Board of Directors Minutes – April 20, 2020

Marymoor Trails
Board of Directors Meeting
April 20, 2020

The Marymoor Trails Board of Directors meeting convened at 10AM Monday April 20, 2020. Due to coronavirus, we met by conference call. Attending: Michael Niksa, President; Josh Gibson, Treasurer; Van Chesnutt, Landscape; Jerimiah Willhite, Special Projects; Linda O’Hara, Secretary; and Tim Hollingshead, Morris Management.

Homeowners Forum – none, so we proceeded to regular business

Treasurer’s Report

The transition from old bank to new system implemented by Morris Management is nearly complete. Due to coronavirus (CV), we do not know if/when planned work can be done during the summer.  Account balances as of March 18, 2020 – Operating account (checking) $72,046 and replacement fund (savings) $277,293.

Maintenance

  • Puget Sound Energy (PSE) meter upgrade:  Excess caulking has been removed around all meter boxes. If owners are contacted by PSE, tell them this is done – they will schedule replacement, currently estimated for late May.  Association tried to reschedule these in bulk, but PSE refuses to talk to us as a collective and will only talk to individual owners.
  • Bldg. M patio and step repair:  Pre-sale inspection revealed repairs needed to patio behind one unit in Bldg. M. Replaced 4 patio steps behind another unit in Bldg. M as well while similar work was occurring.
  • Spring walk-around:  On hold due to coronavirus concerns.  Handyman willing to come out if the work can be done with appropriate social distancing.
  • Trex decks have worked out extremely well and show minimal need for maintenance versus painted wood.  This was an experiment last season, and they are proving worth the extra cost so far.  Will do more this year if possible.
  • Painting:  Vendors will not even come out to bid for work. We will paint later in the season or not at all.  If an emergency arises, we will spot repair and paint.
  • Roofing shingles:  This continues a report from last month: Some roofing shingles are deteriorating after 10 years in 30-year lifetime.  A drone survey showed six buildings with shingle wear — one substantial – with water encroachment into one unit (see below).  Warranty will be pursued with the manufacturer. Project manager Jehan Bharucha of Improcon coordinating work.  
  • Bldg. E leak:  One unit in Bldg. E directly beneath a large patch of shingle wear has potential water encroachment around a non-conforming skylight. This is a very serious issue.  The skylight was installed by the original builder, Schneider Homes, at the time of original construction.  It is therefore classified as original equipment and an HOA expense. Board agrees to perform this repair at Association expense only because it was done at the time of original construction by the original manufacturer.  The Association takes responsibility for any and all modifications done by original builder, Schneider Homes, up to the point of the first homeowner taking possession. The Association is not taking any responsibility for any modifications done after that point by Schneider Homes or any other contractor. This is one of several building deficiencies found during investigation, none of which are a “smoking gun” for the original reported leak problem. Any one or more may be contributing to the issue.  Remediation alternatives will be drawn by consulting engineer Jim Riley from Certa Building Solutions at a cost of $2000 just for the proposal.  We will pursue as time, money, and CV restrictions permit us to do so.

Landscape

  • Tree replacement:  Owner in Bldg. A asks to have tree near front door removed and replaced. Tree will be removed by our landscaper. Replacements to be investigated. Heather along walkway also a candidate for replacement with our typical boxwood hedges.
  • Visual block from roadway:  Owner in Bldg. H requests a large replacement bush be placed between unit and Old Redmond Road.  One of the existing bushes is not doing well.  Premiere will look at it and recommend a replacement to Van.
  • Bldg. A muddy in front of garage:  In front of Bldg. A garages, there is an area where water collects and gets very muddy because of dirt coming down from island in front of the unit.  After coronavirus quarantine is resolved, Van will have Bodine come out and see what can be done.
  • Bldg. L drainage:  Bodine was supposed to come out in May to work near Bldg. L on the second part of the substantial drainage remediation project that was done last year.  Delayed due to coronavirus.
  • Tree fertilization:  In the past month, Davey tree has come out and put fertilizer around trees and bushes.
  • Tree replacement:  Van is investigating having a large tree replaced that was removed between Bldgs. I and J.  The tree was dying and removed due to branches falling off into Bldg. J driveway. Looking for bids.
  • Clogged drain:  Rains revealed a clogged drain near Bldg. K, which was inspected by Van and Tim. Innovac came out to clean it and reported that the drain also needs to be roto-rooted.  Van will have this work done, when possible.
  • Sprinklers:  Normally sprinklers are turned on by this time, but this has been delayed because the sprinkler people are not part of the landscape company and due to coronavirus they have not been on-site.  
  • Normal Landscaping: Premiere Landscape has been coming out for lawn and garden care.  They stay far away for routine work, so coronavirus risk is not an issue.

Special Projects

  • Lighting – Jerimiah is working on replacement of exterior lights near garage doors.  Most of these are old, original equipment, and weathered.  Jerimiah is working with a resident volunteer with a design background. Will be consistent across all units, may be able to get contractor pricing. Jerimiah told her this is not an urgent project, and we cannot get contractors out due to coronavirus concerns.  Resident has done some research and she is keeping Jerimiah posted. Original style is about $50, she is seeing if there is something cheaper that also looks good.

Management Report

  • Bldg. B: foundation – Improcon continues ongoing monitoring of alignment, settling and slippage of Bldg. B until October, when a formal report will be made to the Board.
  • Bldg. F: dishwasher leak – Months ago, a dishwasher leak caused extensive interior damage.  This has been repaired, we await reimbursement from the insurance company. Tim to send a check to owner as soon as received. 

New Business

Security

Resident in Bldg. K reported two recent thefts:  break-in of a locked car, and an Amazon delivery stolen from the front porch as soon as it was delivered.  The Board takes security very seriously.  We discussed in detail a full range of options to deter theft in Marymoor Trails. Unfortunately, no available options appear able to solve a crime, keep a crime from happening, or are 100% actionable by the Redmond Police Department. After much discussion, the Board concluded the best approach for security is for individual residents to install as much security around their own unit as they wish.  We will do nothing as an HOA at this time; we advise owners do what they can to secure their own units. We have the following recommendations based on things that some of our existing owners have chosen to do:

  • Lock vehicles at night; leave nothing visible;Park inside your garage
  • Install a home security alarm system 
  • Install security cameras with visibility of front walkway, driveway
  • Install a home-delivery lockbox near front door for personal use
  • Get a private mailbox, have all deliveries held securely until you pick up.

Community Website

Residents would like to have a “community bulletin board” type website, to share information among neighbors — security alerts, buy/sell/trade/free, vendor recommendations, social get-togethers.  A resident volunteered to set up and monitor as a Facebook page for now. We will give this a trial and see how it goes!  This is an unofficial page to trade information as neighbors, not an official site.  Content and postings are not endorsed by Marymoor Trails Association or the Board of Directors.  This is not a forum for maintenance requests – these should continue to be directed to our property manager Tim Hollingshead at Morris Management.  This page has been created at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/188402188448716

Community Garden

Some residents have expressed an interest in a raised-bed community garden. This could be quite popular and provide people with enjoyable outdoor activity especially in a time of CV restrictions. The Board identified and evaluated several areas and sought input from residents. If you have an interest in the garden, please contact our property manager Tim Hollingshead at Morris Management. If we decide to move forward, the Association will purchase raised garden beds, for a uniform appealing appearance, and make available to any interested participant for a small annual fee to cover costs. Jerimiah will head this up in special projects going forward.  

Next Meeting

The next meeting is scheduled for Monday May 18, 2020 at 10:00AM. At the present time, this is planned for conference call. We invite any homeowners to participate. If you wish to call in, please contact Tim Hollingshead for conference call information.