Mount Si Cottages Blog

2011 budget Approved

2011-01-24T21:35:00.001-08:00

The 2011 budget for the Homeowner's Association was presented by Treasurer, Jared Weed at the November 16th board meeting.

The budget approval meeting was held on December 15th and the budget was passed.

Bear-Strewn Garbage

2011-01-24T21:17:00.000-08:00

Our thanks to the volunteers who have worked hard to pick up the unsightly garbage strewn about by the bears. Jesse Hanson, Matthew Rowley and Sue Swanson cleared out the area around the retaining pond at the south end of Mt. Si Cottages on December 18th in the sleet and rain.

On January 22nd a little sunshine inspired Chris and Katie Starkey to attack the garbage in the wetland on our western border. They filled 5 garbage cans with refuse. Chris donated the use of his truck to haul all the garbage to the dumping station in North Bend.

There is still bear-garbage at the south end of the wetland near the field. We appreciate the help of all volunteers in this effort. Eliminating the garbage will eliminate the rats that have been having garbage for lunch and dinner and chewing on the wires of our parked cars for dessert.

Bear Meeting Recommendations for Garbage

2010-11-29T21:09:00.000-08:00

An information meeting on the bear problem at Mt. Si Cottages was held for the residents on December 7th at Snoqualmie City Hall. Mayor Matt Larson, Mike Roy of the Public Works Department, Officer Nigel Draveling of the Snoqualmie Police Department and Julie Hopkins Biologist and bear expert presented information.

The bears have become humanized and now feel comfortable within 25 yards or so of humans. Some residents have reported that the bears have become more aggressive. One resident was charged by a bear while walking her dog; bears are frequently seen on the patios. Please be very aware of the bears and be cautious when out after dark. Because of a lack of natural food the bears had a difficult time bulking up for hibernation and may continue to look at our garbage cans as a food source throughout the winter. Even though the bears are in partial hibernation during the winter they still come out to feed every few weeks.

All speakers on the panel stressed that food must be completely removed from the garbage cans or the bears will continue to invade our community for years. They stressed there must be 100% compliance by all residents for this to work. Allied Waste is experimenting with bear-resistant cans and will let us know when they are available to residents.

Easy and inexpensive suggestions for eliminating the food from your garbage:

Mt. Si Cottage residents are not allowed to put garbage cans out on the street until the day of collection. Allied Waste garbage trucks come between 6:30 and 7:00 a.m. on Tuesdays.
Put as many food scraps as possible down the garbage disposal. (Avoid putting anything with gristle or bones, or large bits of garbage down the disposal as you might break it.)
What you can't put down the disposal, put in a plastic bag and keep inside until garbage day. Do not put any food scraps outside. Bears can smell food from miles away. Use a sealed 5-gallon paint can for the garbage, available at Lowes or put food scraps in the freezer or refrigerator

4. Bears loove poop--both dog and human. No dog feces is allowed on the common elements. This is attracting the bears. All dog feces must be picked up, bagged and removed immediately. Poopy diapers must be rinsed out in the toilet before being put in the garbage.

5. If you have an Allied Waste clamshell garbage cart, you have Allied's permission to drill two holes in the lid and to use bolts to secure the can. This has proved successful against bear attacks on diaper-filled cans. However, you must unbolt the can the day of garbage collection. The driver will not unbolt the can or pick up garbage from bolted cans.

Thanks for your help and cooperation on this difficult problem. The harder we make it for the bears to get to the food in our cans the less we will see of them.

Finance and Budget Committee established to review expenses and evaluate reserve fund

2010-10-27T14:55:00.000-07:00

A Finance and Budget Committee was established at September's HOA Board meeting. The purpose of the committee will be to review association expenses and evaluate the accuracy of future reserve fund expenses (as estimated in the 2009 Reserve Study) -- to ensure we're not under-funding (or over-funding) our reserve fund.

The recommendations of this committee will be relied upon to plan future budgets and assessments.

If you would like to participate in this effort, please contact a member of the board and receive committee meeting details. Or, call Sandy Cobb at CWD Group at 206-706-8000.

City Alert: "Operation House ID" Service is Not Authorized by the City of Snoqualmie

2010-08-23T09:59:00.000-07:00

An Alert by the City of Snoqualmie, August 19, 2010:

Alert to Residents: "Operation House ID" service is not authorized by the City of Snoqualmie. The Snoqualmie Police Department has received reports that a company calling itself Aerus Painting has been circulating flyers in Snoqualmie Ridge neighborhoods to notify residents they will be painting house numbers on curbs for emergency purposes. The company suggests that residents enclose $25 in an envelope and tape it to their door in order to have their house number included in the service.

This service has not been made known to or approved by any City of Snoqualmie department. There is no record of a business license for Aerus Painting and they are not authorized to paint house numbers on city street curbs.

If residents have any issues or concerns regarding Aerus Painting or the flyers they have distributed, they may call the Police Department at 425-888-3333.

4th of July Fireworks

2010-06-19T19:06:00.000-07:00

If you plan to celebrate the 4th of July with Fireworks here at home, please limit your fireworks to the cul-de-sac on Hancock Ave. Snoqualmie city laws allow legal fireworks to be discharged between 6 and 11 p.m. on July 4 only.

Remember, fireworks are not allowed on HOA property (parking lots, patios, lawns, porches, etc).

Landscape Committee Back at Work!!

2010-04-25T20:24:00.000-07:00

The landscape committee has kicked off our Spring landscape improvements! Today they began by planting around more of the utility boxes in our common spaces:

This area is planted around the utility boxes
back in the NE green...

...and this is another view.

This box is also in the NE green, along the street.
(The scraggly plants, which were pruned back for the
winter and for transplanting, will fill in fully with time.)

This is what these areas looked like BEFORE the plantings.
(Lots of ugly utility boxes, which have now been beautified!)

This box -- which is back in the NW green -- was planted last Fall...

...as was this area also, visible along Hancock Ave.

Additionally, some flowering carpet roses were planted
at the end of the cul-de-sac (on Hancock) last Wednesday.

Thanks to all of the homeowners who participated in this fun planting party! As with all plantings so far, no HOA funds were used. All plants were donated (or purchased with money specifically donated for this effort). We are all GRATEFUL for these willing, generous donations.

If you would like to donate plants (or money for plants) for plantings around your home, please contact Sue Swanson at (425) 441-8162. With donations, additional plantings can easily be arranged.

Thanks also to everyone who enjoyed participating in Sunday's Window Box workshop, and thanks to Sue Swanson & the Landscape Committee for putting this on!

What do Board members do?

2010-03-05T18:06:00.001-08:00

Are you considering serving on the Board, but wondering what that responsibility entails?

In formal terms, board members are responsible for "fulfilling their fiduciary duties". But what the heck does that mean???

Well, here are some things Board members are responsible for. (These come from CAI's "Rights & Responsiblities for Better Communities".)

participate in Board meetings & decision-making communication in a prompt manner
meet their responsibilities as a homeowner, and as a community leader
contribute to a responsive & competent association
manage the association in an organized manner, and exercise sound business judgment
be honest, fair & respectful
maintain the community according to established, agreed-upon standards
help manage funds responsibly
demonstrate a willingness to listen to others
keep an open mind
support their colleagues
encourage input from residents
conduct business in a transparent manner
become educated in the association's governing documents

Board members' responsibilities do require a commitment of time and effort, but when willing participants serve, it doesn't take much -- and it's time well-spent!

Should I attend the Annual meeting even if I don't want to run for a Board position?

2010-03-05T17:49:00.000-08:00

Yes!

This is an important meeting -- even if you don't want to run for a Board position.

Most importantly, please come & vote for the
people you want representing you! This is a representative government, so you'll want good representatives (even if you can't participate directly yourself).

Also, at least 25% of homes must be represented at this meeting (that's at least 11 homes). Otherwise no election can be held.

If you cannot attend, please send someone with your proxy (which was mailed to you) so that your vote can be heard.

So, you want to make a difference?

2010-03-04T11:39:00.000-08:00

Do you want to make a difference in your community?

Looking for a way to serve your neighbors?

Want to see some changes made?

Do you want to do something productive to help your Association?

Do you want input on how we spend money?

Do you want input on decision-making that affects you, and your community?

You can! Come serve as an HOA Board member!

Elections will be held March 15. There are two open positions. All applicants are welcome!

Do you have executive experience? Or do you simply have a willingness to volunteer a little time to make our community better?

If yes, we hope you will consider this worthwhile opportunity. You can make a real difference.

(Check back over the next two weeks to learn more about this important meeting, and about the responsibilities of a Board member. Good stuff to come!)

A message from your Landscaping Committee

2010-03-01T17:29:00.000-08:00

Looks as if Spring is just around the corner! The daffodils we planted last fall around the trees on the street are starting to peek through the ground. (We planted 5 per tree and they won't bloom for a month or so, but you can see what they will look like in a couple of years at the top of Hancock Ave. Hopefully, the ones we planted last fall will do the same as the years go by.)

Our new landscaping company, Altera Landscaping, will start work in March. After meeting their owner, Rick, we're confident they'll do great work. We're looking forward to working with Altera.

Now is a great time to pick up some colorful primroses to brighten up your doorway. (You can buy 10 of them in a pack at Costco for $7.99.) You don't need to do anything except maybe put a saucer under them and water them once in a while. But they'll give you lots of pleasure and remind you that Spring is coming. If you want to, you can buy a larger pot, some potting soil, and replant the primroses in it. Later in the season, you can replace the primroses with something else in your pot. It gives you something nice to come home to.

If you have ferns outside your house, you can help them look better by cutting off the old, brown fronds with a pair of scissors. The new fiddleheads will come out of the center of the plant. In just 5 minutes you can keep your ferns looking great this year!

The Landscape Committee will start work in a month or so to continue adding shrubs around the utility boxes. We're looking for free shrubs to do the job. And we'll be raising money for plants at the Snoqualmie Ridge garage sale in May, so save your stuff if you'd like to help us out with donations.

Lowes has their new shrubs out, so if you want to change what is in front of your house look for something new and then give me a call. All changes in landscaping require Board approval, but it's easy and I'll be glad to help you out. We have a list of approved plants you can choose from that is very large and if you choose something from the list it's virtually a done deal.

Please give me a call anytime if you have any questions: (425) 441-8162. And...dont' step on the daffodils as you get out of your car on the east side of Hancock. :)

Sue Swanson, Chair

Mt. Si Cottages Landscape Committee

Budget Q&A, continued...

2010-02-22T11:58:00.000-08:00

Thank you to the homeowners who attended the Budget Q&A last Wednesday. Here is a Q&A summary of the topics discussed:

(Q) Cost savings are great. But should we expect the quality of life to go down? Will we hurt our property values?
(A) No. We are committed to protecting home values, and maintaining our community’s established standard of living. We were careful not to cut spending in a way that diminishes our quality of life or risks our property values. For example, we will save money on landscaping, but will do so without reducing our service levels. (We went through a competitive bid process, with seven vendors, and selected a landscaper with comparable service levels at a reduced cost.) Another example: we will save money on insurance, but will do so without sacrificing any coverage. (We simply pushed to negotiate lower rates on our existing policies.) That said, the Board has decided to eliminate funding for non-essentials until our Reserve Fund is more fully-funded. For example, we will not spend the money for bee removal as we did in 2009.

(Q) Why is there $0 in the landscaping improvements budget?
(A) Simply put, we are eliminating funding for non-essentials (like additional landscaping) until our Reserve Fund is more fully-funded. It's worth noting that all the great landscaping improvements in 2009 were completed without any HOA funds. We hope this will continue in 2010.

(Q) What exactly are the risks of a low reserve fund?
(A) Basically, inadequate reserve funding threatens: [A] high risk of special assessments (i.e. hitting each of us with a bill for more money, to meet the association's costs), [B] damaged ability to sell our homes (because mortgage lenders don't want to lend on homes with poor reserve funding), and [C] lower property values because of these two things.

(Q) How funded is our reserve fund now? Are we at risk now?
(A) We are currently more than 40% funded, and improving monthly. (This represents a major improvement from one year ago, when we were less than 27% funded). We have reached 40% funding by managing 2009 expenses carefully. 40% funding is classified as "fair". While we will continue to improve, we are NOT currently at risk for special assessments.

All homeowners are encouraged to be familiar with the Reserve Study, available on our Association's web site.

Our five-year plan projects that we will reach 70% funding by 2015 (70% is classified as "good", and we believe 70% to be a responsible & realistic target.) Faster funding would be possible, but it would require increases to our monthly assessments. We believe this current funding plan balances our community's need for adequate reserves with our desire for low assessments.

(Q) Should we expect assessments to go up again next year?
(A) Here's what we know for sure: we do need to increase our reserve contribution again next year. (Next year, our plan calls for increasing reserve contribution $6/month/home). But this does not necessarily require an increase to assessments. If we can further reduce expenses enough to offset this increased reserve contribution, an assessments increase will not be required. If we cannot further reduce expenses enough to offset this increased reserve contribution, an assessment increase is likely. To avoid future increases, your participation & input is required. We cannot succeed without informed participation.

(Q) Why do we spend so much on a management company? Do we need them?
(A) Yes, we need a management company. Running any business requires a lot of time, resources and expertise -- including our HOA, which is a $12-million corporation. Having the help of a management company is essential to our success. Unless & until our association has [A] very high homeowner participation, and [B] a Board with strong executive experience & more available time, a management company is important. The CWD Group has agreed to hold their contracted rate for 2010 (i.e. no increase), and the Board plans to carefully monitor any extra management costs.

(Q) Aren't our dues unreasonably high already?
(A) Frankly, no. It's a fair question (and one that each Board member has asked as well), but here is a look at Snoqualmie/North Bend comparables. You will see that Mt. Si Cottages compares very favorably. The Falls, $352/month (69 units); The Cottages, $227/month (50 units); three others in the Snoqualmie area, $256, $227, $267. We remain committed to maintaining Mt. Si Cottages as an affordable community.

2010 Budget Questions & Answers

2010-02-15T15:24:00.000-08:00

By now you'll have received the Board-approved 2010 budget in your mailbox.

If you have questions or concerns, please join us for a Budget Question & Answer discussion, Wednesday, February 17, at 6:30 p.m. at the Snoqualmie Library.

If you have questions beforehand -- or if you can't make it to meeting -- please leave a comment to this blog post and we will write a reply to you.

2010 Budget

2010-02-10T19:36:00.000-08:00

The Board has approved the 2010 Budget, and now it is everyone's turn to review and ratify this budget.

Please be on the lookout for this in your mail (it was mailed today, and should arrive within a day or two).

Two important budget-related meetings are scheduled for this month:

The budget ratification meeting is scheduled for February 24, 2010, at 6:30 p.m. at the Snoqualmie Library. As the Declarations require, the budget and assessments shall be ratified unless disapproved by at least 51% of the total ownership at this meeting. All homeowners are encouraged to attend.

You are also invited to a budget question & answer discussion on February 17, 2010, at 6:30 p.m. at the Snoqualmie Library. If you have questions or concerns, we hope you will make time to join us for this informative discussion.

Questions about 2010 Budget & Assessments

2010-02-01T20:22:00.000-08:00

There has recently been discussion among homeowners about the upcoming budget for 2010.

The Board has not yet approved a 2010 budget, nor have 2010 assessments been decided upon. We have been discussing it for months, and studying funding options. The board is taking this responsibility seriously, and is committed to honoring our budget philosophy.

We plan to hold a budget ratification meeting within the next month, for homeowners to vote on the proposed budget. This is our community's budget, and we are glad for the interest this topic has received.

We plan to hold a question & answer meeting at least one week before the ratification meeting, specifically to inform homeowners of the proposal and answer questions or concerns. (The date & time will be published on this web site.)

However, if you have a question that you would like to have answered more quickly, please leave a comment to this post so that a Board member can respond to you.

Staying Alert

2010-01-26T20:24:00.000-08:00

***UPDATED 3/10*** Reports are that the criminals responsible for these break-ins have been apprehended, near Lynnwood, WA. More details to come, if available.***

***UPDATED 2/1*** We live in a very safe neighborhood. But crime can (and does) happen everywhere -- so please stay alert. As neighbors, let's look out for each other -- and if you see suspicious activity, please call 911.

Two Officers from the Snoqualmie Police Department joined us at our January Board meeting to brief us this situation. We appreciate the time they spent with us, talking about what happened and about forming a community block watch.

Here is a summary of their findings: The car break-ins occurred overnight, Jan 25. While ten car break-ins occured, parked along Jacobia & Hancock Streets, eight of these cars were found unlocked (seemingly left unlocked by the owner). Only two cars had broken windows. Seemingly, in each case the stolen valuables were left IN PLAIN SIGHT in the car, visible to the thieves. Most stolen items were electronics (GPS, iPods, etc). One credit card was stolen, which was used hours later in Lynnwood and has provided the Police their best leads. NO HOMES WERE VIOLATED.

The key to reducing crime is through prevention: Lock your car doors. Don't leave valuables in the car (especially in plain sight). Consider leaving your patio & porch lights on. Consider leaving your blinds open so any would-be crook wonders who's watching. Be aware of what's going on. Please call police right away if you see something suspicious.

Both Officers reminded us that Snoqualmie (including our neighborhood) has a very, very low crime rate and that we live in a very safe community despite these recent concerns.***

***Original post*** Some cars were reportedly broken into last night.

They were parked along Jacobia & Hancock streets. Few details are known currently, but we will share information when it becomes available.

Homeowners are encouraged to leave their porch and patio lights on at night (for extra security) and report any suspicious activity. As with anywhere, it is unwise to leave valuables inside your car.

We all enjoy having a very safe community. And with reasonable precautions, we can keep it that way.***

Keeping garbage can lids secured

2009-12-16T21:13:00.000-08:00

Please remember: you MUST keep garbage can lids secured tightly. Straps are good; Cans with locking lids are great. But regardless of what you choose, lids need to be secured tightly.

When wind blows hard -- like it did last Monday night -- cans can blow over and trash can get spread around (especially on garbage day when the cans are on the street!). It looks bad when trash is scattered around (and it can attract rodents) so please keep your lids secured.

(Big thank you to the homeowners who took it upon themselves to clean the trash out of the wetland along our west side.)

More Landscaping Progress!

2009-11-24T19:08:00.000-08:00

The beautification of our community will continue this Saturday (Nov. 28)!

Volunteers are going to put in additional plants around some of the utility boxes, as part of the approved landscaping plan. Check out this truckload of donated (yes, free!) boxwood bushes! They're awesome! Thanks to Sue Swanson, Caddy Swanson & Wendy Pynn for digging 'em out & transporting them here. The Landscape Committee plans to plant these around 3 utility boxes on Saturday.

If you can help, just gather on Hancock at 9:15 am on Saturday (in front of the utility boxes planted last month), and we'll git 'r done! Everyone is invited!

As before, no HOA funds will be used for this new landscaping.

The Landscaping Plan was presented by the Landscape Committee and approved at the November Board meeting. The approved plan includes a master landscaping plan, identified priorities, an approved plants list, and a funding plan (which does not require HOA funds). To learn more -- or to learn how plantings like these can be added near your home -- please contact Sue Swanson (Committee chair) or Jason Pynn (Board member).

Board Meeting: Budget & Dues!

2009-11-15T17:04:00.000-08:00

November's board meeting will be held Monday, Nov. 16, at 6:30 p.m., at the Snoqualmie Library.

As always, any interested homeowner is invited to attend!

One main topic of discussion will be the 2010 budget and homeowner dues. Your board has been working hard on this over the past few months -- and this November board meeting will likely be the final discussion before the budget ratification to be held in December. If you want to participate in this discussion you're encouraged to attend!

Rodent Problems?

2009-11-07T19:24:00.000-08:00

Are rodents a problem around your home or vehicle?

Unfortunately, rodents are difficult to control since we live in a wooded area (and impossible to completely eliminate). Rodents seek shelter & food -- so they will try to nest in unsealed crawl spaces & unattended cars, especially if they can find even the tiniest food source. And professional rodent control is very expensive -- and experience shows that even the best control is not entirely effective.

Fortunately there are some simple things we can each do:

For HOMES, we should be sure that crawlspace vent screens are intact. Rodents can easily get in through broken vent screens.
For VEHICLES, it helps to carefully clean all food crumbs & wrappers out. This stuff attracts rodents & makes a car an inviting home. It is also smart not to leave your car sitting for several days; it's good to drive it (or at least move it) frequently. Sedintary, unattended cars are rodent targets.
For OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, it's important that we all take steps to prevent & pick-up wind-blown garbage. This stuff gives rodents a buffet to enjoy, and makes them feel right at home. We must all use straps (or locking lids) on garbage cans to keep them tightly shut & garbage in.

Homeowners are welcome to try traps or sticky boards inside their homes or vehicles. (Poison is also an option, but poison can often cause rodents to die in a crawlspaces -- a stinky problem, worth avoiding.)

Great New Landscaping!

2009-11-06T20:43:00.000-08:00

HUGE thanks to the landscaping committee for the great, new landscaping on Hancock! (It disguises the utility boxes on the west side of Hancock Ave, half-way down the hill.)
Ten wonderful homeowners volunteered a portion of their Saturday morning on Oct. 24 to plant this beautiful landscaped bed.
No HOA funds were used, and all costs were covered by funds raised during the Spring Garage Sale. If you want to learn how similar plantings can be added near your home, please contact Sue Swanson (Landscape Committee Chair) or Jason Pynn (HOA Board Member).

This is the first of several projects likely to come, and the committee's first landscaping priority is planting around all of the unsightly utility boxes.

Do you get the e-mail blasts?

2009-10-26T20:36:00.000-07:00

Are you getting the e-mail blasts? (Hint: the last one was sent on 10/26, titled "Mt. Si Cottages: Snow Removal Plans". If you didn't get this email, you're probably not).

You'll want to be sure you get these. These e-mails are the best way to receive important alerts, because we don't budget for frequent newsletters.

If you don't receive these e-mails, please confirm that CWD has your correct email address(es) on file:

To check, just log in to the CWD website, click "Directory" and verify your information -- https://www.associationvoice.com/member/signin_secure.asp?assn_id=14539. (You can also check by calling Sandy Cobb, our association manager.)
You can add/change your e-mail address by notifying Sandy Cobb, at 206-706-8000.
To avoid spam filters, confirm that Messenger@AssociationVoice.com is added to your e-mail's "safe list".

Snow Removal

2009-10-16T20:34:00.000-07:00

Winter will be here before we know it!

If it snows like last year, we want to communicate the Association's snow removal plans early. (Remember how crazy last December's snow storms were?!?!) Here goes...

Professional snow removal will not be hired. (We explored this last year, but plowing could cost thousands of dollars, and the plow company will not take responsibility for any damage they cause to your vehicle.) The city plows the streets, but the parking lots & walkways are up to us.
Homeowners are encouraged to work together to keep walkways clear, and make parking lots accessible. We recommend that each home purchase an inexpensive snow shovel, and be prepared to pitch in when help is needed.
Homeowners are requested to shovel the walkways in front of their homes within 24-hours of snowfall. If you need help, please contact the Board & we will try to help connect you with willing volunteers (or hired help).

Please let the Board know if you are willing to serve on a volunteer snow removal committee, or if you are available for hire. Our community can use this information to organize ourselves for snow removal.

23 Trees!

2009-10-14T19:36:00.000-07:00

Update: Planting will begin on November 16th.

Quadrant Homes is replacing 23 dead (or dying) trees throughout our community (at no charge to the HOA), thanks to the big effort of two homeowners!

Thanks to Doris Shelton for educating the Association about the bond that qualifies us for these replacement trees. And thanks to Sue Swanson for working hard with the City of Snoqualmie & Quadrant Homes to makes sure these trees get replaced. Great work Doris & Sue!

Budget Philosophy

2009-10-13T22:43:00.000-07:00

The Board has adopted this budgeting philosophy. It will guide our budget decisions on the 2010 budget.

We will use the least amount of funds to obtain maximum benefits.
We will protect home values, and maintain our community’s established standard of living.
We will enhance home values where possible, while remaining true to our community’s origin as an “affordable community”.
We will encourage a sense of community, and look to homeowner volunteerism as a means of maintaining standard of living and keeping assessments as low as possible.
We will properly insure the Association.
We will adequately fund our Reserves, for planning purposes and to protect against special assessments in the future.
We will use a zero-based budget approach (which assumes a $0 starting point for all line items, and requires each to be justified before we fund it).
We will remain open to homeowner recommendations & input.

Garbage Can Bandits

2009-10-11T21:06:00.000-07:00

Apparently a few garbage cans have disappeared from our street after being left out for garbage day. (At least three homes have reported this.) Please be on guard. You might consider marking your cans with your house number so they're identifiable.

And a related reminder: with windy fall days here, it's important that we each strap our lids down (to keep trash from blowing all over). This will help keep our community clean.

Join the Conversation! 2010 Budget Input

2009-09-30T12:25:00.001-07:00

The Board is currently reviewing the 2010 Budget -- and we welcome any input & recommendations about how & where our HOA money should be spent.

The Board is always interested in ways to save HOA money, to keep assessments low.

Often homeowners ask "where is all my money going?" and "what are my assessments spent on?" Here's a pie-chart to help answer this question, visually (based on the current 2009 Budget):

Please tell us:

What do you want the Board to consider when building the 2010 Budget?

Perspective (continued)

2009-09-30T12:20:00.000-07:00

Some people have asked for more explanation of the September 12 post titled "Perspective", which detailed that Mt. Si Cottages is a $12 million corporation. Here is some more perspective.

This corporation's largest financial asset is our property. This has a value of more than $12 million.

We have annual revenues of nearly $120,000 (from assessments).

We have annual expenses of nearly $89,000. (It takes a lot of money to run a $12 million corporation, even when we spend every penny carefully.)

We currently save nearly $31,000 into our reserve fund each year (i.e. "savings account"). This money is set aside for major repairs & scheduled projects that will cost us a lot of money in future years. (A healthy reserve fund is important. It helps ensure that we wont get charged special assessments down the road. And it is critical for resale values -- because Lenders expect healthy reserves before they'll lend someone money to buy your house.) ** The Board is currently studying our reserve fund closely, to ensure that we adequately fund it. **
Our corporation has 44 owners. (These are the 44 homeowners).
The owners elect a Board of Directors, responsible for overseeing the management of the business.
Every owner shares in the success or failure of this business.

A Message From Your Landscape Committee

2009-09-27T14:00:00.000-07:00

My thanks to everyone who helped with the garage sale. We netted $230, which was really great seeing we only gave people 4 days notice!

Our goal is to find ways to lower the landscaping costs the HOA is paying (so we can put more of that money into the Reserve) while at the same time enhancing the plantings around the cottages. We'll be doing that by finding free plants, doing the extra planting ourselves and possibly some of the maintaining of the beds. This will be Mt. Si Cottages-wide project that you will be able to join if you are interested.

I'd like to thank the four members of the Board who helped with the garage sale by donating and/or manning the tables--Dawn Davis, Lynette Erb, Megan Roberts (who is expecting any day!) and Jason Pynn's wife Wendy. Bill Erb donated his truck and time to get the leftovers to the Goodwill truck.

Also, thanks to the members of the Landscape Committee who made it all happen: Cara Axe (let us use her super location), Julie Hopkins, Wenda Miller, Ron Sajjad, Doris Shelton and Paige Weed. Thanks also to Viera Baran, Shauntel Hart and Dana Guinn who offered items for the sale.

This was a great community effort--it was fun to get to know each other and you'll be able to see the results in the new plantings around the utility boxes (pending approval).

We'll do this again with the spring ROA garage sale and give you more warning.

Please let me know if you want to help with the Landscape Committee--25% of our homeowners took part in the garage sale! Way to go!

Sincerely,
Sue Swanson, Committee Chair

Perspective.

2009-09-12T12:09:00.000-07:00

Here's some valuable food for thought. There are 44 homes in our community. Let's assume an average home-value of $280,000. Think of that. This means we are each invested in a $12.3 million corporation (44 homes x $280,000). And every act of this corporation impacts our lives directly.

Join the Conversation! Board Meetings

2009-09-01T19:06:00.000-07:00

Thanks to anyone who's ever come to an HOA Board meeting. Community involvement is great (and so, so important).

For those who haven' t come (or don't come regularly) we're curious what keeps you from coming. Check out the new poll to the right, and select your reasons. (Or leave us comments on this Blog post.) Thank you!

Landscaping ideas (and helpers!) needed

2009-08-26T21:54:00.000-07:00

A Landscaping Committee was officially formed at the August 17 Board meeting. This new committee has an important role in maintaining & improving the landscape of our community -- helping to maximize our home values!

Anyone is welcome! Share your ideas, ideas, ideas! Sue Swanson is the committee lead, Jason Pynn is the Board representative and six others have already volunteered to serve. Volunteers will be needed to help plan, make recommendations to the Board, plant, and maintain any newly planted areas.

To join the fun -- and participate in planning meetings or planting parties -- contact Sue Swanson at 425-441-8162.

Early ideas include:

Landscaping around unsightly utility boxes.

Planting between homes to beautify & "screen" barked areas.

Enhancing the sparse landscaping in beds in front of homes.

Adding flowers (bulbs) beneath the trees along Hancock.

Replacing the dead/missing plants & trees that are no longer under warranty by Quadrant Homes.

Join the Conversation! Pest Control.

2009-08-25T17:05:00.000-07:00

Some homeowners have recently voiced concern about "bug problems" in our community (particularly hornets & ants). Consider this:

Hornets have been a big problem recently. As of last week, of the 44 homes in Mt. Si Cottages, 37 homes had at least two nests visible. Fourteen homes had three or more nests. One cottage alone had 9 hanging nests! Yowsa! Late last week we had an exterminator remove these nests, to hopefully resolve the concern.
Most homes have ants around the foundation. Since we live "in the wilderness", this is pretty common. But some homeowners are concerned that ants are getting inside. Fortunately they are not destructive ants, but they can be annoying.

How big of a problem do you think the bugs are? Considering the VERY high cost of pest control, is pest control something to prioritize in the budget? (Or to allocate money from the emergency fund for?) Or, would you prefer to use the money for other things?

Bees?

2009-08-20T09:37:00.000-07:00

Do you have bees or wasp nests? Please call The CWD Group at 206-706-8000 and ask to speak with Sandy to report the locations of the nests. The pest control company is coming to Mount Si Cottages on Friday, August 21st so please let CWD know as soon as possible if you know of any nests that need to be removed.

Join the Conversation! HOA Priorities?

2009-08-17T16:41:00.000-07:00

Our community is impacted by decisions from budgeting to landscaping, rule enforcement to social activities -- and everything in between. Decisions in these areas impact our quality of life, resale values and household pocketbooks. Very important stuff.

Please tell us:

What issues are the most important to you?
What do you think the HOA Board's top 3 priorities should be?

Join the Conversation! Community Polls.

2009-08-17T13:07:00.000-07:00

Your HOA Board needs to hear from you. Your feedback is the only way HOA decisions can align with community priorities. Your Board will post questions on this blog, and ask for your feedback. New polls and questions will be added often! Check out the "Join the Conversation" polls to the right! Topics include landscaping, committes and rules & regulations.

A helpful resource

2009-08-17T12:28:00.000-07:00

Did you know our management company (CWD Group) has a web page dedicated to Mt. Si Cottages? It's worth a visit! Here's a glimpse of what you'll find:

Questioning the rules? Find rules & regulations, bylaws, newsletters, etc.
Wondering what's going on? Find meeting minutes -- to see what's being discussed at board meetings.
Need to call a neighbor? Find a directory for contact information. (You can also voluntarily share information about yourself, and find other neighbors with common interests such as hobbies, clubs, etc.) Since the website is secure, only association members have access to this information.
Something broken? Report a repair issue within the community.
Contact the Board
Contact the CWD Group
Need a baby-sitter (or want to baby-sit)? Have something to sell? Post a classified, or find out about items for sale, lost and found, babysitters, etc.
View your dues-payment history

The site is secure, so you need to login (or register if it's your first time -- it's easy!).

The web site address is: https://www.associationvoice.com/member/signin_secure.asp?assn_id=287

Tell us in the comments if you think the CWD web site is helpful.

Welcome to the new Mt. Si Cottages' Blog!

2009-03-24T22:36:00.000-07:00

This new blog exists to help make our neighborhood a great place to live! Its purpose is two-fold:

To be a place where your voice can be heard! Share your ideas, comments, questions -- and participate in discussions to help align HOA decisions with the priorities of our community.
To provide you with the latest Mt. Si Cottages community news. Check-in frequently for important information, like upcoming meetings and events.

Tell us: What features would make this Blog a useful resource for you?