Minutes of HCCA 2004 Annual Membership Meeting
HORIZON CREST COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
FEBRUARY 12, 2004, NEWPORT WAY LIBRARY, 7:00-9:00 P.M.
Officers in attendance: Kimball Williams, Pres; Bill Hornell, Merrily Hornell, Vice-Pres; Kurt Lutterman, Treas.; Jan Falls, Secretary; Eric Dawes, Area Rep (5)
General membership: 27
Opening Remarks: Kimball Williams welcomed membership and provided overview of meeting.
Minutes: Synopsis of 2003 meeting minutes provided by Jan Falls
Officer Reports:
President: Kimball Williams spoke warmly of his three years service to community and of decision to resign position as President. Discussion of our 228 home community, and the origin of HCCA from 4 related developments. Topics of importance this year included: budget and dues participation of less than 50% of the 228 homes vs. ability to maintain services at current budget; increase of issues between neighbors and how re-writing of covenants relates to resolution; need for more communication within community including use of email, newsletters, neighborhood reps, web page and other information dissemination.
Vice-President: Merrily Hornell discussed 2004 ballot and election of officers including President,
Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary, four area reps, and committees for improvement of neighborhood, including architectural, enhancement, membership, web and picnic. Outlined the need for small area reps to disseminate information to adjacent homes and report back to one of four large area reps for representation of neighborhood at board meetings.
Treasurer: Kurt Lutterman was late arriving and Merrily initially reported that insurance costs have put organization into negative fiscal position. Insurance costs have doubled in last three years.
Costs: (2000)
$760; (2001) $823; (2002) $1282; (2003) $1349
Treasurer arrived and reported that he had sought out lowest insurance costs. He stated that the increase reflects the national issues surrounding the liability of small organizations. All local groups including Somerset and Whispering Heights are in same position. Question on what coverage is for? Insurance covers liability for directors, officers, and neighborhood.
Homeowner brought up other neighborhoods with higher dues and their ability to put liens on property and enforce covenants.
President clarified that HCCA is a voluntary organization. The original covenants contain nothing about a "binding homeowners organization". Need for new covenants.
Treasurer noted that last year, 112 of 228 homes paid their $25 dues. Somerset has a 64% participation rate with higher dues. Then stated that we need to increase dues or membership to be fiscally responsible.
Committee Reports:
Architectural Committee: Steve Kessler reported that the committee has completed the preliminary draft of new covenants to replace original HCCA covenants. The draft is available for review on the HCCA website. The rationale for rewriting the covenants is to produce a uniform document for all four areas. Old covenants are specific to areas 1-4 and while they are very similar, there are differences. New covenants will provide continuity for community. Original trees prior to 1975 are protected. New items addressed in covenants reflect changes in community during last 30 years and include: home businesses, waste containers and a change in perspective that reflects homeowners point of view rather than that of developers (mineral rights).
Homeowner comments:
Is there any language in new document relating to process for enforcement of covenants?
There is a need for homeowners to abide by covenants and make individuals accountable.
Binding covenants bring comfort. There is a need for action by the board.
In response, the President discussed the need for participation and communication within the community. New covenants require agreement within community. Board wants feedback; please email suggestions and comments on preliminary draft.
Neighborhood Enhancement Committee: Committee has worked on drainage, signs, hedges and needs manpower to work on all issues. In a neighborhood of 30-year-old homes with mature growth, we all need to be responsible. Issues involve beauty and safety. In addition, committee reported on street plowing and sanding during recent snows, street light maintenance, and again stressed the need for representatives and communication within HCCA. We need to liven up the spirit of community.
Membership Committee: To date, the committee has primarily welcomed new residents with plant and/or cookies and disseminated information on community, website, maps and newsletters. Dues collection has been secondary, but successful.
Website: Eric Dawes has created and maintained a wonderful website for our community. His vision provides information including local community issues, covenants, membership roster, a vehicle for dues collection, minutes, feedback, babysitting and other services, and our Horizon Crest weather site, designed and maintained by Bill Lundell. Our website is secure and password protected for email and payment. Kudos for Eric and Bill.
Picnic: Christina Peterman coordinated the HCCA picnic. She reported that the picnic provided fun and a good time for community. Participation by city of Bellevue included cake, banner, t-shirts and fire department.
Ongoing Business:
Elections: All nominated individual were elected as follow:
President: Merrily and Bill Hornell
Vice-President: Vicki Nickinovich and Jim Russell
Treasurer: Eric Dawes
Secretary: Jan Falls
Representatives:
Area 2: Christina Peterman
Area 3: Bruce Caroon
Area 4: Bill Lundell
Area 5: Heather Trescases
Architectural Control Committee:
Area 2: Steve Kessler and Johannes Christensen
Area 3: Fred Lisaius
Area 4: Bill Lundell
Area 5: Eric Dawes
Randy Cox will chair the Membership Committee
Dues:
The Treasurer recommended that in light of rising expenses and downturn in membership, dues be raised to $40/year. He stressed need to be fiscally responsible. It was noted that Somerset pays $50/year and Whispering Heights pays $20. Whispering Heights offers little in the way of neighborhood services. Other board members presented costs for last three years noting significant rise in insurance and most other areas. For 2003 we need $3113 to break even. Membership was informed that fewer dumpsters were rented this year for cleanup, that newsletters are increasingly difficult to produce and mail, and that some committees pay for materials themselves. The ability to provide services is becoming increasingly difficult.
The proposed increase in dues continued spirited discussion within the group that had been touched on throughout the evening.
Discussion included:
Value of membership
No enforcement of covenants by board
Charging more would not guarantee increased funding as membership might fall
Membership is real issue; higher membership will drive increased funding to organization
Cost cutting
Lack of data on need for increase
Hand delivery of newsletters
Charging for picnic
Board responded that without membership dollars and participation of membership on committees and as manpower, we are unable to function successfully.
A commitment was made for a membership drive to increase funding and participation of community in HCCA.
It was moved that annual dues be raised to $30.00 immediately. Not seconded.
It was moved and seconded that dues be set at $30 by April 1, Failed
It was moved and seconded that unless membership is raised to 135 members ($3375) by June 1, 2004, dues will be raised to $30. Vote carried.
With President noting time restraints, mention was made of new trail through community, street sign awaiting repair. Need for commitment to membership drive was reiterated.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.