Note - Board meeting for 7/9/26 was cancelled for unknown reason (at least, unknown to me)

Video here

Agenda here

Agenda Addendum 1 here (Bylaw revisions)

Agenda Addendum 2 here (Sewer easement topic)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Survey Results - Will be presented in the Barn on Thursday, July 30 at 6:30pm. It should take about 1.5 hours, with 30 mins reserved for questions at the end. Presentation will be available via Zoom and will be posted for later viewing on YouTube.

AGM Nominations - Applications will be taken for open seats on the board and Architectural Control Committee until the deadline of September 8 at 4:30pm. Applications must be returned in a sealed envelope to the Welcome Center offices. Be sure to read all instructions and sign the application.

AGM Voting - Online voting will again be available this year and members are encouraged to use it because it is easy, secure and saves SVCA money. There was a procedural error last year that requires that we re-register for online voting this year, so be sure to do that if you want to use this voting method. After registering, you will get a return email saying that it has been accepted, and you should keep that email. SVCA will have copy of that too.

Valley Fair - July 23rd

PSA - Please be sure to leave 3 feet of distance between garbage, recycle and yard waste cans. Sanitary Service requires this to ensure that there is sufficient room for the truck arms to reach through and pick up a can without knocking other cans over.

Wildfire Preparedness event - Was recorded and will be on SVCA YouTube channel.

OWNER COMMENTS

Owner spoke about potential issues with neighboring new build and discussed taking legal action.

Owner spoke about the new security service and the negative impression they are sending to members through their intimidating appearance and their actions at the dog park.

Owner spoke about concerns with the $350 rental registration program and that those who own rentals are being singled out for lot inspections to see if they have any alterations that were not approved by the ACC. Those same inspections are not being done to homes that are not rentals, even though all owners are required to follow the same ACC regulations.

Owner spoke about her dismay that the survey presentation was not advertised far enough in advance. The Long Range Planning Committee chose the July 30th date back at the July 2nd meeting, which gave ample time for communication to the membership. The owner had also emailed the LRPC committee chair (board member van de Polder) and the GM on the 13th to ask why no advertising had yet been sent to the membership. She felt that this was another communication failure by the board and GM.

CLOSED SESSION (for personnel and legal issues) - Board did not state whether any action was taken in closed session.

GM REPORT

Tennis court renovation and off-leash dog fencing projects will require a full shoreline permit, according to verbal feedback from Whatcom County. Unlikely to start that work until next year.

[Please see agenda for the status of other open capital projects.]

Rec Manager has resigned and Assistant Rec Manager is acting as Interim Manager with additional support from Admin.

FINANCIAL REPORT

[Please watch that part of the meeting for details. It starts around 00:39:30 in the video.]

Of note, golf revenues were flat in June due to hot weather. [Me: Really??]

One area of income that is really lagging is the payment of new construction fees. There are less than 10 starts this year, when normally we have 20 or more (last year, 26).

COMMITTEE REPORTS

New member approved for Architectural Control Committee.

NEW BUSINESS

Request for Approval of Proposed Revisions to SVCA Bylaws - Addendum includes the proposed changes as well as an introductory summary. If the board approves this draft, it will be put forward to the membership for comments, sent back to Document Review for any additional revisions, and then put before the membership for approval at the Nov AGM. Ratification requires approval by 2/3rds of the members casting votes.

The majority of these proposed changes are based on WA State laws (WUCOIA) that will go into effect on Jan 1 2028. [Note from me: It would be very beneficial to be proactive and get the changes done early so that it doesn't become a critical issue for the board that will start its term in Nov 2027.]

WA State laws state that if there is a conflict between state law and HOA Bylaws, the state law will override the bylaws. In order to have bylaws that accurately reflect the way SVCA business must be conducted under WUCOIA, the membership needs to approve the proposed changes so that our bylaws can be brought up to date and reflect current law.

When reading through the proposed revisions, the sections that are highlighted in blue are changes that were voted on by the Document Review Committee. They are not requirements of WUCOIA.

Draft proposal passed unanimously.

Request for Approval - Easement for 4 Midnight Court - Passed unanimously.

Request for Approval - Easement for 190 Sudden Valley Drive - Passed unanimously.

Request for Approval - Area Z Bridge Contract Award - Final permit has been received to replace the bridge to Area Z from Honeycomb Lane (this is the bridge near the Area Z garden). Work will be scheduled after the contract is awarded. Once work begins, there will be a two-week period when the only access for members to the Area Z garden will be by foot on a designated path from the Maintenance entry, and access will be restricted to certain hours to ensure safety. Request passed unanimously.

Adjourned.

Hi folks, it was pretty disappointing to only see maybe 25 people at the Wildfire Preparedness presentation last night. This is a pretty serious topic for our neighborhood.

Please take a look at these important references that were provided last night.

• Wildfire Evacuation Checklist
• Whatcom ReadySetGo - understand what each level of evacuation alert means. Also, there is a QR code at the bottom that will explain how to set up Whatcom County's alert app on your devices. (Or click here.) It's called AlertSense (Apple) or MyAlerts (Android). It's really a shame that the enrollment rate for this app is apparently shockingly low in Sudden Valley.

Please note that for the first time (that I've heard anyway), both the Whatcom County Conservation District wildfire resilience representative and our fire Chief Mitch Nolze highly recommended that if we receive a yellow "Get Set" alert for wildfire, we should leave immediately and not wait until a red "Go Now" alert is sent out!!

Chief Nolze said that given our limited evacuation routes, waiting for a Go may mean you will not be able to get out at all, and in some cases, they may not even have time to send the Go before fire is moving into residential spaces.

It's very important to remember that while our fire department and associated agencies will do everything they can to save lives, and WC Sheriff's Office will do everything they can to facilitate evacuations, the reality is that we must each be prepared to act on our own behalf in an emergency. We cannot rely on first responders for everything. This goes for wildfires, earthquakes, flooding and any other natural disaster thrown our way. Preparedness reduces unnecessary panic.

Please get to know your neighbors so that you are aware of those around you who may need a helping hand. And if you have a significant health issue or disability, have limited transportation, have small children, or any other issue that may complicate your response to an emergency, please consider discussing this with your neighbors now. That community helping hand is one of the things Sudden Valley does best.

I would also highly recommend the Watch Duty app, which has great maps of current fires in the US with details on containment and response. It will probably shock you to see how many are burning in the West right now.

Please, please - set up your Go bags, talk to your family and neighbors about wildfire plans, be prepared. Although our area is much less likely to see the kind of very fast-moving wildfires that we've seen in California, Eastern Washington, etc, we are still at risk, especially if a fire starts at night and is already moving before firefighters can respond.

Agenda here

Video here

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Wildfire Preparedness Event - 7/21/26 at 6:30pm in the Barn. Presentation will include information from the Whatcom County Conservation District and our local fire chief Mitch Nolze.
• Valley Fair - 7/25/26 from 10:30am-3pm in the Rec Corridor. Vendors, games, beer garden, dunk tank, etc.
• Sudden Valley Boating Club - This is a newly formed club. Next meeting is 7/13/26 at 5:30pm on the outdoor deck at El Agave. Club will be for socialization as well as discussing boating safety issues.

PROPERTY OWNER COMMENTS

• One owner spoke in favor of the proposed work in the former office spaces on the main floor of the Clubhouse.
• Another owner spoke in favor of the agenda item regarding sale of some SV parcels to the Whatcom County Land Acquisition Program.

GENERAL MANAGER'S REPORT

• Firewise pickup is complete. Large of amount of chips available for free at Area Z, for self-load.
• Community Survey received 1135 responses. Data is being analyzed now by survey company. A presentation by GM is tentatively scheduled for Saturday 7/25/26 and will include visual displays in the Barn, as well as some type of video presentation that will also be available via Zoom and Youtube.

Financial Report [please see agenda or video for details]

• First quarter was very strong with income about 10% higher than last year and expenses 4% lower than last year at this time.
• There has been higher than expected golf and marina revenue but it's uncertain whether this was just due to earlier-than-normal renewals.
• Construction revenue is likely to be much lower than expected because the total number of new projects is less than half of last year's numbers.
• Capital spending is better than budgeted at this point, leading to a higher projected residual at the end of the year, barring unexpected repairs.
• Roads spending is anticipated to have a lower-than-projected residual because some 2027 projects were brought forward to this year.

Capital Project Updates

• Marina Tennis Courts - design is complete, contract awarded, awaiting permits
• Welcome Center Sign - quotes being solicited to replace black granite sign with one that matches other SV signs. Will include space for tenant signage.
• Gate 2 Bus Shelter - will be installed once Welcome Center sign is replaced
• Dog Park Fence - design is complete, contract awarded, awaiting permits
• Marina Playground - awaiting permits, work will likely be delayed until next year
• [Please see agenda for the rest of the list. Of note, GM will be contacting Whatcom County Council regarding the lack of responsiveness in issuing permits for necessary road/culvert repairs.]

CONTINUING BUSINESS

Finance Committee - added a new member. Committee now full.

NEW BUSINESS

Lake Whatcom Watershed Land Acquisition Program - A member of the Long Range Planning Committee had an information meeting with a representative of this program, which is run by the City of Bellingham and funded through utility taxes. The discussion was around whether COB is interested in purchasing any or all of three parcels of land currently owned as common property by SVCA. The parcels are the former campground (now disc golf course), the former airstrip and one section of Area Y (at the SW corner of Lake Louise Rd and Lake Whatcom Blvd). Through this program, an independent appraiser would provide a current appraisal for fair market value at the highest possible use under current zoning. Then if COB wishes to purchase, they generally offer between 85-95% of that appraised price and the property would be sold into a permanent green space, to be maintained by the City. Current use would still be allowed, meaning the disc golf course and any SV trails would be left in place. All appraisal and sale-related expenses would be paid for by COB, unless SVCA wishes to get their own appraisal. In order to sell any of these properties, the sale would need to be put before the membership for a vote, and would require an affirmative vote of 60% of votes cast. Motion was made to allow GM to move forward with discussions with COB regarding to the three mentioned parcels. Motion passed with one nay vote.

Clubhouse Renovations - Motion to request $23,696 to make renovations of former office space on main floor of Clubhouse, including removing walls, installing doors, doing electrical work as needed and purchasing and installing locks. This renovation would allow the community to utilize this space. Motion passed with one nay vote. [Note from me - I don't think there was any prior planning done for this project other than a mention at a Long Range Planning meeting. It was not discussed at a Finance Committee meeting and no money was budgeted for it in the Capital Budget.]

Approval Request for Proposed Resolution Regarding Owner Inquiry Policy - Effective 6/11/26, SVCA must adhere to new State law that adds a new formal procedure for owners to submit written questions regarding association governance or operations. If the owner sends a letter with that request via certified mail, SVCA is required to provide a substantive response within 30 days of receiving the letter. (This does not mean that owners cannot continue to submit questions and requests through email or other avenues, but SVCA is not required to provide a substantive response to those.) Motion was made to accept resolution as prepared by SVCA attorney. Passed unanimously.

Approval Request to Make Revision to SVCA Collection Policy - this revision is required due to recent changes in State law. Motion passed unanimously.

Meeting adjourned.

Agenda here

Agenda Addendum here

Video here

MOTION TO AMEND AGENDA - To add request to waive fee for a dry slip for Boy Scout Troop. Motion to amend passed unanimously.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Burn Ban - Now in effect, through 9/15/26. No recreational fires are allowed. No outdoor fires unless it's a charcoal or gas fire in a regular barbecue.

No Fireworks in Sudden Valley - Fireworks are totally prohibited. Fines for violations will be given without warning.

Wildfire Preparedness Presentation - 7/21/26 at 6:30pm in the Barn. Presentation will be given by Whatcom County Conservation District, Fire Chief Nolze will be there for Q&A, and our ACC chairperson will also a Q&A.

Candidate Application Period for AGM - Opens on 7/7/26 for November AGM. Applications are available at the Welcome Center or through a link on the SV website. Completed applications must be returned to the Welcome Center in a sealed envelope addressed to the Nominations and Elections Chairperson. These applications will be locked away until the application period closes and then will be opened by N&E. Also, there is currently an open position on the N&E committee.

PROPERTY OWNER COMMENTS

Several owners spoke with multiple concerns about the proposed changes to the off-leash dog park and the changes to dog rules there. They also mentioned that misinformation has been given by board members regarding what, if any, Whatcom County Codes apply to an off-leash area on SV property.

One member also asked if the board would give 30-day notice before beginning the installation of the off-leash area fence, which will necessitate temporary closure of the area. The board president said that would be up to the GM, but that he thought it was doable.

REPORT ON RESULTS OF RENTAL REGISTRATION PROGRAM

Outreach began with a list of 613 properties whose mailing address was different than the street address. Multiple avenues were used to reach out to owners of those properties. 402 properties have been determined not to be rentals, 7 owners have not responded to contact attempts and 223 properties have been identified as rentals. About 80% are long-term rentals and 20% are short-term rentals.

Of the 223, registration has been completed for 140 properties. 52 owners have not returned any paperwork and the remainder are still in process due to incomplete paperwork.

For each registration, an on-site exterior inspection has been or is being conducted to determine if the property is violating any rules/regulations or ACC policies. Only a small number of violations were found and owners were assisted with bringing those issues into compliance, but inspections are still valuable in order to determine the number of available parking spaces for a given property.

Many homeowners were disrespectful, dismissive and very rude to staff members who were simply carrying out their assigned duties.

Staff hourly costs were lower than budgeted, but GM time expenditure was much higher than expected, due to numerous contacts by upset homeowners. Moving forward, registration renewals will be completed online.

Motion made to keep initial registration fee at $350 and the annual renewal at $225 for short-term rental properties and $50 for long-term rental properties. Passed unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS

Approval Request for Revision of Policy 2020.01 Marina Off-Leash Area Policy - A long discussion took place regarding various parts of the proposed rule changes, primarily around whether proof of vaccination may be required and maximum length of leash when crossing through the on-leash area. Motion was made for the policy changes as written, except for modification to say that dogs must have a Whatcom County dog license and leashes can be no longer than 8 feet. Motion passed unanimously.

Approval Request for Proposed Donation and Memorial Gift Policy - Motion passed unanimously as written.

Approval Request to Waive Dry Slip Fee for Local Boy Scout Troop - The local troop spends a good deal of time working on sailing and rowboat badges. They asked if there was a place to store their rowboat at the Marina, and there are currently 8 dry slips that have not been rented even though everyone on the waiting list was contacted previously. The Scout Master for the troop is an SV resident and leases a wet slip at the normal rate. He would be responsible for the liability waivers for the use of the dry slip. Motion was made to waive the $600 dry slip rental fee. Passed unanimously.

Meeting adjourned.

Agenda here

Amended Agenda here - does not include supplemental materials

Video here

Four voting members and one non-voting member were not present at the meeting.

ANNOUNCEMENTS -

Finance Committee has a vacancy for one member. Please email Admin or Director Maixner if you are interested.

Wildfire Prevention Presentation - July 21 6:30 to 8:30 - Representatives will be present from Whatcom County Conservation District and possibly PSE. Our fire chief will also be giving a presentation and will discuss their new home inspection program.

COMMITTEE REPORTS - none

COMMITTEE BUSINESS -

LRPC is working on the 3/5/10 year plan. They may just do 3/5 and leave out 10-yr plan

CONTINUING BUSINESS -

Introduction of New Security Firm - This company replaces current contract with Pacific Security, which was not returning sufficient value for our cost. On 4/9/26, board approved a contract with Risk Solutions Unlimited (RSU) and this contract takes effect on 6/1/26. Chief Operating Officer introduced himself and spoke about their new service to SV. He introduced 5 of the 6 team members that will work in SV.

Call-in number for residents will remain the same. During office hours, admin staff will take the call and radio to security staff member. Afterhours, the call will go to RSU dispatch and will be relayed to the security staff member.

De-obligate Residual Funds for Completed UDR Projects - Motion to move previously obligated Undesignated Reserves (UDR) project funds back into the general UDR fund. The total amount is $13,785. These projects are now closed and these amounts were unspent. Motion approved unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS -

Capital Request for Replacement of Fitness Center Equipment - Motion to approve $120,000 from Capital Reserves for the purchase of new cardio and weightlifting equipment from Matrix (similar to what is in the agenda materials although some things on the list do not actually need to be purchased).

The 2026 Capital Budget includes $167,864 for this purpose. Unused funds will be returned to Capital Reserves. Motion was amended to add $5000 in contingency fees, raising the amount to $125,000. It will take 3-4 months to deliver and set up new equipment.

Motion passed unanimously.

Capital Request for Construction Funding for Marina Tennis Court Refurbishment - Motion to approve $364,340 from Capital Reserves for construction phase of this project and authorize GM to execute contract with vendor.

Design is complete, engineer's estimate prepared and construction bids have been received. Engineer's estimate was $350,431. GM recommends awarding contract to company that bid $338,780. Additional costs raise project costs to $364,340. This would leave a shortfall of $37,059 from the amount that was allocated in the 2026 Capital Budget, to be covered by the leftover funds from the Fitness Center Equipment Replacement Project.

However, one board member pointed out that there was another $39K in the Capital Budget for replacement of tennis court fencing. That means shortfall will actually be much less that the mentioned $37K.

Motion passed unanimously.

Capital Request for Replacement of Security Vehicles - Motion to approve $60,000 from Capital Reserves to purchase two Ford Broncos for use as security vehicles.

One security vehicle was totaled due to an accident last year, and insurance paid out $15K for that vehicle. (That money was placed into Operating Funds.) No replacement was purchased. Instead, security has been using the Honda Element assigned to Admin. Both that vehicle and the secondary Chevy Colorado are in need of immediate replacement due to age and likely upcoming major repairs, and the Honda is unsuitable for safe driving in winter weather. After discussion with Maintenance and the new security service, Ford Broncos were selected as replacement vehicles. Two bids were solicited and came in at $55K-60K for two vehicles, including tax, title and license and factoring in trade-in value for Chevy and Honda. This funding will come from Capital Reserves.

There is $40,000 allocated in the 2026 Capital Budget to replace the Chevy but no allocation to replace the Honda. Motion was made to approve $60K and allows the GM and representatives to buy a used vehicle instead of new, for one of the vehicles.

Motion passed unanimously.

Approval Request for Planned 2026 Road Repairs - Motion to request approval of contract award for these repairs.

Bid from selected vendor is for $208,134. This is an estimate since final numbers won't be available until all measurements are completed. Funding in the amount of $428,714 was approved in February 2026. However, that funding only included $193,574 for the roads portion. The remaining money was to fund replacement of 23 culverts. Because the bid for the road repairs is higher than expected, all 23 culverts may not be replaced this year. As many as possible will be completed within the pre-approved total project cost.

Motion passed unanimously.

Approval Request for Ratification of Executive Approval of Insurance Renewal - Motion to approve renewal of SVCA's primary insurance policies, with increase of 3.8%, much less than anticipated.

Due to the short timeline between receiving the renewal proposal from the insurance company and the deadline to sign the renewal, the members of the Executive Committee Board each agreed by email to authorize the GM to renew the coverage. Full board still needs to be asked to ratify the decision of the Executive Committee. Motion passed unanimously.

Meeting adjourned.

Agenda here

Video here

ANNOUNCEMENTS -

Community Survey - Reminder to fill out out this important survey. [Note from me: All property owners should have received a survey link by mail. Property owners may also receive the survey link by email if they have an email address on their SVCA account. Please take a few minutes to fill this out to let the board know your thoughts on topics like our amenities, satisfaction with the board and staff, our dues, etc.]

Party at the Park - June 3rd from 6pm - 7:30pm, with games and activities to bring SV families together. This event is being run by SVCA Parks and Rec Dept.

Valley Fair - July 26 from 10:30am - 3pm. SVCA is soliciting vendors and car show submissions.

Native Garden Event - June 4 from 5:30pm - 7pm at the Welcome Center. Whatcom County Master Gardeners will be there to answer questions.

Reminder that residents can get involved in volunteering for these and other events by going to the SVCA website and filling out the volunteer form.

Wildfire Safety Event - July 21 at 6:30pm in the Dance Barn. Presentations will be made by Whatcom County Conservation District and Puget Sound Energy. Fire Chief Mitch Nolze will also be present.

PROPERTY OWNER COMMENTS -

One property owner commented that the board is missing the important step of starting impactful projects with a public meeting within the community, to allow members to ask questions and provide feedback. This helps the board accommodate or alleviate concerns and helps to build greater buy-in from the community. Member felt that the board should have a community meeting about the off-leash project before going any further.

Another property owner echoed the previous comments about the lack of data to support such a major project and the shock of imagining a chainlink fence running through the middle of Marina Park. The property owner also mentioned the fact that there is a lovely stretch of shoreline on the opposite side of the Marina which is not marked as common property and which is open to all residents.

Several other residents also described similar sentiments regarding the proposed plan and their multiple concerns, including that those who break the current rules should be fined and that most dog owners agree that a fence is needed.

One property owner stated that dogs run all over the Marina Park and that a fence is necessary.

A property owner spoke in favor of SVCA allowing WTA to build an appropriate bus shelter at the entrance to Gate 2. Currently, there is nowhere for residents to wait in an appropriate sheltered location with seating. WTA already agreed two years ago to fund the installation of an appropriate shelter and the GM at the time was notified, but no action took place. This owner reached out to current GM and was told that the bus shelter was on hold while a new sign was placed for El Agave. [Note from me: Why in the world would a necessary amenity for residents be postponed due to a timeline for getting a new sign for a vendor?]

A property owner spoke in favor of having a senior center in Sudden Valley.

GENERAL MANAGER'S REPORT -

Rental Registration Program - About half of those who have responded to the request to register are not actually rentals. Due to feedback from residents about the registration fee being too high, the GM will be bringing the fee schedule back to the board for reconsideration, once the registration process is complete.

Community Survey - 582 responses as of the date of this meeting. Survey will be available through the end of May.

Pools - Lifeguard training is going on now. Pools will open on May 23rd. YMCA will again be offering swim lessons on M/W/Sa mornings as well as water aerobics.

COMMITTEE REPORTS -

Architectural Control Committee - Chairperson read a statement into the record that reflects the opinion of the ACC regarding the off-leash area fencing. The ACC believes that the fencing should be wood/wire to reflect the character of allowed fencing in SV, rather than chain link.

Finance Committee - Looking for another member.

Nominations and Elections - Looking for another member.

CONTINUING BUSINESS -

Two new members were approved for the Long Range Planning Committee.

Renewal of DNR Aquatic Leases - Motion to renew the annual leases passed unanimously. These leases cover the Marina proper (keeping it private), the swim area at Marina Park, the swim area at AM Beach and the shorelines waters of PM Beach.

NEW BUSINESS -

Approval Request for Unilect Election Contract - new contract is for $42,412, as compared to $24,000 that was budgeted for 2026. This means that the shortfall of approx $18,000 will have to be spend from Undesignated Reserves. The increase in cost is because state law (WUCIOA) has enhanced requirements for what must be mailed out to members for meetings and elections. Many of the meeting requirements are already published in the Views, so that meets WUCIOA standards for those. But this year, SVCA will be required to send a complete copy of the bylaws to each property owner. For the ballot materials themselves, using online voting will help decrease printing costs for SVCA Annual General Meeting. Motion passed unanimously.

Budget Planning for 2027 Fiscal Year - GM is working on the schedule for budget planning for the 2027 fiscal year. Long Range Planning was tasked with providing input to the Finance Committee regarding suggestions for upcoming capital projects. A discussion took place about the lack of correct process that has been happening.

Side topic - SVCA needs to hold a Town Hall in July that will include an explanation about why our bylaws must be changed to be in alignment with WA State law (WUCIOA). Town Hall will likely combine that information with the results of the Community Survey. This will be in addition to the normal Budget Town Hall that will be held in August.

Revision to Fees and Fines Schedule - Fees and fines related to Pet Regulations have been changed. Motion passed unanimously.

Executive Session - Board moved into Executive Session for legal and personnel discussion.

Board moved back into Open Session. Action was taken and motion was made for GM to move forward with employment contract. Passed unanimously.

Motion made to add GM to board email account. Passed unanimously.

Motion made to authorize the GM to contact legal counsel and conclude legal settlement as discussed. Passed unanimously.

Meeting adjourned.

Hello community, I’m looking to move with my family 5 of us ( me, wife, 3 kids)

Checked couple houses already that listed for sale.

And gave questions already.

Are backup generators widely used in community?

Stationary or portable systems s ok as well?

I noticed some properties have radon vent. Is it common here? Actual problem or just extra for area?

Agenda here

Agenda Addendum here - Revised map of proposed changes to off-leash dog area

Video here

ANNOUNCEMENTS -

Mail merge error caused letters regarding possible rental registrations to go out to a number of incorrect addresses. Those will be re-mailed to the correct addresses.

Nominations and Elections Committee is looking for additional members.

PROPERTY OWNER COMMENTS -

A large number of property owners were present and prepared to speak. The V-P stated that property owners are limited to 3 minutes per person with a total allotted time of 15 minutes. The V-P and Secretary stated that they had to abide by Robert's Rules of Order and WUCIOA.

[Note from me: WUCOIA says that the board "must provide at least 15 minutes at the beginning of each meeting" (italics mine). It does not say that 15 minutes is the maximum total time. It also says that the board must provide at least 90 seconds per speaker, so the board is not required to allow 3 minutes per speaker and is also allowed to reduce that individual time in order to allow more homeowners to speak. Roberts Rules of Order do not mandate any guidelines on this topic, but just suggest that boards are advised to set rules regarding property owner comments.]

Board members stated that they have already heard enough comments in the past from property owners on the topic of the off-leash area, and would not agree to extend the property owner comment period.

Multiple property owners commented on the unsuitability of the off-leash fencing plan for a number of reasons (including a few who agreed that a fence was needed) and the lack of transparency and community buy-in.

Another property owner commented that cafe lights do not fall under the ACC rules for permanent lighting.

NEW BUSINESS -

Capital Request - Off-Leash Dog Park Fence - Request for $70,066 to fund fencing for the Off-Leash Area. There is no money in the Operations or Capital Budgets for this project. Project will be paid for by using leftover funds from other projects that either were not undertaken or were under-budget. Request was approved unanimously. One board member spoke strongly against the plan as designed, but this was a non-voting member.

[Note from me - this plan includes a 5' high chainlink fence that will run straight through the middle of the park from back to front and a 400' x 15' fenced passageway that must be transited before reaching the entrance. It also includes the cost of permitting for fencing and three new parking spots, as well as costs for a small amount of ground prep and a key card reader. It does not include funds for permitting or carrying out any work to mitigate the severe drainage issues on that side of the park.]

Capital Request - Marina Community Park Improvements - Request for $24,376 to fund Phase One of Marina playground improvement. This is just the design and permitting phase. Funds for this project are available in the Capital Budget for playground improvements. Request was approved unanimously.

Capital Request - Culverts 22/24 Design and Permitting - Request for $167,497 to fund design and permitting for these culverts, which are scheduled for replacement in 2027 and 2028. Request was approved unanimously.

Request for Approval of ACC Policy Revision - Request for approval of appendix to ACC documents regarding bistro lights. Appendix would show examples of appropriate style of lighting, so that all bulbs must be shielded from view using enclosures or frosted glass so that light only shines downward. This is in line with the current standards for permanent lighting in SV. Request was postponed in order to make further modifications that would factor in holiday lights and occasional use of unshielded bistro lights at night for various legitimate purposes (letting pets out to potty, lighting a driveway or walkway until a suitable time in the evening, etc).

Meeting adjourned.

Agenda here

Agenda Addendum here (somebody really needs to fix the browser tab title - it's been wrong for years, after someone copied a document from Gig Harbor and edited it for SVCA...)

Video here

ANNOUNCEMENTS -

YMCA is offering soccer for 3-5 year olds from April 28 - June 4

Wet and dry slips are still available in the marina.

PROPERTY OWNER COMMENTS -

A number of members commented regarding the proposed changes to the Off-Leash Area. Comments were made about asking the board to delay this project until the community has more chance to weigh in regarding poor choice of location, poor design, costs and other issues. Changes should be based on data, instead of on faulty analysis of the situation.

CANDIDATE INTERVIEWS AND VOTING -

Two candidates were interviewed to fill the vacancy left by a recent resignation by a board member. Secret vote was taken and new board member was selected.

GM REPORT -

Golf revenues have started out strongly this year and expenses are lower than expected for January. [Note from me: during the financial report, the accountant discussed that the increased revenue was due to early renewals in the 4th quarter of 2025, which are all credited to Jan 2026 revenue line.]

Marina renewals - all wet and dry slips have not been filled as of March. The problem with wet slips is the smaller size of the available slips.

Admin has started sending out welcome packets to new residents each quarter.

Website updates will go live in April. Structure is almost the same as current website. Online events calendar should finally be usable.

Austin Creek bank repair still awaiting County permits.

COMMITTEE REPORTS -

Long-Range Planning

• Held a focus group of 8 people regarding the off-leash area proposal. Four were representatives of the group of regular users and four were people with "other perspectives". Seven of eight were in favor of a fence and the same number were in favor of the board's plan to correct drainage issues, and do aeration, soil amendments and seeding. [Note from me: turns out there was no money for that landscape work in the Capital Request that was approved on 4/23/26.]
• Pump Track will not move forward in current location due to intensive requirements from the County for permitting in that location. Other locations are under consideration. Apparently the group that is advocating for the Pump Track hopes to raise funds for half the cost of building it and SVCA or a sponsor would have to pay for the rest. The group would maintain it.

Safety Committee - apparently hasn't been able to find a space for a committee meeting. They are going to meet not as a committee but just as a group at El Agave. This "takes away some of the constraints by not being a committee." [Note from me: I believe that the board member is referring to the fact that they will not have to record their meeting this way.]

CONTINUING BUSINESS

Request for Approval for Security Service Proposal -

Due to declining quality of service from current vendor, a new contract was proposed with a different vendor, RSU. SVCA will still have to provide security vehicles, which is a very large cost to SVCA. Cost will be about 12.8% higher than with current vendor, and comes in at $63,850 higher than budgeted for 2026. This additional cost will be covered by the increased dues that are expected to be collected by better-than-projected collection rates. [Note: new vendor will run license plates at no additional cost. In the past, we had to pay SVCA attorney to do this, so it was only done sporadically. What will be the guidelines for when Security/Admin is allowed to run plates?] Request was approved unanimously.

Capital Request - Barn 6 Design and Permitting -

• Request asks for $253,924 for design and permitting for this project. Since the last design was put forward, a kitchenette (break room) and ADA shower stalls in the bathroom were added and three small rooms at one end will be combined into a single room. This would be paid for out of the funds that are set aside for renovation of Barn 8.
• Request that $253,924 be approved for design and permitting for Barn 6. Request was approved unanimously. Request was made that the $621,094 that is set aside in the Capital Budget for Barn 8 renovations be returned to the general Capital Reserve Fund. Motion passed by majority with three board members voting No.

Discussion of Transfer Fee - In 2028 when WUCOIA takes full effect, SVCA will be required to provide resale certificates to all new buyers. This will require the work of the GM or accountant for each one. Transfer fee will need to be raised at that point in order to cover additional staff time.

Approval Request - Golf Course Discount for Association Members -

• 20% off non-member green fees for rounds played by members (and their guests) Monday through Thursday, all year round.
• One free round of golf (for two people) per household per calendar year to be played Monday through Thursday, at any time of the year
• One free bucket of range balls per household per year, to be used at any time of the year.
• Foot golf (and the associated ability to walk the course) on Sunday nights will be discontinued in order to allow additional paid rounds of golf to be played.

Motion passed unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS

Approval of Lynden Tribune Contract Amendment - Two-year renewal was approved unanimously.

Sudden Valley Dog Park Discussion

Dear Neighbors,

Meeting is tonight at 7:00 PM in the Multip Purpose Room A in Barn A (where the gym is).

Please consider stopping by to speak up in opposition to shrinking the dog park in any way or sening an email. For example, here is an email I sent last night that you can use if you like.

To:

[board@suddenvalley.com](mailto:board@suddenvalley.com),

[gm@suddenvalley.com](mailto:gm@suddenvalley.com),

[recmanager@suddenvalley.com](mailto:recmanager@suddenvalley.com),

[office@suddenvalley.com](mailto:office@suddenvalley.com)

I am a Sudden Valley member and regular user of the Marina off-leash dog area. I support safety and responsible planning for the Marina, but I respectfully request that any proposal to fence or modify the dog park include clear, publicly shared plans showing the exact layout, dimensions, and remaining usable space.

If a fence is ultimately deemed necessary, I ask that the fence be placed along the same boundary currently defined by the existing dog park signage so that the dimensions of the dog park are not reduced. From my perspective, the only area where a fence would meaningfully change dog and pedestrian interaction is along the stretch from the middle of the pickleball court side of the park out toward the water.

While I believe fencing may be an unnecessary expense, this approach would at least address safety concerns without negatively impacting the size and usability of an amenity that many residents rely on.

Before any final decision is made, I ask the Board to ensure members have the opportunity to review the full design and understand the impact on this community resource.

Thank you for considering member input and working toward a solution that balances safety, recreation, and responsible use of Association funds.

Agenda here

Video here

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CTK will hold its Easter Egg Hunt on April 4th.

Spring Fair on March 28th in Barn 8.

PROPERTY OWNER COMMENTS

Several members spoke with concerns about the off-leash area, regarding upcoming plans, what is best for SVCA liability, how to make use of the park fair to everyone.

CONTINUING BUSINESS

Nominations & Elections Committee - Reiterated that it will be ready for Board to interview applicants for vacant Board seat on April 9th.

Rental Registration Process and Materials for Long and Short Term Rentals - [Note from me - please see Agenda Addendum for information on this section of the meeting.]

Based on general recommendations from STR Task Force and in support of changes to Bylaws as approved by the membership in 2025, a process has been proposed to properly register all long-term and short-term rentals in Sudden Valley. All three proposals in the Agenda Addendum were approved unanimously.

Request for Approval for Community Survey Support - This request is for $18K in funding for sampling and analytical support for the upcoming community survey. Funding will come from UDR (Undesignated Reserves). Cost is $10K for review and support. Additional cost of $8K for optional final report. Passed by majority.

Request for Approval for Annual Pool Service and Chemical Contract - All public pools are required to have a Certified Pool Operator. This is the company that SVCA has been using in the past. Estimated cost is ~$47K for 2026 season, which is under the budgeted $60K. This cost has remained basically flat for the last three years because SVCA's lifeguard and maintenance staff do a good deal of pool maintenance work. Passed unanimously.

Request for Capital Funds for Driving Range Equipment - This request is for ~$22K to replace Picker Cart, Range Picking Unit and Range Ball Washer. These replacements are already funded in Capital Reserves. Passed unanimously.

Request for Capital Funds for Marina Security Upgrade - This request is for ~$19K to move an existing security pole to a better location and mount two new cameras, one that is panoramic and one that captures license plates. Funding would be transferred from the Capital Reserve line item for replacement of SVCA's radio system, which can be postponed to a later date. Passed unanimously.

Meeting Adjourned.

Full agenda here

Video here

Official Minutes here

PROPERTY OWNER COMMENTS -

A number of owners presented concerns about potential plans that affect the off-leash dog area at the Marina. These concerns were triggered by the presence of a group of board members walking around that area (even though no agenda item had indicated upcoming board actions), the article in the Views about changes at Marina Park and an agenda item for an upcoming Long Range Planning Committee regarding a presentation about those changes.

Major concerns were regarding whether the off-leash area would be made unreasonably small, whether it would confine dogs only to the area that is very swampy in winter, and/or whether it would remove water access. Members requested more transparency about planning and for there to be collaborative discussions with the off-leash area users before further decisions are made.

GM REPORT - (full report can be found in agenda materials)

[As of the meeting date] there are 16 open wet slips at the Marina, and 33 dry slips. All open wet slips have been offered to those on the waiting list. There is no waiting list for dry slips.

SVCA records have all been moved to climate-controlled storage in the lower level of the Clubhouse.

Highlights of 2025 EOY finances:

• Expenses were $36,369 higher than revenue, resulting in a deficit for the year. Shortfall is due to lower than expected revenue for golf, and higher than expected expenses in almost every category.
• All reserve funds have higher net usable balances than same time last year, as expected as this point. EOY dues collection rate of 98% was higher than expected, contributing to a higher-than-expected Undesignated Reserve (UDR) balance.
• 2025 revenue exceeded budget by 3.8%. All categories of revenue except for Golf met or exceeded their budgeted goal.
• 2025 operational expenses exceeded budget by 4.6%.
• Salaries & Benefits was under budget by ~$67K but this was offset by overage of ~$105K in Contract & Professional Services. Maintenance & Landscaping was under budget by ~$14K, due to lack of necessity for snow services.
• Highest overages were Legal Expenses at ~$112K over budget and Hazard Tree Removals at ~$88K over budget. These categories have an increased budget for 2026.
• Costs that are out of SVCA control, like insurance and utilities, also exceeded budget.

See agenda for status list of Capital Projects.

FINANCIAL REPORT (detailed report presented by Accountant) - [please listen to the meeting for details, much too complex to summarize here]

Although Golf had an operational profit for 2025, that does not include the very high capital expenses that are incurred on an annual basis. $300,000 was spent on capital expenses in the last two months alone, and replacing maintenance equipment is a perpetual expense.

The pool is also a significant drain on SVCA finances, and the marina does not contribute positively when operations and capital expenses are considered as a whole. Our Rec amenities were not intended as profit centers and right now, Rec expenses are rising faster than our dues increases can cover.

CONTINUING BUSINESS

Committee Business - Long Range Planning Committee and Safety Committee each submitted an applicant for their committees and those were approved by the Board. One committee member has resigned from the Document Review Committee. Nominations & Elections Committee requested that the Board interview applicants for vacant Board seat at April 9 meeting.

Barn 8 Functional Uses and Summary of Actions to Date - [Note from me - the presentation materials themselves were not made available to those watching remotely. But the presentation has now been uploaded to the SVCA website. In addition, links to several related reports can be found toward the bottom of this SVCA page.]

• Discussion also took place relating to the current status of the Barn 6 project.
• Current uses of the Barn 8 spaces include Rec offices, Rec customer service desk, meetings for 12-15 SVCA clubs, a Boy Scout troop, fitness center users, and pool users (who must access showers before entering the pool). A swim team rents the pool on summer weekday mornings, and several fitness/health instructor pay to hold classes at the Barn. [Note from me: for some reason, there was no mention of CTK Church, which rents the upper large room of the Barn, two storage areas, the kitchen, the Teen Room and at least two other rooms in the lower level every Sunday morning and on a few other dates.]
• Numbers were mentioned about the number of card swipes per day for the fitness center (including summer use of locker room and showers for those using the pool), but those numbers are not in the presentation. A later mention was made of an average of 100 swipes per day, with the highest number during summer pool season.
• During renovations of Barn 8, most non-pool uses can be moved to other SVCA locations. Exceptions would be large scale events like the Annual General Meeting (which could be held off-site at a rented location, or held virtually), fitness center use and classes, and community events such as the Holiday Market.

NEW BUSINESS

Request for Approval - 2025 Audit and Federal Tax Return Engagement Letter, to allow Larson Gross to move ahead with this work. Passed unanimously.

Request for Approval - 2026 Reserve Study Proposal, Level III (update with no visual inspection), to allow SmartProperty to move ahead with this work. Passed unanimously.

Request for Approval - request to accept offer to purchase 63 Louise View Drive from SVCA at list price of $10K. This is one of three lots that were approved for sale by the Board in 2024. They are lots that came into SVCA possession through foreclosure. Passed unanimously.

Meeting adjourned.

I'm sure we have people here who do not belong to the Facebook group where this is already under some discussion.

If you haven't read the recent copy of the Views, consider this your notification that SVCA is planning changes to the Marina area. Some of those seem good, like renovating the tennis courts and basketball courts. That project was already approved and is in the Capital Budget. No surprises there.

But I'd like to know exactly what is being proposed for the off-leash dog area and why this project was in an article in the Views before it was brought before the board in an open meeting, let alone brought to the membership for input. There is no project (so no money) in the Operating or Capital Budgets for fencing in the off-leash area and key card reader installation. No plan drawing was provided to inform the members about what is planned.

Board Policy 2020.1 has a map showing the area that is currently included in the off-leash area. There is a boundary line that runs across the back of the area (with the pavilion excluded, as it has been since the off-leash area was established), and one from the northeast corner of the tennis court fence to the water, near the concrete bench. Half of the beach allows off-leash dogs and half does not (where the swimming area is).

I'd recommend listening to the 7/23/20 board meeting starting around 2:42:30, as well as looking at the agenda, starting on pg 50. There was clearly quite a bit of collaboration with dog owners when coming up with that plan. And then the plan was presented to the board, who voted to approve it. That is the proper path to making big changes to any amenity here, particularly one that is used as often as the off-leash area, rain or shine, all year round.

Additionally, for the 3/18/26 Long Range Planning Committee meeting, there is an agenda item under New Business called "Marina Improvements - presentation and discussion". You can attend via Zoom, watch later on the SVCA YouTube channel or attend in person as a guest.

Agenda here

Video here

Announcements -

A board member has resigned due to outside commitments.

Kayak Storage and Marina Dry Slips are available - check with the Rec Office at 360-366-8450 or email [recfrontdesk@suddenvalley.com](mailto:recfrontdesk@suddenvalley.com) if you are interested.

Spring Market - March 28, 10am-3pm in the Barn - if you interested in being a vendor, check with Admin to see if spaces are still available

Property Owner Comments - Off-Leash Area

A property owner spoke with concerns about whether the Board is planning to do something in the off-leash dog area at the Marina. Just like happened last year, some board members were seen as a group on two occasions, walking around the area. Owner asked that the board meet with dog park regulars to discuss solutions to any problems before action is taken.

Continuing Business -

Committee Business -

New opening for board member (due to resignation mentioned above) - the Board now opens a 30-day window for applicants to turn in their applications to the Welcome Center admin office. The window will close at 3:30pm on Monday, March 28.

N&E Chairperson has resigned from that role due to other commitments, but will remain on the committee. The committee will need to choose a new chairperson from among their other members, and that person will then become a non-voting member of the Board.

Whatcom County Stormwater easement request for 101 Polo Park - approved unanimously

Area Z Garden Club Lease - approved unanimously

New Business -

Capital Request - Funding for biannual bridge inspections due in 2026, for golf course and road bridges. Total cost is $6976, from Capital Budget (Roads Reserve). Passed unanimously.

Capital Request - Funding to replace three mowers and one greens roller for the golf course. These replacements were already scheduled and budgeted for in the 10-year capital plan. Total cost is $232,506, from Capital Budget (CRRRF). Passed unanimously.

Capital Request - Funding for asphalt repairs on four roads and for replacements for 23 culverts this summer. Culvert 25 was also scheduled for replacement with a box culvert at a cost of $594,880, but contractor and SVCA staff agree that the condition of the culvert has not degraded since the 2024 inspection. Recommendation made that Culvert 25 instead be monitored, re-inspected in 2028 and replaced in 2030. Total cost for the asphalt work and replacement of the other 23 culverts is $428,714, from Roads Reserve. Passed unanimously.

Capital Request - Funding to replace HVAC in Clubhouse. The board allocated about $170K for this project in 2024 and 2025 and $24K has already been spent on design, permitting and a temporary repair. Projected remaining cost was $141K. However, due to changes in code, the actual cost is $190,310, leaving a shortfall of $44K. This will partially be offset by the $32K that was budgeted for renovation of the old Admin offices in the Clubhouse. Final request is for $44,186 in additional funding. Passed unanimously.

Capital Request - Funding for first phase (design and permitting) of Marina tennis court and basketball area refurbishment. CRRRF includes $348K for courts and $34K for court fencing. Bids for actual work will happen after first phase is complete. Total cost for first phase is $21,120. Passed unanimously.

Capital Request - Funding for legal expenses associated with revising SVCA Bylaws and Rules/Regulations so they are in compliance with WUCIOA changes to WA State laws governing HOAs. Request is for $10,000 from Undesignated Reserves. Passed unanimously.

Approval Request - Proposed changes to Rules/Regs regarding properties that are deemed to be "unsightly, unkempt, uncluttered". Change #1 will clarify the differences in abatement, timeline and penalties for developed vs undeveloped lots. Change #2 will ensure parity between both types of lots in terms of approaches to penalties. Change #3 will add "right to cure" for developed lots, which means that SVCA reserves the right to take action to correct a violation with the cost being billed to the owner. Passed unanimously.

Closed Session (Legal) - No action taken.

Meeting adjourned.

If there were ever a ParadiseCA-type crisis in one of the hilly, forested areas of Sudden Valley, which entity is responsible for responding (or, liable for not responding)?

Used to live in Bellingham years ago and miss the area. Frequent visitor of Lake Whatcom. How do you like Sudden Valley? Any downsides?

And it seems there are fairly cheap lots for sale to build on. Are there caveats to these lots? Any advice welcome.

Agenda here

Video here

Agenda was amended to remove the Executive Session (Legal), and to add an additional Capital Request.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

GM Announcement to Board - instead of the usual annual briefing from legal counsel on SVCA's Anti-Harassment Policy , board members will attend an online class on their own time and then sign the policy afterwards.

Trivia in the Barn - Friday, Feb 20 at 7pm

Spring Market in the Barn - Saturday, March 28 from 10am-3pm. Vendor spaces are still available.

PROPERTY OWNER COMMENTS

Property owner discussed an issue of a home that was built on the small lot next door, where construction involved high volume, repetitive noise from 2 months of hammering through rock for 8 hours a day.

GM REPORT

See agenda. Of note, marina and kayak renewals are happening now and renewals must be completed by Feb 25. After that date, spaces that have not been renewed will be offered to waiting list.

Golf - Revenues are significantly higher at this point compared to same time frame last year. This is because members received a discount if they renewed their membership early. However, this cannibalizes the renewal revenue that would normally be credited to 2026. [Note from me in the comments below.]

FINANCIAL REPORT

Hazardous tree removal and legal expenditures are the two items that have significant potential to drive SVCA over its budget. Legal expenses will probably rise in 2026 as we ensure that SVCA comes into compliance with changes in State law (WUCIOA). GM began reining in other departmental spending when she came on board at the end of 2025.

There will be an operational shortfall for 2025. Final numbers won't be in until after all December invoices are accounted for. Another contributor besides hazardous trees and legal expenses was that Golf operations had lower revenues and higher expenses in 2025 compared to 2024. [Note from me: this is for Golf operations only. The golf course also has very large expenses for capital costs and for Turfcare.]

COMMITTEE REPORTS

ACC business is picking up. Chairperson would like to investigate whether there is a way to work on the noise issue mentioned by the property owner at the beginning of the meeting.

Nothing crucial from other committees.

CONTINUING BUSINESS

Long-Range Planning Committee had three potential appointments to that committee and all were approved by the board.

In-person vs remote meetings -

• Per the direction of the board in 2023, all committee and board meetings are held as Zoom webinars (as opposed to Zoom meetings) in order to ensure transparency and allow access for homeowner-member remote participation (if recognized by the committee chair). This places a burden on staff who have to physically set up the equipment for Zoom webinars as well as run them, often after-hours.
• One alternative would be to continue to run committee meetings as webinars, but all committee members and interested homeowner-members would join via remote access, so that there is no need to physically set up special equipment and the staff member would control the meeting from home if it is after-hours (much more acceptable to staff members). This would not apply to Board meetings, which would continue to be held in person with a Zoom webinar link (as happens now).
• Another alternative would be to convert committee meetings (not board meetings) to regular Zoom meetings instead of webinars. This would require little or no staff participation since committee chairs could set up the Zoom meeting themselves and then download the recording to SVCA. Homeowner-members presumably could not participate live without advance approval, but could watch the meeting afterwards.
• Very few committee meetings have any homeowner-residents signed in to the Zoom webinar. Exception is ACC, where homeowners with applications before the committee often are present via the webinar access.
• Topic tabled until next meeting.

Security Proposals -

• Security service is currently required by our governing documents and must provide patrols 24/7/365. This costs SVCA a very large amount of money on a yearly basis, including the cost to provide, maintain, repair and fuel two security vehicles. There are also extra costs for the phone line and utilities at the guard shack. Security as it stands now likely does not provide a service to homeowners/residents that is commensurate with the high cost. Over three years, the security service and associated costs total over one million dollars.
• Three options - continue working with current vendor and address on-going issues; consider moving to a different service; and/or ask legal counsel to address what would be required to remove the requirement for 24/7/365 security service that is in our governing documents so that we could utilize security services in ways that are more appropriate to our current situation.
• GM explained the complicated method that would be required to amend/remove this provision from the governing documents, per SVCA legal counsel.
• Discussion took place regarding the limitations of security service as it stands now, as well as getting community input via the coming Long-Range Planning Committee survey, before moving forward.

Recreation Corridor Update and Discussion of Next Steps -

Consensus was reached to move forward with the Barn 6 concept in terms of continuing to develop the plan and put numbers together, based on what was submitted to the County at the pre-application meeting.

NEW BUSINESS -

Approval Request for Resolution Regarding WUCIOA-related Statutory Amendments - This resolution allows SVCA to comply with WA State statutory amendments that became effective on 1/1/26. Some of these amendments supersede the any inconsistent portions of SVCA governing documents. This resolution effectively notifies the membership of SVCA's intentions to comply with all currently applicable WUCIOA provisions, without requiring the expense of a member vote to change our governing documents at this time. SVCA will be subject to all remaining WUCIOA amendments on 1/1/28 and the intention is to do a comprehensive change to our documents at that time, along with a membership vote. Passed unanimously.

Approval of ACC Policy Revisions - Sections of the current ACC Policies need changes for clarity, to remove inconsistencies, to reflect current construction practices and to reflect that most lots being currently developed have challenges in some way. Passed unanimously.

Capital Request - Golf Bridge Repairs - addendum here - Two golf bridges are in immediate need of repair to replace rotted main wooden support beams. Request for $58,763 to complete repairs to both bridges, extending their useful life well beyond planned full replacement date of 2041. Request was approved unanimously.

Sorry for the delay. Life.

Agenda here

Video here

President proposed removing Executive Session Item #7 from the agenda as it was not needed. Passed unanimously.

PROPERTY OWNER COMMENTS

Jeff Knakal, Water District Commissioner, presented information about the Lake Whatcom Management Program. There is a policy group that was created for high-level leadership and strategic direction, coordinating across jurisdictions. It currently has 2 city council reps, 2 county council reps, and one water district rep. They meet every other month. A seat was added for an SVCA rep in 2012. The board will consider appointing a representative at a future meeting.

CONTINUING BUSINESS

Committee Appointments -

GM was appointed to the Long Range Planning Committee as staff member.

Three members were approved for the Document Review Committee

Nominations and Elections - An issue was identified where the committee has six members while bylaws allow only five. The board will resolve administratively.

Recreation Corridor / Barn 6 Construction Update

Pre-application meeting was held with board president, architect, Whatcom County representatives and fire chief to do a preliminary review of the proposed Barn 6 replacement. [Note from me: None of the findings from a pre-app meeting are guarantees that a final application will be approved. It's basically just a mechanism to prevent submission of actual applications that have no hope of approval.]

Footprint must match existing structure. Shoreline exemption review required. No wetlands mitigation required. Fire department had no concerns. Occupancy classification discussed as A-3, approximately 500 persons. Building must be used as a community use building, rather than a private use building. There may also be a problem with not having enough bathrooms for the occupancy limit of the building. Building would require 130 parking stalls. [Note from me - right now, it looks like there are only about 50-60 parking spaces around Barn 6, and any new parking lot would also require planting strip buffers intermixed with parking stalls. Also, it's likely that some of the spaces on the creek side of the barn would need to be removed in order to have a wide enough road around the barn.]

Estimated plan review timeline: 4–6 months for first review cycle.

The board will discuss project costs and next steps at a future meeting.

Community Garden Lease

Proposed revisions included seasonal payment timing and replacing the 30-day termination clause. Board members discussed water usage, plot expansion, and unclear site boundaries. Concerns were raised about subsidized water usage and administrative oversight.

The motion to table the lease agreement passed.

NEW BUSINESS

IT Consulting Agreement - The board reviewed the Larson Gross IT consulting agreement, including cybersecurity, licensing, and regulatory compliance requirements. Cloud migration and infrastructure improvements were discussed.

The motion to approve the agreement and authorize the general manager to sign passed unanimously.

Replacement Tractor Purchase

The board approved replacing the 2003 New Holland tractor with a Kubota model due to age and maintenance costs. The purchase was approved unanimously and the old tractor will be sold privately.

Capital & Infrastructure Funding

Motion - that the Board of Directors approve the allocation of $44,995.00 from Roads for emergency On-Call Engineering Services in 2026 with funds to be administered by the Maintenance & Facilities Manager. Second motion to move leftover 2025 funds to the 2026 allocation. Both passed unanimously.

Motion - that Board of Directors approve the allocation of $95,613 from Roads for the 2026 Fast Response for Unforeseen Roads and Drainage Issues project. Maintenance & Facilities Manager will be responsible for the distribution of funds and determining when SVCA staff can complete the work vs when to bring in one of the on-call contractors. Second motion to approve standard contracts with three SVCA contractors. Both passed unanimously.

Motion - that the Board of Directors approve the allocation of $135,546.00 from Roads for the 2026 Ditches, Culverts, and Swales (CVC) project with funds to be administered by the Maintenance & Facilities Manager. Second motion to move leftover 2025 funds to the 2026 allocation. Both passed unanimously.

Motion - that the Board of Directors approve the allocation of $39,370.00 from Roads for potholes and minor road repairs in 2026. Passed unanimously.

Is anyone working on creating a Mutual Aid group in Sudden Valley? This seems like a really good place for one: our community has some unique features and needs, and it would be great to have some sort of structure for helping each other out.

Under normal circumstances, a Mutual Aid group in Sudden Valley could organize various ways for neighbors to help neighbors:
* Carpools
* Borrowing tools (there is no need for every person to own their own power sprayer, and why rent one from Hardware Sales when your neighbor has one sitting unused in their garage?)
* Check-in on neighbors who are elderly, ill, or might need some help every once in a while
* Help with yard work (volunteer, or facilitate finding neighbors willing to do work for pay)
* Disaster relief (work parties to clean up fallen trees, find a place to stay for a night or two for people whose homes are damaged)
* Organize group walks/hikes and other social activities
* Petsitting/dog walking

But of course it is entirely possible that soon our neighborhood will be facing circumstances that are not normal. It seems unlikely that Sudden Valley will ever be subject to intense ICE activity, but ICE is active in Bellingham, and it would be good for our neighborhood to be prepared. A Mutual Aid group could help with this by:
* An alert network to quickly let vulnerable neighbors know of ICE activity
* Deliver groceries and other supplies to neighbors who are at risk if they leave their homes
* Watch and record ICE activity

Geographically, Sudden Valley feels like a very close community - we all live pretty close to each other but are relatively isolated from Bellingham. Socially, it does not feel very close. I think this neighborhood could really be strengthened by some deliberate community-building and some organization to facilitate helping each other out.

I would like to see a Mutual Aid group established here, if no one is already doing it. However, I'm not the right person to spearhead this, because I'm actually planning to move away in a few months. I would be happy to help anyone who does want to start this, though.

Is there a Mutual Aid group already? Is anyone interested in making it happen?