Plum Creek - October 2021 by Peel, Inc.

PLUM CREEK POST

POST The Official Newsletter of the Plum Creek Homeowner Association October 2021 Volume 12, Issue 10

Morning Races: www.hootraces.com Races start by the dog park. 10K, 5K, 3K and 1K: visit the website for the maps and registration information. Don’t feel like running or walking? Check out the sleepwalker option or just cheer on the runners. These races are part of the Plum Creek Challenge Races Series. Participate in all 5 and complete a marathon! Carnival and Market: 12 pm to 4 pm in Haupt Park Owlbert’s Epic Pumpkin Games Petting Zoo and Trackless Train Local Vendor Market Cook-off Come on out and join us for the Fun! Visit www.hootenannyonthehill.com for updates. Updates posted on @pcsocialrabbit Facebook page.

Hi Neighbors: With the goal of getting to know each other better street by street we would like to hold a contest. Neighbors that exchange contact information via a form provided by the HOA will each get a $10 gift certificate to a local business. Here is how it would work: Fill out a "get to know your neighbor" form provided by the HOA - Name, phone, address - Share it with your neighbors! Submit the form to plumcreekmanager@goodwintx.com The first 10 groups of 10 households get a $10 gift certificate to a local business. The HOA will not keep the information or distribute it, the intent is to just get neighbors to get to know each other and share contact information. The contest form will be posted on the Home page of the Plum Creek HOA website: www.plumcreektxhoa.com and sent as an attachment in the Association News and Weekly eNews. Drawing to be the 2nd week of October right after National Night Out! Thanks- Safety Committee safety@plumcreektxhoa.com Plum Creek Post - October 2021 1

PLUM CREEK POST Committee Contacts

PLUM CREEK HOA MANAGER Adriane Carbajal................. plumcreekmanager@goodwintx.com PLUM CREEK POST AND WEEKLY ENEWS Jessica Morris.......................................pcoffice@goodwintx.com COMMUNITY CENTER RESERVATION QUESTIONS Jessica Morris.......................................pcoffice@goodwintx.com DOG PARK COMMITTEE Chris Clement................................ dogpark@plumcreektxhoa.com LAKE/PARK COMMITTEE Linda Campbell .......................................................................... ............................................................. lake@plumcreektxhoa.com GARDEN COMMITTEE Sandra Gonzalez............................... garden@plumcreektxhoa.com POOL COMMITTEE Noah Johnson.................................... pool@plumcreektxhoa.com RECREATION COMMITTEE Jennifer Crosby............................................................................ .....................................................recreation@plumcreektxhoa.com SAFETY COMMITTEE Brad Growt........................................safety@plumcreektxhoa.com WELCOME COMMITTEE Arcelia & Gary Gibbs.................................................................. ................................................... welcome@plumcreektxhoa.com YARD SPIRIT COMMITTEE Kevin Foley................................yardspirit@plumcreektxhoa.com HOA OFFICE PHONE......................................... 512.262.1140 PLUM CREEK HOA WEBSITE:............ www.plumcreektxhoa.com

Important Numbers

STREET LIGHTS, ROAD REPAIRS, STREET SIGNS

City of Kyle Public Works Dept........................... 512.262.3024 ......................................................................pw@cityofkyle.com TRI SHIELD SECURITY.........................................512-486-9955 ANIMAL CONTROL

City of Kyle Animal Control ............................... 512.268.8800 SOLID WASTE TDS Customer Care Dept ................................ 1.800.375.8375 POWER OUTAGES PEC .................................................................. 1.888.883.3379 SCHOOLS Hays CISD .......................................................... 512.268.2141 Negley Elementary ..............................................512-268.8501 Barton Middle School ......................................... 512.268.1472 Hays High School ............................................... 512.268.2911 YOU SHOULD RECIEVE THE PLUM CREEK POST EACH MONTH ON OR BEFORE THE 10TH. 2

Plum Creek Post - October 2021

Committees are an important part of association operations, providing valuable advice to the board. The association just would not be what it is without our active and effective committees. They deserve our sincerest thanks. To be successful, our association needs fresh ideas and additional resident involvement in our committees; so we’d like your help on one of our committees. Committees give the board a way to gather information, offer new ideas and opinions and provide a training ground for future board members. All committees are advisory unless given specific decisionmaking authority by the board or CC&Rs. The board provides each committee with a job description, goals, and mission statement to help it succeed as a community resource. Our association can have several types of committees: • Administrative committees, like the architectural review committee, are set out in the association’s bylaws and CC&Rs. This is ongoing and permanent, often having clearly defined power and authority. • Standing committees, such as the gardening, welcome, safety, pool, dog park, and recreation committees, are established by the board for an ongoing and specific purpose. • Ad-hoc committees, are established by the board for specific projects or tasks. When the task is complete, the committee is disbanded. So if you thinking about running for the board, but first want to learn a little more about association operations, or if you’d like to contribute to your community or just want to get out and meet neighbors, volunteer for a committee. Contact information for committee chairs is listed in the monthly newsletter or on the Plum Creek resident website under the Board/Executive Committee menu link: www.plumcreektxhoa.com

TEENAGE JOB SEEKERS Rachel Grover............13...........B,PS,DW...........................512-395-4174 Camryn Jamison........14...........B........................................512-845-2226 Cameron Opiela.........14...........PS, HS.............. .................512-457-9660 Cannon Jamison........12...........Y....................... .................512-845-2226 Kaitlyn Cowan...........12...........C, SB, DW.........................512-657-4332 Austin Holtz...............12...........BB, C, DW, T....................346-233-5903 Dylan McGehee.........12...........PS, BR, HS, DW...............512-971-3540 Zachary McGehee......14...........Y, PS..................................512-216-5350 * - CPR Training + - First Aid Training (B) - Baby Sitting (Y) - Yardwork (PS) - Pet Sitting (PI) - Piano Instruction (C) - Car Washing (GL) - Guitar Lessons (T) - Tutoring

(H) - House Cleaning (CS) - Computer Services ( B R ) - Mi n o r Bi k e Repairs (BB) - Basketball Lesons (SB) - Softball Lessons (DW) - Dog Walking (HS) - House Sitting (PW) - Power Washing

Not Available Online

ATTENTION TEENAGERS

The Teenage Job Seekers listing service is offered free of charge to all Plum Creek teenagers seeking work. Submit your name and information to advertising@PEELinc.com by the 8th of the month! Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc

PLUM CREEK POST

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Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be short, soft, and flexible.

Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult. Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you. Examine treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating. Limit the amount of treats you eat.

Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating to help you see and others see you.

Always test make-up in a small area first. Remove it before bedtime to prevent skin and eye irritation.

Look both ways before crossing the street. Use established crosswalks wherever possible.

Lower your risk for serious eye injury by not wearing decorative contact lenses.

Only walk on sidewalks or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe.

Wear well-fitting masks, costumes, and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips, and falls.

Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating homemade treats unless

By Tony Tucker, Resource Conservation Representative with New Braunfels Utilities 1. Planning and Design- develop a plan. Consider how your property is shaped and formed. Determine what areas, if any are sloped; what areas get too much sun or not enough; what trees and plants already exist that can be used; what type of soil do you have; are there any other constraints? 2. Improving Soil- the type of soil a location has can vary within a given site and is crucial to know when determining planting locations and watering needs. 3. Plant Selection- for best results select drought resident plants that are native to your region. See the Plum Creek Landscape Template for approved plants to install in Plum Creek. 4. Efficient Irrigation- low pressure, low- angle sprinklers are best used to irrigate turf areas. Drip, micro-spray or bubble remitters are most efficient for watering trees, shrubs, flowers and groundcovers. 5. Mulch- mulch is your landscape’s best friend. It helps to maintain the soil’s temperature, keeping it cooler, while reducing evaporation and preventing erosion. Mulch also reduces the amount of weeds growing in beds. 6. Practical Turf Selection- turf plays an important part in a landscape design but in order to be a viable option, it needs to be well thought out. Approved turf options for Plum Creek are Bermuda, Zoysia, Buffalo and St. Augustine as approved by the City of Kyle. 7. Maintenance- During the first two years, a fair amount of weeding may be needed, but once established, drought tolerant landscapes require significantly less maintenance time than regular landscapes.

you know the cook well.

Enter homes only if you're with a trusted adult. Otherwise, stay outside. Never walk near lit candles or luminaries. Be sure to wear flame-

Use the QR Code to schedule an appointment with the Plum Creek

resistant costumes.

HOA office. It’s a smaller office and we can help one guest at a time in • Provide healthier treats for trick-or-treaters, such as individual packs of raisins, trail mix, or pretzels. For party guests, offer a variety of fruits, vegetables, and cheeses. • Use party games and trick-or-treat time as an opportunity for kids to get their daily dose of 60 minutes of physical activity. • Be sure walking areas and stairs are well-lit and free of obstacles that could result in falls. • Keep candle-lit jack-o’-lanterns and luminaries away from doorsteps, walkways, landings, and curtains. Place them on sturdy tables, keep them out of the reach of pets and small children, and never leave them unattended. • Remind drivers to watch out for trick-or-treaters and to drive safely. Follow these tips to help make the festivities fun and safe for everyone! From: www.cdc.gov/family/halloween Happy Halloween! 4

Plum Creek Post - October 2021

the lobby. Find the link to the appointment calendar on the Plum Creek HOA website: www.plumcreektxhoa.com Select: By Appointment Scoop Your Puppies Poop Remember to take a doggy baggy with you on your walks through the neighborhood. There are about 40 dog waste stations around the community. This helps keep the parks and trials clean for all the enjoy. Remember to trim those trees! 14 Feet over the street and alley for vehicle traffic 7 feet over the sidewalk for pedestrian traffic Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc

PLUM CREEK POST We have lots of stressed trees due to this drought. If you can only “save” or water one thing in your landscape during this drought, strongly consider making it your trees. Each Plum Creek home is required to have two front yard trees and one street tree, and at around $250 to $300 per tree, it can be a costly item to replace. So, here are some great tips for taking care of those lovely trees. Here are some great tips taken from the The City of Austin Aborist Program: Tree Preservation and Replenishment. The exceptional drought central Texas has experienced this year is taking its toll on trees. Many trees are showing signs of drought-related stress such as branches dying and leaves wilting, turning brown, or dropping early. Generally, healthy trees can successfully tolerate drought conditions, however newly planted trees, trees impacted by development, or trees experiencing problems with pests or disease have higher risk of decline. Supplemental watering of these trees is encouraged until the rain begins to fall more regularly. Following are some tips on watering trees. Along with these tips it is important to keep in mind the water conservation guidelines that the City may have during various stages of drought. http://www.cityofkyle.com/utilitybilling/water-userestriction-information Tree Watering Tips How often to water? Distressed trees should be watered at least once every two weeks after the last significant rainfall. How much water? This general guideline can be used to determine how much water your tree needs. The tree will need about 5 gallons for each inch of trunk diameter (width across) measured at knee height. Thus, a tree with a 12” caliper or diameter would need about (5 x 12) 60 gallons of water. Time: When you hand water using a hose at medium pressure, it will take approximately 2.5 minutes to produce 5 gallons of water. For example, a 10” diameter tree should have a total watering time of 10” x 2.5 minutes = 25 minutes. Adjust the watering time according to the method of application. Using a drip or soaker hose will take significantly more time to release 5 gallons of water than an open hose at medium pressure. Consider performing your own experiment at home to determine your application rate! Feel free to email us with your results. Methods of watering: Slower application rates are always recommended. This can be accomplished by any of the following methods. Use a slow drip out of an open ended hose or spray nozzle. Use a soaker hose. Use 5-gallon buckets or water bottles with a few ¼” holes drilled into the bottom. Fill these with water and place the over the roots of the tree. Deep watering, well below the soil surface is recommended. Use mulch or small berms on slopes, heavy soils (clays), and compacted soils to assure water is soaking in and not running Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.

off onto paved surfaces. Do not let water pool up. Be sure to establish a personal reminder (i.e. tie a string around your finger or use a timer) so that you do not forget that you are watering your tree. Where do trees need water? Try to water the soil area that is directly beneath the foliage and shaded by the tree (under the drip-line). Young trees that have been in the ground less than two years have under-developed root systems, so concentrate water near the planting area. Old, large trees should be watered within the root zone, which extends far beyond the actual tree branches. Avoid Water Run Off: The ground may be hard, so you might need to modify your watering approach to allow water to soak in towards the roots. Water run-off does not help your trees, wastes precious water resources, and costs you money. How else can trees be protected from drought? Mulching trees with a three to four inch layer of hardwood mulch conserves water and decreases the amount of water that evaporates from the soil, aids in water and air penetration, and cools the soil. Keep mulch six inches away from the trunk, because mulch mounded around the trunk can lead to trunk health issues. Fertilization is not recommended during a drought. Regular maintenance that is designed to promote tree health and vigor ensures that their health and value will continue to provide benefits for decades to come. For more information about tree care visit: www.cityofaustin.org/trees

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PLUM CREEK POST What is a Community Association? Some residents think homeowners and condominium associations (generally called community associations) exist just to tell them what to do—or not do. Actually, the association is more like a housing management or service-delivery organization that provides three types of services to all residents---owners and renters alike • Community services--these can include publishing newsletters, orienting new owners, holding communitywide information meetings, and scheduling recreational and social functions. • Governance services--these can include ensuring that residents are complying with the association’s governing documents, that the association is adhering to local, state, and federal statutes enforcing community rules and policies, administering design review policies, and recruiting new volunteer leaders. • Business services--these can include operating the common property efficiently within the budget, bidding maintenance work competitively, investing reserve funds, developing long-range plans, and equitably and efficiently collecting assessments. Providing these services requires good management, strong planning and organization, and carefully monitoring the association’s affairs. It isn’t easy, but by fairly and effectively delivering these services, community associations protect and enhance the value of individual homes and lenders’ interests in those homes. Source: Community Associations Institute

Plum Creek Post - October 2021

Have You Registered for the Plum Creek Weekly eNews Yet? The Plum Creek eNews is a weekly email for Plum Creekers containing neighborhood watch information, upcoming event information, and just about anything else one might need to know about the HOA. Typically, the email is sent once per week, on Thursday. The eNews has been designed as an 'Opt-In' email, as to not bother anyone just wishing to visit the HOA website on occasion. If you're interested, please add your email to the list by following these instructions: 1. Visit www.plumcreektxhoa.com. 2. Click Resident Sign In 3. This is a new website so everyone signs up as a New User. a. Owners are added to the directory from the HOA accounting software. b. Tenants contact the HOA office to be added into the directory before you can register. 4. Once you sign in, the website will take to your resident dashboard in the Home tab. 5. In the My Account box click Subscriptions tab. 6. Select Edit Communication Preferences 7. In the Communication Preferences, click the box next to Weekly eNews 8. Start receiving the Weekly email as early as next week! :) If you add your email and do not receive the e-News the following Thursday, please email pcoffice@goodwintx.com.

PLUM CREEK POST From City of Kyle

Ways to help protect our water

•

Bag your pet’s waste–don’t just leave it there. Leaving pet waste on the ground increases public health risks by allowing harmful bacteria and nutrients to wash into the storm drain and eventually into local waterbodies

•

Keep storm drains free of leaves and other debris

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Don’t apply pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides before it rains. Contrary to popular belief, the rain won’t help to soak these chemicals into the ground, it will only help create polluted runoff into our local creeks

•

Stabilize areas of bare soil with vegetation as soon as possible after grading. Plant more trees and shrubs, they capture and hold a lot of rain before it reaches the ground. Wherever possible, keep existing trees and bushes and plant more

•

Select native and adapted plants and grasses that are drought and pest resistant. Native plants require less water, fertilizer, and pesticides. Learn more about native and adapted plants at www.txsmartscape.com

•

Avoid landscaping plastic. Large plastic sheets used to prevent erosion or weeds create as much runoff as paved streets. Use burlap on hillsides and perforated landscaping fabrics on level areas

•

Never blow or sweep yard debris in the storm drain. Bag the debris and throw away or recycle

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Collect roof water with a rain barrel and use the collected water for the garden

•

Use a commercial car wash facility (water used at a commercial car wash facility goes to the sewer system, not the storm drain)

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If you change your car’s oil, don’t dump it on the ground or in the storm drain; dispose of it properly at an oil recycling center

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Check your car, motorcycle, or boat for leaks. Clean up spilled fluids with an absorbent material; don’t rinse the spills into the storm drain

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Don’t get rid of old or unused paint or chemicals by dumping it down the storm drain; dispose of paint and other household hazardous waste at recycling facilities

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Don’t mess with Texas! Throw litter away in a garbage can, not out your window and recycle what you can

•

Report illicit discharges

Control runoff and erosion •

Removing vegetation or covering the ground with pavement and buildings prevents water from soaking into the soil. During rainstorms, this water flows across the ground, picking up oil, pesticides, fertilizers, grit or anything else that will float, dissolve or be moved along. These pollutants are carried into the surface water and ground water

•

Retain natural ground cover whenever possible

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Plum Creek Post - October 2021