Unit Owners' Forum:
The unit owners’ forum started at 7:15 pm. Only three unit owners were present.
- An owner from the 25th floor asked about the status of the FHA
application. The Board president, Jerry, said it had been approved,
and that the property manager, Dave, had just gotten the last paperwork
within the past week. Dave said it took about 10 months for the paperwork
to get approved. This means that potential buyers can now apply for
an FHA guaranteed mortgage to buy units here.
- I commented that at the end of the April meeting the Board had
an "executive session" regarding a rule violation. I had
asked at that time if that was going to be included in the minutes of the
meeting and was told it would be. However, the April minutes made
no mention of an "executive session" being held, or what decision
was made. I asked why not. This led to a discussion that lasted
the rest of the owners' forum for over 20 minutes. Below is
a summary.
The Board feels that rules violations and delinquencies are negative items
and it serves no positive purpose to post negative things in the minutes
or in my website for people to see. I said fining for rules violations
is actually a positive thing because it shows the Board is enforcing the
rules. I mentioned that the condo law allows the Board to discuss
these items in a closed session, but that any vote has to be made in an
open meeting, and so must be included in the minutes, excluding the specific
units involved. Management said they have to put in the minutes that
a unit was fined and how much, but not what the rule violation was. Regarding
the level of delinquencies, I asked if potential buyers don't have a right
to know our level of delinquencies before buying, and management said no,
they don't.
Jerry closed the discussion by saying it's hard to figure out what's good
for people to know and what isn't, what is material, and will it incite
people? He said he's a positive person and wants to put out information
that creates a positive environment.
There being no other questions, the Board meeting started at 7:41 pm.
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Board Meeting:
The Board meeting started at 7:41 pm and ended at 8:03 pm (22 minutes). All Board members except Sajed were present. The property
manager and management company representative were also present. There were only three unit owners present, which is less than half the normal attendance.
[This may have been due to notice about the meeting not being posted
until the day of the meeting, and not in the bulletin board by the mail
boxes.]
The Board Minutes from the June 2011 meeting were approved.
Management Report:
- The two-way communication system was tested and passed on July 21. The
fire department inspection of the renovated elevators still needs to be
done.
- The pool party was held on July 30. The party was well received.
Dave thanked Joanne and Dan for helping make the great party possible.
- A required training session was held for the door and maintenance
staff by Community Specialists with 100% participation. Also, a quarterly
training session was held on July 22. This covered entry and non-entry
permits, video monitoring, work orders, maint. relief,
smoking breaks, familiarity with residents, pool procedures, emergency
contacts, emergency panel, etc. OSHA requirements also covered at
the management company training.
- Window washing was completed on July 29.
- The building's fire pump will be tested by the fire department
on August 3 at 8 AM.
- Building automation system project was sent to contractors
for bids.
- New larger signs with pool rules were purchased and posted near
the pool entrance and in the pool area to help residents comply with the
pool rules.
- A retirement party was held for Raul on the sundeck
on June 26. He appreciated it.
- Winona parking lot fence and landscaping approval.
Our attorney said that the official approval from city zoning has
been received. The city permit procurement process will be expedited.
- Travelers Insurance, the Association's insurance company, sent
an inspector to our building. A few minor issues were brought up
and corrected, but overall they were pleased with the inspection.
- Work orders are being completed by maintenance on a timely basis.
- Cracked cast iron pipes in the garage were repaired. Leaks
were discovered during the heavy rains.
- A water riser expansion joint on the west end of the 10th floor failed and
had to be repaired.
- The drain in front of the front entrance door was repaired by Berglund
Construction for $3,888, which was less than originally estimated.
- The shower basin on the women's 2nd floor bathroom needs repair.
Robert attempted a repair to stop the leak that has affected a parking
space on the South Deck for many years. The leak has not stopped
and the car affected was relocated to another space and cleaned. The source of the leak will be sought and another repair will have to be
attempted, and the parking space can't be used until then.
- Some of our landscape flowers died and our landscaper, Brinkman,
said they're getting too much water. Robert disagreed. Management
and Brinkman will get together to figure out a solution.
- Robert and the maintenance staff locked pool furniture and took care of some other things
until 11 PM during the storm on June 30.
- Raynor Door Service repaired the garage door bottom section on
July 26. A garage door operator was installed earlier in July. Joanne
asked if the garage door closing couldn't be made faster because it
says open too long after a car drives in. Dave said he would call
the door company to come out to check it out. Dave said the doorman
can close the garage door from the front desk.
- The front drive area paint was repaired and repainted.
- A new pool pump was purchased and installed at a cost of $1,200.
The original pump was very old and not maintaining proper pressure.
- The Winona parking lot gate stopped working due to
a power surge and was repaired in July.
[NOTE: Other than the cost of the new pool pump and drain repair,
the report didn't mention how much the other repairs cost].
- The Board waived its right of first refusal on one unit sold -- unit
3K, a studio, sold for $60,000. [I found out later that this unit
was in foreclosure.] The following leases were approved. Some leases
were from prior months being approved tonight:
| 4F $925/mo. |
5K $850/mo. |
6F $910/mo. |
10L $1,300/mo. |
| 14B $1,400/mo. |
19G $1095/mo. |
21H $995/mo. |
23K $875/mo. |
| 24D $1,000/mo. |
24F $1,100/mo. |
24G $1,000/mo. |
26B $1,575/mo. |
The building is 71% owner-occupied.
Treasurer's Report:
The treasurer, Chris, read the Treasurer's Report prepared by management
as of June 30. Year-to-date income is almost exactly at
budget, and expenses are $112,160, or 13.5%, less than budget,
resulting in a net income of $112,054. Total investments in reserves
were $1.525,403, but I don't know if the elevator renovation has been totally
paid for yet.. [NOTE: After the meeting, I asked why income
for the month was over $10,000 higher than budget. Management said
we had received our annual refuse rebate from the city.]
New Business:
- The management contract was renewed for another two years ending in 2013
at the same rate we have been paying, or $4,000 per month.
Old Business:
None.
Ratifications:
None.
The Board meeting
adjourned at 8:03 pm. Then the Board had a closed "executive session"
requested by Dave for about one hour. No purpose was given.
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