Minutes for the Annual Meeting of the Mar Cheri Community Club
Date: Thursday, Feb 23, 2025
Time/ Location: 7PM at Wayside Church Fellowship Hall
Those Board Members in attendance: Ken Schiewetz, Larry Barlow, Gary Mesick, Anne Mesick
In addition, there were nine properties represented at the meeting.
President: Ken Schiewetz
Ken called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM
Ken reported that overall the community had had a successful year in 2024. One of the areas of focus this past year was the issue with the City of Federal Way’s erosion map of our area and the consequences of that designation. Late in the year the community learned that a Geology survey could be done, and if the results of that survey showed that our common area is not in an erosion zone, the map for the city could be corrected. The Board decided to do the survey as “erosion zone” designation limits our flexibility in managing the pool and surrounding areas.
Treasurer: Gary Mesick
The beginning of this calendar year (January 1 2025), Mar Cheri has $4494.85 in our Operating (checking) account and $34082.12 in our Reserve (savings) account. For the year, the community was $3800 over budget, primarily due to landscaping and professional services. 68 households have paid their 2024 dues in full. One household has not paid for 2024 and also owes 2022 dues, which is an ongoing issue being handled by the Community lawyers.
Reserve expenditures for the year were $5664.94–for repainting the pool house ($2939.96) and trimming trees in the common area ($2724.98). Deposits of $5664.94 were made to the Reserve. The 2024 reserve study indicates a high likelihood of a special assessment, but as has been noted in prior minutes, this is because by the reserve study calculation, the pool house siding is at the end of its useful life. The board has inspected the siding, and it sees no reason to replace the siding. Thus, the board sees a smaller risk of special assessment due to any maintenance issues.
Proposed 2025 Budget. The proposed budget, subject to membership approval at the annual meeting, includes a substantial increase in reserve funding. In addition, it includes an inflation adjustment factor since 2020, when dues first reached $720 per household, This budget results in annual dues of $965 per household—a $245 increase from the current $720 per household. $175 of this increase is due to inflation since the last dues increase. The remaining $70 of the increase is allocated to an increase in spending on landscaping and professional fees.
| Income | ||
| Dues | 66585 | |
| Expenses | ||
| Administration | 500 | |
| Insurance | 10000 | |
| Landscaping | 4500 | |
| Licensing/Permits | 860 | |
| Miscellaneous | 1000 | |
| Pool | 9400 | |
| Professional Services | 10000 | |
| Repairs | 2000 | |
| Reserve Fund Contributions | 12000 | |
| Software/Web | 1725 | |
| Texes (Property) | 4400 | |
| Utilities (water, trash, electricity) | 10200 | |
| Total Expenses | 66585 | |
| Per Household | 965 |
Secretary: Anne Mesick
Anne reported that five welcome packets were delivered to neighbors. One was to a new property owner, Wes Bekele, who attended the meeting. Four were delivered to new neighbors who are renting properties in Mar Cheri.
At Large: Larry Barlow
Larry reported that if funds become available, an upgrade to the aging (20 year old) laptop computer and replacement of the lock system for the gates and the locker room doors is a project that needs addressing. The estimated cost of the project is about $3000,00. Gary Mesick and Larry Barlow would volunteer to dig the trenches for the installation.
Maintenance/Pool: Ken Schiewetz (Acting Chairperson)
The primary maintenance projects addressed in the neighborhood were the large water main break at the cul-de-sac near the pool. Ken worked closely with the staff at Lakehaven to get the leak repaired and then to get the road, which was heavily damaged, repaired. It took several months to get the job finished. This project did not cost the community any money, but there were hours of work behind the scenes that Ken did to see the project through.
The drain cover replacement project required by King County continues to make progress though slowly.
Neal Tripp, a member of the maintenance committee, who along with Ruth, his wife, take the lead on the day to day maintenance and operations of the pool, reported that the work party before the pool opens provides the chance for the community to do some of the necessary maintenance prior to opening day. Tables were repaired and stained, power washing was done, furniture was washed and repositioned on the deck and patio, weeding, and cleaning of the locker rooms was all done so that on opening day everything was ready for members to swim.
A new Mar Cheri sign at the common area was installed. Thank you to Wayne Miller for making the sign for the community. Several members volunteered to open, close, and clean at the pool during the summer. The wood surfaces of the pool house were painted this past year as well.
Heather Pierce, once again, took on the job of collecting the necessary paperwork before activating members key cards to enter the pool.
Thank you to all the property owners who volunteered their time to help make the pool and common areas such an enjoyable part of the community.
Architecture: Ken Schiewetz (Acting Chairperson)
It was a busy year for the Architecture Committee. Many homes were painted as well as having roofs installed. Remember that any work done on your home on the outside has to be approved by the Architecture Committee. In addition to the above work, we remind home owners that garbage and recycle containers need to be stored out of sight or fines will be levied. We also had to remind several homeowners that lawns need to be mowed and vegetation trimmed. We have one property owner being fined for general lack of maintenance to the structure and the grounds, and another property owner who is subject to fines for ongoing view violations.
New Business:
Ken asked for volunteers to open the ballots and tally the results. Kay Gordon and Wes Bekele said that they would do this job.
Ken reported that he had spoken with the person who did the Geology study in the common area and that our property is not in an erosion zone. This will allow the maintenance of the grounds to proceed with far less disruption. Ken mentioned that there is vegetation that needs trimming, fences that need to be replaced among other things that will eventually need to be addressed. The next step in this process has already begun as the report was submitted to the City of Federal Way so that the outdated maps they have can be replaced with this new report.
There being no other business, Ken ended the meeting.
Thirty one ballots were received at the time of the meeting. There was not a quorum so the voting period has been extended another month. Any property owners who did not vote can still do so and mail the ballot in the stamped and addressed envelopes that were provided.
Provisionally the budget increase passed 27 to 3 with one abstention. The officers on the board will remain the same and provisionally Gary Zukowski , whose name was written in, will be the Vice President. Wes Bekele also volunteered to help on the board in a position to be decided in the near future. Thank you to all who returned ballots. Thank you in advance to those who will mail in their ballots by March 13, 2025.
Payments of the annual assessment may be paid online through the Pay HOA portal or checks can be mailed to the community mailbox at 29526 2nd Avenue SW, Federal Way, WA 98023.
Respectfully Submitted,
Anne Mesick
Secretary