Members Meeting Vote on Flock Security Cameras

Members Meeting Vote on Flock Security Cameras
At this point we have 4 volunteers for the Bylaw Committee. Any proposed changes to our governing documents are going to take time to develop and then we will need to put in the effort to make certain, to the best of our ability, that our Homeowners feel they have had time to review and provide input before we put them out for a vote. This is important work for the community and we are not going to rush the project. The Committee will be focusing first on the Bylaws and then will look at our CCR’s. Our hope is that we can have the proposed changes prepared, reviewed by our Membership and legal and ready to present for a vote by the 2023 Members Meeting. Additional volunteers would certainly help expedite this process. Any Homeowner interested in serving on the committee should contact Gina Keller at gina@sterlingasi.com.

We have been discussing the Flock cameras for over a year and a half. They have been discussed in one Members Meeting, in a town hall, multiple Board Meetings, on social media and we have had the Flock representative make a presentation at one Board Meeting. The majority of the feedback from Homeowners has been positive. We have spent a great deal of effort over the past year and a half looking for ways to reduce the cost of the camera installation but all of these options are hinged on participation of entities outside of our control and may never materialize.

I suggest we take a different approach. Let’s approach the cost as if we will not be getting any assistance from anyone else. To provide one camera on each of our nine entrances would cost a total of $21,600 per year ($23.92 per year per Household or $2.00 per month per household). My suggestion is to put it to a vote at the October 15th Members Meeting for permission to increase the assessment in 2024 to 6% to fund the cameras. This would be the full increase for 2024. The 3% increase we are normally forced to take would be included in the 6% and we would not be adding 3% on top of the increase in 2024. If approved, it would not mean that we would not continue to look for ways to reduce the cost. It simply means that the project is no longer contingent on finding outside assistance. We can check with the patio homes to see if they would like to contribute. If they do, the camera that would be installed on White Hawk could be moved out to Louetta. There are at least 15 businesses on Seven Pines. One AC company recently had 6 to 8 catalytic converters stolen. If the businesses want to contribute we can move the camera farther down Seven Pines to include their location. Should Spring Creek Forest ever decide to put Flock cameras on their exits we can then decide whether it is more advantageous for OWG to leave the cameras installed on our five common streets, remove those cameras for the cost savings or move the cameras to cover our four main entrances so we are getting plates going both in and out of the subdivision.

For Homeowners who may have missed earlier discussions, Flock Safety has developed a license plate reader camera that provides several functions. The cameras document the license plate number as well as the color, make and model of any vehicle that passes the camera as well as the time and date and stores the data for 30 days. Should a major incident occur near one of these cameras either the Sheriff Dept or Constables Office can poll the nearby cameras and identify the vehicle. Granted, some data is required. For example, if a red mustang was involved in suspicious activity at 2 am, if the Flock Cameras were installed in OWG the police could pole the cameras and get the license plate number. If a license plate number has been entered into the system because of an amber alert, silver alert or warrant the camera will notify dispatch when the vehicle passes the camera. The cameras themselves provide some level of deterrence. Flock makes no attempt to hide the cameras and even puts up signs letting people know the cameras are there. If you would like to see the cameras Champion Forrest is the closest location I am aware of. These cameras are being installed in HOAs across Harris County, Jersey Village, Memorial Villages. The City of Houston is installing 325 and HCSO is installing 25 in District 1 (our district). When these cameras are installed they provide police with leads that close cases. Look at the results that Lexington Kentucky is reporting after just six months of operation. https://www.lexingtonky.gov/flock-safety-license-plate-readers . Access is secure and intended for law enforcement. When a deputy accesses the Flock cameras he must enter his personal identification number and a code identifying the reason he is accessing the camera.

To be clear. The types of security issues, the severity of those issues and the frequency of those issues occurring in Oakwood Glen to date have been minor compared to nearby neighborhoods. We know that the crime rate is up in the FM 1960 area. As police attempt to suppress that increase the criminals will move out to new territories. Because of this the installation of the Flock cameras is being proposed for both the deterrence factor, attempting to make OWG less attractive to potential criminals, as well as for the data the cameras collect that may well provide the leads necessary to solve future crimes committed in OWG. The bottom line is do our Homeowners think that the additional layer of security provided by the Flock cameras is worth an additional $2.00 per month per Homeowner. We have 903 homes in Oakwood Glen. For this measure to pass requires a 2/3 vote in favor. Neighbor’s night out is scheduled for Saturday October 8th. Additional discussions can be held before the festivities if necessary.

Download the PDF version of this notice - CLICK HERE