Wednesday, January 29, 2025

EVMD Board Meeting 2/20/2025 Recap

This is an unofficial summary of the Feb. 20, 2025 Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors of the EagleVail Metropolitan District produced by EVMD Communications staff. A draft of the minutes will be posted to the EVMD website once they are composed.

Board members present: McGuire, Hopkins, Laughlin, Barcza, and Copeland (virtually.)

Dog Waste Discussion:

District Manager Steven Barber described renewed EVMD staff and resident concerns around ongoing dog waste and lack of responsibility by some dog owners. Barber explained that while enforcement of community rules falls under the jurisdiction of the EVPOA and Eagle County Animal Control, the EVMD is committed to operational enhancements, including having replaced all 36 pet waste stations and updating signage throughout EagleVail about pet owner responsibility.

The communications team recommended taking a more humorous approach to signage, similar to signage seen in other community neighborhoods, to capture high-traffic, pedestrian-area user attention, as well as on official EVMD social media platforms.

The EVMD board supported the proposed signage (asking to also include messaging around the environmental effects of waste) and also asked Barber to communicate with the POA about this communal issue to ask for their assistance in communications about responsible pet ownership.

Communications Update:

Content for increased social posts on official EVMD channels;
Content and ideas for current topics: dog waste; wildland fire mitigation; board election; fire station disposition;
Committees to resume March 6, 13, 27 and April 3;
Planning for State of EagleVail social event April 9;
Barcza suggested comms efforts to encourage the community to sign up for EC Alerts, as well as ongoing input on winter amenities.

Manager Update:

Focus on 2025 capital project planning;
The skier shuttle to Vail continues to be extremely popular with residents; service will operate 50-plus days during the 2024-2025 season which began on Dec. 13. This is a great amenity for the community paid for by sales tax dollars. Proof of residency is required to ride the bus. EME does an excellent job with helping us manage this program;
- Proposing three Strat-Ops meetings in 2025. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 10, noon - 4 p.m. Current list of action items includes: Phase II East End Master Plan

- Capital Improvement Plan
- Improved Community Communications
- Disposition of the EV Fire Station

EVMD is still planning to install the speed tables in the community this year. The Request for Proposal (RFP) for the project was sent out earlier this month, with a tentative start date in late May/early June, weather permitting. We will continue to share updates as more information becomes available.
As a reminder, Eagle County has approved a total of seven asphalt speed tables for construction. Additionally, we plan to install a temporary speed table at the west end of the community this year to help determine whether permanent installations are necessary.
We continue to move forward with efforts to reduce the risk of wildfires in the community. The District has budgeted $250,000 for wildfire mitigation work on Metro District Property in 2024. We remain committed to our partnerships with Eagle County and Eagle Valley Wildland Fire Protection to enhance community safety.

An Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) for services has been completed.
- A Request for Proposal (RFP) for the proposed wildfire mitigation work this summer has been issued;
- Eagle Valley Wildland has conducted prescribed burns this week, with our communication tools actively used to inform the community.
- Douglas Fir Beetle Management Plan: planning and coordination of efforts to address the dead Douglas Fir trees on the southern hillside above holes #8 and #9 are underway. These trees have been impacted by the Douglas Fir Beetle, and a management strategy is being developed, including: tree Removal in affected areas after snowmelt; strategic placement of pheromone packets to protect healthy trees; exploring additional applications to help preserve the remaining trees.

Golf Courses and Parks Update:

Superintendent Brent Barnum highlighted the great winter to date, with fluctuating temperatures and an evolving improved snowpack.

The golf courses continue to have a great deal of activity from Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, walking, running, biking, skinning up to Beaver Creek, and romping around. With the freezing temperatures in January and then the abnormally warm temperatures (in the 50’s) in early February the snow conditions were challenging. Our hope is that with more consistent snow events the Nordic track/winter path conditions will improve; snow makes everything better. The new “Nordic Skiers Only” track along hole 1 and the practice range, in conjunction with holes 2 & 6 are having some use. Our evaluation to this point is half Nordic skier use and half walkers. The Nordic tracks are groomed on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, and after a snow event. We groom the HPS track on Tuesdays and Thursdays for their Nordic Club to use and hone-in their skills.

Golf Update:

Director Ryan Flamm presented state of the golf industry statistics showing an uptick of participation.

Flyer distribution of upcoming EagleVail programs has commenced. Our weekly golf leagues bring people together through a fun, competitive, and social outing designed for those looking to play more and improve their overall playing ability during this 12-week season long event. One notable change is the men’s league moving from Sundays to Wednesdays.
The clubhouse is undergoing a paint job this winter. So far, the new look is incredible.

Administrative Updates:

Began issuing the 2024-2025 resident cards the week of Nov. 18. EV Discount Cards for 2025 are in and Kris O’Neill has been issuing those with the resident cards, one free discount card per household prior to April 15. Subsequently, residents will need to pay $10 for the discount card.

Final Comment:

Laughlin said she heard Town of Avon may be approaching annexation of EagleVail parcels in more of a phased approach, starting with the CDOT parcel. Suggested an update at the next board meeting.