SFAA Trade Show September 17
SFAA’s 2007 boutique trade show will be held on Monday, September 17 at Fort Mason from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The theme this year is “Tropical Blast” and the trade show will feature a hint of the islands while covering all facets of the multifamily housing industry. The event will be preceded by free classes for members from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Visit our Education page for a class schedule. After the classes, the trade show will open to the general public, who can view booths from SFAA’s associate members.

To find out more about the trade show, email SFAA Education and Events Director Vanessa Khaleel at at vanessa@sfaa.org or call her at 415-255-2288.

NorthStar to Co-Sponsor Trophy Awards
SFAA is proud to announce that NorthStar Risk Management and CIBA Insurance Service, Inc. will be the co-sponsor for SFAA’s first-ever awards event: the SFAA Trophy Awards. The formal dinner event will be held at the Palace Hotel on November 29, 2007.

Though NorthStar is the exclusive co-sponsor, other sponsorship levels are still available. “Lombard” sponsorships are available for $500 and include a listing in the program directory, recognition in this magazine, event signage and two complementary tickets to the award ceremony. “Coit Tower” sponsorship is $1,500 and includes four tickets, a half-page ad in the directory and the same event signage and recognition in the magazine as the Lombard sponsorship. For $5,000–“Golden Gate” sponsorship–you are entitled to a full-page ad in the directory, a table at the event, major signage and recognition in the magazine and at www.sfaa.org.

McGoldrick Rekeying Legislation Passes
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a new ordinance requiring that all landlords rekey at least one of a unit’s inside locks upon tenant turnover. This law is now in effect. Supervisor Jake McGoldrick sponsored the legislation and claims that it is designed to increase safety and security in a city where tenants are often moving in and out of their apartments.

SFAA was very active in mitigating the effects of this new legislation, helping to craft clear, easily understandable language and lobbying to make the mandate applicable to one lock, rather than all locks on the unit. SFAA Executive Director Janan New points out that the new legislation shouldn’t be too onerous for most members because the organization has long recommended that owners rekey after a tenant moves out and many members have already made rekeying part of their turnover policy.

Attempt to Halt Water Rate Increase Fails
Homeowners’ groups fighting the San Francisco Public Utility Commission’s rate increase suffered a blow recently when a San Francisco Board of Supervisors committee failed to meet in time to pass a resolution rescinding the increase. Supervisor Michaela Alioto-Pier missed the meeting due to a scheduling mishap, which meant there were not enough supervisors present for a vote on the resolution. But Alioto-Pier had said that she did not support the resolution and would have tried to block it from going to the full board, had she attended the meeting.

The PUC’s rate increase is extremely unpopular with property owners, particularly its new tiered system, which penalizes single-family homeowners for using a lot of water by charging a higher fee after a certain amount of water is used. Homeowners’ groups supported the resolution, which would have required the PUC to go back to charging for water purely by volume, as it had before. This tiered structure does not affect multifamily or business users, who will pay a higher flat rate.

So far, the board has taken no steps toward creating a passthrough for these new higher rates, despite the fact that the PUC has already agreed to support a direct passthrough that would not require a San Francisco Rent Board petition to pass the fees on to tenants. The passthrough would cover 50% of the increased rates, or 70% in buildings with additional conservation amenities like low-flow fixtures. Unfortunately, the PUC can’t allow the passthrough without the approval of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. The board has until January 2008 to agree to the passthrough, otherwise SFAA will begin seeking signatures to put a measure on the ballot to rescind the increase entirely.

New Green Building Standards on the Way?
A task force convened by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom recently recommended mandating the strictest green building codes in the nation. Many cities, including San Francisco, already require a high level of environmental protections for municipal buildings, but the mayor’s task force goes a step further by suggesting that such high standards should be required for private developers as well. The new standards would require that private developers get LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification on all projects by 2008. It would also phase in stronger requirements over the next few years, such that by 2012, LEED Gold certification would be required.

Any new standards would have to be approved by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, some of whom are busy pushing their own green building initiatives. Board President Aaron Peskin has proposed an ordinance that would require all new or added construction over 20,000 square feet to comply with LEED Gold standards. Some exemptions would be granted in cases of hardship or in historic structures. Stay tuned as this proposed ordinance makes its way through the legislative process.

New CAA Insurance Program
CAA has announced the end of its State Fund Workers’ Compensation Program and the beginning of a new insurance program called the CAA Value Insurance Plan, which is designed to be more competitive than the previous program. The new program improves upon the old one by allowing members the possibility of reducing their rates by 20% or more, and covering properties outside of California. It also provides loss ratio discounts and loss prevention services. The Value Insurance Plan can cover not just workers’ comp, but also commercial property and liability insurance, among others.

The new program began in July so that members would have access to these new services before the State Fund contract expires at the end of this month.

CCRM for Fall
This fall’s California Certified Residential Manager courses start October 3, 2007, and will be held on Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Fort Mason. If you are a SFAA member, the entire nine-course series is $680; spots for nonmembers are $810.

CCRM October Classes Include:

• Preparing the Property for Market (10/3);
• Professional Leasing Skills and the Application Process (10/10);
• The Move-In Process, Rent Collection and Notices (10/17);
• Resident Issues and Ending the Tenancy (10/24); and
• Professional Skills for Supervisors (10/31).

To find out more about CCRM, email SFAA Education and Events Director Vanessa Khaleel at vanessa@sfaa.org or call her at 415-255-2288.