Director Mike Martel
outlined initial plans to build a community center adjacent
to the RMA Building, which would be remodeled too.
RMA
approves 10% dues hike, adds Kings channel to cable
system
Published
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Whether
they want to or not, Rancho Murieta Association members
can view Kings games on RMA cable starting Nov. 1.
At
Tuesday night's meeting, the RMA board of directors
approved a budget for 2007 that includes SportsNet, the
Comcast channel that broadcasts Kings games as well as
local college and high school sports. The budget raises
dues by 10 percent, taking them from the current $119.50
to more than $131.
The
terms of the three-year Comcast contract require SportsNet
to be part of basic cable service, unlike other channels
that are being added under a five-year plan to improve
and expand cable services. The cost per subscriber is
about $2 per month, making the channel among the most
expensive offered on basic cable.
Early
in the meeting, the board unanimously approved a channel
line-up that includes SportsNet, and then discussed the
contract for the channel for close to an hour before
approving it and other programming contracts on a 5-2
vote.
SportsNet
was a hot-ticket item when it was introduced two years
ago, and it's believed the RMA lost subscribers
to satellite dish after it declined to enter into a 10-year
contract for the channel.
Cable
system critics Wilbur Haines and John Weatherford argued
against approving the current three-year contract at
Tuesday's meeting.
Haines
said the channel appealed to a niche audience at "a
really, really high cost." Referring to members
who are already paying for the channel on satellite TV,
he said the association is leveraging "governmental
power to force us as consumers to make market choices."
Weatherford
said the channel added nothing to the plan the board
has adopted for the cable system because it won't
attract subscribers for the new pay services.
Directors
Jack Cooper and Chris Pedersen voted against the motion
to approve the contracts after expressing concern about
the Comcast contract's lack of a cancellation clause.
The other contracts have a 30-day cancellation clause.
The
board did not act on Director Julie Sams' request
for a $50,000 budget expenditure to map the community.
Staff suggested looking into using exclusive use funds
for the project, which the board has identified as one
of its goals. Director Mike Martel said he thought funding
could be found in the Maintenance Department budget.
In
brief
- Director
Mike Martel proposed a plan to remodel the RMA Building
and add a 13,000-square-foot community center to the
building. Martel said he envisions the project being
built through partnerships with various groups, including
Summerfest, the fundraising group he and Director Donni
Quinlan are associated with. Martel said the cost
impact on community members would be minimal. It's
not certain the RMA actually has
the land to build the facility, he acknowledged.
- The
pedestrian bridge connecting the North and South is
expected to be completed by the end of the year, but
no date has been set for the opening ceremony.
- Bobo
Construction has been awarded the contract to rebuild
the South Gate overhead structure. Work will begin
within the next two weeks, according to General Manager
David Stiffler. A truck damaged the supporting columns
for the structure in August. The work is being paid
for by the truck company's insurer.
- A
presentation for a skate park by Rancho Murieta Youth
Enrichment Advocacy was postponed because the RMA hasn't
received a legal opinion or insurance information that
was requested at a meeting on the skate park last month.
The meeting consisted of residents making statements
for or against the project.
