Telegraph Landing North

Board of Directors Meeting

Thursday, August 19, 2004

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MINUTES

 

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:      President:                      Nancy Spero

Treasurer:                     Barry Shiller

                                                            Secretary:                     Kathy Jewett

Director                        Faye Bernstein

 

BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:        Vice President:              Morton Beebe

 

PROPERTY MANAGERS:               Adele Laurence & Leslie Laurence

LAURENCE MANAGEMENT

6:30

1.         CALL MEETING TO ORDER & ESTABLISH A QUORUM

Nancy Spero called the meeting to order at 6:35 PM. and noted that there was a quorum.  

 

2.         APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

The Minutes of the July 15, 2004, Board of Directors Meeting were approved as submitted.

The Minutes of the August 4, 2004, Special Meeting were approved as submitted.

 

3.         OPENING HOMEOWNERS’ INPUT

There was a discussion on the availability of the 8 shopping carts and how to make sure people return them to the garage when they are finished using them. 5 additional carts have been ordered and are expected to be delivered by the end of September.

 

There was a discussion about the carpet in the lobby of building 2. The Board authorized management to get prices for a new carpet.

 

The House Committee presented six large format photographs Morton Beebe has lent to the Association for display at Telegraph Landing. The Board asked the House Committee to submit a proposal recommending where to hang the photographs.

 

4.         OLD BUSINESS

Waterproofing/repairs on townhouse roofs and decks

The waterproofing repairs to the townhouse roofs and balconies are on schedule.   Not unexpectedly, some dry rot has been found and Alpha Waterproofing is fixing that as they progress.  CommAir has recommended the replacement of some of the parts of the HVAC units on the mechanical roofs of the townhouses; CommAir will submit a proposal to do that work.  Barry Shiller commented that this project is a good learning exercise so that the Board can understand how to better handle the future repairs and work for the townhouse roofs and decks.

 

The Board was notified shortly before this meeting that the specified waterproofing membrane material does not meet the current fire code.  The manufacturer of the specified material had represented otherwise.  This requires the use of a different material and some additional labor.   The additional cost will be $18,000.  The Board approved the change order from Ferrari Moe to change the specification on the waterproofing material subject to assurance that the new material is durable.

 

New sliding glass doors must also be installed in connection with the damaged balconies. Ferrari Moe had submitted a proposal to install the doors.  The Board formally approved the $16,500 expenditure for 5 sliding glass doors.

 

Waterproofing/repairs on certain high rise windows in Building #1

KC Glass proposed manufacturing new windowsills for seven windows in Building #1 at a considerably lower price than the cost of new windows. The Board had approved this and authorized KC Glass to proceed.

 

The Board asked the property manager to send a letter to homeowners affected by the leaking windows informing them of this solution and letting them know that if they want to change their windows at that time, they will have to contract separately with KC Glass to do so-.

 

5.      TREASURER’S REPORT

According to the financial statement, the balance in the Operating account as of the July 31,
2004
, was $710,122.71 and the Reserve Funds balance was $2,046,514.

 

Treasurer Barry Shiller reported on where the Association stands on capital spending. He distributed his Capital Replacement Analysis spreadsheet (see attached) to the Board and homeowners present and explained that the Finance Committee has taken a look at capital replacement funds going back to 2000 and The Helsing Group is working on the reserve study which will project forward.

 

The committee is working on the 2005 Budget and is looking at some key expenses, PG&E, water and garbage, and trying to bring down costs. They are doing comparison ratios with other comparable condominiums. The committee wants to bring PG&E into Telegraph Landing for a walk-thru to see what the Association can do to save money on gas and electricity.

 

6.         COMMITTEE REPORTS

            MAINTENANCE AND SECURITY COMMITTEE

Maintenance:  Al Dockus reported that the committee met on August 13th with management, Rob Viola and Cesar Martinez from Genesis Building Services. They discussed the hours of the janitorial staff, coverage and maintenance of the garage. More hours have been added to the garage cleaning schedule. The front of the building will also get more attention. The sidewalks will be steam cleaned and the mailboxes on
Lombard Street
will be cleaned off regularly. The committee feels satisfied that Genesis and their staff are doing a good job.

 

Security:  Mike Gallagher of Gallagher Security Electronics will provide prices for adding recording devices to the existing security cameras, as well as prices for other configurations of security camera equipment. Al Dockus said he estimates approximately $15,000 will be needed to add additional cameras to improve surveillance.   The committee considers the addition of one more security guard on foot patrol, for at least one shift, to be the single-best method for improving security.   The committee also recognizes that this would be a significant addition to ongoing Association expenses.  The committee recommended a badge program that requires all contractors to sign in and wear badges while working at Telegraph Landing.  Some consider the addition of a second electronic entry gate to the garage to be a cost-effective mechanical method for improving security.

 

The Board asked the committee to submit a proposal with their recommendations for additional security equipment for under $20,000.  The Board also asked the committee to submit a proposal for the badge program for discussion at the next Board meeting.  The Board said it will consider an additional security guard and will get input from the homeowners regarding that expense before making a decision.

 

The Board asked management to get a price for for a second entry gate to  the garage and a price for an iron gate by the garage fire door.

 

COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

The committee’s proposed guidelines for posting notices on the bulletin boards have been available for review and comment during the past month.  Notices must be personal (no commercial notices will be accepted) and submitted by a Telegraph Landing resident. Notices are to be no larger than 81/2 x 11, dated (there is a 2 week limit for posting), courteous and judicious (no offensive content will be accepted). Residents should submit 13 copies, along with unit number and email address, to the front security desk addressed to the Telegraph Landing Communications Committee, currently chaired by Beverly Sutton
and
Marilyn Nichols. The committee will check notices for compliance with the guidelines, post them, and remove stale notices.  The board in the front lobby will continue to be for Association notices, only, and not for personal notices. 

 

The Board approved the bulletin board guidelines as submitted.

           

RULES COMMITTEE

The Rules Committee has two meetings scheduled for September to review the draft CC&Rs and Bylaws, prepared by the Association’s attorney. There will be a homeowner meeting for discussion and revisions before these drafts are finalized and submitted to the membership for a vote.

 

            HOUSE COMMITTEE

Margaret Miller reminded everyone to come to the Courtyard Summer Party on Sunday from 2:00PM – 6:00PM.

 

            LANDSCAPE COMMITTEE

Laura Davidson reported on the committee’s meeting with landscaper, Robert Poyas. He is working
with the committee to organize certain quadrants of the roof gardens for irrigation. Residents are working on pruning, planting, and reviving the rooftop gardens. The appearance of Building #1 has improved greatly. Residents are now working on Building #2, pruning and watering to try to save some of plants.  New plantings are also planned.  The committee will consider which rooftop furniture and large planters to save and what will need to be replaced.

 

  1. NEW BUSINESS.

Planters on parapet walls on townhouse roofs – potential for water intrusion:

Barry Shiller reported that, in performing the waterproofing repairs to the townhouse decks, the Association has learned about potential water intrusion problems caused by planters on the parapet walls. Barry
Shiller
recommended prohibiting all planters on the parapet walls, and enforcing the existing rule on
page 9 of the Telegraph Landing Rules.

 

The Board voted three in favor, one abstention, to prohibit all planters on the townhouse parapet walls pursuant to the Association governing documents. The Board directed management to send a letter to all upper-level townhouse owners asking them to remove any planters from parapet walls pursuant to the Association government documents.  This letter should also remind them of the governing documents’ rule about a weight limit for planters on the townhouse decks and roofs.

 

Non-Compliance with TL rules regarding construction and flooring:

Nancy Spero stated that there have been several occasions during her tenure on the Board (since April 2004) when the Board has been notified of a homeowner violating the TL rules and governing documents regarding construction and flooring.  Barry Shiller suggested giving all homeowners a list of key construction and flooring rules and have them sign that they have received and read the rules.  Another proposal was that the disclosure package to prospective buyers should have a cover letter from the property manager highlighting the key issues for rules compliance. There was also a suggestion of modifying the hardwood floor policy to permit any  flooring as an alternative to carpeting if it meets the sound attenuation requirements that has been permitted for hardwood floors.  These proposals and others will be under consideration and are not adopted at this time.  The Board is making efforts to enforce the rules and is handling individual violations in executive session. The process to be followed at such an executive session was discussed.  The persons who may attend these executive sessions are the directors, the specific homeowner(s) who are subject to the rules enforcement proceeding, and the property manager.  Other homeowners who are particularly interested, involved, or have evidence to submit, at the discretion of the Board, may be given the option to attend the executive session.  Only directors will be present for the Board’s deliberation; all others will be excused. 

 

Proposal to replace valves for hot and cold water in high rise buildings:

CommAir submitted a proposal to replace valves in the high rises so that a limited number of units will be affected during a water shut-off. Currently, some valves are not holding in the closed position because of the age of the valves.

 

The Board asked management for more bids and a plan for valve replacement in both high rise buildings. 

 

8.         CLOSING HOMEOWNERS’ INPUT

There were no further comments from homeowners.

 

9.         SET DATE OF NEXT MEETING & ADJOURNMENT

The next meeting will be Thursday, September 16, 2004 at 6:30 p.m.  [The date for the next
general meeting was changed on
August 27, 2004, to Monday, September 13, 2004.]

        

            There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted by Laurence Management:

 

 

 

___________________________________________          ___________________________

Kathy Jewett, Secretary                                                            Date Approved by the Board