Conifer Area Recreation/Community Center Exploratory
Committee

Meeting Minutes April 17, 2008

Irv Saltzman presided over the meeting, which was attended by
about 30 community members.

Skip Shirlaw discussed the history of recreation center votes in
the Conifer area, noting that four elections have been held. A
very small percentage of residents voted in those elections.
Skip also reviewed the work of the Friends of the Conifer
Recreation Center, which began meeting in November. The
group is applying for nonprofit status, soliciting volunteers and
forming subcommittees. An initial Board of Directors has been
formed. Members are Skip Shirlaw, Holly Shirlaw, Irv Saltzman,
Marilyn Saltzman, Carol Ziller, Julie Lindsay and Jeff Lindsay.

Julie Lindsay reported that there have been 689 responses to
the online survey on the Web site. She noted that the most
popular items are a gym, weight room and lap and leisure
pools. Most people supported room rental, exercise classes
and other classes and seminars. Other ideas included tennis
courts, squash, spinning, martial arts, hot tub, sauna,
playground, skate park, ice rink, hiking trails and rock climbing.
Other suggestions included bowling, day care, summer camp,
archery, yoga, outdoor amphitheatre, fishing pond, sledding hill
and picnic areas.

Erika Armstrong gave a report on the steps to form a special
district, which includes a public hearing and a vote of those
included in the boundaries of the district. People who own 35
or more acres may opt out.

Skip Shirlaw talked about two possible sites that have been
explored: Beaver Ranch and Conifer High School. Scott
Hancey mentioned several other possible sites, including King
Soopers and the Conifer Town Center.

Marilyn Saltzman gave a report on conversations with Jefferson
County Open Space, which owns Beaver Ranch. Open Space
leases property to special districts for about $1 per year. Any
improvements made on the land would be owned by the county.
The county attorney is researching water rights at Beaver
Ranch.

Irv Saltzman, Carol Ziller and Erika Armstrong reported on
visits to other recreation centers, including Evergreen, Parker
and South Park.

Paula Hutman gave a brief report on the history of the Conifer
area, noting that Conifer will be 150 years old in two years. She
said that two Colorado governors lived at Beaver Ranch.

The Board entertained comments and questions during an
open forum session. Topics included site selection, concerns
about taxes and other tax elections, creating a “green”
recreation center, grant availability, setting goals, working with
the trails committee and other issues.

Ray Guerette volunteered to serve as treasurer.

The participants then split into subcommittees: Public
Relations, Fund-Raising, Site Selection, Special Districts and
Finance. Subcommittees were asked to select a chair and
determine a meeting date.

The next large group meeting is set for 7 p.m. on Thursday,
June 19, 2008.