Sorrento Home Owners Association Porter Ranch: Home

Stranger Captured in Meadows by Centurion
By Pat Pope

On Saturday, January 30, 2010 a person, apparently under the influence, entered the Meadows just before 9:00 PM. Quick action by Centurion resulted in the arrest of a man who was apparently dumped off in the dark area north of our community. Centurion detained the suspect until the Los Angeles Police Department took him to jail.

This was a great job by Centurion!

It points out why we need the Meadows Gate guarded. On a Saturday night, the response time from LAPD is not what any of us would like in the Devonshire Area. Centurion quickly had the suspect in custody and he was no longer a threat to our community.

Still, it appears to have taken about two hours between the first 911 call and the time the police arrived at the Meadows. Our Senior Lead Officer, Dan del Valle, investigated the 911 call log from January 30th. He believes that the LAPD call taker should have made our calls a “Code 2” (urgent) call. Dan has proactively discussed this with Chris Asberry, the Centurion manager for Porter Ranch. Chris is educating the guards on what to say to get the proper response from LAPD. Melissa Centeno asked Officer del Valle to attend our next HOA meeting, on February 18th. Officer del Valle will be there at 7:00 PM to explain what happened and to answer your questions about calling LAPD.

Below is the incident report from Centurion, and one of many comments from a Meadows resident:

On January 30, 2010, at approximately 2045 hours, Security Officer Miller observed a black Mitsubishi pickup truck stop on Mason Avenue at the Meadows Gate entrance. Three males exited the vehicle and began to fight. Two of the males returned to the vehicle and left the location. A lone male walked toward the Meadows Gate entrance. Miller told the man to stop, he was on private property, and could not enter. Miller believed the man to be drunk and uncooperative. The man ran past Miller and into the gated community. Miller utilized his two-way radio to request assistance, and telephoned 911.

Porter Ranch Shared Patrol Officer Maher responded and observed the suspect run to the rear of an address on Apulia Court. Field Supervisor Robinson arrived on scene. Robinson observed the suspect in the side yard. Robinson directed the suspect to the front of the residence. The suspect complied and exited the side yard. Robinson advised the suspect he was under citizen’s arrest for trespassing and placed him in handcuffs. Robinson walked the suspect to the Meadow’s Gate. The suspect was photographed noting he had no physical injuries. Centurion Group Account Manager Ferreira arrived on scene and assumed supervisory control.

At 2230 hours, Los Angeles Police took custody of the suspect. The suspect was arrested for Trespass and Public Intoxication (incident number 100150005010).

Robinson personally spoke with the residents to assure them that they were safe and that the incident was over.

Here are some comments by one of our involved residents:

Last night, there were some young adults outside of our gate at the Meadows; one of them trespassed into our community. I don't know the events leading to when he trespassed but this is what I do know, he went up the hill and climbed over into our yard. He ran through our yard....crossed the street and entered our friend's yard who was home alone! She called us in panic that she heard her gates slam and when we looked outside, our security guards already had the trespasser on the ground. It was so frightening to say the least but we felt safe knowing that our Security did their job superbly! I want to commend them for all their efforts to stop and tackle this trespasser before he committed anymore crimes. Who knows what this man was up to??? He seemed high on drugs and apparently he was on probation.

In any event, many thanks to all the security guards that work hard to protect our community! The one thing that was a little negative was that it took LAPD about 2 hours to show up. We called them a couple of times and apparently they were all busy.

Resident
Natalie Nelson

Welcome Our New Landscape Company!
By Mary Cooley-Lopez

After interviewing and considering eight different landscapers, the Architectural and Landscape Committee (consisting of the members, Renee Harvey, Melissa Centeno, Robert Harvey, Board Liaison to this committee, Mary Cooley-Lopez and Chair of the committee, Cathy Serksnas) made their final decision and recommendation to the HOA Board to accept ISS Grounds Control for our new landscape company. The HOA Board passed the motion to accept the new landscape company on December 10, 2009. ISS Grounds Control will start their services on February 1, 2010. We would like to thank our current landscaper M& R Landscapers for their services provided to our community for the last four years.

As an introduction, ISS Grounds Control is a Southern California based landscape company with a workforce committed to landscape maintenance. They are staffed with well-trained professionals who are experts in every facet of landscape design, construction, irrigation, planting, tree care and maintenance. They believe their success is based upon our commitment to providing the highest quality, detail-oriented landscape service and unparalleled customer service.

ISS Grounds Control will provide Sorrento HOA with direct access to a maintenance account manager. The Maintenance Account Manager responsible for Sorrento HOA will serve as a direct point of contact for all issues and concerns on the property.

The landscaping at Sorrento HOA will be overseen by a site specific Supervisor. The supervisor responsible for Sorrento HOA will visit the site regularly, making inspections of the grounds and serving to strategically direct the on-site staff members.

The staff will be directed each day by a foreman and supervisor instructing them where and how to work. ISS will provide complete irrigation audits (water usage) and identify ways to save water and maximize any/all rebates available through either the DWP or MWD. These types of proposals will be prepared at no additional charge.

ISS Grounds Control is confident about the improvements improvements their service will make to the everyday appearance of our community. They are committed to providing us with the most professional, quality landscape service available.

Congratulations to Our Holiday Lights Winners!

First Place Winner: 11441 Santini "Manger Scene"

2nd Place: 20847 Sorrento Lane "Blue Snowflakes with Reindeer"
3rd Place: 20724 Campania "Elegant Red and White Path/Garage

First through third place winner’s received a gift basket. Thank you to all the homeowner’s who dared to place lights on their home with our high winds and winter rain this year. You made the Sorrento Meadows Holiday a little brighter!