Article Contributed on: 6/5/2009 3:10:25 PM
Like its Web site says, there is no Conifer Community Center, at least not yet.
But, 30 people turned out for a June 3 meeting at Beaver Ranch held by the Conifer Community Center board members and supporters to update neighbors on their progress to establish a community center in Conifer.
Board president Skip Shirlaw introduced volunteers, including 30-year residents Irv and Marilyn Saltzman, who have been working to help spread the word about the push for Conifer to have a rec center.
"I've never been involved in something like this where people really work together," Shirlaw said.
Secretary Erika Armstrong presented results of a survey that was circulated last fall and Cathy Baim announced a spoof "Elect the Mayor of Conifer" contest to encourage volunteers to get involved.
Of the 454 people who responded to the survey, Armstrong said 66 percent expressed a favorable response to a potential mil levy to have a rec center. The plan was to give voters a chance to approve a special district in November, that once formed, would use the existing facilities at 450-acre Beaver Ranch, which includes miles of trails, disc golf, and several buildings. It is owned by Jefferson County Open Space.
The goal, according to Shirlaw, is for the community to agree on voting to become a park and rec district, elect a board of directors and approve a 4-mil tax levy.
Similar appeals have been brought before voters in the past. Four elections have been held and in each case they were rejected. Armstrong noted a 4-mil levy would cost the owner of a $300,000 home approximately $9 per month.
Resident Cathy Baty said, "I voted down the rec center in the past because it was unclear. Never once was there a vote that said 'Let's vote for a rec district - period."
Baty, who works for the Evergreen Park and Rec District told the crowd that users pay 33 percent more by being out of district.
"You could be spending that in your own community," said Baty.
Armstrong said, "We all understand why we live up here. We are all citizens and we don't want taxes to go up any more than you do, so we are trying to be proactive rather than complain about the direction Conifer is taking. We have been working for the last 20 months. Our focus is a park and rec district. We have 350 volunteers and that's what keeps us going."
Armstrong and Shirlaw outlined what they hope to accomplish with the support of the community in order to have a rec center, the first step being to become a recreation district, which would open up opportunities for funding from agencies such as Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), which provides money to nonprofits or special districts that are created for the purpose of recreation.
"Other communities are getting these funds, we're not," said Shirlaw.
Shirlaw said he spoke to Jefferson County Open Space director Ralph Schell and was told the lease for the existing Beaver Ranch was $1 a year.
JCOS outreach manager Thea Rock said, "That's our going rate, as long as it's being used for park and rec uses. The taxpayer has already contributed to the acquisition of the land. Open Space funds are sales tax funds, not property taxes and are one-half cent on the dollar."
Rock said GOCO funds come from the Colorado Lottery, but there also are annual grant programs called grant ventures that JCOS offers.
Several neighbors of Beaver Ranch voiced their opposition to a proposed rec center. One woman said 'People ignore the No Trespassing signs. I didn't move up here to have a soccer field outside my front door."
Tom Altherr said he remembered when a soccer club played nearby.
"The noise, trash, accidents and traffic was bad. I had to indemnify myself against a little kid coming over into my culvert. Before I vote for something like this, I want to know you guys have thought of that," Altherr said.
Other residents voiced concerns over the impact to neighbors and whether a 4-mil levy would prevent the center from coming back for more money at a later date.
Armstrong said, "There are 100 different grants we can apply for."
Board member Bill Turner said, "What we are trying to do to start is get a park and rec district going so we will have access to funding."
Several people agreed the group needed to make their case with more detail so misunderstanding would not undermine the goal. The next meeting has not been scheduled. To see a map of the proposed district visit www.conifercommunitycenter.org.
To read more about the Elect the Mayor of Conifer contest, enter 623586 in YourHub.com's Content Finder.