Rock Creek Hills Citizens Association                                                                        

Minutes of October 13, 2004

David Hall, President, called the meeting to order.

Election: An election will be held at the next meeting to determine the RCHCA Board for 2005.  David asked for volunteers for the Nominating Committee.

Old Business:

1. Minutes of the May 12, 2004 meeting.

There was a correction to the minutes.  Officer Denise Gill was the speaker at the May meeting.  The minutes had the wrong last name.

Motion:                       To approve the minutes of the May 12^th 2004 meeting.

Vote:                           Approved

2. Treasurer’s report, by Deanna Marcum

There was a brief discussion regarding how many residents of Rock Creek Hills pay dues (about 2/3).  It was also mentioned that most of the Associations expenses occur in the fall and winter with the Concert in the park, the Halloween parade and picnic, and the Pot Luck Meeting.

Motion:                       To approve the Treasurer’s Report

Vote:                           Approved

3. Welcoming Liaison – Shannon Hamm

· New residents attending the meeting were recognized.

· Shannon Hamm asked to be notified of new residents, so the Committee can provide them with information welcoming them to the neighborhood.

4. Community Police Liaison – Steve Steinberg provided the correction for May’s Minutes.  Officer Denise Gill’s name was incorrect in the Minutes.

5. Building and Covenants Committee – Marty Durbin and Keith Emery

· Steve Blackistone’s submission to the committee was used as a good example of how to provide the Committee with the information necessary to evaluate a project.

· During the discussion that followed, the following items were covered:

§ It was suggested that RCHCA and RCHC, Inc. ask the realtors handling the sale of properties in the neighborhood to notify potential residents of the existence of restrictive covenants on most of the properties. 

§ Final responsibility for knowing about any covenants on the property lies with the homeowner.

6. Transportation Committee – Lois Hall spoke for the Committee in Alexa Freeman’s absence

1. Please fill out the Transportation Survey

2. During the discussion that followed, the following topics were covered:

§ Speed bumps and the County criteria for installing them

§ The potential of sidewalks on Kensington Parkway, Kent Street, Stoneybrook Drive, Wake Drive

§ There was a traffic survey done a long time ago, and information from that survey may be useful, if we can retrieve the data.

§ It was suggested that RCHCA get someone from the highway department for a future meeting.

§ A resident has started a petition for a stop sign on Old  Spring Road.

Unfinished Business

1. At the May meeting, there was a motion to table the issue of RCHCA funding the hardscaping, landscaping, and maintenance of two of the traffic triangles.  The motion to table the issue failed, so there was no unfinished business.

Instead of tabling the issue, the motion “RCHCA shall fund the cost of hardscaping, landscaping, and maintenance of the triangle at Littledale and Havershill up to $1,500” was approved.

New Business

1. Shannon Hamm discussed the issue of trash in Rock Creek Hills Park.  She is trying to get the County to collect trash in the park at the same time they collect residential trash.  This would provide a savings over MCNPPC having separate trucks collect the trash.

2. Steve Blackistone discussed the proposed ambulance fee’s.  These fees were rejected two and a half years ago.  The proposed fees would be imposed on all emergency ambulance services.  Not all of the ambulance services receive any funding from the County, but the County would still impose a fee on services they provide.

The following are some of the topics covered during the discussion:

• Which local jurisdictions impose an ambulance fee?  D.C. and Arlington County impose the fee.  Prince Georges County does for some services.  Fairfax County is going to charge a fee.
• There is concern that some people requiring emergency services may not call 911, if ambulance fees are imposed.
• The County Council is divided.
• There is a public hearing on October 19^th.

Motion to Adjourn:

Motion:           Motion to adjourn

Vote:               Approved.