Whitaker Woods Front Entrance Garden Committee

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Meeting Minutes

The meeting began at 6:40 p.m.

1. Welcome, Introductions and Vision for the Front Entrance

Introductions were made and the following comments were shared regarding a vision of for the front entrance:

• There will be a group of community members dedicated to maintaining the entrance.
• The entrance will look neat and orderly.
• The entrance plants will be drought tolerant.
• The area behind the new entrance signs will be incorporated into the design and finished.
• The grass will be established in front of the gardens.
• The entrance plantings will not be labor intensive to maintain.

2. Definition of the Front Entrance

Kim Schmidt suggested that the front entrance be considered the gardens in between the roads, the tree lined area in the split road, the garden areas around the signs to the forest retention areas. All members agreed.

3. Charge from the Whitaker Woods HOA Board- Susan Knippel

• Budget

Susan Knippel shared that the Whitaker Wood HOA Board has approved the formation of this committee to maintain the entrance area of the development. This committee does not have a standing budget; the Board would like to establish a maintenance budget as requested by the committee. Additionally, costs related to the first building of the beds at the entrance will be considered.

4. Trees at Entrance

Susan Knippel shared that she is awaiting bids for the trimming of the trees. The committee agreed that the trimming of the tress was not something that the members felt comfortable doing. Susan requested that the committee mulch the lights into the beds around the trees to protect the lights from the lawn mower. The committee agreed to mulch the lights as requested

Maintenance Discussion

Jenny Potter shared how a garden committee, with whom she previously gardened, had established a date and time every month to show up and work for a while on the gardens. This committee established that from March to November, committee members would meet at the entrance the first Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. to work.

5. Visit to Front Entrance

Members of the committee visited the front entrance to determine what items need attention immediately and what can be pushed off until the spring. The following was determined:

• The area behind the signs will be rock mulched with a red rock that appears organic from the road but will not need to be replaced over the years.
• The gardens in the front and sides of the signs will be mulched with organic mulch. (There is little need for too much more mulch now as the gardens were mulched in the spring 2006).
• The garden on the right as you exit the community needs to be extended by 2-3 feet in front of the sign as to balance the garden on the entrance side.

• The space in front of both gardens needs to be cleaned, layered with top soil, and seeded.
• Materials needed:

· Rock mulch

· Landscaping fabric

· Organic mulch

· Top soil

· Grass seed

These projects are large and labor intensive. The following work dates and times were established:

• Wednesday, September 20, 2006, 8:30 a.m.- prepare areas behind the sign for rock mulch, lay landscaping fabric and dig edges.
• Thursday, September 21, 2006, 5:30 p.m.- prepare areas behind the sign for rock mulch, lay landscaping fabric and dig edges.
• Friday, September 22, 2006, delivery of stone mulch
• Saturday, September 23, 2006, 8:30 a.m.- spread the stone mulch

6. Tasks to be completed and volunteers responsible

• Kim Schmidt will prepare the minutes and distribute to HOA Board and committee members.
• Bob DiMichele will measure the areas for mulch and top soil requirements.
• Kim Schmidt will prepare a budget for this first project and email to the HOA Board requesting approval at the September 19, 2006 meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m.