Ambassador II Condominiums

Ambassador II Condominium Board Minutes

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

Ambassador II Condominium Board Minutes

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

Ambassador II Condominium Board Minutes

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

Ambassador II Condominium Board Minutes

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

Ambassador II Condominium Board Minutes

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

Ambassador II Condominium Board Minutes

Monday, September 8, 2014
President: Brien Sherman
Vice President: Venus Chan
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 6:30pm. The August 2014 minutes were approved as written.

Treasurer’s Report
For period ending August 31, 2014.
Bank, Savings and Investment Accounts
Checking: $53,858.91
Washington Federal Replacement / Special Assessment Reserve CD: $331,203.28
Sound Credit Union Savings: $211,206.79
Petty Cash: $100.00
Total Assets: $596,368.98

Committee Reports
● The security committee is looking into options to add more security to the property. There are three distinct projects (garage doors/gates, pedestrian entry doors, & video surveillance) that’ll need to work together. The committee will look into getting bids.

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.
● 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.
● A few of the antiloitering strips were damaged outside the garbage room. They have since been repaired.

Rules
● While 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 continues into autumn. Remember that neighbors can still hear noises coming from surrounding units. Please be aware of all audio levels and remember to shut off any wake up alarms. Your neighbors will appreciate your consideration.
● 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! Almost none of the packing inside shipping boxes is permitted in recycling bins. Styrofoam, peanuts, and air bags go in the garbage.

Old Business
● The courtyard area and garage exterior concrete walls on E Howell St and Summit Ave were pressure washed on August 28th & 29th. In addition, the garbage room and lower levels of both east building stairwells were pressure washed.
● A soft spot on another 5th floor deck was found. Preliminary inspection looks to be a simple repair, however. We’ll have to wait and see once the floor is opened up. Work is scheduled for later this fall.
● The annual HOA meeting was Wednesday, August 13th. Minutes were sent to all homeowners.
● Pruning of the alley trees was performed on August 26th. Davey Tree Experts were able to save the northernmost tree. Ivy was also removed. One diseased vine maple tree was removed from the courtyard planter as scheduled. We’re in the process of removing the stump. The disease is a common fungus that is contagious among certain plants. Unfortunately, we will likely lose other plantings to this disease and may lose some shade loving plants now that they have more sun exposure. It will be some time before anything
can be planted permanently in the area around the removed tree.

New Business
● We’ve asked Davey Tree Experts to return to the property. We have discovered that an additional alley tree stem will need to be removed, as it’s still damaging the fence.
● No new Board members were elected at the Annual Meeting. The positions of the Board members will remain the same, please see above.
● Our autumn window and vent cleaning has been scheduled for Thursday and Friday, October 2nd and 3rd. Please remove your screens in advance so that the windows may be cleaned.
● ATTENTION ALL HOMEOWNERS: Everyone may be contacted by an attorney regarding storage lockers. There is a dispute regarding ownership of “parking space #2” in the alley garage. Owners who own storage lockers numbered 46 through 65 are the only affected units. The Board has discovered documentation favorable to the homeowners. At this writing the Board does not know if the dispute over the former parking space is resolved.
● The Board is looking into replacing the fixtures at the top of each courtyard pole light. We’d like to eliminate the light pollution 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 no illumination to the courtyard.
● Our annual Reserve Study, 201415 version, is available on the website. We remain in a very good financial position.

Meeting adjourned: 7:25pm.
Next Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 13, 2014 at 6:30pm in Unit E108.
Ambassador II Condominium Homeowners Association:
506 E Howell St, Seattle, WA 98122
( https://ambassador2.com)

Ambassador II Condominium Association 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 adjourned at 8:20pm.

Ambassador II Condominium Board Minutes

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

Ambassador II Condominium Board Minutes
Monday, July 14, 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 6:39pm. The June 2014 minutes were approved as written.

Treasurer’s Report
For period ending June 30, 2014.
Bank, Savings and Investment Accounts
Checking: $41,481.81
Washington Federal Replacement / Special Assessment Reserve CD: $320,201.42
Sound Credit Union Savings: $211,180.46
Petty Cash: $100.00
Total Assets: $572,963.69

Committee Reports
● No committee reports.

Security
● There have been reports of packages being stolen from the lobby and/or unit doors. Please be aware of when your packages arrive and pick them up as soon as possible. We suggest having them sent to your workplace instead.
● In addition, at least 3 bikes have been stolen from the bike storage / exercise room. There was no sign of breakin, so it appears these incidents are an inside job or a key has been stolen.
● Some storage lockers have been rifled through as well with items turning up missing. Please don’t store any item in the lockers that you are unwilling to lose.
● Please wait for the garage door to close completely before proceeding to your parking space or away from the building. Homeowners with tenants, please discuss this with you tenants. It’s their security too.

Rules
● The bike storage agreement form has been revised and will be posted on the website soon.
● Dogs should be leashed at all times on the property outside your unit. Please pickup after your dog.
● Warm weather is upon us. Remember that neighbors can hear noise coming from your unit. Please be aware of all audio levels, remember to shut off any wake up alarms, and please try a citronella collar on your dog(s) as a barking deterrent. Your neighbors will appreciate your consideration.
● Homeowner 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 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, but we ask all residents to flatten boxes and place them in the recycling bins. Please place styrofoam, random bits of plastic, packing peanuts, etc in the trash bins.

Old Business
● Associated Roofing has conducted an inspection of the roofs (both buildings) for damage and wear. Minor repairs will be made before the heavy rains begin again.
● The >|< (close doors) button in the elevator still has not been repaired. We have contacted the elevator company to determine the issue. We normally have these small items taken care of during monthly inspections. ● Remember that the 3% dues increase took effect with your July 2014 payment. Owners should have received a new coupon book, new fee list, and a copy of the budget. ● The complaint between two unit owners regarding air quality in one of the east building’s hallways is on going. ● We are still waiting for an arborist to look at the alley trees to see if they need to be removed. We’ll also ask what would be good replacements if the current trees do indeed need to be removed. New Business
● The courtyard area and the garage level walls on E Howell St and Summit Ave will be pressure washed August 19th & 20th.
● Carpet cleaning was scheduled on Thursday August 17th.
● Our Annual Meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, August 13th. Please mark your calendars to attend the meeting for Association updates and information. By the way, please bring a chair.
● 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).

Meeting adjourned: 7:27pm.
Next Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 11, 2014 at 6:30pm in Unit E108.
**Annual Association meeting is scheduled for 7pm on Wednesday, August 13, 2014 in
the bike storage / fitness room.
Ambassador II Condominium Homeowners Association:
506 E Howell St, Seattle, WA 98122