Letter To the Editor...

Last week the Independent newspaper printed a Letter to the Editor I had sent them. I won't post it here, but suffice to say it probably angered some of the board and staff at the RCSC. Not sure why because it was the same thing I have been saying for the past two plus years. I never agreed with the decision to make the long range planning committee an ad hoc, rather than a standing committee; and in fact voted against it.

The stimulus for the letter came from last weeks Member/Board exchange meeting where another two million plus dollars was added to the PIF budget by the board. The money was attached to the Willowbrook/Willowcrrek renovations and brought the ten year totals (2010-2020) spent on golf into the 30 million dollar range.

But the letter wasn't even critical or challenging to the whole question of investing in golf's future, but the lack of resident involvement. Historically the long range planning committee has had a voice in those kinds of decisions. And let's be clear, they never made the final choices, but could only make recommendations to the board to consider.

My plea to the board was to reinstate the long range planning committee. Nothing sinister or subversive, just common sense. I don't want to belabor or lengthen either the point or the post, so I will cut it off here and come back with some logical reasons for doing so.

Feel free to join in.

 

I see no one is climbing aboard so let me continue. Here is exactly why i believe we need reinstate the Long Range Planning Committee: For the past 20 years or more some people have been clamoring for a theater for the performing arts. Typically it has been the Sun City Players but others from musical groups to those wanting a movie theater setting have lobbied for it.

Obviously it hasn't gotten very far as the board has always struggled with a one dimensional use building. So here's where the question of committee involvement becomes more interesting; the boomers are our target market as potential home buyers and they bring a unique perspective to this question.

We know many boomers will continue to work. We know for many, golf hasn't been a sport that is necesarrily appealing, primarily due to costs and time constraints. We know boomers grew up going to concerts and spending ridiculous amounts of money to see that entertainment (because it was an every now-and-then event and didn't take away huge amounts of their time).

We also know entertainment in Sun City has become immensely popular with near record crowds for both the free shows (at the Sun Bowl) and for the paid programs (at Sundial). In fact the pay shows are selling out and even turning a small profit. How cool is that.

But easily the best outcome is all of the positive comments as people are leaving those shows; how much they love Sun City and what a great choice they made to buy here. The entertaiment in Sun City has left other age restricted communities in our dust and we are once again setting standards for others to try and reach.

Which brings it back full circle on this question regarding Long Range Planning and reinstating it. As i have said, perhaps spending 30 million dollars on golf might be a wise decision, but we won't know that for years. What we do know now is we could use improved venues (if nothing else better sound systems) with even a solid discussion on a large indoor theater that could serve multiple purpose.

Don't you just hate when logic enters the fray?

 

I was one of the folks who voted to disband the LRP committee. The tail had started to wag the dog. It felt to this board member the committee was dictating to the board what direction to take things in. In my honest opinion, there was too much demand placed upon the board by the LRP, and I truly feel it was because there were too many ex-board of directors leading the group. Too much ego, commands for reports not salient to the mission of the LRP, and frankly, got way off point of the task at hand.

Now, in hindsight, I see a great need to have the LRP committee back in place, as there appears to be a focus that has gone well beyond just repairing irrigation. The moving of projects around in a willy-nilly fashion, with no oversight by any group, is positively scary.

What happened to having meetings with the stakeholders, the residents of Sun City, in order to stay apprised of what is important? None of those happening? At least the LRP kept the pulse.

There should have been a move to redirect the efforts and energies of those members instead of getting rid of the committee because one doesn’t like the members or the direction they were taking. What happened to holding meetings to stay in contact with the membership and their thoughts about all of the monies being spent on “irrigation” needs.

The whole “process” of which committees stayed, left, or became ad hoc was awfully selective and timed to precision. Played better than a finely tuned Stradivarius.

I don’t think there is anyone on the current board that would understand the mission and its importance to the RCSC to actually research why the Long Range Planning Committee is needed, and the strategic part it plays in the role and scope of the RCSC. If it were to be brought back, keep the former directors to a minimum, going instead with the regular folk of the community as to allow clarification of true needs versus setting personal agendas for self gratification. Now that it takes a vote of the board of directors to be a member of a committee, the board has a way to bring back a committee that is well worth the effort it puts in, and with the vote of the board to add members to a standing committee, keep the characters out of the mix.

And Bill, another step into the fray.

 

Here's the Letter to the Editor Emily:
It’s Time….
I went to the RCSC board member exchange the other day and found it strange sitting on the other side of the aisle. For the past three years I sat and listened as members expressed their concerns. No question, it was different.

I added nothing to the meeting in the way of commentary, but I came away frustrated. When I heard comments regarding the increase in the Long Range Plan by more than 2 million dollars for the Willowbrook/Willowcreek project I was stunned. Then I found out it was decided at a “board work session” I became even more incensed.

That makes a 10 year total (2010-2020) of more than 30 million dollars spent on golf courses from the PIF; staggering numbers by anyone’s standards. And of course the answer always is as long as we have to do irrigation we may as well throw another 2 to 3 million into the rest of the course.

But that’s not even the reason for my discontent. Perhaps its money well spent, perhaps not. The real angst comes because those decisions are and have been made by a handful. I voted against the dismantling of the long range planning committee and still feel it is a travesty it’s now an adhoc committee…simply sitting in limbo.

It’s time to reinstate the long range planning committee. It’s time to let the community have a voice in our future. It’s time to aggressively look to the changes coming our way as we find more buyers still working with less free time. It’s time to come to understand Sun City was never shaped by a board of nine but by a community of people who cared and want to be involved.

Sun City is a very special place; a community where those who want to can get involved and make a difference. Shutting people out or up is a mistake and one this board can remedy quickly and without a lot of fanfare.

And so we are clear; committees can only make recommendations. The ultimate decisions will still be made by the board. As a board member I always wanted input, but without knowing what people want or being willing to listen to them we cut ourselves short.
Simply put…it’s time to reinstate the long range planning committee.
Bill Pearson.

 

Hey "Amber" great to see you back. The Long Range Planning Committee has always been a place where people with an agenda gravitate to. Nothing wrong with that, as long as everyone understands any decisions will be made by the board. I watched in dismay as the last LRPC seemed almost to have a disconnect from the board...but in fairness I would place more of the blame on the board rather than the committee. They begged to have more board interaction with them.

In any event, the bigger concern for me was that less than 25% of the long range planning funds were within the purview of the long range planning committee. I recall vividly how in my first year 75% of the PIF budget was already allocated to golf. And as you pointed out, it started with the argument we needed address irrigation and water distribution and when we were done, we were doing whole course renovations. And that still seems to be the direction we are headed in.

You know my sentiments are grounded in community involvement. I don't care if it's town hall meetings, surveys or reinstating the long rang planning committee. We absolutely need to get a handle on the future of this community; how the trends in retirement are going to impact us in the coming years. There's no question it will, the bigger concern is how much?

Sun City is just too big to ignore those who want to be involved. You and I both know the commitment it takes to be on the board and with all due respect to those there now, they need to think bigger picture.

 

I guess I'll jump in....and then jump out quickly!

The Long Range Planning Committee was just one of those “feel good” committees. The members put in many hours and represented a broad section of the Sun City Community. It seems the only major things that were accomplished was getting a Marinette overhaul and saving Oakmont Center with its lawn bowling in it's historic form.

After the many hours of meetings, discussion and research (with virtually no interaction with the Board of Directors or RCSC Management) the Committee was told that there were no funds to carry out any additional plans that were suggested. The golf courses all needed money to complete their projects and it was required in part by the state water conservation regulations. We could accept the need to re-do the wells but not all the additional add-ons. The other item not revealed to the committee during all the planning was the huge solar project and the need to pay it off within a certain time frame.

A multi-use performance center was high on the list of desired projects. Wouldn't it be nice to sit in comfy chairs for a Board Meeting, informative seminars or performance? A re-do of the South Golf Course Pro Shop and Snack Shop should have been done when that golf course was improved. It should not be pushed so far back as it would be a great place to stop after attending daytime functions at Fairway.

So Bill, the Long Range Planning Committee is just volunteer time spent discussing future plans without having all the information. When the “living” plan is announced, it is just as much a surprise to the LRP Committee as it is to the cardholders.

 

Okay, so we all have fond memories of what the LRPC was. How does anyone get the current boards attention to even look at the prospect of building a new LRPC? The same reasoning that caused its demise to ad hoc, is still in place. The processes used could be used again to convince the current board not to bring the committee back. We know committees and foundations can be transformed into useful, working, fulfilling ventures with the right persons involved, and clear goals and guidelines. How does one get into the inner sanctum to press forward for the return of the committee, with a clear purpose, and desired goals? Staging a “sit-in” is out of the question, knees hurt to bad to sit on the ground with the old legs folded holding a sign that says “LRPC NOW”.

 

I see no sense in trying to bring back a Long Range Planning Committee. The RCSC Management and Board of Directors have all the facts and figures to make the plan. The place where information can be gathered and possibly do some good is the Member Communication and Outreach Committee. If they are given the proper tools and support, valuable input from present and future Sun City homeowners can be gotten.

 

Please no flames, I'm just voicing opinion from the outside looking in as a potential future community member.

I see plenty of reason to have a long range planning committee. The board should be focused on the here and now and slightly into the future and then have a committee that provides them input from folks like me who plan to make Sun City home in a few years. The member comm and outreach committee should be focused on the current members of community, but I suppose they could have a charter for long range outlook.

Sort of like the HOA we live in now. The board focuses on the budget and plans for pool repairs, etc. We have a welcoming committee that plans pool parties and such. I run the design review committee so the board does not have to think about that. The committees report back to the board and ultimately it is the boards decision, but having focused committees allows the board to focus on running the community and getting ideas from committees.

I think a long range committee could focus on what Sun City should be in 10-20 years and beyond. What will my 40 year old son want when he retires, I don't know and neither does the board. I seriously doubt the board has time to think beyond about 5 years out. For instance, does it make sense to have 9 water hungry golf courses when you live in a desert and there has been a 10 plus year drought? Maybe it does, I don't know, I am not a golfer.

I just think a committee that looks far into the future will give the board members something things to consider as they work to make Sun City a place that will still be attractive to retirees 20, 30, 50 years from now.

 

That is the point of having a LRPC, to look at things for the future, give it a value, and add it to the list of things to be done in a timely manner. Not all of it can be done, and there are times when emergencies occur that change the plans all together. To have the needs of the infrastructure meet the needs of the residents in a timely manner for the future, both long and short term. The long range planning committee was around even as the board members transitioned, it was the constant in an ever changing tide of board members. In a way these people were the keepers of the plan, and once the plan was thought to be finalized the committee was disbanded. As Bill said, too much to look at and forward to which the LRPC needs to be involved in.

Just as an FYI for you Bruce, the golf courses will always be golf courses no matter what. This is how Del Webb deeded the property to the RCSC. So despite the dying game and the lack of water, golf courses will continue to be a major part of Sun City. Not a golfer here either.

 

Good discussion and one I think is on point as we move forward. Bruce hit the nail on the head; I'm not looking at the old conventional LRPC, I'm seeing more of a group of free thinkers (open minded) who are willing to look long term at the needs of the community and what and how we prepare to fill them. Anyone can say spend money here or there, but for the long run, are we spending it in the rights places?

On the front page of todays Independent was a story about small clubs and organizations struggling to maintain membership and find officers. There was the standard quote about "everyone knows boomers aren't joiners." If that's true, Sun City is dead. Our community was built on joining and without it, we are just another city struggling to pay the bills.

Frankly I don't buy the quote, because what we know is they tend to join in different ways. For many of them it isn't a lifetime commitment. There's volumes of information, stats and surveys out there that would provide windows to the future. The only question is are we willing to look through them so as to begin to shape the community for the challenges we will be facing.

I see this kind of long range planning being a resource for the board and staff to make smart(er) decisions. We tend to operate on what we need today rather than on what will we need in the coming years. No question we need take care of today, but with the amount of monies coming through the PIF, there's room there to be more proactive for tomorrow's needs.

 

I was pleased to see that the vote on the new long range "golf course improvement" plan was not unanimous. I'm not sure how Director Peter Lee who was absent would have voted. It is good that the LRP is a living document so it can be changed based on current needs and information.

Keep in mind that the massive golf course renovations, the solar project and the $850,000 sign projects were never part of the discussions for the Long Range Planning Committee a 3-4 years ago.