What's Going On
Posted on February 3, 2023 9:00 AM by CRRA2 Board of Directors
Categories: General, HOA
Dear Cinco2 Residents,

On January 18th we held the first HOA Board Meeting for 2023. Below are a few of the items discussed. 
2023 Board Members: Our Treasurer for 2022, Hayden Arnold, turned in his resignation from the HOA Board for personal reasons. The Board has to appoint a resident to complete the vacant seat term. The Board appointed Lindsay Giesy to the vacated seat. Lindsay received the next highest votes in the latest Board elections. We appreciate Hayden’s time on the board, his expertise in financial and auditing has been invaluable.
  • Donnie Loubiere - President
  • Bill Hedberg - Vice President
  • Brett Butterfield - Secretary
  • Lindsay Giesy - Director
  • Haleigh Garret - Treasurer
  • Keith Lehtinen - Assistant Treasurer
  • Sunil Shalia - Director

Wealth Management Company: The CRRA2 reserve funds are currently invested in FDIC insured Laddered CD’s with CIT Bank. The Board has approved the process to begin moving the reserves from CIT Bank to Fidelity, while still investing in FDIC insured CD’s. The available interest rates are higher than CIT Bank could offer. The board goal is to invest about 90% of the available funds in Laddered CD’s but not higher than 95%. We hope to capitalize on the recent interest rate increases to help off set inflation. 
 
Real Manage Personnel Change: We have a new General Manager for Real Manage. Arianna Luna has replaced Cathy Jensen, whom resigned at the end of the year. Arianna has been with Real Manage for about 4 years, she was previously at Pine Mill Ranch. 
 
Web Sites: We currently have 2 web sites servicing our community: mycincoranch.com and www.ciranet.com. The old web site, “mycincoranch.com”, which is owned by the HOA, contains information about events, documents, forms, and other information. The new website, “ciranet.com” is Real Manage site for paying assessments, requesting
modification to your home, violation information and other notices. If you have not registered on “ciranet”, we encourage you to do so. You may need to contact the staff in the Lake House to receive some codes to register. One of our goals this year is to link the web sites together to make it more user friendly.
 
Landscaping: The recent hard freeze and high winds caused a lot of damage to our landscaping. Some shrubs will be left alone until there is little chance of another freeze. The dead leaves can act as an insulation if another freeze occurs. Lantana, Dianella, Jasmine and Knock Out Roses will come back as the weather warms. Winter color plants are dead, but will replace with spring color plants in a few weeks.

There seems to be an increase in home break ins recently. We encourage neighbors to watch out for each others property and to always secure the house when you’re away.
 
Donnie Loubiere
President
Posted on January 13, 2023 9:00 AM by Admin
Categories: General, HOA
  • Board Members Want Homeowners to Attend Board Meetings! HOA Boards conduct meetings on a regular schedule and residents are encouraged to attend. By showing up to the community’s Board meeting, homeowners learn about important issues facing the community. At the meeting, residents have the opportunity to share their thoughts and opinions and gain a greater understanding of the factors that will ultimately play into the Board’s decision-making process. Board members are seeking resident input, feedback and guidance as they decide on what is best for the community at large.
  • They Want to Do What is Best for Homeowners! HOA Board members have a single purpose in mind: to increase property values by protecting the community. They make decisions with this overarching principle in mind. Both the HOA Board and a community’s homeowners association property management company share this goal. While some Board decisions might seem arbitrary or nitpicky, residents should remember that the Board and management company are required to use this as a basis to guide their decision-making.
  • The Board is Always Looking for Help! Board members want residents to volunteer for committees, run for a position on the Board and offer to undertake responsibilities to help the Board function more smoothly. The members of the HOA Board are volunteers and do not get paid for their service. They are willing to lend their time and attention to important issues to help protect the property values of the entire community. Residents with special skills or knowledge are encouraged to support fellow residents by volunteering their time for general needs or by serving on a committee.
  • Board Members Must Uphold the HOA’s Governing Docs! Board members have a legal fiduciary responsibility to uphold the governing documents for their community, whether they agree with the documents or not. Board members are not trying to be punitive or unreasonable when making certain decisions for the community. They are simply serving on a Board of Directors with important legal obligations. As a reminder, homeowners who are unhappy with any of the guidelines outlined in their community’s governing documents can open the conversation to make a change. 
  • HOA Management Companies Are There to Help Residents, Not Just Enforce Rulings! HOA Boards hire management companies to provide advice on best business practices and help them understand the legal implications of their decisions. Since Board members volunteer their time, the management company provides administrative support like community inspections, communications services and expertise based on their lengthy experience in community management. 
Posted on January 6, 2023 9:00 AM by Admin
Categories: General, HOA
HOA WEBSITE REQUIREMENTS
If an HOA has sixty or more properties, or if it has outsourced its day-to-day functions to a management company, SB 1588 requires it to maintain a website that includes its management certificates and a calendar of member meetings. Mycincoranch.com has been the website for Cinco Ranch II since 2017. 
Posted on December 30, 2022 9:00 AM by Admin
Categories: General, HOA
Sec. 209.016. REGULATION OF RESIDENTIAL LEASES OR RENTAL AGREEMENTS.
(a) Repealed by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 951 (S.B. 1588), Sec. 22(3), eff. September 1, 2021.
(b) A property owners' association may not adopt or enforce a provision in a dedicatory instrument that:
(1) requires a lease or rental applicant or a tenant to be submitted to and approved for tenancy by the property owners' association; or
(2) requires the following information to be submitted to a property owners' association regarding a lease or rental applicant or current tenant:
(A) a consumer or credit report; or
(B) a lease or rental application submitted by the applicant, tenant, or that person's agent to the property owner or property owner's agent when applying for tenancy.
(c) Repealed by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 951 (S.B. 1588), Sec. 22(3), eff. September 1, 2021.
(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the adoption or enforcement of a provision in a dedicatory instrument establishing a restriction relating to occupancy or leasing.
(e) A property owners' association may request the following information to be submitted to the association regarding a lease or rental applicant:
(1) contact information, including the name, mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address of each person who will reside at a property in the subdivision under a lease; and
(2) the commencement date and term of the lease.
Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1077 (H.B. 2489), Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2015.
Amended by:
Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 951 (S.B. 1588), Sec. 20, eff. September 1, 2021.
Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 951 (S.B. 1588), Sec. 22(3), eff. September 1, 2021.
Posted on December 23, 2022 9:00 AM by Admin
Categories: General, HOA
Common Area Rules and Guidelines within the community: 
 
1. Use of Common Areas is limited to Cinco Ranch residents, guests, and approved groups and/or leagues.
2. Access into community pools, buildings, and tennis courts requires an active electronic access device. Access devices are non-transferable and may not be sold or bartered.
3. Unless hours of operation are posted at the facility, all common areas are available for use from dawn to dusk.
4. The use of fires and open flames is prohibited except in grills provided by the Association located in designated areas.
5. Overnight camping, lodging, trailers, tents, hammocks, etc. at any common area is prohibited.
6. Hunting and harassment of wildlife on common area grounds is not permitted.
7. Fishing at the community lakes is permitted; however, any fish caught must be released back into the lakes as they are for "catch and release" fishing only.
8. Swimming, wading, or use of boats or other watercraft with gasoline-powered engines on any pond within the Community is not permitted, except that the Declarant and the Residential Association may use gasoline powered boats for construction, maintenance, and repair of such ponds.
9. Residents will be held accountable and responsible for the actions and conduct or any damage caused by themselves or their guests.
10. Property belonging to the Association may not be removed from the Common Areas without the written consent of the Board of Directors.
11. Several lakes within Cinco Ranch Residential Association II are owned by another entity, which may have additional guidelines and rules.
 
Should it be determined that you or a family member have transferred, sold or bartered an access device assigned to a person in your household, the Association may suspend your right to use the community amenities with proper notice.
Posted on December 16, 2022 9:00 AM by Admin
Categories: General, HOA
Did you know in Article 6 of the DECLARATION OF PROTECTIVE COVENANTS it references owner responsibility for maintenance, repair, and replacement?
 
Article 6 Maintenance, Repair and Replacement:
One of the benefits of owning property in a planned community is the commitment among neighbors to maintain their property in a neat, attractive, and well-landscaped condition to enhance the overall beauty and aesthetic appeal of the Community. This Article describes the Owners' responsibilities far maintenance and repair of their Units and far insuring their Units against property damage so that funds will be available far repair and restoration if needed.
 
6.1. Maintenance by Owners. Each Owner shall maintain his or her Unit, including all structures, landscaping, and other improvements comprising the Unit, in a manner consistent with the Governing Documents and the Community Wide Standard, unless such maintenance responsibility is otherwise assumed by or assigned to the Residential Association or an Additional Association pursuant to this Declaration, any Supplemental Declaration, or by law. Each Owner whose Unit abuts Common Area or the right-of-way of any public street shall also be responsible for maintaining and irrigating the landscaping (a) between the Unit boundary and the nearest 15 curb of such public street, except where there is a fence easement in favor of the Residential Association pursuant to Section 13.6; and (b) between the Unit boundary and any wall or fence located on adjacent Common Area or right-of.way within 10 feet of the Unit boundary. However, Owners may not remove trees, shrubs, or similar vegetation from these areas without prior approval pursuant to Article 5. Owners shall have no responsibility for maintaining neighborhood entry features or landscaping associated with such features.
 
TO learn more about the Protective Covenants click here
Posted on December 9, 2022 9:00 AM by Admin
Categories: General, HOA
The board may not, unless done in an open meeting for which prior notice was given to owners under Subsection (e), consider or vote on: (1) fines; (2) damage assessments; (3) initiation of foreclosure actions; (4) initiation of enforcement actions, excluding temporary restraining orders or violations involving a threat to health or safety; (5) increases in assessments; (6) levying of special assessments; (7) appeals from a denial of architectural control approval; (8) a suspension of a right of a particular owner 18 before the owner has an opportunity to attend a board meeting to present the owner ’s position, including any defense, on the issue; (9) lending or borrowing money; (10) the adoption or amendment of a dedicatory instrument; (11) the approval of an annual budget or the approval of an amendment of an annual budget; (12) the sale or purchase of real property; (13) the filling of a vacancy on the board; (14) the construction of capital improvements other than the repair, replacement, or enhancement of existing capital improvements; or (15) the election of an officer. (i) This section applies to a meeting of a property owners ’ association board during the development period only if the meeting is conducted for the purpose of: (1) adopting or amending the governing documents, including declarations, bylaws, rules, and regulations of the association; (2) increasing the amount of regular assessments of the association or adopting or increasing a special assessment; (3) electing non-developer board members of the association or establishing a process by which those members are elected; or (4) changing the voting rights of members of the association. Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1026 (H.B. 2761), Sec. 3, eff. January 1, 2012. Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1183 (S.B. 1168), Sec. 8, eff. September 1, 2015. Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 951 (S.B. 1588), Sec. 12, eff. September 1, 2021.
Posted on December 2, 2022 9:00 AM by Admin
Categories: General, HOA
Board Meeting Notice (Texas Property Code Section 209.0051(e))
Notice of a board meeting must be conspicuously posted in the community and emailed at least 144 hours before a regular board meeting. If your association has a longer notice period listed in the governing documents, the association should still follow that longer notice period.
 
Members shall be given notice of the date, hour, place, and general subject of a regular or special board meeting, including a general description of any matter to be brought up for deliberation in executive session.
 
The notice shall be: (1) mailed to each property owner not later than the 10th day or earlier than the 60th day before the date of the meeting; or (2) provided at least 144 hours before the start of a regular board meeting and at least 72 hours before the start of a special board meeting by: (A) posting the notice in a conspicuous manner reasonably designed to provide notice to property owners ’ association members: (i) in a place located on the association ’s common property or, with the property owner ’s consent, on other conspicuously located privately owned property within the subdivision; or (ii) on any Internet website available to association members that is maintained by the association or by a management company on behalf of the association; and (B) sending the notice by e-mail to each owner 17 who has registered an e-mail address with the association. (f) It is an owner ’s duty to keep an updated e-mail address registered with the property owners ’ association under Subsection (e)(2)(B).
 
Open Meeting Requirements for Budget Approvals (Texas Property Code Section 209.0051(h))
Approval of any budget or budget amendment must be done at a properly noticed, open board meeting. This new law applies regardless of whether the association’s budget is increased.
Posted on November 25, 2022 9:00 AM by Admin
Categories: General, HOA
Religious Displays (Texas Property Code Section 202.018)
Associations can no longer adopt or enforce restrictions that prohibit religious displays on an owner’s private property or dwelling, regardless of how many there are, how large they are, what they are made of, whether they alter the entry door or door frame, or where they are located.
However, associations can still prohibit religious displays that:
  • Threaten public health or safety
  • Are attached to traffic control devices, streetlamps, fire hydrants, or utility signs, poles, or fixtures
  • Violate a law other than a law prohibiting the display of religious speech
  • Are patently offensive to passersby for reasons other than religious content
  • Are installed on HOA owned, HOA maintained, or commonly owned property
  • Violate a building line, right-of-way, setback, or easement
Posted on November 18, 2022 9:00 AM by Admin
Categories: General, HOA
Texas Property Code (“TPC”) Title 11, includes numerous provisions governing the formation, management, powers, and operation of residential HOAs (usually called “Property Owners Associations” in the statute) in Texas.
 
Chapter 202 of the TPC specifically applies to enforcement of restrictive covenants, and Chapter 204 governs powers of associations in residential communities.
 
The Texas Nonprofit Corporation Act, Tex. Bus. Code, Chapter 22, governs non-profits with regard to corporate structure and procedure. Homeowners associations in Texas must be organized as non-profit corporations under the Texas Business Code. Tex. Prop. Code §204.004.
 
Condominium associations in Texas may organize as either for-profit or nonprofit corporations.  Tex. Prop. Code § 82.101.
 
To obtain an information report which includes the association’s corporate status, mailing address, registered agent, and list of the association’s current board members and officers, please visit the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts and conduct a search under the name of the community or development.
 
Homeowners may also visit the county’s county recorder’s office to obtain copies of the association’s governing documents, including the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs) and amendments.
 
Federal Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (“FDCPA”), 15 U.S.C. §1692, et seq.:  The FDCPA regulates the conduct of “debt collectors” collecting debts owed by “consumers” to third parties. 
 
HOA fees are considered “debts” under the FDCPA, and homeowners are protected “consumers.”  Ladick v. Van Gemert, 146 F. 3d 1205 (10th Cir.1998); Thies v. Law Offices of William A. Wyman, 969 F. Supp. 604 (S.D. Cal. 1997). 
 
An HOA collecting its own debts does not qualify as a “debt collector” and is therefore not directly regulated by the FDCPA.  However, a third party – such as a collection agency, law firm, or property management company – attempting to collect fees owed to an association may qualify as a “debt collector” under the FDCPA. 
 
Texas’s Debt Collection Act, Tex. Fin. Code §392.001, et. seq., regulates debt collection at the state level and contains provisions similar to the FDCPA.  Unlike the FDCPA, though, the Texas statute is not limited to third-party debt collectors and can therefore apply to an HOA attempting to collect delinquent assessments on its own behalf.  Texas’s Debt Collection Act is administered by the state’s Attorney General.
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