MCA Meeting Recap: Q2 2022
Hello, and welcome to the Second Quarter (Q2) Central Park Master Community Association (MCA) meeting recap. My name is John B. Holt, and I am the Community Delegate for Central Park District 11, the North End, located North of 56th Avenue and East of Dallas Street in Denver, Colorado. As a community, Central Park has twelve neighborhoods, eleven districts, five board members, and eleven community delegates. At present, one delegate position is open, District 7 (Centerfield/RTD), which includes the warehouse district on 40th Avenue, the RTD light rail station, and more. If you own property within the district, and wish to apply for the open seat, please contact the Central Park MCA, thank you. To learn more about the North End, one of the final developments in Central Park, please visit the website I built and maintain for my constituents, North End Neighbors.
Fire Mitigation and the Rocky Mountain Arsenal
Following the Marshall Fire, one of the top concerns for Central Park residents has been the wildland urban interface (WUI), and the MCA has done a great job arranging for local authorities to speak at recent board meetings, beginning with representatives for the Denver Fire Department, followed by a Park Ranger and Fire Specialist from the Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge. If you missed the April meeting recap, which included pertinent information delivered by Denver Fire Department leaders, click here to learn more. In brief, both organizations spoke to the effective strategies they’ve put in place to mitigate fire danger in our community, and assured everyone present at the meetings that controlled burns in the Rocky Mountain Arsenal are carefully coordinated and monitored. In addition, it was noted that the large number of tumbleweeds that blew into Beeler Park and the North End recently are highly unusual, and were the direct result of heavy rains, which led to outsized plant growth.
Central Park No Longer Using Roundup Weed Killer
In other community news, I am pleased to report that Central Park is no longer using Roundup Weed Killer as it has been linked to the death of bees, vital pollinators that are crucial to a healthy ecosystem.
Pool Vandalism and Fencing Installations
Unfortunately, vandalism continues to be an issue at Central Park pools, and is often perpetrated by errant teenagers who scale the metal fencing and toss pool chairs, planter boxes, and even glass objects into the pools. This problem is especially pronounced in the South End, where the fences are the lowest, and as a result chain link fencing has been added to the existing barrier to protect our shared community resources. In some cases, the damage is so extensive that the facilities must be closed, and the cost passed on to residents. If you live near a pool, or simply see someone damaging the property, please do not hesitate to contact local law enforcement, thank you.
Reserve Study & Fiscal Planning
The Central Park MCA has contracted an outside organization to conduct a reserve study, a formal analysis of the costs associated with maintaining community infrastructure, and the results will factor into fiscal planning for the coming year and beyond. When one considers the cost of concrete, for example, which has skyrocketed amid surging inflation, and contemplates the miles of concrete alleyways in Central Park, it is easy to understand why the MCA must set aside significant funds for future repair projects. Of course, there are many other items to consider, including but not limited to pools, play structures, park benches, etc., and as the community continues to age the costs to maintain these shared amenities will continue to rise.
For nearly a decade, I have held several HOA positions simultaneously in communities across the Front Range Region, and while Central Park is unique in both its size and structure, the one issue I see again and again is a lack of funding, so it gives me peace of mind to know that our community is taking the requisite steps to prepare for the future.
New Board Members & Community Delegates
Following last year’s MCA elections, which were finalized in the first quarter of 2022 after the vast majority of candidates failed to meet quorum, new delegates and board members were ushered in, further diversifying the MCA. As a group, those that formally serve the community hail from a wide variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds, much like the residents of our community, and function well together. In my experience, and that of other delegates and board members I’ve spoken with, the first year is a powerful learning experience in which one becomes increasingly familiar with the MCA and its operational guidelines, and the second and any succeeding years are increasingly focused on community initiatives. That said, those that recently joined the MCA have proven to be both knowledgeable and effective, deepening conversations on a range of issues while working collaboratively with their predecessors. It’s been a good year for the community organization, and I am optimistic that the MCA will continue to develop and grow in new and exciting ways in the months and years to come.
MCA Staff Members and Their Contributions
One of the key takeaways from recent MCA meetings has been the important role that MCA staff members play in the community at large. From Keven Burnett, the MCA’s Executive Director, to Jenifer Graham, the MCA’s Business Director & HR Manager, to Diane Deeter, the MCA’s Community Director, to Paula Deorio, the MCA’s Aquatics Director, each of whom regularly attend MCA meetings, to the rest of the MCA staff, who coordinate events, field calls, and much more, there is a strong sense of appreciation from the MCA board members and community delegates, who value their hard work and dedication to making Central Park a pleasant, safe, and welcoming community for all people. From farmers markets to concerts on the green, to pools, parks, and programs, so much of what we, as residents, enjoy in Central Park can be traced back to the hard work of the MCA staff. So, thank you to everyone at the MCA, you’re doing a great job.
Understanding the Limits of the MCA
Part of what makes the Central Park Master Community Association (MCA) unique from other homeowner associations (HOA) is its limits. For instance, while the MCA does enforce certain covenants, e.g., basic landscaping and architecture requirements, and will issue violation notices and or fines for unkept yards, e.g., overgrown weeds, mishandled alleys, e.g., trash piled behind fences, etc., it does not intervene in many neighbor on neighbor disputes, as many smaller homeowner associations (HOA) do. In fact, when it comes to speeding on city streets, dogs running off leash, excessive noise, etc., these items are almost always directed to the City of Denver, which sets and enforces these rules. To report a violation with the City of Denver, simply use Denver 311 by dialing 311 from a 720 area code, or (720) 913-1311 from any other area code. Where this can be confusing is some streets are currently maintained by the MCA, who will issue parking violations for its thoroughfares.
Utilizing Central Park United Neighbors (CPUN)
When it comes to spearheading a range of neighborhood initiatives, e.g., making Central Park streets safer for pedestrians, cyclists, etc.; addressing racial bias and or animosity; working to help the homeless or unhoused, etc., Central Park’s Registered Neighborhood Organization (RNO), Central Park United Neighbors (CPUN), is often the best place to start, for where the Central Park MCA is geared towards pools, parks, and programs, CPUN is designed to address a wide range of neighborly issues. In fact, when the name, Stapleton, became a highly publicized issue following the murder of George Floyd, engaging CPUN was the right choice for the MCA to make, as the RNO is specifically designed to address social concerns. Granted, the MCA had an important role to play in the renaming process, and was ultimately responsible for officiating the shift from Stapleton to Central Park, e.g., updating signage throughout the community, etc., CPUN was essential to the process.
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