1 Pac Meadows Neighbors Quarterly newsletter for Pac Meadows II and II homeowners Summer 2014 Here are some of the things the HOA has accomplished and continue to do for Pac Meadows II and III homeowners: Publish a bi-annual directory for all residents. The HOA is committed to creating a neighborhood that works together. Plan and carry out the annual fall picnic. Updated the covenants (a very time- consuming process!) to reflect the availability of new attractive roofing materials Happy Independence Day! Pay for trail and neighborhood improvements such as dog waste bag stations. Lobbied the city to install a speed bump. Your Homeowner s Association at Work Enforce compliance with our neighborhood covenants. Covenants ensure our neighbor- hood stays safe and beautiful and our homes Pac Meadows II and III neighborhoods enjoy a maintain or grow in value, and members of the strong and active homeowner s association, but it may HOA work diligently to enforce the covenants not always be easy to see the fruit of their work. So especially in the areas of roofing, home colors, what does the HOA really do? fences, lack of proper lawn maintenance, and The homeowner s association meets once per month, discussing various issues that concern all of us. parking boats and campers on the street. (Continued on page 3) Visit our website at pacificmeadows.org and find us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/pacmeadows23/
2 2 Upcoming Events! Fall neighborhood picnic Our annual neighborhood picnic will be held September 21st. You and your family can enjoy great food, games, face painting, a bounce house and prizes! And there are great opportunities for sponsorships for area businesses. If you d like more information on sponsoring part of the picnic or want to donate at prize, please contact Jeff Chisham at jeff.chisham.jm79@statefarm.com. Next HOA meeting The next HOA meeting will be held at 7pm on Tuesday, August 5th, at Bakers. If you d like to attend, please contact HOA president Colin Andersen at 510-7360 or andersenusa@cox.net. What do you love about living in Pac Meadows II and III? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page and inspire a neighbor to see something they may not have noticed! Not on Facebook? Email your thoughts to Sherry at skb99@cox.net by August 1. The winning entry will win a $25 gift card to Cherry Berry! Quick Quiz: What is the best way to approach a speed bump? 1. Slow down, go over the speed bump, and speed up to over the 25 mph residential speed limit as soon as possible. A Rose grows in a Pac Meadows II garden. 2. Slow down, go over the speed bump, and continue driving below the residential speed limit. 3. Drive over the speed bump without slowing down and continue at a high speed. A: None of the above, yet all three regularly occur at the Chicago Street speed bump. The most appropriate response is to slow down over the speed bump and gradually increase your speed. The speed bump and speed laws are designed to protect our children. Thank you for obeying them!
3 3 Around the neighborhood News and other useful tidbits. The new neighborhood directories are out! Directories are available to all residents who are current on their homeowner s dues. If you haven t received yours, contact your district rep. HOA (continued from page one) Homeowner s Associations across the city can no longer apply liens to homes, however, our HOA can file a lawsuit in cases of overt violations, and they have done so on behalf of neighbors. Installed a sign and garden in the entryway of our neighborhood. District reps were successful in updating our neighborhood covenants to include new options for roofing. Thanks to everyone who signed the new covenants and helped us stay legal and a neighborhood governed by strong and effective covenants. If you d like more information or want to be a more active part of the homeowner s association, contact the HOA president Colin Andersen at andersenusa.cox.net or 510-7360. New welcoming committee forming Pac Meadows II and III homeowner s dues are due for this year. If you haven t received your dues notice in the mail, contact your district rep. The low $40 cost of membership in the HOA helps keep our neighborhood safe, strong and solvent. Remember, the annual picnic is free when your dues are paid in full. Interested in helping welcome new neighbors to the neighborhood? A new welcoming committee is forming! Committee members simply visit new residents once to say hello and help acclimate them to the neighborhood. If you re interested in volunteering, contact Sherry Brownrigg at skb99@cox.net. Have a suggestion for the newsletter? Prefer to use a different email address to receive it? Contact Sherry, the editor, at skb99@cox.net
4 4 The mailbag questions & comments from your neighbors The Pac Meadows II and III Neighbors newsletter is designed to help all of us who live in the neighborhood keep abreast of important around after trash day. The best solution is to wait until morning to put your recyclables at things going on and engage with one another in the curb or secure it with bricks or other heavy objects. Secondly, check around your home to be new and varied ways. The newsletter provides that avenue, and we are receiving a number of emails from residents regarding different issues thus the inspiration for this column. We ll do our best to answer! sure no loose trash escaped during trash pickup. Another resident writes that 4th of July is a very big problem in the neighborhood with a number of people hosting large fireworks displays that cause big problems for neighbors. If you celebrate the The first email is regarding dogs and cats 4th in a big way, please remind your guests not to roaming freely. One resident writes that her child is afraid to go outside due to their neighbor s pets roaming freely through their yard. Please be considerate and make sure your dogs and cats stay in your yard. block driveways or create congested areas in smaller streets. And please be considerate to neighbors who may be bothered by fireworks. If you shoot them off, confine your activity to Independence Day, and finish the festivities and clean up by 10:30pm. Please remind residents about securing their trash. This email comes to us from a resident who lives on 163rd St. (they requested we include their street) who frequently sees trash and recyclables blowing If you have a concern, question or comment, please email the editor at skb99@cox.net. We ll try to include it in our quarterly newsletter (anonymous unless you request otherwise) or get you an answer. Have a suggestion for the newsletter? Prefer to use a different email address to receive it? Contact Sherry, the editor, at skb99@cox.net
5 5 Along with the arrival of summer comes a few reminders about issues that are as regular as mosquitos, summer storms and BBQ! The HOA regularly gets complaints about a handful of covenant violations and other irritations in the summertime that we may have forgotten or need our attention. Every summer, there are a number of trailers, boats and other vehicles that are parked on the streets or in driveways of Pac Meadows II and III for long periods of time. This causes a number of issues, including reduced visibility for drivers in the area. According to the covenants: No automobile, boat, camping trailer, van-type campers, auto-drawn trailer of any kind, mobile home, motorcycle, snowmobile, or other se1f-propelled vehicles shall be stored or maintained outside of the garage... for four (4) or more consecutive days. Gathering place for teens. Teens from all around the city have gathered for many years near the creek just off the West Papio Trail in our neighborhood, but the crowds of young people seem to have grown in recent years. The Omaha Police Department has advised us to keep calling them if kids are there past 11pm (end of trail hours), if we think there are parties taking place, or drinking or drug activity is occurring. Summer reminders Please be sure your pets are in your yard. Here s what the covenants have to say: No animals, livestock, fowl, or poultry of any kind shall be raised, bred or kept on any Lot, except that dogs, cats, or other household pets maintained within the dwelling may be kept, provided that they are not kept, bred or maintained for any commercial purpose and, provided, that they are kept confined to the Lot of their owner and are not permitted to run loose outside the Lot of the Owner. 4 Wheelers on the streets and the trail. 4 wheelers may be fun to ride, but they become much more unsafe when ridden on city streets and trails. Motorized vehicles are not permitted on the West Papio Trail, and they can be dangerous to both rider and those using the trail. On the road, 4 wheelers are very difficult to see by motorists. Yard signs. A gentle reminder of the covenants: No advertising sign or posters of any kind shall be erected or placed on any of said Lots, except the residential "For Sale" signs. Lawn maintenance. The HOA typically receives several complaints each summer about properties not being properly maintained. Please respect your neighbors and your community by keeping your lawn mowed, weeds at a minimum and trash picked up around your home.