Jessica McIntire, Colorado Springs Fire Department Wildfire Mitigation Program Administrator was our Guest Speaker. She provided a “Wildfire is Coming” brochure with a copy of her presentation inside for alll members in attendance. She then presented Colorado Springs Wildfire Ready “Preparedness and Prevention” review, stressing that Discovery HOA is in the highest wildfire risk area in Colorado Springs. As a matter of concern to many of our homeowners, she offered tips to reduce our home insurance cost, including informing our insurance companies that we live in a Fire Wise community. She informed us that CSFD can provide a letter to our insurance companies if they’ve inspected our property and we’ve complied with any recommendations made (call Jessica McIntire at (719) 385-7493). She also informed us that CSFD has a cost share stipend program to provide up to $500 in matching funds per homeowner for wildfire mitigation efforts. While 2025 funds were already depleted, Jessica recommended we sign up ASAP to get on the waiting list for funds become available in January 2026. She noted that the Legislature passed several fire mitigation laws in 2025 that will affect us going forward, including further restrictions on new construction (including fencing). Jennifer closed her presentation by reminding us that we shouldn't get complacent about wildfire mitigation even with our unusually heavy 2025 rainfall.  She reminded us that common fire generating hazardous materials include anything with a pine needle, such as pine trees and Junipers (CSFD calls them “Gasoline on a stick”), tall weeds and grass, the bottom 30% of limbs on trees (cut them off), and wooden fencing material from the edge of our houses to five feet out.

Marty White - Treasurer - reviewed the 2025 budget and spending (actuals through 1 September and projected expenses though 31 December) and the proposed 2026 budget. Key increases in the budget included 10 locking mailboxes, increasing the Juniper Removal budget to $1,000, and purchasing an additional Certificate of Deposit for $10,000.

The membership voted to approve the proposed 2026 budget.

Several topics were reviewed as Old Business:

 - Craig Clark - Chair, Architectural Review Committee (ARC) - stated that the ARC is the proactive covenants gatekeeper, enforcing covenants prior to proposed changes and providing guidelines that align with CSFD and city/state regulations. He reminded us that we must always complete a Property Improvement Request (PIR) for any new building, outside house or yard remodeling and painting project

- Brian O'Donnell - Chair, Covenant Compliance Committee (CCC) - stated the CCC provides ongoing monitoring of our HOA members’ adherence to our covenants with the goals of reducing our wildfire risk and maintaining the appearance of our neighborhood. Both goals will reduce, or at the least, maintain current insurance ratings/costs and the resale value of our properties.

- Gary Morrell reminded us that we have a Neighbor-2-Neighbor (N2N) team to coordinate help for homeowners in need of temporary assistance. In additional to financial considerations, the N2N team can help with yard work (weed whacking, juniper removal, some lower limb tree trimming, dump runs to dispose of yard waste, etc.) depending on the homeowner’s need. N2N contributions are used for these activities for supplies, trailer rentals and dump fees, but all work is provided by volunteers.

- Gary reported that our current security services contract ends December 31, 2025 and we are researching appropriate security service for our 2026 contract as our community needs change.

- Gary updated our Snow Removal efforts. He reported that we continue to contract for snow removal/snow melt at our most hazardous intersections (Wintery Circle N, Wintery Circle S & Carved Terrace into Delmonico Dr; Switchback Trail into Carved Terrace; Stonecrop Court & Buckeye Court into Buckeye Dr; and Pebble Way into Delmonico Dr) and that we are adding Higher Ridges and Discovery Court into Buckeye Dr for 2025-2026 season. He also recognized and thanked our contractor for donating his services for the intersection of Big Valley and Delmonico Drs.

- Gary reported on the success of our 2025 Dumpster Days weekends. We filled two tightly-packed 40-yard dumpsters in the Spring and another 40-yard dumpster in the Fall. We expect to continue the program.

- Finally, Gary reported that the Board voted to adopt a 5-year goal to remove as many junipers from our community as possible. He reminded us that removal of junipers is the one project that does NOT require an ARC PIR, but the Board would like to receive before and after pictures. If you need assistance with your Juniper removal project, please send a request for assistance via email to N2N@discoveryhoa.com or submit a written request to:  DHA N2N, PO Box 49548, Colorado Springs, CO  80949-9548.   Be sure to include your phone number.

      The membership then considered the 2026 Board of Directors. All the current Board members except Gary Morrell and Chris Scott (both covenants term-limited) agreed to run for re-election. The membership present voted to retain the remaining 2025 Board members for 2026. Tony Lopez and Morty Zand volunteered to join the Board and after discussion, the membership voted to accept them to the Board.  

Marty White announced the 2026 Board will have openings for President, Vice President and Treasurer as Gary is at his maximum term limit (ending December 31, 2025) and the Treasurer will resign to assume the Administrator position sometime in the next six months. She offered the affected job descriptions to anyone who might be interested...simply let us know if you’d like to receive an email.

There were two questions from the floor:

- Karen Meadows asked, "What can we do about the speeding on Delmonico?" She stated there have been several near misses for pedestrian and vehicle tragedies over the past several years and it’s getting worse. She suggested we spend some of our own DHA money on traffic safety.  She volunteered to work with the Board on this issue

- Tony Lopez asked, "What can we do about the number of flags and/or content of the flags on private property?" Rick Midtbo reported that State law now says HOAs cannot dictate which flags can or cannot be exhibited on private property with very few exceptions. 

There being no further business from the floor, Gary Morrell thanked everyone for their participation and adjourned the meeting at 8:42pm.