CAI-CV HOALiving April 2023

NEW AND RENEWING MEMBERS

NEW BUSINESS PARTNER MEMBERS

ESTRADA PAINTING & DRYWALL

Mr. Adrian Estrada (442)264-2456

adrian@estradapaintingdrywall.com

PRECISION PAINTING & RECONSTRUCTION

Mr. Evan Murray (805)724-6837 operations@precisionpainting.com

PRESTIGE PAVING COMPANY

Mr. Brian Beckner (951)270-2999 Brian@PrestigeCompany.net

WILLIAM LEYS WATERPROOFING CONSULTANTS LLC

Mr. Bill Leys (805)801-2380 leyswaterproofingconsultants@gmail.com

RENEWING BUSINESS PARTNER MEMBERS

ALAN SMITH POOLS

Mr. Kevin Kostka (714)628-9494 kevin@alansmithpools.com

ANIMAL PEST MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.

Mr. Dan Fox (909)591-9551 dfox@animalpest.com

BEHR PAINT COMPANY

Mrs. Bridget Nigh (714)365-7427 bnigh@behr.com

BEN'S ASPHALT, INC.

Ms. Teri Braden (714)231-0100 teri.braden@bensasphalt.com

COOPER COATINGS INC.

Mr. Marshall Frederic Cooper (760)250-3034 Marshall@coopercoatings.com

FRAZIER PEST CONTROL, INC.

Ms. Julie Frazier (760)328-6115 julie@frazierpestcontrol.com

GREEN BRYANT & FRENCH, LLP

Mr. Ronald M. Green (760)346-9310

rgreen@gbflawyers.com

MC PAINTING & CONSTRUCTION

Mr. Ernest Casto, II (760)323-8010

admin@mcbuildercorp.com

NPG ASPHALT

Ms. Kymberli Burke (760)822-3258

kymberliburke@npgasphalt.com

OCBS, INC.

Mr. Mike Mastropietro (800)834-2323

mike.mastropietro@ocbsonline.com

SCOTT CORPORATION, APAC

Mrs. Krista Scott (760)568-5544

kscott@thescottcorp.com

THE NAUMANN LAW FIRM, PC

Ms. Elaine J Gower (858)792-7474

elaine@naumannlegal.com

WESTLAKE ROYAL ROOFING SOLUTIONS

Mr. Jon Wilson (714)412-6244

Jon.Wilson@westlake.net

NEW MANAGER MEMBERS

DESERT RESORT MANAGEMENT

Mr. Sean Edward Archer (760)346-1161

sarcher@drminternet.com

RENEWING MANAGER MEMBERS

ASSSOCIA DESERT RESORT MANAGEMENT

Mrs. Linda Christine Alexander (760)346-1161

lalexander@drminternet.com

Ms. Kristin Berryhill-Hood (760)346-1161

kberryhillhood@drminternet.com

Ms. Dana Brown, CMCA, AMS (760)324-1873

dsb9861@yahoo.com

Mr. Samuel Meza Rodriguez, CMCA, AMS, PCAM (760)346-1161 srodriguez@drminternet.com

FIRSTSERVICE RESIDENTIAL CALIFORNIA, LLC

Mr. Michael Allen Marshall, CMCA, PCAM (760)834-2496 Michael.Marshall@fsresidential.com

PERSONALIZED PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO.

Mr. Richard Warfield (760)325-9500 rwarfield@ppminternet.com

PRIME ASSOCIATION SERVICES

Ms. Shelie Xanthos (800)706-7838 sheliexanthos@theprimeas.com

PRO LANDSCAPING, INC.

Ms. Liliana Ortega, CMCA (760)834-1472 lily@proland-inc.com

THE MANAGEMENT TRUST, DESERT REGION

Mrs. Angie Hill (760)578-6962 angie.hill@managementtrust.com

Mr. Damian Jenkins (760)776-5100 (6317) damian.jenkins@managementtrust.com

THE SPRINGS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

Ms. Jennifer C. Zeivel, CMCA, AMS, PCAM (760)324-2131 (204) jzeivel@thespringsrm.com

NEW HOMEOWNER LEADERS

CANYON SHORES CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION

Mrs. Debra Sween

DESERT BRAEMAR, INC.

Ms. Cheryll Meredith

DESERT PRINCESS HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION

Mr. Ernie Hall

INDIAN RIDGE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION

Mr. Ron Eickelman

Mr. Jack Kane

Ms. Catherine Krueger

LAKE MIRAGE RACQUET CLUB HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION

Mr. Tim Bloom

Ms. Virginia Dvorak

Mr. Frank Lewis

Mr. John W. Long

Mr. Paul Frank Rathert

PALM DESERT VILLA PORTOFINO

Mr. David Adams

Ms. Sue Bundy

Mrs. Cindy Haskell

Mr. Ed Perry

Ms. Jennifer Elizabeth Ridewood

SAN MARINO ESTATES - R.M. Michelle Guy

THE SPRINGS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

Mr. Ron Haedt

Mr. Bud Lockhart

Mr. Eric Overton

Mr. Gary Wolfson

RENEWING HOMEOWNER LEADERS

CATHEDRAL CANYON COUNTRY CLUB HOA #9

Mr. David Pozzi

Ms. Cindy Zehander

DESERT PRINCESS HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION

Mr. Martin Backstrom

Mr. Bill Bergstrom

Mr. Mark Brown

Mr. Russ Holowachuk

Mr. Robert Mangold

Ms. Terri Swartz

INDIAN RIDGE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION

Mr. George Bers

Mr. Steve Heiferman

Mr. James Loeb

Mr. Doug Lundal

Mr. Joel Mark

Mr. Dan Newell

Mr. Michael Sacks

Ms. Sharon Severson

Mr. Jim Stubbs

MEAGHAN GAFFNEY-HOWE, CMCA, AMS CHAIR

The Gaffney Group, Inc.

RODNEY BISSELL, CO-CHAIR

Bissell Design Studios, Inc.

ASHLEY LAYTON, PCAM, AMS, CMCA CO-CHAIR

Premier Community Association Management

JENNIFER JAMES, ESQ. BOARD LIAISON HOA Legal Services

STEVEN SHUEY, PCAM BOARD LIAISON

Personalized Property Management (Ret.)

CHRISTOPHER BAIR

Securitas Security Services

BRIAN BERCE Golden Alliance Insurance

SIERRA CARR, CMCA, AMS, CCAM, PCAM Associa Desert Resort Management

GREG GRITTERS

Vintage Landscape

GLENN A. MILLER, CGCS

Southwest Landscape & Maintenance, LLC

JAMIE PRICER Coachella Valley Water District

JASON SAVLOV, ESQ. Adams | Stirling, PLC

CHRIS SIGLER, B.S.C.E, CDT C.L. Sigler & Associates, Inc.

LORENA STERLING, CAFM

Community Association Financial Services

CREATIVE DIRECTOR & GRAPHIC DESIGNER

RODNEY BISSELL Bissell Design Studios, Inc. rodney@bisselldesign.com (714) 293-3749

SUBSCRIBER SERVICES

ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS OR ADVERTISING INFORMATION HOALiving@cai-cv.org CAI-CV EDUCATED BUSINESS PARTNER CAI-CV.org facebook.com/CAICV @CAI-CV 5

EDUCATED BUSINESS PARTNER

Choose

Julie R. Balbini, Esq., Fiore Racobs & Powers, A PLC

Micha Ballesteros, Cartwright Termite & Pest Control, Inc.

Roxi K. Bardwell, Advanced Reserve Solutions, Inc.

Rodney Bissell, Bissell Design Studios, Inc.

Kimberly Burnett, DSI Security Services

Gary Butler, Asphalt MD's

Linda Cardoza, Alliance Association Bank

Will Cartwright, Cartwright Termite & Pest Control, Inc.

Todd Chism, PatioShoppers

Angel Christina, Delphi Law Group, LLP

Lori Fahnestock, Powerful Pest Management

Dea Franck, Esq., Epsten, APC

Julie Frazier, Frazier Pest Control, Inc.

Elaine Gower, The Naumann Law Firm, PC

Michael Graves, SCT Reserve Consultants

Amanda Gray, Harvest Landscape, Inc.

Jennifer James, Esq., HOA Legal Services

Erin Kelly, Pacific Western Bank

Megan Kirkpatrick, Kirkpatrick Landscaping Services

Jared Knight, Vista Paint Corporation

Katy Krupp, Fenton Grant Mayfield Kaneda & Litt, LLP

Matt Lawton, CIC, CIRMS, Prendiville Insurance Agency

Larry Layton, Kirkpatrick Landscaping Services

Alison LeBoeuf, Sherwin-Williams

Mike Mastropietro, OCBS, Inc.

Chris Meyer, Asphalt MD's

Greg Morrow, Eagle Roofing Products

Fran Mullahy, Conserve LandCare

Bridget Nigh, BEHR Paints

Matt Ober, Esq., Richardson Ober DeNichilo LLP

Chet Oshiro, EmpireWorks

Mallory Paproth, SCT Reserve Consultants

Elisa Perez, Esq., Epsten, APC

Jay Powell, Ben's Asphalt

Dana Pride, Automation Pride

Mike Rey, Rey Insurance Services

Kelly Richardson, Esq., Richardson Ober DeNichilo LLP

Brent Sherman, Animal Pest Management Services, Inc.

Liz Williams, AMS Paving

Taylor Winkle, Roof Asset Management

Bevan Worsham, AMS Paving

Jolen Zeroski, CIT

2023 COACHELLA VALLEY

CHAPTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT

JULIE BALBINI, ESQ.

Managing Attorney, CV Office, Fiore Racobs & Powers, A PLC

PRESIDENT-ELECT

CLINT ATHERTON, PCAM

General Manager, Sun City Palm Desert

SECRETARY-ERIN KELLY

AVP, HOA Senior Manager Pacific Western Bank

TREASURER

BG (RET) GUIDO PORTANTE

Director, Mira Vista at Mission Hills HOA

DIRECTOR

MARK DODGE, CMCA, AMS

Branch President & CEO

Associa Desert Resort Management (DRM)

DIRECTOR

JENNIFER JAMES, ESQ.

Attorney, HOA Legal Services

DIRECTOR

BRUCE LATTA, CMCA

Manager, Indio Properties/President, Desert Cities HOA Council

DIRECTOR

MICHELLE LOPEZ, CMCA, AMS

Director of Community Management, Powerstone Property Mgmt.

DIRECTOR

BRIDGET NIGH

Regional Account Manager, BEHR Paint Company

DIRECTOR

LILY ORTEGA, CMCA Office Manager, Pro Landscape

DIRECTOR

Jolen Zeroski, CMCA

VP, Community Association Banking CIT Bank

CONTACT US

CAI Coachella Valley

49950 Jefferson Street, Suite 130-117 Indio, CA 92201

(760) 341-0559 | www.cai-cv.org

CAL LOCKETT Executive Director clockett@cai-cv.org

The materials contained in this publication are designed to provide our members with timely and authoritative information; however, the CAI Coachella Valley Chapter is not engaging in the rendering of legal, accounting or other professional types of services. The Coachella Valley Chapter has not verified and/or endorsed the contents of these articles or advertising. Readers should not act on the information contained herein without seeking more specific professional advice from legal, accounting or other experts as required.

UPCOMING EVENTS

THIS JUST IN!

President’s Message

Julie Balbini, Esq. Managing Attorney, CV Office, Fiore Racobs & Powers, A PLC

As we head into the final stretch of the “season,” I want to wish all our members a safe and healthy April. Major changes are underway with CAI-CV. As of April 1, our Chapter office is officially virtual! You may notice a new virtual office attendant answering the office phone, at (760) 341-0559. WiFi phones allow our members to get assistance faster than ever before, regardless of where our staff are located.

To continue to be able to have in-person committee meetings and educational programs, we have leased a small office at the Regional Access project (RAP) Foundation offices, located at 41-550 Eclectic Street, near the Hovley post office, in Palm Desert. We are with more than a dozen other nonprofits, where we share access to four conference rooms and a large classroom. All of the Chapter’s classroom furniture and A/V equipment has been donated to RAP and is now in their classroom and available to us and the other RAP tenants. We will be hosting a gathering at the RAP building soon, to introduce you to our new digs.

PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW MAILING ADDRESS

Our new mailing address is 49950 Jefferson Street, Suite 130-117, Indio, CA 92201. If you are a business partner, please ask your financial team to update their systems.

BOARD & COMMITTEE CHANGES

We are sad to announce that Dan Farrar, CMCA, AMS, has resigned from the Chapter Board of Directors. Dan is changing jobs and will be the manager of a large community in Oceanside. Dan has served on the Chapter board and as chair of the Golf Committee for many years. We will miss him dearly! Dan, we wish you all the best in your new endeavor and hope you will come to visit us often.

Taking Dan’s place on the board is longtime CAI-CV member, Jolen Zeroski, CMCA (CIT Bank). Jolen previously served on the board and as Treasurer. She is Co-Chair of the Business Partner Committee and will serve as the Board Liaison for the Golf Committee. Taking Dan’s place as Chair of the Golf Committee will be current Co-Chair, Julie Mogolis, CMCA, AMS (Associa Desert Resort Management). Rhonda Drews, PCAM (Premier Community Association Management) has agreed to

CAI-CV Wins National Achievement Award for HOA Living Magazine! Competing against CAI’s “Very Large Chapters”, CAI-CV won the Membership Engagement Category! The award will be presented to the Chapter at the CAI National Conference in Dallas on Friday, May 19th. This is the Chapter’s 29th National Achievement Award. Congratulations!

serve as Co-Chair of the Golf Committee, along with Greg Morrow (Eagle Roofing Products). Our sincere thanks to these volunteers for stepping up to new leadership positions.

WEB & SOCIAL MEDIA UPDATE UNDERWAY

At the beginning of the year, we launched two new committees to help the Chapter take advantage of new technologies that will enhance our service to CAI-CV members. The Web & Tech Committee, under the leadership of Sam Rodriguez, PCAM (Associa Desert Resort Management), Rick Rapp, CMCA, AMS (Albert Management), and Meranda Valencia, CCAM (Associa Desert Resort Management), is investigating new association management systems (AMS) to update our web and database capabilities and improve the online experience for CAI-CV members. The Social Media Committee, under the leadership of Jennifer James, Esq. (HOA Legal Services), and Sierra Carr, PCAM (Associa Desert Resort Management), is working to make CAI-CV’s Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn accounts fun and useful sources of event and program information. I’m happy to serve as the Board Liaison for both committees. If you are interested in joining either of these committees, please call the office. We would be delighted to welcome you.

NEW APP AVAILABLE

The Chapter has a new App that is available via the Apple Store or Google Play by searching for: CAI Coachella Valley. The App interfaces with the Chapter’s AMS with easy-to-use buttons that take members directly to the information they need on our website, in one or two clicks. Please check it out and give us your feedback.

CONTINUED GROWTH

CAI-CV continues to grow. We added 25 new members last month and now have over 1,500 active and affiliate members of the Chapter. More than two-thirds of our members are community association board members and managers. This membership milestone reflects the mission of the Chapter and should make all our members proud.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

I would like to remind members that CAI’s National Conference is May 17-20 and provides an exciting variety of educational opportunities. This year’s conference will be held at the beautiful Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas. If you are planning to attend, please let the CAI-CV office know so we can coordinate schedules and dinners.

Please join me in thanking Richard Calquhoun (Sunshine Landscape), Mike Traidman (Mira Vista at Mission Hills HOA), and Melinda Weinrich (Desert Water Agency), for a fantastic Board Member Workshop (BMW), combined with the Desert Cities HOA Council (DCHC), on the topic of “Landscape Conversions,” on March 7.

Thanks also to the Business Partner Committee for hosting the Chapter’s annual Meet the Management Companies event, on March 10, at The Classic Club. It was a great evening of camaraderie. We appreciate the efforts of our management companies and sponsors to help us keep our members informed and educated.

A special thanks to CAI-CV Director, Clint Atherton, PCAM, LSM, and the board of Sun City Palm Desert for co-hosting CAI national’s advanced M340 Large Scale Management Course with us, on March 23-24. Thirty-eight students from around the country attended. This is a required course for managers working to earn CAI’s Large Scale Manager (LSM) designation. It was an honor for CAI-CV to be asked to help host this important national course.

We also want to thank guest speakers, Dr. Dilip Khatri, PhD, SE (Khatri International, Inc.), and Carla Sullivan-Dilley (Coachella Valley Disaster Preparedness Network) for presenting at our Educational Lunch Program and Mini Trade Show, on March 24, on the topic of “disaster preparedness.” It was a very informative program, and we hope it will help our members be prepared.

We have an excellent lineup of events and programs for you in April. You can sign up for any of our April and May events online, at www.cai-cv. org, or by using the links on page 40.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

ALTA NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

Alta Neighborhood Association is located in Palm Springs on South Palm Canyon between Bogart Trail and Acanto Drive and is comprised of 67 lots (two still under development) with desert-contemporary styled single-family homes. The Association was constructed in two phases with Patel Architecture, Inc, starting phase one in 2008 and Toll Brothers with phase two in 2014. There are three Toll Brothers plans and four Patel plans ranging from 3-5 bedrooms and bathrooms, optional casitas, and two-car garages with a golf cart garage. The homes vary in price from $1.8-$3 million. Monthly assessments are $225.00, which includes the maintenance of private roads, common area landscaping and lighting, and the entry fountain.

Residents of Alta love the tranquil setting at the southern end of Palm Springs, with its gorgeous natural surroundings, beautifully designed homes and dramatic landscaping and lighting. Some have commented that Alta looks like a movie set! Neighbors are congenial and take great pride in their homes and community. Conveniently located near some of the finest hiking, biking, and golfing as well as close proximity to downtown shops and restaurants.

Their location in the Valley could not be more perfect. Alta is ideally situated directly beneath the rustic San Jacinto Mountains. This community delivers stunning, snow-capped mountain views, and is only minutes from downtown Palm Springs. Across from the stunning Oswit Canyon home to wildlife and bighorn sheep, below the South Lykken hiking trail, and surrounded by federally protected land, the views and secluded natural setting are ensured to be pristine tomorrow and beyond. ALTA homes are a true integration of architecture and nature.

With 90% of the homes having solar installed and desert landscaping throughout the community, the Alta neighborhood is doing its part for water and energy conservation.

The board is comprised of five members, who are supported by the following committees: architectural, landscaping, communications, and social. The Association works with numerous CAI-CV business partners including Asphalt MD’s, Blue Sky Landscaping, Horizon Electrical, Patton Door & Gate, and SCT Reserve Consultants.

Alta Neighborhood Association is Managed by Tera Willis, with The Vintage Group. Terra can be reached at 855-4033852 or via email at info@altapalmspsrings. com. The Association’s website is altapalmsprings.com

Ashley Layton, PCAM, AMS, CMCA is Vice President of Premier Community Association Management. She can be reached at 760 345 2449 or email her at ALayton@brcpcam.com. www.brcpcam.com

MISSION OUR VOICE YOUR

CAI-CLAC: ADVOCATING FOR CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS

By Alison M. Greiner, Esq.

Week 2023 WITH CAI-CLAC

Advocacy

Advocacy Week 2023 WITH CAI-CLAC

Advocacy Week 2023

WITH CAI-CLAC

Join us online to help educate legislators, seek support for specific bills and to connect with your industry peers.

Join us online to help educate legislators, seek support for specific bills and to connect with your industry peers.

Join us online to help educate legislators, seek support for specific bills and to connect with your industry peers.

JOIN US ONLINE

YOUR VOICE, OUR MISSION

Working collaboratively with all eight California chapters, CAI-CLAC is excited to announce Advocacy Week 2023: Your Voice, Our Mission. During this 4-day virtual event, CAI-CLAC’s lobbyist, Louie Brown and California community association homeowners, managers and business partners come together at virtual briefing sessions to learn how CAI-CLAC working in Sacramento on their behalf in 2023.

Working collaboratively with all eight California chapters, CAI-CLAC is excited to announce Advocacy Week 2023: Your Voice, Our Mission.

During this 4-day virtual event, CAI-CLAC’s lobbyist, Louie Brown and California community association homeowners, managers and business partners come together at virtual briefing sessions to learn how CAI-CLAC is working in Sacramento on their behalf in 2023.

Virtual Legislative Meetings are scheduled with each California Chapter, local legislators and their staff.

Advocacy Week 2023 is a four (4) day virtual event organized by the CAI California Legislative Action Committee (CAI-CLAC). During this event, CAI-CLAC’s lobbyist, Louie Brown, California community association homeowners, managers and business partners will come together at virtual briefing sessions to learn how CAI-CLAC is working in Sacramento on their behalf. The four-day event is broken down into an opening session on Monday morning, eight two-and-a- half-hour sessions over the first three days and a three-hour closing session on Thursday. Each California CAI Chapter is allotted one of the two-and-a-half-hour time slots throughout the week. Legislators from each local region will be attending their respective session, along with members of their staff.

Monday, April 24 through Thursday, April 27, 2023

JOIN US ONLINE

Monday, April 24 through Thursday, April 27, 2023

CAI-CV will meet online with local legislators on Tuesday, April 25th, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Monday, April 24 through Thursday, April 27, 2023

Virtual Legislative Meetings are scheduled with each California Chapter, local legislators and their staff.

Insurance is likely to be a hot topic this year, along with AB 648 which would extend the authorization for virtual board and member meetings and AB 1458 which will address quorum issues for member meetings.

Attending this event is free and extremely easy! Homeowners, managers, and business partners are highly encouraged to attend and participate. Since the event is completely virtual, you can forego the expense and hassle of traveling to Sacramento and attend in the comfort of your own home or office. This is your opportunity to ask those questions, bring your concerns straight to the lawmakers and become involved in the legislative process. Even if you don’t want to be an active participant, there is a lot to learn just by listening to your industry peers ask questions and discuss issues.

The event begins on Monday April 24th at 8:30 a.m. with a welcome session and discussion on bills and strategy. To view each Chapter’s scheduled session please visit www.caiclac.com/sessions/. To register for one or more of the sessions please visit www.caiclac.com/advocacy-week/. I hope you can attend this event and help CAI-CLAC to educate our legislators about issues important to homeowners associations and to seek support for specific bills.

Alison M. Greiner, Esq., Adams | Stirling, PLC. Adams Stirling is California’s premier law firm dedicated to residential and commercial associations. Alison can be reached at (800) 464-2817 and/or agreiner@adamsstirling.com.

TIME HONORED Greg Morrow

By Meaghan Gaffney-Howe, CMCA, AMS

Application for CAI Board Leader Certificate Course

New in 2023 – CAI National is offering HOA board members a nationally recognized CERTIFICATE! CAI-CV will offer this five-hour program to our members and the Desert Cities HOA Council members in 2023.

Greg Morrow is the HOA Specialist for Eagle Roofing Products. A resident of Yucaipa, Greg has been a member of CAI for the past 12 years, originally joining the Rocky Mountain Chapter prior to joining the Coachella Valley Chapter. Eagle Roofing Products is a concrete roof tile manufacturer that has been in business since 1989. Eagle Roofing Products prides itself on their commitment to service. They are a family-owned business that manufactures American-made products.

As the point person for the HOA industry, Greg has been active in the Chapter while serving on the Golf Committee, which he currently co-chairs. He enjoys golf, as well as hiking, mountain biking, traveling, and attending concerts in his spare time. When asked for his favorite saying, Greg says he likes to joke, “If I admit that I’m wrong, that makes me right!” He recently married someone whom he has known for the past 35 years (congratulations!). Together, they share four dogs.

A high school and military tech school graduate, Greg credits his pastor with providing him with motivation, inspiration, and encouragement in his professional endeavors. He is currently reading “The Exemplary Husband: A Biblical Perspective” by Stuart Scott.

Greg, thank you for your membership in CAI-CV and for your dedication to the CID industry.

Meaghan Gaffney-Howe, CMCA, AMS is a community manager and Vice President of The Gaffney Group, Inc. Meaghan can be reached at meaghan@thegaffneygroup.net.

DATE:

Saturday, September 9th 9 A.M. to 3 P.M.

THE COST IS REGULARLY:

$99 for members | $199 nonmembers

(Individual online class via national)

The Chapter is offering a facilitated class for a cost of $69 (members) and $169 (nonmembers). Most HOA’s pay for their members to attend. It’s a win-win for all!

Please provide us with the following information if you are interested in participating in the Board Leadership Certificate Program.

Name:

Email:

Cell Number:

HOA Board:

Preferred Date:

Those board members interested in participating will be contacted with the details of the program.

What is a CLM? A Crazy Lunatic Monster?

By Patrick Simmsgeiger

Doctors, commercial pilots, and scuba divers are completely different professions, but they have one major thing in common. You cannot randomly start diagnosing people and prescribing medication; you cannot one day decide flying a plane sounds like fun; you cannot grab an oxygen tank and hop into the ocean. The reason you cannot do any of these things (legally), is because these all require many hours of experience and certifications to show you know what you are

doing.

The three previous examples are not uncommon, but there are so many other roles that require certifications too. One in particular is known as a Certified Lake Manager (CLM).

This is a much less common professional certification, held by only five people in California. To become a CLM requires a comprehensive knowledge of aquatic environments including water chemistry, hydrology, ecology, and biology. The people who hold this certification are experts at managing freshwater environments in all shapes and forms, and their broad knowledge

allows them to make recommendations to properly maintain water quality and safety.

Freshwater is one of the most valuable resources on earth, and in California, it is especially so. CLMs exist in the public and private sectors and work anywhere that water needs managing. For example, imagine a lake in late spring. How does a CLM actually go about mitigating the chances of a harmful algae bloom? It starts with understanding the ecology of the aquatic ecosystem and surrounding area. A CLM must be aware of the state of the environment and be able to immediately pinpoint where issues are.

Excess nutrients and warm temperatures are the two biggest causes of algae growth. More often than not, nutrients are coming from land, and being washed into water, so a CLM will look for where the area’s nutrients could be moving in from. They also need to remain cognizant of the weather, as sudden spikes in temperature or a rainstorm could be the difference between clear water and green soup. Noting these factors, among other things, the CLM will develop a

plan to limit or stop negative impacts where possible. While a CLM cannot stop rain from falling into a lake, they can prepare the lake to handle it more effectively by planting shoreline plants and limiting erosion and runoff. If the problem is bad enough, they may utilize algaecides, or even a handheld net to remove the algae.

While that example was specifically about one environmental issue, it is representative of the challenges every CLM faces. When there is a problem in

"THEY ALSO NEED TO REMAIN COGNIZANT OF THE WEATHER, AS SUDDEN SPIKES IN TEMPERATURE OR A RAINSTORM COULD BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CLEAR WATER AND GREEN SOUP."

a lake, it is rarely a single-step solution. Progress towards a healthy ecosystem takes careful thought, and the ability to plan a series of steps that will lead to the most beneficial outcome. Not only should the solution deal with the issue at hand, ideally, it should leave the lake in better shape than it was. Whether this means planting native plants to help the shoreline or mitigating a harmful algae species, a good solution is never one dimensional.

If your lakes require special attention to maintain the beauty of your association or golf course, consider seeking the advice of a Certified Lake Manager (CLM) and keep the “Crazy Lake Monsters” away from your community.

Patrick Simmsgeiger, CLM, is the Founder and President of Diversified Waterscapes, Inc. in Thousand Palms. He is a licensed Aquatic Pesticide Applicator and Certified Lake Manager. Diversified Waterscapes offers expert solutions for all stages of aquatic treatment, from product development and manufacturing to application and treatment. Patrick can be reached at (760) 837-3700 or at dwicontact@dwiwater.com.

WELCOME ABOARD JOHN SCHUKNECHT CMCA, AMS

By Meaghan Gaffney-Howe, CMCA, AMS

Welcome aboard, John Schuknecht! John is the newest member of LaBarre/Oksnee Insurance Agency. He previously served the HOA industry as a community association manager, working for Personalized Property Management for the past five years. A Coachella Valley native and Palm Desert High School graduate, John attended college at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He is an avid sports fan, noting baseball is by far his favorite sport. Prior to beginning his career in the HOA industry, John had an opportunity to play baseball professionally with the Angels organization. His hobbies include weekend trips to cooler places (especially during the summer) and hanging out with his pup, Benny (or Benny the Jet, for the Sandlot fans).

John told us that community associations are unique in almost every way – especially when it comes to insurance. Given their complex exposures and coverage requirements, it is critical that associations work with a specialist in HOA insurance. LaBarre/Oksnee was established 35 years ago with a sole focus on serving the insurance needs of community associations. Since then, LaBarre/Oksnee has grown to become the largest specialty brokerage in the industry. Their priority is to serve the needs of their clients, navigating the marketplace to ensure they receive comprehensive coverage at competitive rates from the best providers, all with excellent customer service. They maintain direct relationships with all the top carriers specializing in community association insurance as well as several specialty programs to meet any and all coverage needs facing Valley community associations.

John Schuknecht is the primary contact for LaBarre/ Oksnee Insurance Agency for the Coachella Valley. He holds his CMCA and AMS designations, as well as his State insurance license. John can be reached directly at (657) 2074789 or by email at JohnS@hoa-insurance.com. Please visit www.hoains.com for more information on LaBarre/Oksnee Insurance Agency, and the services they offer that might benefit your community!

Meaghan Gaffney-Howe, CMCA, AMS is a community manager and Vice President of The Gaffney Group, Inc. Meaghan

can be reached at meaghan@thegaffneygroup.net.

"PROGRESS TOWARDS A HEALTHY ECOSYSTEM TAKES CAREFUL THOUGHT, AND THE ABILITY TO PLAN A SERIES OF STEPS THAT WILL LEAD TO THE MOST BENEFICIAL OUTCOME."

Earthquake & Emergency

Preparedness

THANK YOU!

Guest Speaker

Dr. Dilip Khatri, PhD, SE

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Are You Prepared for an Active Shooter at Your HOA?

By Michelle Lopez, CMCA, AMS, CCAM

You can also publish these good practices for coping with an active shooter situation:

1. Be aware of your environment and any possible dangers.

2. Take note of the two nearest exits in any facility you visit.

3. If you are in an office, stay there and secure the door.

4. If you are in a hallway, get into a room and secure the door.

5. As a last resort, attempt to take the active shooter down. When the shooter is at close range and you cannot flee, your chance of survival is much greater if you try to incapacitate him/her.

While many natural disasters can be predicted, some come when you least expect them. If an active shooter appears on your property, are you prepared? Have you ever thought through what to do if your HOA is in an active shooter situation? Did you know that a mass shooting occurs every 8.3 days in California. We must prepare ourselves and our communities.

An active shooter is an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area; in most cases, active shooters use firearms(s) and there is no pattern or method to their selection of victims. Active shooter situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly. Typically, the immediate deployment of law enforcement is required to stop the shooting and mitigate harm to victims. Because active shooter situations are often over within 10 to 15 minutes, before law enforcement arrives on the scene, the innocent bystanders must be prepared both mentally and physically to deal with an active shooter situation.

Start right away to inform your residents and employees so they know how to respond when an active shooter is in your vicinity. Here are the three widely accepted and key responses when faced with an unexpected life-threatening situation:

1. Evacuate - If there is an accessible escape plan, attempt to evacuate the premises.

2. Hide Out - If evacuation is not possible, find a place to hide where the active shooter is less likely to find you.

3. Take action against the active shooter - As a last resort, and only when your life is in imminent danger, attempt to disrupt and/or incapacitate the active shooter.

6. CALL 911 WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO!

HOA managers and boards can develop a crisis communication plan for the HOA. Start with your HOA security company and talk to them about setting up crisis alerts. Work directly with your security team to ensure that access control procedures are understood by all. Additionally, many cities offer active shooter and community emergency response training that residents can obtain. Form an emergency preparedness committee and encourage your owners to attend these courses. A great source of information can be found by visiting the Department of Homeland Security at https:// www.dhs.gov/.

Keep yourself and your community ahead of a crisis before you find yourself in one!

Michelle

Lopez,

CMCA, AMS, CCAM,

is the

Director of Community Management for

Powerstone Property Management. Michelle can be reached at (760) 469-4315 or by email to mlopez@powerstonepm.com.

"WORK DIRECTLY WITH YOUR SECURITY TEAM TO ENSURE THAT ACCESS CONTROL PROCEDURES ARE UNDERSTOOD BY ALL."

Violence Survival

By Randy Querry

The world, as we know it, is filled with violence. Active shooting incidents and mass shootings continue to rise in the United States. This seems to be the only alternative for many of those who have simply given up on life. Most people are not aware that there is a difference between active shooting incidents and mass shootings. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) defines an active shooter as one or more individuals actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area. A mass shooting is a crime in which an attacker kills or injures multiple individuals simultaneously using a firearm.

There were 692 mass shootings in 2021, while the FBI recorded 61 active shooting incidents in 2021. It is important to note that mass shootings include shootings in a residence (e.g., family disputes) as well as violence involving firearms where nobody was killed. To avoid and survive a violent incident, it is important to prepare ourselves as well as know who we are as a person and who we need to be if we find ourselves involved in a fight for our life.

William J. Bennett gave a lecture to the United States Naval Academy on

November 24, 1997. He stated that one Vietnam veteran (an old, retired colonel) once told him that people in our society fall into one of three groups. They are either sheep, wolves, or sheepdogs. He described sheep as kind, gentle, productive creatures who can only hurt one another by accident. They generally do not have a capacity for violence. The next group are the wolves. These are evil men and women who have a capacity for violence, are capable of evil deeds and have no empathy for their fellow citizens. Wolves will feed on the sheep without mercy. Then there are sheepdogs. The sheepdogs have a capacity for violence and a deep love for their fellow citizens. These men and women are warriors who can walk into the heart of darkness and walk out unscathed. The sheepdog lives to protect the flock and confront the wolf.

As we look deeper into these three groups, it is important to recognize that there is no shame in being a sheep. Most of our citizens are sheep. I like to describe sheep as the fun, cheerful, happy-go-lucky group of people. They wake up in good moods and are the first to greet you with a smile and good morning every day.

The wolves are described as aggressive sociopaths. These are the criminals and terrorists who look for opportunities to prey on the weak. As a young police officer, I remember attending a training put on by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Their list of “speakers” included violent felons who were recently paroled. One condition of their parole required them to travel around and share with law enforcement the tactics they used to victimize people. All four of the

speakers stated that they looked for the “easy targets.” They described these targets as men and women timidly walking around with their heads down, not willing to look around and those who would not make eye contact with them. They read their body language and watched their passive behavior and lack of awareness. They said they would never target people who walked around confidently with their heads up. They especially would not confront those who would look them straight in the eyes. They knew those people could identify them and felt that their attacks would be met with resistance. They were simply looking for people who would not fight back. They were the wolves.

As there is no shame in being a sheep, there is also nothing morally superior about being a sheepdog; it is just the path that you have chosen. Our military and police officers are great examples of sheepdogs. They have chosen a path to confront the wolves and protect the sheep. They will not hesitate to put their lives on the line to protect our great nation and protect our citizens. Many

entered these professions as sheep. Through rigorous training and leadership, their mindsets changed, and they transformed into sheepdogs.

The sheep and sheepdog think differently. The sheep pretend the wolf will never come, but the sheepdog lives for that day. The sheep generally do not like the sheepdog because he/she looks like the wolf. The sheepdog has fangs and the capacity for violence. The difference is the sheepdog must never harm the sheep. Any sheepdog who intentionally harms a lamb will be punished and removed.

By now you should have a general understanding as to which group you fit into. If you are a sheep, my question to you is, what would it take for you to abandon your role as a sheep and become an aggressive sheepdog? As you read on further, I challenge you to ask yourself that question.

I mentioned earlier that there were 61 active shooter incidents in 2021. That is a 52.5% increase from 2020 (40 active shooter incidents) and more than double the number of active shooter incidents in 2019 (30 active shooter incidents). You may be asking why there is such a dramatic increase since 2019. Many groups have chosen to place blame on legislators, gun manufacturers, law enforcement, mental health, and the media. Most of these arguments are self-serving for the interested party. I respectfully argue that we take a closer look into our own society and culture in the United States and the changes we have allowed. The fact is, other countries are not experiencing the same rise in mass and active shootings that we have witnessed.

Let us take a quick look at the expansion of social media. Social media usage has increased for U.S. adults from 5% in 2005 to 82% in 2021. While most of this usage is to connect with family and friends, many use social media to fuel their agendas. I call these people “keyboard warriors.” These are the people who would never confront another person, nor even think about saying face to face what they will type over the internet. Unfortunately, this has become an accepted behavior. It doesn’t matter what social media platform you use; I guarantee you there are many “keyboard warriors” spewing negative information and hate. The word NO is frowned upon today and not used as often as it used to be. Simply refusing another person’s request is frequently viewed as negative and damaging to their character. Our use of social media has changed the way we now communicate in person. Most people would rather send a message than communicate that same message over the phone or face to face. In some ways, we have forgotten how to communicate and check up on our friends and family.

One of the biggest misnomers concerning active shooters is they are portrayed as

"These men and women are warriors who can walk into the heart of darkness and walk out unscathed. The sheepdog lives to protect the flock and confront the wolf."

mentally unhinged individuals who simply snapped and went on a shooting rampage. The reality is they would not be considered clinically or legally insane at the time of the shooting. Most active shooters are angry, vengeful individuals who feel they have been wronged by another person, group of people or institution. They obsess over and magnify the details of an incident. This person begins to isolate themselves while systematically planning their revenge. The majority of these active shootings are premeditated and planned well in advance of their commission. Over 50% of them broadcasted their intent in person or online.

As a society, we can minimize some of these incidents by simply paying attention to our friends and family. I have been teaching Active Shooter classes since its inception in 1999. I was a member of our SWAT team at that time, and we began teaching schools and businesses how to survive a violent encounter. During presentations, I discuss warning signs (pushing the limits of acceptable conduct, disrespect for authority, inability to focus, etc.) as well as physical signs (signs of extreme fatigue, repetitive movement, violating your personal space, etc.). The bottom line is, you know your friends and family better than anyone. You are going to recognize abnormal behavior when it happens. If you identify concerning signs, reach out to that person. Show them that you care. Be attentive to the people around you. Be present in the moments you have together. Let them know that they are not alone, and you are there to help them during this difficult time. Encourage them to talk to someone who can help them. Who knows, your outward signs of concern might mean the difference between life or death to that person.

So what do you do if you find yourself in a life-or-death situation? “RUN, HIDE, FIGHT” is the best training for active shooter incidents. If you wait until you find yourself in an active shooting incident to plan, you have waited too long. Preparation is the key to survival. Do not be paranoid. Do not let the paranoia of these events control your life. Plan and be ready to act!

STEP 1 RUN

Have a preplanned escape route. If you go to a restaurant, look around and try to locate another door you can exit out of if needed. If you only know how to enter and exit through the front door, you have most likely pinned yourself down. Leave all your personal belongings, except your cell phone. Call 911 when you are safely able to do so. Even if you cannot talk, call 911 and leave the phone on. The dispatchers will be able to locate you as well as listen to what is going on around you. If you ever get a busy signal while calling 911, that simply means that multiple people are calling 911 at the same time and every line is tied up. That also means a dispatcher is gathering information and broadcasting information to law enforcement to come help you.

STEP 2 HIDE

If evacuation is not possible, find the best and most strategic hiding place. Your hiding place should provide protection. Instruct those with you to be quiet and lock/barricade the door. Turn the lights off, turn off any source of noise, silence your cell phone, remain quiet and prepare to FIGHT. Remember that these suspects know law enforcement is enroute after they fire their first round. If they do not know someone is inside a room, chances are they will not spend time trying to break through a door.

STEP 3 FIGHT

This is where the sheep, wolves and sheepdogs come into play. If you are a sheep, it is time to take your sheep hat off, put your sheepdog hat on and fight. This is now a life-or-death situation. Think about what you are fighting for; your family, your loved ones, your friends, your pets, your right to live! Even a very timid person can rise and fight their way through this situation. In the police academy, the Tactical staff drilled this into us every day, “You are not allowed to lose a fight!” It is a mindset, that mama bear instinct, that you are choosing to fight and live today! Find a weapon to use against the assailant. This could be a chair, fire extinguisher, coffee pot, or hot drink. Strategize with others. You might have to convince others to fight. If that assailant enters the room, everyone should attack that person. Act as aggressively as possible. Shout and yell. Your goal is to overwhelm the suspect. If the attacker has a long rifle and you can push the barrel of that rifle up/down

and out of your direction, grab ahold of it and push it away from you. The more people fight to disarm the suspect, the quicker you can end this attack. Keep in mind that these attackers are not expecting a fight. They are looking for easy targets.

The sad truth is we need to learn to talk about violence to our loved ones, not to scare them, but so they can prepare and protect themselves. This is not something we are used to talking about. Our military protects us from attacks from other countries. Our law enforcement provides protection for us at home, work, and other public places.

Last year I was out of state and received a call from my teenage daughter. Her school was on lock-down and she could hear police sirens all around. I had no way of getting to her and was completely helpless. I was impressed with how calm she was. We have talked many times about what to do during a violent encounter and the school knew how to lock themselves down to protect the students and staff. My daughter was naturally scared but she was also confident that she was in a safe place and knew what to do. Don’t allow yourself to become a victim because you failed to prepare. You can survive a violent encounter!

REFERENCES:

(2022, May 24). Active Shooter Incidents in the US since 2021. FBI Active Shooter Incidents. Retrieved February 15, 2023, from https://www.fbi.gov/file-repository/ active-shooter-incidents-in-the-us-2021-052422.pdf/ view

(2023, February 20). Gun Violence Archive 2023. Gun Violence Archive. Retrieved February 22, 2023, from www.fbi.gov/file-repository/active-shooter-incidentsin-the-us-2021-052422.pdf/view

(2015, January 30). The Sheep, the Wolf & the Sheepdog. Treehouse letter. Retrieved February 15, 2023, from treehouseletter.com/2015/01/30/the-sheep-the-wolfthe-sheepdog-ltc-dave-grossman-american-sniper/

(2022, July 27). Percentage of US Population who currently use any social media. Statista. Retrieved February 15, 2023, from https://www.statista. com/statistics/273476/percentage-of-us-population-with-a-social-network-profile/

Randy Querry is the Director of Operations of the Special Projects Group, a Law Enforcement Division for Securitas Security Services USA, Inc. Randy retired as a police lieutenant with the Newport Beach Police Department after 28 years of service, including 15 years as a SWAT Sniper, SWAT Firearm’s Instructor and Tactical Operations Center Sergeant. Randy can be reached at Randy.Querry@SecuritasInc.com

What to Consider for Community Association Security

By Jason A. Savlov, Esq.

Security is on the minds of many homeowners as reports of porch pirates, catalytic converter thieves, and even gunshots have lately appeared in Nextdoor feeds. People are interested in what can be done to reduce crime within their community and are looking to their homeowners association for answers.

The first question is whether community associations are responsible for the members’ security. The answer, like most legal questions, is – it depends. A homeowners association has been analogized as a landlord and owes a reasonable duty of care for the safety of its residents in the areas under the association’s control.

In the 1986 case of Frances T. v Village Green Owners Assn., a condominium resident brought an action against the association and the individual board members. The board knew about previous criminal activity in the association, including that Francis T’s unit had previously been burglarized. After the burglary, Frances T requested

fixture, the board required Frances T to keep the light off because it was on the same circuit as the association’s electricity. Frances T was sexually assaulted and robbed in her unit the first night her exterior lights were shut off. The court found the association was negligent.

“FOR ASSOCIATIONS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED A PATTERN OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, THE FIRST STEP A COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION SHOULD TAKE IS TO CONSULT THE EXPERTSLOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OR SECURITY PROFESSIONALS - ON WHAT OPTIONS CAN BE TAKEN TO PREVENT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IN THE AREA.”

the association install additional lighting in the common area as the lighting was poor. The board took no action on the request. Francis T submitted another proposal to add common area lighting a few months later. The board again refused that request. Frances T then added an exterior light fixture to her door and the board required her to remove that lighting. Pending removal of the light

The Frances T case illustrates that when an association knows about a pattern of criminal activity occurring near or within the association, then the association may have a greater degree of responsibility for security in the common areas that it controls to prevent that type of criminal activity from occurring in the future. However, the scope of the association’s duty is determined in part by balancing the foreseeability of the harm against the burden of the duty to be imposed (i.e., the expense/resources required to prevent the harm foreseen).

In circumstances where the burden of preventing future harm is high, greater foreseeability is required; where the burden is relatively low, a lesser degree of foreseeability may be required. For associations that have experienced a pattern of criminal activity, the first step is to consult the experts - local law enforcement or security professionals - on what options can be taken to prevent criminal activity in the area.

SOME SECURITY OPTIONS THAT MAY BE DISCUSSED ARE:

1 Adding lighting to the portions of the common areas that are currently not well lit;

2 Installing surveillance cameras to monitor common areas;

3 Installing barriers such as hedges, fences, and walls;

4 Hiring a surveillance company to patrol the community;

5 Encouraging members to form an independent neighborhood watch to walk the neighborhood and report suspicious activity.

Remember, adding security, such as cameras or patrol officers, can cause unintended liability issues for an association; therefore, it is highly recommended to consult with your legal counsel before initiating any changes to security.

Association boards should not make statements that could be interpreted as promises to the membership of their safety and security. Instead, associations can remind their members to take responsibility for securing their properties by sending out a security disclaimer in the annual mailings informing members that the association cannot guarantee its security.

Jason A. Savlov, Esq. is the Partner in Charge of Litigation at Adams|Stirling PLC, with offices throughout California, including Palm Desert. You can reach Jason at jsavlov@ adamsstirling.com or (760) 620-0747.

How To Find a Lawn Care Professional

By Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD)

With state-mandated water conservation regulations in place, Coachella Valley Water District offers rebate programs for customers who want to reduce their water usage by removing lawns and replacing them with desert-friendly plants.

CVWD offers up to $3 per square-foot of turf removed in pre-approved projects. (See CVWD.org/rebates) The cities of Indian Wells, Palm Desert, and Rancho Mirage match CVWD’s rebate as long as funding lasts.

If you decide to dig up your lawn — a very labor-intensive project — you may want to hire a professional.

TO HIRE A COMPANY, CONTRACTOR OR GARDENER TO REMOVE YOUR GRASS, HERE ARE 10 SUGGESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

1. Scout your neighborhood for successful lawn-removal projects. Gather recommendations from friends and neighbors whose turf-less landscape you admire.

2. Look for reviews online. Search for companies or contractors with good, valid, and honest reviews.

3. If the value of your project exceeds $500, the company or contractor should have a state contractor license. (Does not usually include gardeners who maintain landscaping.) Verify the license at www.cslb.ca.gov. You can also find a list of licensed contractors in your area on this website.

4. Check references.

5. Ask for pictures of other jobs they have done or visit recently completed jobs.

6. Look for a contractor who returns phone calls in a timely manner, is friendly and courteous, and easy to contact. Make sure they can be reached through social media and email.

7. Ask for copies of certificates of insurance for liability and for workers’ compensation insurance before the work begins.

8. Get at least three bids. Avoid assuming the lowest bid is the best.

9. Get everything in writing and read all agreements and contracts carefully.

10. Avoid paying in cash, get receipts.

For more conservation tips: cvwd.org/conservation.

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Asphalt Answers: How Do I Create a Scope of Work, Choose a Paving Contractor, and Start Scheduling?

By Amanda Williams

When managing an association, big picture items and small details are essential to the aesthetic and utility of your property. You generally consider the more noticeable things like landscaping, paint, and overall cleanliness, but your asphalt surface is no exception. Unlike some maintenance issues that are simply cosmetic, asphalt maintenance and repair are important factors in keeping your property safe and useable. In general, most paving companies recommend a seal coat every three to five years and a full replacement around every 20-25 years considering certain usage, exposure, and environmental factors.

Whether you’re presenting proposals to an HOA or board of directors, it’s important to gather a few proposals to compare so a common scope of work and cost expectation can be established. But how do you make sure that you’re comparing the same thing from proposal to proposal? Different estimators may have different measurements, opinions on what is recommended, and interpretations of a customer’s needs; how do you reduce these discrepancies and get the same apples-to-apples proposals?

Solving the issue of varying proposals is easier than you would think — bring the estimators out at the same time to walk the property together! Yes, they’re competing for the same job (and only one can win) but having everyone meet together to learn about your needs, pain points, and the current and ideal state of the property ensures that they all receive the same information and can discuss (and agree on) measurements, what the issues are, and how to best address them. Will this be a simple seal coat? What square footage? Is a patch needed? Is it too damaged to patch and requires an overlay? Should it be a removal and replacement instead? Are there drainage issues? Can the cracks be sealed? How many parking spaces are needed? Are there manhole covers or concrete repairs that need to be addressed?

The number of variables on any project increases the odds of receiving different scopes of work for the same property.

Having the estimators arrive at one common course of action can save you many headaches in the long run and prevent important maintenance or repair issues from being overlooked. Once you receive the proposals from all the estimators, you can confidently compare the cost since you know the scope of work is the same, and any discrepancies will stand out since the measurements and scope should be consistent. For your convenience, we’ve listed some important factors to consider before inviting contractors to bid and some questions to address during the bidding process to ensure that you’re receiving comparable proposals.

10 QUESTIONS TO ASK:

1. Are all companies licensed, bonded, and insured to perform the work outlined in their proposals?

Choosing a contractor without proper licensing, bonding, and insurance could open you up to numerous issues if something goes wrong.

2. Are the measurements (square footage and number of areas, lineal footage of cracks, etc.) the same?

A proposal coming in at a much lower price may mean that areas have been omitted and will need to be addressed later, incurring additional costs.

"...bring the estimators out at the same time to walk the property together!"

3. Is grinding included with a proposed overlay? Full or edge grind? What areas?

A full grind takes the level of the entire area down to a depth that matches the amount of asphalt overlay, making the entire surface the same elevation, whereas an edge grind only takes down areas near existing features (manhole covers, gates, gutters, etc.) to create a slope that assists with drainage but leaves noticeable elevation differences.

4. Are the thicknesses of asphalt overlays the same?

A 1.5” and a 2” overlay will have different pricing and will require maintenance or repairs at different rates.

5. Are valves and manholes being addressed? Raised?

Raising utility accesses can add to the initial costs but may save money in the long run by preventing trip hazards and drainage issues.

6. How many phases are expected?

It is important to know what areas are going to be unavailable and for how long so that your homeowners are inconvenienced as little as possible.

7. Are dumping fees addressed for any removed Petromat or asphalt?

Asphalt can generally be recycled or milled and reused as base material, but may require dumping fees if there isn’t an asphalt recycling facility nearby. However, Petromat fabric cannot be reused. If there is existing Petromat, it will need to be disposed of which may add additional dumping fees.

8. What seal coat manufacturer will be used? How many coats?

As with most consumer goods, some seal coat products are better than others and often have a price tag that reflects the quality difference, and more coats means more protection, but also a higher cost.

9. Are striping and pavement markings included?

What do you call a street or parking lot without lines, parking stalls, or crossing and stop indicators? A liability. Striping is a relatively inexpensive (but very necessary) inclusion.

10. Does the proposal include homeowner notification requirements, traffic control, or permits?

You’ll need to decide if you’ll take on these items yourself or if they are included.

Once you create a scope of work for your asphalt project and choose your paving contractor, it’s just as important to be informed about scheduling your project as it is to know what work you need to have done. Different components of your asphalt projects take specific amounts of time and must be performed in a specific order.

Repairs come first. Depending on what you’re having done, extensive and deep cracking will need to be sealed, potholes will need to be repaired, and any compromised or failed asphalt will need to be removed.

Asphalt installation is next and takes approximately 30-45 days to fully cure before seal coat can be applied. Fortunately, asphalt can be installed in less-than-ideal weather conditions (cold, light rain, etc.) so it is a little less finicky than applying seal coat.

Seal coat takes place after the fresh asphalt has cured, or every 3-5 years over older asphalt as needed depending on factors such as usage, damage from UV rays, and exposure to the elements. Seal coat, unlike asphalt, needs much more ideal weather conditions to be able to dry. It’s generally best to schedule seal coat jobs in the late spring to early fall when the weather is the most cooperative. Getting into the winter months, rain, cold, diminished sunlight, and increased shadows all slow the drying process.

Once you’ve established when the work will take place, you’ll need to set a plan for notifying homeowners about which areas will be unusable and for how long. We recommend two weeks’ notice as it allows for ample time for people to plan around the work but not enough time for them to forget it is coming up. We do also highly recommend having a tow truck ready the morning your project starts so that any vehicles remaining in the areas being serviced do not impede the work and cause delays which will inevitably incur additional costs.

Now that you have a better grasp on the proposal and production components of the asphalt installation, repair, and maintenance process, you’ll know what to expect when reaching out to get started.

Amanda Williams is the Client Relations Specialist at AMS Paving, Inc. She can be reached at (760) 327-0800 or by email to AMSinfo@amspaving.com.

The Basics of HOA Loans

By Trisha Romero

For many communities, an association loan is a very attractive solution, allowing the board to quickly obtain needed funds. In the absence of an adequately funded reserve account, an association can borrow money and often avoid a significant and urgent special assessment against its members. One of the most common reasons for borrowing is the need to fund deferred maintenance through a large-scale repair or renovation project. A loan allows the community to escape the inconvenience and expense related to multi-year phasing of a project, while still allowing the membership to spread payments out over time. Needed work can be performed right away, enhancing the value of the community, while the cost remains more manageable for each owner.

Qualifications: HOA lenders have varying requirements for loan approval. Most will vet these requirements before submitting a loan proposal or term sheet. Conventional lending requirements include:

• Delinquency rate - Indicates percentage of the homeowners that are delinquent on assessments.

• Size – Smaller associations (20 and under) carry a bigger risk for lenders.

• Control – The developer should no longer control the Board of Directors.

• Investor Ratio – Lenders typically like to see less than 40% of the homes in the community owned by investors, and no single person or entity owning more than a small percentage of the units.

What Type of Collateral Does the Bank Require?

Typically, the association will assign the bank its rights to collect future assessments and other accounts receivable. In other words, if the association failed to make its loan payments, the bank would have the right to step in and collect assessments on behalf of the association. Except in the case of a loan made specifically to purchase real estate, an association does not generally pledge its property, such as a pool

or clubhouse, against a loan. There is no personal liability for an association loan. Board members are not asked to provide personal guarantees, nor are there liens placed against individual units to secure the loan.

What To Expect -

Depending on the size, complexity of the loan, and requirements within the community’s governing documents, the process will typically take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of months. There are a few things that the association can do to make this process seamless:

• Get organized - Be sure your “papers” are in order - Documents should be complete and up to date. The scope of work should be written out and bids from contractors available.

• Provide Details – Beginning the loan process will include the lending institution requesting current financial statements, a delinquency aging report, a description of the project, requested loan amount, as well as the association’s plan to fund repayment of the loan.

• Review the term sheet - A term sheet is just that, a document indicating what the lending institution is offering for rates, terms, lending fees (if applicable), and additional requirements of the loan. After the review of the term sheet by the board of directors, they will then indicate to the lending institution which term they have chosen.

"Board members are not asked to provide personal guarantees, nor are there liens placed against individual units to secure the loan."

• Underwriting process - Once the underwriting process begins, the community manager or board representative will work with the lender to gather the underwriting documentation. This may include updated financial statements, the current budget, signed proposals for the project, governing documents, meeting minutes approving the loan, an owner listing, etc. During the underwriting period additional questions from the underwriter is probable. This is a normal occurrence and should be expected. These questions will be presented to and answered by either the community manager or the board representative. Once approved, the physical loan documents are then created and presented for review.

The Finish Line - The management company and board of directors will be notified of the approval and collection of final closing documentation will take place.

• Closing documents – Final budget, proof of insurance coverage, signer identification and any required board resolution will be collected.

• Closing and funding - Loan documents are notarized and signed by the appropriate board members. Signed documentation is processed. The loan is then funded and the funds are allocated to the association bank account for use.

A well-organized community, working with a dedicated association lender, can successfully navigate the association loan process with ease and enjoy all the benefits of their project in just a short period of time.

Trisha Romero is a Vice President for Pacific Premier Bank and the Relationship Manager for Community Association Management Companies in Southern California and Arizona. Trisha can be reached at tromero@ppbi.com

"A well-organized community, working with a dedicated association lender, can successfully navigate the association loan process with ease and enjoy all the benefits of their project in just a short period of time."

You’re invited to attend the

Water Conservation Summit & Expo: H2O

April 5, 2023

9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

for HOAs

The summit will include a vendor expo, informative presentations on drought and water supply, water budgets, rebates, drought-friendly landscape design for HOAs, as well as a panel discussion with experts on irrigation best practices.

COACHELLA VALLEY WATER DISTRICT

Steve Robbins Administration Building

75515 Hovley Lane East Palm Desert, CA 92211

Registration is complimentary. Lunch will be provided.

Space is very limited, scan the QR code above to register.

QUESTIONS? Email PublicInfo@cvwd.org. is our promise. YourWater

In high school, Mike was caught digging a pool behind the football field… by hand! Today he remodels pools! Was there ever any doubt?

Remodeling pools and Back yards since 1969 Qualit y work at a fair price

Lic #896061 C-53

49950 Jefferson Street, Suite 130-117 Indio, CA 92201

CAI-CV UPCOMING EVENTS –SCAN QR OR CLICK TO SIGN UP

APRIL

CAI-CV AND DCHC BOARD MEMBER WORKSHOP (BMW)

(For board members)

WHEN: Tuesday, April 4, 2023, 10:00 a.m.

WHERE: Via Zoom

TOPIC: Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) & Internal Dispute Resolution (IDR) – Solving HOA Conflicts

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CAI-CV MANAGER ON THE RUN (MOTR)

(For managers and assistant managers)

WHEN: Thursday, April 13, 2023, 8:30 a.m.

WHERE: Via Zoom

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CAI-CV’s Educational Lunch Program & Mini Trade Show

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CAI-CV AND DCHC BOARD MEMBER WORKSHOP (BMW)

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WHEN: Tuesday, May 2, 2023, 10:00 a.m.

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CAI-CV ANNUAL SPRING GOLF TOURNAMENT – CINCO DE MAYO (For all members)

WHEN: Friday, May 5, 2023, 7:30 Start

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CAI-CV’S EDUCATIONAL LUNCH PROGRAM & MINI TRADE SHOW (FOR ALL MEMBERS)

TOPIC: Association Finance

WHEN: Friday, May 12, 2023, 11:15 a.m.

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CAI NATIONAL CONFERENCE

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WHEN: Wednesday – Saturday, May 17-20, 2023

WHERE: Hilton Anatole Dallas, Texas

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WHEN: Thursday, May 26, 2023, 8:30 a.m.

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