Ambassador II Condominiums

Monday, July 13, 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

H​omeowners Forum
● No ​homeowner was present at the meeting this month.
Meeting was called to order at 6:33pm. The June 2015 minutes were approved as written.

Treasurer’s Reports
For period ending June 30, 2015.

Bank, Savings and Investment Accounts
Checking: $55,525.65
Washington Federal Replacement / Special Assessment Reserve CD: $386,193.25
Sound Credit Union Savings: $211,286.07
Petty Cash: $100.00
Total Assets: $653,104.97

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. For additional information or a refresher as to what the Board is considering, please check­out the Ambassador II Security Proposal Outline on the association’s website. We’ll also discuss our options at the annual meeting next month.
● CONTINUED REMINDER TO ALL RESIDENTS: Please wait for the Summit Ave garage gate to close completely before proceeding to your parking space or away from the building. The gate closes in less than a minute. SPD reported this month that the car thefts and break­ins are rising in condo garages, and the most common method of entry is to walk through an open gate after or when a car passes through. This is also the easiest way for locker thieves to enter. Do not leave anything in your locker you do not wish to lose. Leaving valuables in plain sight is an invitation for thieves. For owners who rent their units, please discuss this security issue with your tenants, as it’s their security too.
● Although reported incidences 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.
● While in the common areas, dogs must be leashed at all times. Please also pick­up after your dog, consider using a Citronella collar to curb barking, keep dogs off of balconies and decks when you are not home, and please control their behavior on the deck when you are home. Your neighbors will be appreciative. Notices for barking dogs were sent to a couple owners. Fines will be imposed for continued violations.
● A reminder that no food of any kind is allowed in the recycling containers. Bottles, cans, and jars must be thoroughly rinsed. Boxes should be flat, as they take up much less space when flattened. In addition, flattening boxes ensures that all contents have been removed. Remember that styrofoam and bubble wrap is not accepted in any form. They are to be placed in the trash bin.
● Please contact Property Concepts to make sure they have your current phone number(s), mailing address, and email address for you and/or your tenant. There are several units in which Property Concepts does not have current emergency contact information.
● The Board has received quotes 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.
● Carpet cleaning of the east building’s hallways was completed on 06/18/2015.
● Pressure washing of the courtyard and walkways was completed on 06/11/2015.
● The dead Sumac tree in the alley was removed.
● The annual HOA meeting will be on Wednesday, August 12, 2015 at 7pm in the fitness center/bike storage room. This is a BYOC (bring your own chair) event. We plan to discuss security options, new lighting, and the 2015­2016 budget.
● The Board will be looking into transferring some of our reserve money into a couple new accounts so the money is safely under the $250K FDIC insured amount.

Meeting adjourned: 7:08pm.
Next Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 10, 2015 at 6:30pm in Unit E108.

Ambassador II Condominium Homeowners Association:
506 E Howell St, Seattle, WA 98122

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

H​omeowners 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

Monday, May 11, 2015
President: Brien Sherman
Vice President: Venus Chan (absent)
Treasurer: Jay Heath
Secretary: Shaun Ross
Member At Large: Anand Singla
Association Manager: Jack Taylor

Homeowners Forum
● One homeowner was present at the meeting this month.
Meeting was called to order at 6:31pm. The April 2015 minutes were approved as written.

Treasurer’s Reports
For period ending April 30, 2015.
Bank, Savings and Investment Accounts
Checking: $41,815.77
Washington Federal Replacement / Special Assessment Reserve CD: $375,204.03
Sound Credit Union Savings: $211,286.07
Petty Cash: $100.00
Total Assets: $628,405.87

Committee Reports
● Security Committee: The Board has examined a variety of security proposals including new keys, electronic access control, video surveillance and other enhancements to our building security. We will explore ways to implement upgrades over time so as to pay for any work with only modest long term dues increases. A broad outline of these proposals was included with the March minutes. The Board is still interested in any comments the membership may have. We continue to discuss this further. Please contact the Board through a temporary email address (ambassador2 at outlook dot com) with any comments.

Security
● 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. By the way, Amazon has lockers throughout the city for secure package delivery. One is at Pacific Place.
● We are seeing increased levels of unauthorized people attempting or succeeding in gaining access onto the property, into the east building, and in 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. This will build community. It’s always good to know one’s neighbors.
● Thieves continue to target the storage lockers when they gain access to the garage. No reports of actual locker breakins were reported in April. Please don’t store any item in the lockers that you are unwilling to lose. SPD reports car prowls are on the increase. Leaving valuables in sight is an invitation for vehicle breakins.
● 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. It has been reported that a few people have snuck into the garage. A couple residents have confronted the trespassers and asked them to leave.

Rules
● While in the common areas, dogs should be leashed at all times. Please also pickup after your dog and consider using a Citronella collar to curb barking.
● A reminder that the City of Seattle requires we recycle our food and yard waste. The green compost bins (there are now two) are located between Ambassador I & II inside the alley fence on the north stairwell landing of the east building. 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. Our pickup date has changed from Thursday to Sunday, so you may find the container(s) outside the garbage room on weekends. Ambassador I is attempting to get the date changed back to a weekday.

Old Business
● Please make sure Property Concepts has a valid phone number and email address for you and/or your tenant. This contact information is necessary for emergencies.
● The Board has received two quotes from Pacific Lamp with options to replace the courtyard lamps. The Board will review and discuss two of the three options. Option 1 below was not quoted. Here are the three options we’re considering: 1) use current poles with new downward directional lighting tops, 2) replace poles with contemporary versions, also with down lights, 3) replace poles with 2’ to 4’ bollards with down lighting. The goal is to eliminate as much light pollution as possible in the courtyard with the light aimed downward. Pacific Lamp has included a proposal to replace the 25 garage light fixtures.

New Business
● The new alley garage door has been installed and is working wonderfully.
● The Board approved our 2015-2016 Operating Budget. The final vote to implement this new budget will be at the Association’s annual meeting of homeowners in August. A 2.5% increase over last year covers increased utilities, maintenance costs and an increase in security funds to help pay for upgrades.
● Pressure washing of the courtyard and walkways is scheduled for Thursday, June 11th.
● Dave Tree Service will be coming out in the coming weeks to inspect and possibly remove an alley tree as well as trim some of the Howell St trees.

Meeting adjourned: 6:52pm.
Next Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 8, 2015 at 6:30pm in Unit E108.
Ambassador II Condominium Homeowners Association:
506 E Howell St, Seattle, WA 98122

Monday, April 13, 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

H​omeowners Forum
● No ​homeowners were present at the meeting this month.

Meeting was called to order at 6:38pm. The March 2015 minutes were approved as written.

Treasurer’s Report
For period ending March 31, 2015
Bank, Savings and Investment Accounts
Checking: $51,169.05
Washington Federal Replacement / Special Assessment Reserve CD: $369,709.87
Sound Credit Union Savings: $211,260.03
Petty Cash: $100.00
Total Assets: $632,238.95

Committee Reports
● Security Committee: The Board has examined a variety of security proposals including new keys, electronic access control, video surveillance and other enhancements to our building security. We will explore ways to implement upgrades over time so as to pay for any work with only modest long term dues increases. A broad outline of these proposals was included with last months minutes. The Board is still interested in any comments the membership may have. We will certainly discuss this further. Please contact the Board through a temporary email address (ambassador2 at outlook dot com).

Security
● Our security company found a prowler in the Summit garage and ejected him. Also, a resident called SPD when they observed someone prowling the lockers in the Summit garage. He was arrested for criminal trespass. There were two other instances of trespassing in both garages as well as an unauthorized vehicle in the Summit garage that left before it could be towed.
● CONTINUED REMINDER: 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. By the way, Amazon has lockers throughout the city for secure package delivery. One is at Pacific Place.
● Unauthorized people continue to gain access onto the property, into the east building, and in both garages. Please do not allow anyone you don’t know gain entry as you enter onto the property. If someone is squeezing in behind you, introduce yourself and see if they truly live in the building. This will build community within the association. It’s always good to know one’s neighbors.
● The storage lockers continue to be a favored target for thieves. No reports of actual locker break­ins in March, but as noted above one person was arrested for trying. 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 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. This is the most logical way that transients gain access to the property.

Rules
● While in the common areas, dogs should be leashed at all times. Please also pick­up after your dog and consider using a Citronella collar to curb barking.
● A reminder that the City of Seattle now requires food and yard waste recycling, which includes houseplant trimmings. The green compost bin in located inside the alley fence at the north stairwell landing of the east building. 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. We are happy to see significantly increased use of the compost container. Shredded paper should now be dumped, loose, in the food and yard waste container rather than in recycling.

Old Business
● Please make sure Property Concepts has a valid phone number and email address for you and/or your tenant. This contact information is necessary for emergencies.
● A minor leak from a water heater happened in March that caused damage to the unit below. All water damage of this type is the responsibility of the unit with leaking/damaged water heater and/or plastic valve failure. Equipment past the warranty expiration is strongly suggested to be replaced. It’s less expensive to replace old equipment preemptively than pay damage reparations. Most water heaters have 6 year warranties.
● A second noise complaint was sent to one unit for excessive exercise type activity. Please take your gymnastics or aerobics outside or to the exercise room. These kinds of activities transfer noises to surrounding units. Please be a considerate neighbor. We’re all living here together in close proximity of one another.
● Update:​The new alley garage gate will be installed in late April or early May. Notices will be posted when we have a firm date.
● Spring window and dryer vent cleaning was completed on April 2nd & 3rd.

New Business
● The Board and our painting contractor are considering repainting the hallways of the east building with a lighter, but similar color. Some of the floors are looking increasingly mottled despite frequent touch ups.
● The Board is researching options to replace the courtyard lamps. A member met onsite with a representative from Pacific Lamp. An estimate will be sent to the Board for review with three options: 1) use current poles with new downward lighting tops, 2) replace poles with contemporary versions with down lights, 3) replace poles with 2’ to 4’ bollards with down lighting. The goal is to eliminate as much light pollution as possible in the courtyard and put the light at ground level where it is needed.
● We’re experimenting with an LED bulb replacement for the garage light fixtures. We’re disappointed with the light output with the one bulb we’re testing. Pacific Lamp is also providing options for garage fixture replacements and is looking into grants from the city to help with paying for replacements. We may be able to combine the garage light fixture replacement with the courtyard upgrades to save the association money. These upgrades would be covered by current Replacement Reserve funds.
● Pressure washing of the courtyard and walkways has been scheduled for June 11th.

Meeting adjourned: 7:14pm.

Next Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 11, 2015 at 6:30pm in Unit E108.
Ambassador II Condominium Homeowners Association:
506 E Howell St, Seattle, WA 98122

As a followup to the annual meeting of owners (August 2014), the Board has engaged a local security/access control company to advise us on various ways to improve our building safety infrastructure. The original discussions at the annual meeting surrounded a rash of thefts in our building, primarily in the garage, lobbymailbox area and exercise room. Subsequent to our annual meeting there have been additional (reported) incidences as detailed below:

● Continued infiltration of nonresidents onto the property.
● Disappearance of many packages from the lobby and hallways.
● A number of bicycles being stolen off the bike racks this past summer.
● Continued storage locker breakins in garages as well as vehicle breakins.
● Transients found multiple times throughout the building, especially at top of the east building’s N and S stairwells and sleeping in garages.

Below is a budgetary estimate, by distinct project, for installation services (prices do not include sales tax or incidental costs). The vendor is one that we have previously used and has demonstrated to the Board and building management a clear expertise to secure the property.

A. BUILDING VIDEO RECORDING
This includes installation of up to 16 vandal resistant dome color day & night cameras with digital video recording, UPS battery backup, monitor, locking security enclosure, and Wifi router for wireless connection. Estimated capital improvement cost is $15,000. Camera surveillance primarily in lobby, courtyard, garages, and possible partial exterior coverage. Garage cameras would be partially paid for by Ambassador I as these are shared areas.

B. BUILDING ACCESS CONTROL
Installation of card readers on building entry doors including power supplies with battery backup, door locking hardware with electronic proximity card or fob readers. Ability to delete lost security cards. Auditing access to compare to video monitoring. Estimated capital cost is $36,000. Card or key fob access devices range from $5ea to $35ea ($1500$ 10,500 for 300. Ambassador I would pay for their share). The most expensive device would operate remote garage gates as well as person doors. Note that this proposal does not include the east building hallway stairwell doors, only the doors accessible from the outside or from the garage. Unit doors are not included and will always remain under the control of unit owners. GARAGE GATE OPENERS: Network type receivers including door controllers, integration with card access system. Estimated cost is $5,000 for both garage gates/doors. Access control would be partially paid for by Ambassador I for shared access doors and gates. In line with current key policy, each unit would be assigned two access devices and unit owners could purchase additional devices as needed.

C. VISITOR/DELIVERY ENTRY GATE ACCESS CONTROL:
New visitor access panel (call box) integrated with card readers and capable of auditing all access. Estimated cost is $4,400.

D. IMPROVED PHYSICAL LOCKING HARDWARE:
Medeco Generation 3 high security key cylinders, includes installation, and Medeco Generation 3 keys. Estimated cost is $7,300. This would rekey all existing common area doors. Ambassador I would pay their share of common door costs.

E. EXTERIOR TRASH GATE:
Installation includes an electronic gate lock, power supply, and heavy duty keypad. Estimated cost is $2,200. Currently this gate is opened all day twice weekly for garbage bin emptying and is occasionally accessed by outsiders. This is a safety issue for residents.

F. DENTIST OFFICE PATIENT ACCESS SYSTEM (Summit garage):
Integrates with proposed new access control proposals. Includes door intercom stations, auto dialer, relay activation units. Estimated cost is $2,500.

The Board is providing this information to all owners for comment and suggestions. It is very important for you to provide your feedback as the Board needs to have a strong understanding of what security capital improvements are preferred by the general ownership. We hope to have all comments back to us by mid April 2015. Once we have received the general ownership response, the Board will prepare a formal recommendation and funding plan. There are various ways that these capital improvements could be funded and the ongoing upkeep expense be addressed, but it is important that we first establish a final budget so we can make sure the expenditure meets the HOA ByLaws and state guidelines. We hope that you will review this information carefully as the Board considers this a very important capital project, not only from a community safety point of view, but also from an insurance premium and property resale perspective. Please send all responses to “AMBASSADOR2 AT OUTLOOK DOT COM”

We look forward to your feed back!

Monday, March 9, 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 January 2015 minutes were approved as written.

Treasurer’s Reports
For period ending February 28, 2015.
Bank, Savings and Investment Accounts
Checking: $38,391.60
Washington Federal Replacement / Special Assessment Reserve CD: $364,220.69
Sound Credit Union Savings: $211,260.03
Petty Cash: $100.00
Total Assets: $614,512.32

Committee Reports
● Security Committee: Following up on member discussions at the last Annual Homeowner Meeting, the Board has examined a variety of security proposals including new keys, electronic access control, video surveillance and other enhancements to our building security. We will explore ways to implement upgrades over time so as to pay for any work with only modest long term dues increases. Immediately implementing certain proposals would require special assessments, which would be subject to approval by the membership. Some proposals for increasing shared area security will also require approval by Ambassador I membership. A broad outline of these proposals is included with these minutes. Note that this is a wish list proposal. We may implement none, some, or all of these proposals over time. The Board is interested in any comments the membership may have and we will certainly discuss this further. Please contact us through a temporary email address (ambassador2 at outlook dot com).

Security
● CONTINUED REMINDER: Packages have continued to 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.
● Unauthorized people continue to gain access onto the property and into the east building. In the past month, we’ve had people camped out at the top of the east building’s north stairs. In addition, our security service removed a transient from the lower garage level. Please do not allow anyone you don’t know gain entry as you enter onto the property.
● The storage lockers continue to be a favored target for thieves. We haven’t received any reports of breakins in February. 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 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. This is the most logical way that transients gain access to the property.

Rules
● While in the common areas, dogs should be leashed at all times. Please also pickup after your dog and
consider using a Citronella collar to curb barking.
● A reminder that the City of Seattle now requires food and yard waste recycling, which includes houseplant trimmings. The green compost bin in located inside the alley fence at the north stairwell landing of the east building. 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. If you are composting a pizza box, for example, please remove the plastic packets of cheese and peppers, as well as forks, aluminum foil, etc. Please toss these items into the garbage containers.

Old Business
● Please make sure Property Concepts has a valid phone number and email address for you and/or your tenant. This contact information is necessary for emergencies. Once again, this month the Association Manager had to struggle to contact unit owners for a water emergency.
● The new alley garage gate will be installed in early April. We will post notices when we have a firm date.

New Business
● Spring window and dryer vent cleaning has been scheduled for Thursday and Friday, April 2ND & 3RD. Please mark your calendars to remove your screens prior to the cleaning dates.
● Another original equipment Bradford & White water heater failed in February. Extensive and expensive water damage occurred in a lower unit, as well as within the unit the water heater failed. All water damage of this type is the responsibility of the unit with leaking/damaged water heater and/or plastic valve failure. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MUST BE REPLACED. It is much cheaper to replace old equipment preemptively than pay damage reparations.
● A noise complaint was sent to one unit for excessive exercise type activity in the unit, which has caused a light fixture to dislodge from lower units ceiling. Please take your gymnastics or aerobics outside or to the exercise room. These kinds of activities transfer noises to surrounding units. Please be a considerate neighbor.

Meeting adjourned: 7:18pm.
Next Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 13, 2015 at 6:30pm in Unit E108.
Ambassador II Condominium Homeowners Association:
506 E Howell St, Seattle, WA 98122

Monday, February 9, 2015
President: Brien Sherman
Vice President: Venus Chan (absent)
Treasurer: Jay Heath
Secretary: Shaun Ross
Member At Large: Anand Singla
Association Manager: Jack Taylor

Homeowners Forum
● One homeowner was present at the meeting this month.
Meeting was called to order at 6:35pm. The December 2014 minutes were approved as written.

Treasurer’s Reports
For period ending December 31, 2014.
Bank, Savings and Investment Accounts
Checking: $49,880.60
Washington Federal Replacement / Special Assessment Reserve CD: $353,217.91
Sound Credit Union Savings: $211,233.41
Petty Cash: $100.00
Total Assets: $614,431.92

For period ending January 31, 2015.
Bank, Savings and Investment Accounts
Checking: $36,641.37
Washington Federal Replacement / Special Assessment Reserve CD: $358,725.96
Sound Credit Union Savings: $211,260.03
Petty Cash: $100.00
Total Assets: $604,726.36

Committee Reports
● Security Committee: The Board is studying proposals for new locks, video surveillance and other enhancements to our building security. We will explore ways to implement several upgrades over time so as to pay for any work with only modest long term dues increases. Immediately implementing these proposals would require a special assessment, which would be subject to approval by the membership. Some proposals for increasing garage security will also require approval by Ambassador I homeowners. The Board plans to include an outline of these proposals soon.

Security
● CONTINUED REMINDER: More packages have been rifled through or stolen from the lobby and hallways in the past few months. We advise that everyone pick up their packages as soon as they arrive.
● Unauthorized people continue to gain access onto the property and into the east building. Please do not allow anyone you don’t know gain entry onto the property. In January, there were people trespassing at the top of the east building south stairwell. The police were called, but arrived after the trespassers left.
● The 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 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.

Rules
● While in the common areas, all dogs should be leashed at all times. Please also pickup after your dog and consider using a Citronella collar to curb barking.
● Please continue to refer to Recology Cleanscapes and/or the City of Seattle notices for what is recyclable. Cardboard boxes must be emptied and flattened before throwing into the recycling dumpsters. Styrofoam, packing peanuts, random pieces of plastic, and metal are NOT recyclable. These items must go in the trash bins.
● As of 01/01/2015, the City of Seattle requires everyone to recycle their food and yard waste, which includes houseplant trimmings. The green compost bin in located on the landing east of the east building’s north stairwell. The bin is by the fence on the north side of the east building. All food waste, pizza boxes, napkins,
paper plates, shredded paper and plant material can be composted. NO PLASTIC OR GLASS IS ALLOWED IN THE FOOD WASTE CONTAINER. If you are throwing in a pizza box, for example, remove the plastic packets of cheese and pepper, forks and the like and toss them in the garbage first.

Old Business .
● We’re contacting our elevator service provider to inquiry when the obstruction sensor will be replaced. After a few inquiries, there has been no followup
from the company. The elevator continues to operate normally.
● The Howell St gate and fence will be repainted this summer.

New Business
● Please make sure Property Concepts has a valid phone number and/or email address for you and/or your tenant. This contact information is necessary for emergencies.
● Our janitorial service for both buildings has greatly improved with all contracted tasks being performed.
● The Board approved and paid our insurance premium for our earthquake and general building policy.
● On Tuesday January 27th at approximately 1:20am, the fire alarm activated. SFD traced the issue to the dry sprinkler system that protects the garage. Since the garages are shared, the alarm also activated in Ambassador I. The (5 month old) compressor pump that is in the sprinkler room failed and the system activated when the pressure dropped too low. The compressor has been replaced under warranty. The system has been purged and recharged.
● The Board has approved a bid to replace the alley garage door. We’re looking to have the door replaced in late March 2015. The alley garage will not be accessible through the vehicular door for about a half day. We will post info on site when we have a firm install date.

Meeting adjourned: 7:03pm.
Next Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 9, 2015 at 6:30pm in Unit E108.
Ambassador II Condominium Homeowners Association:
506 E Howell St, Seattle, WA 98122

Monday, December 8, 2014
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 6:33pm. The October 2014 minutes were approved as written. The November 2014 unofficial minutes were also approved as written.

Treasurer’s Report
For period ending November 30, 2014.
Bank, Savings and Investment Accounts
Checking: $45,514.78
Washington Federal Replacement / Special Assessment Reserve CD: $347,656.61
Sound Credit Union Savings: $211,233.41
Petty Cash: $100.00
Total Assets: $604,504.80

Committee Reports
● The security committee is still waiting on a quote for the items discussed with Mike Bulger a few months back. We should have an update at the next meeting of the Board in February 2015.

Security
● Continued reminder: Please consider having your packages delivered to your workplace. We continue to have packages stolen from the lobby and hallways; no reports of stolen packages were sent to the Board in November. The holidays are here and the thieves are following the delivery vehicles.
● Unauthorized people have gained entry onto the property and into the east building. Please do not allow anyone you don’t know gain entry onto the property.
● Please don’t store any item in the lockers that you are unwilling to lose, as the storage lockers continue to be a favored target for thieves.
● 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.

Rules
● While in the common areas, all dogs should be leashed at all times. Please also pickup after your dog and consider using Citronella collars to curb barking.
● Please continue to refer to Cleanscapes or the City of Seattle website for what is recyclable: http://www.cleanscapes.com/seattle/recycling_guidelines/residential/. Thank you! It’s that holiday presents time of year again. Boxes must be emptied and flattened before throwing into the recycling dumpsters. Flat boxes take up a fraction of the space and leave more room for your neighbor’s recycling. Styrofoam, packing peanuts and random pieces of plastic and metal are NOT recyclable. These must go in the trash bins. Wrapping paper: Here’s the easy way to decide where it goes — If you can tear paper or ribbon with your fingers—recycle. If you can’t, then it goes in the garbage. NO TREES!

Old Business.
● The lawsuit regarding “parking space #2” and the storage lockers in the alley garage has been voluntarily dismissed by the plaintiff.
● We’re contacting our elevator service provider to inquiry when the obstruction sensor will be replaced. After a few inquiries, there has been no followup from the company. The elevator continues to operate normally.

New Business
● A leak from a first floor unit was detected in the hallway. The water leak was caused by a faulty toilet and gray plastic valves. The water leak was contained to the unit and the hallway. No other units were affected. Since contact information for the unit was obsolete the Association had to have a locksmith force entry. Please make sure Property Concepts has a valid phone and/or email address for you or your tenant. Please be sure to replace your toilets if they have the CRANE makers mark. All gray plastic valves should be replaced as well. These valves can fail without warning and flood neighboring and lower units.
● We’re in the process of working to improve our janitorial service.
● NWK9detectives has performed three rounds of bedbug inspections as of 12/05/2014. One unit was positive for bed bugs while the dog showed interest of bed bugs in six other units with no physical evidence of presence. All owners who participated in the inspection have been informed of the results of their individual inspection. The infected units have also been notified. These units will need to coordinate treatments with their surrounding units.
● A section of an east building 2nd floor hallway has been repaired where the plywood had come free from the joists.
● CondoInternet and CenturyLink have both declined service to our building. At this time, we’ll put this subject on hold until other options become available in the future if at all.
● We continue to look into having the alley garage door replaced. The door is becoming a drag on our maintenance budget. We are in the works of getting quotes and hope to replace the door in the early spring of 2015.
● The front gate on Howell Street gets painted each year, but the rust continues to come through the primer and final coats each year.
● The city has fixed our Howell St and Summit Ave sidewalks by adding asphalt to even out the concrete.
● The lock on the south lobby glass door failed on December 6th and repaired on the 9th.

Meeting adjourned: 7:35pm.
Next Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 9, 2015 at 6:30pm in Unit E108. There will be no January 2015 meeting.
Ambassador II Condominium Homeowners Association:
506 E Howell St, Seattle, WA 98122

Monday, November 10, 2014
President: Brien Sherman (absent)
Vice President: Venus Chan (absent)
Treasurer: Jay Heath
Secretary: Shaun Ross
Member At Large: Anand Singla (absent)
Association Manager: Jack Taylor

NO QUORUM MET FOR AN OFFICIAL MEETING TO COMMENCE

HomeownersForum
● One homeowner was present at the meeting this month.

There was not a quorum this month. Meeting was unofficially called to order at 6:35pm. The October 2014 minutes were not approved.

Treasurer’s Report
For period ending October 31, 2014.
Bank, Savings and Investment Accounts
Checking: $50,934.25
Washington Federal Replacement / Special Assessment Reserve CD: $342,208.61
Sound Credit Union Savings: $211,233.41
Petty Cash: $100.00
Total Assets: $604,476.27

Committee Reports
● The security committee met with Bulger Lock to show them the property. They’ll work up a quote and send to the Board for review. We’re looking into rekeying, cameras, and other electronic security. We are still awaiting proposals.

Security
● Reminder: Please consider having your packages delivered to your workplace. We continue to have packages stolen from the lobby and hallways — at least two in the past month.The holidays are coming up and the thieves know this.
● Please don’t store any item in the lockers that you are unwilling to lose, as the storage lockers continue to be a favored target for thieves.
● 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.

Rules
● Please be aware of your television and audio equipment volume to keep the sounds to a minimum. Please be considerate of your neighbors, as the walls, floors, and ceilings are thin. We live in a dense community.
● While on the property, dogs should be leashed at all times outside your unit. Please also pickup after your dog and consider using Citronella collars to curb barking.
● Please avoid playing video games that require jumping around, as the pounding on the floor resonates down to the ceiling of all surrounding units. Please also avoid doing calisthenics or other jumping exercises in your unit. Your neighbors below will be greatly appreciative.
● Please continue to refer to Cleanscapes or the City of Seattle website for what is recyclable: http://www.cleanscapes.com/seattle/recycling_guidelines/residential/. Thank you! It’s time for that regular reminder that food does not go in the recycling, it goes in the trash. This includes pizza boxes, they are almost always contaminated.

Old Business.
● Work on a 5th floor deck is nearly complete
● The dispute regarding ownership of “parking space #2” in the alley garage remains unresolved. Owners who own storage lockers numbered 46 through 65 are the only affected units. The Board has presented documentation favorable to the homeowners to the attorney for Cosmos, the developer of the building. It is our understanding that the developer and their subsidiaries are still sorting out their paperwork issues.

New Business
● The Board is working with onsite residents to coordinate bed bug inspections. The first date has been filled and two more inspection dates will be scheduled soon. Please refer to the previous mailer for contact information.
● We are working with Ambassador I to explore options for sources for gigabit cable access in our buildings. CondoInternet has not responded after their site visit. CenturyLink has said that they are not interested in upgrading existing residential buildings at this time. Comcast is planning a significant speed boost to roll out sometime in 2015.
● We’re looking into having the alley garage door replaced. The door is becoming a drag on our maintenance budget. We will get quotes soon and hope to replace the door in the early spring of 2015.

Meeting unofficially adjourned: 6:55pm.
Next Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 8, 2014 at 6:30pm in Unit E108. There will be no January 2015 meeting. First Board meeting in 2015 will be Monday, February 9, 2015.

Ambassador II Condominium Homeowners Association
506 E Howell St, Seattle, WA 98122

Monday, October 13, 2014
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
● Two homeowners were present at the meeting this month.

Meeting was called to order at 7:10pm. The September 2014 minutes were approved as written.

Treasurer’s Report
For period ending September 30, 2014.
Bank, Savings and Investment Accounts
Checking: $47,455.48
Washington Federal Replacement / Special Assessment Reserve CD: $336,706.28
Sound Credit Union Savings: $211,206.79
Petty Cash: $100.00
Total Assets: $595,468.55

Committee Reports
● The security committee met with Bulger Lock to show them the property. They’ll work up a quote and send to the Board for review. We’re looking into rekeying, cameras, and other electronic security.

Security
● Reminder: Please consider having your packages delivered to your workplace or in the case of Amazon consider utilizing their lockers at select 7Eleven stores.
● Northwest Security Services submitted an incident report regarding a transient at the entry gate and asked him to move along. In addition, the security service caught a couple suspects in the garage breaking into vehicles.
● Please don’t store any item in the lockers that you are unwilling to lose, as the storage lockers continue to be a favored target for thieves.
● 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.

Rules
● Please be aware of your television and audio equipment volume and keep the sounds to a minimum. Please be considerate of your neighbors, as the walls, floors, and ceilings are thin.
● While on the property, dogs should be leashed at all times outside your unit. Please also pickup after your
dog and consider using Citronella collars to curb barking.
● Please avoid playing video games that require jumping around, as the pounding on the floor resonates down to the ceiling of all surrounding units. Please also avoid doing calisthenics or other jumping exercises in your unit. Your neighbors below will be greatly appreciative.
● Please continue to refer to Cleanscapes or the City of Seattle website for what is recyclable: http://www.cleanscapes.com/seattle/recycling_guidelines/residential/. Thank you! The Recycling companies prefers that recycling be placed loose in the dumpsters. Please consider emptying recycling bags directly into the dumpsters. Exceptions include shredded paper and bundles of plastic bags. Loose recycling also compacts tighter.

Old Business
● Our autumn window and vent cleaning is complete.
● The 20142015 Reserve Study is available on the website. We remain in a very good financial position.
● Work on a 5th floor deck will take place later this month, weather permitting.
● The Board is still looking at replacing the fixtures at the top of each courtyard light poles. We’d like to eliminate the light pollution that the current fixtures project and direct the light down towards the pavement. Three bulbs are out and are not likely to be replaced, as they add too much illumination to the courtyard.
● Davey Tree Experts has completed removing a tree stem that was compromising the alley fence. The fence has been stabilized.
● The dispute regarding ownership of “parking space #2” in the alley garage remains unresolved. Owners who own storage lockers numbered 46 through 65 are the only affected units. The Board has presented documentation favorable to the homeowners to the attorney for Cosmos, the developer of the building. The attorney has not responded yet.

New Business
● The Board continues to investigate the presence of bedbugs in the east building. A letter to all homeowners and residents describing next steps will be sent in a separate mailing.
● We are working with Ambassador I to explore options for additional sources for gigabit cable access in our buildings. CondoInternet and CenturyLink have examined our infrastructure for feasibility and will provide the Board with results in the next few weeks. It is possible that our existing wiring may not be capable of faster speeds.
Meeting adjourned: 7:37pm.

Next Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 10, 2014 at 6:30pm in Unit E108.
Ambassador II Condominium Homeowners Association:
506 E Howell St, Seattle, WA 98122