For those of you who hadn’t heard yet, Community Associations Institute’s, California Legislative Action Committee (CAI-CLAC) is officially announcing the retirement of its long term lobbyist Skip Daum of Capitol Communications Group on September 30th. Skip had a well-deserved reputation for success when he and Capitol Communications Group began working for CAI-CLAC 24 years ago. He had interned for two lobbyists in Sacramento after 10 years in the US Air Force as an instructor navigator.  He has served us well since. Skip has been the voice of CAI-CLAC at the Capitol. He is the one that identified legislative threats and possibilities for the community association industry. He would then act as expert, co-strategist and advisor every year as the Committee discussed issues, legislation and goals. With Skip at our side, CAI-CLAC has seen many successes. Just in the last legislative session we achieved many of our goalsincluding:

• AB 1448 (LOPEZ) – PERSONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION – CLOTHESLINES

Due to Skip’s and CLAC’s efforts, community associations may restrict the use of clotheslines in front and side yards, and balconies. Associations may also prohibit drying clothes and towels on balconies, railings, awnings, and other parts of structures. Those rights would have been lost otherwise.

• AB 596 (DALY) – DISCLOSURE OF FHA AND VA CERTIFICATION

Because of CLAC’s and Skip’s work, condominium projects will be required to add only two additional pages to their annual budget report, instead of sending separate notice every time it is reasonable to expect a status change.

• AB 349 (GONZALEZ) – ARTIFICIAL TURF

Through its efforts CLAC retained the community association’s ability to require owners to obtain approval to install artificial turf if the governing documents provide for it.

• AB 786 (LEVINE) – FINES FOR FAILURE TO IRRIGATE IF RECYCLED WATER USED

CLAC sought and received amendments that allow community associations to insist owners who receive recycled water irrigate their landscape. Darren Bevan, CAI-CLAC Chair had this to say about Skip’s retirement, “We’re grateful for Skip’s fine work during the nearly 25 years he represented CLAC. We will miss his humor and knowledge about community associations.” During his time as our advocate, Skip says community association issues literally consumed 75% of his time thinking, writing, lobbying, public speaking, traveling and testifying on our behalf. His parting words of advice are “Preserve your commitment, continue to raise the awareness of CAI and CLAC among community association owners and the media, keep holding fundraisers, and (especially) grow your grassroots network — there’s strength in numbers.” Watch for information on Kahn, Soares and Conway, LLP (KSC) who has been engaged to handle CAI-CLAC’s continuing advocacy work.