Whether it’s on the national stage or in our little hamlet of Rancho Santa Fe, elections have long-lasting consequences. This June, Covenant members will be electing three new directors to serve on the Rancho Santa Fe Association Board. The three-year terms are ending for President Courtney LeBeau, Treasurer Phil Trubey, and Director Scott Thurman. The Board is made up of a total of seven people, so if you’re looking to shift the political landscape of the Covenant, this may be your opportunity. Nomination packets will be available at the Association offices or its website on February 5.
Changing Demographics and Growing Pains
Before the 2020 Covid lockdown, the RSF Golf Club historically struggled with stagnant membership growth and restaurant losses. However, the desire for open spaces and a semblance of freedom, the community enjoyed an influx of new neighbors and the Golf Club saw its membership almost double. Since then, the Covenant has experienced some growing pains as the culture of the Covenant has shifted with a changing demographic and a more powerful Golf Club, with some members feeling under represented. Since then, the Association has had more than its fair share of controversy as a result of questionable decisions and the legal consequences. Some of the issues that have hindered the community include:
- A lawsuit in 2022 by a former Board director calling out governance malfeasance during the Golf Club course renovation and the illegal grading that resulted in a County stop-work order and fines.
- A U.S. Department of Justice investigation in 2023 of the Association for accepting unqualified Payroll Protection Plan (PPP) monies which resulted in the Association paying legal fees and government fines, plus large financial severance packages (including NDAs) for staff involved.
- A Board decision in 2024 to spend upwards of $10 million for a Golf Clubhouse restaurant and parking lot remodel, despite no business plan and the Board assuring members two years earlier that a community-wide vote would be conducted before committing to such a major capital improvement project.
- Financial losses at the Golf Clubhouse restaurant, which have risen substantially over the past several years – most recently $1.6 million in 2024 – in spite of the club’s record growth. For the past three years, the Board of Directors has been pressed to call for a financial audit of the restaurant, but has yet to do so.
- A lawsuit filed in December 2024 by the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe after the Golf Club Board of Governors ended a decades-long agreement that allowed hotel guests limited access to the course. Similarly, the Golf Club ended the 6- and 12-pack play options a few years ago that allowed all Covenant residents limited access to the course.
Step up to See Change
Do you want to shift the direction of priorities of the Association by serving your neighbors on the Board? Here is a partial list of the Board of Directors’ responsibilities:
- Setting the priorities and strategic plans for the future of the Rancho Santa Fe Association. For instance, previous Boards responded to members’ desire to protect open spaces from development subdivisions, and spearheaded the purchase of land such as Osuna Ranch. Another Board was responsible for providing fiber optic internet throughout the majority of the Ranch.
- Determining how our assessment monies are spent. Like the initiatives above, the Board has a fiduciary responsibility to the members on how their assessment monies are managed. They determine where and how much money to allocate to various initiatives, as well as where PAC monies are spent. For example, the 2.5 cent assessments that had originally been approved by a member vote for Open Space acquisition were reprioritized to the Fiber Project when funding for that initiative was needed. The Fiber Loan was recently retired and the Board redirected most of this 2.5 cent assessment to the newly created Capital Improvement Fund, a non-designated fund for Board-directed projects.
Each property is allotted two votes/ballots even if only one person resides in the home*. In the event of a death or divorce, the homeowner is still allowed two votes – even if they are the same person.
- Entering into contractual agreements with various entities, such as the sheriff’s department and the Rancho Santa Fe Patrol, which provides additional security measures to Covenant residents.
- Approving the hiring and compensation for Association staff, approving building code regulations and design guidelines, and appointing Art Jury and committee members.
- Providing oversight of all advisory committees/clubs, such as Trails, Finance, Forest Health, Tennis Club, and even the Golf Club. Although the Golf Club has its own elected Board of Governors and mostly operates autonomously, it is a division of the Association and not a separate legal entity. Therefore, the Board has authority to provide oversight of Golf Club activities and decision making, and the management of the common areas and buildings.
Two votes for every property
Each property is allotted two votes/ballots even if only one person resides in the home. (*However, multiple properties with one owner are limited to two votes.) In the event of a death or divorce, the homeowner is still allowed two votes – even if the ballots are addressed to the same person. Contact the Association to confirm your two ballots are correctly addressed and your property and interests are represented.
This June, the residents of Rancho Santa Fe Covenant have an opportunity to select directors whom they feel will represent their interests and concerns. Leaders that will prioritize all segments of the community: our longtime senior neighbors, families with children, empty nesters, and everyone in between. Maybe we can turn the page and restore the trust and mend strained relationships between the Board and the community. Consider stepping off the sidelines and actively being the change you want to see.
Nomination Packets will be available February 5. They include the election schedule, rules and qualifications, and the necessary forms for submittals. Contact Brooke Nichols at Brooke@rsfassociation.org or (858) 756-1174 with any questions.
Important Association Election Dates
- February 5, 2025: Nominations Open
- March 7, 2025: Nomination Deadline
- May 8, 2025: Annual Meeting & Candidate Forum
- May 8, 2025: Ballots Mailed
- June 9, 2025: Ballots Due
- June 10, 2025: Ballots Tabulated