Shelter Cove RID adopts multiple administrative policies, approves airport striping and records fiscal-year results; board appoints parks committee members

The Resort Improvement District board handled several administrative and housekeeping items Tuesday in a meeting that also included the larger ordinance and grant discussions.

Key votes and approvals - Grant-management policy (Policy 10-80): The board adopted an updated grant-management policy to clarify internal procedures and definitions. The update standardizes terminology and procedures for handling state and federal grants. - Reserve policy (Policy 3020): The board approved changing the district's recommended reserves from 12 months of operating expenses to a lower level (board-approved language lowered the formal target to six months); staff and one director asked the board to consider an intermediate 8-month target but the board adopted the revised policy as presented. The FY 2024-25 year-end report shows district reserves declined during the fiscal year primarily because the district purchased a new ambulance and used capital reserves for the payment; staff said the ambulance purchase will be repaid from future fire-tax receipts on a multi-year schedule to be formalized in project-accounting paperwork. - Airport striping: The board approved an unbudgeted expense of $36,665.47 to repaint runway and taxiway markings. Staff said the county public-works crew provided a lower-cost quote than an earlier private bid and will perform the work in the near term. - Sale of surplus ambulance: The board authorized staff to prepare a simple sales agreement to transfer the district's 1994 Ford type-1 ambulance to the Petrolia Fire Department under a multi-year payment plan; the buyer had limited funds and the district sought to keep the vehicle in regional service rather than auctioning it. - Policies and housekeeping: The board adopted a revised budget-preparation policy (3020 series) and eliminated an outdated tobacco-use policy that conflicts with state law. It also approved other procedural items placed on the consent calendar.

Fiscal year-end highlights: General manager Chris presented the preliminary FY 2024-25 year-end financial report. The district recorded a smaller-than-budgeted shortfall after a series of one-time expenditures and revenue variances; the largest single outflow was the new ambulance purchase (about $312,000), which reduced enterprise reserves and dropped the district's unrestricted months-of-reserves from roughly eight months to about five months at year end. Staff noted several grants and reimbursements are still outstanding and that the arrival of those funds could alter the final audited position.

Appointments: The board appointed four new members to its Parks & Recreation standing committee: Leilani Powell, Bruce Christie, Denise Reed and (as alternate) Riley Holland. The board said it expects the committee to work on recreation, trails, the community center and grant pursuit.

Ending: Directors said they will formalize loan repayment schedules for internal borrowing, post fiscal statements online and continue outreach related to the ballot measures and pending projects. Staff will provide schedules for reserve replenishment, ambulance reimbursement and airport stripe reimbursement when grant or county funding becomes available.