Exchange Meeting - Monday, June 10, 2024

Cute Trash, however quoting the bible, a period in time a long time ago, a time where a man was hung from a cross and whose heart was pierced with a sword for no good reason won't work today. Or are you saying just accept the unfairness the BOD keeps sending our way? Let them keep attacking our bank accounts and pockets until we bleed. But wait!!!! The BOD is not God and Sun City is not heaven!!

 

The following is a personal opinion. I continue to be amazed at how difficult we can make things. Once we accept we all willingly and knowingly bought into a RECEATIONAL COMMUNITY the question of "how much" is a competitive one. Please allow me to explain my thinking here. Hopefully, we all understood that we have an elected form of representative government in which the majority rules and the minority is heard. Therefore, the majority of members through its representatives determine how much recreation we should expect and how much it will cost. If the representatives screw up they can be recalled or not reelected. On a thirty thousand foot level this goal of how much recreation is expressed in our mission, vision and value statement. At the street level, the how much goal is a competitive strategy. (How do we compare to other retirement communities?) It is my opinion then that the majority of members should determine fees and level of recreation based on our competitive marketplace strategy which I would characterize as more for less. As I look at our fees and amenities in relation to other retirement communities I see an unsustainable economic equation. Aging infrastructure plus inflation means either less amenities or more realistic fees. The most vocal members (special interests) want more and better amenities but are not realistic about the fees needed to support the increased level of amenities. What I call the silent majority accept the bargain basement nature of the deal and wisely don't complicate their lives with getting involved unless there is a cataclysmic event (closing libraries) that creates a call to action. Hence, we have very low "voter " turnout (about 10%) and end up with special interest representatives on the board. To add some level of sanity and stability to this process I continue to advocate for a professionally developed long range plan that serves as a guidepost for implementing our mission, vision, and values. Otherwise, we will continue to zig and zag in whatever direction the hot air is flowing and drive our management batty. Thanks for reading!

 

Totally missing the point. It's not the $$$$$. It's the control the BOD has over the members. In 2003 the BOD decided to change the assessment with no input from the members. The reason I was given is it was just too hard to keep track of those who died. Are the people we elected that stupid that with the aid of computers a simple task is just too hard? How in the heck does Maricopa County keep track of populations in different areas? Do we have a bunch of Tom Arnold's from the movie Stanley Stupid? It's not just the fee, it's everything! We might as well live in North Korea.

SCW residents just gave 2 board members "the warning". We just sit here and take it quoting parables, bible verses and poems. Same people saying the same things over and over. At least the people on ND are starting to get engaged, but folks here are too afraid to get on that platform and talk. My 1 sentence post about EV's had generated almost 200 comments.

 

We must first determine who is on first?

 

I certainly agree with the planning part. 5 year plan? Where is it? Was due end of May.

 

Assuming the population is around 35,000, it's more like less than 6% actually vote.

Can you spell A-P-A-T-H-Y?

 

I just love how those who don't attend board meetings or committee meetings just keep dropping bombs.

Truth is, the LRP committee is actually looking at a very in-depth 10 year plan. Working in conjunction with the F&B committee, the first 5 years will be evaluated by the F&B committee and then that budget will be submitted to the board most likely in September. In the mean time, there will be Town Halls that will explain and answer many of the questions most people are speculating (mostly negatively) about.

If you don't like the way the board is handling things, then pick-up a Candidate Packet, run for office, and try to make changes!

 

Assuming this comment is directed towards me. I may have considered it long ago, however after all here jumped on the Bill tricycle I would not have an ice cube's chance in hell. BTW I watch every board meeting. Too bad we are not as sophisticated as SCW with the technology. The residents can participate virtually. They can even speak!!

I just love how the 6 or 7 regular posters here just accept the word of one person, beat the person up, then blame the person for defending themselves. Democracy at it's finest.

 

I was going to run for the BoD on the Apathy Party, claiming that every vote that was NOT cast was in effect a vote for me. I might still do it.

 

FYI - My hope was, and it may have been a pipe dream, that members would be involved in the decision making process and therefore engaged in making the results of that process a success. What is being described is members will be informed of what was decided and are expected to be compliant. Same play different actors.

 

over 200 responses/engagement on ND regarding the EV's. Did anyone on this site try to get anyone engaged? NO! O&T is on ND but he/she didn't want to. How do you expect to get the members attention when the same 10 people sit behind the keyboard on the same website. It will never happen. Get out of your cocoons. But hey! What do I know. I only worked the crowds at the Gala's and Wigwam Golf Tourneys. I only started off meetings at the mic in front of 300 people in the DEW auditorium.

FYI your hope is a pipe dream if you don't back away from the keyboard.

 

And I guess that's probably true, however, I am pretty much convinced that they have done their due diligence and are quite aware of the impact that any increase in assessment will have on the Members.

From what I've seen at the meetings of the LRP and F&B committees, most committee members are not enthused about any increases but the facts are what the are! Nothing is getting cheaper and we still have things that need to be addressed. Insurance alone has increased by 28% not to mention the cost of water and electricity! I believe the deferred maintenance issue will be resolved within the next two years and things should run more consistent after that happens.

We elect our Directors to represent us! I think this group is doing a pretty good job. You will be able to get all your questions answered when the RCSC holds both Planning Sessions and Town Hall meetings. If you don't attend then that that's on you!

And as I always say, "You get the government you deserve"

 

FYI - Based on my very limited board experience with most of these folks I am still very skeptical. As a member of the in crowd you know better than I.

 

I'm not a member of the "in-crowd." I simply attend as many committee meetings as I can.

It's unfortunate that committee meetings are no long video recorded, because the "summaries" when they finally do get posted, fails to provide many important things.

 

As you are well aware Tom, not all who want to be on the board will attain the role. Many of us are concerned members willing to exercise our right of free speech and give our opinions. And you also know, sunbirds are not eligible to serve on the board. Only local yokels(I use this word lovingly) are allowed.

 

I have never understood the “guest” rate. You are either a homeowner or you’re not. We give a lower rate on the golf course for “guests” which gets abused countless times on a daily basis. Eliminating the guest rate should be the first step.

 

As FYI pointed out, the 5 year plan was presented by Kevin today in a very impressive presentation which Tom attended. While still somewhat of a draft the numbers for the next five may be chilling but they are only guesses. LRP spent considerable time on the five year plan, management spent considerable on the capital reserve study for the next five years. Members want answers but a comprehensive plan(s) take time for which the committees want to present the most accurate picture. Are increases inevitable, yes but would you prefer an a low increase plus a special assessment? Come to a committee meeting and see what we do, what we wrestle with and determine to present the facts however unpleasant truthfully to the members to show we just don’t have a dartboard where we throw darts to determine fee increases.

It’s a brave new world out there and either you are prepared or you are part of the landscape, I prefer Door Number 1.

 

Assessment increases are inevitable. Newbies also pay a PIF and A CIf soon to include aWif.
What's a WIF - It's a What If Fund.
Anyone who moved here believing there would NEVER be increases to the coast of living such as;
Annual assessment
Gas prices
Utility prices
Food prices
Health care costs
Home maintenance prices
Vehicle maintenance prices
Entertainment prices
etc, etc, etc
are living in a dream world and failed to plan but planned to fail.
People moved here because it was the CHEAPEST retirement community in multiple ways.
We are still the cheapest retirement community but living in a 20th century world.
Fee increases are inevitable and they will continue to rise.
Peoples wants are one of the factors for increased assessments.
1.5 million indoor dog training facility (next they'll ask RCSC and members to pay for the trainer).
Give them an inch and they want a mile.
8 million dollar prison complex on the Lakes East/West golf course.
To people living on that course it looks like a prison complex.
Multi-million dollar vintage car club building on Grand. Total price ? Anyone know?
Built to satisfy the wants of a few affecting all who pay an assessment.
Next up will be the property on 111th.
Buying that property will cost millions. Renovating/demolishing and rebuilding will
be multiple millions. For what? To provide upscale space for the corporate offices?
Those multi-millions would be better spent on taking care of the 17 to 20 million in
deferred maintenance or however they want to spin it.
A PAC - has there been a poll on how many people are interested in this and how many
are expected to attend performances?
And the latest scuttlebut is the installation of EV charging stations.
I understand that they are meant for RCSC fleet vehicles. However, once installed
residents will clamor to be able to use them at the members expense.
Any EV owner should be able to pay for their own charging station with the money
they save on the cost of gas.

I could go on, but I'm sure I'll receive many rebuttals on the above.
This is only my opinion and I'm entitled to it.