All-Community
Decisions:
Topics:
Discussion: Topics: reserve analysis, budget presentation
All-Community
Decisions: Decision: form an ad hoc committee to look at participation issues.
Topics: Topics: participation, report on rental discussion, proposal process
All-Community
Decisions:
Topics: Topics: Committees mandates, members, updates
All-Community
Decisions:
Topics: Topics: guest room policy, safety & security, having a voice
Discussion: All-Community Meeting, Sunday September 24, 2017, 3:00 p.m.
All-Community
Decisions: Decision: formed committee to update guest room policy.
Topics: report on visits to Colorado cohousing, guest room policy.
All-Community
Decisions: next work party will be deep cleaning the sitting room.
Topics:
All-Community
Decisions:
Topics: brainstorm ideas for work parties; discuss concept of unconditional friendliness.
All-Community
All-Community
Decisions:
Topics:
All-Community
Decisions: Decisions: Proposal on providing electricity for free to electric cars did not pass.
Topics: Electricity for electric cars, book club, yards, community retreat.
Proposal: free electricity for electric cars
All-Community
Decisions: Decisions: Tell insurance we are looking into repairing north play structure; Lucas will head up ad hoc team. Do a work-party how-to guide.
Topics: north play structure, lessons from gutter work party
All-Community
Decisions: Decisions: Ducks approved. Visitor with service animal approved.
Topics: borrowing community tools, ducks, committee sign-ups, visitor with service animal
Proposal: ducks
All-Community
Decisions: Decision: Approved the jam club to use the east corner of the messy crafts room, including the cabinets, for storage.
Topics: jam club storage, open house next Saturday, activating committees.
Proposal: Storage area for jam club in messy craft room
All-Community
Decisions:
Topics: Committees
All-Community
Decisions:
Topics: survey on ACM attendance, committee participation
All-Community
Decisions:
Topics: policy on searches.
Proposal: Law Enforcement Searches
All-Community
Decisions: Decision: approved 2017 budget
Topics: budget, police searches
All-Community
Decisions: Decision: okay to get electric ovens instead of gas
Topics: budget presentation & discussion, common house wall ovens
All-Community
Decisions: Decision: Keep security camera.
Topics: glass recycling, email etiquette, security camera & policy presentation.
acm, safety
Topics:
Discussion: report of police walk-through
annual
Decisions: Decisions: elected Kay Argyle, Lynda Angelastro, Ben Truman
Topics: Management election
Dan Potts of Rose Park Community Council will be at Sunday potluck. Glendale Community Council elections coming up.
Yard waste containers won't be picked up from mid-January to mid-March. They are collected Thursday morning, sometimes very early.
ACM schedule puts second ACM in December on Christmas Eve. Process is planning to cancel.
Construction work in kitchen to run the electrical for the new ovens, possibly for a week. Need help putting up plastic sheeting after the ACM.
S&S is testing a keyless entry device. It will track who was the last person to use a room. Using the kids room to test it. The kids room is temporarily locked due to difficulty with the installation. Scott has the key. He is working on getting the lock functional. Next S&S meeting is Saturday Dec 23rd.
Creating an incident log to be kept in the coat room. Thinking how to put it on line.
Installing a camera on the east side requires someone who has wifi & will let the community use it for the light.
The north path light (by #5/6) needs its ballast replaced. S&S is discussing using an LED for it. Please everyone look at the light in the north field as an example of an LED light.
Tree people (Christensen) got all but one tree that was scheduled for them. Entire west branch pile got chipped. Anyone more branches, please cut them up & put them in the dumpster.
Common House furnishings got "new" green couches for the sitting room, a center table, and a clock. The light-colored couch will have its legs changed to match the green couches. A couch on the back porch is being cannibalized for replacement parts. Some items have been put upstairs temporarily.
Reading of Values: Relationships
"We build trust through dependability & through openness & honesty strengthened by honesty & tempered by courage."
What are practical examples of this?
Showing up at community events/gatherings.
Community showed trust in Common House committee for refurnishing.
The purpose was to determine the need for a reserve account, to give us a budgeting tool.
There are two budgets: operating funds & reserve fund. The reserve fund is used to restore & replace items with a useful life of three or more years. Money is set aside for these expenses in order to smooth out the year-to-year variations of large expenditures and avoid the probability of a special assessment. (A low reserve can be a reason for a bank refusing a mortgage.)
Dale Gifford of Complex Solutions, a professionally certified reserve analyst, was hired. Cost $1,500. It included a site visit. The analysis projects probable expenses thirty years into the future. A reserve of $192,000 is recommended. We have 26% of that, and the balance is anticipated to drop lower next year as we finish roofs.
Dale does not recommend a special assessment. He does recommend increasing the amount going into the reserve every month. We put in $24K this year; to get fully funded we need to put in $31K(?), an increase of 30%, going forward.
presented two alternative budgets (11% & 17%), using projector.
A lot of budget items can't be reduced without considerable effort: Utilities, insurance, etc. Maintenance is somewhat discretionary, but deferred maintenance leads to higher costs later. If more maintenance was done by residents, it would decrease our costs.
To fund all committee budget requests as submitted would require increasing HOA fees by 17%.
The community changed its insurance provider this year and reduced the cost of premiums.
Increasing HOA fees by 11% partially funds most committee requests. An 8% increase would mean cutting committee budgets in half again.
It's up to the community to decide priorities in funding committee budgets.
The 2017 actual is anticipated to come in about $5K under budget. That money is accounted for in the 2018 budget; without it, fees would need to increase even more.
The next ACM is the Annual Meeting, 2nd Wednesday in January.
At the time of the repairs of the roofs/walls under the decks, Management accepted responsibility for cleaning out under the decks, to protect the roof membrane (in order to make sure it happened!). Management is looking into finding someone who can do the work. (To clarify, maintenance of the deck itself is the owner's responsibility.)
A copy of the reserve analysis and the proposed budget will be sent out on the listserv.
The budget is a guideline. It's possible to be changed mid-year, by decision of the community.
Management didn't receive a request for a donation to cohousing.org. This doesn't preclude raising funds individually to give a donation as we've done in previous years.
There are differences of viewpoint regarding providing community funding to the north field garden. Food has been donated to the community by the north garden, but also by bed-keepers of the east garden. Both get water paid by the community. The gardeners of the east garden pay for all their tools, supplies, & seeds/plants. Theoretically anyone is permitted to go pick anything in the north garden, but some community members don't feel welcome. "Keeper of the Heart" observation: There needs to be discussion around this. Some residents feel the north garden is really a club, not a committee, and primarily serves the interests of its members, rather than the community. Giving a budget to the north garden, yet not the east garden, is treating it preferentially. (Make it into a CSA?)
Christmas caroling December 9, Saturday 7:00 p.m.
Glendale Community Council meeting third Wednesday(?) of each month. Three council members being elected in January.
Kidde is recalling nearly 100 models of fire extinguishers. Many models have store brand names on, rather than Kidde. Check at kidde.com
Talk to Becca, Marina, or Linda WG about making Bears Ears hats for an upcoming rally.
Naomi recommends the new model of toilet that Dean Petaja replaced hers with. The new one is low flow, power flush.
Gap insurance. The deductible is changed to $10K from $5K. Contact your insurance agent to update your home owner/condo policy.
Note: there are three thermostats in the c.h. Might be desirable to have a tour to show everyone who isn't familiar with their location & function.
Trees marked with tape will be trimmed or removed to clear room for a fire truck if necessary [& to remove hazards]. Our central path is in violation of fire code. If a fire truck is damaged, we get to pay to replace it.
The lock-up crew has several times found the up-and-down bolts into the floor & door jamb unfastened. If you open the double doors, make sure you refasten all those locks as well as the dead bolt & handle lock.
Re notice that went out regarding Hans's property. He wants to combine the two parcels so that the one without street access has access through the other. The city calls this a "subdivision" because they don't have a word for joining parcels, just a word for splitting them.
Reading of Vision Statement & of Integrity section of Values Statement.
Report on Rental Discussion, October 22 meeting (handout)
The discussion identified multiple values. If the community feels that there should be anything stronger in the CC&Rs, maybe appoint an ad hoc to make recommendations to the declaration committee
We are over the 20% rentals based on FHA guidelines. It doesn't affect our current approval but might affect renewal. How much a bank pays attention depends on how tight credit is generally.
Management is talking about whether we should have language in leases requiring participation, and whether Mgt should dictate specific language or just general provisions. Should all rental agreements include a rent-to-own provision? Reasons for renting for long periods are not necessarily bad for the community.
Management's review of leases gives a weak hold over renter participation. Our Values talk about accepting the consequences of our actions, but we don't have consequences for owners who don't participate.
Ad hoc committee on participation: probably Vicky per Mike, Linda WG, Elaine, Sara, Alex, Susan.
Celebration. Wonderful Thanksgiving celebration. Planning events for Christmas & New Year's.
C.H. furnishings. Looking to upgrade furniture in sitting room, depending on budget available.
North garden will be bringing a renewal proposal next ACM.
Jam club has done inventory & will be distributing.
Landscape (Mary) got a bunch of native xeriscape plants at 50% off & has been putting them in. Can ask Mary about plans for trees that have ribbons.
Kids play room needs attention.
North field garden club. There are a couple of non-community neighbors who work (unpaid) in the north garden & are on the google groups email list.
East garden has a google group but doesn't communicate much, & doesn't request a budget. Elaine is interested in a bed.
Process is requesting funds for a retreat during 2018. Meets on the Sunday before a Sunday ACM and the Sunday before a Wednesday ACM. Always looking for new members.
Safety & Security is getting a 2nd bid for a keyless lock system for the common house & workshop. Please make sure nothing valuable is left in or around cars. Need new members. (Kam is interested.) Trying to compile a list of security incidents, break-ins etc. Next mtg Dec 10, 10:00 a.m. Coming up with recommendations for common house usage. (Follow up Is there still money in the 2017 budget for another camera?)
If we change all pole lights to LED, they will be brighter & use less power. Some people don't care for the color of LEDs. The north field is LED.
Talk to Sara if you have ideas about boundary security.
C.H. ovens have been pulled out & will be replaced with electric. Found some severe charring in the cabinet when the ovens were removed.
Trees that have ribbons will be either removed or trimmed. To select which trees, Management hired four consultants (several of whom only consult & don't remove trees) and tabulated their recommendations, which heavily agreed.
The Annual Meeting will be the second Wednesday in January. Traditionally, renters have their unit's proxy. One vote per unit for Management election.
The three proposals that were on the agenda are being rescheduled.
A flowchart of the proposal process might be useful for increased understanding.
There are two reasons for proposals:
- Make a change in a community process
- Individuals to gain permission to make use of a community resource
Usually works best to bring a discussion of an issue to an ACM and get input before writing a proposal. Aspects of an issue that a single or several authors might miss will get brought out. Proposals can be shaped for success from the first draft and don't get sent back for rewriting multiple times. Some issues are resolved just by discussion.
Some proposals need a lot wider community input than others.
Respect proven processes for doing things.
Minutes emailed to W.C.g.g. 11/27/2017.
Please submit budget requests for committees. Describe projects planned for next year and provide estimates for purchases needed. Send by email to Management.
Request that Joel and Kathy K come to an ACM to talk about Google-Groups.
Postponing rental expectation discussion to next ACM.
Peace Corps this Saturday, potluck 6:00, slide show 7:00. Presentations on Poland & Rwanda. Peace Corps calendars $15 fund raiser. (Vicky)
2:00-4:00 pumpkin carving Saturday. (Lynda) "Children" of all ages welcome.
Open house Halloween at Annalise's. Food & cider.
Thanks from SERVAS for hospitality.
Sarah has a laundry basket she will be filling with items for a refugee family. She will put it in the common house, with a list of suggestions, for anyone who would like to contribute.
Need for common house paper towels, t.p., white vinegar. (Sarah will stop at Costco.)
After any event or use, clean! [Details provided by Kathy Albury.]
Passed out list of committees, with descriptions, membership, and contact email (source: Kathy K's email). Attached, below.
North Garden. Lynda picked a bunch of green tomatoes and has wrapped them in newspaper to ripen. Committee received permission last fall to use north field for one year and needs to request renewal (if it wants it).
Jam Club: Has a plan to distribute products. (Thanks to them for the clean ups after each work party.)
People listed haven't met or done anything. Mary should be on list. Mary has added some xeriscape bushes to west berm. Has been concentrating just on tree safety for several years.
North field structure has had bracing added. Still needs sanding, wood treatment. South fort/swingset still has issues.
Meets Sunday before each ACM, following potluck. Working to set up a retreat: (1) Finding a voice in the community, (2) Where are we now and where are we going; visioning.
Considering whether it would makes sense to split into subgroups to improve focus on issues maintenance, preventing crime. Mary will be working with Matt on heaved/dropped bricks along the path.
Underutilized Spaces: Next project is upstairs workshop. Will need help to paint, including chalkboard wall.
facilitators: Meta-committee to support managers of committees.
Welcoming (Vicky should be Manager)
Communications (doesn't meet as a committee). Various individuals and groups do calendar, minutes, brochures, FaceBook, website, archive, etc. Items written on paper calendar aren't getting transferred onto online calendar -- need someone to tackle that.
Management (Lynda isn't the facilitator)
East Garden (not on list of committees). Anyone who has a bed in the east garden.
Process is thinking of making an effort to have a quarterly check-in and/or yearly renewal for committees.
Having google groups for committees means (in most cases) that nobody outside the committee knows what if anything they are doing. Only a couple of committees are posting minutes to the community list.
The FaceBook page is public, not used for internal communication. It is possible to set up a closed FaceBook page that limits access to only the people you want on it. Only about half the community use FaceBook at all.
* Handout * Committee List from Kathy K:
Here is a current list of email addresses for Wasatch Commons and the Google Group Managers as produced by wacoho-facilitators last May-June and updated as requested. Please note, with the exception of wasatch-communications (Kay) and wasatchmanagement (Joel only), Joel and Kathy K are maintaining the groups. Email them with any change requests.
Email address and description
wacoho-celebration@googlegroups.com
Lynda A (Manager), Esther, Marina, Shawnie
wacoho-commonhouse@googlegroups.com
Marina (Manager), Amy, Carol, Elaine, Esther, Linda WG, Myste, Becca, Sara, Shawnie, Susan, Maxine, Vicky
wacoho-facilitators@googlegroups.com
Kathy K (Manager), Members Aitch, Annalise and Melanie, Carol, Kathy A, Kay, Linda R, Linda WG, Lynda A, Marina, Rebecca, Shawnie, Susan, Vicky
wacoho-garden@googlegroups.com
Kathy K (Manager), Aitch, Amy, Ben, Durango Neugebauer, Elaine, Esther, Evalina Vallo, Issy, Kellie, Linda R, Linda WG, Lynda A, Scott and Marina, Karen, Rebecca, Lucas, Shawnie, Maxine, Vicky
wacoho-jamclub@googlegroups.com
Kellie (Manager), Myste, Ben, John, Kay, Kellie, Linda WG, Lucas, madcatsteele, Scott and Marina, Rebecca, sjj711, Vicky
wacoho-landscaping@googlegroups.com
no manager, Amy, Mark, Shawnie
wacoho-parents@googlegroups.com
Lucas (Manager), Amy, Annalise and Melanie, Linda R, Lucas, Meagan, Vicky
wacoho-process@googlegroups.com
Linda R (Manager), Kathy A, Marina, Sara, Susan
wacoho-security@googlegroups.com
Aitch (Manager), Ben, John, Kellie, Mary, Scott and Marina, Myste, Richard, Shawnie, Susan
wacoho-spaces@googlegroups.com
Aitch (Manager), Kellie, Kent, Lucas, Myste, Sara, Scott and Marina, Susan
wacoho-welcome@googlegroups.com
Joel (Manager), Esther, Lynda A, Vicky, wacohomgmt
wacoho-dining@googlegroups.com
Joel (Manager), Hans, John, Kellie, Linda, Shannon, Shawnie, Vicky
wacoho-maintenance@googlegroups.com
No manager, Alex, Ben, finneuphoria, John, Kay, Lucas, mediasophia, Susan, Maxine
wasatch-communications@googlegroups.com
Kay (Manager), Kathy A, Lynda A, Maxine, Vicky. This group has been modified so that Joel and Kathy K are no longer owners and can no longer maintain the group.
wc @ gg.com
wasatchmanagement@googlegroups.com
Lynda A (facilitator), John, Ben, Kellie, Kay
Elders Rising is holding a celebration at PR Springs tomorrow regarding company that has been developing it is in receivership.
Swamp cooler shut down Friday the 29th $20 per cooler flat fee. Waiving $45 dispatch fee. Email Myste if you need pillows, covers, straps, etc.; she will email price list & list of who has signed up. Let her know a.s.a.p. if you want to be added. Premium service $30 includes cleaning inside of cooler.
List of upcoming jam club work parties will be posted in the mail room.
Unit #25 will be available. 4BR. One year lease, possibly with an option to buy. Matt Morganti will continue farming land south of orchard next year.
Oct 7 Saturday night Servas potluck. The community is welcome to come. Servas guest for two nights (Sara hosting).
Oct 14 Peace Corps potluck 6:00, slides 7:00. Karen will show her slides of Poland. A couple will show slides of Rwanda.
Saturday Oct 14 north field Pumpkin Patch Party, probably ~2:00 p.m. Select pumpkins & carve.
Sara is putting together baskets for refugee families through IRC. She will post a list of items. New items only. If you'd like to contribute, the basket will be probably in the coat room.
There will be some different cars in Kathy A's spot over the next week.
Parent committee is working on north field play structure.
Please include your name & unit in calendar reservations.
Front-loading washers don't need much detergent. Too much causes errors & the washer quits working. Let whoever in your household does laundry know to use a very small amount.
Lynda has gotten new copies of the c.h. door keys that work well; she will do the same with the guest room keys. Linda R will get a receipt book for guests who donate cash.
Some issues: Doors to the bathroom are very heavy, too heavy for someone who has strength issues. Guest rooms are too far from the cooler for comfort. Couch-surfing doesn't fit either model of family members (free) vs. community guests (donation).
Guest policy committee: Vicky, Ben, Sara, Lynda A, Linda WG?
"Incident Book" is on the coat room table. Set up folder in Google Groups for incident reports?
Camera recordings go back ten days, unless saved.
Some people have told Process they don't feel they have a voice in the community. Some attend ACMs, some don't because they feel they aren't listened to. "Not being heard" is hard to define because it is based on feeling.
Cliques. When someone pulls back, there's a tendency for the person on the other side to pull back, doubling the distance. That person doesn't come to your events; therefore you don't go to theirs.
Being heard is a two-way street. People need to speak up for themselves.
"I'm not being heard" can be a dog-whistle.
- "I'm not getting my own way."
- "You aren't agreeing I'm right."
- "I keep suggesting someone else do this & nobody has taken it on."
Use stacking more often (write a list on the whiteboard of who has asked to talk & calling them in order). Pay attention are there people who put up their hand yet don't get called on?
Round robins, breakout groups & dayads. Why do/did each of us choose to live here? Revisit (& share) what our expectations were when we moved here.
If you haven't interacted with a person for a while, make a point of attending their events.
Early in the group's history there was a book with each person's picture, some biographical details, and what they feel they bring to cohousing.
Retreat/workshop on inclusiveness? Book club?
The exercise we did recently where everyone said what is special about our community every item was about people.
Saw a bunch of faces at the tomato party who don't attend meetings/potlucks. Hold more celebrations, try for one every month.
For next meeting, discussion about committees. Handout (emailed) of committee email addresses, members. How do we get committees active?
The dishwasher is not working. Bring your own dishes to potluck.
Marita Albert, a visitor from Cottyong, Victoria, Australia, will be staying in the upstairs guest room Sept 4-10. She is here for the deTerra conference. Found us through IC. She has visited Dancing Rabbit Eco Village in the past. Sponsored by Welcoming committee.
September 2, group forming a new community in Ogden, about 10 people, will come to caf‚ and a tour. They would like to talk to residents, especially anyone here from the beginning.
Analise will send out an email organizing work party to clean sitting room.
The roofers will be here working the week after Labor Day. Construction site! There will be nails & other debris. Please be mindful of safety.
City pickup is the week after Labor Day. We have five days before that week to put stuff on the street. Keep branches & yard waste in a separate pile from other trash. No electronics, no paint.
Need someone to head up the tomato/harvest party.
Barbecue on Labor Day, Monday, 2 to 7 p.m. "Open Grill"
[Edit - August 31 there will be a training session on registering high school students to vote. Contact Naomi for more info. From Kay Argyle, Wednesday, August 30, 2017 11:11 AM, ]
(New feature, brief updates on needed work, friction-free community living, policy reviews)
Please retrieve laundry promptly and leave laundry room counter free for folding. Use only high-efficiency soap for our washers. (If it is high efficiency, the label will say so.)
The lawn could use mowing slightly more often.
If you cannot fulfill your expected two hours (per adult resident) of community work per month, you can honorably meet the requirement by paying $40 per month ($20/hr). This money can be used to hire someone to fill in, either someone inside the community or outside. [Edit Contact your team leader at or before the 1st of the month so your replacement can be found. Kay, Thursday, August 31, 2017 3:15 PM] Approach Becca if interested in such work.
The monthly team is responsible to keep the common house clean the entire month, not just a work party one weekend. If you can't fulfill your monthly team assignment one month, you may swap months with someone else. Let the team leader know who will sub for you.
When you have a guest, you as host are responsible for making the bed beforehand and cleaning afterward. Vacuum. Strip the sheets, wash them, fold them and set them on the bed. (It was decided in a previous discussion that this was the clearest way to indicate that the linens are clean.)
We need someone(s) to create a new recording system for pay-or-play hours. Currently pay-or-play is consensed by the community, but an honor system. Management is starting work again on revising the CC&R & Bylaws to include pay-or-play as legally enforceable. (Contact Management if interested in being on the CC&R ad hoc committee.)
Report by Ben & Esther on ideas from visits to other cohousing communities (Nyland, Lyons Valley, Harmony Village, & Hearthstone)
Business memberships with Costco & local stores.
The communities with grass had outside contractors taking care of it.
Policy of no shoes in c.h., cubbies for slippers/shoes.
Guest workers who got a room for the summer in return for garden work.
Meals: Three of the four communities had teams to do meals several times a week. The other one had potlucks similar to ours.
Several communities pushed (nonfolding) tables aside & stacked chairs because they had regular events like dance lessons in the dining room. It took up a lot of the dining room. Nobody seemed to have a good system for table/chair storage.
Guests: Whiteboard on guest room door with guests' names.
Envelope & box for donation for guest room stay, suggested minimum, check/cash.
Cleaning fee $20 or cleaning check list.
Website to reserve rooms.
Communities didn't distinguish between family & strangers for guest room donation.
The 2001 policy (when we had only one guest room) was seven days for each unit with no charge (= 26 weeks), & a suggested donation for additional days. There was discussion that it would become fourteen days when the downstairs guest room became available. Since "hogging" the guest room has only rarely been an issue, we have not tracked usage.
We get two different categories of guests - people we know (family & friends of residents) & people we don't (travellers from other communities, etc.). The descriptions of communities on the Intentional Communities website cite "visitation policy"; ours requests a $20/night donation.
A donation box that can be screwed onto a wall is about $20 on Amazon.
When Vaughn had student volunteers at spring break he brought a proposal to the community beforehand. The volunteers contributed labor to the community.
One household has used more than thirty nights in the past year.
Might require community approval for usage beyond a certain length/frequency.
Re: email reserving the dining room, sitting room, kitchen, & patio every Friday for "High Tea & Study Group", requesting that nobody hold conversations in the common house at that time. Some feeling that an event which restricts other residents' use & behavior, particular repeated events, should be okayed by the community, not simply announced.
Ad hoc Committee to update guest room policy: Vicky, Ben, Marina, Lynda, Myste, & Susan.
There was an email reserving the dining room, sitting room, kitchen, & patio every Friday for "High Tea & Study Group", requesting that nobody hold conversations in the common house at that time. It might be more tactful to bring a proposal instead of making an announcement if an event restricts other residents' use & behavior, particularly for repeated events.
Chili & corn fest Saturday, chili contest. Family & friends welcome. Organized by Shawnie & Joel.
Lots of kale in the fridge from Linda's garden. Help yourself. If you find a snail, that's proof it's organically grown.
Cylinder for north field light is being shipped. Next step is to rout slots & install it.
Mary has had all the fire extinguishers from the common house & workshop pressure-checked. We have an account set up at the extinguisher place; they will call us next year to when it is due to be done again.
No date yet for roof work.
Next work party will be to deep clean the sitting room, clear cobwebs from the ceiling etc. Annalise will organize. (Probably not within next two weeks.) Ask for recommendations for rug cleaning; decide whether to rent a machine or hire a company with a truck-mounted system. Maybe get furniture done at the same time? (The Turkish rug requires special treatment to clean, not normal rug shampooing. Remember to move it out of the way, carefully rolled up.)
Most of the people concerned about how the dining room tables are set up aren't here. Postpone discussion until they are here.
Utah Indivisible is giving school supplies to refugee children. Becca could use help removing price stickers. (Passed around piles, everybody helped.)
Read community Values statement.
Concierge Cooler Services. Shutdown will be a flat $20 per unit with no dispatch fee. Myste will send an announcement about two weeks ahead. If you have a cover or pillow for the duct, put it out someplace obvious. If you won't be there, leave your key & check with Myste. Next spring will probably be $35 for start-up.
New work teams posted. Becca will email the list.
Linda R will be harvesting kale. She passed around a sheet to put your name if you would like some.
2nd week of August 9th, 4.5 hours. Public hearing on proposal to impose additionial fee for customers who have solar panels.
July 28 Friday barbecue Sierra Club at Jordan Park, picnic site reserved 6:00. No charge, can bring potluck.
Next work party: Clean up dumpster enclosures. Putting linseed oil on dumpster enclosures, 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Repair latch. Would like volunteer(s) to coordinate (Kathy A).
The fire department tested the fire hydrants this week. They left a bit of a mess behind.
Several community members have objections to the noise from roosters on the property. The matter has been referred to the chicken club.
Property Taxes. Mark's valuation has increased 18%. Linda R's increased from $89K to $120K. Mark will schedule a meeting to discuss the appeal process, probably after a potluck. Appeal before September 15.
Brainstorm About Projects We Can Accomplish With A Work Party.
Go around with ladders and tools fixing things high inside each unit (upon request): light bulbs, smoke detectors, cobwebs.
Remainder of first-story gutters. If it isn't a large number, could they be finished before 10:00 a.m.? Gutters are metal, might already be too hot that early.
Spray yellow jackets under eaves. Vicky & Naomi both have cans of spray.
Deep-clean the common house. Scrub baseboards, clean carpets, clean ledges.
"Watering" parties. Schedule front lawn irrigation together, have refreshments. Aitch will organize.
Sweep parking lots.
Resolution of conflicts can be aided by at least one party to the conflict persisting on treating the other kindly.
Making assumptions & taking things personally escalate conflict. (from The Four Agreements, don Miguel Ruiz)
It's a skill to be civil with someone that you don't get along with. Often the instinct is to avoid any activity where you might encounter the person, which is easier in a "normal" neighborhood than in cohousing.
You can use the natural instinct to withdraw as a cooling off period and then re-engage.
Is "friendliness" the best word? Would "civility" be better?
Even if you don't get alone with someone, you can appreciate their good traits.
Checkout. Say one thing you appreciate about the community.
After a brief check in, many items were consensed, and, after an equally brief check out, themeeting was adjourned.
Since neither member could locate their common house key, however, the common house remains unlocked.
Took down broken branches from the elm on the c.h. lawn and over the central path. Took off branches rubbing against Carol's house. Mary made dump runs with help from Joel & Kay. Scott-Forest-Service will be back in mid-July & will be working on trees, including over #20. Water is repaired & running on west berm and wild area. Fruit trees west of the east garden have drip on them, although currently only on a manual, not automatic, timer.
Reserve analysis walk-thru Tuesday 10:00 a.m.
Knitting/sewing club is working on repairing the patio chairs.
Jam Club made lovage salt last night.
Shawnie told Marina she lost count at 50 visitors on the Wasatch Community Gardens tour.
Marina has a clock for the sitting room which needs a little more work before she can hang it.
Unit residents are responsible for the landscaping around their unit. If you need help, please ask.
Mailboxes: If there isn't a unit number on your mail, it gets put in box 29, the WCCA's box. Linda R has been putting the mail in people's internal mail folders, the top drawer of the file cabinet in the coat room. When you pick up a package, remember to erase your unit number from the whiteboard in the mail room.
Meeting tomorrow night 6:00(?) in c.h., planning for Wasatch Community Garden tour. (Kathy K will confirm time by email.) Tour is on the 24th.
Garden work parties are Monday & Wednesday 6-8 p.m., Saturday 8-10 a.m.
Maintenance note: Need to replace rubber mallet for community bell.
Process is requesting suggestions for community retreat.
Ben has been working with Gardiner (the installer) to connect the carport solar panels to the internet. His first try at wifi wouldn't pick up the signal. He has ordered a stronger antenna.
Will need to increase fidelity bond to qualify for FHA.
inventoried bottles, lids & rings. We have more than 400 bottles. We need more standard-size rings. If you want to donate jars, pints or half-pints are more useful than quarts. Make sure they are canning jars, embossed with the manufacturer's name (Kerr, Atlas, Ball, Mason).
Proposal to allow electric cars to use electricity for free, up until our net metering is zero.
There've been some strong emotions in emails. Please all remember to be respectful with each other.
RMP wants to raise the monthly administrative charge enough to make solar panels uneconomical. Emotional energy could be channeled into fighting that.
Replacing a vehicle has an extremely large carbon footprint. A car you already own is therefore the least polluting option.
The pole at the end of the carport has two meters. The meter on the pole facing the shop is the community's. The meter facing the cars is Kathy's. It feeds from the community's power. She checks the meter periodically. She has been sending the readings to Hans who calculated a charge, which she paid to the community. Someone on Management needs to take over the calculation.
Status quo allows surplus electricity to go to RMP without benefit to us.
The community's electrical was ~$1200/year before the solar panels went in.
There is a cost to us for the solar panels. We paid $10K out of the reserve, which needs to be rebuilt, and we are still paying off our loan from Naomi. Metering and charging for electric cars would offset that.
Since the east and west meters are charged together, it doesn't matter whether a charger is in the east or west carport.
How much electricity does an electric care use?
The amount of electricity used by a vehicle varies by seasonal temperature, length of commute, number of passengers. Not easy to estimate therefore how many cars could run off the electricity in excess of our generation.
Kathy can't easily calculate what she pays per year to the community, due to it being paid in a variety of manners. A very rough guesstimate would be $800 to $1K.
Kathy's hybrid gets about 59 mpg including the electric. It switches to gas when it needs to accelerate or after about twenty miles. RMP estimates that 97c of electricity lets an electric car go the same distance as for a gallon of gas.
How much "extra" electricity do our panels produce?
Hans's calculations are that the electricity we give back to RMP is about $1K worth over three years.
If Kathy is using $1K and overage is around $400, the remaining overage would only power half a car. We couldn't provide unmetered electricity.
Ben's calculation is that the current excess capacity would power about 14K miles in most electric cars.
We are changing to electric ovens. Have talked about getting electric dryers some day. Are we really going to still have excess generation?
We would only be able to calculate excess once per year when RMP zeros our account.
Proposal does not cover the cost of charger installation.
Kathy A was told that the plug-in (car charger connection) is universal. She uses the same plug-in for her current car as she did for her earlier one, or can use her brother's. Apparently Tesla has a proprietary charger but also an adapter.
In 2012 Kathy's charger cost $795 and meter was $72.
All the carports have 110V, which we don't charge for. Some electric cars can charge on 110V.
It would leverage our solar panels to reduce car pollution.
Not equitable to give a benefit to some that others don't get.
We need to put money into our reserve.
Our precedent with Kathy's car is that she paid for the meter and pays for her usage. Why change that? We didn't have the solar panels at the time she got her first electric.
As people consider getting electric cars, the electricity going to RMP is only a "loss" to the community if people decide against electric because the electricity isn't free.
A meter on the charger would encourage people to charge where it's free. Shawnie told Kathy A, the free chargers provided by SLC are from a grant that ends in two years.
Community trust will be enhanced if everyone feels our decision is fair.
We didn't have the figures on overage when the proposal was written.
New electrical car owners should go to Management and work out details to install a charger and meter at their expense.
Not sufficient support to pass the proposal.
Susan is suggesting a book club, starting with the book Mindful Communication. She says it's practical, not touchy-feely.
Send out an email asking who would like to attend, when they are available to meet, and suggestions for a book.
Style of yards of units are more eclectic than a normal condo. Whose yards make you happy to look at?
The beauty of the whole community depends on everyone taking care of their own little piece. There's a lot of talent in the community to be drawn on by people who are out of time, out of money, out of ideas for their yard. Can we tactfully(!) offer assistance, reminders?
The grass pavers are a challenge because there isn't a lot of soil.
Please make suggestions for subject(s) for community retreat. Fresh ideas from new residents?
Missing tools: Long pole for changing very high bulbs, yellow end.
Long pole with lambs wool for taking down cobwebs.
Please fill out form to change automatic payments for assessments. Most automatic systems mail a paper check which has to be deposited. This system is an ACH (bank-to-bank) transfer.
Landscaping/Maintenance: The Toro mower needs some bolts.
The washer is making a noise during spin cycle. Please remember to use high-efficiency laundry soap.
Successful welcoming meeting Tuesday. Will hold another.
Committee re-energization. Contact Kathy K with questions about how to set up a google group. Still gathering committee descriptions.
North field light. Linda WG, Kathy K, & Mary are working on getting it working. Have some bids to replace top.
During visit by insurance rep, he expressed concern about the fort on the north side. It rocks when you push it. We need to let the insurance know (not necessarily immediately) what we plan to do about it.
By comparison, he remarked that the play structure by the common house is very stable. (Its uprights are in concrete.)
Issues:
Access is through north garden. It is surrounded by garden equipment. On the other hand, the play structure was there first & the garden equipment can be stored elsewhere.
Many of these issues apply equally to the c.h. play structure, yet we aren't considering getting rid of it.
The north play structure could be cross-braced to reduce sway. With some time & money it could be brought into better condition.
Options:
Putting a picnic table nearby might encourage more parental supervision (and would be nice in its own right).
Advantages to keeping north play area:
Someone needs to take responsibility. In earlier years we had more families with kids who were motivated to maintain the play structure. Currently we have fewer resident children but more visiting grandchildren.
With limited resources & energy it might be better to have one well-maintained structure than two somewhat neglected ones.
The point to consulting federal playground guidelines isn't insurance. The point is safety for our children. The government has studied playground safety. Why ignore such a resource?
The Cannons are closest to the north play area. Lynda has talked to them about it. Shawnie would like it torn down. Joel would be fine with either repair or removal.
Field trip at end of meeting to look at north play structure.
What made it successful? How do we replicate it?
One thing that helped was that everyone agreed what was being done was needed. No controversy.
Work parties need a coordinator. Not a boss, but someone who
Put together a guide on how to do a successful work party, to help people feel less intimidated when putting one together the first time.
Check in: Kay had a tooth removed and doesn't feel good, and asked for volunteer notetakers. Marina volunteered, and the following chaos ensued.
Becca-Sat 11-2 Indivisible event at the common house. All welcome.
Vicky- Guests here (Leah from France, Maria from America/Tonga, and a woman from Finland.
Kathy K ordered brown recycling bins for the community. She is covering the cost.
Lynda- Management scheduled a work party, Saturday May 20, for gutter cleaning. Lower gutters will be cleaned by us, Matt N will clean the upper gutters.
City is recycling/disposing of electronics, expired drugs, etc. See notice in mailroom.
Karen (not present) is having an open house tomorrow, Thursday 5-7.
(Kathy A.) Reminder if you are borrowing something from the common house or workshop:
Redoing the binder, having orientation, everyone is welcome (even those who are familiar with it). We will apply to be a part of Wasatch Community Garden tours June 24th. East garden clean up (Vicky)
North Field garden
Discussing what to do with the play structure, as it is a little hazardous. Planting has begun, room for 112 tomato plants. (Ben/Kathy K)
HOA fees are due on the 1st. On the 10th or later, there will be a late fee imposed, $25; talk to management if you need to make arrangements. This can be a private conversation offline, not necessary to do this via the management meeting. Late fees, assessment, etc. will be released in a report. (Ben)
Branches overhanging solar panels were removed, Scott treeguy will be trimming trees of particular danger/marked for trimming. Water people will be here this week to get water into the east berm. Matt weed-eating to make it easier. (Mary)
by Kellie and Becca
Questions include: what size house (dog house size) why don't they fly away (too fat) what are they for (eggs and cuteness. And eating, if they are male) How many ducks? (3-ish)
A kiddie pool will be provided once weekly so ducks can swim/dunk.
Consensus, no stand-asides.
Kathy K is collecting descriptions for all committees, then will head an effort to sign up the remainder of the people who are not signed up. Lynda asked for the updated list to update the folder for Welcoming Committee. Kathy K is having a tutorial on how to use the Google Groups feature, for those who are a little stymied, Thursday at 7.
We've received a request to stay in the common house from someone with a service animal.
Lynda read consensed decision about pets/service animals. (Cats to be belled, dogs to be kept on leash.) Only service animals are allowed in the common house.
Is this actually a service dog in the strict sense? Service animals are trained, certified, and serve a specific purpose to assist for a specific disability. On the other hand, owners may do their own training, so results vary. There are classes of support animals, emotional support, therapy etc., that don't have all the same legal privileges. The ease of getting certification is sometimes abused. The community has experience with a couple of support dogs that weren't well trained. (Lucas has a relative with a service dog that detects low blood sugar.)
Question: who is allergic to animals? (Several people who are present.)
Does the fact that outside groups have used our common house make it a public building? Concern about even having this discussion. If we value inclusion, we have to have equal access. If we are not willing, as a community, to house someone with a service animal, we will be setting a precedent.
Anyone willing to host? Melanie offers her house, possibly, to host this co-houser with the service animal.
Trust that the common house will be treated properly, no one in the room objects, it's cohousing to cohousing.
Check out, what did we like about this meeting? Lots of things. The popcorn, it was short, Vicky kept it from being rambly, Esther happy at the process that lead her from a no vote to a yes, and I (the substitute notetaker) was glad that no fights broke out.
Tuesday May 2nd City County Building city council will be discussing vacating the alley from our southern border to High Street. When Hans proposed it two years ago it was discussed at the Glendale community council, there were people opposed, because either they misunderstood and thought "vacate" meant they needed to remove what they had illegally built on it, or they had old grudges against Wasatch Commons. Don't know if they will show up at the city council meeting.
National Cohousing Open House Day next Saturday. Our open house is 10:00 to 2:00. Caf‚ at Linda's. Panel discussion at noon, will start with the FAQ from the book Cohousing. Vicky would appreciate volunteers to help set up 9:00 a.m., clean up after 2:00. Llamas & south orchard technically aren't part of cohousing, but some visitors find them interesting; please don't let people feed the llamas. Need name tags: Myste (just a holder), Hans, Kathy K, Sarah, Richard & Susan
Karen Park plans to move into #13 on Saturday.
Broccoli is available from the north garden.
Thursday May 18 or 25, recital in the common house by Izzy's students.
Notify Management about any wasp nests you see. Every household is responsible to clean (or arrange to get cleaned) your first story gutters. Work party day first Saturday in May. Statements will be emailed monthly; if you want a paper copy let Management know.
Gym committee: TV was returned without its cord; they will either get it back or replace it.
Need help getting weeds hoed on either side of west driveway and around the community sign. Mary won't be able to do it because of the injury to her arm. Two new spade forks were purchased for the community. Electric lawn mower works but loses power after five minutes use. Don't know if electric weed whackers work.
Requested: Any time anyone creates a community document, add a footer with your name & the date, so we know who has the original or master, what version it is etc.
The jam club would like to use the east corner of the messy craft room, including the cabinets, to store supplies, jars, sugar, labels, undistributed jam, etc.
Pros: The jam club will have someplace to store stuff besides their units or the c.h. office. Their supplies will be near their work area instead of having to be carried back and forth from units (risking broken glass on the sidewalk). Since empty spaces tend to attract clutter, having something designated to be stored in that corner will preempt clutter.
Cons: If one thing is stored there, something else can't be.
Cleaning supplies should not be stored near food. Could the cleaning supplies be organized in the closet off the laundry room? There's room for a cabinet if someone could install it. Can we get a volunteer?
It was requested to get sealed containers to store sugar to avoid tempting ants.
Consensed, no stand asides.
Need descriptions for each committee, about four sentences, outlining duties and responsibilities.
Clarify the difference between committees and clubs or special interest groups. Traditionally, each committee did something necessary for the community. East garden was a club, not a committee. North garden is calling itself a committee.
If people are expected to be on one committee, someone could meet the requirement by choosing to be on a committee that doesn't accomplish anything for the community as a whole. How do we separate nice or quality-of-life functions from core or critical functions?
Hob & Sandra's community requires 30 hours per quarter. They have a list of jobs that are core functions, with a quarterly sign-up. Could we get a copy? Aitch will ask them.
Ask Management to come up with the list of core functions and estimate of time each requires?
A lot of people do various jobs yet aren't "on a committee". It might help to have tasks assigned to a committee who keeps track of who is doing them & how they should be done.
Should the community ask everyone to participate in a critical committee in addition to whatever their interest area might be? A drawback to that approach is that people actually doing the work aren't helped by having armchair supervisors who don't necessarily understand the practicalities of the tasks.
Encourage committees to use a google-group list for messages so someone new joining can see what has gone on previously.
Comments from multiple people, asking to get online reporting of work done going again.
Committees not on the list: declarations, communications.
If you haven't signed up for at least one committee, the sign-up list is in the coatroom.
Linda R has done statements for everyone. Mgt will be working with those households who have assessment balances (monthly or special).
working on north field light. Pole & top need painting to prevent metal corrosion. Spray paint. Mike W will paint if someone will help him get set up. Volunteers please show up to help right after the Easter Egg Hunt, Sunday afternoon. Mary will loan Mike her tall A-frame ladder for the work.
Borrowed TV has been returned to the exercise room.
An additional wheelbarrow has been purchased. Kobalt, blue, flat-free tire, 6 cu ft bed. Labeled with community name, designated as wheelbarrow #D, daisy. Kay will paint letters & pictures on the other community wheelbarrows. Community-owned spade forks are either broken or disappeared; ordered two with extra-length metal handles.
The new household in #20 has greyhounds. Don't let them out of the backyard.
Working on reactivating committees. Sign-up sheet is in the mailroom.
Ben read message from Myste. She would like to see more ad hoc project-based committees and opportunities for people to work on committee tasks who don't necessarily want to commit to being on the committee for more than that task.
Committees have a dual mandate (1) the particular focus of the committee, and (2) building community.
If committees aren't putting out minutes, it's hard for people who are interested yet can't make it to the meetings to keep up to date with the committee.
More clarity about committee mandates might encourage people to jump in. What tasks is the committee responsible for? There are two different ways of looking at community mandates: (1) the committee's responsibilities are what the committee decides to tackle, or (2) there are jobs that need to be done and someone needs to do them.
Round robin. What in the community are you looking forward to? (Warm weather & gardening is a given.)
Open House April 29, National Cohousing Open House Day. (Citizens Climate March is later that day.)
Reclamation of space: Brainstorming on revitalizing the gym. Next Sat 1-3 p.m. deep cleaning.
Jam club meeting Tuesday 7:00 p.m. c.h.
North garden club group meets in garden Monday night, Wednesday night, and Saturday.
Check lost-and-found laundry basket.
If someone has borrowed the TV from the gym (exercise room) in the workshop, please return it. It's a medium-size flat-screen, donated by Laraine.
Reminder: Keep the common house locked. Kelsey is hanging around and will go in the common house if he gets the chance. He's been asking residents for money, claiming he hasn't eaten for days (when we knew that wasn't true). Lynda & Carol always give him food when he comes to caf‚. He's on and off his meds. He's afraid to go to the homeless shelters. Can we find out who his social worker is?
action: Agree not to give him money. Carol will talk to his mom Linda P.
Carol is interested in doing a meal where she is Second Cook, doing most of shopping and cleanup.
Management will be requesting "project leaders" for individual maintenance tasks. Some jobs will be do-it-yourself, some will be researching contractors & overseeing work, some will be heading up a work party.
Maintenance, Mary reporting: Electrician will be here to put in extra lights in carports, first week of April. Dead branches are being taken down, have taken three truckloads to the dump so far. Scott won't be available until May to do tree work.
tabulated by Richard: 78% said yes they are aware regular ACM attendance is required. June 10, 2000 agreement posted in coat room says agreement is 50% if meetings are bimonthly, 75% if monthly, per member not per household.
action: Find participation agreement and send it out.
Attendance is noted in minutes. It could be tabulated if we wanted. People who don't attend ACMs tend to not participate in other ways.
If you are willing to facilitate but reluctant to join Process, you could attend only the Process meeting before the ACM you pick.
Rambling is sometimes because the person is processing their thoughts.
Miss having a clock in the room.
action: Marina will get one.
Communication training is useful.
Will be having a reshuffle of the work teams soon.
A committee makes plans and arranges for them to be carried out (DIY or coordinate work by people outside the committee). A committee may request a budget.
Marking yourself as a member of a committee is a recommitment. For that reason, don't mark someone else.
Reminder: Return your ACM survey.
Spice Kitchen Incubator Program. Program to help immigrants & refugees learn small-business management. Order meals Wednesday before noon, pick up food Thursday 4:30-6:00. 3rd W 2180 S. $9 per meal if you order 4.
Ben & Esther will be renting out a room. They would be interested in seeing other people's rental agreements.
Second annual national cohousing open house, Saturday April 29. Tentative plan is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Send people to caf‚ to start, tours, panel discussion. Sign-up sheet for tour guides, house tours, panel.
Transitioning to Linda R being bookkeeper. Let her know about any issues in QuickBooks so she can be cleaning it up. Management will be holding a filing work party March 18, 10 a.m. Reminder: New fee amounts are effective March 1.
Steve Harris will be installing extra lights in the carport.
How are searches affected by the common house being left unlocked at times? The ICE notice said that unlocking the door can be interpreted as inviting police in.
Is the concern solely for the privacy of guests? Yes. Would this policy apply to any other common area? No.
Can we find an attorney who would read it pro bono? Vaughn & Mark will find out.
Can a sentence be added clarifying that this policy is in no way to be construed as condoning illegal activities or objects? Yes.
Richard presented a summary of the responses. There were fourteen responses (maybe 15 including a late one). Wait until next meeting and see if we get more replies.
Elaine did a pie chart showing the breakdown of budget categories as a percent of the total.
She estimates that the community probably requires approximately 120 hours per month. If we have 36 residents over 18 years of age, pay-or-play gives us only 72 hours per month.
Introduced at All Community Meeting 02/27/17
By Mark Clemens
Problem to be Resolved:
It appears Wasatch Co-Housing does not have a policy governing searches and law enforcement access in the Common House. The guests who stay at the Common House should be able to count on the same level of privacy they enjoy at home when they stay with us. The Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution provides, "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated...." We owe it to our guests to uphold these standards.
Proposed Policy:
Civilian or uniformed law enforcement or police personnel will be admitted to the Common House under the following circumstances:
Such law enforcement or police personnel should be accompanied by a Wasatch Co-Housing resident for the duration of their visit in the Common House. Every effort should be made during these visits to protect the privacy rights of residents and guests.
For the purposes of this policy a resident who is also a law enforcement employee will be considered as a resident with full and equal access to the Common House.
If you sign up by Tuesday the 28th you get the early bird registration price for the national cohousing conference. If you are interested in sharing housing, contact Vicky.
Welcoming is organizing a Community Open House April 29th. Possible others will be the Wasatch Garden Tour , Labor Day pancake breakfast, West View tour. Talk to Vicky.
Big Swap last weekend went well. Lots of stuff brought over, given away, donated.
North Field Garden. Planning meeting Monday 6:00 p.m. in field. Contact Joel & Kathy K for info. Hoop house is set up.
New fees would be effective March 1.
Changes from previous draft: Zeroed-out "parents" and "child infrastructure" and increased snow removal. Replacing ropes on swingset could be pulled from maintenance if necessary.
Consensed, no stand-asides.
Everyone who has automatic payments, please update them. Checks go in the management folder in the coatroom file cabinet or by mail to unit #29.
Note to Management: Budget & fee proposals should be mailed to absentee owners.
Concern: The proposed policy doesn't differentiate between on- or off-duty law enforcement.
Next weekend is the Big Swap at the common house. On Thursday bring things you want to give away. Please, items should be in decent condition; nothing broken or needing repair. Sort items into the areas labeled. Friday, residents take; Saturday friends and family may be invited. Late Saturday afternoon all remaining items will be loaded and taken for donation.
During Feb 27 potluck, birthday celebration for Ben.
Singing for Shy Singers workshop 2-4 p.m. Saturday Feb 11, by neighbors(?) Stacy & Brett.
Amy will be stepping down as bookkeeper. Please let her know how much we appreciate her work during the past few years.
Linda R has put up some solar motion sensor lights on her porch, one aimed to respond to motion on the path, the other aimed close to the porch. About $20 for two from Amazon.
Will add another light fixture in the east carport and two more in the west.
The requirement for seven days advance distribution wasn't met, and no decision will be made tonight.
The income from fees isn't twelve times the monthly amount. Traditionally we have made fees for the new budget year effective as of February, not January, so the year's income includes one month at the 2015 fee amount. Some households pay several months at a time, so fees aren't always paid in the year they are due. Naomi's fees are waived until the amount waived equals her loan for the solar panels.
What is the source of the income portion described as "inc. $1022 electric car and $400 CH use"? We suggest a donation of $30/night by anyone staying in the common house guest rooms for anyone who isn't family/friend of a resident, and a donation by hosts of common house events that are not principally for residents.
Kathy A charges her car from a metered plug in the carport. Several times a year she pays the community for the electricity, at the rate that RMP would charge. Her new car is a hybrid and will use less electricity, so this year's payments will be less.
The carport solar panels produce more electricity than the common areas use; Rocky Mountain Power credits it against our actual usage but pays nothing for the excess, and once a year zeros the balance. The panels have enough overcapacity that we could accommodate an additional electric car.
There are three water meters, each listed separately in the budget.
Although amounts for repairs are listed for both the common house and the workshop, the maintenance budget can also cover these.
The proposed maintenance budget is considerably increased, to take care of a backlog of repairs and upkeep. For instance, the glass in the picture windows on some units is sliding out of position. State law now puts much more responsibility for unit repairs onto the condo association.
We switched insurance companies this year, and premiums will be lower. Ben will double-check the budgeted number with Amy.
Management professional fees has $1500 to hire an expert to do a reserve analysis. Individuals from the community have attempted to do reserve analyses; it's extremely time consuming and requires specialized knowledge. The software alone can run $1K.
Money isn't budgeted for legal fees for revising the Declaration. If that project gets back underway, we'll pull the money from somewhere. (A budget is a planning tool, not a straitjacket.)
Our snow removal amount so far this year is probably already over the amount suggested for the budget. It should probably be increased. The actual cost varies greatly from year to year, and the budgeted amount each year is just an average. If it keeps snowing, we get the lots plowed and don't worry about going over budget.
The workshop budget is for the building as a whole: workshop, garage, exercise room.
Although we don't have an active parents committee, an amount is budgeted to allow for child care during a retreat and similar items. Child infrastructure is the play structure, sand box, kids room, and so on.
The welcoming committee budget covers donations to The Cohousing Association, the Association for Intentional Communities, and the West View journal, all of which provide us with exposure to potential residents.
The amount deposited to the reserve each month will be increased 5%.
New committee budgets are for the jam club and the north field. The latter will be for plants, compost, hoses, etc.
There are some additional expenses we expect for 2016, but there should be money left over that can be deposited into the reserve, and still leave ~$10K float in the checking account.
Research on wall ovens has shown that very few models of gas ovens are available, and they are about twice the price of an electric oven, $2,500-4,000. It may cost $1K-$2K to run 220 voltage, do repairs, and adjust the cabinets; it's impossible to know more precisely until the project is under way. Electric ovens generally cost more to run than gas, but we aren't using all the power generated by the solar panels.
We are looking at residential rather than commercial wall ovens, since they are simpler to use and repair. Once we've got the electricity in place, an ad hoc oven committee can select the exact model to be purchased, based on additional research into reliability, easy of use, etc.
Are there any objections to making the change to electric ovens? No.
Regarding the above budget question: "We switched insurance companies this year, and premiums will be lower. Ben will double-check the budgeted number with Amy."
Yes, the budgeted amount of $12,000 is correct for 2017 per our insurance agent.
Thanks, John
Re: [WaCoHo] minutes ACM 2017 Feb 8
On Friday, February 10, 2017 9:22 AM John Garrison wrote:
Hi All--
Regarding the above budget question: "We switched insurance companies this year, and premiums will be lower. Ben will double-check the budgeted number with Amy."
Yes, the budgeted amount of $12,000 is correct for 2017 per our insurance agent.
Thanks,
John
Women's March, Monday 2-4 p.m., meet below State Capital.
Request: Shovel paths through snow a little wider between the north end of the path and the carports, so wheelchair can get through.
Linda will put up a flyer for a low-impact martial arts class. First month free, then $25/month.
Management report: New officers Kay President, Kellie Secretary, Ben Treasurer. Meetings will be first and third Tuesday each month, subject to change if work schedules change in April. Visited bank and updated signatures on community checking. Will be working on processes such as financial reports, reimbursement forms.
Got last fixture changed on carport. Lights are screw-in LED. Maintenance Circle may be discontinued; need more info on that.
Glass recycling
Two new bins for glass recycling to replace ones that were broken. Slightly smaller, should fit into the back of a van, hatchback, or even sedan. Please keep the lids on so they don't fill with water and ice. There are two or three bins in each parking lot by the dumpster. If anyone is going to the 9th W 8th S Smiths (for instance), grab one and put it in the back of your vehicle. To find glass recycling drop off, turn west off 9th West at Fremont St (by the church) if heading north, or the second entrance to Jordan Park (by the greenhouses) if heading south. There is a large dumpster in a parking lot west of the church. (No longer required to sort glass by color.) Protect your eyes when you pour the bottles into the dumpster.
Distributed copy of 2014 email policy.
Sometimes just sending out a reminder of the email policy will douse an incipient email conflict.
Responding privately keeps a conflict between two people instead of dragging in the whole community but isn't always desirable either.
There's an impulse when an accusatory email goes out to "set the record straight", which can escalate matters. A way to respond without escalating is to say that there seems to have been a misunderstanding and you'd like to meet.
Keep camera or return? Camera is ~$170 for camera, plus $100/year for subscription. Ben feels the camera is giving us useful info. Hans has trouble connecting; he gets a message that the camera is offline. Lynda is able to view it. May need to trouble-shoot.
Decision: Keep camera.
Make police reports. Because Linda made a police report when her aikido notebook was stolen from her car, when the police found it at someone's house, they could connect the person to that robbery and it was one of the charges on which they got sent to jail.
Some things Det. Oliver emphasized:
Exercise: say something positive about the person four to your left.
Between 2011 and 2016 there were 99 calls for service from 1411 Utah St, mostly for small things.
Presentation of the CEPTD(?) ("septed") principles for security. The PD is trying to get the principles into city code.
"Natural surveillance": features that allow people to see what's around them. No ambush points.
"Two-foot six-foot rule": keep shrubs below two feet and tree foliage at least six feet off the ground. "Hostile vegetation": thorny plants.
"Natural Access Control": lead people where you want them to go.
Public space, semi-private , private space. For example, the brick beside the sidewalk gives a transition between public and private space.
"Target hardening" is elements that make it more difficult/uninviting to commit a crime.
Lights that project down are better than lights that project out, which can shine in people's eyes.
White LED lights allow cameras to get more detail than yellowish lights.
A "wall pack" light directs light down behind bushes.
"Territorial Reinforcement": pavement, fences, etc. that communicate boundaries or discourage or block access.
The police recommend wrought iron fences rather than chain link or solid walls. Wrought iron is see-through, hard to cut, and hard to climb.
Usually police escort a trespasser off the property and issue a citation only after a second trespass. If the property owner gets a "No Trespass Affidavit", police can issue a citation to a trespasser without issuing a warning first. $17 per No Trespassing sign, affidavit good for five years,
Seal off access points such as the crumbling wall by the workshop.
maintain landscaping and lighting for security.
Compstat: Shows a map of the crimes in an area within a certain period.
Vaughn will be putting his unit up for sale in April. Four bedroom.
The Security Committee will be meeting to make a decision regarding the security camera keep it, return it, get more.
Knitters are encouraged to make pink hats for the Million Woman March in Washington.
The community books aren't up to date. Management prefers to wait until they can provide an accurate Actuals report before the annual 2017 budget is presented.
Carport lights on east side were replaced a couple of years ago with fixtures that have screw-in bulbs instead of pins and don't have ballasts. Steve-the-electrician got four more fixtures of the same style to replace the remaining pin fixtures.
Voting is for positions "at large" rather than for specific officers.
Next Management meeting:
Monday January 16, 7:30 p.m.
Edit Jan 17: Management meetings will be the first and third Tuesday of each month.
April 25, 2020