ca monthly april 2016
DESCRIPTION
CA Monthly's April 2016 includes a rundown of the budget for Fiscal Years 2017-2018.TRANSCRIPT
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CA MON TH LY 1
MonthlyA PUBLICATION OF COLUMBIA ASSOCIATION APRIL 2016CA
A planned tennis facility in Long Reach will have six indoor courts to supplement one of CA’s most popular programs. (See Budget, page 3)
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By Tripp Laino
Columbia Association’sBoard of Directors votedearlier this year to approveoperating and capital budgetsfor fiscal years 2017 and2018, setting a path for somemajor improvements to CAamenities — including a
brand new indoor tennis facility in Long Reachand a revamped Columbia Swim Center with new SplashDown flumes.
Tennis is one of CA’s most popular programs,with 33 courts in several locations. Nine ofthose tennis courts are indoors; five of theindoor courts are at the Owen Brown TennisClub and Bubble and four are at ColumbiaAthletic Club. The bubble, which opened in thelate ‘90s, is reaching the end of its useful life.
CA will be able to build a larger, betterindoor tennis facility in Long Reach, across the street from Long Reach High School’s ball fields, off Old Dobbin Lane.
CApasses budgetNew projects include tennis facility, Columbia Swim Center upgrades
FISCAL YEARS 2017-2018
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BoardRecapCA
CA BOARD OF DIRECTORS2015-2016
Reginald AveryOakland [email protected]
Dick BoultonDorsey’s [email protected]
Brian DunnKings [email protected]
Janet EvansLong [email protected]
Jeanne KetleyTown [email protected]
Alan KleinHarper’s [email protected]
Nancy McCordWilde [email protected]
Gregg SchwindHickory [email protected]
Andrew StackOwen [email protected]
Chao WuRiver [email protected]
Letter fromLong Reach
A t the Columbia Association (CA) Board of Directors work session held March 10,CA’s Board discussed potential changes to the membership structure.
The March 24 meeting was after CA Monthly’s presstime. The next scheduled Board of Directors meetings are April 14 and 28. Meetings typically begin at 7:30pmand are held at CA Headquarters, 6310 Hillside Court, Suite 100.
For current CA Board of Directors meeting minutes and agendas, visit ColumbiaAssociation.org/Agendas.Podcasts from board meetings are available atColumbiaAssociation.org/Podcasts.
T he first residents moved into the village of LongReach in 1971, and over the years it has grown tohave more residents than any other village inColumbia. Long Reach’s four neighborhoods —
Jeffers Hill, Kendall Ridge, Locust Park and Phelps Luck —have a diverse population of about 14,000, as well asbeautiful green space and a lot of spirit.
I moved to Long Reach in 2011 and was among thosewatching the decline in the village center with concern. Assuch a central piece of the overall village concept, the villagecenter is intended to be a thriving hub. This aroused myinterest in Columbia’s history and Long Reach’s place in it,including what Long Reach has to offer now.
As a part of my graduate thesis, I evaluated Long Reach on a “Placemaking Powerof 10” basis — a concept to assess community assets and connections between themas an indicator of how the village can attract people.
The number and variety of assets in Long Reach was pleasantly surprising: four pools,three community centers, Stonehouse, Columbia Art Center, Jackson Pond, the greenspace and athletic fields at Blandair Park, worship space and community garden plots, aswell as events such as ArtReach and a variety of classes and camps.
My assessment? For a suburban community the size of Long Reach, there is animpressive number of amenities that are fairly well connected through roads, sidewalks andtrails. The largest gap identified was a lack of eating establishments within the village itself.
Several initiatives on the horizon will directly benefit Long Reach. First and mostcritical is the revitalization of the village center. A request for proposals is expected to goout in May with a November target date for developer selection.
Beyond that are CA’s Connecting Columbia and the county’s BikeHoward plans,which are focused on enhancing recreational and transportation connectivity throughpathways and on-road bike lanes. These plans include projects and recommendations thatcould improve access in and out of Long Reach and provide a viable alternative to drivinglocally. Complementing this initiative is the county task force on complete streets. Thetask force, which includes CA representation, is intended to maximize safety for all formsof transportation, improving sustainability and connectivity within the community.
Also, coming in the near future is the addition of CA’s new indoor tennis facility,which is scheduled for completion across from Long Reach High School in early 2018.
As they say, Long Reach has “good bones.” It is great place to live and will have aneven brighter future as existing Long Reach amenities are maintained and expanded andwith county and CA initiatives supporting and advancing the quality of life. Come enjoywhat Long Reach has to offer!
Thank you,Janet Evans
FILE PhotoJanet EvansVillage of Long ReachColumbia Council Representative
A brighter future for Long Reach
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CA Headquarters ............................................410-715-3000Customer and Member Service Center.........410-730-1801Aquatics Office................................................410-312-6332Columbia Archives .........................................410-715-6781Columbia Art Center .......................................410-730-0075Columbia Association Camps........................410-715-3165Columbia Athletic Club ..................................410-730-6744Columbia Gym ................................................410-531-0800Columbia Horse Center..................................301-776-5850Columbia Ice Rink ..........................................410-730-0322Columbia SportsPark/SkatePark ...................410-715-3054Columbia Swim Center ..................................410-730-7000Columbia Youth and Teen Center ..................410-992-3726Fairway Hills Golf Club ..................................410-730-1112Haven on the Lake..........................................410-715-3020Hobbit’s Glen Golf Club ..................................410-730-5980Inclement Weather Hotline............................410-715-3154Indoor Tennis, Columbia Athletic Club ...........410-720-0149Owen Brown Tennis Bubble ...........................410-381-7255The Racquet Club at Hobbit’s Glen................410-730-6601School Age Services ......................................410-715-3164Supreme Sports Club .....................................410-381-5355Wilde Lake Tennis Club ................................410-730-3767
CA PHONE NUMBERSThe new air-conditioned tennis facility,expected to cost $9 million, will sport sixnew indoor courts, two viewing lounges,locker rooms with shower facilities, someoffice space and possibly a meeting room.
“This is an exciting project forColumbia and welcomed by the villageof Long Reach,” said Albert Edwards,CA’s director of construction. “Thedesign and entitlement process iscurrently ongoing with a constructionstart projected for early 2017 andopening in early 2018, if countyapprovals stay on target.”
Owen Brown’s indoor courts wouldthen be turned into outdoor courts,keeping the club with 12 courts overall.
Another exciting project is updatingColumbia Swim Center, which openedin 1967, the same year as Columbia’sfounding. The project has three parts:The first phase will bring backSplashDown’s water slides, with newflumes and a stair tower beingconstructed and a new piping systeminstalled. The second phase will bringupgrades to the locker and changingrooms, improve the lobby and gotoward making the facility compliantwith the Americans with Disabilities Act. The third phase will replace thewading pool. About $5 million haspresently been budgeted, but the fullscope of work for the project is stillbeing determined.
CA will continue to offer the funWibit® inflatable water play features at Hawthorn Pool once SplashDownreopens.
Columbia Swim Center is home to 11 of CA’s 23 indoor swim lanes; byworking on this project in phases andlimiting work to the summer months,these lanes will be available for the mostin-demand times. CA hopes to finish the last phase in 2018.
Other projects in the upcoming fiscalyears include facility improvements andconstruction at Columbia Ice Rink ($2.2 million) and ADA-compliantwading pools and repairs at River Hill($370,000) and Hawthorn ($425,000)pools. For more information and the complete budget, please visitColumbiaAssociation.org/Budget.
Budget includes annual charge cap increase
The budget for fiscal year 2017increased the annual charge cap from2.5 percent to 3.5 percent to help payfor planned capital improvements to theamenities and facilities enjoyed byColumbia’s residents and guests. Theannual charge rate of 68 cents per $100 of assessed value is staying thesame. CA believes that the averageresidential annual charge will increase by approximately $6.67 as a result of the cap increase.
For information on the cap increase,go to ColumbiaAssociation.org/Budgetand click on “FAQ on Increase toAnnual Charge Cap.”
Speakers Series event tofeature UMBC president
Join us for “Diversity Matters: Building on Columbia’sHistory as an Inclusive Community,” featuring Universityof Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) PresidentFreeman A. Hrabowski III. Named one of “America’s BestLeaders” by U.S. News & World Report and one of the“100 Most Influential People in the World” by TIMEmagazine, Hrabowski is sure to inspire us as we thinkabout the value of diversity in Columbia.
This Community Building Speakers Series event issponsored by CA and the African American CommunityRoundtable of Howard County.
Hrabowski will speak from 7:30-9pm on Thursday, May5 at the Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, 10431 Twin RiversRoad. Registration is appreciated, but not required atCADiversityMatters.eventbrite.com. Child care will beprovided upon request.
Budget(from page 1)
CA releases fiscal informationCA finished the nine months between May 1, 2015, and Jan. 31, 2016
$2 million better than budget, and approximately $1.7 million below thesame period in FY15. At this point in the fiscal year, CA projects finishingFY16 with an increase in net assets of approximately $3.6 million.
Financial highlights from several of CA’s divisions are available online atColumbiaAssociation.org/Budget.
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April Community Events Visit ColumbiaAssociation.org/Events to learn about more great events happening in Columbia!
Lifetime Transitions: FreeSeminars for Older AdultsTuesday, April 5 • 6-8 pm, Aging in PlaceTuesday, April 19 • 6-8pm, Legal ConsiderationsTuesday, May 3 • 6-8pm, Senior Housing OptionsThe Hawthorn Center, 6175 SunnySpring • Please call 410-730-7327 to sign up in advance.
Maryland Pride Paint Night Tuesday, April 5 • 6pmFor ages 14 and up. Includes canvas to take home and all painting supplies.$20 tickets must be purchased inadvance; light refreshments will beserved. More information and painting at OwenBrownVillage.org6800 Cradlerock Way • [email protected]
Lively Arts for Little OnesPresents Chris Campbell:Music for KidsFriday, April 8 • 10amIntroduction to the arts for 2-5 year olds. $5 for ages 2 and older.The Other Barn, 5851 Robert Oliver [email protected]
Searching for Spring Egg HuntSaturday, April 9 • 10-11:30amCrafts, balloons, egg hunt and magicshow. Free tickets for children; Columbia residents only.Columbia SportsPark, 5453 HarpersFarm Road • 410-381-9600 Contact Dawn [email protected]
Eastern Europe and Russia Culture FestSunday, April 10 • 1:30-4:30pmHoward County Library System, Miller Branch • Enjoy an afternoon ofEastern European and Russianentertainment and food. Pick up apassport, visit country tables and fill it out for raffle [email protected]
Landscaping with RainBarrels and Rain GardensTuesday, April 12 7-9pmCall to register for this free event!Stonehouse, 8775 Cloudleap Court410-730-8113 or [email protected]
Columbia Solar and HomeEnergy CooperativeInformation SessionThursday, April 14, 7-8pmRSVP at RetrofitBaltimore.org/Columbia.Hawthorn Center, 6175 Sunny [email protected]
Weddings and EventsShowcaseSunday, April 17 • 2-5pmFree admission. Planning a wedding or other special event? Visit withcaterers, photographers, bakers, florists,DJs, and many others at HistoricOakland’s popular events showcase.Register at ColumbiaTownCenter.org. Historic Oakland, 5430 Vantage PointRoad • 410-730-4801 • Lori Tracy —[email protected]
Extreme Couponing 101Tuesday, April 26 • 7-9pmLearn the ins and outs of usingcoupons. Learn how to get started,where to find the best deals and how to organize your shopping trip.Stonehouse, 8775 Cloudleap Court410-730-8113 • [email protected]
Shredding and ElectronicsRecyclingSaturday, April 30 • 9am-1pmLimit three bags of items to shred. TVs, computers, and electronicsaccepted. Free to Hickory Ridgeresidents; $3 shred fee for all others.The Hawthorn Center, 6175 SunnySpring • For a complete list of acceptable items, please [email protected].
Spring Flea Market at Amherst HouseSaturday, April 30 • 9am-noonCome find bargains at our annual fleamarket! Amherst House, 7251 EdenBrook Drive • 410-381-9600Contact Dawn Linthicum,[email protected]
Long Reach Spring Flea MarketSaturday, April 30 • 9am-noonShop or sell — Contact Stonehouse for more information.Long Reach Village Center parking lot;8775 Cloudleap Court • [email protected]
Spring Village Yard and Plant SaleSaturday, April 30 • 9am-noonFree to sellers, but bring your own table.No rain date. Plants supplied by Emerge,a local nonprofit that supports thedevelopmentally challenged throughcultivating plants.• Vantage Point RoadPark • Contact Barbara Gumpert,[email protected] 410-730-4744
Oakland Mills Annual Plant SaleSaturday, April 30 • 9amAnnual plant sale on Election Day. Plant prices vary. • The Other Barn,5851 Robert Oliver Way • [email protected]
The Bernice Kish GalleryExhibitThrough May 7Paul Kerris, “Graphic Stylings”Charles Bowers “Natures ColorsTextures Patterns” • The Bernice KishGallery at Slayton House, 10400 CrossFox Lane • Carole Black, Gallery [email protected]
Save the Date! Dorsey’s Search RideSaturday, May 21 • 9:30amKid-friendly, short bike ride exploring the paths of Dorsey Hall.For more information, visitColumbiaAssociation.org/Archives.
Village elections will be held April 30
Get out andvote!