Author: HOA board members

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News

Email Testimony from Bill Lider to Snohmish County Council in support of Fire Works Ban

Date:  August 1, 2016

Snohomish County Council

Subject:  Testimony in Support of the Fire Works Ban

On Behalf of the Sno-King Watershed Council, I am here today to support a ban of the use of fireworks in unincorporated Snohomish County.

Besides the obvious fire, air pollution, safety, and noise issues, fireworks powder contains significant amounts of elemental sulfur.  More fireworks are lit on County roads leaving considerable residue on the streets.  This high sulfur fireworks residue when mixed with water will produce sulfuric acid.  The low pH runoff then contributes to water pollution, acidification of the streams which can be especially harmful to fish and aquatic invertebrates during periods of low summer flows when stream water temperatures are high, oxygen levels are low and fish and other aquatic organisms are most stressed.

Any reduction in polluted storm water runoff from streets in summer is particularly important to help reduce the “first flush” effects on streams, some of which provide habitat for endangered Chinook salmon.

Thank you for your consideration of these comments.

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News

Editorial from The Everett Herald: Heed South County Fire Officials on Fireworks Ban.

A fireworks ban could limit damage and injuries that occur too often this time of year.


Tuesday, June 18, 2019 1:30am OPINION IN OUR VIEW ❙ By The Herald Editorial Board

Following the Continental Congress’ vote in July 1776 in favor of the Declaration of Independence, Founding Father John Adams wrote his wife Abigail that the day should be celebrated each year with “pomp and parade… games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other.”
Regarding the “bonfires and illuminations,” we’re guessing Adams wasn’t having to pay much of a premium on his homeowner’s insurance, otherwise he might have had a different opinion regarding fireworks, at least those in the hands of his neighbors.
Many Snohomish County residents, however, do have to consider insurance payments and the risk for fires, the nuisance of noise — especially for pets — and other impacts from the annual flash, boom and sizzle of consumer fireworks in our Fourth of July celebrations.
A frequent topic of discussion and proposed ordinances for the county and local cities has returned with a petition to the Snohomish County Council from Sound County Fire officials who want the council to bar the sale and use of fireworks in neighborhoods outside of city limits of Everett, Lynnwood and other south county cities, as The Herald’s Noah Haglund reported Sunday.

South County Fire is using a provision in a 2016 ordinance passed by the council that allows for neighborhood-specific fireworks bans. The neighborhood bans require a petition of 51 percent of registered voters in neighborhoods of 50 or more homes or an area of at least a square mile. To date, the county has received no such petitions, but the ordinance also allows for fire districts and authorities to submit the request.
The county council has schedule the issue for its June 26 meeting and could set a hearing in coming weeks. Even if adopted, the ban wouldn’t take effect until 2021’s July 4 celebrations; state law delays implementation of such ordinances for a year if they are more restrictive than state regulation.
The ban would not apply to unincorporated areas in the north end of the county.
The issue of fireworks and whether to ban their sale and use pits issues of safety and nuisance against, well, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It feels a bit antithetical to ban fireworks for the Fourth of July, but there are legitimate concerns regarding their use, legal and illegal.

Pets, especially dogs, can react with fear and anxiety to fireworks. Reports of missing pets can increase 40 percent during the fireworks season.
South County Fire, going back to 2005, has tallied $3.7 million in property damage from fires caused by fireworks. And 262 injuries were reported statewide in 2017, most around the July 4 holiday, to the Washington State Patrol.
And awareness has increased in recent years that fireworks can cause anxiety for those with posttraumatic stress — including combat veterans — and the victims of gun violence.
Fireworks use is in the unincorporated areas of the county are currently limited to the hours of 9 a.m. to midnight on July 4. About half of Snohomish County’s cities have banned consumer fireworks outright. The others, including Arlington, Bothell, Darrington, Granite Falls, Index, Lake Stevens, Monroe and Snohomish, have regulations similar to the county; Stanwood and Sultan have no restrictions beyond state law.
Another county ordinance in 2016 gives the county fire marshal the authority to declare an emergency and ban fireworks during periods of extreme drought. Currently,

low snowpack and a warmer and drier spring have resulted in moderate drought conditions in Snohomish County and much of Western Washington.
Fireworks bans and regulations are a challenge to enforce, but a ban on their sale would make them more difficult to acquire, which could limit their use.
In recent years, the county council has stopped short of a countywide all-out ban on fireworks, instead leaving the option available to neighborhood majorities and fire officials.
Jim Kenny, board chairman for South County Fire, noted in seeking the ban the extent and growth in the areas the agency is expected to protect from fires and injuries.
“That makes it very challenging and very dangerous to use fireworks amongst so many homes and so many people,” he told The Herald.
The council should take seriously the expertise and knowledge of fire officials and extend a fireworks ban in the south county’s unincorporated areas as requested.
Some will protest the ban, but it doesn’t have to mean a less enjoyable Fourth. Along with professional fireworks displays, a ban on consumer fireworks would still leave us with Adams’ pomp, parade and more.

© 2019, Everett Herald and Sound Publishing, Inc.

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News

Fireworks ban sought for south Snohomish County Fire officials want to outlaw personal fireworks on the outskirts of Everett, Lynnwood and Edmonds.


By Noah Haglund Sunday, June 16, 2019 1:30am LOCAL NEWS BRIER EDMONDS EVERETT ❙ LYNNWOOD MOUNTLAKE TERRACE


EVERETT — Fire authorities have drafted a petition to ban consumer fireworks in parts of south Snohomish County where they aren’t already illegal.
Commissioners for South County Fire approved the petition last week. They sent the request to the Snohomish County Council, which has the authority to ban the sale and use of fireworks outside city limits.
The proposed no-fireworks area would cover huge swathes of suburbia, specifically the unincorporated areas around Everett, Lynnwood and other south county cities.
“The area we represent in south Snohomish County is a very suburban and urbanizing area,” said Commissioner Jim Kenny, board chairman for South County Fire. “That makes it very challenging and very dangerous to use fireworks amongst so many homes and so many people.”
Fire officials plan to testify about the proposal at the County Council meeting scheduled for 9 a.m. June 26. The council could schedule a hearing at a later date to consider the request, with input from all sides of the issue.
If a ban were to pass, state law requires a year delay before it takes effect. That means no county restriction would affect July 4 activities until at least 2021.

For many years, fire officials have gone to the county’s elected leaders, urging them to ban consumer fireworks in unincorporated areas — so far without luck.
They have drawn support from homeowners who
suffered property damage or injuries. Some military veterans and others with post-traumatic stress disorder also have endorsed fireworks restrictions.
South County Fire officials have tallied up about $3.7 million in fireworks-related property damage since 2005, and several serious injuries to eyes, hands and arms, among other body parts.
“The issue for us is that this happens every year,” Kenny said. “And if it’s predictable, it’s preventable. This is one way of preventing those types of injuries.”
Counter-arguments have come from people who operate fireworks stands, often for charity, and people who enjoy fireworks as part of traditional Fourth of July celebrations with friends and family. They note that many of the fireworks that cause the most trouble, including firecrackers and bottle rockets, are already illegal under state law.

“The ban in the past would have been countywide,” Kenny said. “This would be only for South County Fire. This would not affect north Snohomish County or east Snohomish County.”
how to enforce the restriction.
South County Fire came into existence in 2017 when Fire District 1 merged with the Lynnwood Fire Department.
Lynnwood already bans fireworks. The fire authority contracts for service with the cities of Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace and Brier, which also have bans in place. All told, some 250,000 people live in its service area. Much of the territory lies outside of city limits but is densely populated.
If passed, the restriction would include the Eastmont and Mariner areas of unincorporated Everett, plus the Silver Firs development east of Mill Creek and some places near Silver Lake. It would cover the Lynnwood-area neighborhoods of Lake Serene, Lake Stickney, Martha Lake and Meadowdale, as well as Picnic Point south of Mukilteo. The Esperance enclave that’s surrounded by Edmonds would be affected, as would the Hilltop area between Lynnwood and Bothell.

As is, county code only allows people to set off fireworks in unincorporated areas for 15 hours every year, on July 4 between 9 a.m. and 11:59 p.m.
The County Council has tabled a proposal from last year that would have prohibited fireworks in future annexation areas for cities that have bans in place. Despite balking at more aggressive fireworks policies, councilmembers have adopted some recent restrictions.
In 2016, they granted the county fire marshal the power to declare an emergency fireworks ban during times of extreme drought. The same year, the council passed an ordinance that lets voters petition for neighborhood specific fireworks bans, modeled on the county’s no shooting zones. To succeed, a petition must attract support from at least 51 percent of registered voters in a given area. The area must include 50 or more single family homes or cover at least one square mile.
As of last week, county officials said they had yet to receive a single petition for a neighborhood-specific no fireworks zone.
The ordinance contained a provision allowing fire districts or fire authorities, rather than people living in the area, to submit a request. South County Fire is citing that provision.

© 2019, Everett Herald and Sound Publishing, Inc. About ❘ Contact ❘ Site Map ❘ Newsletters ❘ Subscribe ❘ Contests ❘ About Comments ❘ Privacy Policy ❘ Terms of Use ❘ Social Media
For more information about fireworks laws in Washington, visit www.wsp.wa.gov/fireworks.
Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; [email protected]. Twitter: @NWhaglund.

Categories
Meetings

June 2019 Board Meeting

Date: June 20, 2019

Location: Mukilteo City Hall, Community Meeting Room

The meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m. The Board President distributed the agenda which was reviewed. The president amended the agenda to include a new fence request. This was added and the agenda was approved. The minutes from the April meeting had been emailed to all board members in April. The minutes were also approved as written.

Homeowner Forum:

  • New homeowners asked about the issues that are facing the association, and about how they could get more involved. The board president outlined the status of the Regatta Estates Homeowner’s Association. Board members pointed to the numerous common areas, green belts, stairs, detention ponds, fences, mail boxes, and landscape areas that the HOA needs to repair and maintain. Board members also discussed the liability insurance that the HOA maintains on these properties, and the fact that the individual homeowner’s insurance does not cover common area properties. Members also discussed the costs and the lack of accountability that was experience during the time with the management company. The board explained that maintenance of our common areas affects our property values. However, based on the number of active members, the board is limited in what they can do. The new homeowners were encouraged to consider joining the board.
  • A second question was posed regarding how the association responds to homes that violate the CC&RS or that need maintenance. Board members explained that members are asked to email the association to formally lodge the complaint. The board would then email the individual homeowner to ask that they correct the situation.
  • A third question was asked regarding the maintenance of the lawns in the common areas. The board president replied that this is the responsibility of the association, but that we recently went through a change in landscaping companies. This will be further discussed in the report from the Landscaping Committee.

Reports

  • Treasurer Report – The Treasurer distributed copes of the June treasurer’s report, the May bank statement, and the current budget comparison. The president confirmed that the checking and savings passbook amounts were the same as the amounts on the reports. The treasurer referenced the 2017 HOA dues revenue, the number of homes that have paid, dues revenue recovered from previous years, and the year-to-date status for each expense item in the 2019 REHOA budget. The Treasurer also explained that, while he holds the check book and the savings book, he is not a signer on any of the accounts. Other board members are authorized signers. This policy insures dual control on the HOA accounts, i.e. at least two board members are required for any check to be written.
  • Landscaping Committee Report – The committee had been disappointed by the job being done by the company responsible for mowing the common areas. In May, only a small portion of the lawn areas was mowed and the company was un-responsive to repeated phone calls. As a result, the board voted to terminate the contract. A second company was hired to take over maintenance of the lawns, However, due to existing commitments, they would not be able to start until the middle of June. This resulted in tall grass on the common areas. As of this meeting, the new company has now completed the first mowing. The committee also announced that the new company will be spreading mulch on the landscaped areas and the entrances of each division. On a separate topic, Snohomish County finally contacted the committee to say that the sidewalk at the entrance to division 2 would be repaired this summer. The association has placed over 16 phone calls and emails in order to get this repaired and has been frustrated with the delays. The sidewalk is used by many children on their way to and from the school bus stop.
  • Architectural Control Committee – The committee is in the process of updating the wording in the ACC documents. The committee chairman has converted the existing PDF document to a Word format, and has distributed this to the committee members. They are working to clarify the wording and to remove any ambiguous text. The committee could use additional help in completing this project.
  • Arborist Committee – The committee expressed concern about several dead trees. What is not known is whether these are on HOA property, or if they are on the adjoining property. The committee is researching companies to perform a survey of the property lines. The committee proposed using funds budgeted for the arborist study to cover the cost of a survey. A homeowner asked about planting trees on the common areas. The committee confirmed that this had been allowed in the past but that it was done at homeowner’s expense. In addition, the homeowner would be responsible for the placement of these trees and must insure that they do not damage a common area fence or the fence of a neighbor.

Old Business

  • Updating ACC documents – This is an ongoing project. The president has converted the scanned items into a Word document and will send this out to committee members.
  • Updating signers on HOA accounts – The treasurer has sent out the forms needed to add a new signer and remove a former signer from the list of authorized signers on the association accounts. Once the treasurer has all the completed forms, he will take them to the bank.
  • Late letter – The treasurer distributed a draft of a proposed letter to be sent to all homeowners who have yet to pay their dues. This would confirm that they are delinquent and have been assessed a late fee and interest. In addition, the interest would continue to be assessed every month until paid. The president suggested that the association purchase a “Past Due” stamp. This was approved by the board.
  • Liens – The treasurer had contacted the HOA attorney regarding the placement of liens for non-payment of dues. Our attorney confirmed that, based on our current recording procedures, we could place a lien. Any payments are applied on a FIFO basis, meaning that the most recent payments are applied to the oldest debts. He also discussed the Statue of Limitations. He stated that the HOA is following the correct procedure since we keep accurate records showing when a payment has been made and including all letters sent to the homeowner, informing them of the amount they owe.
  • Website access – The website administrator has created a sign-on and temporary password for the board president. This was done on the day after the last meeting, and the president should now have access.

New Business

  • Fireworks – The association has received a letter from the Commissioner of South County Fire indicating that thy are requesting a temporary ban on sale and lighting of fireworks in un-incorporated areas of South Snohomish County due to the current drought. In addition, the Sno-King Watershed Council sent a document regarding the amount of sulfuric acid being washed into our streams from the residue left behind on our surface street in our neighborhoods. Several other concerns related to fireworks were discussed in the letters. The board discussed this and agreed to post these letters as well as two articles published this week in the Everett Herald. Homeowners can contact their county council representatives with their support or opposition to the proposed ban.
  • HOA Storage drives – The president was given a 1 TB storage drive that contained all the HOA records. The vice-president also has a similar drive. There had been concern that we previously had all our information only on computer hard drive. In the case of a catastrophic loss (such as a fire), all HOA documents could have been lost. The board will develop a schedule for updating these two devices and for keeping them current.
  • Fence Request – Homeowner has requested permission to replace the fence behind their home. Permission was granted, but with restrictions. Homeowner must clean up the area once the project is completed.

Action Items

  • President to complete BECU forms and write a letter regarding removal of former signer from list of authorized signers for HOA accounts.
  • Board members to continue work on updating ACC documents.
  • President to re-send all committee members a copy of the ACCs in Word format.
  • Treasurer to send out late notices to delinquent homeowners.
  • Treasurer to purchase Past Due stamp.
  • Website administrator will post articles on fireworks.
  • Arborist committee will obtain bids from survey companies.

Next meeting – Proposed date: August 8th. (If the meeting room is not available for August 8th, the board will try to schedule meeting for August 15th.)

Adjourned – 8:17 p.m.

Categories
News

June, 2019 Board Meeting


The next meeting of the REHOA Board of Directors will be held on Thursday, June 20th, in the Community Room At Mukilteo City Hall. The meeting will start at 7:00 p.m. and all members of the Regatta Estates Homeowners Association are invited to attend.

At the beginning of the meeting, there will be a Member Forum at which time, homeowners in the REHOA will be invited to discuss their concerns. The meeting will also have presentation from the board and from the various committees.

Where: Mukilteo City Hall, Community Room, 11930 Cyrus Way, Mukilteo, WA 98275

When: Thursday, June 20, 2019

Meeting: 7:00 p.m.

Categories
Meetings

April 2019 Board Meeting

Date: April 11, 2019

Location: Mukilteo City Hall, Community Meeting Room

The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. by the board president. The president distributed copies of the meeting agenda which was reviewed and accepted as written. The vice-president had sent out the minutes from the January meeting. These were also approved as written. The president then opened the Homeowner Forum, but no homeowners asked to speak.

Reports:

  1. President: No new issues to report on the new development. Members discussed the proposal before the county council to reduce from three weeks to one week the time period for citizens to comment on new developments. Unfortunately, few homeowners would ever be able to review and voice any opposition given only a seven day window.
  2. Treasurer: The Treasurer distributed copes of the April treasurer’s report, the March bank statement, and the 2019 budget comparison. The board president confirmed that the register amounts coincided with the adjusted amounts on the report. The treasurer reported on the 2019 dues that had been received and deposited from homeowners. In addition, the treasurer reported on the number of passed due homeowners that are now current. The treasurer also passed around a spread sheet that compared the total number of dues payments received each month over the passed twelve years. The past due report was examined and commented by the board.
  3. Landscaping Committee: The landscaping committee reported that they will be staying with the current landscaping companies. Currently, one company handles the mowing of the grass on the common areas, while a second company handles the maintenance on the stair, the detention pond, and the entranceways. It was suggested that members keep a log on the days that work is being done.
  4. Architectural Control Committee: The committee reported that they had not received any new applications. Members are continuing to work on updating the ACC documents. Committee reported that they had not received any new applications.
  5. Arborist Committee: Committee commented on a number of dead trees noted on or near one of the common areas. It was suggested that we may need to survey the property in order to determine who is responsible for these trees. The committee will research the cost and feasibility.

Action Items:

  1. 2019 Dues Lettters: The 2019 REHOA dues letters were sent out on January 23, 2019, with a due date of April 30, 2019. Personalized letters were sent out to any homeowner who still owed any dues from previous years. All homeowners also received a copy of their individual ledger account.
  2. 2018 REHOA Taxes: The REHOA treasurer met with our tax advisor on February 9th, and the 2018 federal taxes were filed the same day. The association does not owe any taxes. Electronic copies of the association taxes have been added to the REHOA files.
  3. Audit: While meeting with our tax advisor, the treasurer inquired about her availability to perform a review of our books. She indicated that she is booked solid up through the tax season. However, she should be available in June or July.
  4. Website: Our website hosting, domain name registration, and private domain registration were all renewed in January. The association also added website back-up. The next day, the association received an email documenting the end to our free email service. Since the association has extensive amounts of saved data associated with the account, it was agreed that the HOA would continue with our current account. In February, an SSL certificate was added to our website. Finally, our version of WordPress was also updated. This resulted in some minor changes to the organization of the REHOA site.
  5. Liens: Board reviewed the association accounts and discussed the costs and procedures for placing a lien against members who allow their account to remain past due. Liens are authorized by the association CC&Rs and have been placed in the past. The board is going to contact the REHOA attorney and confirm that the correct procedures are being followed.

New Business:

  1. Website: Website administrator will grant access and rights to the current REHOA presiden
  2. Authorized Signers on REHOA Accounts: Treasurer will send the necessary forms to the board members who have volunteered.
  3. Reminder Notices: Board members discussed the option to send reminder notices to homeowners. It was decided that notices would be sent in June to any homeowners who continue to be in arrears.

Review of Action Items:

  1. Granting access to REHOA website for the president.
  2. Sending forms to new and current signers.
  3. Revise wording on architectural control documents.
  4. Search for a company to perform a survey.

Next Meeting: June 20, 2019

Meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.

Categories
News

Snohomish County Council approves Change to Building Code

The Snohomish County Council held a brief hearing on January 16 and then approved the change to the building code for Snohomish County that will allow developers to build directly on your property line.

Proponents of the change were members of the Master Builders Association. They argued that the two foot buffer was being used by transients and the homeless, and have become a dumping ground for needles from drug users. They also claimed that the two foot buffer dramatically reduced their efforts to build afordable housing for the homeless.

Opponents of the change were members of the Sno-King Watershed Council and supporters of Save the Picnic Point Forest. They argued that building on the property line infringed on the homeowners property rights. This construction could also damage existing trees and plants as well as affect the ground support for fences and walls.

Some of the council members listened to the statements. Other council members appeared to be bored with the proceedings. After the last homeowner spoke, another representative of the building trades spoke to the council, making light of any conflict of interest and refuting the comments of the homeowners.

The county council approved the change in the ordinance by a vote of 4-1. Unfortuantely, the voter and taxpayer concerns fell on deaf ears. There was no discussion. It was apparent that the council members had made up their minds before the hearing. ed0 \lsd

Categories
News

April 2019 Board Meeting

The next meeting of the REHOA Board of Directors will be held on Thursday, April 11th, in the Community Room at Mukilteo City Hall. The meeting will start at 7:00 p.m. and all members of the Regatta Estates.HOA are invited to attend.

At the beginning of the meeting, there will be a Member Forum during which time homeowners in the REHOA will be invited to discuss their concerns. The meeting will also have presentations from the board and the various REHOA committees.

Where: Mukilteo City Hall, Community Room, 11930 Cyrus Way, Mukilteo, WA 98275

When: Thursday, April 11, 2019, starting at 7:00 p.m.

Categories
Meetings

January 2019 Board Meeting

Date:  January 17, 2019

Location:  Mukilteo City Hall, Community Meeting Room

The meeting was called to order at 7:01 p.m. by the board president.  Since the December board meeting was turned over to a presentation from the SnoKing Watershed Council, there were no minutes to approve.  The president opened the Homeowner Forum to all those present.  No homeowners asked to speak.  The president then moved on to the reports.

Reports:

  • President:  Note:  Due to work conflicts, the board president was not present at the December meeting, and did not have anything new to present to the board.
  • Treasurer:  The Treasurer distributed copies of the January 2019 treasurer’s report, the December 2018 bank statement, and the final 2018 budget comparison.  For the year, the association went over budget by $392.00.  As a result, there will be no roll over funds to 2019.  The board vice-president confirmed that the register balances were the same as the amounts reported by the treasurer.  Treasurer also reviewed the status of dues payments for the year, and compared this to previous years.  The treasurer also reported on the how the HOA will be bringing one home current that has been past due for several years.  This will also require the release of a lien and will involve the association layer.  Since the 2019 budget is to be determined at this meeting, there was not a 2019 budget comparison for distribution.  However, the treasurer reported on two invoices that had been paid in 2019, and three dues payments that had already been received.  While two of the payments were for the same amount, $350.00, that homeowners were assessed in 2018, the third was for a bizarre amount:  $317.84.  No board members could even guess what had prompted the homeowner to send in this amount.  However, the treasurer pointed out that, unless the board proposes the 2019 dues amount to be the same or less, the homeowner will not have paid his principal in full and could be assessed a late fee if he does not pay the difference by the due date.
  • Landscape Committee:  The committee has to renew the mowing contract for the common area in April.  They are in contact with the former HOA landscaper.  Members discussed various payment options and felt that we need to confirm exactly the amount that he would charge and the frequency of the cutting.  Members also discussed the need for additional attention to the entranceways, detention pond, and the stair areas.  It was agreed that the committee must get a firm commitment from the prospective landscapers before we make any changes.
  • Architectural Control Committee:  No members of the ACC were present.  No new applications have been received.
  • Arborist Committee:  The committee obtained permission in mid November from Snohomish County to remove trees that had been noted in the last Arborist Report.  Our tree service was contacted and the trees were removed during the last week of November.  One tree was unstable and would not support a climber.  Permission had to be obtained to place a truck on a homeowners lot and use it to anchor ropes to allow the tree service to remove the tree.  The service found and removed additional dead trees from Tract 989 that threatened HOA homes.

Old Business

  • Review and update to the ACC documents:  The current ACC are merely pdfs and cannot be edited.  The president has re-created the ACCs as a Word document that can be edited.
  • Location of future Annual Meetings:  Board members were in agreement that there was limited benefit from having the annual meeting in the room at Spiro’s Pizza and Pasta.  The past two meetings had been held at that restaurant.   Current plan is to have the 2019 Annual Meeting at Mukilteo City Hall in the City Council Chambers.  Due to commitments by some of the board members, the regular board meetings will now be scheduled on Thursday.

New Business

  • Threats to Regatta Highlands by developer:  After the trees had been cut on the Frognal development, a small strip of trees (50′ x 300′) were left on Tract 999.  This tract is a green belt that is controlled by Regatta Highalnds, a small development of 12 homes that lie between the power station and Picnic Point Elementary.  The trees on Tract 999 are all classified as interior trees and had previously been protected by the surrounding forest.  Once the surrounding forest had been removed by  developers of Frognal Estates, the same developers delivered notices to the 12 homes in Regatta Highlands that they are liable for damage if the trees from Tract 999 should fall on one of the homes they are planning to build in Frognal Estates.  The developers also sent a copy of the arborist report that they had performed on the trees on the Frognal property which pointed out that they trees suffered from disease and were not structurally sound.  The developers stated that it was likely that trees on Tract 999 had similar defects.  The document threatening the homeowners in Regatta Highland was delivered on Saturday, and gave the homeowners until Tuesday evening at 5:00 p.m. to sign and agree to allow the developers from Frognal to remove the trees on Tract 999.  It is interesting that the same developers ignored the repeated requests from Regatta Estates homeowners to take care of their trees.  Trees from the Frognal and/or Horsemen’s Trails property fell and struck Regatta Estates homes and vehicles in 2005, 2007, 2011, 2014, 2015, and 2016.  Multiple attempts by Regatta Estates homeowners to contact the owners of the property and have them take responsibility for the damage from their trees were all ignored.
  • Clear Cutting of Frognal:  HOA members discussed the lack of any announcements of the Snohomish County meetings where the final permits were granted to clear cut.  It was also noted that, while Snohomish County has already posted Bev-Ed Road with notices of road closures scheduled for the summer of 2019.  However, neither the developer nor Snohomish County posted any parking notices on 58th prior to the date when they showed up with the equipment to clear cut the development.
  • 2019 Budget:  The Board reviewed each budget line item individually and discussed the need for adjustments to the budget amounts.
  • 2019 Dues and dues date:  The Board set the amounts for each item.  Based on the total of the budget divided by 76, the 2019 dues were set, and the due date was set for April 30, 2019/
  • Approval of standard expenses for the year:  According to the REHOA bylaws, all expenses must have prior approval from the board.  The treasurer proposed and the board pre-approve the standard expenses for the year.  These include landscaping, brush and entranceway clean-up, insurance, tax preparation, website hosting fees, detention pond maintenance, mailbox rental, mowing, and the state incorporation fee.

 

Review of Action items

  • Print and mail the 2019 REHOA dues letters.
  • Schedule a meeting with our tax representative and then file the 2018 Federal taxes.
  • Renew our contracts for hosting our website.
  • Schedule the next meeting.

Next meeting

  • Proposed date, time, and location of next meeting:  April 11, 2019, 7:00 p.m. at Mukilteo City Hall.

Adjourn

  • Meeting was adjourned at 8:32 p.m.
Categories
News

January 2019 Board Meeting

The first meeting in 2019 of the Board of Directors will now be held on Thursday, January 17th, 2019, in the Community Room at Mukilteo City Hall. The meeting will start at 7:00 p.m. and all members of the Regatta Estates HOA are invited to attend.

At the beginning of the meeting, there will be a Member Forum at which time homeowners in the REHOA will be invited to discuss their concerns. The meeting will also have presentations from the board and various committees. The board is planning to review the expenses of the past year, establish a budget for 2019, and set the annual dues. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend.

Where: Mukilteo City Hall
Community Room
11930 Cyrus Way
Mukilteo, WA 98275

When: Thursday, January 17, 2019
Meeting: 7:00 P.M.