Each summer, we are privileged to have Beth Grimm, Attorney At Law present a legal issues meeting with us. Beth is from the East Bay Area and is active in legislative, educational and writing activities for HOAs. Several topics are discussed in depth with a moderated question and answer session from the audience. Topics under consideration for this year’s event include association minutes, regular and executive session minutes, what they should and should not contain, etc. We will also discuss the use of contractors, licensed and unlicensed, insured and uninsured and the issues that associations face when contracting for services. Other topics are yet to be determined.

Date: Tuesday, July 24th, 2007

Time: 7 – 9 PM

Place: Encina Royale Clubhouse, 250 Moreton Bay Lane, Goleta

Directions: 101 exit Fairview Avenue North to Encina Lane (signal at Fairview Theaters). Right on Encina to 4-way stop. Left onto Moreton Bay Lane – Clubhouse is on your right opposite the flagpole.

Sorry this is so late this time. I’ve already started the July issue! Please note our summer meeting in Goleta on July 24 is at the Encina Royale clubhouse. Directions (easy) are in the newsletter. In this issue:
-Annual Summer Law Forum – July 24
-Changes in Vehicle Towing Laws
-Tips from the Pool Guy
-”Annual Minutes Disclosure Notification”
-Managing Unit Owner’s Expectations
-Water Billing Changes

I have been asked to compile data concerning the impact of Goleta Water proposed meter fee adjustments to affected associations. I would like as many associations to reply by May 7 so that I can draft a response to the district. Some preliminary calculations submitted by associations show an increase of $6 to $23 per unit per month. The more associations I can put into the sample, the more effective the response. So manager members as well as board members, please take a few minutes and the provide the following for all your associations in the Goleta Water District:

1) Number of meters and size – On the face of the water bill, there is a “Basic Charge x-inch meter”. For example, you might have 4 2-inch meters and 3 1 1/2 inch meters. I just need to know the count of how many meters you pay for monthly. I have the cost of the meters already.

2) Number of units in the association (to determine monthly increase per unit).

3) Amount paid for water in the last fiscal year if I don’t have the amount. This would allow a calculation as to the percentage increase in water costs overall. One association worked out to 45%. You can get this from your year-end income statement.

If individual members want to protest, I understand that their assessor parcel number is required. Written protests are due by May 21 to the water district. Association members may wish to draft petitions signed as a group to submit to the District. I understand that it would take over 50% of the affected users to submit a protest to stop the increase – an impossible task
in my opinion. Publicity regarding the actual impacts to associations may still be effective as I doubt that this has been considered by the District. Since 1997, water meter fee revenue for the Goleta Water District has increased by 772%.

Associations may have the option to reduce the size of their meters (and reduce the flow of water) to reduce costs.

My thanks to Connie Burns and Karel deVeer for their efforts in keeping me informed.

Upcoming Meeting
Insurance – The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

South Coast member Tim Cline,President of the Timothy Cline Insurance Agency in Santa Monica will detail the current issues pertaining to availability and costs of insurance, especially earthquake, the factors creating the situation we currently face, how associations can mitigate the costs and whether any relief is in sight.

Date – Monday, May 21
Time – 7 – 9 PM
Location – Goleta Union School District Board Room – 401 N. Fairview, Goleta

The January – February 2007 newsletter will be sent out soon may take a little more time to arrive because of the Holidays. In this issue:

-2007 Law and Legislative Update Meetings
-HOA One-Year Financial Comparisons Analysis
-HOA Ten-Year Financial Comparisons Analysis
-Tax Reporting and Filing Deadlines
-2007 Condominium Bluebooks have Arrived

The September 2006 Issue of the newsletter will be sent out soon. In this issue:

-The Uncertain Future of Community Associations – Meeting – 11/2
-The Uncertain Future of Common Interest Developments – Part IV – Final
-2006 California Legislative Update
-A Little More Help with Elections – Q&A and Sample Proxy

“The Uncertain Future of Community Associations”

Speaker: Tyler Berding, Esq

Can community associations survive in California? That’s the question that many association directors and managers are facing. Growing shortfalls in budgeted reserves and operating expenses are becoming the rule rather than the exception. California’s statutory limits on assessments make remedies difficult. More and more aging community associations are showing the effects of budgets which cannot fund long-term maintenance and repair – to the extent that these properties may become obsolete and potentially valueless to their owners.

What is the impact of poor quality construction or repairs on this problem? How will this problem impact condominium conversions? Is there an end strategy for properties that have reached the end of their useful life? How will this issue affect the availability of low to moderate income housing?

Attorney and author Tyler Berding, principal of the law firm Berding and Weil, LLP of Alamo, California will examine these and other issues and provide answers to your questions and some suggested solutions to the problem.

Note Different Meeting Location

Sponsored by the De Los Amigos Owners Association – Santa Barbara