HOMESTEAD IN THE WILLOWS HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION
Annual Homeowner Meeting – March 9, 2026, 7pm – Unofficial Minutes
CALL TO ORDER: Homestead Board President, Robb Origer, called the meeting to order at 7:04 pm. Scouting America Troop 373 performed the opening flag ceremony with recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. The honor guard included Noah and Harrison Kleman, Brayden Kakel, Connor Knowles and Ellis Foutts. Scoutmaster Jeff Heitz thanked the Association for being Troop 373’s Charter Organization. He mentioned the annual Troop 373 flower sale had fallen through the cracks but would be back next year. Troop 373 has three young men preparing to become Eagle Scouts. The Board thanked the Scouts for their service to the community.
BOARD & LEADERSHIP INTRODUCTIONS: Mr. Origer welcomed the homeowners present and introduced the current Board Members: Steve Bell, Ginny Karlsberg, Eric Kemp, and Stuart Siekmeier. He introduced the HOA staff; Katie Kidwell, Business Manager; Nancy Parker, Office Operations; Sherelle Horsfield, Office Operations; Nancy Bauer, Landscape; Jill Ellsworth, Tennis; and Emily Maxfield, Architectural Control. Mr. Origer reminded the audience that many additional volunteers from the membership contribute countless hours to the activities that make Homestead special.
BOARD STRUCTURE AND ELECTIONS: The Association has five Board positions, each serving a three‑year term. Two members will rotate off the Board in 2027 and two more in 2028. Heather Rich stepped forward for the open position this year. Her biography was published in the Homestead Herald and was available next to the ballots. Mr. Origer asked all homeowners to complete their ballots and pass them to the center aisle, where they were collected by the managers for tabulation.
APPRECIATION OF OUTGOING BOARD MEMBERs: Mr. Origer thanked Ginny Karlberg who is completing her term today. He remarked that Ginny had trained him as a board member two years ago and he and the Board were grateful for her service to Homestead.
COMMMUNITY UPDATES: Mr. Origer reviewed the results of the Homeowner survey completed last summer. He shared charts of survey responses resulting in three primary takeaways: Homestead residents have a lot of pride in the community; there is a desire for more transparency and inclusion; and homeowners want improved communication. Based on these results, the Board has set the following priorities
- Continue to simplify and modernize the ACC Process
- Refresh amenities and consider strategic upgrades
- Improve the tone and clarity of HOA communications
- Increase transparency around budgeting and large project decisions
- Foster a culture of service, inclusion and responsiveness
Mr. Origer then discussed improvements to the swimming pool complexes. In 2025 the HOA replaced the cement decking at the South and West Pools. This year the North pool deck is being replaced. In addition, the mechanical room at the North Pool is receiving a long awaited upgrade with new pool equipment.
Mr. Origer introduced Swim Team Parent Representative Nevienne Manning who updated the community about the Homestead Hurricane program. Older swimmers have been opting out of early morning practices so the parent reps have adjusted the practice times and revamped the program to include a developmental program for young swimmers. Ms. Manning asked for continued community support and noted that several volunteer positions still need to be filled.
Mr. Origer also reviewed changes implemented by the Architectural Control Committee (ACC) based on survey feedback:
- The Residential Improvement Guidelines and application for approval have been rewritten for clarity and simplicity.
- The ACC developed approval parameters to give homeowners more guidance about design elements.
- The committee identified common items that no longer require pre‑approval, provided they comply with the Residential Improvement Guidelines and homeowners notify the ACC upon project completion.
- Emailed applications are being accepted while the HOA works on a better digital workflow
- Evening Office Hours were hosted to help homeowners learn about options and requirements and to provide a venue for live Q&A with the ACC..
FINANCIAL REPORT: Treasurer, Steve Bell reviewed the HOA Financials. He began with an update to the Perimeter Fence project noting that due to good cash flow management and a quarter of the homeowners opting to pay the special assessment in full, the HOA will be able to refund $516 to all homeowners. Homeowners on the payment plan should still make the April 30 payment, but the HOA will not assess the final Oct. 30 payment. Mr. Bell presented an analysis of the Reserve Fund noting that the HOA is 50 years old with aging infrastructure. The previous Board worked diligently to persuade the City of Centennial to assume responsibility for the failing timber retaining wall on Dry Creek Road, but it was ultimately determined to be HOA‑owned, requiring the Board to rebuild it last summer—an unexpected expense. Mr. Bell and the Board have developed a long‑term capital plan outlining all HOA assets, replacement dates, life spans, and projected future costs. A separate reserve fund has also been established to save for the future replacement of the Perimeter Fence.
HOMEOWNER COMMENTS/QUESTIONS:
- Thank you to the Board for keeping the neighborhood looking so good. I do have questions about the Flock Safety System that the Board installed. Is the HOA going to continue with Flock? The HOA is in the middle of a two year trial and has made no decisions about continuing or renewing. The system is a license plate reader, it is not capturing names or faces. No one in the HOA is monitoring the content – it is shared with the Arapahoe County Sheriff Office (ACSO).
- Does Flock store images: From what the Board understands the images are not stored. The ACSO deletes all contents every 30 days.
- Is there anything in the Bylaws allowing the Board to install cameras? No, when the bylaws were written in 1974 they didn’t imagine this possibility. Flock had an impressive presentation and statistics to support a reduction in crime.
- What led the Board to install the cameras? There was a credible report of an attempted kidnapping. The Boards intention in installing the cameras was to reduce crime.
- Why wasn’t the community consulted about this? There are a lot of concerns about Flock. I’m not sure the homeowners signed up for this. Homestead did not sign up to share data. The community can have a vote on this.
- How much did the system cost? The cost is $34000 for two years plus $5000 to install the cameras. It worked out to $20 per household per year.
- Is crime in Homestead high enough to justify this expense? There were 148 hotlist hits in the first two months of 2026. A hotlist hit means that a vehicle captured by a Flock license‑plate reader matches a plate or vehicle record flagged as wanted, stolen, or otherwise of interest to law enforcement.
- Do the cameras cover everything? I live on the West side and there is no camera at the Mill Creek entrance. Homestead placed 7 cameras at all it’s entrances but it cannot place cameras on another HOA’s property.
- It doesn’t seem like the Board asked the right questions about homeowner privacy and what happens to our data. The Board will reach out to Flock and get specific answers to these questions.
- I manage the Business Improvement District for Cherry Creek North. We have 13 Flock cameras and they solve crimes! All my dealings with Flock have been professional and I feel better with Flock cameras in the neighborhood. We elect the Board to make these decisions for us.
- I don’t trust Flock. I sell technology and I want to know what the metrics are to define the success of the cameras at the end of the two year trial? There is not a set of metrics that we measure on a monthly basis. If you talk to ACSO it might be hard to draw a straight line from the flock cameras to a reduction in crime. I know my license plate is captured and I see it as a sort of insurance – a small investment that adds a layer of security to the neighborhood.
- I don’t like that homeowners weren’t asked about this decision because it’s our data. I think you should terminate the contract and ask for a community vote The Board hasn’t done their due diligence. The Board meets every month and the meetings are open to all homeowners. We can table this while the Board does some homework to answer your questions.
- I have a neighbor whose truck has been burgled and the cameras won’t stop a criminal. We have bigger problems: we need speed bumps on Costilla Ave. because cars speed on that street. I am tired of dog owners not cleaning up their dogs waste and leaving it in my yard. People should have better manners. Why do we need three swimming pools? You can’t even park at one of them. Why do I have to obtain approval to repaint my house the same color. It’s a nuisance. The HOA has a service that walk the greenbelts and along the main streets to collect dog waste. All owners are encouraged to pick up after their own dogs. Homestead is an HOA with an Architectural Committee that is provided for in the Governing Documents. Applying for new paint is part of the ACC process. Some paint colors previously approved would not be approved today.
- I have lived in Homestead for 41 years and want to thank the Board members for all that you do. Thank you to all the committee volunteers as well. I hope we never consider a management company to run our HOA. As a lawyer who has represented HOA’s we have a great situation here being self managed. If you are going to live in Homestead we all have to chop wood and carry water – consider volunteering for the HOA!
RECOGNITION: Mr. Origer announced that Business Manager Katie Kidwell is retiring. He noted that she has been central to the success of community events and activities and expressed gratitude for her many contributions. Katie thanked the Board and homeowners for their support and shared that working at the office for over 30 years allowed her to serve the community and get to know many residents.
RAFFLE RESULTS: Homeowner Steve Mahedy won the drawing for a 50% rebate on the 2026 HOA dues.
ELECTION RESULTS: 131 Homeowners were in attendance and a quorum was achieved. Heather Rich was been elected to fill the open board position.
CLOSING REMARKS: Mr. Origer thanked everyone for attending and adjourned the meeting at 8:17pm.