CASTLE PINES NORTH MASTER ASSOCIATION
ANNUAL MEETING
7:00 P.M. Ð November 21, 2002
Castle Pines North Community Center
1. WELCOME
Vice President Maureen Shul called the November 21, 2002 Annual Meeting of the CPN Master Association to order at 7:00 p.m. Shul welcomed all in attendance and stated that the purpose of the meeting is for the Delegates to elect three members to the Board of Directors of the Master Association, and to transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
2. INTRODUCTIONS
Introductions of all in attendance were made.
Attendance
Delegates present: Linda Nuzum, Maureen Shul, Cheryl McDade, Brian Stopps, Sheri Brummett, Todd Swift, Linda Sweetman-King, Tres Thurston, Ted Lohr, Mel Cunningham, Kristine Sherman and Nancy Clarke
Delegates absent: Tom Cunningham, Robert Fields, Elisa Trebilco, Barbara Saenger, Steve Mimnaugh, Chris Fellows and Debbie Smith
Associate Member Representative absent: Kyle Linhardt
Staff: Alison Gibbens and Kathleen Nash
Guests: Norma Kerklo, Harriet and Jerry Burns (HOA #2), Janet and Keith Conner, Doug and Sandi Barnes, James and Sue Creager and Patrick Ramsey (Bristle Cone), Eva Mitchell, Scott Adams and Galen Crowder (HOA#1), Robert and Laurel Sjodin (Glen Oaks), Judy Kleeman (Forest Park)
Nuzum explained the roles of Directors and Delegates as elected representatives of CPN-area Homeowners.
Every neighborhood that is a member of the CPN Master Association may select a Delegate to represent their Delegate District. Where the builder still owns a majority of the lots, the builder may appoint the Delegate for their District. Otherwise, the Sub-association for the District selects their Delegate, according to the rules of their HOA.
The DelegatesÕ primary legal role is to meet once a year at the Master Association's Annual Meeting to elect the Board of Directors, to fill those seats where the DirectorÕs 3-year term has expired. Delegates vote based on the number of lots in their District. Directors are chosen because of their individual qualifications, and are expected to take into account the interests of the whole community, not just their own neighborhoods.
Throughout the year, the Board of Directors holds regular meetings that are open to all residents of CPN. All Delegates also receive notice of the Board meetings and are invited to attend, provide communication with their neighborhoods, and participate in all discussions prior to formal vote by the Directors.
Hidden Pointe has a unique, contractual relationship with Castle Pines North. While all other subdivisions in the CPN area were formally included in the boundaries of Castle Pines North, Hidden PointeÕs developer kept the subdivision outside the CPN boundaries, but signed contracts to obtain services from CPN. Hidden Pointe has been asked to send a Representative to all Master association meetings, and participate in the monthly Board meetings in the same manner as the Delegates from all CPN neighborhoods. However, Hidden PointeÕs contract with the CPN Master Association provides for ÒAssociate MembershipÓ status which does not grant rights to serve as a formal Delegate to the Annual Meeting for the purpose of the election of Directors. Master Association officers have invited Hidden Pointe to discuss the possibility of creating an annexation agreement which would provide full membership status in the Master Association, however the Hidden Pointe HOA has not responded.
Nuzum made sure that everyone had a copy of the handout outlining guidelines for Homeowner input at Master Association meetings. She invited guests who wished to speak to indicate so on the sign up sheet. Guests may sign up to address a topic that is already on the agenda, and they will be recognized to speak during that agenda item. The Homeowner Input agenda item at the end of the meeting can be used for other questions or comments.
3. ROLL CALL AND ESTABLISHMENT OF QUORUM
Master Association Secretary Swift took roll call and a quorum was established with 11 delegates voting and 1 voting by proxy representing a total of 1,815 votes (quorum - 1514 votes). Delegates in attendance are noted above.
4. MINUTES
MOTION by McDade to approve the minutes from the annual meeting held on November 8, 2001 as written, seconded by Sweetman-King; motion approved and carried.
Swift opened the floor for nominations for the three Board of Directors positions to be filled for 2003. It was noted that Nuzum, Stopps and Brummett are wishing to run for the director seats again. No other delegates chose to run and Sweetman-King moved to close nominations and McDade seconded.
By acclamation Nuzum, Brummett and Stopps were elected as directors with their term expiring in 2005.
6. YEAR IN REVIEW
Telecommunication
Nuzum reported on the activities of the Telecommunications Committee. At the last annual meeting we had virtually no high-speed Internet services available in CPN, but today, many (but not all) areas have several choices, including Qwest DSL, and also two wireless options available in our area.
A large concentration of effort and time has been put into challenging the Distance Charge, a phone-bill surcharge that is applied to each phone line in our area. It appears that solving this issue will require having the Colorado Public Utilities Commission change the phone service rate structure statewide, to reflect the current status of telecom technology and development patterns. HOA#1 residents Mark and Lisa Towne filed a PUC complaint to begin this process, and other residents (most notably Mark Fei and Linda Nuzum) have stepped in to share their expertise and time. However, it became apparent that the case was too complex to be handled solely by volunteers, so the Master Association engaged an attorney who specializes in this area. We should know soon whether the PUC will include this issue in a statewide docket. The CPN committee and attorney will continue to be active on this issue until it is resolved
Schools
Nuzum reported that a year ago, a second elementary school in CPN was just beginning to be talked about. We have gone from concept, to moving the location and now to actually seeing it be built. The new school is located on the western portion of the CC20 parcel, near BristleCone Single Family homes. The School District reports that construction is on schedule for an August 2003 opening. Boundaries have been set and are:
Delegate Sherman explained that one of the school committeesÕ main focuses for was for both Buffalo Ridge and Elementary #35 to attend the new Middle School and High School. Every effort was made to avoid dividing the neighborhoods and the School Board approved the suggestions that were recommended. Both CPN Elementary schools will attend the new middle school and high school. Wildcat Mountain Elementary will also feed into the new middle school and high school.
Thank you Laura Kennedy and Kristine Sherman for all of your hard work.
Library
Nuzum informed those present that there have been conversations with the Library District about the possibility of locating a book mobile within Castle Pines North. There have been no firm dates or locations given and the library committee will continue to work on achieving this goal for CPN.
Development
Stopps informed the group that CPN parcel CC20 (which is located at the northwest corner of Castle Pines Parkway and Monarch) is the only piece of land where the development possibilities are unknown. There is the possibility that it will remain commercial or it could also be developed into multi-family housing.
Stopps further reported that the Development Review Committee (DRC) has been very busy this past year, submitting comments to Douglas County regarding the following projects: Safeway, WendyÕs, adjacent free standing buildings, BP Amoco, changes to Texaco and Great American, Kings Soopers completion and more. Overall, he said that the County has been very supportive of our requests to keep the look and appeal of new development consistent with the design of CPN as a whole.
Roads and Traffic
Eventually, the State is also planning on building a park-and-ride on the east side of I-25 and Exit 188, and a frontage road along the east side, from exit 188 to Lincoln. Surrey Ridge and exit 191 will eventually be closed and a new interchange will be created south of Lincoln at the new hospital.
Air Traffic
Shul reported that she has taken noise complaints to the FAA however, this area will take and enormous amount of time to resolve. Surrey Ridge has also been very active and is working on a ten point plan to help resolve some of the noise issues. Of major concern also is the low flying planes that have been reported.
Communication
Nuzum stated that the newsletter publication frequency was expanded to 6 issues a year. The editor is still needing representatives for all HOAÕs to report on information and news for that specific neighborhood. The association has also further expanded its email list and encourages all residents to participate as the list is kept in house. Our website has been successful as over 2,000 unique visitors each month. Next year we will check into stream lining and simplifying the site if possible.
Community Events
The CPN Social coordinators hosted and successfully helped put on several events this year including; the Easter Egg Hunt, Summer Family Picnic, the Octoberfest and a Garage Sale.
Business Partnership
Shul has been working toward putting together a program that would combine efforts between our staff and incorporate the CPN business community such that fundraising and community awareness work together. It is anticipated that this role would begin the first half of 2003.
Sub-Association collaboration and Association relationships
The Master Association is beginning to host collaborative efforts between all of the sub-associations covering topics of interest to the neighborhood associations. A session was held on pool maintenance, and attendees expressed interest in other topics such as landscaping maintenance. This focus will continue into 2003. The Master Association will also begin work of reviewing the HOA structures and documents with CPN.
Nuzum noted that a Parks and Recreation Master Plan for CPN was adopted in 1999, and CPNÕs Parks Authority was created to provide funding for the plan. Since the Authority was formed, all of the parks fees paid by developers in our area have been applied to parks in our own area and not to Douglas County general funding for parks. In addition, 70% of Master Association dues are transferred directly to the Parks AuthorityÕs capital fund.
Parks
Nuzum reported that Coyote Ridge Park is complete with the last six-foot stretch of trail being completed soon. The County will eventually build a trail segment to tie Coyote Ridge Park into a regional trail system.
The next park being planned is one that will be located at the north east corner of Castle Pines Parkway and Yorkshire. Coyote Ridge was primarily funded by cash up-front from developer fees, and in kind contributions from D. R. Horton. Most of the Developer fees have been collected, and the remaining capital expenditures for parks will come from the Parks AuthorityÕs existing funds and future dues from the CPN Master Association. The Master Association increased dues, starting this year, in order to accelerate the completion of this park. Planning and land acquisition for the park will continue in 2003, with a goal of opening the park by 2005.
Trails
CPNÕs developers have completed most, but not all, of the trails planned within CPN. CPN will tie into the CountyÕs East-West Regional Trail; a two mile section is opening this Saturday that heads west from Daniels Park Road north of CPN, and this trail will eventually extend from Cherry Creek Reservoir to Chatfield Reservoir. The County also recently opened a trail at the Surry Ridge Exit. The CPN Metro District will be creating a map of existing and planned trails in CPN, which will be a good resource for residents interested in determining whether gaps exist in our planned trails system.
Recreation Center
A major issue this year was the proposal on building an indoor recreation center in Castle Pines North. This type of facility was envisioned in the 1999 CPN Parks and Recreation Plan. By 2001, the communityÕs build out rate and financial condition had reached the point where it was possible to explore the idea. The CPN Parks Authority, Master Association, and Metro District initiated a detailed process to examine feasibility and determine if the community should move forward at this time.
During 2002, the CPN Metro District prepared a 25-year projection of expected tax revenues and expenses, including payment of existing infrastructure bonds; an external recreation-planning consultant completed a feasibility analysis; and an independent polling firm conducted a scientific survey of CPN residents. A citizensÕ committee guided all of these studies, used the results to create a specific proposal, and summarized their proposal in a document that was distributed to all residents. The detailed documents, including the financial projections, consultantÕs report, and scientific survey report, were available for homeowner review. The proposal outlined the facility components, and specified that funding would come partially from user fees, and partially from existing levels of Master Association dues and Metro District taxes.
Numerous public meetings were held throughout all of the stages of the process, with often-fervent debate over the idea of a CPN recreation center, the specifics of the proposal, and whether this was the right time to proceed with a project such as this one. While there was no legal requirement to put the issue to a vote (since the proposal did not increase taxes), the Master Association and Metro District boards chose to place the decision of whether to proceed with this proposal in the hands of the voters. At the November 5th general election, CPN Metro District voters narrowly defeated the measure -- the final count showed 59 more No votes than Yes votes, out of 2,500 total votes cast.
7. FINANCIAL
Nuzum noted that the Master Association had voted earlier this year to set the Annual Dues for 2002 at $216, and in June, published an explanation of the rationale for the dues increase, which would be in effect regardless of the decision on the recreation center. McDade explained that the annual billing for this year had been delayed due to a large database enhancement that took longer than anticipated. McDade is in the final stages of verifying the information in the new system, and the dues invoices for 2002 will be mailed soon. Enclosed in this yearÕs statement will be a reminder for residents to provide and update their email address and a question on number of phone lines that will be used in the Distance Charge issue.
McDade presented a financial report for the Association, through October 2002. The number of closings year-to-date is on budget and the closing pattern thus far continues to show CPN in good financial standing. All expense categories are below budget. McDade noted that our legal costs will increase because of the PUC complaint and the Forest Park North Gate issues that we have had to consult an attorney on.
The draft 2003 Budget was discussed. This budget will be presented for approval at the December 5th Board of Directors meeting. Nuzum noted that the accounting fees are higher as we need to conduct an audit of 2002 in 2003. She also noted that the management fees are less due to our independent contractors charging less than management companies for a higher quality of work.
Brummett MOTIONED to accept the Account Payables; Stopps seconded; motion approved and carried.
8. MEETING DATES
Next Board Meeting:
December 5th, 7 p.m., CPN Community Center
Next Annual Meeting:
November 20, 2003, 7 p.m., CPN Community Center
9. ADDITIONAL HOMEOWNER INPUT
There was no other homeowner input.
MOTION to adjourn by Swift; seconded by McDade; motion approved and carried. The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Alison Gibbens
Recording Secretary
Approved ___________________________________, 2003
___________________________________ ________________________________________
Secretary President