June 2003
Activities Announcements

On behalf of the Activities Committee, thanks a [bouquet] bunch to Sheri Miller for giving her time and talent. She demonstrated how to design with flowers and foliage from your own garden! Her creativity inspired each and every one of us as we left that evening with our own creations and more! Some committee members stayed after the workshop to design arrangements for the Richmond Beach nursing home and our local police station. Ladies, way to go in spreading community goodwill!! Now that we have your names we know who to call to help out with flower arrangements for the Salmon Barbeque!

BTW: Did you know when you place your flowers in the floral foam don’t back it out because the flower stem loses contact with the foam and has no water source. For more tips like these, make sure you attend next year’s event!!

Salmon Barbeque--SAVE THE DATE
Sunday, September 7th

Mary and Tim Cleaveland have graciously agreed to chair this year’s event. Make sure you attend the next Activities Committee meeting to see how you can help! Or feel free to call Mary or Tim at 533-9580. Look in the next bulletin for your reservation form.

Tuesday, July 1st at 7:00 pm—
Roger and Jane Lowell’s house
--Activities Meeting

Mark your Calendars!! The Friday-Saturday Series sponsored by the Activities Committee continue plus note our traditional events…

  • Sunday, Sept 7th—The 2003 Salmon Barbeque
  • Saturday, October 18th—The First Annual Oktoberfest
  • Friday, November 7th---Table and Chair Design and Decor
  • Sunday, December 7th—Annual Holiday Party

The Activities Committee is still looking for someone experienced in brick work for small project to finish landscape in front of the Clubhouse. Please call Lael Call at 546-2235 for more information.

Agenda for the July 8th 2003 7:00 PM
Board Meeting

  • Approve Minutes
  • Community Comments
  • Board Agenda (to be posted on Web site 3 days before meeting)
  • Committee Reports
  • Building and Remodels:
    Park, 1561 NW 167th--Enclosing 4 feet of space and extending roof on the 2nd story.
    Dillard, 1463 NW 186th—removing and replacing 28 feet of the south wall, adding skylights, new chimney, infill at front entry.
    Morales, 18737 Ridgefield Rd NW--Master bedroom and sunroom addition.
  • Closing

Blockwatch Reminder

During the night of June 3/4, a person or persons broke into vehicles on Innis Arden Drive, stealing prescription and sun glasses, a disabled person's placard #488112 and a garage door opener (gray in color with blue buttons). If anyone happens to come across these items please call (206) 542-5148

Please report criminal activity to policy at 911 (emergency) or 296-3311 (non-emergency) as well as to your Blockwatch captain.

Innis Arden I Blockwatch captains
Cindy Rasch, Linda Wilson, Suzanne Gross ,
Lisa Maryatt , Joan Nordheim

Innis Arden II Blockwatch captain
Shelley Watson 542-4369

Innis Arden III Blockwatch captain
Judy Allen 542-3219.

SAFETY PLEASE!!!!!!!!
From: Gary Barckert

It is time for our annual reminder about your safety and your children’s at the club grounds. With the mowing season in full swing, I want to encourage you to do a few basic things to ensure the safety of your children as well as yourself when the lawn is being mowed.

  1. Stay completely away from the mower! Please!! The mower is not a toy, although the green John Deere is fascinating. Sticks and stones may break your bones. Any rock or other solid item picked up and thrown by the blades can cause serious and/or fatal injury.
  2. Please! Pick up trash, whether or not it’s yours. Pick up any rocks, sticks or other objects. Hidden debris in the grass is an accident waiting to happen. I make every attempt to clear the grass of debris, but it is impossible to see every rock, stick or other object.
  3. Monitor your children! Be a good model! If you see your child or other children throwing rocks, etc. onto the grass, please direct them and help them to remove the items from the grass, and teach them why.
We want the grounds to be accident-free. I’m doing my part. You do yours.

Wanted:

  • Volunteers to participate in a Building and Remodel committee to make preliminary site investigations to provide home owners with information. Interested parties are invited to come to the next Board meeting.
  • Co-chair for Salmon BBQ. Contact Roger Lowell at 546-0128.
  • A person to build a two stone high curb near the Clubhouse . Contact Roger Lowell at 546-0128.
  • More Clubhouse Committee members. Contact Ewa Sledziewski at 546-3466

CLUBHOUSE REPORT

We are happy to report that as of June 17, 2003, we have received $2,975 towards covering expenses for the architectural feasibility study to renovate the clubhouse.

We would like to thank the following contributors for their response and generosity: Blankinship, Bodal, Cohn, Diorio, Dunn, Epping, Gerbino, Golden, Gwinn, Hollinrake, Kastner, Lilleness, Mackey, Mannes, McIntyre, Muir, Nordheim, Harley and Michele O’Neil, Eric and Janet Peterson, Sledziewski, Solle, and Steele.

We also thank Jeff Lewis for his help in opening an account and Shoreline Bank and for waiving bank fees.

As soon as we have $5,000 in the Club Capital Fund account, we will ask Boxwood Architects to start work on the clubhouse project. A first step will be a meeting with Innis Arden residents to obtain their suggestions for improving the facility.

In early June, Jerry Gropp, the architect who 50 years ago designed both the pool and the club buildings, visited Innis Arden, and said;
“After thinking about what I saw on Tuesday, I'm inclined to agree that the Clubhouse is really far too worn and outdated to be effectively remodeled. For one thing, as I mentioned, its basic concrete block structure wouldn't meet today's much stricter wind & earthquake requirements. And the Washington State Energy Code would pose its own set of hurdles.”

The Clubhouse Committee still needs volunteers. We are communicating mainly via email, so you can participate from the comfort of your home without having to go out to meetings. Please consider joining our group.

For the Clubhouse Committee, Ewa Sledziewski
Azs13@attbi.com, tel. 546-3466

Saluting Innis Arden Graduates!!!

High School:

  • Christine Filipovic graduates from SWHS and is going to George Washington University in the fall.
  • Brent Hilyer graduates from SWHS.
  • Lea John graduates from SWHS and is going to UPS.
  • Kelle Jones graduates from SWHS and is going to WWU
  • Scott Jones graduates from SWHS and is going to WWU
  • Paul Larson graduates from SWHS and is going to Stanford.
  • Emily Laskin graduates from Lakeside and is going to Barnard in New York City.
  • Karl Lodge graduates from SWHS.
  • Emily Maryatt graduates from SWHS and is going to Loyola-Marymount in Los Angeles.
  • Erica Mercker is going to Western Washington in Bellingham.
  • Justin Michelson graduates from SWHS and will be going to Colorado College in Colorado Springs.
  • Erin Warness graduates from SWHS and is going to UW
  • Jeremy Weiss graduated last week and is going to UPenn in Philadelphia.

College:

  • Katie Brown is graduating from UW.
  • Lorraine Eadie is on her way to Loyola-Chicago for her Masters.
  • Peder Larson is graduating with a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering from Stanford and is entering the PhD Electrical Engineering program at Stanford.
  • Andrew Lowell graduated cum laude, with honors in Organic Chemistry and a minor in Philosophy from WSU in May. He will be attending UPenn this fall to work on his doctorate.
  • Matthew Peterson graduated in June from Stanford University with a major in History, minor in Political Science.  His plans are to take a year off to work for a non-profit, and then apply to law school.
  • Neil Rosenshein graduated from George Washington University and is returning  to get his masters degree from the business school in sports management.
  • Karisa Stay is graduating from UW.

Innis Arden Club, Inc.
Board of Directors Meeting
June 10, 2003, 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), Roger Lowell (Activities), Dave Fosmire (Reserves). Community members attending: About 20

Action: A motion to approve the May 2003 minutes was passed unanimously.

A. Community Announcements and Concerns

  • Phelps wants a copy of the signed agreement from the Grouse Reserve Neighborhood Association (GRNA) to the Innis Arden Club. She also asked why the bond was $57,000.
  • Lilliness wanted to know if there is a legal recourse against people who attempt to stifle the covenants.
  • Rust said that the covenants do not include cutting in the reserves, and that the tree height amendment is limited to view obstructing trees. She added that consideration must be made to trees in critical areas as well as Shoreline Municipal Code.
  • Bliss noted that kids have built several 2-3 foot humps at the bottom of Coyote reserve for dirt biking and expressed concern over the danger and possible liability as well as the improper use of the reserve.
  • Mike Jacobs will provide a copy of the signed agreement between GRNA and the Innis Arden Club. The $57,000 was the amount required by the City.
  • Rasch explained that if the bylaw amendment for covenant enforcement is adopted, the Board will be taking steps to facilitate covenant compliance. Rasch also pointed out that just because trees are in critical areas, that does not mean that they cannot be removed. Trees in critical areas can be removed if there is appropriate mitigation.
  • Fosmire commented that holes left by mountain beaver are more dangerous that the humps the kids have created. We will be making a site visit to Coyote reserve and make an assessment.

B. Board Agenda

1) Discuss having a 3 person committee to perform a preliminary site investigation for building and remodel applications
The problem: Typically homeowners are not familiar with Innis Arden’s Building and Remodel process. Misunderstandings and delayed approval may result.
The solution: A committee of 3 people would make a preliminary evaluation of a proposed remodel, advising homeowner if staking is necessary, which neighbors need to be notified and the associated due dates in order for the remodel to be considered during the next Board Meeting.
A motion was made to authorize the Board to organize a committee of 3 people to perform a preliminary site investigation and give advice. It failed. Rasch said that we need to seek volunteers and talk about this during the next meeting.

2) Discuss the Hill/Viking Properties situation
Background:

  • Eric Sundquist of Viking properties abandoned his effort to short-plat a lot in Innis Arden in January of 2001.
  • During the September 2002 Board Meeting, a motion was passed to retain Richard Hill to reinitiate the Special Master process.
  • Earlier this year, Viking properties sued a community to the north of Innis Arden to invalidate the covenant that requires one single family home per one-half acre (see the April Bulletin).
  • The Board has since been informed that Richard Hill was representing Viking Properties.
  • Seeing a conflict of interest, the Board contacted Hill to express its concern. He acknowledged that there was a conflict of interest. Hill offered 3 options 1) we waive the conflict of interest and continue to retain Hill 2) we waive the conflict and discontinue to retain Hill 3) we do not waive the conflict and Hill would discontinue to represent the Club.
  • On May 22, 2003 the Board met to discuss legal matters.

Board Action: The Board decided to not waive the conflict 8-1
As a result, Rich Hill will be withdrawing from the Viking Properties case but has also discharged us as clients. He will be returning his retainer fee.

3) Discuss amending the bylaws

a) Bring them into compliance with RCW 64.38 and clarify voting procedures.
Article 1 Section 1 Meetings:
Annual Meeting should be on the 3rd (not 2nd) Wednesday in January. Otherwise Bulletin notification of election may not be timely.
Article 1 Section 2 Special Meetings:
Special meetings of the shareholders may be called not less than 14 or more than 60 days in advance (this way the bylaws will be consistent with RCW 64.38)
Article 1 Section 8 Voting:
Add “Delinquent shareholders are not eligible to vote”
Article 2 Section 3b:
Add ‘Write-in candidates are permitted’ (for absentee ballots). Add “No cumulative voting is allowed. A shareholder cannot vote for the same candidate multiple times.” (This is known as stuffing the ballot box).
b) Incorporate a procedure for covenant compliance including a hearing procedure and implementation of fines for non-compliance. We have received a draft from Club counsel and need to go over it as a Board.
Action: A motion to have an open Board meeting to discuss proposed amendments to the bylaws on June 25th and to send a notice to all shareholders by postcard was passed unanimously. If the Board reaches an agreement on the amendment at this meeting, it will be mailed to Innis Arden residents and another meeting will tentatively be scheduled at the end of July for community input.

C. Committee Reports

Treasurer:
Howard distributed copies of the Audit Report and the Treasurer’s report. So far we have overspent on office expenses and postage. There are 24 shareholders who have not paid dues, and on July 31st liens will be placed. Howard will be looking for the best interest rates from 2 financial institutions for the $166,000 that is available to invest. Currently the CD at WAMU is earning .75 and at Wells Fargo 1.1.

Activities:
Mary Cleaveland will be chairing the Salmon BBQ, scheduled for September 7th. A co-chair is needed. Also, a person is needed to build a two stone high curb near the Clubhouse. New playground equipment has been purchased and will be installed this summer. Although the tennis courts are owned by Innis Arden, the Activities committee has paid for refinishing them. Currently they are dirty and need to be cleaned and Activities is looking for someone to professionally clean them. The Activities committee is asking the Board to pay for this. Once the cost has been established, the Board will consider paying for at least half of the cost. There will be a flower arranging event on Friday, June 13.

Rasch signed the Junior Tennis Contract and will add the instructor as insured.

Clubhouse:
In April the Board approved of opening a Capital Fund Account for money raised to hire an architect to create preliminary plans for a Clubhouse remodel and a Clubhouse rebuild. Sledziewski thanked Jeff Lewis of Shoreline Bank for helping to open the account and waiving all fees. A letter was sent in May’s Bulletin, inviting donations. So far $2,175 has been collected. Sledziewski is grateful for all the people who are supporting this project. We need $5,000 to hire an architect. Four firms have been interviewed, including the architect who designed the current Clubhouse. If necessary, we are considering sending a survey to the community to find out how the Clubhouse might be used. Lowell suggested that the survey include asking people if they would be willing to pay for it. Rasch added that any survey sent would be evaluated and approved by the Board.

Currently the Clubhouse committee consists of Judy Allen, Keith Miles, John Hollinrake and Ewa Sledziewski. More members are needed.

Grounds:
There was some confusion about the spraying of the playfield. It was for weed control and fertilizing and not caterpillars. A request was made to use the playfield for a girl’s soccer camp composed of IA residents.
Action: A motion to permit the use of the playfield for a soccer camp for 3 hours/day the week of August 11th for 5 days with a $100 deposit was passed unanimously.
(Note from the editor: Grounds Chair has corrected the date to be August 25th. This can be voted on again during the July meeting.)
Howard asked about the Club’s contract with landscapers. Taber responded that there is no contract, but she will ask them specifically what they do. They are being paid $500/month year round.

Reserves:
Fosmire has received an arborist report on 24 dangerous trees at Boeing Creek. He will meet with the City to discuss the report. Once he meets with the City, he will get 3 bids from tree cutting services. Fosmire and Bliss will walk through Boeing creek to locate additional dangerous trees.

Fosmire has received 2 bids for vegetation management on the reserves that have been surveyed: Running Water, Blue Heron and Eagle. He is waiting for a 3rd bid. The bids will be presented at the next meeting. Vegetation management consists of having a certified arborist evaluate the overall characteristics of the reserves and to specify which trees will be retained, removed now, removed later, created into a snag, or pruned. Restoring views and trails will also be a consideration. Before any work is done, the plan will be presented to the community and a permit will be obtained from the City.

Buildings and Remodels:

  • Armour/Gross, 826 NW Innis Arden Drive--removing chimney, adding and changing windows, replacing roof. Although there was vegetation that exceeded the roof height, Amour/ Gross indicated a willingness to prune or remove it if it obstructed views.
    Action: A motion to approve of the Armour/Gross remodel including 1) removal of chimney and roof replacement 2) installation of French doors on east side of house and 3) removal of 4 existing windows and installation of 4 new windows that are 2 feet longer on west side of house was passed unanimously. Any additional work is not approved. A letter will be written to the Armour/Gross’s because we need an updated application.
  • Leonard, 16775 16th NW--Chimney replacement
    Action: A motion to approve of the Leonard chimney replacement was passed unanimously
  • Park, 1561 NW 167th--Enclosing 4 feet of space on the 2nd story and roof extension
    Lamb noted that
    1) the application was submitted 7 days prior to the Board meeting (B&R Guidelines specify that application be made no less than 20 days prior to the Board meeting)
    2) there are no visual aids to show the roof extension (B&R Guidelines specify that visual aids must be in place a minimum of thirty (30) days prior to the Board meeting at which the plans will be considered by the Board)
    3) Only 4 neighbors signed off and 7 more are needed 4) no plans (construction drawings and specifications) were provided, only a schematic design
    4) the application form was not submitted
    5) the site drawing did not show setbacks.
    Action: A motion to deny the Park remodel without prejudice until a completed application is received was passed 8-0 with one abstention.
  • Vincent, 18335 Ridgefield Road NW--Enclose existing covered patio into a sunroom
    Action: A motion to approve of the Vincent remodel was passed 8-0
  • Dillard, 1463 NW 186th—the application was received June 9th, the day before the meeting.
    Action: A motion to deny without prejudice the Dillard remodel pending publication in the Bulletin and a site visit by the Board was passed unanimously.
    A site visit will be scheduled through the attorneys.

D. Closing

Dirt biking in Coyote reserve was again discussed. It was suggested that kids don’t have sidewalks to bike ride on, and the streets are dangerous. The reserves are a better place to bike ride, but concerns were raised about misusing the reserves by building humps to jump over. The Board will take a look at the humps and consider if any action should be taken.
Bliss reminded the Board that a lot of work had been done in the reserves while he and Wagar were Reserves Chairs.

Action: At 9:05, a motion to adjourn was unanimously approved.
-Carol Solle, Secretary

Letter to the Editor from Nancy Rust

The latest Bulletin states that the Tree Amendment limits the height of trees in Innis Arden to roof height. The statement fails to include the following statement included in the amendment: “This amendment shall apply only to those trees, shrubs and brush which in any way obstruct the view of the Sound and Olympics from a neighboring lot or lots.” Whereas some neighbors enjoy seeing a tree and believe it  enhances their view, others believe that any tree obstructs their view if it is part of the view of the Sound or the Olympics.  Therein lays the controversy.  Who decides when the obstruction is diminimus?  In addition the Bulletin could have included the fact that some trees that are in or near a critical area are protected even if on private property.  Residents also should be aware that the Shoreline Code regulates in non critical areas the number of significant trees that can be cut during a three year period.

Editor’s note: As was footnoted in the last Bulletin, more information can be found by clicking on “View Information”

Letter from the Board to the Community

Recently a letter was sent from the ‘Association for Responsible Management of Innis Arden’ (ARM of IA) to many residents. We appreciate the group’s efforts and welcome community interest.

However, we feel obligated to focus on the concerns of the majority of people living in Innis Arden, and understand there will always be people who are in the minority, such as ARM of IA, who do not agree with the community's objectives.

The majority of residents who to responded to the community survey taken in 2002 were clear about what was important:

  • Protective covenants (including view preservation amendment)
  • Maintenance of reserves for
    a) trails for walking
    b) wildlife habitat
    c) lowered canopy for views
    d) view corridors and
  • Traffic safety.

These responses direct Board action.

For too long, disappearing views have been ignored by previous Boards. Although a goal of the vegetation management plan was to create view corridors in the Reserves, this goal was never achieved. Requests to facilitate compliance with the tree height amendment were ignored. The current Board is working hard to correct years of neglect.

We welcome resident participation in solving the problems of our community. There are tough issues that require us to put our heads together, come up with new solutions and move forward to protect our resources and views. The Board always welcomes constructive input from the residents of Innis Arden.

Traffic and Pedestrian Safety in Innis Arden

On June 17, IA residents met with Jesus Sanchez and Richard Meredith from the City of Shoreline. The subject was traffic and pedestrian safety in Innis Arden. I am happy to report that we are making progress and residents should start to see some changes in the next few months in our neighborhood.

  • A stop sign will be installed at the bottom of Ridgefield Road and Springdale Court
  • The intersection at Springdale Court will be reconfigured to include sidewalks at the corners, which will reduce the ability to speed around the corner
  • Underground pipes will be installed to close up portions of the ditch
  • There will be a crosswalk put in across Ridgefield Road and also one at the intersection by NW 188th and 15th NW
  • A speed hump will be put in on Springdale Court on a test basis and if it works we may get others placed around the neighborhood
  • The City is going to be putting in Radar Speed Limit signs on 14th NW, one in each direction. These signs will be hard mounted so that they can be moved around the neighborhood at 6-12 month intervals.
  • The City also said that it was going to be looking at putting in a sidewalk along the Collector Arterial. This is a long range aspiration and it might be accomplished as part of the mitigation for the new sewer line

—Michael Rasch

Innis Arden Before and After
The top picture was taken in 1998 looking southwest from Springdale Court toward Blue Heron Reserve. The lower picture was taken in 2003 from the same location.
View corridors are disappearing quickly.

Innis Arden to Host Swimming Event

Innis Arden Swimming Club will be host to the All Cities Swim Meet on Tuesday, August 5th. The is the final meet of the season for 16 swim teams from the North and South Seattle Area.

The meet will start at 4:00 pm, but teams will begin arriving at 2:00 pm. We are expecting large crowds for this premiere event. We will be providing off-site parking and shuttling most of the crowds to the pool.

We ask the residents near the pool to be extra tolerant and patient that day of cars and people walking to the pool. We believe Innis Arden will put on a class event and hope that you will come enjoy the festivities and cheer on our swimmers.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call the pool (546-6700) or one of the Swim Board members.

Innis Arden Bulletin Board

Responsible and experienced Shoreline Community College student available to house/child/pet sit anytime. Please call Lauren Hart (206) 546-0871.

Ooops! Too many! Young Morning Doves...free to good home. Have been raised outside so can be an outdoor or indoor pet. Low maintenance, sweet natured. Call 542-4189.

Wanted: One or two residents from our neighborhood to represent Innis Arden in the Council of Neighborhoods of the City of Shoreline. Meetings are held at 7:00 on the first Wednesday of every month which last about 2 hours. Carol Solle will be resigning after serving 3 years. With no neighborhood representation, Innis Arden is not likely eligible for neighborhood grants. If you are interested, please contact Carol Solle at 542-4978.