Woodrim Crossings Neighborhood Association

Neighborhood Newsletter - October 2003 Edition

Dec 09, 2003

Dear Neighbors

Our next bimonthly meeting will be on Monday, November 3, 2003 at 7:00 p.m. at the Life Care Center of Aurora, 14101 E. Evans Ave. located at Blackhawk and Evans. We are returning to our normal format and our guest speaker will be Ron Moore from the Aurora Code Enforcement department. All neighbors are encouraged to attend!

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***CODE CORNER***

City Regulates Exterior Maintenance of Residential Properties

If there are homes in our neighborhood that are looking dilapidated and detracting from the visual integrity of the neighborhood, there may be a city code that can provide support and guidance for each homes?’ repair and upkeep.

Section 146-1106 Exterior Maintenance addressed the following conditions of home exteriors:

Deteriorated exterior walls and siding; peeling paint on 30% or more of exterior; shudders, windowsills, chimneys, air vents and other projections from a building that are in disrepair; severely deteriorated roofs and drainpipes; broken or boarded up windows; yards that do not drain properly; and driveways, garages, sheds, porches, carports and other accessory structures that are severely deteriorated.

If you are concerned that a vacant or occupied house is not being properly maintained, you don?’t have to sell your home in order to keep from looking at it.

Besides a city code for exterior maintenance, there are city codes regarding the height of weeds on residential or commercial property.

For more information related to this city code and how it works, call Neighborhood Services at 303-739-7280 or Access Aurora at 303-739-7000.

If you need assistance, call Barb Johnson at 303-306-0454 and she will help you through the process.

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WCNA CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Please see the "Community Calendar" that is on our website for this information.

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Aurora Drought Update

Although the drought has eased a bit, Colorado is still in a state of moderate to severe drought. With the fall months predicted to be warmer and drier than average, the city must remain diligent about water conversation.

The Aurora City Council has announced that less restrictive watering schedules will help landscapes throughout the city recover from two years of stress.

• Through 10/31/03, watering is allowed twice a week. Customers may choose which two days of the week to water rather than using assigned watering days. Lawns may be watered as needed on those days without a time limit as long as water waste is not occurring, and may occur at any time of day.


• Beginning 11/1/03, watering can occur on an as-needed basis using any method. This will be in place until March 31, 2004 when the city will announce the spring and summer water management program.


• The Waste of Water Ordinance will continue to be enforced. Examples of wasting water include water that runs off saturated lawns and broken sprinkler systems that leak water.


• Installation of new lawns will be permitted through 3/31/04 with a mandatory lawn permit.


• Deep-root watering of trees and shrubs is encouraged throughout winter.


• The tiered rate surcharge structure remains in place; but has been modified so that all single-family detached water accounts have 27,600 gallons added to each billing cycle to the Tier 1 surcharge rate of $2.68 per 1,000 gallons.

For more information, visit: www.auroragov.org/water or call 303-739-7195.

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Did you know?
The City of Aurora will trim any unsafe tree limbs from your property at no charge under the landscape and maintenance code. For more information, call 303-739-7177

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Want to have more input in your neighborhood?
Our neighborhood is in need of an individual willing to serve as Vice President of our association. Duties include assisting the President with meetings and selection of speakers and attendance at city functions when the president is unable to attend. Interested? Call Barb Johnson at 303-306-0454 for more information.

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WOODRIM CROSSING NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
MINUTES OF MEETING
September 8, 2003

The meeting was called to order by President, Barb Johnson, at 7:00. Barb welcomed the attendees including the residents, non-residents and candidates for city offices and the School Board. She said that the meeting would be starting with a forum for the candidates similar to the one at the last meeting. She explained that each candidate would have 3 minutes to speak. Candidates for the School Board would begin followed by candidates for Ward IV City Council seats, then At-Large City Council seats, ending with Mayoral candidates. Questions would be taken from the audience and directed to a particular candidate after each group of candidates.

Two candidates for the School Board spoke. First was Marc Huebl. He attended Aurora Public Schools in elementary school through high school. He has been on the District Accountability Committee. Recently he filled the vacancy left by former Board Member, Larry Yates. Mark is a pastor at the Covenant Community Church. After he saw kids so excited about education when he was visiting an orphanage in San Salvador, he felt he wanted to do more to improve education in his community. His focus is how education enhances a community. Ed Lord spoke next. He was born in Aurora and graduated from Aurora High School. He became interested in the school system when his kids were in school. He was elected to the School Board in 1977 and served for 6 years. He is a doctor who has delivered about 8000 babies. His wife also served on the Board for many years after Ed had served his term. Ed retired from his practice in 2000 and has taught at Lansing Elementary School as a volunteer. He feels he needs to complete what he started earlier.

Three Ward IV candidates spoke next. We will be able to vote for one candidate. Richard Doby is a former chairman of the Aurora Chamber of Commerce. His theme is ?“You deserve the whole pie.?” He will bring all the needed ingredients for City Council. He is retired from the military and served at Fitzsimons. Bob FitzGerald spoke second. He has lived in Aurora 12 years. He has served his community in many leadership roles. He has a Masters in Social Work and a Law Degree. He will work hard and learn what he doesn?’t know. Molly Markert spoke last. She said that she will listen and not just talk. She would like to be our advocate and will go to bat for us. Being a parent was her best experience. She wants to earn our vote. Her slogan is ?“Mark It For Markert.?”

Seven At-Large City Council candidates spoke next. We will be able to vote for two of them. Ryan Frazier spoke first. His major issues are water, transportation, education, and strong neighborhoods. Both short and long term solutions to the water problem are needed. The I-225 and Colfax corridors are issues. His core qualities are honor, courage, and commitment. Mike Martin spoke next. He feels the city is going the wrong direction in many ways. We need to have more law enforcement. He doesn?’t feel City Council cares about the residents. There is not proper planning or development. He can commit, is honest, and has integrity. Craig Nash was next. His children are in the school district. He will work for the citizens. We can call him any time. His issues are water, public safety, and more businesses. He has not been a politician and is running as a business person. Sum Nguyen spoke fourth. He is from Vietnam. It took him 22 days to get here across the ocean. He came with nothing but the clothes on his back and his American dream. He worked full time to support his family. He will work hard on three issues which are public safety, to trim down the city government with efficiency, and water. He feels we can make Aurora very beautiful. Acen Phillips is a former Baptist minister. He has been a resident for 25 years. He feels we need a vision and strong development. His concern is for the whole city. His theme is ?“The Bridge of New Leadership for the 21st Century.?” Brad Pierce was next. He has lived in Aurora for 25 years and has served on numerous boards in the city. He has been endorsed by three City Council members. Two of his major issues are having a plan of attack for growth and hiring more police officers. He will hold town meetings. His theme is ?“Positively Pierce.?” Last to speak was Ginny Zinth. She will bring experience. She has served many years on commissions in the city. Two of her issues are water and development, and she feels they tie together. One of her biggest concerns is that as we develop areas other areas are left vacant. After each candidate had spoken, all of the candidates answered questions on the police department?’s relationship with the city. Some answered a few other questions.

The only mayoral candidate present was Debra Vickrey. Barb explained that the two other candidates were at a City Council meeting. Debra feels that this is an exciting time for Aurora. She feels that the city has been known to not work well with neighboring cities which she hopes to change. The state and all its cities are all struggling for money. This is an issue needing much focus. We need to get back to how we got to some of the problems the city is having. This will help in dealing with them.

At 8:40 the general meeting was called to order. Twelve residents were present. The minutes were approved. The treasurer?’s report was given. The current balance is $1,185.95. $72.53 was deposited from our Mini Grant. We have received $100 from candidates for advertising in the newsletter. We have enough money for 4 more newsletters to be printed. The possibility of mailing the newsletters in a bulk mailing was discussed.

The Fence Replacement Committee reported that petitions were circulated and signed by most of the perimeter homeowners giving permission to the study team to come onto their properties for the purpose of gathering information. The consultants will begin contacting our residents in early September and should have their finding ready for our November Association meeting.

A concern was expressed about cars being hit that are parked in front of houses on Sable. Our PAR Officer will be contacted.

The Neighborhood Watch Committee report included information about a fall festival sponsored by Wellesly Inn for the neighborhoods. All will be notified about it.

It was moved and seconded to pay Mike Short $200 for two Woodrim Crossings signs he made. The motion passed.

In the Yard of the Month Committee report it was noted that two houses were omitted from the honorable mention list in the last report. They are 2112 So. Fairplay St. and 14905 E. Warren Ave. It was also reported that Lynn Bradley and Sharon Ward have joined the committee.

There was concern from neighbors about how the landscaping around the church across from Nick?’s is being neglected.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:20.

Respectively Submitted,
Kathy Gamrath, Secretary

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NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH
You are invited to join the Woodrim-Crossings Neighborhood Watch. This program brings the community together through regularly scheduled crime prevention meetings. At our meetings, we will discuss topics such as:

• How to spot a drug dealer or drug house


• How to recognize gang activity


• Personal security


• Home security


• Vehicle security


• How to slow down speeders in the neighborhood


• Interacting with the Aurora Police Department


• Monthly crime statistics

This neighborhood watch works through an email communication tree. Important information from the Aurora Police Department, regarding our neighborhood, will be forwarded to you in a timely manner via email. The better informed each of us is, the safer our neighborhood will be!

Right now, we have 15 block captains and over 125 houses in our network. ?– BUT we need block captains from every street! Training on how to become an effective block captain is available ?– just come to our monthly meetings.

Take control of your neighborhood?’s destiny! Be a block captain or just a participant. Join Neighborhood Watch.

For more information, call Lynn Bradley, Area Coordinator, at 303-941-9844 or PAR Officer Damon Vaz at 303-739-6348.

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Neighborhood Watch Tip of the Month
Leave your porch lights on! Bad guys like the dark so keep our streets lit and alive. This won?’t cost much on your electrical bill but could save you plenty in items stolen from your house.

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