RANCHO MURIETA, CA (MPG) - A long-unresolved proposal to build a trail through a wooded area of the Residences East and West subdivision surfaced again at the Rancho Murieta Association Board meeting on July 16.

Another notable topic was General Manager Rod Hart’s report on the July 4 events. He credited the Maintenance Department staff for ensuring the fireworks show proceeded as planned and expressed gratitude to the Sacramento Sheriff’s Office for keeping the community safe.

In other business, the board adopted a new communication policy that will result in the creation of a Facebook page to better inform the community and implemented a new rule designating no-parking areas behind the gates. The board also approved a “Battle of the Bay” baseball trip organized by the Recreation Committee.

Trail

The construction of a pedestrian and bike trail that would connect Puerto Drive to Escuela Drive through the Residences East and West had been under discussion for many months, with developer Bob Keil on one side initially proposing a 6-foot natural surface trail while the board required a Class 1 paved trail that was 12 feet wide with shoulders.

The last public discussion of the issue, which at times became contentious, took place at the May 2 meeting of the Parks Committee. This committee comprises two representatives each from the Rancho Murieta Association (RMA) and the development community, with one representative from the Rancho Murieta Community Services District acting as a tie-breaker.

During the Parks meeting, Board President Scott Adams and Keil announced they had reached a trail agreement for Unit 1 of the subdivision with 68 lots in a non-wooded area. The agreement arose after the Community Services District advised it had to build a 10-foot paved road to access the sewers in the subdivision. Keil agreed to relocate his proposed nature surface trail to the access road, and to pave it. Rancho Murieta Association agreed, although it was only 10 feet wide.

However, in Unit 2, the sewer road could provide only a partial compromise. Although Keil shortened the trail to reach the Community Services District road, it still left 1,400 feet passing through a wooded area. Keil argued that building a 12-foot paved trail would cause significant damage to numerous trees and would be very costly due to the required removals.

Adams continued to advocate for a 12-foot paved trail, noting that Keil had known about the Rancho Murieta Association requirement from the beginning. After an extensive back-and-forth discussion, the Parks meeting ended without any resolution on the Unit 2 trail.

At the July meeting, Hart informed the board that Keil had updated his Unit 2 map. Keil proposed installing a graded 8-foot-wide natural trail and offered to deposit $50,000 into an account for the Rancho Murieta Association to pave the trail later. However, if the Rancho Murieta Association did not pave the trail within five years, Keil requested that the money be returned to him. Hart suggested that if the directors agreed with this proposal, they should vote to forward Keil’s request to the Parks Committee.

During the discussion, Hart seemed to express a preference for the idea of an 8-foot trail if the Rancho Murieta Association paved it, noting that it wouldn’t require the removal of any trees. He explained that the association doesn’t face the same Sacramento County tree restrictions as the developer. However, he cautioned that widening the trail to 10 feet could damage the drip lines of the trees.

Hart told the board he had asked a paving contractor that has done considerable work in the community for a bid to compare to Keil’s estimate for $50,000, but he hadn’t heard back as of the meeting.

Several directors said they didn’t like the requirement to refund the $50,000 in five years if the trail weren’t paved because of many potential uncertainties. Keil said he was open to another trigger.

In the end, Adams said he would schedule a special meeting after Hart obtained his paving estimate. As of press time, that meeting hadn’t been scheduled.  

After the meeting, Adams told the River Valley Times that the trail was still under discussion. “It is going to be up to the board whether they want to agree to 10 feet wide, 8 feet or 12 feet,” he said.

July 4

Hart began his general manager’s report by explaining the impact of the heat wave on the fireworks show. 

“For the first time in my tenure here, the Pyro (Spectaculars) technician showed up and informed our maintenance managers that none of his contract workers were willing to work in the heat,” Hart said. “So, he was there by himself when he normally would have had a crew of 10 working from morning to night.”

Hart reported that Maintenance Manager Troy Schaffner deployed four staff members to get trained on the wiring at 10 a.m., and they continued working in the extreme heat that was exacerbated by fireproof material on the dock until the fireworks show began at 9:30 p.m.

“So kudos to our maintenance guys,” Hart said. “We wouldn’t have had a fireworks show if they hadn’t been willing to go out there.”

Hart also apologized to the community for the late elimination of the safety zone barricade for the fireworks show. 

“For the first time ever, nobody could get to the dance floor (at the gazebo) with the DJ music having a good time until the fireworks show,” he said.

Director Danny Carillo asked if Pyro Spectaculars would provide a partial refund. Hart said that was still under discussion. The company wanted to credit a refund against next year’s contract, but Hart is thinking about this year’s contract.

Hart also described the security for this year’s event as amazing. It was comprised of California Highway Patrol officers at the gates, sheriff’s deputies inside the gate along with a new security company that worked out better than any firm before. He said that two of the deputies actually worked both the morning and night shifts.

Hart said that having a show of force was helpful when dealing with teenagers at North Beach. “We didn’t get any talkback. Everyone was saying ‘Yes, sir,’ he said. “It ended really well. We were able to control that environment, keeping it a nice family event.”

Last year, a group of teenagers, many of them drinking, assembled outside the gazebo before the fireworks show. One set off an illegal firework that caused minor injuries to seven people, including children.

In Other Business:

Hart reminded the community that it was illegal to turn left or right on Jackson Highway when driving a golf cart. Most are turning left as a shortcut to get to Starbucks. 

Hart emphasized that being able to cross the highway is a privilege “that could be taken away from us much faster than you know.”

The board approved holding the annual meeting on Nov. 21, appointed Director Patrick O’Hern as the chair of the nominating committee and appointed Jim Moore as the elections supervisor.

A revised communications policy was approved that will result in a new Facebook page. Director Danny Carillo said its sole purpose would be to provide basic information to draw residents to the association’s website.

Director Renee Bechthold received approval for the Recreation Committee to sponsor an Aug. 18 bus trip to watch the “Battle of the Bay” between the Oakland A’s and the Giants. Because of ticket price concessions and sponsorships from Summerfest and Kiwanis, the committee will sell the tickets for only $50.

The board also approved a new rule specifying no-parking areas, after making some minor changes based on community suggestions.

The board’s next regular meeting will be on Aug. 20.