PfCONA and Citywide Special Events Right Around the Corner (Workgroup, Candidate Forum, Cleanup, Pier Building, Workshop)

***SPECIAL WORKGROUP MEETING***SPECIAL WORKGROUP MEETING***

March 8th at 6:30pm is a special PfCONA Workgroup Meeting on draft of City's Commercial Development Negotiation Policy. Wednesday meeting will be held in the Council Chambers with Mayor Callen and City Manager David Buesing, and PfCONA board/neighborhood leaders. Meeting is open to the public and interested community leaders.

Click here for policy draft initially discussed by Council at Jan. 10th Council meeting. Click here for Feb. 13th PfCONA Town Meeting minutes where topic was discussed and membership expressed that they wished to continue discussion at a special meeting. Minutes also include discussion regarding proposed Picadilly Estates elderly apartment development at 1300 Grand Avenue. Area stakeholders will do a follow-up meeting with developer.


***CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE FORUM***CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE FORUM***

March 13th from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm is annual City Council Candidate Forum. Forum will be held at Pflugerville Justice Center. Questions will come from participating residents, neighborhood leaders, sponsors, and moderator. At this time, two candidates have filed for Place 5, Sidney Hacker and Victor Gonzales.

Forum and related get out the vote activities are part of PfCONA's Pflugerville VOTES! project. PfCONA website will soon include contact information and links to candidate material so residents may compare candidates. Contact Jeff Sims, PfCONA Vice Chair, about Pflugerville VOTES! signs for your yard or neighborhood entrances. They have blanks so you can include early voting and election date.

THREE HANDS-ON THINGS ON MARCH 4TH:

**PFLUGERVILLE CITYWIDE CLEANUP***PFLUGERVILLE CITYWIDE CLEANUP**

March 4th from 8am to 2pm is Pflugerville Citywide Cleanup. Sign-up will be at 300 E. Pecan (between Cotton Gin and El Rincon). Neighborhoods are encouraged to organize a team for their trails and parks in their area and/or other city trails. Please register your cleanup crew by calling Jill Marsh at 251-2222 or E-mailing jillamarsh@cfland.net. Event is sponsored by Keep Pflugerville Beautiful.

This is a chance for neighborhoods that have adopted a trail/street to get their neighbors together to beautify their neighborhood trails/streets. If your neighborhood has not adopted a trail/street, call Glen Holzer, Parks and Recreation Director, at 251-5082 so he can have you fill out a simple one-page application to make a commitment. Your neighborhood will get a sign showcasing your adoption of trail/street.

Holzer said that neighborhoods that have committed up to this point to adopt a trail/street are: Club at Wellspoint (trail along Heatherwilde Blvd & W. Olympic); Bohl's Neighborhood Association (trail along Old Hutto from Pecan to FM 685); Boy Scout Troop 214/Pack 214 (trail from Park Access to Swenson Farms Blvd); Saxony Homeowners Association (trail along northern boundary treeline between FM 685 and Rocky Creek. May adopt portion of Railroad Ave along western boundary); and, Texas Black Belt Karate (Pfluger Park Trails). He said Creekside Neighborhood Association is planning to apply to adopt trail that runs through their neighborhood. He said key trails that especially need adopting are: trail that starts at 10th St. behind Pflugerville High School (running through Moose Park) and Lake Pflugerville trail being developed. Key streets that need adopting are Immanuel Road, Railroad Ave, Pecan St., and Heatherwilde.


**LAKE PFLUGERVILLE PIER BUILDING*LAKE PFLUGERVILLE PIER BUILDING**

On March 4th community volunteers will meet at 8 a.m. to build fishing piers at Lake Pflugerville. Meet that Saturday at the parking lot at the southeast corner of the lake at Weiss Lane and Pfluger Lane. Four past city councilmembers, David Seeker, Pat McCord, Ron Beyer and Wendell Holloman, have come together to ask city residents to volunteer their labor, as in times past.

The city is providing the building materials. Volunteers need to bring their power tools for screw driving, drilling, sawing and wrenches for tightening bolts and nuts. Power generators also will be needed. Posts for the piers are already set, so the volunteers will construct the deck and the railings.

Although the city built the lake to provide water to city residents, there was always a recognition of the possibilities for the lake to provide recreational needs. Due to the cost factor of building the lake, city councilmembers decided to seek grants to building recreation facilities. So far, grants from the Pflugerville Community Development Committee and private solicitations have provided materials to complete four piers.

The first group approached to help build the piers was the Pflugerville Police Association. This group has set Feb. 27-28 for members to build piers. HDR Engineering has volunteered to work on the U-shaped pier. A couple of weeks ago, Pflugerville Scout Travis Kirkham led a group to build the platform on one T-pier for the community project toward his Eagle Scout rank. Other groups that have volunteered to work on the community project include St. Elizabeth K.J.T. Society #132. Neighborhood associations, school and civic organizations are encouraged to participate.

With volunteers helping on March 4th, the project can be completed to provide summertime activities for Pflugerville families. For more information, contact Michelle at the police department at 251-4004.

**PHOTOGRAPHY STORY WORKSHOP**PHOTOGRAPHY STORY WORKSHOP**

March 4th & 25th is NeighborNet: Photography Story Workshop to be held from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Library (after you've worked on trails and/or piers in the morning). You take pictures in your neighborhood in between class dates. Hosted by PfCONA Communications Committee. Learn how to capture Pflugerville neighborhoods as a caring community and post photos/captions on a workshop website. $10 fee includes reference notes and refreshments. Limited to 30 adults over 18. Click here for flyer and click here for press release. Register with Clay Leben at cleben@swbell.net.

Pflugerville Citywide Appeal: Wilder Childrens' Fund

Pflugerville Community,
A Wilder Childrens' Fund has been setup at the Government Employees Federal Credit Union at 900 FM 685 (670-1292) and Applewood by Deb Dye, whom you may know from Parks and Recreation administrative staff, on behalf of Maria Wilder and her three children. Carl Wilder, her husband, ended his life last Sunday, February 12th. Tim Rhoades, CEO, approved a request by Sarah Stinnett, Branch Manager, to establish a standalone fund initially requested through PfCONA and Saxony HOA, both partners with GEFCU.

Please accept Deb Dye's timely request from the Pflugerville community to open your hearts and give a gift (of any amount) to the Wilder children. The Wilder family, her friends, lived across the street from her in Parkcrest neighborhood and members of the community have been asking what they can do, besides bring meals. Deb asks that you keep the Wilder family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Thank you to GEFCU for their support at this time of need, including for their setup of a standalone fund in the recent past on behalf of hurricane evacuees.

Note: Please pass on this E-mail to friends and neighbors.

PfCONA NewsFLASH: Fwd: Breaking News

Forward of E-mails to PfCONA regarding proposed strip club on Grand Ave

<Proposed Pflugerville strip club land deal dead

The plan to put a strip club near Pflugerville appears to be dead according to Travis County Commissioner Karen Sonleitner. Sonleitner sent an email out to interested parties that stated the developer called her office to let her know of his intentions to pull out of the land deal. More details to come. Visit www.impactnewspaper.com for more information as this story develops.

Karen Sonleitner <Karen.Sonleitner@co.travis.tx.us> wrote:

Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 18:50:43 -0600
From: "Karen Sonleitner" <Karen.Sonleitner@co.travis.tx.us>
To: "Rod Reyna" <rodreyna@sbcglobal.net>
Subject: URGENT UPDATE ON SOB

February 14, 2006

I’m sending you this email because you sent me correspondence related to a proposed sexually oriented business (SOB) near Pflugerville. This is located in Precinct Two, the area that I represent.

At 5:30 PM this evening, the applicant called me to say that he was withdrawing from the real estate deal on Grand Avenue and would not proceed to closing on the property later this week. He ordered the release of the earnest money to the sellers that he posted on the property.

In early January, I wrote the applicant to urge him to re-think his plans for this site. As a Commissioner, I told him that I would support those who opposed him in pursuing whatever legal avenues were still open to them to prevent the establishment of an SOB at that location.

Since that time, I have been in direct communication with the applicant and his representative to explore whether he would consider a change of plans. He did just that. Tonight’s call confirms the real estate deal is off. I thanked the applicant for making this decision and that I felt that it was the best outcome for all involved.

Thanks to all who provided input into this matter. I especially want to thank District 50 State Representative Mark Strama, who also weighed in early in support of the surrounding neighbors on this matter.

You may forward this to anyone else you think may be interested in this breaking news.

Karen Sonleitner

Travis County Commissioner---Pct. 2

PfCONA TIDBITS - COMMUNITY CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS/NEWSBYTES (send to pfriends/neighbors)

MANY PEOPLE ARE WORKING TO MAKE PFLUGERVILLE A BETTER PLACE:

Neighborhoods can help by sharing this E-mail (e.g., leaders/block captains/contacts) and by posting on their web pages or putting in newsletters. Also, collaborate with other neighborhoods, churches, community organizations, and city services. If you want to be part of PfCONA's 40-neighborhood plus network, go to: www.pfcona.org/HowTo.htm. See bottom of this E-mail for what PfCONA did in 2005.

February 13th - PfCONA Town Meeting on Multi-family and Commercial Devpt

To be held at Justice Center at 1611 E. Pfennig Ln. on Monday from 7pm to 8:30pm.

Topics of discussion: First 45-60 min. is presentation by Cherno Njie, Pflugerville resident, and then discussion with area stakeholders and interested Pflugerville area residents on his proposed Picadilly Estates elderly apartment development at 1300 Grand Ave (in Pflugerville ETJ)*. Second 45-60 min. is a discussion on commercial development** by Mayor Cat Callen. Click here for agenda and past agendas/minutes.

*Click here for letter to all Pflugerville neighborhood leaders about Picadilly Estates affordable housing application being submitted by developer. Per city request, PfCONA provided addresses of all neighborhood leaders to developer in relation to this letter required to be sent to Pflugerville neighborhoods, per application requirements.

**Click here for draft of Commercial Development Policy considered by Council on Jan. 10th. Per Council request, a meeting between Mayor, City Manager, and PfCONA Executive Committee will take place in regard to initial feedback and improvements to this policy draft. Meeting that was planned for Jan 26th will be rescheduled.

Note: See http://www.pfcona.org/Meetings-Minutes.htm for past town meeting agendas/minutes. The Mayor, a City Councilperson City Manager, Chief of Police are scheduled to attend monthly PfCONA Town Meetings. PISD/School Board has been invited to send a representative like council does on a rotating basis. PISD Public Information Officer has been frequently attending.

February 14th - Chamber Chatter

Tuesday, Feb. 14th at The Rib BBQ at Windermere Centre (Pecan/Windermere). Speaker will be Rick Murphy with Pflugerville Community Development Corporation. Cost: $12 includes lunch, door prizes, and networking. Bring business cards. RSVP by Feb. 10th at Noon or call 251-779 to cancel, have somene take your place, or see if a spot is available. Sponsored by Greater Pflugerville Chamber of Commerce.

February 15th - Downtown Planning Committee Meeting

Starts at 7pm at City Council Chambers at 100 E. Main. Click here for agenda that is posted on city website by 5pm the Friday before meeting.

Note: PfCONA has been involved in this diverse committee for the past year and a half and plans to continue to be represented, as is the Old Town Neighborhood Association, in order to help revitalize downtown on behalf of neighborhoods and businesses. Groups with reps involved in this committee effort are: City Manager's Office, Building Inspection, Planning & Zoning, Board of Adjustment, Pflugerville Community Development Corporation, Chamber of Commerce, Pflugerville Downtown Association, and Architectural Review Board. Keep Pflugerville Beautiful and Pf4 have also been involved.

February 21st - First Day of Early Voting for State Primary Election

See http://www.lwvtexas.org/ for primary election voter guides.

February 21st and 22nd - PISD Dress Code Community Forums

The Pflugerville ISD Standardized Dress Code Committee has scheduled two public hearings to present the proposed changes to the PISD dress code policy. Public input is encouraged to help design a policy that best meets the needs of students and the district. Public is welcome from 6:30pm to 8:30 pm at either Connally High School Cafeteria on February 21^st and/or Hendrickson High School on February 22^nd.

Note: Public comments may also be E-mailed to butch.felkner@pflugervilleisd.net or mailed to 1401 W. Pecan, Pflugerville, TX 78660.

February 25th, 26th, March 4th-5th - American Red Cross Lifeguarding, CPR, First Aid, and AED Certifications

Classes at pool at 700 N. Railroad Ave from 9am-5pm. Full attendance is required for certification. Pre-registration is required. Must be 15 years old by course completion. Contact Katie at 251-5082 for information.

February 25th - 5th Annual Mardi Gras

At 5:30pm at Immanuel Lutheran Church at 500 Immanuel Road. Cost: $7.50 for adults. Cajun food, silent/live auction, babysitting available for donation. RSVP for babysitting by Feb. 22nd. Call Kara at 589-3192 or Laura at 251-5417.

March 3rd - Last Day of Early Voting for State Primary Election

March 4th - 2006 Pflugerville Citywide Cleanup

From 8am to 2pm. Sign-up will be at 300 E. Pecan (between Cotton Gin and El Rincon). Dumpsters will be next to El Rincon at 300 E. Pecan and at 1340 Heatherwilde at West Park and Park Place Community Park. No hazardous waste accepted. Neighborhoods are encouraged to organize a team for their trails and parks in their area and/or other city trails. Please register your cleanup crew by calling Jill Marsh at 251-2222 or E-mailing jillamarsh@cfland.net.

Note: Keep Pflugerville Beautiful would like to register each person working on this project (or any clean up project anytime during the year.) When your representative checks in at our registration site at on March 4th at 8am to receive trash bags and other supplies, we can give them a sign in form for a neighborhood's residents to print their name/address and return to us by 2pm. If noted, students will receive certificates for credit toward public service. This is very popular for Advanced Placement students. We would like this information because we have an annual report that we complete for Keep Texas Beautiful where we record the number of all volunteers and projects. This benefits our city for possible future grants.

March 4th- Hendrickson Hawk Hustle 5K Race/1K Fun Run

Is March 4th, 4 p.m. to sunset. Benefitting Senior Celebration for all HHS grades. $20 for adults, $10 for kids to 5th grade, $50 for family. For details and registration, www.pflugervilleisd.net/HHS/UpcomingEvents.html. Sponsorships are also available, contact Laura at 251-6797 for information.

March 4th and 25th - NeighborNet: Photography Story Workshop

Saturdays from 12:30pm to 2:30pm in City Library meeting room. Come and learn how to capture Pflugerville neighborhoods as a "caring community" and post photos/captions on a workshop website. $10 registration fee includes reference notes and refreshments. Three weeks between first and second class is to give participants time to take photos around their neighborhoods. Limited to 30 adults over 18. Click here for flyer and click here for press release. Register with Clay Leben at cleben@swbell.net. Sponsored by PfCONA Communication Committee.

March 4th thru 27th - Dist. 50 Parent Listening Sessions on Public Education

Dist. 50 Representative Mark Strama would like to invite parents to participate in one of the listening forums he is hosting. The purpose of these forums is to gather information directly from parents on what they feel the legislature should do on the issue of public education.

The meetings will take place in conference room E2.022 in the Capitol Extension. Please contact Mary Throop of Dist. 50 staff at 463-0821 or mary.throop@house.state.tx.us to schedule a date and time for you to attend one of these sessions, or if you have any questions. Teacher forums are being held in February and the parent forums will be held in March as listed in the schedule below.

-Sat., Mar. 4 at 9 am, 10:30 am (incl. guided tour of Capitol for children), and Noon

-Mon., Mar. 6 at 6:30 pm and 8:00 pm

-Sat., Mar. 11 at 9 am, 10:30 am (incl. guided tour of Capitol for children), and Noon

-Tue., Mar. 14 at 6:30 pm, and 8 pm

-Sat., Mar. 18 at 9 am, 10:30 am (incl. guided tour of Capitol for children), and Noon

-Mon., Mar. 20 at 6:30 pm and 8 pm

-Sat., Mar. 25 at 9 am

-Sat., Mar. 25 at 10:30 am (incl. guided tour of Capitol for children), and Noon

-Mon., Mar. 27 at 6:30 pm

-Mon., Mar. 27 at 8 pm

March 7th - State Primary Election

See http://www.lwvtexas.org/ for primary election voter guides.

March 7th - City Strategic Planning Process Work Session

Scheduled for Tuesday, March 7, 2006 at the Pflugerville Justice Center. The work session will begin at 5:15 pm. The following groups are invited to participate:

City Council, Architectural Review Board, Downtown Planning Committee, Keep Pflugerville Beautiful Committee, Library Board, Parks and Recreation Commission, PCDC, Planning and Zoning Commission, and City Department Managers.

Note: PfCONA and Old Town NA are involved via Downtown Planning Committee.

March 13th - Last Day to File for Place on City Council/PISD Board Ballot

See City Secretary for candidate packet and/or click here for election information for candidates.

March 13th - PfCONA Town Meeting - Council Candidates Forum

From 7:00pm to 8:30pm at Pflugerville Justice Center. To be videotaped for Ch. 10.

March 14th - Texas Forums Speaker on Re-engaging Citizens in Public Life

Come on Tuesday, March 14, 2006, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the LBJ Auditorium Atrium (10th Floor), University of Texas at Austin, for an evening with Richard C. Harwood, president and founder of The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation, a nonprofit catalytic organization dedicated to helping people imagine and act for the public good.

Harwood is an established thought-leader on issues of re-engaging citizens in public life, building public capital, and creating strong communities. He will be speaking about his latest book “Hope Unraveled: The People’s Retreat and Our Way Back”. This event will be free and open to the public and will serve as an important catalyst for a subsequent series of forums on the issue “Democracy’s Challenge”. RSVP via the Texas Forums website: http://www.texasforums.org/.

Note: Some current and past PfCONA board members have been through Texas Forums moderator training and are volunteers for Texas Forums. See www.texasforums.org/ or click here for info on The Deliberative Democracy Handbook or register here for a March 2nd Democracy Challenge Forum. Others are scheduled.

March 23rd - Citizens Police Academy Classes

Click here for application for the 15th Citizens Police Academy 16-week course, which will start Thursday, March 23rd from 7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. at Pflugerville Justice Center. Click here for who may attend and purpose of academy. Contact Sgt. Bill Anderson with any questions at 670-5510 or E-mail: banderson@cityofpflugerville.com

March 25th - 18th Annual Pflugerville Police Department Bike Rodeo

Event is free on Saturday from 10am to 2pm at Pflugerville High School parking lot. Participants are rated on 8 different challenges and have a chance to win bicycles/awards. It is a chance to register bicycles, get them checked, receive safety instructions, and see crime prevention displays. For more info call Cpl. Mike Clowdus at 670-5512 or E-mail: mclowdus@cityofpflugerville.com.

March 30th - 2^nd Annual Caregivers Classic Golf Tournament

Thursday, March 30 at 1:30pm (tee off) at Star Ranch Golf Course is the annual Golf Tournament for Faith in Action Pflugerville Caregivers. Pflugerville Caregivers is a non-profit program to assist older adults (60 & over) in Pflugerville community to help with transportation and in home support. All proceeds will help them continue their work. Call 538-1152 for information or see www.main.org/pfcaregivers.

April 1st, 2nd, 8th, and 9th - American Red Cross Lifeguarding, CPR, First Aid, and AED Certifications

Classes at pool at 700 N. Railroad Ave from 9am-5pm. Full attendance is required for certification. Pre-registration is required. Must be 15 years old by course completion. Contact Katie at 251-5082 for information.

April 10th - PfCONA Neighborhood Leader Roundtable

From 7:00pm to 8:30pm at Pflugerville Justice Center.

April 13th - Last Day to Register to Vote for City Council/PISD Board Election

April 22nd - GOALS FITNESS CENTER, KIDS COUNT! 5K WALK AND KIDS' 1K

Is scheduled for April 22, 2006 during Child Abuse Prevention Month at Gilleland Creek Park. Goals Fitness Center, Old Town NA, and Parks & Rec will be cosponsors for the walk. OTNA is seeking the support of organizations/neighborhoods to ensure a successful walk on behalf of AngelHeart Childrens Shelter. Register online at: http://www.angelheartshelter.org/. Registration forms available at Parks & Rec Center, RunTex, and Goals Fitness Center. For more info, E-mail: walkquestions@yahoo.com.

Event is a follow-up to Old Town NA garage sale on Sept. 10, 2005 on behalf of this shelter for abused and neglected children.

May 1st - 9th - City Council/PISD Board Early Voting

May 7th - 3rd Annual World Golfing Championship of Pflugerville

Registration at Noon. Shotgun start at 1:00pm (4-person scramble). Cost is $95/player. Prizes, awards, & goody bags, free green fee at Star Ranch, free fajita supper provided, and more. $3,000 in prizes were given away last year. Hole in one prize is an ALINER DL camper worth $15K from Princess Craft in Pflugerville. Proceeds will help support Pflugerville Heritage House. Sponsorship opportunities available. Contact Carolyn Graf at 251-8869, Duane Blakeslee at 251-5611, or Randy Duncan at 762-8123.

May 13th - City Council/PISD Board Election

May 19th - 21st - 31st Annual Deutschen Pfest

May 21st - Deutschen Pfest Pfun Run

********************************************

Click here for February City Newsletter, "Pflugerville Pfacts", and past ones on city website. Current issue stories include: Bohl's NA Adopts a Trail; Drop by Drop Landscape Rebate Program; Annual Spring City Wide Cleanup, City of Pflugerville Finance Departent Receives National Award, Keep Pflugerville Beautiful Committee Shines Once Again; Board and Commission Meeting Dates and Times; Pflugerville to Expand Central Wastewater Treatment Plant; and, Spring Break Camp Registration.

Click here for other meeting/event dates listed on City Calendar on city website. E-mail request to communitycalendar@cityofpflugerville.com to place your school, non-profit, HOA/NA, or church events on calendar.
Click here for events at library.
Click here for public notices on City website.
Click here for city council and other boards/commissions/committee agendas and minutes on city website.
Click here for Community Calendar sponsored by PfCONA.(ask how to put something on it)
Click here for info to consider when buying a home in Pflugerville.
Click here for Latest Map showing properties signed up for ETJ expansion

Click here for 2006 Upcoming Elections dates on Secretary of State website.

********************************************

Neighborhoods Against Sexually Oriented Business Along Grand Ave

Ever since a sexually oriented business has received a permit to build on Grand Ave, in Austin's ETJ west of the Pflugerville city limits, many in the Pflugerville area are concerned about the negative economic impact this could have on their home values, quality of life, and their children's safety. A number of Pflugerville area HOAs, churches, and community organizations are working together to collect signatures from their residents (or seeking member input on the subject) to let developer and government agencies know they don't want his topless bar built. A Neighborhoods Planning Meeting was held on Jan. 17th at Heatherwilde HOA Clubhouse.

Deanna Burleson (stopsob@yahoo.com), spoke to Pflugerville City Council about issue at Feb. 21st Council meeting. Click here and click here for video of discussion at Council meeting. Organizers have been encouraging E-mails to City of Austin Site Plan Review Manager, George Zapalac at george.zapalac@ci.austin.tx.us or calls to Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission - Austin District office at 451-0231. See http://www.stopsob.com/ for letters written by officials/candidates (Karen Sonleitner, Mark Strama, Don Zimmerman), neighborhoods (North Park, Springbrook, Windermere, and Saxony), and businesses against this proposed development.

Community Business Directory on City Website

The City of Pflugerville continues to grow by leaps and bounds. With this growth, come convenient local businesses ready to serve you each and every day...You will find a listing of the businesses in the city sorted by the service or product they offer at: www.cityofpflugerville.com/index.asp?NID=544. Click on the heading and it will direct you to the business category. [Source: City website]

(If you are a business within the city limits of Pflugerville and would like to be included in this directory, send your information to: kathye@cityofpflugerville.com.)

Animal Pound Discussion at January Town Meeting and Council Meeting

There was some sharing of information at January PfCONA Neighborhood Leaders Roundtable by City Staff and Jacki Mulkey, who was seeking to have Pflugerville improve its adoption services and alleged pound conditions. This discussion continued at Jan. 24th Council meeting where Chief Chuck Hooker presented statistics on pound and how it met state standards and had been making improvements, including establish an advisory committee. Jacki Mulkey presented petitions signed by concerned residents and made claims about pound and that we can do better. Click here for video of Chief's presentation, resident's/interested parties comments, and Council questions/comments. Chief Hooker can be reached at 251-4004 or chooker@cityofpflugerville.com regarding any issues/concerns anyone has or if they wish to tour the facility.

Council is creating an additional advisory committee to make recommendations regarding animal pound and involves those who expressed concerns and two Council members. Meanwhile, since Jan. 24th Council Meeting, pound has been checked by Texas Department of Health and passed inspection, including receive positive comments about improvements over past 90 days.

Envision Central Texas Community Presention (follow-up)

Held on Jan. 17th to share information and discuss the future of growth in Pflugerville along with City Council and other community leaders. What does this mean to us? How is it managed to benefit families, businesses, and prospective newcomers? John Langmore, Transportation and Land Use Consultant & board member of ECT presented information regarding the regional principles associated with ECT. Scott Polikov, a town planner with Gateway Planning, also conducted a presentation on the principles of planning town centers and neighborhoods in the face of impending growth.

See www.envisioncentraltexas.org for more information and go to: http://tx-pflugerville.civicplus.com/index.asp?NID=542 for streaming video of presentation. Click here for video of discussion about presentation at Jan. 24th Council Meeting, including follow-up possibilities (Fellows Program). Mayor Cat Callen is new co-chair of ECT Transportation and Land Use Committee and Rod Reyna, PfCONA Chair, is a member of ECT board.

Adopt-a-Trail/Adopt-a-Street (brief repeat)

The City of Pflugerville is offering two new programs and is asking for your volunteer help. The Adopt-a-Trail and Adopt-a-Street programs encourage citizens to take pride in their community and help keep the costs of litter collection under control. The homeowners from the Club at Wells Point, Bohls Neighborhood Association, and Saxony HOA have adopted the trails in their neighborhoods. There are signs put up by Parks & Rec along trails that denote trail sponsor.

Adopting groups agree to pick up litter a minimum # of times a year. One of the dates will be during the "Keep Pflugerville Beautiful Trash Off" city-wide initiative in the spring. Coordinating additional special clean-up initiatives with the City is encouraged. For more information on the Adopt-a-Trail or Adopt-a-Street program, please call the Parks and Recreation Department at 251-5082.

Pflugerville Loop and Pfluger Lane will be renamed Pflugerville Parkway

Effective January 1, 2006, the street renaming will affect the current Pflugerville Loop and the current Pfluger Lane. With both of these changes and the construction of the new roadway between Railroad Avenue and FM 685, the road will have a consistent name from Grand Avenue Parkway to Weiss Lane. For questions about this project, visit www.cityofpflugerville.com or ginaf@cityofpflugerville.com. [Source: GPCC Weekly Wire and Pflugerville Pfacts City Newsletter, 1/06]

Note: Pflugerville Parkway (fka Pfluger Lane section) is scheduled to be closed at SH130 as of Jan. 7th for 4-6 weeks. For information contact LSI at 681-6000.

Residents of Pflugerville on Board and Commissions - 2006

The residents of Pflugerville are represented by board and commission members chosen by the City Council for their expertise and knowledge in selected areas of City service. The following citizens will serve in 2006:

Architectural Review Board: Hjardeir Dunn, Cecilia Galliano, Bill Moellendorf, David Taylor, Tanya Thornton

Board of Adjustment: Thomas Anker, Richard Corcoran, Louis De Cuir, Marcelo Draguicevich, David Faske, Warren Jones, Percy Richardson, Rocky Stewart and Cathy Vance

Charter Review Commission: Cliff Avery, Ron Beyer, A.K. Brewer, Dominic Calbrese, Richard Coaxum, Carol Fletcher, Bobby Huston, Patricia Knapp, Chuck Lesniak, Ron Sanford, Rashid Shamsie, Federico Velarde, Tony Wertz

Library Board: Deborah Bronson, Michael Dunnigan (student liaison), Linda Fontenot, William Greenhalgh, Javed Halali (alternate), Tammy Isenberg, Barry Ryan, Robert Spoonemore, Janice Swope

Parks and Recreation Commission: Sheila Aboii, Mike Callen, Kelvin Grayson, Anthony Martin, Pat McCord, Alexander Porter (alternate), Alyssa Reyna (student liaison), Marion Shofner

Personnel Appeal Board: Terry Ayers, Cheryl Callicott, Emmett Eary, Richard Hunter, Dian Neathery, Carol Robertson, Jess Talley

Pflugerville Community Development Corporation: Ron Beyer, Duane Blakeslee, Mike Callahan, Randy Duncan, David Garlick, Jeffrey Reeb, Kurt Reece

Planning and Zoning Commission: Monica Knighton, Naji Steve Norder, Dennis Sedlachek, Starlet Sattler [Source: Pflugerville Pfacts City Newsletter, 1/06]

Note: This list does not include residents serving on City Committees, to be highlighted in next Tidbits.

Brookfield Neighborhood Watch Being Organized (update)

Brookfield Glen, Crossing and Estates, all located along Dessau Road, just north of Howard Ln outside city, are organizing the Brookfield Neighborhood Watch as reported before. PfCONA was contacted for tips in relation to formation of NWatch and a block captain program--what types of things are being done in neighborhoods. An initial formation meeting led by Deputy Mary Rodriguez was successful with 60 residents attending. Saxony HOA rep with PfCONA spoke at its recent meeting of about 25 who were serious about being block captains. Neighborhoods are planning a third meeting for final planning steps. Their goal is to recruit a total of 55 or so block captains.

Note: To organize Neighborhood Watch, neighborhoods within Pflugerville have Pflugerville Police Department Crime Prevention. Those outside the city limits have Travis County Sheriff's Department Crime Prevention. PfCONA helps foster relationships between those needing support and other neighborhoods. Click here for tip sheet that was developed by Saxony HOA/PfCONA for sharing with neighborhood leaders. It contains tips on "Things a Neighborhood Can Do...Block by Block...Resident by Resident...throughout the year. Also, ask police department about vacation watch/close patrol and home security surveys. Plus, keep your porch/driveway lights on at night yearround.

PISD Community Partnership Meetings and M.E.N. Program

Slides of January 18th PISD Partnership Meeting between PISD, business, city, and community/neighborhood organization leaders can be found on Public Information page (at bottom) at: www.pflugervilleisd.net/pubinfo/index.html. A previous meetings was held in Fall of 2005. Public Information page also includes info on MEN Program, a volunteer program that PISD developed that focuses on a male presence in our schools. MEN stands for Mentoring, Encouraging, and Nurturing our students. For more info on these and any PISD programs, E-mail Randy Reese, Public Information Officer, at: Randy.Reese@pflugervilleisd.net.

Community Emergency Response Team Training being Rescheduled

Due to scheduling conflicts the CERT class scheduled for February the 6th and subsequent dates will be re-scheduled. The new date will be announced as soon as possible. If you know anyone in your neighborhood that would make a good CERT member, have them contact Sgt. Bill Anderson at 670-5510 or E-mail: banderson@cityofpflugerville.com. Click here for more info on CERT.

Granny's Kitchen Wants to Advertise in Your Neighborhood Newsletter

E-mail From: Granny's Kitchen, Owner – Peter Harvey. Is interested in advertising in neighborhood newsletters. Call 989-6446, or E-mail: Eagle-eyemarket@sbcglobal.net.

Note: In regard to neighborhood newsletters, please consider putting Tidbit items in your newsletter, if not already. You may also consider mentioning that you are a PfCONA member and that PfCONA is celebrating 20 years of service on behalf of the community.

Saxony Neighborhood Pool Memberships Available

Private pool is located at 100 Elm Dr. Early bird pool fee is $180 by Feb. 28th, $200 by April 30th, and $230 starting May 1st for May 1, 2006 through April 30, 2007 pool year. Pool is open 7 days a week. E-mail Saxony Pool Chair at nyland.mj@sbcglobal.net.

Vote Texas To Encourage More Voters
“Every Texan should make their voice heard by going to the polls and casting a ballot.” VOTEXAS is a year-long, public education initiative focused on educating eligible voters on becoming informed about the voting process. The program will encourage voters to find out when they will vote, where they’ll vote and how to use the new equipment in their precincts. VOTEXAS will reach out through television, radio, an interactive Web site and community outreach to inform Texans on the rights, responsibilities and importance of voting. For more questions on VOTEXAS tour stops, demonstration locations or other questions about voting, visit www.votexas.org or call 1-800-252-VOTE.

Blood Shortage in Central Texas

The number of regular donors hit by the cold and flu season combined with extraordinarily high usage by local hospital patients has depleted the community blood supply. The Blood and Tissue Center of Central Texas is asking anyone who is healthy and eligible to give blood...to help replenish the supply. The Round Rock center is located next to Movies 8 on the east IH 35 frontage road just south of FM 3406 (Exit 254) and is open Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm; Wednesday from Noon to 8:00 pm; Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. The Lamar and Round Rock locations will be open this Saturday from 8:00 to 3:00 pm for donors’ convenience. To schedule an appointment, call 233-LIFE (5433). [Source: GPCC Weekly Wire]

Here's What PfCONA was Involved with in 2005

Neighborhood/Community Workgroups/Meetings/Research (Wal-Mart, Claude’s Corner, Highland Park Commercial, Highland Park Residential, Sheehan’s, Cambridge Villas, Marquee Ranch Apts, Little Pfriends Daycare, Pecan St. Plaza, and Grand Ave Estates Apts and Picadilly Estates Apts); Community Disaster Relief Initiative Partner; SBC Audio/Video Grant; Preliminary work on City Notification and possible neighborhood registration; Attempted involvement in city’s Residential Design Standards development; Neighborhood Watch/National Night Out Partner; Community Holiday Lights Contest; Neighborhood Survey, Food Drive Partner; Pf4 Partner; Adopt-a-Trail/Street promotion; Welcome to Pflugerville (mug) Program; Fallen Warrior Memorial Promotion; Project VOTE! and Council/School Board Candidate Forums; PISD Partner; Envision Central TX Board/Partner; Downtown Planning Committee member, Downtown Association partner, Texas Forums Partner; Travis County Bond Committee & Public Meeting/Hearing Partner; Speakers on Central TX Mobility Authority Toll Roads, HOA Attorney on Bylaws/Property Law, PISD Public Information Officer on Bond Election, PISD Superintendent on PISD direction, Mayor on development, developers on various developments; and, ESD#2 on Fire Dept. and Annexation. Also partnered/promoted many city/neighborhood events, activities, and issues and concerns of neighborhoods/organizations. Also hosted web pages for Pf4, Arbor Creek HOA, Bohls Place NA, and Saxony HOA. Host PfCONA website, blog, and community meeting calendar. Also, produced PfCONA Tidbits E-Newsletter and used consensus card system.

______________

E-mail from Pflugerville Council of Neighborhood Associations (PfCONA)

www.pfcona.org, info@pfcona.org

PfCONA's efforts include being a clearinghouse of information for the Pflugerville community and to foster collaborative efforts, workgroups, and forums to develop solutions for the community. Ask how your business or organization can become involved in PfCONA's "Welcome to Pflugerville" project.