Our Next Meeting is May 14, at 7 PM,
Pflugerville Justice Center,
1611 Pfennig Lane:
Paying for Pflugerville Fire Department/ESD#2
Cheif Ron Moellenberg will present the reasons why new funding sources for fire/emergency services are needed now. " We have seen property values across the Emergency Services District decline the last two years even while demands for service have continued to rise. This is not a healthy business model so we must continue to look at ways to provide service in the most efficient manner possible. Emergency services districts in Texas are limited to a 10-cent tax levy."
You will Not Want to Miss This Meeting. Our roundtable conversation format, allows you to exchange ideas and learn what other Pflugerville neighborhoods are doing. We invite topic resource experts, city staff, and professionals so you can ask questions you care about! Share your ideas and help us make Pflugerville a better place to live.
Join PfCONA:
You can ensure a strong PfCONA by paying your 2012 membership at any meeting or mailing dues to PfCONA, Box 679, Pflugerville, Texas 78691. General Member dues for HOA's, neighborhood resident groups, and individual Associate Members are $12 (January to December.) Download an application on our Join Page.
PfCONA 2012 Meetings
PfCONA traditionally meets the 2nd Mondays at 7 PM at the Pflugerville Justice Center, 1611 Pfennig Lane. If you would like to present a topic to our members or announce your neighborhood events at future meetings, email PFCONA [at] gmail.com.
Meeting Summaries 2011 - 2012
April 9, 2012: A planning disucssuon was held with 10 persons representing 7 neighborhoods. The following monthly meeting topics were decided upon: Xeriscape Landscaping (June), Board Orientation 101 (July), Super Social Events 101 (August), Safety/NNO Readiness (Sept), Candidates Forum (October), City Message (November), and Membership Meeting (January 2013). No meeting in December. We hope that summer meetings could be held at an HOA club house or City Park, so subscribe to our email list or Facebook page to be notified of updates. Nominations were made to elect Clay Leben for 2012 Chairman and Melody Ryan for 2012 Treasurer/Secretary. Members present passed the motion by acclamation. The Vice Chairman position remains open.
March 12, 2012: Lt. Tim Wallace, Fire Investigator and Prevention, discussed with us how HOAs and NAs can educate homeowners on preventing fires. The Fire Department has free community outreach programs on fire extinguishers, smoke/CO2 alarms, home and business code inspections, fire station tours, fire truck drive-by, Vial of Life medication kits, family and school safety programs, and much more. CPR classes will be starting again soon (4 hours) and cost only $30. Programs require at least two weeks lead time to come to your HOA. Contact Lt. Wallace for more information at 251-2801 or twallace [at] pflugervillefire.com. Fire proof your home before we have more wild fires! Read this Free Brochure (PDF). One important tip was everyone in your family should know how to open the garage door if the electricity is off and the automatic opener doesn't work! (Pull the release cord and lift it.) Nominations for PfCONA Executive Committee may be made by contacting pfcona [at] gmail.com.
February 13, 2012: Water Conservation Saves Money. Our speaker David Foster reminded us that we are still experiencing bad drought conditions and LCRA could restrict Pflugerville's water supply 20% if it worsens this summer! David explained HOAs can conserve water and save money. Clean Water Fund experts will work with HOAs to adopt homeowner rules that encourage appropriate landscapping for drought. Download David Foster's slide presentation (PDF, 13.6MB) Download the free Clean Water Fund brochure. (PDF) Have question for Clean Water Fund? Please contact Alejandro Savransky, CWF Outreach Coordinator, at 512-474-2046 or alejandro@cleanwater.org.) We also had an update from Discover Green Young Environmental Leaders, a nonprofit that trains youth for eco-inspiration projects. Darrell Winslett, Pflugerville's City Water Conservation Manager, (512-251-9935) also told us how residents can sign up for city programs that provide rebates on plants, yard signs, rain barrels, and choosing low-flow appliances. We appreciate that Darrell and Tracy Hibbs, who oversees water billing, both came tonight.
January 9, 2012: Some active members discussed PfCONA's strengths, weakness, opportunites, and threats (SWOT). We concluded that PfCONA can play a valuable role in Pflugerville's future, but that our members need to network more and build relationships to every Pflugerville HOA. Several people said they would help search for contact information. We also brainstormed speakers and topics for upcoming meetings that will attract HOA board members.
November 14, 2011: Pflugerville's City Manager Brandon Wade provided us an overview of City services and progress. Mr. Wade described many examples of steady, good growth: sales tax revenues were up, new green businesses were expected to move here with new jobs; there were 460 new homes started and a high-end apartment complex and new restaurants will be built at Stone Hill Town Center. James Rincon's article in the Pflugerville Pflag also summarized the City Manager's presentation.
September 12, 2011: Crime Prevention: What Neighborhoods Can Do To Help Police! Presentations were given by Officer Dan Griffith, Judy Allen, Police Chief Chuck Hooker, and Tony Ellis, President of Pflugerville Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association (CPAAA) . We learned the latest news about community policing program including Citizens on Patrol (COPs), Block Watch, National Night Out, Citizens Emergency Response Team (CERT), and Victim Serices to name just a few, HOA play an essential role in educating and recruiting residents to help the police fight crime and emergency preparedness that saves lives.
July 11, 2011: Is Your HOA Ready for the New State Laws? Our guest speaker, attorney Connie Heyer will summarize the just concluded Texas legislative session and its impact on HOA management. Ms. Heyer is a legislative specialist for Community Associations International (CAI) Austin Chapter and a top advisor on HOA management. A practical guide for HOA boards was distributed to 23 attendees representing 15 neighborhoods/HOA boards.
We Want to Hear From You! Fill in our poll, Is Your HOA Ready?
June 13, 2011: Keeping HOA Common Areas Beautiful and Secure. Residents of 9 neighborhoods attended. After introductions, Councilman Wayne Cooper informally answered questions. Then we divided into two groups: one to discuss landscaping and one to discuss security issues. Take away points included: Don't neglect your HOA entrance landscaping because its the first impression everyone sees. Get to know City staff like the Arborist, the Recreation Director, the Police Chief because they are helpful experts. Plant thorny plants like roses or holly around pool fences etc to discourage people climbing over. Cheap security camera systems may not record faces clearly, so shop with an expert vendor/installer. Watch door-to-door sales people without opening the door to test if they are looking for homes where residents are gone. DIY can install a door intercom, video camera, and use longer screws, longer dead bolt, and metal plate door jam.
Help us find good vendors for HOA services in 2012
Landscaping, security, pool cleaning, management companies, and general fix-it services: who do you recommend? Answer a 3-question survey about vendors your HOA uses. Click to complete the survey.We received a handful of candid recommendations after the June meeting. We are still collecting your vendor recommendations in 2012.
April 25, 2011: Council Candidate Forum. Watch PfCONA Candidate Video Council candidates answer questions from PfCONA and general audience members. Speaking were Place 2 candidates Brad Marshall and Denise McGillivray and Place 4 candidate Starlet Sattler (unopposed). Candidate Jason Wilson could not attend. Duration 41:53 minutes. Congratulations to Brad Marshall who received the moste votes in the May 14 election.
Candidate Question & Answers: After the Forum concluded, PfCONA invited all the candidates to provide written answers to questions asked by PfCONA (4 questions) and the audience (8 questions). As of May 5, we received answers from Ms. McGillvray, Mr. Wilson, and Ms. Sattler. Mr. Marshall declined to participate. Read the PDF. View or download the audience handout (PDF). Streaming video recorded live during the event may be seen on Livestream.com
March 14 2011. A group of 13 residents from 11 neighborhoods (Gatlinburg, Fairways of Blackhawk, Windermere, Greenridge, Mountain Creek, Bohls Place, Royal Pointe, Parkview Estates, Springbrook Glen, Saxony, and Highland Park North) shared their perceptions of their local needs and discussed how PfCONA should organize meetings and projects. Five neighborhood HOA/associations paid their 2011 dues. Nominations were accepted by Clay Leben for Chairman; Benny Bowser for Vice Chairman, and Mary Esther Garza for Secretary/Treasurer. A motion was made, seconded, and passed to elect the nominated slate of officers by acclamation. Greg Bolin agreed to lead an effort to find contact information for HOA subdivisions. Other members expressed interest in working with the Safety or Communications Committee. The group thought PfCONA should sponsor a Candidate Forum on either 4/18 or 4/25 depending on room and candidates availability. View Minutes (PDF)
February 14, PfCONA Meeting was cancelled . It was decided to publicize and recruit more attendance for the March 14, 2011 meeting to involve more neighborhoods and diversity of ideas. The election of new officers was tabled.
January 10, 2011 Guest Speaker: Trey Fletcher, AICP, Managing Director of Operations, City of Pflugerville. provided an update on the Pflugerville 2030 Your Voice, Your Choice Process. However, because of low member attendance and no slate of officer nominations, the scheduled election was tabled until the February meeting or later.