Woodrim Crossings Neighborhood Association

Neighborhood Newsletter - April 2003 Edition

Jul 08, 2003

Dear Neighbors

Our next bimonthly meeting will be on Monday, May 5, 7:00 PM at the Life Care Center at 14101 E. Evans Ave. located at Blackhawk and Evans. All neighbors are invited to attend these meetings.

WATER ?? Guest Speaker Linda Firth from the Aurora Utilities Department.

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***CODE CORNER***

CITY ADOPTS NEW ANIMAL CODES:
The City of Aurora recently adopted new animal codes pertaining to poisonous animals, reptiles and rabbits that went into effect December 18, 2002 that prohibits the owning, possessing, harboring, selling or in any other manner, trafficking all poisonous animals, constrictor snakes, monitor lizards and crocodilians. The new code revisions also prohibit residents from owning nonpoisonous snakes and reptiles longer than 3 feet as measured from the top of the nose to the tip of the tail.

Residents currently owning a reptile between 3 and 6 feet long, a monitor lizard or a crocodilian under 1 foot can register their pet with the Animal Care Division. The registration allows the owner one year to relocate the illegal animal outside the city limits.

City council also approved a provision mandating a limit of 2 adult rabbits per residential property and all rabbits must be spayed or neutered. Owners of more than 2 adult rabbits can register with the Animal Care Division to be ?“grandfathered?” into the new code.

For more information, call the Animal Care Division at 303-326-8292.

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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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IT'S FINALLY SPRING!! This is the time we enjoy being outside in our neighborhood even more. With the removal of the full-court basketball area, there will be more activities for small children to enjoy in that area. We?’re planning a community garage sale Friday May 16 and Saturday May 17. If you have any questions on the garage sale, call Keith Woronoff at 303-695-1490 or Barb Johnson at 303-306-0454.

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If you are new to Aurora, or perhaps a new pet owner, some guidelines and reminders are listed below:

Rabies vaccination:
All dogs and cats older than 4 months must be vaccinated each year against rabies. The animal must wear the current year?’s rabies tab at all times.

Licensing:
A license is required for all dogs and cats older than 6 months. The $7 license tab must be worn by the animal at all times and needs to be renewed annually. Proof of rabies vaccination and spary or neuter is required. Mail-in forms are available from the Aurora Animal Shelter and Adoption Center and local veterinary offices. Failure to license can result in a summons and a non-suspendable $50 fine.

Excessive number of animals:
Aurora has a maximum limit per residence of 3 adult dogs and/or 5 adult cats, plus one offspring less than 4 months of age. A fancier?’s permit is available for keeping additional animals.

Animals running at large:
Dogs and cats must be confined to their owner?’s property or physically restrained when off the premises.

Barking dogs:
Any dog disturbing the surrounding neighbors with frequent, habitual or continuous baking, helping or howling may be considered a public nuisance. Barking problems can be handled in three steps: 1) calmly discuss the situation with the dog?’s owner; 2) the Animal Care Division will mail a written warning; 3) a summons may be issued if 2 residents from separate households come to the Animal Shelter to sign a formal complaint.

Excrement:
It is unlawful to permit excessive excrement to accumulate on any property to the degree that it becomes offensive or injurious to health. The owner must immediately remove excrement deposited by an animal on public property, a common thoroughfare, street, sidewalk, play area or park. Animal excrement may not be placed in a storm sewer or street gutter.

Cruelty/mistreatment:
By ordinance, animal owners/custodians must provide adequate food, water, protection from weather, appropriate grooming for the breed, and veterinary care. Animals may not be transported in the bank of open vehicles unless properly secured. Intentional acts of cruelty such as abandonment, harassment, or torture will be vigorously prosecuted. All calls to complain or report cruelty or mistreatment will remain anonymous.

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WOODRIM CROSSING NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
MINUTES OF MEETING
March 3, 2003

The meeting was called to order at 7:00. Fourteen neighbors were in attendance. President, Barb Johnson, introduced our speaker, Lisa Strawn, who is with the city of Aurora in Commercial Planning & Development. All were very interested to hear about the commercial building around our neighborhood. Her talk also included information about the resale of many commercial buildings in the area. She said that retail is a very important component to the city and that the retail development all along Abilene is a concern to the city. Lisa reported that City Council will not rezone the area to light industrial. Therefore no large truck activity will be seen. She spoke specifically about Home Base. Several stores are reopening in the new Aurora City Place north of Aurora Mall. Lisa passed out information about what stores are going into Aurora City Place and also information about the retail locations currently for sale. Lisa Strawn?’s phone number in 303-739-7052, if you have questions about commercial development.

Next Barb introduced Marsha Osborn, our new Neighborhood Liaison. She spoke about the application process for the new Micro Grants. The grants can be for amounts between $50 and $500. Our 4 signs to notify the neighborhood of our meetings were paid for through a Micro Grant.

The minutes of the January 6, 2003, meeting were approved. Barb passed out the treasurer?’s report from Madolyn Paroske, our treasurer. Our balance is $1317.73. A small amount of income was from a Micro Grant that pays for our newsletter. The balance of the income was from the voluntary dues received from generous residents. Expenses were for newsletter printing.

Under Old Business Lynn Bradley, chairman of the Tierra Park Committee reported. The committee consisted of several neighbors many who live very close to the park. The committee was formed at the January meeting due to concern about things going on in the park that made it very hard for the neighbors living around the park and also for many children in the neighborhood to use the park. Letters were written to City Council Representatives who responded with concern. Our Par Officer, Damon Vaz, was also very involved. The committee had a very favorable outcome to report.

The basketball hoops have been taken down which has discouraged activity in the park which had concerned neighbors. The park is a changed place. Families and children are enjoying it now. The Parks and Open Spaces Advisory Board has suggested that a one-half court with youth level basketball hoops replace the current full court. The other half of the black top will possibly be made into an area for small kids games. A letter was read which was sent to City Council thanking them. A letter will also be sent to Damon Vaz. Our neighborhood has been invited to the next Parks and Open Space Advisory Committee for input.

Lynn Bradley reported that Damon Vaz will soon be taking another assignment. We will miss having him as our Par Officer.

Barb has talked to Damon Vaz about possibilities for traffic control in our neighborhood. Other than the speed bumps at Fairplay and Asbury, nothing else will be done.

Not much is going on right now about the fence replacement program for our neighborhood. The next meeting for the fence program?’s combined neighborhoods group will be on March 10th. The High Point fence project has been completed.

Water restrictions in the city were discussed. The city will make the decision on March 26 about water restrictions for the spring and summer. People needing information about water restrictions can call the water conservation number at 303-739-7195 or go to the web site at www.auroragov.org/water. Landscaping workshops are available from the city including water smart landscaping, xeriscape, beautiful blooms, efficient irrigation and tree care. Call 303-739-7381 if you are interested. All are free except two. Our Neighborhood Liaison announced that about 10 wells are being drilled in the city including 2 at Meadow Hills. She also said that only 50% of a yard can be covered with rock according to city code. She said that people should not plant anything including plants for xeriscaping this year.

It was decided to continue with the Yard of the Month Award this summer in spite of the drought. It was felt that the award would encourage neighbors to do all they could to help their yards such as trimming bushes and weeding. The days the committee will make the decisions will be June 7 and August 16.

The neighbors in attendance were very thankful to those who so faithfully deliver the newsletter. Area 8 still needs to have a newsletter deliverer. This area includes Asbury backing up to the park and the three cul-de-sacs off of it.

The speaker for the May meeting will talk about utilities. Speakers for July and September could possibly be political candidates.

Neighbors are reminded to keep their garage doors closed for safety reasons and are also reminded to pick up after their pets when walking them. Code Corner will be part of the newsletter now and next time it will include information on pet control.

If you are interested in attending the Ward 4 budget meeting it will be at the new municipal center. See the city web site for information.
It was announced that pursuing the new covenants was dropped due to 80% of the neighborhood concerns being already covered by city ordinances.

Under New Business the election in May and the need for liability coverage for officers was discussed. Barb will look into possibilities for this to report at the May meeting.

Discussion on beginning a web site using services offered by the city ended with interest in pursuing the possibility of having our own site.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:50

Respectively submitted,
Kathy Gamrath, Secretary

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FENCE REPLACEMENT UPDATE
Please see "Fence Replacement Information" on the Community Pages of our website for more information.