A discussion regarding the establishment of rate increases for use of Rossmoor’s various venues also provided an opportunity for directors to express concern over internal strife between Rossmoor’s leading entities.
While the Rossmoor Community Services District has some governmental powers over the unincorporated community of approximately 10,000 people, the Rossmoor Homeowners Association has a pipeline into every home and has an agenda of its own.
While directors did not say what the internal strife was about, the subject broke into the open during a discussion of pending rate increases and the potential for waiving some fees for nonprofits and organizations like RHA, which perform valuable services.
Director Mark Nitikman said whatever the board decides it is “I do not want retaliation” from RHA, saying he was concerned about the “rhetoric” between the two groups in the last few months.
“I wish we could tone it down a few notches,” he said, noting that the RCSD and RHA “needs to work together whenever possible.”
The issue emerged during a discussion of the pending rate increases and whether RHA could be given a “waiver” on some fees as it apparently has been given in the past.
General Manger Joe Mendoza said while there have been “handshake” deals in the past, there is no formal policy and “we need to treat everyone consistently.”
The RCSD is raising rates on tennis courts, venue rentals, etc., albeit slightly, and they discussed not having a formal policy regarding nonprofits, waivers and the like that request waivers from the fees.
“We don’t have standards,” said Board President Dr. Jeff Barke. “It seems only right to me to treat all these groups consistently, otherwise we will have groups coming to us saying why are you doing this for this group and not that group,” he said.
Board attorney Tarquin Preziosi said while the district charter does allow RCSD to waive fees on projects in which they have strategic partnerships, there is no such governance for crediting the work of nonprofits like RHA and allowing a waiver.
“Before authorizing any waivers, the board shall adopt a resolution that specifies the policies and procedures governing the waiver,” Tarquin recited from the Rossmoor governing code.
Nevertheless, there is nothing preventing the board from creating such a policy that would allow future waivers.
Director Nathan Searles, an attorney, said “I would like to move forward with the idea of creating that resolution to create such a policy.”
Searles said the RHA commits more than 4,000 hours per year in service to the community of Rossmoor “and I think it is completely justifiable that they [RHA] are saving $30 a month for a room we’re not using anyway.”
“There’s no concern that the district is not getting any value from them,” he added.
Moreover, he said the policy could easily be extended to any service group that provides value to the community.
“I don’t think it’s inappropriate at all that any service organization for this community would be able to get a waiver through applying in the same way,” said Searles.
Director Tony DeMarco said he had been there since 2005 and had worked with RHA on “all kinds of stuff.” Yet, he said “something has kind of changed in the past year and certainly lately, they haven’t been working with this board for the betterment of Rossmoor.”
He too suggested the two organizations tone down the rhetoric, especially on social media, saying “it is discouraging. I’m reacting to a different attitude certain members of RHA have towards this board,” said DeMarco.
“They ask us for the favor, yet they put roadblocks in front of us,” he said. “If they want us to work with them, they have to work with us,” he said.
“So, what I’m hearing is right now, is that we don’t really have an option to enact waiver of fees so we’ll stick with the current fee schedule,” said Barke.
“Clearly, there’s a legal issue to navigate,” said Director Jeffrey Rips.
“I want us to do what’s right and what is right for our community.”
“And if it’s right to have some sort of waiver, whatever that looks like or fee reduction or something for RHA because that’s the right partnership for our community,” said Rips, “and they’re doing what’s right for Rossmore, I think we have to look [into it].”
Barke agreed to work offline with Mendoza, Preziosi and perhaps a couple of board members to develop recommendations on a policy and procedure for the granting of waivers.
The board also agreed at their June meeting to move forward with a modernization of the Rush Park Auditorium where the board meets.
Already, the new board has modernized the facility with an elevated wooden dais and other governmental trappings and has now authorized a technological modernization project valued at $41,000.
Mendoza told the board that Calvary Chapel, which rents the facility, had agreed to fund $16,000 of the cost.
The project will allow for better access by the public and for board members to be able to communicate with community members over Zoom, provide for project presentations with greater clarity and other modern tech improvements.
In other business, the RCSD this month:
- Approved the new fee schedule, estimated to generate an additional $4500 per year.
- Approved a three-year contract extension for West Coast Arborists for tree services, noting that the actual contract was not immediately available for signing.
- Directed Mendoza to develop a database of all existing contracts and to advise the board well in advance of contract due dates. Searles asked for a policy where contracts are given a “first reading” before being approved at the next meeting.
- Agreed to a one-year extension to the auditing contract of the accounting firm of Rogers, Anderson, Malody and Scott, LLC and will rebid the service next year.
- Learned that despite COVID, the district had an annual surplus of $136,610.00 which will now go into the reserves.
- Approved a budget of $1.9 million for the next fiscal year, with estimated expenses to be $1.8 million.
