RANCHO MURIETA, CA (MPG) - The Rancho Murieta Association Board convened twice within two days earlier this month.

The first meeting, held on Dec. 10, was the regular monthly session. During this meeting, the board elected new officers, voted 5-1 to annex three lots, approved nearly $250,000 in equipment purchases, and received updates from General Manager Rod Hart and committee chairpersons. Additionally, the board addressed public comments, including statements from six residents advocating for the automation of Escuela Gate to facilitate evacuations. For more details about the gate, see the article on Page 1.

The second meeting, held on Dec. 12, was the 2024 Annual Meeting and Election of Officers. Originally scheduled for November, it was postponed a month due to insufficient ballots returned to meet the quorum requirement.

The board unanimously elected new officers within minutes at the first meeting, although the vote was only 6:0 since Director Renee Bechthold was unable to attend. The board elected Directors Pat O’Hern, president; Tom Reimers, vice president; John Van Doren, treasurer; and Chris Childs, secretary. 

The board also unanimously approved the appointment of chairs for various committees, with most assignments remaining unchanged. However, Van Doren will replace O’Hern on the Architectural Review Committee, and O’Hern will replace Director Danny Carrillo on the Maintenance Committee.

O’Hern addressed the board with a prepared statement. 

“I just want to thank the other directors for the trust and support they have given me by electing me to be the president,” he said.

He also acknowledged the contributions of his predecessor, Scott Adams, over the past two years. 

“His hours of research, devotion to excellence, and vision coupled with his extensive institutional knowledge of the community,” O’Hern said, “I am certain I will call on him for his valuable opinions.”

Under new business, General Manager Rod Hart requested approval to annex three lots that are part of the Residents of Murieta Hills East, currently under construction. The lots are located on Puerto Drive and are sandwiched between existing homes. Hart explained the annexation would help maintain the continuity of the neighborhood.

Director Danny Carrillo opposed the proposal. He said it would primarily benefit the developer and suggested that the association should get some “exactions” as a result.

Developer Bob Keil and audience member Tom Shewchuk were quick to dispute Carrillo’s assertions. Shewchuk argued that Keil was actually losing money with the annexation, as the three lots would no longer be part of his association.

Regarding the prospective buyers of the three lots, including himself, Shewchuk stated, “We want to be in RMA. We want to be like the other neighbors.”

The board ultimately voted 5-1 to approve the annexation, with Carrillo dissenting.

In other action, the board approved nearly a quarter million dollars in equipment expenditures, which were almost completely covered by reserves.

The largest expense was $130,000 for a new street sweeper. Carrillo questioned whether leasing or contracting the service would be more cost-effective. After assurances that purchasing was the most economical option, the board voted unanimously, 6-0, to approve the purchase.

The board also approved $83,547 for two zero-turn mowers, exceeding the reserve allocation by approximately $4,000.

Finance Manager Colleen Hagyard received unanimous approval to spend $8,141 from reserves to upgrade the association’s NEC phone system, extending its lifespan until 2030. She noted that replacing the system now would cost $40,000.

General Manager Rod Hart reported that he was monitoring the Rancho Murieta Community Services District’s (CSD) plan to increase barcode fees. The CSD Board had initially approved raising the fee for a new car barcode from $10 to $25 and introducing a $10 annual renewal fee. Additionally, the CSD aims to establish a system for issuing barcodes to contractors and vendors, but this will require a mutual agreement with the RMA.

There was also consensus that the Communications Com-

mittee should begin informing residents about Greenfield Communications’ plan to discontinue the ranchomurieta.org email service in March.

Hart also provided a report on behalf of the Recreation Committee, chaired by Director Bechthold. He praised the committee and Bechthold for organizing another successful Christmas Tree Lighting event on Nov. 29.

Hart also outlined changes to this year’s annual holiday lighting contest. Due to the board moving its December meeting up by a week, prizes couldn’t be awarded at the meeting because judging was still underway.

Once judging is complete, Hart said, lawn signs will be delivered to the 50 winners, and the $50 gift certificates will be mailed. He noted that the staff encountered difficulties obtaining Visa gift cards this year “because they think we are money laundering,” so they opted to purchase Bel Air gift cards instead.

Shewchuk also spoke during public comments. He said he would like to see the formation of an inter-agency water committee involving CSD, RMA, and the Rancho Murieta Country Club.

At the delayed annual meeting on Dec. 12, Director of Inspections Jim Moore announced that a quorum of 20% — or 465 votes — had been reached. He also confirmed that incumbents Thomas Reimers and John Van Doren were re-elected to second terms.

The original November annual meeting could not proceed because it required a quorum of 931 members returning their ballots, but only 717 were submitted. However, a recent state law allowed the board to reschedule the meeting within 20 days, requiring only a 20% quorum for the second attempt.

As is tradition at the annual meetings, Hart used his woodworking skills on beautifully crafted awards to recognize board members at the end of their terms. O’Hern presented those awards to Reimers and Van Doren. Additionally, he presented Adams with a different award for his two-year tenure as board president.

O’Hern also introduced a new tradition by presenting Adams with a commemorative brick acknowledging his service. The brick will be installed at the Legacy Brick Patio in front of the pickleball court at Stonehouse Park. Hart said he plans to compile a list of past honorees to ensure they also receive commemorative bricks.

The board next meets at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 21.