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New look Recreation Centers of Sun City management team?

Committee suggests changes in structure

Posted 7/16/20

The Recreation Centers of Sun City Board of Directors will study the possibility of making changes to the corporation’s management structure.

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New look Recreation Centers of Sun City management team?

Committee suggests changes in structure

Posted

The Recreation Centers of Sun City Board of Directors will study the possibility of making changes to the corporation’s management structure.

The board’s Long Range Planning Committee presented some suggestions for changes during the June meeting. But the board tabled the recommendations to a future date.

Board Treasurer Sue Wilson suggested tabling the committee’s reorganization suggestions until after an as yet unscheduled board planning session where management could provide financial information regarding the proposals. The board approved her motion unanimously.

Resident Karen Scheurmann asked if the planning meeting would be public.

“Yes, all board, except executive session, meetings are open to the public,” said Dan Schroeder, RCSC board president.

He added notice for the session, when scheduled, will be made.

Gary Osier, Long Range Planning Committee member, said during his presentation the committee looked at various organizations’ structures in forming recommendations. He said one of the first things the committee decided was the RCSC board is reactionary instead of being strategic. One of the problems he sees in the existing structure is there is no management position dedicated to strategic planning and strategic planning was not part of the general manager’s job description.

“One problem was solved when you assigned the assistant general manager to be the project manager, to oversee all projects,” Mr. Osier said. “But now the assistant GM has to do the project manager and his own work.”

The committee believed contractor and construction planning expertise limitations could lead to higher project costs. While the LRP is tasked with long term planning, the group has limited access to information and communication with the board and management, according to Mr. Osier.

The committee’s recommendations would subtract some positions from the management team, but it would also add some. Mr. Osier said the committee believes its recommended changes would help make RCSC more efficient.

The group recommended adding a chief executive officer that reports to the board and would oversee strategic planning. A CEO would provide greater strategic emphasis both financially and functionally, according to Mr. Osier. The existing general manager position would be a chief operations officer and oversee operations and maintenance. There would also be a chief financial officer, a position that currently exists under the title director of finance. An added chief operating officer would focus solely on operations and maintenance, according to Mr. Osier.

The committee also recommended adding a planning division to the corporate structure. It also believes spiltting the golf and grounds position, with the separate managers to oversee a golf division and an environments services division.

“Adding a planning division would mean dramatic savings in the long term,” Mr. Osier said.

Other advantages to restructuring, according to the committee include keeping up with changes in the senior community industry, better management of preservation and improvement funds at the project level, better use of LRP input, improve quality and consistency of golf courses and help an aging Sun City stay competitive and relevant.

However, he agreed detailed study would be needed to see if the recommendations would be within the RCSC budget. One board member believes it would not.

“Just adding a CEO position would increase everyone’s fees by $20 per year,” Rich Hoffer said.

He asked Mr. Osier if any Long Range Planning Committee members attended Golf Advisory Committee of Greens Committee meetings. Mr. Osier said they had not.

“If you had you would see that some of the things you are recommending we are already doing,” Mr. Hoffer said.

But board Vice President Dale Lehrer, LRP Committee chairwoman, believed the board should look at the organizational structure as changes are looming.

“There is a loss coming up,” she said. “We have a great general manager who will retire in the near future and I see this as a great opportunity.”

She believes some of the elements of the committee’s recommendations could be included in a restructuring.

However, Mr. Hoffer expressed some disappointment in the presentation, hinting that it was a bit outside of the committee’s charge.

“The goal in 2017 was for the Long Range Planning Committee to look down the road among the generation Xers and millinials to find the next best amenity, like was done with pickleball,” he said. “I haven’t seen that with this committee.”