RANCHO MURIETA, CA (MPG) - Two recent resignations and approval of the 2024/25 budget were notable agenda items when the Rancho Murieta Community Services District Board met on June 5, two weeks earlier than usual.

Another important topic discussed was the Integrated Water Master Plan, a study aimed at determining if the community will have enough water to meet future water needs.  For more details, see the separate story in this issue.

The directors also took in updates about problematic water bills, personnel changes, a return of Sheriff’s volunteers and a water quality report.

Resignations

Although the agenda included two resolutions recognizing Andrew Ramos, who has resigned as district counsel, and Michael Fritschi, who has resigned as operations manager, the board treated these resignations differently. 

Ramos, who was attending his last meeting, was praised by all five directors. The board also voted unanimously to approve a resolution recognizing his service to the district.

However, that wasn’t the case for Fritschi, who resigned effective May 30 and didn’t attend the meeting. Three directors, Tim Maybee, Randy Jenco and Martin Pohl, voted in favor of the resolution recognizing him but Director Stephen Booth voted “present” and Director Linda Butler abstained. They didn’t explain why. 

Instead of directly retaining Ramos for his legal services, the district contracted with his law firm Bartkiewicz, Kronich & Shanahan, where he was an attorney. After Ramos notified the district several months ago that he was resigning from his law firm to accept a position with the Yuba Water Agency, Ramos told the board that he would help recruit a qualified firm that specializes in public agency and water law. 

That happened at the June 5 meeting. The board approved a legal services agreement with the law firm Ramos recommended: Richards, Watson & Gershon. Attorney Patrick Enright will serve as the new general counsel.

Ramos became the district’s assistant counsel in 2013 and took over as district counsel in 2022 after attorney Dick Shanahan retired.

“I’m glad that you are moving on since it is for you and the family, but it is truly a loss to the community,” Maybee told him. “It’s truly a loss to the district and the community.”

Ramos said working in Rancho Murieta had posed many interesting issues. 

“I’ve really enjoyed dealing with your staff and working with the board and the community,” he said.

Fritschi notified the board of his resignation before he left for an already scheduled month-long vacation, although his resignation was kept quiet at his request. His last day was May 30, coinciding with the town hall meeting to update the community about the Integrated Water Master Plan. Despite assisting the two consultants with the study, Fritschi didn’t attend the town hall. 

General Manager Mimi Morris acknowledged Fritschi in her written report. She noted that since joining the district year three years earlier, he had made significant efforts to enhance understanding of the water system’s condition. 

Those efforts included recommending a drone analysis of the storage capacity of the Calero and Chesbro reservoirs and launching the water study with the consultants.

“We appreciate the contributions of Mr. Fritschi and wish him all the best,” Morris said.

Chief Plant Operator Travis Bohannon is interim director of operations during the recruitment process. Morris hopes to fill the position by Aug. 31.

Budget/Rates

In her general manager’s report, Morris said the district’s 2024/25 operating budget is about $100,000 lower than the 2023/24 fiscal year and doesn’t include any deficits like the previous year. 

She said a balanced budget will cover all operational costs, allowing the district to allocate all property tax revenues and other fees to reserves to pay for infrastructure repair and replacement. 

The new budget is also increasing the monthly rates. The average customer will see rates up 12%, translating to an additional $29.36 a month.

After the budget came up on the agenda, the board unanimously approved it without any discussion.

Water bills

Morris said district staff are addressing billing issues stemming from hundreds of improper meter readings over the last year. 

Part of the solution involves correcting the faulty communication between new billing software and outdated water meters by using actual water usage figures.

However, the corrections have meant some “unfortunate sticker shock” for some customers, she said. In those cases, customers have been advised what led to the problem and have been given payment options to spread out the underbilled amounts, preventing a dramatic one-time increase to their monthly bills.

In other business

• The board presented longevity awards to Mario Moreno, who has worked in the utilities department for 10 years, and to Rick Diaz, who has worked as a gate officer for 30 years.

• Morris reported that the district has hired two new part-time gate officers, who both live in the community. 

Recruitment also will begin soon for a fourth patrol position and to replace a utility worker who resigned to take a position with his former employer.

• She also reported that the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office is resuming its VIPS program (Volunteers in Partnership with the Sheriff) in Rancho Murieta, which was discontinued during the pandemic. 

The Sheriff’s service center, which will be housed inside the district’s main office,  was expected to open in several weeks.

• Morris reported that staff is continuing to do the clean-up required for the past due audits for 2021/2022 and 2022/23 and upcoming audit for 2023/24. 

The estimates to present the completed audits will be at the board meetings in October, January and April.