Mapleton Mobile-izers

Welcome to the archive of Mapleton Hollow's community newsletter!

The Mapleton Mobile-izer is issued quarterly, following the MHA membership meetings. Special editions are issued as needed, for example before a quarterly meeting where MHA members will be voting for executives or making an important decision...


MHA BLOG Volume 5.2 Newsletter of the Mapleton Home Association [MHA] May 2000

SILVIA GENTILE WINS RE-ELECTION AS TREASURER...ALEX WILSON MHA'S NEW VICE PRESIDENT


Inside This Issue



Exec Speaks Out
By Ben Jensen
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Participate in the MHA and Participate in Your Future!!! As I involve myself with many of the MHA committees, I become more and more certain that we will achieve our goal of a residential buyout of Mapleton Mobile Home Park. We have MHA volunteers and city staff members all working together to help us achieve our goals.
What can you do to help? Share, contribute and participate in the MHA!!!
1) Join the MHA (its only 5.00$ a year for annual dues).
2) Join the escrow fund (it's approximately 25.00 per month. It slowly goes up each month as time goes by. If you are unable to afford this, join anyway and pay less, what ever you can afford. BUT PLEASE JOIN BECAUSE doing this will secure you a place in the future buyout of the park.)
3) Come to MHA quarterly meetings and the Goose Creek Festival. (This is your chance to put your two cents worth into the operations of the MHA and your future. If it's a big project maybe you could assist the MHA and we could set up a new committee and get things done that way). Join us and be a part of your future. Lastly, if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions never hesitate to call me, Ben Jensen at (303) 545- 2672 so that we can work together and make the future better for everyone. After all, this is our chance to have our cake and eat it too, and I'm getting hungry.



MAPLETON HOME ASSOCIATION QUARTERLY MEETING MINUTES April 16, 2000
by Pete Caterina
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The meeting began promptly at 5:30pm. The first order of business was the introduction of the guest speaker Douglas Sullivan of Boulder's Public Works Department. He has replaced Terry Rogers as the Utilities Project Manager for the Goose Creek Drainage Improvements Project which will impact Mapleton Park.
Mr. Sullivan began by giving an overview of the reasons for the project which included: protecting the lives and safety of people (us) located in the 100-year flood plain and abatement of nuisance flooding downstream to the east of Mapleton Park. The 100-year flood event for Goose Creek is estimated at 3,800 cubic feet per second in the vicinity of Mapleton Park. He further explained that there are different flood delineations including the high hazard zone and the conveyance zone. Some of the Mapleton residents are currently located in the high hazard zone, conveyance zone, or both. (He is going to provide us a copy of FEMA's existing Goose Creek flood plain, which will be posted in the MHA Bulletin Board.) Upon completion of all the project's phases, the newly constructed Goose Creek channel will have adequate capacity to convey the 100-year storm event.
Mr. Sullivan continued by reviewing the project's phases. Phase I involved channel improvements to the the area located east of Foothills Parkway (Hwy 157) and was constructed in 1992. Phase II involved channel improvements to the area located between Foothills Parkway and 30th Street and was constructed in 1996. Phase III is currently under construction and involves channel improvements to the area located between 30th Street through Branding Iron Park. The Phase III design was completed in November 1999 and construction began in February 2000. The project is scheduled for substantial completion in October 2000 at a cost of $3.8 million.
Phase IV will involve channel improvements to the area through Mapleton Park to Folsom Avenue. Phase IV will likely occur in 2002-2004. It is unlikely that the City will continue channel improvements on the west side of Folsom Avenue. Phase IV will most likely not involve increasing the capacity of the existing Folsom Avenue culvert as it is currently sized to convey the 100-year storm event. Modifications to the culvert will likely involve the construction of a below grade pedestrian/bicycle path through the existing culvert. The MHA will be kept informed and invited to participate in the Phase IV design.
Construction of the Phase IV Narrow Option (which removes 7 homes and emphasizes "limited impact" as voted on by City Council in 1997) would then be slated for 2003-4 as has been projected all along.
It was also learned that when the City constructs modifications which disturb existing utilities (water and sewer), the City is financially responsible for their relocation. Mr. Sullivan is going to provide us with the cost estimates for the impacted utilities relocation which we will need before we can finish our Acquisition Plan for buying back the Park.
In a related matter, Mr. Sullivan explained that the North Boulder Transmission Lines (NBTL) which are located overhead in an east-west alignment through Mapleton Park must be buried through the Woodland's Housing Project by the end of the year to meet prior City commitments. Public Service Company (PSCo) requires a minimum burial of 1,100 feet (it's only 800 feet to our eastern border), therefore Mapleton Park will be impacted this summer from the NBTL coordination with the Goose Creek Project. The City and PSCo have identified two options for the termination location of the NBTL under grounding project. Option 1 is to bury the lines as far as the Unity Church on the west side of Folsom Avenue. Option 2 is to bury the lines to the existing tower located in Mapleton Park. With either option, a new transition power pole will be necessary to transition from under ground lines to above ground lines. With option 1, the NBTL undergrounding would occur through Mapleton Park this year in coordination with the Goose Creek Phase III construction. With option 2, a new power pole would replace the existing Mapleton Park pole and the NBTL would be under grounded to this location.
During questions it was also learned that the City has a maintenance fund for cleaning out creeks, which many residents felt might be a good idea to help protect us from flooding until Goose Creek can be completed. Mr. Sullivan said he would try to get us on the list.

NEW BUSINESS
Election of Officers: Nominations were re-opened for Vice President and Treasurer per the MHA's by-laws. At this time Alex Wilson (#58) was nominated and seconded for VP in absentia. He was unanimously elected to a two year term ending in April of 2002. Also at this time, President Jensen presented out-going VP Gene Langlois with a gift certificate in appreciation for his outstanding service as our first (and until now) only Vice President. Sylvia Gentile (#142) was also unanimously reelected to her second term as Treasurer. (She had been nominated at the last Quarterly Meeting in January.) Introduction of new Resident Managers: Russ and Julie Morris (lot #181, phone: 440-1315) are now Hast & Company's on-site managers. While major problems still need to be funneled to Loretta a @ 444-7575, the Morris' will be available in the Park from 9am to 9pm to answer questions and resolve what problems they can. It was also learned that Tim Wynn, the maintenance man, has turned in his notice.
Mark Reeder, Business Committee Chairman, then gave a brief overview of developments--in particular negotiations with Thistle Housing Authority, a non-profit organization who's main goal is to proliferate low and moderate income housing in Boulder. While there are many options and sub-options, it appears that a partnering with Thistle has many advantages for us including a track record of success in establishing a number of permanently affordable housing projects in Boulder County and their clout with City Council. After some preliminary meetings with Roger Lewis, Thistle's Assets Manager, there seems to be three main options:
1. total ownership by MHA with what help and assistance Thistle can give us;
2. jointly owned partnership; and 3. a Land Trust where Thistle buys the land and puts it in a 99 year trust and the MHA runs the day-to-day operations. When these options are more clearly defined they will be brought to the full membership for discussion and vote. There was a question about checking into having speed bumps installed in Mapleton Park to slow down through traffic--a growing problem with the construction on 28th St.
The Escrow Account to establish a down payment fund and to show our commitment now has 51 members which is 42% of the Park. (Our goal is 75%.) Finally everyone was reminded that our 2000 membership dues of $5.00 are due this month. The Secretary will be handing out the new green membership cards as payments are made.



MEET THE NEW MANAGERS: RUSS AND JULIE MORRIS
by the editors
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We would like to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves to the residents of Mapleton Park and the members of the Mapleton Home Association. We are both long time residents of Boulder. Russ is a Boulder native and Julie has lived here for over 30 years. We were residents of Branding Iron Mobile Home Park and then Managers for the past 7 years.
Our position at Mapleton is on-site mangers, directly responsible to Hast & Co. We hope to be of help in keeping the park running smoothly and addressing concerns of the residents. Also we are anxious to work closely with the Mapleton Home Association. We are happy to finally be moved and at least partially settled into our new home, and we are looking forward to meeting each of you.
Russ and Julie Morris
303-440-3315
Lot #181
(Eds. note. For major emergencies still call Loretta @444-7575, the Morris' will be available in the Park from 9am to 9pm to answer questions and resolve what problems they can.)

AHORA HABLAMOS ESPANIOL!!
by Jorge Arias

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 La asociacion del Mapleton Mobile Home Park (MHA) ha evaluado la necesidad de la comunidad ispanica en el Trailer Park y ahora tiene un traductor oficial Spaniol-Ingles.
Esta nueva posicion me ha sido ofrecida y la he aceptado con gran placer. Mi nombre es Jorge Arias. Mis ancestros vienieron de Europa tiempo atras, para vivir en Argentina donde he nacido. Unos 8 anios atras decidi venir a Boulder donde me he radicado y he estado viviendo desde entonces en el Mapleton Mobile Home Park.
Que cubre este nuevo servicio:
Problemas de comunicacion dentro del Trailer Park debido a las diferencias de lenguage entre la comunidad espaniola y: La Asociacion del Mapleton Mobile Home park (MHA), los encargados locales, la compania que maneja el Trailer Park (Hast&Co), la Ciudad de Boulder y todos los residentes del Trailer Park. Que no cubre este servicio:
Problemas fuera del Trailer Park o no relacionados con el Trailer Park. Traduccion profecional.
Tambien estare traduciendo variedad de comunicacion escrita como boletines explicando que es La Asociacion del Mapleton Mobile Home Park (MHA), come fue creada y cuales son sus fines. Que es la Cuenta de Ahorros y porque es tan importante participar en ella para ser duenio de la tierra donde su Trailer esta asentado.
Si usted necesita mi asistencia, vivo en el lote # 142. Preferentemente, pude llamarme a (303) 447-2246 y dejar un mensaje. Si tiene acceso a mail electronico puede escribirme a: mapachebello@hotmail.com.
Muy atentamente
Jorge Arias
(Eds note: Jorge is a long time resident of Mapleton Park. He worked on the Goose Creek Project and was instrumental in the MHA's successful bid to halve the number of homes slated for removal from 12 to 6.)

A House in Boulder, Affordable Style
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by Carol Teboe
 Recently I had the unfortunate experience of having the rear window of my car smashed while it was parked outside my house. I have since heard of another person who had a similar experience with her vehicle. Many non-Mapleton residents pass through the Park on foot or in cars throughout the day and night. While a majority of the people who come through the Mapleton are pleasant and well meaning, a small minority drive too fast and others vandalize property. As a community, lets all watch over each others property and safety so we can continue to enjoy this wonderful in which we live.

Participate in the MHA and Participate in Your Future!!!
by Mark Reeder
back to top
 As I involve myself with many of the MHA committees, I become more and more certain that we will achieve our goal of a residential buyout of Mapleton Mobile Home Park. We have MHA volunteers and city staff members all working together to help us achieve our goals. What can you do to help? Share, contribute and participate in the MHA!!! 1) Join the MHA (its only 5.00$ a year for annual dues). 2) Join the escrow fund (it's approximately 25.00 per month. It slowly goes up each month as time goes by. If you are unable to afford this, join anyway and pay less, what ever you can afford. BUT PLEASE JOIN BECAUSE doing this will secure you a place in the future buyout of the park.) 3) Come to MHA quarterly meetings and the Goose Creek Festival. (This is your chance to put your two cents worth into the operations of the MHA and your future. If it's a big project maybe you could assist the MHA and we could set up a new committee and get things done that way). Join us and be a part of your future. Lastly, if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions never hesitate to call me, Ben Jensen at (303) 545- 2672 so that we can work together and make the future better for everyone. After all, this is our chance to have our cake and eat it too, and I'm getting hungry.

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The Mapleton Mobile-izer is published quarterly by the Mapleton Home Association and is distributed free to all residents of Mapleton Mobile Home Park.