Cascade River Community Club

The Board of Directors received a very thoughtful letter from an owner in the Park asking very pertinent questions that the board feels are of benefit for all owners to hear our responses. It is phrased in a question-and-answer format.

Q: I would appreciate detailed information on the distribution of funds within the park.
Specifically, I am interested in understanding the allocation of our annual funds across
various categories, including services, employees, and maintenance. Transparency in these
financial matters is crucial for fostering trust and ensuring that resources are utilized
effectively to benefit the community.

A: Regarding financial issues, we heartily agree that transparency is crucial in this area. I direct you towards the budget proposal that was sent with the annual meeting notice. Everyone should received it via US mail. If you don’t, please contact jsanders@embmanagement.com and we will make sure you get a copy.

Q: What are the communication practices surrounding the park board’s monthly meetings
and decisions. It has become apparent that there is a significant gap in communication,
leaving many residents uninformed about critical decisions that impact us all. This lack of
communication has led to confusion, frustration, and a sense of exclusion among the
residents. Enhanced communication, possibly through regular updates via email or a
dedicated section on the park’s website, would greatly assist in keeping the community
engaged and informed.

A: Communication is very close to the top of the new board’s concerns as well. New
technologies are being put into place that we expect to make communication more streamlined. In the intervening period, we have been sending out updates on the water system replacement project as often as we can via MailChimp (official email communication).

Q: I have observed increased hostility within the community, particularly on social media
platforms. As a long-term property owner, it is disheartening to witness this shift. Improved
transparency and communication from the park board could alleviate some of these tensions and foster a more cohesive and cooperative community environment.

A: Sadly, the board has no control over social media. It is our policy at this time that NO official information will be posted on social media. We agree the level of division has been
extraordinarily high. Please refer to our Park’s Mission statement. It states quite succinctly the
guiding principles to which the board adheres. It is our goal to create community, not destroy it.

Q: Please provide an explanation of the substantial increase in HOA dues over the past few
years. When I first became a property owner, the dues were $800. This amount increased to
$1,200, and rumors suggest that the dues will rise to $1,800. Such significant increases
concern many residents, and I believe a clear, detailed explanation for these hikes is
warranted. Understanding the specific factors driving these increases will help property
owners plan accordingly and assess the value derived from the higher fees.

A: Unfortunately, this board has inherited a failing water system. Repairing it to keep it
operational may no longer be a viable option. Obviously, repairs must continue but the ultimate solution is replacement. That will happen in stages. Water is at the very heart of our community. Without it, we cease to exist. VERY unfortunately, this board has also inherited a budgetary situation very much akin to the water system. As you can see in the financial summary included with the proposed budget, without the additional expenses for water system replacement the assessments would have gone down to roughly $1000 per year because of all the cost cutting the current board has done. The substantial increase is due to the fact the water system replacement reserves were not adequately funded for many years. We went to the cupboard and it was bare, metaphorically speaking. It has fallen upon us, the current Park owners, to pull together and dig deep (pun intended) to continue to make CRCC a great place to live and recreate.

Q: Thank you for your attention to these matters.

A: Thank you for giving permission to use your very pointed questions in this message. You have put voice to what many are thinking. We are owners just like you. We share your concerns.

On behalf of the CRCC Board of Directors
Paul Tews – President

Dear fellow Park owners,

The Board of Directors received a very thoughtful letter from an owner in the Park asking very pertinent questions that the board feels are of benefit for all owners to hear our responses. It is phrased in a question-and-answer format.

It’s the Board’s target to be as transparent as possible.

At the same time, we would like to remind the ownership that the best way to get involved, give feedback and remain up to date with the Board’s decision process is to attend the regular monthly Board meetings.

Many owners seem to be confused with what is posted on social media.

Let’s be clear: THE BOARD DOES NOT COMMUNICATE ON SOCIAL MEDIA. NO OFFICIAL INFORMATION IS POSTED ON FACEBOOK.

Simultaneously, we would like to share general information and basic rules to respect so that everybody can enjoy the Park.

We hope to see you all at the Annual Meeting on June 8, 2024.

CRCC Board

Action Items to Create and Maintain a Fire-Resistant & Healthy Forest Setting at CRCC

REDUCE SURFACE FUELS :

• Cut/lop larger ‘floating’ debris on the ground into smaller pieces to allow those pieces full ground contact. Use this ‘Cut and Scatter’ method instead of the ‘Cut, Pile and Burn’ method as it is much less labor-intensive.
• Perform in-place chipping to reduce debris to a size which is easily composted. Chips should remain where the debris came from.
• Pile debris in small mounds in low spots to create ‘habitat piles’ for wildlife use. Habitat piles should be placed outside the dripline of overhanging trees. Cover piles with few layers of fine branches followed by covering with leaves/compost. Unless the debris is elevated with air on all sides of it, it should NOT be considered a “ladder fuel” hazard. These piles reduce fire hazard while building soil and encouraging moisture retention.
• Avoid removing all debris and burning it in a central location as it:
  • steals nutrients from the forest cycle resulting in poorer forest health
  • sends carbon directly into the atmosphere
  • reduces capacity for moisture retention
  • reduces wildlife habitat
  • increases airflow and drying
  • encourages grasses/brush which may be a fire hazard

INCREASE THE HEIGHT TO THE BASE OF TREE CROWNS:

• Prune densely packed trees that are skirted with small diameter dead branches.

INCREASE SPACING BETWEEN TREE CROWNS:

• Thin out smaller trees in crowded stands.
• To encourage wildlife/biodiversity it is appropriate to do a variable-density thinning approach where you have skips and gaps of thinning in the forest.

KEEP LARGER TREES OF MORE FIRE-RESISTANT SPECIES:

• When thinning, strive to leave large conifer trees which have thicker bark as well as large deciduous trees which have higher moisture content.

PROMOTE FIRE-RESISTANT FORESTS AT THE LANDSCAPE LEVEL:

• Create shaded fuel-breaks by thinning/pruning next to our roads.

Useful Links

• REDUCING FIRE RISK ON YOUR FOREST PROPERTY (PACIFIC NORTHWEST EXTENSION PUBLICATION PDF – 41 PAGES)
• FIREWISE
• FOREST STEWARDSHIP PLANNING
• FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND COST-SHARE PROGRAM