SOUTH COVE BOARD MEETING MINUTES
(At the home of David Bangs)
Meeting called to order at 7:10pm by Board President David Bangs
Board members in attendance:
David Bangs
Mark Buick
Susie Carney
Doug McDaniel
Kendra Mills
Susi Tom
Board Members Absent:
Mike Quaranta
Ivonne Thurlkill
Homeowners present:
Julie McDaniel
Secretary's
Report - Fred Riler
The minutes of the June Board meeting were sent to all
members via e-mail the week after our June meeting. A paper copy of the minutes was handed out at
the start of our
Treasurer's Report - Mark Buick
Mark Buick reported the Association has $26,000 is the
checking account at this time. This past
month, expenses were paid for 4th of July function, two months of
park/landscape maintenance, and directors liability
insurance. Finances are on target with
the budget. . There are still four (4)
homeowners that have not paid annual dues.
Board members are working collections assigned to them.
Mark Quaranta was not
in attenance.
Board President David Bangs reported the event went off very well and homeowners
expressed appreciation for the activities.
Photos are available on the South Cove web site at www.southcove.net.
Architectural Review Committee - Fred Riler
This past month, the committee took the following actions:
Approved:
House paint color (4)
Front door entry expansion
New fence
Disapproved:
None
Violations:
Storage
unit in driveway was removed per ARC request.
Complaints:
Neighbor’s
air conditioner – excessive noise.
Pending:
Planter
Box request
Fence
request (2)
A homeowner has asked for a roofing material not approved
for use in South Cove. It is similar in
appearance to the approved Elk Prestige Weathered Wood roofing. The ARC asked
for direction on who is the approving authority for new roofing materials (is
it the Architectural Review Committee, the South Cove Board of Directors, or
the Homeowners Association?). David
Bangs indicated it is the ARC’s role to review
materials for uniformity, quality, warranty, durability, and appearance. If the material is as good as, or better,
than what is currently approved, and is designed to have the color and
appearance of weathered cedar shakes, the ARC can recommend to the full Board
its acceptance. The Board will then
consider the matter for inclusion in approved roofing material in our
community.
The ARC will work with the roofing company asking for the
new material, and make appropriate recommendations to the Board.
Due to increased activity and the need for timely response
to homeowners, Fred Riler requested a fourth member of the Architectural Review
Committee. Susie Carney volunteered for
the position. Fred Riler made a motion
to add Susie Carney to the ARC committee.
The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.
Park / Entrance / Landscaping - Mark Buick
The Architectural Review Committee had requested an estimate
from NW Grounds Maintenance to plant bushes in front of several fences on the
park. It is the policy that there be natural landscaping hiding any fences that border the
community park. Mark Buick had met with
NW Grounds during the week to review the locations. Once the cost estimate is received the ARC
will review and make a recommendation to the full Board.
Mark also asked NW Grounds for an estimate to maintain the
South Cove area along 188th, north of
Mark also asked NW Grounds to trim low-lying tree limbs
along park paths and common areas. This
was done the same day requested.
Drainage continues to be a problem in the park during wet
weather months and the Spring. NW Grounds provided an estimate to repair the
drainage a problems.
A ‘quick fix’ would be $4,600.
Mark is estimating the cost for a permanent fix somewhere around $20,000.
Ivonne Thurlkill has been working on path repair bids, but
there are none to date. It has been
difficult finding a company that will do the work as it’s a relatively small
job, and they feel that paving equipment will damage the grass where they have
done repaving. The Board concurred that
we should contact the companies and obtain bids in
spite of the possible damage that may be done to the grass. The total budget to pave the paths should
include an estimate to repair any damage to the grass.
David Bangs discussed several 4th of July
vandalism incidents in our community.
One was the planting island in the 194th cul-de-sac that was
blown up and caught on fire, a massive string of firecrackers (16,000) that
damaged the tennis courts, and eight sprinkler heads that were broken off.
The homeowners in the cul-de-sac with the burned planting
island asked the Architectural Review Committee if the Homeowners Association
would consider financial assistance to repair the damage. They currently have an estimate of $500 to
remove debris and clean up the island.
The Board discussed this request, however, our
Covenants specifically state that planting islands are the responsibility of
neighboring homeowners. While
understanding of the request, the Board feels spending funds on this planting
island would be in conflict with the directive in our Covenants
.
David Bangs indicated the South Cove survey comments felt
plants at our community entrances needed replacing. Mark Buick will ask our grounds maintenance
provider about drought-tolerant plants and what can be done at the entrances.
Tennis Courts - Susi Tom
Susi reported the tennis court gate lock is broken again. This time, apparently the strike plate is part of the problem. The repair estimate is $150 ($49 – svc. call; $20 – replace latch; $10 – strike plate; $55/hr for 1-1.5 hours). There was discussion about the number and frequency of repairs, what it would take to get this fixed permanently. Doug McDaniel offered to help with the repair, Susi Tom accepted the assistance. Doug moved to spend the $150 for repairs, the motion was seconded and approved.
Tennis Lessons - Susie Carney
Susie Carney reported that four group lessons have been
completed; there are eight still to go.
The instructor has been excellent and the events have been received very
well.
Susie estimates there will be $200 - $450 left over from the
lessons. The funds will go to tennis
court expenses.
Traffic – Susie Carney
The committee is
seeking installation of a King County-provided blue sign that states ‘Please
Drive Carefully For Our Childrens’
Sake’. The committee has completed
several requirements to qualify for this sign.
One outstanding requirement is the need to have each
household driver sign a written pledge not to speed on their
neighborhood streets, or streets within the development. About 10 people have volunteered to be part
of the signature gathering. In order to
limit volunteers to having to go to only 15 homes, another 10 volunteers are
needed. (The minutes of the original
meeting with
Kendra has scheduled
Big Toys to visit our community playground and submit recommendations on what
equipment needs upgrading or replacing, and the costs for each. Current estimates to
replace the playground equipment is $30,000.
Legal Issues – David Bangs
The Treasurer’s report included payment of directors’
insurance this past month. Several board
members asked questions relative to situations whereby this insurance would be
used. Mark Buick made a motion to approve
the Board President spending up to one hour with the Associations’ legal counsel to clarify
the Boards’ position on scenario situations and report back to the Board. The motion was seconded and unanimously
approved.
Survey
Results – David Bangs
A newsletter and web
site survey was made this past month seeking homeowner input as to initiatives
they feel should be carried out in our community by the South Cove Board. 15 responses were received via newsletter; 42
were received via the South Cove web site survey. Survey results can be seen at www.southcove.net (below the 4th
of July pictures).
The overall response ranking in order of importance were:
1)
Fix
the drainage.
2)
Playground
equipment.
3)
Repair
park paths.
4)
Take
out the cottonwood trees.
There was general
discussion and ideas on working solutions to fund these projects. This included dues increase, special
assessments, reserve funds, funding of needs over a 5-year plan, etc. The general consensus was a special
assessment of $125 per year for the next two years.
We currently have
only ballpark estimates for these projects ($20,000 to fix the drainage;
$30,000 to replace the playgound equipment; $12,000
to replace the paths; and unknown to take out the cottonwoods). It is imperative the Board have solid cost
estimates on these projects to take to the full membership for a vote in
November. The Board members working each
of these issues were asked to firm up the cost estimates for the August Board
meeting.
New
Business
Mark Buick asked that each committee report be limited to 10 minutes to avoid lengthy meetings as have occurred the past few months. David Bangs indicated he would set the meeting agenda so that the major issues are covered early in the meeting, committee reports held to last to ensure the important issues receive the attention they need.
Next meeting:
Location undetermined
(All
2001 meeting dates and locations are listed on the South Cove web site in the
Events Calendar.)
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned
at
Respectfully submitted
Fred Riler, Secretary
South Cove Homeowners Association