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Oakland Estates meeting notes for June 4th
OENA General Meeting Minutes From June 4th
Thank you Melody McNeil for a very thorough meeting minutes from last night's regular OENA meeting.
June 4, 2025 — Oakland Estates Neighborhood Association
1. Infrastructure Updates
Council Member Gonzalez (District 8) and constituent services staff presented:
• Flashing radar feedback signage installed on Prue Road (bond project in pre-construction, completion expected within weeks).
• Flashing radar feedback signage on Verbena Road — designed and ready to proceed.
• Prue Road curve between Shady Elm and Chelsea Creek: standard chevron signs will be upgraded to flashing LED signs. In design; expected completion by end of year.
• Reminder: file police reports for incidents in addition to posting on Nextdoor/Facebook. A QR code for online reporting is available.
2. City Budget & SAWS Rate Increase
SAWS Proposed Rate Increase
• A four-year rate increase plan is under consideration, driven primarily by the need to upgrade the wastewater treatment facility (originally built in 1965).
• Key dates: Third SAWS briefing June 10; council vote June 18. Residents may attend in person or watch on TV.
• District 8 customers use below the citywide average in water. CM Gonzalez is collecting resident feedback before the vote. (It was noted that most OENA residents are on wells and septic and so a rate increase would likely be opposed in the area.)
City Budget Deficit
• The city faces a budget deficit and must pass a balanced budget by law. Two options: (A) cut services or (B) raise taxes and cut services.
• A property tax rate increase is under discussion. Due to declining property values, an increase in the rate may still result in the city collecting fewer total tax dollars (state law caps revenue growth at 3.5% above the no-new-revenue rate).
• Exemptions for residents over 65, veterans, and disabled individuals are not affected. Second budget discussion at city council: June 18.
3. Traffic & School Safety
• Somerset Oaks School (Babcock Road) nearing completion. Upon opening, the exit will be right-turn only onto Babcock, routing traffic towards Hollyhock and Lockhill Rds. Residents raised concerns about increased cut-through traffic and pedestrian safety on Hollyhock.
• Great Hearts Academy traffic backups continue due to insufficient on-site parking. Off-duty officers direct traffic. The neighborhood may explore a no-right-turn restriction on Hollyhock during school pickup hours.
• Officer Denham confirmed open citation projects for stop sign and speeding violations in the area. Officers are actively running traffic enforcement.
4. Community Safety Report — Officer Denham (SAFE Officer)
• The neighborhood has very low crime — only one incident in the past month (commercial burglary of a storage area, under investigation).
• Aggressive dogs on Lockhill Rd: An Animal Care Services case is on file following a prior attack on a resident’s dog. The gate at the property has been repaired and collars are now required. If dogs are seen unattended off the property, call Animal Care Services (not SAPD) with the case number held by Ross.
• Vehicle security: do not leave valuables or firearms in vehicles; use steering wheel locks; keep garage entry doors locked.
• Officer Ferguson is on a robbery task force for approximately three months. Officer Denham is the primary SAFFE officer in the interim. Find contact info at the SAPD website under the SAFFE Officer directory.
5. Neighborhood Business
• Minutes from the previous meeting approved.
• Treasurer’s Report: Current balance is $2,807.26. Treasurer absent due to a family illness.
• Pete Hanson has stepped down as secretary for personal reasons. The board extended condolences and well wishes to the Hansen family.
• New website: Oakland-estates.org.
• Neighborhood T-shirts. Sales will be at the September 11th meeting.
6. Oak Wilt Presentation — City Urban Forestry
• An active Oak Wilt zone is present in the neighborhood on Southwell.
• Oak Wilt is a fungal disease spread by beetles through open wounds on trees, and underground through connected root systems (moving between 50–75 feet per year).
• Red oaks are the most susceptible and can die within days to weeks. Live oaks also affected but decline more slowly.
• Prevention: Immediately seal any cut on an oak tree with latex paint. Avoid trimming oaks February through June (peak beetle season). Call 311 if you see CPS Energy or contractors trimming oaks without sealing cuts.
• Treatment: Fungicide injections are effective but expensive (thousands of dollars per tree); recommended only for high-value specimen trees.
• Free trees: Residents within the Oak Wilt zone may receive up to 5 free non-oak replacement trees. A tree giveaway for residents outside the zone is planned for October.
• Resource: texasoakwilt.org. Contact the state forester for a zone assessment.
7. Native Plants — Conservation Advisor
• Introduction of Beth as the new conservation advisor for OENA; will give brief presentations at OENA meetings.
• Featured species this meeting: toothache tree and hoptree — both native, host swallowtail butterfly larvae, and support local pollinators. Resources and a sign-up sheet for future activities were available.
8. Deed Restrictions / Restrictive Covenants
• Bruce presented a draft Declaration of Restrictive Covenants for voluntary adoption by property owners.
• Restricts each property to single-family residential use and prohibits subdivision below one-acre lots, deterring multi-family or commercial development.
• Works as a reciprocal agreement between neighbors; the association has enforcement authority. Once filed in the deed records, title companies will flag restrictions during any future property sale.
• Filing cost: approximately $60 per property (~$45 first page, ~$4/page after). Sample copies were distributed. Interested residents should contact the board.
9. OENA By-Laws
OENA bylaws were discussed and approved unanimously vote by members present
Action Items
Item
Owner
Deadline
Submit feedback to CM Gonzalez on SAWS rate increase before council vote
Residents
June 17
Attend city council budget discussion (June 18)
Residents
June 18
Report aggressive dog sightings on Lockhill Rd to Animal Care Services (case # with Ross)
Residents
Ongoing
Visit Oakland-estates.org
All members
Ongoing
Review draft Restrictive Covenants; contact board to participate
Interested residents
TBD
Call 311 if CPS/contractors trim oaks without sealing cuts
Residents
Ongoing
Sign up for October free tree giveaway (Urban Forestry)
Eligible residents
October
Next Meeting: September 11, 2025
OENA General Meeting Minutes From June 4th
Thank you Melody McNeil for a very thorough meeting minutes from last night's regular OENA meeting.
June 4, 2025 — Oakland Estates Neighborhood Association
1. Infrastructure Updates
Council Member Gonzalez (District 8) and constituent services staff presented:
• Flashing radar feedback signage installed on Prue Road (bond project in pre-construction, completion expected within weeks).
• Flashing radar feedback signage on Verbena Road — designed and ready to proceed.
• Prue Road curve between Shady Elm and Chelsea Creek: standard chevron signs will be upgraded to flashing LED signs. In design; expected completion by end of year.
• Reminder: file police reports for incidents in addition to posting on Nextdoor/Facebook. A QR code for online reporting is available.
2. City Budget & SAWS Rate Increase
SAWS Proposed Rate Increase
• A four-year rate increase plan is under consideration, driven primarily by the need to upgrade the wastewater treatment facility (originally built in 1965).
• Key dates: Third SAWS briefing June 10; council vote June 18. Residents may attend in person or watch on TV.
• District 8 customers use below the citywide average in water. CM Gonzalez is collecting resident feedback before the vote. (It was noted that most OENA residents are on wells and septic and so a rate increase would likely be opposed in the area.)
City Budget Deficit
• The city faces a budget deficit and must pass a balanced budget by law. Two options: (A) cut services or (B) raise taxes and cut services.
• A property tax rate increase is under discussion. Due to declining property values, an increase in the rate may still result in the city collecting fewer total tax dollars (state law caps revenue growth at 3.5% above the no-new-revenue rate).
• Exemptions for residents over 65, veterans, and disabled individuals are not affected. Second budget discussion at city council: June 18.
3. Traffic & School Safety
• Somerset Oaks School (Babcock Road) nearing completion. Upon opening, the exit will be right-turn only onto Babcock, routing traffic towards Hollyhock and Lockhill Rds. Residents raised concerns about increased cut-through traffic and pedestrian safety on Hollyhock.
• Great Hearts Academy traffic backups continue due to insufficient on-site parking. Off-duty officers direct traffic. The neighborhood may explore a no-right-turn restriction on Hollyhock during school pickup hours.
• Officer Denham confirmed open citation projects for stop sign and speeding violations in the area. Officers are actively running traffic enforcement.
4. Community Safety Report — Officer Denham (SAFE Officer)
• The neighborhood has very low crime — only one incident in the past month (commercial burglary of a storage area, under investigation).
• Aggressive dogs on Lockhill Rd: An Animal Care Services case is on file following a prior attack on a resident’s dog. The gate at the property has been repaired and collars are now required. If dogs are seen unattended off the property, call Animal Care Services (not SAPD) with the case number held by Ross.
• Vehicle security: do not leave valuables or firearms in vehicles; use steering wheel locks; keep garage entry doors locked.
• Officer Ferguson is on a robbery task force for approximately three months. Officer Denham is the primary SAFFE officer in the interim. Find contact info at the SAPD website under the SAFFE Officer directory.
5. Neighborhood Business
• Minutes from the previous meeting approved.
• Treasurer’s Report: Current balance is $2,807.26. Treasurer absent due to a family illness.
• Pete Hanson has stepped down as secretary for personal reasons. The board extended condolences and well wishes to the Hansen family.
• New website: Oakland-estates.org.
• Neighborhood T-shirts. Sales will be at the September 11th meeting.
6. Oak Wilt Presentation — City Urban Forestry
• An active Oak Wilt zone is present in the neighborhood on Southwell.
• Oak Wilt is a fungal disease spread by beetles through open wounds on trees, and underground through connected root systems (moving between 50–75 feet per year).
• Red oaks are the most susceptible and can die within days to weeks. Live oaks also affected but decline more slowly.
• Prevention: Immediately seal any cut on an oak tree with latex paint. Avoid trimming oaks February through June (peak beetle season). Call 311 if you see CPS Energy or contractors trimming oaks without sealing cuts.
• Treatment: Fungicide injections are effective but expensive (thousands of dollars per tree); recommended only for high-value specimen trees.
• Free trees: Residents within the Oak Wilt zone may receive up to 5 free non-oak replacement trees. A tree giveaway for residents outside the zone is planned for October.
• Resource: texasoakwilt.org. Contact the state forester for a zone assessment.
7. Native Plants — Conservation Advisor
• Introduction of Beth as the new conservation advisor for OENA; will give brief presentations at OENA meetings.
• Featured species this meeting: toothache tree and hoptree — both native, host swallowtail butterfly larvae, and support local pollinators. Resources and a sign-up sheet for future activities were available.
8. Deed Restrictions / Restrictive Covenants
• Bruce presented a draft Declaration of Restrictive Covenants for voluntary adoption by property owners.
• Restricts each property to single-family residential use and prohibits subdivision below one-acre lots, deterring multi-family or commercial development.
• Works as a reciprocal agreement between neighbors; the association has enforcement authority. Once filed in the deed records, title companies will flag restrictions during any future property sale.
• Filing cost: approximately $60 per property (~$45 first page, ~$4/page after). Sample copies were distributed. Interested residents should contact the board.
9. OENA By-Laws
OENA bylaws were discussed and approved unanimously vote by members present
Action Items
Item
Owner
Deadline
Submit feedback to CM Gonzalez on SAWS rate increase before council vote
Residents
June 17
Attend city council budget discussion (June 18)
Residents
June 18
Report aggressive dog sightings on Lockhill Rd to Animal Care Services (case # with Ross)
Residents
Ongoing
Visit Oakland-estates.org
All members
Ongoing
Review draft Restrictive Covenants; contact board to participate
Interested residents
TBD
Call 311 if CPS/contractors trim oaks without sealing cuts
Residents
Ongoing
Sign up for October free tree giveaway (Urban Forestry)
Eligible residents
October
Next Meeting: September 11, 2025
Judy,
I spoke with my officers last night, and they let me know that we are going to need the sanctuary for our September 11 celebratory meeting.
Please let me know if the sanctuary would be available on that date.
Also, I spoke with SAPD SAFFE Officer Dehnen last night about the parking lot vandalism problems the church has been experiencing. He told me they are going to send a notice to the SAPD night shift and ask them to keep watch over that area.
you again for your help and for allowing the Oakland Estates Neighborhood Association to use the church for our meetings. We truly appreciate it.
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