CA COLUMBIA ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REPORT
2016
CA
Columbia is approaching its 50th birthday, a grand anniversary that will be celebrated spring through fall in 2017. The planning and work to create Columbia preceded 1967 and continued over the past five decades. We at Columbia Association (CA) played a significant role from the outset and will continue to work toward keeping Columbia a community of choice — for all generations and for decades to come. That work includes the programs, services and amenities that are a cornerstone of living, working or playing here. Everyone benefits from being in a community where the beautiful open space, lakes, ponds and pathway system make nature an intrinsic part of our lives; where children can grow in a setting such as before and after school care, camps, and other programming focusing on youth and teens; where families can play at more than 170 tot lots; where there are pools, fitness clubs, golf clubs, tennis clubs, an ice rink, horse center and sports park and much more for exercise, recreation and relaxation; and where artistic and cultural offerings entertain and intrigue us and further expand our horizons. There is plenty more work to be done as we invest in the next 50 years, and those efforts have already started. This annual report highlights both the present and the future, with much of what CA accomplished in Fiscal Year 2016 and what we are looking forward to in Fiscal Year 2017. Sincerely, Milton W. Matthews President and CEO, Columbia Association
2
Working every day in hundreds of ways to make Columbia an even better place to
LIVE, WORK AND PLAY Columbia Association is an integral part of Columbia, offering a vast array
2016/1 7 CA Board of Directors Reginald Avery Oakland Mills
Alan Klein Harper’s Choice
Dick Boulton Dorsey’s Search
Nancy McCord Wilde Lake
Brian Dunn Kings Contrivance
Gregg Schwind Hickory Ridge
Lin Eagan Town Center
Andrew Stack Owen Brown
Janet Evans Long Reach
Chao Wu River Hill
of recreational, cultural and community services to residents and visitors.
CA’s Maggie J. Brown Welcome Center and Customer and Member Service Center
are located at its headquarters at 6310 Hillside Court and are open six days each
week to provide information and greet community members and visitors. CA is fully
dedicated to the vision of Columbia founder James Rouse.
This annual report is a brief recap of Fiscal Year 2016 (FY16), which ran
May 1, 2015-April 30, 2016, with a look ahead at FY17 (May 1, 2016-April 30, 2017). Columbia has approximately 100,000 residents. CA operates and maintains
42 community buildings and sports facilities plus 23 outdoor pools, 3,600 acres
of open space, 94 miles of pathways, three lakes and more than 40 ponds.
No other organization in Maryland offers the breadth of CA’s facilities, amenities,
programs, events, activities and services.
Under Maryland Corporations law, CA is a private, non-stock corporation
(established in 1965). Under the federal tax code, CA is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit
community services corporation. Under the Maryland Homeowners Association
Act (enacted in 1984), CA is a homeowners association because it has
“the authority to enforce the provisions of a declaration.”
Find out more by visiting the newly-redesigned ColumbiaAssociation.org,
visiting CA headquarters, or contacting CA’s Customer and Member Service Center
(410-730-1801), which welcomed more than 7,500 visitors and answered more than
66,000 phone calls in FY16.
3
Financial Information
30000 27500 25000 22500 20000 17500 15000 12500
where the money comes from
Columbia Association FY2017 10000 Approved Budget: 7500 Summary of Funds, Expenditures and 5000 Annual Borrowings
*Total Capital Expenditures of
$19,645,000 have been decreased by $1,379,000 due to certain unallocated non-cash adjustments.
The most recent financial statements and independent audit report are posted at ColumbiaAssociation.org. This data representation is not in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Board of Directors Includes administrative costs for supporting the CA Board
Administrative Services Departmental costs related to supporting the organization
Capital Expenditures Includes items such as construction and improvements to new and existing buildings and land, as well as costs for vehicles, equipment, etc.
4
$76,846,000
2500 0
30000 27500 25000
Sport and Fitness Income $27,871,000 36.3%
Residential Annual Charge $24,046,000 31.3%
Commercial Annual Charge $12,948,000 16.8%
Borrowings $7,042,000 9.2%
Community Services Programs $4,518,000 5.9%
Interest and Others $421,000 0.5%
22500
20000 17500 15000
12500
where the money is used
10000 7500 5000 2500 0
$76,846,000
Sport/Fitness Programs and Facilities $28,513,000 37.1%
Capital Expenditures* $18,266,000 23.8%
Open Space Management $13,015,000 16.9%
Community Services Programs $7,405,000 9.6%
Village Community Associations $5,092,000 6.6%
Debt Repayment $1,765,000 2.3%
Administrative Services $1,413,000 1.9%
Board of Directors $917,000 1.2%
Contingencies/ Other $460,000 0.6%
Annual Charge and CA Budget
The budget for FY17 was approved by CA’s Board of Directors in February 2016. Total revenues for FY17 are $952,000 higher than FY16 total revenues. Total operating expenses for FY17 are $66 million, $262,000 higher than total expenses for FY16. Learn more about CA’s budgets for FY17 at ColumbiaAssociation.org/budget. CA’s annual charge helps pay for many functions — from maintenance of lakes and ponds to pathways, other amenities and the operations of village community associations. The annual charge rate of 68 cents per $100 of assessed value will not change; this has been the same annual charge rate since 2004. However, the budget for FY17 increased the annual charge cap from 2.5 percent to 3.5 percent to help pay for planned capital improvements to the amenities and facilities enjoyed by Columbia’s residents, guests and other stakeholders. CA believes that the average residential annual charge payment will increase by approximately $6.07 as a result of the increase in the cap. Residential properties contribute approximately 70 percent of the annual charge revenue, with commercial properties making up the other 30 percent. The revenue from the annual charge, while significant, only covers slightly more than half of CA’s expenditures, meaning some of the most popular memberships, like Package Plan, carry an additional fee. CA is preparing for a May 2017 launch of an all-new membership structure and will be reconfiguring its internal system software to reflect the new structure. CA resident members will continue to pay significantly lower fees for services than nonresidents. For more information, call the Annual Charge Hotline at 410-715-3058 or visit ColumbiaAssociation.org and click on Resident Resources, CA Annual Charge.
5
Community Services
CA’s mission includes fostering growth for individuals with a wide array of programming and activities for the entire community. In FY16, some of the highlights included the annual Youth and Teen Center Clothing Drive, which organized donated clothing and assisted more than 500 families; Camps served 736 kids in addition to adding several new camps including a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) camp, and Tennis and Swim camp, and the School Age Services program increased enrollment, serving 1,563 children. FY17 plans include hiring a new part-time older adult programs manager who will enhance CA’s coordination of services and programs for older adults; implementing Columbia’s 50th Birthday Celebration, which will be celebrated from March-September 2017; and creating a Downtown Columbia Welcome Center in partnership with Howard County Tourism and the Downtown Columbia Partnership.
6
Community Engagement and Events Planning is an important CA function in the community and encompasses our involvement in land use matters, revitalization, transportation and environmental-related projects and other activities that impact Columbia. CA also produces a monthly Columbia Developer Tracker to keep the community up-to-date on development proposals and related meetings in and around Columbia. CA’s website, ColumbiaAssociation.org, was redesigned and relaunched in April 2016, providing a more robust platform to disseminate information to visitors, residents, businesses and members. Beginning summer 2016, upon entering CA’s Maggie J. Brown Welcome Center and Supreme Sports Club, you will see new digital signage. Later in the year, the same feature will be installed at Columbia Athletic Club and Columbia Gym. Please see the inside back cover of this report for more information on ways to stay informed and connected with CA. FY16 highlights of community engagement include helping to organize the annual Howard County Bike to Work Day event; hosting Don Elliot, senior consultant for a national land-use and real estate consulting firm, as part of the Community Building Speakers Series; Dog Day Afternoon and KidsDay, both of which attracted over 2,000 people; two sessions of Excite Columbia; Ghana Fest 2, which celebrated the culture of Ghana (Tema, Ghana became Columbia’s third sister city in FY15); and the annual Lakefront Summer Festival, which draws hundreds of people to the Downtown Columbia Lakefront for movies, music and more through the summer months. Selected focus areas for FY17 include working to increase CA’s influence in the planning and development process, including participating on the County’s Complete Streets Implementation Work Team; partnering with the county government on the Oakland Mills Village Center Redevelopment Feasibility Study and the implementation of the pilot bike-share program; participating in the County’s planned review of New Town zoning; and involvement in the village center redevelopment processes for Hickory Ridge and Long Reach village centers.
7
Fitness and Wellness
CA wants Columbia to be a healthy and active community, and promoting fitness is a vital component of this goal. CA manages a variety of programs and numerous facilities — three fitness clubs, 23 outdoor pools, Haven on the Lake mind body wellness retreat, two golf clubs, four tennis clubs, Columbia Ice Rink and Columbia SportsPark. CA also focuses on community wellness, with programs like YouthFit, NewU and Optimal Health for My Baby and Me, which encourage wellness for youth, teens and families. In FY16, Columbia Gym was named Best Health and Fitness Facility in Howard County by Howard Magazine readers, and CA Aquatics received the Best Programming Award for 2015 from Aquatics International, recognizing CA as the best in the nation. In FY17, CA will break ground on two exciting fitness projects: an update to Columbia Swim Center, a Columbia staple since opening in 1967, and a new indoor tennis facility in Long Reach, which will replace the Owen Brown Tennis Bubble. The improvements at Columbia Swim Center will replace the slides, update locker rooms and replace the wading pool. The work is projected to be completed in 2018. Columbia Swim Center is expected only to close during the summer months, when CA’s 23 outdoor pools are available. The new tennis facility will be a permanent building with six air-conditioned indoor courts, two viewing lounges and locker rooms. It is projected to open in early 2018.
8
OpenSpace and Watershed Management CA manages more than 3,600 acres of open space, including three lakes, more than 40 ponds and 94 miles of pathways. Additionally, CA is responsible for design, planning, maintenance and management functions that conserve natural areas, encourage green community design and provide amenities for a more livable and vibrant Columbia. FY16 highlights included completing the first year of Columbia DogPark operations with more than 1,000 dog registrations and more than 300 daily visits; hosting the walking series “Exploring Columbia on Foot,”which returned in FY17; and providing snow removal operations during “Snowzilla” in January 2016. CA is also advancing our stewardship of open space and improving our watershed. In FY16, CA conducted several rounds of Weed Warrior training, including working with Howard Community College staff, the University of Maryland and the Volunteer Center Serving Howard County to certify more residents. CA also restored Jackson Pond and Dannon Garth Pond in Long Reach and built bioretention facilities adjacent to the Wilde Lake barn and Columbia DogPark. In FY17, CA will improve the streams feeding Jackson Pond and Wilde Lake with stream stabilization projects and build a bioretention facility in Running Brook, complete remaining budgeted stormwater outfall and stream restoration projects above Wilde Lake and Lake Kittamaqundi, and implement a formal, targeted removal program for invasive plants in open space.
9
Renewable Energy CA continues to establish itself as a leader in environmental sustainability. CA has made great strides in energy efficiency and renewable energy, efforts which have produced efficiencies in our operations and benefits for residents pursuing the same goals. In FY16, CA achieved the goal of offsetting 100 percent of its electricity consumption with renewable sources — reducing our carbon footprint by nearly half. Also, CA completed a 60 kilowatt combined heat and power project at Supreme Sports Club and numerous LED lighting retrofits throughout other buildings to reduce energy consumption. In FY17, CA will undertake additional lighting retrofit projects and install new ENERGY STAR® HVAC equipment at Slayton House and CA’s Maintenance Facility.
10
CA App CA Social Media CA maintains Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest (with nine different boards), which community members may choose to interact with and follow. CA also maintains separate Facebook and Twitter accounts for Haven on the Lake, as well as a blog on the website.
▲
Resident Speakout Columbia residents may attend CA Board work sessions and meetings and voice their opinion on topics listed on the agenda. Agendas are posted on CA’s website the Friday prior to the meeting.
This app enables you to see class schedules and updates and easily register from your mobile device.
Columbia Pathway App This app has a “Contact Us” feature that allows users to send information to Open Space about any broken tot lot equipment or pathways in need of repair by taking a picture, pinging an area on the map and emailing it to the Open Space email address.
ColumbiaAssociation.org This recently launched website includes a resident portal for information about Columbia, Columbia Association and more. A web menu tab lists information specific to Columbia residents that shows ways that residents may use to connect with CA (for example, Resident Speakout, volunteering for advisory committee meetings, Excite Columbia, etc.), as well as different types of information and publications that are available to read online or download.
Get connectedwith what is going on at
CA
Member Surveys The Customer and Member Service Center administers a new member survey 30 days after a membership has been purchased. Sport and Fitness also provides comment cards at facilities that are then directed to the appropriate manager.
11
Y Ya A C
it! y a s o t y ter wa t e b a f o t think ’ n d l u o c We
6310 Hillside Court, Columbia, MD • 21046 • ColumbiaAssociation.org • 410 -715-3000
YaYCA! is a campaign that celebrates all that CA is and strives to be. Columbia Association has been at the very heart of what makes Columbia a vibrant, connected community for nearly 50 years, and we are hard at work to ensure the next 50 years will be even better. Over the next two years, you will see
YaYCA! in our messaging everywhere. Why? Because we want the community to know that CA adds value to the community, is an integral partner in the Howard County business community, offers many opportunities for those who wish to participate or join, and that CA is fun!