community by 6:00 PM each day. This will result in reducing and controlling vendors within the Community after hours. We are working with Allied Universal to improve training and monitoring our Gate Attendant staff to make sure we are following the new required procedures.
An Organized Plan of Action
The Bear Brand Ocean Ranch HOA has instituted a four-phase planning process to address the safety concerns we all share. This planning process includes: 1) Mission Definition, 2) Solution Ideation, 3) Value Assessment, and 4) Action. In the course of the planning process, we are segmenting our actions into three phases:
- Now (0 to 60 days) – steps we can take immediately without significant operational lag times.
- Near (60 to 180 days) – steps we can take quickly but with some operational considerations.
- Far (180 to 365 days) – steps that require additional budgets, approvals and implementation.
Tuesday, February 7 Homeowner Input Meeting (6:30 pm at the pool)
As part of the planning process described above, we want every Bear Brand Ocean Ranch homeowner to have the opportunity to make recommendations on actions we can consider in the planning process. This session will be moderated by one of our residents who has a background in corporate strategy and will provide an organized way for everyone to make recommendations ranging from simple to complex.
These recommendations will be considered in the planning process. We will conclude the session by having homeowners rank the recommendations that you believe have the greatest impact on safety. This is a time for fast-paced, individual input to ensure that everyone gets a voice.
Our Current HOA Covenants
Our Board of Directors is working within the framework of our current HOA covenants. According to the current covenants, Bear Brand Ocean Ranch HOA has a principle duty and obligation to maintain and protect community owned assets such as streets, drainage systems, gate-houses/gates, community greenbelts, and the lighting and fencing that are erected within community owned property.
Consistent with other HOAs, The Ocean Ranch Home Owners’ Association has no current right or authority to install community purchased assets such as cameras, lighting and additional security detail etc. on individual home owner property or land that is not owned by Ocean Ranch Bear Brand.
Homeowner Security Rights
As a homeowner within Bear Brand Ocean Ranch, it is both your right and responsibility to protect your property across your entire property line and inside your home. This may include alarms, lighting and monitored perimeter protection equipment and services outside and whatever means you determine are necessary and legal within your home. The Bear Brand Ocean Ranch HOA cannot install security equipment on anyone’s personal property.
We encourage you to evaluate your current home security protocol. To help in this area, we have invited a leading home security company by the name of Safe Streets which is an arm of ADT security to join us on Tuesday February 7th at 6:00pm at our “Town Hall” Meeting to share updates and different strategies the homeowners can put in place to thwart some of these issues.
We look forward to having an open dialogue with you next Tuesday at the community pool as we, the Board of Directors, take this issue as seriously as you do.
