RSFA President Ann Boon: A New Year in the Covenant

Author: Ann Boon

Date: July 10, 2014

July marks the beginning of the New Year in the Covenant. It is the start of a new fiscal year and the beginning of the new term for Association Board members. At our first meeting on July 3rd, the Board welcomed newly elected member Kim Eggleston, who will be serving as Treasurer this year.

In an attempt to streamline the workload on staff and on board members, the Board again decided to try to maintain a one-meeting-per-month schedule. Members have also expressed the concern that morning meetings prevent them from attending meetings and from volunteering to serve on the board. We decided to try evening meetings. Our next meeting will be August 7th at 6:00 pm. If you have been complaining about morning meetings, please attend our evening sessions! And, if you have enjoyed attending our morning meetings, we hope you will enjoy the evening ones just as much.

Our other effort to make meetings more accessible and transparent, the board is looking into the cost of recording our meetings. Technology has gotten simple enough that we believe a cost-effective way may be available to record our meetings and to post the audio link on our new website. We will keep you updated on that effort.

Speaking of websites, our beautiful new website is launched and, although we are still adding refinements and working out bugs, it is a great leap forward.

Go to RSFAssociation.org and check it out.

Many big projects that consumed our time last year are winding up, such as the efforts of the Compensation Committee to streamline employee benefits. Other projects are still underway, such as the exploration of a pool/fitness center. That committee will be presenting preliminary concepts and financial plans to the community in September in a series of meetings and focus groups. An advisory vote of the community is planned after those meetings to determine if further study is warranted.

Other projects that the board is involved with include: collaborating with the Golf Club in the search for alternative water; studying voting rights for all property owners, including condo owners; evaluating stoplight design proposals for intersections along Paseo Delicias; and researching current technology alternatives for improved high speed internet and cell service throughout the Covenant.

Like residents in communities across the state, members of Rancho Santa Fe are concerned about improved infrastructure, energy efficiency, water conservation and fiscal prudence. This board will continue to work together on the challenges we all face in these critical areas.

I should mention that the Board also has formed a Search Committee to proceed with the formal process of finding a new Manager of the Association. We expect to hire a search firm to help with this process by the end of the summer. In the meantime, I assure you, we are all in good hands with our hard-working Acting Manager, Ivan Holler, and his staff.

If you have any questions or concerns about life in the Covenant, feel free to call the Association office: 858-756-1174. Or email me at ann.boon@me.com.

If you want to talk in person, you can find me on the first Saturday of every month at Positano, from 8:00 – 9:00 am.