​MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ MEETING
SECTOR 2A AT SNOHOMISH CASCADE ASSOCIATION
7 P.M.   TUESDAY              APRIL 6, 2021
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, meeting conducted using Zoom
 
CALL TO ORDER / PRESENTATION OF MINUTES
  1. Matt Hale called the meeting to order a 7:05pm.  Present on Zoom conference were Matt Hale, Steve Yandl, John Alleman, Tanya Edwards Bill Steenis, and David Divoky.  All present there was a quorum.  Also present was HOA member, Greg McLaughlin.
  2. Minutes of the March 2021 meeting were reviewed and approved.
TREASURER’S REPORT
  1. Steve Yandl reported on current financial status. 
    1. Currently $139,406 in the checking account (operational funds).
    2. There is $16,932 in the long-term reserve.
    3. We have $5,710 in operational reserve.
    4. In accordance with our long-term fund analysis, we should be transferring $40k from checking to the long-term reserve as soon as practical.  Since the expense to acquire new play equipment for the boat park and have it professionally installed, we will simply pay those invoices from checking and consider the improvement paid for out of long-term funds as we had planned.
  2. We have 8 members still owing 2021 assessments and 3 that paid a month late but failed to include the $9 interest charge.  All are receiving new invoices.  It is anticipated that 7 of 8 of these members will pay in the current year.
MAINTENANCE COMMITTEE REPORT
  1. David Divoky plans to get in touch with Brian Skinner to locate the water outlet needed for his pressure washer.  David is confident he will be able to remove the graffiti from the climbing rocks at boat park.
  2. Tanya Edwards had received a revised quote from our preferred toy equipment installer and the equipment manufacturer.  The quote and additional information was shared with the board.
    1. Including tax, the equipment delivered to the site will cost $33,452 and installation by professionals (not a community build as we had been attempting) would be $11,482. With COVID restrictions, this revised plan will still allow us to have new equipment by late spring or early summer within the budget we had agreed on.
    2. Pictures of the equipment and CAD drawing of final layout were shared.
    3. After review of the manufacturer’s reputation and time in business, the board voted unanimously to pay the entire $33,452.44 to the equipment manufacturer in advance so we could avoid any credit arrangements.  The minimum up front payment would have been 50%.  The equipment installer will invoice their portion when installation is satisfactorily completed.
  3. Discussion of policy when trees or portions of trees fall from greenbelts onto member yards, in some instances damaging fences or other property.
    1. While the HOA is sympathetic to the plight of those surprised by tree debris, the law is clear that unless there is negligence on the part of the tree owner (in this case the HOA), cleanup responsibility rests with the party owning the property where the tree or branch landed.
    2. When such damage happens, homeowners should contact their insurance agent or simply do repairs and cleanup on their own.  Makin exceptions to this policy when there are only a few impacted owners could create the appearance of a precedent where we could potentially be asked to spend huge amounts in the future if future storms damage multiple healthy trees.
    3. This does not change the fact that the HOA will take care of trees if and when a homeowner has a certified arborist evaluate the tree and the arborist identifies the tree as being hazardous and provides the HOA with a written report.
  4. Steve Yandl reported that Brian Skinner had concerns that TruGreen was not covering all areas agreed upon in our contract.  We’ve asked for a new quote and will stick with them as long as price increase is reasonable and that they perform what they actually quoted.
ARCHITECTURAL CONTROL COMMITTEE REPORT
  1. Discussion with Greg McLaughlin concerning needed new language for the time limit set for our home business variance that allows customer meal pickup at the house.  Since Phase 4 used in our original variance has no specific meaning at this point, it was agreed that cutoff should no more than 6 months after restrictions on gatherings essentially allow normal events without specific COVID related limits.  John Alleman will revise our approval document to reflect this change.  Greg McLaughlin was comfortable with the change and indicated he was hopeful that they might stop the takeout business earlier than the limit based on anticipated interest in events.
  2. Greg inquired about any complaints received.  We discussed complaints from Gold Creek One residents, a complaint made to the county zoning people and inquiries from concerned real estate agents.
  3. Greg indicated that in the future they planned to purchase a trailer that would be used as they worked events.  It would not be stored long term in the neighborhood but would need to be present for loading and unloading.  Greg assured us it would only be in the driveway and might end up parked in the driveway overnight but not longer.  The board asked for text or email notification when overnight parking might happen and insisted that they did not block lines of sight in a way that would create traffic hazards.
  4. Homeowner request for projects.  For more detail, see Smartsheet.
    1. Hayes – Fence, Tree removal, Hedge removal – approved.
    2. Austin – Fence repair, parking exception – approved.
    3. Waldal – Roof replacement approved.
    4. Irion – Garage door replacement – approved.
    5. Martinez – Driveway expansion approved.
    6. Hruska – Fence approved.
    7. Abukhder – Shed approved.
    8. Hebert – Shed approved.
    9. Evans – Approval not properly requested but materials used acceptable.
  5. Complaints and Violations.
    1. Makary – Christmas lights still up.
    2. Brown – Utility trailer in driveway.
    3. Lowell – Bamboo plantings in yard extending into common area.  Roger Lowell has taken care of the immediate problem.
    4. Holtgeerts – Shed previously warned about remains unchanged.  Notice of $25 per day fine sent with additional time for corrective action.
    5. Discussion about trailer belonging to Derek Vandersanden.  We will attempt to have a discussion with Derek and make sure he understands the limits on parking.
GENERAL BUSINESS
OLD BUSINESS
  1. Annual Meeting.
    1. Steve Yandl had distributed prototype ballot with invitation to the annual meeting in May.  No objections to the ballot as presented.
    2. Current board members did not object to having their names remain on the outgoing ballots for new board of directors.  The write-in option will be available for other candidates.
  2. Reminder that research into options of using a property manager was agreed up last month.  Work still needs to be done on this.
    1. This led to a discussion of a recent letter distributed by the Gold Creek 1 property manager.  Most on the board agreed we should remain complaint driven on CC&R enforcement except in obvious severe or chronic violations observed by the board.
  3. Steve Yandl indicated we are getting inquiries about reserving boat park by small groups.  New concern is how to secure bollards during the time while they are removed.
NEW BUSINESS
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:18PM.
 
                                                                        __________________________
                                                                        Steve Yandl, Secretary