Notes from June 22 Meeting

As promised, here are the notes from our last meeting. I've also included a list of homeowner questions from our open discussion.

Grand Firs HOA Meeting – Graham Fire Station
June 22, 2011 – Board Members: Mark, Rob & Mandy
JC Higgins: Lindsey

Agenda:
Progress Update
ACC Discussion
Neighborhood Watch
Community Challenges
Street Parking
Upcoming Plans and Events
Open Discussion

Progress Update:
-Recap of Grand Firs’ history (no HOA for 2 years and related challenges)
-HOA now in place for 1 year – caught up with bills, now have regular landscaping, gates functioning, street lights repaired, entrance light installed in April, working on landscape rocks for 86th
-Recent Easter egg hunt was a success

ACC Discussion:
-Established recently, consists of Adam, Lee and Mandy (one board member must serve on the ACC)
-Board possibly interested in adding two more positions with homeowners from Phases 2 and 3
-Receiving several ACC requests per week
-ACC works via email to approve/deny requests as quickly as possible
-Obtaining ACC approval can protect the homeowner down the road
-ACC has had to ask a couple of homeowners to re-do a few things
-Requests don’t have to be fancy; we just a simple description, sketch and materials list
-Any questions, email Lindsey (Lindsey@jc-higgins.com)

Neighborhood Watch (by Grand Firs homeowner Scott):
-Brief history of the Neighborhood Watch Program
-Putting a phone list together to help neighbors communicate
-Looking for volunteers to serve as Block Watch Captains and those with law enforcement or medical training
-Will pick signs and decide on sign placement
-Will organize a meeting this summer with Pierce Co Sheriff to help us get started
-Hope to have the program in place by this fall
-Contact Scott at grandfirsnhw@gmail.com with questions, comments, or volunteer inquiries

Community challenges:
-Someone continually breaking the fence along 86th (NE corner of Grand Firs), repaired several times
-Graffiti in Phase 3 park
-BBQ grill stolen from Phase 3 park
-Real estate signs broken several times (doesn’t look attractive to potential buyers and costly for agents)
-Teen party recently busted by police in vacant Reich home, 2 taken into custody

Street parking:
-Board is receiving complaints about the number of vehicles parking in the street, people wondering why we’ve let it get out of control
-CCRs and the Good Neighbor Policy state that homeowners are to park in garages or driveways, which are considered “approved areas”. Visitors may park in the street for periods no longer than 24 hours. If visitors are staying longer or if a homeowner needs to park an RV for a couple days, just email Lindsey or a board member to get an OK
-Emergency vehicles and garbage trucks have difficulty maneuvering around parked cars
-Cars parked in the street make it difficult to see kids or animals that may dart out into the street
-Letters will start going out to homeowners who regularly park in the street

Upcoming Plans and Events:
-Would like to create an actual website. The blog (grandfirs.blogspot.com) works the now but we’d like to put something up that’s more professional-looking
-Movie nights in the park, received the OK from neighbors who live near the parks
-Summer BBQ (Jim suggested bringing the fire department out, will look into that)
-National Night Out gathering

Open Discussion:
Q: Is the HOA going to stain the fence? Can homeowners who border common areas stain the fence?
A: Board will get a bid. Will be expensive but we can look into it.

Q: Can we install speed bumps along 231st?
A: The neighborhood voted no, but we can ask again. The board had voted yes on speed bumps.

Q: Can we put a light in at the park:
A: Need to see if that would disturb those who live around the park. Maybe a motion light?

Q: Can we create a skate park or other area for teenagers?
A: We can look at suggestions. Would need to consider the liability risk.

Q: Why are there so many real estate signs? Where are signs permitted?
A: Board has gone back and forth with sellers many times on this. Freestone did remove their banners along 86th. We can ask them again to tone it down. We understand they are trying to sell homes but several residents think our entrance looks like a “circus”.

Q: Can sellers use the south gate so the north gate can be closed 24 hours?
A: We’ve tried, but we haven’t been successful.

Q: Are off-road vehicles allowed?
A: No. It’s very difficult to enforce but we try to contact people about it when we see them. If you see someone riding one and you know where they live, contact Lindsey and she will deal with it.

Q: Is there a timeline on when back yards need to be installed?
A: CCRs don’t specify, but we ask that they be done within 8 months. If that’s not possible, we ask that homeowners at least keep the weeds under control.

Q: What about weeds in the vacant lots?
A: The banks have cut the weeds down before. We can ask that they do it again. Lindsey will call.

Q: Who is responsible for Tract J in Phase 3?
A: Not sure, Lindsey will look into it.

Q: What are the current gate hours?
A: North gate hours are M-F 11:30am-6pm and S-S 9am-6pm. South gate hours are M-F 5:45am-6pm and closed on weekends. The agents recently agreed to let us shorten the “open” hours for the north gate.

Q: Why aren’t all home programmed into both gates?
A: The motors that were installed aren’t adequate for a 400-home development and it’s expensive to replace the motors. There is also a lot of bottle-necking at the north gate in the morning, and splitting the homes will help spread the traffic out.

Q: The retention ponds look like they need to be cleared. Can we look into that?
A: Yes, we will get a bid from the landscaper.

Q: What is the status of the broken street light in Phase 3?
A: The contractor who broke it is paying. The part has been ordered and takes 6-8 weeks to arrive.

Q: Can we replace missing street signs in Phase 3?
A: Yes, we are looking into that.

Closing:
-Good turnout, thank you for a good discussion
-If homeowners want to be involved with the community, the board will find jobs for people
-Always contact us with any questions, concerns, ideas, etc. Our goal is to make this a great community