Meeting minutes for June 2015 Board Meeting
Monday, June 8, 2015
President: Brien Sherman
Vice President: Venus Chan (absent)
Treasurer: Jay Heath
Secretary: Shaun Ross
Member At Large: Anand Singla (absent)
Association Manager: Jack Taylor
Homeowners Forum
● One homeowner was present at the meeting this month.
Meeting was called to order at 6:36pm. The May 2015 minutes were approved as written.
Treasurer’s Reports
For period ending May 31, 2015.
Bank, Savings and Investment Accounts
Checking: $41,451.07
Washington Federal Replacement / Special Assessment Reserve CD: $380,697.57
Sound Credit Union Savings: $211,286.07
Petty Cash: $100.00
Total Assets: $633,534.71
Committee Reports
● Security Committee: The Board continues to examine a variety of security proposals. The new budget has additional funds to begin upgrading security. The comment period has ended. Thanks to those who gave input.
● CONTINUED REMINDER: Although reported problems have diminished, packages may still be rifled through or stolen from the lobby and hallways. We advise that everyone pick up their packages as soon as they arrive or have them delivered to your workplace or other address.
● We still have unauthorized people gaining access onto the property, into the east building, and into both garages. Please do not allow anyone you don’t know gain entry as you enter or exit the property. If someone is squeezing in behind you, introduce yourself and see if they truly live in the building or in the Ambassador I building. Ask them to show you their key. This will help build community. It’s always good to know one’s neighbors. We are all in this together.
● When thieves gain access to the garages, they continue to target the storage lockers. No reports of locker breakins were submitted in May. As we’ve mentioned before, please don’t store any item in the lockers that you are unwilling to lose. SPD reports car prowls and property crimes are on the rise. Leaving valuables in sight in your vehicle is an invitation for someone to break in.
● CONTINUED REMINDER TO ALL RESIDENTS: Please wait for the garage gate to close completely before proceeding away from the building or to your parking space. It takes less than a minute for the gate to close. Homeowners with renters, please discuss this security issue with your tenants. It’s their security too.
● While in the common areas, dogs should be leashed at all times. Please also pickup after your dog and please consider using a Citronella collar to curb barking. Please keep dogs off of balconies and decks when you are not home. Also please control their behavior on the deck when you are. Your neighbors will be appreciative.
● A reminder that the City of Seattle requires we recycle our food and yard waste. The city has now given us 2 green compost bins, which are located between the Ambassador I & II buildings just inside the alley fence on the east building’s north stairwell landing. Food waste, pizza boxes, napkins, paper plates, shredded paper and plant material must be composted. NO PLASTIC OR GLASS IS ALLOWED IN THE FOOD WASTE COMPOST BIN. Pickup date has changed from Thursday to Sunday, so you may find the container(s) outside the garbage room on weekends.
Old Business.
● Please make sure Property Concepts has valid phone numbers and email addresses for you and/or your tenant. There are still several units in which Property Concepts does not have current emergency contact information.
● The Board continues to receive quotes and ideas from Pacific Lamp and Seattle City Light for options to replace the courtyard lamps and the garage light fixtures. Replacement of these fixtures probably won’t occur until autumn of this year. Details will be discussed at the annual meeting.
● The new alley garage door was installed last month.
New Business
● The annual HOA meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, August 12, 2015 at 7pm in the exercise/bike storage room. This is a BYOC (bring your own chair) event. We plan to discuss security options, new lighting, and the 2015/2016 budget.
● The Board has become aware of an attempt to fraudulently rent a vacant unit in our building. This has become common around the country. Scammers will look for units for rent or for sale and place their own ads. They collect first, last, and a deposit and disappear. Offsite owners with vacant units for rent or for sale are recommended to peruse Craigslist and similar sites looking for false listings for your units.
● Carpet cleaning of the east building’s hallways has been scheduled for 06/18/2015.
● Pressure washing of the courtyard and walkways was completed on 06/11/2015.
● The Board has contacted Davey Tree Service to ask them to come out and remove a dead alley tree, as well as trim a couple of the Howell Street trees.
Meeting adjourned: 7:18pm.
Next Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 13, 2015 at 6:30pm in Unit E108.
Ambassador II Condominium Homeowners Association:
506 E Howell St, Seattle, WA 98122