What's Going On
Posted on January 1, 2021 12:00 AM by Admin
FIREWORKS
Remember when we would pack up as a family and go watch fireworks displays all over the city? We could pick from several venues. The reason we packed up to go watch fireworks is simple – it was something for the professionals and the trained. Now, you can find the same fireworks they were shooting off at local roadside tents. We were only allowed the sparklers. We have all heard stories of someone shooting off a bottle rocket and hitting a neighbor’s roof. The entire house could burn to the ground and the person (or parents of that person) is held responsible.
If we stop and think about it, there’s some real logic in letting the professionals handle fireworks. They do contain dynamite. They do not always go in the direction that you would like them to go. Even the experts always have fire trucks waiting on the sidelines. The other thing you may have noticed over the years is they never hold the fireworks. There’s always some kind of stand with a long fuse attached. The person lighting the fuse is always several yards away from the stands holding the fireworks.
It’s not as if those of us living in Cinco Ranch would discharge fireworks, we all know better. Maybe the experts have it right. We go to them, they give us a great show, we don’t get in any trouble, we don’t hurt anyone or ourselves, and we have a wonderful time. What a great way to spend a holiday! The whole point in holidays is supposed to be time with the family and celebration.
If you suspect someone of being unsafe with their fireworks please call the non-emergency sheriff's number at 281-341-4665.
 
Is it illegal to shoot off fireworks in Fort Bend County?
According to Texas law, fireworks are approved for use in unincorporated Fort Bend County except: within 600 feet of any church, hospital, asylum, licensed child-care center, or public or private school or college; within 100 feet of a place where flammable liquids or flammable compressed gasses are stored and dispensed; within 100 feet of a place where fireworks are stored or sold; in, at or from a motor vehicle; and inside any building.
Posted on December 26, 2020 9:30 AM by Admin
Categories: General
Bicycle safety includes choosing the right bicycle and teaching your child safety rules to prevent injury. Bicycling is a common means of transportation as well as an increasingly popular source of recreation, exercise, and sport. With more than 100 million bicycle owners, the popularity of bicycling has reached an all-time high.
Along with increased use of bicycles comes the risk of significant injuries. According to national statistics, more than 1.8 billion bicycle outings occur each year, resulting in nearly a half-million visits to emergency departments. Injuries related to bicycling range from common abrasions, cuts, bruises, broken bones, internal injuries, head trauma, and even death.
More than 900 bicyclists die annually, and 20,000 are admitted to hospitals. From a statistical standpoint, bicycle riding has a higher death rate per trip or per mile of travel than being a passenger in an automobile. The majority of bicycle deaths are caused by head injuries.
 
Here are a few tips for parents to impart on their children:
 
  • Wear a properly fitted helmet.
  • Check brakes and tires.
  • Wear light colors to make it easier for drivers to see you.
  • Stay alert.
  • Put away electronic devices.
  • Pay attention to lane markers.
  • Don't ride between vehicles.
  • Cross at intersections.
  • Make eye contact with drivers before crossing.
  • Never attempt to cross a multi-lane highway.
  • You have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers.
  • Stop at red lights and stop signs.
  • Ride in a bicycle lane if present, traveling in the same direction as traffic.
  • If a bicycle lane is not present, ride as close to the right side of the road as possible.
  • Use a light on the front and a red reflector or light on the back of your bike at night.
  • For a left turn, stretch your left arm to the left.
  • For a right turn, stretch your right arm to the right.
  • For a stop, hold your left elbow out, arm downward, with palm facing behind you.
 
Bicycle Safety - What every parent should know PDF click here.
Posted on December 22, 2020 12:00 AM by CRSWCC Board of Directors
Categories: General
Community Council - Bringing YOU Your Community Events
 
You’ve probably heard it before, but have no clue what it means.  So, what is the “Community Council,” you ask?  The Cinco Ranch Southwest Community Council is not affiliated or endorsed by Cinco Ranch Residential Association II, however, they are the Council that hosts all events, activities, classes, and camps within Cinco Ranch II.  In other words, your HOA does not present the community events you regularly see, as they are handled by a separate entity known as the Cinco Ranch Southwest Community Council. 
 
The Cinco Ranch Southwest Community Council is administered by a Board of Trustees and is part of the team planning and bringing you the wonderful events and various fitness and education classes held in or around the Lake House. The individuals who serve on the Council Board are not elected per the legal documents, but instead are appointed by both the Residential Association Board and the Board Trustees of the Community Council.  
Although the Council is a separate entity from the Residential Association, the Council does communicate and interact with the Residential Association Board because a very small portion of your assessment money goes to help fund community events and activities (approximately $10 per year).  In addition, the Council solicits support from our contractors and Katy area businesses in the form of in-kind or financial donations/sponsorships for events. The CRSWCC Board goal is for residents to come together and interact with one another and to foster a sense of community with community events.
 
Another role of the Council is to provide health and wellness programs to encourage fitness for all ages, and educational programs to develop skills that will help foster learning in children of all ages.  Over the last few years new classes have been added to the Lake House, including Taekwondo, Drama, and we have amped up the schedules of a few of our existing classes, to better meet your needs.  We’ve also added several new camps to the Lake House lineup and try to bring you a variety of offerings each year.
 
Giving back to the community is another role of council.  Every month a local charity is selected to support.  For instance, this past fall, we partnered with CAPs and Special Pals, located in Katy.  CAPs and Special Pals are nonprofits that provides shelter, adoptions and education for animal lovers in the Katy area. Our generous residents brought in many items requested including dog and cat food, pill pockets for medication, puppy pads, and other supplies to donate. The Community Council also provides opportunities at community events for local students needing volunteer service hours. Students can sign up to participate through their school x2Vol site.   
 
 If you have any questions about the Community Council, please contact Shannon at lifestyle@mycincoranch.com.  We look forward to seeing you at all of our community events, classes, and camps.
 
We encourage you to take our Community Events Survey to help us provide the events and classes you want to see in the community.
Posted on December 18, 2020 4:00 PM by Admin
Categories: General, HOA
The holiday season will be here soon, and many of us will have friends and family who will be coming to town to visit.  Extra vehicles can cause inconvenient parking situations.  We ask that you please refrain from parking your cars on the streets overnight.  Not only is this an eye-sore, it can become an extreme safety issue.  Emergency vehicles may not be able to pass between two cars parked on a street, or this may cause your neighbors the inability to back out of their driveways safely.  Most importantly, this could put children playing in danger with the risk of getting hit by passing cars as there will be a blind spot.
Please be conscience of parking in your driveway and not “sticking out” onto the street, or blocking the sidewalk. Refrain from parking in front of your neighbors home. If you have multiple vehicles at your residence, you may need to allow additional time to “shuffle” them to allow another household member to leave, or work out a parking plan so that everyone knows when and where to park.
 
Though the Deed Restrictions in Cinco Ranch II do not prohibit street parking unless you are in a gated community, there are many parking situations that can be deemed illegal under Fort Bend County and state laws.  When parking near the corner of a street, you must leave at least 20 feet away from the bumper of your car to the corner; if that corner has a stop sign, the law requires a minimum of 30 feet instead of 20.  When parking near a fire hydrant, you must leave at least 15 feet from the bumper of your car to the hydrant, on either side of the hydrant.  It is also illegal to park in a manner that blocks a driveway or intersection.  Additionally, when parking in a cul-de-sac, cars should be parked parallel to the curb as they normally would on a straight curb; parking with your front or rear bumper to the curb at a cul-de-sac, as if it were a “parking spot,” is also illegal. 
 
Texas Penal Code
Sec. 42.03
Obstructing Highway or Other Passageway
(a) A person commits an offense if, without legal privilege or authority, he intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly:
     (1) obstructs a highway, street, sidewalk, railway, waterway, elevator, aisle, hallway, entrance, or exit to which the public or a substantial group of the public has access, or any other place used for the passage of persons, vehicles, or conveyances, regardless of the means of creating the obstruction and whether the obstruction arises from his acts alone or from his acts and the acts of others; or
     (2) disobeys a reasonable request or order to move issued by a person the actor knows to be or is informed is a peace officer, a fireman, or a person with authority to control the use of the premises:
          (A) to prevent obstruction of a highway or any of those areas mentioned in Subdivision (1); or
          (B) to maintain public safety by dispersing those gathered in dangerous proximity to a fire, riot, or other hazard.
(b) For purposes of this section, “obstruct” means to render impassable or to render passage unreasonably inconvenient or hazardous.
(c) An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor.
 
When parking, you should ask yourself, have I created a hazard?  Would an emergency vehicle be able to get to someone’s home? Have I created a blind spot for motorist?  Do you want to be the reason something serious happened to your neighbor or yourself?  We are asking everyone in the neighborhood to think of these different things and protect each other before parking.
Posted on December 4, 2020 9:30 AM by Admin
Categories: Classes, General
Do the holidays make you feel anxious?  You are not alone.  Many people experience holiday stress.  Although this time of year brings family and friends together, it can also be a major source of stress and anxiety.  Your normal routine is thrown off track..  There are usually several parties or gatherings to attend.  You may eat and drink things you don’t normally consume. Perhaps you host events. Add this up and it equals feeling overwhelmed, getting less sleep and experiencing more stress.
 
There are some simple things you can try when you feel overwhelmed, tired, or stressed.  These are not time consuming.  Practice them regularly and you may find you better enjoy the holidays.
  1. Recognize signs of stress. It’s important to first recognize that you are actually feeling stressed.  Also, be sure to rule out anything serious going on. Some typical signs of stress are irritability, moodiness, anxiety, insomnia and headaches.
  2. Set an intention to relieve holiday stress. Once you determine you are stressed, set your intention to feel better.   This is important because it confirms your commitment to taking action. Once you are committed to making an improvement, you can then do something about it.
  3. Take action.
Below are four simple, effective techniques to help you manage holiday stress.  Make it a practice do at least one of these every day.
 
Deep Breathing
 
Breathing exercises are great for lowering stress levels.  Deep breaths send the message to your nervous system to calm down. Try this now. Take a nice deep breath in, followed by a long exhale. This alone may help you relax more.  Taking four or five breaths like this only takes a few moments, and can be done anytime and anywhere. Ideally do this with your eyes closed to block out the world around you.
 
Meditation
Meditation is the action of focusing the mind on one focal point.  The breath is a great point of focus because it is always available.  Breath counting meditation is a simple technique that anybody can do. 
How to do breath counting meditation:
Be in a comfortable place free of distractions.
Close your eyes.
Take a couple deep breaths to help you relax.
Next, allow your breath to flow naturally without controlling it.
Begin to notice the inhales and exhales as they happen naturally.
After a few moments, with the next exhale, mentally count ‘One’
With the next inhale, mentally count ‘Two’.
On the next exhale, mentally count ‘Three’.
With the next inhale, mentally count ‘Four.
On the next exhale, mentally count ‘Four’.
With the next inhale, mentally count ‘Three’.
On the next exhale, mentally count ‘Two’.
With the next inhale, mentally count ‘One’.
On the next exhale, mentally count ‘One’.
With the next inhale, mentally count ‘Two’.
Continue to count with your breath, one to four, and four back to one
Proceed for 2-3 minutes (or longer if you like).
This meditation method helps you gain mental distance from thinking.  Practice this regularly to feel more relaxed, refreshed, and less affected by external stressors.
 
Take a Break
Taking a break during the day is a great way to reset your mind.  These simple methods can go a long way in helping to manage holiday stress:
 
Go for a walk.
Walking, especially in nature, is a great way to relieve holiday stress.  One, it allows you to get away from the busyness of the season.  Two, it provides gentle exercise to help relieve physical stress.  Three, walking is a great way to allow your mind to daydream. This gives you a mental break from thinking about your to-do list. Four, you get an extra bonus if you walk in nature.
 
Enjoy a coffee or tea break.
Any form of getting away from the holiday hustle and bustle helps to relieve stress and anxiety.  Take time out for yourself with a nice warm cup of coffee or tea. If you are feeling social, invite a friend.  If you need solitude, enjoy your break alone.
 
Take a bath.
The warm water of a bath relaxes your body.  The timeout relaxes your mind. Indulge yourself occasionally and you will better enjoy the holiday season.
Posted on November 27, 2020 9:30 AM by Admin
Categories: General, HOA
At the November HOA Board meeting, Directors were elected to the following officer positions:
 
President and Director - Keith Lehtinen
 
Vice President and Director – Yu (Jessie) Xia
 
Secretary and Director - Whitney Smith
 
Treasurer and Director - Rhonda Runge
 
Assistant Treasurer and Director - Beige Chen
 
Director - Chester Pleasant
Director - Ron Stefani
Posted on November 20, 2020 10:30 AM by CRRA2 Board of Directors
Categories: General, HOA
This communication is to call attention to the misinformation on social media. Sites such as “Cinco Ranch 2 Amenities Forum” are not official Cinco Ranch II Association accounts. The Association has no social media accounts. Sites such as these are resident created and may have misleading statements and misinformation on those sites.
 
Shared Usage Agreement - There is a three-year rolling agreement with Cinco 1 on shared amenities. Either party can vacate the agreement at any time; however, the agreement will still have two years lifespan before either Association can exit the agreement. Cinco 1 and 2 mutually agreed to managed the pools during the pandemic differently. There will be a meeting in 2021 before the opening of the pool season to discuss management of amenities. If you have a desire for the truth on Association activities, please refer to the Mycincoranch.com Contact Us feature. 
 
Ivy Removal Reminder - The Board again requests residents to remove all ivy from their side of the fence by the end of 2020.  Keep in mind, this request does not pertain to resident owned fencing. If the resident permits the ivy to grow onto the public side of the fencing, the ivy will be removed at the owners expense per the deed restrictions mentioned above.
 
Trash Cans -  Please remember to bring in your trash can after pick up and store out of public view.
 
2021 Assessments - Statements have been mailed. If you do not receive a copy of your 2021 Assessments by December 1st, please email CustomerCare or call 713-981-9000 to obtain a copy. Visit the financials page on Mycincoranch.com to see the approved budgets for 2019, 2020 and 2021. 
 
CRRA2 Board of Directors
Posted on November 16, 2020 12:30 AM by CRRA2 Board of Directors
Categories: General, HOA
The Cinco Ranch II Board of Directors implemented a fence maintenance program last year to prolong the lifespan of association owned fencing in the community. The objective of the program is to extend fence lifespan while protecting home values and community appearance. The program has several key components.
 
The removal of ivy on the public side of the fence
Pull back of mulch from the fence bottom
Creating a minimum space of two (2) feet between the fence and “green" life
Residents removal of ivy and “green” life from the fence on the resident side
Repair or replace damaged fencing
Routine fence power washing
 
The removal of ivy on the public side and the cutbacks to create space between the fence and “green” life have been completed. As a part of that process, the Board requested residents remove all ivy from their side of the fence and cutback “green” life.
 
Presently, Texas Landscape Group is reporting ivy that has not been removed on the resident’s side of the fence. The Board will provide a “one (1) time” clean-up of the ivy visible on the public side of the fence at no cost to the resident. After the “one (1) time” clean-up process is completed, any additional removal cost on the public side, will be charged back to the resident and addressed within the Association’s deed restriction enforcement process. This protocol will be implemented January 1, 2021.
 
The Deed Restrictions prohibit plants whose existence is unsightly or of a nature that may diminish the enjoyment of the community. Additionally, the documents state that required landscaping maintenance must occur often enough to ensure that the property is maintained to the Community Wide Standard. The Association shall have the power, as provided in the Declaration of Protective Covenants, to impose sanctions for any violation of the Governing Documents.
 The Board again requests residents to remove all ivy from their side of the fence by the end of 2020.  Keep in mind, this request does not pertain to resident owned fencing. If the resident permits the ivy to grow onto the public side of the fencing, the ivy will be removed at the owners expense per the deed restrictions mentioned above.
 
We look forward to your support in maintaining the integrity of the community.  If you would like to discuss this further, please contact one of our customer service representatives at customercare@ciaservices.com or 713-981- 9000.
 
CRRA2 Board of Directors
Posted on October 26, 2020 5:00 PM by Admin
Categories: General
The holiday season will be here soon, and many of us will have friends and family who will be coming to town to visit.  Extra vehicles can cause inconvenient parking situations.  We ask that you please refrain from parking your cars on the streets overnight.  Not only is this an eye-sore, it can become an extreme safety issue.  Emergency vehicles may not be able to pass between two cars parked on a street, or this may cause your neighbors the inability to back out of their driveways safely.  Most importantly, this could put children playing in danger with the risk of getting hit by passing cars as there will be a blind spot.
Please be conscience of parking in your driveway and not “sticking out” onto the street, or blocking the sidewalk. Refrain from parking in front of your neighbors home. If you have multiple vehicles at your residence, you may need to allow additional time to “shuffle” them to allow another household member to leave, or work out a parking plan so that everyone knows when and where to park.
 
Though the Deed Restrictions in Cinco Ranch II do not prohibit street parking unless you are in a gated community, there are many parking situations that can be deemed illegal under Fort Bend County and state laws.  When parking near the corner of a street, you must leave at least 20 feet away from the bumper of your car to the corner; if that corner has a stop sign, the law requires a minimum of 30 feet instead of 20.  When parking near a fire hydrant, you must leave at least 15 feet from the bumper of your car to the hydrant, on either side of the hydrant.  It is also illegal to park in a manner that blocks a driveway or intersection.  Additionally, when parking in a cul-de-sac, cars should be parked parallel to the curb as they normally would on a straight curb; parking with your front or rear bumper to the curb at a cul-de-sac, as if it were a “parking spot,” is also illegal. 
 
Texas Penal Code
Sec. 42.03
Obstructing Highway or Other Passageway
(a) A person commits an offense if, without legal privilege or authority, he intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly:
     (1) obstructs a highway, street, sidewalk, railway, waterway, elevator, aisle, hallway, entrance, or exit to which the public or a substantial group of the public has access, or any other place used for the passage of persons, vehicles, or conveyances, regardless of the means of creating the obstruction and whether the obstruction arises from his acts alone or from his acts and the acts of others; or
     (2) disobeys a reasonable request or order to move issued by a person the actor knows to be or is informed is a peace officer, a fireman, or a person with authority to control the use of the premises:
          (A) to prevent obstruction of a highway or any of those areas mentioned in Subdivision (1); or
          (B) to maintain public safety by dispersing those gathered in dangerous proximity to a fire, riot, or other hazard.
(b) For purposes of this section, “obstruct” means to render impassable or to render passage unreasonably inconvenient or hazardous.
(c) An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor.
 
When parking, you should ask yourself, have I created a hazard?  Would an emergency vehicle be able to get to someone’s home? Have I created a blind spot for motorist?  Do you want to be the reason something serious happened to your neighbor or yourself?  We are asking everyone in the neighborhood to think of these different things and protect each other before parking.
Posted on October 19, 2020 9:00 AM by Admin
Categories: General