Nice work Richelle on getting the spring newsletter out! I've started this tread so that anyone can ask questions about anything in the newsletter, or provide feedback on any issues that werer brought up.
On another note, my street reflectors have been staying up. Except last week, I noticed that two of them were getting knocked down again. I figured they were the same bored kids, but since I had talked to them, it didn't seem like it had been much of a problem. So I went to go put them back up, and low and behold, I have a new vandal to deal with... this time it's a mole! He's been digging around, and likes to pop up right below the bricks... probably lots of tasty grubs hiding right there. Oh well, I guess it's always gotta be something. The good news is, I'm finally getting grass to grow along the road since people aren't driving on it anymore!
On another nore, Dandelions are becoming a problem on many lots. The old standby Weed and Feed works ok as a temporary fix, but the best solution is really to pull them using a weed puller that gets the whole root. Ace hardware and Fred Meyer both carry a really nice 'step and pull' model for about $25. It takes some time, especially if your yard is big, but it's a great way to get some fresh air, and there are some kids around that would love to do it for you for a few bucks.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Spring Board Meeting coming up
Dawn annouced last week that we'd be holding the quarterly board meeting next week. If anyone has issues or concerns that they'd like to have brought up for discussion, please let Dawn or any other board member know.
I guess someone has been asking about speed bumps on fircrest again. I looked into this issue with the county about a year ago, and learned that it's not a feasable solution for a variety of reasons, primarily because the section of Fircrest north of Conifer is an emergency response route. There are some other options though that we can utilize to slow down traffic though, including adding paint stripes, a stop sign at Dover ct, or putting some well placed 'kinks' in the road. In order to get the counties 'buy in' we need to first have people volunteer to sit radar so we have proof that people are speeding. If you'd like to help, let me know.
I guess someone has been asking about speed bumps on fircrest again. I looked into this issue with the county about a year ago, and learned that it's not a feasable solution for a variety of reasons, primarily because the section of Fircrest north of Conifer is an emergency response route. There are some other options though that we can utilize to slow down traffic though, including adding paint stripes, a stop sign at Dover ct, or putting some well placed 'kinks' in the road. In order to get the counties 'buy in' we need to first have people volunteer to sit radar so we have proof that people are speeding. If you'd like to help, let me know.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Suspicious vehicles
UPDATE: This vehicle is the paper deliver guy, and works as a contractor to the Kitsap Sun.
Several people have called the SUN to complain already, and they have said that they are working on the noise problem. There is no need for other people to contact them at this time.
***
As a follow-up to the alert I sent out last night, I saw this suspicious vehicle this morning. I was getting ready and heard a car with loud exhaust at about 6:05 AM, so I went out side to take a look. The vehicle went down dover, turned around and sped back up the hill. I went and fiddled with the trunk of my car, so I could be closer to the street when he passed and get a good look without making it look like I was checking him out.
It was a red convertible sedan with a short rear spoiler, and a black soft top. It may have been an early 90's Mustang, but I don't know cars that well. The license plate was WA 950-NMO. I didn't get a good look at the driver or if there was a passenger.
And as a side note, my street reflectors seems to be staying put since I put down the bricks. Some bored kid rearranged the blocks and hid the posts last week, but it was easy enough to fix. Grass is just starting to grow up there... hopefully if I can keep people from driving on it for the next month or so.
Several people have called the SUN to complain already, and they have said that they are working on the noise problem. There is no need for other people to contact them at this time.
***
As a follow-up to the alert I sent out last night, I saw this suspicious vehicle this morning. I was getting ready and heard a car with loud exhaust at about 6:05 AM, so I went out side to take a look. The vehicle went down dover, turned around and sped back up the hill. I went and fiddled with the trunk of my car, so I could be closer to the street when he passed and get a good look without making it look like I was checking him out.
It was a red convertible sedan with a short rear spoiler, and a black soft top. It may have been an early 90's Mustang, but I don't know cars that well. The license plate was WA 950-NMO. I didn't get a good look at the driver or if there was a passenger.
And as a side note, my street reflectors seems to be staying put since I put down the bricks. Some bored kid rearranged the blocks and hid the posts last week, but it was easy enough to fix. Grass is just starting to grow up there... hopefully if I can keep people from driving on it for the next month or so.
Friday, March 2, 2007
HOA state law
I read some interesting homeowners association case law recently, and also caught up on happenings in the state legislature. Did you know that a law was recently passed that prohibits us from restricting political signs? Although we can restrict the manner in which they are displayed, we cannot prohibit them altogether as section 20 currently does.
Here's some good links, that are good resources to consider when discussing covenants, HOA authority, and law. I'm putting these here as much for my reference, so I can find them easily in the future.
HOA Case Law
http://www1.leg.wa.gov/documents/Joint/HOAA/HOA%20committee-%20Washington%20State%20Case%20Law.doc
Recent legislation
http://www1.leg.wa.gov/documents/Joint/HOAA/HOAbillsummary.pdf
Washington State Law
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=64.38
Levying of fines for violations
This issue has come up, and I haven't had the time to research the issue fully until recently. After reviewing the law and susequent case law, It is of my opinion that the HOA has the authority to do this, as authorized by the board of directions.
Specifically, RCW 64.38.020(11) states "Impose and collect charges for late payments of assessments and, after notice and an opportunity to be heard by the board of directors or by the representative designated by the board of directors and in accordance with the procedures as provided in the bylaws or rules and regulations adopted by the board of directors, levy reasonable fines in accordance with a previously established schedule adopted by the board of directors and furnished to the owners for violation of the bylaws, rules, and regulations of the association"
Further, our declaration (the CCandR's) sectyion 31.a states "In the event the owner of any lot shall fail to maintain his lot or the buildings located thereon in accordance with the provisions of this declaration, then the Architectural Review Committee may, by a majority vote of its members, take such action as is necessary to bring the property into conformity with this declaration...."
The CCandR's delegate the authority to levy action to the Architectual Review Committee, and leaves open any action to compel compliance. Since state law allows the levying of fines as implimented by the board of directors, and our declarations leave open 'any action to compel compliance', an amendment to the CCandR's is not required. This is unlike what was required to increase the assessment last year, as the CCandR's clearly state that a vote is required to increase the assessment beyond the consumer price index. I do think it is nessecary to solicit feedback from homeowners, through the newsletter, prior to enacting these rules though, as we want to ensure that this is in the communities interest.
The fining schedule proposed by the Architectual Review Committee previously, seems very reasonable, allowing for two warning letters, 60 days, and attempted personal contact before levying a small fine against a property. We'll need to discuss some details of the process more in detail at upcoming meetings though.
Here's some good links, that are good resources to consider when discussing covenants, HOA authority, and law. I'm putting these here as much for my reference, so I can find them easily in the future.
HOA Case Law
http://www1.leg.wa.gov/documents/Joint/HOAA/HOA%20committee-%20Washington%20State%20Case%20Law.doc
Recent legislation
http://www1.leg.wa.gov/documents/Joint/HOAA/HOAbillsummary.pdf
Washington State Law
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=64.38
Levying of fines for violations
This issue has come up, and I haven't had the time to research the issue fully until recently. After reviewing the law and susequent case law, It is of my opinion that the HOA has the authority to do this, as authorized by the board of directions.
Specifically, RCW 64.38.020(11) states "Impose and collect charges for late payments of assessments and, after notice and an opportunity to be heard by the board of directors or by the representative designated by the board of directors and in accordance with the procedures as provided in the bylaws or rules and regulations adopted by the board of directors, levy reasonable fines in accordance with a previously established schedule adopted by the board of directors and furnished to the owners for violation of the bylaws, rules, and regulations of the association"
Further, our declaration (the CCandR's) sectyion 31.a states "In the event the owner of any lot shall fail to maintain his lot or the buildings located thereon in accordance with the provisions of this declaration, then the Architectural Review Committee may, by a majority vote of its members, take such action as is necessary to bring the property into conformity with this declaration...."
The CCandR's delegate the authority to levy action to the Architectual Review Committee, and leaves open any action to compel compliance. Since state law allows the levying of fines as implimented by the board of directors, and our declarations leave open 'any action to compel compliance', an amendment to the CCandR's is not required. This is unlike what was required to increase the assessment last year, as the CCandR's clearly state that a vote is required to increase the assessment beyond the consumer price index. I do think it is nessecary to solicit feedback from homeowners, through the newsletter, prior to enacting these rules though, as we want to ensure that this is in the communities interest.
The fining schedule proposed by the Architectual Review Committee previously, seems very reasonable, allowing for two warning letters, 60 days, and attempted personal contact before levying a small fine against a property. We'll need to discuss some details of the process more in detail at upcoming meetings though.
Street Reflectors
I put out some reflectors on the grassy strip that I maintain along Fircrest, because some people felt like they could park on my lawn there, and I also thought it would help get people to slow down a bit as they come around the corner. Seems to have worked. Nobody's parked there recently, and people do seem to be slowing down... however, my reflectors keep getting knocked down, or stolen during the daytime. They're all up when I go to work in the morning, and then I come home, and they're knocked down, or missing altogether. Eventually, they seem to find their way back when a responsible homeowners finds one somewhere and bring them back.
I don't know who is doing this, but it's becoming a game. I straigthen them up, then they get knocked down again.
I'd appreciate it if anyone sees someone messing with them, if they let me know. It might just be a bored kid walking home from school, in which case, just ask them to stop, and then ask them if they'd like to make some money helping me pull weeds.
I don't know who is doing this, but it's becoming a game. I straigthen them up, then they get knocked down again.
I'd appreciate it if anyone sees someone messing with them, if they let me know. It might just be a bored kid walking home from school, in which case, just ask them to stop, and then ask them if they'd like to make some money helping me pull weeds.
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