Blog

By Marc Bellaud, Aquatic Biologist SOLitude Lake Management

This article first appeared in the Fall 2021 Issue of The Communicator here.

We have all heard the adages about being proactive: "The early bird gets the worm" and "Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today." These principles apply to nearly every facet of life, whether it’s our job performance, health care, financial planning, or in this case, lake and pond management. It’s no secret that taking care of our environment is important, but it goes beyond that. Science suggests that the preservation of our water resources is a key factor in our health and happiness; memorable experiences and time spent around the water lead to a greater sense of peace and connection to the world around us.

Much like the human body, when a lake or pond is ‘young,’ it typically requires less effort and funds to keep it healthy and functional. But a lifetime of neglect can lead to premature aging and serious imbalances. Without ongoing m...

Can associations restrict the free speech of owners in their own front yards?

By Sarah A. Kyriakedes, Esq. 

This article first appeared in the Fall 2021 Issue of The Communicator here.

For individuals residing in common interest developments, the constitutional right to free speech is not applicable. While many believe that they have a right to freely express themselves by posting signs, banners, flags, and religious symbols on their own properties, they may be surprised to learn that their homeowners and condominium associations are not bound by the free speech clauses contained within the federal and state constitutions. Though, in California, this does not mean that residents automatically lose their free speech rights when they move into their associations, because the Davis-Stirling Act safeguards many of the same rights that are enjoyed by citizens residing outside of common interest developments.

CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TO FREE SPEECH

Both the state and federal constitutions ...

Hard Surface Flooring Sound Transmission Issues

By Ellen R. Schuster, Esq.

This article first appeared in the Fall 2021 Issue of The Communicator here.

Complaints about noise from an upstairs neighbor’s hard surface flooring - and the expectations that the association will handle it – are on the rise. This increase is due to aging buildings, hard surface flooring trends, and more people at home during the day hearing noises they wouldn’t have heard while otherwise at work.

Boards have a duty to investigate reports of violations of the governing documents. Hard surface flooring noise disputes may implicate such violations in several ways, including restrictions on the installation of hard surface flooring without prior association approval, installations that increase noise transmission from what existed prior to the installation, and nuisances. Without investigation, and potentially taking enforcement steps, associations may be at an increased risk of a lawsuit for failure to enfor...

By Alexandria Pollock, PCAM, CCAM-HR

This article first appeared in the Fall 2021 Issue of The Communicator here.

I HEARD THE news story from the OC Register a few months ago: a Tustin woman is embroiled in a battle with her homeowners association over garage doors she installed without seeking architectural approval. Her defense? According to the homeowner, she’s made other alterations to the exterior of her home over the years without hearing from the association.

Another story that made the Wall Street Journal in March of 2019 details numerous citations over the course of several years to a Kansas resident from his HOA. The citations started with a misplaced satellite dish and included a statue in a flower bed and a decorative wall around another plant bed. These improvements were made without architectural approval and in violation of the association’s guidelines, according to the HOA. However, the owner believed he received approval. The ongoing legal battle over the decorative...

By Sandra L. Gottlieb, Esq., CCAL and Meigan Everett, PCAM

This article first appeared in the Fall 2021 Issue of The Communicator here.

MANY ASSOCIATIONS ADOPT architectural guidelines when the community is formed and don’t look back. Some boards keep the guidelines forever stuck in time. Even though the community evolves and changes and becomes its own unique place, the guidelines are often forgotten, ignored, or things are done the way they always have been done. But architectural guidelines can evolve with the community’s needs and change to comply with new laws and the more mature look of the association.

Provided that the association’s CC&Rs give the board authority to adopt architectural guidelines, also known as rules and regulations, the board should review them every few years to ensure that they meet the community association’s needs.

THE PROCESS

California Civil Code § 4355 requires that architectural rules be adopted pursuant to §4360 and §4365. Section 4360 requires t...

By Beth Gilbert

This article first appeared in the Fall 2021 Issue of The Communicator here.

ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW REQUESTS mean a lot to your homeowners. They take pride in their homes, and find making modifications – like an addition, pool, or garden shed – to improve their property exciting. If you hold up the review process with clunky, manual paper processes and back-and-forth phone calls, it not only takes longer for them to achieve their dream, but leads to overall customer dissatisfaction. All of this can be eliminated by following a couple of key steps. Here are some of the ways you can set up your architectural review process for success.

CREATE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW GUIDELINES

It’s easier and faster to make a decision when you have all of the information you need. Make it simple for homeowners to submit their requests by providing a set of association architectural guidelines and rules for them to follow. This not only ensures consistency, but also prevents homeowners from...

By Grant Shetron, CMCA, AMS, PCAM

The Fall 2021 Issue of The Communicator focuses on architectural modifications and owners’ protected uses. Residents are drawn to common interest development living for many reasons. Among those reasons are the covenants, conditions, and restrictions that, in part, are designed to deliver a uniform and visually appealing community experience. However, layered over this, and sometimes in direct conflict with the association’s general plan as articulated through its governing documents, is a continually evolving stream of legislation that affords residents certain protections regardless of what the governing documents indicate. Over the years we have seen these protections applied to satellite dish installations, solar systems, flags and banners, vehicle charging stations and ADU/JDU units, to name just a few. To co-exist, associations must understand these protections and craft their rules and regulations, policies and procedures, and future amendments...

This article first appeared in The Communicator, Spring 2021. To read more, click here.  

 THE CAI BAYCEN Chapter is offering three exciting programs designed to help you achieve an advanced designation through CAI.

1 Mentoring Program

Do you need some tips on what classes to take? Do you want some guidance as you navigate the application process? The Designations Committee will match you with a mentor who has achieved the industry’s highest professional credential, the PCAM.

Your mentor will provide one-on-one support and guidance throughout credentialing and the designation process. This includes creating a personalized strategic plan for each candidate to obtain the AMS designations and preparing candidates for the PCAM case study.

2 Scholarship Program

We are offering scholarships of $250 to Community Managers who are chapter members in good standing to partially reimburse you for registration fees for any one of CAI’s six M200 level Professional Management Development Progr...

By William P. McMahon and Jeff Evans

This article first appeared in The Communicator, Spring 2021. To read more, click here.  

Amenities for any community are important as they define a community’s purpose, its mission and what residents it is attempting to attract. If a community is trying to appeal to families, seniors, etc., it will offer a variety of amenities, such as dining, recreation, health care access, social programs, etc. For most communities, maintaining and continually updating facilities and programs is a never-ending challenge.

The original developer of a community will freely invest in amenities that will attract first-time homeowners. And, the marketplace demands highend amenities to be successful. The trouble is that in 10 or 20 years these amenities deteriorate and consequently depreciate. Few residents get excited about spending money on worn out amenities. So the value of properties begins to decline as the amenities themselves age and decline. This is the time...

By Terri Guest, CIRMS, CMCA

This article first appeared in The Communicator, Spring 2021. To read more, click here.  

In "Zoom Rooms" at the recent Legal Forum, a story was told about how a homeowners association had its insurance cancelled due to a claim. This association could no longer find coverage in preferred markets (admitted carriers, such as Farmers and Travelers) and was forced to get its insurance from a surplus lines carrier. Not only was this coverage three times the price, the added insult was that the claim was a result of an out of control car speeding down a street adjacent to the association and crashing into the association building – something impossible for the HOA to control.

The question then came up – what now? Once you have entered what we call the "surplus and excess" market – the carriers that folks go to when they can’t get coverage elsewhere – are you stuck? What can an association do, especially when the claim that landed them there originated outside t...