• From the Annual Membership Meeting Minites, March 11, 2025, pages 3 & 4, regarding the formation of a Bylaw Ad Hoc Committee, President Foster said, “… my charge to those serving on this committee is that they reach recommendations for consideration by the 2025 October Board Meeting.” (No mention of town halls, he did invite members to volunteer to be considered for Ad Hoc Bylaw Committee.) All four pages of the minutes are about advice of legal counsel and the member proposed Bylaws. • April 24, 2025 Board Meeting Sec’y Kise, Chairing the Ad Hoc Bylaw starts calling the Committee a “working group,” Gives a progress update about having interviewed all but one individual who proposed a motion for the Annual meeting. Does not say who the members are in the “working group,” • Annual Member Meeting Minutes: https://suncityaz.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025_03_11-Annual-Membership-Meeting-Minutes-Final-Revised-3-26-25.pdf • April 24 Board Meeting Minutes: https://suncityaz.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2025_04_24-Board-Meeting-Minutes-1.pdf
And then folks wonder why we want to engage the community and encourage more participation. Our documents, (heavy emphasis on the word OUR), have been shuttled and shuttered off to be reworked under the cover of a "working group." Okay...i guess. Note to board: It's stuff like this that feeds the mistrust and distrust. The "gathering" will be about growing the circle. The reality is if the board isn't interested, it won't work. Half measures will avail us nothing.
The first thing that should have been done was to allow guests to attend the committee meetings. Nothing raises suspicion more than holding closed meetings. Next: So what if the guests heard how the sausage was made. Perhaps they would better understand why things were or weren't done! Bad, bad perception. What are they afraid of? And the excuse that committee members would be reluctant to offer suggestions is simply BS.
One step forward, two steps back. They at times appear to have learned nothing. The point of the gathering(s) is to encourage and begin anew the idea/belief the owners of Sun City are the members. It has to start somewhere, with someone. Join us to chat and get to know one another.
The problem is, for good or for bad, the board is a revolving door! New Directors are elected every year but rather than being innovator's, and because they are the newbies, they feel it's necessary to not make waves and allow the old guard to tell them what to do! Consequently, nothing ever changes! We need strong leaders, and not just those who go-along to get-along! Just my opinion!
When running for the board, one has no idea what the job really entails. It’s not like any other business you’ve worked for, and carries a great deal of responsibility. I know of no job description for being a board member that could adequately describe just what the job entails. Add to that chasm, a complete lack of understanding as what the duties and obligations are. Right now it’s a learn as you go position, and the learning relies heavily upon what information is shared with you, once on the job. The first thing I feel is needed is a complete breakdown of the job description, including duties and responsibilities that should be expected from each board member. Running for a position that is not adequately defined is setting the candidate up for failure. Next, a training program for each newly elected member needs to be instituted as soon as possible. Expanding the program to the community would be ideal to allow for potential board members to be better equipped for the position they are running for. Training and education for each member of the board should be a no brainer. Being aware of what is really needed to be successful for the community should be an urgent priority tasked by the board for the development as soon as possible. The missing general manager, which is also going to have a huge impact on the community, paired with the turnover in the board members, is going to have huge implications for the short term. Flying by the seat of our pants is not the best way to manage a multi million dollar corporation. Until there’s a clear, actionable plan in place to make the members aware of the duties that go along with the position, the floundering will continue. How long can the community go without a definite commitment to the idea of making a better educated board? At what juncture does not having the necessary tools to create an educated board finally resonate with someone to take action? Just my thoughts and opinion. I feel the current board is doing the very best they can to support the community and the members. There’s no mistaking the efforts being put forth as wanting to make Sun City the best it can be. Is there opportunity to expand the scope of the potential candidate list just by letting potential candidates know what to expect?
Which is exactly why the system before 2006 worked so well. Committees were a constant. While some change happened, there was always a consistent and continued approach with those serving remaining for years. One of the first changes, after getting rid of a couple of committees that stood in the GM's way, was to pare down who served. Getting rid of spouses being on the same committee had a chilling impact. The argument was the pair of them had undue influence. When that wasn't good enough, we dumped more committee's and the ones that remained were neutered by ignoring their recommendations. That caused more members to quit. Just when we believe we are past that point, we saw what unfolded at the June board meeting and it was disgusting. Sorry, but actions will always be the criteria used to measure a board's direction. The June meeting with long range planning committee members angst screamed at us. The annual membership meeting screamed at us. The ad hoc bylaws committee that mysteriously became a closed door "working group" screamed at us. The decision to spend money on the North course hiring a consultant screamed at us. On the other hand, the partnership meeting with the RCSC, SCHOA and COA was excellent. The Mountain View triArc meeting was exceptional. The monthly updates about MV looks to headed in the right direction. The off the cuff meetings with the interim general manager are exceptional. Here's the key for those who struggle to understand, consider it free advice: Quit doing the wrong stuff and focus more on doing the right stuff. You know, the stuff that screams at us avoid, the stuff that is exceptional lean into. This isn't that hard. It just isn't.
It not only pertains to educating the board. How about a Master Plan that allows the board to know where the community is headed?
What about all the prior talk about "the Torch Program"? Maybe wait a while on any new building until we have a little more knowledge about the BNSF hub? Torch Brochure Updated 52424
This remark accurately reflects the exact purpose, need for tonight's gathering. Is the community (big picture Sun City) headed anywhere? Or, is the board in that unique position where they tell us where the RCSC is headed? See the disconnect? While board members lament and deflect from the problems we face as a community, the reality is everything starts with them and how they treat new arrivals to Sun City. Set us up to succeed, or set us up to fail? We used to function under a community driven basis/outcome. When we abandoned that starting in 2006, we lost the sense of community and drifted into a place where a variety of ideas from the general manager and a handful of board members knew what was best for us. Slogging our way back has been painfully slow. Tonight isn't the end of the process, it's simply the tip of the spear.
Is anyone concerned about the unknowns of BNSF Hub and how it will affect Sun City and Sun City West? There are no projections of train traffic through SC. BNSF projects the facility will create over 7,200 additional vehicle trips per day by 2028 on Grand Avenue.
The projections I see are 1592 trucks and 1142 cars per day in 2028. 50% of the trucks will go South on the 303 and 20% will go north. The remainder will continue on Grand. Thats about 20 per hour. By 2050 triple those numbers, but I would expect new construction by then.
Revised since I last read report. I don't believe anyone will have any real answers until we get closer to the end of the first phase. Plans for a new BNSF intermodal facility and logistics park in Northwest Maricopa County, near Wittmann, Arizona, have projected an increase in daily vehicle trips on Grand Avenue. Initial Phase (2028): The BNSF development is expected to generate 2,734 vehicle trips per weekday by 2028, with about 58% being trucks and 42% passenger vehicles. Full Buildout (2038): This figure is projected to rise significantly, reaching approximately 22,749 daily trips by 2038. Other estimates suggest this number could reach around 22,000 trips at full buildout. It's important to note the distinction: The original statement claimed 7,200 additional trips by 2028. However, available information suggests a lower initial number of total trips (2,734) in that timeframe. The higher figure of approximately 22,000 trips refers to the anticipated impact at full buildout, projected for 2038.
And what perception does that leave you with? Who's opinion do you suppose will take precedence, the Directors or the Members? Perhaps other than the Chair, and perhaps Co-Chair, Director guests shouldn't be allowed to comment in committee meetings at all? We clearly saw what happens in the LRPC when the committee is over influenced by the attendance of too many Directors!