The meeting was called to order at 7:03 PM by President Easton Craft. Board members present: Easton Craft, Maggie Taber, B.J. Oneal, Brian Branagan, Steve Johnston, and Jeff Gough.
PRESIDENT, Easton Craft –
Carlson litigation: At his insistence the Club attorneys have offered Carlson a date (in March) to take Easton Craft’s deposition. Eglick and Whithead have also requested, in turn, that the Plaintiffs (Mr. and Mrs. Carlson) provide dates for their depositions. To date, there has been no response. Club counsel also continues with document review in light of the significant document production demands made by Carlson. In the last few days approximately 2000 more pages of documents have been reviewed and produced to Carlson.
Hjelle: Ms. Hjelle has still not submitted an application to the City for bringing her vegetation into compliance although there was a pretense in her December 20 deposition that she would do so. She also has still not produced items requested by the Club in discovery last year. Club counsel is pursuing these issues. Club counsel has also subpoenaed for depositions later this month two geotechnical engineers whom Hjelle counsel listed as witnesses.
Tynan: Mr. Tynan has taken additional steps toward compliance. Subject to confirmation, these may be sufficient to allow the Club to instruct its counsel to dismiss the compliance lawsuit concerning the Tynan lot.
Norden: The Nordens brought their vegetation into compliance and have requested a reduction in fines and expenses owed to the Club. Per the bylaws, the Board must hear from IAC members before making a decision on a reduction request. The hearing on the Nordens’ request has been rescheduled for March 13, 2019. Comments will be accepted then and can also be submitted in writing in advance of the hearing.
Reserve Trees: At one time, the City worked cooperatively with the Club on implementation of a management plan for Reserve trees. Several years ago the City indicated a willingness to amend the Code to revive a tree management plan approach. In return, the Club even offered to contribute to the expense of engaging a consultant to help draft Code language. The City has since been distracted by other priorities.
In light of the Club’s new focus on view preservation in the Reserve tracts the Club has nonetheless been attempting to re-focus the City’s attention on this. Easton Craft has met with the City several times over the past two months to renew the discussion on a management plan to review view preservation applications Reserve wide rather than on a case-by-case basis. As progress is made with the City on a potential framework for addressing Reserve trees, such as the management plan approach (instead of proceeding on a tree by tree or permit by permit basis which after review would be exceedingly costly), the Reserve tree committee previously approved by the Board will be constituted.
Other legal matters:
Storm Creek: There have been no additional meetings since the December gathering of neighbor, Club, and City representatives, which was productive. Neighbors’ attorney has indicated recently that his clients would like to know how much the Club would contribute toward remedies for the current situation in Storm Creek. The total cost for such remedies could be $1 million.
VICE PRESIDENT/COMPLIANCE, Dave Fosmire –
NOTE: All Compliance hearings are held at the Innis Arden Clubhouse at 7:00PM unless noted otherwise.
There will be a fines reduction hearing for the Nordens on March 13th at the clubhouse at 7PM.
BUILDING AND REMODEL, Cindy Esselman –
There is no February B&R report and there are no remodels for March.
TREASURER, Jeff Gough –
The 2020 Asset Reserve Study has been completed. According to the study, we are 80% funded. We’ve made annual contributions roughly in-line with our study’s recommendations, though additional large projects this past year (the ADA renovations to the Clubhouse bathroom and the playground upgrade project) depleted a chunk of our reserves. We remain in a strong position at 80% coverage and hopefully can climb back toward 100% over the next couple of years. The recommended contribution range for 2020 is between $55-$61k. For reference, we contributed $50k to our Asset Reserve before the close of 2018.
At the close of January, the Club Operating Checking balance was $12,419, the Collections Savings balance was $71,840 and the Asset Reserve Savings was $277,055.
CLUBHOUSE, Brian Branagan –
January was a quiet month. Clubhouse was used for exercise classes and Clubhouse business. Income for future rentals was $2,300 with deposit refunds of $525.
Clubhouse Building
The hard drive failed for the clubhouse video surveillance system in December. A new one with high-definition cameras was installed in its place.
GROUNDS, Jim McCulloch –
2019 Objectives for the Grounds Committee:
- Maintain and improve the existing lawn and planting beds around the Clubhouse
- Maintain the Innis Arden Main Entrance and other Innis Arden Entrances.
- Upgrade existing irrigation systems to be more efficient and cost effective
Work Items Completed Last Month:
- Main Entrance:
- Weekly maintenance.
- Seasonal pruning.
- Placed additional lighting in the main entrance area to better illuminate the Innis Arden sign, and back light the maple trees.
- Grounds:
- Weekly maintenance.
- Seasonal pruning.
- Relocated existing irrigation heads in the north field to provide a more uniform coverage.
Work Items Scheduled this Month:
- Continue weekly maintenance of Grounds and Entrances, including removal of leaves and cutting back of entrance grasses.
- Install new irrigation heads in the west field. This will complete the grounds’ irrigation upgrade.
ROW Trees
- 1463 NW 186th St: (One 18” deciduous): Permit received; removal to be coordinated with owners and Ballard Tree Service.
- 18742 Ridgefield Rd. NW (One 30”Conifer): Confirming permit requirements with City due to critical area.
- 16904 14th Ave NW (Two 14” Conifers): City confirming location of trees relative to ROW line.
Other Items
- Chair will be soliciting community for possible alternative uses for the current patanque court.
NATURAL RESERVES, Steve Johnston –
The very cold weather, and with it almost a foot of snow, has literally frozen our projects for early February. But we were glad to see so many people out there hiking and even back country skiing through the Reserves!
After the weather warms up, we will be planting trees, working on the bridges in Eagle, repairing and putting up handrails, and adding more gravel to the trails.
ACTIVITIES, Maggie Taber –
Save the dates:
- Rummage set up Saturday through Friday, March 2nd-8th
- 2019 Rummage Sale – Saturday/Sunday, March 9th & 10th
- Wine Tasting Event – Friday, April 12th
- Easter Egg Scramble – Saturday, April 20th
- Men’s Night – Saturday, May 18th
- Annual Salmon BBQ – Wednesday, July 17th
- Oktoberfest – early October. date TBD
The final Rummage collection dates before the sale are:
- Saturday, Feb. 16th from 10 am to noon
- Monday Feb. 25th from 11 am to 1 pm.
Huge thanks for all who have already donated, please know we can always use more! Judy Allen and Stephen Barrett have offered to help with pick up of items at 10 am on those dates. Any questions, please contact Maggie Taber.
Rummage set up and move in is Saturday, March 2nd from 11 to 4pm.
Set up will continue on Sunday the 3rd from 11 to 4pm.
The tent goes up at noon on Sunday. Please consider volunteering!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c094aaaab2da0f58-2019
Activities will provide coffee and cookies at the Annual Meeting.
Jennifer Buma and Cori Whittaker are chairing the Wine Tasting on Friday, April 12th. Please contact them if you would like to volunteer. Tickets are available on Brown Paper Tickets:
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4045105
Men’s night is Saturday, May 18th. Gage Wagoner and Kelly Sanders are co-chairs. Theme this year is smoked foods and unusual whisky.
Our next meeting is Monday, March 4th, 7pm at the clubhouse. Brian Branagan and Rissa Sanchez to provide cocktail/mocktail – Mojito/Nojito. Please join us!
Other Pertinent Issues
Please make sure to vote before or on Wednesday 2/20/19 for the Annual Meeting!
Shoreline Council of Neighborhoods:
Please see http://www.shorelinewa.gov/our-city/neighborhoods/council-of-neighborhoods/con-minutes for the meeting minutes from the Shoreline Council of Neighborhoods.