10/29/09, 8:00 A.M.

Pursuant to the e-mail notification dated October 19, 2009, the October 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: Chris Erdley, Bill Charcut, Lee Harris, Rick Oddo, Dennis Watts, Ralph Lewis, Scott Buescher, Ryan Huffman, Jason Charcut, and Jim Bowers. Also present were Stacee Cohn and Sam Alpert. (Doug Price, Jerry Miller, Lenora Carpenter and Ken Riedemann were absent.)

Chris Erdley convened and presided over the meeting.

The minutes of the September 24th meeting were reviewed and approved by those present.

KCMO TRASH REBATE-  Jim Bowers and Sam Alpert reported that there is still a trash rebate ordinance pending before the KCMO Finance & Audit (F&A) Committee that would terminate the program at the end of April, 2010. As reported previously, the City Attorney recently indicated there may be a possibility of a settlement agreement with the HAA, which would continue the rebate program in its current form. However, to date, nothing further had transpired, and it appears likely that the matter before the City Council will continue to be deferred, pending a preliminary early 2010 budget recommendation.

NORTH KANSAS CITY, MO TRASH SERVICE- Sam Alpert reported that NKC staff had rebuffed a number of attempts at meeting to air concerns of “large” apartment complex owners regarding the city’s stated intent to terminate their regular municipal trash collection service. Regardless of legal concerns the HAA has put on record through public testimony, it appears that city officials believe they have the ability to proceed to terminate the program without consequence.

2010 CENSUS- Sam Alpert reported that he had been contacted by KCMO Mayor Funkhouser’s office requesting that the HAA take an active role in encouraging renters to accurately respond to 2010 census questionnaires. Accuracy of this collected data is essential to assuring a fair allocation of federal resources to the region. It is generally accepted that rental housing operators should be supportive of this activity, but there are clearly limits with respect to our authority and freedom to directly influence this process.

CANDIDATE IDENTIFICATION & QUALIFICATION- Lee Harris suggested that the HAA undertake drafting an “organization platform” which is based on three to five basic principles that define our goals and objectives. General agreement with this “platform” would be a first qualifier for any candidate seeking HAA backing. A committee comprised of Lee Harris, Chris Erdley, Scott Buescher, Ralph Lewis, and Sam Alpert will convene to develop this approach and begin to actively seek out potential candidates. A candidate vetting process should commence early in 2010. It was determined that HAA’s primary focus in this regard should be to identify candidates for public office in KCMO, Johnson County, key local Kansas and Missouri districts (for state office), Leawood, Lenexa, and Mission. Simultaneously, HAA will undertake efforts to reintroduce Kansas legislation that would attempt to reign in arbitrary taxation and user fees; unreasonable and regressive development and zoning regulation; and would require local municipalities to properly justify selective cost impositions before such measures are officially adopted.

2010 HAA PROJECTED OPERATING BUDGET- Sam Alpert distributed the 2010 Projected Operating Budget to be reviewed for final approval at the year end meeting on December 3, 2009.

JOHNSON COUNTY WASTEWATER RATE STUDY- Sam Alpert requested that HAA members contact John O’Neil at JCW voicing specific concerns regarding underlying economic conditions that should be considered as part of a rate study RFP .

NEW BUSINESS- There was continued discussion regarding the need to expand the base of financial support for the HAA, especially in light of the substantial and disproportionate benefit from HAA activity derived by owners at large who are not currently affiliated.

Ralph Lewis had previously reported that due to funding shortfalls the Circuit Court of Jackson County had to step back from the provision to institute a high volume tenant / landlord docket. Subsequently, it now appears the many tenant / landlord cases will be heard on a random basis by a number of judges traveling the state.

Jim Bowers announced that on Friday, Oct. 30th his firm would be presenting a Development Code Seminar on KCMO’s new Zoning and Development Code, to which all HAA participants were invited.

Sam Alpert reported that the National Institute of Building Sciences has raised concerns regarding numerous building performance certification programs. Further, some building codes officials are concerned that the general regulatory process is coming too much under the influence of various fire services throughout the country.

Dennis Watts and Scott Buescher announced a Nov. 4th AAKC / HAA legislative fund raiser. Those present were urged to get the word out for the wine tasting event.

The next regularly scheduled HAA Board of Directors meeting will be held on Thursday, December 3rd, 2009.

There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at approximately 9:30 a.m.