SunCrest Owners' Association Board Member Elections

The slate of nine candidates all did a great job articulating their views at the Meet the Candidate Event this evening. There was a two minute intro, lots of questions, and a two minute wrap-up. Notes and results are below. I did my best to keep up with all of the answers, but I'm sure I missed a few things. This should give you a nice overview, though.

Lisa Holcomb - lived here since 2001, loves it, concerned about easements.

Doug Fowler - sent a survey to residents, decided he wanted more of a voice, stood up for the community

Tim Mawhinney - public service sector, worked with businesses, compromise is important, no nonsense

Doyle Judd - attended almost every board meeting for the past four years, lots of HOA experience and boards of public, private companies. Understands governing documents, basically the "constitution of SunCrest" 

Amy Baird - 9 years, involved with SunCrestResidents.org, worked to explain and educate residents, accounting experience, budget/finance committee, and covenants committee for several years.

Larry Nilssen - understands rules, processes, procedures, experience with boards, covenants committee, interested in a strong, fiscally responsible board.

Aimee Hudak - represents the moms, community full of concerned residents, wants to make SunCrest a great place. Working with Draper and ASD for bus stop safety.

David James - dad was city manager, runs a business, willing to carve out time to volunteer in community, concerns about salt dome, fire danger, wants to be the voice.

Ben Crandall - Melinda Crandall's husband, 8 years, concerned about things outside of his control impacting home values. 

#1. Parks 
Ben - salt dome
Larry - interested in Draper turning parks over to HOA
Doyle - interested in working to find a solution to make parks better
David - interested in working with anybody to find the best option
Amy - need park improvement, likes the open space, will work with city and residents, especially on salt dome issue
Aimee - would work with Draper, worst park in neighborhood, doesn't want to turn it over to HOA, thinks Draper should make it better
Tim - HOW are we going to work with Draper? We have a board member on city council
Lisa - knows Draper City, SunCrest isn't special, park maintenance is a city responsibility
Doug - need two-way communication with Draper

#2. Top three concerns/issues, in order
Lisa -
1. Draper owns 2300, wants it to be open space
2. wants protection easements
3. FireWise

Doyle -
1. Work w/Draper City
2. Recognize governing documents
3. Maintain HOA in fiscally sound position

Tim -
1. Land use
2. Relationships with city
3. Salt dome, TRSSD
4. Wants HOA to represent everyone in the community

Larry -
1. Fiscal strength
2. Parks - take them over, a consideration
3. CCRs, rules

Ben -
1. Understanding boundaries of what is OA land and what is Draper's
2. Transition from Draper City to HOA

Doug -
1. Representation on the board
2. Maintain relationship w/Draper
3. Bringing the community together

Aimee -
1. Special tax - can't stop the tax
2. Unite as a community and go to Draper City, volume

David -
1. TRSSD - doesn't want it to be a piggybank for Draper
2. Fire prevention
3. Cell tower

Amy -
1. Better communication, educate residents
2. Good relationship with city
3. CCRs and finances

#3. Why do you want to be a board member?
David - wants to make SunCrest great.
Ben - wants to improve SunCrest's image
Doug - wants better communication
Aimee - feels at home, wants to keep SunCrest a great community
Lisa - representative, working w/Draper, need to get people to City Hall
Amy - likes to be involved, wants to get others involved, has already been involved for several years
Larry - we're almost there, vested interest in a high-functioning board
Doyle - adds value, 40+ years of experience in business, finance, four years of experience serving in SunCrest
Tim - wants to protect the public in SunCrest

#4. Life/work experience?
Amy - 20 yrs accounting, CFO, no problem collecting dues, CCRs, budget/finance committee 5 yrs, Draper Youth Council advisor

Larry - HOAs in other cities, understands the rules and how they function

Doug - small business owner, involved, loves SunCrest

David - 30 yrs business experience, people person, soccer ref for 17 yrs

Lisa - Level-headed, works in IT, real, needs woman on board

Ben - looks for win-win, enjoys the community

Tim - ISEE Sec/Treas, HOA experience, budgets for Utah

Aimee - CEO of Hudak corp, used to being paid nothing and having to work hard, bus stop

Doyle - HOAs, SunCrest OA, CPA, 40+ years, public companies, small companies - diversity of experience. Decisions should be based on facts.

#5. Relationship w/Draper City should be...?

Larry - relationship with Draper City used to be difficult, it has improved, they have statutory authority, better to garner trust.

David - HOA is not a taxing authority so we have no choice but to work with them, can be improved, voices need to be heard, don't need to be offensive

Doyle - Two-fold: Co-owner as declarant, taxing authority. Golden rule. He who has the gold makes the rules.

Tim - Voters in Draper, clout, getting out the vote to change out City Council members. Voting delegates should motivate residents to vote against council members who don't support SunCrest

Amy - timeline for plan to turn over MDA, better communication, have them come to SunCrest to educate residents.

Ben - close relationship, should be non-adversarial

Doug - cooperative but separate, Draper City shouldn't be on OA Board

Aimee - I've seen Draper not like us, but we can come together and change things like with the school district. Things have improved drastically

Lisa - it's everyone's responsibility to represent our community at City Hall, motivate residents to step up

#6. How would you describe the OA to someone who doesn't have an understanding of community associations.

Doug - understand it as a business, CCMC does great job of working on finances, have to have revenue, costs involved

Aimee - people want to get rid of HOA, however, we need the HOA for what we have and what we pay. Supports the OA, it is a business.

Ben - OA as a business, income/revenue, rules/regulations, great service for the money

Larry - power with the people, who vote for the delegates, who vote for the trustees, who hire the management company

Tim - not for profit business, important to understand what is being done by the HOA board, website to ask questions, have elected board members dig up info for residents

Amy - board is responsible for money, how it is being spent

Doyle - OA is not a for profit but business principles are sound. Maintain a certain quality of life based on governing docs for all who live here, increases property values.

David - non-profit, democratic, representative form of government, vote people off if you don't like them, be motivated to get involved

Lisa - check and balance w/finances, important to have a third party be a second set of eyes.

#7. Communication - how will you communicate? Be specific.

Aimee - communication is through representation. Chain of command. Every resident has a voice that goes to the delegate, delegates need to be at meetings to communicate with the board.

Amy - better communicate, SunCrest residents.org blog, minutes at OA board meetings, a website to look at

David - We need to know where we can go. People don't know or care about their voting members. Info needs to be disseminated to all residents.

Lisa - paper. Something in everybody's mailbox. Old-fashioned way works. Lure people in. Do raffles at budget meetings.

Doug - need voting delegates wanting to communicate. Make sure you get to know your neighbors.

Ben - effective communication is vital. Blog, e-mail blasts, website, delegates, direct mail, personal communication.

Doyle - channels we have are underutilized. Voting delegates keep their constituents informed. OA has a website. OA emails.

Larry - Resident responsibility to click on email to know what is going on. Residents want confidence in their voting members that their interests are being represented.

Tim - interactive website. Townhall. Be available to answer questions for residents at BBQ.

#8. What are the primary board roles? (Advocate, ambassador, fiduciary duty, neighbor, friend) What will YOU be the most useful for?

Tim - Advocate, relationship w/city, ambassador, fiduciary duty, neighbor.

Doug - advocate, communicate with neighbors.

Lisa - Princess. :) Advocate to city, rebrand SunCrest as the crown jewel of Draper.

Doyle - Governing docs determine fiduciary duties of the board. Advocate with city for the interests of residents. Be a good neighbor.

Larry - Role is clearly defined in governing docs. We want to be wise and instill confidence in residents for our decisions.

Aimee - advocate, friend. Others think she knows everything that's going on here. Communicate those concerns to the board.

David - deals w/problems/customers. Knows what it takes to work with people. Helpful to have a marketing campaign to excite people to get involved.

Amy - A little bit of all. Follow CCRs, budget/finance in good hands, educate residents, communicate, be a good neighbor.

Closing Statement:

Doyle - hope you're convinced already without speech at the end. Value add to the board because of experience.

Ben - wants to be ambassador, advocate, neighbor, but not a princess. Effective communication.

David - advocate to make sure our interests are better served. But won't lose sleep if not elected. Very busy.

Larry - Problem-solver, experience, seen functioning boards, wants SunCrest OA to continue to be a functional board.

Tim - Won't jump the gun, will not fail to learn from previous board members, will not not listen. Your decision will effect HOA for 6-9 months. Choose a candidate who will get the job done. Does what it takes.

Doug - Proud of this community. Enjoys walking three-mile loop. Stand up for SunCrest.

Aimee - stay at home mom, loves her community, will do anything for SunCrest for her children.

Amy  -will be a leader, make sure it doesn't turn into dysfunctional board, lots of experience to bring to the board, more residents on committees, proven track record.

Lisa - crown jewel. Functionality is a big part of what we would do for homeowners. Make some changes to governing docs. Can't be stagnant - either moving forward or backward.

RESULTS: A big thank you to all who were willing to run for one of the board member seats!

And, congratulations go to Amy Baird, Doyle Judd, and Aimee Hudak!

This is a continuation of the blog below. So be sure to Start at beginning.

Question: The Community Council disappeared 8 years ago. Will you bring them back?

Michelle Weeks: I feel a disconnect between the residents and city hall. Having a Community Council would help residents understand why the council votes on issues.

Troy Walker: You can contact the city hall and we always answer back. I get calls on my cell phone and I always answer an email back from a resident. I would rather residents ask me directly. We have a $30,000,000 budget and not one resident showed up at the budget meeting before we approved it. Not many people come to city council meetings, so I would rather they speak to the city directly. No one has shown an interest in doing a Community Council.

Jeff Stenquist: We did away with the Community Council because it started to fall apart and didn't work. Everyone stopped participating in it. I felt like it was a middle layer. That residents felt they had to go to their Community Council and then the community council came to us. I would rather deal with the residents directly.

Phil Shell: I was on one of the Community Councils before they did away with them. I would be for it if residents wanted to be active again, but then again no one even shows for meetings like our budget.

Bill Rappleye: I think SunCrest has done the best. They have the best Emergency Preparedness. They throw parties for the residents so they get to know each other. They are involved. Do we need more dialog, yes.

CLOSING STATEMENTS:

Bill Rappleye: Draper is my home and always will be. I thank you for the great turn out tonight to listen to your candidates running. I feel so welcome in Draper. Like I can talk to people like they are my friend.

Michelle Weeks: I love Draper. We need fresh voices, new opinions, new visions, and we need to add a woman to the board. We need a change and I am willing to learn.

Troy Walker: We can only go forward. We need someone to be ready to represent Draper and help compete for business. After seeing everyone line up on 12300 for Derek Johnson shows how much Draper residents really care.

Jeff Stenquist: Thanks for coming out tonight and being informed about the candidates to see who  is the best person for this job. I  have the experience to represent you on the council. We have grown and learned a lot being on the council these past years. We still have more growing in Draper and I have the experience to do it.

Phil Shell: I can make a difference. I want to work with you and for you. I have my work experience as an attorney to help you move forward. You need leadership and vision. I also have the time away from work to dedicate to the council. I want to be proactive.


Well thats all folks, I hope you enjoyed your reading because my fingers hurt from typing. Thanks DeLaina for typing the first part. I hope I don't have to read my comments on here from tomorrow night :-)....Amy

Draper City Meet the Candidate Night

Bill Rappleye, City Council candidate: intro - Used to be on WVC planning commission, loves Draper and is a champion of anyone who wants to be involved, running for a second term, was on the Draper planning commission.

Phil Shell, Mayor: attorney, owns land and has lived here a long time, wants everyone to get along, enjoys problem-solving and looking for win-win solutions.

Jeff Stenquist, City Council candidate: moved to Draper in 1996, software engineer, 4 kids, running for a third term, made difficult decisions over the years, made a lot of progress with SunCrest properties that benefit the entire city.

Troy Walker, Mayor (current City Council member): moved here in 2003, attorney, 4 kids, love/hate relationship w/gov't, gov't should provide services we can't provide for ourselves, then get out of the way. Businesses in Draper support the community and help keep taxes low. Believes in open space, volunteerism, sense of community, has been involved in Haunted Hollow, Draper Days etc.

Michele Weeks, City Council candidate: Thinks Draper is growing too fast. Roads, sewers and schools can't handle the growth. From Maryland.

1. What is the biggest issue in Draper and how would you address it?

 Michele Weeks: Draper is growing too fast. Slow the growth and have diversity in lot sizes. Education is not doing well in Draper.

 Troy Walker: Managing growth, paying bills and maintaining quality of life. We need the right business, right employers, finding companies to bring to Draper. For example, Edwards Life Sciences, making heart valves, cutting-edge technology. Balanced budget every year. Parks and open spaces need to be maintained. Responsive and responsible.

 Jeff Stenquist: Concerned about economic development because not enough businesses to support the community/population. Since he has been on, IKEA and multiple companies have been vetted and are in Draper. If state moves prison, we need to figure out how to redevelop property in the best way to benefit residents.

 Phil Shell: Communities suffer without solid economic base. Master plan for prison property. Need to be aggressive but not give away the farm. Wants to increase volunteerism.

 Bill Rappleye: Issue makes it sound like a bad thing. We try to balance economics with what is best for the city. Buying SunCrest increased property values, for example. City does not have much say in education. It is the district's responsibility. City's job is to keep taxes low, protect your property rights and keep taxes low.

  2. How have you contributed to our community already and how would you get others of all ages involved?

 Troy Walker: Talks to neighbors, works on trails, involved w/Mayor's Youth Council, community events. Been on City Council for six years. Chaired Park Committee for Draper Days, Haunted Hollow, parades etc. Encourage people to get involved. Coached Draper sports for many years as well. 

Jeff Stenquist: activist, lobbied for changes with City Council, was asked to run for City Council and lost, but gained experience. Served on Planning Commission, helped to understand the role of City Council, land use, zoning, and legal issues. Liaison to Parks/Trails committee, Arts Foundation, Draper Days, coach HS mountain bike team. Likes to be involved to be a good example to his kids, to show them the importance of being involved.

 Phil Shell: sense of community, wife has gotten him involved in a lot of things, worked on Draperville area of Draper Days for the kids, Haunted Hollow booth, amateur ham radio operator, emergency communications team, getting kids involved is good, interested in having grandparents tutor kids in schools.

 Bill Rappleye: Board member for Volunteers of America, lost his first city council election, learned a lot, helped fund and work on restoration of the Fitzgerald property, serves on Emergency Prep committee and is on the Tree Commission, loves it when the kids get involved - Youth Council is a great program, so is DARE. Volunteerism is critical to the success of our community.

 Michele Weeks: Traveled to 35 countries after high school, helped build community centers, schools, orphanages, understood the power of one individual. She is Mrs. Utah, a lobbyist for heart association, encourages us to take control of heart disease, works on pageants, and in schools. Wants to make society a better place.

  3. How will you decrease crime and increase safety awareness, particularly for TRAX in Draper?

 Jeff Stenquist: Draper made the decision to have its own police department, low crime rates but still eye-opening to see the amount of crime that goes on. TRAX adds a wrinkle, but it's not soon enough to tell what impact there will be, although I understand the concerns.

 Phil Shell: Occasionally when he was a kid, there would be prison escapees. Grateful that doesn't happen anymore. My dad keeps an eye on my property, citizens can be alert and report things to the police. That is priceless as we watch out for each other.

 Bill Rappleye: City is working on several solutions, trying to use more officers without increasing taxes to pay for them. Watch out for your neighbors. Lots of crimes of opportunity can be prevented by awareness. Working for three years on UFA training processes to do Fire School in Draper. Emergency Prep committee helps educate how to be safer. Work w/neighbors, families, firemen and police to stay vigilant.

 Michele Weeks: 30% of our budget goes to public safety. Crime is low. She lived in NYC for 13 years, rode subway, looked after her stuff. We can increase safety awareness. People who live by the park are afraid that the homeless will use TRAX and start living in the park. She got a ticket, wants to put officers in the park. Hopes TRAX won't damper quality of life.

 Troy Walker: Rides w/police officers every quarter. Has two ladies in his neighborhood dubbed "The Sheriffs". Supports neighbors watching out for each other. Was on hiring committee for Chief Bryan Roberts, focusing on treating citizens with respect they deserve. Public safety is expensive. On UTA Board, appointed by Speaker of the House, keeping an eye on process.

 High-density housing. Question from the audience. 

 Phil Shell: From a planning perspective, every community needs it. Best place is close to freeway, doesn't wan tit to creep into our neighborhoods.Doesn't oppose them in the right spots.

 Bill Rappleye: Process starts with land use map. Developers want x, y, or z because of market forces coming into play.

Michele Weeks: Not a fan of high-density housing. Concerned about impact on roads, sewers, schools. Lot sizes should not be small.

 Troy Walker: Lived in HD housing until out of school, great experience. Our job as council members is to make sure the property fits within the zone and that it meets code. Let the market drive the zoning.

Jeff Stenquist: Supports a variety of housing densities, wants to step it out and include more HD next to transportation corridors.

Mining at point of mountain impacting environment and paragliding. Question from the audience.

Bill Rappleye: Met w/Geneva Rock, trying to find a win-win situation, it's like asking someone to walk away from a gold mine.

Michele Weeks: Don't have a quick solution. Dust issue is disturbing. They've had the permits before we were Draper. Many voices affect change.

Troy Walker: Owners of gravel quarries pay lots of sale tax in Draper. They bring revenue and employ a lot of people in the city. State controls the air quality. Draper has worked with the state to make sure Geneva is in compliance, suggests lobbying the legislature since they have authority over the issue. Don't expect an easy solution and don't expect everyone to get everything they want. Compromise has to be a part of the negotiation.

Jeff Stenquist: Shocked by the impact. Met with Paragliding Association, then with the company and how their plans work. Met again w/Geneva and SL County, discussions in process, very helpful, tried to open lines of communication and start the dialogue. Looking to preserve ridgeline and air flow. Cities do not have the authority to regulate mining operations in their town. However, we want to advocate and make sure our voice is heard.

Phil Shell: Two things: 1. air quality - state determines if it's in compliance, if not city can lend voice to help citizens. 2. Steep Mountain is a unique resource. If it disappears we can't get it back. City can support efforts to maintain it - we have to try.

Draper City Council "Meet the Candidates Night."

This Monday at 6:30pm at city hall. Come and check out who is running for the open city council seats. You can view their applications at http://www.draper.ut.us/

 

Elections

Municipal General Election
A municipal election will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2013 in Draper City. The term for each office is four years, beginning in 2014. The list of candidates on the ballot are:

Mayor:                         Troy K. Walker
                                      Phillip B. Shell
                                  
Councilmembers:       William E. Rappleye   
                                      Jeffrey D. Stenquist
                                      Carolyn Hunsaker
                                      Michele Weeks

 

October 7, 2013         Meet the Candidate night organized

                                   by the Draper Mayor's Youth Council

                                   at 6:30 pm in the Draper City Chamber

 

November 5, 2013      GENERAL ELECTION DAY
                                    Polling open from 7am to 8pm.

 

January 7, 2014          Oath of Office Ceremony

 

 

 

 

From Paul Tonks, resident Owners Association Board Member: For those of you that were unable to attend the SunCrest OA meeting on Tuesday, here are some highlights: Board chair Ralph Matson from Zion's took some time regarding the termination of the Zion's-MCO termination of the contract to purchase the undeveloped areas of SunCrest. Ralph said it was a mutual termination after MCO determined after its due diligence over the past 15 months that a purchase of SunCrest "would not fit their model." Probable factors may have been their plans for 200-300 homes above Deer Ridge (Unified Fire Dept. would not approve that many homes with only one road in and out of the subdivision because of safety concerns) and plans for making a substantial portion of new homes east of SunCrest Drive a gated community (Draper City didn't want such a large portion of the city closed off to residents, especially affecting easy access to hiking and biking trails in the national forest). Ralph emphasized that all parties, including Draper City, worked hard to make the deal happen. Zion's will continue to work to find a new developer. In the meantime, we will work to see what solutions we can find for short-term issues like opening the market.

High Density Housing in SunCrest

In perusing the proposed plans from MCO that MAY be presented at the Planning Commission meeting this Thursday or a subsequent meeting, several residents have concerns about the high-density, 20-unit per acre housing slated to go across the street from Mercer Reserve. From concerned residents: MCO looks to be a very attractive builder and potential buyer for the SunCrest area. We are privileged to have them take over the area. It is obvious that their primary interest is in the West Bluff and the Hog Hollow area. The areas of SunCrest that are already developed appear to get a little attention but the concern for all of us should be the High Density Housing areas they are proposing. This is not Condo but small apartment housing with an estimated 24 units per acre. As an example, the area marked “B” is approximately 60 acres in size and would house potentially 1000-1400 units. 1) these will not increase property values and will likely decrease them, 2) There is no real reason to have housing that dense in the area and would be better suited down the hill, 3) the traffic increase will be dramatic with an additional potential 1400 vehicles coming and going at least twice a day – the roads have blind spots that are difficult as is and will be much more dangerous with that amount of traffic. I appreciate that they need to develop the property but our concern should be the type of homes they are building. Fewer than 15 people from SunCrest were at the meeting to voice their opinion to MCO and Draper. The next meeting is June 7th. To date this is not an agenda item for this Thursday; however, stay tuned for further information. We will post what we find out.

Lost Secrets of Ancient North America

Take a look at what a couple of our SunCrest Residents are working on: Fascinating film project!