PfCONA FYI: Horse Racetrack Meetings Update

This E-mail is an update on meetings in relation to the horse racing track. Below are E-mails from the Mayor and City Secretary to let our members and their constituents know that not only will the Oct. 26th Council Work Session from 6:30 p.m to 7:30 p.m. be regarding the Racetrack, but the 7:30 p.m. Council Meeting will focus on it as well, so there is more time for discussion. Also, be aware that the work session and council meeting is being relocated to the Pflugerville Justice Center at 1611 E. Pfennig La. No posters of any kind will be allowed in meeting promoting any side of the issue. Another E-mail is included that was sent to a resident, city staff, and community leaders noting that PfCONA is trying foster deliberation on the racetrack issue (pros/cons) rather than take a position. See link in E-mail to Tidbits Blog where the public may post comments on the issue (3 posted so far). PfCONA's Nov. 8th Town Meeting from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. or so will be on the issue of the racetrack. The City Council may have decided their stance by then, but since the Texas Racing Commission meeting appears to have delayed their discussing the Pflugerville track issue until Nov. 22nd, it is a chance to have residents discuss the issue in a neutral setting and attempt to foster unity in this community, which is most important, no matter what happens. Two other E-mails are included that have the Mayor's response to PfCONA regarding 10/12 Council Meeting and a mail to PfCONA leaders from someone related to that meeting. Last, the 10/21 issue of the Pflugerville Pflag has a story on comments made about the racetrack at the last council meeting. It also has a story, Mayor Comments on Proposed Track, in same issue. There is also a Notice of Public Hearing by Planning and Zoning, in same issue, on Nov. 1st at 7:00 p.m. at council chambers, to receive public comment on a conceptual plan for land considered by Austin Jockey Club. Rod Reyna PfCONA Chair, www.pfcona.org, info@pfcona.org Subject: change in location for racetrack worksession Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 14:07:53 -0500 From: "Karen Thompson" <karent@cityofpflugerville.com> To: "Rod Reyna" rodreyna@sbcglobal.net Rod, please advise your PfCONA members and neighborhood leaders that the October 26 Council worksession and meeting will take place at the Pflugerville Justice Center, not City Hall, Council Chambers. Thanks. CHANGE IN LOCATION FOR RACETRACK WORKSESSION Please note that the location for the October 26 City Council worksession has changed to the Pflugerville Justice Center located at 1611 E. Pfennig Lane. The Pflugerville City Council will hold a public worksession regarding the proposed horse racing track on Tuesday, October 26, 2004 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Pflugerville Justice Center located at 1611 E. Pfennig Lane, Pflugerville. The worksession will focus on discussing the input previously provided by citizens and the financial implications of the proposed horse racing track. After the City Council has completed its discussion, if time remains, comments from the public will be received. If you would like to provide input to the City Council for this discussion and have not already done so, please email the Mayor at mayor@cityofpflugerville.com. An agenda for the October 26, 2004 worksession and regular meeting are available on the City’s web site: http://209.15.97.15/agendizer/agenda.php?board_id=1 Karen Thompson City Secretary City of Pflugerville, Texas (512) 990-4363 Telephone (512) 990-4364 Fax http://www.cityofpflugerville.com/ Subject: Racetrack Progress (follow-up)
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2004 17:39:57 - 0500
From: 'Mayor"
To: PfCONA
CC: Pflugerville Downtown Association

Just wanted to let everyone know, we have added the Race Track to the regular agenda for October 26th so that we will have more than 1 hour to discuss. We will take any and all public comment and then hopefully take a stand as a council.

Thank you all for communicating with me on this important issue!
Hope to see you October 26th.

-Cat

-----Original Message-----
From: PfCONA
Sent: Sun 10/17/2004 10:34 PM

In response to your E-mail to the Downtown Association and PfCONA, know that the PfCONA executive committee and organization is not planning to take a position on the racetrack. Individual neighborhoods are beginning to consider their position on the issue or are just starting to make their position known and PfCONA is trying to moderate and foster
deliberative discussion via our Town Meeting and to put out information in relation to both sides of the issue (benefits vs. risks), so people can make an informed decision. We are promoting that both sides of the issue provide substantiated information on how Pflugerville would gain and/or lose from such a facility and not give incorrect information that may mislead area residents.

Our next PfCONA Town Meeting on Nov. 8th, per the mayor's request, will be on the subject of the racetrack (we got initial resident reaction at our August Town Meeting), especially since the Racing Commission is not making a decision until later that month. Plus, the council work session on Oct. 26th is only one hour long and the PfCONA town meeting should enable more discussion, especially since we will take written comments and may provide a survey for residents to complete. We want our
town meeting to have both sides of the issue so that diverse
opinions/dialogue can be heard by residents.

Note: We have been forwarding people to our website's blog where they can post the pros or cons they feel about the track:
www.pfcona.blogspot.com. Only one person has posted so far but anyone else is welcome to note their comments. Also, we plan to note something similar to our response to you in the upcoming Tidbits.

Rod Reyna
PfCONA Chair

cc: Pflugerville Downtown Association President
Also, PfCONA Executive Committee and Advisors

Mayor <mayor@cityofpflugerville.com> wrote:

Subject: RE: Racetrack Annexation
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2004 08:09:27 -0500
From: "Mayor"
To: "Rod Reyna"

Rod,

I'd be happy to fill you in on what happened at the Oct 12 City Council Meeting. First, we didn't vote on annexation. We voted on whether to require the applicant to supply a letter requesting annexation. The land in question is already being considered for annexation in December. The vote Oct 12 had no impact on that schedule or that annexation. The Council may still choose to or not to annex that property.

Second, the vote we made has absolutely not impact what so ever on whether a race track comes to that area. In fact, there is very little if anything the city can do to stop a race track. The best we can do is supply a letter to the racing commission taking a stand. However, regardless of the content of the letter, the Racing Commission still has the authority to reject or accept the Austin Jockey Club application to move the race track to that area.

If the Racing Commission approves moving the license to that area, the city cannot stop the Race Track from coming in. If the citizens truly want to stop the Race Track, the best bet is to tell the Racing Commission. I am doing what I can to get the Council to take a stand before the next Racing Commission meeting.

The city manager and myself didn't mention it at PfCONA because we did not think it important since the vote has no impact on the annexation or the race track. The vote was purely a paperwork issue. In the future, I will try to be more pro-active about issues such as this that may cause confusion.

I hope that helps!
You are welcome to forward this email to all of PfCONA.
Thanks, Rod!
-Cat


-----Original Message-----
From: Rod Reyna [mailto:rodreyna@sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Tue 10/12/2004 11:20 PM
To: Mayor
Cc:
Subject: Racetrack Annexation


Cat,
Can you fill PfCONA in on what the council decided tonight and how the public felt about it? I wasn't aware that you all would be voting on this issue tonight, only that you all asked TRC to delay voting until November. The annexation vote wasn't brought up at last night's PfCONA meeting by the city manager or yourself. I need to find a PfCONA member who can monitor the council agenda to help inform us of key things that will be discussed. I only have time to go through the whole agenda every now and then. From now on, I will also put an item on the PfCONA agenda to remind us to discuss/announce key upcoming council agenda items.

Rod

Date: Tue, 12 Oct 2004 13:28:46 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Jockey Club Trying to Preclude Annexation; Attend Council or E-mail
To: PfCONA
From: Mark N.

PfCONA leaders,
The Austin Jockey Club has requested not to be annexed into Pflugerville city limits and the City Council is set to vote on that request TONIGHT!

This means that we will be unable to zone the track and unable to collect any property or sales taxes even if it is built. So we get stuck with the track, the
slot machines and the traffic but no revenue to the city!

It's item 10b on tonight's agenda. Please attend if you can and bring others.

If you can't make it to tonight's council meeting, please send a quick e-mail to the Council (addresses below) asking them to vote NO on, or at least delay
item 10b, which would allow the Austin Jockey Club to be built outside Pflugerville's zoning authority and prevent us from collecting tax revenue if it is built.

Thank you!

mayor@cityofpflugerville.com,
council1@cityofpflugerville.com,
council2@cityofpflugerville.com,
council3@cityofpflugerville.com,
council4@cityofpflugerville.com,
council5@cityofpflugerville.com

SEPTEMBER 2004 - PfCONA "PFLUGERVILLE TIDBITS"

Pflugerville Council of Neighborhood Associations Pfolks and Pfriends,
This E-Newsletter initially goes out to PfCONA neighborhood reps, associates, honorary, and pending members*...those interested in town meetings and efforts involving neighborhood / community issues...open dialogue...problem-solving...and solutions. Share "Tidbits" with your homeowners / block contacts / captains and affiliated organizations, to give residents something to TALK about. If you like what you read or what PfCONA is up to, click here for a PfCONA 2004 Membership Application online (pay by check or PayPal). 

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SEPTEMBER 13TH AND 20TH PfCONA TOWN MEETINGS:

AKA DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS
(co-sponsored by City, Pflugerville Downtown Planning Committee, and PfCONA)

The Monday town meetings are intended to:
1) Educate residents about basic elements and history of the Downtown Master Plan

2) Gather feedback on master plan

 

September 13th Town Meeting, geared for stakeholders west of N. Railroad Ave., was at Timmerman Elementary with 90 in attendance. September 20th Town Meeting, geared for stakeholders east of N. Railroad, will be held at Brookhollow Elementary at 1200 N. Railroad Ave., from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. A basic summary of results will be in next Tidbits and in Pflugerville Pflag. A more complete summary will be posted on PfCONA website. A summary of participant evaluations will be posted on PfCONA website soon after meetings are held.

 

Click here for master plan on city website, broken into six parts.

October 11th Town Meeting will take place at Pflugerville Justice Center, as usual, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and subject to be announced.  State Representative Candidate Forum is attempting to be rescheduled due to two candidates needing to attend CAMPO regular meeting on same night as regular PfCONA Town Meeting.

 

Click here for agendas/minutes of meetings and click here for Tidbits archive. Town Meetings are always held on second Monday of the month at Justice Center, unless announced otherwise.

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WHAT'S GOING ON IN PFLUGERVILLE AREA, NEIGHBORHOODS, & PFCONA?

IN RELATION TO THE PFLUGERVILLE AREA...

 

An old-fashioned Barnraising will take place at Heritage Park on Saturday, September 25th and Sunday, September 26th. See calendar below for more information.

 

Travis County Emergency Services District #2 is taking over Pfluger Hall from the Pflugerville Volunteer Fire Department as mentioned in August Tidbits. See PfCONA Tidbits Blog at www.pfcona.blogspot.com for details (to be posted) provided by Fire Chief Ron Moellenberg about the plans for the location.

 

A new building with groups of offices, owned by Don & Elaine Boozer, is going up on Main St. and 3rd St. just to the west of Don Boozer Construction office at 2nd St and Main.  Call 251-2237 about leasing opportunities.

 

A new downtown store, Pecan Lane Miniatures, is now located in the same shop as Periwinkles Uniques & Antiques at 403 W. Pecan. Go to: www.pecanlane.com for information on their selection of dollhouses, dollhouse furniture, and model trains. Owner Victorina M. Tolan. Open Wed-Fri: 10:30a.m. to 6:30pm; Sat, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; and, Sun 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

 

There was a dedication of Wuthrich Park on Friday, September 10th.  The ceremony included the Wuthrich family, the City of Pflugerville Parks and Recreation Department, and chamber members attended.  The park is located at the end of Mountain View Dr.  This piece of property was named for the Wuthrich family who were early settlers from 1873 in the park's location.

 

A few people are asking whether a Wal-Mart will be going in at the corner of Pfennig Ln. and FM 685.  Some citizens are saying that if it is built in the right area away from downtown (e.g., off SH130 or Pfennig Ln.) and looks better than usual they are not necessarily against one, especially if it brings taxes to our city coffers and keeps people from shopping outside of Pflugerville.  If one does, the wish is that its exterior would be one that if Wal-Mart ever left the site, it could easily have another tenant fit right in and not go empty for years, such as the 152* that are vacant at this time around the country [*Source: 9/15/04, Wall Street Journal. Click here for copy of story]. According to a recent Texas Municipal League seminar on downtown planning, there are Wal-Marts across the country that are changing their designs as a result of community wishes. Click here for Tooele Transcript-Bulletin story on how some are accepted and some not.  Click here for Centerville, UT Planning Commission minutes in relation to a Wal-Mart being built.

 

The Pflugerville Tidbits Blog, via the PfCONA website link on main page left navbar, www.pfcona.blogspot.com, currently allows for citizens to give comments in regard to the horse racing track and downtown master plan.  If you have a suggestion for another subject that PfCONA should gain public comments on, please E-mail info@pfcona.org, so that it may be posted on the blog.

 

IN RELATION TO PFLUGERVILLE NEIGHBORHOODS...

 

Blackhawk conducted a food drive on September 18th on behalf of The Storehouse run by Jack and Sandra Cochrun. Eighty-five bags of food was brought in five pickup trucks to the The Storehouse located at AAA Storage off FM 685.  This facility has served 2,000 individuals since it opened. A 1,000 sq. foot warehouse is being opened at 2402 Western Trails Blvd. between Lamar Blvd. and Menchaca. Go to:  www.thestorehouseofaustin.org for more info. E-mail thestorehouse@sbcglobal.net on how your neighborhood can help.  They can also send you an Emergency Need List.  Remember that the PfCONA Food Drive project is meant to involve neighborhoods on a rotating basis in helping area food pantries.  If you wish to signup your neighborhood for this project as others have done, let us know. The annual CropWALK project done by churches may be another way that neighborhoods can tie in.

 

A Creekside Curb Appeal was done the week after the August National Night Out and involved a Boy Scout doing this an Eagle Scout project. Residents were asked to help and other scouts helped paint address numbers on homes that wished it done.  The scout also handed out a 20-page fire safety pamphlet along with Creekside Newsletter delivered before NNO.  Plus, he also setup a booth at Creekside NNO party.  This was a joint effort between neighborhoods and scouting, which are similar to last year's efforts by two neighborhoods who involved Boy and Girl Scouts in the PfCONA Food Drive.

 

IN RELATION TO PFCONA...

 

Since last Tidbits E-Newsletter, PfCONA's efforts have included: speaking with Georgetown Public Information Officer and Taylor city officials about how their cities communicates and works with their neighborhood associations; speaking at a recent Rotary Club Luncheon Meeting; attending Keep Pflugerville Beautiful meeting on subject of a PfCONA Welcome Sign; attending a Texas Municipal League Downtown Planning seminar, and communicating with Envision Central Texas about their efforts and Pflugerville's efforts. PfCONA has also been involved with Phase II implementation discussions regarding downtown master plan; all its executive committee has signed up for the Texas Forums - Deliberative Forums Training (see calendar for dates and link to register; and, work has been done on a Consensus Process involving a green, yellow, and red color card method (adapted from other organizations in the country).

 

PfCONA, as a member of the Pflugerville Downtown Planning Committee, is on a related subcommittee as one of the organizers of the two Downtown Master Plan Stakeholder Meetings in September.  The PfCONA chair was tasked in mid-July with working with the school district to schedule the two school sites and thanks school administration officials and principals for going above and beyond to make for very successful meeting locations and helping make resources available. The subcommittee scheduled two meetings a week apart (the first on PfCONA's regular town meeting night) in case any who wished to attend had scheduling conflicts with one of the dates. This was also done to reach a larger audience, namely stakeholders facing similar yet different issues on either side of N. Railroad. Ninety people turned out for the September 13th meeting, including 17 neighborhoods (25% turned out from Old Town), two school board members and a staff member, 7 city leaders/staff, and two ESD#2 leaders. 

 

In relation to a recent Pflugerville Pflag editorial that mentioned that the stakeholder meeting organizers and PISD did not have the forethought to communicate with one another or did not pick up the phone about scheduling forums on the same night, September 13th, that is not correct. Still, more can be done to foster regular communication between groups, which is not impossible but takes added time and effort on the part of organization staff or volunteers--to help prevent important meetings from occuring on the same night. Various community organizations have been working hard at improving communication with one another and co-sponsoring events with one another instead of doing separate like events. Thus, this unintended scheduling conflict is not a reflection of what is going on in the community. Conflicts will arise though since there are more than 60+ organizations in the community and only so many days in the week and month. 

 

The Pflag also was of the opinion that it wished that more than 20-25 had attended the PISD 5-Year Strategic Planning Meeting at Copperfield Elementary on September 13th. That amount should be applauded, especially two meetings were held for the same reason in May (one at Connally High School) and another is scheduled for September 27th at PHS Lecture Hall from 7p-9p.  PISD scheduled more than one, just like the downtown stakeholder meeting organizers, in case of citizen's schedule conflicts. The Pflag headline on the subject of two forums on the same night was, "Divide and Die."  Those words do not reflect the working relationship being fostered between PISD and various community organizations. It also does not reflect that one PISD meeting was to attract those within city limits and the other for those outside the city limits. Stories reflecting the positive results of both meetings that night will serve readers better. Therefore, thanks go to the Pflag for pledging to accept a story from stakeholder meeting organizers on the results of both its September meetings. Stay tuned...

 

PfCONA has Pflugerville VOTES! signs to remind voters of the dates of the Presidential Election (early voting and voting day).  Signs have blanks to write on them with dry-erase markers. Neighborhoods are invited to encourage neighbors to register to vote and to get out and vote.  For a sign(s), suggested $2 contribution, E-mail: ceciliagalliano@yahoo.com.

 

New PfCONA members this month are:  C. Forehand of Brookhollow; R. Tilton of Villages at Hidden Lake; and, C. Tilly, all memberships via GEFCU. Please pass on this Tidbits newsletter to people who may wish to become aware of PfCONA efforts and possibly join. Or, pass on contact information to: info@pfcona.org regarding a potential PfCONA member.

 

Note: Send correspondence to PfCONA via: info@pfcona.org. Also, visit our www.pfcona.org/ website. PfCONA has had almost 20,000 visitors to its website since it was started.

 

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SECOND REMINDER: FOURTH ANNUAL POLICE DEPARTMENT OPEN HOUSE

 

To be held on Saturday, September 25th, from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at 1611 E. Pfennig La.  Bring the family and join PPD officers and staff for a fun, informative, and educational event.  Take a tour of your police department and meet the following officers: K-9 (Canine dog officers); Dynamic Entry Team, Criminal Investigation Division (CID); Narcotics Division; School Resource Officers; Patrol Officers; and, Members of Citizens Police Academy and Citizens on Patrol. Check out: Police and D.A.R.E. cars; crime prevention information; bicycle registration; H.E.A.T. registration; Child ID; fatal vision goggles; gun range; jail tours; moon walk; see how fast you can throw a baseball or kick a soccer ball against our radar gun.  Also, the Pflugerville Fire Department's fire trucks and emergency equipment will be on display. [Source; Pflugerville Pfacts - August 2004 City Newsletter]

 

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PISD LEADERSHIP PROFILE ASSESSMENT

 

The Pflugerville Independent School District Board of Trustees has begun work to select a new superintendent for our district with assistance from the Texas Association of School Boards Executive Search Services. As a part of that process, the TASB consultant would like to meet with various groups to begin developing a profile of the ideal superintendent for Pflugerville ISD.

 

To provide residents and employees an opportunity to offer their input, a number of meetings are being scheduled (also see listing in PfCONA calendar further below):

 

Thursday, Sept. 23, 11 am, PISD Board Room

Thursday, Sept. 23, 7:30 pm, CHS Cafeteria

Thursday, Sept. 23,  7:30 pm, HHS Lecture Hall

Thursday, Sept. 23, 7:30 pm, PHS Lecture Hall

 

We would appreciate your attendance at one of the places and times shown below in order to record your response to a number of questions regarding your perception of the ideal superintendent. If you can't make any of the meetings, you still have the opportunity to provide input.  Click here for online related survey. [Source: PISD]

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HELP H.E.B. KEEP PFLUGERVILLE BEAUTIFUL & SAFE

 

Responsible local retailers, along with Keep Pflugerville Beautiful, a city-sponsored committee and an affiliate of Keep Texas Beautiful, are participating in an innovative new recycling program that addresses this growing concern. Simply drop off your used cell phone(s) at the following participating retailers: H.E.B. at 201 FM 685, or Pflugerville Public Library at 102 S. 10th St. Proceeds will benefit beautification projects for the City of Pflugerville. KPB is launching the program in cooperation with EcoPhones, a Texas-based cell phone recycler. If you are interested in being a part of KPB, meetings are on 1st Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. at Library. [Source: 8/25 Keep Pflugerville Beautfiul news release]

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FYI: HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION

 

The City of Austin's Household Hazardous Waste Facility, the only one available in central Texas, is open every Tuesday and Wednesday from Noon to 7:00 p.m. for your convenience. They are located at 2514 Business Center Drive. They accept household quantities (no more than 30 gallans) of: aerosol cans; batteries (car and household); cleaners, gasoline; antifreeze; motor oil; paint & thinners; pesticides and herbicides; photographic chemicals; and pool chemicals. They are not able to accept radioactive materials, medical waste, ammunition, explosive materials, or any waste generated by a a business. Call 974-4343 for more information or go to: www.ci.austin.tx.us/sws/. [Source: Proper Disposal of Your Home Chemicals Flyer, City of Austin Solid Waste Services]

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NEW REPORT ON BABY BOOMERS AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

 

A new report from the Harvard School of Public Health and the MetLife Foundation Initiative on Retirement and Civic Engagement suggests that baby boomers have the potential to become a social resource of unprecedented proportions by actively participating in the life of their communities. The report, Reinventing Aging: Baby Boomers  and Civic Engagement, distills the insights of key thinkers about the implications of aging boomers on society and the benefits they will receive from volunteering."  Click here to download a PDF copy of the 162-page report.

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DID YOU KNOW...

...September is National Preparedness Month. Click here for more information...

 

...Williamson County's first public university is scheduled to open in 11 months. The Round Rock Higher Education Center of Texas State University-San Marcos, a permanent campus for a college system currently holding classes in portable buildings, embodies an almost 15-year-old dream.  It is being done in conjunction with Austin Community College and Temple College in Taylor. Initial enrollment of 3,000 and then 5,000 in a few years. [Source: Austin American Statesman]...

 

...more than 500 languages are reportedly spoken in the United States. Top 5 spoken in U.S. are:(1) English; (2) Spanish; (3) French; (4) German; (5) and, Italian. [Sources: U.S. Census Bureau and American Hospital Association E-Newsletter, 8/31/04] The top 5 spoken languages in the world are: (1) Mandarin; (2) English; (3) Hindustani; (4) Spanish; and (5) Russian. [Source: www.soyouwanna.com/site/toptens/languages/languages.html]...

 

...a young American today with at least two years of college can expect to change jobs at least 11 times before retirement [Source: Always on the Job, Employees pay with Health, NYT, 09/05/04]

 

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See August 2004 Tidbits archive for these PfCONA newsbriefs:

 

RESULTS OF AUGUST 5TH MAYOR'S TOWN HALL MEETING

HELP NAME THE CITY'S NEW LAKE (RESERVOIR)

 

ARTICLES RELATED TO POSSIBLE HORSE RACING TRACK IN AREA

 

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QUOTE(S)

"When the future is uncertain, the more time you spend examining possibly paths, the wiser your decision will be." [Source: Managing Many Parties at the Table, Negotiation newsletter, Harvard Business School, September 2004]

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NEW LINK(S) GOING ON PFCONA WEBSITE, ETC...

Amber Alert: www.codeamber.org
State Highway 130: www.sh130.com
Texas Tollways: www.texastollways.com (incl. SH130 and SH45)
The Williams Company: http://www.twcaia.com (Downtown master plan related)
HyettPalma: www.hyettpalma.com (Downtown Planning related)
(Click here for America Downtown Program by Hyett Palma/Natl. League of Cities)

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BOOK(S) YOU MAY WANT TO REVIEW... 

City: Urbanism and Its End. (10/03) by Douglas W. Rae.

Book Description: How did neighborhood groceries, parish halls, factories, and even saloons contribute more to urban vitality than did the fiscal might of postwar urban renewal? Rae's subject is New Haven, Connecticut, but the lessons he draws apply to many American cities. Rae argues that strategies for the urban future should focus on nurturing the unplanned civic engagements that make mixed-use city life so appealing and so civilized. Cities need not reach their old peaks of population, or look like thriving suburbs, to be once again splendid places for human beings to live and work.

Click here for archive of past books recommended.

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MARK YOUR CALENDARS... 

Click here for overall Community Calendar developed by PfCONA for use by all civic organizations. Call PfCONA Chair at 626-2250 for how to post an event.

Annexation Public Hearing #2: Tuesday, September 21st at Pflugerville Justice Center, 1611 E. Pfennig Ln. at 7:30 p.m.

Adult Spelling Bee:  Wednesday, September 22nd, 7:00 p.m., at Library at 102 S. 10th. Call 251-9185 to sign up 3-person team.  Our city manager will judge the competition.

Superintendent Search Process - Community Input Town Meeting: Thursday, September 23rd at three locations: 11:00 a.m., PISD Board Room at 1401 W. Pecan St.; Connally H.S. Cafeteria at 7:30 p.m.; and, PHS Cafeteria at 1301 W. Pecan St. at 7:30 p.m.

Fourth Annual Police Department Open House: Saturday, September 25th, 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at 1611 E. Pfennig La. (See reminder notice above)

Barnraising: Work schedule is: Saturday, September 25th, at Heritage Park from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday, September 26th, at same site from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Orientation on Friday, September 24th at 7:00 p.m. at site. Have your neighborhood or community group help the city build one of its community facilities. Experienced carpenters are needed. Call Parks and Recreation at 251-5082 for updated information.

Hendrickson H.S. PTO Golf Tournament: Saturday, September 25th, 8:00 a.m. to about 1:00 p.m., at Blackhawk Golf Course. Four-person scramble. $50 per student and $60 per adult. E-mail: capacctg@hotmail.com for more info.

St. Elizabeth's Annual Jamaica (festival): Sunday, September 26th, 11:00 a.m. till 6:00 p.m., 1520 N. Railroad. Music, food, games, and live/silent auctions. Fun for the whole family.

Texas Authors Panel: Wednesday, September 29th, 7:00 p.m., Pflugerville Library at 102 S. 10th St. Three well known historic fiction and non-fiction authors involved.

Presidential Debate on TV: Thursday, September 30th (tentative)

First United Methodist Pumpkin Drive: Sunday, October 3rd through Sunday, October 31st, in front parking lot. Mini-pumpkins and up. Proceeds are for yearly youth mission trip.

Faith in Action Pflugerville Caregivers Volunteer Training: Sunday, October 3rd, 2:00 p.m. at St. Elizabeth's Church. Click here for organization/contact info.

Vice-Presidential Debate on TV: Tuesday, October 5th (tentative)

"Chat with Cat": October 6th at Casa Garcias at 15803 Windermere (Winderme Centre). Lunches with our mayor are first Wednesday of every month from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Pflugerville restaurants.  Call Jack and Sandra Cochrun of AAA Storage, who are hosting the luncheons, at 670-0265, for future locations or more information.

Presidential Debate on TV: Friday, October 8th (tentative)

Presidential Debate on TV: Wednesday, October 13th (tentative)

Application Deadline for Citizen Boards and Commission Appointments:  Friday, October 15th. Click here for application and city board/commission description. Terms begin January 1st, 2005.

Texas Forums Deliberation Training Workshop: Friday-Saturday, October 15th-16th, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Round Rock Public Library. Click here for info and to register. Training is free and limited to 25 participants. Workshops will be offered again at LBJ Library on January 21-22 and March 25-26.

Faith in Action Pflugerville Caregivers Golf Tournament: Friday, October 22nd, Blackhawk Golf Course. Shotgun start at 7:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. $75 (18 holes) to$125 (36 holes) or $300 for foursome (seeking 72 teams). Banquet from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. for players. Additional guests $20. Click here for more info.

Gpcc Halloween on Main Street: Sunday, October 31st, 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Chamber Members set up tables and give away candy to the local little "ghosts and goblins" to provide them a safe place to "trick or treat".  Sponsored by Gpcc, Pflugerville Police Department, HEB and Regions Bank.  For Sponsorship information, donate candy or small prizes and/or to volunteer, please contact the Chamber Office at 251-7799 or gpcc@sbcglobal.net.  

Cox Cable Ch. 10 Programs Scheduled:
City Council Work Sessions, 6:00 p.m. on Wed., Fri., Sun.
City Council Meetings, 7:00 p.m. on Wed., Fri., Sun.
PfCONA September Town Meeting on Cap Metro (TBA)
Travis County Commissioners Court, 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Tues., Sat.
Seniorcize with Ruth, 12:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. (30 min. - repeated), Mon., Wed., Fri.

Also, Outdoor Sand Volleyball being scheduled by Parks and Rec. Call 251-5082 if you have a team.  $45 per team. Three outdoor courts available.

Note: See Pflugerville Pflag, City Newsletter, Cox Channel 10, Pflugerville Library Reference Section, or Bulletin Board outside City Hall for more Pflugerville news, event, and city council information. Also, see PfCONA website which has current events and NewsBYTES on home page, Tidbits on Blog, Community Calendar, and other archived info. Or, subscribe to weekly Weekly City E-Newsletter by E-mailing city secretary at: webmaster@cityofpflugerville.com. City website is: http://www.cityofpflugerville.com/. PISD website is: http://www.pflugervilleisd.net. Also, go to PfCONA Member Listings on website to see what neighborhoods are up to.

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Rod Reyna, PfCONA Chair/Communications Committee
info@pfcona.org  
www.pfcona.org  

PFCONA Member Notes: E-mail neighborhood or community organization happenings to PfCONA for sharing with others (or for sharing at upcoming town meetings). Neighborhoods are also encouraged to send stories to the Pflag.

*For those wishing to join or with memberships pending, $10 yearly dues (from January to December) can be sent to (checks made out to PfCONA): Attn: PfCONA Treasurer, c/o Pflugerville Police Department, PO Box 679, Pflugerville, TX 78691. Dues were initiated in January 2003 and memberships/renewals are for 2004 year