Important Issues & Policies in TrailMark
If you are doing any exterior work to your home or property, it is important to obtain DRC approval first.
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TRAILMARK NEWS
Notice of Quorum
A quorum of members of the TMMD Board will be attending the South Suburban Parks and Recreation District/TrailMark Resident Community Meeting on Monday Oct. 18, 2021 at 5:00 pm. The location is the “bike park” adjacent to the TrailMark playground on TrailMark Parkway. ~ NEXT EVENT ~ Photo by Hal Sports
4th Annual TM5K Run/Walk and the Mike Elbeck Family Fun Run
Runners, walkers, and strollers please join us for the 4th Annual TM5K Run/Walk and the Mike Elbeck Family Fun Run on October 23rd at Hogback Hill Park. Event Schedule: 9:30 AM - 5K Start 11:00 AM - Mike Elbeck Family Fun Run Start (appox 1 mile) The Fun: 🏃♂️ Enjoy the beauty of fall and TrailMark 👕 All participants receive a custom long sleeve shirt 🎉 Surprise gift to all participants 😋 Refreshments 🎃 Face painting 📷 Free Photos and More!!!!
Wanna promote your business? Contact social@trailmarkhoa.org for sponsorship/booth opportunities. Net proceeds will be made in honor of Mike Elbeck to the American Heart Association.
TO VIEW MORE UPCOMING EVENTS, SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE A Letter from our HOA President
October 11, 2021 Dear TrailMark Residents, I just finished speaking with South Suburban Parks and Recreation (SSPR) about setting up a day and time for TrailMark residents to attend a meeting regarding the bike park at TrailMark Park. Residents are invited to attend a meeting at TrailMark Park on Monday, October 18th at 5:00 p.m. SSPR representatives will be conducting the meeting. Please bring your comments and concerns regarding this issue because there will be an opportunity for open discussion with SSPR. The meeting will start at 5:00 p.m. and should conclude before sundown. On behalf of the TrailMark HOA, we look forward to seeing you at the meeting. Thank you, Ken Colaizzi, President Social Committee Liaison TrailMark HOA Littleton, CO 80127 president@trailmarkhoa.org https://www.trailmark.org 
WELCOME, NEW RESIDENTS!
There is a web page that welcomes TrailMark's incoming residents and offers essential information for a smooth transition. A Letter from our HOA President
October 7, 2021
Dear TrailMark Residents, As many of you know, several of the kids in our community have built a bike park at TrailMark Park near the lake (Fairview Reservoir) since Spring 2021. Our HOA Board has fielded several complaints along with several homeowners sending in their support for the self-made bike jumps. Our HOA Board and I personally have written several residents back explaining to everyone that this is not HOA property. The entire area where the kids have built the bike jumps is owned, managed, maintained, and guarded by South Suburban Parks and Recreation (SSPR). The TrailMark HOA has no authority, decision making, or enforcement of this area of our community. On Tuesday, October 5th our HOA was requested to attend a site visit from Dave Brueggeman, assistant director of South Suburban Parks and Recreation. Dave explained to our Board that South Suburban Parks and Recreation is not pleased with the destruction of their property. Dave told our Board that his crew would be at TrailMark Park in the next few weeks grading the park, and replenishing the park back to its original state. We were told that the area would be re-seeded and fenced off for repairing the damage. Dave also mentioned that TrailMark is not alone. SSPR has had to remove several self-made bike parks in other communities as well. Today, some parents helped kids in our neighborhood organize a peaceful protest attended by 9News. I just finished speaking with Becky Grubb who is South Suburban Parks and Recreation’s Communications Manager. Becky has issued me a public statement that I’m including in this address. According to Becky, SSPR will be setting up a meeting in the next few weeks with our neighbors to voice your concerns regarding the bike jumps at TrailMark Park. We will post the date of the meeting as soon as we are informed by SSPR. Our HOA Board strives on being a presence for our community, while we also value the safety of our community as well. Regardless of which side you support of these bike jumps, I respectfully ask that you please give South Suburban Parks and Recreation the opportunity to hear out our community. Thank all of you who have approached our Board regarding this issue. Thank you, Ken Colaizzi, President Social Committee Liaison TrailMark HOA Littleton, CO 80127 president@trailmarkhoa.org https://www.trailmark.org 
From the Safety Committee and the HOA Board
"Sorry Folks, the Bike Park is Closed" Over the last year, the youth of the TrailMark Community has designed and created a "bike park" near the park's playground area. The HOA Board and South Suburban Parks and Recreation (SSPR) were made aware, and at the time (spring of 2021), we all agreed it was a good thing and didn't pose a safety issue. However, in the last few weeks, additional contributions, such as parents hauling dirt into the community and building large jumps and obstacles, have posed a new challenge to the community and SSPR. The safety of our residents is always at the forefront of decisions that involve the community. On Tuesday, October 5, 2021, your HOA Board met with the head of Parks and Recreation for SSPR to evaluate the current status of the bike park. The jumps and obstacles that have been added pose a high safety risk, and SSPR is going to level, regrade and fence the area in an attempt to allow vegetation to grow back. For further comments, or concerns regarding this issue, please contact Dave Brueggeman at South Suburban Parks and Recreation at 303-953-7628 (updated), or by email to daveb@ssprd.org Thanks for your understanding. 
In Memory of Curt Fankhouser
Curt Fankhouser, our friend and neighbor, left us suddenly on September 2, 2021. He was a true humble servant, whose service on the TMMD Board saved our community residents hundreds of dollars in taxes. Curt served on the TMMD from 2012-2020 and during his time, the tax levy went from 35 mills/year to 3 mills/year. At Curt’s suggestion, and approved by the board, the debt was paid off with interest savings each year by using reserves to make the payment early in the year and thereby avoiding 11 month’s worth of interest. The fund balance was also used to make a portion of the debt payment, so more savings for the residents of TrailMark. Curt was a great board member who cared deeply about the neighborhood. His oversight and attention to the detail in the district made TrailMark a great place to live as well as more affordable by lowering taxes. When it was time to replace the privacy fence, he did a great job of leading the project; negotiating a good contract and following up throughout the work. Curt also served on the Star Canyon Patio Homes Board from 2002 - 2005, as their second HOA president. He and his wife, Mariel could be seen walking the trails daily. We will all miss his friendship and wonderful smile! Posted October 1, 2021 HOA/TMMD Annual Meeting - Thursday, November 11th 
Save the date! November 11, 2021
TrailMark Residents, the Budget Ratification meeting and annual joint meeting of the TrailMark HOA and the TrailMark Metropolitan District (TMMD) will be held to discuss the budgets for 2021 on Thursday, November 11th. The TMMD meeting begins at 6:30 pm with the HOA meeting immediately following the conclusion of the TMMD meeting, approximately 7:00. If you want to know where your taxes and fees are being spent and managed, please attend the meeting. Call for Proxies To have a quorum (required for the HOA meeting) necessary for ratification we need representation by proxy of a minimum of 82 households! You will receive, in the mail, notice of this meeting with a proxy form. If you cannot attend the meeting please return your proxy. Every year the HOA struggles to get enough proxies back to meet the quorum requirements set forth in the Governing Documents. If a quorum is not reached, the meeting must be rescheduled and costs the HOA a lot of money as all of the items must be mailed again and additional meetings must be called. Please send back your proxy when you receive it in the mail. This year the proxy is more important than ever. Be sure to indicate who you are assigning your proxy to. Do not leave the proxy blank. You may still complete the proxy for quorum only. This means that nobody gets to vote on your behalf, but that your proxy counts towards the quorum requirement for the meeting. If you would like to ensure someone votes on your behalf, you can either assign your vote to a Board member or to someone else in the community. Don’t leave it blank! If you think your neighbor already sent it, they probably didn’t! So please, if you are not going to attend the meeting, send your proxy back. Thank you! Call for Candidates The Annual Meeting also means that Board elections are coming up. Please contact the Property Manager, Mat Birkeness (mbirkeness@crsofcolorado.com) if you are interested in running for a position on the Board of Directors. More information about Board duties is included in the newsletter and will be included with the items mailed to you. This year we have to hold the meeting virtually. While this is not an ideal situation, we want to be sure the safety of all residents is taken into consideration. The meeting information will be included in the items mailed to you and posted on the TrailMark website prior to the meeting. With the meeting as virtual, the process will look a bit different also. Election Season As election season is upon us, it is time to remind TrailMark homeowners and residents of TrailMark’s signage rules: TrailMark Homeowners Association cannot prohibit the placement of political signs on property which is owned by a resident of the HOA or in the window of a unit. A political sign is defined as a sign that carries a message intended to influence the outcome of an election, including supporting or opposing the election of a candidate, the recall of a public official, or the passage of a ballot issue. Any political sign shall not be on display earlier than 45 days before an election and shall be removed no later than 7 days after an election. The political sign may be no larger than thirty-six by forty-eight inches in size. Each home or unit may only have one (1) sign per political office or ballot issue that is contested in an upcoming election. Please adhere to these rules to avoid a covenant violation. Reference: CCIOA (C.R.S 38-33.3106.5(1)(C)) – (Colorado Common Interest Ownership Act) Common Questions about running for the Board of Directors for the TrailMark Homeowners Association Q: What are my duties on the Board? A: The Board is responsible for maintaining and honoring the Declarations, Bylaws, and Design Review Guidelines of the community. The Board reviews/approves all contracts for work done in the common area. The Board receives emails from residents who voice concerns, complaints and/or ideas. The Board is responsible for holding homeowners accountable to the standards set in the covenants. The Board is responsible for the financial state of the Association in which they set dues, approve all invoices, and maintain a balanced budget. The Board is ultimately responsible for the trash contract, social events, maintenance and upkeep of Association property, and all things administrative (insurance, reserve study, etc.). Each Board member is assigned a committee for which they are the liaison between the Board and that committee. In this capacity, the Board member attends committee meetings and advises the Board on on-going committee activities. The Board currently meets every other month, in the odd number months, on the 2nd Tuesday at 7pm. Q: What are the qualifications for being on the Board? A: As outlined in the Association Bylaws: “A Director may be any natural person and need not be an Owner of a Lot within the Community Area; provided, however, that upon the expiration of the Declarant’s Control Period, at least a majority of the Directors shall be Owners…” It is important to keep in mind that the qualifications to be a Director and the qualifications to vote vary. To cast a vote for Association issues, the Lot for which the vote is being cast must be in good standing, that is, no outstanding fines or dues are allowed, in order to vote. Q: How much time does it take to be on the Board? A: Typically, Board members spend about 10-15 hours each week dealing with HOA items: emails; phone calls; visits from neighbors; reviewing and overseeing contracts; performing site visits; attending various meetings with agencies such as City of Littleton, JEFFCO, SSPR and/or fielding and responding to issues presented by these entities; provides guidance to our committees; etc. During the week when there is a Board meeting, the time spent on HOA issues is approximately 15-20 hours to facilitate meeting preparation and meeting attendance. Q: How long is my term on the Board? And are there term limits? A: Terms are 2-years in length. This is to ensure not all five Board members change at once, to allow consistency in governance. There are no term limits for how many times a person can sit on the Board. Posted October 1, 2021
For many Coloradans, driving is a sacred form of independence. Surrendering that privilege can feel sacrilegious, but there may come a time when choosing not to drive is the better choice. Ideally, we will make such a decision ourselves, but it takes courage to acknowledge our limitations as we age. Solid self-management can maintain and improve our independence and trust while also reducing risks to ourselves and others. Aging comes with expected changes to our health: reduced vision, reduced hearing, weakening joints and muscles, and slower reflexes, for example. Each of these changes impact our ability to drive safely. It’s essential that we recognize and act on signs that a loved one is no longer able to drive safely. It’s also essential we consider whether these signs apply to us. Approximately 90% of the critical information needed to drive safely relates to vision, according to Driver’s Alert, the company that created the 1-800 number to report unsafe driving practices among companies with fleets of vehicles. Cataracts, glaucoma, and other conditions reduce the efficiency of our sight as we age. Annual eye exams are a good way to monitor changes to vision. Walk around your loved one’s vehicle and look for scratches or dents that could indicate minor collisions with buildings, poles, and other vehicles. If such scratches or dents are present, respectfully inquire about them. Watch for some of the following changes in driving behavior:
When it’s time for this potentially awkward conversation, approach it with respect and curiosity. Ask the driver about her comfort level while driving or if he’s noticed any changes to his or other’s behavior. Discuss your observations but without being accusatory. Focus on future solutions rather than past problems. One solution may be a driver safety class. The South Metro Safety Foundation offers several classes for drivers of all ages including Adult/Senior Driving Skills and an innovative Skid Car Class that utilizes a vehicle engineered to simulate winter driving conditions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 700 drivers aged 65 and older are injured and twenty are killed each day. Don’t let yourself or your loved one become another tragic statistic. When it’s time to stop driving, make the courageous choice. For more safety information, visit www.southmetro.org. Register for driver safety classes at www.southmetrofoundation.org. Posted October 1, 2021  Photo by Deahna Visscher, 2019
"Sleigh Hello" Holiday Get Together
Kick off the holidays with a neighborhood get-together Saturday, November 20th at TrailMark Park (click on map below)! Join us from 5:00 to 7:00 pm for a horse-drawn wagon ride complete with a complimentary family photo next to the festively appointed horses just in time for holiday cards. We will have free cocoa and refreshments in the warming hut and even a holly jolly surprise guest mingling and taking early orders from all kiddos on the "nice" list.
 Photo by Greg Akers
Bobcat Sighting
A bobcat has been roaming the neighborhood. Please be safe. Should you encounter a bobcat, you should keep as much distance between you and the animal as possible: Immediately protect children and pets. Back away from the bobcat slowly. Avoid running away because that could trigger a pursuit response. Posted September 27, 2021 Senior Citizen Happy Hour rocks Hogback Hill
HOA Treasurer Phil Kinney and his wife Joy sponsored a senior citizens happy hour for our TrailMark seniors on Saturday. Joy decorated all of the tables with homemade fall decorations. Each resident who attended brought an appetizer to share. Approximately two dozen senior citizens jumped in and ate some tasty goodies and shared some good stories. Our Social Committee will continue to work with our HOA for more senior citizen get togethers in 2022. A big thank you to Phil and Joy Kinney for putting on such a memorable event. Our HOA sure appreciates our senior citizens and would like to thank each of you for attending today. All of you brighten our neighborhood! Photos by Phil Kinney and Ken Colaizzi Posted September 25, 2021
A letter from our HOA President
September 22, 2021
Dear TrailMark Residents, On Tuesday, September 21st, our Social Committee planned a very fun night at the Corn Maze at the Botanic Gardens at Chatfield Farms. We had a little over 400 residents attend this annual Fall event. The Social Committee deserves a huge pat on the back for organizing the extremely talented face painters, wonderful hay rides, and yummy kettle corn. Most families thoroughly took advantage of the beautiful fall evening and embraced the corn maze. Today, the manager of the Botanic Gardens at Chatfield Farms notified our HOA of some damage that some of our residents caused to the corn maze. Our Board was very embarrassed to receive this kind of feedback because these actions have definitely blemished our reputation as a great neighbor to the South. The manager reported to us today that our HOA will be responsible for $200 worth of damage to the Botanic Gardens at Chatfield Farms because of this… “Kids were seen removing corn, throwing it up and over the maze (this could have seriously hurt someone). They were also removing entire stalks and caught inside the pumpkin patch. At Chatfield Farms, we hold our clients accountable for any and all damages.” If any of you know of any of these children who caused these damages, our HOA would appreciate you talking to these kids about this destructive behavior. Our Social Committee has already discussed raising the cost next year to cover security deposits that are out of our control. The Social Committee has also considered changing the rules next year to no kids under 16 allowed without an adult. For the record, I have sent a personal apology on behalf of our entire neighborhood to the manager at the Botanic Gardens of Chatfield Farms in hopes to rectify this situation. Hopefully, we can work together as a great community and mend these wounds. We don’t want a few bad apples to ruin it for the whole neighborhood. Thank you, Ken Colaizzi, President Social Committee Liaison TrailMark HOA Littleton, CO 80127 president@trailmarkhoa.org https://www.trailmark.org
THANK YOU DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE!!
The HOA Board would like to express our appreciation to the Design Review Committee (DRC) members for going above and beyond, to assist homeowners whose properties sustained damage from the September 3rd hail storm. To assist homeowners in expediting needed repairs, the DRC announced last week that they will review hail damage requests out-of-cycle, so homeowners can get repair work scheduled and materials ordered. The DRC’s offer to provide this level of assistance is greatly appreciated. Our many thanks to the DRC members for taking even more time from their busy schedules to support our homeowners! Neighbors helping neighbors! Posted September 20, 2021 Regarding the recent Storm Damage
From your Design Review Committee (DRC): TrailMark experienced an intense hail storm on Friday, September 3rd. Many houses sustained damage and are expecting to require roof and/or solar replacements and repairs, and other more minor repairs. To assist homeowners, the Design Review Committee would like to offer assistance to help move the process forward, and minimize delays. • Per our CCRs, yes, you must submit a request to the DRC for a roof / solar replacement or repair. • What documents are needed? 1. Home Improvement Request Form - Provide the shingle manufacturer, shingle style (i.e., asphalt…), type (i.e., three tab), and color. - Provide a manufacturer brochure and indicate shingle and color selection. 2. IF you live on open space – Home Improvement Yard Access Form 3. IF you need solar system replacement/repair - TrailMark Solar Device Checklist • REMINDER: - All required City of Littleton building permits must be obtained. - Flashing, roof jacks, conduit, radon piping, vents, and chimneys must be painted the color of the surface upon which they rest. Due to short timelines to get these replacements/repairs completed, the DRC will review roof & solar projects out-of-cycle, meaning that the homeowners will not have to wait until the next scheduled DRC meeting. The DRC will strive to review requests within 48 hours of receipt by the DRC. To ensure expeditious review, please ensure that all required documents are included so the request may be reviewed without delay. Send your request to designreview@trailmarkhoa.org. Posted September 17, 2021
HOA IS LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD RESIDENTS
Ladies and Gentlemen, our TrailMark HOA Board is taking a line from Uncle Sam. We are looking for a few good residents to consider running for the HOA Board on November 11, 2021. Qualifications are: You must be a TrailMark registered homeowner, and be in good standing with respect to your HOA dues. You must be able to attend bi-monthly meetings, respond to multiple emails and phone calls daily, as well as be an active member of our community. It’s a volunteer position and involves approximately 2 to 20 hours a week on average. Board members Ken Colaizzi and Bill Kuenning’s seats are up for election/re-election in November. Both Ken and Bill may choose to run for re-election. As a point of clarification, any and all candidates run for the board individually, not as a team. If you are interested in running for the HOA Board, please fill out this self nomination form and email it to Mat Birkeness at our management company at mbirkeness@crsofcolorado.com, or fax it to 303-381-4960 before our November 11th meeting. If elected, you will serve a two-year volunteer term to the HOA Board. The election will begin on November 11th at the annual HOA meeting. Our current HOA Board will be discussing and advertising the details of the upcoming election very soon. Once the new Board is elected, the five Board members will sit together and determine which positions each Board member will hold for the 2021-2022 year. This November, you will get to choose which neighbors you wish to fill the two seats on the HOA Board. Will one of these candidates be you? Will you be the next resident to step up and help TrailMark be the outstanding community it is? This will be a great election in November. |
Events Calendar
10/18 - Bike Park Meeting with SSPR 5:00 pm at TrailMark Park 10/23 - TM5K and Family Fun Run 9:30 & 11:00 am at Hogback Hill Park 11/1 - TrailMark Monthly News Update Sign up 11/4 - Food Truck Thursday 5:00-7:30 pm at TrailMark Park 11/11 - TMMD/HOA Annual Special Meeting 6:30 pm 11/20 - "Sleigh Hello" - Holiday get together 5:00-7:00 pm at TrailMark Park 12/7 - TrailMark Night at the Lights 5:00-8:00 pm at Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield 12/11 - Holiday Lights and Car Parade 6:30 pm throughout TrailMark 1/1 - HOA Quarterly Assessments Due Information All events are subject to change. All TrailMark events will follow whatever current CDC and Jeffco COVID-19 guidelines are in place.
(Scroll down to the bottom of this page for details on upcoming events.)
TrailMark at Chatfield HOA's Newsletter
Photo by Eric Siegler
© 2021 TrailMark HOA
Community Resource Services of Colorado, LLC 7995 East Prentice Avenue, Suite 103E Greenwood Village, CO 80111 Sign up for the monthly TrailMark News Update and other important emails here...
GENERAL INFORMATION
FOR EMERGENCY - Call 911
City of Littleton
Non-Emergency Website ("Click and Fix") Report non-emergency issues or concerns 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Submit issues such as potholes, icy or damaged sidewalk, graffiti, missing or damaged street signs, abandoned vehicle or other zoning issues. For street light outages, use Xcel Energy's Outdoor Lighting Outage Report
Please… BE BEAR AWARE
The bears are all around TrailMark and are only interested in YOUR WONDERFUL GARBAGE - YUM! Please... the rule is no overnight trash containers, because that is their favorite feeding time. Thank you. ~ VOLUNTEERS NEEDED ~PLEASE VISIT THE VOLUNTEER PAGE 
For missed pick-ups, call GFL Environmental at 303-744-9881. 
IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
Or, visit TrailMark's Who to Contact page.
EMERGENCY: Police / Fire / Medical
Call 911 County
Jefferson County: 303-279-6511 School District
Jeffco Public Schools: 303-982-6500 Star Canyon Patio Homes Association
Colorado Association Svcs: 303-232-9200 Star Canyon Patio Homes Manager
Jennifer Gill: 303-962-1601 Streets / Lighting / Traffic Signals
Littleton Public Works: 303-795-3863 |
UPCOMING EVENTS
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TM5K & FAMILY FUN RUN
 Photo by Hal Sports
Saturday, October 23rd
9:30 & 11:00 am Hogback Hill Park Runners, walkers, and strollers please join us for the 4th Annual TM5K Run/Walk and the Mike Elbeck Family Fun Run on October 23rd at Hogback Hill Park. Event Schedule: 9:30 AM - 5K Start 11:00 AM - Mike Elbeck Family Fun Run Start (appox 1 mile) The Fun: 🏃♂️ Enjoy the beauty of fall and TrailMark 👕 All participants receive a custom long sleeve shirt 🎉 Surprise gift to all participants 😋 Refreshments 🎃 Face painting 📷 Free Photos and More!!!!
Wanna promote your business? Contact social@trailmarkhoa.org for sponsorship/booth opportunities. Net proceeds will be made in honor of Mike Elbeck to the American Heart Association. Photo by Deahna Visscher, 2019
"Sleigh Hello" Holiday Get Together
Saturday, November 20th 5:00-7:00 pm TrailMark Park Join us for a horse-drawn wagon ride complete with a complimentary family photo next to the festively appointed horses just in time for holiday cards. We will have free cocoa and refreshments in the warming hut and even a holly jolly surprise guest mingling and taking early orders from all kiddos on the "nice" list.
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 Photo by Linda Jagiello
FOOD TRUCK THURSDAY
Thursday, November 4th 5:00-7:30 pm TrailMark Park FOOD TRUCK: 🚐 Downtown Fingers • ORDER AT THE TRUCK • Please respect those who live on that street. • If garbage cans are full, please bring your trash home. • Food truck selections subject to change. • Due to weather, events may be canceled. Please check trailmark.org for cancellation information. TMMD/HOA ANNUAL SPECIAL MEETING
Thursday, November 11th
6:30 pm The Budget Ratification meeting and annual joint meeting of the TrailMark HOA and the TrailMark Metropolitan District (TMMD) will be held to discuss the budgets for 2021 on Thursday, November 11th. The TMMD meeting begins at 6:30 pm with the HOA meeting immediately following the conclusion of the TMMD meeting, approximately 7:00. Zoom meeting information to come. All are welcome. HOA ASSESSMENTS DUE
JANUARY 1st
As a reminder, HOA Assessments are due January 1st. If you have any questions, please contact Mat Birkeness at Community Resource Services.
TrailMark HOA Board |
