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Besides the blooming daffodils and tree blossoms, one of the joys of spring is the sound of song birds and the bevy of baby quail making their way through the yard. But the Audubon Magazine reports cats kill hundreds of millions of birds each year, many of them migratory songbirds. Most birds are killed near homes where house cats come and go and where birds are concentrated at feeders. Fledglings are especially vulnerable since they can’t fly for days. The best way to keep those songbirds singing is to keep your cat indoors. It not only protects birds, but could save your cat from exposure to diseases, parasites and attacks by predators and other cats. For instructions on how to break your cat’s outside habits, go to the website American Bird Conservancy’s Cats Indoors! | |
Do you have a complaint or concern?? To better support residents and staff, the Community Standards Department encourages residents who have a complaint or concern to fill out a "Complaint Report." The complaint form allows residents to give a brief description of the concern and assists the Community Standards Department in investigating the issue.
Complaint Report Forms are available at either the Membership Desk in Orchard Creek or online. Once the form is completed, be sure to drop it off in the ARC/Compliance box located in the Business Office next to the OC Membership Desk. The Community Standards Department will then follow-up with an investigation. The form asks you to include a brief description of your concern, along with your name and address. However, if you wish to remain anonymous, you're welcome to complete the form without providing your personal information. Please feel free to contact Kimberly Bahan, Community Standards Manager at 916-625-4006 kimberly.bahan.sclhca.com, or Cece Dirstine, Community Standards Coordinator at 916-625-4008 should you have any questions. | |
By David Stone, Compliance Committee Chair As we have welcomed more than 500 new owners in the last year, it may be a good time to summarize the top ten types of violations seen by the Compliance Committee (with apologies to Dave Letterman). In no particular order: 1. Front yard maintenance. Attack the weeds, keep lawn green and cut, prune and trim trees and bushes, and rebark when needed. 2. Get ARC approval. Don’t start any exterior projects on house or front yard without checking whether ARC approval is needed. Honor set-back requirements. 3. Pet conduct. Keep dogs on leash, control barking, and keep those cats from roaming. 4. Vehicles. No overnight street parking, no car parking in golf cart spaces, and no dripping fluids on driveways. Certain RVs may park on streets for 48 consecutive hours not to exceed 120 hours in any calendar month. 5. No business. Don’t conduct a business from your home unless it generates no traffic or noise, and does not involve employees or contractors. 6. Open space. Do not enter or allow pets to enter the open space preserves, and do not spray, water, cut, plant or store in the preserves. 7. Underage. With certain detailed exceptions, residents must be 55 years or older. Persons under 55 may reside as guests for up to 60 days per calendar year. 8. Frogs, bunnies, gnomes. Keep those front yard decorations out of sight unless approved by ARC. 9. Trash containers. Keep out of sight except on collection days. 10. Compliance Committee. Where you will be invited if you ignore the above. Because of space limitations, I have not included much detail for the items listed, and have not listed the many other provisions of the governing documents that residents must abide by. If you are uncertain about a project or activity, refer to the governing documents which can be accessed on the SCLH website or at the library, or contact Kimberly Bahan, Community Standards Manager, at 625-4006. |