HOMESTEAD IN THE WILLOWS HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION
Regular Board Meeting April 8, 2024 – Unofficial Minutes
CALL TO ORDER: President, James Keating called the meeting to order at 6:33pm. Present were Secretary, Ginny Karlberg; new member, Robb Origer; Member at Large, Michael Garnsey; Tennis Manager, Jill Ellsworth; Business Manager, Katie Kidwell; Pool Managers, Jaylene Jones and Shannon Ricca; Social Committee Co-chair, Olivia Phillips and committee member, Kate Haaf; and Swim Team Parent Rep, Kristen Kraus. Treasurer, Steve Bell attended the meeting via Zoom. Homeowner Donald Luther attended a portion of the meeting.
MINUTES: The minutes of the March 11 Annual meeting for members were approved as read.
RATIFICATION OF BOARD ACTIONS: There were no Board Actions to ratify.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
SOCIAL COMMITTEE: Social Committee co-chair Olivia Phillips reported that the Egg Hunt went smoothly although had a lower turnout because many families were away for Easter and Spring Break. The committee has several food trucks lined up for the summer and is looking for bands for Music in the Park. A movie night is scheduled for September 5. The City of Centennial’s land use regulations prohibit the placement of a permanent sign holder to advertise community events on the medians leading in and out of the neighborhood so the committee will continue advertising events using the sandwich boards or temporary signs. Volunteer Kate Haaf who is coordinating the July 4 celebration summarized the changes the social committee would like to make to the party this year. On Wednesday, July 3 the committee will host a bicycle decorating event at the North Pool so that kids can decorate their bikes together for the parade the following day. On July 4 the parade will start at 10:30am at the South Pool and follow a new route that finishes at the South Pool where the party and ground games will take place from 11am to 2pm. The committee hopes to add decorated homeowner cars and floats to the parade as well. The committee is seeking volunteers to run the ground games in lieu of hiring teens.
Since the July 4 celebration will be held at the South Pool this year, the North Pool will open at 10am on Thursday, July 4 so that residents who don’t take part in the festivities will have another less crowded pool to use. The Board agreed with the changes proposed by the Social committee.
SWIM TEAM: Parent Rep Kristen Kraus thanked the Board for the HOA’s continued support and presented a letter requesting the annual donation from the HOA that helps support the Swim Team. The team is hoping to upgrade the sound system which is faulty and to purchase a tent where the families that are new to the team can sit together and meet each other.
MANAGER REPORTS:
POOL: Pool Manager Jaylene Jones introduced new manager Shannon Ricca. Jaylene went on to state that the new skimmers are installed at the South Pool and almost finished at the West Pool. New furniture was ordered for the South Pool and would arrive in the next two weeks. The North and West pools are fully staffed but there are still a few lifeguard openings for the South Pool.
LANDSCAPE: Manager Nancy Bauer reported on clean up from the March storm damage and she and the Board discussed whether payment should be made from operating funds or reserve funds. Sprinklers are being turned on throughout the property and Colorado Designscapes will be doing their first spring clean up the week of April 8. Nancy had walked the property with a Comcast representative to note damaged utility boxes and also noted that the new Perimeter Fence has to be modified for some boxes. Nancy has filed damage reports with the City of Centennial for sod damage that occurred on Holly when Centennial cleared the sidewalk of snow. The HOA will pay for repairs for sod damage caused on the greenbelts and interior sidewalks. The Board approved and additional $9,500 in landscape costs around the newly installed ADA ramp from the North Pool parking lot to the pool area. Nancy asked if the HOA could pay to remove the old concrete footers from the previous fence. The Board directed Nancy to start removing them on the interior and keep them posted about the cost so that they stay within budget. Secretary, Ginny Karlberg volunteered to act as Landscape liaison.
TENNIS: Manager Jill Ellsworth reported that USTA league play begins April 15 and tennis drills for youth and adults began on April 6. The lack of a restroom has become problematic. Ordinarily the pool restrooms aren’t opened until the middle to end of April because the buildings are not insulated and the temperature can still drop to below freezing in April. The Board directed Jill to obtain a quote for insulating the building attic’s so that the restrooms could be opened sooner since USTA league play requires restrooms be available for players. Jill has also received calls about pickleball being played on the tennis courts. Member at Large Michael Garnsey pointed out that the City moratorium prohibits match play on a regulation pickleball court. If homeowners are simply practicing pickleball across the tennis net, that is not against the city ordinance. He also reported the City of Centennial has not received any noise complaints. The Board instructed Jill to remove the tennis court signs that include pickleball rules and post general signs that state no pickleball match play. Jill went on to report the new backboard has been installed on the South courts and all fence maintenance has been completed. Jill is ordering awnings for the North pool.
ACC: The ACC submitted a written report that discussed a revision to the application, and the implementation of application fees
BUSINESS: Katie reported on dues collection and future invoicing for Perimeter Fence payments. The remodel of the North and South Pool lifeguard shacks is almost complete but the refrigerator at the North guard shack has failed and the Board approved the purchase of a new one.
The Board revisited the proposal by Ting for managed wi-fi at the North pool. If the Swim Team has problems with wifi, new Board member Robb Origer had a workaround the Board decided to try in lieu of the proposal from Ting for managed wi-fi. The Board did approve the purchase of VOIP compatible telephones for the guard shacks to be implemented once the free “Friend of Ting” service to the guard shacks is live. The cancellation of the Centurylink modems and phone lines will save the HOA about $4,300 annually. Katie presented two proposals to replace the web crawler climbing rope at the Caroline Maxfield Memorial Playground. The Board approved the less expensive proposal from Recreation Plus. The Board also discussed modifications to the Social Media Policy. Katie alerted the Board to pending legislation that would affect HOA’s in Colorado. The state is considering a law that would override local rules about Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU). Such a law would preempt HOA covenants and give HOA’s no authority over ADU’s. Homesteads current governing documents do not allow ADU’s on a homeowners property. The Board directed Katie to publicize the pending legislation in the Herald and encourage Homeowners to contact their representatives if they feel strongly about the issue. The Board also discussed the cost of Associate Memberships. Currently the rate is set at 60% of the Single Family base dues or $788 for the 2024 summer. Michael moved and James seconded a motion to reduce the Associate Membership fee to 50% of the single family base rate. The motion passed unanimously.
HOMEOWNER COMMENTS: Homeowner Donald Luther thanked the Board for the new Perimeter Fence. As a former Board Member he stated he knew how much work had gone into getting the funding and vote to install the fence and wanted the Board to know how much he appreciated their effort to accomplish the project.
FENCE REPORT: The HOA does not yet have a date for when the section of Perimeter Fence along the west side of Homestead Parkway that remains to be replaced will be finished. That section of fence sits alongside an unstable rock retaining wall that is not on HOA property. Split Rail Fence Company cannot install a regular post without further deterioration to the retaining wall. Split Rail has ordered different posts from a specialty company but has not yet received a completion date. The Board instructed Katie to send a letter to all Perimeter Fence owners that summarizes their responsibility in caring for the fence and reminds owners that the fence may not be removed for any reason (landscaping or otherwise). Doing so voids the warranty on materials and installation. The letter will run in the Homestead Herald as well.
FINANCIAL REPORT: Treasurer, Steve Bell experienced technical difficulties on the Zoom link and discussion of the March financials was tabled.
NEW BUSINESS: Michael moved and James seconded a motion to grant the Homestead Hurricanes Swim Team their annual donation. The motion passed unanimously. The ACES Swim Team asked the Board if they could rent the North Pool for practices in the Fall of 2024 and tryouts in mid-July after Swim Team has wrapped up for the season. The Board approved the request noting the rental period would begin in mid-August when the North Pool closes to residents and fees would remain the same as the previous year. Dumpster Day was scheduled for Saturday, May 11.
The Board members decided on the following Board positions: President James Keating
Vice President Michael Garnsey
Secretary Ginny Karlsberg
Treasurer Steve Bell
Member at Large Robb Origer
ADJOURNMENT AND CALENDARING: The meeting adjourned at 8:34pm. The next regular Board Meeting will be on Monday, May 13, at 6:30pm at the Business Office.