November 2007

Floyd Hill Area Property Owners’ Association Meeting Minutes

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Time: 7:30 pm

Location: Clear Creek High School

Presentation

Einar Jensen, Community Educator of Evergreen Fire/Rescue, discussed the reality of evacuations from Floyd Hill. In case of a fire or emergency on Floyd Hill, each residence will be notified by a reverse 911 call. You may have as little as 15 minutes to evacuate your home. Be prepared with a personal plan for evacuating your pets, pills, papers, and photos. If possible, have most items you wish to evacuate in a container ready for quick escape. Practice the process of loading everything you need in your vehicle sometime this winter. The Floyd Hill Homeowners’ Association will gather information with its membership drive to identify residents who are mobility challenged, and preschoolers to make sure evacuation off the Hill is complete. Each family member needs to know of a pre-designated meeting place east and west of Floyd Hill depending upon the evacuation route. The Community Wildfire Protection Plan Mitigation Project helps educate residents in high fire hazard areas such as Floyd Hill to place stacked firewood at least 30 feet from structures, clean gutters, eliminate burnables under decks, and to remove slash and deadfall from your property. A result of the Community Wildfire Protection Plan will include efforts to create a secondary exit from Beaver Brook to Jefferson County Route 65. A new Clear Creek Fire Authority Station 6 is being constructed near the Industrial Park on US 40 to provide better fire protection for Saddleback. It will include a rescue and ladder truck run by volunteer firefighters. Most emergencies on Floyd Hill draw a response from all agencies (Clear Creek Fire Authority, Evergreen Fire/Rescue and Clear Creek Sheriff’s Office). Einar has applied for federal grants to match funds toward next year’s FHAPOA chipper programs. For more information, e-mail ejensen@evergreenfirerescue.com or call 303-679-4749.

Business Meeting:

Call to Order:

President, Jim White, called the FHAPOA Business Meeting to order at approximately 7:55 pm. Jim announced the resignation of Jael Dale, Association Treasurer, giving special appreciation for her success in increasing membership levels to 138 through secondary dues mailings during her term.

Minutes from September 27, 2007 Meeting:

A vote of the members in attendance approved the prior meeting’s minutes as posted on the FHAPOA web site and distributed at this meeting.

Treasurer’s Report: (See full report attached by Treasurer, Jael Dale) *

Balance 9/27/07		$ 7,319.08
Deposits (corrections)	+	$ .58
Debits*	-	$ 203.16
Balance 11/29/07		$7,116.50

* Room rental, chipper weekend & communication expenses

Those in attendance verbally approved the Treasurer’s Report.

Committee Reports:

Road and Bridge Committee *: (report by Pat Aiello)

Clear Creek County Road and Bridge declined a meeting to talk about problems on Floyd Hill area roads. The Road Committee wrote a summary letter to the County prioritizing road problems. The County did respond by intensifying work on area roads in late summer, but winter snowplowing has already pushed a lot of the renewed road base off to the side of the roads. The Committee will continue to try to raise the County’s awareness of Floyd Hill road problems. The County’s 6.18 mill levy passed in November’s election. Therefore, improvements at the Aspen Drive/Hy Vu intersection, Aspen Drive drainage, and chip seal improvements for Beaver Brook Canyon Road, Ponderosa Drive, and Meadow View will be forthcoming in the next 4 years.

Playground Committee: (report by Nick Ragain/Matt Robie)

With the help of the Clear Creek Metropolitan Recreation District, the Committee has applied for a matching grant from the Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Lottery monies for $70,000 to $100,000 for establishing a playground by the tennis courts near the Clear Creek County High School. The Homeowners Association will write a letter of support for the playground. Homeowners are to send letters of support to Matt Robie, Community Relations, P.O. Box 1149 Idaho Springs, CO 80452 or ccmrd@wispertel.net or call 303-567-4822. Three playground designs were presented for review. Input is requested for the most appropriate playground design. Pledge letters of time, money, and resources are also needed to show community support for this project. A local playgroup led by Mary Cain is selling candles for $20 with $5 proceeds from each candle being donated to the playground fund. To view or purchase these fragrant double-wicked candles, contact Autumn Montgomery at 303-543-8418 or mia24@quest.net.

Emergency Notification Committee*: (report by Linda Berteau)

In addition to updating emergency notification information for each resident of Floyd Hill this year, we will ask for the number of adults, school age children, and preschoolers at each household, so that if evacuation is needed, all individuals in each household can be accounted for during the evacuation.

Development Committee*: (report by Mike Chevarria)

Mike continues to represent Floyd Hill on a Master Plan Committee to visualize the “Gateway to Clear Creek County”. He has attended several meetings discussing the criteria and standards for planned growth, with input from residents, landowners, developers, and municipalities. The design guidelines are not enforceable unless they are adopted by a municipality. The Committee is being encouraged to provide an economic analysis on types of commerce that are realistically viable at the bottom of Floyd Hill. Plan review and zoning regulations, as well as environmental regulations are also pivotal criteria for land use. Your input is encouraged by e-mailing Mike Chevarria at VicePresident@floydhill.org or call him at 303-670-6528.

Water Response Committee: (report by Jim White)

This Committee continues to scrutinize Williams’ adherence to required water standards associated with building a multi-family dwelling using well water at the base of Floyd Hill. Historically, this Committee has been involved in adjudicating wells in the Clear Creek County basin. Future involvement is expected by this Committee in representing the water interests of Floyd Hill residents regarding water usage and contamination as the base of the Hill is commercially developed.

Activities Committee (no report)

Old Business: (Discussion led by Jim White)

The City of Idaho Spring City Council approved annexation of 2.6 acres of property owned by the Kleinwachter family between the ride stop and Ski Country Antiques at the bottom of Floyd Hill in hearings on October 8 and October 22^nd by a vote of 5-2. The annexation agreement was published on October 31^st. The Floyd Hill Homeowners’ Association joined with Beaver Brook and Saddleback Homeowners’ Associations to oppose the annexation plan at both the zoning and annexation hearings. Our primary objection was that area residents would be in Clear Creek County and would have no say in commercial development by Idaho Springs. Other voiced concerns included water depletion and contamination, as well as safety concerns from increased traffic and limited infrastructure.

Three efforts are in progress to thwart the proposed annexation. 1). A petition signed by almost 200 citizens of Idaho Springs was certified (59 signatures were needed). This petition asked the City Council of Idaho Springs to repeal the annexation or bring the annexation issue to a vote of Idaho Springs registered voters in a special election to be held in the spring of 2008. 2). The local homeowners’ associations will continue to talk to Clear Creek County Commissioners to find ways to challenge the annexation, and to maximize resident input, 3). Individuals in the Associations may file for an injunction to stop the annexation in District Court. Our objective is to stop, not delay, the present annexation plan by Idaho Springs. We are not anti-development, but favor controlled growth after a solution to a source of water and sewage disposal, as well as infrastructure concerns are adequately addressed. Please submit your opinions about responsible development to Jim White at president@floydhill.org or 303-679-6224.

New Business:

Floyd Hill residents interested in purchasing tree seedlings to diversify species at risk to Pine Beetle disease can order tree seedlings grown for our climate and altitude by the Colorado State University Extension Service from the Golden 4-H. Bare root trees cost $36 per 50 5”-12” seedlings. Small potted trees cost $48 for 30. Recommended species include Douglas Fir, Englemann Spruce, Limber Pine, Colorado Blue Spruce, Ponderosa Pine, Aspen, and Narrowleaf Cottonwood. Orders must be placed by March 5^th. Contact Linda Berteau for more information. Secretary@floydhill.org

303-679-3025.

Josh Lewis, Steve Wakefield, and Holly Gangell agreed to lead a Committee to investigate how to minimize the impact of Pine Beetle tree kill to avoid the devastation currently seen in Summit and Grand Counties.

Mike Chevarria has contacted the Colorado Department of Transportation to request signs be posted on I-70 east and west of the Floyd Hill exit to prevent the use of truck jack brakes to reduce road noise.

Jim White presented a proposed 2008 FHAPOA budget drafted by the Association’s officers (see attached). In anticipation of legal fees associated with commercial development at the bottom of Floyd Hill, and inflation of historic costs associated with running the Association, a motion was made to increase dues from $25 per address per year to $35 annually. Comparable dues at Saddleback are currently $35 whereas Beaver Brook does not hold regular meetings or collect dues. Efforts will continue to convince the roughly 250 households in Floyd Hill of the value of joining FHAPOA. Pat Aiello motioned to increase FHAPOA dues to $35 per year. This motion was seconded by Weiner Illig, and passed unanimously.

Jim White took nominations from the assembly for the Treasurer vacancy. Mike Chevarria nominated Holly Gangell of Ponderosa Drive, who is as an accountant. Holly was unanimously elected FHAPOA Treasurer by all in attendance.

Closure and Next Meeting:

The next FHAPOA meeting was scheduled for Thursday, January 31, 2008 at 7:30 pm at Clear Creek County High School.

Jim White adjourned the business meeting at approximately 9:10 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Linda Berteau,

Secretary

* Additional volunteers are needed

In attendance:

*Pat Aiello

Martha and Larry Baldon

*Linda and Paul Berteau

* Linda Browning