F.Y.I. The Newsletter of Edgewood Townehouse Association
PO Box 5424, Eugene, OR 97405March 2017 Edition
Upcoming Events
Next Regular Board Business Meeting:
Tuesday, April 11, 2017 at 6.30 pm in the ClubhouseBy-The-Brook Book Group:
Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at 2 pm in the ClubhouseTea Time:
Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at 3 pm in the ClubhouseApril Quarterly Open Forum Business Meeting:
Tuesday, April 25, 2017 at 7 pm in the Clubhouse. Special Topic: Emergency PreparednessCONTENTS
Message from the Board
March Board Business Meeting Minutes
Facilities Report
Website Report
Things to Know at ETA
Monthly Checking Activity (Omitted)Editor: ETA Board of Directors
MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD
Preserve. Restore. Maintain.
Robert Bruce Trafton, President, Edgewood Townehouse Association (__)The matter of homeowners regularly parking their vehicles in designated parking spaces has been a topic of lengthy discussion in our last two meetings. In the January meeting the Board revised the wording of the parking policy. The policy is stated below:
1. All homeowners should park vehicles in garages. 2. Temporary parking by homeowners or their guests must be in designated parking spaces. 3. Waivers for Special Circumstances: Homeowners may request waiver of the Parking Policy in the event of exceptional or extraneous circumstances. Waiver Forms are available by contacting the Board, the Facilities and Operations Director, or at edgewoodhoa.org/. The Board will review each case and render a final decision.During the February meeting, the board continued its discussion and review of the parking policy. The Board addressed additional concerns expressed by some homeowners over other homeowners’ practice of 1) parking in designated parking spaces during the day, for consecutive days; 2) over night parking in designated parking spaces for consecutive days; and 3) parking for hours in front of garage doors when loading or unloading in driveways. The Board also discussed incidents where homeowners rebuked another homeowner’s family, friends or guests, and/or were rebuked in person or by anonymous notes left on windshields.
All these matters focused the Board’s attention on a panoply of options on potential parking management plans that compared and contrasted our current policy as stated above. We considered financial penalties for violators; leasing and/or renting parking spaces on a daily rate and monthly rate; we even researched the cost and installation of refurbished municipal coin parking meters; and of course, the option of rescinding all parking policy and permitting unregulated parking in any designated space. Our exercise only brought us back to the sensibility and reasonability of our current stated policy. We recognized that it is not perfect, but it accommodates a small number of homeowners, but more importantly our neighbors, with circumstances and needs to park outside of their garage. These homeowners are regulated and managed through the Parking Waiver Request process, only after weighing the merits of their requests, and the availability of unoccupied designated parking spaces globally throughout our Association.
After all of this discussion, the volunteer Board of Directors reviewed the most recently submitted Parking Waiver requests and published its decisions in the business meeting minutes, and mused over its interest in refocusing its attention on the three big-picture goals for Fiscal Year 2017 as published in the January 2017 FYI:
Last, at the business meeting, the Board was happy to acknowledge its strategy to replenish the level of the Reserve Fund was showing signs of success. The Reserve Fund is designed to fund unexpected, unanticipated facility needs, and it had been drawn-down to pay for last year’s major restoration projects. The Board is now depositing 12% of our monthly income into the Reserve Fund – an amount 2% higher than the FHA’s suggested level of 10% for home owners associations – to accelerate the replenishment of our Reserve Fund.
“The three goals that were identified for this year are: (1) to pursue and prepare an Emergency/Disaster Preparedness Plan, including special speakers to help us better prepare and manage in times of community crisis; (2) to pursue an Architectural Review and Plan for updating our Clubhouse to be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); and, (3) to prepare a Strategic Marketing Plan looking out 5, 10, 15, and 20-years into the future.”
EDGEWOOD TOWNEHOUSE ASSOCIATION
Board of Directors Monthly Business Meeting
Preserve – Restore – Maintain
Tuesday, March 14, 2017Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. Board members present were: Bruce Trafton, Darell Bidstrup, Michele Coney, Christine Donahue, Sharon Kimble, Don Pasquali, Jennifer Smith, and JoAnn Wilson. Board member Michael Maulding was excused. Also present was Frank Gaddini, ETA Director of Operations and Facilities. No homeowners were in attendance.
Approval of Minutes: The Board approved the minutes of February 21, 2017.
Standing Reports:
- Facility Report: Submitted
- Treasures Report: Submitted
- Website Coordinator: Submitted
- Swimming Pool: Closed
- Clubhouse Coordinator: Pending
- Hospitality Coordinator: None submitted. A volunteer for this position is invited.
- Welcome Coordinator: None submitted
Old Business:
- December 14, 2016, Ice Storm Damage Report: A check for just over $23,000 was received from State Farm Insurance for our initial claim. A second claim is ready for submission, and two more claims will probably be submitted by the end of the month. Timing depends upon billing by contractors.
- Parking Policy Update: ETA Director of Operations and Facilities Frank Gaddini provided the Board with information on the spectrum of possible options to manage parking from 1) very strict 24/7/365 enforcement. 2) to renting parking spaces, 3) to selling personal parking spaces, 4) to installing refurbished mechanical coin parking meters, to 5) do nothing other than the current parking policy. After discussion, the Board voted unanimously to retain the present policy (adopted in January 2017), including the current waiver system. At the next business meeting, the Board will review the new homeowner brochure that lists relevant ETA rules, including parking rules. After any needed revisions are made, the brochure will be distributed to current homeowners as well as to interested buyers.
New Business:
- Waivers: The Board approved the following waiver: 181 WW will park gold Lexus (Oregon ___ ) for 3 months.
- ETA Rental Policy: In response to a letter from a concerned homeowner, the Board discussed a possible policy regarding homeowner short-term vacation rentals (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.). A policy is currently in place for renting a townhouse but none exists for renting a room, either short- or long-term. The discussion was tabled until the next meeting, at which time the Board will also review at the existing rental policy.
- Executive Session
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- The next Board of Directors Business Meeting: Tuesday, April 11, 2017, in the Clubhouse at 6:30 PM
- The next HOA Quarterly Meeting: Tuesday, April 22, 2017, in the Clubhouse at 7:00 PM
The meeting was adjourned at 8:22 PM.
JoAnn Wilson, Secretary ( __ )
Looking Back Over February 2017 Facilities and Operations Report
Frank L. Gaddini ( __ )This report is a review of facility and grounds work performed in February 2017.
February can only be described as “the month of continued storm damage repair, cleanup, and lots of rain.” Temperatures during the month were relatively normal for the season; daylight was increasing each day, however there was only one single day of sunshine that broke through the fog and clouds; and rainfall during the month was 2 ½ inches above the normal 5 inch average for our area.
During the month, we recorded and completed eighty-eight (88) jobs. Most of our work focused on only two categories of jobs: Storm Damage Management and Routine Roof/Gutter Maintenance.
Under Storm Damage Management, we continued our grounds cleanup process area-by-area over the month. This month we focused on picking up the smaller branches and decaying leaf material that littered our site after the December Storm.
We also continued repairs to 60 Brae Burn Drive. We completed the installation of the new living room window, the replacement of the concrete front porch stoop, and restoration of the patio walls. We have been unable to complete our repairs to 128 Brae Burn due to rain. Our contractor needs at least three consecutive days of dry weather to complete the work. Finally, we installed replacement gutters and downspouts at six sites.
We also engaged in Routine Roof/Gutter Maintenance during the month. We continued with Phase 2 of our annual roof and gutter cleaning project. We cleaned thirty-two roofs and gutters in our southwest quarter. We also applied moss control substance to these roofs.
On our grounds, we began our annual moss control and lawn fertilization. Moss was everywhere, and our maintenance program had a visible effect on abating moss in the lawns and on hard surfaces especially on the creek walkway.
WEBSITE REPORT
During the period February 18, 2017 to March 13, 2017, our website, www.edgewoodhoa.org had 48 visitors who looked at 106 pages.
Toni Horodysky, Webmaster for Edgewood Townehouse Association (__)
WATER PIPE INSURANCE NOT NEEDED
Some home owners regularly receive advertisements in the mail from companies that promise to insure the water lines to each of our townhomes. The current advertisements from American Water Resources of Oregon (a subsidiary of AWR headquartered in Chicago Illinois) convincingly promise, for a monthly premium, to repair your water pipes if they break or leak. This may seem like a good idea if you live in a single-dwelling house in the larger community of Eugene and Springfield; but, at Edgewood Townehouses, this is not necessary.
The Association is responsible for repair of all infrastructure under all of the common ground. At Edgewood Townehouses, the common grounds are the lands that are outside of your townhomes lot lines. Once you step into your home, over the front door threshold and all the way to the overhead garage door, you are inside of your lot line. Step outside of your lot line and the Association is responsible for repairs and maintenance. Under ground, there are domestic water lines, wastewater sewer lines, and electrical supply wires. Should any damage or leak occur to these lines under any of the common ground, the Association will take care of the pipes and wires associated with water, sewer, and electric . Homeowners need not worry if these supply lines leak or fail. Insurance is not needed.
Interestingly, the Association does not manage underground TV cable wire. Cable TV wires are actually the property of your cable TV provider.
BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF HUNGRY ANTS
As the dawn of spring begins, sunlight and warmer temperatures will ignite growth of flora and fauna. The cycle of rejuvenation is upon us, and the millions of insects that coexist with us start to awake from the long winter. The first bugs in the season to meet us are usually the little sugar ants.
Getting rid of ants is never a simple proposition, despite their simple nature. They eat sugar, sweets, and other scraps of food. This is why we call them sugar ants. Of course, the term “sugar ant” is actually a misnomer. The real Sugar Ant is a native of the Australian continent, and exclusive to that part of the world; you won’t find them here. The ants living in our part of the world are Pavement Ants and Pharaoh Ants, and of course we refer to these ants as sugar ants.
Sugar ant control is very much a matter of daily routine during the months when sugar ants are a problem (March through September), particularly in the kitchen. Below are two things you can do to minimize and prevent a sugar ant infestation in your home.
1. Keep your kitchen sink clean and dry. Sugar ants love a dirty sink and the water you leave them to help wash down the leftovers.
2. Wipe down kitchen counter tops with bleach or vinegar each night to get rid of sugar ants. Sugar ants love a dirty countertop almost as much as they love a dirty sink. Wiping your countertops with bleach or vinegar will not only help sanitize your kitchen, but bleach and vinegar breaks down the pheromones that ants use to follow each other to sources of food.
How to Abate Sugar Ants: Ant Baits
The most common ant baits used to abate sugar ants are called sweet baits, and the most common ingredient found in sweet ant baits is boric acid, or Borax. Boric acid is slow-acting. The ants eat the bait and take some of the bait back to the colony with them. This is how colonies of ants are exterminated, and sugar ants are the easiest ants to abate because they are small, voracious scavengers. If you want to get rid of a sugar ant colony quickly, try Terro brand sugar ant baits usually available at you local hardware store.[Synthesized from an article posted on the website: www.getridofthings.com ]
Things To Know in March
1. MEETINGS
There are two styles of meetings at Edgewood:
1) Monthly and Special Business Meetings that are “Closed Forum” to permit the Board to conduct business. Homeowners are welcome to attend, and listen; but as a courtesy, please be respectful, remain quiet, and permit the Board to discuss the business at hand.2) The Annual Business Meeting, Quarterly Meetings, and posted Special Meetings are “Open Forum” where any homeowner wishing to share their thoughts are respectfully given the opportunity.
2. PARKING POLICY
In January 2017 the Board of Directors revised our parking policy as follows:
1. All homeowners “should” park vehicles in garages.
2. Temporary parking by homeowners or their guests must be in designated parking spaces.
3. Waivers for Special Circumstances. Homeowners may request waiver of the Parking Policy in the event of exceptional or extraneous circumstances.
Waiver Forms are available by contacting the Board, the Facilities and Operations Director, or the Clubhouse. The Board will review each case and render a final decision.3. CLUBHOUSE WiFi
User’s of the Clubhouse and the Pool can now enjoy WiFi while in the Center. Logging on to the World Wide Web, listening to music on Pandora, writing emails, shopping at Amazon.com, reading the electronic news services, or watching YouTube videos, is now possible from the comfort of the Clubhouse or Pool Deck. Bring your laptops, your smart phones, your tablets and iPads.The Clubhouse WiFi is called “etaclubhouse.” When you see “etaclubhouse” on your device, “join” using the etaclubhouse password. Call or email Bruce or Frank for the password. Once you are connected, your device will automatically remember the network and you will have access to the WEB each time you visit the Clubhouse and Pool. Happy surfing!
[Phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and street addresses have been removed for privacy reasons.]