Right-of-Way Clearing Update

On Saturday, January 11th, right-of-way was cleared at the trailhead of Bear Reserve at NW 180th and 10th NW. Now the entire trail is visible from the street, which should deter the transient that frequents the area. The trail is used by children walking to Sunset Elementary. Thank you to David Kirk, John Hollinrake, Dr. Robert and Judy Allen, Tom Compton, Ian Malarky, Michael Rasch, Ewa Sledziewski, and Dave Fosmire.

On Sunday, January 12th, work was begun at the end of NW 186th to clear right-of-way near Blue Heron Reserve. Sunday's work was not specifically published in the Bulletin, but a general announcement was made. Dave Fosmire had previously discussed the work with property owners directly adjacent to the right-of-way, but other residents on NW 186th did not know this work was to be done at this specific time.

The Board regrets that there was a misunderstanding and that some citizens feel they were not clearly informed of the work. However, this issue was discussed at length in our community meetings and in the Bulletin.

So that there is no further misunderstanding, the areas that have been approved by the city for clearing so far and which we will be working on are:

Work on these areas will be conducted over the next two to three months or until the work is completed. After that we may seek approval to trim additional right-of-way areas.

For those who would like to be more involved please join the efforts of the work group. The next work parties are scheduled for Saturday February 1st from 1 to 3 PM, Sunday February 2nd from 9 to noon, Saturday February 15th from 1 to 3 PM and Sunday February 16th from 9 to noon. Call Dave Fosmire at 542-4369 for more information if you can assist.

Innis Arden Club, Inc.
Board of Directors Meeting
January 14, 7:00 PM
Summary of Minutes

The meeting was called to order at 7:10 p.m.
Board members present: Michael Rasch (President), Mike Jacobs (Vice President), June Howard (Treasurer), Carol Solle (Secretary), Ewa Sledziewski, (Clubhouse), Loys Lamb (Buildings and Remodels), Maggie Taber (Grounds), Dave Fosmire (Reserves), Pam Smit (Activities). Community members attending: About 35

A. Community Announcements and Concerns
Clearing of Right-of-Way
Rasch presented some background information. Innis Arden received a mini-grant from the City of Shoreline to clear right-of-way on dead-end streets adjacent to the Reserves and in front of the clubhouse for trail visibility, pedestrian safety and to discourage possible thefts from occurring in nearby homes.

On Saturday, January 12th, the right-of-way was cleared at the trailhead of Bear Reserve, the trail of which is used by students who attend Sunset Elementary School. Lots of beer and liquor bottles were found in the brush. Being able to see the trail helps police to patrol for teen drinking and transient activity. This work was specifically published in the Bulletin. Because there were so many volunteers, the work was completed in one day with another day left for the rental of the chipper.

On Sunday, work was begun at the end of NW 186th to clear right-of-way near Blue Heron Reserve. This was not specifically published in the Bulletin, but a general announcement was made-"It (mini-grant funds) will be used to clear street right-of-way throughout Innis Arden for pedestrian safety and increased crime visibility along walkways, at street ends, and trailheads next to the Reserves". Fosmire had previously discussed the work with property owners directly adjacent to the right-of-way, but other residents on NW 186th did not know this work was to be done. Rasch expressed regret for the scheduling misunderstanding.

Rasch addressed each comment:

B. Board Agenda
Building and Remodel Policy: Define 'affected peripheral properties' (for neighbor signoff)
The question is how many neighbors should be notified of a remodel? Several suggestions were provided:

Action: A motion was made to keep the wording in the neighbor signoff sheet, but add that as a minimum, neighbors within 500 feet be required to sign off and was passed unanimously.

Discuss using a well to irrigate Grouse Reserve
Jacobs said that in order to drill a well to irrigate Grouse Reserve, we would need to pass an amendment in Innis Arden I, because the covenants prohibit drilling wells. He will be contacting a geophysical engineer for a feasibility study, and then present this to the Board for further discussion.

Jacobs cannot apply for the permit until the Board approves of drilling a well, which is dependent upon geologist's reports, and passing an amendment. He will be obtaining these reports.

Discuss amending the bylaws, Section 6, State Meetings as follows:
Change "The Board of Directors shall normally meet on a regular basis on the first Tuesday of each month" to "The Board of Directors shall normally meet on a regular basis on the second Tuesday of each month".

This change was suggested during the April 2002 Board Meeting, published in the April 2002 Bulletin, approved during the July 2002 Board Meeting, and implemented September 2002.

The Board will be voting on changing this part of the Bylaws during February's meeting.

Action taken during a special Board meeting December 14th following a Building and Remodel inspection:
Action: A motion was a passed to approve the application of the Romney sunroom addition based upon the Board's site visit on November 22 and a review of section 3, paragraph 4 of the covenants, 5-0

C. Committee Reports
Treasurer:
Howard reported that she and club archivist Guenter Risse bought 2 fireproof file cabinets for only $680. The Club ended up in the black for 2002. She presented financial reports to the Board.

Activities:
Smit reported that this committee is what gets the community together. The committee has scheduled the following events:

Teresa Catford has suggested having nighttime 'Shore Walks' along the beach of Boeing Creek Reserve. At low tide, creatures can be observed using flashlights. This is being considered for the end of the month or later. Stay tuned for a date to be announced.

Clubhouse:
New light fixtures have been purchased. Lowell volunteered to help Fosmire and Sledziewski install them.

Reserves:
Activities that took place in Boeing reserve during the fourth quarter of 2002

1) About 50 large salmon carcasses were deposited into the creek to fertilize it. This is done every year in accordance with a permit from the Fisheries Dept. Very few Coho and chum salmon returned to the creek this year. This was typical of other area streams and possibly a result of El Nino and other unfavorable ocean conditions. Innis Arden residents are encouraged to call Ed Barnes at 542-5242 with their questions, comments, or concerns regarding salmon restoration in Boeing Creek.

2) Fosmire continues to work with the city regarding storm water retention. Mr. Sanchez is contacting the Department of Ecology to determine to what extent the dam can be used.

3) Fosmire said that the trail needs to be restored to create a service road for heavy equipment to address such problems. Trail restoration can't be done without a permit from the city, and the city won't consider a permit until the rainy season is over, during the spring.

Grounds:
Plexiglas has finally been replaced on the entrance sign. People in the neighborhood would like to see the entrance improved.

Buildings and Remodels:
Roberts-17244 12th Avenue NW: Expanding the footprint and raising the roofline of the house
Action: A motion to approve the Roberts remodel was approved unanimously

Marcu-1435 NW 188th St: New addition in back, three rooms and a bath. The plans did not meet setback requirements. Marcu argued that when his house was built 30 years ago, it did not meet setback requirements, and that his addition should likewise not be required to meet setback requirements. He added that he was not certain if the boundary line was properly established. Rasch explained that we are not asking him to move his house. We are requiring that his addition meet setback requirements. The current Board is not going to compound the errors, mistakes or oversights that previous Boards have made. Marcu informed the Board that he would have his property surveyed to check the property lines.

Welsh-1450 NW 188th: Sports Court. Loys has received an application from Welsh, with one neighbor signing off and no plans or warranty of compliance. He will be returning the application.

Loys received a call about construction at the McCarthy residence. They are making substantial improvements including a retaining wall and what appears to be a sports court without a Building and Remodel Permit. The Board will write them a letter demanding that work be stopped and that an application be completed within 2 weeks.

Stamey-18533 8th NW: 2nd story addition. Loys has received no plans.

D. Closing

Action: At 9:10, a motion to adjourn was unanimously approved.
-Carol Solle, Secretary

Innis Arden Club, Inc.
Summary of Minutes for Annual Shareholder's Meeting
January 8, 2003

Board members present: Roger Lowell (President), Kate O'Neill (Vice President), June Howard (Treasurer), Carol Solle (Secretary), Pam Smit (Activities), Ewa Sledziewski, (Clubhouse), Loys Lamb (Building and Remodels), Mike Jacobs (Grounds), Dave Fosmire (Reserves). Community members attending: 71.

Kate O'Neill (Vice-president) called the meeting to order. Since a quorum of shareholders was not present, O'Neill asked for a motion to adjourn and a new meeting constituted.
Action: The motion was made and approved by all shareholders except one.

Action: A motion to approve the minutes from the 2002 Annual Meeting was adopted unanimously.

An error in the Bulletin which announced 4 Board openings instead of 3 was discussed. There was concern that some shareholders might vote for 4 people. None of the ballots received to date had 4 people chosen, and the remaining ballots would be cast by shareholders who were aware of the 3 openings. The candidates with the most number of votes would be elected.

There was a request that the voting process be clarified for next year prior to the 2004 Annual meeting. Solle plans to conduct a review of the process.

Action: Marta Lyall nominated Laurie Hopkins to be a candidate for election to the Board.

In addition, three other candidates had been previously announced in the Bulletin. They were Mike Jacobs, Michael Rasch, and Maggie Taber.

Each of the candidates gave a short presentation. There was a question and answer period followed by voting and the collection of ballots.

Community Announcements and Concerns:

Committee Reports:
Treasurer:
June Howard reported only 19 shareholders have not paid their dues. The 2003 budget was amended as follows:

Al Wagar disagrees with spending $20,000 to survey the reserves. Fosmire explained that before any management can occur in the reserves, the City requires the surveys. O'Neill pointed out that the boundary surveys has already established a setback violation (if not encroachment) by a shareholder home. Lowell recalled how the community survey indicated that shareholders wanted the Board to manage the Reserves.

Lawson questioned the rise in insurance rates and legal fees. Lowell explained that insurance coverage hasn't changed, but rates have gone up. O'Neill explained that raising legal costs were the result of being sued and reinstituting the Special Master Process. Howard said that legal fees also resulted from placing liens on the property of delinquent shareholders.

Action: Shareholders ratified the amended 2003 budget 36-4.

A suggestion was made to minimize changes to the Budget during the Annual Meeting.

Activities:
Activities Committee accomplishments for 2002 include:

The Hospitality Packet is being updated to include more information for new neighbors. There is a new 'neighbor to neighbor' program designed to help neighbors who are in need. The Block Watch program has been reinstated. Special projects include updating the playground equipment and sprucing up the landscaping in front of the clubhouse. Smit thanked all the wonderful ladies who have been working so hard on these projects.

Clubhouse:
Sledziewski reported that during her first year as clubhouse chair, the following has been accomplished:

A small group of volunteers, including an interior designer and an architect, are brainstorming ways to improve the clubhouse. After some preliminary ideas are developed, they will be presented to the Board and community.

Reserves:
New activities for the Reserves have been implemented this year
1) Increased trespass reports resulted in a no trespassing policy that requires an annual trespass letter be kept on file with the City of Shoreline Police Department. The Reserves were posted with new signs. The Police will now cite trespassers reported to them by Innis Arden residents.
2) Restoration of view corridors through the Reserves was begun with a permit from the City of Shoreline for Grouse Reserve. After long negotiations, the permit was issued in September and a five year plan commenced. The replanting of new lower growing trees and shrubs will begin this spring.
3) To continue view restoration in other Reserves and follow the new City codes regarding critical areas, a boundary and tree survey of Blue Heron, Eagle, and Running Water Reserves was started in December. This will lead to a new Vegetation Management Plan that implements the changes in City codes developed since 1998.
4) There were meetings with City officials to begin improvements in Boeing Creek Reserve. The plans for trail restoration will eventually lead to improving the trail for police patrols and making repair work in Boeing Creek Reserve easier in the future. City officials have promised to explore reducing siltation and erosion of lower Boeing Creek by increasing the amount of storm water retained in the detention ponds of upper Boeing Creek. This will help salmon survival in the creek.

Grounds:
Barckert continues to mow the playground, charging us $100. The grounds have been well maintained. Jacobs would like to see the entrance re-landscaped.

Remodels:
A new application form was implemented. Previously, there was no such form. Instructions were revised and clarified. For the year 2002, there were 12 remodels approved, 1 denied, and 3 in process.

Community Comments

Election Results:
Kate O'Neill announced that the following three candidates received the most votes and were duly elected to the Board: Mike Jacobs, Michael Rasch and Maggie Taber. Board members were instructed to meet after the meeting to determine who fills what positions.

Action: At 10:01, a motion to adjourn was unanimously approved.

Letter to the Editor

I was surprised to read in last month’s bulletin that an Innis Arden resident puts enough food in her garbage to possibly attract a transient.

Any transient would have slim pickings in our garbage. Although an occasional large bone may appear in it, our garbage has nothing to whet a coyote’s appetite much less a transient’s. At our house vegetable scraps, egg shells and coffee filters get composted. Other food waste, except for that occasional large bone, goes down the disposal.

It’s a good idea to think about where one’s garbage goes. Although treated sewer effluent goes into Puget Sound, sludge is used for fertilizer for non food crops. The down side of using the disposal, however, is that the rats love it. Solid waste, on the other hand, is sent by train to eastern Oregon where a whole valley is being filled with the garbage from Portland and Seattle. A byproduct could be methane gas which could be sold.

Both methods have a down side, but if less food is put in the garbage can, perhaps those coyotes will eat the rats.
-Nancy Rust

Innis Arden, Before and After

The left picture was taken in the 1950’s on Ridgefield Road. The right picture is of the same house ( after a remodel) taken in 2002. The recent photograph was taken further to the right so that the house would not be obscured by trees.

Bulletin Board

Home for Rent
Three bedroom, 1 3/4 bath, large deck. 18742 Ridgefield Road. 206-546-6241

Innis Arden Author to Speak at Richmond Beach Library
David Laskin will be speaking about his book Partisans: Marriage, Politics and Betrayal Among the New York Intellectuals at the Richmond Beach Library. Please come join neighbors and friends on Monday, February 3, 2003 at 7 PM.

eNeighborhood
Did you know that Innis Arden Bulletins from the last 3 years are available on our Web site? Covenants, amendments, building and remodel info, covenant compliance request information and forms, Swim Club info, a message board for neighborhood chat, and much more can be found on our Web site.

Also, if you would like to be notified of periodic neighborhood news (for example, a new Bulletin on the Web site, crime alerts, meeting agendas, etc) email Carol Solle at csolle@earthlink.net.

Clubhouse Rental
Call 542-5558 If you wish to rent the clubhouse, please call 542-5558 and leave a message with your name and telephone number. The clubhouse rental manager, Susan, will contact you.

Loving caregiver for elderly person Twelve years experience
Excellent references. Call Graciela 1 360 691 7118 or Diane 206 542 1188

Wanted
Old Pictures of Innis Arden Please contact Carol Solle at 542-4978.