Ambassador II Condominiums


Meeting minutes for April 2011 Board Meeting

Posted in General information by Posting Admin on the April 18th, 2011

Ambassador II Condominium Board Minutes

Monday, April 11, 2011
Jack Taylor – Association Manager
Dale Hitsman – President
Brien Sherman – Vice President
Shaun Ross – Secretary
Jay Heath – Treasurer
Karen Henley – Member-At-Large

Homeowners Forum
No homeowners were present at this month’s meeting.

Meeting was called to order at 6:34pm. March 2011 minutes were approved as written.

Treasurer’s Report
For period ending March 31, 2011
Bank, Savings and Investment Accounts
Checking: 41,598.55
Insurance Reserve: $4,769.08
Security Deposits: $972.63
Replacement/Special Assessment CD: $229,524.76
Watermark CU Savings: $126.48
Other Replacement Reserve CD: $153,209.06
Petty Cash: $100.00
Total Assets: $ 430,300.56

Committee Reports

No committee reports submitted.

Old Business

We received a response from ThyssenKrupp to our letter sent to them at the end of March. We’ll send a follow-up response to their letter asking for a replacement technician. Once their contract is up, we’ll be looking to replace ThyssenKrupp with a different elevator repair/maintenance company.

Window and dryer vent cleaning will happen this month on April 21 and 22. As a reminder, please remove all of your screens and lock your windows so the window washer can clean your windows. We will post reminders.

The unit that was in foreclosure has paid all of the past HOA dues.

Ambassador I has begun, once again, construction work on their leaking planter bed. At this time, we have not received an estimated timeline as to when construction will end. We will be removing the mat at the base of the stairs leading up to the north stairwell entrance so that it doesn’t get damaged or destroyed.

New Business

The courtyard floor, surrounding walls, and lamp posts will be cleaned this month too. The cleaning is scheduled for April 19 and 20. This pressure-washing will include the exterior walls surrounding both buildings.

We are looking into the City of Seattle’s mandate to impose food scrap recycling. At this time, we are not sure how to comply.

This summer we will be repairing and resurfacing decks for the x02 and x04 stacks. We will also have the patio decks resurfaced on the east buildings 5TH floor. Affected homeowners will receive more information when we have a better idea of the start date.

A homeowner discovered a trespasser within the building and called 911. The trespasser would not leave after repeated requests from police officers. Eventually, the person was arrested and taken away. If you see someone in the building who doesn’t look like they belong here, please contact the police.

If you are looking to get rid of your television, please don’t abandon your sets in the garbage room or in the alley. In most cases, you can recycle them for free. Goods for the Planet is one place that takes most TV’s for free (www.goodfortheplanet.com).

The City of Seattle is looking to hear from the residents regarding public safety. If you would like to participate, please go to their website to complete the survey. The address is http://seattle.gov/publicsafetysurvey.

Meeting adjourned: 7:21pm. Next meeting will be on May 9, 2011 at 6:30pm in Unit E108.

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

Meeting minutes for March 2011 Board Meeting

Posted in General information by Posting Admin on the March 21st, 2011

Ambassador II Condominium Board Minutes

Monday, March 14, 2011
Jack Taylor – Association Manager
Dale Hitsman – President
Brien Sherman – Vice President
Shaun Ross – Secretary
Jay Heath – Treasurer
Karen Henley – Member-At-Large

Homeowners Forum
No homeowners were present at this month’s meeting.

Meeting was called to order at 6:35pm. February’s minutes were approved as written.

Treasurer’s Report
For period ending February 28, 2011
Bank, Savings and Investment Accounts
Checking: 35,793.22
Insurance Reserve: $4,768.78
Security Deposits: $972.57
Replacement/Special Assessment CD: $224,537.96
Watermark CU Savings: $126.48
Other Replacement Reserve CD: $153,209.06
Petty Cash: $100.00
Total Assets: $ 419,508.07

Committee Reports

No committee reports submitted.

Old Business

ThyssenKrupp is still working on getting the elevator repaired and working properly to stop the loud noises. Most of the noises occur when the wooden structure expands and contracts with the cooler temperatures and wetter weather. For the most part, the noises should be less when we have warmer and drier weather. We are looking to permanently repair the elevator and elevator shaft. In addition, a leveling switch needed replacement and was repaired.

A homeowner from Ambassador I has finally paid their overdue shared expenses fees in full. The unpaid assessments were several years overdue.

A unit that is in foreclosure has a potential buyer. If the purchase goes through, the back HOA dues should be paid once the unit closes.

No word on the progress of Ambassador I’s leaking planter bed repair.

New Business

Window and dryer vent cleaning is set for April 21 and 22. We will post reminders closer to the dates.. We’ll also obtain an estimate to clean the lamp post light globes in the courtyard.

The Ambassador 1 Board has forwarded a letter from the City stating that our garbage and recycling rates will be going up because our bins are located within the building. These fees will begin on May 1, 2011. So far this year, we are under budget in the utilities department and can absorb the fee hike.

We had a query from a homeowner regarding the glass recycling bins. Although glass can now be mixed in with the rest of the recycling we have elected to keep them because we regularly overfill the large containers every week. We need the extra room because of the wonderful participation of both associations in the recycling program.

Homeowner Alert:
The Board would like to remind all homeowners to replace all original water heaters and water supply lines in their units. As a general rule if your water heater says Bradford-White, it’s likely original equipment. If the supply lines to your sinks, toilet(s), dishwasher, and clothes washer are gray plastic, they are probably original too. The Board strongly urges all residents to pay close attention to their toilet(s). Many of these are at the end of their useful life. If you experience an issue where your toilet is clogging excessively, it’s likely your toilet needs to be replaced. We have also experienced several instances of spontaneous tank cracks over the years. Original equipment toilets are “Crane” brand. Aged equipment may fail without warning causing significant water damage to your unit and those around and below your unit. The Board also recommends replacing your plastic dryer vent hoses with newer non-plastic dryer vent hoses, which provide better flow and reduce the chance of trapping lint. Replacing these items is at the homeowners expense, but is a lot less expensive than the water cleanup expense for you and your neighbors.

Meeting adjourned: 7:22pm. Next meeting will be on April 11, 2011 at 6:30pm in Unit E108.

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

Meeting minutes for February 2011 Board meeting

Posted in General information by Posting Admin on the February 22nd, 2011

Ambassador II Condominium Board Minutes

Monday, February 14, 2011
Jack Taylor – Association Manager
Dale Hitsman – President
Brien Sherman– Vice President
Shaun Ross – Secretary
Jay Heath – Treasurer
Karen Henley– Member-At-Large

Homeowners Forum
No homeowners were present at this month’s meeting.

Meeting was called to order at 6:37pm. January’s minutes were approved as written.

Treasurer’s Report
For period ending January 31, 2011
Bank, Savings and Investment Accounts
Checking 29,690.31
Insurance Reserve $4,768.38
Replacement/Special Assessment CD $220,698.44
Watermark CU Savings $126.48
Other Replacement Reserve CD $ 153,209.06
Petty Cash $100.00
Total Assets $ 408,592.67

Committee Reports

No committee reports submitted.

Old Business

All old business has been completed.

New Business

The elevator was making loud noises again. We contacted ThyssenKrupp to investigate. They lubricated some bearings and the noises seem to have disappeared. We’ll keep an ear out and hope they don’t return.

The Ambassador 1 has begun their repair of the leaking planter bed on the north side of our building. They’ve moved the fence out to enclose the small planter bed on the alley side. This should eliminate all the transients from parking in that area. Ambassador 1 has asked us if we would like some of the plants in this bed, and we’ve taken them up on the offer. A few of the azaleas are now calling our planter beds home. We will paint the new section of fence as our share of the cost. This will be done as weather permits.

Our building insurance policy has been renewed. More and more mortgage companies are requiring HOA’s to increase their Employee Dishonesty Insurance (EDI). Our EDI has increased to $450K with an annual premium of $122/year. This covers our cash accounts against most forms of loss. We also increased our Sewer & Drain Overflow Insurance to $300K with an annual premium of $175/year.

As you know, the intercom at the gate on Howell Street has been replaced. If you would like to have your local number programed in to buzz your guests in, please contact Jack Taylor with your name, unit number and phone number or your unit number, residents name and phone number. Please see below for his contact information.

It has been brought to our attention that a limited number of residents have experienced problems with the Summit Ave gate not responding to their remotes. There was a problem affecting everyone on February 4th that was immediately repaired. At this time, the unresponsiveness is sporadic, and we believe it is limited. We’ll keep an eye on this and see if it continues to happen more often. We suspect interference from an outside source, as this has happened in the past. Also, be sure to check the battery on your remote. If you are experiencing issues where the garage gate will not open, even directly in front of the gate, please contact Jack Taylor. As always, we rely on the residents to notify us of issues. It won’t be fixed if we do not know it’s broken!

In the coming weeks, we’ll be obtaining estimates for pressure washing the courtyard this spring.

Meeting adjourned: 7:25pm. Next meeting will be on March 14, 2011 at 6:30pm in Unit E108.

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

Board Contact Information: https://ambassador2.com.

Meeting minutes for January 2011 Board Meeting

Posted in General information by Posting Admin on the January 18th, 2011

Ambassador II Condominium Board Minutes

Monday, January 10, 2011
Jack Taylor – Association Manager
Dale Hitsman – President
Brien Sherman– Vice President
Shaun Ross – Secretary
Jay Heath – Treasurer
Karen Henley– Member-At-Large (absent)

Homeowners Forum
No homeowners were present at this month’s meeting.

Meeting was called to order at 6:36pm. November’s minutes were approved as written. The Board did not meet in December.

Treasurer’s Report
For period ending December 31st, 2010
Bank, Savings and Investment Accounts
Checking $39,086.26
Insurance Reserve $4,767.97
Replacement/Special Assessment CD $214,825.93
Watermark CU Savings $126.38
Other Replacement Reserve CD $ 152,481.81
Petty Cash $100.00
Total Assets $ 412,360.75

Committee Reports
Security: No violations reported
Rules: No violations reported

Old Business

The autumn window and vent cleaning was completed in early December.

New Business

The Board discussed having the carpet cleaned twice a year. Only one carpet cleaning is in this year’s budget. We’ll look into added a second carpet cleaning in next year’s budget, which will begin later this summer. In the meantime, we’ll ask our building maintenance guy to spot clean the elevator lobbies and the entry carpets at each end of the east building stair wells.

The intercom at the main gate was destroyed when someone deliberately pulled loose the cable to the gate latch release, shorting the intercom beyond repair. If you haven’t already, please fill out the form in the lobby if you wish to be listed at the gate to buzz your guests into the building. The new intercom will accept local phone numbers only.

The Summit Avenue pedestrian gate closer mechanism had come loose from the frame. It has now been repaired.

Meeting adjourned: 7:12pm. Next meeting will be on Monday, February 14th, 2011 at 6:30pm in Unit E108.

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

Meeting minutes for November 2010 Board Meeting

Posted in General information by Posting Admin on the November 15th, 2010

Ambassador II Condominium Board Minutes

Monday, November 8, 2010
Jack Taylor – Association Manager
Dale Hitsman – President (absent)
Brien Shermen– Vice President
Shaun Ross – Secretary
Jay Heath – Treasurer
Karen Henley– Member-At-Large

Homeowners Forum
No homeowners were present at this months meeting.

Meeting was called to order at 6:34pm. October’s minutes were approved as written.

Treasurer’s Report
For period ending October 31st, 2010
Bank, Savings and Investment Accounts
Checking 41,665.29
Insurance Reserve $4,767.18
Replacement/Special Assessment CD $204,967.38
Watermark CU Savings $126.36
Other Replacement Reserve CD $ 152,481.81
Petty Cash $100.00
Total Assets $ 405,080.28

Committee Reports
Security: No violations reported
Rules: No violations reported

Old Business
● Still no word from Seattle City Light on whether the Association has to pay for the thermostat replacement in the concrete vault on the southeast corner of the building or if it’s City Light’s purchase.
● We’ll be scheduling the autumn window and vent cleaning sometime later this month. Please keep an eye out for a mailing and lobby postings for the dates and times.

New Business
● A homeowner has complained about slippery areas on the north landing at the bottom of the north exterior stairs as one exists from the east building. They also complained about the drain being clogged in addition to the drain on the lower level of this same exterior staircase. As you know, autumn is here and leaves are falling. Unfortunately, these leaves tend to cover these drains from time to time. If you see one of the drains covered, please use your foot or hand to remove the debris from the grill over the drain. This should clear up the standing water. As for the slippery areas, leaves also may be the culprit for the slipperiness. We have ordered a mat for this area to help eliminate the possibility of slipping.
● The Ambassador 1 & 2 boards met late last week to discuss a few things.
○ Item 1: AMB1 will be looking into installing another light fixture in the alley garage. AMB2 board has authorized this as long as AMB1 pays for the fixture and the installation.
○ Item 2: AMB1 has informed us that they will be doing work in the planter along the south side of their building to fix a water seepage problem. They’ll be removing all the plant material and soil in this planter shortly. We have authorized AMB1 to heal plants that they will be keeping into our large planter north of the west building. With this in mind, there may be some disruption on the north landing outside of the east building.
○ Item 3: An AMB1 owner has questioned the size of their parking space and believes that we restriped the location of the line incorrectly a few years ago. We’ll be measuring the space to make sure the line was drawing correctly and get back to them. All parking spaces have specified square-footage listed in the declaration.

Meeting adjourned: 7:05pm. Next meeting will be on January 10th, 2011 at 6:30pm in Unit E108. There will be no Board meeting in December.

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

Meeting minutes for October 2010 Board Meeting

Posted in General information by Posting Admin on the October 21st, 2010

Ambassador II Condominium Board Minutes

Monday, October 11, 2010
Jack Taylor – Association Manager
Dale Hitsman – President
Brien Shermen– Vice President (absent)
Shaun Ross – Secretary
Jay Heath – Treasurer
Karen Henley– Member-At-Large

Homeowners Forum
No homeowners were present at this months meeting.

Meeting was called to order at 6:35pm. September’s minutes were approved as written.

Treasurer’s Report

For period ending September 30th, 2010
Bank, Savings and Investment Accounts
Checking 36,171.72
Insurance Reserve $4,766.79
Replacement/Special Assessment CD $200,035.92
Watermark CU Savings $126.36
Other Replacement Reserve CD $ 152,333.57
Petty Cash $100.00
Total Assets $ 394,506.52

Committee Reports
Security: No violations reported
Rules: No violations reported

Old Business
● The cradle for the handset at the main gate was finally replaced. We found a different company to service the intercom. The repairman also replaced the handset and other miscellaneous parts.
● Door knobs to all elevator lobby doors from the bridge walkway have been replaced.
● The fire extinguisher along with the glass panel outside one of the garage elevator lobby doors will be replaced soon.

New Business
● We’ll be scheduling our autumn window and vent cleaning for early November.
● The Board revised the verbiage to ‘Change of Occupancy’ section of the Rules to reflect that no move-in/move-out fees will be charged for moves between units. Please see the changes below.
● The independent auditor’s report was approved by the Board.
● A noise complaint from one homeowner to another was discussed. The parties will discuss how to resolve the issue.
● In regards to posting bills, please use the bulletin board for posts. Please refrain from taping messages to the walls.

Meeting adjourned: 7:19pm. Next meeting is November 9th, 2010 at 6:30pm in Unit E108.

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

Rules and Regulations Section 11. CHANGE OF OCCUPANCY (Section 11.5 added. The complete Rules and Regulations document is available on our website.)
11.1 Owners must provide the name and contact information for all residents using the form provided by The Property Manager for this purpose. A resident is any person who stays in/occupies a unit for a period of more than 30 days in any calendar year. The owner must provide the Rules and Regulations document to all tenants. The most current Rules and Regulations document is available on our website.
11.2 A non-refundable $250.00 move-in/move-out-fee will be charged to a unit whenever there is a change in occupancy. This fee is required for any change in residents regardless of whether or not the unit is owner occupied. This fee will be deposited into the general operating budget and used to cover maintenance costs to common areas subject to extra use during the moving process.
11.3 Only one move-in/move-out-fee will be charged regardless of the number of people moving into a unit at any one given time.
11.4 This fee can be waived upon application to the Board if the Board determines that the fee will cause an undue hardship to the owner of the unit or the change of residents will not cause any additional wear and tear to the condominium or expense to the Association.
11.5 The Association will not charge move-in/move-out fees for any moves between units in the building or buildings. This rule does not exempt the owner from any other fees that are charged by The Property Manager or other entities if the owner sells one unit to purchase another in the same building or buildings.
11.6 All owners who choose to rent their units (to persons other than a related party) are strongly encouraged to screen potential tenants through a professional tenant screening service. The Property Manager can recommend a professional screening service to any homeowner who requests it. Screening potential tenants through such a service provides owners with information regarding an applicant’s credit history, rental history, employment history, and relevant court records. This information helps the owner make a more informed decision regarding tenants. The selection of a suitable and appropriate tenant shall be the sole responsibility of the owner.

Meeting minutes for September 2010 Board Meeting

Posted in General information by Posting Admin on the September 18th, 2010

Ambassador II Condominium Board Minutes

Monday, September 13. 2010
Jack Taylor – Association Manager
Dale Hitsman – President
Brien Shermen– Vice President
Shaun Ross – Secretary
Jay Heath – Treasurer
Karen Henley– Member-At-Large

Homeowners Forum
A homeowner mentioned that the incidents of food littering around the property has gotten worse. Please be kind to your neighbors and take your trash to the trash! Or if you see any, please take it to the trash.

Meeting was called to order at 6:40 pm. August’s minutes were approved as written.

Treasurer’s Report
For period ending August 31st, 2010
Bank, Savings and Investment Accounts
Checking 33,583.42
Insurance Reserve $4,766.38
Replacement/Special Assessment CD $195,104.57
Watermark CU Savings $126.36
Other Replacement Reserve CD $ 152,333.57
Petty Cash $100.00
Total Assets $ 386,986.38

Committee Reports
Security: No violations reported
Rules: No violations reported

Old Business

Noise from the Redwood bar continued to be an ongoing issue. A Board member is contacting residents on the east side of the East Building to provide them more information on how to file a noise complaint. We will also post information in the lobby.

New Business

Karen Henley takes her seat as our newest Board member in the position of member-at-large. Shaun Ross becomes Secretary and Brien Shermen becomes Vice President.

The Board discussed a new garage door remote opener system for the alley garage. The alley garage is used only be Ambassador I vehicles. We will present our proposal to the AMB1 Board for consideration.

At the annual meeting a homeowner discussed having someone to call in the middle of the night for an emergency. Property Concepts answers their phone 24 hours per day for property emergencies. Their number is 206-935-7951.

The thermostat that controls the fans in the City Light electrical vault is malfunctioning–it will not shut the fan off automatically. City Light says it is our responsibility for repairs. The Board has asked for documentation that outlines responsibility before paying City Light to repair their equipment.

At the Annual meeting a homeowner asked if the entire building could be declared non-smoking. Our attorney advises us that we can declare as we wish but such a regulation is not enforceable beyond current statutes. Smoking in a common area is illegal and punishable by fine. Smoking in units or limited common areas (decks and private patios) is legal and permitted.

Parts are on order to replace the cradle for the handset at the main gate. This is taking longer than we would like, but it will be repaired as soon as parts are received.

At the Annual Meeting the subject of cleaning the carpets more often was discussed. The cost of cleaning all the floors is about $1,000 per visit. The Board will examine the carpets in late winter and, if the budget permits, will consider a second cleaning.

Meeting adjourned: 7:50PM. Next meeting is October 11th, 2010 at 6:30pm in Unit E108.

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

2010 Annual Homeowners Meeting minutes

Posted in General information by Posting Admin on the August 15th, 2010

2010 Annual Homeowners Meeting Minutes

Meeting called to order at 7:08 pm

Introduction and sign-in
Total attendance was 23 persons present or by proxy, such number constituting a quorum. Proof of notice of meeting was provided and IRS form 70-604 was read aloud as per federal law.
The previous years meeting minutes were approved as written.

Financial reports
● The Treasurer presented the budget highlights for the previous year and presented the 2010-2011 annual budget for approval by the membership. Our operating budget is 4.25% higher than last year, mostly due to increases in utility rates and voter-approved tax increases. The operating budget offers no new services. We expect a minimum 2% increase in dues next July for already announced utility rate increases.
● The most recent Reserve Study, completed in July 2010, shows that we are in a very good position with 94.5% funding of our total reserve needs. This is well above average for comparable associations. We expect this number to drop slightly next year, as we anticipate spending all of our 2010-2011 reserve replacement intake on expenses.
● Significant repairs and upgrades funded by Reserves for the previous year were the West Building walkway resurfacing, -03 deck stack repairs, elevator rail repairs, and replacing the north roof on the East Building.

The annual budget was approved by the membership as presented by the Treasurer.

Old business from previous meeting
● None

New business
● Nomination and election of Board members — We had two positions open due to term expiration and one partial term open because a member sold and moved. The membership placed three (3) names in nomination and elected Karen Hensley to the Board. Current Board members Shaun Ross and Dale Hitsman were re-elected.
● There was a discussion of the work to be done in the current fiscal year. We anticipate resurfacing the roof decks of the 2-story units on top of the East Building as well as rebuilding the -02 and -04 deck stacks.
● The Board will replace a water damaged suspended ceiling tile in the exercise / bike storage room.
● We brought up and discussed our ongoing concerns with the noise levels at the Redwood Bar. The late night activity and noise levels are an ongoing concern to several property owners on Howell Street. Affected residents are urges to call 911 if you have issues with the noise or other activities, especially in the alley. You may also call the non-emergency number at 206.625.5011 and follow the prompts. Also, you can contact the Redwood Bar at 206.329.1952 directly and talk with one of the owners (Lisa) to discuss your unhappiness or solutions to the problems.
● The membership discussed increasing carpet cleaning from annually to semi-annually.
● The membership discussed replacing the door knobs on the doors connecting the walkways between the west and east buildings to the elevator lobbies. The Board needs to investigate a possible legal issue before replacing the knobs.
● There was discussion of removing the resident directory from the main entrance or replacing the directory with something more elegant. The Board will investigate options.
● The Board will investigate ways to better protect the call box at the main gate with a unit that is less susceptible to vandalism.
● There was discussion of more vigorously enforcing conduct of building residents and their guests, especially those who are non-owners. The Board will send a letter to homeowners, who rent their units, reminding them to provide the Rules and Regulations document to their tenants. Current rules are available on the Association’s website (www.ambassador2.com).
● The membership discussed the possibility of making the building smoke free. We will ask our attorney for the current laws, ordinances and regulations that apply to condominiums.

The Board would like to remind all homeowners to replace all original water heaters and water supply lines in their units. As a general rule if your water heater says Bradford-White, it’s likely the original equipment. If the supply lines to your sinks, toilet(s), dishwasher, and clothes washer are gray plastic, they are probably original too. The Board strongly urges all residents to pay close attention to their toilet(s). Many of these are at the end of their useful life. If you experience an issue where your toilet is clogging excessively, it’s likely your toilet needs to be replaced. We have also experienced several instances of spontaneous tank cracks over the years. Original equipment toilets are “Crane” brand. Aged equipment may fail without warning causing significant water damage to your unit and those around and below your unit. The Board also recommends replacing your plastic dryer vent hoses with newer non-plastic dryer vent hoses, which provide better flow and reduce the chance of trapping lint.

Meeting was adjourned at 8:35 pm.

Meeting minutes for August 2010 Board Meeting

Posted in General information by Posting Admin on the August 15th, 2010

Ambassador II Condominium Board Minutes

Monday, August 9. 2010
Jack Taylor – Association Manager
Dale Hitsman – President
Shaun Ross – Vice President
Jay Heath – Treasurer
Greg Mitchell – Member-At-Large
Brien Shermen– Secretary

Homeowners Forum
No homeowners were present at the August meeting.

Meeting was called to order at 6:32 pm. July’s minutes were approved as written.

Treasurer’s Report
For period ending July 31st, 2010
Bank, Savings and Investment Accounts
Checking 36,706.15
Insurance Reserve $4,765.98
Replacement/Special Assessment CD $190,160.62
Watermark CU Savings $126.36
Other Replacement Reserve CD $ 152,333.57
Petty Cash $100.00
Total Assets $ 385,164.67

Committee Reports

Security: No violations reported
Rules: A homeowner was fined $100 for misuse of the recycling bins. A dishwasher in the recycling bin violates Seattle recycling rules. It also violates the Association rules pertaining to disposal of appliances and other material too large for our dumpsters. Please dispose of your old appliances through the Seattle Transfer stations (Wallingford and South Park).

Old Business
● We have completed the West Building walkway resurfacing. Thank you to all the residents who endured through one of our most inconvenient projects in years.
● East Building carpets were cleaned.
● The noise issues at the Redwood bar continue. Please call 911 if you have issues with the noise or other activities, especially in the alley. You may also call the non-emergency number at 206.625.5011 and follow the prompts. Also, you can contact the Redwood (206.329.1952) directly and talk with one of the owners (Lisa) to discuss your unhappiness or solutions to the problems.

New Business
● We experienced two dryer vent issues in July. One unit experienced a clogged vent, which was then cleared. The other was more serious. A fan in the dryer stopped working, which did not push the moisture out the vent properly. Over time condensation collected in the vent pipe and eventually leaked into the wall causing damage to the insulation and drywall. If you experience drying times that are growing longer, it may be time to inspect your dryer.
● The Board has discussed next summer’s capital improvement projects. We have tentatively decided that our next projects will be repair/repainting of the -02 and -04 deck stacks as well as resurfacing the decks of the 2 story units in the East Building. We will contact affected homeowners in the second quarter of 2011.
● The Board has written off a balance owed by a previous Ambassador II owner whose unit was foreclosed. In addition, we have written off a balance from a former Ambassador I owner who did not pay their annual dues for shared area maintenance. That unit was also foreclosed.

Meeting adjourned: 7:20PM. Next meeting is September 13th, 2010 at 6:30pm in Unit E108.

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

Meeting minutes for July 2010 Board Meeting

Posted in General information by Posting Admin on the July 15th, 2010

Ambassador II Condominium Board Minutes

Monday, July 12. 2010
Jack Taylor – Association Manager
Dale Hitsman – President
Shaun Ross – Vice President
Jay Heath – Treasurer
Greg Mitchell – Member-At-Large
Brien Shermen– Secretary

Homeowners Forum
No homeowners were present at the July meeting.

Meeting was called to order at 6:35 pm. June’s minutes were approved as written.

Treasurer’s Report
For period ending June 30th, 2010
Bank, Savings and Investment Accounts
Checking 36,232.35
Insurance Reserve $4,765.58
Replacement/Special Assessment CD $185,191.07
Watermark CU Savings $126.32
Other Replacement Reserve CD $ 152,000.00
Petty Cash $100.00
Total Assets $ 379,387.23

Our fiscal year ended June 30th. We are in a sound financial position. Our actual budget differed from our estimated budget by $312 over. Our total expenditures were $279,117, which included Reserve expenditures for repairs of the -03 stack, North roof on east building, and the currently in progress West Building walkway re-surfacing.

Committee Reports

Security:

* A vehicle in the Alley garage appears to have a malfunctioning garage remote control. From time to time the gate continuously cycles. The Alley garage is used by Ambassador I residents.

* On July 10th at about 4:00 AM two fires were deliberately set on the Howell Street exterior of our East Building. One of the fires was in the City Light vault access shaft on the southeast corner of the building. The other was on the railing of the ramp on the East Building. Seattle Fire Department responded and quickly doused the fires. Damage was limited to scorched paint on the railing. We made our own repairs. SPD detained a suspect. A witness apparently saw someone set the fire.

Rules:No violations reported

Old Business

* The North flat roof of the East Building is now replaced.
* The noise issues at the Redwood bar continue. Please call 911 if you have issues with the noise or other activities, especially in the alley.
* The annual homeowners meeting is August 11th at 7:00 PM in the bike/exercise room. We are actively seeking new Board members. Please plan to attend the meeting. Don’t forget to bring a chair.
* As a reminder, please replace the water valves in your unit, as the gray plastic valves behind your toilet, under the sinks and behind the washer are original to the building and were the culprits of some of the flooding we had a couple of years back.

New Business

* West Building walkways are being resurfaced. Please be extremely careful and watch for updates that are posted in the lobby and throughout the common areas.
* The number of people leaving shoes and other items outside their unit doors has gotten out of hand. Condominium Rule 8.3 states “Per city fire code, no items of any kind are to be left or stored on steps, outside of doors or on walkways.” Walk-off mats, or “Welcome” mats may be placed outside the doors of the West Building only. Mats will be well maintained and must not constitute a hazard to others. No Mats in the East Building, please. They damage the rug.” Per the fire code, we are not only able to remove items, we are obligated to do so as a safety measure.” Please leave ALL personal items inside your units.
* Remember that it is summer and people have their windows open. Tobacco and other odors can drift into other units. Barking dogs disturb even more people in the summer.

Meeting adjourned: 7:30PM. Next meeting is August 9th, 2010 at 6:30pm in Unit E108.

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

« Previous PageNext Page »