Meadowglen Homeowners Association

At every board meeting (March, April, May) since the pandemic hit, the Board has been discussing what the governor’s Stay-At-Home, Safer-At-Home and most recently, the “Safer-At Home and in the Vast, Great Outdoors�? orders mean to our community.  With the health and safety of our residents and the potential liabilities to the HOA in mind, several things occurred: the Board ceased accepting reservations for clubhouse use, canceled community-wide events, canceled the ARC’s spring walk-thru, began holding its board meetings via Zoom and began discussing what the 2020 pool season might look like in Meadowglen, especially after we learned that lifeguards would not be available this summer.

Recognizing that the pool is the hub of Meadowglen families’ summer activities, board members made a commitment early on to do everything they could to open the pool for use if allowed to do so under the public health organizations guidelines and following the required safety practices in those guidelines. On June 4 those guidelines were finalized and HOAs were given the thumbs up to open UNDER VERY STRICT CONDITIONS. Those conditions include: 

• Limiting pool capacity to 50 people or 50% capacity, whichever is less. 
• Maintaining physical distancing between non-household members. 
• Keeping restrooms open. 
• putting a reservation system in place to limit pool capacity 
• Ensuring hourly sanitization of restroom surfaces and all high touch surfaces around the pool during pool operations (this task requires a licensed, insured and bonded professional (not neighborhood volunteers). 

With guidance from our community manager Lewis Moses at MSI and the HOA’s legal counsel, we are considering the following requirements in order to comply with the state guidelines:

• Signage outlining the pool rules and social distancing guidance will be posted. 
• ONLY Meadowglen residents (and caregivers) will be allowed to use the pool. No guests will be permitted. Considering the capacity limits, this is necessary to enable as many Meadowglen residents as possible to have access to the pool.
• An online reservation system will be put in place, and a corresponding check in system will be employed at the door. Residents who do not have access to the internet may call a board member (numbers listed in the Meadowgram) who will access the system for them. See the Meadowglen community website for the reservation system: www.meadowglen-hoa.com 
  • Reservations will be for 2 hour blocks
  • Reservations can only be made up to 3 days in advance
  • No more than 1 reservation per day per household may be made
  • If you are unable to make your reservation, please cancel so other people can use your spot.
  • When making a reservation, you will need to sign a waiver
• Staff at the pool:
  • There will be NO lifeguards. The pool will be a swim-at your-own risk pool this summer.
  • A cleaning company will be hired to comply with the hourly disinfecting guidelines to sanitize the bathrooms and table/chair surfaces. 
  • A person from the cleaning company will help check in reservation holders
• Social Distancing:
  • Deck sections will be taped off designating areas where families can gather. 6 foot sections in between these sections will be taped off to allow social distancing between families.
  • Swimmers must do their best to maintain 6 feet of distance in the pool between non-household members and the sharing of pool equipment/pool toys is discouraged. There will be markings around the pool for you to use as a visual guide.
  • Masks, when not in the pool, are required. This includes entry and exiting the pool property. 
  • The check-in person will be ensuring that you are following proper social distancing guidelines.
• Cleaning
  • Spray bottles with disinfectant will be provided at the door, and families will be asked to spray down their areas of use before and after use.
  • The cleaners will disinfect the frequently touched surfaces including railings, gate, tables, and the bathroom hourly.
  • PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT. Food or beverages brought into the pool MUST BE PACKED OUT. We will NOT have a system in place for emptying garbage. 
• Pool use is allowed ONLY during the following hours : 
  • 7 AM to 8 AM – Lap swim only
  • 10 AM to 8 PM – 2 hour blocks of open swim, only 1 per household per day
  • 8 PM to 9 PM – Lap swim only

We want to know your opinion on these restrictions! Is it worth the cost and risk to open the pool this season? To fill out our survey please visit our website at www.meadowglen-hoa.com and fill out the 2020 Pool Survey under the Feedback tab.

Pending your opinion, we would like to shoot for a target opening date of July 1, but there 2 make-or-break conditions to remain open. We are in the process of securing a company to provide the cleanings, but if we are unable to get a contract in place or they are unable to continue through the summer, then we will close. Secondly, as uncomfortable as it may be, we are asking the assistance of all Meadowglen residents to support compliance from all pool users. If you see these rules being abused, suggest compliance, and please report abuse to either Lewis Moses, the MSI community manager, or a board member. If the state’s guidelines and pool rules are not complied with, the pool will be closed. In order for this pool season to be successful, everyone must take personal responsibility for and comply with these requirements. 

If you have any questions or comments about these measures, please email Lewis Moses (lmoses@msihoa.com) at MSI or Ari Feldman (arifeldman@meadowglen-hoa.com). Stay safe and healthy out there!

This spring we updated our access control system to the pool and clubhouse areas which comes with a bunch of new features and reduced monthly fees. The new features include the ability to more quickly enable cards for access with the clubhouse, remotely unlock the doors, and use your smartphone as a key. Furthermore, it will also be backwards compatible with the existing cards, so no need for new cards. If you do have trouble with your keycard, please let Ari Feldman know ASAP (303-900-2746).

All key requests are handled by our website key request form. If you need a pool and/or tennis, or if you are interested in getting a mobile pass, please submit a key request.

Meadowglen Key Request link

What: Meadowglen driveway chalk art festival

When: weekend of June 13/14^th

Contest for all ages! Decorate your driveway with your chalk art.  Write your house number on the driveway so people can use your house number to vote for their favorite.  Have your driveway chalk art completed by 5pm on Saturday June 13th.

If you’d like to register for the compe

tition, email your address and a picture of your art to arifeldman@meadowglen-hoa.com by 6 pm on 6/13. Then take a stroll through the neighborhood on Saturday evening to Sunday morning and check out the beautiful art pieces from your neighbors.  Take note of your favorites and head to Meadowglen’s Website (www.meadowglen-hoa.com) to vote for your 3 favorites. Voting will go live at 9 am on Sunday morning and every person can vote for their top 3!

On May 16TH the fishing clinic put on by Meadowglen’s finest, Brandon Marrette from the Colorado Parks and Wildlife, was a great success.  The Department of Fish and Wildlilfe stocked our lake with 153 rainbow trout and about 1000 small bluegill, and later this summer it will be stocked again with bass.  The clinic had a total of 127 people made up of 58 kids and 69 adults, most of them had little or no fishing experience.  While maintaining social distancing, the presentations were staggered and Brandon probably repeated his education about 15 times, but it was very informative!  Overall it was a beautiful day to get out around our lake and learn something new!

The Department of Fish and Wildlife gave out 100 rods to the crew, so that was exciting for the kids to be able to take home their own poles.  The board donated some funds for bait, hooks and bobbers.  The only bummer was that only 4 fish were caught during the day (2 bass, 1 trout and 1 carp). Attached is a photo of a bass that was caught by this 1st grader who casted and reeled it in all by himself!

A big thank you to Brandon for volunteering his time and family to h

elp educate our community about fishing and wildlife.

If you would be interested in other clinics like this you can check out the link below:

https://cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/OutreachClinics.aspx

Being cooped up in and around the house has everyone looking for creative ways to recreate. Everyone understands that; however, that fact does not mean that safety or City ordinances can be overlooked. It has been reported that people are taking to the lake for boating, paddleboarding and, yes, even swimming.

First it is important to remember that boating on Pomona Lake is prohibited by City ordinance (this includes paddleboards). Putting boats in Pomona Lake (and any lake/pond in Arvada) can potentially introduce organisms into the lake and into the waterways via Little Dry Creek. There are only two lakes in Arvada that allow boating: Arvada Reservoir and Lake Arbor, and both require boat inspections for use.

Second, swimming in Pomona Lake is not only prohibited, it IS NOT SAFE. Signs along the lake saying No Swimming are posted because, in addition to E.coli, blue-green algae is common in shallow or slow-moving water, such as in lakes and ponds, and hot weather can create perfect conditions for algae to grow quickly and form a bloom. Certain types of blue-green algae can produce toxins that can be harmful to humans and other animals that come into contact with the water. Please stay out of the water and keep your pets out of the water too. For more information, go to www.arvada.org/harmful-algae or www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/harmful-algae-blooms.

 

It has come to the attention of the Board that there are some competing points of view regarding trail use on the north side of Pomona Lake. There are those who would like to see the trail width expanded to accommodate cyclists and pedestrians, and there are those who, for safety issues, would prefer the north trail be restricted solely to pedestrian use.

It is important to note that prior to the City replacing the trail four years ago, they held several community engagement opportunities both at the clubhouse and via surveys to determine the community’s preferences for trail materials and width.  It was determined the 4-foot concrete trail would be the best compromise for the community’s use and would accommodate pedestrians, wheelchairs, strollers, children on trikes and dogs on leashes comfortably and safely. And since the south trail is much wider, as are the footpaths alongside it, cyclists would also easily be accommodated there. 

With the safer at home orders keeping people closer to home, our trails on both the south and north sides of Pomona Lake are busier than ever these days. And with social distancing an important aspect of keeping us all safe, it is more important than ever that we use the trails smartly and safely. While cycling on the north trail is not prohibited by City ordinance, it is recommended that cyclists utilize the much wider south trail for cycling. If you need to ride your bike on the north trail, it is recommended that you get off your bike and walk it if there are any pedestrians present on the trail. Trail etiquette on ALL trails always calls for cyclists to move off the path and yield to pedestrians. Getting off the bike and standing to the side is the best way to avoid someone getting injured in a collision.

Please, everyone, have patience and grant grace to your neighbors during this challenging time. If you can avoid riding a bike on the north side of the trail, please do so. If you cannot, then please step off your bike and move to the side when pedestrians are present. Use the trails smartly and safely for everyone’s sake. Thank you!

With nearly everything cancelled this summer, food trucks seem like a great way to bring that restaurant experience to you. While the Board would like to help with this effort, we cannot endorse any company directly. So, each truck must be coordinated by homeowners directly. We would like to request that if you are coordinating with a food truck that you help Meadowglen stay safe by adhering the following guidelines:

1. Ensure that the company follows proper COVID safety guidelines (require masks, ensure customers stand 6 ft apart, clean the point of sale after each customer, etc). If possible, online orders limit the density of customers as well.
2. Please request that they park around the clubhouse corner and not in the clubhouse lot
3. Advertise on Nextdoor and the Meadowglen Facebook group only
4. Try to not book trucks simultaneously as others

Hi Everyone,

With the Governor’s Safer-at-Home order and some businesses opening up, we are all curious what that means for our own community. The Meadowglen Board of Directors has opted to follow the Apex Park and Recreation District’s lead with regards to pool operations. We also have to work with our pool management company (Absolute Pool Management or APM) who must follow restrictions and guidelines set forth by the State. There were 2 communications that you should be aware of:

The Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment Water Water Quality Control Division recently stated:

All swimming pools, both indoor and outdoor, should remain closed to protect public health. This includes HOA pools, water parks, hot springs, hotel pools and other similar pool facilities. 

More information about the Safe at Home order can be found at the state COVID-19 webpage and a frequently asked questions document. 

Continue Routine Maintenance
Even though pools may remain closed at this time, it is important to continue routine maintenance to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases once the orders are lifted and pools can be opened to the public. The Pool and Hot Tub Alliance shared guidance on their webpage. 

We are optimistic that they are encouraging continued maintenance for eventual opening!

Furthermore, APM communicated to us directly that they cannot open any time before 5/27 and if they are asked to stop work they cannot guarantee continuity of pool operations.

If you have been near the pool lately, APM has prepared the pool so that if we are able to open, we are ready immediately. I will say that it looks quite enticing, but we ask for your patience. Please do not try to enter the pool or pool area. Any unsanctioned access may threaten our ability to open the pool this season.

We are hoping that we will open the pool at some point, but when and what that looks like is still “To Be Determined”. Do we need to limit the number of users? limit time per use? etc. We want to make sure that if we open that we operate as safely as possible. For now, we will plan on no pool until 5/27 at the earliest. But again, we will follow Apex’s lead, who is subsequently following State and CDC guidance. If Apex chooses not to open, or chooses to limit participation, we will also adopt those guidelines. As we know more, we’ll be sure to communicate it to you.

In spite of not being able to have a Spring Fling this year, Meadowglen was still able to raise over $350 for Ralston House. Thanks to all for your generosity. Your support is needed now more than ever. May the spinning pinwheels bring some hope and healing to us all.
Thanks again,

Ann DeMers

Update: If the signup is full, please contact Brandon directly at 303-463-8791

Howdy neighbors!
Are you looking for a fun activity for you and/or your kids? Well, one of our residents (Brandon Marette) has been working with Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) to lead an informal fishing clinic at our Pomona Lake this Saturday morning (5/16) near the Clubhouse (see below weblink for sign-up times). This is a great opportunity for really young kids (or even older kids to older adults) to get a free CPW fishing pole and learn the basics of fishing. 
Since we’re all protecting each other during this COVID period, we’re spacing out the attendees every 1/2 hour so they can rotate through 3 stations, with the last station being actual fishing at our lake (which is supposed to be stocked with rainbow trout late this week). So please sign up ASAP – one slot per family, and please indicate how many poles you’ll need (mom and/or dad can get one too).

CPW will provide:

• One fishing pole per person
• Hooks, weights, & some bait. 
• One fishing regulations brochure
• Training

You should bring the following:

• If you are going to fish, and you are >16 years old, you will need a fishing license. Go on-line to https://www.cpwshop.com to purchase it. It should take less than 1/2 hour. 
  • A one-day fishing license is $14, an annual fishing license is $36, and an extra rod stamp (if you want to fish with 2 poles per person) is $11. Note, each license will have some add-on costs (~$10) for a Habitat Stamp & Search/Rescue Fund.
  • NOTICE: due to COVID-19, mailing of licenses, passes, and permits will be delayed. However, print off and carry your TAN (Temporary Authorization Number) with you this weekend, as it acts as your temporary fishing license.
• Your own bait if we run out. We’d recommend either digging up worms from your garden or buying some from Big 5. Also, power bait and/or salmon eggs would be another option to consider.
• Needle-nose pliers (to remove the hook from the fish).
• Masks – for the training, and then you can remove if you want and if you are not close to other families around the lake.  
• Fleece or windbreaker (the high is supposed to be 66, cloudy, and it may be breezy)
• Folding chair 
• Snack & water 
• Camera – to record photos/videos of a fun, family adventure!

If you have questions, feel free to call Brandon at 303-463-8791, as we hope many of you can participate in this one-time event. 

Sign up using this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4ca9a82aabfc1-2020

Sincerely,
Ari Feldman 
HOA President