Sunland North Owners Association
Quarterly Newsletter July 2020
Email: sunlandnorth@gmail.com
Website: https://sunlandnorthownersassociation.com
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1655, Sequim, WA 98382
Business Hours: Monday-Friday; 9 AM—3 PM
What can I do for my community?
Three positions are opening up on Sunland Division 17’s five-person Board of Directors this fall (September 2020). Have you thought about what you can do to help maintain the quality of your lifestyle here in Division 17, as well as the value of your property? Serving on the Board of Directors is an excellent way to use your skills and experience to give back to the community that you have chosen to live in.
An earlier Board recruitment notice resulted in six people volunteering to help out on various committees (landscaping, architectural control, etc.). So now we need people to step up to volunteer for a Board position. A first time Board member? You will not be alone during the learning process. Current and past board members are always available to help you with history and to answer questions about processes and procedures. It is an excellent way to learn how this community functions and to get to know your neighbors in the process.
Mike Johnson and Fritz Field have volunteered to be on the Nominating Committee for board recruitment. Please call Mike at (925) 989-8233 or Fritz Field at (360) 797-1275 to express your interest. The next Board meeting is July 8, 2020. Candidate names and bios will be included in the Annual Meeting packet, which goes to all unit owners.
Vice-President’s Report – John Lewis (Volunteer)
Since our last newsletter, some things have changed and some things have not. Regarding changes, the restoration contract for the two units damaged by fire in July of 2017 has been completed. On the not so good news, we are still struggling with the impact of the COVID-19 on our lives.
As a board member, I thought I would provide some insight into our respective duties. As the current Vice-president, the stated duties are very limited. Essentially the duties are to assume the duties of the President when he is not able to and this has been limited to chairing two Board meetings. The other duty is “other duties as assigned” and for me, that has mostly been coordinating the fire restoration work. Finally, because of my previous experience I have been happy to provide some technical advice to the Exterior Maintenance Committee when requested. And don’t forget, as has been mentioned before, as a new board member, you would always have the assistance from others when you had questions.
Treasurer’s Report – Susan Hamman (Volunteer)
The third quarter Division 17 assessment of $710 is due before or on July 1, 2020. Checks are to be made out to Division 17 and sent to Division 17, P. O. Box 1655, Sequim, WA 98382. Please do not send your check to SLOA! Sending your assessment to SLOA may delay your payment, which can result in late charges to your account.
The preliminary May monthly expense report shows total operating expenses for the month at $20,099, bringing the year to date total expenses to $163,718. The association insurance coverage was renewed on May 1 at a premium of $80,849.
With the completion of work on the restoration of 191/201 Cascadia Loop, the last check from the Fire Trust Fund was issued to Belfor Property Reconstruction on June 10, 2020, in the amount of $197,274.19. This final payment closes out the Fire Trust Fund.
The Association Reserve 2021 study was completed in May, after an on-site visit of the Association Reserves’ project manager. The study is posted on the web. The 2018 full reserve study had the HOA funded at 16.6% for reserves. The 2021 full reserve study has the HOA funded at 24.4%, which puts the association in the high-risk category for special assessments over a 30 year period. The “Do It Yourself” study done the prior two years did not include gutters and downspouts, which probably contributed to the HOA staying in the high-risk category. The study predicts that starting in January 2021, the reserves will be at $420,000, which means that $37,195 needs to be added to our current balance. The 2019 financial review is currently underway by Olympic Tax Pros.
Budget planning for 2021 is underway, with board and committee chairs having submitted their estimates for the coming year. A working session will be held by the board to develop the 2021 budget.
Speaking of the Reserve Study, Why Do We Want To Build Up Our Reserves?
Sunland Division 17’s annual assessments are allocated into two major “pots” – the Operating Budget, and something called “Reserves,” or the Reserves Budget.
Operating funds are used for the day-to-day operation of Sunland North, such as lawn mowing, accounting services, minor repairs, etc. The Reserves are a separate fund gradually built up over time to help cover the cost of big expenses that don’t occur every year, but are predictable, like eventual roof replacement, light poles, etc. This helps us avoid special one-time assessments to pay for those big items. HOAs in Washington are required to do a professionally-conducted Reserve Study every third year, and an annual “do-it-yourself” study is recommended in the other years. While no one has a perfect crystal ball to predict the future, there are computer programs that can help the Association predict these upcoming expenses and figure out how to plan for them. The required professional Reserves Study has been done this year.
A healthy Annual Reserves commitment helps maintain the value of your home, and helps avoid big Special Assessments.
Secretary’s Report – Lawrence Charters (Volunteer)
Mailboxes
Mailboxes in Sunland North are a de facto partnership between the home owner’s association and the U.S. Postal Service. Only the home residents and the Postal Service may put things in or remove things from a mailbox; you can’t drop off cookies or flyers for your neighbors in mailboxes, by U.S. law. But having mailboxes in good condition is a Sunland North responsibility — with one exception: it is a homeowner’s responsibility to see that the mailbox is properly labeled with the correct house number. If you live at home #354 and the 5 has fallen off or is no longer legible, please repair or replace the number so that the address is legible and unambiguous.
Newspaper Boxes
Except for the Mt. Baker neighborhood, most of Sunland North have individual mailboxes, and newspaper carriers have, over the years, attached tubes to the mailbox stands for delivery of paper copies of newspapers. Few of these are in use, and the tubes have become eyesores rather than assets. Notices will be placed in the tubes saying they will be removed by Sunland North and returned to the carrier unless the owner explicitly contacts the Board (sunlandnorth@gmail.com) saying they wish to keep the tube.
Long-Range Planning Workshop: Developed Landscaping
A long-delayed planning workshop on Developed Landscaping was held on June 18 via Zoom. These workshops are non-decisional, intended to feel out the Sunland North community on present and future topics that require attention from the Board. Due to COVID-19 restrictions on in-person meetings, the workshop was held online via Zoom. Barbara Brooner took a photo of her computer screen, displaying a projected image of the current Sunland North budget. The Developed Landscape budget is the tallest bar, toward the center of the screen.
Notes from the meeting will be posted on the Sunland North website on or before July 8 at the following address:
Virtual Board Meeting
The June Sunland Division 17 Board meeting was held via Zoom on June 10, due to Washington State restrictions on in-person meetings. At this time, future Board meetings are likely to be held virtually as well. Invitations to the meetings will be sent out to the membership via E-mail before each meeting. If you wish to bring a matter to the Board’s attention, please send information in writing to sunlandnorth@gmail.com or via postal mail to:
Sunland Division 17 Owners Association
Attn: Secretary
P.O. Box 1655
Sequim, WA 98382.
Annual Meeting
Sunland Division 17 Homeowners Association will have its annual meeting on September 9. It is tentatively scheduled to be held in the ballroom of the Sunland Golf and Country Club. Due to the pandemic, it is unclear at this time if an in-person meeting, open to all residents, will be possible. Even if the ballroom is available, anti-viral countermeasures may limit attendance to just a fraction of the owners. In that event, Division 17 will host the meeting virtually, using Zoom or a similar service, and voting will be done via mail-in ballots. Note that in addition to voice and video over the web, Zoom also has a phone option to permit participation as if it were a voice conference.
No major changes to by-laws or rules and regulations are anticipated, but the annual meeting will approve the budget for the forthcoming year, and elect a new board. Given the uncertainty of the meeting venue, residents who wish to bring matters before the Board at the annual meeting should consider written submissions, and submit them in advance of the annual meeting. Submissions can be sent to sunlandnorth@gmail.com or mailed to Sunland Division 17 Owners Association, Attn: Secretary, P.O. Box 1655, Sequim, WA 98382.
Contact Information
Washington State law as well as Division 17 (and SLOA) covenants require homeowners to maintain current contact information with the association. If you have changed your mailing address, or dropped your landline phone, or changed your cell phone number, or changed your email address, or changed your name, please fill out an updated contact form,
We used this information to notify you of health and safety issues, legally-required announcements for meetings or rules changes or financial changes, emergency notices, and items of community concern. This contact information is only used by Division 17 (and SLOA) for homeowner association business; it is not sold or released to other private or commercial or government entities.
Architectural Control Committee’s (ACC) Report – Dick Helmenstine (Volunteer)
The following requests were submitted to the Committee this past quarter:
- 290 Mt Baker – Request for storm door installation (Approved).
- 290 Mt Baker Fence completed.
- 321 Mt Baker Sun Screen installation in the rear patio area (Approved).
- 90 Mt Baker Rear railing completed.
- 171 Mt Baker Solar Tubes install completed.
As a reminder, please be aware that all change requests are taking a little longer than normal due to current conditions. SLOA involvement adds additional time for approval so please plan accordingly. Your patience is greatly appreciated.
Exterior Maintenance & Inspection Report – Gerry Busch (Volunteer)
Pictured here are some of the neighbors who volunteered to serve on the biannual external inspection team for our homes. The group, larger than pictured, wrapped up their initial briefing Saturday morning, June 13, before heading out to get started.
Sunland North’s neighborhood is divided into seven zones, and the inspectors (i.e., your neighbors on the committee) divided into teams and used a checklist to look at:
- Condition of roofs (moss, gutters, skylights, etc.) and downspouts
- Condition of siding, paint, brick and stone veneer, etc.
- Garden window, propane enclosure, privacy walls (if you have one of these)
- Driveway
- Patio, front and back
- Street light
- Mailbox
- And other possible maintenance issues
The results of their findings will be documented and any needed work prioritized.
Dryer vents
Dirty or clogged dryer vents and ductwork don’t just reduce your dryer’s performance. The combination of heat and accumulated dryer lint and dust can lead to a fire hazard. In fact, clogged clothes dryer vents cause thousands of fires per year in the United States.
Tip: Check for warning signs of clothes dryer lint buildup such as laundry taking longer to dry, the clothes dryer becoming hotter to the touch, or a burning smell becoming noticeable in the laundry room.
Communications and Outreach Committee Report – Kay Hatler (Volunteer)
Leah Prince completed four welcome visits this quarter. Because we want to practice social distancing, Leah is dropping off the packets to new homeowners and having them complete the necessary forms. Living in an HOA has many advantages, but you may encounter some surprises, especially if you’ve never lived in an HOA before. Here’s a link to an article about HOAs in general, a good place to start: “Guide to Understanding Homeowner Associations” at:
https://www.hoa-usa.com/files/documents/HOA- USA_Guide_to_Understanding_Homeowner_Associations.pdf
There are also state laws that govern how homeowner associations operate; the Washington State law can be read at:
https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=64.38
And it’s a perfect time to read through the Association’s own governing documents, which can be found on the Sunland North website: https://sunlandnorthownersassociation.com/ In fact, now’s a good time to spend a little time exploring the entire Sunland North Website–it’s there to help you!
Landscape Coordinator’s Report – Eric Mahnerd (Volunteer)
As I write this, it is a beautiful sunny day in Sequim! It’s 66 degrees with a light breeze out of the west. And the Best Part is that the forecast calls for more of the same glorious weather! I’m beginning to question the notion that summer Really Doesn’t Start here until July 5th!
So, what’s going on with our landscape contractor? All the lots have been fertilized and the crew continues to attack the broadleaf weeds. Additionally, they are beginning to prune the fast-growing shrubs.
I’m often asked, what does our landscaping contract cover? Well here it is:
- Mow all lawn areas weekly
- Edge lawns every three weeks
- Blow grass clippings off driveways, walks, and roads after mowing
- Monitor and control the irrigation system
- Fertilize the lawns three times a year
- Spray broadleaf weeds three times a year
- Prune and trim bushes and trees twice a year
So, what doesn’t the contract cover:
- Any maintenance of areas inside enclosed fences
- Mulching yards
- Insecticide treatment
- Maintaining beds changed by homeowners
- Individual requests by homeowners
As you can imagine, landscaping our sub-division is a large job and tops the list for expenses each year. Next year’s contract will be $129,290.00. This works out to $930 per unit a year or $77 a month. While next year’s budget has not been finalized, it is estimated that if you add in tree and shrub replacement, irrigation repairs, pest control, electricity, and Sunland Water District irrigation fees, it totals an estimated $151,622. This works out to $1091 per unit a year or $91 a month. But I think you have to admit, the crew does a professional job and our subdivision Looks Great!
Let’s Talk Mulch – Mulching of the sub-division is a separate contract and normally is completed every three years. Unfortunately, due to higher than anticipated expenses in other areas during the past two years, the mulching could not take place in 2020. We are in the process of getting new mulch bids for 2021. I see where several homeowners have taken it upon themselves to purchase and spread their own mulch. Thanks! If you decide to go that route, please remember that you cannot change the color of the mulch and please don’t buy nuggets. While they might look good, they are a nightmare for the landscaping crews to work around when trimming the shrubs. And speaking of mulch, I would like to give a big shout out to Kathy Mahnerd (is that nepotism?!) for donating the mulch and adding new flowers to our entry and weeding the area around the mailboxes!
Let’s talk Restricted Plants – The HOA has developed a list of restricted plants. They in include:
- Escallonia
- Photinia
- Laurel
- Lavender
What a minute, did you say Lavender? Yes. It is drought-resistant but is easily over-watered because of where they planted them. They are High maintenance and look really bad as they get old and woody. We will be removing the old ones and come up with a plan for either replacement plants or just having the area covered with mulch.
Remember that if you have a problem or question, please let me know at eric777@olypen.com. You can also reach me, Monday to Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 360-477-1314. Get outside and enjoy the weather and Don’t Forget To Wear Your Mask When You Go To Town!
Natural Habitat/Greenspace Report – Tom Hamman (Volunteer)
The second mowing of the season has taken place as of June. Outbreaks of poison hemlock are being monitored and sprayed when the plants are found.
Helping Hands
- A huge thank you to Kathy and Eric Mahnerd for beautifying the entrance to Sunland North with fresh bark and landscaped bedding!
- We also want to thank the volunteers who have supplied us with masks that are both functional and attractive!
- Sarah Miller has been cleaning out the blackberry vines on the north side of the RV park fence. This is a huge job and we thank you!
- And, as always, we want to thank our Board Members and Committee Members for their ongoing support and volunteer time that they provide to our community.
2019/2020 Sunland North Board Members
President – Gary Fortmann
Vice President – John Lewis
Treasurer – Susan Hamman
Secretary – Lawrence Charters
Member at Large – Mike Johnson
Kay Hatler – Newsletter Editor, kay.hatler@gmail.com