Area 12 Update

The builder for Area 12-1, California Pacific Homes, has scheduled trenching across Los Trancos Drive near the pool parking lot for Tuesday, 12/5 - Thursday, 12/7 (Work hours are 7am to 5pm). The trenching involves equipment digging underground to create space for cables and conduit. UHills residents can expect some noise and dust generated by the work. Flag men will be posted on Los Trancos Drive. The road will be narrowed to one lane remaining open to traffic during the activity.

PLEASE USE CAUTION: Exercise extreme caution and observe all signs and directives by site personnel while driving or walking near the construction area. Pedestrians are advised to use crosswalks to cross to the west side of Los Trancos Drive or use other alternative routes if possible. 

ICHA held an online community meeting on November 30th featuring the project's landscape architect. The architect explained the landscaping plan and the types and quantities of new trees to be planted to restore the forested feel of the community in the coming years. For a recording of the meeting, plus renderings, design sections and background materials, click on the button below. ICHA is committed to keeping the community engaged and informed about the progress of Area 12-1. Look for ongoing updates as the project unfolds!

How to Shop and Mail Safely This Holiday Season

As the holiday season approaches, sharing your love and joy with friends and family should be done safely. Holiday shopping and partaking in charitable giving have made it convenient and predictable for criminals to victimize individuals. As you prepare to spread the holiday joy, keep safety in mind. Click the boxes below for tips and info.

Holiday Safety Tips From the UCI PD

The UCI Police Department wants to wish everyone in University Hills a safe and joyous holiday season. Below are holiday safety tips to help you and your family.

Protect your holiday deliveries by:

• Tracking and turning on notifications for deliveries.
• Bringing your items inside as soon as they are delivered.
• Consider using locker deliveries at local stores if you know you won’t be home when the item is delivered.

Click here for more!

MAKE IT GLOW — SAFELY!

• Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, loose connections, or frayed or bare wires. Discard all damaged cords.
• Don't connect lights while adjusting them on a tree or house. Inspect lights and plug them together before hanging.
• Indoors or out, use only lights that have been tested for safety. The lights should have the Underwriter's Laboratories (UL) label.
• Don't let light bulbs rest on tree needles and branches. Use a clip or twist-tie to keep bulbs upright.
• Watch young children around lights and decorations with small pieces that could be ingested.
• Unplug lights and decorative outdoor lighting before leaving the house or going to bed.
• If you buy an artificial tree, check for a "flame resistant" label.
• Do not leave candles burning unattended.
• Do not overload electrical outlets and circuits.

KEEP THE HOME FIRES BURNING — ONLY WHEN YOU'RE HOME!

Keep your home and family safe by practicing fire safety. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of all home fires, followed by heating equipment, and an electrical malfunction.

• Stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling or broiling food. Never leave food unattended!
• Use a timer to remind yourself that you are cooking.
• Keep the stovetop, burners and oven clean from grease and debris.
• Never use your oven for storage.
• Never pour water on a grease fire! Cover the pan with a lid and turn off the stove.

Important Disclosures UHills Residents Should Know

The following disclosures are taken from the Buyers' Disclosure documents provided to homeowners at the time of purchase. The documents include community rules and policies that all UHills residents — renters and homeowners alike — should be familiar with. Please review them. For questions, contact ICHA Real Estate Sales & Administration at sales@icha.uci.edu.

• Construction within University Hills. Various construction activities may be occurring within and around University Hills. As a result of these construction activities you may be driving through an active construction area. ICHA urges you to exercise extreme caution and to observe all signs and rules while driving near any construction areas. University Hills residents and guests are not permitted in construction areas. You will assume all risks of liability and all obligations for any injuries or damages which are sustained by you and your guests and invitees by reason of such persons' presence within any construction area.
• University Hills Streets and Parking. The streets within the University Hills community are private and are maintained by ICHA. The California Vehicle Code is enforced by the UCI Police Department. On-street parking for residents and their guests is permitted except in designated areas. Parking is restricted to one side of the street in some areas of University Hills. Specific parking areas within and adjacent to the apartment and attached housing communities are restricted to residents and guests of that apartment or attached housing community.
• Prohibition on Firearms. Firearms are not permitted on the UCI campus. Homeowners are not permitted to keep firearms in their homes or to discharge firearms anywhere in University Hills or on the remainder of the UCI campus.
• Views Not Guaranteed. Neither ICHA nor any of its authorized agents, representatives or employees have made any representations, warranties or promises concerning any view, present or future, that may be enjoyed from all or any portion of the home. The view may change, as it may be affected or obstructed by (a) construction or installation of improvements, structures, fences, walls and/or landscaping by ICHA or homeowners of property within or outside the University Hills Community and/or (b) the growth of trees, landscaping and/or vegetation within or outside University Hills. Although views are not guaranteed by ICHA, the Homeowner's Representative Board has adopted guidelines regarding changed views resulting from common area landscape installation and maturation of landscape improvements. Please contact the Homeowner's Representative Board for additional information.

Get Involved! Homeowners Representative Board

Is Now Accepting Nominations

The University Hills Homeowners Representative Board, (HRB) is a community-elected body of resident volunteers. Each year, four of the HRB's seven members are elected to serve a one- or two-year term. Please consider volunteering your time, talent and effort to your community by serving on the HRB. The HRB meets once a month with a minimal amount of subcommittee work associated with service as a board member. Your community will thank you.

To be nominated as an HRB candidate, submit your statement by clicking here or on the link below. Candidate statements are due by Wednesday, January 31, 2024. Voting will take place in February, and those elected will be seated at the March, 2024 HRB meeting. 

The HRB:

• Advises the Irvine Campus Housing Authority on community matters and property improvements and advocates on behalf of residents to build community.
• Manages budgeted funds to promote community building activities, events and programs.
• Is kept informed of Irvine Campus Housing Authority’s policies, procedures, and planning.

Over the past several years, HRB members have:

• Organized informational forums on Emergency Preparedness, Covid 19, the OC Power Authority, policing in University Hills, and coyotes.
• Organized numerous entertaining events such as community movies, parties, concerts, and the upcoming Holiday Bazaar.
• Supported efforts to protect our environment by advocating for the use of less toxic pesticides, the introduction of sustainable electric landscape maintenance equipment, Earth Day events, and CRV recycling.

For the full Uhills Holiday Event Guide, go to https://uhills.org or 

University Hills Pool Heating Schedule

• Coltrane pool and spa: Heated year round
• Los Trancos pool and spa: Heated year round (contingent on Area 12 activity)
• Gabrielino pool: Pool heat is shut off November 1. Spa is heated year round.
• Urey pool: Pool heat is shut off November 1. Spa is heated year round.

Pest Sightings? Send In Your Feedback

ICHA is now tracking rodent sightings in University Hills, a new addition to our longstanding integrated pest management program. This data collection effort will assist in evaluating the effectiveness of current management techniques and help determine if changes to the program are required. (ICHA phased out the use of anticoagulant rodenticide in 2012, the first UCI-affiliated organization to do so. Since then, ICHA has partnered with the resident HOOT Group to create a real-life "experiment" comparing Vitamin D-based baiting versus snap trap baiting and raptors to control rodent populations.)

Please email your rodent encounter or sighting to ICHA Community Management at Andrew.Herndon@icha.uci.edu or Kim.Hockings@icha.uci.edu.

Are You a Dog Owner? It Is Your Responsibility to Pick Up After Your Pet

Please review the following rules about pets to ensure that the common areas of University Hills may be enjoyed by all:

• It is the responsibility of pet owners to pick up after their dogs in all common areas.
• Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times when outdoors.

ICHA reserves the right to send to an unsubscribed e-mail certain important communications such as construction notifications or emergencies. The unsubscribed status will be respected for all other ICHA or HRB communications.