The Recreation Centers of Sun City, Inc. (RCSC) is a private, non-profit corporation which owns and operates approximately $90M of recreational and social facilities in Sun City AZ. RCSC manages a $20M annual budget and employs approximately 350 employees, both full- and part-time. Around 65% of RCSC employees are Sun City residents.
The Recreation Centers of Sun City include the following facilities:
- 7 Recreation Centers – (over 400,000 sq. ft. under roof)
- 8 Golf Courses – (1,100 acres)
- 5 Snack Shops (located at the golf courses)
- 2 Bowling Centers (Lakeview 24 lanes, Bell 16 lanes)
- 2 Cafés (leased & located in the bowling centers)
- Sun Bowl (open-air amphitheater)
- Viewpoint Lake (33 acre man-made lake)
- Duffeeland (dog park)
2. What is the Recreation Center of Sun City’s (RCSC’s) mission?
While all Sun City AZ residents are not RCSC Cardholders and therefore may not be able to use the recreational and social facilities offered by the Recreation Centers of Sun City, it is the mission of RCSC to provide for all Sun City residents (should they choose to participate) the broadest range of recreational and social facilities possible to enhance their active lifestyle and well-being.
RCSC operates seven recreation centers (Mountain View, Fairway, Oakmont, Lakeview, Sundial, Bell and Marinette), eight golf courses with five snack shops (South, Quail Run, North, Lakes East/West, Riverview, Willowbrook/Willowcreek), two bowling centers (Lakeview and Bell), two full-service restaurants which are leased (Georges’ Lakeview Cafe at Lakeview Lanes and Memo’s Bistro at Bell Lanes), one outdoor amphitheater (Sun Bowl), softball field, a 33-acre man-made lake (Viewpoint) and Duffeeland dog park.
The Recreation Centers of Sun City (RCSC) does not regulate or monitor private residences, streets, or medians in Sun City AZ. Streets and medians are maintained by Maricopa County, although our local volunteer group, the P.R.I.D.E.S., certainly assist in the maintenance of the medians and the appearance of our community. RCSC is commonly mistaken as a governmental entity possibly because Sun City AZ is not a city but an unincorporated part of Maricopa County.
5. What is the RCSC Board’s fiduciary duty?
The Recreation Centers of Sun City, Inc. (RCSC) Board of Directors (Board) is bound by law to uphold its fiduciary duty. The law imposes fiduciary duty to ensure that power is exercised conscientiously. The RCSC Board of Director’s fiduciary duty requires it to act in the best interests and for the benefit of the corporation, thus the community as a whole. This fiduciary duty has two components: one, to act within the Board’s authority and two, to apply the business judgment rule. The business judgment rule asserts if a board has exercised reasonable business judgment in making a decision, the board is not consider negligent in its fiduciary duty. A board is not liable if they have practiced the business judgment rule even if the decision turns out to have been a poor one. The business judgment rule also requires the Board of Directors to exercise the duty of care and the duty of undivided loyalty.
6. What is RCSC Management’s role?
The Recreation Centers of Sun City’s (RCSC) management is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the corporation and enforcing the Restated Articles of Incorporation, Corporate Bylaws, Board Policies and any and all rules and regulations of the corporation, commonly referred to as the corporate documents. Management has the authority and responsibility to implement policies, procedures, rules and regulations covering day-to-day operations and personnel provided that such are compatible with the corporate documents.
7. Who regulates private residences?
Though not a part of the Recreation Centers of Sun City (RCSC), the Sun City Homeowner Association (SCHOA) and respective condominium associations are responsible for enforcing the deed restrictions on non-commercial properties in Sun City AZ. Although membership in SCHOA is not mandatory, it is a known fact that the upkeep and appearance of residential properties affects property values. SCHOA and each individual condo association works to ensure that the community does not decline in its appeal among both current homeowners as well as prospective future residents and works to foster an environment of unity, harmony and cooperation among residents.
8. What are Sun City’s age restrictions (Federal Age Overlay)?
Sun City AZ is an active adult community; the age limitation is built into the deed restrictions under the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 and the Arizona Fair Housing Act, collectively known as the Fair Housing Acts. At least one occupant of each residential unit must be 55 years of age or older and no person under 19 years of age shall occupy or reside in a residential unit for more than 90 days in any 12 month period. The Sun City Homeowners Association enforces the age restrictions and reports to the appropriate governmental agencies.
9. Can golf carts really be driven on the streets in Sun City?
Yes. Golf carts, which must be licensed and registered with the Arizona Department of Motor Vehicles, can be driven on all streets within Sun City AZ with a speed limit less than 35 mph. Many residents use golf carts as a less expensive means of transportation to the grocery store, medical appointments and the like.
10. What is a Recreational Centers of Sun City (RCSC) Member?
RCSC Members are Deeded Real Estate Owners of property located in Sun City AZ. Members must be a Sun City AZ property owner 55 years of age or older (unless qualified under spousal exemption) and occupy the Sun City AZ property as his/her primary Arizona residence unless his/her other Arizona residence is farther than 75 miles from Sun City AZ. If there are more than two Deeded Real Estate Owners per property who meet the qualifications for a Member Card, such Owners must decide which two of the Deeded Real Estate Owners shall be classified as Members. Up to two Member Cards may be provided for each property, provided there are two persons who meet the qualifications. Each individual qualified as a Member shall be issued no more than one Member Card, regardless of whether more than one Sun City property is owned and assessments and fees are paid. A multiple property Owner is not considered to occupy more than one property at a time. Each individual qualified as a Member is entitled to only one vote on each matter voted on by the Members.
11.What if the owner of the Sun City property is not an individual?
If the Deeded Real Estate Owner is a Trust, no more than two of the Grantors / Trustors / Settlors, or if deceased, no more than two remainder beneficiaries of the Trust may be deemed to be Members, provided that they meet the individual Member qualifications. If the Deeded Real Estate Owner is a Corporation, LLC, Partnership, LLP, or any other entity (“Company”) that may represent non-individual ownership other than Trusts, the Company may select two of its shareholders or partners to be Members, provided that they meet the individual Member qualifications; and further provided that said individuals have an ownership interest in said Company.
12. What is an RCSC Cardholder?
Recreation Center of Sun City (RCSC) Cardholders include two categories: Members and Privilege Cardholders. RCSC Members are Sun City AZ property owners who meet specific qualifications. Non-Owners, renters, tenants, lessees, and/or occupants of property located in Sun City AZ may be entitled to a Privilege Card provided that they meet certain eligibility requirements.
A Non-Owner may be issued an 30 day, 60 day, 90 day or annual Privilege Card for a fee, as determined by the Board, provided: (a) at least one Owner or Non-Owner who occupies the property is 55 years of age or older; (b) the Non-Owner occupies the Sun City AZ property as his/her primary Arizona residence unless his/her other Arizona residence is farther than 75 miles from Sun City; (c) the Non-Owner is not under 19 years of age, and; (d) the property assessments and fees, where such Non-Owner resides, are current.
14. What’s the history with the membership quorum?
The previous membership quorum of 100 was less than one-half of a percent (.3%) of the total membership and left RCSC and its Members at risk of being controlled by a small minority. Someone with 100 proxies could have made changes with numerous unintended consequences that could have done a great deal of harm to RCSC and Sun City AZ homeowners. Following the advice of RCSC’s legal counsel, the Board eliminated this provision thereby causing the RCSC to be subject to the default provisions of ARS §10-3722 which sets a nonprofit corporation’s quorum at “one-tenth of the votes entitled to be cast” until such time as RCSC could form an Ad-Hoc Committee with the membership at large to come up with a more reasonable number. This Ad-Hoc Committee met on several occasions and in the end made a recommendation to the Board who adopted a reasonable and attainable 1,250 membership quorum, which includes proxies. This number was shown to be attainable when it was easily reached by Members present (with no proxies) at the meetings regarding utility rate cases and the charter school.
15. How can Members make recommendations to the Board or let the Board know their concerns?
The Recreation Centers of Sun City’s (RCSC) Board of Directors (Board) takes their role and duties very seriously. The Board wants input from the Members and wants to keep Members informed. As a Member of RCSC you have a responsibility to participate in the governance of RCSC. The Board invites Members to attend the Board/Member Exchange meetings generally held on the second Monday of each month at the Lakeview Recreation Center in Social Hall #3 at 9am. This is a time when the Board and Members can exchange ideas, suggestions, information and concerns. Members can have a dialogue with the Board as it is informal and interactive. Members should bring to this meeting anything they want the Board to consider or change. No decisions are made at this meeting, it is simply an exchange. The Board also encourages Members to send comments, concerns or input via email to boardoffice@suncityaz.org or via letter to 10626 W Thunderbird Blvd, Sun City AZ 85351. The Board also asks Members to sign up on the RCSC email list at www.sunaz.com under the RCSC Cardholder Login tab at the top of the page so that Members can be kept informed regularly.