RCSC GM: "Outsiders" not the problem

More than 90 percent of the complaints that "outsiders" at Sun City recreation centers behave inappropriately and mistreat facilities are unfounded, an RCSC official said Thursday.

Management for the Recreation Centers of Sun City has been receiving numerous false reports of membership violations lately, so many that General Manager Jan Ek felt the need to clarify the rules. At Thursday's board of directors meeting, Ek delivered a lengthy explanation of what the community's age requirements are and why, the overwhelming majority of the time, reports of misdeeds are inaccurate.

Because Sun City's age overlay allows for people as young as 19 to live in the community, provided they are living with someone 55 or older, Ek said cardholders should not immediately assume a rule is being broken.

"If you see someone who is under 55, it is an inappropriate conclusion to assume that the person is an outsider," Ek said. "They are more than likely a cardholder or the guest of a cardholder."

Ek said the management office takes every report of rules violations seriously, but the number of reports that pan out is low.

"Over 90 percent of the cases reported about inappropriate behavior, attire, or improper treatment of our facilities by outsiders, when investigated, are not outsiders at all," Ek said.

Ek also reminded those in attendance that, because the age overlay is written into the Sun City CC&R's, authority to deal with violations lies with the Sun City Home Owners Association, not the RCSC.

"Though we believe the age requirements are vital to the success of our community, the RCSC has no ability to enforce those rules," Ek said.

Economic concerns also have forced the RCSC to explore other revenue options, Ek said, including allowing outsiders to play golf and bowl.

"When I came here in 2000, I was told by the board to eliminate the net operating deficit in bowling, golf and food service," Ek said. "However, usage by our membership both for golf and bowling has gone down over the years, and we were forced to come up with a way to maintain revenue."

Ek said raising rates for membership likely would have caused membership to decline even faster, and the only other reasonable option was to allow outside play.

"Unsold tee times is revenue we will never recover," Ek said. "By allowing outsiders to play during times when our residents are not, we can keep the costs low for our cardholders and maintain the services they are accustomed to."

Ek said outside players are helping to keep operations financially viable, and that reports of rules violations should be carefully considered.

"These people playing on our courses allows cardholders to enjoy our facilities without having to bear the brunt of the financial costs," Ek said.

"Expenses are going up and we need the extra revenue to compensate for that."