Monday, June 1, 2026

EVMD Board Meeting 5/28/2026 Recap

5/28/2026 Board Meeting Recap

This is an unofficial summary of the May 28, 2026 Meeting of the Board of Directors of the EagleVail Metropolitan District held at the EagleVail Pavilion and online produced by EVMD Communications staff. A draft of the minutes will be posted to the EVMD website once they are composed.

Board members present: Chair Hopkins, Vice Cahir Laughlin, Director Copeland, and Director Rumford.

Public Comment

An EagleVail Property Owners Assoc. (EVPOA) board member presented a draft of community events and asked for the EVMD Board’s consideration to collaborate on costs and hosting.
A resident inquired about how trash can behavior is monitored and whether there were fines out of concern for bears and birds spreading the trash. Manager Steven Barber explained that trash monitoring is managed by the EVPOA. The resident also inquired about EVMD water monitoring as he noticed mid-afternoon watering. Brent Barnum, Superintendent of Golf Courses & Parks, explained that they are in the process of converting the water control system and thus there is some intermittent sprinkling occurring.
A resident expressed that just because EVMD has water rights, doesn’t mean they should be used in this drought period.

Courts Update

Manager Barber reminded that earlier Board direction to staff was to put out a courts survey to the community. The survey will close May 31 at 5 p.m., however 200 responses have been recorded:

Majority in favor of adding four more pickleball courts.
Majority of court use is pickleball.
Majority in favor of relocating the basketball court from a current court to the Pavilion Park area.
Majority said staffing the courts is not necessary. However, Barber explained that should the Board approve creating additional pickleball courts, adding staff to help manage would be recommended.

Capital improvements to the courts: Barber and Barnum met with three different court consultants. All three said a diamond grind process was necessary before re-coating the surfaces to prevent bubbling. The proposal under consideration would be to convert the two northeast temporary courts to permanent pickleball. The current southwest tennis court would be converted to four pickleball courts. This would be about a 4-6 week process (due to temperature requirements, the work would take place over the summer when temperatures are warmer. It’s estimated to cost about $200,000. One tennis court would remain.

With a Board nod to continue moving forward, the court conversion will be part of the budget process this fall.

Barber further explained that there is currently a $10 drop-in fee and why a third-party vendor like Venmo can’t be used.

Public Comment:

A resident said EagleVail has the best courts in the valley; unnecessary to carry out the diamond grind scraping. Doesn’t want to see money wasted. Please get other opinions.
A resident supported the court improvements saying the expenditure was a drop-in-the-bucket compared to what is spent on golf operations.

Hopkins: Make sure we have warranties for the work.

Discussion about the temporary striping this season and temporary nets going up May 29.

Parks Master Plan Update:

Barber: Numerous emails received based on the concept plan for West Park as part of the Board adoption of the Parks Master Plan in April.

Landscape architect Pedro Campos of Zehren and Assoc. reviewed for the Board the master plan recommendations, implementation prioritization and phasing of park improvements. Campos suggested that more time be spent with West Park neighbors to finalize a design, and pivot to working on Coyote Park improvements.

Barber suggested creating a West Park steering committee that may come back with other recommendations to the Board.

Public Comment:

A West Park resident said she felt there are only two issues: the majority of neighbors, she said, do not want a multi-use court that would allow pickleball. The additional shaded area location is also a concern. She didn’t think a steering committee was necessary.
Another West Park resident expressed opposition to pickleball being allowed use at West Park.
Another resident asked if bathroom facilities would be in the conversion. (Staff replied that there will be no parking or bathroom facilities as West Park is not intended to be a destination park.)
Another resident expressed that the current friction is due to voices not being heard. Another question about parking.
Another resident asked about parking.

The Board unanimously approved a motion to amend the Parks Master Plan to move Coyote Park improvements to priority over West Park; create a steering committee if necessary; and continue to evaluate concepts for West Park, including the irrigation improvements.

2025 AUDIT APPROVAL

Matt Miller, McMahan & Associates: An unmodified 2025 audit opinion, or a clean opinion, was issued. The EVMD unanimously approved the 2025 audit report.

Communications Update:

Kristin Kenney Williams, Commfluent Inc., highlighted the spring digital newsletter featuring great detail on EVMD water use and wildfire mitigation. The next Après Chat with Barber and Board member Copeland is June 10 at 4 p.m. at the Grill.

Management Updates:

Mark Sassi, Director of Golf Operations: The driving range and all 18 holes of the golf course opened on May 22. The Par 3 Golf Course opened for play on May 15. The new golf carts are amazing and are a much-needed added benefit to the golf experience.

Sassi also provided a pass sale update, with 264 passes sold to date at more than $400,000 in revenue. Of the 264, 164 were sold to EagleVail residents and 100 to nonresidents.

Barnum:

Our new irrigation satellite controllers have been installed and we are still in the process of programing our central computer and the install of our weather stations.
We completed our cart path improvements prior to the course opening.
In consideration of drought conditions, no annuals at the EagleVail entrance nor on the golf course bridges; fewer at the Pavilion.
The irrigation systems in the parks have been energized and audited. With the recent moisture we have only had to run them for a few nights to this point. We will follow the guidelines and regulations put forth by ERWSD for watering schedules in our potable parks. Gore Range Landscaping has begun with their spring clean-up programs, aerification, fertilization, and prepping the flower beds for the season.
Irrigation delivery pipe update: As mentioned in the last board meeting, we have experienced a loss in our delivery pipe due to a leak. We have been working very diligently with our contractor executing exploratory digging trying to locate the issue. Unfortunately to this point we have not found its cause. We continue to excavate trying to find the leak. Also, we have reached out to a leak detection company to join the cause.

Barber: Three additional speed tables have been installed – two at West Park, and the third at Deer Blvd. East. Permanent signage to go in soon.

Staff will also be installing four additional kiosks throughout the community to help keep residents informed and engaged.

Continued input on unleashed dog concerns. Barber reminded that dogs are required to be on a leash. The EVMD will continue to work with the EVPOA and Eagle County to enhance communications. EVMD working on increased signage. Dogs are not allowed on new athletic field.

Water: In addition to the information in the spring digital newsletter, West Park will be maintained this summer with all organic products as a pilot program.

Barber and Barnum met with EVMD’s water engineer consultant: the EVMD’s drought management plan was implemented in 2002; the most current use of it was in 2018. Working with the consultant and ERWSD to revise and update it.

HPS Community Service Day – EVMD hosted the HPS 8th graders for the annual

community service day on May 20. About 80 kids helped different departments with various projects from working in the community gardens to helping clean the chairs at the pool.

EV Community Cleanup Day – EVMD hosted a free community yard waste cleanup weekend, May 16-17. Bags were collected by the maintenance department on May 18 at no cost to residents.

April Financial Report:

YTD, things are picking up. Property tax coming in slower. Behind budget still on sales tax but turning around. Pavilion and golf revenues ahead of budget.

The Board convened the regular meeting and entered into Executive Session.