RANCHO MURIETA, CA (MPG) - The Rancho Murieta Association board spent much of its Jan. 20 meeting focused on access and enforcement issues, approving changes to gate-pass procedures, advancing barcode controls and tabling a proposed e-bike rule that directors agreed needed more work.

General Manager Rod Hart explained that the Compliance Committee is working on several barcode-related changes to improve traffic flow and safety. First, they will implement distinctly colored non-member barcodes for Rancho Murieta Country Club members, limiting their use to a direct route from the highway to the country club and helping staff identify when non-members are elsewhere in the community. They also plan to require the country club to post a deposit, which RMA can draw on to assess fines for road-rule violations by those non-member drivers, with the club then pursuing reimbursement from its members.

Hart added that they are discussing expanding the system to allow members’ permanent guests to receive their own different-colored barcodes, issued when a member signs for them. These guests would still be required to remain with the sponsoring member anywhere in the community, but the separate barcode would let them bypass long gate lines – especially during busy weekday or holiday periods – while still giving RMA better control and monitoring of who is in the community and where.

Hart described plans to manage holiday traffic backups at the North Gate by expanding the advance pass system currently used for July 4. For any future holidays when they expect large numbers of visitors, RMA will hand out visitor passes in advance, similar to the existing July 4 process.

The goal is to move vehicles through the gate more quickly, reduce long lines and prevent dangerous backups onto the highway in both directions. He presented this as a short-term solution for all high-visitor holidays, not just July 4.

The board briefly discussed the search for a new general manager. Director Scott Adams reported that the GM Search Committee met the previous Friday and will publish a job advertisement and begin recruiting candidates. The ad will run for at least 30 days, and possibly longer, to collect a solid pool of applicants before bringing candidates to the board.

Adams noted that  Hart’s last day will be May 1, and the goal is to get ahead of that date. He then moved to appoint Director Ernie Cowles as co-chair of the GM Search ad hoc committee. The motion was seconded, discussed briefly and approved, formally making Director Cowles co-chair of the search effort.

The e bike discussion centered on how Rancho Murieta should respond to rapidly changing laws and technology while addressing safety and resident concerns.

Director Scott Adams explained that the proposed e bike rule had been under development for months, had undergone public review and had generated dozens of comments. Its goals are to protect riders and residents, reduce collisions and manage the growing number of e bikes. He noted a new state law (AB 544) requiring rear red reflectors or lights to be used at all times and allowing citations for minors or their parents; he had updated the draft rule to comply with that requirement.

Acknowledging strong opinions on both sides, Adams said, “Whatever the decision is, some people aren’t going to be happy about it” and that the rule would likely be “an evolving situation.”

The board then worked through practical enforcement and access questions. Adams stressed that RMA could not enforce the rules alone and would need resident help: If people witness kids misusing e bikes, they will want to be involved, and he suggested it may be better to get a video of what is happening so compliance can follow up.

Compliance Supervisor Chris Smith cautioned that some residents are currently chasing kids on e bikes across bridges, roads, and paths – “residents are actually chasing the kids, and we don’t want that” – and agreed that photos or video, not pursuit, are the right way to support enforcement, especially since compliance already knows many of the riders.

They also examined where e bikes would be allowed under the draft rule. Scott read that e bikes would be permitted only on RMA paved and gravel roads and surfaces around the lakes, and on the cart path over the wooden bridge connecting North and South. This led to a broader discussion of unpaved and dirt roads and what RMA does and does not control.

Director Chris Childs emphasized that RMA does not own much, if any, of the dirt trails in the community and that, for example, the dirt roads around Calero are private property owned by others; RMA’s rules can only apply to what RMA owns.

Hart clarified that RMA owns most of the service road around Chesbro and the dirt trail on top of the dam, although not the land beyond the outside edge of that road. Because the draft rule explicitly allows e bikes on RMA paved and gravel roads but separately bans them from “dirt or rough surfaces,” a rider could legally continue on RMA owned paved or gravel segments yet would be in violation if they proceeded onto an RMA owned dirt portion, which is why Childs said such a rider would technically have to turn around.

Some directors questioned whether that approach to RMA owned dirt made sense, especially given the confusion between association owned roads and other dirt roads controlled by developers or private owners. Childs also noted that the draft’s earbud restriction may be stricter than California law, which allows a single earbud for drivers and motorcycle riders.

Recognizing that these issues – enforcement, resident involvement, paved/gravel vs. dirt access, and alignment with state law – were too complex to finalize on the spot,  Director John Van Doren moved to table the e bike rule until the next meeting, and the board agreed this would be taken up again at the Feb. 17 regular board meeting. Board President Pat O’Hern cautioned that “we can’t just table everything to talk about it again next month” and urged directors to carefully review the draft and send Adams specific wording changes and reasons in advance, saying that if they had a question or comment, they should contact him directly.

Adams agreed and committed to bringing back a color coded, annotated version of the rule showing any proposed edits side by side with the existing language. The board voted to table the rule, with the understanding that the e bike policy will be treated as a living document that will continue to evolve.

The board appointed community residents to the following board committees: Architectural Review, Compliance, Finance, Governing Documents, Maintenance and Recreation.

Director Van Doren reported the Architectural Review Committee had reviewed 239 projects in 2025.

Director Tom Reimers, who chairs the Compliance Committee, reported that RMA compliance issued 1,681 citations in 2025 compared to 133 issues by Rancho Murieta Community Service District security officers.

The board’s next meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 17.