Internal · CAM Operations Manual · v 01.2025

CAM Operations Manual

1202 E Park Avenue, Tallahassee, FL 32301 · cmgcam.com · v 01.2025

Section I — Introduction

Capital Association Management has been serving community associations since 2017. We embrace innovation and creative problem-solving while delivering strong leadership and guidance to help our clients navigate association operations with confidence. Our team is committed to collaboration, continuous improvement, and exceeding expectations to deliver meaningful value and results.

Section II — AppFolio: The Core of CAM

Please see the training modules to understand the ins and outs of AppFolio's Community Association Basics features. Click "Register" to track your progress. Some modules may help you now or in the near future. AppFolio's Help Center answers many questions and the Chat feature can help further.

AppFolio — Association Management Basics

Accounting — The Basics

Required within your first week. Click "Register" to track progress.

Section III — Succeeding as a CAM

CAM Success: Stay on Task, Stay Consistent, Stay Prepared

Successful CAM management is not about working harder at the last minute — it's about systems, consistency, and preparation. This checklist exists to remove guesswork, reduce errors, and protect both the manager and the association. When followed consistently it ensures compliance, professionalism, and smooth operations before, during, and after meetings and throughout the year.

The Formula for Success

Preparation is not optional — it is risk management.

Staying on Task: Follow the Process Every Time

If it isn't documented, uploaded, or calendared — it isn't done.

Being Consistent: Systems Protect You

Always Preparing: Never Last-Minute

Key reminder: This represents the bare minimum standard, not the ceiling. Use prior community examples as guidance, and never assume one association operates like another. Success as a CAM Manager is not accidental — it is systematic.

Google Workspace & Other Tools 📹 video

Google Drive is CAM's primary platform for storing, sharing, and collaborating on all documents, projects, images, and meeting materials. Cloud-based access ensures information is available anytime and reduces the risk of data loss. Accurate and consistent documentation in Google Drive is a required process; employee success at CAM is directly tied to using Drive as the central location for all work.

Google Calendar is the required scheduling tool for all CAM meetings and work activities. Consistent use is mandatory.

Important Things to Remember

Community Master Password Spreadsheet

One of the 14 Main Folders in your property drive is "How to, Guides and Passwords." It is imperative to have a central location for community information. Use ONLY the Passwords spreadsheet within the Passwords subfolder to store/add/edit all passwords. This file is only accessible to members it is shared with — do not share with anybody else.

Add product name, username, password, and a link to the log-in page. Do not leave passwords as loose notes on your desk.

Customer Service: Phone & Email Etiquette

Phone Etiquette

Professional phone etiquette creates a strong first impression, builds trust, and enhances customer satisfaction. Clear, courteous communication improves efficiency, supports effective problem resolution, and reinforces professionalism.

Email Etiquette

Use clear, concise subject lines that always identify the community. Maintain a professional tone with a polite greeting and closing, and organize content into clear, readable paragraphs. Proofread all emails (Grammarly recommended) and respect privacy by sharing sensitive information only when necessary. Respond promptly — same day when possible, and no later than 24 hours. Clearly label attachments and use CC/BCC appropriately. If action or a response is needed, state it clearly and set reminders for follow-up.

Section IV — Intro to Association Management

HOA vs. COA Overview

In Florida, Homeowners Associations (HOAs) and Condominium Associations (COAs) are both community associations, but they differ in property type, legal structure, and operational responsibilities. Always review governing documents, rules, and owner guidelines to support effective property operations.

Property Type

Legal Structure

Ownership & Maintenance

Governance

Both HOAs and COAs are governed by a Board of Directors elected by the owners — responsible for enforcing rules, approving budgets, and overseeing operations per the Association Documents.

Fees & Assessments

Owners pay mandatory assessments to fund operations, maintenance, and reserves. Fees may be annual, semi-annual, quarterly, or monthly. Additional income may include amenity or use fees.

Meetings: Requirements & Best Practices

Both HOAs and COAs must hold regular meetings to conduct association business. Refer to the Pre/During/Post Board Meeting Checklist.

Meeting Frequency

Meeting Preparation — CAM Standard

Notice Requirements

Quorum & Voting

Defined in governing documents. Voting may occur in person or by proxy as permitted. Quorum percentages vary. Keep a Google Doc / percentages reference in the Annual folder.

Executive (Closed) Sessions

Closed meetings between the Board and Legal Counsel. Notes may be taken for management reference only and are not published. Save in the Drive Meeting folder for internal purposes.

Section V — Board Members: Composition, Responsibilities, Education, Welcoming & Transition

Board Composition

Board structure varies by association size. Some members may hold multiple roles, or additional Board Members at Large may serve.

Fiduciary Responsibilities

Board members have a legal and ethical duty to act in the best interest of the Association:

Board Education Requirements

Condominium (COA) Directors

HOA Directors

All BOD members must also sign an affidavit confirming they have reviewed Association Documents. Management provides this via electronic signature.

Welcoming New Board Members

Templates for introductions, expectations, education requirements, BOD meeting frequency, and BOD AppFolio view live in the How To section. Use the Board Onboarding tracker for the affidavit + cert workflow.

Section VI — Manager's Report 📹 video

The Manager's Report serves as a vital tool for transparency, accountability, and effective management.

Is there a template?

Yes — the Managers Report Template lives in your property drive under "Manager's Report." Comments have been added so you can modify. Do not edit the template directly — create a copy and modify.

How often?

Who gets it?

The Manager's Report is sent to the BOD and Homeowners and saved under the appropriate Shared Documents folder. The BOD version includes supporting documents (delinquencies, violations, work orders) — homeowners receive the same report without the supporting docs.

Where to save

Section VII — How To's

How To: AppFolio Association Calendar 📹 video

Use the Association Calendar to create, track, and manage events: board meetings, social events, street sweepings, trash days, etc. Visibility can be toggled (internal staff, specific board, all homeowners).

How To: Association Amenities 📹 video

Amenities can be made public to the Homeowner's Online Portal with title, description, hours, fee, and photo. Read-only experience with a call to action linking to a third-party reservation platform or email. Managing reservations and applicable fees must be tracked manually. The Amenity Page lets you add gym/pool hours, golf cart registration, or set up reservation processes for clubhouses or event spaces.

Note: If a reservation process needs to be established, contact your supervisor. Manuals and processes are available to integrate reservation flow, ledger charges, and receivables.

How To: Page-per-Page

Page-per-Page is the 3rd-party vendor CAM uses (introduced by AppFolio). Page-per-Page is integrated with AppFolio for simple mail outs like statements; complex mailouts require logging in to Page-per-Page directly.

All staff use AppFolio & Page-per-Page for:

Use the saved AppFolio report titled "Page per Page Homeowner Layout" — it shaves 10–20 minutes from the Homeowner CSV upload vs. using "Access AppFolio API."

How To: Mailing Welcome Letters via Page-per-Page 📹 video

Procedure

  1. Locate the correct welcome letter template in the Drive ("New Owner Letter & DBPR FAQ's"). FAQs are updated by January 31 each year.
  2. Populate with homeowner name(s), property address, association name, manager contact info.
  3. Review for accuracy, spelling, completeness.
  4. Confirm the homeowner mailing address matches AppFolio.
  5. Verify correct association is selected.
  6. Initiate Page-per-Page mailing as a single complete welcome letter.
  7. Review preview: all pages included, formatting correct, address block aligned.
  8. Approve mailing for processing.
  9. Final compliance check: correct homeowner, address, association.
  10. Submit. Confirm queued/completed.
  11. Note the mailing date in the homeowner record. Retain a digital copy in AppFolio.
Compliance: Welcome letters are official association communications and must be accurate. Managers are responsible for ensuring FAQs are updated. If homeowner info is missing or unclear, pause and escalate.

How To: Reimburse an Owner (ACC, Amenity Rental Deposit, Social Expense)

  1. Set up Owner as a "Vendor" in AppFolio (People → Vendor → New Vendor). Fill in name, mailing address. Check "Do Not Use Vendor for Work Orders," uncheck "Send 1099." Reference: David Marshall.
  2. Enter a Bill with the amount to be reimbursed. ALWAYS attach a receipt. If approved by Treasurer or BOD, add a Note: "Reimbursement approved by Treasurer via Email on MM.DD.YYYY". Send approval through the homeowner payable, not the vendor payable.
  3. Issue Payment via Bill Pay. Bill Pay checks have a unique number starting with 3000000001. AppFolio mails the check.
  4. Void the vendor side payment after sending so financials don't show double payment. Click the check number → Void Payment → Void → reverse the bill.
  5. On the Homeowner side, copy the check number (starts with 3000000001), go to the Homeowner Payable, Pay Bill Now → Other Payment → Type CHECK + reference the check number. Save.

Refund recordkeeping

How To: Rentable Items

Rentable Items track amenities tenants/owners can rent: storage, parking spots, stables, kayaks, docks. Recurring charge auto-creates when assigned. Charges post on the 1st of the month. Mid-month assignments post overnight, dated the 1st. Use the Rentable Items report to track assignments and availability.

Setup: Property page → Tasks menu → New Rentable Item → Name, Amount, GL Account, Tenant (optional), Availability, Type (Garage/Parking → Vehicle Information report eligible), Description.

How To: Maintenance Tab — Work Orders, Inventory 📹 video

Use the Work Order index page to track and act on work orders. Improved filtering selects specific groups; bulk action functionality enables updates to multiple work orders at once. Save filters and dashboard metrics for frequent views.

Customize Reports to create work-order-status reports for the community. Use the Notes section after assigning to a CAM team member to communicate with maintenance.

How To (REQUIRED): Sharing Documents — Homeowners vs. BOD 📹 video

The list below is the minimum requirement per DBPR. The Drive houses everything first, then AppFolio.

Required Folders in Shared Documents

How To: Uploading Short and Long Financials to AppFolio 📹 video

When financials must be added

Every month once available — not annually, quarterly, or based on meeting frequency. If the association has a meeting before the 20th, financials are available one week prior to the meeting.

Where to get them

The official source is always the Drive Financials folder. Do not wait for emails — Kyle may occasionally email but never depend on it.

What is included

How To: Association Official Records Request Process & Documentation 📹 video

Owners have statutory rights to inspect records. Document every request with timestamp, response date, and items provided. Use the records request log.

How To: Recording Association Meetings (COAs & HOAs)

Meetings offered electronically must be recorded. Add the recording (or link) to the property's Owner Drive — connected automatically to AppFolio's Amenities section. Do not save Gemini auto-notes as recordings; they can be misconstrued as minutes.

How To: Sunbiz — Changing Information, Paying, Booking

Confirm Sunbiz accuracy immediately after elections (terms, board members, officer positions, mailing address, registered agent). Depending on turnover, Sunbiz may need to be amended rather than annually renewed. Annual renewal happens by April 30 each year.

How To: Annual Budget Season Process — July → Year End

Phase 1: Before Budget Season (Early July – August)

Review prior year actuals, identify line items needing adjustment, gather contract renewal data, audit reserves, prepare draft budget.

Phase 2: Workshops & Annual Meetings (September – November)

Budget workshops with the BOD, draft revisions, member input sessions, finalize for adoption at annual meeting.

Phase 3: Approval Notices & Reminders (October – December)

Send approval notices via Page-per-Page. Send reminders. Save approved budget to Drive (YYYY Annual Budget) and to AppFolio Shared Documents.

Phase 4: Budget & Dues Inputting — done by Accountant

Accountant enters approved budget into AppFolio. Adjusts dues schedule.

Phase 5: Communicate Payables & Bill Approval Workflow Changes

Notify any affected vendors of dues changes. Update bill approval workflows in AppFolio.

Phase 6: Process Discipline (Non-Negotiable)

Audit each phase complete on the calendar. Open the live phase tracker.

How To: Annual Members Meeting Season 📹 video

Set 90/60/30 calendar reminders. Send notices per HOA/COA statute timing. Track proxies via the proxy-count + sign-in sheet.

How To: Board of Directors Onboarding

Use the BOD onboarding tracker. Required artifacts:

  1. Welcome email with templates
  2. Affidavit (HOA or COA — see Section VIII)
  3. 4-hour certification course enrollment + certificate
  4. AppFolio Board Member access provisioning
  5. Drive access (BOD shared)
  6. Calendar invites for all meetings of the year

How To: AMEX Card & Amazon Purchasing Guidelines

Company AMEX is for business association purchases only. All AMEX purchases must be sent to Office Admin with GL coding & details confirmed. Amazon orders use the company account; never personal accounts.

How To: Vendor Onboarding & Required Documents

Required for every new vendor: W-9, COI listing the association as additional insured, business license, contract upload. Open the vendor onboarding tracker for COI expiration alerts.

How To: Trash, Recycling & Bulk Pickup Procedures

Maintain a calendar per association of pickup days. For trash chute properties (highrises), include trash chute do/don't reminders in the welcome packet. Bulk pickup arrangements vary by jurisdiction — coordinate with City of Tallahassee Solid Waste.

How To: Estoppels & New Owners

When an estoppel is issued, the new owner is automatically queued for onboarding. Use the welcome packet onboarding dashboard to send and track. Order an estoppel here.

How To: Reimburse an Owner with a Credit on Their Account After Receiving Estoppel

Follow the reimbursement procedure above. Reference the estoppel number in the bill notes.

How To: Booking Estoppel Income for Management

Income is booked to the management entity's books, not the association's books. Ensure GL account routing is correct.

How To: Booking Questionnaire Income

Same flow as estoppel income. Track per association in the income log.

How To: Delinquency & Collections

Notices: Emailing & Mailing

30-day, 45-day, and 60-day reminder notices. NOLA (Notice of Late Assessment) sent at 61+ days delinquent. Use the NOLA & Delinquency Calendar to add reminders.

Notice of Late Assessment (NOLA) 📹 video

The NOLA process (and earlier dues reminder notices) is completed by staff members. Managers refer to this for informational purposes. By the time an owner receives a NOLA they have already received several reminders giving them months to address the balance.

Example of NOLA cover letter

[NAME OF OWNER] · [UNIT ADDRESS] · [CITY, STATE, ZIP]

Dear Owner,

Please see enclosed Notice of Late Assessment. A Notice of Late Assessment is a formal notification sent to a property owner indicating that their payment for homeowner association dues or assessments is overdue. It serves as a final reminder that the account balance must be paid promptly to avoid further action.

Action Required: You have 30 days from the date of this letter to pay your balance in full. Failure to do so will result in your account being forwarded to collections with the Association's legal counsel, Anderson, Givens & Fredericks. Please ensure payment is made within this timeframe to avoid additional fees or legal consequences.

Payment Instructions: Payments should be made to the order of your Association.

  • MAIL: Check or money order for the full balance to your Association · PO BOX 3965 Tallahassee, FL 32315
  • ONLINE: Log on to your AppFolio owner portal and make an ACH payment (no convenience fee) or credit card payment (convenience fee applies)

If you need assistance gaining access to your account, please call (850) 544-2793.

Respectfully,
Capital Association Management

NOLA — what to do after the 30 days of being mailed out

If an owner has paid their balance:

If an owner has not paid their balance:

Send an email to the attorney's office with the following:

On the Owner Profile:

Action items during the collection process

Applying funds received from legal counsel

How long is the Collection Process?

It is a long process — which is why double-checking your work is paramount. Start to finish typically 90–180 days depending on owner response. Open the collections workflow.

Communicating removal from Collections

Once an owner is fully removed and Legal advises full payment with zero balance:

  1. Remove the "Collections — Anderson Givens" tag
  2. Remove Delinquency Notes so they don't reflect in future Delinquency reports
  3. Enable online Payments
  4. Un-click the "In Collections" box
  5. Update the Historical Collections Notes
  6. Email the owner through AppFolio with this template:

Subject: The Lakes: D01, Kennedy — Removal from Collections

Dear [NAME],

Please be advised the Association has received the final payment from Anderson & Givens which noted your account paid in full as of MONTH YYYY. Your AppFolio owner account has been enabled and you are able to resume your Association payments through your portal. A separate email was sent moments ago with a link to your owner account.

As a reminder, your Association dues are due on the 1st of each month/quarter. If you have any questions, please contact our office at XXX-XXX-XXXX, Monday–Friday 9 AM – 5 PM.

Thank you for your time and attention.
— Capital Association Management

How To: Standard Procedure for Violations

All violations are handled in accordance with the specific governing documents of each Association and applicable Florida Statutes (Chapter 720 for HOAs; Chapter 718 for Condominiums). Each community maintains its own Declaration, Bylaws, and Rules & Regulations — violation standards and enforcement procedures may differ between associations.

Violations must be enforced consistently and uniformly within each Association. Selective or inconsistent enforcement may impair the Association's legal position. All enforcement actions must align with the authority granted in the governing documents.

Identification & Documentation

Violations may be identified through homeowner complaints, board reports, vendor observations, or management inspections. Anonymous complaints should be independently verified before notice is issued.

Prior to issuing notice, management must:

All violations entered into the management system must include:

Notice & Enforcement Process

Unless otherwise required by governing documents, violations generally follow a stepped enforcement process:

  1. Courtesy Notice (if customary or required)
  2. Formal Violation Notice with cure deadline
  3. Intent to Fine / Hearing Notice (if applicable)
  4. Committee Review and determination

All notices must cite the specific governing document provision, clearly describe the violation, provide instructions for cure, and provide applicable deadlines. Owners are responsible for violations caused by tenants, occupants, or guests.

Violation classification

1. Continuing ViolationsContinuing violation → can be cured → can be fined.
Ongoing conditions correctable over time (landscaping, maintenance, trash). Must be provided written notice and reasonable opportunity to cure. Fines may be pursued only if violation remains uncorrected after the cure period and all statutory procedures are followed.
2. One-Time / Instant ViolationsInstant violation → already cured → cannot be fined.
Single-occurrence violations completed by the time noticed (bulk dumping, unauthorized actions). Fines may NOT be imposed because statutory due process requirements cannot be satisfied. Limited to documentation and warning.
3. Violations Corrected Prior to Notice
If corrected before notice is issued, the Association may not impose or collect a fine — statutory notice and hearing requirements cannot be met.
4. Self-Help Provisions
Where governing documents permit self-help: the Association must first provide notice and a defined cure period (e.g., 14 days). If the owner fails to cure within that period, the Association may perform corrective action and assess the cost. If corrective action is taken prior to notice, the Association may NOT assess the cost.

Fining Procedure Requirements

  1. Board approval of the proposed fine at a duly noticed meeting
  2. Notice to the owner of the fine and opportunity for hearing
  3. Hearing before an independent committee
  4. Committee approval of the fine
  5. Second notice and opportunity to cure
  6. Fine may not be imposed until at least 30 days after notice
  7. If the violation is cured prior to that period, the fine may not be imposed

Notice Delivery Requirements

Fines & Hearing Requirements

If authorized by governing documents, fines may be imposed per the adopted fine schedule. Before any fine or suspension:

Violation entries, notices, and tracking must be processed through AppFolio per company procedure. See the AppFolio Help Center article on issuing violations. Open the violations tracker.

Section VIII — References, Checklists, Forms

Condominium Board of Directors Affidavit Form

[Insert Name of CONDOMINIUM]
Department of Business and Professional Regulation · Division of Florida Condominiums, Timeshares, and Mobile Homes

I, ____________________________, certify that I have read the Association's Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, and current written policies and will work to uphold such documents and policies to the best of my ability and that I will faithfully discharge my fiduciary responsibility to the Association's members.

Signed: ______________________    Date: __________________

MANDATORY: Sign and submit to the Association within 90 days after election or appointment per Section 718.112, Florida Statutes. Each BOD Member must complete a 4-hour BOD certification class. After completion, every BOD member must complete at least 1 hour of education annually.

Homeowners' Board of Directors Affidavit Form

[Insert Name of HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION]
Department of Business and Professional Regulation

I, __________________________________________________ (Printed Name of Board Member), certify that I have read the association's declaration of covenants and restrictions, bylaws, articles of incorporation, and current written policies, that I will work to uphold such documents and policies to the best of my ability, and that I will faithfully discharge my fiduciary responsibility to the association's members.

Signed: ______________________    Date: __________________

Submit to the association within 90 days after being elected or appointed, or a director may submit a certificate of satisfactory completion of the educational curriculum administered by a division-approved homeowners' education provider, per Section 720.3033(1) of Chapter 720, Florida Statutes.

Treasurer Transition Process

Live tool: /admin/treasurer-transition. Summary:

1. Outgoing Treasurer

2. Incoming Treasurer

3. Management (CAM)

Pre-During-Post Board Meeting Checklist

Live tool: /admin/meeting-checklist. Full content also rendered there.

Monthly Managers Compliance Checklist

Live tool: /admin/monthly-compliance.

End / Beginning of Year Checklist

Live tool: /admin/eoy-checklist.

CAM Highrise Condominium Leak Response Protocol

Live emergency runbook: /admin/leak-response — role-tabbed for Front Desk · Maintenance · Manager.

Front Desk Procedure

  1. Send group text to Manager Group Text.
  2. Call the Manager directly to verbally inform.
  3. Wait for further instructions from the Manager unless urgent damage prevention is required.
  4. If safe and trained, turn off water to the affected unit or building.
  5. Assist Maintenance in shutting off water if safe.

On-Call Maintenance Procedure

  1. Respond to the property as soon as possible.
  2. Locate the source of the leak and stop it if possible.
  3. Report source and actions taken in the Manager Group Text.
  4. Walk all levels of the building to determine impacted units/floors.
  5. Take a few clear photos per impacted unit.
  6. Report findings to the Manager immediately.
  7. Upload photos to the work order when the Manager creates one.
  8. Wait on site until the 3rd-party water mitigation vendor arrives.
  9. Provide access to all affected units. Provide key to vendor if necessary.
  10. Instruct vendor to return keys at the "Front Desk After Hours Lock Box."
  11. Once vendor is on site and working, Maintenance may leave unless additional assistance is requested.

Manager Procedure

  1. Call an Approved 3rd-party water mitigation vendor: First On Site, ServePro, Extreme (case-by-case).
  2. Send community-wide notification noting how many floors/units are potentially impacted.
  3. Call affected unit owners — inform of leak, probable cause, steps being taken. Advise contact from vendor for access/authorization.
  4. Follow up with email summarizing the conversation, next steps, and expectations. CC all emails on unit profile.
  5. If owner doesn't respond, leave voicemail + email summary.
  6. Meet vendors on site or coordinate with Maintenance for access.
  7. Provide "Key Sign Out" sheet.
  8. Email + text Front Desk: vendor key sign-out, Drive location, manager contact.
  9. Create folder in shared drive under "Leaks" with correct naming format.
  10. Save all photos, reports, notifications, work orders, vendor invoices/communications.
  11. Send communication to the Board of Directors.
Key reminders for all staff: Safety first — do not enter unsafe areas or touch electrical fixtures near water. Photos and written notes are mandatory for all leaks. Managers are the primary point of contact for decisions and vendor dispatch. Always keep the Manager informed before independent actions. Clock in/out for emergency and after-hours work. Your community may have additional leak protocol — check your policies.

Non-Highrise Association Leak Response Protocol

Resident / Initial Reporter

On-Call Emergency

Manager

File Naming Standards

DocumentFormatExample
Meeting MinutesMM.DD.YYYY04.28.2026
Meeting PacketsYYYY.DD.MM Type2026.28.04 BOD Meeting Packet
Short FinancialsMM.YYYY Property SHORT Financials04.2026 Plaza Tower SHORT Financials
Long FinancialsMM.YYYY Property LONG Financials04.2026 Plaza Tower LONG Financials
Annual BudgetYYYY Annual Budget2026 Annual Budget
Financial AuditsMM.YYYY-MM.YYYY or YYYY Financial Audit2025 Financial Audit
TaxesYYYY Association Taxes2025 Association Taxes
ContractsMMDDYYYY – Contractor – Service01012021 – Smackdown Lawncare – Lawncare
BOD CertificatesLastName, FirstName, MMDDYYYY DBPR CertificateSmith, Jane, 04282026 DBPR Certificate
BOD AffidavitsLastName, FirstName AffidavitSmith, Jane Affidavit