Focus Magazine - March/April 2012

Focus

March/April 2012

L.A.’s Premier Source of Information for Community Associations

Board Perseverance & Professional Help Win the Day!

Appearance is Everything

Electrical Vehicles 102 Davis-Stirling Act Update

SAVE THE DATE:

Golf Tournament June 11

VIVA LAS VEGAS CAI Golf Tournament Monday, June 11, 2012

Current Sponsors Securitas Security Services USA, Inc. Wolf, Rifkin, Shapiro, Schulman & Rabkin, LLP

Woodland Hills Country Club

Beaumont Gitlin Tashjian Servpro Stay Green Inc.

21150 Dumetz Road Woodland Hills, CA 91364

Prize for the bes Las Vegas th t eme decorated te e!

Fenceworks, Inc. Pacific Western Bank Preferred Commercial Painting Alliance Environmental Group Behr Paint Corporation/ The Home Depot USA ValleyCrest Landscape Maint.

West One | Janitorial Services Accurate Termite & Pest Control American Environmental Group Amtech Elevator Services, Inc. CertaPro Painters Ltd. Collins Builders, Inc. Duramax Building Products Hi Tech Painting & Decorating Patriot Environmental Laboratory Services, Inc. Reconstruction Experts, Inc. Rodent Pest Technologies, Inc. S.B.S. Lien Services Urban Tree Care, Inc. Vista Paint Corporation Anderson Group International City National Bank

Registration Shotgun Start Lunch & Putting Contest 19th Hole Dinner, Raffle, Awards

8:00 a.m.

9:00 a.m.

11:00—1:00 p.m.

2:30 p.m.

4:00 p.m.

$200 per player—18 holes Includes green fees, cart, goodie bag, box lunch, dinner and awards/prize drawings. $ 55 Dinner & Social Only Includes dinner and awards/prize drawings.

Register online at www.cai-glac.org or Mail check to: CAI, 2753 West Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90041

2012 BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS Jeffrey A. Beaumont, Esq., President Beaumont Gitlin Tashjian, 818-884-9998 Matt D. Ober, Esq., President Elect Richardson Harman Ober, PC, 626-449-5577 Catherine Gemind, CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®, Vice President Valencia Management Group, 661-295-9474 Joanne Pena, CCAM®, CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®, Secretary Horizon Management Company, 310-543-1995 Katy Krupp, Treasurer Fenton, Grant, Mayfield, Kaneda & Litt, LLP, 949-435-3800 DIRECTORS Tina Chu, Esq. Adams Kessler, PLC, 310-945-0280 Matt Davidson, CCAM® Action Property Management, 800-400-2284 Pamella De Armas SAX Insurance Agency, 310-740-4274 Michael Lewis, CCAM®, CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM® Concept Seven, LLC, 310-622-7012 Gregg Lotane, CCAM®, PCAM® Robert Ridley, Esq. Castlegate HOA, 213-626-0291 David C. Swedelson, Esq. Swedelson & Gottlieb, 310-207-2207

CHAPTER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Joan Urbaniak, MBA, CMCA®

2012 COMMITTEE CHAIRS COMMUNITY OUTREACH Meigan Everett, CMCA®, Power Property Management EDUCATION Gregg Lotane, CCAM®, PCAM®, Merit Property Management FINANCE Jolen Zeroski, CMCA®, Union Bank GOLF TOURNAMENT Teresa Agnew, Gifted... creative marketing solutions Daisy Vasquez, Securitas Security Services USA, Inc. LEGISLATIVE ACTION Lisa Tashjian, Esq., Beaumont Gitlin Tashjian MARKETPLACE Catherine Gemind, CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM® Valencia Management Group April Tronson Servpro of Burbank, Chatsworth, Van Nuys & Crescenta Valley MEMBERSHIP Carol Brockhouse, AMS®, Rockpointe HOA MEDIATION SERVICES Matthew Grode, Esq., Gibbs, Giden, Locher, Turner & Senet, LLP PROGRAMS/LUNCHEONS Linda Healey, PCAM®, The Californian on Willshire PUBLIC RELATIONS Robert Gavela, Park West Landscape Maintenance PUBLICATIONS Matthew Gardner, Esq., Richardson Harman Ober PC FOCUS Magazine Sherry Branson, Kevin Davis Insurance Services Matthew Gardner, Esq., Richardson Harman Ober PC Membership Directory Stephen S. Grane, Alante/MCS Insurance Services Web Site Lynne Collmann, CMCA®, AMS®, Savoy Community Association SATELLITE PROGRAMS Gail Jones, CCAM®, CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®, Valencia Management Group Craig Phillips, CCAM®, CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®, International Tower Owners Assn.

SOCIAL Pamella De Armas, SAX Insurance Agency, Inc. Alba Monroy, ABM Property Management WINE NIGHT Katy Krupp, Fenton, Grant, Mayfield, Kaneda & Litt, LLP Jolen Zeroski, CMCA®, Union Bank

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

NEWSWORTHY 4 Board Perseverance & Professional Help Win the Day! 6 NEWS FROM SACRAMENTO: Sacramento Deadline Passes 8 Electric Vehicles 102: There Are Solutions 10 Implementing a Landscape Renovation Project 12 LED Lighting (The Watt’s Up & Down) 14 Davis-Stirling Update 16 Communication in a Social Media Age 22 The Power of YELP

CHAPTER UPDATE 2 Note From the Editor’s Desk 3 President’s Message

NOTEWORTHY 17 PCAM Reception 24 Valentines for Vets 26 Luncheon Highlights

FYI 3 28 30 32 32 32

Essentials of Community Leadership Frequently Asked Questions & Answers CAI-GLAC Membership News 2012 Upcoming Events Advertisers Index Advertising Information

On the Cover

Village Palos Verdes Homeowners Association, Redondo Beach.

Photo Courtesy of Design Build Associates.

32 Updates to 2012 Membership Directory Save the Date: G olf Tournament June 11 This publication seeks to provide CAI-GLAC’s membership with information on community association issues. Authors are responsible for developing the logic of their expressed opinions and for the authenticity of all facts presented in articles. CAI-GLAC does not necessarily endorse or approve statements of fact or opinion made in these pages and assumes no responsibility for those statements. By submission of editorial content to CAI-GLAC, the author acknowledges and agrees to abide by the editorial and policy guidelines. Copyright © 2012.

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. CAI is a national, not-for-profit association created in 1973 to educate and represent America’s residential community association industry.

National Office Address: 6402 Arlington Blvd. #500, Falls Church, VA 22042 Tel: 888/224-4321 • Web Site: http://www.caionline.org

STAY CONNECTED:

2753 West Broadway Los Angeles CA 90041 Office: 323/254-9526 Fax: 323/254-9903

March/April 2012 | www.cai-glac.org

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2012 CAI-GLAC Super Sponsors PLATINUM

Landscaping is on everyone’s mind this time of year, and Alan Denison discusses how to make changes to the landscaping at your association.

S

PRING IS HERE … and as we transition out of winter our thoughts turn to the new season ahead. Spring is typically a time of renewal and fresh starts, and the season matches our theme of this issue perfectly. We are taking a look at various types of renovations conducted by a couple of member associations in this issue, and also providing our usual helpful-advice articles.

NOTE

Dan Nakari shares the results of his association’s project to convert the garage from fluorescent to LED lighting. Dan highlights the big difference between LED lighting and traditional lighting and how it can help save a bundle.

Gary Kessler, Esq. gives us an update on Davis-Stirling Act revisions and writes about the fact that the twin bills were passed by unanimous vote by the State Assembly. The most visible change in the Act is the reorganization and renumbering in the Civil Code Section 1350 sequence.

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

Village Palos Verdes Homeowners Association has undergone a major renovation, and our lead article and cover shot detail the results of this renovation and how it has drastically changed the entire appearance of the complex. Dennis Brooks writes about the entire process from start to finish.

Skip Daum, our legislative advocate in Sacramento, then provides us with news from the State Capitol and announces that 2,791 bills have been introduced this year. He brings three bills in particular to our attention that seem to affect community associations.

Electric vehicles are the wave of the future, and Todd Ritter broadens our understanding of and helps us plan for the installation of electric vehicle charging stations in association common areas.

Communication is probably one of the most drastically changing fields right now. Technology is moving so fast that even people who work in the industry have trouble keeping up with it. Social media has changed everything across the board.

Lori Albert writes about how fast things are moving and how there is no way it’s going back.

Miranda Legaspi then alerts us to the power of Yelp and the difficulty in getting a bad review removed from that Web site.

www.cai-glac.org | March/April 2012

GOLD Beaumont Gitlin Tashjian Behr Paint Corp./THE HOME DEPOT USA CertaPro Painters Ltd. Del Mar Pacific General Contractors Farmers Insurance Group— Steven G. Segal Insurance Agency, Inc. Fenceworks, Inc. Fenton, Grant, Mayfield, Kaneda & Litt, LLP Ferris Painting, Inc. First Bank Association Services Mutual of Omaha Bank/CondoCerts PCW Contracting Services, Inc. Popular Association Banking Rodent Pest Technologies, Inc. Ross Morgan & Company, Inc. Securitas Security Services USA, Inc. Select Painting Sky Security Services, Inc. SILVER Accurate Termite & Pest Control Association Reserves, Inc. Collins Builders, Inc. Marina Landscape Painting Unlimited, Inc. Reconstruction Experts, Inc. Reserve Studies Incorporated S.B.S. Lien Services SAX Insurance Agency Stay Green Inc. Swedelson & Gottlieb Three Phase Electric Timothy Cline Insurance Agency, Inc. Union Bank

BRONZE

Enjoy the spring and this issue!

— Sherry Branson Editor

CAI-GLAC does not necessarily endorse or approve statements of fact or opinion made in these pages and assumes no responsibility for those statements. Authors are responsible for developing the logic of their expressed opinions and for the authenticity of all facts presented in articles.

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Anderson Group Int’l Restoration & Remediation Contractor Animal & Insect Pest Management, Inc. Duramax Building Products Hi Tech Painting & Decorating, Inc. Pacific Western Bank Payne Pest Management Preferred Commercial Painting, Inc. R.W. Stein Painting, Inc. Wolf, Rifkin, Shapiro, Schulman & Rabkin, LLP

Action Duct Cleaning Company Advanced Painting, Wood Repair & Wrought Iron Berg Insurance Agency, Inc. City National Bank DM Construction Services LPS Field Services Mission Landscape Services Patriot Environmental Laboratory Services, Inc. Poindexter and Company, CPAs Professional Services Construction, Inc. Richardson Harman Ober PC Sherwin-Williams Paint Silldorf & Levine, LLP We thank our 2012 sponsors who have made a substantial contribution to ensure our continued success this year.

Contact the Chapter Office at 323-254-9526 to sponsor a program or an event.

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

MESSAGE

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Better.

Together.

T

he first step in achieving our mission in 2012 is to come together. As such, attending Chapter meetings, member education courses, workshops, the monthly educational luncheons, and our numerous events are vital to furthering that goal.

Visit our Web site at www.cai-glac.org for a calendar of events. Your attendance, participation and support are imperative to our continuing success.

Our goal is to come together to achieve excellence within the community association industry. Communication is the key to this success. Through communication of ideas, information

and tools among the leaders of community associations, each of us can help our industry be great.

Attend the CAI Annual Conference this May in Las Vegas, Nevada, to sharpen your tools for success. Come hear experienced leaders within the community share valuable knowledge to help your performance in your career and in your community, as well as learn practical strategies to save time and money. Take advantage of this opportunity to network with peers from Los Angeles and around the world, experience the latest innovations from product and service providers, and then return home with the tools and renewed energy needed to succeed.

With a presidential election on the horizon, we are reminded of the importance of voting — for our individual

voices to be heard. Coming together as a group helps our individual voices grow louder. This is why I encourage each of you to attend the 2012 Legislative Day at the Capitol, hosted by the California Legislative Action Committee, where CAI members arrive in Sacramento en masse to visit their legislators and educate them about pending bills that affect common interest developments.

Attendees may visit and interact with delegates after a bill briefing. This event is important to attend, as our voices are louder as one — enabling us to communicate effectively with the legislators. In addition, this weekend event includes food and fun, with luncheons and a Monte Carlo Night.

Please don’t forget to register for this event online at www.caicalif.org.

As always, I look forward to our year together — because together we continue to become better. � Jeffrey A. Beaumont, Esq. 2012 Chapter President

Have You Just Been Elected to Your Board...

Or Are Contemplating Running for a Board Seat?

CAI offers a one-day workshop that you won’t want to miss! It gives you the basics that you need to govern more effectively and efficiently. You’ll leave the workshop with new ideas, solutions to problems, handouts for future reference and the knowledge that there are more resources and people to help you with your leadership responsibilities. Course topics include: responsibilities, rule enforcement, maintenance, finance, reserves, insurance and board meetings.

Cost: Cost: $80/Member; $100/Non-member $80/Member; $100/Non-member Next Class: Next Class: April 14, 2012 April 14, 2012

Location: Location: TBD Seaside HOA, Marina del Rey Regatta Go to www.cai-glac.org for more Godetails to www.cai-glac.org for more and registration. details and registration.

Approved by the Department of Real Estate as a proper use of association funds.

Course fee includes course materials, continental breakfast and lunch. Workshops are held on Saturdays. Call the Chapter Office at 323.254.9526 for a Workshop schedule.

The location varies - if you can guarantee 10 attendees, we’ll come to your association!

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

March/April 2012 | www.cai-glac.org

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BEFORE RENOVATION

Board Perseverance & Professional Help Win the Day!

By Dennis Brooks

F

or years Village Palos Verdes Homeowners Association had incurred substantial costs for building maintenance. The complex, consisting of 21 buildings, two pool house buildings and 180 units, was in excess of 30 years old. The original cedar siding had never been sealed nor had any finish ever been applied; it was dried out, full of termites and dryrot and was a source of substantial water intrusion. In many locations the association had used caulking on the siding trying to keep water from entering the units, but this was expensive and ineffective. Although many in the association were aware that it was necessary to replace the siding, as in any association, there were a few homeowners that refused to face the reality that the siding had outlived its useful life.

The board of directors, knowing that the work needed to be done, followed the advice of their community manager and interviewed several construction managers. Our company was selected to assist them with this major renovation project. As in most projects of this type the board who was working to solve the problem faced opposition from those members who did not want to incur the cost of a repair. With the

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construction managers assistance the board held several informational town hall meetings and ultimately passed an assessment with a successful majority vote by the membership.

forward. The board, having hired and relied on quality property management, solid legal and professional construction management advice, was enabled to prevail against the opposition.

Once again the opposition homeowners started a campaign to stop the project.

The opposition made claims about the election process and worked hard trying to convince other homeowners that the project was unnecessary. They posted letters to the members throughout the association; they contacted the local newspaper and convinced them to run a story about the plight of the homeowners facing off with their association over the renovation. When these attempts failed to gain traction with the board and membership, the opposition found an attorney who was willing to represent them, and they filed litigation against the association in an attempt to stop the work. The board, resolute in their decision, and the majority memberships vote to restore the association’s property, stood strong in their defense of the process and their plan to renovate the property. After a year of legal maneuvering the claims against the association were dismissed and the project was free to finally move

Today the exterior renovation project is complete and the exteriors of the buildings are watertight. The renovation included complete replacement of the siding, new doors and windows, new decks with the addition of the cable rail accents, new roofing and chimney caps and a fresh coat of paint. Once construction started, it was completed ahead of schedule and slightly under the original allocated budget. The project is a testament that with firm determination, persistence and quality professional guidance, associations can overcome objections and obstacles and prevail in their pursuit to properly fulfill their fiduciary duties to the greater benefit of the association.

Dennis Brooks is the president and founder of Design Build Associates, Inc. in Westlake Village. He can be reached at DennisBrooks@dBuild.com.

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

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March/April 2012 | www.cai-glac.org

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NEWS

FROM SACRAMENTO

Sacramento Deadline Passes

By Skip Daum February 24 was the last day for new legislation to be introduced into their respective houses in Sacramento. On last count 2,791 bills have been introduced and are being dissected by our dedicated lobbyists, Skip Daum and Ron Kingston. Out of the approximately thirty (30) bills that seem to affect community associations, there are a few that really stand out…

AB 561 (Corbett) is BACK. This is the second year this bill has been floating around Sacramento, and it is worrisome. The premise behind the bill is to get the money that is collected in delinquent assessments to the HOA as fast as possible. That sounds great! The problem comes when an association is not willing or able to spend any more money collecting on a particularly difficult account. Many boards feel that turning the account over to a debt collector who knows the best ways to collect on delinquent accounts is the most productive way to go, but AB 561 will severely curtail that practice. These “professional” debt collectors are providing a service, and as such,

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they expect to be paid for it. HOAs want to “cut their losses” and are willing to take a percentage of what is brought in on accounts where collection seems practically hopeless. If AB 561 passes, the only way the debt collection company would be paid is if it collected MORE than the assessments due the association.

Since, practically speaking, that doesn’t happen, the professional collectors would have to work for free, or the HOA would have to pay them out of the assessments collected by people who ARE paying their assessments. The point of using the professional collectors was to stop throwing good money after bad while still acknowledging the board’s fiduciary duty to collect assessments.

While this bill may look good on the surface, it severely inhibits a board’s ability to do its due diligence. We have attempted to bottle this bill up in the Assembly and have succeeded thus far.

AB 2273 (Wieckowski) – Timely Recordation after Trustee Sales. Problems arise after a foreclosed property is sold at auction.

The problems mainly come from banks that are not willing to take responsibility for the assessments and maintenance of the property and, therefore, delay the recordation of the property into their name. Technically, they OWN the property (they bought it at auction), but they do not record that transfer officially, so no one knows! The HOA continues to bill the previous homeowner (who was just foreclosed upon), asking THEM to continue to maintain the property and fining them for any failure to do so.

Why should the person who just lost their home be required to pay assessments and maintain the property? The simple answer is: they should not be. The language of this bill (in effect) is that

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

the bill “would provide that an owner of a separate interest shall, within 30 days of transferring title, provide to the association’s board secretary, agent, manager, or designated representative, a copy of the owner’s deed or other document transferring title to the purchaser of the separate interest and a written notice of the purchaser’s mailing address.” CAI’s California Legislative Action Committee is working alongside Assemblymember Bob Wieckowski and the County Bar Associations (who initiated this measure) in promoting this bill and possibly amending the language to provide additional incentives to comply with the law once enacted. Requiring timely recordation is the first step in holding banks responsible for obligations they have as part of the foreclosure process.

SB 1244 (Harman) – Notice of Default Notification. The California Civil Code has many requirements regarding how someone defaulting on their loan needs to be notified of the filing of a Notice of Default (the first step in the foreclosure process). Senator Harman has introduced a bill that makes the notification of a non-paying unit owner more reasonable.

The text of the bill states: “The board shall provide notice by personal service in accordance with the manner of service of summons in Article 3 (commencing with Section 415.10) of Chapter 4 of Title 5 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure to an owner of a separate interest who occupies the separate interest or to the owner’s legal representative, if the board votes to foreclose upon the separate interest.” If after reasonable diligence the notice is not able to be personally served

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

on an owner of the separate interest who occupies the separate interest, the association may post a copy on the owner’s separate interest in a manner most likely to give actual notice to the party to be served and mail a copy of the notice by certified mail and first-class mail to the owner at the address of the owner’s separate interest. [The italics are the new part.] At first blush, it looks like it simplifies the process for HOAs a bit. And, as usual the California Legislative Action Committee will keep an eye on its progress and let you know of any changes made and our official position once taken.

And that is only three of the thirty… We have a lot of work to do in the coming months. To keep abreast of the situation, check out our blog at caiclac.wordpress.com and sign up to be notified automatically when new posts occur. That will be the best place to find out what is going on in the world of HOA legislation in California.

Be sure to join us for our Legislative Day in the Capitol, set for April 15-16. For more information, please visit www.caicalif.org and look under “Upcoming Events.”

Skip Daum has been serving CAI’s California Legislative Action Committee as Lead Advocate for 18 years. He can be reached at caiclac@aol.com

March/April 2012 | www.cai-glac.org

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ELECTRIC VEHICLES 102: There Are Solutions

By Todd Ritter

OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHALLENGES: XX HOA homeowners and tenants are purchasing electric vehicles (EVs) and want to charge at home.

XX HOAs do not have immediate plans to accommodate residents & guests.

XX Residents may begin to take matters into their own hands (Compliance Issues).

XX HOAs are trying to figure out how to bill for expensive KWH usage in deeded parking common areas.

RECOMMENDATIONS Get a basic understanding of your Electric Vehicle (EV) charging and parking situations (How many spaces: Deeded, Guest). AB-209 and SB-880 could permit homeowners and guests to use or occupy common areas for Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE).

Begin to plan a 1-3-5 year EVSE plan for the immediate and future of HOA homeowner EV buyers.

Work with an experienced company to discuss and prepare HOA boards for immediate EVSE needs.

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Planning – Phase 1 XX Investigate and evaluate the existing electrical

infrastructure (Electrical Engineering) »» How many EVs can my property’s power load handle today and in 5 years?

Support Analysis – Phase 2 XX Discuss options and alternatives according to Phase 1 results.

XX Create a uniform environment (Unit Aesthetics, Cord Management) XX Create Policies — Are there CC&R, Bylaws and insurance requirements in place?

XX Provide a Backbone (Distribution of common area power) »» Level I charging 120v (Providing a standard plug in outlets) »» Level II Charging 240v (The same power needed for a Jacuzzi®)

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

XX Determine cost expectations and who will absorb the

costs? (Owners or HOA, Assessments/Operating Budget) »» Engineering hours, power equipment upgrades, panels, switchgears, transformers etc. »» KWH billing alternatives: ›› Flat rate valet ›› 3rd party TOU monitoring billing ›› Credit card POS ›› Combination (turn-key solutions) ›› Types of EVSE charging station technologies available to fit HOA environments

Concept and Design – Phase 3 XX Design a system according to Phase 2.

XX Design and engineer EVSE for immediate needs, including: »» Permitting »» Engineering plans (DPP 3 page requirements) »» Energy auditing, finding opportunities for common area load reductions XX Create a long term EVSE infrastructure plan.

XX Perform utility studies to include: »» Possible power upgrades and equipment (transformers) »» Separate panels and EV utility metering for discounted rates XX Explore alternative power generation opportunities (i.e. detached solar car ports).

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

Material Procurements and Installations – Phase 4 XX Charging station hardware and/or separate TOU meter, KWH monitoring hardware and software CONSIDERATIONS: XX Do nothing and hope for the best. Allow residents to be responsible for themselves, thus creating a non-uniform environment.

Or XX Plan, prepare and implement EVSE policies and procedures that an HOA can control.

Yield positive press and outcomes.

THE 1ST STEP: TAKE CHARGE! Have a preliminary EVSE site assessment performed.

Todd Ritter is president and partner of The AST/Morgner Green Team. He can be reached at todd@astgreenteam.com.

March/April 2012 | www.cai-glac.org

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Implementing a Landscape Renovation Project SPRING IS HERE AND YOUR COMMUNITY OR RESIDENCE MAY NOW BE IN NEED OF A FRESH LANDSCAPE LOOK. ▶▶▶By Alan Denison

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here are many different reasons for wanting a change in the appearance of your landscape. The plant material may be outdated, declining or using too much water. Whatever the case may be, this is a great opportunity to be a good steward of the environment.

local conditions than introduced plants; however native plants may take years to mature and leave large areas of bare soil susceptible to invasion of weeds. If weeds are controlled, the plant material will establish, mature and thrive.

CONSIDERATIONS FOR A SUCCESSFUL LANDSCAPE RENOVATION PROJECT.

2. Flexibility – Unanticipated problems with your landscape design may occur. Select a landscaper who will be able to determine what plant species will thrive best in the areas you have selected.

1. Time – Consider how long the project will take from beginning to end, and how your property/ community will look during this timeframe. Consider how much time will lapse before you see the landscape fill in and take on the desired appearance. Native plant varieties can take longer to grow than many introduced species.

After native plants have become established, they are hardier under

3. Management – For a landscape renovation project to be successful, it cannot be planted and then abandoned. Weed control, watering, and regular maintenance all need to be addressed. Criteria for determining the success of a renovation project should be included in the planning process. The landscape contractor chosen to install the landscape should also include a warranty on the plant material.

There are steps you need to consider for a successful landscape renovation project, and the design and implementation of that plan.

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING A RENOVATION PROJECT Step 1 – Site Characterizations: Before the project is started, conduct a site analysis to determine the water, soil, climate and other important characteristics of the designated location. Plant species have varying requirements relative to soil moisture, light, salinity, etc.

Step 2 – Set Goals: After the site conditions have been identified, determine the project goals. These may include: • Water Saving Goal: Replace high water consuming plants with drought tolerant shrubs and/or ground cover. This may reduce water usage by 30 - 45%.

• Aesthetic Goals: When renovating a landscape area next to a bike path, for example, the goal may be to plant trees and shrubs that will provide shade and beauty along the path.

• Lawn Conversion: Although lawn is appealing, you may want to consider converting the entire lawn area or a portion of the lawn area to a planter bed or DG walking path. The resulting landscape will require less maintenance and use far less water.

Step 3 – Design Layout Using Habitat Type: After the conditions (Step 1) of the site and the goals (Step 2) have been determined, this information can be used to begin designing the plant renovation plan based on what will grow best under these particular conditions.

Step 4 – Plant Selection: After the appropriate habitat types have been determined, different plant species can be selected from varieties that grow best under these conditions. Sunset Western Landscaping Book will be a valuable resource in detailing what climate you live in and what species will thrive in that climate.

Step 5 – Construction & Planting: Following the proper construction and planting techniques is critical for successfully renovating your landscape.

Step 6 – Maintenance: For a successful renovation project, long term maintenance schedules and concerns need to be addressed in the planning phase of the process. Of special concern is the weed control, watering schedule, frequency of maintenance and overall plan health.

Remember to ask your landscape contractor the duration of the warranty on the plant material. Most landscapers will not warranty the plant material if they are not performing the postinstallation maintenance on the project.

Alan Denison is the California Sales Manager for Gothic Grounds Management. He has been with Gothic Grounds Management and a CAI GLAC member for eight years. He can be reached at adenison@ gothiclandscape.com.

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CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

March/April 2012 | www.cai-glac.org

11

(THE WATT’S UP & DOWN) GOING INTO 2012, WE AT CENTURY PARK PLACE WERE LOOKING FOR MORE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND COST SAVINGS, AS WE ALWAYS TRY TO CONTINUE TO BE MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE, ESPECIALLY AS THE EVERRISING

AND

INCREASINGLY-UNPREDICTABLE

LADWP

ENERGY PRICES ARE A DAY-TO-DAY REALITY. WITH REASON,

W

e found that LED was a motivating solution due to its lifespan and KWH savings. We also found that it is an overall energy load reducer for our six split-level subterranean parking garages. In time it will be considered necessary for our energy load needs to be reduced to compensate for our overall load savings when homeowner requests for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations start to become more of a fact. As we looked into replacing the existing 32-watt T-8 fluorescents in the parking garages that operate 24/7, there were other benefits besides doing our part for the environment that made our decision to move forward with the LED retrofit:

WE DECIDED TO LOOK INTO THE BENEFITS OF LED LIGHTING

●● Mercury-laden lamps have risen in price by 40% due to the new Federal “Clean Earth Tax” law.

IN OUR GARAGES. ● DAN NAKARI, CCAM, CMCA, AMS, PCAM

●● The LEDs would only use only HALF of the watts with TWICE the direct light output that looks great in our higher ceiling areas, broadcasting a whiter light. ●● No more ballasts were ever going to be needed.

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www.cai-glac.org | March/April 2012

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

●● The LED’s lamp life is 80,000 hours compared to the rated 10 - 12,000 hours of fluorescents, reducing life cycle expenditures, such as labor & risk management, new lamp & ballast purchasing and expensive EPA removal cost. ●● This also freed up three 40-amp breakers in our electrical panel to accommodate three Electric Vehicle charging stations when the occasion presents itself. ●● Best of all, the new LEDs also come protected with a fiveyear parts and labor MFG warranty.

Before LED F32T8 (32 watts)

The reports from our homeowners are positive; they like the new look. The only downside is that we had to add a few extra fixtures in darker areas of the garages because the LEDs give direct, concentrated light and broadcast better light output from our higher ceiling areas .

The expected savings of $16,000 annually and a projected ROI of 2.5 years, however, compensate for the downside.

Our thanks to AST Morgner/Green Team for assisting us in this project.

Dan Nakari is the general manager at Century Park Place Homeowners Association in Century City. He can be reached at dannakari@centuryparkplace.org.

After LED (16 watts)

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March/April 2012 | www.cai-glac.org

13

T

he comprehensive reorganization and recodification of the DavisStirling Common Interest Development Act (which was first enacted in 1985 and has been amended numerous times thereafter) is winding its way through the legislature and is well on its way to being approved and signed by the Governor.

Davis-Stirling Act Revisions Wind Their Way Through the Legislature

By Gary Kessler, Esq.

The twin bills, AB 805 and 806, were passed unanimously by the State Assembly and have been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Skip Daum, CAI-CLAC's lobbyist for 18 years, reports that the next major event will be the Judiciary Committee hearing, expected to be held in April 2012. Following this hearing (and barring any unexpected substantive amendments), Mr. Daum expects both bills to pass the Senate and be sent to the Governor by mid-summer.

If signed by the Governor, the revised Davis-Stirling Act will not take effect until January 1, 2014 so that all affected persons and entities will have sufficient time to adjust to the law’s new provisions.

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It certainly has been a very long and winding road. This monumental task is the result of at least six years of review, public hearings and consultations with many varied interested groups and individuals. The two final bills, sponsored by the California Law Revision Commission, are intended to “continue the substance of existing law in a more user-friendly form…that is intended to be more logical, organized and easier for homeowners and volunteer board members to navigate.”

The most visible change in the Act is the reorganization and renumbering of the familiar Civil Code Section 1350 sequence. Instead, the new Act begins with Civil Code Section 4000 and continues through Section 6150.

The chapters have been logically reordered as follows: General Provisions; Application of Act; Governing Documents; Ownership Rights and Interests; Property Use and Maintenance; Association Governance; Finances, Assessments and Assessment

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Many changes in the substance of the law will affect the practices of all California common interest developments. A few of these revisions are as follows: 1. GOVERNING DOCUMENT AMENDMENTS: New Section 4270 prohibits a court from approving a proposed CC&R amendment unless it specifically finds that “[b]alloting on the proposed amendment was conducted in accordance with the governing documents, this act, and any other applicable law.”

2. GRANT OF EXCLUSIVE USE OF COMMON AREA TO MEMBERS. New Section 4600 exempts from the requirement that 67% of members approve a grant of exclusive use of the common area to an individual member: 1) a grant that is necessary to accommodate a disability; 2) a grant that

is required to comply with governing law; or 3) a grant to assign a parking space, storage unit, or other amenity that is designated in the declaration for assignment, but is not assigned by the declaration to a specific separate interest.

3. BOARD MEMBER CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: New Section 5350 expressly forbids directors and committee members from voting on any of these particular matters: (1) Discipline of the director or committee member; (2) An assessment against the director or committee member for damage to the common area or facilities; (3) A request, by the director or committee member, for a payment plan for overdue assessments; (4) A decision whether to foreclose on a lien on the separate interest of the director or committee member; (5) Review of a proposed physical change to the separate interest of the director or committee member; and (6) A grant of exclusive use common area to the director or committee member.

4. OBTAINING REIMBURSEMENT FOR COMMON AREA DAMAGES. New Section 5850 requires that when the board is to meet to consider or impose a monetary charge as a means of reimbursing the association for costs incurred to repair of damage to the common area and facilities which were caused by a member or the member’s guest or tenant, the board must provide the member with notice of the nature of the damage and an opportunity to be heard.

Whether your association is ready or not, and whether you like it or not, one thing is clear. The new Davis-Stirling Act is coming to a common interest development near you. The good news is that all of us have the next year and one-half to learn about it, prepare for it and implement it.

Gary Kessler, Esq. is an attorney with Adams Kessler PLC, a full-service law firm which represents common interest developments throughout California. He can be reached at gkessler@davis-stirling.com.

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CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

March/April 2012 | www.cai-glac.org

15

Communication in a Social Media Age

By Lori Albert, CCAM

“ Association members are soon going to expect to be engaged with their community using social media.”

Since the most popular manager seminar at the California State Legal Forum last October was about incorporating social media into associations and management companies, we invited Forum speakers James McCormick, Jr., Esq. (Peters & Freedman, LLP) and Lori Albert, CCAM (Albert Management Corp.) to speak at our February 22 Luncheon. This is a follow-up article to expand your knowledge base and keep you current.

In case you missed it, we have reprinted the luncheon handouts on pages 20 and 21 for your use and reference.

CAN YOU RECALL A TIME WHEN POOR OR UNTIMELY COMMUNICATION SIMPLY RUINED AN EVENT, MOMENT OR EVEN A BUSINESS DEAL FOR YOU? HAVE YOU BEEN A VICTIM OF THE “FORGOT TO ANNOUNCE” OR “NOTIFIED ME TOO LATE” COMMITTEE? More often than not, messages important to our everyday lives go unnoticed, unopened or simply not delivered effectively.

As a society, we are quickly evolving into an instant-access, 24/7 customer service, and instant- gratification generation of people. New technology has given us powerful tools to interact and communicate with each other over the last ten years. How did we ever survive without cellular phones?

Don’t the days before email seem so foreign? Arguably, these new technologies and tools can create moments of frustration, but in the end we are better off adopting and using them to our advantage.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

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www.cai-glac.org | March/April 2012

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

O

n March 8 the Chapter Board of Directors hosted a reception for managers who have achieved the Professional Community Association Manager (PCAM) designation to celebrate their achievement and congratulate managers who had received this designation in 2011: Christine Albrecht, Diane Hilliard, Michael Lewis and Gerry Suenram.

MANAGERS HOLDING THE PCAM DESIGNATION

Chapter Board of Directors Hosts PCAM® Reception

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

Christine Albrecht Margaret Allen Dave Brock Judy Campion Tami Chavin Cat Coltrell Lisa Dale Richard Egan Steve Feistel John Felder Lynette Findlay Carol Ford Dirk Foster Catherine Gemind George Gral Laurie Gral Christine Greengrass Lionel Harris Linda Healey Elvin Hidalgo Diane Hilliard Russell Hoffman Michael Huffman Gail Jones Karen Kokowicz Susan Larson Sandra Levinson Lorna Leviste Michael Lewis Evelyn Lifton Gregg Lotane

Ruth Moffitt Nancy Mohni Julius Nagy Tina Nakamura Dan Nakari Jeffrey Olsen Pete Ong, Jr. Joanne Pena Craig Phillips Robert Sides Marianne Simek Diana Stiller Gerry Suenram Michelle Underwood Connie Vohden Tracy Wolin Lori Ziegler

March/April 2012 | www.cai-glac.org

17

Communication in a Social Media Age CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16

A NEW TOOL FOR COMMUNICATION HAS ARRIVED ON THE SCENE – SOCIAL MEDIA. Social media has been quickly adopted and is climbing the ranks of the preferred method of communication for many adults — not only in the U.S., but globally. Adoption of social media is growing so quickly, it is critical that we understand how it works and how to effectively use it to enhance and build our relationships — especially in business.

WHAT IS SOCIAL MEDIA? Simply put, it is the use of Webbased and mobile technologies to turn communication in to an interactive dialogue. Or said another way, it is a means of sharing thoughts, images, video, news and ideas online while allowing others to publically react. While Facebook® and Twitter® appear to lead the pack of social media platforms, there are literally thousands of other companies that help make up the landscape.

WHO IS USING SOCIAL MEDIA? According to a July 2011 Nielsen Study, 55 percent of all adults have one or more social networking profiles. For Facebook, this translates to more than 800 million active users who log on in any given day. For Twitter, this equates to users generating one billion tweets per week with an average of 460,000 new accounts created daily.

Nielsen predicts that the adoption of social media will reach

an all-time high in 2014 when two-thirds of all online users will be actively engaged and using the medium. This means we still have a little time to understand the tool —but not much.

Association members are soon going to expect to be engaged with their community using social media.

WHY SHOULD WE CONSIDER USING SOCIAL MEDIA TO HELP US MANAGE AND MAINTAIN COMMUNITIES? Communication in today’s world is no longer linear or predictable. Association members will soon demand multi-channel, two-way and peer-to-peer communication, just as they experience in the other areas of their daily life. The average member of an association is increasingly sophisticated and has higher expectations for responsiveness. If we are using social media to engage members in a new way, they will feel included and may even be inspired to participate in governing or running the association.

SHOULD SOCIAL MEDIA REPLACE THE TRADITIONAL COMMUNICATION TOOLS WE USE EVERY DAY? No. We still have many legal requirements to formally notice members of our associations with first class mail. For those members who are actively using social media, it should first be considered to complement communication around housekeeping matters for the association, i.e. HOA office hours, staffing, operational hours, amenities, special clubhouse offers, etc.

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2011HOAad-35x475.indd 1

12/22/11 7:26 AM

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

WHO SHOULD OWN OR CONTROL A SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT FOR THE ASSOCIATION? Ideally, management should control the account and be responsible for its content. Being responsible also means monitoring any and all activity each day. Not responding to negative feedback or criticism in a timely fashion is the biggest social media mistake one can make. It is also important to respond to positive feedback as well. Remember – it’s a two-way medium intended to create dialogue.

WHAT CAN AN ASSOCIATION EXPECT TO GAIN IN RETURN ON SOCIAL MEDIA? Aside from increased membership participation, one could expect a return on engagement, community, relationships, interaction and transparency.

Before you consider implementing a social media page for your community or business, be sure to work with legal counsel to develop a social media policy which defines the boundaries for posting and (more importantly) removal of postings.

We need to consider social media as one more tool to effectively communicate with our communities and each other. It’s not the answer; it’s simply part of the solution and one more tool to deliver effective and timely communication.

Lori Albert, CCAM is President and CEO of Albert Management in Palm Desert and one of our guest speakers at our February Educational Luncheon . Lori can be reached at lori@albertmgt.com, @AlbertMgt on Twitter or www.facebook.com/albertmanagement.

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

March/April 2012 | www.cai-glac.org

19

YOU HAVE AN ACCOUNT… NOW WHAT? Learn the lingo • • • •

• •

@ immediately before a name or word is that Twitter person’s Twitter “name” (still a public message) o “Big thanks to @HOA2HOA @albertmgt for the great presentation at the LA CAI Seminar!”

RT at the start of a tweet is a “RE Tweet”of someone else’s tweet o Think of this like “sharing” something someone else said o RT @HOA2HOA The LA CAI chapter welcomed @albertmgt and me with open arms!

FF ‐ “Follow Friday” ‐ used to share names of people you think your followers should follow o Because they are great #FF @HOA2HOA and @albertmgt # is a hash tag o Think of this like a search term that others can follow even if they don’t follow you o For today use #CAIGLAC222 o #condoHOA #condoHOAlaw are two commonly used by HOA industry o Find more info at: http://www.hashtags.org/ D or DM is used to send a “Direct Message” to a user who follows you (it won’t be sent if they don’t follow you) o D @albertmgt Thanks for your help!

Want to learn more terms? Use http://www.twittonary.com/

Receive Information or News 1. Search for someone or something a. Basic search: http://twitter.com/#!/search b. Advanced search: http://twitter.com/#!/search‐advanced 2. Follow us a. @HOA2HOA b. @albertmgt 3. Watch others to find new people a. Who are they following? b. What stories or news do they RT? c. What interests you?

Share Information or News 1. Start tweeting a. Web interface b. Mobile phone c. Hootsuite or Tweetdeck 2. Share something interesting 3. Share news or info about your company a. Recent awards b. Attendance at events 4. Share news or info about your HOA a. Pool closures b. Upcoming maintenance c. Other stuff owners might find interesting

Use Common Sense 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

20

Tweets are public – don’t tweet confidential or private info Tweet only interesting stuff – not many people really care what you are eating right now Use TinyURL.com or Bit.ly to shorten links in your tweets to keep them under 140 characters Consider every tweet as a branding impression Don’t argue over Twitter – unless you think your followers might find it interesting! ;‐)

www.cai-glac.org | March/April 2012

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

FOR YOUR ASSOCATION OR BUSINESS • • • • • • • •

Determine the purpose of using Facebook for your organization – communication vs. new business leads Consider Facebook as a supplement to your existing website or online presence Your organization should have business account and a Page NOT a personal Profile People want to see pictures – post photos, tag people and allow ‘fans’ to do the same Create value for visitors by providing tips, tutorials or other useful information Interact with ‘fans’ and collect and share data in the form of polls Your Page will be considered an extension of your customer service team Include as much information as possible in profile and properly brand your Page

Must Do’s 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Secure your legal name: i.e. facebook.com/name Have a social media policy Dedicate staff time – one person responsible Monitor your page every day Be familiar and comfortable with the platform Stay informed on updates, upgrades and enhancements 7. Respond to both positive and negative postings

Do Not 1. Abandon your website for Facebook 2. Create a personal account for your organization 3. Discriminate between positive and negative postings – allow it all within the scope of your social media policy 4. Be afraid to be creative 5. Use a Facebook Group – they are outdated 6. Abuse relationships with your ‘fans’

Use Common Sense 1. Facebook is not the silver bullet, but it’s popularity cannot be ignored – figure out how to use it best 2. Good policies lead to good business – your organization should have a social media policy 3. A good social media policy includes provisions for removing: profane language, disparaging terms or comments relating to individuals, entities or a particular protected group or class; posts which disclose private information about members or entities; posts soliciting business from your ‘fans’; and much more so be sure to work with your attorney to develop the policy 4. Talk with your audience, not AT your audience – this is interactive, not a one way conversation 5. “It’s all about me” will turn off your ‘fans’ – encourage interaction and desire to come back for more 6. Remember why people use Facebook – to have conversations, make connections and get relevant information they are interested in 7. Join networks and search mutual contacts to connect with others in the industry 8. Encourage others to “like” your Page and like the pages of others

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

March/April 2012 | www.cai-glac.org

21

The Downside of Yelp

What is Yelp?

By Miranda Legaspi

Yelp was founded in 2004 as an online city guide to help people find dentists, restaurants and local businesses in the area. If you are a business owner or a community association, you may want to set up a Yelp presence because, as of the 4th Quarter of 2011, Yelp had an average of approximately 66 million monthly unique visitors. Yelp not only shows reviews — you can also post events, and lists, and talk with other Yelpers. (Source: Yelp.com) Yelp has successfully created an online community where reviewers use a five-star rating system.

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www.cai-glac.org | March/April 2012

The problem with Yelp is that anyone (a competitor or a disgruntled employee, for example) can easily write a negative review about your business or community association. And if you are the recipient of the negative review you don’t necessarily have recourse. The reviewers are anonymous and Yelp doesn’t censor the reviews that are posted or verify the reviews for validity or accuracy. In some cases, reviewers will post reviews of restaurants even before they have opened.

In 2009, the East Bay Express published a story where Yelp salespeople offered “to hide negative customer reviews for businesses” if they signed up for advertising sponsorship contracts. The story claimed that when the business declined the offer their positive reviews appeared to have been removed.

Yelp denied that this ever happened. (Source: Wikipedia.com) WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, SOCIAL MEDIA IS NOW A PART OF OUR DAILY LIVES. Like other social media you can access Yelp through mobile apps from your Smartphone. Whether we actively participate in it or not, somehow you might find yourself or your community association mentioned in a review somewhere on the Internet.

Sometimes the review is rosy, but unfortunately, more often than not, it’s not so rosy.

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

Help! I’ve Been Yelped!

Yikes! Having gone through this with one of our clients recently, it was very stressful. Depending on the Yelp review, chances are you will not be able to get that review removed. There are only a few ways that you can get an unfavorable review removed: 1) If it presents a security risk for the community association or employee of the management company [for example if the reviewer divulges information such as where the board member/employee happen to reside] or 2) If the reviewer uses profanity or vulgar words throughout the review. Another reason to request Yelp to remove the review is if the reviewer says something unfavorable towards a certain group of people. Other than that, you’re stuck with that review until it gets buried with new reviews, or until that review falls off—which can take time. Based on our experience in trying to help our client get a review removed, contacting Yelp can test one’s patience. In some cases (like ours) you may even need the help of your legal department. I’m happy to report that our client was successful in getting their review removed because it posed a security risk.

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March/April 2012 | www.cai-glac.org

23

Valentines for Vets C

hapter members and friends helped the Veterans Administration put on a Grass Roots Concert for Vets at the Wadsworth Theatre on February 13.

Volunteers packed goodie bags, greeted Vets upon arrival, checked tickets, inspected bags for liquids, food and weapons, talked to guests about volunteering with the VA and handed out programs to guests. There were about 500 vets in attendance, and the concert was streaming live to every hospital room at the VA Hospital next door. It was a great experience!

— Meigan Everett, CMCA Community Outreach Committee Chair

24

www.cai-glac.org | March/April 2012

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

WE REPRESENT COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS

Since 1987 we have limited our practice to providing a full range of legal services for • Condominiums • Planned Developments • Cooperatives • Homeowner Associations There is no substitute for experience! www.lawforhoas.com www.hoalawblog.com

Ventura County 805.650.7899 Orange County 949.476.3789

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

Los Angeles 310.207.2207 California 800.372.2207

March/April 2012 | www.cai-glac.org

25

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CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

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wo Skirball Center stages were lush with flowers and greenery ... setting the mood for Richard Restuccia (ValleyCrest Landscape Maintenance) and Rene Rivera (Stay Green Inc.) to present news about current irrigation techniques and tree care to 150 attendees at our March 21 Educational Luncheon. We learned more about future water availability, new capabilities of smart controllers, proper tree pruning and the importance of tree preventative maintenance. ■

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March/April 2012 | www.cai-glac.org

27

ANSWERS TO YOUR

FREQUENTLY Asked Questions

Q A

uestion: Can a potential buyer, not an owner, request and receive copies of the association’s operating budget and/or other documents? nswer: Although a potential buyer may request association documents, the association should not respond to that request by providing the documents, subject to the one exception below. California law requires, unless an association’s governing documents impose more stringent standards, within ten (10) days of the mailing or delivery of the request, that the association provide its owners with, among other things, a copy of the association’s financial documents, including the financial statement, the operating budget, the most recent reserve study and the assessment and reserve funding disclosure summary form. (See Civ. Code Sections 1365 and 1365.5 for a list of documents that an association must provide to its owners.)

28

www.cai-glac.org | March/April 2012

California law also requires an association to provide the owner/seller for the prospective buyer with various association documents, including the association’s operating budget.

(Civ. Code Section 1368.) Thus, any request for a copy of an association’s operating budget must be made to the association and provided to the owner for the owner to provide it to the prospective buyer. That said, as of January 1, 2012, if requested by a prospective buyer, an association is required to provide to the prospective buyer twelve (12) months of approved minutes of the association’s board of directors’ meetings (excluding executive sessions). (Civ. Code Section 1368(a)(10).)

Q A

— Sandra L. Gottlieb, Esq., Swedelson & Gottlieb

uestion: If an association’s CC&Rs do not have a rental restriction, can it be added and would it apply to all current owners before January 2012 and new owners? nswer: Yes and No. An association may amend its CC&Rs to create new rental restrictions that do not prohibit leasing; new Civil Code Section 1360.2(a) provides that any rental restriction that prohibits leasing and that goes into effect after January 1, 2012, would apply only to someone who acquired their property subsequent to the amendment. In other words, if a new rental restriction prohibits an owner from renting his unit, the new restriction would not apply to existing owners who purchased their property prior to the new rental restriction going into effect. The new restriction would apply, however, to all new owners.

— Brian D. Moreno, Esq., Richardson Harman Ober PC

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

We Walk a Fine Line Long Beach HOA boards gathered at the AQUA 388/488 Condominium Association on March 20 to work through some common nuisance scenarios and learn useful tips on how to handle different situations with Matt Ober, Esq. (Richardson Harman Ober PC) and Craig Phillips, CCAM,CMCA, AMS, PCAM (General Manager, International Tower Owners Association). ■

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March/April 2012 | www.cai-glac.org

29

WELCOME

NEW CAI-GLAC MEMBERS! AS OF MARCH 15, 2012

BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS Clark Seif Clark, Inc. California Safety Agency Casa Services, Inc. Century Restoration HCI Systems, Inc. Sperlonga Data and Analytics Steve Reich Insurance Inc. The Brickman Group West One Building Services MTECH Exterminator Company

RECRUITER CAI National CAI National CAI National Lauri Moffett Theola Johnson, CCAM CAI National CAI National CAI National CAI National Steven Roseman, Esq.

COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS Bushnell Townhomes Villa Riviera Condominium Assn.

CAI National CAI National

COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT COMPANIES National Property Management Group, Inc.

Donovan Bowes

COMMUNITY MANAGERS Alyson Clark HOA Organizers, Inc. Roman Esparza Beven & Brock

30

Melanie Middlen Caring Realty

CAI National

Ed Parada Porter Ranch Community Association Mgmt.

Brenda Karczag

COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION LEADERS Lupe Ortega

CAI National

Focus Salsbury Industries

Runs in: Neda Firouz, CMCA® Jan/Feb, May/Jun, Sep/Oct Dave Brock, PCAM®

www.cai-glac.org | March/April 2012

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CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

OUR THANKS TO RENEWING MEMBERS! AS OF FEBRUARY 29, 2012 2011

BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS ACME Clean Air, Inc. ACE Duraflo Pipe Restoration ADCO Roofing, Inc. Alante/MCS Insurance Services Allied Waterproofing Systems, Inc. AlliedBarton Security Services, Inc. Association Reserves, Inc. Associations Insurance Agency, Inc. Avalon Landscape, Inc. Bel Air Internet Centurion Group Debra L. Sheppard & Associates, APLC Elliot Katzovitz Insurance Agency Eric S. Little State Farm Insurance Agency Farmers Insurance GroupSteven G. Segal Insurance Agency, Inc. First Citizens Bank Gothic Grounds Management HSG, Inc. Law Offices of Daniel Spitzer Levitt Group Architects Management Resource Center Mutual of Omaha Bank/CondoCerts NorthStar Moving Corporation Patio Guys PCW Contracting Services, Inc. R.W. Stein Painting, Inc. Ross Mediation Services Rossmoyne, Inc. SBR Roofing Smokefree Apartment Registry Steve Little State Farm Insurance Agency Timothy Cline Insurance Agency, Inc. Union Bank ValleyCrest Landscape Maintenance COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS 101 Ocean Condominium HOA Bordeaux HOA Briarwood Community Center Bridgeport Community Association Castlegate HOA Doverwood HOA Escadrille HOA French Quarter HOA HarborPlace Tower HOA BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS Idaho Square HOA International Tower Owners Assn.

Mira Verde HOA North Gardner HOA

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

Raintree Mutual Corporation Tarzana Woods Owners Assn.

The Mahana at Kaanapali HOA Villa Vallarts HOA Westmont North HOA #3 COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT COMPANIES Bowker & Roth Property Services Brown Community Management Classic Property Management, Inc. Encore Enterprises, Inc. HOA Organizers, Inc. Innovative Properties Management MERIT Property Management Ontrack Asset Management Optimum Professional Property Management, Inc. Pacific Real Estate & Management, Inc. Valencia Management Group, AAMC COMMUNITY MANAGERS James Altschuler Hasmik Akopyan Ross Morgan & Company, Inc. Terry Brewer Promenade Owners Association Donovan Bowes National Property Management Group, Inc. Donald Campbell, CMCA® Torrance-Windemere HOA Robin Choppe Choppe Property Management Group Matthew Davidson, CCAM® Action Property Management Stacy Gerowitz Wilshire House Victoria Hale, CMCA®, AMS® Valencia Management Group Linda Healey, PCAM® The Californian on Wilshire HOA Elvin Hidalgo, CCAM®, CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM® Century Park Place Condo Assn.

Deborah L. Jones, CMCA®, AMS® Tiarra LeMacks Ross Morgan & Company, Inc. Evelyn Lifton, CCAM®, CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM® The Brentwood at Kiowa HOA Gregg Lotane, CCAM®, PCAM®

Angelique Madrigal Ross Morgan & Company, Inc. Sasoon Mananian Spectra Associates, Inc. Erik Mendez, CMCA®, AMS® Ross Morgan & Company, Inc. Jesse Moreno, CMCA®, AMS® Marina Pacifica HOA Ruth Moffitt, CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM® Valencia Management Group Peggy O’Donoghue, CMCA® Valencia Management Group Craig Phillips, CCAM®, CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM® Internatonal Tower Owners Assn.

Bob Prescott Alexandria Spargo, CMCA® Management Professionals, Inc. Michael Sukey, CMCA®, AMS® Brookside Village HOA

HOA

HIGH RISE

COMMERCIAL

Stephanie Tomerlin Ross Morgan & Company, Inc. Cookie Valente, CMCA® Manhattan Management Corp.

Miguel Zamora Ross Morgan & Company, Inc. Paul Policarpio Cabrini Villas HOA Michelle Underwood, CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM® Plaza Towers Condominium Assn.

Jeanne Waal, CMCA® Massingham & Associates Management, Inc. COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION LEADERS Jan Bartholomew Carol Goldman Lawrence Kraines, Esq. Eleanor Yavarone

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March/April 2012 | www.cai-glac.org

31

2012 UPCOMING EVENTS APRIL 14 Essentials of Community Leadership Workshop – 8:15 a.m.

Regatta Seaside HOA, Marina del Rey

15-16 CA Day in the Capitol & Community Plus Sacramento

19 Chapter Board of Directors Meeting – 8:30 a.m.

Pickwick Gardens, Burbank

19 San Gabriel Valley Evening Program for HOA Boards and Managers– 7:00 p.m.

Pasadena Senior Center, Pasadena

25 Educational Luncheon – 11:30 a.m.

Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles

MAY 2-4 CAI National Conference Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas

18 Chapter Board of Directors Meeting – 8:30 a.m.

Pickwick Gardens, Burbank

23 Educational Luncheon – 11:30 a.m.

Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles

JUNE 5 South Bay Evening Program for HOA Boards and Managers – 7:00 p.m.

ADVERTISERS INDEX

12 Anderson Group International 26 Animal & Insect Pest Management, Inc. 14 Association Reserves, Inc. 19 Cacho Landscape Maintenance Co., Inc. 13 Collins Builders, Inc. 22 Fenton Grant Mayfield Kaneda & Litt, LLP 18 Ferris Painting, Inc. 18 First Bank Assoc. Services 29 First Bank Assoc. Services 29 Gayle G. Gould, CPA 29 Hi Tech Painting & Decorating 13 Mutual of Omaha Bank/ CondoCerts 27 Pacific Western Bank 15 Payne Pest Management 31 PCW Contracting Services, Inc. 30 Poindexter & Company, CPAs

ADVERTISING INFORMATION Dimensions & Rates:

Regatta Seaside HOA, Marina del Rey

11 Annual Golf Tournament – 8:00 a.m.

Woodland Hills Country Club, Woodland Hills

15 Chapter Board of Directors Meeting – 8:30 a.m.

Pickwick Gardens, Burbank

20 Educational Luncheon – 11:30 a.m.

Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles

27 Valencia Educational Breakfast for HOA Boards and Managers – 8:30 a.m.

Bridgeport HOA Clubhouse, Valencia

JULY 13 Game Night – 5:00 p.m.

CenterPointe Club, Playa Vista

20 Chapter Board of Directors Meeting – 8:30 a.m.

Pickwick Gardens, Burbank

21 Essentials of Community Leadership Workshop – 8:15 a.m.

Summerwind HOA, Torrance

32

www.cai-glac.org | March/April 2012

23 Popular Association Banking 22 Preferred Commercial Painting 25 R.W. Stein Painting, Inc. 28 Reserve Studies Inc. 19 Richardson Harman Ober PC 5 Ross Morgan & Company, Inc. 14 Royal Roofing.com 30 Salsbury Industries 7 Sandra Mcdonald Insurance 9 Select Painting 8 Steven G. Segal Insurance Agency 25 Swedelson & Gottlieb 28 Timothy Cline Insurance Agency, Inc. 11 Union Bank 23 Witkin & Neal, LLC 6 Wolf, Rifkin, Shapiro, Schulman & Rabkin, LLP

Artwork must not exceed the exact dimensions of that size ad.

For more information, call the Chapter office: 323/254-9526.

Ad Size

Ad Dimensions

Members

Non-Members

⅛ page

3½" wide x 2" high (Horizontal)

$200

$400

¼ page

3½" wide x 4¾" high (Vertical)

$300

$600

½ page

7½" wide x 4¾" high (Horizontal)

$425

$850

Full Page

7½" wide x 10" high (Vertical)

$800

$1,400

Payment: Rates are subject to change without notice. By credit card, check or cash.

Minimum three-insertion contract. Rates subject to change without notice.

Advertising Sales: Please contact the Chapter office for advertising specifications and deadline information at: 323/254-9526.

UPDATES TO 2012 MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY Page 52 Alexandria Pollock, CMCA, AMS Bunker Hill Tower Condo Association 800 West First Street #101 Los Angeles, CA 90012 Phone: 213-624-2832 Fax: 213-617-2486 Email: apollock@seabreezemgmt.com Alex Roman, AMS Encino Oaks HOA 5460 White Oak Ave. Encino, CA 91316

Page 106 Condo Approvals, LLC 879 W. 190th Street #400 Gardena, CA 90248 Page 161 Association Reserves, Inc. 5000 Parkway Calabasas #308 Calabasas, CA 91302

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

Help BUILD CAI-GLAC And Reward Yourself by Recruiting New CAI-GLAC Members in 2012 Help BUILD And Reward Yourself by Grand Recruiting New Prize Members in 2012

3-day/2-night Weekend Getaway on the Central California Coast

RULES

GRANDContest PRIZEruns for 12 months and is The Build CAI-GLAC Recruiter designed so that current CAI members earn valuable 3-day/2-night Weekend Getaway on thecan Central Californiaprizes Coastfor sharing the benefits of CAI membership with friends and colleagues.

The Build CAI-GLAC Recruiter Contest runs for 12 months and is designed so that current CAI members can earn valuable prizes for sharing the benefits of CAI membership with friends and colleagues.

The following rules apply to the campaign: Members in good standing can compete to recruit new members and earn points RULES toward the Grand The following rules applyPrize. to the campaign: • Members in good standing can compete new members and earnfor points toward the To receive credit, you must be listed to as recruit the CAI member responsible Grand Prize. recruitment on the printed application form submitted, or be identified • To receive you must be listed as reports. the CAI member responsible for recruitment on throughcredit, CAI National membership the printed application form submitted, or be identified through CAI applicants National membership All completed applications and membership dues for qualified must reports. be received at CAI between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012.

• All completed applications andGrand membership to be counted toward the Prize. dues for qualified applicants must be received at CAI between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012 to be counted toward the Grand Prize.

THREE CONTESTS...THREE THREE CONTESTS … THREE PRIZES PRIZES

RECRUITER-OF-THE-MONTH RECRUITER-OF-THE-MONTH The month will be Themember memberwho whohas hasrecruited recruitedthe themost mostnew new memberships memberships in in the previous month recognized at the next luncheon and awarded a FREE LUNCH. In the case a tie, will be recognized at the next luncheon and awarded a FREE LUNCH. In the of case of a arandom drawing will determine the winner. tie, a random drawing will determine the winner.

GRANDGRAND PRIZE ($1,000 value)value) PRIZE ($1,000

Member wilI receive receive Memberwith withthe thehighest highestnumber numberofofpoints pointsas asofofDecember December 31, 31, 2012 2012 wilI the Grand Prize.

In cases where there are two or more members with equal points, the Grand Prize. In cases where there members with equal points, those thosenames nameswill willbe beput putinto intoaabowl bowland andrandomly randomlydrawn drawn to to determine determine the winner. winner.

Pointswill willaccrue accruefrom fromJanuary January11through throughDecember December 31, 31, 2012 2012 for Points for the the Grand GrandPrize.

Prize.

Membersearn earnpoints pointsbased basedon onthe themembership membershipcategory. category.

Members

• SLIDING SCALE POINT SYSTEM CAN GIVE YOU AN EDGE. SLIDING SCALE POINT SYSTEM CAN GIVE YOU AN EDGE. Participating members will receive: Participating members will receive:

One(1) point for each business partner member recruited in a category ★ One (1) point for each business partner member recruited in a category already existing in already existing in Directory, the 2012 Membership Directory, the 2012 Membership Two(2) points for a business partner in a sector of business not yet wo (2) pointsinfor business partner in a sector of business not yet ★ Trepresented thea Chapter, represented in the Chapter, Two(2) points for an individual HOA board member or community wo (2) points ★ Tmanager, and for an individual HOA board member or community Three(3) points forarecruiting a management manager, Three(3)and points for recruiting management company. company.

RECRUITER RAFFLE RECRUITER RAFFLE

2012 recruiters (except the Grand Prizewill winner) go into a raffle AllAll 2012 recruiters (except the Grand Prize winner) go intowill a raffle drawing helddrawing in early January (when all the2013 2012 results win anresults Evening held in2013 early January (when are all in) theto2012 areOut in)on to the winTown an ($500 value).

Evening Out on the Town ($500 value)

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Price: $25.00 per copy, tax and shipping included.

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CAI ANNUAL CONFERENCE & EXPOSITION Caesars Palace Las Vegas | May 2–5, 2012

What drives you?

WHAT GUIDES YOUR CAREER? What are the signs of su

ccess?

Explore these questions and more at the CAI Annual Conference and Exposition. Each year, the largest international community association event provides new, up-to-the-minute information and resources to keep you moving forward.

Register online at www.caionline.org/ conference or call (888) 224-4321 (M–F, 9–6:30 ET).

Save $5 when 0 you regist er March by 27!