2014 Annual Homeowner Meeting Minutes
Meeting was called to order at 7:00pm on Wednesday, August 13, 2014.
Introduction and Sign in:
● Counting the number of persons present and the number of proxies, a total 23 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 2013 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 2014/2015 annual budget for approval by the membership. Dues were increased by 3% over the previous year due mainly to a 17% increase in property taxes. The 2014/2015 annual budget was approved by the membership as presented.
● There were no repairs or upgrades funded by Reserves in the past year. We performed a myriad of lesser repairs from our maintenance budget, including replacing door closers and lock sets, fire standpipe repairs, and routine roof maintenance.
Old Business
● Water heaters: The Board would like to remind all homeowners to please replace all original and older water heaters. As a general rule if your water heater says BradfordWhite on the side, it’s likely the original equipment. This equipment is at the end of its life and may fail without warning causing significant water damage to yours and surrounding units.
● Water Supply Valves & Hoses: If the water valves to your sinks, toilet(s), washing machine, and dishwasher are gray plastic, they are most original equipment. These plastic valves have been known to fail without notice. Please replace these valves as soon as possible. We also urge everyone to check and change washing machine hoses every 5 years; braided hoses can last a decade.
● Toilets: 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 is also less efficient. Please consider replacing your toilet(s) with newer more efficient models.
● Another water damaged suspended ceiling tile will be replaced in the exercise/bike storage room.
● 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.
NewBusiness
● Nomination and election of Board members. One position was open due to term expiration. The membership placed one (1) name for nomination and elected Anand Singla to the board.
● Our annual Reserve Study is scheduled for completion around the end of August for the 20142015 fiscal year. We anticipate the study to increase our very good standing above 85% funding of our total reserve needs. This is well above the average for comparable associations.
● A member voiced their 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.
● The Board is looking into security options for the building like rekeying the building every few years, installing cameras, replacing the common door locks with electronic versions, and creating a community watch program
● A member voiced their concerns over building maintenance by the cleaning crew. The cleaning crew appears to be missing areas of the building. The Board will review the service contract with Friday Maid and may make adjustments for better service.
● Please consider replacing smoke detectors, as these units are recommended to be replaced every 10years according to USFA/FEMA. If your unit has a smoke detector without a battery backup it is well past it’s expected service life. Also remember that carbon monoxide detectors are now required by State law. Rental units must be equipped immediately. Resident owners are required to install CO detectors as a condition of
● Another member brought up their frustration with fellow residents and the barking dogs. Please contact the owner of the barking dog to try and resolve the situation between unit owners or residents. If this doesn’t work, please contact the Board with a log of times and dates of the continued barking.
● Another member brought up a suggestion that we as an association consider installing a new internet connection service provider.
● A member inquired about how we might install our own water main to disconnect our connection with the Ambassador 1 Association. A Board member will look into how one may calculate an estimated water usage per unit in our building.
Meeting minutes for August 2014 Board Meeting
Monday, August 11, 2014
President: Brien Sherman
Vice President: Venus Chan
Treasurer: Jay Heath
Secretary: Shaun Ross
Member At Large: Anand Singla
Association Manager: Jack Taylor
Homeowners Forum
● Two homeowners were present at the meeting this month.
Meeting was called to order at 6:36pm. The July 2014 minutes were approved as written.
Treasurer’s Report
For period ending July 31, 2014.
Bank, Savings and Investment Accounts
Checking: $48,979.26
Washington Federal Replacement / Special Assessment Reserve CD: $325,700.91
Sound Credit Union Savings: $211,206.79
Petty Cash: $100.00
Total Assets: $585,986.96
Committee Reports
● No committee reports.
Security
● Reminder: Please consider having your packages delivered to your workplace or use the Amazon lockers at select locations like 7Eleven stores.
● Of the 3 bikes stolen in early July, one has been recovered.
● Storage lockers continue to be a favored target for thieves. Please don’t store any item in the lockers that you are unwilling to lose.
● CONTINUED REMINDER TO ALL RESIDENTS: Please wait for the garage door/gate to close completely before proceeding to your parking space or away from the building. It takes less than a minute for the door/gate to close. Homeowners with renters, please discuss this with your tenants. It’s their security too.
● Discussion of added security options occurred during the meeting.
● The antiloitering strips on the alley concrete walls have been successful at deterring seated loiterers. Standing loiterers continue to be an issue.
● On the property, dogs should be leashed at all times outside your unit. Please pickup after your dog and consider using Citronella collars to curb barking.
● Warm weather is still here. Remember that neighbors can hear noise coming from your unit. Please be aware of all audio levels and remember to shut off any wake up alarms. Your neighbors will appreciate your consideration.
● Homeowner / resident alert: Please remove stored items from your parking space. These items encourage people to rifle through them. If your vehicle protrudes as a result of these stored items, we may be forced to tow your vehicle if it blocks access to others.
● Please refer to the Cleanscapes or the City of Seattle website for what is recyclable: http://www.cleanscapes.com/seattle/recycling_guidelines/residential/. The Board has noticed a
considerable reduction of trash within the recyclables. Thank you! Remember that pizza boxes are not recyclable. Please throw them in the garbage.
Old Business
● Associated Roofing inspected and made minor repairs to the roof of each building in July
● The complaint between two unit owners regarding air quality in one of the east building’s hallways is resolved.
● Please consider replacing your toilets, as many are original. The original models are CRANE units, water wasters, and near the end of their working life. You may qualify for a free toilet or a rebate from Seattle Public Utilities (www.seattle.gov/util/freetoilets or www.savingwater.org/rebates).
● Carpet cleaning in the east building hallways and stairwells was completed on Thursday, August 17th.
New Business
● The courtyard area and the garage level walls on E Howell St and Summit Ave will be pressure washed August 28th & 29th (new dates).
● A soft spot in the decking of another 5th floor deck has been found. Preliminary inspection looks to be a simple repair, but we’ll have to wait and see once the floor is opened up. Work is scheduled for this fall.
● Our annual Homeowners Association meeting was last Wednesday, August 13th. Minutes will be sent to all homeowners.
● The batteries in all emergency lights have been replaced.
● Tree pruning of the alley trees is tentatively scheduled for August 26th. At this time, it looks like the tree farthest north may be the only one removed. Ivy will also be removed from the trees and the building. We will also cut down one diseased tree in the courtyard, and we will thin the others. The disease is a common fungus that is contagious among certain plants. We will likely lose other plantings to the disease and we may lose shade loving plants that are now exposed to the sun. It will be some time before anything can be planted permanently in the area around the diseased tree.
● Our annual Reserve Study update has been initiated. We should have the updated report in about 8 weeks.
Meeting adjourned: 7:40pm.
Next Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 8, 2014 at 6:30pm in Unit E108.
Ambassador II Condominium Homeowners Association:
506 E Howell St, Seattle, WA 98122