THE SEA RANCH ASSOCIATION MONTHLY BBulletinulletin October 2009 No. 426 SEPTEMBER 19 COMMUNITY MANAGER’S REPORT BOARD MEETING SUMMARY It has been a short time that I have been serving as your On September 19, 2009, The Sea Ranch Board of Interim Community Manager, and in that time I have Directors completed an agenda which included one come to appreciate the tremendous complexity of our item of new business. Association’s business. Since my September 1, 2009 official start date, some of the ANNOUNCEMENTS activities and issues that have involved the Community Manager include: Chair Retzer reported to the membership on the Board of Directors’ retreat held on September 5. • Bluff erosion The retreat was facilitated by Michael Kisslinger of • Water rates and Water Company governance forms North Coast Opportunities and included discussion • Several unusual litigation cases about the roles and responsibilities of a governing • Five special Board of Directors meetings, four involved board; the guiding principles and shared purposes with selecting a search firm for the new Community under which the Board operates; and guidelines Manager recruitment and one day-long Board retreat regarding the policy-making duties of the Board • Improvements to the Board meeting facilities and the operational functions of the Community • Road resurfacing Manager and Association staff. The Board affirmed • Swimming pool hours of operation that the Association exists to protect the common • Review of financial statements and investment activities interests of its members and concurred in its desire • Website changes for an ethical, effective and well-run Association • Responses to a variety of member concerns that is supportive of a participatory community • Meetings with some of the Operations and Policy and a steward of The Sea Ranch concept. Committee chairs and members • Solar and wave energy use at The Sea Ranch Additionally, Chair Retzer reported on his most • Development of the 2010/11 preliminary budget recent Town Hall meeting, held on September 9, which was also attended, at least in part, by The Sea Ranch Association organization is indeed a busy Directors Austin and Moelter. Discussion at that and vibrant place! meeting included the limitations of the Davis- Stirling Act regarding informal meetings; postings In the coming weeks, in addition to the ongoing activities of the office, I plan to conduct a workshop for the on the Listserv (TSR Email List unaffiliated with the organization’s managers and supervisors on the topic of Association) by Directors; the relationship of Ethics in Community Management. insurance coverage to the legal costs of prosecution and defense; and fire mitigation and safety, In closing this brief message, I want to thank the especially of our Commons areas and undeveloped Association staff members for their assistance to me these lots. past weeks. They are some of the most dedicated employees with whom I have ever worked. I would also Chair Retzer also reported that the Board had like to thank the Board of Directors and The Sea Ranch received a communication from the previous membership for allowing me to be of service to this great Community Manager entitled “Observations from community. the Outgoing Community Manager.” Following Will Randolph cont’d on page 17 Interim Community Manager 1 The Sea Ranch Association Bulletin, October 2009 GENERAL RATE INCREASE REQUEST FOR THE SEA RANCH WATER COMPANY We have received the draft Resolution (W-4798) from the office of the California Public Utilities Commission related to our request for new water rates. The Resolution is posted on the Association website at: http://www.tsra.org/news.php?viewStory=655. The Resolution will be presented to the Commissioners for deliberation and potential adoption with or without modification at its October 29, 2009 meeting. The Commission will be receiving comments from the public until October 19, 2009 on this draft, which will increase the average water bill by approximately 49.5%. Please feel free to contact me at [email protected] or 707-785-2444 with your questions. Ellen A. Buechner, CFO The Sea Ranch Water Company What’s Inside … BULLETIN © Community Manager's Report … p. 1 Website posting date: 10/12/09 BOD Meeting Summaries & Actions … pp. 1, 17-18 Printed issue date: 10/28/09 Water Co. Rate Increase Request … p. 2 The purpose of The Sea Ranch Association BULLETIN is to provide Nominations for Sea Rancher of the Year … p. 3 information to members about the official business and operations of The Sea Ranch Association. Finance Matters - 2010/11 Budget … p. 4 Published Monthly for members by THE SEA RANCH ASSOCIATION Trails Talk: Hiking the CTPZ … pp. 6-7 Post Office Box 16 • The Sea Ranch, California 95497 Ask Scott: Huckleberries … pp. 8-9 Tel: 707-785-2444 • Fax: 707-785-3555 • E-Mail: [email protected] Circumambulation Wrap-up & Photos … p. 9 Editor: Will Randolph Assistant Editor: Janice Bonora, [email protected] DCEM: Where's Your Car? … p. 10 Design/Layout/Typesetter: Jerry Evitts Correspondence Posted on Website … p. 10 Printed on recycled paper with 30% post-consumer fiber. No part of H1N1 Flu Update … p. 12 this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means Emergency Mgmt: Tsunami Advisory … p. 12 without the prior, written permission of the Editor, excepting brief quotes used in connection with reviews written specifically for Slurry Seal and F&R Updates … p. 13 inclusion in a newspaper or magazine. All materials for the BULLETIN should be sub-mitted electronically to the Assistant Census Bureau Contacts … p. 15 Editor who can also provide submission deadlines. Sanitation Zone Repairs … p. 16 Budget Meeting Schedule … p. 16 THE SEA RANCH ASSOCIATION OFFICE Architectural Review Notification … pp. 19-26 WILL BE CLOSED IN OBSERVANCE OF Recreation Information … pp. 27-28 THE FOLLOWING HOLIDAYS Sea Ranch Classic Film … p. 30 November 10 Tuesday Veteran’s Day November Forum: Seasonal Sightings … p. 30 November 26 Thursday Thanksgiving December 25 Friday Christmas Read the Bulletin online at www.tsra.org! The Sea Ranch Association Bulletin, October 2009 2 Community Information Time To Nominate 2010 Sea Rancher of The Year The Sea Rancher of The Year award is given to a Please send your nominations detailing the services member (or members) of the Association in rendered by your nominee(s) to: Interim Community recognition of their outstanding contributions of Manager, Will Randolph, P.O. Box 16, The Sea Ranch, service to The Sea Ranch Community over an CA 95497-0016; or hand-deliver it to the Association extended period of time. office no later than November 17, 2009. If you know someone whom you would like to The recipient of this prestigious award will be nominate for this award, you must act now! acknowledged at the Midwinter Meeting on Saturday, February 13, 2010. PREVIOUS SEA RANCHERS OF THE YEAR 1970 Don Carlos Hines 1990 Jeff and Millie Davis 1972 Elizabeth B. Morse 1991 Daniel H. Levin 1973 Tom Christensen 1992 Joanne Hafner 1974 William E. Rand 1993 John Wingate 1975 J.S. Woodruff M.D. 1994 George Snyder 1976 Al Boeke 1995 Dick Soule 1977 Pauline Satur 1996 Duane and Kathi Gordon 1977 Sylvia Moore 1997 Dick Warren 1977 Joseph Griffin 1998 John Lundell and John McChesney 1978 Harry Estes 1999 Al Wool 1979 Dave Nagle 2000 Mel Mirsky 1980 Dale Wood 2001 Walt and Joanne Guenther 1981 James L. Cockburn 2002 Matt Sylvia and Lawrence Halprin 1982 Jerry and Sally Skibbins 2003 Rae Hudspeth 1983 Byrne Thrailkill 2004 Diane Boeke and Carol Emory 1984 Patricia Ditzler 2005 Martha “Dibby” Tyler 1985 Ginny Trumbull 2006 Sandra J. Bush 1986 Bill Platt 2007 Peter and Patty Mattson 1987 George Wickstead 2008 John Horn 1988 Janann Strand 2009 Alex and Anne Long FIRST JOINT BOARD/FINANCE COMMITTEE FISCAL YEAR 2010-2011 BUDGET WORKSHOP NOVEMBER 21, 2009 AT 9:00 A.M. DEL MAR CENTER HALL THE COMPLETE BUDGET MEETING SCHEDULE CAN BE FOUND ON PAGE 16 3 The Sea Ranch Association Bulletin, October 2009 Finance Committee FINANCE MATTERS attracting and retaining the dedicated staff that runs Sea Ranch day to day and year to year. We also know The Upcoming 2010/2011 Budget that legal expenses will increase due to litigation the Association is obligated to undertake to protect vital It’s budget time again – and with all that has happened Association interests. on The Sea Ranch this year, it promises to be interesting. Not only do we have three new Board The Board was able to eliminate cost of living (COLA) members (Retzer, Austin, Moelter), but we also have the salary increases for the current budget year based on new (interim) Community Manager, Will Randolph, the consumer price index for this area reducing to 0%. while the Board conducts the search for a new We don’t know if the same condition will apply for the community manager. upcoming year so that could add some pressure. Some projects were delayed or stretched out – hedgerow Between the discussions that drove last year’s budget, replacement and fuel load reduction, for example. It the debates during the Board election, and the Finance isn’t wise to extend these delays indefinitely, so this Committee workshops during the summer, there is no could add to our expenses. lack of input on how we should plan the upcoming 2010/2011 budget. It’s important to remember that the On the other hand, Finance Committee workshops Finance Committee is purely advisory and it is the held in May and July identified some revenue Board that approves the budget along with the other enhancement and cost reduction opportunities that we policy decisions that have to be made through the year. are vigorously pursuing. While none of them will have However, in the current circumstances, and as an assist a major impact on our operating expenses, they can to Will Randolph, we have assembled a set of principles help.