Reminder: AGNA Annual MeetingWednesday, November 4, at 7:00 p.m.

in the media center/library of the Hearthwood Elementary School located at 801 NE Hearthwood Boulevard

http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/Airport_Green October 2015

Airport Green Neighborhood Association  

 

               

Newsletter ContentsAGNA and City Ordinances ................................2

Barking Dog Regulations ......................................2

President’s Message ...............................................3

Free Leaf Disposal Coupon ..................................3

Neighborhood Watch Report ...............................4

Seasonal Reminders ..............................................4

AGNA Membership Application .........................5

Voting Info & Proxy Designation .........................6

Free leaf disposal coupon attached to this newsletter

Agenda includes•Our featured speaker this year is Judee

Wells, a partner in the Vancouver Landing, LLC, which is redeveloping the former Evergreen Airport property along SE Mill Plain Boulevard. Judee will update us on the site plan that has changed recently. Come to the meeting to find out what is shaping up for the project on SE Mill Plain Boulevard.

•2015 Audit Report.

•Election of 2016 Executive Board. A ballot with nominations will be presented, but additional nominations will also be accepted from the floor.

Note: There are no proposed amendments to the AGNA Bylaws.

Refreshments will be served Please plan to attend

AGNA Newsletter, October 2015 Page 2

AGNA and City OrdinancesYour neighborhood association does not seek to enforce city regulations such as parking, noise created by neighbors, barking dogs, or building restrictions within the Airport Green Neighborhood. In fact the bylaws for the Airport Green Neighborhood Association specifically state: “Current codes, covenants, and restrictions within the AGNA boundaries will not be enforced by the association.” This has been applied by the Executive Board over the years to mean that none of the AGNA Officers (President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer) are authorized to file a complaint with the city. When neighbors contact an officer with a valid complaint, the neighbor is asked to discuss the matter with the offender. If there is fear of retaliation, the AGNA Officer will make the contact in an effort to seek voluntary compliance by informing the offending neighbor of the regulations. Usually this approach works effectively as the non-compliant neighbor is not aware that a violation is being committed. If the violation continues, the offended neighbor is free to contact the city with a complaint, either online or by phone call, which can be classified as anonymous. (A name and contact information are required to file the complaint, but the filer of the complaint may request to be considered anonymous in the event the Code Compliance Officer is asked who made the complaint.) The city’s website is www.

cityofvancouver.us, and it has a browser feature to access regulations and complaint procedures.

Due to layoffs resulting from the Great Recession, the City of Vancouver has downsized its entire Code Compliance

staff to four (4) people. Since personality conflicts can play a role in the filing of a complaint, enforcement officers will log all complaints, but may not actively pursue a single complaint.

Barking Dog ProblemsA September 6th article in The Columbian did a good job in clarifying regulations relating to barking dogs. If a dog is barking non-stop for ten (10) minutes or intermittently for thirty (30) minutes, it is considered a violation under Animal Control regulations. Since most responsible dog owners are not aware that their dogs are problem barkers, a neighborly notification should hopefully solve the problem. It would be helpful to the dog’s owner to describe when the problem barking occurred as dogs bark for many different reasons. They include territorial behavior (“Get away from my yard!”), greeting

(“Ooh, my person just came home! Hello, hello, hello!”), attention seeking (“Why

isn’t anyone playing with me? Come on—do your job!”), separation anxiety (“Where did everyone go? I hate being left alone!”), and alarm (“What

was that noise? An intruder? I’d better sound the alarm!”). Trying to determine the cause of excessive barking should be considered a mutual problem between the dog owner and neighbors.

If the barking behavior continues, Animal Control can be notified. Individual complaints will result in letters being issued to the dog owner. The letter will include a notice that a $100 fine can be levied for multiple offenses. To get to that point, however, it will take additional documentation. Aggravated neighbors can submit an unedited video (with audio) showing the dog barking in excess. Two or more neighbors from separate households may also submit a noise petition.

What is a responsible dog owner to do? Since almost all punishment or dominance-based approaches do not solve the problem barking, one should seek dog training with a professional. There are several in the Vancouver/Portland area.

AGNA Newsletter, October 2015 Page 3

President’s MessageI’m very pleased that Judee Wells will be giving us an update on the Evergreen Airport redevelopment project (now called Vancouver Landing). I hope to see you at the meeting. If you are unable to attend please use the Proxy Designation form to help us meet the quorum requirement to elect next year’s Executive Board.

I want to take this opportunity to inform you that I served on the Mayor’s Streets Funding Commission. I was asked to participate primarily due to my chairmanship of the Neighborhood Traffic Safety Alliance (NTSA). The purpose of the commission was to assess the city’s needs for street improvements and recommend funding sources, if needed. I agreed with the commission that the state of the city’s roadways — current and future — needs improvements and that dedicated funding must be obtained. I disagreed with the commission’s revenue increase strategy, however, and abstained from the vote to express my position.

As background, when a housing development is created, the streets are installed at the expense of the builder (who passes along the costs to the original homeowners). The streets are then deeded to the city which becomes responsible for maintenance and any future improvements. As a result of the annexation in 2000 (that included us), the city nearly doubled the roads it was required to maintain. Since road improvements are funded through the city’s General Fund (with the aid of state and federal grants), the Great Recession and other spending priorities resulted in the City Council putting roadway funding on the back burner. The current mayor determined that dedicated funding must be found now before the costs of neglect create a crisis. The commission’s funding recommendation, reported in The Columbian on October 14, calls for increases in license tabs, an increase in the business license surcharge, and an increase in the utility tax. None of these measures require a public vote. Over time, they would generate up to $8M per year.

I think the recommendation should have called for action by the City Council to utilize these revenue measures to raise $4M per year ASAP in order to stem roadway deterioration, but go to the public for additional funding depending on the level of roadway improvements deemed appropriate. While I believe the citizenry would support the implementation of revenue generators to “stop the bleeding,” I have a concern that the council may be accused of “over-reaching” in implementing the commission’s recommendation. This could prove detrimental in future re-election bids by Jack Burkman, Anne McEnerny-Ogle, and Alisha Topper. I will address this matter at the Annual Meeting and be happy to answer questions then.

See you at the meeting!

Ross Montgomery

Free Leaf Disposal CouponKeep leaves out of the street! The attached free coupon can help. Autumn leaves are beautiful on trees, but a mess on streets where they clog storm water drains. City crews strive to keep 13,000 drains functioning properly, but street sweepers are no match for large piles of leaves. Please help prevent rain from pooling on the streets. Never blow or rake leaves into the street. Use leaves as garden mulch or use the free leaf disposal coupon attached to this newsletter. NOTE: Douglas Fir needles are not considered leaves for purposes of the coupons.

AGNA Newsletter, October 2015 Page 4

The City of Vancouver supports the neighborhood associations in their efforts to share vital information with residents to create a more informed public. However, the information provided and the opinions expressed and views expressed in neighborhood association newsletters or other documents do not necessarily represent the position of the City of Vancouver, nor does the City determine whether the information published is accurate or appropriate. Printed by the City of Vancouver Office of Neighborhoods.

All articles written by Ross Montgomery.Newsletter published by Allison Wetchler.

Neighborhood Watch ReportAs those of you in my AGNA email group already know, there was a burglary in the neighborhood during the weekend of October 10–11. No one was home at the time. The thief gained entry by breaking the stained glass window pane adjacent to the front door. The window pane shattered as if it were automobile safety glass, and the intruder picked out pieces to make a hole large enough to reach inside

and open the door. Since many of us have front doors with an adjacent glass panel, attention should be given to address the security issue. One might

check with the manufacturer to determine how much force would be required to break the

glass and find out its shatter pattern. The installation of a dead bolt lock requiring a key to unlock from the inside might be a consideration.

Even if you choose not to submit a Permanent Membership Application (one of which is attached to this newsletter), I would be happy to add you to the email group; just contact me. All messages are sent “undisclosed recipient.”

Ross Montgomery

892-1968montre2ecs@aol.com

Seasonal Checklist n Check expiration dates on food and medicines in your emergency kit, and replace as needed.

n Check/clean your chimney and flue before starting that first fire.

n Clean dryer exhaust vents and hoses, including the space below the lint screen.

n Clean or replace furnace filters and condensation hoses.

n Check/clean your roof gutters and downspouts.

n Check the operation of, and batteries in, household smoke and carbon

monoxide alarms. Replace any smoke alarm over ten (10) years old due to eventual failure of the internal particle detection laser.

n Each home fire extinguisher should be checked for the status of the charge. Check with the manufacture’s guide to determine if the contents are dry chemicals which must be shaken periodically until it sounds like shifting sand

inside. Check the manufacture date and replace if twelve (12) years old. (Non-

working or expired extinguishers can be disposed of at the Household Hazardous

Waste collection site at Central Transfer on Saturdays and Sundays. They should NOT be put in waste bins!)

If not needed following a severe earthquake, place on curb for use by a neighbor in case it is needed.

n Have faucet covers and crawl space plugs handy to install if a hard freeze is forecast.

Airport Green Neighborhood AssociationPermanent Membership Application

Application information is for AGNA purposes only Check box if you do NOT want your name(s) published as a voting or dues-paying member.

Check the box(es) that apply: Current resident(s) Property owner(s)

Name ____________________________ Signature _________________________________

Name ____________________________ Signature _________________________________

Name ____________________________ Signature _________________________________

Name ____________________________ Signature _________________________________

Street/property address __________________________________________________________

Mailing address _________________________________________________________________

Phone ___________________________ Email (1) __________________________________

Date of Submission _______________ Email (2) __________________________________

NOTE: Voting rights are established by registering a signed membership application, provided it is received at least seven (7) days prior to the next membership vote. All residents or property owners 18 years or older are eligible to register their membership. Payment of dues is not required to register.

Please submit your signed application to AGNA with your $12 check (voluntary dues) to:

Ross Montgomery AGNA President & Membership Chair14012 NE Airport DriveVancouver, WA 98684

Application for non-profit organization or business licensee can be obtained by contacting the AGNA Membership Chairperson.

Important Notice: Members who elect to pay the voluntary dues may have their house number painted on their curb free of charge! Current registered members may submit this form with their check for voluntary dues (fill out form only if there is a change in personal information, such as phone number or email address).

By checking box, I request my house number be painted on the curb.

Permanent Membership Application approved as to form and content by Executive Board on March 13, 2008

Important Information Regarding Voting EligibilityThe below are voting members as of October 20, 2015. If you have submitted a Permanent Membership Application but your name does not appear on the list, contact AGNA president Ross Montgomery, 892-1968, immediately. In order to establish voter eligibility for the Annual Meeting, new applications must be received by Ross no later than Saturday, October 31. An application is attached to this newsletter. Please utilize the Proxy Designation form if you will be unable to attend so the quorum requirement for the meeting can be satisfied.

Permanent Membership Applications on file as of October 20:

Proxy DesignationI/we designate the following person to vote for me/us at the AGNA Annual Meeting on November 4, 2015:

Name of the person to do the voting

The person designated above understands that this proxy designation form must be presented at the membership table prior to the quorum call made at the meeting.

This proxy designation supersedes and nullifies any proxy designation authorized previously for this meeting.

Member’s name Signature Date

Member’s name Signature Date

Member’s name Signature Date

Proxy Designation Form approved by AGNA Executive Board on October 8, 2008

Abston, D. & S. Ainslie, B.Amies, P.A. & W.T.Barber, E. & R. Bean, D. & K.Berg-Huber, F.Bilyeu, F.Blackman, E. & J.Bollman, C. & G.Bounds, A.Bowen, F. & L.Boyd, C. & L.Brookins, A. & S.Brouhard, B. & C. Bryan, C. Byles, B. Byrne, M. & V. Campbell, B. & M.Carroll, T. Collins, J. & P.

Conroy, A. & T.Cromwell, R. Cunningham, B. & J. Dal Ben, A. Davidson, J. & L. Davidson N. & S. Donovan, J. & S. Doolittle, C. & D.Durham, J. & K.Early, B. & K.Eckrich, N. Espey, B. & D.Felton, C. & T. Fogleman, C.H. Foster, C. & C. Funkhouser, J. & S. Gates, A. & E. Gilman, B. Gingerich, K. & S. Graff, R.

Graves, B. & T. Green, D. & R.C. Green, M. & W. Haberlock, Je. Haberlock, Jo. Hanley, L.Hansen, J. Hill, C.Holmes, S.Huber, D. Jacobson, S.Jensen, K.Jones, S. & T.Kelley, B. Kirsch, C.Klarenbach, J.Kraemer, J. & L.Lader, G. & K.Lafferty, M.L.Lautenbach, J. & M.

Lawson, N.Litsey, G. & T.Little, B. & J.R.Lukas, C. & G. Lyall, R. Martin, K. & K. McClanahan, B. & Y.McIlvena, I. & P.Mill, E. Miller, S. & T. Mills, A. & S. Montgomery, E. & R. Nading, K. & M. Nelson, M. Nelson, T. Newcomb, L.Nichols, M. & T. Nordsiden, D. & M. Nunnelley, B. & M. Olson, B.

Patel, A. & B. Pierro, C. & S. Potts, M.Powell, J. & L. Pruett, J. Reese, A. & S. Richter, R. Roberts, J. & K. Rose, E.R.Sanchez, F. & R. Sargent, J. & S. Sasse, T.Schalk, E.Schmitke, D. & H. Schwarzott, K. Shelton, D. & M. Silveria, P. Singleton, F. & N. Smith, C. Smith, K. & L.

Smith, M. & T. Stevenson, S. Swanson, F. & M.Thompson, M.Tieszen, B. & K.Travis, D. & J.Upfeld, E. Van Bladeren, J. & R.Vanderveer, H. & L. Voight, M.Waisanen, C. & P.Walker, C.M.Weir, C. & D. Wetchler, A. & D.Wiktorek, R. & S.Williams, S. Wilson, G. & S. Zeller, J.

Public Works