columbia association public information guide – fy12

publicINFORMATIONguide

An information guide to your community’s offerings— an overview of CA’s budget, recreational programs, open space and more.

C O L U M B I A A S S O C I A T I O N2012FISCALYEAR May1, 2011 through April 30,2012

The People Tree statue is located at the Downtown Columbia Lakefront.

CONTENTS3what is columbia association?

4columbia’s governanceworking for you

6columbia associationannual charge

7columbia associationsharing information

9the budgetunderstanding the process

10columbia associationfacilities and programs

11how to participate in ca’sfacilities and programs

13open space

15columbia’s villagecommunity associations

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Columbia Association (CA) is proud to present thisPublic Information Guideto help residents find informationon how CA operates, the way it isgoverned and the role of the Columbia Council representatives, CA Board of

Directors, village boards, village community associations and how you fit in.

CA provides hundreds of programs and services. These are described briefly

in this guide.

Information about these can be found online at ColumbiaAssociation.org; in the

CA Activities Guide, distributed to your door three times each year; in CA Monthly,

a newsletter distributed in the Columbia Flier on the first Thursday of the

month; on Columbia Matters, a monthly television show; on the CA Facebook

page, a page on Facebook.com; on the CA Events Advisor, a web site for local

events; and on the 365 Wellness Facebook campaign, housed on the CA

Facebook page, which lists tips for healthy living. This guide also offers information

about some of the issues that are being faced by the CA Board and the community

throughout the coming year. These are titled On the Horizon and appear in several

sections. Please take the opportunity to read the pages of this brochure to better

learn which programs and services are available to you, many free of charge and

most at a discount — all because of your annual charge (learn more at

WhyIPayCA.org). It should help you better understand why CA exists and the

very important role it plays in fueling the success of this community. This guide

should also help you understand the infrastructure of Columbia and how you

can take part in it. One major way is to vote each April for the members of

your village boards and your Columbia Council representatives. By voting,

you help control the direction of the community. Columbia is your community.

Be a part of it!

L i k e u s o n Fa c e b o o k !

During a speech in 1963, James W. Rouse

said, “There really can be no other right

purpose of community except to provide

an environment and an opportunity to

develop better people. The most suc-

cessful community would be that which contributed

the most by its physical form, its institutions and its

operations to the growth of people.” CA was created

two years prior to Columbia’s inception and has served

to nurture that vision and to represent the residents.

In fact, CA’s mission is to enhance the quality of life

for people living or working in Columbia and to

ensure that Columbia remains an open, integrated

and caring community.

A nonprofit public benefit corporation, CA operates a

welcome center; an art center; a teen center; an archive; a

volunteer center; three full service fitness facilities; an ice

rink; a SportsPark with miniature golf, batting cages and

a skateboard facility; two golf clubs; three tennis clubs;

23 outdoor swimming pools including two mini-

WaterParks; four

indoor swimming

pools; and a hot

water therapy pool.

CA also main tains

more than 3,500 acres

of open space as a

permanent asset to

the community.

There are neigh-

borhood amenities

including lakes, parks, 171 tot lots, more than 93.5

miles of pathways, as well as community and neigh-

borhood centers. CA offers many programs and activi-

ties created to encourage the community to celebrate its

diversity, not only in race but in age, religion, gender

and economic status. CA strives to ensure all of its

programs and services are accessible to persons with

disabilities and to all Columbia residents, regardless

of income.

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what iscolumbia association?

“We must hold fast to the realization that our cities are for people and unless they work well for people they are notworking well at all. We should think and plan and program, not in terms of schools, highways, streets, stores, officesor even dwelling units; but we should begin our total plan and program with the first and fundamental purpose ofmaking a city into neighborhoods where a man, his wife and family can live and work and, above all else, grow.”JAMES ROUSE, speech for the Newark Conference on the ACTION Program for the American City, May 5, 1959

Enjoy family time at Columbia SportsPark, featuring miniaturegolf, batting cages and a SkatePark.

CAoffers manyprograms andactivities,created toencouragethe community to celebrateits diversity... .

Columbia’s nine villages and Town

Center are organized into 10 village

community associations that work for

you. In April, residents in each of the

10 village associations elect Columbia

Council representatives. In addition, they elect repre-

sentatives to their village boards, which direct the

business affairs of the community associations.

The Columbia Council representa-

tives serve as the corporate members

of Columbia Association and elect

themselves to also serve as the CA

Board of Directors. The CA Board is

the final authority on all matters

regarding CA. The CA Board meets

to review CA policy and budget mat-

ters, develop strategic initiatives and

address community issues. The pub-

lic is encouraged to attend these

meetings and express their opinions during the

Resident Speak Out portion of the meeting. Meetings

are held at CA Headquarters, 10221 Wincopin Circle.

Meeting notices and agendas are posted in advance at

all CA facilities and on the web site at

ColumbiaAssociation.org, click on “Get Informed.”

CA’s chief executive officer — the CA president —

serves as a nonvoting member of the CA Board

and oversees the day-to-day operations of

Columbia Association, which are carried out

by a team of approximately 1,200 professionals.

As it develops CA programs, policies and

priorities, the CA Board solicits advice from

Columbia residents.

Through an ongoing Strategy Making Process, the

CA Board of Directors and Columbia Association

senior staff work together to ensure the preservation

of Columbia’s future. Through this process, the CA

Board is able to systematically identify and address

issues that are most important to the community.

If you would like to be involved

with this process, please contact your

Columbia Council representative or

members of your village board with

your concerns. Please refer to the lists

of contact information on pages 5

and 16 of this guide.

� ON THE HORIZONG O V E R N A N C E

Because CA is a corporation, albeit a

nonprofit one with a community service

mission, the CA Board of Directors has all of the legal

responsibilities required of members of any corporate

board. In recent years, residents and members of the CA

Board have been examining the roles of the respective

bodies. The CA Board has included improving gover-

nance as one of its strategic issues.

Over the past several years, the CA Board has

commissioned a number of task forces on governance,

evaluated a number of recommendations, amended the

CA By-Laws to operate under Robert’s Rules of Order

and transitioned to a committee-based structure. The new,

streamlined committee-based structure allows more public

columbia’s governanceworking for you

“We can’t plan effectively for the future growth of American communities unless we start at the beginning — and that beginning is people.”JAMES ROUSE, speech, “It Can Happen Here,” University of California in Berkeley, Calif., on Sept. 23, 1963

As it develops CA programs, policies and priorities, the CA Board solicits

advicefrom Columbiaresidents.

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20112012ca board/columbiacouncil representativesTom CoaleDorsey’s Search • 443-630-0507 • [email protected]

Edward T. ColemanLong Reach • 410-730-8637 • [email protected]

Michael CornellRiver Hill • 301-742-2761 • [email protected]

Cynthia A. S. H. CoyleHarper’s Choice • 410-997-7637 • [email protected]

Alex HekimianOakland Mills • 410-730-2583 • [email protected]

Philip KirschWilde Lake • 410-730-5596 • [email protected]

Gregg SchwindHickory Ridge • 410-992-5043 • [email protected]

Andrew C. StackOwen Brown • 410-381-8897 • [email protected]

Suzanne WallerTown Center • 410-730-9132 • [email protected]

Shari ZaretKings Contrivance • [email protected]

participation at the grassroots level, as well as more in-

depth examination of issues before they are brought

before the entire CA Board.

Beginning in January 2010, CA remodeled our

organizational structure to enhance internal and exter-

nal customer service. CA now consists of five Service

Bureaus: Operations, Financial Services, Team and

Organizational Development, Communications and

Marketing, and Community Development and

Sustainability. Within this Service Bureau Model, CA

team members may be asked to join a “work-group”

to share their knowledge and expertise in a particular

subject area; thereby responding faster and more

efficiently to resident needs and company initiatives.

For more information on this topic and to view the

Service Bureau Model diagram, log on to

ColumbiaAssociation.org and click on “Get Informed.”

Columbia Ice Rink is open seasonally for lessons andpublic skating for all ages.

Ifyou have walked through the woods, fishedin a lake, called your village communityassociation for information, enjoyed an outdoor pool, attended a free summer concert on Lake Kittamaqundi or voted in

a village election, you have experienced some of thebenefits of the CA annual charge.The CA Board of Directors has the authority to set the

rate to a maximum of 75 cents per $100 of valuationassess ed on 50 percent of the fair market value, as determined by the State of Maryland for real estate tax purposes. Residents contribute approximately 70 percent ofthe annual charge revenue, and the business communitycontributes approximately 30 percent. CA applies thesame methodology used by Howard County and the Statewith respect to their caps on property taxes, and theydon’t apply those caps in calculating taxes due on aproperty in the year following the purchase.The income provided by the annual charge, while

significant, covers less than half of the cost of the servicesprovided by CA. Therefore, some of the most popularactivities, such as Package Plan and facility member-ships, require the payment of dues and fees. Since CAresident members pay membership dues and the annual

charge, their dues are significantly lower than thosepaid by non-CA residents. For example, CA residentfamilies normally pay approximately 35 to 50 percentless for a Package Plan membership or for the outdoorpools than non-CA residents.This approach creates a strong community balance.

Those who use CA facilities and programs support thegreatest portion of those costs, while the expense ofmain taining and operating universal amenities like com-munity centers, pathways, tot lots and lakes are sharedby all. A recent survey showed CA services are well usedand enjoyed by the community — 93 percent have usedat least one of the amenities including open space, and78 percent have become members or used the fitnessand recreation facilities, camps, Before and After SchoolCare or Columbia Art Center on a pay-as-you-go basis.For information about your annual charge, call the

Annual Charge Hotline at 410-715-3058 or visitWhyIPayCA.org.

� ON THE HORIZONThe CA Board has kept the annual charge rate for

FY2012 at 68 cents, almost 10 percent less than theallowable maximum. In addition, the CA Board keptthe cap on increases in assessed valuation at 2.5 percent,which is one-quarter of the amount allowed by law.The amount to be paid will still be calculated basedon 50 percent of the fair market value of the property.

columbia associationannual charge

Columbia Art Center showcases the fine work of local, regionaland traveling artists and offers classes for all skill levels.

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Keeping those who live and work in

Columbia informed about its governing

structure, community services, activities

and events, environmental amenities and

more is an ongoing and important

responsibility of CA and

the CA Board of

Directors. CA delivers

information in a variety

of ways, including the

CA Monthly newsletter,

CA Activities Guide,

CA Facebook page,

Public Information Guide,

electronic message panels

and the Columbia

Association web site at

ColumbiaAssociation.org.

An initiative of CA’s

Communications and

Community Relations

Division, Columbia

Matters is a skillfully

crafted monthly televi-

sion program. This 30-

minute show, hosted by

Columbia locals Mike Easterling and Deneitra

Hutchinson, takes viewers on a journey through

Columbia and Howard County, Maryland and pro-

vides entertaining and resourceful information about

columbia associationsharing information

“Urban growth is our opportunity, not our enemy. It invites us to correct the past, to build places that are productivefor business and for the people who live there, places that are infused with nature and stimulating to man’s creativesense of beauty — places that are in scale with people … which will enrich life; build character and personality;promote concern, friendship, brotherhood.”JAMES ROUSE, speech to the International Council of Shopping Centers Annual Convention in Los Angeles, Calif., on April 19, 1966

local events and programs. In 2010, Columbia Matters

won one silver and five bronze Telly Awards in the infor-

mation and entertainment categories. The show, which

premiered in 2004, features several segments. You can

learn about healthy living; tour CA facilities; discover

Columbia’s history; find out

what’s happening in and

around the area for kids,

teens and seniors; receive

updates from CA President

Phil Nelson; and more.

Hosted by local teens,

Spotlight on Howard County

Teens is the newest segment

on Columbia Matters. This

segment not only features

events for middle and high

school students, it also

discusses teen-related

hot-topics, including safe

driving tips, bullying and

volunteer opportunities in

Columbia. Watch Spotlight

on Howard County Teens at

ColumbiaMatters.org. Click

on “Teens.”

Columbia Matters has many convenient show times on

both Comcast and Verizon channels. For channels and

times, please visit ColumbiaMatters.org, or watch

Columbia Matters online anytime at ColumbiaMatters.org.

Watch as Columbia Matters show hosts Gary, Barbara,Ana Maria and Kourtney take teens on a tour of Howard County.

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Borrowings$7,006,000 - 10.0%

Capital Expenditures *$11,003,000 - 15.8%

Community Services Programs$5,891,000 - 8.5%

Village Community Associations$4,420,000 - 6.3%

Contingencies/Other$928,000 - 1.3%

Sport and Fitness Programs and Facilities

$25,449,000 - 36.5%

Commercial Annual Charge$11,607,000 - 16.6%Interest and Others

$322,000 - 0.5%

Community Services Programs$3,681,000 - 5.3%

Residential Annual Charge$21,555,000 - 30.9%

Columbia Association FY 2012 Approved BudgetSummary of Funds, Expenditures and Annual Borrowings

where the money comes from$69,752,000

where the money is used$69,752,000* Total Capital Expenditures of $11,500,000 have been decreased by $497,000 due to certainunallocated non-cash adjustments.

The most recent financial statements and independent audit report are located at ColumbiaAssociation.org.This data representation is not in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

“I believe that the ultimate test of civilization is whether or not it contributes to the growth — improvementof mankind.”JAMES ROUSE, speech, “It Can Happen Here,” at the University of Calif. in Berkeley, Calif., on Sept. 23, 1963

Sport and Fitness Income$25,581,000 - 36.7%

Debt Repayment$8,101,000 - 11.6%

Board of Directors$977,000 - 1.4%

Open Space Management$10,915,000 - 15.7%

Community Development/Sustainability$1,484,000 - 2.1%

Administrative Services$584,000 - 0.8%

Some of the most important decisions

about how CA will raise and spend

money are made during its two-year

budget process. The construction of new

facilities, the renovation of existing ones,

the provision of new programs, the modification of

existing services, the setting of rates — these decisions

and many others are made by CA’s Board of Directors

in adopting the budget.

Before the budget is approved, there are public

hearings at which village boards, advisory committees,

community groups and individual residents comment

on the budget and present recommendations to the

CA Board. The CA Board charges the Financial

Advisory Committee, a subcommittee of the Planning

and Strategy Committee, with analyzing and reporting

back on various aspects of the budget.

The final budget is approved in February for

implementation on May 1, which is the start of the fiscal

year. A copy of the budget is available at your village office,

the Maggie J. Brown Welcome Center, located at the

CA headquarters building, some CA facilities and

public libraries in Columbia. A summary is included at

ColumbiaAssociation.org, click on “Get Informed.”

the budgetunderstanding the processand how you can be involved

There are

publichearings at which village boards,advisory committees, community groups and individual residents comment on the budget andpresent recommendationsto the CA Board.

Fairway Hills Golf Club, which is open to the public, offers an18-hole, par 70 regulation golf course; clubhouse; snackbar; pro shop; practice range and green; lessons; outing and eventopportunities; and more. To learn more, go to ColumbiaGolf.net.

CA operates three full-service fitness facilities;four indoor pools; anindoor hot water thera-py pool; 23 outdoor

pools, including two mini-WaterParks; two golf clubs;three outdoor tennis clubs; an indoor tennis center; anindoor ice rink; an in-line and roller skating arena; aSportsPark with miniature golf, batting cages and aSkatePark; a welcome center; an art center; a teen cen-ter; and an archive. CA also owns and leases ColumbiaHorse Center and the building housing Family andChildren’s Services of Central Maryland.Some of CA’s best-known enrichment opportunities

and services happen beyond the walls of one specificfacility. They are structured this way to increase accessibility and variety to meet the different needs of Columbia’s diverse residents.More information can be found in the CA Activities

Guide, which is published three times a year anddelivered to every CA resident household. Please visitColumbiaAssociation.org to view the current CA Activities Guide, click on “Get Informed.”

MAGGIE J. BROWN WELCOME CENTER410-715-3000 • 10221 Wincopin CircleLocated in downtown Columbia on the lakefrontAt the Maggie J. Brown Welcome Center, find

information about Columbia, CA, memberships,maps, new resident welcome packets, gift books, avideo about Columbia, Resident Cards and more.

COLUMBIA ARCHIVESWhere Columbia’s History is Collected and Preserved10227 Wincopin Circle, 410-715-3103Located in downtown Columbia in the American Cities buildingIn Columbia Archives, find exhibits, photographs

and other information about the planning and devel-opment of Columbia and the organizations that havemade it special. Also find the James Rouse

columbia associationfacilitiesand programs

Manuscript Collection, which chronicles the career ofColumbia’s visionary founder. Remember the Archiveswhen cleaning out files, basements and attics — someone’s trash might be an archive treasure. Call touse the collection for research or to arrange grouppresentations. Residents are encouraged to drop inany time Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm.Visit ColumbiaArchives.org for more information.

� ON THE HORIZONCOLUMBIA ASSOCIATION WATERSHED MANAGEMENTCA’s Columbia Watershed Manage ment Plan

(CWMP) outlines a long-term, far-reaching strategyto protect and restore the Little and Middle Patuxentrivers and adjacent waters. The CWMP supportsongoing efforts and provide a sustainable pathway toeffectively manage Columbia’s watersheds.CA has implemented and will continue to plan

restoration projects (or retrofits), such as bioretentionfacilities. These facilities can be constructed to restorethe natural drainage infrastructure by retaining andinfiltrating stormwater that is currently going directlyinto streams through storm drains and pipes.Columbia residents are invited to attend CA’sWatershed Advisory Committee (WAC) meetings toshare their comments regarding natural resources andstormwater impacts in the Columbia Watershed.Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of everymonth, at 7pm at CA headquarters.Visit the Columbia Association Watershed web site

at ColumbiaWatershed.org or call 410-381-3470, formore information.

AQUATICS MASTER PLANIn an effort to ensure that CA is continuing to

provide useful and beneficial aquatics services for theColumbia community, CA has begun developing anAquatics Master Plan. The plan will help CA engagewith residents and users to plan the future ofColumbia’s aquatics program; provide a frameworkfor Columbia aquatic facilities that balances currentand future community needs; and establish implemen-tation priorities for the future of Columbia aquatics.Additional information about this plan can be foundat ColumbiaAssociation.org/AquaticsMasterPlan.

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VIA MEMBERSHIPYou can sign up for a membership in an individual

facility, such as the outdoor pools, or you can sign upfor one of CA’s Package Plans. Membership prices arediscounted for residents who live or work on propertyprotected by CA covenants.

VIA RESIDENT CARDCA residents who don’t want to purchase a

membership may use the facilities and services and “pay-as-you-go” with a CA Resident Card. TheResident Card is reserved only for residents who live on property protected by the CA covenants.

HOW TO JOINTo become a member or to obtain a Resident Card,

visit the Membership Service Center at 10221 WincopinCircle in downtown Columbia or call 410-730-1801.Remember to bring your driver’s license or imprinted per-

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how to participatecolumbia associationfacilities and programs

Please see

incomeGUIDELINESfor memberships, for Seniors, Camps, Before and After Careand Sister Cities on next page.

“It takes a big goal, a big image, to energize people. The rational image of whatcan be is the biggest power generator there is and the least used.”JAMES ROUSE, speech to SEEDCO, Urban Institutions and Community DevelopmentNational Conference in Baltimore on Nov. 18, 1988

sonal check and birth certificates for dependent children.Membership fees may be paid by interest-free electronicchecking account deduction. The Membership ServiceCenter also provides information and brochures and sellsdiscounted tickets, gift certificates to area entertain mentvenues and books of electronic passes for the out-of-areaguests of members. Guests must be accompanied by themember and show proof of out-of-area residency.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCENO MATTER YOUR INCOME,THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATECA offers reduced-price access to memberships,

camps, Before and After School Care, InternationalExchange and Multicultural Programs for residents wholive or work full-time on property protected by the CAcovenants. The income guidelines listed are based onfederal standards modified to create even more access.

Applications can be obtained from the Membership

Service Center or Community Services offices at

CA Headquarters (10221 Wincopin Circle) or at

ColumbiaAssociation.org.

Approval is contingent upon you providing an

official IRS computer-generated transcript of your

2010 tax return. This free document is available by

calling 1-800-908-9946. Please allow two weeks for

continued on next page �

arrival. If you are not sure whether you qualify, please

call 410-730-1801 about reduced price memberships

or 410-715-3175 about reduced price Camps,

Before and After School Care and Sister Cities.

EARN-A-MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM

This program makes CA facilities and programs more

accessible to income-qualified Columbia families and

teens.

If you qualify for the reduced-price memberships,

you may choose to pay outright or apply for the

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Earn-A-Membership Program. Under this program,

residents can earn their memberships by doing community

service at CA’s facilities or headquarters. The number of

hours required depends on the type of membership

desired. For example, it would take 47 hours of commu-

nity service to earn an individual Package Plan member-

ship and 66 hours for a family membership,

and there is a Teen Earn-A-Membership Program, too.

For more information about earning your membership

or camp, please call Community Services at 410-715-3161.

for school ages servicessummer camps andsister citiesFamily Discount is 50% Discount is 75%Size when gross income when gross income

is less than: is less than:

2 . . . . . . . . . .$51,550 . . . . . . . . . . . .$26,700

3 . . . . . . . . . .$58,000 . . . . . . . . . . . .$32,990

4 . . . . . . . . . .$64,400 . . . . . . . . . . . .$39,270

5 . . . . . . . . . .$69,600 . . . . . . . . . . . .$45,560

6 . . . . . . . . . .$74,750 . . . . . . . . . . . .$51,840

7 . . . . . . . . . .$79,900 . . . . . . . . . . . .$53,020

8 . . . . . . . . . .$85,050 . . . . . . . . . . . .$54,200

* Contact the Department of Social Services at 410-872-8700 to apply for DSS vouchers.

for memberships Discount is Discount is40%* 50%*when gross when grossincome is income is

Family Size less than: less than:

1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $51,200 . . . . $45,100

2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $57,600. . . . $51,550

3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $64,000. . . . $58,000

4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $69,100 . . . . $64,400

5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $74,250 . . . . $69,600

6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $79,350 . . . . $74,750

7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $84,500 . . . . $79,900

8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $90,000 . . . . $85,050

*75% off outdoor pools

guidelines for reduced rate accessResidents who live or work on property protected by CA covenants and who meet the below guidelines,which are customized based on the program or membership, may qualify for reduced rate access.

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courts, Town Center and village center plazas and the

community centers and recreational facilities located

throughout the community.

Maintaining these natural and man-made amenities is

an enormous task, requiring the expertise and dedica-

tion of a diverse team including planners, an ecologist,

horticulturists, a landscape architect and land manage-

ment and construction specialists. The open space team

oversees the water quality of lakes and streams, pest man-

agement, erosion control and landscape maintenance.

Columbia’s lush green acreage is just

one of the perks of living in Columbia,

where nearly a quarter of the land is

protected as open space. The open

space provides a place for walking,

fishing, bird watching, biking, picnics, family reunions

and community fairs. CA maintains more than 3,600

acres of Columbia’s open space. This includes approx-

imately 93.5 miles of pedestrian pathways, 171 tot

lots, 279 footbridges, three large man-made lakes,

41 ponds, 34 miles of stream valleys, the 40-acre

Symphony Woods, Wilde Lake Park, and the Lake

Elkhorn Park and Pavilion. It also includes an exten-

sive network of pedestrian underpasses and overpasses,

meadows, forestland, basketball courts, public tennis

open spacespace for everyone

Residents can enjoy Columbia’s beauty at Wilde Lake, oneof the area’s three large man-made lakes.


“If we approach the planning and development of our … community with the conviction that we plan a rocket to the moon, we will see a new healthy beautiful America in this generation.”JAMES ROUSE, speech, “It Can Happen Here,” at the University of Calif. in Berkeley, Calif., on Sept 23, 1963

ensure the land is respected and its ponds and lakes

are maintained as attractive community gathering

posts. To maintain Columbia’s beauty and ensure the

splendor of our city’s lakes, CA is currently dredging

Lake Elkhorn in Owen Brown, Lake Kittamaqundi in

Town Center and is preparing to dredge Wilde Lake

in the Village of Wilde Lake.

Columbia’s lakes collect sediment originating in

their watersheds from throughout Howard County

and keep it from traveling downstream to harm the

Chesapeake Bay — exemplifying our local role in the

broader concern of improving the state’s waters.

The CA Board appropriated funding in 2006, 2007

and 2008 for the restoration and maintenance dredging

of Lake Elkhorn.

As the CA Dredging Projects move forward, we will

provide you with the latest dredging details and devel-

opments on the home page of ColumbiaAssociation.org

or ColumbiaAssociation.org/dredging.

The efforts of the CA Board of Directors and staff

is proof of the community’s commitment to care for

our environment, establishing and maintaining vital

habitats for both man and nature to thrive.

SYMPHONY WOODS PARK

Columbia Association is moving ahead to develop the

design to turn Symphony Woods Park into a gathering

place in Downtown Columbia that is an attractive

setting for recreation and community events. As the

existing park changes, its natural features will be

protected and enhanced. This will be the first project

that is part of the downtown Columbia redevelopment.

To learn more about this project, please visit

ColumbiaAssociation.org/SymphonyWoods.

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Residents can help protect the open space. If you see

downed or hazardous trees, vandalism or illegal dumping,

contact the open space office at 410-312-6330.

PATHWAY MAPS

Maps are available for a small fee at the Maggie J. Brown

Welcome Center (10221 Wincopin Circle, 410-730-1801)

and at village community centers.

� ON THE HORIZON

OPEN SPACE MANAGEMENT

Columbia is a place where we continually work to

“… We have in our hands the opportunity to make our city — in our generation — the most livable, the most beautiful, and the most effective city in America.”JAMES ROUSE, speech, Memorandum to Mayor Theodore R. McKeldin in Baltimore on March 10, 1964

CA offers a variety of summer camps for kids with activities like canoeing.

Columbia’s collection of neighborhoods

and villages combine to create a sense

of community, much like what you’d

experience if you lived in a small town.

Schools, community centers and

village centers are convenient gathering places and

help define the unique character of each village. Even

the street names, derived from literary sources, help

to make each neighborhood special.

Each of Columbia’s nine villages and Town Center

has a community association, which is an independent,

incorporated, nonprofit civic association. Each

association elects its own Board of Directors and a

Columbia Council representative. CA passes on a

portion of the annual charge money to the village

associations, which use these funds to foster the

growth of community. They provide programs and

events like classes, fairs, holiday activities, parties,

space rentals for meetings, special events, seminars and

political forums; they oversee the village elections; and

they ensure the architectural guidelines, also known as

covenants, are upheld.

15

columbia’svillagecommunity associations

Families enjoy the festivities of International Day, anannual event held at Lake Kittamaqundi’s lakefront.

Each of Columbia’s nine villagesand Town Center has a

COMMUNITYassociation,which is an independent,incorporated, nonprofitcivic association.

continued on page 17 �

Dorsey’s [email protected]

Village Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-730-4005Rob Sims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-730-8285Diane Turner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-465-7953Dan Woodruff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-730-4005

Harper’s [email protected]

Village Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-730-3888Clair Albert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-992-9492Clare Brooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-956-3680Ann DeLacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-730-2402Alice Kong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-964-4012Kevin Preston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-730-1978

Hickory [email protected]

Village Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-730-7327John Bailey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .301-523-7629Miles Coffman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-997-5323Linda Hitzelberger . . . . . . . . . . . 410-730-5817Tom Louden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-730-6866Michelle Wood . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-997-1461

Kings [email protected]

Village Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-381-9600Brian Dunn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .202-255-7295Phillip Gilbert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .301-490-9052Pete Maheridis . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-929-5291Fred Niziol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .301-498-4461Barbara Seely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-381-6447Marguerite Walsh . . . . . . . . . . . .410-207-2006

Long [email protected]

Village Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-730-8113Nina Basu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-935-9279Josh Friedman . . . . . . . . . . . . . .443-542-9051Karen Hitcho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-884-9532William Taylor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .301-596-7152 Matthew Watchinsk . . . . . . . . . . .410-730-8547

Oakland [email protected]

Village Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-730-4610Reginald Avery . . . . . . . . . . . . . .443-545-6714Brian Donoughe . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-772-9065Phil Engelke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .443-878-6758Abby Hendrix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-740-4595Kris Huza . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-336-0092Margaret Mauro . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-997-4875Julia McCready . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-884-1651Marcia White . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-964-0067

Owen [email protected]

Village Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-381-0202Pearl Atkinson-Stewart . . . . . . . .410-381-8229John Boyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-290-7817Summer Romack . . . . . . . . . . . .410-381-1941Wayne Eldrige . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-960-7533Kecia Rome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .443-220-5841

River [email protected]

Village Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-531-1749Cynthia Asoka . . . . . . . . [email protected] Harrison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-531-0771Kenny Kan . . . . . . . . . . . [email protected] Marks . . [email protected] Wettstein . [email protected]

Town [email protected]

Village Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-730-4744Joel Broida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-730-4663Lee Richardson . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-772-2199Helen Ruther . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 410-730-7261Hugh Tousey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-740-7189Linda Wengel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-964-1671

Wilde [email protected]

Village Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-730-3987Regina Clay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .443-992-8131Vincent Marando . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-730-1821Nancy McCord . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-730-2309Bill Santos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-884-5557Barbara Wright . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-997-5892

16

village boards from May1,2011April 30,2012

Although CA built and owns all of the village centers

and neighborhood centers, they are operated by the

village associations.

Architectural GuidelinesAlso Known as the Covenants

The covenants of each village are contained in a legal

document that is recorded in the land records of

Howard County as part of the deed to every property

located in the village, including commercial real estate.

Since the covenants stay with the property, each owner

accepts them as a stipulation of the transfer of owner-

ship. The covenants, which set exterior alteration stan-

dards, have protected the aesthetic environment of our

neighborhoods — and our property values.

Here are some frequently asked questions:

What is the process for making changes or exterior

alterations to my property?

To find out about the architectural requirements

particular to your village, call your village covenant

adviser (see page 19) or log on to CA’s web site at

ColumbiaAssociation.org. You may need to complete a

Request for Exterior Alteration form. The village

Resident Architectural Committee will review your

request and return the form to you with its

17

CA offers before and after school care for elementary andmiddle school children, offering them a safe, securehaven where they can explore, learn and have fun.

TheCOVENANTS,which set exterior alterationstandards, have protected the aesthetic environment of ourneighborhoods — and our property values.


“To harness these new attitudes to the forces already in motion and to the resources that already exist among us,will generate a new creative trust that will not only produce new communities, but will release among the peoplein them, the potential for the noblest civilization the world has ever known.”JAMES ROUSE, speech, “It Can Happen Here,” at the University of Calif. in Berkeley, Calif., on Sept. 23, 1963

decision and any qualifying remarks. Be sure to tell

your covenant adviser if you live in a townhouse or

condo. You may also need to get their architectural

approval.

Do I need architectural committee approval for a

home-based business?

Yes, and in some villages, in-home businesses must

be approved every year.

Do the architectural guidelines ever change?

Every village reviews and revises its guidelines

periodically after inviting community input. A copy

of the current guidelines is available at your village

association.

When I buy a house, am I responsible for the previous

owner’s covenant violations?

Yes. Make sure that you receive a Certificate of

Compliance from your builder or seller during the

settlement process. This certificate, issued by the

village architectural committee, assures that the

home has met the committee’s standards.

Who administers the covenants?

The village community associations administer the

covenants through covenant advisors and residential

architectural committees. The covenant advisor

answers questions and handles the day-to-day require-

ments of the approval process. Residents who do not

maintain their property or who make unapproved

exterior alterations or operate an unauthorized home-

based business may be cited for covenant violations.

Villages make every effort to resolve violations con-

structively. When this is not possible, the village archi-

tectural committee may request that CA join with it in

bringing legal action against the property owner. Very

few violations require court action. When it has been

necessary to go to court, the covenants have consis-

tently been upheld.

Joan Lovelace, Head Professional and General Managerof CA’s Hobbit’s Glen Golf Club, offers first-rate golfadvice to amateur players.

“There are no dramatic innovations in Columbia; really nothing that hasn’t been done somewhere before. Its plansimply pulls together … an environment in which a man and his family are dignified and their institutions affordeda decent opportunity to respond to their changing needs.”JAMES ROUSE, speech for the Newark Conference on the ACTION Program for the American City, in Newark, N.J., on Dec. 9, 1965

18

covenantadvisorsDorsey Search • 410-730-4005Ingrid [email protected]

Harper’s Choice • 410-730-3888Debbie [email protected]

Hickory Ridge • 410-730-7327Carole MacPhee and Racheal [email protected]

Kings Contrivance • 410-381-9600Stephanie [email protected]

Long Reach • 410-730-8113Darlene Brown and Maryann [email protected] for applications

[email protected] for covenant complaints or letters of compliance

Oakland Mills • 410-730-4610Debbie [email protected]

Owen Brown • 410-381-0202Gordon [email protected]

River Hill • 410-531-1749Evamarie [email protected]

Town Center • 410-730-4744Patricia [email protected]

Wilde Lake • 410-730-3987Kristin [email protected]

COMMUNITY CENTERS

The community centers, which are located in every

village, differ in size and amenities. However, all are

accessible to persons with disabilities, have kitchens

and are available for meetings, weddings, bar and bat

mitzvahs, anniversaries, birthdays and other gatherings.

Please call for rental information and other details.

DORSEY’S SEARCH

410-730-4005

NEIGHBORHOODS Dorsey Hall and Fairway Hills

The village association is located in 5,000-square-foot

Linden Hall, 4765 Dorsey Hall Drive, Ellicott City,

21042. Manager: Jackie Felker

NEWSLETTER

• The Dorsey’s Search Scroll

• Published 11 times per year

• Distributed door-to-door

DWELLING UNITS

Single Family Detached . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 611

Townhouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 921

Apartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,549

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,081

from HRD Dwelling Unit Report and village manager

19

CA is committed to providing quality swimming lessons for members and residents. Private and group lessons are available.

HARPER’S CHOICE 410-730-3888

NEIGHBORHOODS Longfellow, Swansfield

and Hobbit’s Glen

The village community association is located in Kahler

Hall, which offers five rooms, at 5440 Old Tucker Row,

Columbia, 21044. Manager: Wendy Tzuker

NEWSLETTER

• Harper’s Choice Voice

• In the Columbia Flier bi-weekly

• Occasionally mailed to homes

DWELLING UNITS

Single Family Detached . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,102

Townhouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,074

Apartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,105

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,281

Source: HRD Dwelling Unit Report

HICKORY RIDGE 410-730-7327

NEIGHBORHOODS: Hawthorn, Clary’s Forest and

Clemens Crossing

The village community association is located at

The Hawthorn Center, which accommodates about

100 people, at 6175 Sunny Spring, Columbia, 21044.

Manager: Jane Parrish

NEWSLETTER

• The Log

• In the Columbia Flier bi-weekly

DWELLING UNITS


Townhouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,244

Apartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,875

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,766


KINGS CONTRIVANCE

410-381-9600

NEIGHBORHOODS Macgill’s Common, Huntington

and Dickinson

The village community association is located in 4,300-

square-foot Amherst House, 7251 Eden Brook Drive,

Columbia, 21046. Manager: Anne Brinker

NEWSLETTER

• Crown Prints

• Inserted in Columbia Flier bi-monthly

DWELLING UNITS


Townhouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 910

Apartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,572

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,025


LONG REACH

410-730-8113

NEIGHBORHOODS Jeffers Hill, Kendall Ridge,

Locust Park and Phelps Luck


Stonehouse, 8775 Cloudleap Court, Columbia,

21045. Manager: Sarah Uphouse

NEWSLETTER

• Reach Out

• Delivered every six weeks

DWELLING UNITS


Townhouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,196

Apartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,067

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,985


20

At right: Since 1977, CA has offered summer exchange programsfor Howard County high school students to experience Spanishor French culture. The International Exchange Program allowsstudents to travel to Cergy-Pontoise, France or Tres Cantos,Spain, where they live with host families for two weeks. Uponreturning to the United States, students host their French orSpanish student counterparts for another two weeks.

21

OAKLAND MILLS

410-730-4610 or 301-596-5237

NEIGHBORHOODS Thunder Hill, Talbott Springs and Stevens ForestThe village community association is located in TheOther Barn, renovated in 2008, which accommodates240 people in the Loft and 65 people in the Smithy/Tack Rooms. Adjacent to The Other Barn is a flower-filled courtyard. The Other Barn is located at 5851 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia, 21045.

Manager: Sandy Cederbaum

NEWSLETTER• The Grist: In Columbia Flier twice a month andmailed quarterly

• OM eNews and Revitalization Weekly: E-mailed weekly

DWELLING UNITS

Single Family Detached . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,717 Townhouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 525Apartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,174Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,416 Source: HRD Dwelling Unit Report

OWEN BROWN

410-381-0202

NEIGHBORHOODS Dasher Green, Elkhorn and

Hopewell

The village community association is located in the

Owen Brown Community Center, which offers five

rooms, at 6800 Cradlerock Way, Columbia, 21045.

Manager: Nancy Thomas

NEWSLETTER• The OBserver

• Home-delivered nine times per year

DWELLING UNITS


Townhouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,797

Apartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 876

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,069


“We must believe, because it is true, that people are affected by their environment … by space and scale, by color and texture, by nature and beauty, that they can be uplifted, made comfortable, made important.”JAMES ROUSE

RIVER HILL 410-531-1749

NEIGHBORHOODS: Pheasant Ridge and

Pointer’s Run


Claret Hall, 6020 Daybreak Circle, Clarksville, 21029.

Claret Hall is a 5,000-square-foot facility with two

meeting rooms and an adjoining patio and garden.

Manager: Susan Smith

NEWSLETTER

• The Villager

• Delivered door-to-door each month

DWELLING UNITS


Townhouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232

Apartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,096


TOWN CENTER 410-730-4744NEIGHBORHOODS Vantage Point, Banneker, Amesbury

Hill, Creighton’s Run, Lakefront and Warfield Triangle

The village community association is located at Historic

Oakland, 5430 Vantage Point Road, Columbia, 21044.

Historic Oakland accommodates up to 200 guests and is

an ideal venue for meetings, conferences and weddings.

Manager: Patricia Laidig

NEWSLETTER

• The Center Fold

• Mailed monthly

DWELLING UNITS

Single Family Detached . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Townhouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 471

Apartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,542

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,047


“The road to humanizing the urban environment may be neither long nor difficult, if we will set out upon it — but it begins with people and proceeds from their needs and their yearnings.”JAMES ROUSE, speech for the Newark Conference on the ACTION Program for the American City, in Newark, N.J., on Dec. 9, 1965

22

WILDE LAKE

410-730-3987

NEIGHBORHOODS Bryant Woods, Faulkner Ridge

and Running Brook


Slayton House, Wilde Lake Village Green, 10400

Cross Fox Lane, Columbia, 21044. Slayton House,

Columbia’s first community center, has two meeting

rooms; a dance studio; a ballroom with a stage and set

construction room; and an art gallery. The theater has

a retractable movie screen and raked seating, which

can accommodate 220 for a theater performance or

120 for a reception. Outside is a plaza, a children’s

play area and a sculpture commissioned by CA in

1968 by Pierre du Fayet titled “Family.”

Manager: Kristin Shulder

NEWSLETTER

• The Wilde Lake

• In Columbia Flier twice a month

DWELLING UNITS

Single Family Detached . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 684

Townhouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 440

Apartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,494

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,618


23

At left: Sport and fitness specialists are available at all three fitness facilities to help members developpersonalized plans. At right: CA members practice their tennis skills at Columbia Athletic Club’s indoor tennis courts. The Supreme Sports Club features a12,000-square-foot arena for basketball and volleyball.

The community centers, whichare located in every village,

DIFFER IN SIZEandamenities.

caColumbiaAssociation

columbia association public information guide – fy12

Documents

ca facebookpage

columbia matters

infrastructure of columbia

columbia flier

ca board ofdirectors

ca events advisor

downtown columbia lakefront

rightpurpose of community