Ambassador II Condominiums

Meeting was called to order at 7:00pm on Wednesday, August 14, 2013.

Introduction and Sign­In:

● Counting the number of persons present and the number of proxies, a total 25 persons attended, such number constitutes a quorum.
● The proof of meeting notice was provided to all attendees.
● The IRS form 70­604 was read aloud by the Treasurer as per federal law.
● The 2012 annual meeting minutes were approved as written by the membership.

Financial Report:

● The Treasurer presented budget highlights from the previous fiscal year. He also presented the 2013­/2014 annual budget for approval by the membership. Dues were increased by 3.5% over the previous year due mainly to insurance and utility increases.
● The annual budget was approved by the membership as presented.
● Significant repairs and upgrades funded by our Reserves for the 2012­/2013 year included re­-shingling the east building’s peaked roof and a couple 5th floor deck repairs.

Old Business:

● The Board would like to remind all homeowners to replace all original water heaters, water supply valves and toilets. As a general rule if your water heater says Bradford­White on the side, it’s likely the original equipment. If the water valves and supply lines to your sinks, toilet(s), and dishwasher are gray plastic, they are most likely original too. We also urge everyone to check and change washing machine hoses every 5 years; braided hoses can last a decade. The Board strongly urges residents to pay close attention to toilets. Several instances of spontaneous tank cracks over the years have been reported. If your toilet says “CRANE”, it’s also likely original equipment. Aged equipment may fail without warning causing significant water damage to your unit as well as to the units around and below yours.
● A water damaged suspended ceiling tile was replaced in the exercise/bike storage room after repairs were completed to the x04 stack of units, however. A new leak appeared in this stack to where another ceiling tile needs to be replaced. The Board will work on replacing this tile as well.

New Business:

● Nomination and election of Board members. Three positions were open due to term expiration. The membership placed three (3) names for nomination and re­elected Shaun Ross and Karen Henley to the Board. Venus Chan was elected to her first term.
● Our annual Reserve Study is scheduled for completion around the end of August for the 2013­2014 fiscal year. We anticipate the study to increase our very good standing above 84% funding of our total reserve needs. This is well above the average for comparable associations.
● A member voiced his concern about the increase in HOA dues. The President and other members provided reasons for the increase and why we keep adding to our reserves.
● Homeowners and tenants need to pay better attention to what can be recycled. There are notices posted near the dumpsters for reference and on City of Seattle’s website. If we lose our recycling containers, our garbage bill will rise dramatically.

Meeting was adjourned at 8:05pm.

Monday, August 12, 2013
Dale Hitsman President
Brien Sherman – Vice President
Jay Heath – Treasurer
Shaun Ross – Secretary
Karen Henley – MemberAtLarge (absent)
Jack Taylor – Association Manager

Homeowners Forum
● Two homeowners were present at the meeting this month.

Meeting was called to order at 6:45pm. The July 2013 minutes were approved as written.

Treasurer’s Report
For period ending July 31, 2013. Bank, Savings and Investment Accounts
Checking: $60,546.32
Washington Federal Replacement/Special Assessment Reserve CD: $260,768.23
Sound Credit Union Savings: $211,101.20
Petty Cash: $100.00
Total Assets: $532,515.75

Committee Reports
● No committee reports.

Old Business
● Notice: Please complete and return (via mail or email) the emergency contact form included in the previous month’s minutes to Property Concepts. This form is necessary especially for the nonowner occupied units. Please respond even if there has been no change with your current information. Thank you.
● The annual Association meeting of homeowners was held this past Wednesday, August 14th.
● A CONTINUED REMINDER, please wait for the garage gate to close completely before proceeding to your parking space or away from the building. If you walk out the garage gate and not the pedestrian door, please wait for the garage gate to close completely before walking away from the building or proceeding to the elevator.
● The damage from the water leak in the east building common area has been repaired. Please, please double check all your faucets (dishwasher, clothes washer, sinks, and toilets) to see if they are metal. If they are not, please have them replaced as soon as possible. The gray plastic faucets are original and may fail when
you least expect.
● Our contractor is repairing one of the last 5th floor decks. It appears that this deck in particular was incorrectly built.
● We are still waiting to have our new fire alarm transmitter installed. There is no further update at this time.
● Recycling continues to be a problem, but residents are taking better care to recycle properly. Reminder: Very little packing that comes inside shipping boxes is recyclable. Styrofoam of any kind, packing peanuts of any kind, and air bags should be thrown in the trash. Paper and cardboard is recyclable. Cardboard boxes should be flattened before recycling.
● Thank you fellow residents for contacting the police regarding noise levels of the Redwood and for reporting loiterers on our property. The Board continues to search for alternatives to prevent unwanted persons from loitering on and around the property.

New Business
● Carpet cleaning has been scheduled for Thursday, August 22nd in the east building.
● There seems to be an uptick of drug trafficking and drug use on and around the buildings. Please contact 911 right away if you observe suspicious behavior. The main problem areas are the Howell Street steps, the City Light vent at the SE corner of the east building, and the area near the garbage room.
● No smoking signs have been installed in the garages in response to people smoking in both garages.
● The standpipe was installed late last month. This past week, we have received our standpipe certification.
● There have been a few dogs barking constantly in the building. Please control your barking dogs with, as their barking is disturbing to your neighbors. Residents have found that a Citronella collar has been an effective control measure.
● Washington Alarm has finally completed their connection to our building to supply alarm monitoring service that CenturyLink has suddenly discontinued.

Meeting adjourned: 7:20pm.
Next board meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 9, 2013 at 6:30pm in Unit E108
Ambassador II Condominium Homeowners Association: 506 E Howell St., Seattle, WA 98122
( https://ambassador2.com)
Property Concepts/Jack Taylor: 206-935-7951