Environment & Safety Committee (E&S)

Purpose:

This committee is charged with protecting the environment and improving the safety and security of our surroundings in the Sandia Heights neighborhood, by staying abreast of any changes or potential impacts. The E&S Committee fosters communication with homeowners, local government, and other public entities, to achieve our goals, and makes recommendations to the SHHA Board as necessary. The committee also plays a role in educating residents about traffic, safety, security and environmental issues.

Contact the Committee Chair:  ESCChair@sandiahomeowners.org 

Bylaws Authorizing this Committee

     See Section 7.2.7 of Bylaws

Charter

    ESC Charter

Committee Policies, Procedures, and Internal Working Documents

1. None other than Charter

Links to other Committee-Relevant Pages

1. Wildfire Prevention, Home Hardening & Vegetation Risk Reduction

   A. Home Hardening

• Ember-resistant vents and vent screening
• Safer roofing and siding materials
• Sealing eaves, soffits, gaps, and attic openings
• Fire-resistant decking and fencing options
• Removing combustible materials near the home
  
  

   B. Defensible Space (0–100 ft Zones)

• Creating defensible space
• Creating defensible space for certification - not required yet by home insurance companies
• Dead tree and ladder fuel removal
• Pruning native vegetation for spacing
• Safely managing pine needle litter
• Clearing “ember catchers” near structures
• Relocating wood piles and propane tanks
• Seasonal maintenance schedules
  
  

   C. Vegetation Management & Fuel Reduction

• Fire Wise Plant Materials
• Reducing overgrowth while protecting healthy vegetation
• Managing disturbed soil and invasives
• Annual fuel-lot review guidance
  
  

   D. Tumbleweeds as Fire Fuel

• Tumbleweed accumulation hazards
• Preventing infestations on disturbed ground
• Community-wide prevention & seasonal cleanup
• Resident education on seed-cycle control
  
  

   E. Wildfire Alerts & Evacuation Preparedness

• Ready–Set–Go education
• County/state alert systems (CodeRED, ReadyNM, WEA)
• Household evacuation kits
• Choke-point awareness on narrow SH roads
• Notifications for Red Flag Warnings
  
  

   F. County Restrictions & Fire Behavior Awareness

• Open burning rules and burn bans
• Fireworks prohibitions
• High-wind fire danger periods
• USFS/Cibola restrictions and closures
  
  

2. Wildlife, Habitat Preservation & Responsible Coexistence

   A. Coexisting Safely with Wildlife

• Keeping Bears Alive - and You Safe!
• Living with Predators - Coyote and bobcat awareness
• Rattlesnake safety practices
• Deer, birds, small mammals
• Mice and Rats!
• Plague and Hantavirus
• Pet safety & outdoor practices

   B. Covenant-Related Wildlife Protections

• Trash-bin rules (timing, bear season)
• No feeding wildlife
• Exterior lighting practices protecting nocturnal wildlife

   C. Habitat Preservation

• Avoiding over-clearing or bare-lot conditions
• Protecting native groundcover and understory vegetation
• Preventing erosion and habitat disturbance
• Avoiding hardscapes that harm wildlife and soil health

   D. Native Vegetation & Landscaping Practices

• Selecting wildlife-friendly native plants
• Removing invasive plants encouraging tumbleweeds
• Encouraging diversity to support healthy habitat

   E. Hiking & Open-Space Recreation

• Staying on designated trails to protect habitat
• Leave No Trace 7 Principles
• Wildlife encounters on trails
• Dog-leash rules
• Preventing trail cutting and erosion
• Trail maps and Open Space/National Forest rules
• Parking etiquette at trailheads

3. Water Conservation, Sustainable Landscaping & Environmental Quality

   A. Water Conservation

• Preserving water inside and outside the house (SHS)
• BernCo Water Conservation Programs
• Efficient irrigation scheduling
• Xeriscape and low-water plants
• Rainwater harvesting and storage
• Drought-stage restrictions

   B. Sustainable Landscaping

• Native and drought-tolerant plant choices
• Soil protection and mulching
• Preventing soil disturbance that promotes tumbleweeds
• Erosion control on slopes
• Avoiding excessive gravel that damages native habitat

   C. Composting & Green Waste Management

• Backyard composting best practices
• Composting do’s and don’ts (to avoid wildlife)
• Community Compost Collection Service - Little Green Bucket
• Handling branches, needles, and vegetation safely

   D. Environmental Quality

• Air quality alerts (ozone, dust, wildfire smoke)
• Light pollution and night-sky protection
• Noise pollution basics

   E. Septic System Maintenance & Environmental Protection

• Maintaining your septic system - maintenance, what not to flush, failure causes and symptoms
• Protecting groundwater from contamination
• Landscaping guidelines around septic & leach fields
• Avoiding compaction or erosion over leach fields
• BernCo onsite wastewater rules

4. Traffic, Pedestrian Safety & Right-of-Way Responsibilities

   A. Road Safety & Driver Behavior

• Speed limit compliance on narrow, curvy roads
• Drag-racing or reckless driving reporting
• Seasonal hazards (monsoon, ice, snow)
• Safe driving in wildlife areas
  
  

   B. Pedestrian, Cyclist & Shared-Road Awareness

• Pedestrian Rules of the Road
• Safe passing distances
• Cyclist and runner etiquette
• Leashed pets near roadsides
  
  

   C. Right-of-Way & Sight-Line Maintenance

• Vegetation trimming for visibility
• Keeping road edges and shoulders clear
• Removing overgrowth at blind curves
• Maintaining access for emergency vehicles
• Preventing landscape blockages in shared walkways
  
  

   D. Parking Practices

• Avoiding blind-curve parking
• Ensuring space for emergency vehicles
• Appropriate trailhead and event parking
• Snow-event parking awareness
  
  

5. Community Safety, Security Coordination & Emergency Preparedness

   A. Coordination with Sandia Heights Services (SHS)

• Daily patrol liaison
• Reporting patterns of incidents
• Reviewing SHS logs for recurring concerns
• Water main break or infrastructure incident coordination
  
  

   B. Crime Prevention & Security Awareness

• Neighborhood Watch education
• Theft and break-in prevention tips
• Holiday-season or vacation-season alerts
• BCSO emergency vs non-emergency guidance

   
C. Emergency Preparedness

• Enrollment in County/State alert systems
• Household emergency planning
• Go-bags, medication lists, documentation
• Power outage preparation
• Evacuation coordination with SHS/BCSO

   D. Resident Education & Seasonal Communications

• Annual wildfire, wildlife, and safety reminders
• Community presentations (wildfire, water use, SHS, etc.)
• Printable guides for residents
• Hazard-specific communications (bears, windstorms, monsoon flooding)