Place:  Unity Church (View photos here)

Time: 5:00

Board Members Present: Paul Keaton President; Mark Reeder Acting Secretary

Guests: TCH — Bill Windsor, Julie Nichols; Naropa — Teresa Mann, Chris  Getzan, Josh Evans; WASH — Janelle Freeston

Agenda:

Election of Officers

Infrastructure report by Bill Windsor

Management committee report

Thistle Corner by TCH Staffer, Julie Nichols. 

Sign on lot 81 erected

Resident comment period

Naropa Survey/WASH

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President Paul Keaton called the meeting to order at 5:10pm.

The first order of business was the election of officers.  Four posts are open: Vice President, Treasurer, Chair of the Management Committee and Secretary.

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Acting Secretary Mark Reeder stated that Steve Gaines in #160 has indicated he would run for the position of Vice President.  Paul Keaton opened the floor to nominations for Vice President.  Steve Gaines was nominated for Vice President by Mark Reeder and seconded by Ben Jensen.  The votes were 11 in favor and none against.

Paul then opened the floor to nominations for treasurer.  Jonathan nominated Keith Ainsworth for treasurer.  Ben Jensen seconded.    The votes were 11 for and none against.

Paul then opened the floor to nominations for Management Committee Chair.  He explained to the people there that Debbie Feustel had indicated she would serve as chair.  Debbie was not present. Kabir nominated Debbie for Management Committee Chair.  Ben seconded the nomination.  The votes were 11 for and none against.

Paul then opened the floor to nominations for Secretary.  He stated that Mark Reeder who has been acting Secretary for the past year is stepping down.   

There were no nominations for secretary.

Jonathan Machen #25 then asked who would be taking Mark’s place at meetings.  Paul suggested that board and Management Committee members would take turns.  Jonathan stated that he would keep the website going to post the minutes of the meetings.  He stated that city personnel and staff do read the website.

Paul commented that we have a fuller executive board and are able to handle the responsibilities of managing the Park and running the MHA.

Enzo asked about becoming a member of the management committee

Mark explained the procedure of applying for the management Committee.  Any resident who wants to become a member of the Management Committee must apply to the management committee and present proof that they are a resident of Mapleton Park.  Please include a resume of your work and education.  The Management Committee will then evaluate your application and pass it along to the Executive Board with a recommendation for or against becoming a member of the Committee.  If the Executive Bard votes to accept the nominee then the resident becomes a member.

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Infrastructure Update by Bill Windsor of TCH

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Bill started off with the good news that we are almost through with all of our city requests.  The technical documents approval is the final approval before we can pull permits and begin infrastructure work.

In the first submittal of the Tech docs, there were a few comments but nothing too difficult fom the Planning Department.  We answered the questions.  However, there were some problems with the White Rock Ditch owners, so the resubmittal was delayed a couple of weeks.  Tech docs were submitted a couple of weks ago.  Approval could be as short as 15 days or as long as 45 days.  Bill anticipates that we will have approval, hopefully by mid June.  Pulling permits should only be 20-30 days, which pushes us into July.  We can break ground a month later.

Also Bill is meeting with the City of Boulder’s HHS division, which had some questions on the plan for upgrades.  Their questions are based on the original engineering plans for the upgrades.   Originally the city’s engineer said the project could be done for $2m.  However, the plans did not follow codes and was incomplete.  As a result, HHS wants Thistle and the residents to do partial improvements — water and sewer — over the entire park and then come back at a later date and do electrical, gas and cable.  They want this two-fold plan to take place instead of doing the upgrades street by street.

The street by street approach is less costly and disruptive to residents.  It begins with Mapleton Avenue and goes through the entire park.  It is much better than a partial improvement, then returning and ripping up the roads a second time.  HHS has asked that we explain this to them again.  Bill anticipates that HHS will understand the plan.  The street-by-street model is more cost effective and less disruptive.  Moreover, the new south end sewer system will help drainage of the north side.  Water issues will be addressed, especially pressure for everyone’s homes.  The new loop system will improve everyone's home throughout the Park. 

Finally, the MHA has written a letter in support of the street-by-street model.  Ben Jensen asked if there will be a water pressure gauge for the entire Park?  Bill answered yes.  New VP Steve Gaines asked if the roads will be torn up and for how long.  Bill answered that project rolls through the Park from street to street, and the entire amount of the time is projected at 6 months.  Any given road section will be torn up for some part of that time. It will be a month and half for the first road section, as the crews learn how difficult it will be to do the work, then down to 3-4 weeks for each section after that.  We won’t be locking anyone out of his or her homes.  There will be moments when people cannot Park in front of their homes and will have to walk in.   However, there will be weekly construction meetings with a Mapleton Park resident, who will help coordinate the work and provide help for residents who need it. 

Steve then asked if the sidewalks would be torn up.  Bill answered that they would be substantially torn up.  Some of the decisions will be made on site as the crews go through.   Currently the thinking goes back and forth between taking them out completely and taking out only sections.  Also,  there is the potential of boring underground, saving sidewalks and trees.  The boring issue is dependent upon how rocky the soil is.

Mrs. Wing, who recently purchased #9, asked if residents would be without water.  Bill answered that the goal is to leave the existing infrastructure in place and so not disrupt utilities while the new is being put in.

Enzo Gentile asked what new utilities were going to be put in.  Bill answered cable, water, sewer and electrical.  The telephones lines will be repaired.

Residents are responsible for inside their unit..  Some older units may not have the electrical capacity for new appliances.  As far as tying into the individual units, there will be plenty of room for that.

The question was asked if TCH had had any luck with Xcel donating new service;.  Bill answered not yet but they were still pursuing it.  Thistle is asking Xcel to donate the new service since the old service was put in by the owner and had no Xcel capital involved, yet Xcel has been making money on the residents ever since.

Mark Reeder told the residents that the MHA had sent a letter to Wyatt Construction asking that the company create and fund a community liaison position, using a resident of Mapleton Park.  Bill said that if doesn’t work we will figure out some sort of methodology to make it work.

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Management Committee update

Loretta Milcarek has retired from Has & Co. and was replaced by Sandy Denny.  She is just getting started and has a lot of experience.  Hast & Co.  has done a good job, saving momey and running the Park smoothly for the MHA in the day-today work.

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Financial Committee

The MHA has hired Gene West of RBC Dain Rauscher to manage MHA’s cash reserves.  Over $100,000 to be invested in Federally insured deposits.   We will use a ladder plan for investing in CD’s.  We have extra money because of the way the financial deal was structured.  For the first two years, payment on the bonds was interest only.  Beginning this year, the payments include principle and the amount of savings will be greatly diminished.  It should be noted that we also have other emergency funds to help us in the case of crises.

Mark then explained that we need to keep this money available because over the next few years, the projected finances of the Park will be very tight.  This exta money will help us in case of emergencies.

Thistle Corner by TCH Staffer, Julie Nichols.    

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Julie Nichols reported that she, Julie Morris and Enzo Gentile went door to get people to sign leases.    95% signed so far.  We will continue to add to these.

TCH is hosting CLT conference, approximately 400 people coming from all over the country.  Bus tours to TCH communities including Mapleton Park.  Need volunteers to be available when  the tours go through the Park.  If anyone is interested on the buses or in the Park or volunteer for any other aspect, then please contact Julie Nichols at TCH 303-443-0007.  Conference July, 13-15.

Other business:

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Jonathan Machen explained that Enzo and Julie Morris erected a sign in front of lot #81, which is the site of the CU project.  Check it out at www.trailerwrap.net.  Paul commented that the design is futuristic and interesting.

Resident Comment period.

Kim Ballard #42 requested of the MHA Executive Board, management Committee and TCH that they respond to letters affecting Kim’s household and situation.  Important issues have gone unacknowledged and there is a stalled dialogue around resolution that needs to take place.  “My circumstance could be the circumstance of any homeowner in the Park” Kim said. Additionally, the communications received do not address specific points.  Kim stated that she is at a loss of how to continue and asks that the management make an effort to have negotiation and discussion. “ I believe I have made a sincere effort to address these issues.  So let’s get things resolved.”

Kim went on to add that she wished to be included in the discussions.  Her appeal at tonight’s meeting is to make others aware of her circumstances. She is formally requesting that these concerns be worked through and aired in a fair way.

Kim finished her comments by letting residents know that deer resistant plants in lot #43 are available for residents to dig up on their own.  The plants will be available next Friday and Saturday.

Mark Reeder then made a tribute to Silvia Gentile.   He asked that residents thank Silvia for her work with the MHA.  Thanks to her we are a financially strong and viable organization.  If you see her in the Park, thank her personally for all her work.

Paul added that Silvia made our efforts relevant, and thanks to her she made us a great organization making the income from Park revenues part of the MH.  She empowered us a great deal by giving us control over all that revenue.

Julie Morris told everyone that the Park is planning to have a large dumpster available to help residents clean up their yards.  In addition, there will be people available to help residents who are unable or have difficulty to clean up their yards.  Residents can sign up with Julie; please do so by the 17^th of May.  Clean up will be on the 21^st.  A letter will be going out to the residents to let them know what to do.

Meeting adjourned at 6:00pm

WASH presentation

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At the end of the meeting, the Naropa and WASH representatives made their presentations to the community.  Three Naropa students — Teresa Mann, Chris Getzan, Josh Evans — created and passed out a survey on water quality throughout the park.  The results of the survey will be available for the community on this website, the MHA blog and also posted on the bulletin boards around the park.  In addition, WASH, Watershed Association for Stream Health, staffer Janelle Freeston made a presentation on Goose Creek.

Minutes respectfully submitted by Acting Secretary,

Mark Reeder

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