FICRA Board Meeting Minutes 10-10-2024

FICRA Building Trust Board Meeting Minutes
Thursday, 10 October 2024, 7:00PM
Nichols Community Center, Fox Island, Washington

Attendees: Weston King (President), Arlyn Lawrence (Vice-President), Hal Goodell (Treasurer), Candy Wawro (Secretary), Craig McLaughlin (Director), Jacob Paukert (Director), Peggy Wright (Director), Jim Braden (Project Manager, Laura Paukert, Joan Broughton

Pledge of Allegiance and Call to Order (7:04pm)
Public Comments: None
Approval of Minutes for July/Sept (No Meeting in August): Hal made a motion to approve the minutes, Craig seconded the motion. Voting was unanimous. Motion Carried
Treasurer’s Report (Hal)
- Trust Checking
  - Beginning Balance: $ 22,646.25
  - Checks and Payments: 24,848.39 (Labor Day Exp)
  - Deposits and Checks: 30,476.90
  - Cleared Balance: $ 28,274.76
- Trust Savings
  - Beginning Balance: $ 732.06
  - Checks and Payments: 0.00
  - Deposits and Checks: 0.03 (Interest)
  - Cleared Balance: $ 732.09
- Building Trust PayPal (Ending 9/30/24)
  - Beginning Balance: $ 3,878.27
  - Checks and Payments: 3,926.69
  - Deposits and Checks: 3,878.27
  - Ending Balance: $ 1,046.81
- Trust Capital Checking
  - Beginning Balance: $ 5,782.30
  - Checks and Payments: 0.00
  - Deposits and Checks: 0.00
  - Ending Balance: $ 5,782.30
- Trust Reserve Checking
  - Beginning Balance: $ 153.20
  - Checks and Payments: 0.00
  - Deposits and Checks: 0.00
  - Ending Balance: $ 153.20
- 30 Month Flex Certificate
  - Beginning Balance: $ 107,122.28
  - Checks and Payments: 0.00
  - Deposits and Checks: 350.42
  - Ending Balance: $ 107,472.70
- 5 Month Certificate (Add On) – Closed Out 9/01/24
  - Beginning Balance: $ 84,892.67
  - Checks and Payments: 84,892.67 Transf to MM
  - Deposits and Credits: 0.00
  - Ending Balance: $ 0.00
- Trust Money Market (Gen., Cap., Reserve, EP, NW)
  - Beginning Balance $ 175,994.55
  - Checks and Payments 322.51
  - Deposits and Credits 85,625.13
  - Ending Balance: $ 261,297.17
- Trust General Money Market
  - Beginning Balance: $ 83,450.65
  - Checks and Payments: 0.00
  - Deposits and Credits: 85,302.62 (Sept Int. Plus Cert. Transf)
  - Ending Balance: $ 168,753.27
- Trust Capital Money Market
  - Beginning Balance: $ 28,664.22
  - Checks and Payments: 0.00
  - Deposits and Credits: 0.00
  - Ending Balance: $ 28,664.22
- Trust Reserve Money Market
  - Beginning Balance: $ 40,802.47
  - Checks and Payments: 0.00
  - Deposits and Credits: 0.00
  - Ending Balance: $ 40,802,47
- Trust Community Events/Activities Money Market
  - Beginning Balance: $ 12,100.96
  - Checks and Payments: 0.00
  - Deposits and Credits: 0.00
  - Ending Balance: $ 12,100.96
- Trust Emergency Prep. Restricted Money Market
  - Beginning Balance: $ 6,591.59
  - Checks and Payments: 0.00
  - Deposits and Credits: 0.00
  - Ending Balance: $ 6,591.59
- Trust Neighborhood Watch Restricted Money Market
  - Beginning Balance: $ 4,384.66
  - Checks and Payments: 0.00
  - Deposits and Credits: 0.00
  - Ending Balance: $ 4,384.66
- Trust Money Market – Other
  - Beginning Balance: $ 0.00
  - Checks and Payments: 85,302.62 (Sept Int Plus Certif Deposit Transf to Gen MM)
  - Deposits and Credits: 85,302.62
  - Ending Balance: $ 0.00
- Sum of QB Sub Money Markets $ 261,2977.17

Standing Committee Reports & Actions (Jim)
- Building & Grounds: The air conditioning project installation is complete. Jim has yet to do a complete walkthrough with the contractor as he was out-of-town. The front doors’ manufacturing is underway followed by installation in about six weeks.
- Nature Center: (Ed Burrough) Aside from doing trail maintenance, and keeping the frontage along 9th Avenue kept up, the biggest accomplishment has been the regular watering of about 30 plantings that were planted in March. This has led to a high survival rate so far and bodes well for the future. New growth will be greater next year with the support of established, healthy roots.
- Emergency Preparedness (EP): FI-ready.org has been open to the public for two months. Monthly hits are at about 170, but few of them are by local residents. We have done some advertising of it, but a dedicated effort is needed once ficra.org is completed (some details remain to fully integrate fi-ready with ficra.org).
- The Medical Reserve trailer is still awaiting the Medical Response Corps decision on the trailer availability. We have talked with them, and they are actively pursuing this. The County owns it and has a lengthy process to release it. The contents, however, are ours.
- The School District radio station KGHP is built into our emergency response system. However, the future looks bleak for the station being used as we have in the future. We are looking into alternate means of having readily accessible FM radio messaging for Fox Island residents during a major disaster.
- FIARC (Fox Island Amateur Radio Club) continues to improve the communication system for Emergency Response. The communication exercise conducted June 29th with some lessons to record and respond to is being repeated October 12th to continue the improvement process.
- Other items in the works:
  - Neighborhood Watch Charter – Draft written. Jim, Hal and Craig to follow up.
  - Repository in new location?
- Wes raised some concerns about the installation and usage of a water fountain/dog water bowl the Fox Island Garden Club is proposing due to concerns of increased production costs, transferable diseases, and upkeep costs thus creating an unforeseen future and ongoing budgetary obligation. Additionally, the real estate needed for the fountain limits the grounds usage. Wes made a motion to eliminate this project from the Nichols Community Center grounds. Jacob seconded the motion. Vote was unanimous. Motion carried. Jim will reach out to the FI Garden Club and any monies collected through FICRA will be refunded.
Old Business
- Party With A Purpose, Funding Purpose Update (Candy): Given the cost of the HVAC project of over $40,000 the purpose needs to be replacing those funds with the fundraising effort of a party with a purpose. The party with a purpose is slated for February 22, 2025. Numerous caterers were contacted to serve heavy appetizers. With the cost of food that has escalated it was decided to do our own catering and perhaps purchase desserts that are time consuming. The present plan is to provide a grazing table charcuterie with 10-12 served heavy appetizers and a variety of desserts. We lost our decorating chair as the new date caught her traveling. Candy has some ideas to proceed.
- Red Cross Blood Drive Update Sept. 26th (Candy): Blood Drive was successful. We had a majority of brand new donors with 32 pints completed and 2 non-completed. Will most likely do again either in the Spring or again in the fall of 2025.
- FICRA Website Update (Candy): Candy says she is still learning but has posted on it. It seems rather easy to maneuver around. Howard Stapleton has been enormous help in setting it up. Candy has a few questions about the calendar option. Is it tied to Google calendar as before? We will begin to post the agenda and “draft” minutes. Once minutes are approved and/or any corrections/additions/deletions, we can remove the “draft” notation. This will allow for community transparency of FICRA Board minutes. In the past, the agenda, “draft” minutes, and final minutes were posted.
- Philanthropic Committee Update (Craig): None at this time.
- 501C3 Letter of Determination (Craig): The request was forwarded to the correct office and received. Fulfillment of the request should take 6-8 weeks.
- FICRA Welcome Packet (Jim): The FI Post Office has the latest copies for new residents. The packet is amended as necessary.
- FICRA Directory Interest/Update (Hal): Hal is presently working on it. The last edition of 2019 was done on old software and is not useable today. He can download the membership list but the format it downloads is quite different. We hope to have one with just FICRA members and not as a whole island as that becomes too cumbersome. There was also discussion as to ending the hardcopy version and placing it online.
- Volunteer Program (Peggy): Peggy has become the cumbersome job of calling members. Often folks do not answer her calls as she has an out-of-state area code which gets interpreted as a spam call. When she does reach someone she asks what is their favored means of communication; email, phone, snail mail, etc. It is becoming more difficult to actually contact individuals for a phone conversation.
- HVAC Update (Jim): See above
- Audit Committee Update (Candy): The audit committee has begun the process to audit 2021, 2022, and 2023. The Audit Committee consists of Kelly Carmichael, Joan Broughton, and Candy. The Board will be advised as each year is completed and any findings alongside suggestions for correction.
New Business
- Rental Rates Proposal (Candy): A survey of rental venues in our surrounding area has been completed. We are, by far, lower than any “like” venues around us. However, we also are not “overbooked” in rentals. We do provide a venue that is quite affordable and versatile. It is the Finance Committee that makes a recommendation to the Board for consideration. Hal suggested we raise the rental rate that has remained steady since 2016. We are awaiting a recommendation from the Finance Committee.
- French Toast (Candy): Madeline has been contacted that after her already booked rentals (one in October and one in November), we will no longer offer her a reduced rental rate. The reduced rental rate given to her by the Board was for continuous rental of several months. Since that condition no longer applies, she will be given the regular non-FICRA member rental rate. She also was asked to retrieve any French Toast things she has left behind in August when completing her October rental.
- Scholastic Scholarship (Arlyn): Arlyn suggested that the $10,000 per year FI Scholarship to Gig Harbor High and Home Schooled students is not sustainable every year given our budget. Arlyn recommended that we reduce the scholarship to $2,000 which is more in line with other FI organizations. Each year we have had more applicants and perhaps there is a way to promote it better. Candy said that school counselors are the best promoters as they see the students more frequently. We will discuss the amount at the January budget meeting of the Board.
- Tennis Court Donation (Wes): Jim and Craig have met with the property owners, United Church of Christ, Board members. It was decided to not donate to the property holders as it is not in our charter.
- Holloween Zombie Walk (Candy): Candy explained she was trying to come up with a different idea for Halloween for the island children. We had an idea to parade down through a development close to the NCC, but the homeowners declined. Walking from Zogs to the NCC means that we need the road blocked for safety by police (another expense). Plus, for several years in a row, the weather has not cooperated (rain). Arlyn suggested that we do nothing as there are lots of activities already planned in Gig Harbor. Arlyn made a motion to do nothing for Halloween. The motion was seconded by Wes. Vote was unanimous. Motion carried
Pending Business
- November – Scholarship Program Budget
- January 2025 FICRA Fees
- Ghostlight Ongoing Theater Proposal (December Meeting)
Meeting Adjournment: Candy made a motion to adjourn. Jacob seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Motion carried. Adjournment 8:35pm.
Minutes Respectively Submitted by Candy Wawro

Pledge of Allegiance and Call to Order (7:04pm)
Public Comments: None
Approval of Minutes for July/Sept (No Meeting in August): Hal made a motion to approve the minutes, Craig seconded the motion. Voting was unanimous. Motion Carried
Treasurer’s Report (Hal)
- Trust Checking
  - Beginning Balance: $ 22,646.25
  - Checks and Payments: 24,848.39 (Labor Day Exp)
  - Deposits and Checks: 30,476.90
  - Cleared Balance: $ 28,274.76
- Trust Savings
  - Beginning Balance: $ 732.06
  - Checks and Payments: 0.00
  - Deposits and Checks: 0.03 (Interest)
  - Cleared Balance: $ 732.09
- Building Trust PayPal (Ending 9/30/24)
  - Beginning Balance: $ 3,878.27
  - Checks and Payments: 3,926.69
  - Deposits and Checks: 3,878.27
  - Ending Balance: $ 1,046.81
- Trust Capital Checking
  - Beginning Balance: $ 5,782.30
  - Checks and Payments: 0.00
  - Deposits and Checks: 0.00
  - Ending Balance: $ 5,782.30
- Trust Reserve Checking
  - Beginning Balance: $ 153.20
  - Checks and Payments: 0.00
  - Deposits and Checks: 0.00
  - Ending Balance: $ 153.20
- 30 Month Flex Certificate
  - Beginning Balance: $ 107,122.28
  - Checks and Payments: 0.00
  - Deposits and Checks: 350.42
  - Ending Balance: $ 107,472.70
- 5 Month Certificate (Add On) – Closed Out 9/01/24
  - Beginning Balance: $ 84,892.67
  - Checks and Payments: 84,892.67 Transf to MM
  - Deposits and Credits: 0.00
  - Ending Balance: $ 0.00
- Trust Money Market (Gen., Cap., Reserve, EP, NW)
  - Beginning Balance $ 175,994.55
  - Checks and Payments 322.51
  - Deposits and Credits 85,625.13
  - Ending Balance: $ 261,297.17
- Trust General Money Market
  - Beginning Balance: $ 83,450.65
  - Checks and Payments: 0.00
  - Deposits and Credits: 85,302.62 (Sept Int. Plus Cert. Transf)
  - Ending Balance: $ 168,753.27
- Trust Capital Money Market
  - Beginning Balance: $ 28,664.22
  - Checks and Payments: 0.00
  - Deposits and Credits: 0.00
  - Ending Balance: $ 28,664.22
- Trust Reserve Money Market
  - Beginning Balance: $ 40,802.47
  - Checks and Payments: 0.00
  - Deposits and Credits: 0.00
  - Ending Balance: $ 40,802,47
- Trust Community Events/Activities Money Market
  - Beginning Balance: $ 12,100.96
  - Checks and Payments: 0.00
  - Deposits and Credits: 0.00
  - Ending Balance: $ 12,100.96
- Trust Emergency Prep. Restricted Money Market
  - Beginning Balance: $ 6,591.59
  - Checks and Payments: 0.00
  - Deposits and Credits: 0.00
  - Ending Balance: $ 6,591.59
- Trust Neighborhood Watch Restricted Money Market
  - Beginning Balance: $ 4,384.66
  - Checks and Payments: 0.00
  - Deposits and Credits: 0.00
  - Ending Balance: $ 4,384.66
- Trust Money Market – Other
  - Beginning Balance: $ 0.00
  - Checks and Payments: 85,302.62 (Sept Int Plus Certif Deposit Transf to Gen MM)
  - Deposits and Credits: 85,302.62
  - Ending Balance: $ 0.00
- Sum of QB Sub Money Markets $ 261,297.17

Standing Committee Reports & Actions (Jim)
- Building & Grounds: The air conditioning project installation is complete. Jim has yet to do a complete walkthrough with the contractor as he was out-of-town. The front doors’ manufacturing is underway followed by installation in about six weeks.
- Nature Center: (Ed Burrough) Aside from doing trail maintenance, and keeping the frontage along 9th Avenue kept up, the biggest accomplishment has been the regular watering of about 30 plantings that were planted in March. This has led to a high survival rate so far and bodes well for the future. New growth will be greater next year with the support of established, healthy roots.
- Emergency Preparedness (EP): FI-ready.org has been open to the public for two months. Monthly hits are at about 170, but few of them are by local residents. We have done some advertising of it, but a dedicated effort is needed once ficra.org is completed (some details remain to fully integrate fi-ready with ficra.org).
- The Medical Reserve trailer is still awaiting the Medical Response Corps decision on the trailer availability. We have talked with them, and they are actively pursuing this. The County owns it and has a lengthy process to release it. The contents, however, are ours.
- The School District radio station KGHP is built into our emergency response system. However, the future looks bleak for the station being used as we have in the future. We are looking into alternate means of having readily accessible FM radio messaging for Fox Island residents during a major disaster.
- FIARC (Fox Island Amateur Radio Club) continues to improve the communication system for Emergency Response. The communication exercise conducted June 29th with some lessons to record and respond to is being repeated October 12th to continue the improvement process.
- Other items in the works:
  - Neighborhood Watch Charter – Draft written. Jim, Hal and Craig to follow up.
  - Repository in new location?
- Wes raised some concerns about the installation and usage of a water fountain/dog water bowl the Fox Island Garden Club is proposing due to concerns of transferable diseases. Wes made a motion to eliminate this project from the Nichols Community Center grounds. Jacob seconded the motion. Vote was unanimous. Motion carried. Jim will reach out to the FI Garden Club and any monies collected through FICRA will be refunded.
Old Business
- Party With A Purpose, Funding Purpose Update (Candy): Given the cost of the HVAC project of over $40,000 the purpose needs to be replacing those funds with the fundraising effort of a party with a purpose. The party with a purpose is slated for February 22, 2025. Numerous caterers were contacted to serve heavy appetizers. With the cost of food that has escalated it was decided to do our own catering and perhaps purchase desserts that are time consuming. The present plan is to provide a grazing table charcuterie with 10-12 served heavy appetizers and a variety of desserts. We lost our decorating chair as the new date caught her traveling. Candy has some ideas to proceed.
- Red Cross Blood Drive Update Sept. 26th (Candy): Blood Drive was successful. We had a majority of brand new donors with 32 pints completed and 2 non-completed. Will most likely do again either in the Spring or again in the fall of 2025.
- FICRA Website Update (Candy): Candy says she is still learning but has posted on it. It seems rather easy to maneuver around. Howard Stapleton has been enormous help in setting it up. Candy has a few questions about the calendar option. Is it tied to Google calendar as before? We will begin to post the agenda and “draft” minutes. Once minutes are approved and/or any corrections/additions/deletions, we can remove the “draft” notation. This will allow for community transparency of FICRA Board minutes. In the past, the agenda, “draft” minutes, and final minutes were posted.
- Philanthropic Committee Update (Craig): None at this time.
- 501C3 Letter of Determination (Craig): The request was forwarded to the correct office and received. Fulfillment of the request should take 6-8 weeks.
- FICRA Welcome Packet (Jim): The FI Post Office has the latest copies for new residents. The packet is amended as necessary.
- FICRA Directory Interest/Update (Hal): Hal is presently working on it. The last edition of 2019 was done on old software and is not useable today. He can download the membership list but the format it downloads is quite different. We hope to have one with just FICRA members and not as a whole island as that becomes too cumbersome.
- Volunteer Program (Peggy): Peggy has become the cumbersome job of calling members. Often folks do not answer her calls as she has an out-of-state area code which gets interpreted as a spam call. When she does reach someone she asks what is their favored means of communication; email, phone, snail mail, etc. It is becoming more difficult to actually contact individuals for a phone conversation.
- HVAC Update (Jim): See above
- Audit Committee Update (Candy): The audit committee has begun the process to audit 2021, 2022, and 2023. The Audit Committee consists of Kelly Carmichael, Joan Broughton, and Candy. The Board will be advised as each year is completed and any findings alongside suggestions for correction.
New Business
- Rental Rates Proposal (Candy): A survey of rental venues in our surrounding area has been completed. We are, by far, lower than any “like” venues around us. However, we also are not “overbooked” in rentals. We do provide a venue that is quite affordable and versatile. It is the Finance Committee that makes a recommendation to the Board for consideration. Hal suggested we raise the rental rate that has remained steady since 2016.
- French Toast (Candy): Madeline has been contacted that after her already booked rentals (one in October and one in November), we will no longer offer her a reduced rental rate. The reduced rental rate given to her by the Board was for continuous rental of several months. Since that condition no longer applies, she will be given the regular non-FICRA member rental rate. She also was asked to retrieve any French Toast things she has left behind in August when completing her October rental.
- Scholastic Scholarship (Arlyn): Arlyn suggested that the $10,000 per year FI Scholarship to Gig Harbor High and Home Schooled students is not sustainable every year given our budget. Arlyn recommended that we reduce the scholarship to $2,000 which is more in line with other FI organizations. Each year we have had more applicants and perhaps there is a way to promote it better. Candy said that school counselors are the best promoters as they see the students more frequently. We will discuss the amount at the January budget meeting of the Board.
- Tennis Court Donation (Wes): Jim and Craig have met with the property owners, United Church of Christ, Board members. It was decided to not donate to the property holders as it is not in our charter.
- Holloween Zombie Walk (Candy): Candy explained she was trying to come up with a different idea for Halloween for the island children. We had an idea to parade down through a development close to the NCC, but the homeowners declined. Walking from Zogs to the NCC means that we need the road blocked for safety by police (another expense). Plus, for several years in a row, the weather has not cooperated (rain). Arlyn suggested that we do nothing as there are lots of activities already planned in Gig Harbor. Arlyn made a motion to do nothing for Halloween. The motion was seconded by Wes. Vote was unanimous. Motion carried
Pending Business
- November – Scholarship Program Budget
- January 2025 FICRA Fees
- Ghostlight Ongoing Theater Proposal (December Meeting)
Meeting Adjournment: Candy made a motion to adjourn. Jacob seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Motion carried. Adjournment 8:35pm.
Minutes Respectively Submitted by Candy Wawro
Minutes Approved 11/16/2024

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