Members press board on GM petition, fees, golf upkeep and Mountain View during packed Sun City meeting

More than 1,700 people attended the annual membership meeting of the Recreation Centers of Sun City, Incorporated (RCSC), and dozens used a three-minute speaker slot in the public-comment period to press the board on several recurring themes: a petition aimed at the general manager, rising recreation fees, golf-course maintenance and overseed timing, Mountain View facility planning and theater seating, visitor/guest rules, and concerns about financial transparency.

Petition to remove general manager: Jean Totten, who identified herself as a member and submitted the packet, said she brought “signed petitions from over 1,200 members” requesting removal of the general manager. Totten told the board the petitioners hoped to prompt action beyond election results; she framed the packet as members speaking through signatures rather than votes.

Fees and finances: Multiple speakers questioned recent and proposed increases in RCSC recreation fees. One member noted annual fee increases in recent years, said the community’s demographics are changing and urged broader outreach for meetings. Others pressed for more detailed financial transparency. Treasurer Anita Borski and other board members repeatedly explained high-level budget figures during the meeting: Director Borski said the organization’s year-end net position showed a small operational variance (“we overspent our budget by less than $10,000”), while other members cited an earlier surplus and said a December-to-December deficit (including depreciation and other accounting items) was larger. Members asked for clearer footnotes and accounting explanations that separate operating results from PIF/SIF reserve and capital flows.

Golf course maintenance and overseeding: Several speakers and a board director discussed poor turf conditions after overseeding. Ron Maisel described multiple courses as “horrible” and urged investigation; Director Preston Kais acknowledged problems with the first round of overseed and said the operation has been revised for next year to overseed fewer courses at a time for consistency and to allow flexibility around temperature.

Mountain View and performing arts space: Members and performing-arts volunteers urged the board to preserve or upgrade Mountain View and to provide a usable performing-arts venue. Sun City Players and other speakers requested comfortable fixed seating and accessibility; others said multiuse configurations remain important for dance and community activities. Vice President Christine Netesign and Director Rick Gray said a Triarch presentation about Mountain View would be held March 18 for members to hear options and ask questions.

Guest policy, pools, fire response fees and other concerns: Neil Hendrickson asked that the 75-mile guest restriction be reviewed; staff said bylaws and guest policies will be examined by the ad hoc bylaws committee. Mary Dolman Schauber reported a proposed fee for some emergency fire responses of about $350 and urged the board to engage the fire department; Director Gray explained the fire district is facing revenue pressure because of shrinking taxable property rolls and increased service demand. Other comments included requests for improved tennis-court resurfacing, pool-area maintenance to keep runoff and debris out of filtration systems, better volunteer recruitment and more meetings scheduled at times that working residents can attend.

Tone and turnout: Speakers expressed a range of views. Some urged civility and patience with board work; others accused board members of insufficient transparency or poor decisions. Several members urged more active outreach, including weekend or evening meeting times and improved email/postal notice for large-membership events. Multiple board members encouraged participation on committees to address concerns.

Ending: The meeting closed after the public-comment period; the board encouraged members to attend follow-up sessions (including the March 18 Triarch Mountain View presentation and future exchange meetings) and reminded members that the ad hoc bylaws committee will review guest and bylaw issues raised in comments.