Minutes of All-Community Meetings, 2012

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Minutes of All-Community Meeting, on Sunday, December 23, 2012

Holiday Events

Christmas morning 10:00 breakfast potluck.

New Year's Eve party. Bring games and finger foods. Activities with younger kids, dancing etc. Contact Linda to offer help. She will send out an email with details and requests for specific assistance with preparations. Clean up the following morning elevenish.

Sometime January or February will be holding a community Advance [as opposed to a Retreat], team building, appreciative inquiry, artwork. Day of training in nonviolent communication.

Annual meeting second Wednesday in January. Mike A, Richard, and Kay are continuing; Hans and Carol stepping down. Will need two new owner, one renter, one crown rep on Management.

White elephant exchange.

Addendum

Minutes of All-Community Meeting, on Sunday, November 25, 2012

Minutes of All-Community Meeting, on Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Melisa's ex, James Tow, has moved to Salt Lake. Jacob will be living with him. He isn't supposed to come here. 6'4", curly hair, drives a dark blue Jeep.

With Michele's permission, Sharon has sublet her room to Tim Lewis. He's Sharon's Ayurveda practitioner. Elliott, who will be farming with Sharon next summer, has a chicken operation and will be getting about five dozen eggs per week through the winter. $5/dozen. Kate will post a notice on her door when they are available. Kate can use empty egg cartons.

8:15 Sandra dropped off a draft of the phone list to pass around.

Carol's mother is doing well after her surgery.

Pot luck lunch every Wednesday in common house, 12:30.

New work team list sent out on email and added to email calendar.

The reimbursement request is now available as a pdf form which can be filled out on the computer and then printed & signed for turn-in. Follow the links in the email calendar.

Saturday is the work day for the November work team.

thanksgiving

Sunday the 18th is a Thanksgiving potluck. Vicky's students will be here.

Potluck dinner on Thanksgiving. Time to be announced. A sign up will be posted in the mail room and/or emailed.

Management

Trees

Diamond Tree will come Tuesday & Wednesday after Thanksgiving to remove dead and hazard trees and branches. The amount they quoted Hans is an estimate, not a bid. The hazard trees were selected last year, when we had three tree companies come out. However, due to tree damage from a major storm, the company we had picked quit offering winter rates last winter, so we postponed the work.

CROWN

Because all the money from rent has gone on major repairs this year, Crown has not paid their condo fees to the HOA for about five months. Utah Housing requires that work be pre-approved if it is to be paid for from the reserve they hold. The repairs that Larry from UHA proposed will exhaust the reserve, even without reimbursing for the counters and swamp cooler, never mind the special assessment. Rent has always been at minimum. UHA is not happy about the idea of increasing the purchase price to cover the shortfall. UHA has first right of refusal. If any of our Crown residents don't qualify for a mortgage, we may not have any control over who of their clients they sell it to. UHA has an advisor on qualifying for mortgages; it might be helpful if we can arrange a meeting with her and the Crown residents.

Declaration Common Meals

The CC&R has a detailed list of things the HOA can pay for out of condo fees. The declaration committee is suggesting that common meals should be included in that list, and add several monthly meals to the monthly fee. The meals would be free for those who chose to participate.

Office Manager

Melisa is taking over as office manager. Melisa's cell 208-403-5616. Marci is doing the bookkeeping.

Rather than slipping checks under the office door, put checks in the new Payments & Monthly Dues folder in the internal mail, or in the box inside the office.

There are old electronics and other things, including shoes, from the upstairs workshop. They've been carried downstairs into the workshop. Anything unclaimed will be taken to electronics recycling or DI.

Sign Improving Visibility

Report by Marina & Kay. The solar lights Marina got for the large sign are very dim. Additional ideas: The sign is at the edge of the required setback, and we would need to get a variance to move the sign closer to the road. Marina will check with the city to find out what is needed to get a variance. Putting a light-colored or shiny backing like a shadow box behind the cut-out lettering would increase its visibility. Some brightly colored low-growing flowers at the base would draw people's eye to it.

Chickens

Ann would like someone to take over Dusty's chickens, which are in with her three, and come up with a schedule to share care. She has materials for a coop and permission from Mike P to put it up by her unit, but hasn't any time to build it.

City regulations treats Wasatch Commons as a single residence, which restricts us to only fifteen chickens. Hans's field, Mary's field, and the Noorda property would bring that up to sixty chickens. We might ask the city for a variance on the basis that the community is trying to increase its sustainability and self-reliance.

Hans's agreement with Dusty was that Dusty could have his chickens in the orchard, but any improvements (the coop) stayed there.

Closing: Round robin. What has someone done that they brought to this meeting that you appreciate?

Addendum

Minutes of All-Community Meeting, on Sunday, October 28, 2012

Announcements

Nonviolent communications workshop, sponsored by First Unitarian Church, held at peaceful uprising warehouse Sat Nov 10 9 am-3 pm.

Nov 18 6 p.m. Sunday potluck. Vicky is coordinating dinner for international students.

Wednesday Halloween "horror program" at SL library, about tar sand, program at 6 p.m., movie Petropolis at 7:00 p.m.

Pizza for kids Halloween 6 p.m. at common house. Melisa will put out invitations.

Angela Romero, candidate for Utah legislature, will be at potluck today.

The repair person said one possible reason the washer broke down was use of too much detergent. For high-efficiency front-loading washer, use high-efficiency (low suds) dtg. Too much dtg doesn't wash out of the fabric and can get through the seal of the tub. Marina brought the cap from her detergent to show the measuring markings. The mark is about one finger width from the bottom.

Reports

Management

rpt by Hans. Diamond gave a bid for tree work on the dead trees on the west berm. Big one on Utah St right next to neighbors. Naomi urged to get more bids.

The goal in moving to QuickBooks online is to allow everyone read-only access to the community's expenditures. Melisa has expressed interest in the office mgt job, replacing Marla Dee.

Mike P got hold of Steve Graham, who helped set up the crown program. Steve gave Mike a list of the documents he needs. Mike will check with Linda whether she knows where the docs are. The issue he is concentrating on is getting the loan that is coming due before the program winds up to be extended.

Condo declaration,

rpt by Hans. Once in a lifetime opportunity to shape the declaration so it fits with our practice & ideals. Kevin feels common meals should be financed by the community. Looking for more detailed estimate depending on area of envelope & roof; some units have three exterior walls & others only two (less stucco). Hans urges others to attend meetings. Every other Monday evening, 7:00 p.m. Next one is Nov. 5.

Cohousing USA is dependent on donations from cohousing communities. We've received a request from them, suggesting $250. Mgt decided to wait until January and add it to new annual budget.

All committees need to submit budget requests for next year, before first Mgt meeting in December.

Safety.

Shauna has noticed carports lights are not on when she is arriving/leaving in the dark. Time needs to be changed about every two weeks, for about six weeks either other side of fall & spring equinox. Mary showed Erik & Jacob how to set them; Erik will look at programming.

Reclamation of Underutilized Space.

Fusball table and small couch have been moved over to room over shop. Laraine donated some furniture of her mom's. If people want stored items returned to them rather than disposed of, go get them.

Mike P will look at some of the files upstairs in the sewing room & see what can be consolidated into the files in the office storage room.

Parents

Set up pizza party Halloween evening. Looking at improving childproofing of common house, getting chemicals (like laundry dtg) stored in higher cabinets. Talking possibly about a teen party. Quiet hours 9 p.m. on weeknights, to 8 a.m.

Chickens.

Dusty is ready to pass his chickens along. Hans has requested chickens be moved off of his property. Kathy & Melisa are interested in setting up a Chicken Interest Group'. Check into city ordinances. West end of garden area isn't in view of many units and could be vulnerable to thieving. Mary's field is accessed across the garden for deliveries of

Sharon is leaving for India Friday. Her chickens (Bug Farms) will be there until spring. A raccoon has been killing one every couple of days during the past weeks; she's lost about ten.

Trex. Until the community officially decides to pay for the new trex, and takes ownership of the old trex, the old trex belongs to the home owners. Kathy would be interested in purchasing some of the used Trex, but she would need it within the next two weeks. Kay doesn't see how a decision can be made to do more than store the trex for now. We could be discussing what to do with it pending an official decision. Isabella & Richard took some of the used trex from her deck (Rachel's) to their place. The used trex from Maxine's belongs to the crown llc. Store behind east carports or along north fence? Rachel will organize a work party to move the used trex to a storage spot.

George's Salvage on 9th S 5th E purchases used materials.

Internet

Mike A sent out some info. His info is that getting the c.h. its own internet would be about $29/mo with a two-year contract through Comcast, then the price would go to probably $35 or 40. Kevin's info based on emailing with Xmission is that the billing is based on type of usage rather than type of ownership.

No contract on Michele's.

Since the community's financial records are online, doing the community books requires internet, either in the common house or their own home.

It would be useful to be able to look up things during meetings. Nice for guests.

Not comfortable with the community possibly violating the terms of Michele's agreement with the company (CenturyLink) by sharing her line. When individuals choose to do this among themselves, that is up to them.

The community's laptop has viruses; Hans has it to clean. He needs the backup disks to restore it. There is a temporary computer in the office that runs off linux.

Decision (consensed): IF Michele's agreement allows sharing, we will pay her. If not, we will look into other options. Mike P & Linda R standing aside.

Purchase of Scaffolding & Ladder.

Mary gave copies of the receipts to Hans; the total for the scaffolding is about $1700. She hasn't found the ladder receipt yet.

The scaffolding was purchased a year ago. So far it has been used in repainting the common house, Hans's rental units, Mary & Kay's unit. It could be used in the future for painting other units' clerestories or installing fans, including in the c.h. dining room, which would lower heating bills & increase comfort. It is currently set up in Kay's & Mary's.

By comparison, it cost Rebecca $800 to get her clerestory painted, with the painter bringing his own scaffolding.

It has been stored in Hans's storage unit when it wasn't in use; if purchased by the community he would be willing to continue storing it there.

Scaffolding can be rented, but when Mary was researching scaffolding, all the rental scaffolding available locally was too wide to set up on the stairs.

Mike P is concerned about liability. Kevin said he is one of the most likely to use something like this, but on the other hand safety becomes an increasing concern as community members age; people over fifty should not be climbing ladders (indignant rebuttal from several residents in their fifties). Hans pointed out that without the scaffolding people will continue to use ladders; when he hired George to paint #22 he & his helper did it on ladders & nearly killed themselves.

Several people expressed concern about a large expenditure at this time.

To be continued at next meeting.

Sign

Large sign is far enough back that people only see it as they are passing, if they see it at all. Could it be moved forward? It would be very difficult to move. The sign is solid iron and the posts are set in concrete. There are setback requirements by driveway corners; the sign at the corner of Utah & California had to be moved and cut shorter. Moving the sign doesn't solve the issue of the address not being marked anywhere.

To be continued.

Addendum

Minutes of All-Community Meeting, on Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Announcements

Free nonviolent communication workshop, presented by First Unitarian Church, Nov 10 Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Kathy will email details.

At common house, Tuesday evening, Wasatch Co-op (food co-op) board meeting. Presentation at 6:30. $300 buy-in lifetime membership.

Pumpkin Patch Day Sunday Oct 21st 12:30. Everyone invited, with or without kids. Potluck.

Peace Corps calendars $10. See Vicky.

Workshop clean up Saturday morning Oct 13, 8:00 a.m.

Melisa will be giving a knitting lesson Oct 20 10:00 a.m.-noon. Bring own supplies.

Committee Reports

Reclamation of Underused Spaces Committee. Will start by moving things that should be in another space. Marking things that aren't in good condition. Previous owners can reclaim if they wish; otherwise items will be donated. Want to move all exercise equipment to larger workshop room, game stuff in smaller room. Not room for both air hocky table and ping pong table. Air hockey table not producing enough air to work well; needs to be fixed or disposed of.

Management

Marla Dee has announced she will be moving. We need a successor to be the property manager, working with accountant, and crown manager. Crown manager may be a big job in its last year, but then it winds down. Mike A will coordinate crown repairs.

Big dead tree at northwest corner of property, a couple of others on the west berm. Will be finding a company to do removal at winter rates.

Declaration committee. Meet every other Monday night. Review governing documents. Reapportionment to change fees. Other possible changes: institute an initial fee at move-in; multiple of monthly assessment so it increases in tandem. Require vehicles be registered not just operable. Require unit keys. Prohibit water beds. CCR prohibits antennas, which is illegal.

Landscape

Everyone remove hoses from faucets. Mike will turn off sprinkler water. Garden stop-and-waste will be turned off. Anyone watering in garden may turn back on, but make sure you turn back off.

Deck/Wall Repairs

Ron Case provided a spreadsheet showing the costs so far. Membrane roofs and base of deck were flat bid. SIP (wall) repair was different on each unit depending on damage; price decreases with later units as the work team gained experience. Rain gutters were replaced because originals were installed after railing and had cutouts. Insulation added to roof below membrane. Because we also hired them for asphalt sealing they gave a 5% discount on the decks/walls. Total is $89,140.14; $80,234.29 paid. Total doesn't yet include cost of railings (powder coating and installation), which will be about $500 each.

Mgt proposes that deck owners pay cost of deck base, not including Trex. Trex would be part of general assessment. Condo declaration committee is suggesting that ownership (and thus assessment) should be one-half divided equally among all units, and half based on the square footage of each unit, which will include the square footage of the deck.

Reserve fund is now very low. Assessment can be paid in installments. Encourage anyone who can pay in full to do so to get reserve back up.

Likely that other decks have same defect of construction but haven't shown symptoms because of southern exposure keeping them dryer.

Proposal Internet

It is proposed that community pay for DSL line from Michele's unit, connected to common house. Prospero network, password protected. (Password that Erik had used previously didn't work when Kay tried during meeting.) CenturyLink's website says starting $19.95 for residential. Common house line would be commercial; always charge more for commercial. Marina & Scott don't have a landline but have internet through CenturyLink bundled with cell phones.

Decision: Do more research. Mike will find out if can get unbundled through CenturyLink

Signs

The street sign at Cheyenne and California has been replaced, but the sign at Utah St is still missing.

Decision: Solar-panel lights wouldn't need wiring to light the large sign. 2 lights for $15. Marina will purchase and install.

Doing all the options is a bit overkill. A number of people felt that the street signs would make a bigger difference than the stencils. Marina suggested trying a sign on Cheyenne & seeing how much difference it made before we do one on both sides; feels a sign on Utah would take away from the big sign. On the other hand 1411' is our official address, and more people try to find us from that side, so it doesn't make sense to do a sign on Cheyenne and not Utah.

Tabled until next meeting.

Addendum

On Sunday, October 14, 2012 WaCoHo on behalf of Michelle Frandsen wrote:

Kay, thanks so much for taking notes and getting them out.

I have two follow up issues.

First, could someone let me know the exact amount of the assessment? I would like an invoice if possible, and then I will pay in full.

Regarding the internet: I have been providing that free to the Common House for over one year. I had understood that the Common House would begin paying me for this, but it has never happened to date.

The reason I was providing it was because the last time we tried to have direct service hooked up, the cost was very high. I believe that Linda Reed knows more details however my understanding was that the internet service provider who came and looked at our set up informed us that not only would it be considered commercial and pay commercial rates, but the fact that the wiring goes from the common house to the individual units meant that on top of a commercial rate, we would also be charged a surcharge for each house hook up. Am I the only one who remembers this?

I am disappointed that after providing it for free for so long, now when the question comes of paying the $35 per month, now more research needs to be done and more time will pass. Linda Reed invested a lot of time and research and we had several discussions at ACM's only to be very disappointed. Why are we at it again?

It is my understanding that since I have hard wired it to the common house from my house, not only is wireless available but any unit that still has their original wired link still in tact can get the hardwired signal. That may not be correct, but Hans would know.

In the meantime, Hans or Sharon, could you please disconnect the internet line currently going to the Common House from my unit? I will be happy to have it reconnected if the community decides that they would like me to do so and send me payment.

Scratching my head in Sacramento..... Michelle

Minutes of All-Community Meeting, on Sunday, September 23, 2012

Community Announcements

Kate brought the basket of lost and found items. Mostly clothing, but also a watch with a heavy brown leather band. Please go through it and claim your items. Others will be donated, or turned into cleaning rags.

Kevin announced the clean up of the workshop: Saturday, October 13. The entire community is invited to help, please mark your tools before then. There is a donation pan for all the random nails, screws, nuts and bolts that community members might be willing to donate. All of these would then be available for common use. Consumables will be discarded, so if you have any you'd like to keep, you should retrieve them. The rest will be taken to the toxic recycling. If you have toxic recyclables that you wish to have taken, you should bring them at that time.

Speaking of toxic, it turns out that batteries are now safe to include in the regular trash, according to Vicky. She brought a pamphlet which explains further. This does not apply to rechargeable batteries, however.

Hans reports that Sharon is going to be offering cooked food items in her CSA, but to do so, she will need a licensed kitchen. She and Hans are checking to see what will be required to make our kitchen a licensed kitchen. This will be of benefit to the community as time goes on, since the Norda property may eventually be a series of homes designed for elderly community members (one story, wheelchair accessible).

Committee Reports

Management Report Hans estimates approx. 30k in the Oppenheimer Fund. To use this, there would be an early withdrawal penalty of $500. We are now running low in the reserve fund and have enough to last approximately one week, give or take. To avoid the early withdrawal penalty, we could add to the reserve fund by paying the assessment ahead, or prepaying condo fees. These would be credited, just early, to keep progress on the decks from stalling. The exact amount of the assessment is not currently known, but the estimate is 2k+ for each unit owner, plus an additional amount for deck owners, as they will be paying for their own decks.

Additionally, the management committee feels it would be best to increase fees, as the current fee structure is insufficient for upcoming needs, specifically, the roofing, which will need to be addressed sometime in the near future.

Lydia asked for a bill in writing, to use for tax purposes.

Hans will try to get an exact figure, but explained that one of the hold ups is the CC&R, which assesses each unit the same, rather than by size, which must be corrected, but takes a great deal of procedural work. Meetings of the ad hoc committee to discuss changes to the CC&R (CCNR?) take place every other Monday, 7pm, at the Common House, and all community members are invited.

Process Committee

Linda R. introduced the idea of a "Community Building Day", similar to a retreat, only without the negative associations. Naomi called it an "advance" instead of a retreat, since the purpose is to advance appreciation for one another. The activities could include scarf painting. Open to other ideas.

Agenda Items

Signage proposal was postponed, as Kay (who proposed it) was not in attendance.

Upstairs Workshop Rooms:

Melisa and Marina brought up possible repurpose for the upstairs workshop rooms, as these are currently underutilized. During the discussion, other underutilized spaces (messy crafts room, sewing room, meditation space, kids room) are brought up as well. It is agreed that these spaces had been planned for certain purposes, but that none were functioning particularly well. Some ideas were brought up for possible uses, as well as issues with each space which may limit their uses (surfaces of floors, proximity to other spaces, fumes, heat, etc.) Linda R. wrote down suggestions/concerns on the white board, which can be viewed in the common house.

Although the space usage was not decided, it was clear that the first step, regardless of how each space would be used, would be to clear out the unwanted clutter in each of these spaces. A committee meeting for anyone who wished to participate in the reclamation of these spaces was scheduled for later that evening, after the dinner.

Internet Access There was some discussion of whether or not to add 30 dollars to our monthly bill for internet access at the common house. Some benefits include access for guests, or to any community member wishing to work/play at the common house. Concerns include unsupervised access for kids, and some question as to whether this is a necessary benefit, as most people who want access have it in their homes, therefore it would likely not have a lot of use.

Solar Panels Naomi presented her pre-proposal for the investment in solar panels. She included a cost analysis, which compared our current bill over 25 years vs. the cost of panels over 25 years (the span of their guarantee) and, thanks in part to a drop in the price of panels from the last time this was considered, the cost appears to be very nearly the same. Additionally, there are financial gains in using solar panels, such as possible tax credits and rebates. Since the potential inflation of cost on conventional electric had not been considered in the comparison, there is also a chance that the savings would be even greater. The energy generated by our panels would be fed back into the electric grid, eliminating our need for storage.

The drawback of solar panels vs. conventional is that the money for the solar option would be required in one lump sum, rather than billed over 25 years. To counter this, Naomi has offered to draw up a contract in which she would loan the community the money for this project (minus what the community itself could contribute) and accept monthly payments to reimburse her for this purchase.

This system has the ability to be expanded, allowing for auto chargers, perhaps. The cost for the chargers is 7k per auto. Some discussion as to who would be responsible for this charge.

There was a vote to see whether this proposal should move forward, and it was unanimously decided that this was indeed a good idea. Applause and accolades for Naomi followed, and the meeting was adjourned.

(these minutes submitted as taken by Marina. I hope I got it all right, or close enough.)

Addendum

On Friday, September 28, 2012 3:28 AM WaCoHo on behalf of Scott'n'Marina Price wrote:

Hi Kay,

To get this project going, we've created an "underutilized spaces" committee, and you are welcome to join us. Many of us expressed an interest in sewing, but the space is too cluttered for most of us. Actually, all the spaces are too cluttered to be used fully. So we've met twice so far to measure, brainstorm and come up with ways to make these spaces more user-friendly, attractive, etc. We have no plans of eliminating the sewing room, just organizing and making it more accessible and functional, while expanding it to allow for other crafts as well.

I am currently coming up with a proposal for the next ACM based on our measurements and findings. If we meet before then, I will let you know. As it stands, the committee consists of Melisa, Susan and me, as this is all who showed up to the impromptu meeting after the ACM.

As for the "consumables", you will have to speak to someone on that committee. I believe Kevin is heading up that project, but I'm not sure.

About the lamppost, if it can be fixed by ladder, I am wondering what the next step is. I can hold a ladder and hand up tools, etc, but I don't know how to repair the broken part. Do we hire an electrician? Is someone here capable of doing it? I would love to move forward with this, so let me know what we can do.

Marina

On Fri, 28 Sep 2012 12:53:49 -0600 Kay Argyle wrote:

Subject: Re: [WaCoHo] ACM Minutes for Sunday, September 23

Thank you for taking minutes, Marina.

Hans, see Mary or me to get a check for our early prepayment on the special assessment.

"Consumables will be discarded "

The idea at the workshop meeting was that consumables/chemicals would be evaluated, and any that have dried out or are otherwise unusable would be taken to toxic recycling. Has this been altered?

" other underutilized spaces ( , sewing room, ) are brought up as well."

I use the sewing room several times a year. I don't know if anyone besides me uses it at all. (My own sewing machine does straight and zigzag and that's it no blind stitch, button holes, or anything else. Pretty limiting. So I use the machine in the sewing room for most projects.)

It would work for me if the sewing machines and the box of thread and other supplies were stored someplace reasonably accessible (not in the loft!), with a folding table I could get out, or a large table not too far away that I could use. For instance, if they were stored on the ground floor, I could take a machine to the piano alcove and set up on a dining table (when the dining room wasn't in use), or shove stuff aside on the table in the coat room. (Lugging a sewing machine to another room would be do-able; up and down stairs is not.)

Set up a sewing corner in the exercise room?

Alternately, if nobody else at all uses the sewing machine in the common house, and its original owner doesn't want it back (or can't be identified), I could take it home and give away my old one.

Kay

Minutes of All-Community Meeting, on Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Mike A has worked on outside faucets on seven units installing the missing part.

Harvest Dinner Friday night in c.h. 7:00. Kitchen/dining room reserved 2:00 p.m. on for decorating. Will be taking a donation to the food bank Saturday morning, dried or canned, or fresh produce. Bring a harvest tradition to share.

Monday 7 p.m. ad hoc committee to revise condo declaration. Please review the CC&R before you attend. The email calendar should now have a link to the CC&R online.

Condo declaration says carports are for operable cars. Need permission from Management to store anything else. Management has asked an owner of a non-running car to come to a meeting to discuss.

Nielsons would like to be able to put some room in the workshop. It needs organizing. Mellisa will schedule a meeting for everyone who has stuff (or wants to have stuff) in the workshop to discuss/work on it.

Mary and Kay are replacing their ceiling fan and will donate their old one to the common house dining room, to be installed by Dean.

City cleanup starts Monday. Mary will cut some of the smaller dead trees and would like help getting the wood out to the road.

Unless someone else wants the cardboard, Mary will use it in her field. She would like to back the pickup into the field; someone's car is blocking in the garden.

Mary would like to collect information on make, model, and license plate of cars in the community. Someone collected info on next of kin a few years ago; don't know what became of it. Serious medical conditions.

Sandra is revising the contact list. Please send her any updates or corrections.

Roofs/parking Lots

Case is finding various problems both from original construction and from Kier's repairs. The units with French doors (#1, 5, & 15) have had problems with water at the threshold leaking at the beam in the unit below. Deck on #22 was guinea pig for deck in nine sections to be lifted for cleaning. Decided it wasn't a good design. Other decks will have two boards at the door that can be unfastened. Case is fixing roofs on crown fourplex using shingles we had stored.

Case coated west side. Their crack filler was broken. Tomorrow they will coat and do cracks and filling on east side. Stay off that side several days. They want to work on the west side during the afternoon.

The decks and the roofs are being done as a bid. The walls are being done as materials and hours. Three different teams: walls, deck roof, and decking.

Intersections with California/Utah and California/Cheyenne don't either have street signs. If several people call the city hopefully they will get them replaced.

Company doing striping would do lettering at entrance for $240 (waiving additional fee because they will already be here). Marina could do lettering free-hand. A pre-cut stencil with 12" letters would cost about $125.

Broken-up bits of stucco end up all over the ground, takes a long time to clean up.

Exercise: If you could be anyone at all, who would you be?

Addendum

Minutes of All-Community Meeting, on Sunday, August 26, 2012

Harvest Dinner in late Sept/early Oct. Bring food from community gardens or from farmers market. Last year opened meal with thanks ceremonies from multiple faiths. Maybe harvest earlier and offer extras to anyone in community, donation to food bank. Sandra, Marina, Mike A, and Amy.

Case planned slanted decking. Will cost almost $500 each deck to change to flat. Joe Numbers claims he showed plans to Hans; Hans doesn't think he did.

Need someone besides Hans to convene meetings of ad hoc committee to review condo declaration. Mike A will contact Mike P about calling a meeting. Two issues that lawyer noticed: (1) assessments are supposed to be proportional to ownership, which is 1/26 each owner, and (2) decks are privately owned (lawyer says this is unusual) yet their maintenance impacts the roofs underneath which are common.

Discussion: Pay-or-work amendments

Add provision: "If a unit has no residents meeting this definition of adult, the owner is nonetheless responsible each month for work hours or payment for one adult."

Consensed.

Change word accrued' to recorded': "Work credit is recorded on a task board "

Consensed.

Replace sentence: "Accumulation of hours is allowable when the hours are reported as accumulative."

With "Hours worked in excess of the monthly requirements and reported as cumulative may be used for work credit in future months."

Replace "This is at the discretion " with "Reporting hours as cumulative is at the discretion "

Consensed.

Addendum

Minutes of All-Community Meeting, on Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Announcements

Hans is closing on the Noorda property is on Friday. The lease agreement allows John to stay at least four years. The lease will contain restrictions on what car work he can do in the garage.

Anyone interested in going to Grand Junction, Colorado with Linda to do campaign work, contact her.

Vaughn can use winebox-size boxes to pack books in.

Deck repair on #22 (Hans's rental) is done. They are starting on #26 (Wasons).

Process committee needs more members.

Patti let us know that Angel's stand-on mower is for sale, ~$800. Whether or not Mike wanted to use it for lawn, it would be useful for the north field, orchard etc. Mary can call Patti to get more details, model, age, etc., and check prices for similar machines.

Matt has expressed an interest in the community having a tractor he could share.

Big Siberian elm on northwest corner of property is dead; waiting until winter rates for removal.

Asphalt will be resealed probably at the end of August. All vehicles will need to be moved for resealing asphalt. Hans will find out if the concrete stop blocks will need to be moved. Small items in front of storage units can be left. (Myste's car and Carol's van don't run and will need towing.)

Proposal Discussion

Proposed: That Management shall be directed to convene a special membership meeting to amend the CC&R to change percentage of undivided interest in common area owned by each unit.

Utah law (and our CCR) says assessments must be based on percentage ownership. Currently every unit has 1/26 share, yet our assessments are different for each unit, partly based on square footage. Vial Fotheringham (VF) (law firm, condo specialists) says yes this is a problem. (Reserve set aside each month for each unit is still identical. If idea for including square footage was that larger units have higher costs for roofing etc., then this is backwards.)

Since this affects what people own, the lawyer suggests the only bullet-proof way to make the change would be to get a unanimous vote.

May need permission from mortgage lenders. If we send them a letter and they don't respond within sixty days then by default they agree.

Ask VF to come to an ACM to explain things? VF charges $220/hr.

Lawyer says he doesn't know of any condo associations that include a deck as part of the living area for assessments.

Given the complexity and cost, we should make any other changes in the CCR at the same time.

Changing the undivided ownership percentage will slightly affect property taxes owed by each unit. "Land" portion of property tax is based on the common area.

It doesn't make sense to spend money hiring an assessor to remeasure all the units unless we have reason to believe the square footage is wrong.

Hans will find out exactly what the law says.

Set up an ad hoc CCR revision committee: Kevin, Mike P, & Hans. Anyone in the community who is interested, contact Hans.

Addendum

On Wednesday, August 08, 2012 7:28 AM WaCoMa on behalf of Hans Ehrbar wrote:

To: WaCo Management

Subject: [WaCoMa] FW: Wasatch Commons - Undivided Ownership Interest

Here is some more advice from Michael Miller. He says we can go ahead with a decision which is 75% majority but not unanimous, but then the possibility that someone takes us to court always will hang over us. Therefore it would be much better for all of us if we arrive at a unanimous decision. Therefore I think we have to retrench somewhat this time. We should put all our efforts into changing the Condo Declaration so that it fits together with the current fee structure, and to get every last homeowner on board to support this, so that we have a unanimous decision. I think this is achievable.

This raises the question of the hardship of the special assessment for the decks. I think the best thing we can do here is to make it inexpensive and convenient for home owners to pay the assessment in installments. For those owners who have renters in their units, maybe this will make them more amenable to selling their units to the renters. Property prices are on the way up again, and we will perhaps have to count on getting parts of this special assessment when the units are sold.

Hans

Minutes of All-Community Meeting, on Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Announcements

Blue Stakes is marking for the drilling on Friday to test the ground water.

Proposal: Camping for ALEC Welcoming Committee

Provide camping space for ALEC Welcoming Committee July 23-28

(Used 6 Hats discussion method.)

White hat (information). Won't know how many people are coming until they show up. They would be using the c.h. bathroom and shower, maybe refrigerator. There are a lot of different organizations that would potentially have people coming.

This is the first time a major protest is planned to take place during ALEC's annual meeting. People have become much more aware of ALEC recently, partly as a result of the Trayvon Martin shooting and ALEC's part in drafting the stand-your-ground law.

Kathy is not part of the housing committee, so she isn't aware how many other groups may be hosting guests.

Guest room reservations by Amy, both upstairs & downstairs July 22-25.

Yellow hat (positive). Helping a group some residents support.

Blue hat (process). Once an idea has been expressed, it doesn't need to be echoed.

Black hat (judgment). Six days is a long time not to water the lawn. Could be too many people. This is a fairly political group, and the community tries to stay out of politics. There may be liability issues. The common house will need extra cleaning. Trampling on grass.

Red hat (emotions). Feels good. Exciting to be part of something big. Apprehension.

Green hat (creativity). Modern tents are very easy to move. When we want to water, we can have them stack their tents onto the pavement. People could camp in wild area, north field, east end of orchard. Move tents around to let grass recover, not yellow out from lack of sun. Watering once during the week would probably be enough to keep grass okay.

Wild area and north field are a long way to bathroom facilities. Workshop bathroom is close to east end of orchard. Lawn would be more comfortable to sleep on than hard dry ground.

Make them aware of community rules. No fires, no alcohol, quiet hours.

Leave common house open overnight to avoid having to give keys.

People can host people in their own homes.

Asking people to sign a waiver would give us their names maybe not real names.

We've had student groups, other activist groups, haven't had a problem. The student groups have often been around fifteen people.

Ask everyone not to mention the community's name if they get arrested.

Ask the welcoming committee to limit the number to for instance twelve tents or twenty people. If you limit the number of people that limits the number of tents. Warm enough some people may not be sleeping inside a tent.

Provisos:

• Fifteen people max.
• Use the downstairs c.h. bathroom.
• Smoking only on back patio or parking lot.
• Quiet hours.
• No alcohol or drugs.
• Move tents to allow for watering.
• Use of c.h. fridge is allowed.
• Sign liability waiver.
• No unaccompanied minors.

Consensed, no stand asides.

Thoughts about process:

Sometimes disjointed, because reactions to something that is said may not fit the hat. Things come up after the appropriate hat has passed. Might cycle through the hats more than once. In ordinary discussions people decide whether good points or bad points have most weight and don't bring up the points that don't support their view. A greater variety of black hats items than yellow hat, so not reiterating points made optimistic feel under-represented.

Occupy uses a number of hand signals. Holding up hands palm out and wiggling fingers ("sparkle") signifies agreement.

We didn't really discuss whether we support these people in what they are doing. That would be the gold "values" hat.

Proposal: Amendments to pay-or-work

Three changes proposed. Change word accrued' to reported.' Make one adult minimum per household. Remove seasonal' from requirement for cumulative.

By pluralizing task' then it doesn't need to be a single job that requires more than two hours in order to be cumulative, could be multiple jobs.

Discussion was derailed onto subject of reporting. Would like greater speed in getting reporting set up since it involves payments required. System should be secure. Passing the entire pay-or-work proposal at an annual home owners meeting avoids potential legal challenges.

One-adult minimum not discussed at all.

Addendum

Minutes of All-Community Meeting, on Sunday, June 24, 2012

Announcements

Pay-or-play website has been redesigned. You can enter

• payments you've made in lieu of work,
• hours as regular or cumulative or informational non-credit, and
• costs of your project.

If you don't have a computer, try to coordinate with a neighbor who does so someone doesn't have to retype from a paper sheet.

Spent about $1,000 last month on landscaping labor.

Anytime anyone uses the fire pit, put out a notice ahead of time so a sprinkler can be put on area a day or two ahead to reduce fire risk. Take fire extinguisher out and have a hose available to use quickly. (This is assuming there aren't currently fire restrictions.)

Kay will get signs for each end of the central path saying Emergency and Authorized Vehicles Only. Would like to get signs saying Private Drive No Thru Street, but there has been an objection. Might discuss this at a future ACM.

Mgt is putting together rough draft of reserve study. Reserve is underfunded. Will hold a meeting with all the deck owners. Trying to determine whether we need to involve American Express with the release for Kier. Updating records with state for three corporations.

Nancy's unit

Because of short sale of Nancy's unit, it is listed with realtors. Some of the inquiries know about cohousing, some don't. Kathy put in a cash offer. Hers was the first offer, so if anyone else bids she can raise her offer. Cherie sold stove and fridge, which may actually belong to the bank. Since Hob was doing the listing, he could have put in a note about it being an intentional community. The catalytic converter had been stolen off Nancy's car. Cherie needs to be back in Mexico at the end of the week. Girly-Girl still needs a home; Cherie is talking about taking her to Mexico, but that may be complicated. The price Nancy's unit goes for will serve as a comparable for the price of other units.

Noorda property

Hans has an agreement with John Noorda to purchase his property; either party can back out. Hans is looking at doing tests. The field got used as a dump; Matt has found dry wall, engine parts, etc. Hans is trying to learn about testing so he will know what to get done, since he is getting conflicting advice. He will pay for tests on community land if the community agrees. The cohousing group had tests done before construction; need to look for those results. The drill unit is smaller than a car. The bore hole for water testing is four inches wide, and the company will backfill it (Hans might consider leaving one or more open for periodic retesting). Amy has a friend who is a hydrologist who might be willing to look at the bid to see if it is reasonable or to help interpret the test results.

Deep ground water is fed from the mountain snow melt. There's a somewhat impermeable layer above it. The ground water the company would test is above that.

Community gave permission for Hans to do tests on community property.

Communication

What works well? Face-to-face includes tone of voice and body language, which are missing from email and can lead to miscommunication as people read their own emotions into the email. Email flushes out problems and emotions that people may be reluctant to bring up in a group meeting. Communication that acknowledges and builds on what has been said before is good.

Discussion about recent email exchange; no notes taken.

Camping

ALEC is having a meeting in SLC in July 23-28. The "ALEC Welcoming Committee" is sponsoring activists coming to town. They would like permission for activists to camp, use shower & bathroom in common house. Maybe hold a community breakfast while they are here. Requested Kathy to write up a proposal and distribute it a week before the next ACM.

Addendum

Sunday, June 24, 2012 9:43 PM. Just to follow up on the notes from the ACM meeting. To be clear, in discussing the sale of homes in the community, one suggestion that I had was that a listing realtor could be asked to put in a note about this being an intentional community; I don't know whether we have such a policy now. I don't know how much leeway there is in this MLS system, so can't comment on what Hob could or couldn't do. He may actually have included this info in notes only available to other realtors. A public version of the listing put out by one realtor (not Hob's) is below.

My friend's name is Melanie Martin. I know her through Peaceful Uprising and she went with the group Vaughn took to the Prometheus Tree this weekend. She explained a little about ALEC (www.alec.org/) and the ALEC Welcoming Committee (http://interoccupy.org/alec-welcoming-committee-slc/, also see www.alecexposed.org/). I will have a proposal about the camping at WC to you in a few days.

This was a very productive, if exhausting meeting. Many thanks to Linda for her excellent facilitating!

Kathy

On Thursday, June 28, 2012 8:51 PM WaCoHo on behalf of Richard Keene wrote:

Subject: [WaCoHo] Fwd: minutes, ACM 2012 June 24

A couple of additions.

Susan Stewart and Richard Keene were in attendance at this ACM meeting.

Should be noted that the appliances (refrigerator and gas stove) were removed from the short sale condo as well as the washer and dryer.

Thanks for sending info on Alec.

Susan

Minutes of All-Community Meeting, on Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Announcements

Grace will be interviewing community members for a project

Mary calked part of the stairs in the workshop. Dusty helped sand. Put two coats of primer. Dean will fix the bathroom door. Need a work party to clean up woodworking side.

Got more glasses from NPS. Now have enough matching glasses for a fully attended meal.

At least two homes have black widows in the laundry room, several seen outside in various places around the property.

Mother skunk has six babies. Not at all afraid of people, so exercise caution.

John Noorda's House

John Noorda has signed an agreement for Hob to work out a deal with Hans where John sells the house to Hans but can stay as long as he wants.

Hans will get an appraisal. Mortgage is about $70,000, late fees and penalties, two liens.

John could become part of community. He has attended at least one potluck. Keep fence? John would like to maintain a little privacy. Depending on how well his property gets cleaned up, might be safety issues for little kids. We maybe could put up another fence panel by the play area with a gate.

One eventual possibility might be building single-story 1BR or studio units for seniors; right next to common house, elders could drive to their units.

Hans has inspected the property. The house has a septic tank rather than being attached to the city sewer. If any work is done on the property that needs a building permit, the city will require the septic tank be removed.

Hans will arrange for meth test.

Hans got a person from an environmental firm on California on the other side of Redwood. She recommended testing the ground water for contamination rather than soil samples. They gave a bid of $7,200 for bore holes in several areas around the WC property has well as on Noorda's.. They would be testing the water ten feet down.

Salt Lake has been ignoring ground water contamination because snow melt has been available. With climate change and possible decreased snow, ground water will become increasingly important.

Some doubts expressed about usefulness of water testing. Hans is trying to learn more so he can judge whether the environmental firm is giving good advice.

Amy and Mary expressed an interest in soil testing on WC property.

Celia has been told the lead content of her soil is "borderline" and she should be careful about breathing the dust. A previous owner had a aody shop in their garage.

Landscaping

Paid $600 to get wood piles in garden removed by Dad's Tree Service. They couldn't take the last of the sticks because drop site won't accept anything with bindweed mixed in. Mary & Richard raked up sticks from one pile. Anyone who is looking for work hours can rake sticks from the other pile.

Decks, Other Maintenance, Reserve Study

Mary is working on getting bids for replacing/relaying the brickwork on the central path, for the reserve study.

Hans & Mary are getting more bids for the decks. Last two firms that have been here have been in business for forty or fifty years. Firm that came today was very informative. Better-quality walkable membranes are put on in multiple liquid coats rather than a prefab sheet, much more expensive than the membrane Mgt was considering. Company didn't submit a bid for the roofs when Kevin was getting those, because they would remove the old shingles, and Kevin wanted bids for putting shingles overtop our current shingles. Old shingles are curled and wouldn't give a smooth surface.

They pay their workers by the hour instead of by the job. They would give us a better rate if we hired them for multiple jobs, such as reasphalting the parking.

They said the design of our buildings isn't good for metal roofs. Metal roofs have avalanches of snow and need dormers. They recommend reworking the guttering on Vivian's parking spot so ice doesn't form. They said the leak in the workshop roof would be an easy fix. (Leak either from bathroom vent or swamp cooler rough-in.)

Hans may work up online form for submitting maintenance issues.

Available Units

Nancy's sister Rosemary has gone home; niece Cherie is still here. The bank has listed Nancy's unit for about $90K. It's a short sale. She was underwater on her mortgage, no mortgage insurance. The listing says absolutely nothing about cohousing. Kathy has put in a bid.

Sharon may move into Michele's unit. Matt could use one bedroom when he is in SLC; it would make it convenient for Sophie to visit.

A new family may be moving into #22. Rent two years then decide whether to buy. It's a 4-bedroom; they have five kids, age range approximately 16- to 1-year-old. They home school. (They are okay with the temporary wall being there.) Hans would like to subscribe them to the listserv before they move in.

Hans has been using a process of interviewing potential tenants. He would like help from a selection committee. Maybe Laraine, Naomi, Vicky. After some discussion, decided "Mentoring Committee" was a better name.

Needs the information packet. The welcoming literature is in a box in the office; Vicky will pull some out. Do we have a copy of the most recent publication from the Deseret News?

Addendum

Minutes of All-Community Meeting, on Sunday, May 27, 2012

Extended check-in.

Nancy's sister Rosemary arrived today. Nancy is in hospice and wants to come home. Will be taken off dialysis, possibly pacemaker turned off. Find out if Rosemary needs meals? Girly-Girl and Jaguar are promised homes; Buster Brown is not; not sure about Willie Willow.

Carol got back with her mother last Sunday. Her mother has macular degeneration. She has a very small unfriendly Yorkshire terrier. She gets confused. If anyone sees her out by herself, get Carol immediately.

Addendum

Minutes of All-Community Meeting, on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Announcements

Peaceful Uprising fundraiser Monday May 14 at 6:00 at the State Room: Peter Yarrow

Mike P wants to make tomato cages from wire fencing. Interested in splitting the roll with others.

Landscaping has two new hoes. Dusty will get oil changes for equipment. Matt repaired weed eater.

Management accepted Kier's offer of $10K. Kier is writing up the release we will need to sign.

Last December Mgt had decided to put in a walkable membrane and allow those who wanted to put decking back over it; now Mgt is rethinking the decision. Membrane can be torn by dragging furniture over it.

There will probably be a special assessment to pay for the roof & wall repairs. Mgt discussed idea of making it proportional to the monthly assessment higher for larger units. Maybe slightly higher for deck owners. Payable in installments if necessary.

Question about potential dollar amount of special assessment. If the repairs total $40,000, then individual special assessments might range from $1,000 to $1,400. If repairs are more than $50K, special assessment might be ten times monthly assessment.

Amy looked into the community's insurance policy. Because of caps on water damage and other things, would probably get very little from a claim. Deductible is $1,000 per incident (not per unit).

Considering correction to formula for home owner's fees to account for slightly greater vulnerability of deck roofing.

Several crown units are having major repairs. Want units to be in good condition when they come up for sale. UHA requires their own building inspector to okay any work to be paid for from the crown reserve. Tenant is expected to do minor repairs themself. Reserve must be tracked by unit, so extra expenditures on one unit don't impact funds available for another.

John Noorda is again talking about selling his house. Hob is negotiating for Hans about possibly buying it. No acceptance/rejection yet.

When Crown did landscaping #12 & #14 got grass. Myste didn't because she is allergic to grass; put in thyme groundcover; she is not maintaining it. Seeding dandelions to all neighboring yards. Vivian would be fine with grass (small area is in front of her unit). Grass would need to be watered; probably someone else would have to take responsibility. During landscaping of Crown she was provided a timer & valve that hasn't been installed; could be put on her outside bib; she would have to pay for water. At what point do we overrule what someone wants to do (says they want to do) with common area we have let them control? Mgt send a letter with a deadline June 1?

Addendum

Minutes of All-Community Meeting, on Sunday, April 22, 2012

Deck Roofs

Kier has offered $10,000 in return for a release. The deadline to accept is Friday April 27.

What is the probability that the damage will turn out to be considerably more than $40K? Kevin estimates the damage is less than the previous time we had the walls torn out for repair.

Kier is saying the statute of limitations date is the date of original construction. Peter Harrison (lawyer with Vial Fotheringham) argues that the date is the repair work in 2007. He said our legal fees if we won a case might be as much as the settlement.

Kier offered $12K last year. We countered asking for $45K. They sent a letter through their lawyers saying they didn't owe us anything.

Kier felt they did a good job. They had asked for more money at the end of the original construction because they hadn't made any money on the project.

The insurance deductible now falls to the unit owner and would be $1K per unit IF the insurance will pay for the repairs.

The decision to accept/reject Kier's offer is within the purview of the management committee; Mgt brought this to an ACM to get input from the community prior to making the decision.

There are two separate issues in the repair. (1) Replacing the roofs, which will prevent any new damage, and (2) repairing the damage caused by the leaking. The two areas of repair don't necessarily need to be done by the same company.

The strand board sheathing the SIP foam is rotted out on both sides. The walls will need to be torn out and redone.

Flat roofs are problematic. We will want a licensed professional installing the new roofing to be sure that it is installed properly and in order to get a warrantee.

Does our signing a waiver waive the insurance company's claims? Can we call Craig Crockett and find out insurance's opinion of us signing the waiver?

If we don't take the offer, we lose about $400 per household.

Ask Kier for an extension on our decision?

If the insurance company is bickering with Kier, that doesn't affect our ability to sell homes like us being part of a suit would.

Straw Poll: If our signing a waiver doesn't interfere with the insurance company's rights (and willingness to look at our claim), we should accept Kier's offer of $10K to waive all claims against them and settle the matter? Standasides: Marina, Kevin.

Amy will call Craig Crockett Monday specifically asking about the insurance's position regarding the waiver. She will email the community about the result. Richard will be back Tuesday; Hans isn't available Tuesday evening. Would Craig come to an emergency management meeting Wednesday?

Can we get a claims adjuster out?

Our HOA insurance (through Travellers) deductible is $1,000. Our policy has been renewed since the law passed. Each owner can modify their individual condo insurance so it will cover this, or self-insure by planning on covering it out of pocket if need be.

Mary talked to the membrane manufacturer. If putting decking overtop, they have the contractor put an extra strip of the membrane under the stringers (wood supports). The expense of reinstalling the decking will be up to the home owner.

The manufacturer said they would fax a copy of the warrantee to us.

Kevin & Mike A are working on the reserve analysis.

Announcements

Carol's mother will be living with her. Her mother is mobile but blind. She has a small yorkie. Carol will be putting temporary fencing around her porch and deck.

Addendum

Minutes of All-Community Meeting, on Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Announcements

Vaughn will be moving out in September. He will stay in Salt Lake. His ex-, Shauna, and her partner, will be moving into the house.

Victor will be moving to Seattle June 1st(?). #1 will be available for rent.

Vaughn: Permaculture group got plant guilds laid out around two fruit trees in orchard.

Larraine: Scandi-Jam 2nd weekend in May, 11th-12th. Friday night, all day Saturday. Viking feast catered dinner. Columbus Center 5th E 25th S

Linda R: Exercise Wednesday mornings. Want to know who might be interested at a different time or day.

Dusty: Got a batch of fermentation. Ready to go when people have an evening available.

Linda R: Sarah will be graduating in special education.

Vicky's party Saturday, "fiveish."

Sunday April 22nd Questioning Minds has talk on autism spectrum disorder. Main library 2:00 p.m. 4th floor conference room.

Mgt: Will do QuickBooks on-line rather than on office computer. Can be worked on from home. People besides bookkeeper will be able to view.

Will investigate whether pay-or-play on Hans's website can feed directly into QuickBooks.

Landscape/garden: Mary brought home a truckload of cardboard for use in covering garden paths.

The manure pile that Hans purchased is available for general community use.

Appreciation Exercise

If we got a mural painted of cohousing, what would it look like?

Collage of community pictures. Fruit blossoms. A potluck table. Cats. Central path. Progressive dinner. Children drawing in chalk on walk. Children of different ages playing together. Dancing in the common house. Gardening. Weeds. Yin and yang, oscillating emotions from 'Why did I move here' to 'This is a great place'. People in a circle. Mellowing out. Trees spreading roots, all different people giving inputs, putting out fruit.

Pay-or-play Enhancement

Clarifying: Whether hours were counted as cumulative or not would be at the discretion of the individual. Some suggested guidelines: A job that require many more hours at some times of year than others; a job that a person has taken ownership of/responsibility for and does regularly.

Why not allow any job at all to be cumulative? We want to encourage the perception that being excused from work is the exception rather than the rule.

No limits on accumulation (until we revisit).

Consensed: "Accumulation of hours is allowable when they are reported as cumulative. This is at the discretion of the person reporting the hours based on his/her conscientious evaluation of the task as seasonal and necessary."

Susan standing aside, declined to state reasons.

Process point: The printout of the proposal was in quite a small font. Please print in larger font as a courtesy to people who need reading glasses.

Next ACM is Sunday April 22nd. Linda will not be here, so we need a volunteer to facilitate.

Addendum

Minutes of All-Community Meeting, on Sunday, March 25, 2012

There will be a guest at potluck, saw article in Deseret News.

Naomi has the Move to Amend petition, if anyone is interested in signing and hasn't yet.

Sign up for swamp cooler work. Short window of opportunity, several weeks between too cold to have swamp cooler vent open and warm enough to want swamp cooler on.

Is there interest in having a yoga class on a Monday evening, maybe 7:00? Sharon may schedule one.

Deck

Mgt met with lawyer who has handled same issue before. Wrote letter to Kier pointing out some things in Kier's lawyer's letter that are wrong. Contractors often exploit fact that development companies usually end after project is finished; therefore nobody they have a contract with. Because of being managing partner in Wasatch Crown, Wasatch Cohousing still exists. Hoping to get Kier to make better offer. Insinuation in letter that we do things on principle rather than profit motive, to unsettle Kier's assumption it isn't worth our while going to court.

Repairs will not wait until matter is resolved with Kier. If a unit is sold, buyer must be informed that there will be an assessment for deck repairs. Mgt will make a recommendation regarding assessment which will then come to the community for a decision.

Committee Reports

Garden committee met. All beds are assigned. [Correction - Nancy's bed, west bed next to driveway with structure for climbing plants, is still available.]

Natalia, Marina, Ann Dowdy, and Hans met Sunday March 18. Discussion regarding dog enclosure behind #9 is at an impasse. Meet again after ACM today, anyone concerned welcome to attend.

Appreciation Exercise: Why Are You Here?

Consensus Process

During clarifying process, ask people to postpone discussion and not take positions.

Can call for consensus after clarifying, if there aren't concerns; after discussion, if initial concerns are resolved.

Stand asides should state reasons for standing aside. Still bound by decision.

Group needs to care about why someone blocks. Helpful if person can articulate reasons.

Community can select ends and delegate means to a committee.

Chicken Grazing Proposal

Sharon has 50 chickens currently. Includes some exotic varieties. She would be selling eggs through CSA and/or to community, $5/dozen.

Chickens not quite ready to be outside yet. Sharon doesn't need yes/no on use of community land immediately. She will be getting fencing to use elsewhere whether or not she can use community land.

FENCING

Electric fencing, run off battery. 160 feet, enclose 30' x 50' space. Fencing is flexible and can make different-shaped enclosures. 42" tall. Live lines start 3" above ground, low enough to shock animals trying to dig under, including skunks or raccoons. Different colors available. Fence will have warning signs.

Sharon has used this fencing for goats and has been shocked by it plenty of times. A kid (young goat) got tangled in fence; recovered. Other residents have also had experience with electric fencing.

COMFORT FOR CHICKENS

4 coops within enclosure, 2 layer boxes in each. Put wheels and tow hitches on coops for transport from once place to another.

As long as chickens are protected from wind, their down keeps them warm down to about -15F. Shade in coop and underneath coop. Several buckets of water refilled daily.

Shipping in new babies is very stressful for chicks, often lose many of them. Sharon wants to have roosters to produce replacement chicks herself. Surgical procedure can keep roosters from crowing.

WHERE

Areas may include north field, other yards Sharon is farming along Cheyenne, parts of Hans's field that Matt isn't farming, wild area. 30'x50' would enclose about half of north field.

Move fence about weekly or biweekly, depending on how quickly chickens graze down. Grazed area would be clean enough for other things such as putting up a tent within a week after the enclosure has been moved off.

Having several smaller enclosures would greatly increase costs of fencing and work of moving fencing regularly.

GRASS

Possibly overseed spring/fall with native grasses after chickens have grazed an area. Need to find out how tall and quick-growing species are, so we know how much mowing it would require if chickens aren't grazing it.

Decision Do trial run in orchard? Would let people see enclosures. Green fencing rather than white. Let permaculture or subgroup make decision on grass.

FOLLOW-UP

Check that this is in compliance with city ordinances for multi-unit development. Get a waiver from Sharon's LLC to the HOA.

Addendum

Minutes of All-Community Meeting, on Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Announcements

Mail carrier pulled mail from boxes that were too full and put it on the table inside.

A couple of kids in the neighborhood are coming over here to use unprotected wireless. We may want to put passwords on all. Unprotected signals picked up from common house are 'carol' and 'qwest9568'. Dusty says unprotected '2084' can be picked up at north end.

Mgt has retained Vial Fotheringham, representing Wasatch Cohousing (developer) to write a letter to Kier that we have a case, re statute of limitations and other issues. Would like to meet with them. Kevin also helping, representing Wasatch Crown.

Tree person was supposed to be here to finalize tree removal contract today and never showed.

Linda A is planning egg hunt. Easter is April 8th. Egg coloring Saturday before.

Welcoming met with Marina (not Scott), Matt & Melissa, Kathy, and Sharon.

Article in Deseret News from reporter at potluck may be published this week.

Dusty has an article in Edible Wasatch about CSAs.

Democratic caucus last night. Hob was elected as a delegate.

Mike P and Linda R will be meeting with Steve Graham about Crown program, re loan due Nov 15, other wrap-up issues. Steve no longer works for Utah Housing but is willing to help.

Appreciation Exercise

Name something or someone you appreciate about living in the community.

Discussion: #9 Backyard Fence

Natalia would like to put up a fence behind #9 as a dog run. She is discussing purchase of unit with Becky. Smell out of #7's (Scott & Marina) southeast window is currently bad. Becky hadn't cleaned up after her dogs before Natalia moved in. Natalia is still working on getting that cleaned up. Even after clean up smell will remain for quite some time. Maybe check into powdered enzymes that can help break down smell faster.

Marina and Scott can see chain link panels right outside of southeast window. Would rather not look at fencing. Might buy a different unit to avoid it. Anne Hammond (#7 owner) wants to sell and is anxious for issue not to impede that.

Becky had a small fence (borrowed from Mary & Kay) enclosing the same area as Natalia wants to fence.

Natalia is planning an underlayment of plywood and rhino lining with cedar shavings that will be changed regularly. Fencing will not be fastened permanently in position.

Natalia got 6-ft high panels for good price. Mary offered loan of 4-ft panel, would be below #7's window. Plant vines or other vegetation, could mostly hide fence. Fence would be visible from #11's (Kay & Mary) patio windows and slightly visible at some angles from central path.

Natalia has someone come in daily to walk and feed dogs while she is at work. They might clean up.

Original pre-construction programming allowed fencing behind south homes ("dog row") and behind Crown. Keeping dogs from pooping in wild area might be an argument for dog fence behind a unit by wild area.

Natalia is off Sundays. Would like to meet with adjacent residents on issue of fence. Noon this Sunday, Natalia, Marina & Scott, and Kay. Mary is working, but doesn't feel she needs to be there. Anyone in community concerned is welcome to attend as well.

Discussion Chickens

Jesse works with Sharon at B.U.G. Farms. Interested in putting in permaculture guild around some orchard trees, will talk to Hans and permaculture group about that. Will prepare a proposal regarding chickens. Would like someone to walk around with him Friday morning to review use of community areas before writing proposal.

Next meeting is Sunday March 25th. Proposal should be distributed at least a week in advance.

For future discussion: Disposal of woody yard wastes such as branches, sunflower stalks. Doesn't compost well, becomes a fire hazard when piles up, yet shame to send to landfill.

Addendum

Minutes of All-Community Meeting, on Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Mike A is thinking of scheduling a movie night for Inside Job.

Mary has started pruning fruit trees. If you want to prune your own let her know and she will leave it to you.

Vaughn would like suggestions for where to put nut trees walnuts, filberts, pecans. Some possibilities are berms, wild area. Would need some supplemental water.

Transition Salt Lake will be joining us for potluck Sunday Feb 12.

Monthly Uncommon Night-Out, Kathmandu 2nd South 7th East, southwest corner. Tuesday February 21st 6:30 p.m. Linda will post signup.

Obama campaign official kickoff last Saturday. Linda would love to have someone to partner with volunteering on the campaign.

Kevin sent out summary of deck repairs on community list. Mike will take it to a law firm, Vial Fotheringham, to get an opinion on whether there is a case against Kier. If repairs cost $48K, cost divided by all units about $1.8K. A possibility would be special assessment, or loan to be paid off from increased monthly fees. One member of management thinks just the units with decks should pay for repairs, which might mean about $7K per unit. Outside of units is responsibility of HOA.

Addendum

Minutes of annual Meeting, on Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Ask Hans to add you if you are interested in being on the new permaculture listserv. Starting with learning about plant guilds (groups of plants that work well together).

C.H. vacuum cleaner has been repaired. Wheeling it down central path damages wheels; if taking it to a unit please use a wagon.

Becky Fattah will be moving and Natalia and Bella will be moving into #9.

Nancy needs people who are willing to be on her emergency contact list for her emergency button.

C.H. dishwasher and furnace in rear guestroom have been repaired.

Election

Signatures collected for attendance sheets.

Two members of management are halfway through their two-year term, Mike A. and Carol. There are three open owners positions to be elected. Leaving Management are Mary (resigning after one year), Hans (completing the term he took over from Laraine), and Richard (who took over from Tyler). Marla Dee has been acting informally as renters rep (since she is attending anyway as bookkeeper); haven't had a crown rep in 2011. Renters have proxy from the owner to vote for five owner positions.

Nominations for open owner positions: Richard, Hans, Kay, Naomi.

Since Mary served one year, we could elect one person for a single year to complete her term. Alternately we could elect three for full two-year terms. Naomi if elected would prefer to finish Mary's term but would support anyone else elected for two years. Consensed: Contingent on who is elected. Naomi if elected would be one year, other positions will be two.

Renters and crown will meet to select their reps.

Budget

This budget is for operating expenses. Financial statements show two categories, (1) profit and loss (money going in and out) and (2) balance sheet (what is owned). This budget is the profit-and-loss side. Request for Management to prepare presentation on overall budget including reserve.

3% increase in fees proposed. Covers increase in insurance (nondiscretionary) increase in reserve. Budget went up more than that including anticipated payments from pay-or-play.

Landscape maintenance weeding' category slightly lowered than actual expenditures for last two years. Rationale is that some of work may be done as pay-or-play, and payments from pay-or-play will supplement budget.

Internet $900 proposed. Will spend less if can. More expensive because commercial rather than residential account. No dial-up because no phone. Marla Dee is currently using her own internet for community business and may be relocating to Oregon this year. User IDs on community computer prevent anonymous porn surfing. Wireless in common house would be available to individual's laptops in common house but not any residential connections.

Interest on reserve goes to reserve so it does not appear in operating budget. Interest isn't sufficient to maintain reserve.

Zero budget for Safety & Security is because items that have typically been under Safety & Security, such as recharging fire extinguishers, will be covered under Maintenance.

Consensed: Budget approved with fee schedule as attached.

Management votes tallied by Sandra and Kevin: Winners are Kay, Richard, and Hans.

Addendum