July 22nd, 2021 Community Meeting

SCW HOA Community Meeting

AGENDA

  1. Welcome
  2. Covenants passed last year – THESE HAVE ALREADY PREVENTED AT LEAST 3 RENTAL COMPANIES FROM MOVING IN!
  3. Sign Update – DELAYS DUE TO DIFFICULTY OBATINING MATERIALS – HOPING TO HAVE FULLY INSTALLED BY NEXT MONTH
    1. Concern expressed regarding placement of the sign – are insuring that it lends maximum visibility when entering specifically from the east
  4. Basketball goals – BOARD WILL ENFORCE REVOVAL OF HOOPS THAT ARE NOT REGULARLY USED; WILL UPHOLD CITY NOISE ORDINANCE REGARDING HOURS THAT HOOPS CAN BE IN USE (7A-9P OR 7A-10P IN SUMMER MTHS)
  5. Shared entrance project – DOCUMENT STATING SCW’S RESPONSIBILTY TO PAY FOR HALF OF ALL MAINTENANCE/UPDATES OF SHARED 116TH ISLAND WILL BE UPLOADED TO OUR WEBSITE
    1. One-time additional cost to annual dues was charged to pay for SCW’s half of the updates
    2. We have made some strides with the apartment’s management to foster a better working relationship with them
  6. Enforcement
    1. Arch. Committee – MANY HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS HAVE BEEN APPROVED THIS PAST YEAR WHICH ARE VERY MUCH ENCOURAGED!
    2. General maintenance – We will be doing a walk around review – HELP OUR TEAM BY NOTIFYING US OF VIOLATIONS OR ISSUES IN YOUR VICINITY
  7. Budget/Financial
    1. COPY OF THE YTD BUDGET WAS DISTRIBUTED (WILL BE POSTED TO WEBSITE)
    2. Landscape savings – THANK YOU TO DENISE AND SUE FOR TAKING ON THE ENTRANCE FLOWERS SO THAT WE COULD SEE A COST SAVINGS ON OUR LANDSCAPE CONTRACT
    3. Current outstanding dues are around $11,000 that have built up over the last 8 years (approx. 5-6 homeowners owing the bulk of this) – HAVE CONTACTED ATTORNEY REGARDING OUR OPTIONS IN CAPTURING MORE OF THIS REVENUE AND WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK INTO THESE; ALLOWING PAYMENT PLANS FOR THOSE THAT NEED MORE TIME TO CATCH-UP HAS BEEN HELPFUL IN COLLECTING PAST DUES
    4. Homeowner suggested 7 year audit of HOA’s financial records
  8. Mailbox Maintenance – BIG THANK YOU TO CHRIS AND TEAM FOR THEIR HOURS OF WORK TO REPAIR AND PAINT MAILBOX POSTS
    1. Were able to replace 4 of the worst posts and plan to continue a replacement rotation that works within the allotted budget for this item as we have each year prior to this
    2. Previous year’s mailbox assessment funds have been used 100% toward replacing those boxes and posts deemed to be in the worst condition; we plan to continue a replacement rotation annually and will include a budget line item for this 
    3. Metal post guards are available for purchase to protect the base of your posts (See Chris Neal for details)
  1. Opportunities for improvements:
    1. Sidewalks – WILL BE GETTING QUOTES TO REPAIR HOA MAINTAINED SPACES; INTEND TO PROVIDE OPTIONS FOR COST SAVINGS TO HOMEOWNERS TO FIX THEIR SIDEWALKS AS WELL
      1. Sidewalks that are cracked, uneven, etc may pose a hazard to residents – residents are responsible for the walks associated with their properties
      2. City will grind down walks but will not repair or repave
    2. Pond/Fountains – WILL LOOK INTO OPTIONS FOR INCREASED POND MAINTENANCE AND OBTAIN QUOTES FOR FUTURE FOUNTAIN REPLACEMENT
    3. City matching grant for neighborhood beautification – WILL APPLY AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE
      1. Basketball court/playground
      2. Dog park
      3. Benches
      4. Completion of Sand Creek Nature area bridge and trail
    4. Several suggested focusing on maintaining the spaces that we already have – THESE ITEMS SUCH AS THE FOUNTAINS, SIDEWALKS, AND MAILBOXES WILL BE OUR TOP PRIORITY AS WE LOOK AT THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS
  1. 2022 Budget Discussion
    1. Dues have not increased since 2018
    2. Major budget items have increased since last increase
      1. Landscape – 25%
      2. Utilities – 6% (with LEDs being installed)
      3. Mailbox post replacement has increased nearly $100 (Current price per post is about $350)
      4. All contractors have warned about increases for next year
    3. We have been conscious of not raising dues since 2018, but this has caused our reserve fund to reduce to an unhealthy level
    4. Larger projects like the covenants have also eaten into the reserve.
    5. 2022 will see an increase in dues to account for rising maintenance prices and to begin building our reserve funds back up as insurance against large, unexpected expenses or projects that need to be completed
    6. Board will be bidding out large recurring contracts, which will determine the percentage increase necessary to cover expenses and begin building our reserves.  – HOMEOWNER SUGGESTED A 10% ANNUAL INCREASE AND THIS WAS SECONDED BY SEVERAL ATTENDEES
    7. Homeowner requested more details on budget line items 
  1. Introduce Chris Neal – NEW BOARD MEMBER – ALL ATTENDEES WERE VERY APPROVING OF THE WORK CHRIS HAS DONE AND HIS NEW POSITION
    1. Member at Large – In charge of special projects
    2. Investigated sidewalk repair needs and contractors
    3. Spearheaded Mailbox project
    4. Chris’s passion is helping homeowners maintain the quality of the neighborhood 
  2. Officer Vote
    1. HOMEOWNER SUGGESTED A PAPER BALLOT VOTE IN ORDER TO GIVE EVERYONE AN OPPORTUNITY
    2. Board will be sending a paper ballot and encourages anyone who would like to run for a board position to reach out to hoa@scwhomes.com 
  3. Other comments
    1. Requested increased communication – emails, website, newsletters to allow those that aren’t able to attend meetings a voice in decision making
    2. Reminder to drive slowly and practice street safety when utilizing the streets for playing
    3. Soliciting – can put signs on your doors to help prevent
    4. RV, boat, etc parking – covenants allow this for up to 72 hours; if a homeowner notifies the board of a special situation, allowances may be made
    5. Parked cars – streets and sidewalks/right of ways are city property and abandoned or non-working cars can be towed if reported