Equestrian Center Clubhouse Construction Update

Work continues at the Equestrian Center Clubhouse to replace the patio cover, railings, stairways and sliding glass door. Components of the project include extending of the deck to meet disability access code compliance and installation of bar seating viewing area. Work scheduled for next week include deck footings and framing work. These are reserve projects funded 100% by boarding fees with no homeowner assessment contribution. Work is anticipated to be completed by mid-May.

April Board of Directors Meeting

The regularly scheduled April Board Meeting and Homeowner Forum has been deferred to Tuesday, April 23, 2018, at 7:30 p.m. in the Association Clubhouse.

This Year’s Board Candidates

This year’s Board candidates are Alexandra Presley and Loree Blough. Look in the next issue of The Pony Express for candidacy statements. The ballots will be mailed to members by May 3, 2019.

Weed Abatement

Many hillsides throughout Nellie Gail Ranch are currently adorned with Summer Mustard a beautiful yellow flowering plant. Despite its current beauty, Orange County Public Works advises it is in fact designated an invasive “noxious weed” that was first introduced on the West Coast about 200 years ago. There are a number of curious theories on how wild mustard, native to Spain and other Mediterranean countries, arrived here. But what we do know for sure is it has really thrived in our climate and is now found on almost every undisturbed hillside and vacant lot in Orange County.

Trail grading and weed removal is the main focus for Nellie Gail Ranch trail maintenance crews this month and next. The first priority is grading and filling ruts caused by rain and removing sandbags. The second is removing the weeds from the physical trail (graded dirt path) followed by the large scale slope weed abatement through the end of May.

Neighborhood Watch Meeting

Sergeant McFatridge and Timory Sayne from Laguna Hills Police Services led the Neighborhood Watch start-up meeting at the Nellie Gail Ranch Clubhouse last Saturday, March 23, 2019. The meeting had 86 attendees with 61 homeowners signing in from 49 households. Police Services will follow up with those who signed in to recruit block captains to formalize a program. 
 
If you were unable to attend the meeting and you are willing to volunteer to be a Block Captain please reach out to Police Services at crimeprevention@lagunahillsCA.gov. 
 
Below are links to the following:
 
 
Much of the meeting was spent in town hall format with Sergeant McFatridge sharing information regarding law enforcement efforts to service Nellie Gail Ranch and the Laguna Hills Community. Select the following link for more detailed information on the meeting.
 

Equestrian Center Clubhouse 

Work has commenced at the Equestrian Center Clubhouse to replace the patio cover, railings, stairways and sliding glass door. Components of the project will include extending of the deck to meet disability access code compliance and installation of bar seating viewing area. These are reserve projects funded 100% by boarding fees with no homeowner assessment contribution. Completion of these projects will result in improved Equestrian Center Clubhouse functionality and aesthetics. Work is anticipated to be completed by the end of April.

Annual Meeting Notice and Solicitation for Board Candidates

The Association is soliciting candidates for the upcoming 2019 Board of Directors election to be held on Wednesday, June 5, 2019. Candidate applications must be returned to the Association office with a full face, digital photograph by Monday, April 8, 2019, in order to be submitted to the Nominating Committee for nomination and to be published in The Pony Express. Please submit via e-mail to the Association’s office at admin@nelliegailranch.org, Attention: Nominating Committee. The Qualifications for Candidacy are in the Nellie Gail Ranch Owners Association Election Rules adopted October 16, 2018.

Should you have any questions please call us at 949-425-1477.

Solicitation for Board Candidates

2019 Board Candidate Application

Election Rules

Police Services Resources

Anonymous tips related to criminal activity may be reported on http://occrimestoppers.org/submit-a-tip/. Tips are anonymous and may be placed online or by phone. Visit the website for more details.

Text to 911 is available in Orange County. Voice calls remain the primary method to report emergencies. However, if you are anywhere in the county and unable to make a voice call, in a loud concert or sports venue, for example, you may text the emergency report.

Does Air Traffic Noise Concern You? 

Have you noticed an increase in air traffic over Nellie Gail Ranch? If you have and if you are concerned by it, a fellow homeowner has provided this website link as a resource for quick and easy filing of complaints. There are several methods of filing a complaint with a free option for up to 30 complaints per month and several fee associated options for more frequent or simplified logging of complaints.

The below link has general information about the complaint process:
https://airnoise.io/

The below link provides access to sign up for an account:
https://airnoise.io/select_subscription

This is a potential resource for air traffic concerns that has been provided by a homeowner. Nellie Gail Ranch Owners Association has not verified the accuracy or content of airnoise.io or any subsequent links on their website.

Fire Readiness

It’s not too early to start thinking about protecting your home and property from fire. The wet winter season and lead into Spring will result in rapidly growing plant material including undesirable weeds. A little effort now may save a lot of effort in the coming months. 
 
The City of Laguna Hills conducts an annual weed abatement program designed to reduce fire hazards during the summer season. The following is a link to a list of fire-prone plant species. Weeds identified in the list as well as any dead, overgrown, or dried out vegetation, plants, and trees must be removed within 100 feet of any structure. Please note that the 100-foot clearance also includes distances to those structures that may be located on a neighbor’s property.
 
 
Many resources for vegetation management and fire safety can also be found on the Orange County Fire Authority website www.ReadySetGoOC.org. The following link provides maintenance guidance as well as recommendations for plant selection for new planting in defensible space and fuel modification zones.