RENAISSANCE RIDGE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

WINTER MEETING

February 28, 2002

 

MINUTES

 

Meeting called to order at 6:54 pm

 

Adoption of November 29, 2001, Meeting Minutes: Passed

 

Report of Officers

v  Don Corbett, Vice President

Ø  Thanked the Board for appointing him to be the new Vice President in December

Ø  The Board of Directors has regular meetings twice a month and has been busy fielding voicemail and email questions and suggestions

v  Brett Waldbaum, Secretary

Ø  Newsletters began in December and are being sent out monthly (except months when there’s a quarterly meeting); the response has been very positive

Ø  Passed along message from Kyle Downey, Treasurer, that Century Small Business Solutions has been working with us since January.  Please bear with us as we complete the transition from MacPherson’s to Century.  If you received duplicate invoices, or did not receive a dues invoice in January, or if you have questions about the amount due then please contact the Homeowners Association.

v  Katherine Hall, At Large

Ø  To participate in the Neighborhood Block Watch program each homeowner must be the captain or find the captain on their block and register with the captain.  Katherine can answer questions about the program, but is not organizing it for the entire neighborhood; it is the homeowner’s responsibility to organize it for his/her block if he/she chooses to participate.

v  Martin Dunn, President, and Kyle Downey, Treasurer: Unable to attend meeting

 

Committee Reports

v  Budget/Finance Committee (Kyle Downey)

Ø  Don announced that the 2002 budget estimates may have been too low since the HOA has already used much of the budgeted money for arborist and tree-cutting fees.  If unexpected costs continue the budget may be in jeopardy; we will know more as the year goes on.

Ø  The Board has received threats from a few homeowners that they will not pay their HOA dues unless the Board responds faster or performs a certain action in response to their complaints.  According to the CC&Rs the dues must always be paid, and late fees and liens could result if homeowners are non-compliant.  Please pay dues on time to avoid these consequences.

v  Safety Committee (Katherine Hall)

Ø  In the spring and summer Katherine will contact the city and arrange safety meetings for issues such as fire, earthquake, and home safety.

Ø  Some meetings will tried to be arranged in the neighborhood so children can attend and learn along with their parents and other homeowners.

v  City Liaison (Elisa Watkins)

Ø  Received information from the city about why there is a gated fence at the end of 242nd Drive SE.  It was required by the city to approve the completion of Renaissance Ridge Division 2.

Ø  Will check with the city regarding construction/landscaping noise ordinances, animal waste laws, and soliciting laws in response to neighbor complaints.

v  Architecture Control Committee (Eva Gordon)

Ø  All but three of the outstanding applications have been resolved

Ø  Before submitting an ACC application, please get written approval from the city if you are building on a setback or need a building permit, and send the approval in with the ACC application

Ø  ACC is meeting privately on the second Wednesday of every month; the goal is to reduce turnaround time for application processing

Ø  Satellite dish survey results:

§  92 out of about 285 surveys returned (33% return rate)

§  Received the entire range of responses; some people wanted no restrictions and others wanted as many restrictions as possible

§  The FCC does not allow the Homeowners Association to enforce any rules in regards to satellite dishes, but…

§  … the Renaissance Ridge Homeowners Association strongly requests that if you install a satellite dish please:

v  Social Committee (Janice Merdgen & Susan Barth)

Ø  Held first meeting in February, and planned many events for this year (even without any money from the HOA budget)!

Ø  Neighborhood Egg Hunt: Saturday, March 30th – Please see the newsletter for details

Ø  TGIF picnic dinner in the parks every Friday at 6 pm starting June 7th

Ø  Fourth of July parade

Ø  Renaissance Ridge Days in August: garage sale on a Saturday, then BBQ and games the following Sunday

Ø  Needs more committee members to help plan/organize events

 

Unfinished Business

v  Tract “I” Easement Settlement

Ø  Don Corbett reported that most of the illegally cleared area in Tract “I” has now been replanted per the settlement.  The area nearest to SE 8th has not yet been replanted.

v  Status of Common Area Walkthrough with Polygon

Ø  Martin Dunn and Kyle Downey have received unsatisfactory responses from Polygon regarding the final walkthrough of the neighborhood’s common areas.  They sent back comments and are arranging to meet with Polygon again to point out remaining problems, such as exposed pipes, drainage near the 242nd Drive basketball court, and landscaping.

v  Water District Audit

Ø  Martin Dunn will look into whether it makes sense to lower the water bill for the neighborhood’s common areas by paying for a one-time audit by the water district.

 

New Business

v  Landscaping Contract and Arborist Report

Ø  Don Corbett reported that he has compiled the complete set of work items for the landscape contract and has been collecting bids.  Earthworks, the previous landscaping contractor, is the likely winner and the two current contracts will be merged into one, more complete contract in March.  They have agreed to include arborist work and tree-removal services for trees with the highest risk of falling.

v  Parking Rules Update

Ø  Katherine Hall and Brett Waldbaum reported that attorneys have been consulted regarding the vehicle parking rules stated in the CC&Rs and discussed in the January newsletter.  It appears that the rules regarding driveway and street parking cannot be enforced by the HOA.  Street parking laws are enforced by the City of Sammamish, and the police may be contacted if vehicles are illegally parked (on the sidewalk, facing the wrong direction, etc).  For safety’s sake and for the aesthetic appearance of the neighborhood the HOA strongly encourages homeowners to park their vehicles in the garage at all times.

v  Restriction of Signage in Common Areas

Ø  There have been violations of the CC&Rs regarding posting signs in common areas; any signs posted in the common areas (including the parks and neighborhood entrances) may be removed without notice.  Polygon is being asked to remove their signs in March as the final homes are sold.

v  Backyard Compliance Letters

Ø  The Board has begun the crackdown process on homes that have violated the CC&Rs regarding landscaping the rear yard within 120 days of the closing date.  Seventeen homes received letters warning that if the rear yard is not landscaped a $200 per month fine will be imposed.

v  Renaissance Ridge Web Site

Ø  Brett Waldbaum reported that the neighborhood web site is under construction and will go online this spring.  It will provide news, event notices, contact information, rules, and a password-protected section that contains the neighborhood roster and a for-sale section.  Businesses will have the opportunity to advertise on it, and homeowners will have a reduced rate for advertisements.

Ø  A web committee is being formed; interested neighbors can contact the HOA to join and help provide technical information and content suggestions.

 

Meeting Adjourned at 7:55 pm

 

Attendance: 32