Mar Cheri Community Club
2017 Mar Cheri HOA Annual Meeting Minutes
These minutes are not official. They will be approved at the 2018 annual meeting.
In attendance: 20 households were represented.
Mar Cheri HOA Board of Directors President Ken Schiewetz called the meeting to order at
7 p.m. at the Federal Way Library on 320th Street. While previous meetings traditionally were held in February, the board made the decision to move the meeting to November. This allows residents to see and comment on next year’s budget and to know what next year’s annual assessment will be more than five months before the assessment is due.
An election committee was formed to count votes, including Margo Rolf and Michelle Egusa. Board members for the coming year are Ken Schiewetz, president; Peter Saballa-Davis, vice president; Nate Obermark, maintenance; Greg Bengeult, treasurer; Heather Salton, architecture; Anne Mesick, recreation; Laura House, secretary; Makoto Sugiuchi, at large.
New neighbors were welcomed to Mar Cheri, including Robin and Shannon Mann.
President’s Report
Board President Ken Schiewetz reported that the largest project tackled in Mar Cheri in 2017 was the resurfacing of the swimming pool. This work was completed Nov. 7. The original plan was to resurface the pool. However, once resurfacing began it was evident that more work needed to be done to ensure the pool’s ongoing integrity. Ken said that if the additional work had been postponed the project would have been more expensive in the future.
The other concern in 2017 continued to be an issue created a few years ago when too many trees adjacent to the common pool area were removed. Mar Cheri’s attorney indicated that Mar Cheri no longer has liability related to this incident. Ken said he would let residents know if the board hears any additional information concerning this issue.
He also noted that the spring that runs through the pool parking lot will be addressed next year.
In addition, Ken advised residents to watch for suspicious individuals in the neighborhood, noting that a car was stolen recently from outside a Mar Cheri residence. He reminded community members that Mar Cheri initiated a Block Watch program last summer. Block Watch signs are now posted at both entries to the community. Ken urged residents to meet their neighbors and make sure they have each other’s phone numbers.
Recreation Committee
Anne Mesick was elected as board member to chair Mar Cheri’s Recreation Committee. Audrey Isaacson will serve as a committee member. Serving as volunteers the past year, Anne and Audrey created welcome packets for new residents. They distributed these packets to those in attendance at the meeting. The packet features a message of welcome, ways new residents can become involved in the community, an updated Mar Cheri directory, and copies of Mar Cheri’s bylaws and covenants also are included.
The book kiosk Ray Krueger is constructing will be located at the pool. The kiosk is designed for community members to leave a book they’ve read and take a book they’d like to read. A big thanks to Ray for making this possible!
In other community activities, 12 Mar Cheri households participated in last summer’s garage sale. Also, this summer the annual party will return to the Fourth of July. Last summer’s party was cancelled because too few residents signed up to participate.
Architectural Committee
Board member Heather Salton reported that some individuals in Mar Cheri are not submitting their plans to the Architectural Committee for review before they begin a project. Before a resident begins any exterior project please consult articles VI and VII of Mar Cheri’s bylaws. All projects must adhere to these articles.
Heather also reported she is working to clarify rules concerning house and yard conditions. Failure to adhere to rules may result in fines when community members refuse to comply.
Treasurer Report
Treasurer Greg Bengeult’s report included a review of our 2017 performance against the budget, a report on the reserve account, and a preview of the 2018 budget.
Mar Cheri underspent its 2017 budget by approximately $8,000, mostly because we didn’t do any landscaping this year and our legal expenses were minimal. The excess will be rolled over into our reserve account to help defray the extra costs of the pool resurfacing project.
The reserve account, which started the year with about $12,700, will have a total income of about $43,000 by the end of the year, and will end with a balance of about $11,500 after paying for the pool resurfacing project.
The 2018 budget is modeled after our actual expenses from 2017, plus monies for addressing drainage and landscaping needs in the pool area. The annual assessment for 2018 will be $675, payable in one payment on or before April 1, or in 12 monthly payments of $60.
Greg also asked for volunteer families to help take care of the day-to-day pool duties next summer. In exchange for a few minutes a day, the family or families will receive a full rebate of their annual assessment. Pool opening and closing takes about 20 minutes per day, and cleaning the bathrooms takes about 30 minutes, but only on an as-needed basis. If two families volunteer, they can split the duties any way they like. The pool operates from Memorial Day to Labor Day, or possibly a little longer if the September weather stays nice.
Vice President Mark Moberg encouraged all Mar Cheri residents to serve on the board.
Thank you to all who participated in the annual meeting. When everyone contributes our community is stronger!