[BoulderCouncilHotline] Re: Orchard Grove

[Morzel, Lisa]

Thanks, Adam

While addressing the current situation is critical, we need to look at the long-term solution for Orchard Grove. It has long been recognized by the previous local owner, the city, residents of Orchard Grove, and management and current ownership (Riverstone) of Orchard Grove that the infrastructure is failed if not already failed. I think at this point Orchard Grove have experienced 7 ruptures. Not acceptable. 

Mary Young has been monitoring this situation at Orchard Grove since last Monday so thank you to Mary for her vigilance on this. Additionally city staff have been working there since Wednesday. 

I will be at our council agenda-setting meeting tomorrow and also will request a special meeting on Tuesday so that council can discuss current as well as next steps. 

I am so sorry this has happened. This situation could have been totally avoided if proper maintenance has been implemented over time by the property owner. 

Lisa

Lisa Morzel
Member, Boulder City Council
303-815-6723 c
303-938-8520 h


> On Feb 10, 2019, at 11:46 AM, WhoKnows <isthisanyway at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Thanks for the update Sam - I haven’t heard anything from Riverstone since yesterday so I appreciate the info.
> 
> Hopefully the short-term issues will be taken care of soon. My concern is for the longer-term issues, and the safety of the more fragile among us!
> 
> —Adam
> 
>> On Feb 10, 2019, at 11:36 AM, Weaver, Sam <WeaverS at bouldercolorado.gov> wrote:
>> 
>> Adam,
>> 
>> I am very sorry for what the Orchard Grove residents have been going through.  It is terrible, and our public works staff are working very hard to get the water back on alongside Riverstone's contractors.  This is a serious public health and safety problem, and I expect at the Council Agenda Committee meeting tomorrow we will add this issue to our agenda, perhaps as an emergency meeting item before Tuesday's study session.
>> 
>> Council Member Mary Young has been working closely with our staff throughout this event to monitor conditions at the park.  They are of course awful currently, but hopefully improvements are coming soon.  There will be lots of questions for staff and Riverstone about fair compensation and future sanitation.  The update that we received this morning is that the contractor is on site and beginning work as of about 11:30.
>> 
>> I am sorry you and your neighbors have had to deal with this sad mess.
>> 
>> All the best,
>> 
>> Sam Weaver
>> Mayor Pro Tem
>> Boulder City Council
>> weavers at bouldercolorado.gov
>> Phone: 303-416-6130
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: WhoKnows <isthisanyway at gmail.com> 
>> Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2019 11:32 AM
>> To: Council <council at bouldercolorado.gov>
>> Subject: Orchard Grove
>> 
>> Dear City Council members,
>> 
>> Thanks for taking an interest in our current crisis. No doubt you all know something of our history. That the park’s infrastructure was not maintained because the previous owners planned to sell the park out from under us to a developer. I learned about the devil’s bargain (i.e. blackmail) that caused the park to be the only one not to be rezoned, when we found out about the planned sale, and joined the fight to save our homes (thank you to city council who helped us by rezoning the park). Of course lot rents have since soared, but that’s another story.
>> 
>> The back story:
>> 
>> Riverstone bought the park about 4 years ago. They immediately came in and told us all the things we had to do to meet the new standards and rules - which didn’t exist and which they were not legally allowed to do. They told us they wanted to make the park a great place. They did nothing about the infrastructure for 4 years. They raised lot rents multiple times - I’m guessing we’re either the most expensive or close to the most expensive park in Boulder now. Then they started charging for water use even though most of us have leases that clearly state that water is included in lot rent. They distributed a 27 page list of new rules, most of which are prima facia illegal, and when some of us pointed that out, they said that those were the rules...
>> 
>> Which brings us to this week:
>> 
>> A water main broke. These things happen. Riverstone has consistently been slow to notify us of what’s happening, failed to anticipate the extent of the problem, and seems to be trying to slap a band-aid on the problem. We have had no water for most of the last 5-6 days, and when the water goes out we either get a vague warning like “The water will be out tomorrow” which means we can’t plan for it at all, or “It’s 9:35 and we’ll turn off the water at 9:45” which isn’t enough time if you’re already in the middle of something (like a shower) [for the record, at 9:43 the water was already off]. They keep claiming to be concerned for us, apologetic and thankful for our understanding. Oh and please let us know if you need anything - I called and texted and never heard back. I was frustrated, but most importantly I was concerned about some of the folks in the park. We have a lot of elderly people here, who are prone to dehydration, may not have transportation, etc. I didn’t get the sense that they were doing anything to make sure the fragile among us were being looked after.
>> 
>> And it’s now 11:30 on Saturday morning, and there’s been no communication about what’s going on…
>> 
>> —Adam Seidman
>> 720-310-5044
>> Orchard Grove, Lot 251
>> 
>> P.S. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
>> 
>