TOP HOA BOARD PROPOSED PROJECTS

11/14/2022 38 Comments

TOP HOA BOARD PROPOSED PROJECTS

Our HOA board is considering spending between $400,000 to $500,000 on one of 2 projects to “update and modernize” Desert Princess. The cost to each homeowner for either of these projects would equate to $27.64 to $34.54 of our current monthly dues.

These are the projects the board is focusing on:

A complete update of the Fitness/Spa center
or
A new outdoor patio extension for the restaurant

The board has already spent over $50,000 on architectural designs and has even submitted a set of plans to the City for approval.

This Raises the Following Questions:

Does the board intend to spend the majority of our increased homeowner’s dues for beautification rather than the needed and necessary maintenance/repairs?

Will either of these investments generate enough revenue to offset the money spent?
Will the board make architectural plans available to all homeowners to see how our money will being spent?

Will either of these projects reduce the amount our dues that currently subsidize the Country Club and Fitness/Spa center each month?
Should we be considering a restaurant project when the restaurant has irregular hours, continues to generate less than pre-Covid revenues and continues to operate at a loss?
Why are we considering the fitness center redesign when we only have 10-15 people a day using the facilities?

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

There is a scheduled Board Chat this Saturday 11/19/2022 at 1:00 PM. This would be a great opportunity for homeowners to ask our board these questions.

Below is the link to the ZOOM ONLY CHAT:

You will be prompted to enter the Meeting ID (812 0942 1757) AND the password (498396).
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81209421757?pwd=REF0d1hXQU5XL2NwMUthSUtMMGZXQT09 Meeting ID: 812 0942 1757 Passcode: 498396
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The Blog would like to hear your thoughts.

38 Comments

Socrates

11/14/2022 07:58:35 pm

This will produce a return on investment slightly better than just lighting the money on fire
in the parking lot.

Not only will we never recoup our "investment",
we will actually lose more money because our taxes will
increase with the recorded building permits.

You can't make this shit up.

John Godwin

11/15/2022 09:15:55 am

You know, we think both these projects are good progressive projects .What we like about both projects is they both enhance the over experiences at DP ! What we need is more people in PS saying DP is a great place to play golf with great facilities ie restaurant and spa .
Folks, we have to invest and strive to always upgrade those areas that are most obvious to the public outside the owners . Heck , we own a Villa , we are only at DP maybe 90 days a year , we feel the restaurant is great , enchanting the spa would be great .
To us everything is easy at DP.we get in our golf cart , play golf, go to driving range , drink and eat at restaurant, play Bingo , spa being nicer would use more .
Let’s make DP Great ! To do this there has to be continual investments in the hard assets . Thx John

David

12/10/2022 06:53:29 am

What is happening? People WHY are you letting these termites eat away everything we have??

John Godwin

11/15/2022 09:53:18 am

Well , if all the Villa owners had this same attitude and did not upgrade their interior and exteriors , where would the value of the properties in DP be . No question this will create higher taxes , but done correctly I would think we would have the opportunity to get more PS people to play the course hence more revenue for the golf course , golf shop and restaurant.
Okay, if you were King , where your responsible to create a better DP where would invest the money ? What would you do to create a better environment at DO ? Just curious ?

Lindsay

12/6/2022 08:38:56 am

Get rid of the restaurant. The food is terrible. We try every once and awhile. It is just terrible food. How can you ruin a hamburger? They do. Main drain of resources. Get rid of Management Trust! There a major drain of money Management Trust.

Terry Albright

12/8/2022 09:45:21 am

SOCRATES
I love your first paragraph about lighting the money on fire in the parking lot and the amount of return on investment that would result in. It would be even funnier if it was not COMPLETELY TRUE. Well said Socrates!

Another Home Owner

3/31/2023 06:18:20 am

Fortunately, we stopped the insane guard gate beautification project that was going to cost us $50 a month. We didn't stop the totally unnecessary tree trimming which only served to make our community ugly! The trees were not at all properly trimmed nor shaped! Huge waste of $18,000 of our money. What a waste. I have NEVER seen 10-15 people a day at the fitness center. You can get a better membership to a better spa for $12 a month. Why would every owner pay $28 per month for a place poorly equipped and limited hours. The restaurant loses money every month. I tried to eat there twice and left more food on my plate than I ate. Horrific. I think I was sick after eating there. I attempted to join two meetings via Zoom... what a joke. I attended two meetings in person, even more of a joke... 6 hours of my life I will never get back... Sadly I was joined by 2 other people at the first meeting and 3 others the second. What a joke this HOA is. How do we dissolve the board and management trust?

Homeowner

11/14/2022 07:58:50 pm

Thank you so much for bringing this to our attention! I hope everyone starts paying attention where this board spends “OUR” money.
I see transparency has gone out the window again.
What is this..our chat Saturday is ZOOM ONLY!
They knew this board chat was scheduled weeks ago and they all of a sudden don’t have OUR MASTER LOUNGE open to talk to them in person face to face.
What are they trying to hide or avoid now?
The elections are coming up again, I hope we get candidates that are going to work for US and not themselves!

!

Another Home Owner

3/31/2023 06:04:44 am

Completely agree - transparency sucks. All sorts of waste here and lighting the money on fire would at least allow us to toast some marshmallows.

DP neighbor

11/14/2022 08:05:54 pm

Are these people out of their minds?! News flash, despite what MSM tells you, we ARE in a recession and it is only going to get worse. The real estate market is at best, frozen. The last thing we need is to increase our fees! That will only further financial hardships for many amidst inflation and rising costs of living, etc. AND, it will hurt our Desert Princess property for resale even more than it already is. If you notice, NOTHING is moving. Very little is selling. The landscaping is freaking fine! These HOA board members and committee members need to go find a hobby. Clearly they are bored and find entertainment in spending other peoples money for unnecessary costly projects that yield very little. Most of the past expansion projects were done in very poor taste. The restaurant remodel for example: They spent a grip on that and it needs another remodel because it was done in with such an old and outdated mindset. I am not suggesting such because it would be a complete waste of money for a dying establishment.
It is mind-blowing to me that they would spend any money on that restaurant. That place has gone completely down hill. The HOA has no business running a restaurant. They don't know how to. DP would profit more renting out the space to someone who knows what they are doing.
I am disgusted that these vanity projects are still being discussed.

Vivian

12/6/2022 08:43:54 am

When are we as a community going to get rid of the
major problem Management Trust? Vote them OUT. We are all tired of the same old issues.

another home owner

3/31/2023 06:06:24 am

I wish we could vote them out! They lack transparency. Keep making ALL their idiotic decisions in a vacuum with no regard to the owners.

Concerned homeowner

4/2/2023 03:47:35 pm

We need to hire a team of independent attorneys to check all the details in the books. We Must Do It. LET'S GET THIS UNDER CONTROL

Why are we mutilating those beautiful trees, bushes, etc.; let them show the beauty of being alive. I thing it's ridiculous that we are spending so much money on water bills, only to chop off the trees as soon as a few leaves show up. We can decrease the maintenance bill by a lot if we don't chop off those tree ever so often; It's pure and simple MADNESS.

The insanity continues

11/14/2022 08:34:14 pm

We need to make public who is driving this insanity, and who approved The board spending over $50,000 on architectural designs and the submitting of a set of plans to the City for approval.

Trevor

11/15/2022 06:27:02 pm

6 of the 7 board members approved this insane spending. They are Peter Webb, Terri Swartz, Martin Backstrom, Mark Brown, Russ Holowachuk and Bob Mangold

Very Concerned Home Owner

11/17/2022 11:13:49 am

"They are Peter Webb, Terri Swartz, Martin Backstrom, Mark Brown, Russ Holowachuk and Bob Mangold"!!!! ???

Any of you took a minute to address those concerns? Why keeping quiet when you hear and see so much frustration of people that you represent?
Looks like you have plenty of time to make up projects that are not NECESSARY for our community; playing with our money as it was yours.
Speak up and Explain, please!

Also very concerned owner

11/18/2022 10:35:46 am

Your posting leaves little to the imagination.....the only Board member who has the best interests of ALL owners at heart is Bill Bergstrom. And it is absolutely no coincidence that he is demeaned, gagged and dismissed by Peter Webb and his henchwoman Terri Schwartz publicly at HOA meetings. It's a very public attempt to humiliate one Board member who truly cares about Desert Princess as a community, not simply as a second rate golf course and failing restaurant.

Dorina Grossman

11/14/2022 09:01:59 pm

I absolutely oppose both of those two projects. Our money should not be wasted on things that are Not NECESSARY.
I also want to bring up another expense that we could reduce: I am talking about the excessive trimming of the decorative plants throughout our community. Why don’t we let this beautiful greenery thrive for a few more weeks, rather than chopping it up as soon as they just picked up life, so to speak. It doesn’t make sense for the amount of water it takes to grow plants in the desert; also, for the giant bills we are paying for maintenance. Again, we can decrease expenses if we want.

11/23/2022 04:13:55 pm

Totally agree with you!! Just when everything starts looking lovely, it is all hacked to H#LL.

Donna Mead

11/14/2022 09:28:16 pm

I wholeheartedly concur with every issue raised in this blog. Many of these were posed to the Board during the allotted 3 minutes during the most recent HOA meeting. I hold out no hope for change in direction nor transparency until we have leadership that truly represents us, the homeowners! Repairs and maintenance trumps vanity ludicrous expenditures.

ronald e smith

11/15/2022 07:29:29 am

GET REAL!
Time to change the idiots on the board! Does anyone on the board have a reasonable concern for expenses. Costs (HOA Fees) keep going up,when will it stop!!
GET REAL and be reasonable we are not all Elon Musks!

norman j lubke

11/15/2022 08:25:54 am

both good ideas....easiest way to finance would be an approximate $350 one time assessment per home owner.....

David

11/15/2022 08:57:27 am

What are we going to do? Complain or do something about the situation?

lynn macdonald

11/15/2022 09:52:41 am

Why are we flogging a dead horse AGAIN ! Expanding the restaurant patio area will not bring in more revenue. If it's not making a profit now, a new patio will not help. Here's an idea, why don't we bring in a company under lease to take over and run the restaurant at a profit of which we would not only see lease revenue but also a percentage of the food/beverage profits. The HOA should NOT be running a restaurant. Just one example comes to mind as we can take notes from JC Golf who now run Cathedral Canyon Golf Club. JAX bar and dining at that golf club is operated by Jack Srebnik who runs several successful restaurants in Palm Springs. JC Golf have many benefits to their members and the public as a top golf mgmt. company. Escena restaurant is also run by an independant company...not the Escena Golf Club. Desert Princess Country Golf Club does not need to be in the restaurant business but let an experienced entity lease the space and run a successful, and profitable business of which we can all benefit.

As for the Fitness/Spa reno, does the expense warrant the low number of patrons - I say NO ! Recouping the expenses of these 'vanity' projects should be calculated over an annual period of useage.... not just the 6 months that Snowbirds and others are using them. We all know that Desert Princess facilities are under-used during the May-October months so if the Board thinks an upgrade will bring in more revenue, they are dreaming !!

resident link

11/17/2022 08:40:05 am

Really, come on directors get real!! We as homeowners don't want to keep spending money on lost causes. Who works on a simple mathematical task called
ROI (return on investment). Let an experienced establishment that is in the food and beverage business run it /own it. We currently subsidize the restaurant today, why not subsidize an outside company to FIX what DP can't. Let the outside company decide if the expanded patio would warrant more business or is it a shift in where people sit? For the work out center, you can't expand it so why waste the money to make the board feel good. If a homeowner wants an up graded workout facility, then they should join outside DP. Leave well enough alone.

Terry Albright

12/2/2022 12:02:16 pm

Lynn, I agree very much with your comments. However, things makes sense when you understand that leadership at DP
( the board of directors and Management Trust ) are not concerned at all about return on investment. They are simply adding amenities to DP that will enhance their personal enjoyment while using "the Bank of DP homeowners" to pay all the costs without regard for profit or loss.

I just couldn't come to grips with the stupidity of how money was being wasted here at DP until it dawned on me. Wait a minute, they don't care. They are busily spending other people's money without a care about good business practices including return on investment. We need to get rid of management trust and most of the BOD. We should be spending money on figuring out how to get home mortgages back here at DP.

The insanity continues

11/15/2022 10:01:48 am

All capital expenditures should be voted on by all the homeowners after being given all the relevant facts and information so an informed decision can be made.
If you agree with that concept please say so on this forum. That way I will know I am not alone in my way of thinking. Or, please tell me I am wrong.

rhonda miller

11/15/2022 10:42:47 am

These expenses should include OWNERS input- right? and yes and assessment isnt a bad idea either for necessary projects. Keep the Necessary ONES going. thank you,

Mrs skinner

11/15/2022 11:43:11 am

Correct we have no business running a restaurant period / quick fixes also is not the answer ! HERES TRUTH /and FACTS . Recesión we as residents of DP . OUR not on same incomes period ! Transperancy with everything including who is voting for increases AGAIN ! These issues that our being put into this blog is a way to avoid what is really going on ! corona / cov19 is over meetings have to be in person .There is way to many financial projects trying to be approved whos voting I did not Vote in person INFACT this the first I have heard of any of what’s being purposed . Who is initiating projects ? I would love to hear and see how the members our coming to these ideas on there own ! This is extremely bizarre and I’m being polite we have a awesome community we have to cut back in what is operating in our community we have to look at the money out ! I live here full time there is many places that we can cut and save we need everything to be transparent the spa and restaurant. Should be dealt with by leasing out thats a great idea yes Jack is a restaurant man has been for years the original owner were personal friends to my father knew them for years running hes rest ur aunt bar in Indio you could not get a parking packed bar restaurant sun up to sun down every single day my daughters were good friends to jacks daughter May he Rest In Peace and there still going strong ! We’re talking over 40 years ! We don’t need new projects not know recession hello ! But we can’t make any decisions if there is no transparency I know talk talk talk that’s why it keeps happening seriously !

Mrs L

11/18/2022 12:28:03 pm

I'm really tired of all the complaints about our Mountain Grill Restaurant. It would definitely make a profit if the residents supported it more and there was more advertising to the public. Improve the menu so it is not just "finger food". In the past we had special buffets through the year and you couldn't get a reservation it was so crowded. One of the reasons my husband and I decided on the Desert Princess was for this amenity. We usually support the Grill at least once a week and we almost always have friends join us who are not members.

We definitely don't need to work on the spa/fitness center. Very few use it now and it seems like a "specialized expense". Few of the members would get the benefit of this expense.

From the drawings we have already seen on the expansion of the restaurant patio, it definitely could support more functions, weddings etc. This definitely would improve the bottom line.

I agree, our board needs to change. We need more members who are looking out for the whole community not just a select few. Let's hope we have some great candidates for the upcoming election.

Leslie

11/19/2022 12:44:16 pm

Mrs. L. .........Your commentary on MountainView Grill says it all. An uninspired menu, the ambience of an assisted-living third rate cafeteria is precisely what drives DP owners away, never mind sucking in outsiders to our restaurant. Events, New Years Eve, Easter, July 4th, and Thanksgiving are successful for a reason. What it is NOT is a key to the success of a 24/7, 365 days a year restaurant. You can extend the patio to Kingdom Come and it won't generate one additional dime of revenue given the menu and competing with the likes of Golden Corral and Sizzler's in terms of the dining experience we currently offer.

Vivian

12/6/2022 08:51:35 am

We keep trying the restaurant to no avail. The food is terrible!! Ordered a hamburger, bun burnt the burger was so tough had to give it to our dog, didn't want to waste $17 dollars!

concerned home owner

12/6/2022 12:34:34 pm

THE RESTAURANT SHOULD NOT BE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY! There are plenty of restaurants in out town!

Mrs L

11/21/2022 02:34:25 pm

Leslie, when my husband and I purchased at DP, in 2000, we did rent our condo during the "season" but we had friends living in the area that we spent time with when our place was rented. The restaurant was almost always active. I truly believe, with a better menu, and special theme nights like in the past, we could promote this location with the public as well as our own members. I have noticed that on Sundays, it is more active than it has been.

I have had a family special event here and the food was excellent. Service was great! Again, you can't book special events, weddings, etc, unless you advertise the space is available. I haven't seen any ads for a very long time.

11/23/2022 04:20:00 pm

Once again, participation lease for the restaurant so it is NOT dependent on owners or renters in DP ONLY; and has anyone looked at the electrical boxes lately??? They are old, worn out, stripped down etc...not only is this a function issue, it is a SAFETY issue. If money is spent, why not on the this (oh yeah it is the condo's...); you know if they put solar overhangs in each cul de sac (condo's), it would power the garages that the HOA owns and pays the electricity for, it would be an upgrade and potentially generate enough excess to power the pool pumps, and provide cover for the spots in front of the condo's.

Lindsay

11/27/2022 11:01:34 am

Here we go again 🙄 round and round we go when it stops nobody knows 🎶 same old complaints and nobody does anything. Just reading this page is redundant. Like the MANAGEMENT TRUST!!! REDUNDANT

Tom

2/28/2023 11:46:40 am

Half a million floored me. When I saw what the $500k was going to pay for, I was floored again. A better outdoor eating area at a restaurant that hardly anybody goes to and is losing money. This will not draw people in. Improvements to the spa? We are thinking people from the area would come to this fitness center and spa when there are hundreds of spa and fitness centers with better hours and services? I don't get it.

Vivian

3/1/2023 07:33:28 am

Why doesn't the BOD let the homeowners vote? It is our money? Why ????? Does anybody know the reason why? Does anyone know the answer? We vote for people to be on BOD. Webb or Storage what is your reason why we cannot vote on these issues?

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.

Charter

This blog is designed as a means to provide transparency and informative access to the policies and protocols of the Desert Princess Palm Springs Homeowners Association, the governance of the HOA Board of Directors and the management of the community’s assets by The Management Trust. The expressed intent is to establish a neighborhood hub for trusted connections and the exchange of helpful information, goods, and services; it is hoped that homeowners will use it to build a stronger and safer Desert Princess Palm Springs.

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