Steven Pinkerton

The general manager provided an overview of the Community Services District's structure, responsibilities covering horizontal work like streets, sidewalks, and parks, and its relationship with San Joaquin County for certain services such as public safety and technology. The primary focus of the discussion was addressing historical issues related to utility billing discrepancies that originated from financing plans established by the developer around 1998-2002, resulting in significant debt service components being placed on future homeowners rather than the developer. Key topics included the ongoing $60 million expansion of the Wastewater Plant to accommodate future growth, the process for setting utility rates every five years, and the plan to issue tax-exempt bonds to mitigate high-interest payments owed to the builder on the initial utility construction costs. The calculation method for utility charges based on Equivalent Dwelling Units (EDU) corresponding to lot density (low, medium, medium-high) was also explained.

The meeting included a roll call and the Pledge of Allegiance. Public comments were opened with procedural guidelines. The committee reviewed and proceeded without commenting on the minutes from the previous meeting held in August 2023. A brief report congratulated Mountain House on becoming an approved new city. The Crime Prevention Officer provided updates on Neighborhood Watch activities, noting attendance at a College Park meeting and plans to coordinate business walkthroughs for the Business Watch program. A community meeting for crime prevention is planned for early next year. The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office reported a recent crime trend involving the theft of multiple vehicle wheels across the county, including Mountain House. The CHP reported on traffic safety concerns, noting ongoing contact with the school district regarding pickup/drop-off issues and staffing dependence for crossing guard presence. The Fire Department provided an update on Fire Prevention Week activities, including school assemblies, an art contest with prizes up to a PlayStation 5, and a pancake breakfast scheduled for October 14th. The Fire Department also discussed challenges with electric vehicle fires, noting an extended duration for suppression even with new specialized equipment. Under previous discussion updates, the transition of the entity from a Special Services District to a city was discussed, focusing on adapting emergency plan standards and training protocols for increased local response responsibilities.

This document outlines a draft recommended conceptual plan for South Community Park, incorporating extensive community feedback. Key design elements prioritize walking and jogging trails, picnicking areas, diverse playgrounds, dedicated dog spaces, and multi-purpose sports fields adaptable for activities like soccer, cricket, and badminton. The plan addresses wind protection and proposes phased implementation: Phase 1A includes a multi-purpose sports field and basic amenities; Phase 1B adds a playground, more parking, picnic areas, and an extended walking path; and Phase 2 introduces additional sports courts, bathrooms, a dog park, and natural grass fields. The overarching goal is to deliver fiscally sustainable, achievable amenities for the Mountain House community, considering construction and maintenance cost challenges.

The meeting commenced with roll call and covered public comments, which were limited to three minutes per speaker, with no action taken on items raised during this portion. The commission unanimously approved the minutes from the April 17, 2024 meeting. A primary discussion item involved rescheduling the June 19, 2024 regular meeting due to the Juneteenth federal holiday, leading to a successful motion to cancel it and schedule a special meeting for Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Furthermore, the commission reviewed Rosenberg's Rules of Order, with an overview provided by the district's attorney regarding meeting procedure, motion structure (including basic, amend, substitute, and withdraw motions), debate limitation protocols (such as moving the previous question), and quorum guidelines.

The meeting commenced with a call to order and roll call. Key discussions centered on item 5.a, which involved resolving a tie vote from a previous September meeting for Vice Chairperson between Commissioner Fister and Commissioner Raj Singh, ultimately resulting in Commissioner Fister remaining as Vice Chairperson. Following this, the Commission proceeded to approve the selections for Chairperson (Commissioner Ner) and Vice Chairperson (Commissioner Fister) to serve through June 30, 2024. The second major agenda item involved a review and discussion of the current Park Facilities Use Policy and Fields and Facilities Use and Reservation Policies, noting contradictions between the 2021 and 2015 policies. Topics considered for policy revision included fair allocation processes, defining group classifications, offering discounts, setting advanced allocation steps, establishing insurance requirements, defining setup/cleanup rules, incorporating park ordinances (like no smoking or noise regulations), detailing prohibited uses (e.g., no cleats or gum), clarifying fees and billing deadlines, and reviewing cancellation/refund policies.