About

Mountain Shadows Metropolitan District, City of Arvada, Jefferson County, Colorado

Metropolitan districts are local governments that finance public improvements and provide services to promote the health, safety, prosperity, security, and general welfare of the inhabitants of the districts and the people of the state of Colorado. Metropolitan districts fill the gaps that may exist in services that other local governments will not provide, and the services residents may desire. The Mountain Shadows Metropolitan District (the “District”) provides the following improvements and services: water, storm sewer, sanitation and wastewater treatment, streets, traffic safety protection, parks and recreation, transportation, fire protection, mosquito control, and television relay and translation.

Pursuant to the District’s Service Plan, approved by the City of Arvada on March 1, 2004 (the “Service Plan”), the District is authorized to issue debt not to exceed $450,000,000 and impose a maximum debt mill levy of 50 mills subject to adjustment, as defined in the Service Plan, for repayment of such debt. The Service Plan authorizes the repayment of debt from the following sources: ad valorem taxes, fees, rates, tolls, penalties, or charges.   

The Board of Directors (the “Board”) governs the District. Board members are elected for four-year terms. During election years, the District must provide the Call for Nominations to the electors of the District noting the Board seats up for election. If an owner or resident would like to run for a Board seat up for election, he or she must submit a self-nomination form to the Designated Election Official by the applicable deadline as provided in the Call for Nominations. When a vacancy occurs on the Board between elections, an owner or resident may contact the Districts and request to submit a letter of interest to be appointed to Board. When an individual is appointed to the Board, the term for that appointment runs to the next regular election.

To qualify as a director of a district, a person must be an “eligible elector” which is defined as a registered voter of Colorado and either: (1) a resident of the District, or (2) the owner (or the spouse or civil union partner of the owner) of taxable real or personal property located within the District. A person who is under contract to purchase taxable property and is obligated to pay taxes prior to closing is also considered an “owner.”

The District files its annual report for the prior year with the City of Arvada.

Additionally, the MSMD board of directors retains legal counsel, a community manager, and a financial accounting firm to assist in its day-to-day affairs.

Legal Counsel:
Trish Harris
White Bear Ankele Tanaka & Waldron

Community Manager:
Dave Pettigrew
MSI

Accountant:
Alonso Rodriguez
CliftonLarsonAllen

MSMD Interactive Community Map

Please see this interactive map showing the community areas maintained by MSMD. You can show/hide different layers for views of the various services provided by MSMD.

MSMD General Responsibilities

MSMD performs two main functions for the Whisper Creek Community. Each of these functions are funded and accounted for separately by the revenues received by the District.

1. Public Infrastructure

MSMD took on debt to fund the construction of public infrastructure projects (road/sewer construction) and community public improvements (landscaping, parks, playgrounds, etc.)

MSMD pays down its outstanding debt through the collection of property taxes to fund the MSMD “Debt Services Fund”. A vast majority of revenue received by MSMD goes to the Debt Services Fund and the subsequent payment on our debt.

2. On-going Community Maintenance and Services.

MSMD performs regular maintenance and up-keep for all of the public common area spaces in and around the Whisper Creek Community owned by MSMD, as well as certain City of Arvada parks and open space, pursuant to an agreement with the City, which expires in 2035.

MSMD collects revenue from property taxes and other sources to fund the “General Fund” which is used exclusively for these maintenance and operation duties. At the end of each year, the Board sets the mill levy for property taxes to be collected in the following year based on the proposed budget for operation/maintenance duties to be conducted. This budget can fluctuate from year-to-year based on the specific community needs for maintenance in the upcoming year.

Maintenance/Operation duties/expenses include:

  • Professional Services
  • Legal Services
  • Accounting Services
  • Property Management Services
  • All grass/tree/landscaping maintenance for common areas in and City of Arvada parks and open space in the Whisper Creek Community.
  • Mowing/Trimming Grass areas
  • Flower/Bush/Tree pruning and planting
  • Weed remediation
  • Fertilization
  • Irrigation and irrigation system maintenance
  • Native grasses maintenance
  • “Beauty Band” mowing of native grasses adjacent to neighborhood sidewalks
  • Mowing of other native grasses as per City of Arvada Fire Department recommendations
  • Retention Pond Maintenance (4 ponds)
  • Treatments to prevent excessive algae growth
  • Removal of trees and other growth around and within the ponds to ensure necessary water storage volume
  • Dog Waste Stations 
  • Maintenance and emptying of ten (10) dog waste bins and replenishing of dog waste bags at each location
  • Trail Maintenance
  • Weed removal and other maintenance of dirt gravel trails within the community
  • Snow Removal
  • Sidewalk snow removal for all non-resident sidewalks within the District property boundaries
  • Whisper Creek Park and Panorama Park (City of Arvada parks)
  • Maintenance of baseball fields, tennis courts, playgrounds, and playground equipment
  • Drinking fountains and winterization
  • All landscaping (mulch, grass, etc)
  • Whisper Creek Park Arboretum and Amphitheater
  • Maintenance/Replacement of community border fencing

MSMD does not perform maintenance/operation related to these community areas (managed by the Whisper Creek HOA):

  • Whisper Creek Clubhouse (and landscaping maintenance in the immediate surrounding areas)
  • Whisper Creek Clubhouse Parking Lot
  • Whisper Creek Swimming Pool