Garden of the Gods Neighborhood Association

8TH ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING: MAY 2, 1999

Oct 01, 1999

Diane Williams, GOG Neighborhood Association President, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

After thanking the Buffalo Lodge and going around the room to allow neighbors to introduce themselves, Diane called for reports on the past year's activities.

TRAIL DAY: Jim Ebersole reported that in early June,(1998). 8-10 people from the neighborhood showed up to work on the trail off of Arnold Dr. They worked from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

ROAD CLEANUP: Diana Bender, Jane Edwin, Max Bender and Max's friends Heidi, Forrest and another friend, and Linda Day cleaned up Columbia Road from Colorado Avenue to past the chain by Christensens in October(1998). They filled 6-7 plastic bags with trash. Jane Edwin took the bags to the dump.

ICE CREAM SOCIAL: Sharon and Alan Jacobsen were thanked for their help in setting up the neighborhood ice cream social held in September. (1998) Although the event was not too well attended this year we will try to work around the Broncos schedule so that more people will be able to come this year. Discussion around the time and place and whether to have it at all ensued. Linda Day volunteered to coordinate the event for l999 and contingent on the Broncos schedule will make plans. (see end of minutes.)

GARDEN OF THE GODS: Concerned neighbors discussed the erosion of the trails in GOG. Also, bikes v. horses, trail maintenance, bikes on the non-biking paths, etc. Jim Ebersole reported from his vantagepoint on the Parks Advisory Board that the GOG is fielding requests for foot races, bike races, and generally heavy usage of GOG. The Board is trying to address erosion and has applied for COGO funds. Reclamation plans will address how much it is going to cost to put the horse trails back into tiptop shape. If there are concerns about trail erosion, etc., write letters to Bill Stookey at the Park and Rec. Dept. or every member of the Park and Rec. Advisory Board. Jane Neville (471-7970) a GOGNA member is the chair of the GOG Advisory Committee. If neighbors want to participate in a more formal manner in the care and maintenance of the GOG contct the Park and Rec. Advisory Committee or get on other committees. Statistics show that l.7 million people and l8,000 horses use the GOG in a year.

CREEK STEWARDSHIP: The heavy rains in April prompted discussion about the creek that runs behind a number of houses in the neighborhood. Neighbors are reminded that the debris that they put into the creek will wash onto property of other neighbors and may cause some damage by making impromptu dams and snagging trash that would otherwise flow on into the creek. Creek stewardship was called for and remembering that the creek is not a trash dump.

GRAFFITTI: Several properties in the neighborhood have been sprayed with graffitti. The bridge on Columbia Court, the Smith's wall on Lois Lane and the Jacobsen's shed. If other neighbors have graffitti on their property please call the police. The CSPD keeps tracks of fraffitti sightings and suposedly will send crews to clean it up or paint over it.

BREAKINS: Neighbors reported break-ins in their areas. We were reminded that more Neighborhood Watch groups might help in this regard and that the police are pretty good about responding to altercations and break-ins.

TRAFFIC: Speeders are always a topic of concern. The stop sighn at Holly has slowed traffic a little bit but there is still alot of speeding on Columbia Road. It was noted that two lines of horses, pedestrians, and the cars that line the street make the road especially hazardous during the summer. We are encouraged to call the police to patrol during times when we feel speeding is a problem. The CS Dept of Transportation is also a source of help for crowding on the street. They can enforce regulations that have been ignored.

OUR TOWN: Diane Williams was contacted by the G.T. for an article in Our Town, the G.T.'s answer to community pride. Diane gave the G.T. information about the area and wondered if we (the neighborhood) were interested in an article in the G.T. No one wanted the town to know this neighborhood is here.

RED ROCK CANYON: Pat Musick, through Diane, alerted the Neighborhood to a movement afoot to preserve Red Rock Canyon owned by the Bock Family. A meeting shedule for May 20 will kick off volunteer efforts to develp a coalition for saving that canyon. The Bocks have given permission to have tours on the property conducted by the Save Red Rock Canyon group. Sponsored tours are available on request. For schedules call Denise DeLeo at 389-8842.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES: Diane Williams was contacted by the Hazardous Materials waste and clean-up operation for volunteers. The Spring date has passed but there is another one in the Fall. Please call Diane if you would like to volunteer.

TRAIL UPKEEP: This years neighborhood trail day has been canceled. Jim Ebersole has organized this event in the past but is too busy this year to do the coordinating. No one else volunteered.

ICE CREAM SOCIAL: Linda Day, Pat Tegler, Jim Ebersole, Michael Shaprio and Jean Poulous will be in charge of this years Ice Cream Social. Sept. 5, a Sunday between Bronco games, is a tenative date. Other questions surround the time and the place. Please let any of these people know if you would like to hold it on Astor again, next to Jacobsens, or if holding it at the Care Center again appeals to everybody. Linda Day 578-0786.

Y2K: Cheryl Conklin has suggested that neighborhood preparedness might be something the neighborhood would like to consider. She will coordinate efforts toward such a coalition if other neighbors are interested. 632-5163.

TRASH COMPACTING: Discussion evolved around whether or not the neighborhood mgiht like to consolidate with one trash removal company. We could eliminate trash trucks roaring through the neighborhood every day of the week, and maybe negotiate a lower bill per household. If anyone is interested call Linda Day 578-0786. We will tally responses and if enough people are interested form a task force to coordinate such an effort.

WILDLIFE CHRONICLES: Neighbors reported see deer, fox, racoon, a deer and a buck, a baby buck and bears this year.

GARDEN TOUR: The Heinrichdorff garden is on the schedule for a National Garden Tour on July 27th.

The balance in the GOGNA coffers is, after dues collected this evening: $384.11

The assembled neighbors agreed to distribute minutes to all 300 some households in the neighborhood. Neighbors from various areas of the neighborhood volunteered to distribute in their area. This tas was discontinued after the 6th annual meeting because the job had fallen to just a few people who walked house to house. If neighbors like the idea of continuing with distribution of the minutes, please call Linda Day at 578-0786.

Officers remain this year: Diane Williams, President: 633-5235

Jim Ebersole, Vice President: 630-2427

Linda Day, Secretary/Treasurer: 578-0786