CPCSD takes up marketing

Better marketing of the facilities of the Cameron Park Community Services District was on the board’s mind at its Wednesday night meeting.

After a lengthy discussion, the board voted to give General Manager Mary Cahill the authority to negotiate facility rates in order to boost rentals of the community center and parks.

A staff report at the meeting noted that negotiations often occur at other facilities that are not identified on rate sheets and Cahill wanted the authority to exercise the same flexibility.

“This is another tool to generate more activity at the community center,” said board member Greg Stanton, and would give “Cahill more authority instead of having everything set in stone.”

During discussion of the item, resident Barbara Rogers said she had researched the use fees of other facilities in the community and found that they charge considerably less. “We have a beautiful building but you have a lot of competition,” she said. She went on to warn against giving Cahill the authority to set rates as that could be seen as favoritism.

Incoming board member Vicky Neibauer also warned against giving Cahill that authority saying it was setting a dangerous precedent and left the district not only open to charges of favoritism but of bidding down the price of their facilities. Resident Lillpop proposed establishing a revised fee schedule but with baseline fees so Cameron Park wouldn’t become known as the “sweetheart deal community.” Other residents also spoke in favor of reducing fees but of having a fixed fee schedule.

Cahill said staff are still looking at the fee schedule but she maintained she needed the flexibility to work with potential renters of the district’s facilities.

The board then voted 4-1, with Board President Shiva Frentzen voting no, to give Cahill that authority. However at the end of the meeting, Stanton recommended bringing back the topic of the rate structure and parameters for negotiating the rates at their January meeting.

Cahill also presented a draft of a marketing plan for the district. However, some members of the public saw it as being too vague in detailing to whom and how the district facilities would be marketed. The board voted to hold a workshop in January to develop the plan further.

Following up on proposals brought up last month, the board also took action on changes to policies governing public conduct at meetings. It voted to approve giving residents four minutes each to speak during the open forum part of the meeting. Members approved a definition of disallowed disruptive conduct. However, the proposal to move public comments to the end of the agenda died a quiet death.

In CC&R related actions, the backyard chickens of Richard Kirlin, a resident on La Canada Drive, got the boot.

Last month, Kirlin appealed a decision by the CC&R Committee to remove his six pet chickens. The board had asked staff to research the existing county ordinance governing livestock in R-1 zoned areas. Kirlin was also asked to return with a petition signed by 100 residents in support of his pets.

Lyle Eickert, the CC&R Compliance Officer, reported he talked to several county officials and found that while there is no prohibition against chickens in R-1 zoned areas, generally the county doesn’t allow them on parcels less than an acre in size.

Kirlin also failed to show at the meeting or to supply a petition signed by supporters. With that, the board voted to proceed with legal action against the chickens.

In a second CC&R case, a complaint was received that homeowners on Covello Circle had painted their home red without first getting a permit from the Architectural Review Committee. A majority of the committee found the color to be less than aesthetically pleasing. The owners appealed the decision to the board and after a lengthy presentation, the board voted to uphold the appeal with Tucker and Clarke voting no.

In another long-standing issue, the board once again faced coming up with a compromise that would resolve a contract dispute with a group of quilters. The group previously signed a five-year contract to use the community center but at the time no insurance coverage was arranged. Concerned about possibility liability, negotiations have been going on for nearly a year to resolve the issue.

At Wednesday’s meeting, Carol Potter, president of the group, said one solution had been offered which was to ask members of the group to sign a disclaimer saying they wouldn’t sue the district if one of their members was hurt. However, because of a self-described “stubborn streak” among some of the members, Potter said they had refused to sign saying they have a valid contract and didn’t need to sign anything.

The fact that the issue has not been resolved took everyone by surprise. Stanton thought the district should accept the liability and Potter recommended dropping the issue. However one resident, Clara Ruberto, spoke against making Cameron Park citizens liable for any accidents. In the end, the board decided to take up the matter at its next meeting.

In other actions, the board authorized sending a letter to the El Dorado County EMS Joint Powers Authority expressing their concern over the removal of a medic unit due to budget constraints. Mike Kaslin, division chief for Cal Fire, reported that the JPA is facing a $1.2 million shortfall which is equal to 10 to 12 percent of their total budget.

Program staff reported upcoming events include a Christmas Craft Faire, Santa Run and Breakfast, Explorer Breakfast, and Santa Visits to the homes of residents.

Frentzen was voted as the district’s nominee as the Special District Representative to LAFCO and Dave Wood was introduced as the new Battalion Chief and Fire Marshal for Cameron Park.

Contact Dawn Hodson at 530-344-5071 or dhodson@mtdemocrat.net. Follow @DHodsonMtDemo on Twitter.