South Cove Special Assessment Special Board Meeting, 9/5/2002

Meeting at Home of Susi Tom
Minutes submitted by David Bangs

Board Members present: Susi Tom, Susie Carney, Kendra Mills, Shelly Birkwood, Doug McDaniel, Mike Quaranta, Mark Southern, David Bangs
Absent: Cynthia Murphy
Other Homeowners: Don and Julie Meyer, Laurie Kramer.  Bob Courrier dropped by to comment.
 
Drainage:
 
Since last meeting, Mark and Kendra met with Puget Landscaping to refine a targeted drainage design that can be done in stages. Marks report from the meeting:
Net net we can take a phased approach toward solving the drainage problem.  The "French drains" that he recommends are rigid and will permit subsequent rotor rooter if necessary, and can be daisy chained together as we discussed in the event we elect to go further up the park.  We will recommend testing the contractors solution on the spot behind the Strombergs and across the path by the trees, approximate cost is $7K. If that is successful, and if we have sufficient funds, the next phase would be around the tennis courts.
 
If future additions go under existing pathways can be bored under and will not damage the paths.  We do need to mark the sprinkler heads for the path guys to make sure they do not pave over any of them. 
Mark showed the two French drains with catch basins proposed for the first phase, at the soggiest section of the park in front of the Stromberg's house south of the tennis courts, and across the path from there toward the water.  This project includes only limited regrading. The pipe will be rigid and 4" in diameter with holes in each side, buried 24" deep in a layer of gravel with a sand layer at the surface. The actual bid for this phase is $7600 - and the contractor is being encouraged to lower it.
 
Mark moved, and Susi Tom seconded, that we approve these two lines be installed at a cost of up to $7600 plus tax.  Passed unanimously. Kendra reported that with tax the amount becomes $8268. 
 
A very rough estimate is that irrigation repairs over the area could run $321 - the cost of 8 hours of labor.  However, the entire state of the irrigation system needs to be reviewed.
 
Drainage work can be scheduled for the week of September 30th.
 
Trees
 
We walked over to the Cottonwood trees near the tennis court.
 
Susie Carney reported that she received 17 emails this week.  11 emails were in favor of removing the cottonwood trees, and 6 were opposed to the idea. The visitors (Don and Julie Meyer, Laurie Kramer and Bob Courrier) all voiced opposition to removing the trees. 
 
Some reasons mentioned for removing the trees are:
[This list is bound to be incomplete.]
* They have caused obvious damage to paths and picnic table area.  These paths are already damaged 3 years after they were replaced.
* The tennis court surface may be in danger of damage.
* These cottonwoods have been known to drop limbs and are dangerous.  One limb pierced the Toms' roof a number of years back. A child was actually hit with a falling limb, and there have been near misses.
* Nearby homeowners feel nervous, and strongly support removing them.
* It is difficult to justify replacing paths in such close proximity to surface level cottonwood roots.
* Other kinds of trees are available which have deeper roots and which do not tend to drop branches - even when the branches die.
* Now is the time to remove them - before we fix the sidewalks and drainage.
* We have been steadily removing cottonwoods over the course of many years.  This is not a first.
* It is most cost effective to solve the problem once.
 
Some reasons mentioned for keeping the trees are:
[This list is bound to be incomplete.]
* The park will look barren after trees are removed.
* The Cottonwoods define the unique character of our park - and provide shade.
* Too many trees have been removed, and soon all the big ones could be gone.
* It will take a long time for new trees to grow.
* New trees might not be free of all the negative impacts the cottonwoods have.
* Cottonwoods use up lots of water, so removing them could make drainage worse.
* People should accommodate nature - rather than destroying it when it becomes inconvenient.
* These cottonwoods are healthy.
* Removing cottonwoods could have impacts, such as harming nearby rhodies which need shade.
 
In light of the proximity of Cottonwoods to the Toms' home, the Meyers suggested a compromise whereby the trees by the tennis courts, which do not endanger any homes, would be retained while the two by the Toms' home would be removed.  David Bangs pointed out that it is those cottonwoods by the tennis courts which cause the biggest threat to paths and the tennis courts, and that the opposite compromise might be better for the homeowners.
 
Susie Carney provided an opportunity for Board member to make a motion to reverse last week's decision to remove the trees.  No member made a motion - so she declared the decision to remove the trees stands.  Doug McDaniel will contact the contractors to reschedule.
 
Paths:
 
Susie will schedule the path repaving for the second week of October.  She has been working with neighbors near the path to Sammamish Beach Club to work out whether that should be a 4 foot path vs. a 5 foot path.  If a four foot path, we would need to keep bushes trimmed on a regular basis.  If a 5 foot path (the width of Sammamish Beach Club's part of the path) we would have to remove the shrubs.  An adjacent homeowner would like a car post installed if the path is widened to 5 feet.
 
More discussion of path details will occur at the September board meeting.