April 2026 Sunriver Scene - Flipbook - Page 4
Sunriver
OWNERS ASSOCIATION
SROA treasurer
report: Things are
Contact your board at sroaboard@srowners.org
sroa president’s message
Greetings, homehave already done
owners and guests.
these things or have
Spring is here after
them on a regularly
an extremely mild
schedule (smart!)
winter. If owners are
there are many
not already thinking
other ideas and reabout planning and
lated information
beginning seasonal Bill Burke
available at www.
home projects and
sunriverowners.org.
improvements, now is a good Owner compliance relating to
time to do so.
fire protection remains one of
Foremost amongst these is our greatest challenges, so let’s
consideration of fire protec- all get on this.
Of importance to all owners
tion. Two great opportunities
to learn more about this threat is a board action that took place
to your home and investment at the Feb. 21 board meeting.
The board passed a motion to
occur in April.
First, “Wildfire Prepared- approve ballot language and
ness and Your Home Insur- authorize a vote of owners
ance: What Every Homeowner to amend the Sunriver ConNeeds to Know,” takes place solidated Plan to implement a
from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Capital Transfer Fee. This meaApril 14 at SHARC. The event sure would establish a growing
is provided by Sunriver You/ fund to be used only for new or
Owner Enrichment Commit- improved facilities amenities,
tee. Reservations can be made equipment and infrastructure.
The fee is payable only at the
at www.sunriveryou.com.
Second, a Fire Preparedness time of a property sale that inFair is set for 12p.m. to 2 p.m. volves a monetary transaction.
Thursday, April 16 at SHARC. The Capital Transfer Fee does
(please reference ad on page not apply if there is no mon38) No reservations for the fair etary transaction (inherited
are necessary. Both presenta- properties, properties placed
tions are free. Fire protection in trust, foreclosures, spousal
preparedness is every owner’s exchanges, etc.).
This Board action comes as
responsibility because what you
do, or don’t do, can affect your the result of a recommendation
neighbors and all Sunriver, from the Finance Commitnot to mention your property tee and is supportive of our
values.
Mission Statement, the goals
Begin with the simple things within Sunriver’s 2030 Strathat you can do to protect your- tegic Plan, the annual Capital
self, your home and our com- Improvement and Work Plans,
munity: clean those gutters, recommendations from the
clear debris from the grounds Parks and Recreation Masand take advantage of SROA’s ter Plan, the Pathway Safety
Ladder Fuel Pick Up Program Master Plan, and the 2024
that runs from April to Octo- Comprehensive Owner Survey.
ber. Also, replace exterior vents Many examples of potential
with finer mesh and comply capital projects are included
with Sunriver Rules Regula- in these published documents.
This ballot measure is about
tions regarding the management of your property. If you investing in the future of
Sunriver and will assist in maintaining Sunriver’s relevance
in a competitive world when
compared to newer planned
communities in Central Oregon or elsewhere.
In the coming months, owners can expect more details,
potential projects as well as
opportunities to learn more
and provide owner input. The
ballot measure will be included
in the annual election for board
candidates occurring JulyAugust of this year.
Readers may recall the December 2025, issue of the
Scene highlighting the many
services and work completed by
our eight departments. I have
personally received multiple
comments from owners who
are amazed at the volume and
breadth of such services offered
by SROA. In past months, I
have highlighted the Public
Works and IT Departments.
This month, I would like
to focus on the Owner Enrichment Committee (OEC)
and what it and its volunteer
members offer for our community. Sometimes referred
to as the “fun committee,” the
OEC was first established as
an ad hoc committee in 2017
and established as a standing
committee in 2019. As with
other standing committees (Finance, Covenants, Design), the
OEC is governed by a Sunriver
Owners Association boardapproved charter. Its purpose
is to assist the board, staff and
the association with developing, promoting and evaluating
SROA programs and activities
of a social, educational, cultural
and/or recreational nature for
the benefit of owners. Staff and
a board liaison are attached as
nonvoting members.
As a recent example of OEC
different this time
efforts, the board has referred a
Pathway Safety Task Force recommendation to OEC to assist
with the implementation of
an Ambassador Program to be
stationed at selected areas and
times around Sunriver during
peak tourist season. (Volunteer
applications are currently being
encouraged, visit www.sunriverowners.org/volunteer).
When you think of OEC
think of the value of the offerings such as the popular
annual daffodil sale or the
monthly owner Happy Hour
at SHARC. Also falling under OEC is the Sunriver You
programs which provide a
wide variety of classes and
events. Consider the above fire
protection related sessions as
well as recent and upcoming
travel, cyber protection and AI
introduction, arts and crafts,
financial and cultural/historical
experiences. Other items related specifically to Sunriver and
perhaps of greater importance
to owners are annual board
candidate and occasional town
hall forums highlighting topical
issues that affect all owners and
our community.
It’s easy to sign up for any
of the Sunriver You offerings
but remember, for some events
space is limited so if “you
snooze, you lose.” To register
go to www.sunriveryou.com.
OEC/Sunriver You is another example of the value, experience and knowledge volunteer
owners add that make Sunriver
such a remarkable and unique
place to own and enjoy.
Finally, be on the lookout for
board candidate information
and Candidate Forum notices
in future editions of the Scene
and via e-mail blasts (if your
e-mail is on file with SROA).
ensure drinking water is safe
now and into the future. He
noted there are resources available and that the board should
create a drinking water source
plan.
• Bob Gamble feels that
recent sewer rate increases are
overreaching and penalizing
permanent residents overuse
By Clark Pederson
Just when you think you
know how things work and
you start to make assumptions
about the future, you find out
that things are not what they
seem.
Things are different this
time.
This applies to the Sunriver
Owners Association’s budget
and finances.
In the past, our finances and
our ability to keep maintenance
fee increases to a minimum
while also funding new amenities and infrastructure have
been aided by several factors
that may not exist in the future.
An important part of our
budget is our Reserve Fund.
The fund’s purpose is to pay for
the replacement and improvement of commonly held assets.
This includes every vehicle,
pathway, road, tennis and
pickleball court, aquatics, park
amenities and parts of every
building – roof, paint, window
coverings and carpet owned by
SROA. The Reserve Fund covers every asset with an expected
life of three to 30 years.
In the past, we also have used
it to fund new amenities and
infrastructure, however, that
must be carefully watched to
not deplete funds needed to
support replacement of existing
amenities.
The Sunriver Consolidated
Plan requires the board of directors to follow a “multi-year
funding plan for the Reserve
Fund as recommended by a
Certified Reserve Specialist
designed to bring the association’s reserve threshold funding
level of 70-100% funded by the
year 2042.”
While our current coverage
is above the 70% level, it is a
constantly changing number.
We cannot rely on the past. Every three years, we hire a reserve
consultant to audit items in our
reserve list. The purpose being
to ensure all assets are on the
list, that the assumed replacement costs are accurate based
on current prices, and that the
life expectancy is appropriate.
That three-year review is scheduled for August. Upon completion of the audit, our coverage
percentage can change.
Secondly, every time we add
a new amenity it must be added
to the list, and its repair and
replacement costs added to our
reserve needs.
These factors can change the
coverage percentage.
There also are three major
factors affecting our reserve
Turn to Highlights, page 5
Turn to Treasurer, page 5
Monthly meeting highlights, actions of the SROA Board of Directors
The Sunriver Owners Association (SROA) Board of
Directors meeting was held
Saturday, March 21, 2026.
Board members present:
Bill Burke, Pam Hays, Keith
Mobley, Clark Pederson, Linda
Beard, Roni Jacknow, Randy
Schneider, Dale Harrison and
Brad Banta (via Zoom).
Staff present: James Lewis,
Susan Berger, Richie Villagrana.
Owners forums
(summarized)
From March 20 work session
• Bruce Bischof asked that
the rule regarding golf nets be
Page 4
reviewed and changed so the
nets could stay up year round.
• Provided letters to the
board from Terry Dahlquist
and Gary Orzel.
From March 21 regular
meeting
• Sherri Serfling noted concerns over the board raising fees
to create new amenities but
can’t spend money on keeping
the Member Pool open longer
in the season. She also noted
that the word “relevant” continues to be mentioned and that,
if Sunriver wants to remain
relevant, that golf should be
brought back. She said it feels
APRIL 2026 SUNRIVER SCENE
SROA Financial Report
Year to date through Feb. 28, 2026 (unaudited)
Total Operating Revenue ................................... $2,363,411
Total Operating Expenses* ................................ $2,410,558
Operating Surplus / (Deficit) ............................. ($47,147)
*Reserve Fund Contribution: $672,708
like the board is favoring the
Resort above owners.
• John Hiser spoke at a previous board meeting about
the Resort’s fuel tank being a
hazard to the Deschutes River
and Sunriver’s drinking water.
He feels that SROA, under the
2030 Strategic Plan, specifically
calls out environmental stewardship, and the board should
