GM Operations Meeting

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GM Operations Meeting Minutes (DRAFT)

Monday May 14, 2012/ 1:30pm

Lecture Hall

Directors Present: Dave Moeller, Jack Steiner, Griff Williams, Lake Westphal, Ed VanCott, Pat Canfield, Kenny Jordahl, Terry Hamman, Patricia Tomlin

Directors Elect: David Wilson, Nolan Reed, and Marion Moseley

STAFF Present: Mike Whiting, Cindy Knowlton, Katy O’Grady, and Sharon Schomer

Guest(s): James West, Kay Williams, Judy Reed, and 145 other resident guests.

The meeting was called to order by President Dave Moeller at 1:32 p.m.

The Agenda was modified to accommodate the Ceramics West appeal to the Governing Board regarding the decision by the General Manager to grant a Charter to an applicant group, Sunset Ceramics.

1.0  The minutes of the May 7, 2012 GM Operations Meeting were accepted.

2.0  General Manager Weekly Activity Report for May 14^th was deferred until after the discussion to accommodate the Ceramics West Club discussion.

3.0 Discussion Items:

3.1 Ceramics Club West Appeal and Discussion- President Moeller asked Director Canfield to read the applicable Bylaw pertaining to Charter Clubs at Bylaw 8.4.2.

Cindy Knowlton was asked to provide a brief historical review of discussions held with Ceramics West and Sunset Ceramics representatives. The review included a summary of specific areas of discussion between the Clubs in an effort to reach a compromise of accommodation. Cindy made reference to Section IV, E of the RR&P’s. The discussions yielded a two page summary listing the areas of agreement and disagreement following several meetings with Staff and representatives of each group. Following this review of efforts to reach a compromise, President Moeller recognized the first speaker, Annette Parsons, Ceramics West Vice-president.

Annette asked that the Governing Board deny the request by Sunset Ceramics to be a chartered club and the sharing of one facility. A handout of the March 16, 2012 discussion with representatives from Association Staff, Ceramics West, and Sunset Ceramics, a group seeking a Charter. Her presentation addressed issues of scheduling, monitoring hours, cameras, storage space, initiation classes, criticism, and gossip. Annette ended her presentation with a statement that her request be matter of public record as follows: Ceramics West requests that the Governing Board overturn the General Manager approval of granting a Charter to Sunset Ceramics.

Jack Martin spoke on behalf of the Sunset Ceramics proposed club members. His remarks compared the hours of operation differences, number of Directors required, monitor requirements, membership dues and member fees as compared to Ceramics West. In addition he offered comments about the several meetings held with Association Staff and Ceramics West. There were several items mentioned that the meeting had resolved in a written agreement, but that was not the case by behavior demonstrated by CW after the meeting.

Director comments/questions:

• Question regarding the use of cameras within the ceramics building. It operates about 8 hours each day and the unit records over it every week.
• Question about how widespread the use of camera is inRec.Centerbuildings or shops. Several workshops with high-risk machines, but not many other places.
• How long have cameras been in use? Since August, 2011. There has been much discussion regarding the purpose of monitoring by cameras.
• A comment of clarification about ownership of equipment used in allRec.Centerbuildings. All equipment is owned by the Rec. Centers regardless of how it was acquired.
• Who views the video tape? The CW Club President.
• Properties Committee chair mentioned that space use and allocation is under constant review.
• Chartered club competition will likely aggravate the whole situation. Competition among groups will make trust and cooperation worse, not better.
• Personality differences seem to be a matter for the members to resolve and not the Governing Board.
• The decision made by the GB will be precedent-setting. Future decisions might be required every time a personality dispute arises and that is not good.
• How many Ceramics West members attend daily? About 12-30.

Ceramics Club Member comments:

• Annette Parsons: Cameras were put in because of security pertaining to lost, misplaced or stolen materials. Two people monitor the tapes, Annette and one other person. Membership lists were missing from filing cabinets now returned. Adding audio might reduce the bickering and bad language.
• Ceramic West dues are split into several categories. Not all the $70 is for dues. Other fees were explained.
• An issue of insurance was also discussed at the meeting with Cindy and Earl Mackert.
• One resident spoke about being a member of both groups and that her thoughts were that there are strong personalities on both sides and they need to resolve this issue for the betterment of both groups.
• Numerous other residents spoke of a long history of discontent and personality conflicts. More information was shared about the matter of supplies and other products seeming to disappear. Another resident spoke about being a “boomer” whose mother has done ceramics for more than 25 years. Separating the two groups is not an option in her opinion. Twenty more people spoke during member comments, but their remarks had been covered or reinforced previous speakers.
• President Moeller reminded those present that the GB could choose one of three ways to address this matter.

1. Grant the second Charter
2. Vote not to grant a second Charter
3. Revoke current Charter

Closing Director Comments:

• The Governing Board will make a decision

Director Pat Canfield concluded the hearing at 3:20pm.

3.0  General Manager Weekly Report: The agenda was picked up at this point with the suggestion that, due to the late hour, the report be circulated to the Directors and on the website. If Directors had questions about topics covered in the report, to direct them to Mike.

3.2 Discussion of Palm Ridge Tennis/Pickleball courts. Director comments were invited about this topic.

• Questions were asked about the process of voting and whether the recommendation from the General Manager can be modified. There will be more discussion of alternatives motions.

Member Comments:

• Comments were offered about the court usage statistics. Cindy Knowlton offered an explanation on how the data was, and is, collected after the new software was installed.
• What’s going on here?  I hear from a Director that there is new information about court use. Can that information be circulated to honor the promise of transparency? We will find a way to make the hand written information available.
• A question about the cost of any sound wall being included in the budget.
• A handout regarding Pro-bounce versus Post-tension concrete was distributed comparing costs for each. Projected costs showed a large cost-avoidance in the out years of nearly $1,000,000.
• Are we just “kicking-the-can” down the road with the dual-use of the Palm Ridge courts?
• Tennis was here and I do not understand why this decision needs to be made now. I would encourage deferring the decision until there is a more detailed outline of design and costs.
• Question regarding a new matter of a “Pickleball Gathering Spot”? Rumors are that with the conversion of Tennis to Pickleball, there would also be a gathering place built. No! That is pure rumor.

3.3 Budget and Finance Committee Recommendations: The recommendations are acknowledged. Thanks to the committee for their work.

4.0  New Business and Open Discussion: None

5.0  Director Comments: None

6.0  Resident Comments: None

7.0  The meeting adjourned at 4:30pm and reconvened in the Governing Board Conference room into Executive Session as indicated on the Agenda to hear a report regarding legal advice from the Association attorney. The Executive Session was ended and the General Manager Operations Meeting reconvened in the Lecture Hall.

The meeting adjourned at 5:20pm.

Jack Steiner, Secretary RCSCW