Jun 11, 2012
Recreation Centers
Of Sun City West, Inc.
INTER-OFFICE
MEMORANDUM:
Date: June 11, 2012
To: Dave Moeller, RCSCW Governing Board
From: Mike Whiting, General Manager
Subject: Activity Report– 06/11/12
General Services:
1. Computer training offered by the Data Resource Center on using Facebook and Kindle e-Readers has been well received by residents.
2. Interviews for the Membership Specialist position have been concluded and by the end of this week we expect to make a decision on the candidate that will replace Marie upon her retirement.
3. The redesign of the E-News Letter has been very well received. The majority of the comments we’ve received stated that governing and reference documents are much easier to find.
Facility Projects:
4. The stem wall has been constructed on the Grandview Cart Barn. A special inspection along with a County inspection will be called for before grout can be poured in the stem wall. Once grout has been poured work will begin on the slab prep work and the fire riser underground fittings will be set in place. Once this has been completed there will be another special inspection and County inspection before the slab can be poured. The slab is expected to be poured on Monday or Tuesday of next week.
5. American Asphalt will begin the Slurry Seal to the back side of the Kuentz parking lot on June 19th and will be striped on June 20th. They will then return on July 23rd to apply seal coat and stripe on July 24th.
Facility Maintenance:
6. The majority of asphalt repairs have been completed at RH Johnson, Beardsley, Trail Ridge and Deer Valley location. Repair work at the Kuentz Facility remains to be done and will begin on June 19th.
7. Modifications to the Governing Board Conference Room which includes ceiling work will begin July.
Recreation
8. 280 people attended our Pool Party on Friday, June 8th.
9. Our Summer Series Events begin on June 18th and 19th. Ticket sales are going strong.
10. Our 4th of July Celebration takes place at Palm Ridge on that Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. Music will be performed by MC6,
Sports Pavilion:
11. We have sold 57 VIP Passes to date for the Johnson Lanes which is over twice as many as we estimated.
12. 90- bowlers participated in our Father’s Day Red Pin Tournament held this past Saturday.
Environmental Services:
13. Pebblebrook Golf Course is closed this Thursday through Sunday (June 14th – 17th) for fairway aerification.
14. Stardust Golf Course reopened today following aerification and fertilization.
15. Transition is coming along very well at Deer Valley and Echo Mesa Golf Courses. The grass is looking very good.
16. Golf Now continues to book unused tee times; most have been at Grandview but activity at Trail Ridge and Pebblebrook have also started to pick up.
RH Johnson Library:
17. TheArabia3D Movie was attended by approximately 260 people. Executive Producer Hugh Renfro gave an introductory talk and took questions from the audience.
18. More people are joining the Community Puzzle that was started at 9 a.m. this past Friday. Several others have come to watch. The DNS and SCW Independent have been at the Library to cover this event twice.
Upcoming RECREATION Events – JUNE:
Mon June 18 ONE HEART, Summer Series 7 pm, Stardust Theatre,
Tickets now on sale at the Admn. Box Office.
Tues June 19 ONE HEART, Summer Series 7 pm, Stardust Theatre,
Tickets now on sale at the Admn. Box Office.
Wed July 4th Fourth of July Celebration, featuring MC 6 Accapella
Singers, 2 pm, Palm Ridge – Free Event
Thanks for your comments, Jim. With the VIP program, a customer can buy a $35 card and then bowl as many games as they want at the price of $1.25 compared to the regular price of $2.35 or $2.75. Card is valid during May through August.
I would like to suggest that items in the RSCW are sometimes lacking in detail. Such as VIP passes for bowling. I am a snowbird and do not have direct access to info other than this enewsletter. What is a VIP pass? I know, its nitpicking. Other than that I really appreciate this method of keeping up with whats happening in SCW. I was especially interested with the restaurant change. I think it was a good move. It seemed as if the present operation was not efficient and was losing patronage due to slow service.
The tone has certainly changed and is a welcome one. I’ll do my best and apologize to anyone if I came across to them as “negative”. I only hope that when one reads that there is not enough money in a budget for removing a dead tree that you would naturally figure there would be little money for cart barns, new pavement, speed bumps, new meeting facilities, eateries and the like as well. Perhaps scaling back expenditures on SOME items would allow for removing a few failing trees? I am one who thinks (perhaps the ONLY one?) that “saving” money is only ONE way of having something left once the checkbooks close.
I may be the only one that is forced to live within my means in SCW, but I don’t have the option of raising my income to suit my outgo. When my “needs” outweigh my “wants” I am forced to either get creative, work longer hours or do without. That’s not the case around town. Perhaps it should be? I hope that doesn’t come across as crass or have negative connotations. The sjy still remains blue and the clouds overhead are few. Another good day.
Hi again Greg. We don’t mind criticism. But we do want a positive communication flow. Yes, we do spend a significant amount of money to keep the Association in good shape. But it’s not an inordinate amount and it’s quite in line with what other Associations spend. We are 30+ years old, which means we have some long-term infrastructure costs we need to start covering that newer communities like Festival won’t have to think about for a couple of decades.
The cart barn was needed because outside play, which brings in about $1.5 million a year, is one of the few growth areas we’re seeing in golf (the others are retail sales and the golf academy). We are running out of carts for these golfers, who pay a premium. We had to turn several players away this last season. With more carts, we can accommodate more of them, and the carts will soon pay for themselves and increase that outside play revenue. It will also open opportunities for more tournaments, such as the LPGA. We had to rent carts for the LPGA because we did not have enough in house.
The Board listens. Take, for example, members’ concerns about the Governing Board Conference Room expansion. That project has been scaled way back to a simple interior renovation and new table set up to make better use of the space; the whole idea is to accommodate more people like yourself who might want to come to the meetings and share your thoughts and ideas. I hope you will continue to communicate your ideas and questions with us, and we will do our best to answer them. But please, help us keep them constructive.
While I appreciate both the helpful support and the hurtful criticism, it would seem to me that my comments were much less than appreciated by whomever responded from the RCSCW. Since they have not used their name (as is their normal practice) in their response, I have no way of directing my reply to anyone specific. I would like to say that after spending (spending and SPENDING) money and more money on surveys and improvements and both necessary and unnecessary “things” (like surveys)nothing seems to slow down the “spend, spend, spend” mentality of this Board! The golf cart parking garage currently under construction is but one example. Golf play is down, so build garages? The Independent reports today that RCSCW are pulling golf priviledges (the one thing they have excess of and are unable to sell) from those volunteers (I’m not one of them) that help the coarses run smoothly. Next, they’ll be HIRING assistants and PAYING them while golf rounds lay dead and unused (more than they do now?). We ask that they “LISTEN” and they say “We will”… and it’s business as usual… year after year… after year. (They won’t print this, but since it’s MY money they continue spending and increasing, I thought “What the heck?”. Give it a shot.) It’s abundantly clear to this poster that RCSCW want only those views that favor and support their agenda. “Redirect” me??? I think I get your drift (as may others!).
I agree with Ronnie. This is all about communication. RCSCW in the response to Greg did a very poor and I might add very spiteful retort to him. While Greg probably could have stated his position differently, RCSCW in no way should have responded the away they did. RCSCW may want to ‘set the stage’, but remember there are nearly 30,000 dues paying members who have a right to express their opinion. Where are the adults in the room.
Hi Ronni. We are not trying to be rude and we really do encourage discourse and contributions on this blog from our members. We don’t even mind criticism, as long as it is meant to offer realistic alternatives or helpful ideas. Greg’s comments were not in that vein, and our response is meant to redirect him. We want to set the stage for constructive criticism, helpful ideas, honest questions and the like.
Is it really necessary to be rude to “Greg?” People won’t post here if they feel they will be treated poorly. A post such as Greg’s points out the frustration some of our residents have with how they view the Association’s spending. This venue is the place where these folks can be better educated as opposed to scolded and treated with contempt. Remember, the name of the game is communication!
Hi Greg,
It’s clear from your comments that you have concerns with the way the Rec Centers is budgeting and prioritizing its various projects. We hope that means you attended and contributed to our budget forums a couple months ago, and let your Governing Board Directors know how you felt and where you believe the money should be spent. We certainly could spend much of it to cut down dead trees at Stardust. Would you suggest moving our golf course crews away from other projects and dedicating them solely to cutting down dead trees, to the detriment of other course work? Or do we hire on new staff just to accomplish this task? We’ve chosen to work it in as a mid-level priority as we’ve had time, to keep costs and staff levels down. We’re sorry you disagree with that decision. Yes, we have spent money on fitness center expansions and we plan to spend $700,000 on parking lot repairs as we begin to look at long-term infrastructure needs. This community is 33 years old, and much of its infrastructure (wells, parking lots, irrigation lines, etc) are at least that old. These kinds of repairs and maintenance aren’t very exciting and they may not be a priority to you, but they are necessary for the long-term maintenance of our properties, not to mention keeping our facilities safe for those who use them.
If you have suggestions on how you’d like to see your Association operate, and you’d like to express those in a constructive way, we’d be more than open to hearing and considering them. If you simply want to take pot shots for the fun of it or rile up discontent just for the sake of making people angry, we will not post those comments. Thank you in advance for understanding.
Way to go Clarence!! My question would be “How much does it cost to cut down a dead tree?” I’ll do it. Face it, their priorities are to keep the Strike Zone looking formidable. That’s where they’re spending their money. There and to pave a parking lot to the tune of $700,000.00. You ask them to cut down a dead tree??? They just expanded and reopened a fitness center once all the snowbirds left and you want a dead tree removed??? THERE’S NO MONEY IN THE BUDGET!!!!
Thank you for your comments Mr. Dunn. We are aware there are some dead and drying trees at Stardust. We have been removing some of them over the last couple of years as budget and time allows. Unfortunately it does take time. We will be more aggressive about it thus summer as we have more time.
Why is the Stardust golf looks like a third class with all of the dead and dying trees. I have been trying to have them removed for three years . I am always told that they are not in the budget. If it was any other golf course they would be removed.Maybee we should stop expanding and take care of what we have