July 4 Celebration

We've had great response from residents and we're expecting our largest turnout ever for our Independence Day Celebration. Just in case we exceed our seating capacity, you may want to bring lawn chairs or a picnic blanket. As always, we would appreciate help setting up at 1:00pm and cleaning up after the event.

UPDATED Road Closures:

Beginning at 1:00pm, no vehicle or pedestrian traffic east or westbound from Easterwood Drive to Lone Feather Drive (Eagleview Entrance).
Beginning at 4:00pm, no vehicle or pedestrian traffic will be allowed east or westbound from Capital Circle Southeast to Lone Feather Drive (Eagleview Entrance).
Also beginning at 4:00pm, no vehicle or pedestrian traffic from Trojan Trail/Sutor Road area to Connor Boulevard.
Beginning at 8:30pm, public vehicle access to Tom Brown Park will be prohibited.

More information is available in the TPD Press Release.

This year, the Goose Pond Trail (off of Connor Blvd.) will be open for any Piney-Z residents who want to walk to the event. Even though the City will be providing some light on the trail, they recommend that you bring a flashlight to help get back home safely after the event.

If you plan to attend the Tom Brown Park event, the City of Tallahassee would like to remind you not to bring your own fireworks (not even sparklers) to the park. Don't bring a grill. Don't bring your pets. Don't video, film or record the concert. For more information on the festivities, visit www.celebratetallahassee.com.

Elections

The HOA Annual Meeting and Elections will be held Tuesday, July 22, 2008 at 7:00pm in the Lodge. We will be electing three board members at this meeting. Also, 2 CDD Board positions will be filled during the November 4 General Election. For more information, please see our Election Page.

2009 CDD Budget

Piney-Z CDD Per Unit Assessments (Added to your property taxes)
Lot Size	FY 2009 10/1/2008- 9/30/2009	FY 2008 10/1/2007- 9/30/2008	FY 2007 10/1/2006- 9/30/2007	FY 2006 10/1/2005- 9/30/2006
36*	$925.35	$945.75	$974.20	$933.21
40*	$995.26	$1,017.91	$1,048.81	$1,002.53
50	$900.36	$938.09	$959.86	$902.92
60	$1,020.66	$1,044.85	$1,070.23	$1001.91
75	$1,310.60	$1,353.10	$1,385.26	$1299.85
90	$1,572.71	$1,623.72	$1,662.31	$1559.82
65	$1,103.30	N/A	N/A	N/A
50 Garage TH	$1,103.30	N/A	N/A	N/A
*Fieldcrest Paired Home assessments include a fee for lawn care. The amount for the 2009 fiscal year is $296.25.

The 2009 Fiscal year runs from October 1, 2008 until September 30, 2009. A public hearing on the budget is set for Monday, July 14, at 6:30pm in the Lodge. The entire CDD Proposed Budget for 2009 is available in the portable document format, or PDF, in order to make the details clear and printable. To view and print the file, you need a program called Adobe Acrobat Reader®, which most browsers already include. If you have trouble downloading the file, or if you'd like an upgrade, you can obtain the software for free from Adobe's website. The CDD assessments are added to the property taxes of Piney-Z property owners. Contact the Leon County Tax Collector's Office to determine if your property taxes have been paid.

Piney-Z residents are assessed fees to pay for expenses described on the CDD page. Contact Severn Trent Services (954) 753-5841 for payoff information and other detailed information concerning these assessments. The total assessment fee is referred to as the CDD Fees. Homeowners Association fees are included in this amount.

Entrance Repairs

Repair and maintenance of the entrances to Piney-Z has begun. Workers will remove the signage and rusting ironwork from the Heritage Park entrance, pressure clean the white vinyl fencing along Conner Boulevard, and repair the mortarwork on one of the Eagleview entrance walls. The ironwork will be refurbished offsite and returned. Signage will be addressed later. Please excuse the mess while we attend to necessary maintenance.

Rabies Information

Recently, a woman and her dog were attacked by a rabid bobcat in the Winthrop Park area. The Florida Rabies Advisory Committee has published a fact sheet about rabies. Rabies is a deadly viral disease that can be prevented but not cured. The virus attacks the brain of warm-blooded animals, including people. Learn how to protect your pets, yourself, and your family. If you see any suspicious wildlife or animals in our neighborhood, please avoid them and contact the City Animal Services Center at 891-2950.

Smart Metering Project Has Begun

The City of Tallahassee has contracted with Honeywell to install "smart meters" for COT utilities customers. These meters will electronically transmit meter readings directly to a City facility. Piney-Z has been designated as the first neighborhood to receive these meters, which will be installed for electric, water, and gas lines beginning March 31. For more information call 1-800-557-2151 or visit the Smart Metering Project website.

2008 Swimming Pool Season

The 2008 Swimming Pool Season has been posted to this website, as well as the Swim Lesson schedule (PDF). Water Aerobics will return this summer with classes beginning no later than June. The specifics will be announced at a later date.

New Member Appointed to CDD Board

On March 10, the Piney-Z Community Development District (CDD) Board appointed David Wiszneauckas to fill a board vacancy in accordance with Florida Statutes (Chapter 190). He will complete the term of a Board member that resigned. The term ends in November.

Color Rendering of the Village Center Plat

A color rendering of the residential development on Heritage Park Boulevard is available on the Evergreen Communities, Inc. website.

Doggone It--Your Neighbors Want Consideration

We still get regular complaints from Piney-Z residents about other residents allowing their dogs to leave their droppings in their yards. No one wants dog droppings in their yard or in front of their mailbox. So, what is the proper thing to do when you walk your dog.

Walk your dog on a leash.
Take a plastic bag with you, such as a plastic grocery bag or waste disposal bags from the pet store.
When your dog deposits droppings on the ground, with your hand inside the bag, pick up the droppings and turn the bag inside out trapping the droppings inside. Tie the bag shut. Your hands remain clean. Another option is to bring a scoop with you.
Finish your walk and take the bag home and throw it away in your trash.
Especially do not leave droppings on the CDD amenities grounds or children's playground and gazebo area.

The HOA and CDD staff, Boards, or Committees cannot be involved with concerns or actual disputes between residents over dog droppings, barking dogs, escaped pets and such. We can only advise you to discuss it with your neighbor, call animal control, or perhaps even the health department if you are tired of finding dog waste on your property.

Tree and Limb Issues

Approval for Planting or Removing Trees—The Covenants and Restrictions dictate the rules and conditions related to tree planting or removal. To receive approval for tree planting or removal, contact Architectural Control Committee (ACC). Contact information is on the committee page. The ACC is a committee of the HOA.

Concern about a Tree or Limbs Hanging Over Your Home or Property—The CDD and HOA do not provide tree cutting services for Piney-Z residents or property owners who have concerns about trees or limbs. Trees in HOA Common Areas that have limbs hanging over a resident's property or home will rarely be removed. This was discussed and researched in 2003. It was determined that the owner of the tree does not bear the responsibility for trimming branches that overhang someone else's property, but the homeowner has the right to protect their property by having the tree limbs removed at their cost. Homeowners wishing to cut limbs or remove trees at their expense should consult with the ACC committee to determine if their plan complies with the Covenants and Restrictions, and to ensure that trees are not cut without cause. CDD Board research indicates that this is consistent with Florida law and City of Tallahassee policy.