Contrary to Anne Randall Stewart’s claims otherwise, neither RCSC nor its Board is guilty of discrimination. Even though RCSC has addressed Ms. Stewart’s false claims in the past, I feel it is necessary to continue to do so in order for new and potential Sun City residents to be accurately informed.
Ms. Stewart’s Sun City Formula Registry, an unofficial, unrecognized group with members unknown, claim they have been holding the RCSC Board accountable. However, Ms. Stewart obviously remains completely and thoroughly uniformed despite the fact that there are attendees at Board meetings secretly recording and videotaping without prior approval of those being recorded, as Ms. Stewart herself does not attend any RCSC meetings.
Members’ rights to use the halls and auditoriums have not been removed. The recent changes to Board Policy No. 11 were in regard to use of RCSC facilities for fund raising, political campaigns and religious organizations only. And to suggest that there is any preferential treatment to Members’ requests for use of RCSC facilities is unsubstantiated and ludicrous; it has and will continue to be on a first come, first served basis.
Article I of the Articles of Incorporation states, “Members of the Corporation shall be limited to homeowners or residents of Sun City, Arizona.” Article VIII of the Article of Incorporation states, “The Bylaws of the Corporation shall prescribe the qualifications of Members and the terms of admission to membership, provided that the voting rights of all Members shall be equal and all Members shall have equal rights and privileges.” As per the Articles of Incorporation, the definition of a Member is outlined in the Corporate Bylaws in Article II by establishing qualifications that must be met; i.e. must be a deeded real estate owner of property in Sun City, must be 55 years of age or older or qualified by spousal exemption and must occupy the Sun City property as his/her primary Arizona residence unless his/her other Arizona residence is farther than 75 miles from Sun City. All Members (not homeowners or residents) have equal rights, privileges and voting rights.
Arizona destinations that offer cooler climates in the summer are all outside of the 75-mile requirement. There are owners who live in Peoria, Glendale, Surprise, Avondale, Phoenix, Scottsdale, etc.; however, they do not live in Sun City part of the year.
Any owner who does not meet the qualifications to be a Member cannot vote and will not receive a Member card, although they may purchase a Privilege card if they qualify to do so. There is only one exception that allows a Sun City property owner under the age of 55 to be a Member and that is if they meet the other two qualifications and are a spouse of an owner who meets all the qualifications. The Maricopa County Zoning Ordinance creating a “Senior Citizen Overlay” in Sun City only supports this exception which states: “Continued occupancy … in the dwelling unit by an underage spouse, because of the death or long term medical relocation of the spouse meeting the age requirement, shall be exempt from [the age requirements]. This exemption shall continue only so long as the remaining spouse maintains a sole occupant status. Upon change from a sole occupant status, the age requirements … for occupancy shall be met.” While the Board recognizes and appreciates that there are a variety of situations with underage owners living in Sun City, the only situation supported by the requirements of the age overlay are those of being an under-aged spouse.
There are two bases for annual property assessments in Sun City: per person basis and per property basis. Neither has anything to do with marital status. Property owned prior to February 1, 2003 will continue being assessed on a Per Person basis as long as (a) Owners consistently maintain the Property as their primary Arizona residence as defined in the Corporate Bylaws; (b) Owners are in compliance with the Restated Articles of Incorporation, Corporate Bylaws, Board Policies and any Rules and Regulations of the Corporation; and (c) original Owners as of February 1, 2003 remain as majority Owners or income beneficiaries of the Property.
Anne Randall Stewart, please discontinue the false accusations and claims which cost Sun City dearly.
Vance Coleman, President
RCSC Board of Directors
