This book includes a plain text version that is designed for high accessibility. To use this version please follow this link.
President’s Message Jeremy Stillwell, Chapter President


Welcome to the May edition of the Journal! We’ve had a great start to 2016 with record attendance at Chapter Luncheons and capacity attendance at many educational events. These are solid signs that WSCAI is fulfilling its mission.


This edition focuses on several very important topics. Several years ago, the Washington legislature adopted reserve study laws to improve reserve funding levels for condominium and homeowner associations. Unfortunately, even the best reserve study does not account for the unknowns that can drastically accelerate an association’s need for funding. It’s also important to remember that our reserve study laws are relatively new. It can take a long time to “make up” decades of underfunded reserves. The unfortunate truth is that many associations face years—even decades—of underfunding reserves coupled with time-sensitive major repairs and deferred maintenance that can no longer be deferred. One of the most daunting scenarios for a community association board is when a major repair project can no longer be delayed, yet the association’s reserves are woefully underfunded.


No board, regardless of the directors’ past experience, has expertise in all of the areas and on all of the topics implicated by a repair project. There is some good news for community associations that find themselves in need of repairs and underfunded – they are not alone. WSCAI managers and business partners can help associations put together a team to get associations from where they are, to where they need to be. Major projects routinely call on the skill and experience of community association managers, legal counsel, architects, engineers, consultants, contractors, and lenders, all of which are members of WSCAI.


WSCAI is, in many respects, a silent partner in many major projects. In my experience, major projects go much smoother when the “team” members know and understand community associations and how they work. A contractor with community association experience is going to understand the relationships between the unit owner, association, and its manager. Consultants are going to understand the need to provide information in a form that is useful for not only the contractor, but also board members and homeowners. If you’re looking for a lender, you don’t want to just stop in at your local branch. You need someone that knows and appreciates what it takes to put together an association loan. And where do you find these people? WSCAI is a really good start. Calling a WSCAI member or using WSCAI’s Service Directory at wscai. org is always a good idea.


So what sets us apart as WSCAI members? Membership alone doesn’t make anyone an expert in working with community associations. But consider the fact that in 2012, the WSCAI Business Partners Committee approved a “Model” Code of Ethics. The first tenet of that code: “A Business Partner shall at all times conduct him/her/itself in a professional and competent manner, acting truthfully, fairly, diligently, promptly, and for a fair price.” These are, without question, key traits and standards that community associations need and deserve when putting together a team to complete their major projects. People that subscribe to these standards are the type of people you want to work with. Those that attend WSCAI educational events (and almost every event has an educational component) know and realize that our Chapter places a strong emphasis on professionalism. It’s a big part of what we do as an organization to keep the bar high when it comes to serving our communities.


Thank you for reading the Journal and your continued support of our Chapter.


6 Community Associations Journal | May 2016 2016 Sponsors


Diamond Sponsors $8,000 Association Reserves of WA Barker Martin, P.S.


Charter Construction


Community Association Underwriters Condominium Law Group PLLC Foundation Bank


HUB International NW J2 Building Consultants RW Anderson Services


ServPro of Edmonds, Lynnwood & Bellevue West Superior Cleaning & Restoration


Platinum Sponsors $5,500 Alliance Association Bank


CDK Construction Services CEDCORE, LLC


Fischer Plumbing & Restoration Galluzzo Insurance Agency, Inc. Multi-M Contracting, LLC Mutual of Omaha Bank Rafel Law Group, PLLC Reserve Consultants Ruff Construction


Ryan, Swanson & Cleveland, PLLC Sterling Group DKI Yalnes, Inc.


Yates, Wood & McDonald


Gold Sponsors $4,000 Allana Buick & Bers Amento Group


The Copeland Group, LLC McBride Construction McLeod Construction Morris Management, Inc., AAMC Nordic Services, Inc. OAC Services, Inc.


Pacific Building Envelope, Inc. Pody & McDonald, PLLC PRIME


Signature Landscape Union Bank HOA Services


Silver Sponsors $3,000 American Family Ins - Steve Weidenbach Agency


Bell-Anderson & Associates Burleigh Law, PLLC


Fire Water Restoration Services Leahy Fjelstad Peryea Malarkey Roofing Mr. Pressure Wash RealManage


SSI Construction Tatley-Grund, Inc.


Washington Water Damage


Bronze Sponsors $2,000 The Coe Law Group


Ernest Jonson & Company, P.S. Landmark Construction


Law Offices of James L. Strichartz The Partners Group The Plumbing & Drain Co. Precision Concrete Cutting


The Sherwin-Williams Company Stein, Sudweeks & Houser Wave G


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32