MINUTES OF THE 2004 ANNUAL MEETING

SECTOR 2A AT SNOHOMISH CASCADE ASSOCIATION

7:00 PM  WEDNESDAY  MAY 12

HELD AT TOTEM FALLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LIBRARY

 

CALL TO ORDER / APPROVAL OF MINUTES

  1. Tim Rizzo called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.  Present at the meeting were:
·  Tim Rizzo----------------------------------------------------------------------------- President

·  Estelle Rizzo-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Member

·  Jennifer Stout--------------------------------------------------------------- Vice-President

·  Sue Ann Goldman---------------------------------------------------------------- Treasurer

·  Robert Goldman---------------------------------------------------------------------- Member

·  Steve Yandl-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Secretary

·  Barbara Yandl------------------------------------------------------------------------ Member

·  John Patterson------------------------------------------------------------------------ Director

·  Bill Malowney------------------------------------------------------------------------- Director

·  Betty Malowney----------------------------------------------------------------------- Director

·  Cibyl Kumagai------------------------------------------------------------------------ Member

·  Greg and Kathi Donald---------------------------------------------------------- Members

·  Bill and Cindy Steenis----------------------------------------------------------- Members

·  Frank and Susan Almstead---------------------------------------------------- Members

·  Allen and Debbie Kerr------------------------------------------------------------ Members

Ø  The members present did not constitute a quorum.  There were sufficient directors to constitute a quorum of board members.

2.  Steve Yandl presented the minutes from the April meeting of the board of directors.  Reading of the minutes was waived without objection.  Bill Malowney moved to accept the minutes, Sue Ann Goldman seconded.  The motion was approved by the directors present, 7 – 0.

ARCHITECTURAL CONTROL COMMITTEE REPORT

  1. John Patterson shared a paint color request from lot 2-1-013 and announced his attention to deny the request based on the fact that the house color had a dark and intense character out of line with colors presently found on neighborhood homes.  Owners will be informed of the process to appeal that decision.
  2. John shared his frustration with the Post Office over their unwillingness to place a postal pickup box in the neighborhood area.  Managers were either stubbornly resistant to unresponsive.
MAINTENANCE COMMITTEE REPORT

  1. In addition to reporting the general maintenance status, Bill Malowney suggested that we consider installing a rain gauge device for added control of our main sprinkler system at the ball field.  At approximately $150.00 the device would quickly pay for itself in reduced summer water bills. 
  2. John Patterson moved that we authorize addition of the rain gauge as discussed.  Sue Ann Goldman seconded.  Board of directors approved by a vote of 7 – 0.
  3. Betty Malowney suggested that we share information on how the gauge would save money with a newsletter article.
  4. Bill Malowney reported that he recently attended a planning meeting for Willis Tucker Community Park.  Phase I of construction will begin on June 1.   This will include two ballparks, parking, restroom, community center, access via 67th Dr. and access via Snohomish Cascade Drive, plus excavation for the amphitheater.  It is now a four phase project.  Connection of Puget Park Drive to Cathcart way will not occur until Phase III.  Full time ranger presence is now on hold because of budget issues.
  5. John Patterson questioned the policy of spraying herbicide along the base of the Sno-Cascade common area fence.  Bill explained this was to avoid week whacker damage to fence and paint and that it appeared the spraying was perhaps a bit too aggressive.  The suggestion was made that we consider mulch at the base of the fence, perhaps using a new rubber mulch product that would not decompose.
  6. John Patterson alerted the group to the fact that there is still considerable tree debris from the last storm along the trail that runs along the north edge of the NGPA just south of 155th Pl (where 156th St would run)
  7. John Patterson also questioned Bill on the status of trees in various common areas and weather or not we had a set policy on dealing with such trees depending on the status (per development plat definitions of various Tracts) of the common area.  Steve Yandl reported to Bill that a large evergreen (western hemlock, probably) adjacent to where a similar hemlock was uprooted in the last storm and fell into the yard and house of the Fatkins, might also have a disrupted root ball.  This tree is in Tract 913 which is designated as recreational tract (part of the baseball field).  Bill suggested that Steve have Gary Fatkin mark this tree so it can be inspected when he brings the arborist through to inspect other common area trees suspected of being hazardous.
TREASURER’S REPORTS

  1. Sue Ann Goldman had previously sent out reports by email, including A/R Aging Summary, Balance Sheet, Balance Sheet Previous Year Comparison,  Profit and Loss Previous Year Comparison, and Profit and Loss Previous Year To Date Comparison.
  2. These reports should be considered part of these minutes.
  3. The suggestion was made my Tim Rizzo that we post budget reports along with the minutes on the new web page.  Steve Yandl agreed to do so.  He will also post the audit report as a pdf file.
  4. Tim Rizzo expressed some disappointment that the auditors may not finalize their audit report for 2003 until late summer.  While they give us a great rate, their sense of urgency seems sub par.  No other strong objections to this schedule were voiced so Tim said he could live with it as well.
OLD BUSINESS – RESERVATIONS FOR BASEBALL FIELD

  1. Steve Yandl confirmed that everyone was satisfied with the form Bill Malowney presented to the board earlier where requirements for reserving the common areas was laid out.  These included showing proof of adequate insurance listing the association as an additional named insured, placing and maintaining a portable toilet and presenting a deposit.
  2. Bill Malowney indicated that he felt we had decided the South County Little League would not have to present the deposit based on history.
  3. Steve Yandl suggested that he put the reservation schedule on the web site or at least make sure a copy of reservation be given to him or Bill Malowney so there is nearly always available a point of contact to check on reservations.
  4. Steve Yandl suggested that if we don’t see better compliance with the new policies, we might need to eject teams to send a signal and establish a precedent.  Others felt it might be better to investigate the cost of signage to alert users of the field that they are on private property and if their sponsoring group is not in compliance with association requirements, they are trespassing.  Estelle Rizzo suggested that we try sending letters to groups using the field letting them know exactly where they fall short of requirements before ejecting any teams from the field.
  5. Bill Malowney agreed to contact our attorney, Sherman Knight, to investigate the sign idea and get a better feel of our liability issues when teams use our field and how we might best enforce policies to protect the association from liability and costs of damage or cleanup.
  6. John Patterson made the motion that we revise the reservation requirements and set the required advance deposit at $300.00.  Steve Yandl seconded.  The directors voted in favor, 7 – 0.
NEW BUSINESS – PROXY VOTE

  1. Steve Yandl reported that, as of the 12th, 117 of the 246 members eligible to vote for a new board of directors had done so.   Members have until the end of May to submit a ballot. 
  2. At the end of May, if any member who awarded a proxy to the board or to a specific board member has not yet voted, proxies will be counted.  The Board of Directors took a roll call vote to establish how these proxies were to be awarded at that time.
  3. Every member of the Board voted the same for establishing how proxies would be awarded.  The following individuals were given the vote by the Directors:  Sue Ann Goldman, Betty Malowney, John Patterson, Tim Rizzo, Bill Steenis, Jennifer Stout, and Steve Yandl.
OPEN FORUM, QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS TO BOARD

  1. We had a discussion on enforcement of CC&Rs.  Among other things, there is frustration with the fact that there are half a dozen homes where landscape maintenance is clearly below neighborhood standards.  There is great variance between all the acceptable homes but most people expend appropriate efforts to maintain their yards.  While everyone at the meeting was probably in agreement as to which lots were not up to standards, the group recognized that there is no adequate definition of what those standards are.  Allen Kerr pointed out that if there is any ambiguity in the rules, the rules are effectively not enforceable.  Likewise, a chronic failure to enforce the rules will nullify them and the neighborhood will deteriorate as a result.  The reasonable option available to the association is for the board to amend the bylaws in a way that augments but does not contradict the CC&Rs.  The amended bylaws should contain very specific language that defines what the neighborhood standards are with regard to things like how turf grass and garden areas are to be maintained.
  2. Bob Goldman inquired about the land adjacent to the fire station (#77).  That parcel belongs to Gold Creek at Snohomish Cascade Association and they have no interest in maintaining it.  The road surface is the responsibility of county public works and they will maintain it but roadside is either going to be an eyesore or we take care of their property for them at our expense.
ADJOURN

  1. Tim Rizzo adjourned the meeting at 8:50 pm.
  2. Next meeting of the board of directors will be 7:00 pm., Wednesday, June 9 at Steve Yandl’s.