Focus Magazine - September/October 2015

Focus

September/October 2015

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

Save the Date:

Drought Problems Persist

Casino Night & Awards Gala November 14

El Niño on the Horizon Why Roof and Deck Maintenance and Repair Are Critical

From Drought to El Niño

Community Associations Institute Greater Los Angeles Chapter

Presents

Current Sponsors James Bond

Sherwin-Williams Paint Playing Cards

Guard-Systems, Inc. Casino Chips

Diamonds Are Forever Casino Night & Awards Gala

G4S Secure Solutions USA, Inc. CRAPS TABLE

Dunn-Edwards Paints Shaken Not Stirred Happy Hour

Securitas Security Services USA, Inc. Diamonds Are Forever Raffle

ALLBRIGHT 1-800-PAINTING Skyfall Souvenir Photos

Pacific Western Bank 007 Entertainment

Preferred Commercial Painting, Inc. OCTOPUSSY WINE

Saturday, November 14, 2015 Los Angeles Athletic Club 431 W. 7th Street Los Angeles, CA 90014 6:00 p.m.

Cocktails

7:00 p.m.

Dinner & Awards

8:00 p.m.

Gaming & Dancing

10:30 p.m. $125

Raffle Per person

$1,250 Table of 10 Buy a Chance to Win a Half-carat Diamond!

50 tickets to pre-sell • Online only • Limit 1 $50 ticket per registration Sponsored by ALLBRIGHT 1-800-PAINTING

Go to www.cai-glac.org to register

McKenzie Rhody, LLP Thunderball Awards

Law Offices of Michael A. Hearn Aston Martin Parking

Hi-Tech Painting & Decorating, Inc. SPECTRE HORS D’OEUVRES

Baldwin Real Estate Management Nu Air Services, Inc. Sandra Macdonald Insurance HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN

Nu Air Services, Inc. Golden Eye Photo Booth

Allegra Professional Group, LLC CENTERPIECES

On Time Building Maintenance, Inc. NOT FOR YOUR EYES ONLY SWEET SHOPPE FRESHCO Painters, Inc. Nu Air Services, Inc.

2015 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Officers Katy Krupp, President Fenton, Grant, Mayfield, Kaneda & Litt, LLP, 949-435-3800 Lisa Tashjian, Esq., President Elect Beaumont Gitlin Tashjian, 866-788-9998 Michael Lewis, CCAM®, CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®, Vice President Concept Seven, LLC, 310-622-7012 Joanne Peña, CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®, Secretary Horizon Management Company, 310-543-1995 Meigan Everett, PCAM®, Treasurer Gold Coast Property Pros, 424-238-2333 Matt D. Ober, Esq., Past President Richardson Harman Ober, PC, 626-449-5577 DIRECTORS Greg Borzilleri PCW Contracting Services, 949-285-7802 Donald Campbell, CCAM®, CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM® Baldwin Real Estate Management, 626-821-5204 Pamella De Armas Silicon Beach Insurance Services, 310-490-8689 Linda Healey, CCAM®, PCAM® The Californian on Wilshire, 310-234-5905 Dick Pruess Castlegate HOA, 626-584-0000 Lynn Ruger Warner Club Villas HOA, 818-703-7090

CHAPTER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Joan Urbaniak, MBA, CMCA®

2015 COMMITTEE CHAIRS Awards Katy Krupp, Fenton, Grant, Mayfield, Kaneda & Litt, LLP COMMUNITY OUTREACH Meigan Everett, PCAM®, Gold Coast Property Pros EDUCATION Anda Bewhite, MBA, CCAM®, CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®, All West Management FINANCE Jolen Zeroski, CMCA®, Union Bank HOA Services GOLF TOURNAMENT Teresa Agnew, Roseman & Associates, APC Ryan Dudasik, EmpireWorks Reconstruction & Painting LEGISLATIVE ACTION Lisa Tashjian, Esq., Beaumont Gitlin Tashjian MARKETPLACE Alan Denison, Stay Green Inc.

Newsworthy 4 Drought Problems Persist Throughout California 6 State Announces Another $30 Million in Rebates to Help Replace Old Toilets and Turf 8 Utility Audits 12 Why Roof & Deck Maintenance & Repair Are Critical During the California Drought 14 News From Sacramento 18 El Niño ... Be Careful What You Wish For 20 El Niño On The Horizon — It Pays to be Prepared 22 Alternatives To Natural Grass 24 AB 349 Signed Into Law

Chapter update 2 Note from the Editor’s Desk 3 Message from the President

NOTEWORTHY 16 Highlights from Sipping By The Sea Wine Night 26 Rights and Responsibilities for Better Communities — Principles for Homeowners & Community Leaders

FYI 31 32 32 32

CAI-GLAC Membership News 2015 Upcoming Events Advertisers Index Advertising Information

MEDIATION SERVICES Matthew Grode, Esq., Gibbs, Giden, Locher, Turner, Senet & Wittbrodt, LLP

PUBLICATIONS 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 Ruth Moffitt, CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®, Valencia Management Group AAMC® Craig Phillips, CCAM®, CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM® International Tower Owners Assn.

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 © 2015.

SOCIAL Donald Campbell, CCAM®, CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®, Baldwin Real Estate Management Angel Fuerte, FRESHCO Painters Inc.

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.

WINE NIGHT Joanne Peña, CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®, Horizon Management Company Jolen Zeroski, CMCA®, Union Bank HOA Services

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

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

Warner Club Villas Homeowners Association Woodland Hills, CA

Save the Date: Casino Night & Awards Gala November 14

PROGRAMS/LUNCHEONS Linda Healey, CCAM®, PCAM®, The Californian on Willshire Brian Moreno, Esq., SwedelsonGottlieb

FOCUS Magazine Matthew Gardner, Esq., Richardson Harman Ober PC

On the Cover

Stay Connected:

130 N. Brand Blvd., Ste. 305 Glendale, CA 91203 Office: 818-500-8636 Fax: 818-500-8638

September/October 2015 | www.cai-glac.org

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A

s we head into Fall, we hear promises of another El Niño season approaching. For a state that continues to struggle with the effects of the drought, that is welcome news. But it doesn’t tell the whole story. Even with a significant rainfall, our communities will need to

Note

from the Editor’s Desk

remember to plan for both too little rain and too much. An extensive drought and deferred maintenance can expose already weakened structures and leave you unprepared for the deluge of water.

In all the news about too much watering, some of our landscaping gets left behind. Alan Denison tackles some of the remaining challenges with turf and reminds us of the importance of maintaining and caring for our trees for the long term.

Erin Kelly reminds us that utilities remain one of our communities’ largest budget items. Regardless of current efforts, communities should continue to look at maintaining and conserving water, gas and other resources and eliminating waste. Erin advises us to look at our association gas, water and electrical bills more closely—for possible savings!

When looking at conservation efforts during the drought, landscaping is not the only common area component to suffer. Charles Antis shows why associations need to remember

maintenance of deck and roof items. Charles assembles items for communities to put on their watch list.

2015 CAI-GLAC Super Sponsors

Steve Reich brings in his experience with the insurance perspective on El Niño and the drought. Increased rainfall does not always bring relief; it can bring up reminders of deferred maintenance. Steve lists the most common items that communities see when the rains come.

ALLBRIGHT 1-800-PAINTING A-One Construction Accurate Termite & Pest Control Animal & Insect Pest Management, Inc. Behr Paint Corporation Benjamin Moore & Co. Best Alliance Foreclosure & Lien Services Fenton, Grant, Mayfield, Kaneda & Litt, LLP Ferris Painting, Inc. Guard-Systems, Inc. Hi Tech Painting & Decorating, Inc. NPG—Nelson Paving Pacific Western Bank Payne Pest Management Popular Association Banking Preferred Commercial Painting, Inc. R.W. Stein Painting, Inc. Securitas Security Services USA, Inc. Steven G. Segal Insurance Agency, Inc. Union Bank HOA Services

Lynn Ruger brings her perspective as a board member in facing these challenges. Lynn recounts some of the easy steps her community took to be prepared for El Niño. While each community has different needs, this list should be a good starting point for every director in developing a game plan to prepare their members for the rainy season.

Finally, we see some follow-up on the legislation affecting alternatives to natural turf. As many of you are aware, Governor Brown recently signed legislation requiring communities to allow for synthetic surfaces.

Jay McMullen provides some of the basics on synthetic turf and what communities can expect to see as more homeowners and boards move in the direction of allowing drought tolerant landscaping.

Kelly Richardson, Esq. breaks down the legislation that Governor Brown signed and how communities should approach planning for and implementing landscaping policies that are consistent with the new law.

As always, please remember to support our team at CAI. Our members, business partners and managers work hard to give you the information you need to make your communities thrive.

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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www.cai-glac.org | September/October 2015

Warm regards, — Matthew Gardner, Esq. Editor

Platinum

Gold Beaumont Gitlin Tashjian Brickman/ValleyCrest Critter Busters, Inc. General Pavement Management, Inc. Law Offices of Michael A. Hearn Miller Law Firm S.B.S. Lien Services Select Painting Stay Green Inc. Tinnelly Law Group Silver American Technologies, Inc. Association Reserves, Inc. California Waters Mission Landscape Services Mutual of Omaha Bank/CondoCerts PCW Contracting Services Professional Services Construction, Inc. Reserve Studies Incorporated SAX Insurance Agency Sherwin-Williams Paint SwedelsonGottlieb Universal Protection Service Wolf, Rifkin, Shapiro, Schulman & Rabkin, LLP

Bronze American Heritage Landscape ASR Construction CBI-Collins Builders, Inc. Design Build Associates FRESHCO Painters, Inc. Poindexter and Company, CPAs Seacoast Commerce Bank Silldorf & Levine, LLP Stonemark Construction Management Timothy Cline Insurance Agency, Inc. Vista Paint Corporation We thank our 2015 sponsors who have made a substantial contribution to ensure our continued success this year.

Contact the Chapter Office at 818-500-8636 to sponsor a program or an event.

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

Message

FROM THE President

Where’s the Justice?

F

all is my favorite time of year.

Summer is over, there’s a chill in the air, the crowds start to taper off and it’s back to living in beautiful southern California as usual. Life here is pretty good! As we settle into our new routine, many of us anticipate the next four months with a certain excitement and camaraderie. Can anyone say Football…?

What would fall be without the great American pastime and those inevitable crosstown rivalries? I for one, grew up playing with my dad’s collection of USC football tickets. My dad had a stack of ticket stubs from every collegiate game and Rose Bowl he attended. They were safely tucked away in his oversized fraternity mug, high on a shelf out of my apparent reach. Did that stop me, of course not! I would sneak into the den, use a chair to reach the shelf they were resting on and take those babies into my little hands and shuffle through them like a high stakes dealer in Vegas. They were so colorful and in such pristine condition. I could almost feel the excitement attached to each card: big games, high scores and some heart-breaking losses. I think I knew in that moment, someday I wanted to have my own collection of tickets and be a part of the fun and tradition.

Trojan-town and Bruin-town are lively and animated during football season. Who doesn’t like a little friendly ribbing between rivals? College athletes play with such passion and pure joy. It’s about bragging rights and history. You are on the 43-yard line with 16 seconds to go and your opponent kicks an unbelievable 60-yard TD to win the game. Where’s the justice there?

Some companies enjoy a house divided during football season.

You know the ones. They decorate their officemates’ cubicles with collegiate colors and plant tiny mascots from their own favorite team in unsuspecting spots in hopes of a discovery at just the right moment…the sneak attack. Where‘s the justice there?

These analogies bring me to my next phrase; establish justice.

What is justice? How do we measure justice? Why do we want justice [in a HOA]? Our friend Merriam Webster defines justice as the principle of moral rightness (rules); and/or the administration of law (mediation). Anyone who lives in a Homeowners Association will tell you there are certain times when you feel there is no justice. The neighbor’s dog barks constantly. The college kids down the street throw “ragers” every weekend. All of the extra parking has been taken up by renters and their friends. Mr. “I’m Exempt” never picks up after his dog in the common area. And one of my all-time favorites, the toddlers rule the jacuzzi in their sopping wet diapers! What CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

is a homeowner to do? You abide by the rules—why can’t your fellow neighbors be respectful? Where’s the justice there?

Hopefully, you the homeowner or manager of said development are members of CAI and attend our monthly luncheons or evening educational programs. These gatherings are wonderful opportunities to get free legal advice or tips on how to get relief.

It’s not fair when the majority of homeowners abide by the rules and a few do not. The Davis-Stirling Act has some great options available for relief. Check your individual CC&Rs to see what options are governed by your Association. Being a member of our organization has many benefits and its membership is diverse. Every one of us in this chapter is here to help you be the best you can be. Please, use your membership to its fullest. As a group, We, the People, can accomplish great things. You are not alone. It takes a village!

I would be remiss if I did not mention a few of the highlights from the past couple of months, as well as a couple upcoming events: On July 22, our executive director, Joan Urbaniak and I attended the CAI Chapter Leadership Conference in Anaheim, California. Executive Directors, Presidents and President-elects of the eight CAI California chapters met for a state of affairs presentation by CAI National. During the presentation the most significant fact brought to light was that, of the 50,000 common interest developments within California, only 3-4% are members of CAI. This presents a huge opportunity to gain membership through education. I want to encourage our members to participate in our annual membership recruitment drive. Every time you recruit a new member and they credit you as the recruiter, you will be entered into a drawing that particular month to win a prize and an opportunity for the grand prize at the end of the year.

Wine Night at the Aquarium in Long Beach took place on August 15. What started out as one hot summer night, turned into a magnificent summer evening of great food, some interesting wines and a $5,300 contribution to our California Legislative Action Committee. I want to personally thank the Wine Night Committee. Your contribution was the largest ever.

Kudos to you all!

Don’t miss the legal Forum California Communities conference on October 16 at the Long Beach Hilton. And finally, the event you have all been waiting for… Diamonds are Forever! The Chapter’s Casino Night and Awards Gala will be held Saturday, November 14 at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. Tickets are $125 each or a table of 10 for $1250. Please contact Joan at 818-500-8636 for details and reservations.

Will we be Shaken or Stirred?

As always, it is my pleasure to serve as your Chapter President.

Have a fun Fall and I will have my final message in November!

— Katy Krupp 2015 Chapter President

September/October 2015 | www.cai-glac.org

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Drought Problems Persist Throughout California

Over the past several years, California’s nickname of “the Golden State” has taken on a less optimistic meaning as we have been pummeled by historic drought conditions. In the face of strict watering restrictions, landscapes once lush and green have faded to shades of brown and gold. For both lawns and trees, there are a variety of concerns as well as solutions to the problems caused by the drought.

Arborists Recommend Protective Measures to Ensure Plant Health

■ ■ ■ By Alan Denison These are serious issues. Left untreated, they can result in tree Turf Talk failure and dieback leading to falling branches, added removal It takes a lot of water to keep lawns lush and green, and when costs, and ultimately, diminished property values. Trees are a watering is restricted in the midst of a drought, grass quickly dries major investment. It can cost thousands of dollars to replace and fades to brown, and eventually can die off. mature trees, compared to relatively minimal treatment costs There is an alternative to brown grass, however. Turf conversions that may save them. There are several steps that can be taken to that replace thirsty grass with drought-tolerant landscaping protect trees from an untimely demise. accomplish great water savings. By replacing turf with ■■ Deep-Root Watering: Injecting water down into the soil where ornamental, drought-tolerant plants, and converting sprinkler a tree’s fine network of roots is located, often a foot or more systems to drip or low-flow irrigation, some properties have seen below the surface, helps flush out salts that have accumulated projected annual water savings of 30-50 percent. in the root zone and provides healthy irrigation. Adding soil There is a wide variety of colorful, attractive landscaping available, conditioners and bio-stimulants to the mix can help stimulate which means that “drought tolerant” is not synonymous with new root growth, improve water uptake and general soil “ugly.” Additionally, with available state turf conversion rebates, condition, and reduce plant stress. property owners are seeing a great return on their investment.

■■ Insect Treatment: With bark beetles running rampant, arborists have found great success with a systemic treatment The Root of the Problem of insecticides to protect trees during the spring and summer In the midst of cutting back on watering lawns, it can sometimes months when the insects are most active. be easy to forget about trees. Trees are susceptible to a number of ■ ■ Mulch: A several-inch layer of mulch covering the soil around problems in a drought, and some of the impacts may not be things the base of a tree can help slow water evaporation, keep weeds that immediately spring to mind. down and prevent a hard crust from forming on the soil ■■ Salt Buildup: Even if trees are watered regularly, the chlorides surface. That all adds up to a much healthier root system. in municipal water supplies can accumulate over time. If that It’s OK to cut back on watering, but it needs to be done gradually salt buildup is not washed away by natural rainfall, it can wind so plants adjust, instead of making a drastic change that sends up causing stress to the tree and root burn. them into shock. We need to keep our landscaping healthy, ■■ Insects and Disease: Drought conditions weaken a tree’s because it does more than simply look nice and improve property immune system, making it vulnerable to disease and pests. values. Plants help clean the air and trees provide homes for For example, arborists have seen numerous cases of bark animals and shade that cools neighborhoods. beetle infestations that are killing thousands of trees in Southern California. Sometimes smaller than a sesame seed, While we’re all hoping for more rain, in the meantime we need to bark beetles bore into trees, carrying a devastating fungus that do what we can to be water-wise. It’s important to talk with your attacks a tree’s vascular system and serves as a food source for landscaping services provider and ensure that not only is water larvae. By the time outward signs of tree infestation manifest being conserved, but also that your landscaping themselves, the internal damage is likely already done. is not being neglected and is receiving the care ■■ Soil Compaction: The longer soil stays dry, the more likely needed to stay healthy. it is to become compacted, allowing even less water to be Alan Denison is a Business Developer of Stay Green Inc., a absorbed. This, in turn, makes it difficult for the soil to full-service landscape firm serving the Southern California become moist again, even when it does rain. region. Alan may be reached at adenison@staygreen.com.

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www.cai-glac.org | September/October 2015

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

Community Associations institute Greater los Angeles Chapter Presents

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CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

Complimentary for HOA Board Members and Managers

September/October 2015 | www.cai-glac.org

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State Announces Another $ 30 Million in Rebates to Help Replace Old Toilets and Turf

■ In August the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced two new rebate programs to help Californians replace inefficient toilets and tear out water-guzzling lawns, further conserving water during the state’s historic drought.

The “turf and toilet” rebate program is financed by the Proposition 1 water bond approved by voters in 2014. The program will help carry out Governor Brown’s April 1 Executive Order on drought to further reduce water use in homes by replacing more than 10 million square-feet of lawn and upgrading more than 60,000 water-wasting toilets.

DWR will oversee the two rebate programs, which provide a $100 consumer rebate to replace one old toilet per household and up to $2 per square foot for lawn replacement.

Californians can visit www.SaveOurWaterRebates.com to apply for the rebates.

With $24 million in Proposition 1 funding, the turf replacement program will rebate $2 per square foot of turf replaced, up to $2,000 per household through state or local turf replacement programs. Consumers are eligible to replace turf that is living or dead at the time of the rebate application. (Bare earth areas with no sign of turf are not eligible for a rebate.)

The turf rebate program is estimated to benefit more than 10,000 homes, with a focus on disadvantaged communities hardest hit by the drought. $12 million of the lawn removal funds is targeted for residents in disadvantaged communities in areas with depleted groundwater basins. The turf program will be monitored by DWR and administered by the Electric & Gas Industries Association (EGIA).

The $6 million toilet rebate program, also funded through Proposition 1, will help Californians replace approximately 60,000 old, inefficient toilets by offering a $100 customer rebate per household to replace with a high-efficiency toilet.

California has been dealing with the effects of drought for four years. To learn about all the actions the state has taken to manage our water system and cope with the impacts of the drought, visit Drought.CA.Gov. Find out more about how at SaveOurWater.com.

Courtesy of the California Department of Water Resources

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www.cai-glac.org | September/October 2015

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

Ross Morgan Full Page Ad - 3-2012 AH.pdf 1 3/22/2012 1:29:49 PM

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September/October 2015 | www.cai-glac.org

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Utility Audits During the drought in the early 1990’s, water became a commodity for the first time in history. The cost of water soared, and these water prices have remained high long after that drought was over. Trash recycling then became mandatory due to statewide legislation and trash removal providers became franchised, leaving the consumer with no choice of vendors, enforced recycling of trash and the highest trash pick-up rates in history—which continue to increase in cost annually. Sewer and storm drain fees were the next to skyrocket in cost due to increased development and the need for more sewage pumping and processing stations.

Then, due to the deregulation of both gas and electricity, we are paying the highest gas and electricity prices in history.

Now, we are facing increased water costs once again due to the current drought situation. Do you see a trend?

ALL utilities… water/sewer, trash, gas, electric and telephone continue to increase in costs each year with no end in sight.

These increasing utility costs have created several new trends: 1. Utilities now rank as the #1 budget cost to almost all community associations in California.

2. Utility companies are now introducing elaborate tiered and penalty rate schedules, whereby customers are penalized for all utility consumption above a relatively low or “baseline” amount established by the utility company.

3. Energy conservation companies, whose sole purpose is to reduce the overall usage of their customers utility consumption by installing energy-efficient equipment, retrofitting existing equipment to be more energy-efficient or changing the way that their customers use their equipment in order to reduce the number of utility units, such as kilowatt hours, therms, etc. used each month, in addition to obtaining any available rebates from the utility companies for these changes.

4. Utility audit companies, whose sole purpose is to “audit” utility bills to determine if there are any errors or overcharges that would entitle the utility customer to a refund from the utility company, or, in almost all cases, to obtain lower utility rates for their customers from the same utility companies. This reduces the per unit cost of the kilowatt hours, therms, etc., regardless of the amount used.

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www.cai-glac.org | September/October 2015

Going Beyond Water Conservation, Energy Auditing & Retrofitting ➤➤➤ By Erin Kelly

It is recommended that all community associations have both an energy audit and a utility audit (simultaneously or separately), as these two options are completely distinct services. This would ensure that the association is managing its utility consumption in the most efficient manner and paying less per unit for all utility consumption. These services should be no different than scheduling the annual financial audit or reserve study, especially considering the continuing trend of rising utility costs.

The utility companies and state agencies would have you believe that the only way to reduce your utility bills is through reduced usage, changing how you use the utility or more efficient equipment. For example: don’t water your landscaping between 1 – 3 p.m.; set your air-conditioning thermostats to 70 degrees instead of 65 degrees; install energy-efficient gas boilers and airconditioning units; use drought-friendly plants instead of lawn in your common-areas, etc. This is all well and good, but there is also another way to drastically reduce your utility bills— reduce the rates that you pay or eliminate utility overcharges that you are not even aware of! So, what IS the difference between utility conservation/energy auditing and a utility audit?

TWO WAYS TO CONSERVE WATER: 1. Water conservation use techniques and devices (i.e. low-flow toilets and showerheads, no watering in afternoons, etc.)

2. Water conservation landscaping techniques. (i.e. reduce watering times on controllers, install water-sensor probes and computer-programmed controller systems, etc.)

Both of these methods will reduce the amount of the water/ hundred cubic feet your association uses each month; but not the per unit cost of the water your association uses each month.

TWO WAYS TO CONSERVE ELECTRICITY: Electric conservation use techniques (i.e. motion-sensor lighting, reducing spa/pool hours, etc.) and installation of energy-efficient equipment. (i.e. low-wattage light bulbs, more efficient pool pumps, etc.) Both of these methods will reduce the amount of the electricity/kilowatt hours your association uses each month, but neither of these methods will reduce the per unit cost of the electricity/kilowatt hours your association uses each month!

Continued on page 10

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

REPRESENTING COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS IN

ALL AREAS OF REAL ESTATE LAW

• Drafting and enforcement of Bylaws and CC&Rs • General litigation, including mediation and arbitration of disputes with owners • Construction defect litigation • Insurance bad faith litigation • Collection of delinquent assessments • Providing general business advice to homeowners associations.

11400 West Olympic Boulevard Ninth Floor • Los Angeles, CA 90064 (PH.) 310.478.4100 • (FAX) 310.478.6363 www.wrslawyers.com

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

September/October 2015 | www.cai-glac.org

9

Utility Audits Continued from page 8

ONLY TWO WAYS TO CONSERVE GAS: 1. Gas conservation use techniques (i.e. reducing the spa/pool or boiler temperatures, timers on the clothes dryers, etc.)

2. Installation of gas efficient equipment. (i.e. solar panels for spa/pool heating, computer-programmed water heater thermostats for central hot water heaters, etc.)

Both of these methods will reduce the amount of gas/therms your association uses each month, but either of these methods will reduce the per unit cost of the gas/therms your association uses each month.

So how important is reducing the per unit cost of the utility?

Let’s give you an example.

ABC association has been conserving water for years. They have installed every new water conservation gadget for the common areas and have reduced their annual water consumption by a solid 10,000 Hundred Cubic Feet of waterwhich is an annual savings of $45,000, since the per HCF cost of water is $2.00 and the per HCF of sewer is $2.50! (ABC association uses 75,000 HCF of water each year after water conservation) DEF Water Company now decides it is time to raise its water/sewer rates again since it has been a whole year since their last rate increase- this year they raise the water

rates to $2.10 per HCF and the sewer rates to $2.75 per HCF. This is a $.35 per HCF increase over last year’s rates, so ABC association is now paying $26,250.00 MORE this year than it did last year! (75,000 HCF x $.35 per HCF rate increase) So – the net effect is that the association, after reducing its annual water consumption by 10,000 HCF, combined with the per HCF rate increase of $.35, is now only saving $18,750 per year. And, if the utility increases its water/sewer rates again next year, the association will be paying the same amount for its annual water/sewer costs as it did two years ago, prior to any water conservation!

Now, if the association had reduced its per unit cost of water/ sewer by $.50 per HCF, then the annual savings would be $37,500 in addition to any water conservation savings. And, this $.50 per HCF annual savings would carry forward each year as new, higher water/sewer rates were implemented so that the association’s annual water/sewer costs would continue to decrease, no matter how many HCF of water was consumed!

Sounds simple. But if you think this job could easily be handled in-house by a board member, community manager, maintenance personnel or homeowner, think again! Individuals who haven’t studied the technical side of utility billing could be getting in over their heads. It is possible that they could alert the utility companies to a utility undercharge without the proper knowledge, costing the association even more money in utility expenses in the future, not to mention the retroactive

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!

Ventura County 805.650.7899

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Orange County 949.476.3789

www.cai-glac.org | September/October 2015

Los Angeles 310.207.2207 California 800.372.2207

San Francisco 415.762.1889 CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

back-bill that the association will receive due to this utility billing undercharge! Auditors bring technical knowledge and experience to the job that will more than likely produce greater savings than any in-house individual could, not to mention the fact that they can discover utility billing undercharges without alerting the utility companies, then let their clients know about these utility undercharges discreetly. Also, because utility auditors usually operate on a commission-only basis, you pay nothing unless the utility audit results in refunds, credit adjustments and/or reduced utility bills.

There is a big difference in “CPA” type of auditing and “UTILITY” auditing! The utility companies use a language of their own. If you do not know the language, understanding what they are doing or charging you is impossible. It is the utility auditor’s responsibility to understand their language and be your association’s interpreter—and uncover billing errors and overcharges and obtain the least expensive utility rates for your association!

Now, more than ever, in these times of drought and drastically increasing utility costs it is imperative that you know you are only paying your fair share of utility costs!

Erin Kelly is the president of Pacific Utility Audit, Inc. serving community associations throughout California.

She can be reached at puainc@yahoo.com.

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Determine whether or not you are entitled to refunds as a result of utility company overcharges, and secure those refunds for you... retroactively.

•

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•

Obtain the lowest possible water, sewer, telephone, trash, gas and electric utility bills in the future.

PACIFIC UTILITY AUDIT www.PacificUtilityAudit.com 1-800-576-1010 Since 1989

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License No. 0E24660

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11

Why Roof & Deck Maintenance & Repair Are Critical During the California Drought ➤➤➤ By Charles Antis

O

wning a home or property has historically been considered the biggest purchase and simultaneously the best investment a person can make in life. Even during periods of economic instability, the fluctuating real estate market is still a good bet if you can stay in it for the long haul. With proper care and preventive maintenance, the chances of property holding or increasing in value improve exponentially over time.

Conversely, there’s nothing like neglect to turn that investment into a liability, particularly when something in need of repair is out of sight and out of mind. An old, sundamaged roof in drought-stricken California, for example, isn’t likely to command much attention—until of course, it rains. In fact, a lack of rainfall is influencing millions of California homeowners to put off critical exterior maintenance and repairs—particularly on roofs, gutters and wood decks—simply because homeowners feel there is no immediate need.

In a recent Replacement Contractor article titled, “Winners and Losers in the California Drought—and Beyond” (April 2015), Mark Graham, associate executive director of technical services for the National Roofing Contractors Association, underscores the problem: “A drought is kind of a drought in business,” he says. “For most building owners, if it’s not raining, you’re not having leaks, and you’re not thinking about your roof.” But intense UV rays, little moisture and a short forecast with no torrential downpours in sight may do more damage to homes and commercial property than owners may think.

Many may find it odd to blame a lack of rainfall for damage incurred by homes, property and humans when failing roofs, decks and gutters are left unattended, but it isn’t such a stretch when you understand how the scenario plays out over time.

Currently, California is in the fourth year of what experts agree is the worst drought since at least the 1800s when weather patterns were first recorded. In a recent paper written by Griffin & Anchukaitis and published in the Geophysical Research Letters journal, climate experts say the California drought may be the worst the state has experienced in 1200 years.

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www.cai-glac.org | September/October 2015

The Dark Side of Endless Sunshine

While assuming all is well when the sun is shining, exterior surfaces are still taking a beating from wind and relentless UV rays from the sun. In temperate climates like Southern California, clay and concrete tile roofs are common for residential properties.

Though heavy and expensive, they offer resistance to insects, mold, decay and fire, but they can crack from age and continual exposure to high heat from sunlight. Once fractured, tiles slip, exposing the underlying roofing membrane to ultraviolet light, which quickly dilapidates under the heat. Unmaintained tile roofs also allow rain to seep into cracks, through wood surfaces beneath and ultimately into ceilings inside the home. Costs to replace rotted, rain-soaked wood escalate quickly when compared to the cost of a simple replacement of a few tiles.

The most popular and least expensive roofing materials are asphalt shingles, which come in two types—organic and non-organic fiberglass—and a variety of colors and levels of durability. They are particularly vulnerable to wind and sun, with the side most exposed wearing 40% faster than the others.

Flat rooftops are common in beach communities and throughout California. When not properly maintained and exposed to a hot baking sun, these types of roofs take on an alligator appearance, with surface cracks and splits occurring due to continual expansion and contraction. When rain penetrates this surface, the penetrating moisture can expand over the entire rooftop, as there is no slope to encourage runoff.

Wood decks, trim and fascia—other common features of California residential properties—are also vulnerable to heat, even with surfaces protected by a coat of paint. Overexposure to sunlight causes the paint to chip, leaving exposed wood vulnerable to cracking, then soaking and rotting during and after a rain event. Membrane decking has the highest changeorder rate when it comes to exterior repairs. Like a terrarium, wood starts rotting when water cannot sweat back out of the wall cavities, thus causing devastation to the deck itself, as well as adjacent floor surfaces such as bedrooms or kitchens. This is not just a cosmetic annoyance but also a human hazard. Collapsing decks or breakage from rotten wood can pose real safety threats.

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

Preparing for a Rainy Day On a subconscious level, lack of rain might alleviate—or temporarily eliminate—the fear of potential roof leaks, wood rot and the need for costly exterior repairs, which means resources can be redirected toward other living expenses. In California, those expenses now include rising water bills, not to mention unpredictable gas prices that remain consistently above the national average. Undeniably, in the last 15 years California has been pummeled with one disaster after the next: an electricity crisis in 2000, a four-year financial crisis spanning 2008-2012 and now a devastating drought. And while it is easy to understand the thought process behind procrastinating on exterior home and building repairs, it won’t stop leaks and damage when the rain does come. And, hopefully, it will.

Across Southern California, the month of May was decidedly cooler and wetter, with San Diego reporting the wettest May in 94 years. Los Angeles, too, experienced nearly four times the average rainfall. A recent forecast from the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center suggests that El Niño, which has begun to show signs of mounting strength, could bring heavy rain and relief for California by winter. But whether California gets an epic El Niño by winter or closer-toaverage rainfall, it is important for home and property owners to prepare by taking these preventative steps—particularly during droughts when rain seems to be a distant proposition.

These will ultimately save time, money and frustration:

built out over rooms, garages or cantilevered out over the front or back of multi-tenant housing units.

6. Hire a professional: While certain tasks are perfectly suited for the do-it-yourself enthusiast, complex repairs like roof and decking maintenance or replacement are best left to those with experience and industryapproved safety equipment to prevent accidents. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration attributes falls from roofs as the leading cause of death in the construction industry—primarily due to improper safety practices.

The Benefit of the Drought Of the very few benefits offered by a drought, low prices in roofing repair rank at the top. There’s never been a better time to waterproof, repair or replace a roof, gutters or decking system. In fact, contractor profit margins are half of what they were 10 years ago! Like most things in life—health, finances and relationships—homes and property require attention and proper maintenance. Ignorance may provide bliss in the short term; however, prevention will not only protect valuable investments but also provide peace of mind for the long haul.

Charles Antis is the founder and president of Antis Roofing and Waterproofing, Inc., serving primarily multi-unit dwellings in Orange, Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties. He can be reached at Charles@antisroofing.com.

1. Proactively address potential problems: At least once a year, schedule an exterior home or building inspection with a reputable, licensed roofing contractor who understands the multitenant housing space, including requirements of Home Owners Associations (HOAs), which can vary from community to community.

2. Prep, seal and encapsulate: To protect roofs, as well as transitions and flashings, air-conditioning ducts and window sills, have them professionally prepped, sealed and encapsulated every year to prevent expansion and contraction, as well as cracks and breaches.

3. Clean and clear: Have gutters and roofs cleaned and cleared at least once a year to prevent debris from choking waterways and clogging ducts. Buildup of debris not only causes blockages but also results in rust if wet debris becomes lodged or trapped within metal rainspouts or gutters.

4. Make safety a priority: Dry rot—which can be hidden from sight, compromises the strength of wood. Even with slight pressure, individual planks, deck surfaces, steps and railings can fail and cause severe bodily harm. To protect wood and adjacent flooring, schedule maintenance checks annually, and protect and seal the wood with durable paint or protective coating.

5. Consider a permanent solution: Replacing wooden decking with waterproof decking guarantees longevity and a permanent, no-maintenance solution for structures CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

September/October 2015 | www.cai-glac.org

13

news

publication that ensures collaboration between the association and the public entity when reviewing EVC Stations. There may be cleanup legislation on this matter in January, if the bill is signed.

from sacramento

Here is the latest news on legislation from Skip Daum

A

s we expected, Governor Brown has signed AB 349 into law and it has already taken effect. It promotes installation of artificial turf and prohibits associations from requiring its removal once the declared drought ends.

AB 786 also deals with artificial turf and, after being reworded

by CLAC and legislative staff four times in the last days of session, it preserves the right of associations to enforce watering rules against members who fail to water even though they use a recycled irrigation water source.

AB 1236 rests approval of Electric Vehicle Charging Station installations in local public agencies regardless of your association’s approval. We asked for an amendment that will require the public entity to at least take the association’s evaluation of it into consideration, but the author refused our request and the bill passed to the Governor. We have advised them both that the bill contradicts an existing process found in another State

AB 1448 requires associations to allow members’ clotheslines and drying racks in order to promote energy conservation.

We were successful in amending this bill to limit their locations to back yards that are the exclusive use areas of the owners. Further, balconies, railings, or any part of the structure shall not be utilized for these devices. As of September 25, the bill hasn’t been acted on by the Governor.

Senate Bill 655 requires mold to be remediated by apartment owners, and probably association managers, although the bill’s language is unclear. Failure to do so in a timely manner may result in prosecution. The bill is on the Governor’s desk, and the bill’s definition on “mold” is not scientifically established; hence, a veto is possible, as the bill will result in inconsistent enforcement.

Please sign up for our free email alerts on our Website www.caiclac.com. Your email address will not be shared with anyone else.

Skip Daum is our Legislative Advocate for CAI's California Legislative Action Committee and may be reached at caiclac@aol.com.

OUR THANKS TO 2015 CLAC CONTRIBUTORS January 1 – September 30

118 Wadsworth Ave. HOA 1144 Seventeenth Street HOA 11767 Sunset Blvd. Assn.

20th Street HOA 2nd Street HOA 3rd Street, Inc. 4th Street HOA 446 San Vicente HOA 558 Evergreen Street HOA 7th Street HOA 826 2nd Street HOA 909 El Centro, Inc. 70% 914 Lincoln Blvd. HOA of goal as ALI Condominiums OA Artesia HOA of 9/30/15 Avis HOA Berkeley Street HOA Current Berkeley Townhouse HOA Contribution Bodger Park Condo HOA Bougainvillea Townhomes HOA Total: Burbank Blvd. HOA California Ave HOA Cardiff Court OA, Inc. Casa De Valley View OA, Inc. Casa Loma Association, Inc. Chateau Delgany Estates COA Chateau Goshen HOA Continental Court HOA

Goal: $24,645

$17,182

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www.cai-glac.org | September/October 2015

Coro Community Management & Consulting Culver Centrale HOA Eight on Twenty HOA El Centro, Inc. Florwood Estates HOA Forest Park Village HOA Galaxy HOA Gorham Park HOA Inc. Harbor Knolls HOA Hayworth OA Heritage Townhomes OA Hermosa Surf Condos Hillcrest Meadows HOA Hillcrest Rolling Hills HOA Hopi HOA Idaho Villas HOA Idaho West Town Homes HOA Kelton Arms COA Lawford HOA Marine Village HOA Oak Hill Condo HOA Oak Street HOA Ocean West COA Old Orchard I HOA Pacific Regency HOA Park Crest HOA Polynesian OA

Rancho-Glen HOA Ridgeley Vista Chateau HOA Roxbury Park COA S. Manhattan Place HOA Seascape-Redondo HOA, Inc. Shoreham Villas HOA Silver Spur Court HOA Silverview Townhomes HOA Inc. South Bay Estates HOA South Hermosa Townhomes HOA Inc. Stratford-Compton Park Townhomes OA Textile Building OA The Angels Landing Group 7 Fountains The Vista Pacifica HOA V.I.P. Goshen Assn. Inc. Villa Capril Townhomes HOA Villa Cordoba HOA Villa Cynthia HOA Villa Pacifica Condo HOA Villa Serena CA Vogue Condominiums Association, Inc. Westside Townhouses I HOA West Wind Townhomes HOA Whitsett Avenue HOA Wilshire Regent HOA Woodbury Maintenance Corp.

Yale St. HOA

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

What is CLAC? The California Legislative Action Committee (CLAC) is a volunteer committee of the Community Associations Institute (CAI) consisting of homeowners and professionals serving community associations. CAI is the largest advocacy organization in American

 Represents over nine million homeowners and property owners in more than 45,000 associations throughout California.  Comprises association homeowners, board members and the professional business partners that service them.  Is NOT a PAC (Political Action Committee) and makes no financial campaign contributions.

state lawmakers, and protecting the interests of

 Depends solely on the donations of the community associations, their boards of directors and those who serve HOA members.

those living in community associations in California.

CLAC’s Mission

About the Organization

To safeguard and improve the community association lifestyle and property values by advocating a reasonable balance between state statutory requirements and the ability and authority of individual homeowners to govern themselves through their community associations.

dedicated to monitoring legislation, education elected

 Is a non-profit, non-partisan committee composed of two Delegates and one Liaison from each of the eight CAI California chapters.

Sharing our experience with community

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

September/October 2015 | www.cai-glac.org

15

N

inety chapter members and friends gathered at the

August 15, 2015

The Aquarium of the Pacific

Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach on August 15 for a wonderful (very warm) evening of fine wine, heavy hors d’oeuvres and meltin-your-mouth desserts. It was an excellent opportunity to get together with industry friends in a casual setting. Since this evening was to benefit CAI’s California Legislative Action Committee (CLAC), we were very pleased to be able to send CLAC a check for $5,364, which represented the net proceeds. We sincerely appreciate all those who attended, contributed and sponsored this event. Special thanks to all of sponsors listed here and to the Wine Night Committee for organizing the evening: Co-chairs Joanne Peña (Horizon Management Company) and Jolen Zeroski (Union Bank HOA Services) and Committee Members Pamella De Armas (Silicon Beach Insurance Services), Katy Krupp (Fenton Grant Mayfield Kaneda & Litt, LLP), Pauline MacLean (American Technologies, Inc.) and Kim Province (The Miller Law Firm).

Sponsors Best of Class

Wine Tasting & Light Meal

Horizon Management Company Cordon Bleu

Pacific Western Bank Sommelier

Steven G. Segal Insurance Agency, Inc. SOUVENIR WINE GLASSES

Nu Air Services, Inc. PARKING

ALLBRIGHT 1-800-PAINTING Epicurean

A-One Construction Wine Steward

Fenton Grant Mayfield Kaneda & Litt, LLP Law Offices of Laura J. Snoke Law Offices of Michael A. Hearn Sandra Macdonald Insurance CENTERPIECES On Time Building Maintenance, Inc. Dessert Three Phase Electric

Raffle Prizes American Technologies, Inc. CBCI Construction General Pavement Management, Inc. Reconstruction Experts, Inc. Silicon Beach Insurance Services

El Niño …

Be Careful What You Wish For

 By Steve Reich

M

ost of us are feeling the effects of the drought and are hoping for a wet winter.

Many weather experts are predicting a possible El Niño episode that could give us more and heavier rainfall than we wish for.

El Niño is a recurring weather pattern that affects the global climate and is basically

18

caused by an accumulation of warm water off the Pacific Ocean which changes how the trade winds carry moisture.

The last two El Niño events occurred in 1983 and 1998 and caused millions of dollars in property damage. The National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center said that this El Niño is shaping up to be as strong as the El Niño in 1998.

Note that it was 15 years between those events, and it has been 16 years since the last one in 1998. It’s best to plan ahead, because even if El Niño fails to materialize this year, we’re certainly due for another in the near future.

It has been tough going for most community associations over the last several years. In most cases, budgets do not anticipate the potential expenses that an El Niño event could cause. It may be wise to start planning now and take steps to protect your properties and help avoid those unexpected expenses. Spending a rather small amount today could possibly save thousands in the future.

www.cai-glac.org | September/October 2015

What can you do? zz Drains & Gutters: Make sure all drains and gutters are cleared of debris and functioning properly before the storm season. If buildings do not have gutters or drains, consider having them installed. Storm water runoff from impermeable surfaces (e.g.; roofs, driveways, and patios) should be directed into a collection system to avoid soil saturation. zz Roofs: Inspect your roof, or hire a roofing contractor, to check for loose tiles, holes, rusty flashing, or other signs of trouble. zz Retaining Walls: Visually inspect all retaining wall drains, surface drains, culverts, ditches, etc. for obstructions, or other signs of malfunction, before the storm season, and after every storm event. zz Slopes: Visually inspect all sloped areas for signs of gullying, surface cracks, slumping etc. Also inspect patios retaining walls, garden walls,

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

etc. for signs of cracking or rotation.

Such signs might be indications of slope movement and if you notice any problems, it would be prudent to have the site inspected by a geotechnical engineer. zz Bare Ground: Make sure your yard does not have large bare areas which could be sources for mudflows during a storm event. Fall is a good time to put down mulch and establish many native plants; it may be possible to vegetate these bare areas before the storm season. zz Storm Drains: Visually inspect nearby storm drains, before the storm season and after every rain; if the storm drains are obstructed, clear the material from the drain or notify the Department of Public Works or public agency responsible for drain maintenance.

It is important to know that many of the type of property losses caused by an El Niño may not be covered by your insurance. The typical insurance

policy carried by most community associations specifically excludes coverage for: zz Flooding & Mudslides: These are excluded in most all property insurance policies. Coverage may be obtained by purchasing a flood insurance policy. zz Ground Water: Water that accumulates under the surface of the ground and seeps or leaks through the slab. zz Interior Damage: Most all policies will not cover interior water damage unless the building first sustains direct physical damage to the exterior of the building and water enters through that opening (i.e.; wind blows a portion of the roof away). Water entering through a roof that is old and has not been properly maintained would most likely not be covered. The same goes for water damage to stucco because rain gutters are clogged or through windows that have poor calking.

zz Earth Movement & Slope Failure: Any earth movement such as landslide, earth sinking, rising or shifting and erosion. This can affect fences, retaining walls as well the as property owned by the Association and owners. zz Negligent Work: Faulty, inadequate or defective design, specifications, workmanship, construction, grading, compaction and maintenance.

These exclusions are very common in most all property insurance coverage forms. If you are not sure what your policy covers, we suggest you check with your insurance agent to answer your questions and concerns.

Steve Reich is President/Owner of the Steve Reich Insurance Agency in Westlake Village. He has been serving community associations for over 34 years. Steve can be reached at sreich@stevereishinsurance.com.

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zz Spot sealing any large asphalt cracks in the driveways in order to prevent water from seeping under the foundation.

Only the problem areas will be fixed at this time in order to stay within their budget. zz Cleaning rain gutters of debris and leaves throughout the complex in October, rather than waiting until late November, when the cleaning has historically occurred.

It Pays to be Prepared

By Lynn Ruger

W

arner Club Villas Homeowners Association is a 193-unit combination of townhomes and condominiums spread over eleven acres in Woodland Hills. Located in Warner Center and bordering on Warner Park, this HOA is in a very desirable location shaded by close to 300 large trees. With this summer’s heat wave and the worst drought in California’s recorded rainfall history, it is difficult to think about the possibility of getting a deluge of rain. When weather forecasters started warning of an El Niño predicted to be the strongest on record, however, the board of directors decided to start taking positive action in preparation for the changing weather pattern. Here are some of the low-cost practical steps they are taking:

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www.cai-glac.org | September/October 2015

zz Inspecting all roofs for potential leak problems in order to repair NOW. It is much easier to ask a roofing consultant or contractor to take a look at your roof before the rains start coming. zz Purchasing tarps to store in the utility rooms throughout the complex to be ready for possible roof leaks. zz Having sandbags ready in case of a downpour. Sand bags will slow the flow of water and divert it away from lowlying areas and garages. Additionally, placing sandbags upstream from drains can help prevent debris from blocking drainage inlets, and can even the flow of water across a larger area— all which helps prevent storm drains from becoming overwhelmed. zz Having any trees that appear weakened by drought inspected by an arborist. The community’s trees are so old that rain saturating the root system could cause some

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

to fall. In high winds, downed trees and branches could knock out power or seriously damage homes and vehicles. zz Building a relationship with a tree removal service, just in case one or more trees do come down during a rainstorm. zz Having a generator available to pump out the pools in case they flood (since it has happened before). zz Inspecting and replacing all burned-out light bulbs, especially at emergency exits and stairwells. zz Assigning specific tasks to fellow owners in case of a storm, i.e. asking someone who lives near the pool to keep an eye on pool levels and someone else to watch for plugged storm drains and flooded low spots in the complex.

What do the above actions cost? Very little—compared to the exponential cost to repair damage after the fact. For boards of directors, spending a little time and money now to take preventative measures is really just carrying out your fiduciary duty to preserve and protect your most precious asset.

Lynn Ruger is a director at-large at Warner Club Villas Homeowners Association and a director on this chapter’s board of directors.

To learn more about CAl’s newest service and how mediation can benefit you, call the Chapter Office at 818-500-8636.

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21

Alternatives to Natural Grass

California’s limited supply of water, subject to ever-increasing demands, is just one resource saved by xeriscaping. This results in immediate cost savings through lower water bills.

Xeriscaping can reduce the amount of plant trimmings which must be disposed of or otherwise managed, thereby helping your community, and ultimately you, to save resources. A reduction in plant trimmings can reduce the amount of labor needed to maintain a given landscape. Or, put another way, reduced plant maintenance allows more time to be spent on other aspects of landscape maintenance.

What is Synthetic Grass?

Synthetic grass was first invented in 1965. While synthetic grass today has evolved from the plastic mats of old, the “turf ” is still attached to such a mat, with the fibers composed of polyethylene lubricated with silicone. A layer of expanded polypropylene or rubber granules (made mostly from recycled car tires) and sand serve as an “infill” to add shock absorbency. It is recommended that this infill be replenished and/or redistributed on a regular basis.

Frequently-Asked Questions To make fiscally and environmentally sound decisions regarding the potential purchase and installation of synthetic grass in their communities, decision-makers have the responsibility to consider a wide range of issues. Here are answers to some frequently-asked questions.

What benefits does synthetic grass provide?

••• By Jay McMullen As the record-breaking drought continues in California, community associations are turning to water conservation solutions more than ever. Drought-tolerant landscaping (a.k.a. xeriscaping) and synthetic grass have become the most popular alternative solutions for associations as local water agencies continue to impose fines to those trying desperately to keep their lawns and landscaping looking beautiful yearround. Water conservation is so critical these days that even the government has teamed up with programs like the HERO Program and CaliforniaFIRST to help homeowners switch to water conservation solutions.

What is xeriscaping?

Xeriscaping comes from the combination of two words: “xeri” which is derived from the Greek word “xeros” for dry; and “scape”, meaning a kind of view or scene. While literally meaning “dry scene,” xeriscaping in practice simply means landscaping with drought-tolerant plants. Typically, more than 50% of residential water consumption is used to water lawns and landscape. By converting existing landscapes into xeriscapes, associations can reduce landscape water usage by 50–75%.

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www.cai-glac.org | September/October 2015

Synthetic grass has come a long way from the styles and materials of the past, rivaling even the nicest of natural lawns. Synthetic lawns never need to be mowed, watered or fertilized, making them extremely low-maintenance. They also have the added benefit of being allergen and pest free, making synthetic grass great for children and pets.

Synthetic grass can simulate the look, feel and performance of natural grass in virtually any common area environment.

Imagine a pet turf that dogs will not be able to dig up and an artificial lawn that looks green year-round. Synthetic grass is a durable alternative for grassy areas that take a beating from heavy use, or places that are particularly difficult to maintain under normal conditions.

Does the sun harm artificial turf grass or cause it to fade?

The fibers have a UV protection coating and can withstand the damaging effects of sun, heat, wind, snow and ice. For example, synthetic putting greens that were installed in Florida in 1987 have shown no discernible signs of fading.

Technically, the color will fade two Pantone® colors over a tenyear period, but it’s really not noticeable to the naked eye.

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

What is the life expectancy of synthetic grass?

Can pets harm synthetic grass?

Synthetic turf generally comes with a limited 10-year warranty, but with a little TLC, the actual life expectancy is 15-35 years (or more) depending on use.

No. Many of our landscape synthetic grasses were designed with both residential and commercial dog runs in mind.

Pet urine is not a problem as it absorbs into the ground or evaporates. Other messes clean up in the same manner as natural grass. You may also spray the soiled area with a hose then simply brush the turf back into place.

What type of maintenance should I expect with our artificial grass?

While much less work is required than with a natural grass lawn, synthetic grass needs to be maintained as well to maximize the life of the product. Minimal maintenance would include brushing the fiber up and clearing the area of leaves and litter on a weekly basis. Depending upon the type of surface and the amount of use, more vigorous work could be required, normally from specialists in maintenance, to remove contamination and de-compact the infill on a regular basis. Details on maintenance are available from manufacturers, field builders, and professional maintenance services companies.

How does an artificial lawn drain?

Drainage is very similar to natural grass. The artificial turf backing has many perforated holes (or a porous fabric backing) that allow water to drain vertically from synthetic lawns into the ground below the synthetic grass.

Are there any rebates available to take advantage of?

Many water districts are currently offering rebates to those who replace their existing natural lawns with synthetic grass.

We recommend checking out www.bewaterwise.com to get more information and find out if your association qualifies for any rebates.

This drought is certainly a challenge for communities trying to preserve curb appeal. The best way to meet the current water conservation requirements and yet keep the common area looking good is to work closely with your landscaper and consider a combination of xeriscaping and artificial grass, depending on the extent of the common area and your budget.

Jay McMullen is the owner of Allstate Landscape Services, Inc., a landscape maintenance and design company serving Southern California. He can be reached at info@ allstate-landscape.com.

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AB 349 Sig Signed Into Law California is in the fourth year of drought, and even with predictions of an approaching heavy “El Nino” rain season, it may take years before state water resources return to normal. The Legislature last year passed several laws requiring that associations let landscaping die during a declared drought emergency (Civil Code 4735(c)), permit drought tolerant landscaping of common interest development yards (Civil Code 4735(a) (1)) and

not require pressure washing (Civil Code 4736).

On September 5, 2015, Governor Brown signed into law Assembly Bill 349 as an urgency measure, meaning that it becomes law immediately. After vetoes of artificial turf legislation in 2010 by then-Governor Schwarzenegger and again in 2011 by Governor Brown, drought concerns apparently have now overridden other expressed environmental concerns regarding degradation of plastic turf products.

〉〉〉 By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq., CCAL®

Sandra Macdonald Insurance Agency License: 0573169 Condominium Associations

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www.cai-glac.org | September/October 2015

Risk Management Solutions…

Professionally it’s what we know; Personally it’s what we do!

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

AB 349 expanded Civil Code 4735, and now, in addition to not banning drought-resistant landscaping, associations may not prohibit or impose conditions which ”have the effect of prohibiting the use of artificial turf or any other synthetic surface that resembles grass.” (Civil Code 4735(a)(2)).

an “emergency as defined by Civil Code 4360(d). Others may argue that the 30-day notice process is not required because this rule change is required by law, under Civil Code 4355(b) (4), but the safe bet is to give 30-day notice and adopt the new rules in open session.

Does this mean associations must allow any green surface, or allow purple artificial turf (yes, it is available)? Hopefully homeowners and boards will be reasonable and agree that purple turf does not “resemble grass” as to color, just as a green painted concrete front yard does not “resemble grass” as to texture. Clearly, the law allows an association to pass reasonable specifications of approved artificial grass installations, so long as the restrictions are not so strict that they make the use of artificial grass impossible.

Homeowners desiring to install plastic grass should be patient and give their board a reasonable period of time to consult with the manager and develop reasonable standards, while at the same time hopefully boards will diligently prepare for such applications by investigating the available products and prepare appropriate rules.

Associations would be well advised to begin the process of adopting rules which allow the reasonable installation of artificial grass and homeowners should apply for approval before installing, to avoid unnecessary conflict. Such rules should also require the owner to periodically sweep or otherwise clean the surface of dirt. If your association CC&Rs requires live grass yards, this law renders that provision unenforceable. Association rules are adopted by the board, following the rulemaking process prescribed by Civil Code Sections 4340-4370.

Once the drought emergency is declared ended by the Governor, may the association require artificial grass to be removed? No, Section 4735 has a new subpart “d” which states that owners who install water saving landscape measures may not be required to remove them after the emergency ends.

So, the plastic grass or xeriscape may remain even when the reservoirs are, some day hopefully soon, full again.

Kelly G. Richardson, Esq., CCAL® is a Fellow of the College of Community Association Lawyers and Managing Partner of Richardson Harman Ober PC, a law firm known for community association advice. He can be reached at KRichardson@RHOpc.com.

Although some may argue that the emergency statute creates the need for an emergency rule, the situation is not

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

September/October 2015 | www.cai-glac.org

25

Rights and Responsibilities Principles for Homeowners & Community Leaders

M

ore than a destination at the end of the day, a community is a place you want to call home and where you feel at home. There is a difference between living in a community and being part of that community. Being part of a community means sharing with your neighbors a common desire to promote harmony and contentment.

This goal is best achieved when homeowners, non-owner residents and association leaders recognize and accept their rights and responsibilities.

In all cases, this entails striking a reasonable, logical balance between the preferences of individual homeowners and the best interests of the community as a whole. It is with this challenge in mind that Community Associations Institute (CAI) developed Rights and Responsibilities for Better Communities.

Community associations exist because they offer choices, lifestyles, amenities and efficiencies that people value. Yet, with all of their inherent advantages, community associations face complicated issues, none more common than the challenge of balancing the rights of the individual homeowner with those of the community at large.

Managing this critical and delicate balance is often the essence of effective community leadership.

By encouraging community associations to adopt Rights and Responsibilities for Better Communities, CAI strives to promote harmony, community, responsible citizenship and effective leadership. In the process, we make life better for the more than 60 million Americans who live in community associations.

Let Rights and Responsibilities Help Your Community The process of formally adopting Rights and Responsibilities will give communities an excellent opportunity

26

for the kind of dialogue that facilitates awareness, builds consensus, and promotes greater community involvement.

Once adopted, Rights and Responsibilities will serve as an important guidepost for all those involved in the community— board and committee members, managers, homeowners and non-owner residents. The document will also serve as an excellent tool to educate new homeowners and residents about their own rights and responsibilities.

As greater numbers of associations adopt Rights and Responsibilities—and adhere to its principles—there will be less potential for conflict within communities.

Ultimately, this will improve the image of managed communities across the nation, leading more people to understand the nature and value of community association living.

Adopting Rights and Responsibilities can also create positive publicity for your community—and reduce the kind of negative publicity often created by conflict.

How You Can Make it Happen Adopting Rights and Responsibilities for Better Communities is easy!

■■ Download the Rights and Responsibilities document (PDF) from our chapter Website at www.cai-glac.org under the For Homeowners section.

■■ Distribute the document throughout your community, announcing and publicizing where and when adoption will be considered.

■■ Explain why this is important to your community and the benefits it can create.

■■ Review and discuss the merits of the principles at an open meeting of your board.

■■ Solicit input from homeowners.

www.cai-glac.org | September/October 2015

■■ Have your board vote to adopt a resolution endorsing Rights and Responsibilities for Better Communities. The principles will be more meaningful to homeowners and community leaders if they are formally adopted.

Announce Your Commitment Once you have adopted Rights and Responsibilities, please share the good news with CAI by completing the simple online adoption form at the CAI National Website www.caionline.org.

That way we know you have joined other community associations realizing the benefits of enlightened governance and involved and engaged residents.

Like any endeavor involving people, community living cannot be free of conflict. Utopia does not exist. With all of their inherent advantages—and there are many—community associations often face difficult issues. While adopting Rights and Responsibilities will not eliminate all conflict, its adoption can stimulate communication, promote trust and cooperation, clarify expectations and build a greater sense of community. CAI urges you to take advantage of this opportunity.

Rights and Responsibilities was developed as an ideal standard to which communities could aspire, a goal-based statement of principles designed to foster harmonious, vibrant, responsive and competent community associations. The principles were not designed to be in complete harmony with existing laws and regulations in 50 states, and in no way are they intended to subsume existing statutes.

Where there are inconsistencies, community associations should adhere to the spirit and letter of all applicable laws. If you have a question, we suggest you consult with your attorney.

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

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27

C O M M U N I T Y A S S O C I AT I O N S I N S T I T U T E

Rights and Responsibilities for Better Communities Principles for Homeowners and Community Leaders Homeowners Have the Right To: 1. A responsive and competent community association.

2. Honest, fair and respectful treatment by community leaders and managers.

3. Participate in governing the community association by attending meetings, serving on committees and standing for election.

4. Access appropriate association books and records.

5. Prudent expenditure of fees and other assessments.

6. Live in a community where the property is maintained according to established standards.

7. Fair treatment regarding financial and other association obligations, including the opportunity to discuss payment plans and options with the association before foreclosure is initiated.

8. Receive all documents that address rules and regulations governing the community association—if not prior to purchase and settlement by a real estate agent or attorney, then upon joining the community.

9. Appeal to appropriate community leaders those decisions affecting non-routine financial responsibilities or property rights.

Homeowners Have the Responsibility To: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Read and comply with the governing documents of the community.

Maintain their property according to established standards.

Treat association leaders honestly and with respect.

Vote in community elections and on other issues.

Pay association assessments and charges on time.

Contact association leaders or managers, if necessary, to discuss financial obligations and alternative payment arrangements.

7. Request reconsideration of material decisions that personally affect them.

8. Provide current contact information to association leaders or managers to help ensure they receive information from the community.

9. Ensure that those who reside on their property (e.g., tenants, relatives, friends) adhere to all rules and regulations.

Community Leaders Have the Right To: 1. Expect owners and non-owner residents to meet their financial obligations to the community.

2. Expect residents to know and comply with the rules and regulations of the community and to stay informed by reading materials provided by the association.

3. Respectful and honest treatment from residents.

4. Conduct meetings in a positive and constructive atmosphere.

5. Receive support and constructive input from owners and nonowner residents.

6. Personal privacy at home and during leisure time in the community.

7. Take advantage of educational opportunities (e.g., publications, training workshops) that are directly related to their responsibilities, and as approved by the association.

Community Leaders Have the Responsibility To: 1. Fulfill their fiduciary duties to the community and exercise discretion in a manner they reasonably believe to be in the best interests of the community.

2. Exercise sound business judgment and follow established management practices.

3. Balance the needs and obligations of the community as a whole with those of individual homeowners and residents.

4. Understand the association’s governing documents and become educated with respect to applicable state and local laws, and to manage the community association accordingly.

5. Establish committees or use other methods to obtain input from owners and non-owner residents.

6. Conduct open, fair and well-publicized elections.

7. Welcome and educate new members of the community—owners and non-owner residents alike.

8. Encourage input from residents on issues affecting them personally and the community as a whole.

9. Encourage events that foster neighborliness and a sense of community.

10. Conduct business in a transparent manner when feasible and appropriate.

11. Allow homeowners access to appropriate community records, when requested.

12. Collect all monies due from owners and non-owner residents.

13. Devise appropriate and reasonable arrangements, when needed and as feasible, to facilitate the ability of individual homeowners to meet their financial obligations to the community.

14. Provide a process residents can use to appeal decisions affecting their non-routine financial responsibilities or property rights— where permitted by law and the association’s governing documents.

15. Initiate foreclosure proceedings only as a measure of last resort.

16. Make covenants, conditions and restrictions as understandable as possible, adding clarifying “lay” language or supplementary materials when drafting or revising the documents.

17. Provide complete and timely disclosure of personal and financial conflicts of interest related to the actions of community leaders, e.g., officers, the board and committees. (Community associations may want to develop a code of ethics.)

Community Associations Institute (CAI) is a national organization dedicated to fostering vibrant, responsive, competent community associations. Founded in 1973, CAI represents association-governed communities, such as condominium and homeowner associations, cooperatives, and planned communities. To learn more about CAI and its local, regional and state chapters, visit www.caionline.org or call (888) 224-4321.

Sponsored by CAI’s President’s Club

28

www.cai-glac.org | September/October 2015

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

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September/October 2015 | www.cai-glac.org

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welcome

New CAI-glac Members! as of September 15, 2015

BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS RECRUITER Alliance Building & Construction Services CAI National Amor Architectural Corporation CAI National Atlas Consulting CAI National Community Bank CAI National Patio Heaven CAI National Silicon Beach Insurance Services CAI National COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS Hermosa Surf Condominiums

Heather Dellorso, CMCA®, AMS®

COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT COMPANIES Anchor Management Services, Inc. ONIT Property Management

CAI National CAI National

COMMUNITY MANAGERS Monika Bohana Realty West Property Management Walter Branch Torrance-Windemere HOA Celena Castro SF Valley Management, Inc, Gary Choppe HOA Management of Santa Clarita Corinne Crawford, CCAM®, CMCA® The Management Trust Miguel Duran Kelly Elder Property Management Professionals, LLC, AAMC

T h e Ess e ntials of

community association volunteer leadership

CAI National Joanne Peña CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM® William Reimbold, CMCA®, AMS® Robin Choppe

Roy Forbes Charmaine Fox Property Management Professionals, LLC, AAMC Lyndsie Kathary Property Management Professionals, LLC, AAMC Diane Kennedy Kennedy Real Estate Management Rachel Kievman Scott Management Company Crystal Machado Raintree Mutual Corporation Sabrina Neve Property Management Professionals, LLC, AAMC Susan Parrott Horizon Management Company Madison Pollok Property Management Professionals, LLC, AAMC Sonia Taska Property Management Professionals, LLC, AAMC Eddie Ugalde Vanessa Velardez Common Interest Services, Inc, COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION LEADERS Roy Pfeister Brian Nelson Leslie Quinn

Lisa Tashjian, Esq./ Brian Moreno, Esq. CAI National Tina Nakamura CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®

CAI National Tina Nakamura CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM® Tina Nakamura CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM® Nathalie Weinstein Ariel Hess, CMCA®, AMS® Carrie Field, CCAM® Tina Nakamura CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM® Joanne Peña CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM® Tina Nakamura CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM® Tina Nakamura CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM® CAI National Nels Atha, CCAM®, CMCA®, AMS®

CAI National CAI National Pat Paris-Appleby

Community Association Homeowners And Board Members!

CAI’s educational workshop, The Essentials of Community Association Volunteer Leadership, provides the perfect opportunity for board members and homeowners living in community associations to learn essential, relevant, and timely information that an help you lead your communities to harmony and prosperity.

Course Topics Include: ● Maintenance

● Rules

● Finance

● Reserve Funds

● Meetings

You’ll leave the eight-hour Saturday workshop with new ideas, solutions to problems, handouts for future reference, and the knowledge that there are resources and people to help you with your leadership responsibilities.

Upcoming Dates Visit www.cai-glac.org for details and registration

30

November 7, 2015 – Marina del Rey January 23, 2016 – Marina del Rey

www.cai-glac.org | September/October 2015

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

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

Our Thanks to Renewing Members!

As of August 31, 2015

BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS Advanced Reserve Solutions, Inc. All Valley Washer Service Allied Roofing & Waterproofing Association Reserves, Inc. BELFOR Property Restoration California Sub-Meters CBCI Construction CID Insurance Programs, Inc. CommerceWest Bank Creighton Tevlin, CPA DM Construction Services Dunn-Edwards Paints Eagle Roofing Products Fernald Law Group Ferris Painting, Inc. FHA Review Integrated Risk Management Jon Wayne Construction Kasdan Weber Turner, LLP Kulik Gottesman & Siegel, LLP Liftech Elevator Services, Inc. McGowan Program Administrators Oakridge Landscape, Inc. One Call Now Pacific Premier HOA & Property Banking Parking Concepts, Inc. Pilot Painting & Construction, Inc. Preferred Commercial Painting, Inc. PPG Paints ProTec Building Services Richardson Harman Ober PC ROSS Mediation Services S.B.S. Lien Services Saddleback Fence & Vinyl Products Sandra Macdonald Insurance Securitas Security Services USA, Inc. Sherwin-Williams Paint Slade Industrial Landscape, Inc. Sonnenberg & Company, CPAs Sperlonga Data & Analytics Stan Smith Associates Stay Green Inc. Van Dijk & Associates, Inc. West One Building Services WICR, Inc. Waterproofing & Decking COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS Bedford Parc HOA Beverly Hills at Doheny Keith HOA Fusion at South Bay COA Hancock Plaza HOA Northstar COA Prado HOA Raintree Condominium Corporation Regatta Seaside HOA The Colony at Westwood HOA Tierra Verde V

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT COMPANIES Aberdeen Management Company, Inc., AAMC ABM Property Management All West Management Cammarata Management, Inc. Campion and Company Condominium Administration Co., Inc. Horizon Management Company International Realty & Investments Raintree Condominium Association Scott Management Company SK Management Company, LLC COMMUNITY MANAGERS Margaret Allen, CCAM®, PCAM® Dominguez Hills Village COA Ben Bar, CMCA® Allstate HOA Management Robert Bellucci, CMCA® Seabreeze Management Company, Inc., AAMC Ermias Berhanu, CCAM® Park Plaza Community Assn.

Gail Bowman, CMCA®, AMS® Westview Towers HOA Mikaela Collerd, CMCA®, AMS® Property Management Professionals, LLC, AAMC Ryan Darby, CMCA® Prellis Property Management Karen Dubose, CCAM®, CMCA®, AMS® Briarcliffe Towne Homes HOA Richard Egan, CCAM®, CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM® Briarcliffe Towne Homes HOA Alana Ellis Cardinal Management Renee Espinoza Bali Management Group Carrie Field, CCAM® Raintree Mutual Corporation Brian Fleming Sky Community Association Stacy Gerowitz, CCAM® The Century POA Alicia Glorioso True Community Management, Inc..

George Gral, PCAM® Encore Enterprises, Inc. Karen Inman Associa-PCM Donyelle La-Key, CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM® Property Management Professionals, LLC, AAMC Kevin Haegle, CMCA® Property Management Professionals, LLC, AAMC

Cathy Hodek, CMCA® Prado HOA Gene Jackson The Courtyards of West Hollywood HOA Ted Loveder, CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM® The Westholme Al Masters, CCAM® Corinne Michaud, CCAM® Scott Management Company Keila Miramontez, CMCA®, AMS® Property Management Professionals, LLC, AAMC Vicki Olson, CMCA®, AMS® Property Management Professionals, LLC, AAMC Elizabeth Orellana Rockpointe HOA Danny Padilla Cardinal Management Group Victor Perez Highlands Owners Association Evelyn Polizzi Riviera Property Management

Kristen Raig, CCAM®, CMCA®, AMS® Rolling Hills HOA Diana Stiller, CCAM® 101 Ocean Condominium HOA Rodney Stringer Rodney C. Stringer Realty Gerry Suenram, CCAM®, PCAM® Evo HOA Michelle Underwood, CCAM®, CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM® Valencia Management Group Mervyn Ward Bunker Hill Condo Association Lori Ziegler, PCAM® Century Woods COA COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION LEADERS Wayne Baldasso Craig Forry Jeff Gausepohl Jeff Goodwin David Meyer Christopher Wade

September/October 2015 | www.cai-glac.org

31

Advertisers Index 29 ALLBRIGHT 1-800-PAINTING 34 Animal & Insect Pest Management Inc. 21 Association Reserves, Inc. 29 Beaumont Gitlin Tashjian 27 CBCI Construction, Inc.

2015 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

OCTOBER 06 Managers Only Breakfast Workshop – 8:00 a.m.

The Wilshire, 10580 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90024

16 CAI State Legal Forum Hilton Long Beach Hotel, 701 West Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90831

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

Hyatt Regency, 24500 Town Center Drive, Valencia, CA 91355

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

11 Farmers Insurance Group – Steven G. Segal Insurance Agency, Inc.

04 San Gabriel Valley Homeowners Association Marketplace – 5:30 p.m.

Embassy Suites, 800 N. Central Ave., Glendale 91203

18 Westside Luncheon Program for HOA Boards and Managers – 11:30 a.m.

DoubleTree by Hilton Westside, 6161 W. Centinela Blvd., Culver City, CA 90230

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

Chapter Office, Glendale

15 Sky Painting 10 SwedelsonGottlieb

29 Mutual of Omaha Bank/ CondoCerts

19 Union Bank HOA Services

32 Poindexter & Company, CPAs 11 Pacific Utility Audit

31 Witkin & Neal, Inc. 9 Wolf, Rifkin, Shapiro, Schulman & Rabkin, LLP

27 Popular Association Banking

Advertising Information Dimensions & Rates:

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

For more information, call the Chapter office: 818-500-8636.

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 9.75" high (Vertical)

$800

$1,400

14 Casino Night – 6:00 p.m.

Los Angeles Athletic Club, 431 W. 7th St., Los Angeles, CA 90014

24 Sandra Macdonald Insurance 18 Select Painting & Construction

20 Timothy Cline Insurance Agency, Inc.

10 Westside Program – 7:00 p.m.

Regatta Seaside HOA, 13600 Marina Pointe Drive, Marina del Rey, CA 90292

25 R.W. Stein Painting, Inc. 13 Reserve Studies Inc.

23 Hi Tech Painting & Waterproofing

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

Regatta Seaside HOA, 13600 Marina Pointe Drive, Marina del Rey, CA 90292

7 Ross Morgan & Company, Inc., AAMC

27 Ferris Painting, Inc.

Chapter Office, Glendale

NOVEMBER

21 Preferred Commercial Painting, Inc.

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: 818-500-8636.

December 04 Holiday Happy Hour – 4:00 p.m.

Bel Air Crest Master Association Clubhouse, Los Angeles, CA 90045

11 Spark of Love Toy Drive Delivery – 5:00 a.m.

Westfield Topanga Mall — meet at Starbuck’s

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

Chapter Office, Glendale

32

www.cai-glac.org | September/October 2015

CAI-Greater Los Angeles Chapter

THE GREAT ESCAPE Three Contests… Three Prizes

CAI-GLAC’s 2015 Membership Recruiter Contests

Whether it’s a chance to win a weekend away or an evening out, you can win BIG by sharing the benefits of CAI membership with colleagues and friends during 2015!

GRAND PRIZE 3-Day, 2-Night Vacation Package ($1,000 Value) Member with the highest number of points as of December 31, 2015 will be awarded the Grand Prize.

(Minimum 20 pts. needed to qualify.)

Los Angeles Events

RECRUITER RAFFLE Evening Out On The Town ($500 Value) All 2015 recruiters (except the Grand Prize winner) who have achieved a minimum of 10 points will go into a raffle drawing held in January 2016 (when all the 2015 results are in).

RECRUITER-OF-THE-MONTH $50 Gift Certificate

RULES

The member who has recruited the most new memberships in the previous month will be recognized at the next luncheon and awarded a $50 gift certificate.

The following rules apply to the campaign: Each time you recruit a new member, you receive points toward your membership recruitment total. Points will accrue from January 1 through December 31, 2015. The more members you recruit, the more you’ll increase eligibility for the Grand Prize. Points are based on the following membership categories: One (1) point for each business partner member recruited in a category already existing in the 2015 Membership Directory.

Two (2) points for a business partner in a sector of business not yet represented in the Chapter.

Two (2) points for an individual HOA board member or community manager.

Three (3) points for recruiting a management company.

•T o receive recruiter credit, you must be listed as the CAI member responsible for recruitment on the printed application form submitted, or be identified through CAI National membership reports.

• Completed applications and membership dues for qualified applicants must be received at CAI between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2015 to be counted toward the Grand Prize.

• In the case of a tie, a random drawing will determine the Grand Prize winner.

Current Sponsors American Technologies • Centurion Group • Dunn-Edwards Paints • Infinity Property Services Silicon Beach Insurance Services • SKY Paintng

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