Rancho Santa Fe Association board to audio-record meetings

By Karen Billing

The Rancho Santa Fe Association board will use the lowest cost proposal to audio-record its meetings — and see whether anyone is listening.

At the July 3 meeting, the board directed staff to investigate the cost of equipping the boardroom to record. RSF Association Acting Manager Ivan Holler reported at the Aug. 7 meeting that they received three bids, ranging from $350 for a handheld device with a directional microphone to a high of $4,500 with the installation of tabletop and overhead microphones and a dedicated laptop.

The board opted to give it the lowest-cost option a shot and track the number of members who listen to the recordings once they’re posted on the RSF Association’s website.

RSF Association President Ann Boon reiterated that recording the meetings is not meant to replace the official minutes, which will still be kept. The recordings would simply serve as a convenience for members.