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2/25/2014 10:59:40 AM
 
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Section 5: OPA Board Subject: COPE Golf Petition? Msg# 878676
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By making all amenities individual profit/loss centers the Pines altered the definition of amenity. They were never created to make money or avoid loses. They were established to make the Pines an attractive reasonable cost seasonal investment.
I don't think the idea is to make ALL amenities individual profit/loss centers, only what many call business amenities. Boise Cascade created the business amenities as a marketing tool, and essentially offered use at very low rates... in essence subsidizing them as a means to sell lots. Once those amenities were turned over to an OPA board, the issue changed somewhat. Golf, for example, did fairly well until around 2004 or so. Then things began going downhill financially due to any number of factors. The question for any business amenity becomes one of how much all association members contribute to subsidizing them. All members have traditionally subsidized all capital expenses via the depreciation included in their assessment. Those who actually use the business amenities have been asked to support the amenities operations side only. When the operations losses and capital expenses grow to some tipping point, many association members begin to wonder if the cost is worth the amenity. That's about where we are now. Steen's proposal essentially asks the board to either lease out the course and cut those costs dramatically, or go to referendum and ask association members whether or not they want to make it open space or continue funding the losses. Having association members decide seems like a fair and equitable solution to the debate. But I still don't want to lose the Pines golf course and am willing to pay whatever it costs to keep it going and providing a quality experience. "Whatever it costs" is a blank checkbook. Again, association members should make that decision via referendum. I do understand how this is a polarizing issue. |
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For reference, the above message is a reply to a message where: Joe, Thanks for your thoughts and for the web site and everything else you do. I don't think my understanding is incorrect. By making all amenities individual profit/loss centers the Pines altered the definition of amenity. They were never created to make money or avoid loses. They were established to make the Pines an attractive reasonable cost seasonal investment. And it still was when we arrived in 1998. It made sense to buy packages of amenities even if usage of every amenity didn't justify the price. Golf, tennis, pool, beach packages were the norm. You couldn't do everything but the package price was so reasonable that why not? Sure, the amenities were subsidized by the annual OPA fee, but that fee wasn't bad and still isn't. As the Pines attracted more full-time residents and many of these were younger working families with children, the tone and direction of board candidates seeking election became more focused on controlling or cutting costs and this led to the p&l basis for amenities. It's been down-hill ever since. Instead of reducing cost they've driven away most of the golfers by making the Pines golf more expensive and more difficult to get tee time. There are still lots of golfers living in the Pines but they're playing at other courses in the area that cater to their needs and pocket-books. That includes me. I'm willing to drive 35 miles round trip from the Pines to OCGC to avoid the nonsense that the Pines powers-to-be have produced. But I still don't want to lose the Pines golf course and am willing to pay whatever it costs to keep it going and providing a quality experience. I hope that someday they'll figure a way to get me to come back but like many, once the decision is made to go elsewhere, it'll take something special to get us back. |
| Calendar |
OPA Board Meeting - Golf Clubhouse
11/23/2024 - 9:00 A.M. 3 days or less away! |
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Special Board Meeting - Board Room
11/25/2024 - 7:00 P.M. 3 days or less away! |
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OPA Board Meeting - Golf Clubhouse
12/21/2024 - 9:00 A.M. |
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OPA Board Meeting - Golf Clubhouse
1/25/2025 - 9: A.M. |
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OPA Board Meeting - Golf Clubhouse
2/22/2025 - 9:00 A.M. |