The temperature is rising, and summer is here. Well, officially summer starts June 20, according to the astronomical summer solstice. However, with temperatures in the triple digits already, it feels like it has been summer for a long time. This summer, several maintenance and capital improvement projects are planned for the clubhouse and other facilities: Lakeview Room window replacements, completion of the balcony railing project, billiards tables covering, exterior lighting improvements, post office interior remodel, storage room completion, painting, flooring, and decking work. We are looking forward to these projects with the goal of maintaining and keeping our facilities in excellent condition.
Over the past six months, SunBird has been encouraging all to increase and join in the efforts of community awareness and home crime prevention, specifically, being aware of and reporting suspicious activity promptly. Last summer, all within approximately two weeks, it was discovered that four vacated homes had been broken into. This is a very unusual occurrence within SunBird. Email blasts were sent immediately several times to the community regarding this breaking news as it unfolded. Large A-frame signs were displayed in the streets, making residents and people in the areas aware of this activity. At that time, homeowners present in SunBird through the summer months and SunBird Patrol, Arizona Rangers, and City of Chandler Police went into overdrive to combat this crime. Fortunately, this activity ceased quickly, which we believe was due to our strong presence of community awareness. The City of Chandler Police Crime Prevention Unit made a presentation to SunBird residents recently, highlighting that the best crime prevention method is with the residents and neighbors working together in being aware and reporting suspicious activity. This proved to be true. This past month, one evening, several homeowners reported observing three persons jumping over a perimeter block wall into SunBird. They immediately called SunBird Patrol. SunBird Patrol searched the area and spotted three persons. These persons, after being spotted, fled by foot, jumping back over the block wall leaving SunBird. The following evening, homeowners reported to SunBird Patrol again persons jumping over the block wall on Cooper Road into SunBird. SunBird Patrol spotted them and contacted the City of Chandler Police who arrived very quickly and with five vehicles. Two teenagers were processed by the police and were officially “trespassed” from SunBird. The parents of the two were contacted and arrived to take them home. This is Community Awareness and Action at its best. It’s reassuring to know that homeowners were watching for suspicious activity and acted immediately by calling and reporting the details to SunBird Patrol. Great job! Let’s keep up this same effort and do our best together to deter potential crime from SunBird.
Last year the SunBird Lions Club donated over $10,000 of funds to automate one of the emergency vehicle entrance gates into SunBird at Cooper Road and Waterview Drive. As emergency vehicles approach any of SunBird’s vehicle entrance gates with their strobe lights, these gates will automatically open, reducing emergency response time. This has been used multiple times since this project was completed and has been very helpful in achieving the goal of reducing response time. After emergency vehicles enter SunBird, the vehicle gates will stay in the open position for 30 minutes. This will allow any following or additional emergency vehicles the ability to enter without any delays. Patrol and the office often receive calls regarding vehicle entrance gates left in the open position. We are grateful for and appreciate all those who observe and report this when they are not operating correctly. However, it has been discovered that the majority of these reports have been made when an emergency response vehicle has entered into SunBird, triggering the 30-minute gate open time. To help indicate when an emergency vehicle has entered into SunBird, an amber-colored strobe light will be installed at all of the vehicle gated areas. The strobe light will turn on for the duration of 30 minutes. If the vehicle gates are stuck in an open position and the strobe light is not on, the gates are not working properly and need to be reported to either SunBird Patrol or the office.
Last month, emergency responders were at the clubhouse addressing a medical situation one morning. After they were finished, I thanked them for responding so quickly and for all the service they provide SunBird. I said to them, “You are probably in SunBird fairly regularly.” The EMT answered that they had already responded to three emergency calls in SunBird that morning within the last 45 minutes. Within the next half hour, we had to call 911 again regarding another medical emergency within SunBird. Wow! Four times within less than an hour and a half. Let’s make sure we express our appreciation to our first responders for their prompt and great service.
We appreciate all those who are being extra aware of suspicious activity and reporting the information quickly. It takes a united community to be a successful community. Have a safe and healthy summer!