Does the RSFA need the DOGE treatment?

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- 12/03/2025 at 9:14 pm #10032
  Agent 86
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  $9.4M for a restaurant remodel that we were told would be $2-3 million when they began talking about it? Seems like our Board is acting like typical politicians and has gotten really good at spending our money lavishly. Perhaps we can get Elon to send in his DOGE team and cut the estimated $1.3M in furniture in half? Get rid of some unnecessary frills, like $78k for Branding & Signage? We should be allowed to vote on this huge expenditure, as the HOA will be encumbered by this for years (note in the bank agreement it says “no future debt over $100k without bank consent”, so we are handcuffed). Note the assumption of 6% annual increase in assessments for the next decade. What if we have another market downturn and assessments stay flat? Then how will they cover this? Very troubling but they will likely vote for it knowing when the bills come due the current board will be long gone and no one will be held accountable, just like the PPP loan debacle.
  - This topic was modified 4 days, 3 hours ago by Agent 86.
  - This topic was modified 4 days, 3 hours ago by Agent 86.
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Former Director’s Osuna Poll Highlights Bias, Faulty Methodology

A former RSFA Board member recently circulated a poll asking readers to weigh in on the future of Osuna Ranch. It raises serious concerns about its methodology and implications for Rancho Santa Fe’s historic legacy.

This poll was not commissioned, authorized, or sanctioned by the Rancho Santa Fe Association Board. In fact, a proposal for an official advisory vote on Osuna Ranch was rejected by the Board in April 2024. Nevertheless, the email poll was distributed to an unverified list that included individuals who are not members of the Covenant, or have moved — calling into question its legitimacy, transparency, and fairness.

Unlike past professional Association surveys, this poll raises both methodological and ethical red flags. It fails to collect basic demographic data — such as Covenant membership, age, RSFA club affiliation, or prior participation in Osuna events — making it impossible to determine whether respondents represent our community or to analyze results meaningfully. Moreover, the poll lacks confidentiality: its author can see who replied, potentially exerting social pressure and affecting respondents’ feedback. Most troubling, the poll was written by an advocate for selling Osuna Ranch. Its language is overtly biased, repeatedly framing the sale of all or part of the Ranch as the practical and superior option, while minimizing the value of preserving it for community use. Contrary to the author’s claims, Osuna Ranch consistently operates at a profit, generating $176,000 in net income this year.

The Osuna Committee did not request $3 million in upgrades, and the Association’s estimate was not based on competitive bidding. A recent survey of Osuna boarders revealed high satisfaction with the equestrian facilities and a strong preference for maintaining the stable’s historic character.

The poll’s “Leave Osuna As Is” option failed to mention the robust slate of educational and community programs proposed in the Osuna Committee’s 2024 Master Plan for Osuna Ranch and presented at RSFA Board meetings. Rowe School educators and Scout leaders view Osuna’s natural resources, historic character, and gated safety as ideal for history field trips, environmental science, and outdoor learning. Its open spaces also support hiking, picnicking, and informal gatherings — uses prioritized in RSFA’s 2022 Community Survey. Preserved open space and historically-significant properties help sustain RSF’s prized rural character, enhancing quality of life and boosting all Covenant home values.

Osuna’s future should not be shaped by informal, biased polling that sidesteps professional standards. Such efforts undermine the work of Osuna Committee members, community volunteers, horse boarders, and Association staff who strive to preserve and improve this treasured asset. Click on video link: Osuna Ranch - Rancho Santa Fe's Historic Treasure. Decisions about Covenant property should be made democratically and transparently, with respect for Osuna’s full community potential and historic significance. Anything less risks deepening Covenant divisions, eroding trust, and compromising Rancho Santa Fe’s enduring legacy. – Ilia Christy