Posted on: March 23rd, 2021

GOLD HILL TOWN MEETING NEWSLETTER

Minutes of the February 8, 2021 Town Meeting by Zoom

 

Next Town Meeting will be Monday April 12, 2021,  7:00 P.M. by Zoom

 

The meeting was called to order by Chair Emma Dirolf.  Forty-one people signed in: Chair Emma Dirolf, Rick Sheingold, Maggie Simms, David Brigham, Norm Skarstad, Peter Swift, Lacey Story, Brieda and Rick Geesaman, Dana Dallavalle, Shivaun Hoyle, Greg Buis, Kris Gibson, Treasurer Martha Knapp, Rick Sinner, Leslie and Chris Finn, Dina Elder, Virginia Schultz, Heidi Kessler and Richard Roth, Bear Carlson and Poppy Copeland, Chrissy and Member at Large Dan Maedke, Matt Connery + 2 kids, Mireille Brown, Emily Rose, Boyd Brown and Johanna Gangemi, Marcus Moench and Elisabeth Caspari, Michael Wollard, Vice Chair Marielle Sidell, Secretary Gretchen Diefenderfer, Debra Yeager, Val Crist, Sarah O’Brien and Sam Bennett, Joanne Cole, and Maya MacHamer.

 

Minutes – Martha had emailed me that the information around the Town Relief Funds was confusing, because there are two different funds.  I added the following to the last December minutes and sent out a town email

We in fact have two Relief Funds. If any town member finds herself/himself in a financially challenged place, you are encouraged to apply for help from these funds.   Our original Community Relief Fund came about after the 2010 Fourmile Fire to help people affected by the fire.  As time went on, the Town Meeting decided to make funds available for other financial difficulties or emergencies.  The Town Council administers this, all information is confidential, and we still have $2375.20 available in this fund.  Contact Emma Dirolf (emmadirolf@nullgmail.com or 513-259-1532), Marielle Sidell (marielle.sidell@nullgmail.com or 303-819-2029), Martha Knapp (elev8296@nullearthlink.net or 303-442-5254, Dan Maedke (maedkedan@nullgmail.com or 303-808-7082), or Gretchen Diefenderfer (gretchend@nullmac.com or 303-442-3847). Here is the form

Gold Hill Town Meeting Community Relief Fund Application *Revised 12/14

Please use back of form or additional sheets as needed.

 Mail completed form to:

Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc.

Attn: CRF

1011 Main Street – Gold Hill

Boulder CO 80302

Criteria: (1) Applicants must be a resident of Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc., including Rim and Shining Star Roads (2) Application signed and dated and (3) meet criteria A or B below:

1. Disaster, such as flood, fire, etc. Maximum $1000 per event, per household – committee approval needed
2. Family emergency such as lost job, hospitalization, car accident, etc. Maximum $250 per household annually– committee approval needed

 

Name__________________________________________________________________________

Home Address___________________________________________________________________________________________

Mailing Address if different: ____________________________________________________________________________

Phone/Contact Information: ___________________________________________________________________________

 

Please explain your circumstances and what assistance is requested.  Specifically itemize/estimate amount to be used to replace losses (such as income, house repair, clothing, food)  __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Please list other organizations from which you have received/or plan to receive financial help:

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Signature ________________________________________________________________Date___________________________

 

GHTM use only:   Date Received: ___________________                          Applicant number:___________________________   Applicant Qualifies for Criteria A   or   B  (circle one) Amount disbursed$__________________   Approved by: 1. _________________________2__________________________3. _____________________________

 

Our second fund is the Pandemic Relief Fund and money was granted to us from the Community Foundation in 2020.  This fund is administered by Marielle Sidell (marielle.sidell@nullgmail.com or 303-819-2029), Emma Dirolf (emmadirolf@nullgmail.com or 513-259-1532), Deb Yeager (deb@nullmountainvisions.net or 303-44900454), and Marcus Moench (marcus.moench@nullgmail.com or 303-667-8327), is also totally confidential, and has $1057.26 remaining.    

Here is this form:

 

Gold Hill Town Meeting Community (GHTM) Pandemic Relief Fund Application *Revised 6/26/2020
Please use back of form or additional sheets as needed.

Deliver completed form to:

Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc. Attn: PRF
1011 Main Street – Gold Hill Boulder CO 80302

Or send via email to the GHTM Chair: marielle.sidell@nullgmail.com

Criteria: (1) Applicants must be a resident of the GHTM or a local group that primarily serves GHTM residents; (2) Application signed and dated; and (3) meet criteria outlined in the GHTM Relief Fund Strategy (available on the town website). All awards and amounts are subject to approval by the Relief Fund Subcommittee.

Name_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Address___________________________________________________________________________________________

Mailing Address if different:________________________________________________________________________

Phone/Contact Information: ___________________________________________________________________________

Please explain the circumstances and what assistance is requested. Specifically itemize/estimate amount to be used to address needs (such as income, house repair, clothing, food) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________

Please list other organizations from which you have received/or plan to receive financial help:

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Signature ________________________________________________________________Date_________________________

 

Treasurer’s Report – Martha submitted the following report:

At the previous regular Town Meeting in December 2020 our bank balance was $17,297.10

Our current total cash assets are $17,031.32

       

Revenue Summary: Cemetery Fund donations $100.

Expense Summary: $50 from the General Fund for porta-potty cleaning; $158.40 food bank expenses and $157.38 for Zoom account subscription from the COVID-19 Response Fund.

Fund transfers: none.

 Current fund totals:

General Fund $3626.86; Cemetery $3,205.21; Safe Link (combined funds for SafeSite, AirLink, NeighborLink projects) $2,466.79; Community Planning/Fundraising $300; Forest Management $0 (zero); Community Relief $2,375.20; COVID-19 Response $1,057.26; Water Harvesting/Ag Education Grant $4,000.

       

Anticipated general fund expenses for 2021: $874 for taxes, insurance, report filings, bank fees, office supplies, porta-potty maintenance.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Mountain Stewards – Chrissy reminded everyone about the Bee Safe Neighborhood.  Register online at https://www.thepeoplesbees.com/pledge

Virginia reported that Cat Russell (wildcat.russell@nullgmail.com) is looking at bulk purchasing for solar panels and storage batteries.  She is working with Energy Smart
(www.energysmartyes.com/energy/advising) and also looking for a location for an EV charging station.  Email her if you have questions.

They are also looking at water testing options particularly to look at firefighting chemicals.  Save the date, March 8, 6 pm-7 pm for a webinar about rain water, rain barrels and all water issues. Sarah is working on a website page for Green Gold Hill and starting a Green Gold Hill Newsletter.  They will be launching a rain barrel project – teach, make, and set up.  Home energy evaluations information will be in the welcome buckets and on the website.  Marcus added that the county will be getting back to them about potential grant opportunities.

Forestry and Forest Management– Maya MacHamer (fourmilewatershed@nullgmail.com)

updated us on the mitigation project planned for the north side of Gold Hill to begin in April or May.  They have had a great meeting with the Conservation District and NRCS (the Federal partner) collaborating on the forest management plan looking at the best treatment design, taking into account the information on the best types of trees, etc., wildfire suppression, forest ecology, access, thinning, etc.  Once the details are worked out, they play to start with the Ashley property and the Wollard property.  They’ll mark trees and the Fourmile Mitigation Crew will start in June.  Sarah will be putting out a survey about who might be interested in firewood or chips, etc., and then they can make plans to get people what they need.  Maya only has a draft map at this point.  The large scope of the project means it will probably take multiple years to complete.  They plan on cutting in 2021 and ‘22 on the north side, ‘22 and ‘23 burning piles, etc.  The grant funding expires in 2023.  They have been spending a lot of time acquiring funds, getting permissions, and so on and now it’s good to be getting to detailed plans about how the forest will actually look.  The Coalition is now the Boulder Watershed Collective and stretches from Gold Hill to Coal Creek Canyon.  They are working to incorporate the odd encroaching mining claims as well.  The funding is for treating 101 acres and principally includes the Ashley and Wollard properties  and Truth Consciousness.  They want to treat the properties that will provide the best wildfire mitigation.  The more accessible portion near the top will be worked by the Fourmile Mitigation Crew (4-8 people) in 2021, with ATVs and smaller equipment (no large-scale forestry equipment).    In 2022, they will probably hire a larger crew/contractor with larger equipment to handle the steeper denser areas.  They would be able to remove more wood and decrease the cost per acre.  This will be bid out and if you know any local contractors who can do this, please let her know.

           Kris asked about access and the plan is to use Ashley’s driveway and then some little roads that allow access to areas beyond the house.  There are some wider trails near Mike Wollard’s and the Ashram has a winding network of roads they created.  Val asked about how far North they plan to go and it depends on access  – some is too steep and some not accessible.  Will have to think of how best to protect the town given the access challenges.  Some answers depend on the foresters’ recommendations – plans still in process for neighboring landowners, also USFS land further west – they are open to conversations about potential areas.  The Fire Board brought up a fuel break along Lickskillet.  The upper part is BLM land and the lower part is county property.  The conversation is in progress with Stefan Reinhold with the County and BLM is considering the NEPA process to look at it

           Marcus added that a number of north side Pine Street property owners are interested in what they can do from a wildfire safety perspective as well as other private property owners in town.  Wildfire Partners?  Maya  suggested that interested people should let her know.  They want to work with people on what they can do for their properties with wildfire protection for the town as the goal.

Gold Hill School – Chrissy reports that they’re trucking along.  They’re in class Tuesday through Friday and it’s going all right.  Most attend in person and some online.  They have a 6.5 hours school day, which will be  going to 7 hours next year.  They don’t have the exact schedule yet.

Museum – Deb reports that the museum is on hold for the winter, but they are planning exhibits.  Everything is in good shape since lots of preparation took place last year and then they couldn’t open.  They’re not sure about this summer yet, but hope to be open.  She does keep getting contacted by people who find artifacts they want to donate.

Fundraising and Community Planning – Dan reports that he’s waiting to see how it all develops at this point.

Gold Hill Calendar – Gretchen reports that there is a calendar meeting next week and will begin working on the calendar for 2022!  Ideas or contributions?  Contact Gretchen, Marie Brookhart, or Marilyn Soby.

Cemetery – Maggie expressed thanks to Emma for heading up this crazy town.  She reported that there have been a number of plot purchases in the last 6 months – people are maybe looking at their mortality?  They had one full casket burial this month.   Once we can get together for the town clean up, there is clean up to do at the cemetery.  Last year they built a new shed and plan to gutter it to collect rain water – they have taken a rain barrel down there.

Community Center – Emma put out a call for volunteers who will participate on the Gold Hill Community Center Committee.  The Gold Hill Town Meeting Board is interested in community members who would be willing to participate in an evaluation of community center functions and roles, potential site locations, and links with other community needs. Ideally this would have representation from the Gold Hill Town Meeting Board, Friends of Gold Hill Community Center, Fire Department, and other Gold Hill institutions. The ideas that have emerged and the potential opportunity to gain a key asset are very exciting, but we do need to evaluate what is attainable in real detail. This group, made up of 7 community members will support a visioning process along with the practical steps required to make decisions. Please contact Mari at marielle.sidell@nullgmail.com if you would like to participate!

We want a broad, representative group to look at all sides and options, and it is definitely open to everyone in the community.

Greg stated that he doesn’t understand exactly what the committee is about.  Emma replied that we want to generate a collection of opinions, evaluate inquiries and ideas about sites, funding, and so on.  Val added that we want to gather information and get more feedback and explore all options.  Marcus added that initially when the 900 Pine Street option emerged, questions went out in the town email.  The question of a community center had been floating around for some time and the intent was to put 900 Pine on the table for consideration.  All options are possible for a community center/gathering place (or not) and if the 900 Pine building doesn’t fit our needs and goes to a family instead, that will be a happy outcome.

Emma had a note from the GH Fire Protection District that their present focus is on wildfire mitigation and, although there has been discussion of the need for a bigger firebarn to house our equipment, no decisions have been made on that.

Additional questions on the  community center ?  Get in touch with Mari (marielle.sidell@nullgmail.com).

NeighborLink – Deb reported that we are working to make NeighborLink more streamlined, swift and user friendly.  We’re working with Sarah on putting out a survey to gather information about whether people want to participate, collecting their information, how they receive town information presently and their preference for receiving emergency information – text, email, landline, cell phone?  We’re working on finalizing our groups and lists and will house it all in Gold Hill Google Drive accessible to NeighborLink and Emma.   NeighborLink is basically a phone tree to notify people of emergency information and we are asking people to form their own neighbor groups to share additional information with.  We are living with year-round fire danger. 

Food Pantry – Deb reports that the food pantry continues to roll along.  They’re excited to see people attending. Presently it’s held in front of the Bluebird Lodge on Mondays from 3 to 4.  If you have questions, contact Deb or any of the amazing group of volunteers.  Mari brought up that she saw a donation being given and Deb replied that some people just wanted to contribute and they put any donations into supplies, bags, etc., and travel expenses for the drivers. 

CSA Update – They are now going through Aspen Moon – contact LizWiig@nullgmail.com

Emergency Preparation and Communication – Sarah and her group have been working on emergency preparation and communication issues since the evacuation last year when we seriously realized the need to look at the best ways to communicate with each other and to help gather the information regarding everyone’s primary sources for receiving town news and emergency information, as well as their preferred methods.  To access the survey, go to   https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdYdP4hvsQ8OY-elTY2IunHynaBUv8a5pVniAxGniCkV0Ngbw/viewform  There are also forms to fill out at the Gold Hill Store.  They want to streamline our efforts so that communications go out as quickly as possible during an actual emergency.  There is also information on how to sign up at the Office of Emergency Management for Everbridge (the County reverse 9-1-1 system) and emergency updates – boulderoem.com   They’re looking at all ways to streamline communications with emergency responders – Of course call 9-1-1 to report any emergency.  They will be putting together laminated check-off sheets for people to put on their doors to notify emergency responders if they have evacuated and are updating our website .

AirLink – no report, but Deb added that AirLink is an element of SafeLink along with NeighborLink and NL wants to know where all the Ham Radio people are so we can connect them with NL groups.

Weed Management – Pam is looking at a community day, maybe in April, to work on the invasive spurge.

Historical Zoning – no report

Fire Department – Leslie reported that they are trying to get back to in person trainings.  Online train is challenging, but they’re doing their best, sometimes coordinating with Sunshine and Fourmile and some on our own focused on Gold Hill.

OTHER TOWN NEWS

Mental Health Vouchers – Kelly Viet and Mike live on Main Street and Kelly is our contact person for Mental Health Vouchers from the Boulder Community Foundation.  She is a great resource – reach out to her at veit.kelly@nullgmail.com  or 847-903-3396.

Speed Study – The County wants to know if we want to participate in another speed study.  The last speed study in Gold Hill found that 85% of drivers were within the speed limit, but Peter Swift pointed out that the rubber hoses and huge yellow signs they used alerted traffic and everyone slowed down, so the 85% number is not realistic.  He estimates that 10-15% of traffic speeds excessively, seemingly late in the evenings perhaps hurrying home, plus tourists.  Peter volunteered to work with the county about solutions/suggestions for traffic calming ideas. There were several proposals to slow traffic that came out of the last study, but were not implemented. He would prefer electronic monitoring that would not alert drivers.  Chrissy wondered what we will be able to do to slow traffic knowing that we are not allowed speed bumps (on county roads).    They are willing to come to the GHTM and talk about mitigation ideas.  Everyone agreed that we would like to participate with the County on the speed study, and several people would like speed monitored is additional locations besides Main Street.

Respectfully submitted, Gretchen Diefenderfer

P.S. If you are having this Newsletter mailed to you, but could have it emailed, please let me know as it will save time and money.  Also, if you know of anyone who should be receiving this, but is not, let me know that as well.