May 2021

Meadowglenners, it is in our 20 year Reserve plan to update the clubhouse furniture this year. While some items have aged gracefully, we hope to modernize and make the clubhouse space a bit more multifunctional. The board would like to offer the furniture to Meadowglen residents before we donate them. The clubhouse will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8-10 am for Meadowglen residents to take what they would like. All unclaimed furniture items will be donated to Family Tree, a non-profit which helps families in need.

The lifeguards don’t officially start until tomorrow, but with such a nice day and the kids out of school, the pool is open for use. Without lifeguards, please swim at your own risk. No reservations necessary today only (again, no lifeguards). Be careful, look out for each other, and have fun!

Dear Meadowglen residents,

As most of you know, the topic of trucks parking in Meadowglen has been hotly debated in the community for more than a decade. In 2018 HOA legal counsel advised the board that a 2007 policy we had written to provide flexibility to the truck covenant actually violated our covenants and had to be removed. This fact, in addition to crimes against trucks parked outside the community and conflict between neighbors within the community, caused the board to consider a change to the covenant. The BOD conducted a community survey, employed a mediator to identify a middle ground, and provided plenty of communication/engagement opportunities for community members, resulting in the Board initiating a consent to change ballot to permit trucks to park in the community with restrictions. Our covenants require 66 percent of the homeownership to consent to the change. The vote failed by 8 votes. The Board determined that the issue would not be revisited for at least 2 years and that a grassroots movement within the community would need to initiate future action. While the vote’s failure to pass temporarily settled the issue, it did not resolve it.

During the last several months, the Board has become aware through social media platforms, emails, phone calls, and conversations in the neighborhood that tensions regarding the truck issue are growing and continuing to divide the community. Residents who park their trucks outside the community experience truck theft and break-ins, causing safety and quality of life issues to be raised. Newcomers to the community are perplexed by a rule that allows a large SUVs or vans to be parked in the driveway but requires an expensive truck to park outside the community. The changing neighborhood demographics along with the transformation of trucks and their growing popularity calls the current value of the covenant into question.

In April, the Board was also made aware of a grassroots movement willing to go door-to-door to collect signatures on a proposed covenant. Their intent was to utilize the prepared covenant from the 2018 ballot with a modification of the height from 80” to 84”. To better understand the legal situation if they did deliver enough ballots, the Board met with our legal counsel before the May Board meeting. Our lawyer advised us that, based on the 2018 ballot results indicating 63 percent of the community is in favor of the change, the board has duty and good cause to bring it back up for vote.

At the May meeting, as noted in the May 12 and May 17 emails of the agenda, the Board and community members discussed the topic. Based on resident feedback received during the meeting, the Board decided to provide additional feedback opportunities to residents on both sides of the issue in person and digitally. An open house style town hall has been scheduled for Saturday, June 5 from 1 to 3 p.m. outside of the Meadowglen clubhouse to answer questions you may have or make comments to the Board. If you would prefer to record your feedback digitally, you may email the Board at bod@meadowglen-hoa.com or fill out a form on our community website located here: https://www.meadowglen-hoa.com/proposed-truck-covenant-feedback-form/.

The Board will consider all feedback before proceeding with a vote.

It is important to remember, that while our governing documents include covenants that the Board of Directors are required to enforce, the documents also include language to amend a covenant when it no longer serves the community. The question being raised is whether the covenant prohibiting trucks from parking in the community still serves the community, and if it does not, what is the community’s path forward.

Lastly, the date of the June board meeting, originally scheduled for June 17, has been rescheduled for June 24 at 6 pm.

On behalf of your board of directors, sincerely,

Ari Feldman
Board President

Last summer the City of Arvada advised us that it’s against residential code to have a food truck operate within 50 ft of a residential property line. The City did advise that the food trucks could park in the clubhouse parking lot if the Board was amenable. At the time the Board was very cautious on how to proceed with the pool, so we felt that we had assumed enough liability and didn’t want to invite more liability.

Obviously this summer is slightly different, with COVID in recession and people more familiar with COVID safety. In order for us to assume the liability, the Board discussed that we would require food trucks to apply for a permit. Here are the items required to be granted a permit:

1. The date(s) they will be parked in the lot
2. A copy of their Business License

This should also give homeowners some confidence that the food trucks are safe and authorized by the Board to be there. If you are interested in coordinating a food truck, please give them this guidance and have them email the Board at bod@meadowglen-hoa.com.

Longtime resident and member of Meadowglen’ Beautification Committee, Dave Hendricks, has passed away.

Much loved by fellow committee members and neighbors, Dave is best known for spearheading a project with the City of Arvada to plant a forest of evergreens along 80^th Avenue. In 2009, Hendricks approached the board with the idea to plant a row of trees planted as a sound/light/noise barrier for Meadowglen residents, whose homes border the heavily trafficked W. 80^th Avenue. The board, while skeptical he could convince the City, gave him the thumbs up, and with help from Meadowglen’s ARC Chairperson, David Sands, the two presented the idea (along with Hendricks very elaborate plans) to the Arvada Parks Advisory Committee. The committee recognized the wisdom in the idea and moved it forward resulting in the beautiful of forest of evergreens that line W. 80^th Avenue along the periphery of Meadowglen.

In 2017, the Meadowglen Board proposed that the area be officially named “The Forest of the Daves” to recognize Hendricks and Sands for their commitment to the project. City Council voted unanimously in favor, and a sign dedicating the area as such was erected. In October of that year, City officials, the Daves and their families, along with Meadowglen residents held a dedication ceremony at the site (pictured below in the back row 5^th from the left.).

Dave’s kind spirit and commitment to the Meadowglen Community will be greatly missed, but his memory will live on and on and on in the “The Forest of the Daves.”

THANK YOU, DAVE!

As part of the City of Arvada’s single hauler system through Republic Services, HOA residents will be charged 88 cents per month on their water/sewer bill (billed every two months) beginning in September. This fee allows HOA residents (who are otherwise not part of the single-hauler system) to participate in bulk item and yard waste drop off events at no additional cost.

Bulk Item Drop Off Events (Limit 5 items):

• Saturday July 24, 2021 (8 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
  Stenger Sports Complex
  11200 W. 58th Ave., Arvada, CO 80002
• Saturday Aug. 14, 2021 (8 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
  North Area Athletic Complex
  19500 W. 64th Pkwy., Arvada, CO 80403.

Leaf Recycling Drop off Events:

Saturdays Nov. 6, Nov. 13 and Nov. 20 (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

• Stenger Sports Complex
  5675 Oak St., Arvada, CO 80002 (east entrance)
• Perma Green Organics
  5520 Harlan St., Arvada, CO 80002

As we reported last month, the Board has opted to continue contracting its waste & recycling services through Waste Management. Although rising slightly, the prices remain far lower than the City’s single hauler system through Republic Services. Additionally, WM has done a good job in our community.

While most currently offered WM services will remain the same, there is one important change for homeowners to be aware of:

For safety and efficiency purposes, Waste Management is changing to a fully-automated system, which means their trucks will do all the lifting and disposing. Beginning with the first trash pickup date in June, Thursday, June 3, ALL trash must be contained within the WM provided trash bin. NO additional trash cans or bags of waste will be accepted.

Residents may order an additional trash bin through WM at the cost of $5 a month. This will need to be arranged by the resident directly with WM by calling customer service at 303-797-1600. The additional cart will be billed directly to the resident.

As previously offered, Bulk Item pick up is also available to residents, and the resident will be billed directly for the service at the time of request.

Absolute Pool Management is looking for lifeguards to join our seasonal team! The season begins Memorial Day weekend and ends on Labor Day, with a few additional weekends in May for orientation and training. Ideal candidates are self-motivated, hardworking, have integrity, and have good communication skills. Payrates start at $15-16.25 an hour and increase based on experience, position, etc.  Please note, that you are not guaranteed to work in your HOA neighborhood but always in the general area.

We certify our lifeguards using the American Red Cross Lifeguarding Course. Lifeguard training dates are currently TBD, but we accept all major certifications (i.e., Red Cross, Ellis, etc.) 

Prerequisites! All Candidates must:

1. Be at least 15 years old on or before the final scheduled session of the course.
2. Swim 300 yards, continuously demonstrating breath control and rhythmic breathing. Candidates may swim using the front crawl, breaststroke, or a combination of both, but swimming on the back or side is not allowed. Swim goggles may be used.
3. Tread water for 2 minutes, using only the legs. Candidates should place their hands under the armpits.
4. Complete a timed event within 1 minute, 40 seconds:

4. Starting in the water, swim 20 yards. Swim goggles are not allowed.
5. Surface dive, feet-first or headfirst, to a depth of 7 to 10 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object.
6. Return to the surface and swim 20 yards on the back to return to the starting point with both hands holding the object and keeping the face at or near the surface so they are able to get a breath.
7. Exit the water without using a ladder or steps.

If you are interested in becoming certified or are already certified and are interesting in working for APM please contact us at info@apoolman.com

Thank you!

APM Staff

The pool season officially starts on 5/29! With Jefferson County in the Clear Level as of May 15, we are back to 100% capacity. Because of COVID there is a national lifeguard shortage and APM requested that we continue to use a reservation system to help stabilize the patron/lifeguard ratio. So, we will continue to do that with 2 hour blocks, reservations may be made up to 1 week in advance. Guests are allowed and you may book back-to-back slots. The statewide mask order does not require masks outside, but you may wear one if that makes you feel comfortable. Lifeguards and the Meadowglen Swim Team are back! 

We did have a major plumbing break in the clubhouse basement during the winter/spring snowstorms. Due to the clubhouse not being utilized, extensive damage to the basement bathrooms occurred and will need to be renovated. This means that for the time being, the bathrooms are closed and port-o-lets will be available in the parking lot. This is obviously not desirable for anyone, but until the renovation happens this summer it will be the only option at the clubhouse. We are working with a contractor and our insurance to get this taken care of as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience .

2021 Pool Operations

Pool Season: 5/29-9/6
Hours of Operation: Open Swim 10 AM – 8 PM, Lap swim 8 PM – 9 PM
Reservations: 2 hour reservations must be made ahead of time on our community website made only up to 1 week in advance: https://www.meadowglen-hoa.com/?page_id=821
Capacity: Pool area is limited to 100 people
Guests: 2 guests/Meadowglen resident may accompany the resident at the pool

Rules:

• If you feel sick or have any COVID-19 related symptoms, please do not come to our common areas.
• Per CDPHE, Masks are optional in outdoor settings
• Spray bottles with disinfectant will be available at the door to spray down areas before and after use.
• No Smoking or Vaping inside pool area or within 50 ft of pool fence
• No running
• No profanity
• No pets in the pool area
• No horseplay, throwing, “playing chicken”, launching, or pushing of persons
• No glass containers allowed in the pool area
• No plugged in electrical equipment allowed inside the pool area
• No pool toys allowed that could cause bodily injury. This includes rocks, coins and other hard objects
• No bicycles, tricycles, skateboards, roller skate, scooters or other recreational equipment in pool area
• No offensive tattoos, symbols or language will be permitted  

Our very generous Meadowglen neighborhood was able to raise $700 for Ralston House this spring. And in spite of snow, rain, and lots of wind, the pinwheels have mostly survived and remain spinning! They are tough and resilient just like these kids and teens – a visible sign of hope and healing, something needed by all of us. Well done and thank you very much for your support.
– Ann DeMers