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Minutes of the 2026 Annual Meeting
Westlake Homeowners Association
Monday, March 30, 2026; 6:30 p.m.
Oak Creek School Library
President Chris Heueer called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. The other members of the Association’s board of directors in attendance were Rolland Royce (Treasurer), Lev Volod (Website Coordinator). Lia Anderson, and Derek Johanson. Also attending was Oswego Lake Watershed CouncilExecutive Director Jack Halsey and certified arborist Brian French.
Rolland Royce reported that 51 proxies signed by lot owners were submitted in advance of the meeting. There were approximately 15 additional lot owners present in person at the meeting who did not submit a proxy, resulting in approximately 66 lot owners present in person or by proxy. Rolland reported that noticesof the meeting were mailed to lot owners and to the apartments within the time requirements required by the Association’s Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions and Bylaws.
The minutes of the 2025 annual meeting were reviewed
President’s report
You have already heard about Fritz and Bill. I want to start by noting thedeparture of Tom Berridge as our open space coordinator. Tom was in that role for many years – at least 12, since he was in that position when Ijoined the board. We appreciate all Tom did over the years. You will soonhear about the roles that Jack and Brian will play to fill Tom’s shoes. Youhave already heard about Derek joining the board at last year’s annualmeeting. I want to note the very positive addition of Lia to our board thispast year. She has energetically taken on the landscaping and open spaceportfolio, and you will hear about that from her tonight. As you will hearfrom me in a moment, we are in dire need of more homeowners to step upand serve on the board.
Our HOA’s biggest challenge comes from our open space areas. Safety toour residents is the board’s number one concern. We continue to focus onpotentially dangerous trees in all 3 tracts. We are fortunate to have Jackand Brian as part of the team. Jack has been handling the renovation ofTract A for several years now, and Brian has been assisting us with someof our tree removals over the past few years. With Tom’s departure, Brianand Jack have both stepped into bigger roles. Brian has worked this pastfall in Tract C to assess and address hazardous trees. The assessment hasincluded "pull tests" and some crowning to reduce what I call the "wind sail"effect. Brian has recommended a new arborist consultant and tree studythat will be intended to result in identification of trees for removal ormonitoring. We also have been following the emerald ash borer infestationthat is on its way and that we know will adversely affect the health of ourcommon area trees and require the cutting of many common area treesover the coming years. Brian also recently pointed out a new issue – ARMA LARIA (or root rot) that will be assessed this fall, especially in couple "hotspot" areas in Tracts A and C that are wet in the summer from homeownerlawn and shrub watering. Jack has been, and will, be expanding the workhe and the OLWC have been doing to renovate Tracts B and C, with thegoal of making our oak trees – our oak woodland – healthier and stronger.
Fire safety is another issue the board pays close attention to, and we are inthe process of clearing invasive species (ivy and blackberries) and creatingfire breaks if necessary. We are told that the biggest danger of fire is notfrom the existing vegetation, but from firewood and debris dumping by ourhomeowners. Under the direction of the board, Tom was identifying – andJack and Brian will continue to help identify – those homeowners who areresponsible for these actions and related encroachments. Although not ourhighest priority, we also try to focus on the aesthetics of our common areas.Tract C, which had more extensive clearing in the fall, is perhaps in mostneed, although we also plan to address Tract A along Kruse Way.
Derek will give an ADRC update, including the board’s intention to focus onhomeowner compliance with our guidelines for home and yardmaintenance. Compliance with HOA standards has been falling, and weintend to redouble our efforts this summer to identify and reach out tohomeowners who are not complying. We did a preliminary walkaround lastfall and adopted a new policy on As indicated in the mailing we sent lastfall, we intend proactively to call out homeowners who are not complying,and if necessary start imposing more fines. One of the things that makethis difficult is our governing documents require that homeowners watertheir lawns. Climate change is calling that practice into question, and asyou will hear we have now heard that summer watering of lawns andshrubs are keeping our open space areas too wet, with resulting harm toour common area trees.I started by noting turnover and I want to make a plea for more members. Itoo plan to move out of the neighborhood and resign from the board.Please consider joining or asking a neighbor to join. I would also like topropose an "Open Space Committee" (not a board committee) that wouldmeet periodically – maybe 3 or 4 times a year – to review actions in ouropen spaces, with no requirement of a formal board position. Instead, thesehomeowners would participate in discussions with Jack, Brian, and theboard on relevant issues including tree safety (tree fall risk), fire safety, andthe creation of a healthy, sustainable, attractive our open space.
Financial Report
Cash has been significantly reduced in 2025 due to the ongoing cleanup after the January 2024 storm and completion of other projects in the common areas. The increase to $300 in the "maximum annual " assessment, approved in 2025 and implemented in full with the 2026 dues assessment, will provide resources for ongoing projects and rebuilding of our cash.
Common Area Discussion
Chris introduced Jack Halsey and Brian French, opened an active discussion regarding our common areas. Concerns were expressed by homeowners on: containing fire risk; aesthetic appearances related to downed trees and branches; the fenceline along Kruse Way; priorities in managing Tracts A, B, and C; the use of pull tests to better assess root strength of trees and canopy weight; drainage issues; the potential need for a special assessment to deal with these concerns; the potential for volunteer homeowner work crews to supplement clean up work; among other issues. Brian and Jack will be conducting a risk assessment of all three tracts, and submitting their report along with recommendations to the board in the near future.
Lia reported on work being done by our maintenance service company Pacific Landscape Maintenance, including the need for backflow devices to be installed on several of our irrigation meters, and plantings along visible areas on Westlake Drive. The previous service was deemed substandard, and while the PLM cost is higher, the board feels the benefits justify the cost.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.