On Friday, March 13 the Community Association (CA) Board of Directors and Staff took the unprecedented step of shutting down all CA facilities and events in response to the health dangers presented by COVID-19 to our particular age demographic and active lifestyle.
It has become apparent on national and local fronts that more stringent measures must be applied to combat this virus. At this time, all indoor and outdoor activities are closed through Sunday, April 19, as stated in the Board Special Communicator on Friday, March 13 (Click here to view). We will be updating the community weekly and addressing frequently asked questions.
Clarifications:
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Sidewalks and hiking trails are open. Maintain at least a six (6) foot radius of social distance between individuals.
- Golf courses are closed. This includes: golf course practice putting and chipping areas as well as driving ranges and cart paths. No walking, no bikes, no dogs, no golf carts are allowed on these paths. Golf maintenance crews, equipment and areas of activity on our courses have increased to address as many course needs as possible during this down time. We are also restricting cart path access in consideration of the recent spate of burglaries we have with homes that can be accessed from the courses.
- All outdoor restrooms are closed (allowing for a thorough cleaning).
- Both Cowan Creek and Legacy Hills Park fishing ponds are closed.
- Indoor and outdoor CA facilities are undergoing a thorough cleaning during this time.
- Picnic and pavilion areas are closed.
- Children’s playground equipment in the Legacy Hills Park area is closed.
- The Horticulture facilities are closed. Watering of plants that are not automatically watered is the only activity allowed at this time.
- Wednesday, March 18 both Mulligan's and Wriggley's will operate under normal working hours. Effective Thursday, March 19, both restaurants will be closed with the exception of take-out service. Mulligan's hours will be 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Mulligan's phone number is 512-688-5188. Wriggley's hours will be 11 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Wriggley's phone number is 512-943-8064.
- The reference to “liability insurance” in our initial communication has nothing to do liability of anyone contracting the virus, but with anyone injuring themselves in a CA facility. When an entity like your CA offers community spaces for residents to conduct activities, the CA is liable for any injury that occurs on the premises and thus maintains the appropriate insurance. When the CA closes a facility, as we have done in this case, the liability protection for personal injury is no longer applicable.
Perspective
The primary objective of these directions is to limit contact with others and the intrusion into what is now being called the “social distance” between residents and between our CA staff and service providers (many of whom are residents.)
We are defining social distance for our purposes as endeavoring to maintain at least a six (6) foot radius between individuals and the limiting of gatherings to no more than 10 people. In addition, continue to maintain the personal hygiene guidelines that have been provided to combat this virus.
The CA’s goal with these actions is to limit the transmission of this virus on spaces under the CA’s control for your own safety and that of your CA staff and other residents.
Community Standards
As a result of CA facility closures, the Modifications Committee can’t meet, but they have approved an alternate process for the duration of the current situation. The Committee appointed members of the Community Standards Department staff to serve as a proxy for the Committee. The proxy committee has been delegated all necessary authorities and will continue to meet according to published meeting schedule for the Modification Committee. Applications may only be submitted through the mail, email ([email protected]) or a fax (512-948-7681). Email is the preferred method. Permits will be issued on Thursdays according to the published meeting schedule. The suspense dates for all current permits, initial landscaping plans and Notice of Violation letters are extended 60-days.
Reopening Criteria
Using GISD’s date of April 6 for consideration of opening back up their schools (and other government direction), we are asking each club or committee responsible for an outdoor activity to reflect on what steps and rules they would recommend to reopen their respective facilities on a modified basis using the criteria outlined below. It is hoped if appropriate measures are developed and the crisis has abated enough we will be able to resume some of our outdoor activities.
If it is the desire of a club or committee responsible for the outdoor activity to reopen their respective activity and/or facility, this group must prepare a written document that addresses the modified conditions under which they would propose to resume activity. The document is to be submitted to the Board and CA Staff for their review and approval before any outdoor amenity is resumed. The written document must identify the areas of safety concern (or other matters) and state how they propose to address the issue. The due diligence and recommendations must be treated seriously and as comprehensively as possible. Additional criteria detail will be provided by the CA Board and Staff to these groups to facilitate their consideration and preparation of these documents.
