Those Summer Nights...

Seabridge from Trinidad Bridge, July 5, 2007

How's the Water?

If you didn't feel it already, the 4th of July holiday should tell you that summer is in full swing. We live in a terrific location, especially when it comes to enjoying the water. The harbor is literally in our backyards. We fish in it, sail on it, kayak on it - some Seabridge stalwarts even swim in it.

So you may wonder from time to time: just how clean is the water? Contrary to what you might think, our harbor usually gets excellent grades. Heal The Bay, an organization that looks after the quality of Southern California coastal waters, publishes a weekly beach report card that includes two of our local beaches, the Mothers' Beach at Seabridge Park, and the small beach just over the bridge on Trinidad Island. You can check out the current report card here. Both beaches usually get an A+ rating during dry conditions.

Of course, when it rains, we're the end of the line for all the junk that enters the storm drains and flows down the channels into our harbor. It's not just all the garbage you can see by the docks; it's also higher levels of other waste and bacteria. At those times, it's a good idea to stay out of the water for at least 3 days after the rain and to monitor the conditions closely.

4th of July - Surf City Style

If there's one holiday Huntington Beach truly celebrates in style, it's the 4th of July. Our parade is billed as the largest one west of the Mississippi, and as I stood at the corner of Utica and Main for 2 hours this morning, I believed that claim!

We had a group of hearty Seabridge residents leave the complex before 8 and bike to the Park Bench Cafe in Central Park for breakfast. From there, we rode down to Main Street to enjoy the parade and then enjoyed the Pacific Ocean as we biked back along the beach.

My evening was capped off viewing the fireworks from our own Huntington Beach and neighboring cities. Happy Independence Day!

Special Board Meeting - July 3, 2007

Registered homeowners may click here for story.

Update: The Edinger Landscape Project

As I have driven to work these past few days, I've noticed that the sign on Edinger across from Saybrook had some updates. Today I finally remembered to stop, and while they were all out of flyers, your cub reporter copied down all the information.

We all drive by the "mudflats" daily. Imagine what a "grand entrance" we'll have to our community if that is improved and planted nicely. This is a very worthwhile effort for us all to support. Here's the information from the flyer:

Sea Isle Garden Club Edinger Street Landscape Project - A Cooperative Effort of the City of Huntington Beach and Members of the Community Our Garden Club Meeting on September 12, 2007 will have actual samples of the plants budgeted in the city's landscape design. We plan to plant these samples on the ground for you to see. Curbs have already been budgeted by the city. Getting grant money is a focus for this year. Ways you can help: Make a donation of your time when we plant a section in October 2007 Join our Garden Club and find out how we are pushing the project forward Get on our mailing list for updates. Our next community forum will be October 24, 2007 Provide us with information on other resources which may further our project Contact Caron Mount, Sea Isle Garden Club President, 714-377-8522

Tuesday's Meeting Is Now at 4PM

This just into our newsroom: the notice for Tuesday's meeting now states that it will be held at 4PM. I will provide additional information should it become available.

In the Spotlight: Meeting and Notice Requirements

From time to time, I intend to focus on some aspect of Common Interest Development living that might interest Seabridge homeowners. When I was on the board, I found the Condominium Bluebook, published by Piedmont Press, to be extremely useful. If each current board member doesn't have a copy, I highly recommend it. And while I will use this space to highlight important items from it, I would also recommend the book to any homeowner. This column is no substitute for the wealth of knowledge that this book keeps collected, current, and organized. Both the board and the homeowners have responsibilities to ensure that the community runs well. For many laws affecting our community, you can also go straight to the source: sections of the California Civil Code, also known as the Davis-Stirling Act. Many of these points are from section 1363.05.

There are several kinds of meetings that occur here at Seabridge. Every June, we have a membership meeting. That's when each of us as homeowners have the opportunity to vote on matters, including the election of board members and the determination on what to do with excess operating funds.

The rest of the year, most meetings consist of regular meetings of the board of directors. While these are open to the homeowners, we do not have the opportunity to vote since these are not meetings of the membership, just the board of directors. We do, however, have the opportunity to speak in open forum.

The board is also allowed to take certain discussions into executive session. By law, the discussion that may take place is limited to consideration of litigation, matters related to the formation of contracts with third parties, member discipline, personnel matters, or to meet with a member subject to discipline, if the member requests it. The matters discussed must be generally noted in the minutes of next meeting open to homeowners following that session.

Meetings of the board are required to be announced to homeowners 4 days prior to the meeting. The notice should be posted in a prominent place or places in the common area. In the past, a posting on the clubhouse has been common. Seabridge Board meetings occur on the third Tuesday of each month at 7PM, and that has been announced regularly in the newsletter distributed to all residents. I'm no lawyer, but I suspect that this adequately announces those meetings. It never, hurts, however, to over-communicate, and perhaps the board can also employ the website.

Did you Know? Civil Code 1363.05(g) says that "...Notice shall be given by posting the notice in a prominent place or places within the common area and by mail to any owner who had requested notification of board meeting by mail, at the address requested by the owner." The last part certainly seems aimed at reducing confusion as to when meetings take place, and I think I'll request it myself.

Emergency meetings may be called if there are circumstances that could not have been reasonably foreseen which require immediate attention and possible action by the board, and which make it impracticable to provide notice.

Each type of meeting has its purpose and will be appropriate for certain situations. I believe that the test for what should not be covered in a regular board meeting should not be made loosely. That may lead to a longer meeting - believe me, I know from experience! - but also leads to the most trust in the board and its actions.

As with any other posting on the site, the information provided only reflects my understanding. The best thing to do is go straight to the source and learn for yourself! I hope this has helped you get started.