09/28/06, 8:00 A.M.

Pursuant to the e-mail notification dated September 19, 2006, the September Heartland Apartment Association Board of Directors meeting was held at the above stated date and time at the HAA offices, 2405 Grand, Suite 106, Kansas City, MO 64108.

Board members present were: Doug Price, Chris Erdley, Rick Oddo, Bill Charcut, Scott Buescher, and Jim Adams. Also present were Charlotte O'Hara and Sam Alpert. (Jerry Miller, Lee Harris, Ken Riedemann, Ward Katz, Ralph Lewis, Dennis Watts, and Jim Bowers were absent.)

Doug Price convened the meeting and introductions were made.

Charlotte O'Hara, candidate for Johnson County Chair, made a presentation on her background and qualifications. Those present raised several issues of concern regarding JOCO Wastewater, WaterOne, taxation, and general fiscal accountability. After requesting the HAA's endorsement and financial support for her campaign, at approximately 9:20 a.m. Ms. O'Hara departed the meeting. Directly following her departure those present voted unanimously to endorse the candidate and to recommend to the HAPAC that a contribution of $500.00 be made to her campaign..

The minutes of the last meeting on 08/31/06, which had been previously circulated, were reviewed and approved by those present.

MISSION, KS RENTAL UNIT LICENSE & INSPECTIONS-
As anticipated at the August meeting, in early September a staff recommendation for an extensive rental unit regulatory measure went before the Mission City Council for consideration. In this instance the city staff was (and still is) recommending annual licensing fees of up to $50.00 per unit plus periodic unit inspections of units (every 3-5 years) at a cost of up to $145.00 per inspection and then another $75.00 for re-inspections. In the 11th hour the HAA was able to mobilize owners to testify in opposition, while simultaneously providing a legal rebuke to over-reaching staff recommendations regarding the city's rights to enter private rental units without the resident's express permission. Instead of acting on the recommendation at what was scheduled to be a final public hearing on the issue, the City Council voted unanimously to send the matter back to committee for further review. Should the city choose to proceed in a manner similar to the staff recommendation, it will be necessary to formalize our collective legal objections, which could result in a yet to be determined protracted action at some significant cost. Our most cost-effective strategy will be to remain closely engaged with the city until the matter is resolved to the point that our available options become clear.

PENDING LITIGATION - Sam Alpert reported both the KCMO Fire Inspection Fees and Business License cases are proceeding through the courts. HAA is anticipating that these cases could be docketed simultaneously. The fire inspection case will probably be heard in the MO. Court of Appeals sometime before the year's end. We aren't sure about the timing of the KCMO business license trials, as three separate cases in Jackson County Circuit Court could easily be consolidated into one. Again , it could be that this matter will be taken up by the Court by the end of December.

NOVEMBER 7TH ELECTION - Sam Alpert reported the best chance of successfully opposing the November 7th ballot issue on KCMO fire inspections will be to get out the grass roots vote through the business community and apartment residents. The exact ballot question number or position on the ballot form would not be known until 3 weeks prior to the election. In the absence of an expensive media campaign designed to educate the general public on the issue, it will be difficult to get the general voting public to empathize with our position.

KCMO RENTAL UNIT REGULATION - Sam Alpert reported that Wayne Cauthen is scheduled to present recommendations to the City Council Business Session on October 5th regarding an improved codes compliance program.

LENEXA RENTAL UNIT REGULATION - Sam Alpert reported that Lenexa in now in the process of evaluating the need for additional rental unit regulation based on a study very similar to the one conducted in Mission. Rick Oddo said he would approach the city administrators, voicing his concerns over proceeding with a pending project in light of this consideration.

MARC SEVERE STORM PROTECTION MODEL ORDINANCE ("SAFE ROOMS") - Sam Alpert reported that he had been invited by MARC to attend a meeting on October 12th to discuss the objectives of a metro-wide model ordinance on "safe rooms"

2007 MEMBERSHIP DUES & SPECIAL FUNDING REQUIREMENTS-
Sam Alpert reported that the 2007 membership dues invoices had all gone out and that some additional ear-marked legal defense contributions had been received. It will be a function of how much money in special contributions are received to determine how much discretionary spending in the way of political contributions can be facilitated. There was discussion as to how best to obtain more vendor financial support. Meanwhile, Chris Erdley, Bill Charcut, and Sam Alpert were scheduled to meet with the KCRAR Commercial Division Board on October 4th to determine if and how we can leverage some additional support (financial and political).

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the HAA Board of Directors will be October 26, 2006.

There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at approximately 9:45 a.m.