The Exchange 9/11/2023

Roger that! We have Members using table saws, milling machines, lathes, welders, overhead cranes and gasoline engines, but god forbid somebody might trip on a broom!

 

I’m sure anyone would be hard pressed to provide any language in an insurance policy that would prohibit member involvement in any maintenance

 

The policy may not prohibit it, but they won't cover the person doing it. One lawsuit and we would lose an amount many times the savings. I've been through this with our insurance company, my condo association and our HOA attorney. Some mention volunteers doing maintenance. Do you think insurance companies would pay if the fire, accident, or whatever was caused by work performed by an unlicensed person?

We should be thinking about raising income, not saving nickels and dimes.

 

Sure, raise some income, but please not on the backs of us common folk. Another idea would be, if there is no money don’t spend any money. Maybe a two year moratorium on spending, except for the necessities.

 

Tom - I think once the real NEEDS, not wants, from years of delayed maintenance, and unfunded (or underfunded) capital improvements, are fully and clearly explained in detail, most members will see the necessity to be proactive in the approach to fixing our problems. Continuing to delay would just compound some already long overdue issues that are already costing us money in time spent trying to fix equipment past its useful life or from loss of use (like golf carts). At some point that method becomes penny wise and pound foolish and it's counter productive. My impression is that's the merry-go-round we find ourselves in.

First, we aren't broke. But, we have to do several things simultaneously: Fix a broken budgeting process and take care of a major backlog of capital needs/expenses. At the same time we need to build the necessary financial resources for our future needs - for both capital and PIF. And, we are also dealing with general operational costs that have continued to rise faster than anticipated - insurance, utilities, wages, professional services, etc. I don't see how any of these things can happen by maintaining the status quo - no increases in fees or assessments. It's illogical.

 

It took years to get us in this situation.
I hope “the fix” isn’t an immediate high increase that may be a hardship for many members.
A graduated incremental solution should be considered.

 

A gradual approach would be warranted I believe. Plus there is about $19 million in unrestricted monies. Much of this should be used first.

 

One key idea you mention Linda is when the situation is clearly explained. Can hardly wait for this to happen. As I have stated a few times, seems due to a lack of oversight, etc., by the powers to be, the powers to be want more money. Another words, due to some mismanagement we want more money. Who do we trust?

By delaying some optional spending, the board of directors would gain money for the budget. Then move forward from that point. So I guess just because one has money does not mean it has to be spent, except of course for necessities.

 

did you mean “can happen” in that 2nd to last sentence?

 

There will definitely be a lot to review, discuss and debate in the coming weeks. One thing is certain: members will have more financial information than ever before - at least in modern times. It may be information overload for some - but critical to see and understand the big picture and adopt a new plan to get RCSC on track. Everyone involved understands the need to successfully complete the task without over burdening the members, while at the same time there is the need to maintain and/or update our amenities to serve all the members and to also uphold the community standards we all deserve and expect. It's definitely not a small task.

 

High schoolers could volunteer to run tournaments, be Rangers, give lessons/demos, repair driving ranges...

 

Hey Alesia, hope all is well. You guys created quite the shit storm in April of 2022 at the first exchange meeting. Oddly enough, the response by the golfing powers has been minimal at best. Yes they've raised prices for non-resident full play passes, when you factor in the golf car, it's still the cheapest golf in the west valley, by far. The points you and others raised was quite clear: those tee times belonged to Sun City residents, not some outsiders playing with friends.

It's fairly clear now the golf management team has been swayed by the less than 500 full play resident pass buyers who simply wanted what they wanted, the other 3700 residents be damned. There's been minor adjustments to outside tournament play, but the facts are easy to decipher, when golf rounds exploded over 350,000 last year, the courses took a beating and all too often those playing weren't good stewards of the game.

I've written this numerous times over the years and still contend when a gm looks for loyalty over ability, we all lose. We've dug a deep hole with the cheap mantra and now we've got to figure out how to get out of it. It won't be quick, nor will it be painless, but we know over the years the membership has always been resilient and willing to do whatever it takes to get things back on track.

 

Do you really think that anyone is going to pay a damn bit of attention to a high school kid who’s acting as a ranger?

 

If it’s not specifically excluded in a policy, it’s a covered peril, probably under the liability section. I spent too many years in risk management to not know that.

 

I'm not sure they give much of a damn about seniors serving as rangers. It would put the kids in harms way in my opinion. It's an interesting discussion and one that has been had by softball players and lawn bowlers who have offered to lend a hand on minor stuff on or around their playing surfaces. Even that they were told no. I suspect their is a liability issue and honestly way above my pay grade.

Back to the golf courses, it would seem to me those golfing, irrespective of being walk-on daily, surcharge or full play pass buyers should have a vested interest in the overall condition of the course. I used to golf and sanding divots and repairing ball marks should be standard operating procedures. I suspect most of the general abuse comes from non-residents who could care less; but i don't know that for a fact.

The other issue i have heard from several golfers is no shows for scheduled tee times. I've had some golfers tell me that's a bigger problem than the outside full play passes, but i doubt that to be true. We know those pass buyers from outside the walls are about 13,000 rounds so i would hope the residents no shows are nowhere near that total. I know it's been an issue brought before the golf advisory committee but they've made no effort to address it.

For those who have no idea what i am talking about, golfers get tee times, either through the lottery, small group bookings, booking online or walking in and hoping something is open. The biggest gripe is from those who book in well in advance, grab the prime tee times and then their entire group doesn't show up. Ultimately it's lost revenue. If golfers didn't cancel in advance, making them pay whether they show up or not would have an immediate effect.

I think a golfer once described it this way; at times we are our own worst enemy. I know stuff happens and people get sick, but the way it is right now, there's no cost for not showing up, just lost revenue for the RCSC. Again, to me one of those topics the golf advisory committee should be working through.

 

Here is an idea from your Moron, quit furnishing golf carts for nonmembers and nonresidents. Put a plan together for cost of passes which should be more than what they are paying now then charge extra to rent a cart. If all carts are out, TOO BAD. It is not rocket science. If anyone here has golfed over the years from where they used to live in other states all know that there are not golf carts available for rent all the time and you have to walk. Make pull carts available for rent like the old days like when we had to mow our yards with a non-gas blade mower that covers your feet as you mow with grass. Mountainview should be subsidized by a small percentage by the people who live south of Peoria Ave and north of Olive Ave. Spending anything over 10 million dollars in a ghetto that has flooding issues and high crime is ridiculously insane. You put anything nice in a bad neighborhood is asking for more trouble than you can ever imagine. We will need the National Guard for everyone's safety. We will need no less than 25 armed law officers to protect our members, their cars, golf carts at a cost of at least $60-$80 an hour.

 

I know for a fact golfers schedule tee times and add players that don't even intend to play so the spot isn't open to someone they don't know or don't want to play with. Our own members are responsible for more damage and poor behavior than we realize or want to admit.

 

That was my thought, too! From what I hear about the way some of the SC golfers treat the rangers, I wouldn't want to expose a kid to that kind of treatment.