MINUTES OF THE MONTHLY BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

SECTOR 2A AT SNOHOMISH CASCADE ASSOCIATION

7:00 PM   WEDNESDAY    September, 13, 2006

 

CALL TO ORDER / APPROVAL OF MINUTES

  1. Jen Stout called the meeting to order at 7:16pm.  Present were Jen Stout, Bill Steenis, Steve Yandl, Brian Schmidt, and John Patterson.
  2. Steve Yandl presented the minutes from the August meeting.  In response to a John Patterson inquiry, Steve commented that getting the roofing material CC&R amendment recorded remains pending business and the one variance granted for Presidential TL had the job completed and it looks great.  Steve also responded that the lien needing to be filed was handled by Jen Stout and we’ve received confirmation from ‘Lien Research’.  John Patterson moved to accept the minutes.  Jen Stout seconded.  Motion passed 5 – 0.

NEW BUSINESS

  1. There was a discussion of who should be on the current signature card for our account at CityBank since we have some new homeowners on the Board of Directors.  Steve Yandl made the motion to retain Steve Yandl and Jennifer Stout on our CityBank account signature card, delete Amy Key, Elizabeth (Betty) Malowney, and Tim Rizzo (if Tim is still on the card) and adding Bill Steenis, Brian Schmidt, and John Patterson.  Jennifer Stout seconded the motion.  The motion passed 5 – 0.  All persons designated to be on the signature card are duly elected officers or directors of the current Board of Directors and all referenced homeowners, including those to be deleted from the existing card, are members in good standing of the association.
  2. We had a discussion on doing some pre-payment into our account at PostNet as well as the bulk mail Post Office facility in Everett so we could avoid the monthly expenses of approximately $120 per newsletter issue.  John Patterson made the motion that we do prepayments to PostNet and the Post Office for the anticipated newsletter expense to the end of 2006.  Steve Yandl seconded.  The motion passed 5 – 0.
  3. Jen Stout asked the group if it would be appropriate to let the local YMCA know that our baseball field could be used by them from time to time.  There were no objections but everyone agreed that they should be given Brian Schmidt’s email address and advised of our policies for reserving the field.

TREASURER’S REPORT

  1. We acknowledged the email from Connie LaClair where she resigned from the treasurer’s position and the Board of Directors because of other obligations that would have prevented her from doing the job the way she felt it needed to be handled.
  2. Steve Yandl confirmed that everyone had received copies of the August financial reports furnished by Jennifer Russell (bookkeeper).  The reports have been posted on our web page.
  3. A copy of the last two bank statements from CityBank was shared with the group.  It isn’t anticipated that we would have to spend any reserves to handle operating expenses through the current year.
  4. Bill Steenis suggested that we place a newsletter article inquiring if any members with bookkeeping experience are interested in doing the job as a paid position.  We have always advertised the position as a volunteer duty but now that we’re paying an outside bookkeeper it was felt we should make one more inquiry with the new parameter.  Steve Yandl pointed out that we’re receiving excellent service from Jennifer Russell and we don’t want to make any switch that would decrease the service level.
  5. John Patterson moved to make Steve Yandl Secretary / Treasurer.  Brian Schmidt seconded the motion.  The motion passed 5 – 0.
  6. The suggestion was made that we advertise through the newsletter to see if anyone is interested in being the seventh member of the Board of Directors (position vacated by Connie LaClair) so that we might vote to fill the position through next May.

MAINTENANCE COMMITTEE REPORT

  1. John Patterson reported that he sent certified letters on August 26 to five homeowners instructing them to remove gates installed in the common area fence that provide access from their lots to either Snohomish Cascade Drive or the storm water detention pond at the NW corner of the neighborhood.  One was also instructed to replace fence boards damaged by aggressive use of a weed-whacker.  The homeowners with a vehicle gate and noticeable damage to common area landscape were instructed to repair or be held liable for damage to the landscape and sprinkler system that resulted from their use of the vehicle gate.  The homeowners with the vehicle gate were given 30 days to correct the situation, the four others were given 60 days.  The fine schedule for non-compliance ($25 per day for 30 days, $50 per day for the next 30 days, $100 per day thereafter) was included in the letter, as was contact information for Town and Country Fence in Lynnwood, so they would know of at least one licensed, bonded and insured contractor acceptable to the association.  Three of the homeowners signed for the certified letters and a fourth picked up an unsigned copy from the Secretary.  One homeowner contacted Steve Yandl by phone to argue their case but hasn’t followed up with anything in writing or requested to appear at this board meeting.  The homeowner with the vehicle gate to Snohomish Cascade (lot 1-0-018) did not sign for their letter but did pick up a copy from the secretary on September 11, initially expressed an interest in attending this board meeting but had a schedule conflict so they sent an email with their argument.  The key to the argument was that the gate was built by a previous owner and that one of the main reasons they purchased this particular home was the ability to store a boat in the back yard area.  There was discussion of what the CC&Rs say about trespass on the common area as well as what the dedication section of our final plats say regarding access to Snohomish Cascade Drive and the argument was not deemed to have merit by any board member present.  Secretary is to send an email to homeowner advising them that their argument did not sway the board and that the schedule given in the letter still applied.
  2. Steve Yandl made a motion that the board approve a special assessment against any of the owners with gates in the common area who fail to remove those gates within the time schedule given in their notification letter to cover the actual cost to the association to have Town and Country or other acceptable contractor to remove their gate for us.  This would be in addition to fines.  John Patterson seconded the motion.  The motion passed 5 – 0 (Note: per Section 4.10 of the Declaration, a 2/3 majority was required).
  3. Bill Steenis questioned whether there might be issues with gates leading into the smaller tot play area.  It was pointed out that even though the association painted this entire section of fence for continuity with common area fence, sections that were built by individual builders, on or inside the lot boundary of a specific lot are the property of that lot owner who should be free to build and maintain a gate so long as it is kept up.
  4. John Patterson indicated he is still having to remind Brian Skinner that several common area fence boards need to be replaced.  He also feels the walking trail is past due for a weeding and will again discuss with Skinner to see if a weeding is scheduled.
  5. John has the electrician returning after dark to re-aim the new light at the boat park at a time when they will actually be able to maximize lighting of the park area without throwing light toward windows of adjacent homes.
  6. John confiscated a sign for DiDi’s daycare within the neighborhood.  The sign is a violation of the CC&Rs.  There was a brief discussion on whether or not this home business had the required permission letter from the Architectural Control Committee.
  7. John arranged for Snohomish Tree Service to down a hazardous tree in the buffer area adjacent to lot 3-0-016 in approximately a week.  We should expect the bill shortly thereafter.
  8. Brian Schmidt suggested that we should somehow inform/remind people that posting signs on the aluminum mailbox units isn’t allowed.  Steve Yandl will put a reminder in the newsletter although it was noted that most of the signs are taped up by non-residents who don’t get the newsletter.

ARCHITECTURAL CONTROL COMMITTEE REPORT

  1. No committee members were present to report but board members commented that several yards warranted notification for lack of maintenance and a number of boats have remained parked in front of houses for sustained periods.
  2. Bill Steenis suggested that prior to the next boating season we establish a protocol for issuing “parking tickets” to those who violate the rules on RV or boat parking.  This would eliminate the time consuming warning process and hopefully curtail the problem before neighbors get frustrated enough to call and complain to the ACC.

YARD OF MERIT PROGRAM

1.      Bill Steenis reported on the stats for the program.  In 2005 there were 36 different winners.  In 2006 we had 43.  During the course of the program, there have been 56 different winners and even more homeowners who have gotten votes but not won.

2.      Bill attributes the program success, in part, to the fact that judges were recruited with the promise that they would not be asked to judge for more than two months.

3.      The program does appear to have improved levels of landscape maintenance without threats and other negativity.

MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:36PM