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Monday's Internet Edition, March 15, 2010.
Concerns about gate plans arise at RMA meeting
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Photo by Sheri Barile
The Rancho Murieta Association Board of Directors meets on Feb. 16 to discuss plans for new and renovated gates in RM North. Shown (from left) are directors Vicky Lentz, Dick Cox, Candice Koropp, Jim Moore, Randy Jenco, Andy Keyes and Roy Harmon.
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By Sheri Barile
River Valley Times Reporter
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Debate over proposed plans for a new gate on Escuela Drive in Rancho Murieta and rehabilitation of the RM North gate generated heat between some board members and staff at the Rancho Murieta Association Board of Directors meeting on Feb. 16.
At issue in the installation of a new Escuela gate is a year-end deadline for release of $75,000 in funds available through the Pension Trust Fund (PTF) of the Operating Engineers.
In his report to the board, General Manager Nick Arther outlined proposed plans prepared for PTF asset manager McMorgan & Co. The plans call for manually operated wrought iron gates to replace the existing chain link as well as completion of paving on Escuela Drive. The primary purpose of such a gate would be for egress during large events such as Fourth of July festivities.
Director Vicky Lentz pointed out that the RMA Mutual Benefits Agreement (MBA) with the Operating Engineers requires a building permit for a vehicle and pedestrian gate facility. “This is not a gate facility,” Lentz said of the plans. “We’re just spending money spinning our wheels and wasting time. I just can’t imagine you would possibly think we’d get $75,000 for an existing gate. It’s already there – chain link.”
Moore reminded the board that the plans call for ornamental wrought iron gates. However, Director Dick Cox took issue with the concept of a manually operated gate on Escuela. “I’ve always wanted a functional passive gate out there,” he said. “That’s been the concept for the last six years, and now all of the sudden we’re not going to have one.”
Arther explained that there are big obstacles to overcome in order to install a passive gate with barcode readers. “We originally started down that road of a passive gate,” he said. “But we can’t use it for ingress-egress without $2 million of fix on Stonehouse Road.”
Director Randy Jenco agreed. “It’s my opinion - and the Maintenance Committee agreed with me - that there’s no way the county is going to allow you constant in and out of that gate without getting rid of the hills on both sides, increasing the site distance and possibly putting in a left turn block,” he said.
Cox asserted that this was an assumption, and that if the county required mitigation on Stonehouse Road, he would like to see it in writing.
President Jim Moore warned the board that the deadline for PTF funds is looming. “To get a written agreement from the county, I think we would have to give them a formal request,” he said. “Hopefully, the clock won’t run out on us by then because the county has no clock. It would seem to me (it would) be prudent to go ahead with these plans, and at some time in the future we can modify this gate.”
After the board and staff agreed to submit the plans to McMorgan, while seeking answers from the county about permits and fixes to Stonehouse Road, the discussion moved to the North Gate. It became contentious when Arther said that the plans being sent to McMorgan & Company would satisfy their questions about the renovation, and Lentz disagreed. “From looking at this list, I can’t tell what’s new and what’s upgraded,” Lentz said. “And I can’t see what possible cost is being incurred by RMA.”
There is $1.4 million in funding available through the PTF for this project.
Moore settled the matter temporarily by reminding the board that these plans represent a starting point to get the process going. “We want to get the ball back in their court,’ he said. “This is a negotiation, and we’ll go back and forth more than once.”
In other business, the board approved plans to rehab the RMA building at a cost of $70,000. The list of planned improvements includes removing the boardroom archway, renovating the entryway, renovating kitchen and bathrooms, installing new lighting and flooring and adding an exterior deck and courtyard.
The board also approved the purchase of a new laser technology radar gun for monitoring vehicle speed in the community. The new radar gun costs $2,324.
A new phone system was recommended to the board for its approval at a cost not to exceed $25,000. Once the system is installed, Arther said it would generate a projected annual savings of $4,000 over the old system. The board approved it unanimously.
In addition, the board approved a contract for a new music channel on the enhanced basic RMA cable TV package.
The directors also voted to send new rules regarding the granting of exclusive use back to the Architectural Review Committee for further review.
Updates were provided to the board regarding the status of plans for a new community center and for upgrading the cable TV system.
The next meeting of the RMA board of directors will be held March 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the RMA building.
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