Stair Project- Save the Date!!

We finally have plans in the works for fixing up the stairs this fall, but we are going to need your help! Please save the dates below and come help out for a day or more.

We will have exact needs and information closer to the dates as well as requests for tools and equipment but please mark your calendar and plan on helping out if you can.

September 19 + 20 and September 26 + 27

(If anyone has a beam saw that we could use, or is willing to make some cuts for the project, please let us know.)

Neighborhood Garage Sale

We are planning a Neighborhood Garage Sale next weekend, July 18 & 19 from 9am to 2pm. So far, we have 2 sign-ups and would like to have at least 4-5 to start sharing on social community groups. (You do not have to commit to the full time listed above.) The graphic will be updated on Tuesday with dots on committed locations.

Please let us know today if you plan to participate!

Sign up here!

Volunteers!

We’re looking for volunteers to help spread the wood chips at the Northeast entrance.  We would welcome any help, any time you could spend an hour or so.

We’re basically just spreading the chip piles out on the ground approximately 2”-3” deep. We will need to move some material from the West side of the road to the East side, since Asplundi (PGE) dumped too much on the West side. 

We want to recognize your work! We will give prizes for those who let us know they worked on the piles (kids and adults)! We’re not tracking details, but we’d like to know everyone’s first name who worked so we can recognize you, including kids! 

Grab your rake, wheelbarrow and scoop shovel and head up to the Northeast entrance. Some  board members will be there this Saturday afternoon if you’d like to join in, but again, feel free to go at any time!

Email us and let us know that you helped out so we can recognize you and for prizes!! estateswashingtonsquare@gmail.com

HOA Board Meeting Minutes

2026-04-01 HOA Board Meeting

7pm; Joel Steven’s home

Present: Mackenzie, Catie, Joel, Kimberlee

Agenda & Discussion:

-Treasurer’s Report: Dues Collections and Bank Account Status

Balance Summary 4/1/26
STARTING BALANCE 1/1/26$ 5,879.67
INCOME$ 11,471.00
EXPENSE$ (4,640.08)
ACCOUNT BALANCE$ 12,710.59
RESERVE FUNDS (TREE & LEGAL)$ (5,000.00)
UNRESTRICTED FUNDS$ 7,710.59

Updates

  • Online payment fee:
    • Processing fees were calculated for each amount billed to homeowners. All homeowners received an appropriate payment link option that included their dues, overdue amount, late fee, and appropriate processing fee. 
    • Processing fees are now stated separately as income and expense in the financial summary and are no longer reflected as a portion in the donation category.
  • Past Due Balance: 
    • After review, the past due amount was adjusted based on the deposit records.
      • $5,464 – Reported outstanding in the 2025 Year-End Financial Statement
      • $4,512 – Corrected amount, reflecting 6 unrecorded payments (4 in 2024 and 2 in 2025)
      • Late fees totaling $125 were removed from invoices due to changes.
      • Though the payments were inadvertently missed on the member tracking sheet, they were reflected in the account balances in 2024 and 2025. The reported overall income for those years is accurate.
      • Initial invoices had already been sent, so updated invoices were sent out.
      • For 2026, the payment tracking sheet was updated to help prevent future errors and provide a double-check.
  • 2026 Dues:
    • 63% of total lots paid (66)
    • 64% of past due amount paid ($2880)

-WSE HOA Tax filings

Catie contacted IRS to verify past tax filings; the only ones on file are 2017 and 2023; previously, there was a question about whether or not we needed to file since we are non-profit, but we are not officially one; Catie confirmed with IRS that we are required to file and she will file the missing tax year documents 2018-2022, 2024-2025

-Stairs Project

Joel recommends sending an email out to members asking for volunteers to head up project; maybe start with the few that already indicated interest in the project; what about getting the total cost for different materials then asking families if they are interested in sponsoring a step? Could help break the cost down to a more manageable amount

-Wood Chips & Landscaping

We need to tell PGE to stop dumping wood chip loads; we have received 2 additional that we did not request; maybe we need a work party to spread the loads; NOTE: if we ask our landscaper to do it, he has quoted us $350-$400 per PILE; Joel has an email to send asking members to volunteer their time as they can; we will give prizes for those who let us know they worked on the piles (kids and adults)!

-Additional At-Large Board member

We need more board members!!! Our little group of 4 is pretty awesome, but more support is needed

-Parking in cul de sac & streets in HOA neighborhood

FYI, the police came through the neighborhood and gave tickets and warnings for those “blocking sidewalks” and not parallel parking along curbs

-Website Updates

Catie put the actual PDFs for by-laws and CCRs instead of links; she had to remove the donation link bc of potential fraudulent use

-Community Garage Sale

Considering aligning the date with the one that Multnomah does just outside our neighborhood – July 19th 9am-2pm; We think we should do Saturday the 18th; people are welcome to hold their own sales on whatever day(s) and times work for them; Catie will put information on our website

-Email to encourage owners to join our website: Catie put the subscribe link at the bottom of all emails

Backyard Habitat Program

Message from The Backyard Habitat Certification Program with an offer for our neighborhood:

Do you value the birds and pollinators that visit your yard? Looking for ways to
lower water bills and garden sustainably? Interested in learning more about native plants?
Enjoy FREE ENROLLMENT in the Backyard Habitat Certification Program (BHCP)!
We have helped over 14,000 residents create lasting impact in the natural spaces you enjoy. Together, we can transform yards, commercial areas, and public spaces into thriving habitats that support native wildlife, contribute to water and air quality, and enhance climate resilience.
Participants receive an in-person site visit with a seasoned technician, personalized recommendations for your space, a comprehensive site report, annual discounts to native plant nurseries, garden tours, and much more.
To access your Free Enrollment, please visit backyardhabitats.org. Use discount
code BHCP100. Let’s Plant Roots, Create Habitat, and Transform the World, One
Yard at a Time!

They are currently offering free enrollment through 4/1/26 in their program for our neighborhood. 

Annual Meeting

2026-01-29 HOA Annual Meeting

Board Present: Joel Stevens, Catie Aznoe, Mackenzie Hart, Kimberlee Reitmeier, Dolly Specht

Zoom Meeting; 7pm

Attendees

Lot 47 Johnson

Lot 72 Tom McGowan

Lot 29 + 30 Nancy Lof

Lot 81 + 104 Dolly Specht

Lot 10 Leo Macleod

Lot 11 Mike Shkolnik 

Lot 105 Catie Aznoe

Lot 52 Kimberlee Reitmeier

Lot 103 Mackenzie Hart

Lot 101 Joel Stevens

Lot 49 Steven Kray

Proxy Votes

Lot 9 Laurie Burke

Lot 35 Virginia Nelson

Lot 90 Trent Edwards

Lot 13 Ellen 

Lot 1 Devon Anderson and Cella Roy

Lot 99 Robert Ryan and Sara Wood

Lot 71 Adam Aguilar

Lot 41 Scott Bauer

Lot 59 Ronald Cameron

Lot 63 Robert McLellarn

Lot 97 Linda Rutledge

-We have a quorum

Discussion/Reports:

  1. Stairs from Ventura Ct.  to Ventura Dr. and our park. Committee to explore options for rebuilding?

Volunteer work party did not come together; Joel looking at options for stairs masonry vs. wood; Joel wants to put a committee together; Leo MacLeod volunteered, Tom McGowan volunteered, Tom gave permission for power/outlet use, as did Catie; 

-Question asked about how to collect past due dues; First step is that we contact the owner; have to research where owner lives when there is a renter present; threaten lien, file lien (none this year yet), We have one resident 6 years behind, one 5; Catie sending notices at the end of the month; recommendation that we offer payment plan; We have offered payment plan and received one response;  

-Question asked about what is the next step on the stairs; Joel: want a committee; Leo & Tom are willing to be on committee; Joel will reach out to schedule; 

-Question asked if City will help; ask for their connections; maybe their engineering staff has connections; Dolly asked and they were not interested before, she will try again; Leo shared his concerns about safety and liability; Joel will set date and we can post on the website to get more support

  1. Landscape Maintenance

-Price went up for services a bit; we were gifted PGE wood chips, and Dario is spreading; he charges $400 per unit; Maybe we have a work party to spread so we do not have to keep paying Dario; The loads are free from PGE, we need to let them know when we want them to stop; they are being spread at the north entrance of WSE (off Alfred); Mackenzie will be the contact for Dario moving forward

  1. Trees on Common Property

-Removed one from lot 1; Mike shared that when neighbor had tree fall on their house, his own rates were raised; NOTE: if you see any on common property, please let the Board know; Mike shared that it looks like there are some small ones on the creek side that need to be taken care of; might be able to take care of himself; 

  1. The Roster

-The roster went out via link to this annual meeting; we have it on the website and it is PASSWORD PROTECTED, check your email for that information; opt out option is available (see email and website); Roster is for neighbor use only – DO NOT use for soliciting; 

  1. Treasurer’s Report and actions to collect delinquent dues

-Dolly shared on screen the 2025 Year End Report; Mackenzie recommends stating that ending cash is $289 and the $4000 is moved to cash reserves

  1. Elections

-Dolly is leaving the Board; Caite will take over treasurer position; still have an open position; any takers?

Election of Officers:   We need to fill several board positions, so please consider volunteering.  

  1. New Business: Dolly has an offer of a street sign for free; that says Washington Square Estates; might be confusing since it looks like a street sign;

Questions: Mike asked about social events; 

Progressive Dinner would be fun; summer picnic; awesome goal; need support to plan; neighborhood garage sale; Let’s put it on the website; Board will discuss details at next board meeting!

Meeting adjourned at 8pm

2026 Annual General Meeting

1/13/2026

Washington Square Estates Homeowners:

We have decided to have the 2026 General Meeting via Zoom, instead of in person.  We did this to save some money on the venue rental, and in the hopes that we would get greater participation by the membership.   The Meeting is Thursday January 29th at 7:00 pm   You can join the meeting by clicking on the link, or pasting it into your browser.    Please be sure you know your lot # when logging into the meeting.     We will also send out proxy forms in the next few days.

Joel Stevens is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83801550516?pwd=3wUProlnBplZLsF8rgYzkj6KbhPjt2.1 

Meeting ID: 838 0155 0516
Passcode: 878568 

One tap mobile
+12532050468,,83801550516#,,,,*878568# US
+12532158782,,83801550516#,,,,*878568# US (Tacoma) 

Check the WSE HOA  website for additional details;  https://wsehoa.org/

Tentative Agenda

Check on Quorum   (20% for regular business,  over 50% to amend bylaws or increase dues)

Discussion/Reports:

  1. Stairs from Ventura Ct.  to Ventura Dr. and our park. Committee to explore options for rebuilding??
  2. Landscape Maintenance.
  3. Trees on Common Property.
  4. The Roster.
  5. Treasurer’s Report and actions to collect delinquent dues.
  6. Elections.   
  7. New Business.

Election of Officers:   We need to fill several board positions, so please consider volunteering.