2022 AGM Voting Results

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The LISECC Annual General Meeting was conducted with a Vote-By-Mail Election Process. See 2022 AGM materials and board candidate statements here.

VOTING RESULTS

There were 249 AGM packets mailed; 238 ballots distributed (11 members not in good standing did not receive ballots); 138 ballots returned; 136 ballots counted (2 returned ballots were without member identifying information and were not opened).

Board of Directors (for three open positions)

  • David Canterman: 99 votes (approved)

  • Jim Coats: 76 votes (approved)

  • Isaac Colgan: 69 votes

  • Robert Friedman: 36 votes

  • Lisa Machalski: 86 votes (approved)

The board met on Saturday, October 29, 2022 to elect and appoint officers:

  • President: Jim Coats

  • Vice-President: Jeff Smith

  • Secretary: Jeff Smith

  • Treasurer: Lisa Machalski

Committee Chairs:

  • Admin: David Canterman

  • Communications: Jeff Smith

  • Planning: Jeff Smith & Jim Coats

  • Finance: Lisa Machalski & Tim Robison

  • Operations & Water: Tim Robinson

  • Properties: David Canterman & Lisa Machalski

  • Clubhouse: Tim Robision

  • Marine: Jim Coats

  • Election: Jeff Smith

The threshold to defeat proposed budgets and assessments is a high bar. RCW 64.90.525 states that unless a majority of the votes in the association reject the budget (or assessment), the budget and the assessments against the units are ratified. For the 2022 AGM, there were 238 voting members; a majority required 120 votes to defeat the budget and the assessment.

One-Time Clubhouse Assessment

PASSED

Approve: 66| Disapprove 70

One-time assessment of $612 per lot to repair and restore the clubhouse foundation and deck structure and provide expanded drainage to the property.

2023 Budget and Dues

APPROVED

Approve: 82| Disapprove: 54

The proposed Budget will set dues at $866 per year, having a total income of $539,284 and expenses of $539,284. Dues do not include the existing DWSRF loan or water usage fees.

Audit of financial statements of the 2022 Fiscal Year

APPROVED

Approve: 87| Disapprove: 44

The board is recommending an audit of the 2022 fiscal year. The last audit was conducted in 2022 for the 2021 fiscal year.

Community Forum to Discuss 2022 AGM Ballot Measures (Audio)

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In light of the discussions and statements being made surrounding two of the voting issues for this year’s AGM, the LISECC board hosted a community forum on October 14, 2022. Membership was invited to bring their questions regarding the 2023 budget, the associated increase in membership dues, and the rationale for the special assessment to repair and renovate the LISE clubhouse.

Community Forum to Discuss 2022 AGM Ballot Measures

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In light of the discussions and statements being made surrounding two of the voting issues for this year’s AGM, the LISECC board has planned a community forum for Friday, October 14 at 7:30 p.m. Membership is welcome to bring their questions regarding the 2023 budget, the associated increase in membership dues, and the rationale for the special assessment to repair and renovate the LISE clubhouse.

These are critical issues and there seems to be some misunderstanding of the rationale behind the board’s decision to bring these to the ballot for the AGM. This is not a candidate forum – it is an opportunity to have your questions answered in the most direct way possible – person to person.

The vote to approve or disapprove both the proposed budget and the Clubhouse assessment will be conducted in full conformance with WUCIOA Section RCW 64.90.525.

As in the last forum, speaking time will be limited and those limitations strictly adhered to. The forum rules will be presented up front. The forum will be held via Zoom, login information is below and will be available on the LISECC website before the meeting’s scheduled date/time.

Topic: LISE Community Forum
Time: Oct 14, 2022 07:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85968466662?pwd=Mkw1ZmJiU3ZGUncweWNTRTE3OTFIdz09
Or Join by phone:
253 215 8782 US
Meeting ID: 859 6846 6662
Passcode: 885574

We welcome all members participation and hope to answer all questions concerning these critical issues.

2022 Community Forum and Survey on the Question of Feeding Deer & Racoons

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A community forum was held on Tuesday, August 9, 2022. Led by Board President, Ben Twigg, and Treasurer, William Enoch, the forum was attended by 25 members. The conversation was civil and respectful with 6 members sharing their thoughts on the issue.

In addition to the community forum, a survey was mailed to all LISECC members in order to ascertain community attitude toward the prohibition of feeding deer and raccoons.

SURVEY RESULTS

As of 8/23/22, we have received 97 responses. This is the highest turnout of responses seen in several years on any issue, including voting for the AGMs over the past several years.

Here’s how the survey responses tallied:

Question 1) Should the feeding of deer and raccoons be prohibited in Scenic Estates?

  • 1A. Yes- 66 votes

  • 1B. No- 33 votes

  • 1C. Undecided- 4 votes

Question 2) Enforcement Mechanism

  • 2A. Reminder/Education Materials- 57 votes

  • 2B. Financial Penalty- 37 votes

  • 2C. Other- 11 votes

Comments

The board decided to give members the opportunity to add comments to their responses. The comments ranged from long and thoughtful (a couple) to short and snarky (a few). Here’s a tally of the comments added to the responses by broad category (arbitrary categories based on the trend of the comments reviewed).

As of 8/23/2022, we’ve had 97 total responses. Of these, only 43 had any form of comment included. The numbers below don’t total up to the total number of comments since the snarkiest or least coherent of the comments submitted were not included.

  • Discourage feeding, but unenforceable. Keep wild animals wild.-25

  • Different species-different problems (deer vs. racoon issue)- 5

  • Not a problem that the board needs to address- 9

2021 AGM Voting Results

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The LISECC Annual General Meeting was conducted with a Vote-By-Mail Election Process in accordance with current Covid-19 precautions. See 2021 AGM materials and board candidate statements here.

VOTING RESULTS

Board of Directors (for two open positions)

  • Steven Brown: 38 votes

  • Scott Elliott: 20 votes

  • Timothy Robinson: 53 votes (approved)

  • Jeff Smith: 69 votes (approved)

The board met on Saturday, October 30 to elect and appoint officers:

  • President: Ben Twigg

  • Vice-President: Jim Coats

  • Secretary: Jeff Smith

  • Treasurer: William Enoch

Committee Chairs:

  • Admin: Jim Coats

  • Communications & Planning: Jeff Smith

  • Finance: William Enoch

  • Operations & Water: Timothy Robinson

2021 DWSRF Loan

APPROVED

Approve: 92 | Disapprove 2

Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) loan for the pre-construction phase of the LISECC water treatment plant replacement.

2022 Budget and Dues

APPROVED

Approve: 91 | Disapprove: 3

The proposed Budget will set dues at $660 per year, having a total income of $469,938 and expenses of $420,088. Dues do not include the existing DWSRF loan, RTS, and water usage fees.

Audit of financial statements of the 2021 Fiscal Year

DISAPPROVE

Approve: 8 | Disapprove: 81

The board is not recommending an audit of the 2021 fiscal year. The last audit was finalized in August 2021 for the 2020 fiscal year.

2020 AGM Voting Results

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The LISECC Annual General Meeting was conducted with a Vote-By-Mail Election Process in accordance with Governor Inslee’s Executive Order concerning the phased re-opening of the state.

VOTING RESULTS

Board of Directors (for three open positions)

  • Ben Twigg: 68 votes (approved)

  • William Enoch: 67 votes (approved)

  • Jim Coats: 49 votes (approved)

  • Sharleen Peitsch-Tyerman: 31

The board will meet on Sunday, August 30 to elect and appoint officers.

2021 Budget and Dues

APPROVED

Approve: 74 | Disapprove: 2

The proposed Budget will maintain dues at $725 per year, having a total income of $392,600 and expenses of $359,100. Dues do not include the DWSRF loan, RTS, and water usage fees.. 100

Audit of financial statements of the 2021 Fiscal Year

APPROVED

Approve: 52 | Disapprove: 22

The board is recommending an audit of the 2020 fiscal year. The last audit was conducted in 2019 for the 2018 fiscal year.

Volunteers needed for Island Dr Wildfire Risk Reduction Project

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island-Drive-Switchback.jpg

Join us for an hour or two to help clean up the Island Drive switchbacks

The goal of this Wildfire Risk Reduction Project is to reduce potential wildfire fuel around the Island Drive switchback by removing smaller trees and limbing established trees. The road through the Island Drive switchback is the only evacuation route for a peak population of approximately 50 residents. Summer peak population coincides with wildfire season.

The schedule

Scott Josiah, a professional forester with the Lummi Island Fire Department, has marked small and diseased trees for removal. Timber Tree, LLC tree service will cut and limb the trees in this area on Friday, July 31. Volunteers will work on Saturday and Sunday to move the fallen branches to side of the road for chipping. These stacks will be chipped the following Monday and the chips will be blown back into the area to promote forest health.

Volunteers needed

Saturday or Sunday
August 1 & 2, 2020
Between 9am and 5pm

By preserving forest canopy, existing native vegetation will provide a fire-resistant understory. Future routine fuel reduction will require less effort and can be accomplished by our local Firewise volunteers. This project has been endorsed by Whatcom County Public Works and the Lummi Island Fire Department.

The Scenic Estates board has approved the bulk of the funding for this project. We have also received $800 in pledges from neighbors in this area. And the Fire Department has been able to support part of this project through a Washington Fire Adapted Communities grant. Thank you!

Volunteer for wildfire safety

David Canterman will be coordinating volunteers so that everyone can work safely and maintain social distance due to COVID-19. Work gloves, drinking water, eye protection, clippers or loppers are recommended. Most work will be dragging fallen limbs into chipping stacks.

Need firewood?

Volunteers and donors are welcome to firewood rounds produced from this project in appreciation for their participation.

Again, thank you to Scott Josiah, David Canterman, the LISE Board of Directors, Lummi Island Fire Department, all the people who pledged funds for this project, and those will help lend a hand with cleanup. You are appreciated!

For general questions about this project, please contact Isaac Colgan at (425) 281-4836.

Endorsement from Lummi Island Fire Department

Speaking for the Lummi Island Fire Department, John Granger and I agree that reducing forest fuel loads on lands adjacent to the switchbacks along Island View Lane (which is the only evacuation route for residents in upper Scenic Estates) would significantly enhance resident and evacuation safety during a wildfire event. It would also improve safer access for first responders to this area. We commend you and the residents of Scenic Estates for initiating this project and making it happen. As a professional forester, I would be glad to mark the smaller understory trees and ladder fuels for removal, while ensuring the larger trees and native shrub layer would be retained to maintain site diversity and appropriate shading levels. When you have received authorization from the county to remove trees on the county lands that are adjacent to the road, I’ll go ahead and mark the trees.

Scott Josiah, PhD
LIFD Disaster Preparedness Division

Support from Whatcom County Public Works

From the County’s perspective, you are good to go. Public Works does not require an encroachment permit for tree removal and routine vegetation management on private land covered by a public right of way, unless the work interferes with the public use. Your proposal does not interfere with public use.… We at Public Works are believers!

Jon Hutchings
Public Works Director, Whatcom County

I’ve worked with Scott Josiah and knew that he was working on some plans for fire fuel reduction for the island. Having this information in the proposal, which is comprehensive and specific, is very helpful.… I commend Scott and the other island residents for taking this on.

Laurel Baldwin
Whatcom County Noxious Weed Control Board