MESQUITE HOA JANUARY BOARD MEETING REPORT
JANUARY 29, 2005


(For simplicity I will following the Agenda)
The meeting was called to order by President Lubin at 9:05 am with all Directors except Mr. Carlin present. Approximately 40 individual were in the audience.
The minutes of the December 18, 2005, and January 10, 2005, Board meetings were approved unanimously without discussion.

OWNER FORUM
An owner asked about the Request for Proposals (RFP's) sent out for a new management company. Mr. Lubin and Bobbie replied that 6-7 out and that only Monarch and one other had answered with intent to bid. One other declined to bid and the rest had not replied. Bobbie explained that some had called to ask if there was a problem with the current management company to determine if it was a real opportunity or not. I assume that they were told there was no problem and that led to their non-response. The owner then questioned why only 6-7 had been sent out. He was told that there are extenuating circumstances such as experience, number of employees, level of insurance that preclude some from quoting. Mr. Lubin stated that the search had been extensive including all of the Coachella Valley. When I got home I checked the yellow pages and found over 40 real estate management companies listed. 
Another owner complained about the lack of available parking by her unit due to an owner leaving a covered vehicle in a sheltered parking space. A discussion of the parking rules and lack of enforcement ensued. A suggestion that there be assigned spaces was not received well.

FINANCIAL REPORTS
The Association is operating under budget allowing the Board to increase the amount in the Reserve Account to $686,060 as of November 30, 2004. Still far less than the $2.2 million suggested by the outside Reserve Audit conducted a year ago but an improvement. Landscaping, Pools and Spas and Property Attendants are operating over budget while Utilities, Common areas and Administration are operating under budget. I could not understand nor decipher the notes explaining the variances I wondered, but did not ask, why they were reporting the November balances on January 29 and not the December or year end.

OLD BUSINESS
A) DISCLOSURE POLICY
After this was tabled at the December 18 meeting and referred to our attorney, not Guralnick but another James McCormick, for comment the Board redrafted the resolution to cite an example of the information on contract to be disclosed. The example they used, recommended by the attorney, is 
: The Board voted to award a pool maintenance contract in the amount of $4000 per month to XYZ Pool Service. Under the terms of the contract XYZ Pool Service will be responsible for the cleaning and chemical treating of the pools, spas, and fountains three times per week; checking all equipment and repairing or replacing as needed." Remember this is an example and not an actual contract
The attorney recommended that the use of the Mesquito be edified by a majority of the Board or by the Board President. The motion was made by President Lubin, seconded by Rico and FAILED on a 2-2 vote. Mr. Blum and Mr. Barbaglia objected to editing the printed version but not the Internet version and voted against the motion. Mr. Barbaglia offered a motion stating that both the Internet and printed versions be identical. The motion passed 3-0 with Rico abstaining. Copies of the original motion were not distributed consequently the owner did not have an opportunity to provide their input to the Board. However we do now have a policy to be followed by incoming Boards that requires all expenditures over $1000 to be reported at the regular Board Meeting and to the owners in the "Mesquito." We also have the ability to sell commercial adds in the "Mesquito" to defray the costs, approximately $5000 annually, of printing the "Mesquito" thanks to Rico's perseverance in pushing the Board since August to adopt a "Full Disclosure" policy 

B) CONCRETE REPAIR
Bids were solicited to either repair. Grind or replace portions of the walkways that have raised and could potentially cause an accident. Two bids were received one for replacing at $20,000 and one to grind for $4,000. The Board on a motion by Mr. Barbaglia chose the least expensive.

C) RECLAIMED WATER
Bobbie reported that she has discussed with the various agencies our using reclaimed water like the golf course. Access to the reclaimed water is difficult and expensive. The Board continued this item until the March meeting to give Bobbie time to obtain actual costs for tying into the main reclaimed water system.

D) SOLAR HEAT
There was no report

E) DESERT CHAPEL EASEMENT
Although the Board voted to not pursue this item at the December meeting Bobbie felt compelled to explain that since Mesquite has no employees, the property attendants, maintenance workers and groundskeepers are all employed by Monarch, the Association has limited liability and would be third in line of insured if something did happen.

NEW BUSINESS
A) DISTRIBUTION OF MINUTES
Bobbie asked for and received permission to distribute meetings of Board meetings via e mail in addition to them being available on the website and in the office for any owner wishing to pick them up.
B) Bobbie asked for and received permission to post meeting notices via e mail and on the website.
C) John Kingman, Lee Christenson and Joe Massey were appointed Election Commissioners. The Board also determined that since Bob Blum and Rico were the only members not running for reelection they would vote the "Board proxies." As you know each owner has the option on the ballot to allow the Board to cast their votes as the Board sees fit. It was also decided on the advice of our attorney, James McCormick that the ballots sent to each owner would have a pre-stamped identification number and that the only eligible ballots that will be counted would contain that number. Also, only original ballots will be counted then they decided that faxed ballots with the pre-stamped identification number would be counted. The Board does not want a repeat of pre-marked ballots being used as occurred in previous elections. While confusing I believe the Board wants to insure that only eligible ballot be counted. 
D) COVERED PARKING
Mr. Barbaglia moved that the beams of the parking covers be painted to show the units in their vicinity so vistors would have an easier time finding units. The motion passed with the understanding that it would not happen until the buildings were reconditioned (painted or coated).

SCHEDULE NEXT MEETING
The next Board meeting will be the Annual Meeting and Election of Directors on Saturday, February 26, 2005, in the Clubhouse.

OWNER FORUM
Owners asked questions regarding the financial statements, if the Board had a policy on Reserves, if the Board had decided on painting rather than coating. Mr. Blum answered the question on the financial statements and also offered to meet with the owner to provide more details. Bobbie explained that the Board had recently placed all the funds in Wachovia Bank in Federal insured accounts. Mr. Lubin stated that "painting" was a euphemism used by the Board and suggested that they use recondition in the future. Hearing no more questions Mr. Lubin asked Bobbie to open the Candidates Forum. Each of the six candidates for the three positions on the Board were introduced alphabetically and given an opportunity to tell the owners why they were running for the Board.
Chuck Barbaglia (incumbent) an original owner stated that he originally ran because he felt we were in too many lawsuits and paying too many attorneys.
Gerald Carlin (incumbent) was not present but Bobbie read a prepared statement by Mr. Carlin explaining that his focus was on reducing the risks at Mesquite 
David Krupinski a relatively new owner stated that his negotiating skill learned in business would benefit the Association in developing and implementing contracts
Roger Lubin (incumbent) expressed satisfaction as the Board President in the accomplishments of the Board under his direction the past year.
Fran Scott the first woman since 1996 to run for the board expressed her desire to maintain the beauty of Mesquite and get the best bang for our buck.
Mike Torhan an owner scheduled to be a full time resident in the near future expressed his experience in building consensus and relationships as his main assets
The next Mesquito will contain statements from the candidates seeking your support. 
I apologize for the length of this report but as you can see a lot that goes on at the meeting and you are better served to be there. Ballots will be out shortly so MAKE SURE YOU VOTE or you lose your right to complain for the next year.