Posted on: January 25th, 2021

GOLD HILL TOWN MEETING NEWSLETTER
Minutes of the December 14, 2020 Town Meeting by Zoom

Next Regular Town Meeting will be Monday February 8, 7:00 P.M. by Zoom

The meeting was called to order by Chair Emma Dirolf. Thirteen people (if I missed anyone, please let me know) checked in: Emma, Deb Yeager, Val Crist, Marcus Moench, Elisabeth Caspari, Sarah Davis of S.R.D. Consulting, Secretary Gretchen Diefenderfer, Dick Cole, Leslie Finn, Emily Rose, Vice-Chair Mari Sidell, Virginia Schultz, Chris Dirolf

Emma then introduced Sarah Davis, our Boulder County Consultant, to present the summary of the Resilient Renewal Design Initiative (https://www.resilientgoldhill.com/feasibility-study), the study conducted for Gold Hill with our Technical Advisory Committee composed of Marcus, Elisabeth, Dina and Mark Elder, Bob Mazurkiewicz, Paul Melamed, Virginia, Cat Russell, Heidi Kessler and Richard Roth. The goal of the study was to evaluate the technical, economic, social and environmental feasibility of providing the community with renewable energy. It kicked off in Feb. 2020 and met monthly looking at solution brainstorming, feasibility, and prioritization. The most feasible solutions seem to be for individual households: energy efficiency, rooftop solar installations, and home battery back-up systems. Other areas of consideration are a Community Center Solar Microgrid although there are regulatory challenges with Exel Energy. Other considerations: local water supply, communication issues, electrical vehicle charging, mobile battery storage trailer, neighborhood hubs. They looked at the technical feasibility, financial feasibility and regulatory feasibility of all the solutions considered, and the possible path forward – the need to create a non-profit quasi-governmental entity, benchmarks and system tracking progress. Phase 1 – Funding for bulk purchasing for solar systems, battery storage systems, etc., before the end of 2021. Phase 2 – Finding space for a Community Center – new or retrofit. Phase 3 – Future possibilities, including wind energy and geothermal energy.
Addressing energy efficiency, Virginia added the EnergySmart link: https://energysmartyes.cfom / and Cat Russell has a renewable energy survey we can all fill out at https://www.climateactionmaps.org/challenges
For more information, the study is full of amazing information and there will be hard copies at the Store. You can also contact one of our Gold Hill members of the committee: Dina Elder: dina.elder@nullgmail.com, Marcus Moench: marcus.moench@nullgmail.com, Cat Russell: wildcat.russell@nullgmail.com, Virginia Schultz: virginia.schultz@nullcolorado.edu They are looking at grants for funding from the State and the County. Reliable communication is top of the list. DOLA is revamping their funding. Virginia added that the USDA has all kinds of grants for conservation. Even FEMA is thinking of funding things before disasters strike vs. after.

Minutes of the October GHTM were approved as published

Treasurer’s Report – Martha emailed her report
Gold Hill Town Meeting Treasurer’s Report Summary: 12/14/2020
At the previous regular Town Meeting in August 2020 our bank balance was $17,999.74. Our current total cash assets are $17,297.10.
Revenue Summary: Cemetery Fund donations $100, General Fund additions $243.15 from pint glass sales totaling $217 and bank safe deposit box refund $26.15.
Expense Summary: Cemetery miscellaneous expense $60.44; Liability insurance policy renewal $303 from the General Fund; and $682.35 food bank expense from the COVID-19 Response Fund.
Fund transfers: $300 from General Fund to Community Planning/Fundraising for t-shirt/pint glass expenses.
Current fund totals: General Fund $3676.86; Cemetery $3,105.21; Safe Link (combined fundsfor SafeSite, AirLink, NeighborLink projects) $2,466.79; Community Planning/Fundraising $300; Forest Management $0 (zero;) Community Relief $2,375.20; COVID-19 Response Fund $1,373.04; Water Harvesting/Ag Education Grant $4,000.
Anticipated expenses for remainder of 2020: General Fund $50.00 for porta-potty maintenance.

Prepared by
Martha Knapp, Treasurer Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc. 12/14/2020
We do still have money in the COVID relief fund to help people in need in this time of COVID – loss of income, jobs, medical needs. For information and the application form, https://goldhilltown.com/ghtm-community-relief-fund/ Quite a bit of money has gone to help support the Gold Hill Food Bank also, which serves the community on Mondays at 3:00 p.m. in front of the Gold Hill Hotel and Inn.

COMMITTEE REPORTS
Mountain Stewards – Email from Chrissy Maedke – How to sign up to be a Bee Safe Neighborhood – This program is now being sponsored through The People’s Bees https://www.thepeoplesbees.com

The idea is that you try to get at least 75 addresses to commit to either:
• Level One Pledge: I will not use any insecticide products that include neonicotinoids or systemic poisons on my property.
• Level Two Pledge: I will not use any insecticide products whatsoever on my property.
• Level Three Pledge: I will not use any insecticide products whatsoever on my property, and will plant nectar- and pollen-rich flowers to feed the local bees.
They register online at: https://www.thepeoplesbees.com/pledge
When a person registers, the neighborhood is Gold Hill, and I am the coordinator: Chrissy Maedke. (PS, I am doing this as a citizen, not as a teacher.)

Forestry and Forest Management – Virginia reports that there are big Wildfire Mitigation projects in the works. Maya MacHamer at fourmilewatershed@nullgmail.com is working with us and the Fire Department on plans for the north side of Gold Hill including the Ashley property and the Ashram. The old mitigation efforts will be re-mitigated and improved. We will have to burn slash piles and possibly do prescriptive burns as well. Chris Dirolf has participated in prescriptive burns and every little bit helps to thin trees and open the landscape. There is nice data on how much the mitigation work that had been done helped in our last fire. Emily spoke about the cutting that was done on the north side in the past and the slash was left. She had questions about how this will be dealt with. Virginia replied that this is a big project and there will be a full report and maps. The work on the top can be done with hand crews, but the lower, steeper parts will probably require big equipment. There will be opportunities for local input to make sure our concerns are addressed. Mari added that Maya is very available and willing to come to the GHTM and do community outreach. Chris Dirolf said that Tuesday, Dec. 15 is the Fire Board Meeting and they will be looking at this project and touching base with Maya on Thursday. Emma is happy to invite Maya to come to our February and April GHTMs so we can tell her our concerns and find out about the plans.
Gold Hill School – no report

Gold Hill Museum – Deb reports that they are finishing up the year and there are still things available for sale: towels, t-shirts, etc. Call Deb at 303- 449-0454.

Community Planning – no report, Cemetery – no report, Community Center – no report

Food Pantry – Deb reports that the Foot Pantry is still distributing food on Mondays in front of the Gold Hill Hotel and Inn at 3:00 p.m. They are working on getting the refrigerator and freezer used for storage wired – they’re temporarily hooked up with extension cords at the Firebarn now.

SafeLink/NeighborLink/AirLink/Emergency Preparedness/Communications –
Deb reports that NeighborLink, our glorified phone tree, is still getting updated and we’re working on how to get information to everyone in emergencies, how to reach new people and let them know about how to get connected to make sure they hear about evacuation orders, and get signed up with the Office of Emergency Management (boulderoem.com) for Everbridge (the County’s reverse 9-1-1) www.boco911alert.com. We’re working on a survey to find out how everyone wants to be contacted, who all lives in each house, their email address, etc. Virginia added that OEM is coming out with a new hazard mitigation plan as well. More revised information will be included in Welcome Buckets.

Weed Management – Marcus noted extensive leafy spurge outbreaks that will need to be addressed.

Historical Zoning – no report

Fire Department – Leslie reported that COVID vaccinations are now happening and how soon the GHFPD gets them is still unknown.

Non Discrimination Statement – Marcus said that we need a non-discrimination statement in the bylaws, specifically to apply for grants. Here is what we came up with at our last meeting:
The Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc., does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender expression, age, citizenship status, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, political affiliation or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, election of Town Council members, participation by any members of the Town Meeting area, selection of volunteers or vendors, or potential hiring and firing of any staff. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of the Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc., its partners, guests and attendees, volunteers, subcontractors and vendors.
Gretchen moved that we approve this statement and add it to the bylaws and the motion carried.

Zoom for the GHTM – Virginia moved that we approve purchase of a professional Zoom account for town meetings and affiliated educational events. Mari seconded and the motion passed.

Emma will reach out to Maya MacHamer and see if she can attend our next meeting to discuss the Wildfire Mitigation planning for Gold Hill, and to Pam Sherman about weed management. Someone suggested getting a town goat.

Respectfully submitted, Gretchen Diefenderfer, Secretary