Frustrated with your homeowners’ association? Lacey produces a possible solution
Lacey City Council on Thursday voted to expand and extend a contract the city has with the Dispute Resolution Center of Thurston County to provide help to residents and their homeowners association.
The original contract between the city and DRC was created to address disputes between landlords and tenants. But after members of two homeowners’ associations, including the 127-home Aldea Glen HOA, recently came to the city with concerns, the council weighed whether to offer HOAs mediation services, too.
“It makes a lot of sense to open this up to HOAs,” said Lacey Mayor Andy Ryder.
Common complaints about HOAs include a perceived abuse of power, lack of transparency and general dysfunction, according to comments shared by city staff during the meeting.
Council member Lenny Greenstein came out against expanding the DRC contract, saying it’s not a city function to settle these kinds of disputes.
Ryder countered that over the years he has been contacted quite a bit about HOA concerns.
“They (residents) contact us for all kinds of things but that doesn’t make it a city function,” Greenstein replied, adding that he received 20 emails this past week encouraging the city do something about the war in Gaza, but he feels that, too, is not a city function.
Those having a dispute can hire their own mediators, he said. Greenstein also pointed out that in his 12 years on the council, the Aldea Glen controversy was the first to come before a council meeting.
“Are we trying to fix a problem that doesn’t exist?” he asked.
Other council members felt differently.
Carolyn Cox, who said she serves on the Rainier Park HOA board, said that by expanding the contract, it’s another tool in the toolbox for increasingly fractious times.
A resident from the same HOA addressed the council during public comment last week, raising concerns about noise being generated by her neighbor.
Michael Steadman remembered the days when he lived in an area with a HOA, calling it a virtual “police state.”
One time there was a car accident in front of his house that took about 20 minutes to clear. Days later he received a letter that said if he didn’t remove the dilapidated vehicle, he would be fined. Or he said a picture of his house would be taken, outlining some apparent defect that was barely detectable, he said.
The council ultimately voted 5-1 to amend the DRC contract. Council member Ed Kunkel did not attend Thursday’s meeting.
Residents who brought HOA concerns to Lacey council elect new board
Lacey residents ask city for help with HOA board, accusing it of being ‘out of control’
