Dues and community projects

Dues are established by the Owners Association and cover all the routine operating costs of the community’s infrastructure. These include maintenance of the water system and roads, Decatur Shores dues, building and equipment repair, garden supplies, power and gas, and insurance for community-owned land and assets.

Dues are currently $250 per month per lot, with an additional $100 contribution to a Reserve Fund. This was established to provide funds for emergency and/or major construction or repairs to the infrastructure (e.g., significant road repairs. or major building refurbishment or replacement). The rate of dues and reserve fund contributions has been unchanged for the last five years. Prospective purchasers can, of course, review the Owners Association income and expense statement and balance sheet.

There is no set requirement or time commitment for working on community projects. Owners volunteer for tasks in which they have an interest and/or relevant skills. Small informal committees look after matters such as the water system, equipment, finance and the garden.

The Whitecliff garden

The garden is a focal point for the community. It is managed informally but to good effect. Owners contribute in various ways, whether weeding, tilling and digging; managing the compost; looking after the irrigation system; planting; fence repair or other tasks.

Owners pick what they need and agree mutually on planting and harvesting. One of the delights of Whitecliff is a trip to the garden late in the day to see what might be good to eat that evening.

Water

A County-approved community well provides water to the six lots. Costs of the system are included in the monthly dues.

Equipment

The community owns a variety of equipment, including a 1946 Ford Tractor (and assorted attachments for the PTO), a modern John Deere tractor-mower, several smaller and lighter mowers, a heavy brush mower, numerous hand-tools and other equipment, and a share in a hydraulic log-splitter.

Owners can make reasonable private use of the equipment, subject to the usual rules of returning it fueled up, clean and ready to go.

Transportation

Of the current owners that have built homes, two families have boats that they use for getting to and from the island, and the third uses the ferry services. In winter many people like to take their boats out of the water and have someone else do the driving. Alternatively (or as well)  there are two fast private ferries, the Paraclete and Island Express. They operate several times a day between Anacortes and Decatur (about a 30 minute trip). Visitors or residents in a hurry and without much to carry can fly from Anacortes for a similar cost via Island Air (about five minutes).

There is no Whitecliff-owned car, but all current owners have vehicles. The dock is within walking distance, but it’s a mile or two and a car is very useful for getting around the island. Along with construction materials and other major loads, cars can be brought to the island by the Island Transport Ferry Service, which operates a drive-on barge between Anacortes and (among other destinations in the islands) the County Ramp at Davis Bay on Decatur.

Fuel

Whitecliff has a 300 gallon gasoline tank that is filled as necessary by a tanker truck that visits the island at regular intervals. Currently no specific charge is levied for use of gasoline—it’s included in the dues. The assumption is that all make reasonably equivalent use, and that much of the usage is for community purposes. In the event that one owner requires greater use of gasoline (for example, for their own equipment, or heavy use on their lot) some appropriate limitation or charge would be applied. Propane is also delivered to the island on a regular basis and some owners use this for heating and cooking.

Development

The Covenants, Conditions, Restrictions and Easements (CCandRs) specify how lots can be developed, and include rules on water use, disposal of garbage, noise, architectural standards and other issues. Prospective purchasers can of course review these.