VILLAGE CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

Minutes of the General Meeting held February 19, 2004

The meeting was called to order by President Craig Jacobs at 7:10 pm in the Planning and Zoning Conference Room, City Hall, Plano, Texas. There were 9 members in attendance and 2 guests. Craig presented an agenda for the meeting which was discussed and approved.

We had a discussion about ideas on the neighborhood beautification project with Joanne and Shep Stahl, our 2 guests. Several ideas were brought up about beautifying the right-of-way along the north side of Parker Road. We are looking for Home Depot, Lowes or Calloways to donate plants. Joanne said we might be able to get some from the ones that are thrown out at Garrison Gardens. We also want to target houses in the neighborhood. Joanne said not to roto till any deeper than 4-6 inches or it will kill the tree roots. She suggested Asian Jasmine for shaded areas particularly around trees. She said we need to plant perennials within the next month or two and to use lots of color for sunlit areas. We may be able to get the city to donate dirt and compost. Jim Fox is the contact at the city. It was suggested to pick an owner-occupied home for our demo garden and to have a sign made indicating it was the neighborhood association that did the work. Also, Robert Smouse from Keep Plano Beautiful might help.

Secretary/Treasurer Vicki Verinder read the minutes of the last meeting, which were approved. She also gave the treasurer's report. The account has $632.40 with no outstanding expenses.

There was no old business to transact.

Committee Reports: Shopping carts: VP James Edwards said that property standards was reviewing other cities ordinances and is working on one for Plano. It is expected to include signs in stores and on carts, and an outreach program to the neighborhood. It was noted that since the Dallas Morning News article on the carts in the neighborhood, they have been policed and collected much better.

Proposal Package: James suggested we invite representatives of the traffic department to our April meeting. We should prepare the details and our solution proposals to the traffic problems at 1) the intersections of P Ave and Parker, 2) K Ave and Parker and 3) traffic flow around the school at our March meeting. Steve Shultz is the city employee to contact.

Beautification: Dates to remember: April 5^th is the Great American Cleanup and August 3^rd is the National Night Out. The money in the city budget for a study of widening Parker will be available in October 2004 so the widening could be as early as 2005. We could plant some areas of right away on Parker and then move the plants back into the neighborhood when the widening begins. We still want to put in a sprinkler system. It was suggested that we pursue grants and donations for funding. Within the neighborhood, we would like to have a list of 6 to 8 houses listed and to prioritize them. Several addresses were recommended as being candidates. It was suggested that we e-mail to the web site the addresses of all other candidate houses that come up. We would like to do another planting on the Great American Cleanup date. Alicia Nors, NPO, will check into community service people and free compost. James will work on signs and newspaper coverage.

Crime Watch: Alicia discussed several incidences in the neighborhood. She said they are seeing an increase in gang activity. Wrong side of street parking is being targeted after lots of complaints have been taken. Animal control is now in charge of issuing tickets to owners of problem animals and not the police. However, Alicia said we should continue to call the police with such problems. She said we should make sure that all solicitors have a permit on their person. We have had an impersonator in the area trying to burgle homes posing as a door to door salesman. John Wilson has the National Night Out certificate obtained at the coordinators meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:20 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Vicki Verinder, Secretary/Treasurer

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