Enchanted Lake Residents Association Board of Directors Zoom Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, January 11, 2022
Conducted via Zoom: Present: D. Young, J. Bean, G. Colbert, G. Gustavson, L. Jenks, D. Medeiros, M. Novack, A. Richardson, F. Tannen, C. Turner, and M. Spencer (Administrative Assistant).
Absent: M. Compton and D. Dawson
Guest: B. Bourke
The meeting was called to order by D. Young, President, at 7:03 pm. A quorum was declared.
Minutes: The draft Minutes for December 2021 had been circulated via email prior to the meeting. Following a brief discussion, G. Colbert moved approval and G. Gustavson seconded the motion that the Minutes be approved. F. Tannen abstained since she was not present at the meeting. The remaining members approved the report unanimously.
Finance: G. Gustavson opened his report that, today (11 Jan 2022), he had deposited funds in our American Savings Bank account. This represents the money held in escrow from our settlement at the Title Guarantee Escrow Services, less fees and including interest. With this payment we have now received all of the funds provided in the settlement.
Gustavson had provided via email the monthly comparison report of December 2021 receipts and expenses, to the Budget approved for FY 2021-2022. Both receipts and expenses are tracking our budget pretty closely. We have received $34,682 from the Assessed Lots, which equates to 114 members. We have received $5700 from Voluntary KCA membership, which equates to 19 members. We have received $300 from one Non-KCA Voluntary member.
G. Gustavson expressed his thanks to Alan Richardson and Adam Bookatz for their continued support of the ELRA finances.
D. Young, President called for unanimous acceptance of the Report, subject to audit. By show of hands, the Report was unanimously accepted.
Administration:
Review of Flood Event: The multi-day storm event that started on 1 Jan 2022 inundated the Kaelepulu waterways with rain, measured at over 10”. This resulted in the lake and associated canals rising higher than most residents had ever seen. Communications with the responsible C&C workers, responsible for opening the Berm, was hampered by the retirement of a key worker.
Numerous residents around the lake and on the canal found water coming into their yards and, in some cases down the canal, into their homes. The only means of communications available to the ELRA leadership was telephone, text, and the ELRA Face Book site.
Several members of the Board received urgent phone calls and texts from neighbors and other residents asking what to do. In the meantime, after multiple unsuccessful efforts D. Young reached Mr. T. Sugihara at the C&C who had already mobilized a crew to open the berm to release lake water into Kailua Bay. The crew arrived at about 1:30 pm. As this was happening, unknown to anyone on the ELRA Board, residents on the canal near the Buzzes Steak House had come together to dig a narrow trench in the berm to try to protect their homes.
With all of this as background, the Board held a lengthy discussion as to how we, ELRA, could have done things better. It was agreed that communications are key to ensuring that our members, and even others with the same interests, were prepared for the storm effects and informed as to what steps ELRA had already taken. Of the communication means available to ELRA, Email has the broadest reach. Currently only one individual is equipped to send the messages. It was agreed that it would be helpful if the entire Executive Committee (currently four people) could be trained on the system. Further, it was agreed that non-ELRA households living along the canal might have an interest in having access to the ELRA emergency information sharing.
1-1 TASK: Coordinate an agreeable time for Email Training ** M. Novack ** Complete
1-2 TASK: Send USPS Letter to residents living along and near the Kaelepulu Canal, offering them the opportunity to have access to ELRA Emergency Announcements ** M. Novack
Communications Log: D. Young had shared his log prior to the Meeting. Two letters that were to be sent to (1) certain upslope homeowners, and (2) C&C officials responsible to protecting waterways, were discussed. It was agreed to finalize their content online.
A letter that had been sent to owners who were seriously in arrears in assessment payments spurred a discussion about how some of the owners might not understand their responsibilities. It was agreed that a visit by a Board Member might result in more payments.
1-3 TASK: Board member to visit ELRA Members who are in arrears in their assessments ** G. Colbert.
Holiday Boat Parade Review: The Annual Holiday Boat Parade was originally scheduled for 11 Dec but postponed due to weather. It successfully took place on December 18. We were joined by Lisa Martin, State House District 51. Young thanked G. Lingle, a Board Alumnus, for leading the event.
Filling Vacant Positions: M. Novack reminded the Board that we now have two vacancies. Consistent with the Bylaws, the Board can fill these vacancies without a vote by all the ELRA members, understanding that the individual will stand for election at the next Annual Meeting.
Novack suggested that finding someone with expertise in the Law or Engineering would be helpful.
Committee Reports:
Dredging Committee: G. Colbert stated that there has been no change since last month. He has spoken with J. Moniuszko, Oceanit who has been in touch with Former Deputy AG P. Leong. She recommends that ELRA/Oceanit communicate with Cathy Betts, Director, Dept. of Human Services. Moniuszko attempted to contact Betts but has not heard back.
Colbert stated that he was meeting at Oceanit this coming Thursday (13 Jan 22) to be brought up to date as to where we are.
D. Young said he has a box of dredging related documents that he would like to pass to Colbert.
M. Novack requested relevant documents be scanned for storage in DropBox.
Membership Committee: There was no report from the Membership Committee.
Operations Committee: M. Compton was not present, however he reported by email that he had nothing new to report. Just been returning docks and boats. Cleaned all palm fronds and floating boards from middle of lake during my patrols. Boat is running well.
Environment Committee:
Water Quality Testing Program: L. Jenks reported that she had met with D. Esibill via Zoom and that he had observed significant changes to the Pond from the two recent storms. There is an increase in salinity and a reduction in turbidity.
Storm Drain Marking: L. Jenks reported that she will be marking some storm drains on the coming weekend (15-16 Jan) and encouraged Board members to come out and help.
Next Meeting Date: The next Board meeting will take place by Zoom on Tuesday, February 8, 2022 at 7pm. The next KNB meeting will be Feb 3, 2022. J. Bean is scheduled to attend.
Adjournment: F. Tannen moved adjournment, which was seconded by G. Gustavson. The affirmative vote was unanimous. The meeting adjourned at 8:37 pm.
Respectfully submitted – M. Novack