This vote was the culmination of several weeks of wide ranging (and sometimes heated) discussions of what the boundaries of the wards should be, how many wards, and whether neighborhoods should be split into different wards in order to meet mandated population tolerances for each ward. As you might imagine, there were a number of plans that were discussed. One of the plans that made it to final

consideration by the commission would have split Foxridge into two wards.

This means that the east side of our neighborhood would have had separate city council representation from the west side. In a time when the lack of neighborhood and community feeling and support is cited as a major ill in our society, there can be few things more divisive than splitting our representation.

I am happy to report that the commission voted unanimously for a plan which kept Foxridge in one city ward for the upcoming election and representation. Our ward includes all of Willow Creek, Heritage Greens, Liberty Hill, Homestead Farm and Homestead Farm II. The plan approved was one of three offered up for final consideration. And one of the plans would have split Foxridge between two city wards.

The approval of the final plan which kept our neighborhood in one ward did not come about without some quick and strong input from our neighborhood. Many of you may not have even known that this was even an issue. I would like to thank everyone who sent an E-mail expressing their thoughts to Bart Miller, the Centennial Election Commission Chairman. There were over 80 messages received and the vast majority were from Foxridge residents. I would also like to thank the residents who attended and spoke at the commission

meeting on November 1st. There were a number of speakers who supported keeping Foxridge in one ward who were not residents of Foxridge.

Finally, a very special thank you to Sue Rosser, who is a resident of Willow Creek. Sue was the volunteer coordinator for Centennial Precinct 12 (the precinct for the vote to form Centennial) which included the east side of Foxridge. She represented the interests of Foxridge at the early meetings on the city wards and made me aware of the risk that we faced in one of the final plans. She also took it upon herself to gather up volunteers to distribute flyers on this issue the weekend before the election. Keep in mind that her neighborhood, Willow Creek, was never in danger of being split between two wards. She took the time to advocate on behalf of Foxridge because it was the right thing to do. We are truly fortunate to have a great neighbor like Sue. BB

From around Foxridge:

South Suburban Recreation District hosted a public meeting to solicit comments and input regarding a new design for Foxridge Park. The meeting was on Tuesday, November 14 at 7:00 PM at Homestead Elementary School. Foxridge residents should have received a postcard reminder of this meeting. For more info, call 303.795.6531.

Support Franklin Elementary School by shopping at Southglenn Mall

You can support Franklin Elementary School, the Littleton School for Foxridge, in the "CASH for CLASS" contest, running from through May 15, 2001. When shopping with any merchant at Southglenn Mall, take your receipt to the Guest Services Desk, Southglenn Center Court, have it stamped and recorded for Franklin school, then returned to you. If you don’t need the receipt, put it in the white "CASH for CLASS: box under the center court stars, in the Franklin Elementary slot. For each purchase, the Franklin PTCO will receive a donation. The Franklin PTCO uses the money from this promotion toward education programs at the school. Last year, Franklin came in 4th place. Help us do better this year!

Centennial incorporation sets record

First, it appears that the incorporation of Centennial set a record. Thanks to the intrepid investigations of County Commissioner John Brackney, we believe, and now claim, that Centennial was the largest incorporation, in terms of population, in American history. It was close, and there were only two other competitors for the title - Moreno Valley, California and Santa Clarita, California. Neither can provide their population numbers for the time of incorporation, so some sleuthing was in order. Moreno Valley now has 141,000 people and states on their website that they have tripled in population since their incorporation, so they are out of the picture. Santa Clarita poses a tougher problem. It was incorporated in 1987, and they have no population figure for that year. In 1990, they had a population of 110,690. With their average growth rate figured in, we have an almost exact tie between Santa Clarita and Centennial. However, at the time of incorporation, Centennial had over 10,000 more registered voters, so that gives us the edge.

Ways to receive Centennial news

Here are two ways to get more Centennial information: Call 303-688-4222 and start a subscription to the Centennial Citizen, the new weekly paper that was established in August 2000 to bring Centennial news to all area residents. Their amazingly low special introductory rate is $6.95 for 52 issues--only 13+ cents per issue! Each week's issue arrives in the mail on Saturday or Monday. This newspaper is published by the same group that publishes the Littleton Independent, the Highlands Ranch Herald, and the Englewood Herald. Every issue thus far has had front page articles about important Centennial events and issues that either don't get covered by the two Denver daily newspapers, or are buried somewhere in their inner pages. A couple of volunteers have offered to help pass out this week's copy of the Centennial Citizen in Foxridge this weekend. If you would like to help, even for just a 25 or 50 home area, please E-mail back. This issue will have articles about the establishment of the Centennial city wards, and about the upcoming County Line Road construction and road closure, including a map and information number. Another way to get Centennial information is to sign up on the Centennial Information Network by going to the Centennial website, centennialcolorado.com, and then filling out the information on the "Getting Involved" site. This website badly needs a post-election revamping, but the Network still works. Now that the incorporation election is over, the Network E-mail messages are sent much less frequently, every few weeks or so.

Mail ads, with payment, to:
Foxtales, C/O Publisher
6635 E. Jamison Ave.
Englewood, CO 80112
Questions? Call 303-221-5819

By Anita Joseph-Conkling

About half the residents happily pay their $25 yearly dues and pay double that (thank you!), and probably more intend to and never get around to it. But, what about the owners who intentionally do not pay their dues? Most likely, these homeowners are trying to send a message…but that message is not clear. We want to know.

Communication is one of the most important values we can maintain. It is the basis of "community" and "freedom" and "quality of life." It is the principle reason we are called "neighbors" and feel that extra level of confidence and bonding when we meet and greet. You know, that feeling you don’t expect to get while living in a high-rise on Seventeenth Street. That’s part of why we are out here in the suburbs, right?

Some people say that $25 a year is fine, and others say the amount is ridiculously low in comparison to what other homeowner association dues are. I have never spoken with anyone who feels this is too much. And for those who say "I don’t pay my dues because I don’t know what will be done with my $25." Well, if you are reading this newsletter, you are seeing a good part of your dues at work. Now, add in other communications costs, such as signs to announce meetings, letters to neighbors to verify receipt of dues, notice of a covenant concern and copying. Our effort to communication with one another isn’t cheap, but is seems to be working. I do not know how it felt like to live in Foxridge in the Glory Days of the 80’s, but I definitely feel a revived enthusiasm on the horizon. Do you feel it, too? That is what comes with better communication.

For the $25…it is a worthwhile expense on any income. The real issue is that we need dues to be mandatory if for not other reason that to help new neighbors – and there seems to be quite a few – participate in keeping a certain level of consistency and pride in our neighborhood. When dues are not mandatory, real estate agents are NOT obligated to provide new owners with covenants and that will keep property values lower than neighborhoods with mandatory dues. We moved here in December 1998 and did not receive covenants. We learned about hem very soon after we had ripped out all the landscaping in front of the house and a horrified neighbor asked if we had gotten permission. We did not know that was in the covenants, so I got the job of covenant re-writes as my punishment. It is a good thing we had not already installed the life-size Elvis fountain!

The point is, we are a covenant-protected neighborhood and we need covenant-aware neighbors to keep it that way. That begins with mandatory dues and better communications. That does not mean dues will increase, but I will save that topic for another issue. Let’s keep our focus. Would you support a vote for mandatory dues?

Please e-mail me at [email protected] or drop me a note at 8239 S. Kearney Street (by the way, we have landscaping again!). AJC

Okay, what does the title of this article have to do with ACCORD? Well, I won’t be the ACCORD representative as of February 1, 2001. I won’t be on the FIA Board either. Sometime in the spring of 2001, Verna and I will be moving and we thought it is better that I vacate the FIA board seat in time for the FIA election. Thus the residents get to choose who they want on the board (participation) and Verna gets out of doing the work that I get credit for. I still believe it was my civic duty to serve. I just wish I would have woke up and done it sooner. "A Time to Go" has come.

As we’ve started telling different people we are moving, they all share an interest and want to know where and what we will be doing. Since each reader of these articles, with Verna’s work and my by-line, indicates an* interest in us. We will share our plans. Our house is too big for the two of us, now that we are retired and the kids are gone. The rest we don’t know. I guess we’ll follow a "Wondering Star".

As I was preparing to write this article I thought I would brag about all I had done while living in Foxridge and I discovered that I had done nothing that my neighbors had done. So much for greatness!

It would be derelict of me if I didn’t say something about covenant enforcement and mandatory dues before I close. FIA dues are presently voluntary and for years I supported this. I have recently changed my position. I now support mandatory dues if they have RESTRICTIONS and CONTROLS. The restriction and controls in part mean no dues increases over a small percent in any given year and with at least a 60 percent Foxridge approval for any increases. An annual budget with details presented to the residents before officer elections and approved by the residents. Covenant enforcement is necessary with enforcement being the key word. Foxridge residents should determine the amount and type of enforcement they want. There should be some sort of mechanism to let the board know your wishes. I believe you are going to get to decide these issues next year. Thus the FIA Board of Directors election for February 2001 is important. Try and get people to represent your views on the FIA Board. It is not hard to get on the board. I made it! However if all else fails come to FIA Board Meeting and state your position. Make us listen!

While this article is a goodbye, it does not mean we have quit. We have three more months to serve on the board. We will also live in Foxridge until we sell our house and move. Until then we will do all we can to make this a good community to live in and do our best to be a Good Neighbor. As the song goes "So long, it’s been good to know you!!!" LD