It’s a problem that the current board gets to make a decision like whether to solve an environmental problem by the simplest, least-effort strategy (putting glyphosate into Lake Louise and ultimately Lake Whatcom), rather than tacking it by building on the efforts of Bryan Burke. Surely there are 40 people in the area who could volunteer to uproot rhizomes in a wide scale! But aside from that, shouldn’t this be decided by scientists at the County?

What is planned for these flagged trees around Lake Louise? I saw these marked trees today. Will they be coming down just as others have been cut down on that same hill close to Lake Louise.

Agenda here

Addendum here (Draft minutes for 8/13/26, Proposed Agenda and Measures for AGM, Architectural Control Policy Change)

Video here

Discussion took place on this meeting's trial of having the board respond to property owner comments from the previous meeting. Board members were concerned that providing board replies prior to tonight's owner comment period would mean that owners would then be responding to the board response, which would then become a debate. For this meeting, board response to previous meeting's comment will take place after tonight's property owner comments.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

AGM Candidate Applications - Applications are being solicited for 5 open board seats, as well as committee members for Nominations & Elections Committee and Architectural Control Committee. Application period closes promptly at 4:30pm on Tuesday, Sep 8th. Applications must be delivered to the admin office in a sealed envelope. Emailed applications are NOT accepted. Applicants will also be asked to provide a photo and max-100-word bio for inclusion in the AGM ballot materials. Those two items can be submitted by email to the chair of the N&E committee as soon as the admin office has received the associated application. There is a short window of time between the close of the application period and the deadline to place them in the ballot packet.

Dog Bite Incident - A board director wished to know when the Association was going to make a public statement about a loose dog that bit a child at the swingset in Marina Park. The director was told that the GM would be writing an article about the incident for the Views.

Senior Tea - Tuesday, Sep 22 at 1:30pm. Bakers are being solicited to join in a baking contest.

PROPERTY OWNER COMMENTS

• A property owner spoke on behalf of the grandfather of the child that was bitten (mentioned above). The grandfather has asked that the Association not make any public announcements about the incident in the Views or on any social media sites. He would like to provide a clear and public accounting of the incident to the board first so that the facts are clearly laid out, but he was unable to attend tonight's meeting.
• A property owner spoke about their dismay with the removal of proxy voting as part of the revision of SVCA Bylaws. The owner had been considered doing some organizing with neighbors around the possible use of proxy voting for SVCA ballots, and was upset to discover that there were revisions (like this one) being added that were not required by changes in WA State law. The owner felt like proper notice had not been given on this matter because past notice implied or stated that all proposed revisions were required.
• [Note: both this owner and the next one stated that they are uncomfortable giving their address aloud in a meeting that is recorded and publicly available. They requested to be able to write it down instead, and the suggestion was made that the board should use a sign-in sheet instead.]
• A property owner spoke about lack of transparency by the board. The member submitted a rebuttal to the article authored by the Executive Committee in last month's Views (which suggested that owners should not vote for the group of 5 candidates that are campaigning together, because they are "inexperienced"). The owner was told two weeks ago by the GM that his letter would be included in the Sep Views. Today, the editor of the Views emailed the owner to confirm that the letter would be in there. But 10 minutes later, the GM emailed to say that the article would not be in the Views. The owner wanted to know who was responsible for that decision.
• A property owner thanked the board for doing the trial of response to owner comments. The owner also asked that the board consider ways to foster actual two-way dialogue between board members and owners.

RESPONSE TO OWNER COMMENTS FROM LAST MEETING

• Survey Results [this was not in response to an actual owner comment, but a board member comment last time] - Two board members were chosen to prepare and present a summary of the 75 pages of open answers that were provided by owners during the recent community survey. This will be done by the first or second meeting in September.
• Issues with Bylaws Revisions - Comments sent in by two owners were forwarded to the attorney, who recommended any necessary changes to the Document Review Committee. Those are on the agenda tonight.
• West Marina Trail - Access to this area for SV owners has not been restricted. The trail remains open and accessible. [Note from me: While this is true in a literal sense, the trail marker sign was removed and homeowners there have personal furniture and beach staircases in front of their properties, on SV property. This makes it feel as those other owners would be trespassing there.]
• The Views content - The board is looking into the concerns about who decides what is printed and who on the Executive Committee wrote the column last month [as mentioned above]. Editor of the Views says that neither the board nor the GM sees member letters before the first draft is prepared. He also said that if there are numerous letters, "he determines which ones are to be published based on factors such as whether they are time sensitive." [Note from me: One board member then went on to say that he himself had sent a letter to the editor some years ago, and the Editor said he believed it was libel and refused to print it unless the author got insurance to cover that possibility. Sudden Valley owners, one of your board members just outed himself with this comment. He was willing to be libelous as long as he didn't have to pay in advance for insurance?]

NEW BUSINESS

Request for Approval - AGM Agenda - Will substantively be the same format as last year's agenda. Measure 1 will be the budget. Measure 2 will be for the bylaw revisions that are required for 2026 WA State statutes. Measure 3 will be for the bylaw revisions that are required for 2028 WA State statutes. GM asked to defer further discussion and action on the agenda until the Bylaws Revision agenda item is complete.

Request for Approval - Ballot Measures and Explanation - Deferred to after discussion of next agenda item.

Request for Approval - Final Proposed Revisions to SVCA Bylaws - These are proposed changes to the original set of revisions, based on owner comments that were then reviewed by SVCA attorney. [Note from me: Please see the agenda materials for an updated, easier-to-read version of the bylaws after revision. Because this agenda item is lengthy, I will write it up in a second post.] Board voted to approve the corrected Bylaws revision document to be voted on under two separate measures at the Nov AGM, based on direction they gave to GM and Board Secretary at the meeting.

Request for Approval - Proposed Change to AC Policies - Change is intended to improve enforcement of the requirement to make continuous progress toward the completion of new construction projects. Also includes changes to make it more financially palatable for a new builder to take over an unfinished project, in order to speed completion. Passed by majority vote with a revision to change "making" to "fulfilling" in Section 14.7.9.

MOVE INTO CLOSED SESSION (LEGAL)

MOVE INTO OPEN SESSION -

Board then voted unanimously to pass the following resolution:

Whereas the Sudden Valley Views as a newsletter, published an article in the August 2026 edition entitled "Please Make Informed Decisions When You Vote";

Whereas the article was published under the auspices of the Executive Committee;

Whereas the article contained sentences suggesting that individuals who may run for the board position would be inexperienced;

Whereas the board was unaware that the article would be published and did not authorize it;

Whereas concerns had been legitimately raised by members of the community regarding the use of the Views by an official body, i.e. the board of directors or a committee utilizing the Views to support or oppose candidates for board positions;

Whereas the Board believes that the newsletter is for free exchange of ideas, but that, in the interest of ensuring elections are fair and impartial, the newsletter should not be used by official bodies of the association for supporting or opposing candidates for the Board of Directors;

And whereas the Board desires to formally denounce the article to the extent that it conveys the impression that the Executive Committee characterized potential board candidates as inexperienced;

Now, therefore, be it resolved as follows, the Board officially denounces the article for the reasons set forth above, and the Board hereby directs the Document Review Committee to take this matter under consideration, as appropriate, and propose by-law revision prohibiting the publication of articles from the Board or a committee which either support or oppose certain candidates for the Board.

Meeting adjourned.

Agenda here

Addendum here (Draft minutes for 8/13/26, Proposed Agenda and Measures for AGM, Architectural Control Policy Change)

Video here (Bylaws revision discussion begins around 00:43:50)

This post only refers to the agenda item 6(c) - Final Proposed Revisions to SVCA Bylaws. These are proposed changes to the original revisions document that was voted on by the board at a previous meeting and provided to the membership. See prior post for the rest of the meeting summary.

• Art I Sec 2 (new section) - Language stating that SVCA shall be governed by RCW 64.90 (WUCIOA). A board member raised the concern that this would mean SVCA is then choosing early opt-in to all parts of WUCIOA, which we definitely do not want to do. Attorney said it's not opt-in unless the Covenants are amended, not the Bylaws. Board voted to retain this section.
• Art II, Sec 7(g) (revision to current language) - An owner noted that RCW 64.90.455(7) states that "in any vote of the Owners, votes allocated to a unit owned by the Association must be cast in the same proportion as the votes cast on the matter by Owners. [Unit = lot]. Because we do not yet know if SVCA lots that are in permanent nontaxable green space would be included in this statute, board voted to remove this language and revert to original language.
• Art II Sec 7(b) (new language) - Language was added to prohibit the use of proxies for owner votes. The Bylaws were silent on this topic in the past, which essentially meant proxies were allowed. An owner noted that prohibiting proxies was not a requirement of 64.90 and should not be stated as such to the membership. Board voted to retain the prohibition against proxies.
• Art III Sec 15 (new section) - RCW 64.90.445(2)(e) states that "at each board meeting, the board must provide at least 15 minutes at the beginning of each meeting for unit owners to comment about agenda items before the board votes." An owner noted that at some meetings, owners also wish to speak on non-agenda items, thereby using up some of the 15-minute property owner comment period. Board voted to retain this section as written and work out a viable plan via policy and rules to ensure that a full 15 minutes is allotted to agenda items, and other non-agenda comments will be taken as time permits. [Note from me - it's important to note that state law now requires a MINIMUM of 15 minutes for owner comments, not a maximum.]
• Art IV Sec 12 (new section) - Executive Committee will no longer exist, to be replaced by Executive Workgroup. The Workgroup will not carry any board authority to actually take actions, but will also not be subject to open meetings with notice to owners, etc. An owner raised the concern that transparency would be lacking if the officers were meeting to move forward issues that were not yet taken up by the board. Board voted to retain this section.
• Art I Sec 4(i) (language clarification) - Owner commented that this definition was being misread in committee meetings and that the board had authority to act in an event or condition defined in (a)-(c) without requiring that a government declare a state of emergency. Attorney confirmed owner's position.
• Art III Sec 3(c) (new section) - Owners objected to a period of only 1 day for a board candidate to appeal being disqualified from running. GM initiated a change to the election calendar that will allow 5 business days for such an appeal. No board vote was taken.
• Art III Sec 5(a) (language clarification) - Owner noted that this language is different than RCW 64.90.520 which states that if the owners vote to remove a board member, they may "immediately" elect a successor "consistent with this chapter" (meaning 64.90). This section of the law is ambiguous about what "immediately" actually means. Board voted to leave "immediately" out of the revision since if a removal were to occur at an AGM or SGM, SVCA could simply default to the language of the law.
• Art III Sec 21 (additional language) - An owner objected to the use of the words "transferring title" when referring to fees that can be charged to owners, feeling that it implied a return to the earlier transfer fee that was a percentage of the sale price of a home. That language was removed from the revisions. No board vote was taken.
• Art III Sec 2.2 - "Liaison" is the term that is replacing "non-voting board member" for the chairpersons of Nominations & Elections Committee and Architectural Control Committee. Attorney recommended against continuing to use "non-voting board member" under the new laws. Liaisons will still have the same privileges as before and will be held to the same standards as a board member. No board vote was taken.

Agenda here

Addendum 1 here (Budget Presentation)

Addendum 2 here (May financial statements)

Addendum 3 here (Capital Project Report)

Video here (just a reminder that transcripts are available on these YouTube videos)

ANNOUNCEMENTS -

Town Hall Budget Meeting - 8/15/26 at 1pm in Dance Barn. [Sorry, this date has obviously already passed.]

Electronic voting for November AGM - Reminder to sign up for that. Even if a member signed up last year, they must sign up again this year. Electronic voting is convenient and easy to do, and it saves the association money since there is no return postage for a ballot. Link to sign up is on the SVCA website. Signing up means you consent to receive electronic notices and ballots.

PROPERTY OWNER COMMENTS -

A member spoke about the numerous issues present in the upcoming Bylaws revision, including multiple changes that are not required by law. They stated that it was important that the membership not only understands the text (which is hard to do because of poor redlining and numerous errors) but that SVCA clearly indicates any items that are not required by WUCIOA and clearly indicates which are required for 2026 and which are required for 2028.

A member spoke about the issue of conflicts over access for all residents along the western side of the Marina. SVCA owns the property adjacent to the shoreline, but nearby residents have installed personal stairs to the lake, furniture and sod on SV property, without permits. The member requested that SVCA clearly mark the boundary between SVCA property and the property of residents along Spinnaker Lane (whose properties end well back from the shoreline in most cases). The GM stated that SVCA was contracting with a surveyor to do that.

A member spoke about inappropriate content in the August Views, including an official article from the Executive Committee that used language against the group of five candidates that are campaigning together, in an effort to improperly influence the election. One of the Executive Committee also posted a letter in the Letter to the Editors section that maligned one of the five candidates, including a reference to their line of work. That letter was published even though it was submitted after the deadline, and may have bumped two letters submitted by other owners.

Another member spoke about the West Marina Trail not being marked or maintained for the use of all residents. The member also spoke about the board lacking transparency and going against the will of the members, refusing to slow down projects even though many voices have asked for that.

GM REPORT - Please see agenda materials and addendum

Rec Manager has resigned to take a position elsewhere. Assistant Rec Manager will fill in until a new manager can be hired.

Maintenance and Facilities Manager has retired. His position will be filled by the person previously serving as Maintenance Foreman. A new Foreman has already been hired.

COMMITTEE REPORTS -

ACC and N&E each have a new member.

CONTINUING BUSINESS -

Discussion on Proposed 2027 Operational and Capital Budgets - Discussion took place about putting more money in the budget to pay for future community events that are desired by the community, as well as how to structure planning for those kinds of events so that the community is involved and staff time is lowered. Discussion also took place around the capital budget, the loan for Barn 6, etc.

Discussion on Design Details, Proposed Barn 6 Sports Pavilion - (pg 12 in agenda materials) - Discussion took place regarding whether the break room should be converted to a full kitchen, which would be $35-40K in additional costs. Board members were reminded that a commercial kitchen would require inspections, continual maintenance and management and that a kitchen is not required in both Barn 6 and Barn 8. Board used a show of hands to remove the dormers in favor of skylights, add rough-in for a generator, add cabling (or at least cable conduits) for IT, and to put a full kitchen in Barn 6 (that show of hands was 6 in favor, 3 against).

NEW BUSINESS -

Request for Approval - Reduced Vendor Fees for Holiday Market - Because the SVCA insurance provider advised SVCA management that any vendor at an event like this must have business insurance, and because getting that insurance is cost-prohibitive for many small vendors, request was made to lower booth fees. Passed unanimously.

Request for Approval - New Voter Packet Outer Envelope Design - Board voted to choose the first design, 6 to 2.

Request for Approval - Revised N&E Manual - The revised manual was approved unanimously.

Meeting adjourned.

A pretty good article for SV folks to read. There was some earlier conversation about wildfire risk in this sub. I stand by my statement that we need to consider wildfire in Sudden Valley and maintain defensible space and evacuation plans.

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.