coachella valley community associations institute magazine · 2018. 4. 2. · cvlink conne cting...

Coachella Valley Community Associations Institute Magazine

February 2014

InsIde

State of the Chapter

Managing Stress

CV/Link Brings New Opportunities to the

Coachella Valley

2013 Case Updates - Two Year Bills To Watch (Continued from January)

Shining Waters

Healthcare Will Lead Coachella Valley Job Growth

2013 Chapter Review

Quorum February, 20142

Serving community associations since 1987, Desert Resort Management (DRM)

provides services that enrich communities and enhance the associations we serve.

O u r f O c u s i s O n yO u .

SM

• National strength. Local attention.

• Service-driven technology backbone.

• Innovative programs to save your association time and money.

• Management, financial and development services.

• Turnkey service to our clients.

• Industry’s best trained team.

• Commitment to clients.

42-635 Melanie Place, Suite 103 | Palm Desert, CA 92211 | Tel: (760) 346-1161 | Fax: (760) 346-9918

www.drminternet.com | [email protected]

DEsErT rEsOrT MAnAGEMEnT Providing quality professional management services throughout the Coachella Valley and surrounding areas.

13

34

Contact: Casey gnadt, Area Manager phone: (800) 339-1106 email: [email protected]

FInD us onLIne: www.oclm.com or scan our qR code with your smart phone to fi nd more about us now.

• Irrigation audits performed by an Ia Certifi ed Landscape Irrigation auditor

• Tree Trimming with supervision by a ISa Certifi ed arborist

• Computerized Irrigation Management

• digital photo and Landscape Enhancements

• free 24hr emergency response

• Client Education programs

MaINTaINING THE BEaUTY aNd fUNCTION Of THE URBaN LaNdSCapE

ON STAFF

ON STAFF

an

Fax: (949) 589-6083 | 43549 Wheel road, Indio, CA 92201

company

REGISTERED COMPANY

CVLINKCONNECTING THE COACHELLA VALLEY

25 19

31

Your HoA CAn be our next Cover

Coachella Valley Community Associations Institute Magazine

February 2014

InsIde


Managing Stress

CV/Link Brings New

Opportunities to the

Coachella Valley

2013 Case Updates -

Two Year Bills To Watch

(Continued from January)

Shining Waters

Healthcare Will Lead

Coachella Valley Job Growth

2013 Chapter Review

no Cost to you

EVERY COVER HaS a STORY.

TELL US YOURS!MUST BE CaI-CV MEMBER

IN GOOd STaNdING

ContaCt the CaI-Cv oFFICe

(760) 341-0559 [email protected]

Quorum February, 2014 CoachellaValleyCAI.org facebook.com/CAICV twitter.com/CAI_CV4 5

CONTENTS

5

BOaRd Of dIRECTORS COaCHELLa VaLLEY CHapTER 2014

CHRISTINa BaINE dEJaRdIN, ESq., pRESIdENTPeters & Freedman, LLP

NENa T. RUTHERfORd-MILWaRd,CMCa, aMS, pCaM, CCaM, paST pRESIdENT

Desert Resort Management

Tad BLaCk, pRESIdENT ELECTGothic Grounds Management, Inc.

paULa TapIa, TREaSURERPacific Western Bank

ROB WINkLE, SECRETaRYWestern Pacific Roofing

aRT COULTER, dIRECTORPalm Valley Homeowners Association, Inc.

MIkE MaSTROpIETRO, dIRECTOROrange Coast Building Services

GRaCE paLUCk, dIRECTORThe Management Trust, Monarch Group Division

pHYLLIS HaRkINS, dIRECTORPalm Desert Country Club Association

GERaRd GONzaLES, dIRECTORAlbert Management

LESLEE WILLIaMS, dIRECTORDesert Resort Management, an Associa Company

The materials contained in this publication are designed to provide our members with accurate, timely and authoritative information with regard to the subject covered. However, the CAI Coachella Valley Chapter is not engaging in the rendering of legal, accounting or other professional types of services. The CV Chapter has not verified and/or endorsed the contents of these articles or advertis-ing, nor do we have the facilities or the personnel to do so. Readers should not act on the infor-mation contained herein without seeking more specific professional advice from legal, accounting or other experts as required.

Attendance at CAI-Coachella Valley Chapter programs and events constitutes consent to be photographed for use in print and/or electronic publicity for the Chapter. If you do not want the Chapter to use a photo or video of you, please notify Chapter staff in writing prior to the program or event beginning.

CAI Coachella Valley Office 41-905 Boardwalk Suite A-2

Palm Desert, CA 92211 Tel: (760) 341-0559 Fax: (761) 341-8443

Website: www.cai-cv.org

10

22

14

Features

10 State of the Chapter Sikip Daum

13 Managing Stress By Ann Marie Palma, Chris Flores, MD,

and Sonja Fung

14 CV/Link Brings New Opportunities to the Coachella Valley By Mike Shoberg

19 2013 Case Updates Two Year Bills To Watch By Peggy Redmon, Esq.

22 Shining Waters By Patrick Simmsgeiger

25 Healthcare Will Lead Coachella Valley Job Growth By Steven Biller

34 2013 Chapter Review By Nena T. Rutherford-Milward, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, CCAM

Chapter news

31 Get to Know Your 2014 Board of Directors

32 Have You Heard By Tammy T. Muldrow

37 CAI-CV Chapter New & Renewing Members

37 Advertisers Index

Chapter events

20 December 13, 2013 State of the Chapter

Departments

8 President’s Message

9 From the Chapter Executive Director

12 CLAC News CLAC Contributions Jan. - Dec.

By CLAC

28 Technology Today Streamline a Major Item of

Community Management By Steven Shuey

30 Water Wise Valley’s Warming Trends Provide for

Good Gardening By Dave Koller

33 CAI-CV 2013 Platinum Sponsor Spotlight

Asphalt MD’s

35 Time Honored Member Louise Stettler

By Phyllis Harkins, CMCA, CCAM

36 By The Way How Well Do You Know Your State?

By Tammy T. Muldrow

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

fRaN MULLaHY Vintage Associates, Inc.

MaRGaRET “GEN” WaNGLER, ESq. CCaLFiore Racobs & Powers

JaY pOWELLConserve LandCare

LaURIE S. pOOLE, ESq. CCaLPeters & Freedman, LLP

paULa TapIaPacific Western Bank

pHYLLIS HaRkINS, CMCa, CCaMPalm Desert Country Club Association

STEVEN SHUEY, pCaM, CCaMPersonalized Property Management

CREaTIVE dIRECTOR & GRapHIC dESIGNER

ROdNEY BISSELLBissell Design Studios Inc.

SUBSCRIBER SERVICESThe Coachella Valley Quorum Newsmagazine is a publication

expressly prepared for our Association leaders, managers and other related

professionals of the Community Associations Institute. Authors are encouraged to submit articles for

publishing consideration. All articles accepted for publication in the

Quorum are subject to editing and rewriting by the Publications Committee.

30 35

28

36


CONTENTS

aRTICLE SUBMISSIONS OR adVERTISING INfORMaTION

contact the CAI-CV Office at (760) 341-0559 or email [email protected]

January quorum Correction: Peggy Redmon, Esq. does not have the CCAL designation. Sorry for any confution this

may have caused.

A Full Service lAw Firm

For inquires contact Jeffrey French

www.gbflawyers.com | 760.346.9310

Providing Practical Approaches in:

CC&R Interpretation, Drafting and Enforcement

Opinion Letters

Contract Drafting and Negotiation

Civil Litigation

Assessment Recovery

73-710 Fred Waring Drive, Suite 120, Palm Desert, California 92260

20

33

12

The mission of CAI is to provide the leadership for successful development and operation of community associations

through information, research and education.

CaI-CV MISSION STaTEMENT


fROM THE CHapTER fROM THE CHapTER

President’s MessageChristina Baine deJardin, Esq., peters & freedman, LLp, CaI-CV Chapter Board president

Executive DirectorStacy M. Estrada, MBa, CaI-CV Executive director

Welcome to the second month of the New Year for 2014! February’s magazine is themed “State of the Chapter” where we included statistics on what the Coachella Valley Chapter has achieved for 2013.

Following the theme with the “State of the Chapter,” Quorum is also including a six part series on health and wellness, correlating our theme with the “State of our Members.” According to the Huffington Post, five out of the eight most popular resolutions made in 2014 were health and wellness related topics. These five resolutions include reducing stress, losing weight, exercising more frequently, a vow to stop smoking, and drinking alcohol less frequently. These topics will be discussed in greater detail as we progress throughout the year.

This month we will be discussing the first series, stress and how to manage it. This is just one of the ways CAI seeks to help you stay on track for the New Year. We will also be featuring one Board Director each month, which will include a mini biography. This will be a great way to familiarize yourself with the Board of Director’s for 2014.

Since February is considered to be the month of love and friendship, I encourage you to take a moment to stop and smell the roses. Introduce yourself to your neighbors, say hello or give a simple gesture by taking a few seconds to show an act of kindness. Something as simple as a smile can bridge a connection between you and another.

If you are interested in connecting with other members of CAI, consider joining a committee. Both the Quorum and Marketing Committees, who networks through publication and social media, are actively seeking new members. I can’t think of a better way to bond with your fellow members. To learn more about these committees and what they do, please contact the CAI- Coachella Valley Office. Also, visit our website at CAICV.org for an updated Calendar of Events for 2014, or connect with us on Facebook and twitter to receive automatic updates on our current events.

Important dates coming up are: February 21st Country Western Roundup event, February 27th M201 Class held in Palm Desert, and March 7th Program Luncheon. As a reminder you can pre-register through the CAI office to ensure early registration. The other deadline that we must remind you of is for the 2014 Marketing Plan; February 28th is the deadline for payment of sponsorship so please plan ahead so that you don’t miss out.

I look forward to seeing each of your at our upcoming events!

Stacy Estrada

Hello and welcome to February, the sweetest month of the year. This month we get to celebrate Valen-tine’s Day and join in the Date Festival fun here in the Coachella Valley.

Reflecting on your New Year’s resolutions, if you vowed to learn something new this year, February is the perfect time to consider adding a designation or certification to the end of your name. On Febru-ary 27th and 28th, the M201 class titled “Facilities Management” will be held in Palm Desert at the Mar-riot. This course will teach you how to preserve and enhance your association’s property and prepare you for emergencies. For more information on this course, or additional courses taking place this year, visit CAIONLINE.org.

If you are a member of our Chapter, don’t forget to take full advantage of our scholarship program. Con-tact the CAI-CV office for an application and information on how to get your education paid through our scholarship fund. Also, a big thank you to our members who have donated to the scholarship fund. Mem-bers who contribute to this fund actively support fellow CAI members who seek to advance their education and careers.

Speaking of advanced education, we had an exciting and dynamic speaker at January’s luncheon, James McCormick Jr., of Peters and Freedman. James provided insight into “Directing the Drama- Resolv-ing Anger and Apathy in your Community”, a topic many of you can relate to. I hope that everyone who attended took away a key method for how to empower owners and create an effective community culture.

Please join us at our next luncheon, which will be held Friday, March 7th at Palm Valley Country Club. The topic of discussion will be “Cutting Edge Amendments: Getting Creative, Proactive and Down-to-Business”. You will learn how to amend your Governing Documents to address long-standing and emerg-ing issues such as rentals, smoking, sex offenders and much more. Our speaker will be Susan Hawks McClintic, Esq., of Epsten Grinnell & Howell, APC. The deadline to register for this event is February 28, 2014.

As stated in January, CAI is striving to provide fast and easy communication through social media tools. The Marketing Committee aims to update you through our social media sites and press releases in the Desert Sun. To stay instantly informed on what we are doing within our Chapter, follow us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/CAICV, and on twitter at www.twitter.com/CAI_CV.

We have a fun event coming up! Save the date for our Country Western Roundup, on February 21st at Sunshine Landscape in Thousand Palms. Enjoy some fun dancing, great food and exciting games. For information on how to sponsor this event or to pre-register, contact the CAI Office.

I would just like to close by saying, have a Happy Valentine’s Day with your loved ones and enjoy the great February weather outside! Hope to see you at one of our upcoming events!

Christina Baine DeJardin, Esq.

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

Christina Baine DeJardin, Esq.


fEaTUREfEaTURE

The second half of the Legislature’s biennial session began January 6, and within three weeks more than one thousand bills that were intro-duced in 2013 must pass to the second house or they will die. Fortunately for us, Assembly Bill 1360 is not on that list as it has already passed to the Senate for consideration.

Our singular focus right now is our own AB 1360, authored by Senator Norma Torres; it allows...not mandates... electronic balloting in homeowners associations. If passed and signed, it will bring HOAs into the “new normal” 21st century, help achieve quorums at annual meet-ings and elections, reduce election costs, and conserve paper.

However, nothing is simple. There are vig-orous opponents to the concept of electronic balloting despite statutes that allow all other California corporations to vote electronically; in addition, 22 other states statutorily allow com-munity associations to vote on line. So, Califor-nia is actually behind the power curve!

The backdrop argument for the opposing nay-sayers are constant media stories about internet hacking and identity theft. CLAC’s bill addresses these issues and attempts to prevent such occur-rences. It may be necessary for YOU to help lobby this bill so please sign up for our “CLACTRAC” alerts at www.caiclac.com.

CLAC is opposing Senate Bill 391 which increases county recordation fees by $75 per recorded document. The bill would generate $742 million which would be devoted to build-ing affordable housing. This is a HUGE issue for associations as they may record dozens of docu-ments every month. A coalition of more than 300 lobbying organizations are in support, but thus far we’ve been able to halt its progress as we work with the California Association of Realtors and land title lobbies.

CLAC single handedly and quietly amended Senate Bill 822 to clearly state that HOA

managers needn’t be licensed contractors. While we understood that to be the case last year, many in the field thought otherwise, so CLAC “fixed” it with this amendment: “The term contractor or “consultant” does not include a com-mon interest development manager, as defined in Section 11501, and a common interest development manager is not required to have a contractor’s license when performing management services, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 11500.”

Senate Bill 362 requires sellers to disclose to prospective buyers, beginning in July 2014, ALL claims relative to construction defects whether or not the dispute was settled or the condi-tions remedied.

Finally, the third in a series of bills address-ing electric vehicle charging stations, SB 454 makes several changes to the recently enacted laws which CLAC weighed in on to protect HOAs. CLAC amended the bill to read: “Publicly avail-able parking space shall not include a parking space that is part of, or associated with, a private residence, a parking space that is reserved for the exclusive use of an individual driver or vehicle or for a group of drivers or vehicles, such as employ-ees, tenants, visitors, residents of a common inter-est development, or residents of an adjacent build-ing, or a parking space provided by a producer of electric vehicles as a service.”

Another 1,200 bills will be introduced by the end of February and CLAC will spot every one of them, pick out the ones that affect HOAs, and determine whether we will weigh in on them.

Finally, 2014 is an election year and several seats are up for grabs. Please pay attention to the candidates and be sure to ask them how they feel about homeowners associations!

Skip Daum is and has been CAI’s state legislative advocate in Sacramento since 1994. He can be reached at [email protected].

At the CAI-CV December 13th Luncheon, Skip Daum, President of Capitol Communications Group updated us

on some of the legislative actions taken this past year. Skip, our lobbyist in Sacramento, covered main issues and legislation cur-rently effecting the HOA industry. Here are some highlights as well as what we can expect for 2014:

78755 Darby Road Bermuda Dunes

(760) [email protected]

www.thevintageco.com


fEaTUREfEaTURE

When the audience at Coachella Vally Economic Partnership’s (CVEP) recent small business gath-

ering were asked, “how many of you can identify stress?” only 5% raised their hand. It quickly became apparent that the first step in managing stress is being able to identify it.

“Our cars tell us when the gas is low, but people aren’t born with dashboards,” says Chris Flores, MD, “So if we can learn the science behind stress and its effect on our body, and can learn to monitor the signs, then we can begin to do something about it.” And everyone’s perception of stress is unique, adds Ann Marie Palma of Bikram Yoga Palm Desert. What one person considers stressful, another may not, so responses to dealing with stress need to be individualized.

“Many people feel that physical ailments such as a migraine or irritable bowel syndrome must be medical,” adds Flores, “when in fact, they may simply be signs of stress.” We live in a society where people seek an external cure first – treatment or pill – so the funda-mental mindset has to change.

How do we recognize stress in our body? Flores says know your vitals. Buy a blood pressure cuff and monitor your heart rate. The average resting heart rate is around 70 and higher numbers are a sign of stress. Monitor how you feel. Are you getting 6 – 8 hours of restful sleep a night? Are you fatigued throughout the day? Do you crave sugar, carbs or alcohol? These are all indicators that your body is not in balance and may be under stress.

How do we relieve stress? The panel agreed that you need to create a healthy daily protocol, and make it a prior-ity in your life. Something you enjoy like exercise, yoga, or meditation to calm the mind and create that mind-body

connection. “Being able to achieve a balance – physically, mentally and emotionally – is key,” states Sonja Fung, ND.

And all agree that you need to learn to breathe. Most people take very short shallow breaths all day long. “Deep breaths activate your parasympathetic system,” adds Fung, “creating a feeling of safety and relaxation naturally.” Flores notes that people tend to breathe an average of 20 times a minute, when that rate should be only 8-10 times. And consciously breathing 4 times a minute is very therapeutic “and can even lower your blood pressure by 20 points.”

So let’s try it. Empty out your breath. Now breathe in deeply for the count of 5. Then hold that breathe for 5. Then slowly release the breath completely for 5. That is one 15 second breath. Do this 4 times and feel the difference in your body just after this one minute conscious breathing exercise.

Learn to identify your individual symptoms of stress. Establish a daily protocol to help you release it and to create

and maintain balance in your body. And don’t forget to breathe….Really breathe.

CVEP’s Small Business Development Center offers free classes at their monthly

Fireside Chats. For more information, visit www.cvsmallbusiness.com or

contact Managing Director Eze-kiel Bonillas [email protected].

760-340-1575[Unattributed]: Managing

Stress: [http://deserthealthnews.com/stories/managing-stress-health-care-professionals-

agree-identify-your-stress-and-breathe/], [July/August 2013].

Managing StressHealth Care Professionals Agree: Identify Your Stress – and Breathe

Patio Furniture Doctors Inc.“REFINISHING SPECIALISTS”

We can create a new look with your existingpatio furniture for about 1/2 the cost of new!

We are your only locally owned and operated state of the art

Please call me any time for your free on-site furnitureassessment. I am always in your neighborhood.

Owner/Operator Bill Richardson

BEST PRICES, QUALITY & SERVICEWe can meet or beat any professionally written quote.

(760) [email protected]

Last year total

december $0November $1,559October $2,247September $0august $358July $234June $0May $175april $0March $680febuary $400January $455

ContrIbutIons Jan – DeC

CLaC NEWS

GoaL2013 Contributions*

CLaC

$9,670

* This amount set by CLAC and based on CAI-CV membership count.

$15,778

By Ann Marie Palma, Chris Flores, MD, and Sonja Fung

Ann Marie Palma, owner of Bikram Yoga Palm Desert; Chris Flores, MD; and Sonja

Fung, ND of the Live Well Clinic discussed stress release techniques at CVSBDC’s free monthly Fireside Chat session


fEaTURE fEaTURE

CVLINKCONNECTING THE COACHELLA VALLEY

The Coachella Valley Associa-tion of Governments (CVAG) is

well under way on the design of the CV Link, a revolutionary 52-mile multi-use path that will connect the Coachella Valley from Palm Springs to Coachella.

There has long been a need for a transportation route that will provide a safe, healthy alternative to Highway 111. CV Link will provide that alterna-tive allowing residents and tourists alike the ability to bike, walk or take a low–speed electric vehicle for activi-ties such as shopping, work, restau-rant, golf, tennis and other activities. It will also provide a safe route for kids to go to school and a meeting place for community activities and events.

In most areas, the CV Link will run

along the top of the levee of the White-water River with future connections to Desert Hot Springs and the Salton Sea. There are other very successful trail projects like the Santa Ana River Trail in Orange County and the American River Trail Northern California but the CV Link will be the first project to inte-grate low speed electric vehicles, mak-ing it the largest project of its kind.

CV Link is in the planning phase with the project development team continuing to host workshops throughout the Valley to solicit public input on the project. The consulting

team and CVAG are evaluating align-ment options and design elements to determine the best route and path features.

CVAG has already raised in excess of 65 million dollars for the CV Link insuring its viability. In addition to CVAG, the most notable contributions have come from the South Coast Air Management District, Desert Health-care District, California Strategic Growth Council, Caltrans and the Riverside County Regional Park and Open Space District.

CV Link will be providing new

opportunities for the Coachella Valley in the areas of health and wellness, economic development and tourism and environmental benefits.

One of the greatest benefits of the CV Link project will be the fitness options for children, families, adults and seniors. Obesity is a major prob-lem in the Coachella Valley, which results in further health issues for the

Brings New Opportunities to the Coachella Valley

ever-increasing population. It is well documented that increased physical activity will decrease incidences of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Area health advocates agree. The project has the support of all of the major hospitals in the area and the Desert Healthcare District made an investment in the community’s long-term health by committing $10 million

to the project, an unprecedented allo-cation of funds toward a permanent piece of public health infrastructure.

Due to year-round sunshine the Coachella Valley is home to many bicycling and hiking enthusiasts. But without designated bike lanes along Highway 111 and other areas across the Valley, our local transportation roads have become hazards to the very people who use alternative methods of transportation and exercise.

Those who worry about safety recognize that more than 80 percent of the Valley’s auto accidents involving cyclists as well as pedestrian fatali-ties have occurred within two miles of what will be a safe alternative. Unlike the automobiles bicyclists and pedes-trians are currently sharing the streets with, low speed electric vehicles and the CV Link will have a maximum speed of 25 mph, making it a much safer path for all users.

In addition to providing a recre-ation alternative, the CV Link will have the further benefit of improving the air quality in the Coachella Valley.

CV Link will be the first project to integrate in low speed electric vehicles making it the largest project of its kind.

One of the greatest ben-efits of the CV Link project will be the fitness options for children, families, adults and seniors.

By Mike Shoberg

fEaTURE

The CV Link is being designed as an iconic piece of infra-structure, which will be a very visible and recognizable symbol of the Coachella Valley.

• Governing Document Interpretation • Governing Document Enforcement • ADR & IDR • Contract Negotiation • Architectural Compliance • Litigation • Construction Defect • Reconstruction • Legal Compliance

• Fiduciary Obligations • Maintenance & Repair Obligations • Assessment Recovery • Post-Judgment Enforcement • Writs & Appeals • Board Education • FHA Certification • FEHA Compliance • CC&R Restatement & Amendments

The attorneys and staff at Peters & Freedman, L.L.P., are seasoned professionals in the field of community association law. With experienced attorneys, paralegals, assessment collection specialists and administrative staff, Peters & Freedman, L.L.P. is committed to providing effective, innovative and comprehensive legal services to community associations throughout Southern California. As a full service Law Firm, we can help you with any issue facing your association.

If you have questions regarding any of our legal services or would like to request a free, printed copy of our latest community association Legal Guide book, please contact us. You may also visit our website to learn more about our Firm or to download an electronic copy of our current Legal Guide.

San Diego Area: 760.436.3441Coachella Valley: 760.773.4463Orange County: 949.390.2971

[email protected]

As a full service law firm, our services include:


affluent tourist sector. The CV Link is being designed as an iconic piece of infrastructure, which will be a very visible and recognizable symbol of the Coachella Valley.

Despite the project having yet to break ground, CV Link has already received numerous awards. The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) awarded CV Link its Compass Blueprint Excellence Award for planning and develop-ment work meeting the organization’s principles of sustainability, livability, mobility and prosperity. The American Planning Association (APA)-Inland Empire Section selected CV Link for a 2013 Innovation and Green Commu-nity Planning Award for work com-pleted as part of the Preliminary Study Report. CVAG also was presented at the 2013 California Trails and Green-way Conference with the Merit Award for Planning, recognizing the organi-zation for the CV Link’s outstanding contribution to promote, enhance and expand public awareness and use of trails and greenways in California.

It is anticipated that the CV Link will break ground in 2016 and when completed the CV Link will be an important piece of public transporta-tion, promoting healthier lifestyles and generating new business and residential areas, while safely mov-ing people throughout the Coachella Valley.

For additional information, please call Mike Shoberg at CVAG at 760-346-1127 or e-mail him at [email protected]. Additional information is available at www.CoachellaValleyLink.com.

significant economic benefits for our local economy and for the hospital-ity sector. During construction of the project good quality local jobs will be created. In addition, local areas will benefit from sales taxes and ancillary spending from construction workers.

Members of the hospitality sector are very excited about the CV Link as an added attraction for local tour-ists appealing to a younger and more

Mobile sources like automobiles are the largest contributor to greenhouse gases, and by providing an alterna-tive transportation corridor the CV Link will take cars off the road and improve air quality. This benefit of the CV Link was recognized by the South Coast Air Management District who awarded $17.4 million of the Sen-tinel mitigation funds to the project.

The CV Link will also have

TWO YEAR BILLS TO WATCH

AB645 (Torres). Smoke Detectors. Com-mencing 1/1/2014 a smoke alarm must have certain features, including a feature that provides notice that the device needs to be replaced. This bill would delete this require-ment and would extend to 1/1/2015 the date by which smoke detectors need to have certain features to be approved and listed.

AB746 (Levine). No Smoking. This would prohibit the smoking of a cigarette or other tobacco product in all areas of multifamily dwellings, except those areas designated as areas where smoking is permitted.

AB968 (Gordon). Elections For 15 Or Less Unit Development. The DS Act requires that a com-mon interest be managed by an association and that elec-tions conform to specified requirements. This bill would, notwithstanding the election requirements, authorize a common interest development with not more than 15 sepa-rate interests to conduct an election of directors pursuant to other requirements if a majority of the members agree to conduct elections under those provisions.

AB1360 (Torres). Electronic Voting. Would authorize elections by electronic voting with certain requirements.

SB391 (DeSaulnier). $75 Recording Fee. Would impose a fee of $75 to be paid when recording every real estate instrument, paper, or notice required or permit-ted by law to be recorded.

AND JUST A LITTLE SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:

Many management companies as well as “independent” associations take credit cards for HOA assessments & fees, as well as other items such as transponders, gate keys, etc. The issue has arisen that the law appears to say one cannot charge a usage fee for this accommodation. However, the law states that a “retailer” cannot charge that extra fee – most HOAs are not retailers by definition. If you resell the

goods you purchase (transponders, etc.) for a pass-through cost – you are not retailing.

Retailing by definition was purchasing a product for whole-sale & then taking some sort of mark up; adding the ship-ping charges to the goods is not a mark up – it is still the cost of the goods. However, many HOAs take an extensive mark up and we all know that management companies take a mark up, as a rule. However, they are “supposed” to have a resale license to do this. And … most CPAs have taken a very hard stance on this as far as having a retail license or no mark up other than real costs. Discussions will ensue on this with your CPAs, I am sure. Query: Do bank or mer-chant fees for accepting credit cards need to be part of the budget for the HOA and not charged back to the user/home-owner – or is it more unfair to make it part of the overall budget so that “everyone” pays a portion even though not all persons take part? And since most documents usually have language to the effect that all owners will be charged equal assessments – how are HOAs to navigate this? Some attorneys are opining that this may be illegal. Well – won-der what IRS may be doing? And wonder whether this could be a lurking issue for the legislators in 2014???? We are just sayin….

Peggy Redmon, Law Office of Peggy Redmon, APC. Practice limited to common interest developments in the Coachella Valley since 1993. You can reach Peggy at (760) 262-8840.

2013 Updates Two Year Bills To Watch (Continued from January)

By Peggy Redmon, Esq.


«12 »

Learn how to preserve and enhance your association’s property and prepare for emergencies. This course provides a hands-on approach to help you analyze, evaluate, communicate and plan for property maintenance. Your community will benefit from your increased understanding of the various types of maintenance—routine, previous, emergency, corrective and scheduled. Topics include:

z Evaluating existing maintenance programs and management controls

z Analyzing maintenance contracts

z Overseeing maintenance of common areas, using checklists and reports

z Making maintenance requests and recommendations to the board

z Identifying the basic elements of a disaster plan

z Preparing a request for proposal, including bid specifications

z Monitoring fulfillment of a contract

z Interpreting and invoking contract warranties

z understanding the concept of sustainable lifestyles

z using a reserve study for repair and replacement

CouRSe MAteRIALS Participant guide and Cd with articles and additional resources CAI guides for Association Practitioners: Bids and Contracts, Natural Disasters and Reserve Funds

CouRSe Length 1.5 days | 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. | 8:30 a.m.–noon

tuItIon CAI manager member: $445 | nonmember: $545

deSIgnAtIon CRedIt M-201 is required for the PCAM designation.

ContInuIng eduCAtIon CRedIt M-201 is approved for 12 hours of continuing education for CMCA recertification. Visit www.camicb.org for details. For information on continuing education for state licenses, visit www.caionline.org/edcenter.

RegIStRAtIon Visit www.caionline.org/pmdp and register for this course online! Register online four weeks ahead and receive a $25 discount.

M-201

facilitiesmanagement

M-201 ALSo AVAILABLe onLIne

Visit www.caionline.org/edcenter for information and registration.

NEWLY REVISED

Marjorie Meyer, cmca, pcam

2007 CAI Educator of the YearCADRExperts llc

Houston, TX

HOMEOWNERS aSSOCIaTION LaW

palm desert, CaThursday, february 27th

friday, february 28th

fLOOd RESpONSE pEN SpONSOR:

pROGRaM SpONSORS

SpEakERTad Black, president Elect


CHapTER EVENTSCHapTER EVENTS

SpEakERSkip daum, president of Capital Communications Group

SpEakERNena Rutherford Milward, past president



fEaTURE

From outside the airplane win-dow, look below and see hundreds,

maybe thousands of diamond-like sparkles peppering the landscape below.

Ponds and lakes. Charming ecosystems, teeming

with life. Some are muddy, algae-covered puddles, while others are pristine-looking trophy fishing lakes.

What’s the difference between them? Some are managed, most are not.

As landowners, we have choices. We are stewards of our land and water. Decisions we make today influence those parcels and puddles for years to come.

You manage your checkbook. You manage your calendar. You man-age your lives. You can manage your

ponds, too. Is your favorite pond the best place

to swim? Does it produce bragging-size fish? Late on a summer day, do

managed ponds add value to land, sur-round wildlife, your menu... and, most of all, your soul.

It just makes good sense to man-age ponds and lakes. They deserve it. Better yet, you deserve it. You change the oil in your car, you vacuum the carpets at home and you manicure the lawn. Manage your pond, too. There are a few fundamental things every pond owner can do. It doesn’t have to cost a year’s wages. Fist, learn as much as you can. Knowledge makes deci-sions much easier. Pond management starts with clean water. There are ways to keep it clean by what grows and accumulates on it. Or, you can literally move the water to keep it clean. That’s a process called “aeration.”

Next, think about the habitat under water and around pond’s edges. Every pond is a living, breathing entity of its own. As goes its habitat, so goes what thrives within. You can influence habitat. Each and every pond develops its own food chain. Most ponds grow plants which feed insects which feed

larger insects which feed small fish and so on... up the food web. You can improve the food chain.

Some aquatic plants are pleas-ant, some are not. Some are inva-sive, some live in harmony in the community below the surface.

Nature does what Nature does, until you come onto the scene to give it a humanly nudge. That’s where your goals and wishes come into play. A pond is like a fresh palette, awaiting the brush strokes of the artist. You are the artist. Want a healthy ecosystem with native plants and clean water which attracts surrounding waterfowl... and maybe a few deer? How about a swimming hole like you dunked your little brother when you were kids? How about the best fishing hole in the county? You can do it.

Start with your goals, stir in some knowledge and then go to work. Need help? Call your favorite experts. That’s why they are here... not only to teach, but to help nudge your waters to a healthier being. They’ll raise the hood on your pond, check its oil, manicure its lawn or check the health of the fish that call it home.

Value? Absolutely. Managing your ponds adds to the value of life, extends a hand to Nature and brings value to the land... as you enjoy the fruits of these labors via the harmony you help create.

Patrick A. Simmsgeiger, President of Diversified Waterscapes, Inc. Pat is a Certified Lake Manager as recognized by the USEPA and North America Lake Management Society, NALMS. In addition he possesses a Landscaping Contractor’s License, is also licensed by the Department of Agriculture as an Aquatic Pesticide Applicator and an active member of CAPCA, AERF, PAPA, GCSAA, APMS, and NALMS. You can reach him at (760) 837-3700.

Shining WatersBy Patrick Simmsgeiger President, Diversified Waterscapes

you love to sidle up, sit in your chosen chair with a favorite beverage and just enjoy the pond-side sunset?

Or... is yours just another pond with too much of the wrong kinds of plants, fish that won’t grow and a faint odor like a wet dog?

Be assured... your pond can be much, much better.

Managing your pond is an easy decision, too.

Look at the value of well-managed ponds. Water is a natural resource we borrow. We don’t own it, we don’t keep it. We use it. When temporarily stored in a pond, water is ours to use and enjoy. Souls are soothed around water. Wildlife drinks it. The gurgling-stream sounds as it moves, the clarity, the mystery of plants and animals which live beneath give us a peace and serenity we are hard-pressed to find in our workaday worlds. Good water adds value to land as well. In my office, people ring our phones regularly, ask-ing if we know of land for sale... with water on it. Well managed ponds often teem with healthy fish. Have you ever paid a fishing guide on a public lake or stream and watch him work for you to catch a limit? Your pond could provide as nice an experience... with better results and the inner satisfaction that it’s yours. Better yet, how about those delectable grilled fish entrées at fine restaurants? Guess where those fish were before they hit the platter? Well


fEaTURE

Securitas Security Services USA, Inc.For more information on how we can exceed your expectations, contact Kaitlin Bohigian, Palm Desert Branch Manager at (760) 779-0728.

www.securitas.com/us/en

CAI-CVad.indd 1 11/29/12 2:02 PMWESTERN PACIFICRoofing Corporation

Since 1949

“Complete Roofing Services”Repairs • Re-roofing

Roof Inspection • Maintenance ProgramsPolyurethane Foam • Built-up • Tile • Patios

3462 La Campana Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262Phone (760) 416-5877 Fax (760) 320-8912

FIND US ONLINE AT www.westpacroof.com

Contractors Lic. # 235717

INTERIOR & EXTERIOR Staining Concrete Replacement & Grinding Waterproofing Treatments Patio & Pool Deck Coatings Concrete Efflourescence Treatment Kool Deck Repairs

Lic #921248

OF THE DESERT

FIND US ONLINE: www.ctiofthedesert.com68126 Grandview Avenue, Cathedral City, California 92234

P 760.324.3033 F 760.321.2650 E [email protected]

Proudly Serving Coachella Valley since 1996

The growing demand for healthcare services presents an enormous employment opportunity in the Coach-

ella Valley, according to a leading economist and industry experts who addressed the Coachella Valley Economic Sum-mit in November at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa in Palm Desert.

The need for trained healthcare workers, says economist John Husing, will increase in lockstep with the number of people buying health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.

Husing, a longtime observer of the Coachella Valley, says healthcare ranks No. 3 among sectors contributing to the region’s economic vitality, with jobs increasing 17 per-cent to 12,629 positions from 2007 and 2012 and the average salary reaching $57,400.

Tourism and retail remain the top two forces driving the local economy, he reports. Airport traffic, average hotel rates, and the number of car rentals punctuated the tour-ism trend, while a five-year (2009-2012) increase of 18.5 percent in retail sales were fueled by visitors who come for business and pleasure. Agribusiness and housing are also showing muscle, with the Coachella Valley’s record agricul-ture output and accounting for more than half of Riverside County’s crop production. Meanwhile, home prices are on the rise as inventory begins to shrink. However, new home construction remains slow to recover, with modest gains in building permits.

Healthcare Will Lead Coachella Valley Job GrowthMore primary care workers and nurses will satisfy demand, while gains in tourism and retail signal a bright future

By Steven Biller

The summit, produced by the Coachella Valley Eco-nomic Partnership, emphasized the ballooning opportuni-ties healthcare, particularly the shortage of primary care services and experienced nurses to meet growing demand. Benjamin Chu, a Kaiser Permanente executive and keynote speaker at the summit, says the pressure is already pal-pable. “In the short term, there’s a squeeze on the medical infrastructure,” he says, suggesting that the future may hold new ways to ease the crunch. “Will we be able to use technology to deliver primary care to the newly insured?”

Linda Evans, of JFK Memorial Hospital and a CVEP board member, adds, “More technically skilled workers will help with the outpatient demand.”


fEaTURE

• Landscape Maintenance• Tree Care• Enhancement & Construction• Water Conservation• 24 Hr Emergency Service

760.343.143372265 Manufacturing Road • Thousand Palms, CA 92276

www.conservelandcare.comLicense No. 958748

GURALNICK & GILLILAND, LLPATTORNEYS AT LAW

Member of CAI and CACM

Legal Services for Community Associations

• GeneralCounsel

• AssessmentLienandForeclosure •NoCostCollections •FeesPaidbyDelinquentHomeowner •DetailedMonthlyStatusReports •TitleReportsatNoChargetoAssociation

• ConstructionDefect/Reconstruction •MoldClaims/Litigation •RealEstateDispute/Litigation

Phone:(760)340-1515FAX:(760)568-3053

Put your best foot forward with a security company

that walks the walk.

760.341.3593 A M S p r o t e c t m e . c o m

74-794 42nd Ave. Suite 1

Palm Desert, California

Lic# 944895 ACO 6917

AMS Security is not only the largest

fully integrated security company

in the Coachella Valley, but the best.

Gate Access Systems

Community Management Software

Camera Surveillance Systems

Gate Repair & Installation

24/7 UL Monitoring

CVEP attracting business, preparing workforce.

CVEP is ahead of the curve, creating and growing jobs and supporting programs to train local students to fill those jobs through its Workforce/Jobs Collaborative, in which the business and education communities collaborate to pre-pare students for college and careers.

CVEP is pioneering the innovative model for economic vitality through the growth of the Coachella Valley iHub/Accelerator Network, which incubates businesses in the fields of high-tech, clean energy, health and medicine, and advanced manufacturing. At the summit, organiz-ers revealed that the iHub and Accelerator Campus have received more than $1.3 million in federal and local grants to expand the network—including $500,000 from Desert Healthcare District for the Medical and Health Innovation Center and $200,000 from the U.S. Department of Com-merce to develop an iHub for advanced manufacturing.

“The Coachella Valley is the portal to 25 million consum-ers in Southern California and ports in the Pacific Rim,” says Tom Flavin, CEO/president of CVEP. “The region offers a combination of quality of life and a friendly, supportive business environment that you cannot find in a metro area.”

Husing says the only way to bring manufacturing to the region is attracting entrepreneurs—which is the mission of the iHub.

In addition to the high-tech focus of the iHub, CVEP operates California’s top Small Business Development

Center, offering client-based management programs that have assisted 126 companies and facilitated 5,260 direct, indirect, and retained jobs and contributed $1.3 billion in economic impact to the Coachella Valley over the past five years.

Meanwhile, CVEP’s Workforce Excellence team has facilitated more than $8 million in scholarships, as well as career pathways—training, internships, job shadows, and other programs—in healthcare, technology, clean energy, and creative arts and design. CVEP is also facilitating the Coachella Valley Regional Plan for College and Career Readiness, which has a five-year goal of enrolling at least 30 percent of students in a career- or interest-themed acad-emy, pathway, or similar program.

The education and business development programs sup-port each other under this plan, training young workers for new careers and diversifying the economy of the Coachella Valley.

Steven Biller is director of marketing for the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership. You can reach him at 760-340-1575 or [email protected].

CoachellaValleyCAI.org facebook.com/CAICV twitter.com/CAI_CV28 29

TECHNOLOGY TOdaY


In this hectic management busi-ness, the best run companies are

constantly looking for new technology to provide greater efficiencies. I found a tool that we use in our company, that appears to be the most comprehensive and intuitive device for compliance (violation and architectural) handling. Although there may be other devices out there that perform a similar service, this one is just right for me and our managers.

Reducing manager follow up time and empowering boards with online access to real-time compli-ance records is a great feature of this tool. The tool is a piece of on-line software that works on the iPad and other tablet type computers, and most smart phones, pretty much any device that has access to the internet. If the device is GPS enabled this will pro-vide a virtual map and follow you on inspection tours. How cool is that?

Can you imagine driving through a community and following along on your iPad or Android tablet or smart phone, for that matter, and seeing every house, color coded to indicate if there has been a previous violation or

one currently in one stage or another of a violation tracking? Yes, really, this is truly possible. Because the software utilizes GPS navigation, it can follow you as you perform a drive through of the community. The manager or a board member can inspect a pend-ing architectural request or flag a violation. If a letter is needed, it pops up right there and allows for custom editing of a template that you have pre-loaded.

As we know, most issues are pretty “standard” for each community, but not necessarily the same across all communities. This software provides for community specific customiza-tion so that when you are working on a specific property, the software has all the information specific to that com-munity, including all the names and addresses, types of typical violations and can even have CC&R references right there at your fingertips.

Picture this: you’re driving down the street reviewing a property and you see a landscape violation issue. You would click on the house address, either by a picture icon of the house on the GPS map or from an address list (easier for multi-family build-ings); then click on the violation from a drop-down list, click on a recom-mended solution, and presto, a letter is generated. You would flag it as a first discovery (reminder) or escalate it as a follow-up (warning) and the system will generate the appropriate letter, be it a reminder, a warning notice or a hearing notice threatening a fine. Most of the time the letter is properly written without editing, but it can

be edited right on the spot if needed. With a final click the letter can be cued up for later follow up and mailing at the office or it can be directly dis-patched to a mail-house that will print it and place it in the mail, right then and there. That is pretty neat! What a time saver!

Architectural variance requests are equally as easy to track and administer. The initial request can be uploaded to the system and

A Technology Advancement That Can Streamline a Major Item of Community Management

distributed out to all of the architec-tural committee. Each committee member can make their comments, take pictures and upload them to the system for other ARC members to see. Voting approval or disapproval is easily done online. Once a project is uploaded by the management com-pany the system will automatically send a notification to the homeowner via email, thanking them for their recent project request and setting expectations on how long the ARC committee has to make a decision. It will also send an immediate notifica-tion to the ARC committee that there is a new project ready for review. They simply click a link on the email and are taken directly to the website. From there they can see all pend-ing projects, how much longer they have to make a decision for each one, further, they can collaborate & vote for each project. Meanwhile, man-agement and board members can have real-time access to review the progress.

If your association and manage-ment company are not using the technology available today, you will soon find yourself unable to keep up in today’s fast paced world. Take the time to look into the technology avail-able today.

Steven Shuey is a certified pro-fessional community association manager. The technology reviewed is offered by Smartwebs that can be further looked into at www.smart-webs.net.

Steven Shuey serves on the National Faculty of CAI and a past board member of the APCM. He is a

community association consultant with Personalized Property Management here in the Coachella Valley. He may be contacted at [email protected]. You can follow him on Twitter (www.twitter.com/@IslandMgr)

If the device is GPS enabled this will provide a virtual map and

follow you on inspection tours. How cool is that?

By Steven Shuey, Personalized Property Management

Seacoast Commerce Bank offers a full range of comprehensive banking and financial services for Homeowner Associations and Property Management Companies.

Seacoast Commerce Bank provides our Property Management and Homeowner Association clients the ability to maximize their use of bank services. We understand the unique Banking needs of our Property Management and Association clients, providing industry specific products and customer service that you have grown to expect and deserve.

HOA Banking

HOA BANKING sOlutIONs•Depository Services

•Cash Management

•Remote Deposit Capture

•Lockbox Services

•ACH Origination

•HOA Financing

•Online Dues Program

KeN CArterONSenior Vice PresidentHOA Banking Division760-803-9541 Mobile

858-312-7022 [email protected]

tOm CHeeKVice President

Business Development Officer760-550-2030 Mobile

858-312-7060 [email protected]

For more InFormatIon call the chapter oFFIce

(760) 341-0559

“OK Corral”“OK Corral”

Sunshine Landscape’s

COUNTRY WESTERN

ROUNDUPCOUNTRY WESTERN

R O U N D U PFebruary

212014 5:30 p.m.

While much of the country remains in a deep freeze in February, the Coachella Valley generally starts

into a warming trend that creates an excellent opportunity for gardening.

February is a great time to plant shallow-rooted ground covers, native plants and other low water-use plants. Citrus trees can be fertilized at this time as well. Annuals and perennials will need to be watered and you will want to keep an eye out for winter weeds. You can also continue to plant winter vegetables in February.

This is the time to complete pruning of roses and decid-uous fruit trees. Check plants for aphids and other pests and control these if you see any.

Although you should hold off on planting frost-tender plants for about another month, know that the rapid growth and blooms of March and April are just around the corner!

If you or your HOA would like ideas for spring plant-ing, the Coachella Valley Water District can offer a variety of resources. Our seminars for home gardeners are free, evening events that provide an overview of various garden-ing topics. Also of interest for HOAs, we have workshops for professional landscapers, presented in both English and Spanish. Check our website at www.cvwd.org for upcoming seminars, workshops and other upcoming events.

For a comprehensive overview of water-efficient plants and shrubs that work well in the Coachella Valley, con-sider purchasing the district’s landscaping guide, Lush & Efficient Landscape Gardening in the Coachella Valley.

This 160-page guide is $15 and provides information on 300 plants.

Order forms are available online at the district’s website, www.cvwd.org. You can also view the publication online for free on the website.

Our website also offers a wealth of other gardening and water conservation information. Learn more about irriga-tion and smart controllers and how to detect and fix leaks from the publications and videos available.

With just a little work now, you will have months ahead to enjoy the beautiful variety of flowers and trees that thrive in our Coachella Valley landscapes.

Dave Koller is the Conservation Coordinator for Coachella Valley Water District. He has a master’s degree in horticulture, is a certified arborist and landscape irrigation auditor. You can contact him

at [email protected] or (760) 398-2651.

Valley’s Warming Trends Provide for Good Gardening

By Dave Koller, Conservation Coordinator, Coachella Valley Water District

february is a great time to plant shallow-rooted ground

covers, native plants and other low water use plants.

Meet CAI’s new Chapter Presi-dent! Christina Baine DeJardin is an attorney with the law firm of Peters & Freedman, L.L.P. and focuses her practice on homeowners association law. Christina attended the University of California, San Diego, where she received her undergraduate degree in English Literature. Christina then attended law school at the University of San Diego where she received Excel-lence for the Future Awards in Profes-sional Responsibility and International Environmental Law. Christina is a member of the State Bar of California.

Christina is an active member of the Coachella Valley Chapter of Commu-nity Associations Institute. Christina is serving as President on the Board of Directors of CAI and also sits on the Programs Committee. Christina has taught portions of the CAI Essentials Class, presented for numerous organi-zations including the California Asso-ciation of Community Managers, and has published articles in the San Diego CAI magazine, “Common Assessment.”

CAI-CV

Get to Know Your BoArd of dIreCtor’s

Christina Baine deJardin

2014


WaTER WISE

Take a moment and reflect upon your favorite hometown, comfort food cafe that consistently serves the same great food, with the same great people and the same great service with every

dining experience. Makes you feel good doesn’t it. Consistent quality you know you can count on!

Welcome to Asphalt MD’s, the Coachella Valley’s hometown, comfort food contractor serving you the same great service with the same great people for over 31 years.

Locally owned and operated by Gary and Tracy Butler, Asphalt MD’s has been providing personal, professional, cost-effective solutions for repairing and maintaining the health and integrity of the desert’s HOA streets and parking areas since 1982.

The key to our success is the quality of our people. We are blessed with the “All-Pro Team of the Asphalt Maintenance lndustry”. Our fine-tuned team of seasoned professionals, office staff, estima-tors and crew, has all worked together as the “Asphalt MD’s Medical Team” an average of 22 years.

We live here. We work here. Our hands-on experience and knowledge of the desert’s dynamics and its impact on your asphalt is what separates us from everyone in the industry. We know desert asphalt. We know what works, and we know what doesn’t.

While others in our industry proudly boast of serving all of Southern California, we at Asphalt MD’s, take great pride in exclusively serving our local HOA’s and management companies, families and friends in our Coachella Valley’s desert cities.

With our unparalleled history of consistent, proven, performance excellence, and over 90% of our current business from repeat clients and client referrals, we must be doing something right. ln a world where business success is measured in profit margins and size, we measure our success in our relationships with others. As actively involved members of our local CAI for more than 25 years, we have been blessed in our relationships with all involved; community managers, board members and business partners.

Day after day, year after year; the same great people providing the same great service. Asphalt MD’s, your hometown, comfort food contractor. Consistent quality you know you can count on.

Visit us at our website wunv.Asphaltmds.com

2013 - 2014 PL At I n u M sPonsor sPot LIGH t

thank you to Asphalt Md’s for their generous support of CAI-CV

CAI-CV

Palm Desert Country Club Villas is a 48-unit Association. Both our By-laws and our CC&Rs were outdated and required 75% of all owners to approve any changes. When we tried to update the By-laws a few years ago, the new By-laws did not pass. So we tried something different – we sent out a side-by-side comparison of each part of the By-laws, the old version and the new version. Then we let our owners vote for or against the new By-laws by section. When we did it this way, all changes were approved by 75% of all owners.

This year we did the same for our CC&Rs and again all sections were approved. It was interesting that we did not have 75% of all owners voting yes on all sections, but we did have 75% of all owners voting yes on each section (that is, some ballots were split on voting yes and no for various sections, but in the end each section received at least 75% yes votes). Both the new By-laws and the new CC&Rs reduce the 75% requirement. We also contacted all owners encouraging them to vote- just getting 75% of all ballots back is a challenge (we actually received 47 ballots back out of our 48 units)! Perhaps other associations could try the side by side comparison approach for updating governing documents.

Jackie Gish President, Palm Desert Country Club Villas

Wedding wishes goes to Kelly Robertson and Glenn Roseman who were married on December 15, 2013. May this union bring your lives joy, much happiness and lots of love!

After dedicating 27 years to the management industry, John Handel, President of The Management Trust Monarch Group Division, achieved retirement on December 31, 2013.

Jodi Fischer, Executive VP of the Monarch Group Division and in her 9th year with The Management Trust, was promoted to Division President of the Monarch Group Division on January 1, 2014.

There have been organization changes at Albert Management: Keith Lavery is the new Vice President of Client Operations. Kyle Albert has been promoted to Accounting Director. Gerard Gonzales has been appointed to Vice President of Corporate Operations, and to Tom Albert will now serve as Chief Financial Officer. Congratulations to Albert Management for their new step forward.

We are pleased to announce the following movement at DRM: Rhonda Drews was promoted to Vice Presi-dent, Director of Management Services. Kerry Leavitt was promoted to Executive Vice President. Gloria Kirkwood was promoted to Vice President, Senior On Site Community Manager. Paul Johnson was promoted to Vice President, Senior On Site Community Manager.

As you seek new challenges and make your dreams come true, may these promotions be a reminder to all of you that greatness can be achieved.

Whoever said hard work doesn’t pay was wrong. Just ask Alexis Fidler, Community Association Manager, who obtained her CMCA. And Rebecca Flores, Assistant Community Association Manager for Rancho La Quinta, who received her AMS. Way to go ladies!

Congratulations to these very deserving accomplishments! Cheers to 2014!.

Tammy T. Muldrow is the Administrative Assistant for the CAI Coachella Valley Chapter. If you have an item for Have You Heard, you can reach Tammy at [email protected] or call the office at (760) 341-0559.

February 2014

Have You Heard?

Congratulations


By Nena T. Rutherford-Milward, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, CCAM

2013 Chapter

R E V I E W

On Budget

Networking

Members

Committee

Designations


fEaTURE

By Phyllis Harkins, CMCA, CCAM

Louise (“Hurricane”) Stettler is the business development manager for the Epsten, Grinnell and Howell law firm. Louise has worked with Epsten for over thirteen years. She provides business development ser-vices for the Coachella Valley and San Diego offices of the firm. Louise’s career, however, began in education. After graduating from St. Johns University, she was a third grade teacher for three years in Brooklyn NY.

Louise joined CAI in 1999 as a Business Partner member; she is a past president of the San Diego chapter, and has also served on the CAI-CV board of directors. Her committee work with both chapters is a lengthy list—Monte Carlo/Casino Night, Programs, Awards, Membership, and Texas Hold-em. She has also served as chair on most of these CAI committees.

Besides her work responsibilities as a business development manager, Louise finds the time to read a good book—mystery and action books are on her nightstand—play bridge and Rummi kube, go to movies and her latest hobby--making, as she calls it—nifty jewelry. When asked who inspired her, she had a thought-provoking response- “Life is a journey, and if you are lucky to find a supporting family, good friends to keep you going, work for a firm you respect and enjoy, and have a great husband to be there when you need it the most, Life is Good.” Louise stated that the luckiest year of her life was the year that she moved to the desert and met her husband George. Between Louise and George, they have seven adult children and thirteen grandchildren, who according to Louise, keep them both on their toes.

And now the story behind “Hurricane.” Louise has been nicknamed “Hurricane Louise” at Epsten. She, full steam ahead, enters the office hauling her boxes and what used to be a rolling file cart but is now upgraded to a wagon, handles her business there, and then as quickly as she enters, leaves to the next project on her extensive to-do list. Epsten attorney Jennifer James shared this “Hurricane” story and also com-mented that Louise is the ultimate multi-tasker and can pack her car like a Jenga puzzle. Jennifer admires Louise for her hard work, dedication, upbeat personality, and her genuine love and concern for others.

Louise is proud of her contribution to the CAI-CV Chapter that occurred many years ago. When the chapter was struggling with decreased attendance at luncheon events, Louise assumed the Programs chair responsibility and, along with the efforts of a hard-working com-mittee, revamped Programs and created a model that still, with changes, exists today. When asked for her favorite saying, Louise said—“It is what it is.” The CAI-CV Chapter IS very fortunate to have Louise Stet-tler as a member. Her smile and warm greeting to all she sees are her trademarks; CAI-CV thanks Louise for her many years of service to the homeowner association industry. Louise can be reached at 760-836-1036 or [email protected].

TIME HONORED MEMBER

At CAI we strive to provide the leadership for successful development and operation of community associations through information, research and

education.

The goal of the CAI’s Coachella Valley Chapter in 2013 was to expand and be nationally acknowledged as a large chapter. To accomplish this goal we placed focus not only on the recruiting of new members, but on the retention of existing members. We started the year with 467 members. By maintaining a member-ship of 502, CAI’s Coachella Valley Chapter achieved our goal of becoming a large chapter.

• Twenty-one(21)CMCA–CertifiedManager of Community Associations

• One(1)LSM–LargeScaleManager

• Fifteen(15)PCAM–ProfessionalCommunity Association Manager

Professional Member Designations:

• Three(3)CAIEducatedBusinessPartners

• One(1)CIRMS-CommunityInsurance and Risk Management Specialist

• One(1)RS-ReserveSpecialist

In August, the CAI-CV Board, Past Presidents, Committee Chairs and Co-Chairs along with the help of Karen T. McMullen from the National Office, developed the following chapter goals for 2014:

• Communication;Expandmarketing with media outreach

• Promotedesignationsthroughcontinuing education

• OutreachtoBOD’s

• Maximizememberorientation

With help from our chapter’s dedi-cated members and amazing volun-teers, the CAI-CV Board is confident that they will exceed the goals set.

Nena T. Rutherford-Milward, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, CCAM, and Past CAI-CV President. You can find her at Desert

Resort Management, an Associa Company. Nena can be reached at (760) 346-1161 or by email at [email protected]

proved to be a success. The Programs Committee organized the following:

• Seven(7)EducationalLunchPrograms, including the Legislative Update.

• One(1)Essentialscourse,previously Board Boot Camp, with 29, Community Volunteer Leaders and Managers in attendance

• One(1)-EducationalandBusinessExpo

Coachella Valley was proud to host the M-204 – Community Governance in May with a total of 25 members in attendance.

In the continuing education depart-ment, currently there are a total of 9 manager members receiving scholar-ships through CAI’s Coachella Valley Chapter scholarship Funds.

Congratulations to the Business Partners and Manager Members who have received designations in 2013. The total number of designations received are as follows:

Manager Member Designations:

• Seven(7)AMS–AssociationManagement Specialist

Both the Marketing Committee and the Membership Committee works to strengthen and promote the Coachella Valley Chapter through marketing membership benefits and promoting the mission of CAI. These commit-tees, along with the help of our valued members, were able to create an envi-ronment that encourages networking and relationship within the chapter. As a result of our members hard work and dedication, we saw a 7.5% increase in membership during the past year.

We are currently on Budget for 2014!

CAI-CV hosted multiple success-ful events and educational programs in 2013. However, the most attended, which also happens to be the most profitable, event in 2013 was the Spring Golf Tournament.

The Programs Committee tried things a little different this year. Instead of the monthly educational lunch programs, they opted to have the lunch programs bi-monthly, which

Programs

LOUISE STETTLER

aCCountants & booKKeepers

BRABO & CARLSEN, LLP ............................... 31

asphaLt

AMS PAVING .................................................. 39

ASPHALT MD’S ................................................ 6

NELSON PAVING & SEALING ....................... 17

attorneys

EPSTEN GRINNELL & HOWELL ..................... 38

FIORE RACOBS & POWERS .......................... 23

GREEN BRYANT & FRENCH, LLP .................... 6

GURALNICK & GILLILAND, LLP ..................... 27

LAW OFFICE OF PEGGY REDMON .............. 31

PETERS & FREEDMAN, LLP ........................... 17

banKs

SEACOAST COMMERCE BANK .................... 29

eLeCtrIC & water

COACHELLA VALLEY WATER DISTRICT ....... 38

InsuranCe

TIMOTHY CLINE INSURANCE ....................... 24

LanDsCapInG

CONSERVE LANDCARE ................................ 27

HIGH TECH IRRIGATION, INC. ...................... 31

O'CONNELL LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE ............................................... 4

SUNSHINE LANDSCAPE ................................ 24

THE CURB CREATOR ..................................... 38

VINTAGE LANDSCAPE .................................. 12

CAI-CV Chapter New & Renewing Members

Advertisers

new CommunIty assoCIatIon LeaDer voLunteer

InDIan paLms #14 assoCIatIonMari Barnum 310-990-3727 [email protected]

Janice Hayes 760-325-9500 [email protected]

Sherry Milham 760-775-5878 [email protected]

James Palmer 760-636-1093 [email protected]

Garth Weinhandl 760-775-3299 [email protected]

new manaGers

Desert resort manaGmentJulie Harris 760-346-1161 [email protected]

renewInG busIness partner

FrazIer pest ControL, InC.Joe Frazier 760-328-6115 [email protected]

Julie Frazier 760-328-6115 [email protected]

rIversIDe County pest ControL, InCTom Meany 949-586-8700 [email protected]

renewInG manaGers

aLbert manaGementGerard Gonzales (760)346-9000 [email protected]

adVERTISER INdEx

adVERTISING INfORMaTIONContact the CAI-CV Chapter Office

Phone: (760) 341-0559

manaGement CompanIes

ASSOCIA/DESERT RESORT MANAGEMENT ............................................... 3

outDoor FurnIture

PATIO FURNITURE DOCTORS, INC. .............. 12

pest manaGement

POWERFUL PEST MANAGEMENT ................ 37

pooL DeCK resurFaCInG

CTI OF THE DESERT ...................................... 24

rooFInG

MCCORMACK ROOFING .............................. 38

RELIABLE ROOFING ...................................... 31

WESTERN PACIFIC ROOFING ....................... 24

seCurIty

ALLIED BARTON ............................................ 23

AMS SECURITY .............................................. 27

SECURITAS SECURITY

SERVICES USA, INC. ...................................... 24

sIDewaLK anD pavInG

FARLEY INTERLOCKING PAVERS .................... 2

CHapTER NEWS


By THE WAyHOW WELL dO YOU kNOW YOUR STaTE?

Fallbrook is known as the Avocado Capital of the World and hosts an annual Avocado Festival

Castroville is known as the Artichoke Capital of the World. In 1947 a young woman named Norma Jean was crowned Castroville’s first Artichoke Queen. She went on to become actress Marilyn Monroe.

California produces more than 17 million gallons of wine each

year.

There are more than 300,000 tons of grapes grown in

California annually.

California is the first state to ever reach a trillion dollar economy in gross state product. $

Mount Diablo State Park. The summit - 3,849’ - offers a sweeping panorama--more of the earth’s surface can be seen from the mountain than any other peak in the world, except Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa.

The official state flag of California, called the Bear Flag, was first used on June 14, 1846, but was not officially adopted until 1911. It was designed by William Todd. The flag pictures a grizzly bear and a star. The first Californian flag was quickly made by a group of American settlers who had just captured the town of Sonoma (from Mexico) and needed a flag to replace the Mexican banner.

State Song - “I Love You, California”

State Motto - Eureka (I have found it The state motto is Eureka!, a Greek word translated “I have found it!” )

Origin of the Name California - The name California comes from a mythical Spanish island ruled by a queen called Califia that was featured in a Spanish romance (“Las Sergas de Esplandian”) written by Garcia Ordonez de Montalvo in 1510. The Spanish explorers originally thought that California was an island. Pictured above is Queen Califia and Eagle Throne, an 11ft mosaic sculpture on top of a 13 feet tall giant eagle at a park garden in Escondido.

Lowest Point - Death Valley, 282 feet (86 m) below sea level [this is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere]

Area - 163,707 square miles [California is the 3rd biggest state in the USA - only Alaska and Texas are bigger]

Highest Point - Mt. Whitney, 14,495 feet (4,418 m) above sea level

Population - 38,332,521 (as of 2013) [California is the most populous state in the USA]

Eureka

Best View of the World in the United States

Honesty, Integrity, Quality

amspaving.comServing all of Southern California Since 1981

760-327-0800License #415436

• Asphalt Repair, Patching & Crackfill

• Asphalt Removal & Replacement

• Grading and New Paving

• Overlays and Fabric Overlays

• All types of Slurry Seals, Pavement Coatings and Striping

Our Services:

Paving Companyin the Valley! #1

our mission

inte

grity

Su

cc

eS

S

commitm nt

SucceSS

SucceSS

co

mm

itm

n

tKn

owle

dge

inte

grity

Knowledgecommitment

integrityKnowledge

integrity

For more than 27 years, Epsten Grinnell & Howell has been a recognized leader in community association law throughout Southern California.

We are a leader in our field for a reason. We work hard to earn our reputation and believe each day is another opportunity to solidify it. By preserving our founding mission of knowledge, integrity, commitment and success, we strive to be an entity that garners the admiration of not only our clients, but also that of our business associates, suppliers and our more than sixty employees.

Call us today ... your association’s success and ours go hand and hand.

Knowledge. Integrity. Commitment. Success.

800.300.1704 l www.epsten.com

San Diego10200 Willow Creek Rd., Suite 100San Diego, California 92131858.527.0111 • fax 858.527.1531

Inland Empire43460 Ridge Park Dr., Suite 200Temecula, California 92590951.461.1181 • fax 858.527.1531

Coachella Valley74830 Highway 111, Suite 100Indian Wells, California 92210760.836.1036 • fax 760.836.1040

SM

WAYSTO CUT YOUR3

WINTER WATER BILL

For more information,call Coachella Valley Water District

at (760) 398-2651or visit www.cvwd.org

Adjust your irrigation controllers for the cooler winter temperatures

Turn off your sprinkler system when it rains to conserve water

Convert your grass to Lush & Efficient desert landscaping

MeMber oF

PROOF O.K. BY: _____________________________ O.K. WITH CORRECTIONS BY:___________________________

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY • SUBMIT CORRECTIONS ONLINE

ADVERTISER: CURB CREATOR PROOF CREATED AT: 4/23/2013 3:26 AMSALES PERSON: Rani Greenhouse PROOF DUE: -PUBLICATION: DS-DAILY NEXT RUN DATE: 04/26/13SIZE: 3 col X 3 in

DS-0000326876.INDD

*ASK US ABOUTinstalling landscape curbing in your development. 760.345.9696

www.thecurbcreator.com

The Curb Creatorcan transform

your yard!

The leaders in

CONCRETE LANDSCAPEBORDERS

Lic . 722895

25 Years

In Business!

FREE

ESTIMATES

DS-0000326876


JOIN CaI!

CAI - CV upCoMIngevents

manager on the run: back to the basics when: Friday, February 21st 2014 where: Flood Response Classroom 72604 Adelaid Street Suite A Thousand Palms

Country western roundup when: Friday, February 21st 2014 where: Sunshine Landscape’s “Ok Corral” 772203 Adelaid Street, Thousand Palms, CA

m201 Class when: Thursday, February 27 - 28 where: Palm Desert, CA

February marChCutting edge amendments: Getting Creative, proactive & Down to business wIth: Susan Hawks McClintic, ESQ when: Friday, March 7th 2014 where: Palm Desert, Country Club

business & education expo theme: Growth in the Valley: How will you be AFFECTED when: Tuesday, March 25 where: TBD

There are many benefits to being a part of our chapter, including the monthly Quorum magazine. Call (760) 341-0559 today.

41-905 Boardwalk, A-2Palm Desert, CA 92211

save the

Date