Rossmoor Community Services District Board President Michael Maynard gave his State of the District Address at it’s regular January meeting on Tuesday. The speech contained many of the district’s accomplishments during 2013 and spoke about the optimism of the coming year.
Statements about the increase in home sales and home improvements taking place throughout the district were featured in the speech including how to improve property tax revenue for providing a wider range of services. Maynard also alluded to the fiscal conditions at the State and County levels.
The district received an unmodified audit which is the highest possible rating,” said Maynard. There was also mention of the capital projects undertaken, most notably, the total upgrade of the Rush Park playground which made it fully compliant with accessibility and safety requirements.
Maynard also alluded to the state of Rossmoor’s urban forest for which the community has received its third designation as “Tree City USA” by the Arbor Day Foundation, and the district’s strides to enhance that title with the implementation of the new Paperless Agenda Program this past summer.
Perhaps the most significant statements centered on a financial analysis by an independent consultant who put to rest the notion that Rossmoor was a financial drain on the County. Rather than the $600K drain claimed by OC LAFCO and supported by the County, the analysis concluded that Rossmoor was a $1.1M donor. The analysis was vetted by County financial managers and found to be “reasonable” based on the County’s own financial data.
“Now that the myth of Rossmoor as a financial drain has been dispelled, the district is set to commence its goal of obtaining additional latent powers to provide more direct services to the community at no additional costs to our residents,” said Maynard.
Maynard mentioned the district’s new General Manager, James D. Ruth as a valuable addition with his vast depth and breadth of experience, including his time as Orange County’s CEO. Additionally, Maynard praised the service of former Board Member Jeffrey Rips who resigned upon a promotion to Executive Director of the Alpert Jewish Community Center.
Also noteworthy was a reference to the district’s involvement with stemming what appeared to be a foregone conclusion, that the proposed I-405 Improvement Project would include toll lanes. In concert with its neighboring communities, Rossmoor rallied to convince the Orange County Transportation Authority that toll lanes would only add to gridlock, noise and air pollution.
“In spite of all the challenges that have been experienced in the last five years, Rossmoor continues to be the model community—best described as ‘an island of calm and tranquility,’” said Maynard. “Next year promises to be one of opportunity. All that remains to be said is ‘carpe diem,’ seize the day.”