NEW COMMUNITY WEBSITE
The Association launched a new website in May! Designed by Paul Frantellizzi, FFIL and Derrick Lawter, Funnel Construction, the new site is home to the same wealth of community information with easy navigation, user centered content, responsive and mobile friendly. Integrated with the new website is a community event calendar, easy direct HOA fee payment link to C-Property Pay, ability to share community photos along with an updated email and text messaging platform. Please visit www.hiddensprings.com and register today! Once you create an account you can opt in for emails and text messages in your account profile.
PROPOSED BYLAW REVISIONS
The HSTA Bylaw Revision Committee was appointed earlier this year by the Town Council to research updating the Bylaws to address concerns raised by legal counsel as well as identify ways to conserve resources. The Committee operates under the direction of the Town Council with administrative support from Association Staff. The Committee is well underway preparing a list of amendments which will be put out to Association Members to vote on at the Annual Meeting. Legal counsel has been retained to ensure all revisions meet state statutes and correct legal language. The main goals are 1) update the Bylaws to meet current Legislation and, most importantly, 2) to revise a few practices that will generate annual administrative cost savings for Association Members. Both of these goals are very important to the Association and its members to safe guard the community as well as increase operational efficiency. The Committee will be holding bi-monthly meetings open to all residents to discuss progress and tasks, with dates, times and locations posted on the community website. More information will be circulated in the coming months via HSTA newsletters, informational meetings and a notice mailed in November. Your vote matters and it will be extremely important for you to vote this December!
POOL SEASON – POOLS OPEN 5/26/23
The pools are currently scheduled to open 5/26 with both closing 9/18. The pools are open 5:00 am (for lap swim) until 10:00 pm or dark, whichever occurs first. Please visit the community website and review Pool Information, Pool rules and the Schedule before you head to the pools.
FOOTHILLS BAN FOR FIREWORKS
Let’s all do our part to keep our neighborhood safe!
As the 4th of July approaches, please remember ALL FIREWORKS are PROHIBITED year-round (including those identified as Safe and Sane) in unincorporated areas of Ada County.
WILDFIRE MITIGATION EFFORTS 2023
There are a number of risk factors for homes in the wildland urban interface (or WUI). The WUI refers to the zone of transition
between unoccupied land and human development. The lands and communities adjacent to and surrounded by wildlands are at increased risk of wildfires. Wildfire doesn’t have to burn everything in its path. In June, you will see Hopkins Evergreen crews trimming HSTA open space property adjacent to resident lots to help with the HOA’s wildfire mitigation efforts (9 acres). This specific trimming is done once a year versus turf mowing, edging and trails which are addressed multiple times each growing season (total of 57.1 acres). Hopkins will be following guidelines and safe practices for trimming per the City of Boise Foothills Restoration Specialists, Idaho Firewise and the Boise Fire Department.
PLAN PREPARE PROTECT 6/10/23 11am-1pm
Eagle Fire and Charlie Baun, ECS Services and Open Space consultant for Hidden Springs and Cartwright Ranch, will share tips on how to plan, prepare and protect your home including a burn demonstration to illustrate how landscape plant selection directly impacts your vulnerability. Come out and meet the firefighters at Station #5, learn how to protect your family as well as reduce wildfire risk in our community, plus free lunch for the first 150 participants!
NOXIOUS WEEDS
In addition to Hopkins Evergreens, the Association is also utilizing Hawkeye Landscape and Ada County Noxious Weed Control to help with noxious weed populations in common areas. Crews are spraying for Canada Thistle, Hounds Tongue, Scotch Thistle and White Top. Per Ada County, “As designated by the Idaho Department of Agriculture, a plant is noxious when it is considered to be injurious to public health, agriculture, recreation, wildlife, or property. Noxious weeds are generally spread by the dispersal of seeds, or other plant parts, by wind, water, animals, machinery and people. As noxious weeds typically are not native to the ecosystem that they impact negatively, there are often no natural processes to limit the growth or spread of the plants, and they “out-compete” native plant species. Pursuant to Idaho Code 22:24-07, Idaho’s Noxious Weed Law specifically requires that invasive weeds are to be controlled both on public and private land by the individual, company or agency owning the land.” Please check your property for noxious weed populations and feel free to notify the Town Office if you notice any growing in common areas.
SPEEDING AND NO PARKING
Summer is quickly approaching and with the kids out and about and families headed to the pools, we wanted to remind everyone to slow down and to be mindful of No Parking Signs. Extra caution and slower speeds are appreciated. Emergency response vehicles (police, fire and ambulance) require public street access in the event of an emergency. On street parking has the potential to hinder an emergency vehicle’s ability to move along a roadway.
COMMUNITY FARM
The Hidden Springs Community Farm is a volunteer-grown and volunteer-harvested endeavor. There are weekly volunteer sessions to get your hands dirty and learn about sustainable growing practices Mondays from 6-8pm and Fridays 9-11am. Tools are provided. All ages welcome, but children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian while at the Farm. This year, the Farm has Punch Cards to help volunteers keep track of time worked at the Farm. It takes only 2 punches to earn a free U-Pick harvest share. The card is great for individuals or families that have limited time available to come to the Farm this season. To access the Community Farm, park on Banker Dr. and take the walking path at 7th Ave. You may also reach the Farm via the gravel road across from the Hidden Springs Community Barn. Please drive slowly on the farm road and be mindful of pedestrians. Please, no dogs at the community farm! Watch for more information on upcoming workshops, social events and children’s activities. For more information email the community farm, at hscf208@gmail.com.
FARM COMPOST STATION
The Farm Compost Station is OPEN now through Fall 2023. Our neighborhood Compost Station is now open for kitchen compost. Please no bags even if they are compostable! The following are welcome: fruit and veggie scraps or peels, egg shells, coffee and grounds. Please NO: grass clippings, meat scraps, fat or oil, yard waste, weeds or leaves.
A FEW CC&R REMINDERS
The Master Declaration of Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions (CC&Rs) and Residential Design Guidelines (RDG) detail the obligations and responsibilities of all Hidden Springs’ property owners, residents as well as the duties and responsibilities of the Town Council and HSTA. Below are just a few reminders based on CC&R courtesy reminders issued recently and neighbor concerns:
Trash bins must be stored out of sight or properly screened with approved screening methods, and there are no exceptions for bins placed in alleys (RDG 2.15 and CC&R 6.5 Nuisances).
Barbeque equipment, portable fire pits, propane gas tanks, lumber, firewood shall be kept at all times in such containers (or otherwise screened) and in areas approved by the Town Design Review Board (CC&R 6.5 Nuisances).
Boats, RVs, campers, and trailers may be parked for short-term loading, unloading, and cleaning (72 hrs.). Not all summer!
(RDG 2.11 and CC&R 6.9 Vehicles and Equipment)
Home and Yard Improvements (painting, landscaping changes, decks, pergolas, room additions, play sets, permanently installed flagpoles, etc.) must be submitted to the Town Design Review Board for approval (CC&R section 6.1 Improvements and RDG).
Pet(s) are not to roam freely off of your lot, observe proper trail etiquette, and clean up the poop! (CC&R 6.10 Animals/Pets)
No dumping, placing or storing trash, garbage or other debris in Hidden Springs Open Space parcels.
Do not extend landscaping or improvements beyond your property into Hidden Springs Open Space parcels. All improvements (trampolines, hammocks, play sets, garden boxes etc.) and landscaping materials including sod, grass clippings, weeds, rocks, gravel, lumber or other similar materials must remain inside the residential lot. Refer to CC&R section 5.2 Use of Conservation Area, 5.5 Damages and 6.6 Nuisances.
Motorized Off-Road Vehicles including E-bikes are NOT allowed on trails or in Open Spaces. The use of motorized off-road vehicles (snowmobiles, dune buggies, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, including E-bikes, Golf Carts or any other type of motorized vehicle) are not permitted in Hidden Springs Open Space Areas per the CC&R’s, 3.1.9.3 Conservation Easement and 6.9 Vehicles and Equipment and the Conversation Easement Agreement Section 3.2.6. For more information about local trails, visit https://trails.idaho.gov/ for public trail information, designation, vehicle-type, season, etc.
CONSIDERING AN IMPROVEMENT PROJECT?
Per the governing documents, improvements require design review as set forth in the Residential Design Guidelines, Section 5.0 and the CC&Rs Section 6.1. The Town Design Review Board
meets monthly. Review dates and forms can be found on the website and/or emailed upon request. Submissions are due the Friday before the Wednesday meeting. The next meetings are Wednesday, 6/15, 7/20 and 8/17. Not sure if your project requires review, just call the Town Office. Repainting your home? If you are selecting new exterior colors for your home, complete and submit a Design Review and Exterior Color Selection form (available on the website or in the Town Office). Completed forms with paint chips can be dropped off at the Town Office any time. Please allow 10 working days for this process. If you are painting your home using the existing colors (not changing anything), you do not need approval.
HAPPENINGS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
OPEN SPACE MEETINGS | 6/6 | No July Meeting | 8/3 | 9/5
DESIGN REVIEW MEETINGS | 6/13 | 7/11 | 8/15 | 9/12
TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS | 6/20 | 7/18 | 8/22 | 9/19
COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE | 6/2 – 6/3
WILD FIRE PREPAREDNESS | 6/10
CRUISIN’ HIDDEN SPRINGS | 6/17
NEED MORE INFO?
Information can always be found visiting the community website www.hiddensprings.com.
If you have questions, feel free to call the Town Office.