Cliffe Notes
Our community’s website was born on 4th of July weekend 2009. The goal was to improve communication between the Board of Directors and the Association’s members. All indicators say that it has been successful.
Remember the good old days - the little agenda posted on the bulletin board by the gate that nobody could read without getting out of their car and squinting at the tiny type.
By regulation, agendas are still posted on the board. However, they are also posted on www.stonecliffe.org. Other regular postings include minutes of all BOD meetings, monthly financial statements, Annual Audits, Treasurer’s Reports, Operating Budgets, Reserve Studies and more. Some of these are still mailed to members by law, while others were only available by contacting Accell.
The site also includes Cliffe Notes, which are little articles about topics that may affect our residents – e.g. Toll Road Closures, Landscape Project Status, Upper Chiquita Reservoir Project, and Stonecliffe being designated as under the “Sphere of Influence” of Rancho Santa Margarita. Etc.
If you are one of seventy-six (76) residents who subscribe to receive emails for announcements, then you are alerted when postings & documents are published on the website.
Stonecliffe residents have submitted over fifty (50) questions and suggestions to the BOD using the online forms on the website.
These numbers far exceed our original estimates and tell us that communications have improved.
Stonecliffe.org also provides outsiders with a window into our community. Several months ago, a local realtor wrote that she was very impressed with the website. She said the available information and pictures represent the community well, and do a great service for our homeowners.
Last, but not least, we all should send a big “Thank You!” to Linda Schafer, a long time Songbird resident, who has spent lots and lots of hours designing and setting up the website. She continues to spend considerable time maintaining it, including posting all documents. She also provides suggestions to help us facilitate communication while avoiding potential harm from spam-bots which crawl the internet. Linda makes a living at this kind of work, but does it gratis for our community. Thank you again!
Where does the issue of Stonecliffe, Coto, Wagon Wheel & Los Flores coming under RSM’s “Sphere of Influence” stand?
According to an article in the May 29th issue of the O.C. Register, the County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote on the issue June 9th. Rancho Santa Margarita has apparently reversed its’ opposition, but is asking the Supervisors to delay their vote to allow more time for the City Council to discuss the issue further.
Follow http://www.ocregister.com/news/council-250685-members-meeting.html for the whole story.
Also see previous Cliffe notes’ article last July for background on the story below under LAFCO - Sphere of Influence - July 20, 2009 Update
Stonecliffe Annual Garage Sale: Saturday June 5th, 7-11am
Let’s all work together this year to have another really successful and fun neighbor- hood event. It is projected the neighborhood had about 40+ homes participating last year and took in $10-12,000!!!!
If you would like to participate email Alice at stonecliffegaragesale@cox.net. If you let her know the major categories of things you have for sale by 5/15 she will list them in the ads that will be placed in newspapers and on Craigslist. If you also provide your street address it will be listed on a pre-sale flyer for your neighbors that will be placed on each Stonecliffe door on 6/3/10 and on a flyer which will be passed out at the gate as “garage- salers” come to shop on 6/5.
We received many positive comments from the neighbors who participated in the pre-sale and the people who came through the gate about the list of categories for sale by household last year. You are certainly welcome to participate without letting Alice know in advance, you just won’t be listed on the flyers.
If you want to sell “new” items that you make or sell we can list the categories but not specific brands or companies. If we can attract some Boutique Buyers we will have a higher end buying population. (i.e. We can’t say Southern Home Living or Creative Memories but we can say new home décor items or new scrapbooking items in our ads.)
We also need some volunteers to make this successful. We already have volunteers who will hand out this flyer and one other to every home in Stonecliffe. The next flyer will be passed out a few days in advance so your neighbors know what you have for sale and may even contact you in advance for a pre-sale. Last year it was reported the “pre-sale” day (the day before) provided some great sales for many residents.
We still need volunteers to:
- Post signs at major intersections: i.e., Oso & Antonio, Oso & Felipe, Crown Valley & Antonio early the morning of 6/5
- Hand a flyer to each car as it comes in the gate, starting at 6:30. The flyer will list the homes we know are participating and the product or major categories of items for sale.
- Place an ad in The Register and The Pennysaver – cost to be reimbursed
- Place ads on Craigslist for our general categories.
Please email Alice at stonecliffegaragesale@cox.net if you are willing to help.
We will place a banner at the entrance to Stonecliffe the week prior to the Garage sale. It will be posted on the bulletin board by the gate and a reminder announcement will be on the next HOA statement.
Due to recent problems with vandalism, etc., Wagon Wheel is working with the sheriff to organize their own neighborhood watch program. The sheriff’s department is willing to work with other communities, including Stonecliffe, if so desired.
Stonecliffe has had an organized Neighborhood Watch in the distant past, but not recently. Before pursuing, it must be determined if there is sufficient interest to support a program.
If you personally are interested in participating in Neighborhood Watch, please send your name and contact info to the BOD using the suggestion form. Indicate also if you are willing to chair this organizational effort.
If enough volunteers surface, the BOD will provide contact info to the committee so a meeting with the sheriff can be initiated.
AlertOC - An opportunity to receive notification in cases of emergencies (e.g. evacuation order in case of fire).
AlertOC is a mass notification system designed to keep Orange County residents and businesses informed of emergencies and certain community events.
By registering with AlertOC, time-sensitive voice messages from the County or City in which you live or work may be sent to your home, cell or business phone. Text messages may also be sent to cell phones, e-mail accounts and hearing impaired receiving devices.
For information view the AlertOC privacy policy. For details on how the AlertOC System works and when it will be used, please view the Overview section and Frequently Asked Questions section of the AlertOC website. AlertOC is a joint County/City program. View the list of participating cities.
Register With AlertOC: To receive important messages from AlertOC, register your contact information online by clicking on the city or area in which you live or work. To register by mail, download a registration form found in the FAQ page and follow the return by mail form instructions.
2010 Census - An opportunity to meet your neighbors. Become a census taker. These are paid positions, not unpaid volunteers. Please see brochure.
Upper Chiquita Reservoir Project
Everyday, most of us pass the huge project underway off Oso Parkway west of the 241 Toll Road. That project is the construction of the Upper Chiquita Reservoir.
Following is the Santa Margarita Water District website that will provide you with everything you ever wanted to know about the project and more.
http://www.smwd.com/ucr/index.htm
There is also a link to a press release below about the contractor on the project, Sukut Construction.
http://www.sukut.com/news/PR/pr1-1.html
Become a Fire Watch Volunteer!
A training session will be offered by Orange County Fire Authority in late August (date, time and location to be determined). See the attached flyer for information.
Below are South County Fire Watch locations for 2009 fire season. Volunteers, who will work in pairs, will be needed during the worst part of fire season, which is usually October and November.
- 1. Talega at the water tower at Ave. Belleza and foot of Ave. Talega as well as in homeowner’s backyards.
- 2. Ortega Highway:
- a. Entrance to Lazy W Ranch
- b. Lucas Canyon Rd. and Ortega Hwy
- 3. Bellview Trail
- a. Next to Coto Village
- b. Off Wellesley Court
- c. Off end of Havenhurst Dr.
- 4. Chiquita Ridge off Antonio at Apache Dr.
- 5. Arroyo Vista gate of O’Neill Park before Tijeras Creek golf course
- 6. Dove Canyon – Grey Rock Road at Starr Ranch border.
This is a subject that hits close to home. If you moved into Stonecliffe after May 2002, you may not know that a brush fire in the Upper Chiquita area came very, very close to our development. There were shrubs and bushes burned right up to the edge of Oso Pkwy on the Wagon Wheel side and orange fire retardant all over the road between Stonecliffe and the 241 Toll Road. The fuel modification zones around Wagon Wheel and Stonecliffe helped deter the fires from drawing even closer.
Those of us who lived here then and were home during that afternoon were poised to evacuate through Coto, as Oso Pkwy was blocked.
Mother Nature took more than two years to remove the vestiges of the damage from that fire.
If you interested in volunteering, please Contact Sandy DeSimone of Audubon’s Starr Ranch Sanctuary (949) 858-0309, sdesimone@audubon.org or Laura Coley Eisenberg of Rancho Mission Viejo Land Trust (949) 240-3363 Ext 297, lcoleyeisenberg@ranchomv.com.
Status of Entry Landscape Project as of July 20, 2009
Altura Slope Landscape & Drainage
Click here to view diagram - Altura Slope Drainage Exhibit
Most of our three year master landscape has been completed. The last area is the most visible – the entry both inside and outside the gates. Demolition started a few weeks ago, but had to be halted to deal with water problems.
As you may have noticed, there has been water seeping up through the asphalt in various places, most notably inside the entry gates. The discoloration is from the mineral residue left after the water evaporates. We did not want to replant those areas until we determined the causes and the remedies.
Another problem surfaced within the last month or two. A tree died on the greenbelt along Altura near the Kingfisher end. When the tree was removed, the soil was discolored and very smelly. There was water in the hole. Planting of the replacement was delayed to see if the hole would dry out, but water continued to seep into it.
Several things were attempted to determine the possible causes. SMWD came out and checked their water lines, but no leaks were detected. Watering on the islands was reduced, but not so much as to damage the trees and shrubs. It had little impact. Finally, an engineering firm was engaged to diagnose the situation.
The consultant pointed out that there is a clay-like, non-porous layer under the top soil in large areas of the development. This layer inhibits water from passing through it and results in water flowing downhill below the surface. Irrigation exacerbates the problem, particularly around the islands.
Two courses of action were chosen. Along three different stretches of Altura (see map attached), trenches will be cut and drains will be installed. The drains will catch the water and direct it to our main drainage system. The drains will be covered with soil or turf, as applicable, and not at all visible.
There will be holes augured on the islands in attempt to give the water escape routes. If this fails, a portion of the asphalt would have to be excavated and drains (as described above) would have to be installed in the islands and under the road. This would be significantly more expensive and disruptive to traffic flow through the entrance gate.
Multiple bids were obtained and a vendor was selected. The work will begin very soon. Demolition of the areas to be re-landscaped will also resume. When both are completed, the new landscape and the replacement for the dead tree will be planted. Everything should be done during the second half of August.
LAFCO - Sphere of Influence - July 20, 2009 Update
Notice of Meeting - IMPORTANT!
A meeting has been scheduled for Stonecliffe to meet with LAFCO to discuss LAFCO’s intent to include Stonecliffe, as well as Wagon Wheel, Las Flores and Coto de Caza, in the City of Rancho Santa Margarita’s Sphere of Influence.
What does LAFCO stand for? Local Agency Formation Commission
What does all this mean to us?
Are we going to become part of the City of Rancho Santa Margarita?
We’ll get a chance to ask these questions and more.
The meeting will be in the multi-purpose room at the Bell Tower, 22232 El Paseo, Rancho Santa Margarita from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Monday, July 27.
This meeting is to obtain information. It’s not adversarial. LAFCO volunteered to come at our convenience and arranged for the location.
Everyone is Welcome!
Here is the link to LAFCO’s website, where you can get caught up on the subject. http://www.oclafco.org/
Under the Meetings Tab, click on Meeting Schedule, and then click on June 17 Agenda.
There are 141 pages. To save you some time, please refer to:
- Pgs 1 – 3: The Agenda. We are item 8.B. You may be confused because all the documents throughout only mentions Coto de Caza, but the geographic area includes Stonecliffe, Wagon Wheel and Las Flores. See Map
- Pgs. 64 - 73: LAFCO document dated June 17th, 2009, concerning the topic of including Coto de Caza in the City of Rancho Santa Margarita’s “Sphere Of Influence”, (SOI).
Special Pages in LAFCO Document to Note:
Pg 68: Excerpt’s from six pages of comments received from the City of Rancho Santa Margarita. (RSM’s full letter is an attachment - see pages 121 -126).
Among the comments:
RSM strongly objects to including Coto de Caza in their SOI; RSM has no intentions of annexing Coto in the next 10 – 15 years; How could LAFCO make an SOI change without the City’s full concurrence? (Response: State law gives LAFCO sole authority to establish and amend cities and special districts SOI’s.)
--- Pgs. 71- 72: LAFCO Conclusions: First conclusion, Coto de Caza should be included in RSM’s Sphere Of Influence, which would also mean Stonecliffe, Wagon Wheel and Los Flores would be included.
- Pgs.75 - 114 A financial impact analysis prepared by Stanley R. Hoffman for the Coto de Caza “CZ” Master Association. It’s a real page turner! - Not! But to be noted: Pg 84 – The only time we are mentioned is on a map as “Stone Cliff”.
- Pgs. 116 -117 Survey of COTO residents taken to gage level of interest in participating in determining governance issues.
- Pgs 121 – 126: RSM’s full letter of comments to LAFCO.
Under the Meetings tab, click on Meeting Schedule, then click on June 17th Minutes.
There are 9 pages. To save you some time, please refer to:
- Pgs. 6 – 8: Comments from the public & Commissioners and Motion to continue RSM’s SOI until Sept, 9th Meeting.
LAFCO - Sphere of Influence
Stonecliffe’s Future – Remain Unincorporated or ?
Following is a link to a story that ran in the O.C. Register on June 18, 2009. http://headlines.ocregister.com/news/coto-30780-caza-santa.html
The story mentions a County organization, LAFCO (Local Agency Formation Committee), which can designate under which city’s “sphere of influence” an unincorporated area falls under. LAFCO has no authority to cause unincorporated areas to become cities or to be annexed by cities. However, such a designation is necessary before a city can be formed or annexed. The county definitely wants to provide services for fewer, if any, unincorporated areas.
The article says that LAFCO is studying whether to include Coto de Caza, Wagon Wheel, and “Stone Construction Project” in Rancho Santa Margarita’s sphere of influence. We discussed “Stone Construction Project” with the reporter, John Crandall, and feel certain that it is in fact a reference error by the study and really is Stonecliffe.
What does it mean to us? The answer probably is nothing in the near term, but who knows in the long term. The O.C. Register covers this subject when there is movement and we recommend watching for future articles.
Toll Road Closures
Nighttime Closures on 241 & 133 Toll Roads
Beginning the night of June 24, 2009, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will begin a $2 million pavement overlay project on portions of the 241 and 133 toll roads in the northeast area of Irvine. The 241 and 133 toll roads are state highways maintained by Caltrans.
Construction crews will be working during the hours of 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., Wednesday through Thursday, and 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., Friday through Saturday. Construction is scheduled for completion on September 1, 2009.
This project will require full closures of portions of the 241 and 133 toll roads. Signs are in place to advise motorists of these closures. During construction, detour messages will be posted and tolls waived at the detour ramps.
For information about detours and tolls, call 1-800-378-8725, or visit The Toll Roads website at www.TheTollRoads.com.
This project will add one-inch rubberized asphalt/concrete to the surface of the roadway to ensure long-term durability. Upon its completion, motorists will enjoy a smoother roadway.
Some grinding work will be necessary in this process. Residential areas along the 241 toll road in the northeast area of Irvine may experience some noise. Every effort will be made to minimize the impacts of construction to residents and businesses.
In a construction zone, motorists are reminded to “slow for the cone zone,” be alert, and proceed with caution.
For construction information about this project, or any other freeway project in Orange County, contact the Orange County Transportation Helpline at 1-800-724-0353, or visit the Caltrans website at www.dot.ca.gov.