2005 Process for Addressing Covenant Compliance Complaints Using Bylaw Amendment
adopted by Board on April 12, 2005
(click here
for all bylaws--see Article IV, section 6)
The
first step is to fill out and mail the petition
to the Board. To
see a flowchart of the process, click here.
The
following describes how this process evolved:
In 1995, the Washington State
Legislature recognized that there was no statutory law that specifically addressed
the organization, management, and powers of homeowners' associations. RCW
64.38 was passed to address these issues.
The
RCW describes association powers, including "
levy reasonable fines
in accordance with a previously established schedule adopted by the board of directors
and furnished to the owners for violation of the bylaws, rules, and regulations
of the association".
To
be able to use this power, the Board worked with Club counsel, Peter Eglick, in
developing this amendment to the bylaws to incorporate covenant enforcement, including
a hearing process and implementation of fines for non-compliance. Eglick provided
an opinion on the
Authority to Levy Fines for Violations.
The
covenant enforcement process is similar to what Judge Ellington recommended
at the conclusion of Special Master rulings in 1992. It addresses the importance
of our protective covenants expressed in the survey
of 2002.