The PCNHA Annual General Meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm at Hackberry Park Pavilion. Dave Nichols, PCNHA President, greeted/welcomed everyone.
- The Highland Oaks Church of Christ, which PCNHA has traditionally used for meetings, has been sold and will be demolished; thus, the annual meeting was held at Hackberry Park.
- A new subdivision – Sabine Park Estates – will be built on the 12 acres that was formerly owned by the church. This land will NOT include Hackberry Park which is owned by the City of Plano. The plat of the new subdivision shows 38 single premium family homes (zero lot line), with 4 streets, no alleys, front garage doors, some common areas/flower gardens like PCN; prices ~$275,000 or above. Access will be via Rio Grande, not connected to PCN. Anticipate that these homes will be priced high enough to help drive up PCN home values.
- Our HOA has been in existence a long time. It is a voluntary HOA, which residents can elect to join or not. We are incorporated, not as a 501c3 (charitable organization), but as a registered non-profit organization with the State of Texas. The #1 reason we are in existence is community involvement: to keep the community together as well as neighborhood beautification. We have 9 public gardens entrusted to our HOA by the City of Plano for maintenance but the gardens belong to the City of Plano (and probably always will). We are getting better at that maintenance with more volunteers and more involvement. Also, holiday decorations are put up by the HOA. Your dues go to maintenance and improvement.
- PCNHA’s fiscal year is from June 1st to May 31st. One of the best things that happened to the subdivision during the past fiscal year was the painting of the outer walls of the subdivision. Major kudos to Dave Nichols, President, in helping to make this happen. As a member of the North Texas Association of HOAs, our PCNHA president meets 2-3 times per year with Plano City Council and mayor regarding city issues which proves to be a great time to get the ear of the council members. Because of the continued pressure by our neighborhood and involvement in the HOA association, we were able to get the city to make repainting of the walls a priority. Money was diverted to the project because of our pressure. It cost the City approximately $130,000 to get the walls repainted and they look great!
- During this past fiscal year, HOA funds were spent in completing underground irrigation systems for the 9 gardens. Also installation of faucets for hand watering of the gardens was completed (drip irrigation isn’t adequate when our area is under severe drought). PCNHA is billed for the watering of the gardens.
- The increased efforts of the Landscaping committee have seen the installation of more and more perennial flowers in the public gardens. The goal is to keep this initiative going and show the city that this is a subdivision that cares. The public sees all our flowers and improvements and understands this is a caring neighborhood.
- We set a record for membership during this past year – 52%. Though there is obviously room for improvement, this is our best membership percentage ever! The average membership for voluntary HOAs is approximately 30%. We are very proud of our membership and thanks to all for submitting their dues and caring about the neighborhood.
- There has been a significant increase in neighborhood activities/involvement during this past year:
- Picnic in the Park – social event held at Hackberry Park with food trucks, live band, games, and fun activities last May 17th. This year’s Picnic in the Park will be held June 13th.
- National Night Out – held in Texas on first Tuesday in October. Police and fire department come with apparatus to speak about crime, safety, etc.
- PCN Supper Club – meets monthly at a local restaurant. Average 20-30 people. Come meet your neighbors and enjoy! No RSVP necessary. Check PCNHA calendar (home page of web site www.pcnha.org) for date/time/location.
- Social Media/Web – have a very active Facebook page (and Nextdoor) as well as a current web site – lots of information about PCN.
- Book Club – meets monthly at individual homes. Check PCNHA calendar (home page of web site www.pcnha.org) for date/time/location.
- Yard-of-the-Month – awarded monthly for the most beautiful yard in the neighborhood.
- Crime Watch – neighbors signed up for email alerts as well as those on social media receive crime watch information whenever something pertinent happens in our neighborhood.
- Welcome Wagon – personally welcoming new residents in our neighborhood.
- We have begun working on improving the 3 satellite entrances to the neighborhood as well as improving the circle garden where drivers have run over and destroyed plants. Efforts include installing/repairing irrigation systems and replanting. Also we are preparing to install tree lighting at the main entrance.
- The suggestion has been made to install granite or marble PCN signage at the 3 satellite entrances. After determining if cost feasible, we would probably start with the corner of Park and Columbia.
- We are in the discussion stage of installing security cameras at the front entrance (and possibly the 3 satellite entrances). The initial estimate is about $4,000-$5,000 for the main entrance and $7,800 for the additional 3 entrances). Will pursue more information in that regard and seek neighborhood input about interest in spending dues for that project. PCNHA wants to spend money wisely, making sure we always spend within budget and have a safe cushion of finances.
- PCNHA 2014-2015 Board Members:
- President – Dave Nichols
- Vice-President – Bill Humble
- Treasurer – Dan Boron: worked on modernizing our PCNHA accounting system
- Secretary – Kathy Paxton: notes
- Communications – Kathleen Martin: social media, website, newsletters, flyers, signage
- Membership – Susan Nichols: organizing membership drive, getting membership signs to residents, signage
- Landscaping – Vicki Blakley: public gardens, volunteer group
- Yard of the Month – Lauren Eastburn: choosing YOM, delivering signs and gift certificates
- Crime Watch – Tom Martin: monitoring social media and emails on crime; sending out emails and posting information regarding crimes in the area
- Welcome Wagon – Lynn Humble: welcoming new neighbors personally with neighborhood info packet
- Guest Speaker: Captain Peggy Harrell, Plano Fire-Rescue Life Safety Education Manager:
- Ms. Harrell discussed how we could all be safer in our homes, including information regarding smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, escape routes, and fire extinguishers.
- She also discussed different new programs that Plano Fire-Rescue has instituted:
- Community Paramedic Program provides in-home health care services to residents with chronic illnesses – focuses on helping patients manage their medical conditions so they don’t have to return to the hospital or call 911 often
- Pulsepoint Program which hooks people up who have CPR knowledge with local residents in cardiac emergency; allows someone to quickly start CPR faster than PFR can get there, saving lives.
- Plano Fire-Rescue Accreditations/Ratings:
- Commission on Fire Accreditation, International – Since 2001, Plano Fire-Rescue has been accredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation, International. Plano is one of only 5 cities in the State of Texas to become accredited. Less than 170 agencies are accredited worldwide.
- Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS) – Since 1998, Plano Fire-Rescue has had Accredited Agency status with the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS). Plano is one of only five EMS services in Texas to be CAAS accredited and the only fire-based EMS service to hold this distinction.
- Insurance Services Office (ISO) – Since 1998, the city has carried a Class 1 Public Protection Classification from the Insurance Services Office. Plano was the first city in Texas to receive the Class 1 rating. Currently, there are 15 cities in Texas that have received a Class 1 rating. There are only 57 cities nationwide that carry a Class 1 rating. Plano is the only city over 250,000 people who have a Class 1 rating.
- Plano Fire-Rescue continues to be the only agency to hold all 3 distinctions.
- Future Landscaping and Beautification: Vicki Blakley has gone to “yard of the month winners” to recruit volunteers to “adopt” our 9 public gardens, including helping with designing, weeding, planting, and trimming, but especially for hand watering the new plantings. The garden adopters will be working with Vicki to concentrate on using HOA budget funds as wisely as possible on water-wise perennial plants. The volunteers in our “Adopt-a-Garden” project are:
- Two Entry corners: Karen Smith
- Victoria Main Entry South center island (with Sign): Susan and Dave Nichols
- Victoria Main Entry North center island: Vicki Blakley
- Corner Columbia and 15th: Char DeSostoa and family
- South Columbia circle island: James Woodward
- North Columbia circle island: Kathryn Kurtz
- Corner Columbia and Park: Susan Gates
- Corner Rio Grande and Park: Sylvia Meyers
- Last Agenda Item – Approval of 2015-2016 Board/Committee Members. All members from 2014-2015 agreed to return to their same positions if approved. In addition, Jeremy Bohland agreed to join the PCNHA Board as an “At-Large” member, taking on any duties as assigned and assisting other board members. Dave Nichols, President, asked for approval of 2015-2016 Board Members and by a majority of “Ayes,” motion was passed.
- Dave Nichols thanked attendees for coming to the meeting and participating in our Pitman Creek North Homeowners Association. Meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:00 p.m.