October Newsletter

ELECTION RESULTS FROM THE SEPTEMBER 15 ANNUAL MEETING: 53 Ballots cast

4 members were added to the board for two years. Here are the vote counts

Karyl Miller 78,  Julie Menas 49,  Mark Cabaj 45,  Robin Del Pepe 29,       Jared Meyer 11

BALCONY BLUES

Dear Boardie,

Q. Is it okay to drape my wetsuit over my balcony railing?

A. No.

Q. How about my wet beach towel?

A. Uh uh.

Q. How about storage? Can I store stuff on my balcony?

A. Nope. Only patio furniture is allowed. Plants are okay IF there’s a plastic saucer under.

Q. How about a laundry line? Is that okay?

A. You gotta be kidding. Nobody wants to see your skivvies blowing in the wind.

 

RECYCLING VS. GARBAGE: What’s the diff?

Dear Boardie,

Q. Why recycle?

A. Recycling is good for everybody when it’s done right.

Q. What are the guidelines?

A.  We thought you’d never ask. Thanks! (It’s not that hard.)

 

BAD: FOOD WRAPPERS with food particles in them or a take-out box                             with cheese stuck to it or a Starbucks container still containing a drop of                             coffee and are NOT Recycling.

 

GOOD: If there’s food on it, it’s considered garbage and it should be put in a            plastic bag, tied at the top and dropped down the garbage CHUTE. The                         reason: Old food smells bad, especially cat food cans and attracts bugs and vermin who love bad smells.

 

AMAZON BOXES: Need to be emptied of packing materials and then opened            on  both ends and flattened: this is the owner’s job. Thanks in advance.                               

Large boxes need to be collapsed and taken by you down to the Dumpster                  Room in the upper garage. Your main house key will open the double                            doors.

 PIZZA BOXES – Never throw a pizza box in the trash chute.                                               

Q. Why not?

 

A. Pizza boxes often open as they travel down and block the chute. After that, garbage from higher floors gets backed up until the box can be fished  out, along with all the garbage on top of it. This puts a giant yukky burden on our  maintenance staff.

 

IMPORTANT: Don’t forget to scrape cheese and pizza particles off before you put your pizza box in the recycling.

 

ELECTIONS (FOR THE HOA BOARD, THAT IS)

 By the time you read this our elections for the board will have been completed, but the winners will be announced in the next newsletter because this newspaper had to be put to bed by September 15. We thank everyone who took the time to vote. However, for the uninitiated…

 

Dear Boardie,

Q. What does an HOA board member do, exactly?

A.  Approves all spending, such as (but not limited to):

§  Employee salaries, insurance, repairs, maintenance, upkeep of the common areas, purchasing of all new items like gym equipment, and replacement of all items both big and small like a new roof, all while working to keep your monthly dues down to $450.

§  Supervises our Maintenance staff

§  Reviews Architectural Requests and approves/not approve them

§  Evaluates all Violation Reports for compliance

§  Writes or re-writes rules

§  Happily answers any and all questions about the building

Covid Updates

As of this writing, no one in the building has caught Covid. Yay!

Everyone must wear a mask in the common areas - elevators and stairwells of the                                      building.

Wash your hands upon entering your unit.

Practice Social Distancing.

Only 10 people allowed in the pool area at a time.

Only 2 people allowed in the gym at a time and they must wear masks.

 

LOCK YOUR CAR

Recently our security cameras video-d a young man snooping into cars in the upper-                         garage and trying door handles. Remember not to leave anything showing on your                         seats that would tempt a would-be burglar and always lock your doors.

 

Newsletter Written by Karyl Miller and Edited by Trish Mylet

Board Elections

Dear Boardie,

    Q. What happened to the usual June Annual Party and Board Elections?

    A. Covid happened.

    Q. So what’s the plan?

    A. July 12, a notice came from PHOAC announcing the coming Board elections. A third-party called        Ballot Box will be sending you a ballot. Elections will take place on Zoom, not in-person.

    Q. Why should I vote?

    A.  The Board decides where your monthly $450 is going, so it’s an important choice. You can vote     for those running or you can write in any name, including your own. We need at least 40 people to vote to qualify as an election.

BONUS: As an incentive to vote we will raffle off a free month’s HOA fee to one voter. Odds are very good since there are only 117 possible voters. What have you got to lose?

Newsletter Written By Karyl Miller and Edited by Trish Mylet

Water Conservation Policy

The following was adopted by the Board at its meeting on November 21, 2017.

Pacific Tower Community Association

Board Meeting November 21, 2017

Report From Legal Committee

Re: Considerations for Water Usage

· WATER CONSERVATION – in Southern California – semi arid desert area – everyone needs to be aware and helpful as it is a major social and environmental issue.

· POLITICAL AGREEMENT – even the politicians have agreed by passing legislation to encourage and require conservation of water especially in the use of toilet flushing. The law says its purpose is to reduce sewer flows and decrease the use of imported potable water in the City.

· REDUCED STANDARD FOR USE - since 1994 the law has required installation of toilets that only use LESS water per flush

o From 1994 ……….only 1.6 gallons/per flush (gpf) until 12/31/2016

o From 2017 ……….only 1.28 gpf

· LEGAL OBLIGATION – State and local law since 1994 has created a legal obligation applicable upon the transfer of any unit in PTCA on the Seller or, if agreed, by the Buyer to install toilets that comply with the applicable usage standard. If not done by the Seller, escrow documents usually provide for the Buyer to assume that obligation. So the Buyer (new Owner) has the legal obligation to make the change in compliance with the law.

· NON-COMPLIANCE with the law- if the toilets in a transferred unit were not changed within 90 days then the unit is NOT IN COMPLIANCE with the law.

· VIOLATION of CC&Rs – Sec 16.3 states as follows:

Section 16.3. Violation of Law. Any violation of any state, municipal or-local-law, ordinance or regulation, pertaining to the ownership, occupation or use of the Project or any part thereof is hereby declared to be a violation of the Governing Documents and subject to any or all of the enforcement procedures set forth herein.

· PTCA CONCERNS – our Association has self interests to protect for the common welfare in assuring the integrity of the building by compliance with the LAW as well as its own economic benefits through lower expenses for water and the perceived value of the toilet upgrades in the Building.

· USAGE – in the region toilet flushing uses millions of gallons a day. In our building, “old toilets” that do not (or did not) comply with the applicable usage standard when last purchased may be using perhaps 5.6gpf or 3.6gpf instead of the standard of 1.6gpf (applicable for many years 1994 - 2016) or the new current standard of 1.28gpf. Every day – every time - those “old toilets” are flushing more than 4 times or almost 3 times the amount of water currently allowed as the desirable water conservation usage.

· PTCA COSTS – the cost of all the water in the building is an Association cost because it is not separately metered for each unit. Our regional water resource agencies try to limit usage through conservation efforts and must also increase costs in the cycle of supply / demand. Our assessments have had to cover INCREASING COSTS for the building water usage as follows;

o HOA Budget Year Amount Increase

o 2015 $44,400 $5,100

o 2016 $52,200 $7,800

o 2017 $61,600 $9,400

With non –compliant toilets our building is using more water than we should and we are facing increasing water rates. We are also subject to public criticism and adverse reputation as non-complying with public law.


· BOARD ACTIONS – when brought to its attention, an issue that involves enforcement of a clear provision of the CC&Rs (Sec 16.3), some actions by the Board may be expected as a matter of performing its duty. Perhaps the Board should consider the following program of steps to act in behalf of the general welfare of the Pacific Tower Community:


o Resolve to recognize the law and the benefits of enforcement to the Pacific Tower Community as a matter of urgency.

o Effectively communicate the requirements of the law -- PAST AND PRESENT -- to all member/ owners so there is no misunderstanding of the legal requirements by authorizing a newsletter and / or a general letter to all members.

o Within a 120 day grace period, request voluntary compliance of affected Unit Owners whose unit toilets do not comply with the standard applicable at the time of their purchase and require compliance with the current standard.

o After the 120 day grace period has ended, the Association may make an inspection of each toilet in a unit and require compliance as a condition of approving any Architectural Application for a Unit, or as a condition for making any unrelated entry into a unit for any reason requested by the Owner.

o If a Unit Owner needs such work to be done, the Association will provide the names of plumbing businesses that are familiar with the Building and are capable of completing the kind of work needed to comply with the applicable plumbing standards.

· CONFLICTS OF INTEREST – If it appears that a Board member has a unit with non-compliant toilet(s) and feels that any personal obligation to comply should affect a decision in behalf of the community interest, then that may be a matter of conflict of interest to be considered seriously.

· LEGAL COUNSEL – our counsel has provided the legislative history of the progressive efforts in the State and local laws to conserve water as they apply to the PTCA building since the 1994 Ordinance. Copies attached.

Addendum: Although the applicable law does not specify the use of an air assisted device with the required lower water volumes, their use is highly recommended by toilet manufacturers, toilet distributors, and all plumber organizations as a practical matter for an optimal flushing effect.
Tom Ward

Hey Board, What Have You Done Lately?

That’s a fair question.  So, here’s a short list (just the Highlights) of what your Board did from June 2015 to June 2016:

Approved all spending including: employee’s salaries, all maintenance, all repairs, upkeep and renovation of the common areas, purchasing of office equipment and supplies - ALL for $400 a month.  Yay!

The Board reviewed all Architectural Plans and Violation Reports

Hired our new employee, Jeff Jacobs-Levardo

Created a new Excel database of owners/renters, their cell #, emails

Wrote and edited your monthly Newsletter

Added to our BLOG: PacificTowerHOA.org, posted all Newsletter articles and our Rules and Regulations

Repaired spalling (concrete cracks) on every stack and balcony, pool deck, and garage

Remodeled both Gym bathrooms

Upgraded to new pool furniture and umbrellas

Upgraded to a new Rec Room fridge

Upgraded to new light fixtures for catwalk and all balconies (plus 200 lightbulbs)

Upgraded to a new cigarette disposal system for the front entry

Upgraded to a new doggie poop disposal station for the front entry

We thank our Board Members: Tom Ward, Carol Foreman, Kathleen Morgan, Bob Weber, Trish Mylet and Antoinette Hamilton

We also thank our Menas Manager Kristine Bermudaz

Thanks to all!

Karyl Miller

I'm So Board!

Your seven HOA board members are volunteers dedicated to this building and the residents for which it stands.  The board supervises our maintenance staff, oversees each and every dollar going out of this building (be it regular maintenance, repairs and upgrades), all while holding our assessments at $400 a month.  Board members also head and serve on various committees (you’re invited, by the way!) like Architectural, Executive, Building, Human Resources, Landscaping, Leasing, Legal, Repair and Remodeling Committees. If you’re interested in being a board member, you’re welcome to nominate yourself when you get your ballot in the mail.  Four board positions are up for grabs in June.

Speaking of repairs and upgrades, remember our stained, rusty, dark and creepy-looking gym bathrooms?  The ones you wanted to shower with your boots on?  Gone!  Banished.  Finito! They have been upgraded to gorgeous new light and bright!  It almost made me want to work up a sweat -- just to take a shower!  I said ALMOST.  But feel free to avail yourself after your workout. Singin’ allowed and encouraged!

This was a long way around to thank a board member who pulled the entire bathrooms remodel all together – Carol Foreman.  Carol has been a devoted building volunteer for years.  She is also a past president of our Homeowners Association and has worked tirelessly for our benefit.  Do you love the new snazzy pool furniture and umbrellas?  Thank Carol - she picked everything out and made it happen.  She was a leader in the remodeling of the entire building hallways and rec room two years ago. The list of her contributions goes on and on!

                                      

Designing the bathroom upgrade and supervising it to its completion was a very time consuming and often frustrating task.  Millions of decisions had to be made.  Teams of tradesmen had to be coordinated and supervised.  Thanks to Carol from everybody! Your efforts are appreciated! 

Karyl Miller

Giving Thanks

At year’s end we thank our staff John McLean, Marvin Mendez and Gerry Gutierrez for keeping our building clean and repaired, for giving out forms, getting quotes, emailing vendors, and the myriad tasks they undertake throughout the year. This is John’s 15^th year at Pacific Tower and Marvin’s 11th!

We also thank our Board of Governors who meets monthly to discuss and vote on all issues having to do with the building, as well as exchanging untold numbers of emails every day.  Thanks to VP Kathleen Morgan, Treasurer Tom Ward, Carol Foreman, Trish Mylet, Bob Weber Antoinette Hamilton and little ole me. Lastly, we thank our Menas Manager Kristine Bermudez for all she does for our building.

BORED MEMBERS?

Dear Boardie,

Q. What does an HOA board member do, exactly?

A.  Approves All Spending, such as (but not limited to):

Employee salaries, insurance, repairs, maintenance, upkeep of the common areas, purchasing of all new items like our new Exercycle, new floors for the elevators (on order), WiFi in Rec Room/Gym etc. 

ALL WHILE KEEPING IT AT $400 per month

B. Supervises our Maintenance staff of three

C. Reviews Architectural Requests and approves/not approve them

D. Evaluates all Violation Reports for compliance

E. Writes or re-writes rules like The New(ish) Animal rules and Rec Room Rules (available in the Maintenance Office)

F. Happily answers any and all questions about the building 

New Board Member

Pacific Tower Board of Directors welcomes its newest member and owner, Bob Weber! We’re always delighted when owners take a special interest in the building! 

Board of Directors 2014

NEW Pacific Tower Board of Directors - August 2014

President                 Karyl Miller

Vice President         Kathleen Morgan

Treasurer                Antoinette Hamilton

Secretary                 Peter Holmes

Director                   Pat Nemeth

Director                   Trish Mylet

Director                   Carol Foreman