PID Petition Responses

Posted April 19, 2011.

Yeah, we did it!!! We obtained over 740 petitions in favor of renewing the security portion of the PID. The wall did not have the necessary votes, but, thanks to the efforts of many, over 740 petitions were delivered to the City of Dallas, on March 29, for consideration by the City Council.

The renewal of the PID is subject to City Council approval, which we expect to recieve at the June 22, 2011 meeting.

There will be an Economic Development Committee Meeting on May 16, 2011, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., in room 6E at Dallas City Hall.

The City Council will then hold a public hearing on May 25, 2011, at 9:30 a.m., in the Dallas City Hall Council Chamber.

We will keep you posted on the progress. For all of you that voted, thank you choosing to keep Prestonwood safe.

Important PID Documents

Letters regarding the PID

Visual Mock-ups of Proposed Signage






PID & Crime Watch

The Public Improvement District (PID) provides for police patrols of our neighborhood 24 hours a day/7 days a week/365 days a year (24/7/365).

Information about the Public Improvement District (PID)

According to the Dallas Police Department (DPD) the DPD North Central Division's beat sizes are the largest in the city. The typical Dallas Police patrol officer:

  • usually spends his/her time going from one call to another call
  • has little, if any, time to do any proactive patrolling
  • is usually answering calls in other beats
  • is usually not in a neighborhood unless answering a call from there.

The average DPD North Central Division response times range from 8 to 65 minutes - depending on the type of call - with an overall average response time of 28 minutes. Times can be longer - e.g., on busy weekend nights. Occasionally - due to manpower shortages - there may not even be an officer assigned to a particular beat - e.g., vacation leave, sick leave, etc.

In view of the lack of proactive police patrolling, the slow police response times and the spread of random violent crimes throughout the Metroplex, the Prestonwood Homeowners Association (PHA) worked diligently for several years to address these problems. In May, 1993, we surveyed our entire neighborhood asking the residents' opinions of whether they felt there was a need to supplement our regular police service and for suggestions for potential methods of doing so. By far, the most favored idea was to employ off-duty Dallas Police officers. Many of those answering the survey stipulated that they would participate only if each of the 1,028 households in the neighborhood paid their fair share of the cost.

As a result, the PHA Board researched and found a way to deliver 24/7/365 patrol by off-duty Dallas Police officers in which every household pays their fair share. We formed a Public Improvement District (PID) which consists of all the households located within the PHA. This geographic area is generally bounded by Brentfield/Davenport on the north, McKamy Branch/Preston on the west, Arapaho on the south, and Shadybank/Meadowcreek on the east - excluding All Saints Catholic Church and Parkhill Junior High.

In order to have our PID come to fruition, state law required approval from 51% of all property owners in the PHA. We received an affirmative mandate from over 67%. Of the remaining 33%, approximately 16.5% of the owners were unreachable and approximately 16.5% were opposed. Our PID was approved unanimously by the Dallas City Council on May 14, 1997 and re-established by popular vote in 2004.

Our PID was formed for only one purpose - to provide additional, exclusive security for this geographic area. 24 hours a day our PID has a uniformed Dallas Police officer in a fully marked Dallas Police car continually patrolling our neighborhood. An officer is on duty approximately 97% of the time. This officer is empowered to handle all situations he encounters as he would when on regular duty, and is in addition to our regular beat officer. He also has a cellular phone which residents can call to report crimes, suspicious vehicles and activity, safety concerns, etc. - e.g., if a resident arrives home and sees something suspicious he/she can call and ask the officer to meet the resident in the resident's driveway.

What is the cost?
In 2000 it was nine cents ($.09) per $100 *valuation of each owner's real estate property - e.g., a home valued at $300,000 paid $270 for calendar year 2000, assessed as part of the city's ad valorem tax bills in autumn, 1999.
We expect future assessments to be below $.10 per $100
The petition sets an upper limit of $.15 per $100 valuation in the event economic conditions change in the future - e.g., if home values drop 10% the rate will be increased 10% to compensate. The amount you pay should stay approximately the same
Consider this: The costs of secured, gated communities are several hundred dollars per month, not per year.

*the value according to the Dallas Central Appraisal District

What are our benefits?
Quick police response time;
Continual, proactive police patrolling;
Overall crime and traffic violations in our neighborhood - while never high - have dropped significantly*
Our neighborhood home sales prices have increased substantially, and listing times have decreased correspondingly*

*since the 01/01/1998 initiation of our PID police patrol

What safeguards are there with regard to the PID?
The sole purpose of the PID can only be for extra security for the neighborhood;
The maximum additional tax rate can never exceed $.15 per $100 valuation;
The PID automatically dissolves every 7 years unless it is renewed by the PHA petition process
The PID can be dissolved at any time by the same petition process
Quarterly reports must be made to the City
There must be a full financial audit each year
The City Council must approve each year's budget and assessment rate.

Tips for Safeguarding Your Home

  • Do not list your first name in the telephone book - use initials instead
  • Make sure your answering machine message does not indicate that you are alone or out of town
  • Have deadbolts installed on all doors
  • Keep doors and windows locked
  • Install a peephole on your door and look before opening the door
  • Never open the door to strangers
  • Keep blinds or drapes closed at night to discourage "peeping Toms"
  • Verify the identity of any repairman by using the telephone number listed in the phonebook, not by their identification
  • If someone comes to your door asking to use the telephone don't invite them in - make the call yourself
  • Do not hide a spare key under the doormat or under a flowerpot - thieves know all the good hiding places
  • Plant thorny bushes under all windows
  • Invest in motion sensor lights and a good security system
  • Get a barking dog or "Beware of Dog" signs
  • Always double check the locks on doors and windows at night
  • Be sure you garage door can be secured
  • Do not leave it open when you are away - an empty garage broadcasts your absence