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A Newsletter for Residents in the Quail Park Community April 2015

Introducing…

Quail Park’s Newly Designed Newsletter At the April 13

th meeting, the Quail Park Home Owners’ Association (HOA) Board of Directors

approved the re-design of our community newsletter. The goals in providing this new format include:

To customize the look, feel and content to reflect the unique community in which we live, and to provide residents of the Quail Park HOA with relevant information that is of interest and concern to them.

To provide a way for the Quail Park residents to stay connected with association and neighborhood news and information.

To encourage residents to collaborate, communicate and participate in neighborhood and association matters.

As you can see, there are several new sections to our newsletter. The news and articles are intended to come from a variety of sources, including residents. We hope you enjoy the new look and feel of our community newsletter. If you have an idea for an article, please contact Debra Tschirgi at (360) 608-9162 or send her an e-mail at debbie.tschirgi@outlook.com.

Quail Park Neighborhood Garage Sale is Saturday, June 27 Quail Park’s annual neighborhood garage/yard sale is scheduled for Saturday, June 27 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and we hope you’ll participate. It is a great time for “spring cleaning” of closets, cupboards, attics, garages and rented storage lockers. Just bring out your unwanted items and display them on your driveway, garage or front lawn. In past years, hundreds of friends and neighbors from all around Vancouver have found treasures they just HAD TO BUY. What does not find a new home can be donated for a tax deduction. The Quail Park Board will collect a nominal fee of $2 to cover advertising of the event.

Your Quail Park HOA Officers and Directors

President: Debra Tschirgi (3/18)

608-9162

Vice President: Eddy Nelson (3/16)

798-3478

Secretary: Susan Low-Symes (3/18)

909-4880

Treasurer: Jamie Stevenson (3/18)

852-8405

Phase 1 Board Members: Toby Jarvis (3/17)

Shirley Richl (3/17) Marvin Helde (3/17)

Jim Huddlestun (3/18)

Phase 2 Board Members: Brenda Smith (3/16)

Leeann Voegele (3/17) Barbara Sobocinski (3/17)

Bob Tokarczyk (3/18)

Phase 3 Board Members: Randall Hill (3/17)

Diann Koppen…at large (3/18) Charles McClement (3/18)

Sandy Rasmussen (3/18)

Management Agent: Darcie Seal

Bluestone and Hockley 9320 SW Barbur Blvd., #300

Portland, OR 97219 dseal@bluestonehockley.com

(503) 222-3800 (800) 859-8043

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QUAIL PARK HOME OWNERS ASSOCIATION MEETINGS

Key Highlights of the Annual Meeting Monday, March 30, 2015 The ballots were counted and the proposed budget was passed.

Diann Koppen was nominated and voted in for the 16th

at large director’s position to cover for absentee members. She will be appointed, if willing and available, upon a vacancy on the board during the coming year.

All directors running for re-election were re-elected and the additional candidate was endorsed.

Scott Sloan reported on his investigation into the lack of speed limit signage in and around Quail Park. He contacted the Clark County Department of Public Works and was told that the county felt there was adequate signage in and around Quail Park. He was also told that crosswalks were considered a liability to the county. Mr. Sloan feels that it is time to involve neighborhood homeowners’ associations and North Salmon Creek Neighborhood Association to contact the county. Mr. Sloan will also contact the various sports associations who use H.B. Fuller Park to ask for their support. He will present his findings at a future meeting. Mr. Sloan and several directors agreed that the poor condition of the roads in and around Quail Park need to be brought to the attention of Clark County Public Works.

Key Highlights of the Spring Board Meeting Monday, April 13, 2015 Jim Huddlestun has arranged for the walls to be power-washed. He also reported that six

irrigation heads were dug up and capped off to prevent them from blowing out again.

Debra Tschirgi discussed the Quail Park newsletter’s re-design and shared that she hopes it will serve as a starting point for residents to feel more connected to their neighbors and to our neighborhood events and information. She is hoping a new sense of community would encourage people to start attending the board of director meetings in the near future.

The following board members were nominated and voted in as officers:

President ...................................................................................Debra Tschirgi Vice President ..............................................................................Eddy Nelson Secretary ............................................................................. Susan Low-Symes Treasurer .............................................................................. Jamie Stevenson

A local resident presented a complaint to the board that her front yard is dwarfed by the enormous overgrown trees in her neighbor’s yard. She asked the board to help her with the problem as she believes that the neighbor has ignored her requests to take care of their trees and vegetation. The board will work with Bluestone and Hockley to determine which aspects of this dilemma are HOA matters, which are county matters, and which are neighbor-to-neighbor matters.

The date for the Quail Park Annual Garage and Yard Sale has been set for Saturday, June 27th.

Board members showed Jim Huddlestun their appreciation for his long-term leadership to our HOA.

ANNUAL ASSESSMENTS

The budget for 2015-16, adopted at the annual budget meeting and directors election, maintains the annual assessment of $95. An invoice will be mailed to Quail Park property owners in June. Payments are due July 1 and will be considered to be late after July 31. The late fee is 10% of the balance each quarter. (Please Note: Do not mail your payment before the invoice arrives in the mail.) Thank you!

A FRIENDLY REMINDER Sandwich-style signs relating to properties in

Quail Park are only allowed at the entrance to our neighborhood from Tenney Road with prior permission from the board. They must show the address, and must be removed every night. They may be displayed no more than 30 days.

Thank you for your cooperation!

Do you know how the Quail Park HOA Officers and Board of Directors are selected?

Your vote counts! The Quail Park Home Owners’ Association is governed by a Board of Directors. Directors are property owners in Quail Park that are elected by members (all property owners) in our association. These positions are voluntary and unpaid. Every February, Bluestone and Hockley mails ballots to all members, giving them a voice in determining who will serve on the Board. At the annual meeting in March, ballots are counted and announcements are made. Director positions are 3-year terms. At the April meeting, the Board of Directors appoints the officers, including President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. Officers are appointed on an annual basis. You have a voice! If you have a question or concern about our association, by-laws, CC&R’s or more, attend a board meeting. (Let the Secretary know in advance so time can be allocated on the agenda for you.) If you cannot attend, discuss your concern or idea with someone on the Board. They will bring it forward on your behalf at the next meeting.

The next Quail Park HOA Board Meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 14 at Three Creeks Library. Meetings usually start promptly at 7:00 pm and adjourn at 8:00 pm. All Quail Park residents are welcome to attend. (Meeting times are subject to change.)

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Quail Park HOA Board Honors Jim Huddlestun For His Many Years of Dedication and Service!

Jim Huddlestun was elected the first President in March, 1996 at the first HOA meeting. He worked with both the master and individual developers, along with realtors, to draft by-laws as the CC&R's provided no real governance provisions. He formed an ad hoc committee to review them and make modifications, and then re-submitted them to the master developer's law firm for legal review. Once completed, the package was submitted to the owners for the required 2/3 approval. After that, he had the by-laws recorded with the county. Since then, his role has focused primarily on the operation of the HOA … arranging meetings; dealing with various impacts to Quail Park; handling vandalism and collisions with the wall, as well as landscaping and entrance lighting; keeping the management agency informed; submitting reports; contacting the insurance company; over-seeing bank accounts; and keeping existing and new residents informed of association requirements. It’s

pretty clear that our neighborhood wouldn’t be the wonderful place it is without his long-term leadership. Thanks so much, Jim, for all you’ve done!

The board and visitors listen to a visitor present. Cake was shared with board members and visitors. Board members and visitors share a smile with Jim.

Many Thanks to Sandy Rasmussen for Serving as the HOA Treasurer Sandy Rasmussen served as the Quail Park HOA Treasurer for two years. During that time, she monitored the budget, collected and recorded the garage sales

dues, and participated in board discussions. At the April meeting, she stepped down from that position, passing the baton on to Jamie Stevenson. Sandy will continue to serve on the board during this next year. You’ll often see Sandy and her husband, Bill, walking their little white “grand-dog” around the block. Please remember to stop and express your appreciation for all of her hard work!

Jim leads the April meeting while Susan takes notes.

Quail Park HOA Community Documents are Now Online! Our Home Owner’s Association information, records and documents can be found online! Quail Park home-owners have access to:

Declaration/CC&R’s By-laws Amendments Plat map and site map Resolutions Community rules Meeting minutes Certificate of property insurance

As Quail Park home-owners, we have the right to view these documents, and the responsibility to abide by the CC&R’s.

http://tinyurl.com/bh-quail-login

Username: quai Password: quai92*

Look in the Notes tab for HOA documents. Financial reports are found in the Reports tab. Check it out.

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News by Quail Park home owners that is of interest to other home owners in the neighborhood

Quail Park Pedestrian Access Written by Arlo Petersen, Homeowner There are many residents of Quail Park who use the sidewalks for exercise. There are several locations within our subdivision that have obstacles to safe travel. One problem is with overgrown vegetation and the other is with irregular sidewalk surfaces. Overgrown vegetation can be pose a danger for both walkers and drivers. Trees with overgrown branches can obscure traffic signs and impede visibility for drivers making turns. Sometimes vegetation is allowed to encroach onto the adjacent sidewalk. In other instances, tree roots are lifting the sidewalk. These conditions can be inconvenient or unsafe for walkers but more seriously an impediment for people who need assistance and use walkers or motorized transportation.

Above: Vegetation encroaches on the sideway, making sidewalk access difficult.

The other problem is with sidewalks that have either sunken over time or have risen because of tree roots that have grown under the sidewalk. Several actions can be taken to fix uneven

sidewalks. There is a concrete pumping solution that can be used to force wet concrete under the sidewalk in order to raise it into proper alignment. Another solution is to grind down the edge of a concrete slab that risen higher than its neighboring slab. Lastly, the sidewalk can be removed and replaced. Please be aware that it is the home owner’s responsibility to repair sidewalks that have become unsafe.

Above: Examples of how sidewalk sections have become uneven and dangerous.

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BURGLARS

BEWARE!

Quail Park is a neighborhood with a significant number of residents that work. There have been homes in our area that have been burglarized … both during the light of day, and during the night! Home safety experts share that there are some actions we can all take to reduce our risk of home theft, such as:

LOCK UP … 40% of home burglaries are done without any forced entry, meaning that a door or window was left unlocked. Keep all your doors and windows locked at all times. Put a strong rod or dowel on the back track of sliding doors and windows to prevent break-ins.

CLEAN UP … Before you leave for work, bring newspapers in from your porch, and your garbage can and recycling bin back to your house. And if you are a neighbor that is home all day, ask your working neighbor if you can help them by bringing their garbage and recycling cans back up to their house after they leave for work. Remove ladders or tools from your property that could be used to break in.

TRIM UP … Tall shrubs and overgrown trees provide places for criminals to hide until the coast is clear to get into your house. Keeping things trimmed and manicured reduces risk.

SIGN UP … Placing a home security sign in your yard can convince burglars that your home is protected by a security system, making them less inclined to target your property.

SPEAK UP … Start asking people who come onto your property, such as the utilities technicians for the gas/electricity/water meters, who they are. Require them to show their company ID.

TURN IT UP … If you leave your house for awhile, turn on your t.v. or radio, and turn it up so it can be heard from the door or window, creating the illusion that you are home.

LIGHT IT UP … Turn on exterior and interior lights when you are gone. Get a timer that turns them on and off automatically. Consider installing motion-detection lights on your property.

TEAM UP … Let’s keep an eye out for each other and our neighbor’s properties. The more we communicate and collaborate with our neighbors, the lower our risk will be! Make agreements with your neighbors to call each other when something doesn’t look right. And then make sure you have your neighbors’ home and cell numbers.

Did you know…

that there are 161 properties in the Quail Park HOA?

that if you choose to rent your house, it is imperative that you notify the association of your new address? Doing so will keep you informed of HOA business and help avoid delinquent assessment fees from not receiving your HOA bill.

that our public services (such as streets, police, etc.) are provided by Clark County and not the City of Vancouver?

that our neighborhood sidewalks are owned by the county, but are the responsibility of the home-owners to maintain? They are to be kept free of ground cover, snow, debris and damage that can cause a fall or injury or prevent access.

that the speed limit in our neighborhood is 25 miles per hour?

that the annual association meetings are generally held in March or April at Three Creeks Library? Formal notices with the date, time and location of the annual meetings are mailed to all home owners. Board meetings are held in January, April and September at the Three Creeks Library.

that you can opt to receive notices of upcoming meetings, as well as this newsletter, via e-mail? If interested, contact Darcie Seal at dseal@bluestonehockley.com.

What are your annual home owner’s association dues used for? Property owners in a home owners’ association often wonder where their annual payments go and what they are used for. In Quail Park, your annual assessments support the operation of the association, including administrative expenditures, utilities and maintenance. Here is a simple overview of these categories:

Administration: Management fees, legal services, licenses / permits / taxes, audits and tax prep, printing / copying / postage, liability insurance, and miscellaneous administrative expenses.

Utilities: Water, sewer and electricity.

Maintenance: Primarily landscaping costs… such as our landscaping contract, irrigation, backflow, and supplies. Also includes painting the exterior association wall and pressure-washing, when needed.

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Do you have a small home business, hobby or trade that

you would like to advertise here?Would you like the Quail Park community to know about your special hobby or skill? Do you have an upcoming workshop to be held in your home? Do you have a personal business card that you would like to display in our newsletter? Would you like to get the word out about your vacation rental beach house or mountain cabin, or your time-share at a resort?

If this describes you and you would like to advertise your small home business, hobby or workshop or vacation rentals in our newsletter, please call Debra Tschirgi at (360) 608-9162 or e-mail her at debbie.tschirgi@outlook.com for more info. (Please see the table to the left for advertising fees. The revenue will help offset the cost of printing and delivering these newsletters.)

Only Quail Park residents and property owners may advertise.

SEASIDE, OREGON Historic 1907 House of a Thousand Windows

This beach house is fully

equipped with three

bedrooms and 1½ baths.

The back deck is fabulous

for sun from morning to

night. Enjoy breakfast to

dinner in the wonderful

sea air. Walk only one

block to the beach and

three blocks to downtown

Seaside. Relax and enjoy!

$150.00 plus tax per night. One night free with a week’s rental.

If interested, contact:

Diann Koppen (503) 284-0372

AD SPACE RATES (per newsletter)

1/8 page ........................................................................... $6.00

1/4 page ......................................................................... $10.00

1/2 page ......................................................................... $18.00

1 page ............................................................................ $30.00

Newsletters will be printed and distributed in early May and

early November. Newsletters will be printed and distributed in late April and early November every year. Please send Debra your ad’s information, as well as a photo (optional), no later than April 15 and October 15 every year. She can scan photo prints and business cards, if necessary. Payment is due at the time of placing the ad. Only checks are accepted. Make checks payable to Bluestone and Hockley.

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Take the

QUAIL PARK

CHALLENGE!

How much do you know about our neighborhood? How many of your neighbors do you know and can call them by name? Take this challenge and answer the following questions! 1. Locate all of Quail Park’s 161

properties on this map.

2. Locate your property.

3. Use a colored marker, color crayon, pen or pencil to mark the properties owned by people that you know.

4. Identify the properties in Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3.

5. Put house numbers on as many houses as you can.

6. Write 1 on the ranch-style houses, and 2 on the 2-story houses.

7. Take a walk around the “hood” and find the houses that have the same footprint (floor plan).

8. Make it a goal to meet three new neighbors during the spring and summer months.

Find some of these answers on Bluestone and Hockley’s web site for Quail Park. Follow the instructions on page 3 of this newsletter. You’ll find lots of information about things you may not have known.

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Going Green with the Quail Park Newsletter Today’s technology allows us to get the Quail Park newsletter to you faster, cheaper and with more environmental responsibility … by sending it to you in an e-mail as a PDF attachment. If you’d like to receive it via e-mail, please let Darcie Seal at Bluestone and Hockley know by calling her at 1-800-859-8043. Or send an e-mail to dseal@bluestonehockley.com.

Please Note: Your e-mail will only be used for these Quail Park HOA newsletters and other pertinent announcements.

Do you have a student who is graduating from high school or college? Graduation is a huge milestone for our children. It represents a major accomplishment and the transition to the next phase of their life. If you’d like to share your pride regarding your high school or college student that has recently graduated, send an e-mail to Debra Tschirgi at debbie.tschirgi@outlook.com and share their

name, high school or college they are graduating from, graduation date, major and/or minor, and their plans for the future! A photo is optional. Let’s celebrate their success! (There are no fees for articles regarding accomplishments.)

From: Quail Park Home Owners Association c/o Bluestone and Hockley 9320 SW Barbur Boulevard, #300 Portland, OR 97219

MEET QUAIL PARK’S BLUESTONE & HOCKLEY REPRESENTATIVE!

Darcie Seal

Community Association

Manager

Darcie Seal has experience managing HOA and condominium associations in both Oregon and Washington. She has been a successful business owner and manager for over 20 years. Her strong background in business strategies, project management, marketing and customer service will serve our association well.