The Great Update Rebate Reaches 102 Homes
Just one year after introducing The Great Update Rebate, the program has reached 102 homes and added $2.5 million of value to Plano neighborhoods. The program focuses on helping Plano property owners with interior and exterior repairs to older single-family homes, duplexes, townhomes and condominiums. Recently the City added an additional $150,000 to the program for the current budget year which ends on Sept. 30, 2015. This comes after an adjustment in January to the Federal Housing Administration standards, which increased the maximum property value to $217,300 and added homes built in 1980. The change opened the door for another 1,800 homes in Plano to be eligible to apply for rebates. So far more than $440,000 of the original $600,000 allotted by City Council for the program has been comitted to projects that accounts for 76 percent of the money.

If you own a property built in 1980 or earlier that does not exceed the maximum property value, you may be eligible for up to a $5,000 per year rebate. Learn the full details of the program and download the application packet at plano.gov/GreatUpdateRebate.
Remember Texas and Plano Fallen Officers
at the Peace Officer Memorial 
The Plano Police Department will host the Texas Peace Officer Memorial on Thursday, May 14 at 11 a.m.  You are invited to gather with us in downtown Plano's Haggard Park to honor state and local peace officers who were killed in the line of duty. We will also honor Plano's fallen: Officer Dale "Wes" Hardy (end of watch July 7, 2007) and City Marshal Green W. Rye (end of watch Feb. 28, 1920). Help us pay tribute to those who have given their lives protecting the communities they serve.
Explore Homes in Plano
with Water Wise Landscapes
On Saturday, May 16, Plano homes will be showcased in the Water Wise Landscape Tour. Four homes and the Environmental Education Center will demonstrate how you can make small or large modifications in your landscaping to conserve water while beautifying your home. The free tour is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is a self-guided tour to allow you to pick your route and visit as many landscapes as you choose. Join us at Plano Municipal Center, 1520 K Ave., from 9 a.m to 2 p.m. where short talks will offer tips on gardening and water-wise practices. Learn more at learn2livegreen.com.
Visit the Senior Information & Wellness Fair on May 20
Celebrate Older Americans Month at the free Plano Senior Information & Wellness Fair on Wednesday, May 20. More than 50 vendors and community organizations will share free information on senior living in Plano and health screenings. Learn about senior living options, financial planning, funeral pre-planning, senior moving services, insurance options and personal care services. Plano Fire-Rescue will provide fire safety tips. The Plano Police Department will share personal safety tips. Enjoy free chair massages and free screenings for hearing, depression, spinal and fall prevention, and lots of door prizes! The fair is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Plano Senior Recreation Center, 401 W. 16th St.
Plano Fire-Rescue Presents Annual Awards
Plano Fire-Rescue honored and recognized the department's 2014 award winners. Plano Fire-Rescue personnel and volunteers who received awards at the ceremony are below.
  • Volunteer of the Year - PFRA Member John Mouser
  • Civilian of the Year - Budget Analyst Frank Snidow
  • Rookie of the Year - Firefighter Rance Pringle
  • Public Educator of the Year - Fire Engineer Albert Valdez
  • Fire Instructor of the Year - Firefighter Marco Banuelas
  • Fire Officer of the Year - Assistant Chief Eric Wahlberg
  • EMT of the Year - Firefighter Darren Hagan
  • Paramedic of the Year - Firefighter Josh Clouse
  • Firefighter of the Year - Fire Engineer Nick Kalina
  • Medal of Valor - Firefighter Brian Stroven
A-May-zing #LovePlano Contest Begins
bowling_pins2.jpg
May's #LovePlano photo contest will focus on a-May-zing photos. To keep with the theme, Pinstack has donated an a-May-zing prize package worth more than $200.

Submit the best photo you have ever taken in Plano to be eligible for an a-May-zing prize package. Retro photos are welcome. Start posting those a-May-zing photos on May 1 with #loveplano on the City's InstagramTwitter or Facebook pages.
Thank You for the Privilege
of Serving Plano
Pat Miner, Council Member

In just a couple of weeks, my time as a council member for the City of Plano will be over. I'd like to thank you for trusting me to serve you and our city. It's been a wonderful journey and I've met some incredible people of Plano along the way.

I'm very proud of what we have accomplished since my first term began in 2008. We've successfully recruited new small and large businesses to our city, allowing more of our residents to work in the city where they live. We've enhanced the way we respond to emergencies with the addition of our new squad vehicles. Our Love Where You Live program has brought neighbors closer together and made those neighborhoods more vibrant. We also built the Environmental Education Center and worked with community organizations to add a Community Garden. Soon we'll have a new nature center that will also house our Parks and Recreation Department in the heart of the Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve. Our city has come together on projects like the Jack Carter Pool project in ways I never dreamed possible. These are the successes I will remember the most.

It is great citizens like you, along with our super city employees, that keep Plano in the forefront as an example for other municipalities to emulate. Though a new face will fill my chair at the Council dais, I will remain one of the biggest fans of our City of Excellence.
City Council Meetings are on the second and fourth Mondays of the month with agendas and minutes posted online. The meetings can be watched live on Time Warner Channel 16, Verizon FiOS Channel 30 and 31, or anytime at planotv.org.
Plano Named Top City for Families
Livability.com named Plano in the "Top 10 Best Cities for Families, 2015" this week. Check out the story.
Vote in the General Election Saturday
Early voting wraps up today. Your final opportunity to vote will be on Election Day, Saturday, May 9. Find polling locations and sample ballots on the City's election webpage.
Where is Plano's Oldest Cemetery?
May is Historic Preservation Month. Each week Plano City News is sharing a historic fact about Plano in the sidebar. Baccus Cemetery, in the heart of The Shops at Legacy on Bishop Drive, is Plano's oldest cemetery. Graves in this cemetery date back to 1847. If you want to learn more about Plano's historic cemeteries, attend the Tombstone Mysteries on Saturday, May 9.
Enjoy a Night Out on 15th
The Historic Downtown Plano Association is hosting "Night Out on 15th Street" on Sunday, May 17 from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Join the community table under a canopy of stars and twinkling lights while you enjoy a 5-course meal and samplings by downtown Plano chefs. Proceeds benefit My Possibilities and the North Texas Food Bank. Get ticket information at visitdowntownplano.com.
Considering Going Solar at Home?
If you are considering converting to solar energy for your home, don't go it alone. Plano Solar Advocates has partnered with the City of Plano to offer the "Go Solar at Home" program. The next meeting on the program is Tuesday, May 26, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Plano Senior Recreation Center, 401 W. 16th St. Learn more about the collaborative efforts of "Go Solar at Home" at solarizeplano.org.
Upcoming Events

05/05 - New Volunteer Orientation

05/05 - Pebble/Tin Magnets

05/06 - Read! Build! Play!

05/06 - Sprinkler Spruce Up

05/06 - Hola! Bonjour! Hello! Foreign Language Study

05/07 - National Day of Prayer Event

05/07 - Collin County Christian Prayer Breakfast

05/08 - App Time

05/08 - Puppet Show: Kiss for Little Bear

05/09 - Science Saturday

05/09 - SAT Practice Test & Tutorial

05/09 - Opossum & Raccoon Care Class for Wildlife Rehabilitators

05/09 - Tombstone Mysteries - Community Project

05/09 - Electronics Recycling

05/09 - A Wild Goose Chase Shadow Puppetry

05/11 - City Council Meeting

05/11 - Puppet Show: Little Red Hen

05/12 - DIY Drip Irrigation

05/12 - Books n' Ducks

05/12 - Dance Party

05/12 - Multicultural Outreach Roundtable

05/12 - A Beka Book Home School Sale

05/25 - Sunset at Memorial Park

Visit the city calendar online for more great ways to become engaged in your community.

Just the P
Connect with Mayor & City Council
Learn more about your Mayor and City Council Members and get in touch with them here.

Like us on Facebook      Follow us on Twitter
Connect with Plano
Stay in tune to the happenings of the City of Plano every day #cityofexcellence.

Like us on Facebook      Follow us on Twitter      View our videos on YouTube