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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
I’d like to remind everyone of two upcomingdates for our community. The first is October 24th,which is our Fall Festival. If you’ve not previouslyattended a Fall Festival, you really should considerdoing so. Whenever I meet someone thinking aboutmoving into River Chase, I tell them about thisevent. It’s truly a community effort. ChelseaOrmond is in need of volunteers, so please considerhelping out. Also, with Eric and Stacy Boatman’sredesign of the barn, the interior is a new hauntingexperience. This is great fun for children and adultswho line the sidewalk from the clubhouse down tothe barn, providing treats to the trick-or-treaters.This is a haunting good time and a can’t miss event.
9th. It will begin at 7:00 p.m. However, thedoors open at 6:00 so you can register early. Again,we will hold the annual meeting at Gruene UnitedMethodist Church on the corner of FM 306 andCommon Street. (continued on page 3)
The Official Newsletter of the River Chase Property Owners Association
OCTOBER 2015 VOLUME III, ISSUE 4
POA Matters, featuring Candidate Information, pages 3-14
Social Events, pages 15 -21Gardening and Outdoors, pages 22-23Safety and Security, pages 24-25
page 21
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPMEETING
NOVEMBER 9, 2015,7:00 P.M.
GRUENE UNITEDMETHODIST CHURCH
Welcome!River Chase
Annual Property OwnersMembership Meeting
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Great Service Comes From the Heart
©2014 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates,LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbolare registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc.® Equal Housing Opportunity.
Put my experience and expertise to work for you!Over 9 years experience selling real estate in the New Braunfels area
River Chase Property Owner
Multi-Million Dollar Producer
President’s Circle (top 4%) – 2013
Leading Edge Society (top 7%) – 2012
Honor Society (top 10%) – 2011, 2010, 2007
Commitment to Excellence (referrals available on LinkedIn and Zillow)
Janet SmalleyBroker Associate – CRS, GRI
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President’s Message (continued from front cover)
This year, though, we’ll be meeting in their new building. Besides votingfor two Board positions, we’ll also be voting on the proposed DCCR revisions.Your vote is extremely important. If you can’t attend, please mail in your ballotor give your proxy to someone who will be attending.
Even though the Board of Directors has appealed the Appellate Courtdecision regarding short-term rentals to the Texas Supreme Court, we can stilltake matters into our own hands and change the DCCRs to prohibit homes inRiver Chase from being used as short-term rentals. These rentals can come inmany forms, such as: 1) a homeowner renting his house for weekends, or 2) areligious organization buying a home to “loan” out to their followers, or 3) acompany buying a home to provide a vacation house for their employees, or 4)investors building a house to rent out and to use as their own vacation homewhen it’s not rented. In any of those situations, the renters can be guests of theowners and have access to our amenities, causing more stress on the commonareas and increasing our liability. Your vote will tell us if you want to condonethis activity or not. You have a chance to have your voice heard on theshort-term rental issue. Don’t leave it up to the Texas Supreme Court.
I hope to see everyone at the Fall Festival and the annual meeting. If youcan’t make the annual meeting, please don’t forget to vote or give your proxyto someone who will be attending.
Volunteer Appreciation BarbecueBy Bill Wiehl
Ever since I’ve been on the Board, I’mamazed at the amount of volunteerism thatexists in this community, beginning with therefurbishment of the cable fence to cuttingdown dead trees and building an office at theclubhouse for the new manager. Thesevolunteers, along with those who’ve donatedtime to the numerous committees, have helpedto not only keep our costs down, but also bringthe community closer together. Recently, wehosted our second annual appreciationbarbecue for these volunteers. Thank you toall who came to show your appreciation to thevolunteers, and thank you volunteers for allyou do for the Association! This community ismuch stronger because of the volunteerassistance we receive.
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Property Tax Saving Tips
Did you know if you own more than one lot, and the additional lots areadjacent to your residence lot, they can be added to your residentiallot’s tax roll? This entitles you to the same exemptions you have onyour home such as homestead and over 65. This is not a re-platting ofthe lots. They still remain separate properties. To take advantage ofthis savings, go to the Comal Appraisal District office and complete therequired paper work.
Remember, the Appraisal Districtdoes not automatically giveexemptions on your home. Youmust apply in person to receivehomestead, over 65, and otherexemptions. You can check theComal County Appraisal Districtwebsite to see which exemptionsyou’re currently receiving.
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Paul Bower (265 Shady Hollow) – Intent to Run for Board of DirectorsQualifications: I’ve served on the Board of Directors for the past 12 months and feelthere are still areas where I can contribute to the Association. I’d like to continue the workin getting the DCCRs passed and bringing about the necessary bylaws and policiesrequired for the changing environment we’re facing today.My thoughts on the future operation of the Board: I believe the Board as a whole hasmade a contribution to being open and communicating with the homeowners by havingextra meetings monthly and providing an open forum for candid discussions as to theproblems and possible solutions. I would obviously like to see this format go forward nextyear.
The Board has become directly involved with different committees and participatesin those committees to bring guidance to their work which is so important to the successof the community. This Association is a combination of volunteers spending an enormousamount of time doing all the heavy lifting that make this community great. I feel it’s theBoard’s responsibility to be an equal participant in the various committees that supportthe Association.Communications: I believe the best communication we’ve had with the homeownerswas the extra monthly Board meetings. Additionally, the time set aside at the start of mostBoard meetings has provided an opportunity for the Board to understand the concerns ofthe homeowners on a timely basis. Homeowners usually ask a question and they get aresponse without some lengthy email exchange. With approximately 700 families andresidents, it’s impossible to have a one-on-one continuous email dialogue for everyquestion that arises. The contract with our management company provides for an on-siterepresentative. I believe this has facilitated stronger face-to-face contact and provides aservice that we were not receiving previously. For the past few months, I’ve been in theoffice working on another project several days a week and have come to appreciate theamount of traffic and support the on-site office provides the homeowners.Covenant enforcement has been an issue forever. With the implementation of theNeighborhood Board there is a process in place that accurately identifies an actualoffense. There’s now a hands-on approach to resolving the issues. The NeighborhoodBoard has stepped up to the challenge and has provided a service to those who need afair and impartial hearing of a legitimate disagreement that may exist. As I’ve been goingthrough the records for the last 12 years, it’s obvious there were abuses of the system andfinancial expenditures that exceed rational explanation. Our costs have been reduced andI feel the homeowners don’t feel oppressed, yet have been notified when there’s aviolation that was more than a wheelbarrow left in the front yard for an hour.Community involvement. Whoever said this is a 20- hour a month job missed the mark.Meetings alone take at least 12-15 hours a month, plus the homework of draftingdocuments and preparing for meetings adds up over time. I’ve been working on adocument management project which involves evaluating all of the existing paperdocuments. This project requires about 10 hours a week scanning the significantdocuments, and creating a cloud platform for the ACC and the Board of Directors.
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Erick Swanson (226 Falling Hills) – Intent to Run for Board of DirectorsQualifications: I’ve lived in River Chase since August 2009 with my wife and daughter.We moved here to get away from the city and to allow our daughter to attend Comal ISDschools (CISD), specifically Hoffmann Lane Elementary. I grew up in this area, havinggraduated from North East ISD schools. I also know the community in and around NewBraunfels very well. I’ve watched New Braunfels evolve from a simple German farmingand ranching community into a progressive and economically prosperous city. I have aB.S. in Agricultural Economics (minor in Bus. Admin.) and a M.Ed. in Education, bothfrom Texas A&M University. I was one of those POA members who was complacent andjust let the daily workings of the community pass by. About three years ago, the POAleadership started to have various issues that seemed to go unchecked by the POAmembers. I started to volunteer my time and services to help the community and, afterencouragement from neighbors, I decided to get involved in our community. My goal wasto safeguard the POA member’s rights and to ensure our community flourishes andproperty values continue to rise. I was subsequently appointed to the ACC, and haveserved on the committee for 1-1/2 years. Since then I’ve given my best effort to ensurethe DCCRs are followed as they were originally written, as this is what the POAmembers stressed to me when I was appointed to the ACC. We (the ACC) have mademany changes to better serve our community. These changes have been met with openhearts and minds from our POA members. Now a BOD position has come up, and I feelmy knowledge, skills, and abilities are well-suited to the needs and interests of ourcommunity. Having served on the ACC, given my knowledge of how a POA is andshould be run, and having had many dealings with various members, I feel I would bean excellent addition to the current BOD. I promise to be forth coming, transparent, opento all members (my opinions will be left at home, as I have done on the ACC), andrepresent the members openly and faithfully. I will continue to safeguard the POAmembers’ rights and to ensure our community flourishes and our property valuescontinue to rise.
Why are you interested in running for the BOD/ACC? I feel my knowledge, skills,and abilities are well-suited to the needs and interests of our community. Having servedon the ACC, given my knowledge of how a POA is and should be run, and having hadmany dealings with various members, I feel I would be an excellent addition to thecurrent BOD. I promise to be forthcoming, transparent, open to all members (myopinions will be left at home, as I have done on the ACC), and represent the membersopenly and faithfully. I will continue to safeguard the POA member’s rights and to ensureour community flourishes and our property values continue to rise.What are your thoughts on the future operation of the BOD/ACC, including shortterm goals? Short term goals should continue to be followed as the current BOD haslaid out. These include financial stability, transparency in regard to actions the BODundertakes, and how this information is disseminated to POA members. Long term goals
(continued on next page)
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Erick Swanson (continued from previous page)
need to include what the POA members envision for our community and a strictadherence to the DCCRs. If the DCCRs are changed, then the BOD should welcomethis revision with open minds and continue to serve in accordance with the newDCCRs.The BOD needs to continue to educate themselves and our members in orderfor us to continue with our forward momentum.As a member of the BOD/ACC, how would you communicate with themembership? Short term goals should continue to be followed as the current BOD haslaid out. These include financial stability, transparency in regard to actions the BODundertakes, and how this information is disseminated to POA members. Long term goalsneed to include what the POA members envision for our community and a strictadherence to the DCCRs. If the DCCRs are changed, then the BOD should welcomethis revision with open minds and continue to serve in accordance with the new DCCRs.The BOD needs to continue to educate themselves and our members in order for us tocontinue with our forward momentum.How do you feel covenants should be enforced? The covenants should be enforcedas this is what we all agreed to when we bought property here. I feel having open linesof communication, dealing with each infraction on an individual basis, reaching out to thePOA members to help solve any issues, and continuing to nurture and enable ourstability/confidence in our community and its leaders is paramount to our success inRiver Chase.COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:Describe any volunteer service you have rendered to River Chase Community: Ihave and will continue to volunteer my time and expertise in various projects in ourcommunity. I’ve helped cut down trees, clean amenities, fix paths/walkways, build thenew on-site office, visited with other property associations to see how they run and gaveinput to our current BOD, served on the ACC, helped walk door to door to informmembers of various issues and meetings, repaired the clubhouse, helped with the fallfestival and 4th of July celebration, installed and repaired Christmas lighting, helped withthe volunteer appreciation luncheon, etc.Describe any other volunteer service you have rendered to other POA/HOAs, orother community service organizations: I volunteer with 4-H clubs, school activities,and various other government and social organizations for my students.WORK EXPERIENCE / INTERESTS / ACTIVITIES:I’m currently a Behavior Specialist for CISD at Smithson Valley Middle School (teacherfor 12 years). I have prior experience in the sales industry, construction industry(commercial and residential), auto body industry, commercial and residential burglar andfire alarms, electronics repair, etc. I’m a "Jack of all trades, master of none.” I enjoyvolunteering my time and skills, wood working, welding, working with animals, everythingoutdoors (hunt, fish, camp; life outdoors is what I live for), playing guitar, fixingelectronics/mechanics. I’m a hands-on person who gets satisfaction from seeing myideas come to fruition through hard work and dedication.
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Malt Willey (126 Oak Pointe) – Intent to Run for ACCQualifications: I am young, retired and currently train service dogs for veterans free ofcharge. I have many years of flipping houses within many different HOAs and makingsure bylaws and regulations are followed . I have not lived here long, but would like thisopportunity to serve neighborhood people to make sure things are done in a timelymanner. I myself have been through the ACC process. I am willing to help othersachieve their goals if possible.Why are you interested in running for the BOD/ACC? I want to become moreinvolved in the community affairs.What are your thoughts on the future operation of the BOD/ACC, including shortterm goals? To leverage what I have learned about the ACC during the past year andhelp mold the future and assist neighbors.As a member of the BOD/ACC, how would you communicate with themembership? I will use all ways to communicate: in person, by phone, and by e-mail.How do you feel covenants should be enforced? DCCRs should be enforced inconnection with the bylaws. As times change, they might need updating.COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:Describe any volunteer service you have rendered to River Chase Community:None as of yet. We have only been here a few months.
Describe any other volunteer service youhave rendered to other POA/HOAs, or othercommunity service organizations: Trainingservice dogs for Veterans, VA patientsanctification committee, University of KentuckyVolunteerWORK EXPERIENCE / INTERESTS /ACTIVITIES:Military, Pilot, Dog trainer/handler, boating,fishing outdoor activities
Please be sure to participatein your Association’s
Governance!
Attend or Send!
Attend to vote the ballot, orsend in your proxy via mail
or a friend!
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Don Johnson Realtorswww.DoubleAgentTeam.com
Linda WilliamsonCell: 830-609-8347Fax: 830-964-4365
J.B. WilliamsonLicensed AssistantCell 713-504-6793
Offices all around to Serve You – River Chase, Gruene/New Braunfels,Canyon Lake, Bulverde, San Antonio.2014 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchise of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway Home Services andthe Berkshire Hathaway Home Services symbol are registered service marks of Home Services of America, Inc. Equal Housing Opportunity.
●●●●●
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DCCR Review CommitteeHave You Voted? No! Do You Have a Question?
(Ric Hastings, [email protected])
I must tell you that voting for this amendment is going much too slowly for my TypeA personality. Of course, I’ve been working on this project for 2 ½ years. I’m ready forit to be over. However, it won’t be over until we get 1,155 YES votes (or 577 NO votes).So, I will keep knocking on doors, sending emails, and asking everyone I see “Have youvoted yet?” Frequently, the response is, “I have a question I just haven’t had a chanceto ask.” I really like those replies, because if I give them the answer, then they can vote.Usually I’ve answered the question numerous times before:●Why can’t I have chickens and goats? You can! It just has to be a 4-H project.●Will the Board of Directors control the ACC? No, but the ACC does report to
and is responsible to the BOD. The amendment does specify an ACC appealprocess to an independent appeal board chosen by the Directors (NeighborhoodBoard) The BOD has the final say in the appeal. (Side note - this is already beingfollowed and the Neighborhood Board has already heard two appeals.)
●Does this amendment raise the maintenance fee? No, that was tried last year.●Will this amendment affect the short-term rental lawsuit? No, it has no effect
on the lawsuit, but, when passed, the amendment will prohibit short-term rentals(less than 90 days). Note – if we don’t pass this amendment, our community iswide open to the weekend rental business!
Occasionally I get some questions I haven’t answered before. RiccaSchamerhorn, Falling Hills, had a good one last week as follows:
My husband and I have carefully read over the amendments more thanonce. Does this amendment cover giving the Board of Directors fulldiscretionary powers as well or will this issue be covered in a separateballot? Here’s the answer I sent her:
I applaud your inquisitiveness to read the amendment not just once, but “more thanonce.” However, I would not characterize this amendment as giving the Board ofDirectors “full discretionary powers,” and I’m not aware of any plans to address thatsubject with a later ballot. This amendment does address in a big way that the Board isthe manager of all POA affairs and all committees, especially the ACC, are subordinateto the Board. However, there are many things, such as maintenance fee increases,special assessments, and DCCR amendments, that require approval by themembership before they can go into effect.
Last week I spent a couple of afternoons in front of the clubhouse mailboxeshanding out ballots. I had a chance to talk with a lot of people. Dub Sullivan, WestinHills, looked me squarely in the eyes and demanded: “I want assurances that thisamendment makes no changes to the architectural rules to lessen propertyvalues in any of the ten units.” Here’s how I answered that one: I want to assure youthe amendment makes no changes to the property restrictions (the architectural rules,Article III) in the existing DCCRs that would lessen the value of properties throughout
(continued on next page)
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DCCRs (continued from previous page)
the entire River Chase subdivision. Further, I want to assure you none of the otherchanges to other articles will negatively affect property values. It’s the DCCR ReviewCommittee’s belief that if anything, it will increase property values by eliminating theambiguities and confusing language the developer included in the original DCCRs.Dub’s concern is like some of the Facebook chatter that makes allusions to “unintendedconsequences.” No one has mentioned anything specific. It’s only the “unknown.” I canonly respond that the Committee has tried its best to fix the unintended consequencescreated by the developer’s language in the original DCCRs. Consequences like:
ØIs the ACC a separate, autonomous committee? No, it’s a committee of the BOD.ØHow do we approve a special assessment? It’s a two-tier process.ØAre weekend rentals compatible with a single-family residential community? Notfor our community.
Some of these questions have led to lawsuits in the past and could again if we don’tfix them. I’m comfortable the amendment fixes those problems and does a lot more forour community.
Thank you to the 250 or so property owners who’ve already voted; 83% of youvoted YES, but we still have over 1,500 other property owners who need to vote.
Be sure to encourage everyone you see to vote!
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Short-Term Rentals in River ChaseBy Paul Bower
There are significant issues facing the Association at this time. The biggest issueis related to litigation involving short-term rentals. For background, the Association wassued by a homeowner for not allowing short-term rentals, defined as weekend or dailyrentals. The local court granted the Association an injunction against the homeowner toprevent such short-term rentals. As is the right of the petitioners, they can appeal thecase to a higher court. In this case they did. The case was heard by the Court of Appeals,Third District at Austin and the conclusion of the court is provided below:
CONCLUSIONThe restrictive covenants the Association sought to enforce against the homeowner
lack any unambiguous minimal duration for rentals. We therefore reverse the trial court’sorder granting summary judgment in favor of the Association, rendered judgment in favorof the homeowner, dissolve the injunction imposed by the trial court and remand thecause to the trial court for consideration of the issue of attorney’s fees. Texas Court OfAppeals, Third District, At Austin. As a result of this decision, the Board of Directors was challenged to determine itsnext move: one, to accept the decision of the appellate court; or two, to appeal thedecision to the Supreme Court of Texas.
The attorney who handled our appeal summarized the situation this way: “The courtconcluded that the restrictive covenants are ambiguous concerning short-term rentals,even though neither side argued term leasing or distinguished between short-term andlong-term leases. The court held the Texas law requires ambiguous restrictive covenantsto be strictly construed against the party seeking enforcement, and therefore reversed thetrial court’s judgment and rendered for a determination of attorney’s fees owed to theplaintiffs. In so ruling, the court seemed to effectively gut the Texas statute requiring tobe liberally construed. This result is disappointing but not a big surprise based on theskepticism that one of the justices showed for our position at oral arguments.”
So what’s the Association’s next step? The Board of Directors discussed thiswith several attorneys, homeowners, and Spectrum, our management company, andconcluded it would be in the best interest of the homeowners to go forward with an appealto the Texas Supreme Court.
It’s often said there are six sides to every issue. This issue may have as manyfacets as a diamond. With several hundred homeowners associations in the San Antonioarea all sharing the same common language in their covenants, it’s become obvious thisruling would have ramifications beyond River Chase. Also, many municipalities in thearea that have rather vague restrictions on short-term rentals would fall under this ruling.
As this litigation was going forward, a committee was working on a consolidation ofthe DCCRs in an attempt to eliminate any ambiguous language. After seeing theambiguous language the trial court alluded to at the first court hearing, it was obvious theredraft needed to be very specific in its definition of short-term rentals. The languagerelative to rentals needed to clearly indicate the Association’s desire to preserve thecommunity and still allow for individuals to rent their properties without infringing on civilliberties. The committee and the Board of Directors agreed that a term of less than 90
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Short-Term Rentals (continued from previous page)
days would be considered short-term rental and was sufficiently restrictive. Somepeople on that drafting committee felt this was over the top, infringed on civil liberties,and withdrew from the committee. We respect their decision. Some people did not likethe explicit definitions that pertain to the short-term rental items because it looked toomessy in a document. However, in reviewing what the courts have said, the morespecific the definitions, the clearer the document becomes as to what is the intent of thecovenant.
Regardless of what side you’re on related to the issue of civil liberties andshort-term rentals, we respect that decision. Consider the fact the homeowners will besubsidizing the renter’s vacation by paying the maintenance of the pool, clubhouse,river park, river park road, and insurance to cover the increased liability. The short-termrenters at this time have rights to all the amenities of the Association. We alsoanticipate an increase in insurance premiums due to the commercial activity. There aremany other issues that will arise over time and you might have a neighbor on either sideof you renting their property for short-term rentals if the appeals court ruling stands.
Last week I received a letter from an Austin-based company promoting their beingthe short-term rental property manager for River Chase because of its prime location tothe river and its amenities. This letter was targeted to everyone in the community. Idon’t believe this will be the first or last letter we get.
What can you do if you feel strongly about not having short-term rentals? TheDCCRs are up for vote NOW. The revised DCCRs reflect the short-term rentalrestriction of less than 90 days, along with several other measures that consolidate allten documents to make the covenants easier to understand. You have a rareopportunity to vote to change the covenants and add clearer definitions to the short-term rental language.
Will this make a difference with the Supreme Court decision? The answer is no,simply because their decision will be based on the covenants that were in place at thetime the initial suit was filed. However, if the court decides that Associations need toamend their covenants and provide specific language as to short-term rentals, weshould have a leg up by having provided such language in our revised covenants. Ifthat’s not the case, we’ll have to provide additional covenant amendments at a laterdate to comply with the court’s decision.
Our appeal to the Supreme Court is not a given. It’s an arduous road to have theSupreme Court hear a case, which involves having the court firstagree to take the case, appropriate briefing by both sides, oralarguments, and eventually a decision. In grad school, I tracked twocases that took nearly five years to get through the Texas SupremeCourt. I expect no less in this case.
I encourage you to vote for the DCCR revisions as drafted.Please understand that in the event the language we providedrelative to the short-term rental issue is not sufficient or is overturned,a revised document will be drafted and put forth at a later time.
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Yearly ACC ReviewBy Erick Swanson
I always try to write somethingnew and different so our POAmembers receive a good crosssection of what goes on duringthe ACC meetings. All meetingsare open to POA members,builders, and prospective buyers,but very few actually attend. As
usual, I’ll try to elaborate on how the ACC operatesand give a general representation of decisionsmade by the ACC.
Well, here we are! Another year haspassed, and we’re really on a growth spurt here inGod’s country (River Chase)! Building andhome/lot improvements are at an all time high.The housing market is stable and people are takingadvantage of the continued low interest rates. TheACC has implemented many changes since thelast annual meeting, some of which include:
1. Handling all applications without ourmanagement company acting as amiddleman and charging for that service,saving the POA an average of $10,000/yr.
2. New application forms and checklists havebeen implemented. These can be found onthe RCPOA website.
3. The ACC is now accepting only electronicallysubmitted applications.
4. Open bi-weekly meetings.5. Elimination of the former “ACC guidelines.”6. Working closely with the BOD, acting as part
of the POA and not independently.The ACC has diligently adhered to the
DCCRs and will continue to do so. There havebeen issues with regard to the ACC’s interpretationof the DCCRs, which will always occur as theDCCRs are not “black and white.” The ACC isempowered with the authority to interpret theDCCRs. Due to prior lawsuits and financialstruggles within the POA, we’ll continue to makeour decisions in the best interest of the POA,leaving personal opinions at home. All structuresor improvements that have been approved are inaccordance with our strict interpretation of theDCCRs and any precedent that has been set inRiver Chase by prior ACC approvals. The BODhas implemented an appeals process to reviewthose ACC decisions POA members may not
agree with. Appeals are reviewed by theNeighborhood Board. This group of propertyowners is appointed by the BOD and does notinclude any current or former member of the ACC.This allows POA members a method to presenttheir opinion regarding the ACC’s decision on theirapplication, and possibly get a reversal of an ACCdenial. A few members have already gone throughthe appeals process.
The ACC is only empowered to approve ordeny applications and is not involved in theenforcement of the DCCRs, rules, or violations. Ifa POA member is in violation of the DCCRs, theBOD is the entity that looks into the allegedviolation and works with the member to resolve theissue. We want to stress that the ACC should notbe contacted about perceived violations as thistakes time away from our appointed duties.
So, enough of the small talk, let’s get downto the meat of what the ACC has accomplished inthe last 20 meetings. Just understand, in everyACC meeting there are approximately 5 to 10applications that are deferred or denied for variousreasons. Some of those deferrals will laterbecome approved once all the required informationhas been submitted. If that information is notsupplied, then the deferral is denied.New homes – 96 (~5 approved per meeting)Fences – 42Driveway/patio/deck – 31Pergola – 10Storage/workshop/barn/outbuilding – 37Various other improvements – 18Signs – 31Pool – 15Detached garage – 5
There are other applications that have beenapproved for miscellaneous items such asflagpoles, solar arrays, landscaping walls, waterretention tanks, etc. which are not included on thislist. On a side note, we’ve received a lot ofquestions related to specific homes being built inRiver Chase. It seems several builders have beenbuying lots and building “spec homes.” There areno restrictions in the DCCRs that would prohibitthis, and these homes do meet the DCCRrequirements. That brings us to the end of this littlestory. As always, everyone is cordially invited toattend the ACC meetings which are held everyother Wednesday, 6:00 p.m. at the clubhouse.
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River Chase Hikers and BikersOctober begins our hiking and bicycling seasonwhich runs through April. We participate in twooutings per month with the majority of destinationsbeing within an hour and a half of River Chase. We’llbe sharing information about our activities in eachedition of the River Chase News Stream so you canvisit and enjoy these wonderful places too.
Palmetto State Park – Named for the tropical dwarfpalmetto plant found there, the 270 acre park islocated in Gonzales County just south of IH-10 at theBuc-Ee’s exit and about an hour’s drive from NewBraunfels. This is an unusual botanical area thatresembles the tropics more than Central Texas. The
ranges of eastern and western species merge, resulting in a diversity of plant and animal life.Palmetto State Park offers a variety of activities such as camping, hiking, boating, fishing,picnicking, and canoeing. It’sa great place to take childrenand enjoy the outdoors. Thepark abuts the San MarcosRiver and also has a 4-acreoxbow lake. We arrived justafter 10 a.m. on a cloudy, balmyday perfect for biking andhiking. We parked at theRefectory and followed theouter perimeter of the OttineSwamp, Mesquite Flats, andSan Marcos Trails (about 3miles). Some walked the trailswhile the bicyclists traveledthem twice. We ended the daywith a picnic lunch. Check thewebsite for hours and fees.
River Chase Veterans & SupportersBy Pat Varley
At the Board meeting on October 26th, we’re presenting a proposal to form a new groupin River Chase. The group will be called the River Chase Veterans Association and will beexclusive to River Chase and the families of River Chase veterans. You don’t need to be aveteran to join; however, only veterans will be eligible to vote on club business.
If you’re interested in supporting veterans groups or events, please e-mail me [email protected] with your name and lot number so I can send you an e-mail if we’reapproved by the Board to begin this venture! Also, if you’d like to come to the October 26thmeeting to show your support, please feel free to do so! Wear your red, white, and blue!
I’ve participated as a secretary in two veterans groups in the past and have seen greatthings done by a group passionate about their foundation!
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Stacy Boatman’s Winning Pie Entry ~ River Chase July 4th EventApple Nut Pie (Serves 8)Crust of your choice – enough for a double crust pie
Roll one disk of dough out for a 9-inch pie plate. Place crust into pan and press in thebottom and up the sides. Trim edges if necessary.In a large bowl, combine apples, sugar, raisins, pecans, cinnamon, lemon peel, and 2tsp. lemon juice. Spoon into pie crust-lined pan.Roll out second disk of dough and cut into ½” wide strips. Arrange strips in a latticedesign over apple mixture. Trim and seal edges. In a small bowl, combine egg yolk andwater. Brush over lattice.Bake at 400*F for 40-60 minutes or until golden brown and apples are tender. Cover piewith foil for the last 15-20 minutes ifexcessive browning starts to occur. Cool forone hour. In a small bowl, combine glazeingredients; drizzle over slightly warm pie.
Filling:3 to 3 ½ cups thinly sliced,peeled apples½ cup sugar3 tbsp. golden raisins3 tbsp. chopped pecans½ tsp cinnamon¼ to ½ tsp. grated lemon peel
2 tsp. lemon juice1 egg yolk, beaten1 tsp. WaterGlaze:¼ cup powdered sugar1 to 2 tsp. lemon juiceHeat oven to 400*F.
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for details
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River Chase Fall Festival & Trick-or-TreatSaturday, October 24th
Clubhouse Park5 p.m.
Chili Cook-Off Haunted Barn Bounce House
Trick-or-Treat Costume Contest
Table Decorating Contest Popcorn, Games, and More!
Our Fall Festival begins promptly at 5:00 p.m. on the tennis court with a costumecontest. Judging will be grouped by ages (infants-3, 4-6, 7-12, teens, and families). Thisyear the contestants will be separated into groups with the judging taking place all atonce! The judging times will not be staggered as in past years. Please be on time!
We’re adding a chili cook-off which will offer a small tasting from each competitor.Sampling will take place immediately after the costume contest at approximately 5:30.The winners will be chosen by people’s choice! Each person will receive one ticket whichyou will place in your favorite’s bucket. If you’d like to enter to compete in the chilicook-off or get further details, please go to the sign up genius link at the bottom of thisarticle. There’s an entry fee of $25 and cash prizes will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd, and3rd place winners as well as bragging rights for next year!
We invite you to please set up a table or “candy stop” for our trick-or-treaters!Tables are set up along the sidewalk to the right of the tennis court all the way down tothe haunted barn and pond. If you’d like to enter your table in the table decoratingcontest, please sign up at the designated table on the tennis court to receive yournumber. This must be done no later than 5:00 p.m. as the costume judging will begin atthat time. You’re welcome to set up your table and chairs any time during the day. Thisyear we’ll have a goodie basket to raffle off. By setting up a table, you’ll receive one raffleticket. The table contest winner will receive an extra 5 tickets! We stress that the candyis NOT provided by the events committee. We need more “candy stops” for our childrenas this event gets bigger every year!
The amazing Haunted Barn opens at dark, around 7:30 p.m. It’s better and scarierthan ever! Actors inside the Haunted Barn, volunteers, and security detail are needed.This feature is a huge hit year after year and requires countless hours and months ofhard work and preparation. We kindly remind you to please be respectful of our barnprops and River Chase property, and be courteous to our hard working staff at alltimes. Officers will be on site throughout the evening.
To continue having this event every year it’s critical we get more volunteers! Weneed helping hands and ask that you please consider volunteering to assist the eventscommittee. There are several opportunities from which to choose with an easy one hourtime slot. To volunteer or enter the chili cook-off please sign up by going to:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c044aaeac23a6f49-fallFor further inquiries please contact Chelsea at [email protected]
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Fall Craft and Vendor Fair — Join us for our firstannual River Chase Craft and Vendor FairSaturday, November 7th at the Clubhouse Park10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Just in time for the holidays, shop locally from businesses owned by your RiverChase neighbors. FREE admission. Handmade jewelry, Young Living essentialoils, handmade furniture, Rodan+Fields, and more! Shopping and vendors areexclusive to River Chase property owners. Don’t miss this event!Calling all River Chase crafters, artists, network marketers, and entrepreneurs:This is a great opportunity to advertise your business and/or services, connectwith your neighbors, and sell your product just in time for the upcoming holidays!Spaces and shopping are open exclusively to River Chase residents. For furtherinformation and to sign up go to:http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c044aaeac23a6f49-riverA $25 entry fee benefits the Events Committee for future events.Network marketers such as Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, Scentsy, etc. will be signedup on a first come first served basis. Only one vendor per business. Questions?Contact Chelsea at [email protected]
Wurstfest Adult Potluck – Saturday, November 14th at the Clubhouse7:00 p.m.Bring your favorite German dish, wear your best German attire, and B.Y.O.B.
Family Camp Out – Saturday, November 21st at the River ParkBring your family down for a fun night of camping and fellowship. We’ll have abonfire, a flashlight scavenger hunt, and s’mores. Breakfast will be providedSunday morning. Check the website and Facebook page for more details.
Wassailfest – Saturday, December 5th at the Clubhouse (time TBA)Get your FREE picture with Santa Claus by Lara Flaradeau with Clicked by Lara,enjoy cookies and milk, make an ornament, homemade wassail competition, andother festivities. Check the website and Facebookpage for more details and how you can enter yourwassail.Holiday Potluck – Saturday, December 12th at the Club-houseCheck our website and Facebook page for more details.
River Chase First Annual Christmas Lights ContestCheck our website and Facebook page for more detailson how you can enter the contest.
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River Chase’s Best-Dressed Western Contest Winner
Two year old Kylie Rohan placed third in her age divisionat the 2015 Comal County Fair in the Children’s Best-Dressed Western contest. Kylie is the daughter of Ericand Vanessa Rohan. Congratulations Kylie!
Concert in the ParkOur first Concert in the Park was a GREAT success! The River Chase Front PorchBand put on an awesome show to an audience of about 100 people! Their set listincluded a mix of popular country music, both new hits and classic songs, whicheveryone enjoyed and sang along to. The River Chase Front Porch Bandmembers included our neighbors Mrs. Pat Varley-vocals, Mr. John Hall Jr.-vocals/guitar, Mr. David MacRoberts-drums, Mr. Steve Wigington-vocals/guitar,and Mr. Mark Tokach-guitar. Mark also invited one of his guitar students, Ms.Kasey Atiee, to play during intermission. She did a wonderful job as well. I’d liketo thank the band for donating the tips they earned to our Association. Theyraised a total of $217! It was an enjoyable and memorable evening for thefamilies, and we look forward to having a concert every summer.
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Kids’ Club
Our Kids’ Club had an enjoyableprogram to end the summer! Our laststory time welcomed River Chaseneighbor, Mrs. Lynda Escalante, andher sweet therapy dog, Chase! We readbooks and learned about what therapyand service dogs provide to theircompanions. If you’re interested inhaving your dog trained as a workingtherapy dog, contact Paws 4 Hearts inSpring Branch by going to theirwebsite, www.paws4hearts.net, orcalling Karen Minson at 210-325-3019.
We had a wonderful end of summer pool party to celebratethe kids going back to school. There was food, a photobooth, and music. The Kona Ice truck was a huge hit! Thanksto Mr. Will Balthun for the delicious hamburgers, Kelly Whitefor our sparkling and refreshing pool, and to everyone able tocome enjoy the fun and food and meet new neighbors andfriends. We hope your school year goes wonderfully!
NowOpen
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Little Free Library
On September 12th we officially opened our River Chase Little Free Librarylocated at the Clubhouse next to the Monarch Butterfly Waystation. If you don’talready know, the Little Free Library concept is “take a book, return a book” freebook exchange. The worldwide Little Free Library organization has a purpose: “Topromote literacy and the love of reading by building free book exchanges world-wide and to build a sense of community as we share skills, creativity and wisdomacross generations.” There are over 30,000 Little Free Library book exchangesaround the world, bringing curbside literacy home and sharing over one millionbooks annually. Ours has been registered with its very own charter number aswell as being marked on the world wide map that can be found onlittefreelibrary.org. Each library has its own unique and personal touch.
Our Little Free Library has been built to resemble the Clubhouse and otherfeatures throughout the neighborhood. It has a sturdy bench to sit and read onand will have a paver surround with help from Brenda Stoeck. We welcome booksand magazines for readers of all ages and encourage frequent donations.
Special thanks to:Our Board of Directors who approved and supported the proposal of addingthis new amenity to our community and also donated the paint.Brannon Brooke, owner of TCOR Management in New Braunfels, whodonated funds for building materials.McCoy’s Building Supply for also donating materials.We’d like to thank Color Mix Graphics and Printing, out of San Marcos, formaking the signs and donating the artwork set up fee.Thank you to Mr. Brad Ramey for creating and donating the two woodenRiver Chase logo signs.Last but not least, a huge thank you to Jason, Cara, and Blake Frederick forvolunteering to take on this project. The design and craftsmanship of thelibrary is outstanding. I know it will be enjoyed by our neighbors andfriends for many years.Your hard work andleadership is very muchappreciated!
(From L to R Brannon Brooke-TCORManagement, Jason Frederick, CaraFrederick, Jenessa Baker-McCoy’sBuilding Supply, Chelsea Ormond-events chair, Cameron Brooks, PaulBower-BOD, kids-Luke Ormond,Blake Frederick, Aiden and BrodieOrmond)
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River Chase GardenersThe River Chase Gardeners meet the first Thursday of each month at
7:00 pm at the Clubhouse. Meetings are open to all River Chaseproperty owners. Here’s a list of our upcoming meetings.
November 5 – Ask the Master Gardener – River Chase resident andMaster Gardener, Mary Helen Phillips, will answer your gardening andlandscaping questions related to topics such as vegetable gardening,
landscape plant selection, amending soil, and grass and tree selection andcare to name a few. Come prepared with questions! Prior to the meeting,beginning at 6 p.m, we’ll have a fall plant sale and silent pottery auction on theClubhouse parking lot. Don’t miss out on this event.December – NO MEETINGJanuary 7, 2016 – Fruit Trees: Choosing the correct variety, proper planting andcare – Presented by Dennis Hale, retired county extension agent and RC resident.February 4 – Bats – Presented by Nyta Brown with Texas Parks and Wildlife at theOld Tunnel Wildlife Management Area
Be sure to follow us on Facebook or on our website .
Xeriscape PrinciplesBy David Will
Xeriscaping is a landscape design that conserves water. It is NOT just cacti androck, and can be and often is very attractive, quite lush, and extremely colorful. Byfollowing the principles listed below, you can turn your yard into one that’sbeautiful, conserves energy, and reduces water usage.1.Start with a good design – Know the site conditions and the purpose of the
landscape.2.Improve the soil – Add amendments which improve the capacity of the soil to
hold water and nutrients.3.Mulch – 3 to 4 inches of mulch on the soil surface helps to reduce erosion, retain
moisture, and keep the soil cool.4.Limit the amount of turf area – Place modest amounts of turf in areas where it will
be used for cooling the environment, for play and recreation, and for theutilitarian need of animals. There’s no sense in placing thousands of square feetof grass where no one will use it. Less water consumptive landscape materialssuch as ground covers or mulches may be used in place of thirsty grasses.
5.Choose the correct plants – those that are water efficient and survive under localconditions (natives and adapted).
6.Water efficiently, or not at all – Use drip emitters or bubblers when possible.Check and adjust your irrigation system frequently. Don’t utilize a “set andforget” concept with your controller. As temperatures change, so should yourfrequencies and duration. Turn the water off on rainy or cloudy days.
7.Practice good maintenance – mowing, weeding, watering, pruning, pest control,and fertilizing.
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Organic Container GardeningBy Ernie Pavlock
Ernie Pavlock, owner of the Hitching Post Feed and Garden Supply in Sattler,recently made a presentation to the River Chase Gardeners on organic containergardening. If you missed his presentation, here are his pointers for successfulcontainer gardening for both vegetables and plants.
• Choose a container. It can be anything with drain holes.
• The mixture for your container should consist of: 1/3 organic soil, 1/3 organiccompost, and 1/3 good potting soil with perlite
• Use only organic fertilizer such as organic Medina, Gardenville, Lady Bug, RoseGlo, etc. It builds and nourishes soil. Everything is used by the plants, making them healthier. Follow the labeldirections exactly. If the label says to use little, then use only a small amount. More is not better!
Synthetic fertilizer has no organic material, thus no carbon. Soil microorganisms must have this carbon energysource. If not, they rob it from the soil. Thus, you have to increase the fertilizer causing the soil to be unhealthy.Most synthetic fertilizer is leached out. Very little is used by the plant. You don’t need 13-13-13 or 12-24-12.
The ideal fertilizer is compost. The 1-1-1 ratio is completely used up with no residues. Containers, beingsmall, get overwhelmed by residues and salts. These aren’t good for the plant.
• Microorganisms in the soil need to be fed by using compost, molasses (liquid or dry), or alfalfa (ground ormeal). Miracle-Gro won’t do it!
• Minerals for the soil:Lava sand (Think about Hawaii. They have lots of lava and it’s very lush.)Texas Green Sand is a great source of iron and trace minerals. Even though a soil sample can show enoughiron, a plant with leaves that are light in color with dark veins is deficient in iron. This is caused by calcium inlimestone locking up the iron.Soft rock phosphate – Put two tablespoons in the bottom of the hole when planting blooming plants. This willincrease the yield. Cover with ¼ inch to ½ inch of soil and then put in the plant.Seaweed emulsion is a great root stimulator. It also gets rid of aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites. Mix one ounce per gallon of water.Fish emulsion – Use two ounces per gallon of water. It’s a great foliar spray for feeding plants.Super Thrive is great for feeding plants. Use also when transplanting or as a root stimulator.
• Mulch is very important as it helps hold down evaporation. Use a three to four inch layer. Don’t use pine barkor cypress mulch because they compact and seal out oxygen. Instead use native hardwood, aged oak or cedar,leaves, or alfalfa hay. Don’t use coastal Bermuda hay as it has a natural herbicide.
• Watering – It’s best to use a drip system or flooding (Ernie’s preference). It’s not a good idea to wet the foliagein the evening as it can cause fungus problems.
• Insects – If necessary, use a neem oil and pyrethrin mixture. It acts as an insecticide, miticide, and fungicide.Apply it very late in the evening when beneficial bees are in bed.
Stinkbugs – Mix one tablespoon orange oil to one gallon of water.Pill bugs, snails, and slugs – Sluggo Plus baitGrasshoppers – Nolo baitScorpions – Cyper WPChiggers – pyrethrin or cedar oilFire ants – Use dry molasses. It repels them and they hate it!Worms on mountain laurel – Thuricide BT
• Weed killer – 1 cup orange oil to one gallon of water. 10% vinegar works well too.
• Raccoons – Urine granules will repel these critters.
Most of the above mentioned materials can be purchased at the Hitching Post. If you have questions aboutorganic gardening, Ernie will be happy to answer those for you.
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FIREWISE – RIVER CHASEBy Susan Shirley-Menzel
Emergency Services Chairman
Finally, the end of a hot summer! River Chase hasexperienced a couple of brush fires. One required mutualaid to control it. Luckily, no homes were involved eventhough some residents were pretty nervous consideringhow close it came.
River Chase has been endowed with an abundance of ashjuniper (cedar) trees. One of our forest rangers called them “nature’s gas can”since they have plenty of turpentine inside their bark. That means we need tocontinually be aware of fire prevention. Sparks that start fires come from litcigarettes, hot motors from cars and lawnmowers, and welding tools to name afew.
To remain a FIREWISE Community, we turn in an annual report each year. Thedeadline for the report is November 30, 2015. You can turn in hours or moneyspent on keeping your yard mitigated and a low risk for fire [email protected] before the November 30th due date. Thisis a yearly total of monies spent on mowing, clearing, landscaping, rock additions,etc.
An example would be: Lot 255 - $750 for mowing, 150 hours clearing andlandscaping, $400 for rocks for landscaping (in many instances, they become afire block). Thank you for keeping us a FIREWISE Community.
A “Reward” For Being Firewise
Have you ever felt that all of the hard work that your recognized Firewise Communityis doing to reduce your wildfire risk should be recognized by your insurance company?After all you have invested time and money working collaboratively to implementscience based changes making your community more resilient while that othercommunity down the road has chosen not to act? Why are you both paying the samerate for insurance? USAA is one of the first large national insurers to recognize thevalue of your hard work. Firewise has teamed up with USAA to define the boundariesof Firewise Communities in three states, and according to a USAA press release,eligible “USAA members now can save money on their homeowner’s insurancepremiums by living within the boundaries of a recognized FirewiseCommunities/USA® program. Currently, the discounts are available to eligiblemembers in California, Colorado and Texas, three states prone to wildfire activity.”
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2015 NATIONAL NIGHT OUTBy Susan Shirley-Menzel
On Tuesday, October 6, 2015, River Chase residents celebrated NationalNight Out at the clubhouse along with Texas A&M Forest Ranger Jake Gosschalk,Smokey Bear, and the Canyon Lake Fire Department ambulance crew. There weremore than 130 participants this year.
For those residents who arrived between 6 – 7 p.m, Smokey Bear was thereto greet them. However, by the time the second round of families arrived at 7 p.m.or later, Smokey had gone home to fight forest fires. Ranger Jake was there tohand out “goody bags” containing a Smokey Bear bracelet, ruler, a booklet on the“Smokey Bear Story,” a Wildfire Safety pamphlet, and something for the parentsabout “Vegetation Management in the Wildland Urban Interface” (that’s where welive).
The ambulance came between 6 – 6:30 p.m. but before the EMTs could get inthe parking lot, they were off to answer a call with lights and siren blaring. Laterwe found the call was for someone on the river side of our subdivision. They gotback sometime after 7 p.m. and the kids who were still there got to look into theinterior of the ambulance. The ambulance crew also handed out junior firefighterhats, coloring books, and crayons which disappeared quickly. For the adults theydistributed handy slide charts on Fire Hazards, Your Child’s Safety at School, ChildSafety, First Aid, Fire & Home Safety, and Heart Attack & Stroke.
Did I mention the children outnumbered the adults? Most attendees wereentire families, but some were one adult with children, and of course there wereothers without children. The Sheriff’s officers did not attend, but Precinct #4Commissioner Jen Crownover and Constable Shane Rapp paid a visit. In additionto the Clubhouse event, there were four block parties in River Chase with at least88 participants.
Everyone enjoyed the night’s line-up. To usea verse from a Girl Scout song, “make new friends,but keep the old,” could sum up the evening. I thinkall of us look forward to next year’s event. Thankyou to all for making it a successful evening,especially to Tom Kelly, alias Smokey Bear.
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INDEX OF ADVERTISERS
© 2015, The News Stream. All Rights Reserved.
The material in all The News Stream publications is copyrighted and may bereprinted and/or reproduced by permission only. Any reprint requests must be made inwriting to [email protected].
Although all the articles have been selected for their content, the publishing ofsuch articles within this newsletter does NOT reflect the official position of The NewsStream or River Chase Property Owners Association (RCPOA). The advertisement inthis newsletter does not represent an endorsement by The News Stream or RCPOA ofthe goods or services advertised. RCPOA possesses its own mailing list and does notdistribute, sell, or in any way, pass this information on to third party mailing lists.
Further, this publication contains links to external sites. Each of those sites has aseparate privacy policy and the site owners maintain the intellectual property rights tothe material on the linked sites.
The News Stream, in coordination with the River Chase POA, likes to showcase pictures ofresidents participating in the many wonderful events in the neighborhood. The News Stream Editorsand RCPOA may take photographs of property owners and their families at any of the activities.These photographs will appear in the newsletter and on the website, www.riverchasepoa.org. If youwould prefer to not have your picture published, please notify us at [email protected]
If you’re not currently receiving community notifications via email and would like to do so, please sendyour name, address and email to [email protected] and you will be added to themass email list.
PLEASE CONSIDER PATRONIZING THE BUSINESSES WHO ADVERTISE IN THE RIVER CHASE NEWS STREAM.THEIR SUPPORT MAKES THIS NEWSLETTER POSSIBLE FOR YOUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU!
