Image Up Advertising & Design

We are always looking for ways to improve the entry experience here at The Colony for you, your guests, and your vendors. Reducing congestion at the Jackson Gate has been deemed a priority by the Board of Directors, and an effective way to accomplish this would be for all of our residents to utilize the iGate system as a means of preregistering a guest or vendor prior to the time they will be visiting you. Many of our residents are not yet registered in, or are not utilizing, the iGate system. In an effort to increase the number of users, or refresh our current users, the Board has asked that we conduct a refresher course for our homeowners. We will focus on helping you get the most out of the iGate system. On Friday, June 21, there will be two refresher courses that will be held in the Auditorium. The first session will be at 11 am, and the second session will start at 2 pm. Registration is required. You can register through the e-blast that you will receive on your computer. If you do not have a computer, you can register by calling the HOA office, at 951-677-4341, and ask for either Elizabeth or Colleen. We encourage you to participate if you are unfamiliar with the system or are having difficulties navigating through the website. The use of this system is an essential tool for managing and monitoring your guests and/or vendors. By using the iGate system, the process of entry by your guests and/or visitors ensures a smooth and properly controlled entry. | THE COLONY NEWS | JUNE 2024 | 3 From the Desk of Bruce Dalfonso, President June is finally here, and it is time for summer to begin. Through the spring we have seen an increase in people coming through the gate. Some is expected because of holidays like Easter, Mother's Day, and Memorial Day as visitors come to celebrate with friends and families. Some of the increase is from contractors and landscapers with so many more people now investing in their homes through remodeling and landscaping. And some of the increase is simply because the golf course is busier than it has been in the last couple of years with very competitive golf rates along with attracting a new customer base for Disc Golf. While these are positive signs of a very active and invested community, it also brings a new set of issues. Many of our residents have been impacted by the backup at the Jackson gate that now seems to occur more often. The HOA Board has asked the Access and Safety Committee to explore different ideas in process, protocol, and technology for improvement. They have taken the time to visit and meet with people at other gated communities that have put processes in place to streamline traffic. They are discussing priorities, technology, and traffic patterns. They are doing time studies at our gate to better understand the impact on moving cars through the gate in a safe and timely manner. They are talking with our PCM management team and Allied Universal management team to identify what potential solutions are through leveraging technology that is readily available. I am anxious to see what their recommendations to the Board will be. I'm confident it will give us some good options to streamline our overall gate entry for residents, family, friends, and vendors. The committee has already identified that the number one problem has to do with getting resident guests and vendors through the gate quickly. First and foremost, the biggest delay is caused anytime a gate attendant has to get on the phone to process a vehicle. Two things cause this to happen. 1. The first is that the guest or vendor was never on their entry list. Then the gate attendant has to track down the homeowner to get permission to let them in. 2. The second is that the homeowner calls the gate to get their guest or vendor on the entry list. Anytime a resident calls in to get a guest on the list it takes the gate attendant away from the process of getting cars through. In the meantime, there is something each of us can do to assist in the process. First and foremost, make sure your guest or vendor is on the gate entry list BEFORE they arrive at the gate. But for those who have smart phones and are capable, the new iGate app is extremely easy to use. That way there is no reason to call the gate and take the attendant away during a potentially busy time. The good news is that we will be holding a hands-on class to teach people what and how to do this. Mark your calendars for Friday, June 21, at either 10 am or 2 pm in the Auditorium. Bring your phones, tablets, laptops or whatever electronic devices you would like to use. They will walk you through the website and the phone app. They will be there for hands-on assistance in the class. It's a great opportunity for all residents. Don't miss out on it. I was so impressed by the dedication of all the members of this committee. This is just another example (like all of our other committees), of residents pulling together and working together to make the Colony even better than it already is. Let the summertime activities begin! iGate Training

• Cover