Del Webb at Woodbridge residents want to conduct bingo games among their homeowners association members.

They want to do so to have fun and raise money for community endeavors such as the Manteca Boys & Girls Club.

However, a city ordinance regulating bingo games won’t allow that to happen because adopted regulations require that such games be open to the general public.

The issue was raised at Tuesday’s City Council meeting as well as concerns about developers building new homes not installing fences in the backyards of those that would back up to homes with existing fences.

City Manager Toni Lundgren indicated Thursday staff is looking into seeing what can be done to allow the Del Webb group to legally play bingo for money with the expressed purpose of benefitting nonprofits at their privately controlled clubhouse within the 1,427-home community without opening it up to participation of the general public.

Bingo is regulated essentially by the state that requires specific parameters given it is a form of gambling.

Much like storefront cannabis sales, cities that allow bingo were mandated to put rules in place that include those covered by state law. It also requires an application process to secure a permit.

There was no indication if and when the issue would be back before the council.

The fence issue came up after Del Webb residents, whose homes back up to the 177-home neighborhood being built along Airport Way, found out the new homes being built adjacent to their back fences will not have a separate, new fence installed by the developer.

Public work staff indicated double fencing between residential lots in Manteca that back up to each other isn’t allowed.

It’s due to issues with pests such as insects and rodents taking advantage of what gap between the two fences there may be.

Back-to back board fencing  also represents a potential enhanced fire hazard.

The existing wooden fencing is approaching 20 years of being in place. That means it is could be well past the halfway mark of its expected life before needing replacement of boards or the entire fence structure including posts.

Experts indicate a wooden board fence typically lasts 15 to 20 years. Factors such as climate, type of wood, and regular upkeep factors heavily into the actual lifespan.

It is why Del Webb residents believe they could be saddled in relatively short order with an unfair burden to replace fencing that typically involves working with the adjoining property owner and hopefully working out an arrangement to split the costs.

In the past, there have been some Manteca builders that elected to replace existing fences in such cases based on its age.

There is apparently no city rule requiring developers to do so.

None of the council members weighed in on the fence concern under the council comments portion of the meeting.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com