HSTA Spring Newsletter Q2 2026
2026 TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS
Town Council Meetings are held on the 4th Tuesday of each month. Sewer Company business is addressed first and open to both Hidden Springs and Cartwright Ranch residents. Association business is second and an executive session held at the end of the meeting as needed. Upcoming meeting dates are posted on the Community Calendar.
2025 ANNUAL REPORTS and YEAR END FINANCIALS
The Hidden Springs Town Association and Hidden Springs Sewer Company Annual Reports and Year End Financials are available on the community website. The reports include financials, project updates and plans for 2026. The information provided by the Association to its members is not to be considered public and may not be copied or further disseminated in any manner, including online via any website or social media platform. Questions regarding content may be directed to the Town Council or to the Town office (office@hiddensprings.com).
Q2 HOA ASSESSMENTS DUE 4/1/2026
Q2 HOA and Sewer Assessments are due 4/1/26 and delinquent if not received by Keystone by 5pm on 4/10/26. The 2026 HOA Assessment amount is $526.75 (HOA $351.50 and Sewer $175.25). The office staff has created a Keystone Portal Payment Guide to better assist you with Keystone’s Portal, managing payment methods, understanding fees and processing times, as well as due dates and delinquent payments. You can find the Keystone Portal Payment Guide on our website in the HOA Payments tab under the Residents tab on the Home page. Please refer to Policy 200 and 210 for Assessment Procedures and Effects of a Delinquent Payment.
SPRING REMINDERS
Our governing documents benefit the entire community as they help to maintain our property values as well as protect the aesthetics of the neighborhood. We try to encourage homeowners to follow the rules that they have invested into through education and friendly reminders. Our hope is that homeowners abide by the governing documents, without the Association having to resort to enforcement.
Holiday Lights & Decorations It’s March and time to get those holiday lights and winter holiday decorations turned off and put away (including trees and shrubs). Hidden Springs is a “Dark Sky Community” and residents can refer to Exterior Lighting in the Residential Design Guidelines for details. For those interested in more information, permanent holiday light installations or fixtures refer to section 2.19 in the Design Guidelines.
Spring is a good time for fence and yard maintenance. Please take a moment to inspect your fence to assess any needed repairs and/or staining. Please refer to the fencing requirements in the Residential Design Guidelines section 2.13, Appendix G-1-G3 and stain addendum for details.
Remove and replace any dead trees and/or shrubs per Section 6.3 and 6.4 page 36-37.
Boats, RVs, campers, and trailers may be parked on streets for short-term loading, unloading, and cleaning (72hrs). (RDG 2.11 and CC&R 6.9 Vehicles and Equipment).
Home and Yard Improvements must be submitted to the Town Design Review Board for approval (CC&R section 6.1 Improvements and RDG). Examples of exterior improvements include (but are not limited to) the following: home and landscape remodels, front and back yard hardscape, flagpoles, pools, sheds, concrete patios, covered patios, pergolas, spas, play structures, pet enclosures, sunrooms, fences, railings, green houses, garden boxes, fences, fire pits etc.
Pets are not to roam freely off of your lot, please observe proper trail etiquette and clean up the poop! (CC&R 6.10 Animals/Pets)
OPEN SPACE & WILDLIFE REMINDERS
The Hidden Springs Open Space Committee is a long-standing and dedicated volunteer committee whose members are involved in the care of our natural Open Spaces, responsibilities to the Conservation Easement and Ada County, as well as problem-solving recurrent issues. The committee meets the first Tuesday of the month and if you are interested, please email hstaoperations@hiddensprings.com to be added to the contact list. Working together, we can keep our open spaces natural, beautiful and enjoyable for everyone!
Motorized Off-Road Vehicles including E-bikes are NOT allowed on trails or in Open Spaces. The use of motorized off-road vehicles (snowmobiles, dune buggies, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles or any other type of motorized vehicle) are not permitted in Hidden Springs Open Space Areas per the
CC&R’s, 3.1.9.3 Conservation Easement 6.9. For more information about local trails, visit https://trails.idaho.gov/ for public trail information, designation, vehicle-type, season, etc.
Save our trails from damage and erosion. Wet weather conditions often mean muddy trails! We encourage residents to make responsible decisions when considering hiking and biking community trails. It is very easy to find yourself on trails that you shouldn’t be on during the winter. If you are leaving tracks, walking off-trail to avoid mud or finding a lot of “trail” stuck to your shoes, boots or tires, it is too muddy. Turn around to save trails from damage, erosion and countless volunteer hours in repair. Current trail conditions are available daily at www.ridgetorivers.org.
Reminder: Landslide Loop Wildlife Management Seasonal Closure is in effect until 3/31/26. Signs are posted and coincide with Avimor for consistency in the region. Please respect these trail closures which were agreed upon by all the trail and land managers in our area including: HSTA, Avimor, BLM, Ada Co. IDF&G and R2R. Honoring the closures helps wintering wildlife in our area and future efforts for trail corridors through important wildlife areas.
There are natural predators in the foothills: hawks, large owls, badgers, coyotes, cougars and bears. A reminder from IDF&G, coyotes are mating now and will give birth in March into late April. Now through late June, coyotes may become much more territorial particularly when pups are vulnerable and dependent on them. If you see a coyote during this time frame, the den could be nearby and consider exercising a little more caution. If a coyote shows hostility, like standing its ground with aggressive vocalizations if you try to scare it off at close range, following humans at close range, or charging at humans and/or domestic dogs, please contact IDF&G (208-465 8465). Other helpful tips regarding predators:
Don’t feed wildlife, including deer, raccoons or other small animals.
- Feed your pets indoors if possible. Pet food left outdoors may attract wildlife.
- Manage garbage to avoid attracting wildlife. Don’t leave garbage out at night, use cans with tight fitting lids.
- Avoid overgrown landscaping which provides hiding places.
- Close off spaces beneath decks, porches, or sheds that can be used by prey species.
- Keep outdoor animals in a secure pen that includes a wire roof.
- Keep small pets indoors, especially from dawn to dusk.
- Supervise children when they are outdoors.
We can all help protect our native wildlife by paying attention to our pets. Dogs or cats are NOT allowed in either of the wetlands or along the Dry Creek trails from March 1st to June 1st. This necessary restriction helps protect the nesting birds and smaller animals that call these areas home. Wildlife is a wonderful amenity to the community and will only remain as long as we put forth the effort to keep them protected.
CONSIDERING AN IMPROVEMENT PROJECT?
Per the governing documents, improvements require design review as set forth in the Residential Design Guidelines, Section 5.0 and the CC&Rs Section 6.1. The Town Design Review Board meets monthly – 3rd Tuesday of each month. Review dates and forms can be found on the website and/or emailed upon request. Submissions are due 12N, the Friday before the Tuesday meeting. Not sure if your project requires review, just call the Town Office. Repainting your home? If you are selecting new exterior colors for your home, complete and submit a Design Review and Exterior Color Selection form (available on the website or in the Town Office). Completed forms with paint chips can be dropped off at the Town Office any time. Please allow 10 working days for this process. If you are painting your home using the existing colors (not changing anything), you do not need approval.
PROTECT OUR SEWER SYSTEM: WHAT’S NOT FLUSHABLE?
To keep the Waste Water Treatment Facility functioning in optimal condition, below is a reminder list of “What’s NOT flushable” or allowed to go down the drain:
Chemicals, poisons, solvents, thinner, paint etc.
- Egg shells, coffee grounds, fats, oils and grease
- Flushable wipes – Advertised as “safe for septic systems and sewer,” flushable wipes ARE NOT and cause problems for the WWTF.
- Diapers (cloth, disposable, “flushable”)
- Facial tissues, cotton balls, swabs and pads
- Cleaning wipes of ANY kind (baby wipes, disinfectant wipes, moist wipes, etc.)
- Toilet bowl scrub pads
- Napkins (paper or cloth), paper towels
- Dental floss
- Hair
- Sanitary napkins, tampons or, condoms
- Wash cloths, towels, rags (any cloth item)
- Kitty litter
Visit www.hiddensprings.com/sewer_company/ to download a Household Waste Chart for effective ways to dispose of household waste and contribute to a sustainable, clean, environment.
HAPPENINGS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
OPEN SPACE MEETINGS | 3/3 | 4/7 | 5/5 | 6/2
DESIGN REVIEW MEETINGS | 3/17 | 4/21 | 5/19 | 6/16
TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS | 3/24 | 4/28 | 5/26 | 6/23
ANNUAL EGG HUNT | 4/4
COMMUNITY CLEAN UP & TRAIL MAINTENANCE | 5/2
COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE | 6/5 & 6/6
NEED MORE INFO?
If you have questions, please call or email the Town Office office@hiddensprings.com or visit www.hiddensprings.com.
Working diligently on your behalf,
The Hidden Springs Town Association Town Council and Staff