Ambassador II Condominiums

Ambassador II Condominium Board Minutes
https://ambassador2.com

Monday, August 13, 2018
President: Brien Sherman                                   Vice President: Kenny Long (absent)
Treasurer and Secretary Jay Heath.                  Member At Large: Jeanne Perrin
Association Manager: Jack Taylor

Homeowners Forum
● No homeowner was present at the meeting this month.

Things to Always Remember
● GARAGE SECURITY: Before proceeding away from the building or to your parking space, please wait for the Summit Ave garage gate to close completely (Rule 3.17). Do not leave garage remotes in vehicles (Rule 4.10). When a vehicle is broken into, thieves usually take the remote, as it’ll be much easier for them to re-enter the garage for additional burglarizing. We strongly advise residents to never leave anything in lockers or vehicles that one does not wish to lose. Leaving valuables or even non-valuables in plain sight is an invitation for thieves. It is our individual responsibility to secure the building. One vehicle break in reported in July.
● PARKING IN GARAGE: The Dentist office spaces are not to be used after hours for guest parking. There is no guest parking in the garages. All parking spaces are assigned. Unauthorized vehicles may be towed without warning at owner’s risk and expense. Non-resident owners, please advise tenants. One vehicle was towed in July. Another one left before tow vehicle arrived.
● WATER SHUT-OFF VALVE: Every unit has a water shut-off valve located above the water heater. This valve will shut water off to your unit.
● REGULAR UNIT INSPECTIONS: Owners not residing in their unit are strongly encouraged to inspect their unit on a regular basis, as tenants tend to not report damage to the unit. Non-resident owners who live out of the area are required by statute RCW 59.18.060(15) to have a local representative to protect their interests.

Treasurer’s Reports
● For period ending July 31, 2018
Checking: $38,670.42
Washington Federal Replacement / Special Assessment Reserve: $263,294.78
Sound Credit Union Savings: $227,584.76
Umpqua Bank 17-month CD: $239,647.20
Petty Cash: $100.00
Total Assets: $769,297.16

Committee Reports
● Still no start date for the 600 E Howell project. We understand that they are awaiting permits from the City. Exterior cleanup and property inspection performed erratically.

Security
● Continued burglaries of residential garages. Non-resident owners, please discuss this continued security issue with tenants. One reported vehicle break in reported last month.
● No packages were reported stolen from the lobby last month.

Rules
● Recycling reminders : Our rules are identical to the City of Seattle’s recycling rules. China has stopped accepting plastic from the United States to recycle. Be on the lookout for possibly significant changes to what can be recycled. The City mails every resident a brochure every few months.
● With warm weather and open windows we remind tenants to control their dogs barking. Many residents of Ambassador I and II are disturbed by loud dogs, especially overnight.
● Personal items may not be stored in common areas. These items may be disposed of without notice and at the unit owners expense.

Old Business
● The light replacement project is progressing slowly. City Light and the contractor will make their inspections this week. Samples will be installed shortly with the entire project wrapped up late Summer.
● The West Building project is still pending. We can’t find a contractor to work on a small project in this construction environment. We are going out for additional bids. Highly unlikely that it will start this fall.

New Business
● The Board Annual Homeowner Meeting was held in July and all members were mailed a copy of the minutes. We are presently at 4 Board Members, which is permitted in the bylaws. We still seek a volunteer. The Board chooses their positions and they are listed at the top of this document.
● Our contract with Property Concepts is 25 years old. The Board President signed an updated agreement with changes to reflect current practices and regulations. There will be no impact to unit owners or residents.
● Recent changes to condominium law (RCW 64.38.035(e) et.al) now permits electronic delivery of Association communications. If you wish to receive emails and stop delivery of postal mail, you must opt in by sending a request to the Association Manager (Property Concepts) at their email address (not published in online documents Please refer to the mailed version of these minutes). Please type OPT IN AMBASSADOR II in the subject line and include your name and unit number. Only one email address per unit please. All further communications will be sent by email except as required by law. Be sure to whitelist the Association Manager’s address so messages don’t go to your junk folder.

Meeting adjourned at 7:15pm.
Next Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 10th, 2018 at 6:30pm in unit 108.

Ambassador II Condominium Homeowners Association:
506 E Howell St, Seattle, WA 98122 (not our mailing address)

Ambassador II Condominium Association
2018 Annual H.O.A. Meeting Minutes
https://ambassador2.com

Meeting was called to order at 7:08pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2018.

Board Members in attendance:
Brien Sherman (President), Kenny Long ( Vice President), Jay Heath (Treasurer and Acting Secretary), & Jeanne Perrin (Member at large)

Introduction and Sign-in:
● A quorum was met with the number of persons present and proxies received equaling 19.
● The proof of meeting notice was provided to all attendees.
● The IRS resolution 70 -604 was read aloud by the Treasurer per federal law.
● The membership approved the 2017 annual meeting minutes as written.

Financial Report:
● Budget: Highlights of the previous fiscal year’s expenses we presented by the Treasurer. He also presented the 2018 /2019 annual budget for approval by the membership. A dues increase of 6.5% over the previous year was presented.
○ The membership voted to approve the 2018/2019 annual budget as presented.
● Explanation: Increases in utilities and insurance and labor costs were the primary cause of our increase. We also had unexpected reserve withdrawals of $30,000 due to uninsured losses caused mainly by water damage. We implemented a Reserves surcharge to repay this withdrawal. This surcharge will continue at least one more fiscal year or until funds are repaid as required by RCW 64.38.075.
● Per a newly enacted regulation we are required to provide the following information- As of the 2018-2019 budget approved at the Annual Homeowner Meeting we are saving $8142 per month in reserves plus an additional $1250 per month to pay back the loan mentioned above. Our Reserve Study consultant recommends saving a minimum of $8100 per month and a maximum of $8740 per month to fully fund our reserves to cover the highest repair estimates our Reserve Study predicts. The latest study spans the period between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019. These figures will change annually as new updates are performed.

Old Business:
● Water Supply Valves & Hoses: If the water valves to your sinks, toilet(s), washing machine, and dishwasher are gray plastic, they are original equipment and NEED to be replaced as soon as possible. These gray plastic valves have failed without notice, causing considerable damage. We also urge everyone to check and change washing machine hoses every 5 years; braided hoses are more durable.
● Toilets: Please consider replacing your toilet(s) with newer more efficient models. The Board strongly urges toilet replacement as several instances of spontaneous tank cracks over the years have been reported. If your toilet says “CRANE,” it’s likely original equipment.
● Water heaters: Please replace water heaters by the time the manufacturer’s warranty period ends. Equipment past its warranty period may fail without warning, causing significant water damage to your unit as well as neighboring units.
● Recycling: Please be cognizant of what you put in recycling. The City sends out lists of what is accepted and these are posted next to the containers. Just because it has a recycling symbol on it doesn’t mean it is accepted. Just because you think it should be recycled doesn’t mean it can be. No cloth or clothing of any kind. No appliances, furniture, or electronics. Just as examples.
● Smoke Detectors: If your smoke detector doesn’t have a battery backup, it is well past its expected service life. According to USFA/FEMA, smoke detectors are recommended to be replaced every 10-years. Also remember that carbon monoxide (CO) detectors are now required by State law. Rental units must be equipped immediately with CO detectors. Whereas, resident owners are required to install CO detectors as a condition of sale.
● Emergency lighting and outlets: The emergency lights in the east building and garages have been replaced. These new units have a longer battery life and LED bulbs. Most outlets in the common area were also replaced.

Nomination & Election of Directors:
● Brien and Jay have been re-elected for another 3 year term. Board positions will be discussed at the next monthly meeting in August. An unexpired term was not filled as no Association Member chose to run. It is acceptable per the ByLaws to have fewer than 5 Board members.

New Business:
● Exterior Repair: The stucco on both buildings has been inspected and repairs are suggested. The first section on the list will be the east side of the x04 stack. We planned on doing this in the Spring but the Ambassador I project forced us to postpone the project until at least the Fall, but we are having difficulty getting a start date.
● We have let a contract to replace the lighting in the East Building, West Building walkways, and a few garage and exterior fixtures. The new lamps are LED. Our current lighting is beginning to fail at an increasing rate. By doing it now we can take advantage of some City Light rebates that expire this year.
● We have every intention of replacing the rug in the East building this year. To be done this fall.
● The 600 E Howell project was discussed. As of this writing no start date is known.

Homeowners Discussion:
● Inquiries regarding the status of the THS unit ownership. After discussions to sell their units THS retains ownership and management of their 6 units.
● Discussion about transients and people sitting on the steps. All residents are encouraged to call the authorities.
● A homeowner asked about a roof repair. This has been done and the owner will let management know if there are further issues.
● Discussion about stolen packages. Ongoing issue, especially with packages left more than a day or two.
● Discussion of parking issues. Parking is difficult for visitors and will be getting worse due to construction and new buildings being erected with no parking spaces. The Board reiterated that Dentist office parking spaces are not to be used nights or weekends. We understand that sometimes residents want to load or unload next to the elevator and that is acceptable as long as the office is closed, but cars must be moved as soon as is practical. Violators get one warning unless the Dentist office needs the space immediately.

Repeat violators can be towed at the owners risk and expense.

Meeting adjourned at 7:45 pm.
Next annual meeting is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, July 10, 2019.

Ambassador II Condominium Board Minutes
https://ambassador2.com

Monday, July 9, 2018
President: Brien Sherman                                        Vice President: Kenny Long (absent)
Treasurer & Acting Secretary Jay Heath.
Member At Large: Jeanne Perrin (absent)               Association Manager: Jack Taylor

Homeowners Forum
● No homeowner was present at the meeting this month.
No quorum was present in June. These minutes summarize two months of meetings.

Things to Always Remember
● GARAGE SECURITY: Before proceeding away from the building or to your parking space, please wait for the Summit Ave garage gate to close completely (Rule 3.17). Do not leave garage remotes in vehicles (Rule 4.10). When a vehicle is broken into, thieves usually take the remote, as it’ll be much easier for them to re-enter the garage for additional burglarizing. We strongly advise residents to never leave anything in lockers or vehicles that one does not wish to lose. Leaving valuables or even non-valuables in plain sight is an invitation for thieves. It is our individual responsibility to secure the building. One vehicle breakin reported in July.
● PARKING IN GARAGE: The Dentist office spaces are not to be used after hours for guest parking. There is no guest parking in the garages. All parking spaces are assigned. Unauthorized vehicles may be towed without warning at owner’s risk and expense. Non-resident owners, please advise tenants. A tow truck was called to remove a repeat offender in June, but once again, they left before the truck arrived.
● WATER SHUT-OFF VALVE: Every unit has a water shut-off valve located above the water heater. This valve will shut water off to your whole unit only.
● REGULAR UNIT INSPECTIONS: Owners not residing in their unit are strongly encouraged to inspect their unit on a regular basis, as tenants tend to not report damage to the unit. Non-resident owners who live out of the area are required by statute RCW 59.18.060(15) to have a local representative to protect their interests.

Treasurer’s Reports
● For period ending June 30, 2018
Checking: $28,338.78
Washington Federal Replacement / Special Assessment Reserve: $253,871.97
Sound Credit Union Savings: $227,556.40
Umpqua Bank 17-month CD: $239,378.54
Petty Cash: $100.00
Total Assets: $749,245.69

● For period ending May 31, 2018
Checking: $12,391.92
Washington Federal Replacement / Special Assessment Reserve: $257,620.36
Sound Credit Union Savings: $227,556.40
Umpqua Bank 17-month CD: $239,378.54
Petty Cash: $100.00
Total Assets: $737,047.22

Committee Reports
● No update on the 600 E Howell project start time. Interior demo and boarding up complete. Exterior cleanup and property inspection performed erratically.

Security
● Continued burglaries of residential garages. Non-resident owners, please discuss this continued security issue with tenants. No vehicle break ins reported last month.
● No packages were reported stolen from the lobby last month.

Rules
● Recycling reminders : Our rules are identical to the City of Seattle’s recycling rules. Just because a recycling logo appears on an item does not mean the City will accept it. Also, just because you think it SHOULD be recyclable doesn’t make it recyclable. Multiple documents listing accepted and prohibited items are posted near the dumpsters.
● With warm weather and open windows we remind tenants to control their dogs barking. Many residents of Ambassador I and II are disturbed by loud dogs, especially overnight.

Old Business
● The Ambassador I window project is ongoing. As we are no longer directly affected we will no longer publish updates unless the situation changes. The contractor continues to enter the common area using both the Summit and Alley gates.
● Reconstruction of a 5th floor roof deck and one other minor deck project are being done at the same time. Damage to the roof deck is moderate upon preliminary inspection. This is subject to change. Contract has been let. Start date is between the unit owners and the contractor.
● The Board will seek bids to replace the east building carpet which is severely worn in places. We will wait until lighting upgrades and deck repairs are completed.
● The Board has finalized the light replacement project for both buildings Samples will be installed shortly with the entire project wrapped up late Summer. Funds were transferred from Reserves to our Operating budget to pay for the project.

New Business
● The Board finalized arrangements for the Annual Homeowner Meeting.
● A small leak in a garage drain line was repaired. No damage.
● The Board was following a proposal by the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce to expand the Broadway Improvement Area. We sent a letter opposing the expansion, which would have meant an increase of many thousands of dollars to the Association for minimal benefits. As a result of many such opposition letters, especially from Homeowner Associations, the Chamber has suspended their proposal. We shall continue to monitor the situation.
● Our contract with Property Concepts is 25 years old and has never been updated. While we have no intention of changing Association Management firms at this time the Board will sign a new contract with changes to reflect current practices and regulations. There will be no impact to unit owners or residents.

Meeting adjourned at 7:25pm.
Next Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 13th, 2018 at 6:30pm in unit 108..
Ambassador II Condominium Homeowners Association:
506 E Howell St, Seattle, WA 98122 (not our mailing address)

Ambassador II Condominium Board Minutes
https://ambassador2.com

Monday, April 12, 2018
President: Brien Sherman                                       Vice President: Kenny Long
Treasurer: Jay Heath                                                Secretary: Vacant
Member At Large: Jeanne Perrin (absent)          Association Manager: Jack Taylor

Homeowners Forum
● No homeowner was present at the meeting this month.
Meeting was called to order at 6:35pm. The April minutes were approved as written.

Things to Always Remember
● GARAGE SECURITY: Before proceeding away from the building or to your parking space, please wait for the Summit Ave garage gate to close completely (Rule 3.17). MULTIPLE REPORTS THIS MONTH OF LOITERERS IN THE GARAGE. THEY ONLY GET IN BECAUSE YOU OR YOUR TENANTS LET THEM IN!
● Do not leave garage remotes in vehicles (Rule 4.10). When a vehicle is broken into, thieves usually take the remote, as it’ll be much easier for them to re-enter the garage for additional burglarizing. We strongly advise residents to never leave anything in lockers or vehicles that one does not wish to lose. Leaving valuables or even non-valuables in plain sight is an invitation for thieves. It is our individual responsibility to secure the building.
● PARKING IN GARAGE: The Dentist office spaces are not to be used after hours for guest parking. There is no guest parking in the garages. All parking spaces are assigned. Unauthorized vehicles may be towed without warning at owner’s risk and expense. Non-resident owners, please advise tenants.
● WATER SHUT-OFF VALVE: Every unit has a water shut-off valve located above the water heater. This valve will shut water off to your whole unit only.
● REGULAR UNIT INSPECTIONS: Owners not residing in their unit are strongly encouraged to inspect their unit on a regular basis, as tenants tend to not report damage to the unit. Non-resident owners who live out of the area are required by statute RCW 59.18.060(15) to have a local representative to protect their interests.

Treasurer’s Reports
For period ending April 30, 2018
Checking: $6,754.32
Washington Federal Replacement / Special Assessment Reserve: $249,640.69
Sound Credit Union Savings: $227,556.40
Umpqua Bank 17-month CD: $239,378.54
Petty Cash: $100.00
Total Assets: $723,429.95

Committee Reports
● No update on the 600 E Howell project start time. The properties have been secured multiple times as a result of squatters breaking in. Some interior materials have been removed in advance of demolition.

Security
● Continued burglaries of residential garages. Non-resident owners, please discuss this continued security issue with tenants. No vehicle break ins reported last month.
● Several packages were stolen from the lobby in April.

Rules
● Recycling reminders : Our rules are identical to the City of Seattle’s recycling rules. An easy to read reminder is posted near the trash room door. Trash collection is every Monday and Friday. Recycling collection is Tuesday and Friday. Yard waste collection is on Sunday. Construction debris is prohibited due to lack of space and weight issues.
● With the beginning of warmer weather and open windows we remind tenants to control their dogs barking. Many residents of Ambassador I and II are disturbed by loud dogs, especially overnight.

Old Business
● The Ambassador I window project is ongoing. This project is well behind schedule due to the very wet spring and lack of workers. As a result our project to refurbish the -04 stack is postponed until the fall. Stucco does not cure properly in hot weather and we want to let residents keep their windows open without dealing with noise and dust.
● We have an opening on the Board. Any owner or resident is encouraged to stop by a meeting.
● All failing electrical outlets in the halls and walkways have been replaced.
● All residential electrical meters were replaced April 30. Commercial and common area meters will be replaced at a later date.

New Business
● The Board has approved a 6.5% increase in homeowner dues beginning July 1st. Details will be sent shortly. Significant utility, and insurance increases are the primary reasons the exceptional increase. Taxes are also rising at unpredictable rates. We must allocate more for repairs and reserves. There are also increased minimum wages that result in higher contracted services. Finally we have a Reserve account surcharge to repay borrowed money for leak repairs.
● Yet another roof deck has some structural problems that must be addressed. These decks have been an issue since the building was new and we must assume continuing high maintenance costs. We may need to add additional Reserve funding to maintain these decks on a regular basis. We will consult our Reserve Study professionals for advice.
● The Board will seek bids to replace the east building carpet which is severely worn in places. Paid from Reserve funds allocated for this project.
● The Board will also look at replacing our east building hall and west building walkway lights with LED upgrades. The east building ceiling lights especially are beginning to fail at a faster pace. Paid from Reserve funds allocated for this project.

Meeting adjourned at 7:25pm.
Next Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 11th, 2018 at 6:30pm in Unit E108.
Ambassador II Condominium Homeowners Association:
506 E Howell St, Seattle, WA 98122 (not our mailing address)

Ambassador II Condominium Board Minutes
https://ambassador2.com

Monday, April 9, 2018

President: Brien Sherman
Vice President: Kenny Long
Treasurer: Jay Heath
Secretary: Vacant
Member At Large: Jeanne Perrin (absent)
Association Manager: Jack Taylor

Homeowners Forum
● No homeowner was present at the meeting this month.
Meeting was called to order at 6:33pm. The March 2018 minutes were approved as written.

Things to Always Remember
● GARAGE VEHICLE GATE: Before proceeding away from the building or to your parking space, pleasewait for the Summit Ave garage gate to close completely (Rule 3.17).
● GARAGE OPENERS: Do not leave garage remotes in vehicles (Rule 4.10). When a vehicle is broken into, thieves usually take the remote, as it’ll be much easier for them to re-enter the garage for additional burglarizing.
● PARKING IN GARAGE: The dentist office spaces are not to be used for guest parking. There is no guest parking in the garages. All parking spaces are assigned. Unauthorized vehicles may be towed without warning at owner’s risk and expense. Non-resident owners, please advise tenants. One tow request was made in March. The vehicle left before the truck arrived.
● WATER SHUT-OFF VALVE: Every unit has a water shut-off valve located above the water heater. This valve will shut water off to your whole unit.
● REGULAR UNIT INSPECTIONS: Owners not residing in their unit are strongly encouraged to inspect their unit on a regular basis, as tenants tend to not report damage to the unit. Non-resident owners who live out of the area are required by statute RCW 59.18.060(15) to have a local representative to protect their interests.

Treasurer’s Report
● For period ending March 31st, 2018. Bank, Savings and Investment Accounts
Checking: $23,400.25
Washington Federal Replacement / Special Assessment Reserve: $241,661.04
Sound Credit Union Savings: $227,529.31
Umpqua Bank 17-month CD: $239,113.12
Petty Cash: $100.00
Total Assets: $731,803.72

Committee Reports
● The 600 E Howell project scheduled start date is delayed a few weeks as permits have yet to be issued. (#3024635). Total project length is projected to be 16 months. No revised start date has been issued.

Security
● Continued burglaries of residential garages. Non-resident owners, please discuss this continued security issue with tenants. We strongly advise residents to never leave anything in lockers or vehicles that one does not wish to lose. Leaving valuables or even non-valuables in plain sight is an invitation for thieves. It is our individual responsibility to secure the building. No vehicle break ins reported last month.
● No packages were reported stolen in March.

Rules
● Please re-familiarize yourself with the Rules & Regulations, which may be easily found on the website.
● Recycling reminders : Our rules are identical to the City of Seattle’s recycling rules. An easy to read reminder is posted near the trash room door. Remember that no plastic or metal is permitted in the food and yard waste container.

Old Business
● A clogged drain line led to water damage in a single unit. Repairs essentially complete.
● The Ambassador I window project is ongoing. Scaffolding should be down on our side and on Summit by mid to late April.
● We are currently getting bids for the -04 stack stucco repair and refurbishment project. As mentioned before, this project will be funded through our reserves. We are anticipating a start date sometime in May. If we cannot start by the first of June we will likely postpone the project until the fall. Stucco does not cure properly in warmer weather.
● We have an opening on the Board. Any owner or resident is encouraged to stop by a meeting.
● Window and dryer vent cleaning was completed.
● Budgeting for the next fiscal year, is ongoing. We will have a higher than normal increase in homeowner dues. Significant Property Tax, Utility, and Insurance increases are the primary reasons the increase. There are also increased minimum wages that result in higher contracted services. Finally we have a Reserve account surcharge to repay borrowed money for leak repairs. We will announce the new budget next month.

New Business
● Our annual Reserve Study is complete and posted to our website.
● Our webmaster has rebuilt our website and moved it to a new host. There is no significant user change except the Event Calendar Page has been removed.
● The emergency light replacement project is finally complete. Our next project is to replace failing electrical outlets in the halls and walkways.
● New electrical meters will be the installed sometime in May. All unit residents will experience a brief power outage. City Light will send a postcard a couple weeks in advance and the person responsible for the bill should receive a phone reminder a couple days in advance. We will also post notices in the lobby. This is a Seattle City Light project.

Meeting adjourned at 7:10pm.

Next Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 14, 2018 at 6:30pm in Unit E108.
Ambassador II Condominium Homeowners Association:
506 E Howell St, Seattle, WA 98122 (not our mailing address)

Monday, March 12, 2018
President: Brien Sherman
Vice President: Kenny Long
Treasurer: Jay Heath
Secretary: Vacant
Member At Large: Jeanne Perrin (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 December 2017 minutes were approved as written. No meetings in January or February.

Things to Always Remember
● GARAGE VEHICLE GATE: Before proceeding away from the building or to your parking space, please wait for the Summit Ave garage gate to close completely (Rule 3.17).
● GARAGE OPENERS: Do not leave garage remotes in vehicles (Rule 4.10). When a vehicle is broken into, thieves usually take the remote, as it’ll be much easier for them to re-enter the garage for additional burglarizing.
● PARKING IN GARAGE: The dentist office spaces are not to be used after hours for guest parking. There is no guest parking in the garages. All parking spaces are assigned. Unauthorized vehicles may be towed without warning at owner’s risk and expense. Non-resident owners, please advise tenants.
● WATER SHUT-OFF VALVE: Every unit has a water shut-off valve located above the water heater. This valve will shut water off to your whole unit only.
● REGULAR UNIT INSPECTIONS: Owners not residing in their unit are strongly encouraged to inspect their unit on a regular basis, as tenants tend to not report damage to the unit. Non-resident owners who live out of the area are required by statute RCW 59.18.060(15) to have a local representative to protect their interests.

Treasurer’s Reports
● For period ending February 28, 2018. Bank, Savings and Investment Accounts
Checking: $46,588.15
Washington Federal Replacement / Special Assessment Reserve: $223,685.26
Sound Credit Union Savings: $227,529.31
Umpqua Bank 17-month CD: $239,113.12
Petty Cash: $100.00
Total Assets: $747,015.84

Committee Reports
● The 600 E Howell project is scheduled to begin with demolition about April 15th, with construction to begin in May. (#3024635). Total project length is projected to be 16 months. These dates are subject to change.

Security
● Continued burglaries of residential garages. Non-resident owners, please discuss this continued security issue with tenants. We strongly advise residents to never leave anything in lockers or vehicles that one does not wish to lose. Leaving valuables or even non-valuables in plain sight is an invitation for thieves. It is our individual responsibility to secure the building. No vehicle break ins reported last month.
● No packages were reported stolen in February.

Rules
● Please re-familiarize yourself with the Rules & Regulations, which may be easily found on the website.
● Recycling reminders : Our rules are identical to the City of Seattle’s recycling rules. An easy to read reminder is posted near the trash room door. Approximately two thirds of all boxes that are placed in the recycling bins contain items that are NOT recyclable. Boxes must be flattened and trash disposed of in the correct container.

Old Business
● Repairs to water damage in an upper x09 unit is essentially complete.
● A clogged drain line led to water damage in a single unit. Repairs to begin soon. This is another charge against the Association for damage, which may lead to additional borrowing against our Reserve accounts.
● The Ambassador I window project is ongoing. Scaffolding should be down on our side and on Summit by mid to late April.
● We have an opening on the Board. Any owner or resident is encouraged to stop by a meeting.

New Business
● We are currently getting bids for the -04 stack stucco repair and refurbishment project. As mentioned before, this project will be funded through our reserves. We are anticipating a start date sometime in May.
● We are beginning the budgeting process for the next fiscal year, beginning in July. We will have a higher than normal increase in homeowner dues. Significant Property Tax, Utility, and Insurance increases are the primary reasons the increase. There are also increased minimum wages that result in higher contracted services. Finally we have a Reserve account surcharge to repay borrowed money for leak repairs.
● Window and dryer vent cleaning is scheduled for April 5 and 6.

Meeting adjourned at 7:26pm.
Next Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 9th, 2018 at 6:30pm in Unit E108.
Ambassador II Condominium Homeowners Association:

Monday, February 12, 2018

A quorum was not met this month, so no Board meeting was held. The following are highlights of activity the last two months. There was no meeting scheduled for January.

Treasurer’s Reports

For period ending January 31, 2018
Bank, Savings and Investment Accounts
Checking: $41,400.09
Washington Federal Replacement / Special Assessment Reserve: $225,703.91
Sound Credit Union Savings: $227,529.31
Umpqua Bank 17-month CD: $239,113.12
Petty Cash: $100.00
Total Assets: $733,846.43

For period ending December 31, 2017
Bank, Savings and Investment Accounts
Checking: $24,661.11
Washington Federal Replacement / Special Assessment Reserve: $347,710.72
Sound Credit Union Savings: $127,513.24
Umpqua Bank 17-month CD: $238,842.11
Petty Cash: $100.00
Total Assets: $738,827.18

600 Howell Project
No change to the status of the construction project across the alley.

Security Update
Continued burglaries of residential garages and mail. No vehicle break ins reported in the last 2 months. There have been 2 incidents of package theft in the past few weeks. As previously advised, you should have package delivery made to a secure location. Packages left in the lobby for more than a couple days almost always “disappear”.

Rules
Recycling reminders: Our rules are identical to the City of Seattle’s recycling rules. Easy to read reminders are posted near the trash room door. Recycling is picked up Tuesday and Friday.

Ongoing issues
Repairs from water damage in an upper x09 unit are nearly complete.

Water damage repairs are complete in a lower x12 unit and the hallway/stairwell.

New Issues
To pay for the water damage, we borrowed $30,000 from Reserve Funds. This amount will need to be returned to the Reserves in the next two fiscal years (2018-2020) per RCW 64.34.384 as this damage is not part of a scheduled repair. This will be budgeted as a surcharge to the Reserve Replacements line item. We may need to borrow more. Also, Reserve funds were moved between accounts to stay within FDIC insurance limits.

The Ambassador I window replacement project is underway. They have not been forthcoming in keeping us informed of those parts that affect our shared areas. We are posting information in the lobby as we are made aware of relevant details.

Our long serving Board Member, Shaun Ross, has resigned from the Board and moved out of state. We are seeking a volunteer to serve out his term. Meetings are the second Monday of the month.

We will begin gathering bids to scaffold the -04 stack in the courtyard for inspection, repairs, and resurfacing. Project to begin in the Spring. Funding will be from Reserves.

Our Annual Replacement Reserves review has begun. The final report will be available on our website.

Our insurance policies were renewed. As expected, there was a substantial premium increase for our earthquake insurance. As you may know, “earthquake insurance” is in fact a major disaster policy that covers only specific disasters. Earthquake in our case, but the same re-insurers also cover wildfires and floods, which are increasing nationwide.

A leak between units in the upper levels of the x12 stack was caused by a failed toilet tank. Unit owners insurance to cover. We once again remind all owners that toilets with the “Crane” label are likely original to the building, obsolete, and prone to cracking. They should be replaced.

The Board is investigating a drain overflow issue in one of the units that occurred this date to determine responsibility.

Property taxes are due April 30th. The King County Assessor says property taxes this year will average 17%. This will result in even higher dues increase in the coming fiscal year. Estimating property taxes is the most difficult part of creating our budget.

Next Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 12, 2018 at 6:30pm in Unit E108.

Ambassador II Condominium Homeowners Association:
506 E Howell St, Seattle, WA 98122 (not our mailing address)

Monday, December 11, 2017

President: Brien Sherman
Vice President: Kenny Long (absent)
Treasurer: Jay Heath
Secretary: Shaun Ross
Member At Large: Jeanne Perrin
Association Manager: Jack Taylor

Homeowners Forum
● No homeowners present at the meeting this month.
Meeting was called to order at 6:34pm. The October 2017 minutes were approved as written. November 2017 meeting was cancelled due to the power outage.

Things to Always Remember
● GARAGE VEHICLE GATE: Before proceeding away from the building or to your parking space, please wait for the Summit Ave garage gate to close completely (Rule 3.17).
● GARAGE OPENERS: Do not leave garage remotes in vehicles (Rule 4.10). When a vehicle is broken into, thieves usually take the remote, as it’ll be much easier for them to re-enter the garage for additional burglarizing.
● PARKING IN GARAGE: The dentist office spaces are not to be used after hours for guest parking. There is no guest parking in the garages. All parking spaces are assigned. Unauthorized vehicles may be towed without warning at owner’s risk and expense. Non-resident owners, please advise tenants.
● WATER SHUT-OFF VALVE: Every unit has a water shut-off valve located above the water heater. This valve will shut water off to your whole unit only.
● REGULAR UNIT INSPECTIONS: Owners not residing in their unit are strongly encouraged to inspect their unit on a regular basis, as tenants tend to not report damage to the unit. Non-resident owners who live out of the area are required by statute RCW 59.18.060(15) to have a local representative to protect their interests.

Treasurer’s Reports
● For period ending October 31, 2017. Bank, Savings and Investment Accounts
Checking: $30,080.28
Washington Federal Replacement / Special Assessment Reserve: $331,728.76
Sound Credit Union Savings: $127,513.24
Umpqua Bank 17-month CD: $238,842.11
Petty Cash: $100.00
Total Assets: $728,264.39

● For period ending November 30, 2017. Bank, Savings and Investment Accounts
Checking: $27,327.57
Washington Federal Replacement / Special Assessment Reserve: $339,719.88
Sound Credit Union Savings: $127,513.24
Umpqua Bank 17-month CD: $238,842.11
Petty Cash: $100.00
Total Assets: $733,502.80

Committee Reports
● The Redwood Bar and the Howell Street Convenience store are closed as of early November. Plywood had been added to both storefronts in early December. No update at this time as to when the structures will be demolished. The replacement structure will be a 7-story mixed use building (#3024635).

Security
● Continued burglaries of residential garages. Non-resident owners, please discuss this continued security issue with tenants. We strongly advise residents to never leave anything in lockers or vehicles that one does not wish to lose. Leaving valuables or even non-valuables in plain sight is an invitation for thieves. It is our individual responsibility to secure the building. No vehicle break ins reported in the last 2 months.
● ‘Tis package theft season! Be prepared by not having packages delivered to the building; especially those that don’t require signatures. To prevent theft, please have your packages delivered to an Amazon locker or your work or request a signature or be home when the package arrives. There has been 2 incidents of package theft in the past few weeks.

Rules
● Please re-familiarize yourself with the Rules & Regulations, which may be easily found on the website.
● Recycling reminders : Our rules are identical to the City of Seattle’s recycling rules. An easy to read reminder is posted near the trash room door. Please breakdown boxes and dispose of your Holiday boxes and packing appropriately.
● No walk-off mats may be placed in front of doors in the east building per the Rules & Regulations (Rule 8.3). They damage the carpet and are a safety hazard if the building needs to be evacuated quickly.

Old Business
● The stucco report is still under review. We continue to look at contractors and work on a plan of repair implementation. As mentioned before, this project will be funded through our reserves.
● Inspection and repairs to water damage in an upper x09 unit is still in the works.
● Window washing and vent cleaning completed in early October.
● Water damage repairs are just about complete in a lower x12 unit and the hallway/stairwell.

New Business
● The fire alarm inspection went very well; much better than anticipated. Thank you very much to all participants. Some units will need horn and/or sprinkler head repairs. The Board is awaiting follow up from Fire Safety Services (FSS).
● Two contracts have been renewed: elevator maintenance and landscape maintenance.
● To pay for the water damage, we’ll need to pull from reserves. This amount will need to be returned to the reserves in the next two fiscal years (2018-2020), as this damage is not part of a scheduled repair. This will be budgeted as a surcharge to the Reserve Replacements line item.
● During the fire alarm inspection, it was discovered that the fire door on the first floor of the east building did not close properly. Repairs will be made shortly.
● Please do not dump unwanted mail in the lobby and properly dispose of it in the recycle bins.
● The Board has authorized Ambassador 1 to store their patio items on our property, as they work on replacing their windows.

Meeting adjourned at 7:16pm.
Next Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 12, 2018 at 6:30pm in Unit E108. There will be no meeting in January 2018.
Ambassador II Condominium Homeowners Association:
506 E Howell St, Seattle, WA 98122 (not our mailing address)

Monday, October 9, 2017
President: Brien Sherman
Vice President: Kenny Long
Treasurer: Jay Heath
Secretary: Shaun Ross
Member At Large: Jeanne Perrin (absent)
Association Manager: Jack Taylor

Homeowners Forum
● No homeowners were present at the meeting this month.
Meeting was called to order at 6:37pm. The September 2017 minutes were approved as written.

Things to Always Remember
● GARAGE VEHICLE GATE: Before proceeding away from the building or to your parking space, please wait for the Summit Ave garage gate to close completely (Rule 3.17).
● GARAGE OPENERS: Do not leave garage remotes in vehicles (Rule 4.10). When a vehicle is broken into, thieves usually take the remote, as it’ll be much easier for them to re-enter the garage for additional burglarizing.
● PARKING IN GARAGE: The dentist office spaces are not to be used after hours for guest parking. There is no guest parking in the garages. All parking spaces are assigned. Unauthorized vehicles may be towed without warning at owner’s risk and expense. Non-resident owners, please advise tenants.
● WATER SHUT-OFF VALVE: Every unit has a water shut-off valve located above the water heater. This valve will shut water off to your whole unit only.
● REGULAR UNIT INSPECTIONS: Owners not residing in their unit are strongly encouraged to inspect their unit on a regular basis, as tenants tend to not report damage to the unit. Non-resident owners who live out of the area are required by statute RCW 59.18.060(15) to have a local representative to protect their interests.

Treasurer’s Reports
● For period ending September 30, 2017. Bank, Savings and Investment Accounts
Checking: $34,287.39
Washington Federal Replacement / Special Assessment Reserve: $323,739.96
Sound Credit Union Savings: $127,497.18
Umpqua Bank 17-month CD: $238,571.41
Petty Cash: $100.00
Total Assets: $724,195.94

Committee Reports
● The Redwood Bar is scheduled to close November 16, 2017. A second phase to review the proposed project to replace the Redwood and the yellow and green houses by the Design Review Board is scheduled for October 25, 2017. The development will be a 76-unit mixed use 7-story structure with residential units over a commercial unit (#3024635). Here’s a website noting active Seattle developments: www.seattle.gov/dpd/shapingseattle/may.aspx .

Security
● Residential garage burglaries continue to occur. Non-resident owners, please discuss this continued security issue with tenants. This month we were hit again with package thefts and a car break-in. We strongly advise residents to never leave anything in lockers or vehicles that one does not wish to lose. Leaving valuables or even non-valuables in plain sight is an invitation for thieves. It is our individual responsibility to secure the building.
● Signs will soon be installed on the wall or fencing in front of each and every parking space. This sign will inform residents that the Association is not responsible for loss or theft of personal property from vehicles or lockers or from items left in the parking space.

Rules
● Please re-familiarize yourself with the Rules & Regulations, which may be easily found on the website.
● Recycling reminders : Our rules are identical to the City of Seattle’s recycling rules. An easy to read reminder is posted near the trash room door.
● Parking spaces may not be used for storage of anything other than a motorized vehicle (Rule 4.2).

Old Business
● Please secure Wi-Fi networks. There are a few non-residents who loiter outside the building and use the open Wi-Fi to access the Internet.
● The stucco report is still in review. We’re looking at contractors and working on a plan of repair implementation. As mentioned before, this project will be funded through our reserves.
● Water damage repairs have been completed in a lower x09 stack unit.
● Window washing and vent cleaning is complete. Unfortunately, the dates changed from 10/05 & 10/06 to 10/09 & 10/10 at last minute due to unforeseen circumstances. We apologize for any inconvenience.

New Business.
● Last month, water damage was discovered on the ceiling of an upper x09 stack unit. Investigation of the damage is underway.
● Soaked carpet was discovered on the first floor landing of the north stairs in the east building. The fire system sprinkler supply lines has been identified as the culprit. Repairs are underway.
● The year end audit of the Association is complete for our fiscal year ending on June 30, 2017. All is well and in good order.
● Mandatory fire alarm testing. At this time, we hope to have the inspection scheduled for early November 2017. Your Association’s secretary has volunteered to coordinate the inspection. Once we have a set date, we’ll send a notice to all unit owners. As mentioned in the previous minutes, the fire inspector will require access to all units to confirm the alarm horn is working properly in each unit. This means that the Board will need to coordinate entry into all 65 residential units and the commercial space. On the scheduled inspection date, please be home or schedule to have a representative available to allow access to your unit. Coordinating this inspection will be difficult. We apologize in advance for the inconvenience. We hope to give everyone sufficient advance notice. The inspection will be scheduled sometime during the typical workweek. If we don’t comply, we could be hit with fines or even have our occupancy permit revoked.

Meeting adjourned at 7:00pm.
Next Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 13, 2017 at 6:30pm in Unit E108.
Ambassador II Condominium Homeowners Association:
506 E Howell St, Seattle, WA 98122 (not our mailing address)

Monday, September 11, 2017
President: Brien Sherman
Vice President: Kenny Long
Treasurer: Jay Heath
Secretary: Shaun Ross
Member At Large: Jeanne Perrin
Association Manager: Jack Taylor

Homeowners Forum
● No homeowners were present at the meeting this month. Meeting was called to order at 6:32pm. The August 2017 minutes were approved as written.

Things to Always Remember
● GARAGE VEHICLE GATE: Before proceeding to your parking space or away from the building, please wait for the Summit Ave garage gate to close completely (Rule 3.17).
● GARAGE OPENERS: Do not leave your garage remote in your vehicle. When a vehicle is broken into, thieves usually take the remote, as it’ll be much easier to re-enter the garage for additional burglarizing.
● PARKING IN GARAGE: The dentist office spaces are not to be used after hours for guest parking. There is no guest parking in either garage. All parking spaces are assigned. Unauthorized vehicles may be towed at owner’s risk and expense without warning. Non-resident owners, please advise tenants.
● WATER SHUT-OFF VALVE: A water shut-off valve is located above the water heater in every unit. This valve will shut water off to your whole unit.
● REGULAR UNIT INSPECTIONS: Owners not residing in their unit are encouraged to inspect their unit on a regular basis, as tenants tend to not report damage to the unit. Non-resident owners who live out of the area are required by statute RCW 59.18.060(15) to have a local representative to protect their interests.

Treasurer’s Reports
● For period ending August 31, 2017. Bank, Savings and Investment Accounts
Checking: $34,156.29
Washington Federal Replacement / Special Assessment Reserve: $315,750.84
Sound Credit Union Savings: $127,497.18
Umpqua Bank 17-month CD: $238,571.41
Petty Cash: $100.00
Total Assets: $716,075.72

Committee Reports
● The Redwood Bar is still scheduled to close in November. At this time, there appears to be a second phase review of the project by the Design Review Board scheduled for the end of October. As a reminder, the development will be a 7-story 76-unit residential/commercial structure (#3024635). Here’s a website noting active Seattle developments: www.seattle.gov/dpd/shapingseattle/may.aspx .

Security
● Residential garage burglaries continue to occur. Non-resident owners, please discuss this continued security issue with tenants. This month we were hit with package thefts, a locker break-in, and car prowls. We strongly advise residents to never leave anything in lockers or vehicles that one does not wish to lose. Leaving valuables or even non-valuables in plain sight is an invitation for thieves.
● Our security service discovered the pedestrian gate from the lower Summit Ave garage to the corner of Summit Ave & E Howell St ajar and secured before continuing his/her patrol. When exiting this or any other door or gate, please be sure that the door or gate is securely closed once you pass through.

Rules
● Recycling reminders : Our rules are identical to the City of Seattle’s recycling rules. The current flyer from the City is posted near the disposal section of the garage. Additionally, an easy to read reminder is posted on the trash room door.

Old Business
● Please secure Wi-Fi networks. There are a few non-residents who loiter outside the building and use the open Wi-Fi to access the Internet.
● We’re still reviewing the stucco report, looking at contractors, and working on a plan of repair implementation. As mentioned before, project will be funded through our reserves.
● The building phone systems are compliant with the new 10-digit dialing requirement now in effect.
● Water damage repairs have begun in the lower x09 stack unit.

New Business
● Mandatory fire alarm testing. The fire inspector will require access to all units to confirm the alarm horn is working properly in each unit. This means that the Board is going to have to coordinate entry into all 66 units, including the commercial space. On the scheduled inspection date, please be home or schedule to have a representative available to allow access to your unit. At this time, a date hasn’t been scheduled. We hope to give everyone sufficient advance notice. Most likely the inspection will need to be scheduled sometime Monday thru Friday. If we don’t comply, we could be hit with fines or even have our occupancy permit revoked.
● Window and vent cleaning has been scheduled for Thursday and Friday, October 5th and 6th. Please remove your screens before Thursday morning.
● Ceiling water damage discovered in an upper x09 stack unit. Investigation of the damage is underway.

Meeting adjourned at 7:04pm.
Next Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 9, 2017 at 6:30pm in Unit E108.
Ambassador II Condominium Homeowners Association:
506 E Howell St, Seattle, WA 98122 (not our mailing address)