TO: Sean P Kelly, Mayor, Maple Valley

Greg Brown, Parks and Recreation Director, Maple Valley

Maple Valley, City Council Members

Maple Valley, Parks and Recreation Commission Members

From: The Lake Wilderness Home Owners Association Board (LWHOA)

Date: June 14, 2017

RE: Lake Wilderness Golf Course Initiatives

After attending the recent Parks and Rec meetings and joint City Council meetings regarding the Lake Wilderness golf course initiatives, the LWHOA board must express our residents’ serious concerns with the management and oversight of the review and selection process, as well as the three proposals both the Parks and Rec and City Council are considering.

At the May 31 meeting, over 40 Lake Wilderness residents attended and came away with more questions and concerns then were answered.  The meeting appeared to cater to the three proposals without providing fair opportunity for residents to ask questions and/or express their opinions.

The excessive amount of time provided to the three proposals limited the opportunity for resident feedback.

This does a disservice to the community as it focuses only on the proposals and offers no feedback either for or against.

Addressing the three proposals, the LWHOA board and residents ask the joint meeting of the City Council and Parks and Rec to address the following questions:

1. Premier proposal:
   1. Why consider a radical proposal from a management service that has failed to improve operations and access since taking over management for the course?
   2. Why did it take a serious threat to remove Premier from the management of the golf course to get any action out of their management team?
   3. Premier continues to compare LWGC with failed enterprises and with other Premier managed courses who are not comparable with the LWGC; e.g. Interbay Golf Center is a short 9-hole course with a putting option.  This style of golf is designed for families with little or no golf experience.  LWGC is built and designed for golfers.
   4. Who from the Parks and Rec have truly analyzed the claims from Premier as they change from meeting to meeting?; e.g. anticipated revenue, anticipated costs, continued management personnel, revenues from comparable golf courses, contacting comparable golf courses operated by Premier to assess staff’s opinion of Premier as an employer.

1. Food and Beverage proposal:

1. 1. The LWHOA believes the F&B service should be designed to meet the needs of the clientele who use the course.  The cliental are golfers.  Anything else is competing with the local, established F&B market which is an uphill battle.
   2. A simplified F&B service should offer golfers easy to prepare and take food options, with on course cart service and beverages.

1. Golf course and hotel proposal:

1. 1. We agree with part of this proposal which addresses the need to update the grounds keeping equipment, maintain the golf course with acquisition of water rights, and improving the course with structural and aesthetically pleasing options.  All of which will enhance the golfer’s experience.
   2. We adamantly disagree with a “miniature” driving range.  The area proposed is too small and unless netted in on all three outward sides and roof, threatens the homes at the end of the driving range.
   3. Similar to the Premier proposal, we do not believe a putting course will be inexpensive to install and maintain and do not believe it will attract families.  If the City Council and Parks and Rec desire a putting course, locating this option at the Lake Wilderness lodge area would make more sense as the park is designed for families.
   4. We disagree with any thought to replace the existing LWGC main building with a hotel of any size or function.  NO thought has been put into the increased traffic, parking, and imposition to the LW residents as the proposal comes from a group who do not live in the LW community.  The LWGC footprint is too small to accommodate such a facility and maintain its unique and bucolic character.

The LWHOA board has offered at several meetings to be included on discussion, research, and ultimate consideration for any activity/recommendation by the Parks and Rec to the City Council for ultimate decision making.

Greg Brown has offered to come to a Lake Wilderness HOA Board Meeting, and we extend the same offer to any City Council Member.  The next LWHOA Board meeting will be on 7/18/2017 @ 5:15 p.m. at the Lake Wilderness Lodge.

Given the significant impact the LWGC has on the local Lake Wilderness community, Maple Valley residents, and the long term impact for Maple Valley as a strong growing bedroom community, we strongly urge the City Council and Parks and Rec to consider our motions above.

Sincerely,

Stephen P Katzenson, President of LWHOA

Cell #:  907-223-2774/E-mail:  Stephen.Katzenson@multicare.org

Shirley Evans, Vice-President of the LWHOA

Jamie Garner, Secretary of the LWHOA

Dan White, Board Member of the LWHOA

WHAT: NATIONAL NIGHT OUT

WHEN: August 1, 2017 @ 6 p.m.

WHERE: 224th CT SE

DETAILS:
Police Department & Fire Department will arrive @ 7:00 p.m.
Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Cole Slaw, Chips, Hot Dogs, and Ice Cream
Magician “Roget the Man” arrives at 7 p.m. and will begin after the Police & Fire Departments leave

AUGUST HOA BOARD MEETING SPECIAL GUEST:
Megan Sheridan, City Council Member, will be attending our next LWHOA Board meeting (scheduled for 8/16/2017 @ 5:15 p.m.) to discuss the golf course proposals. We invite all homeowners to attend!

CC&R’s:
REMEMBER – If you are planning on making any home/landscaping additions, updates, or modifications, please refer to the LWHOA CC&R’s for guidance and then submit an Architectural Control Committee Application Form when applicable. This form can be found on the LWHOA website under “Forms.” Failure to submit an ACC request may result in a fine to be determined by the LWHOA Board.

LWHOA BOARD “NEW” MEETING LOCATION:
Please feel free to attend the monthly HOA Board Meetings, which occur the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 5:15 p.m., except for June and December. The LWHOA meetings will now be held at the Lake Wilderness Lodge which is located at 22500 SE 248th St, Maple Valley, WA 98038 – down at the Lake Wilderness Park – Cedar and Rainer Conference Rooms.
We hope to see you!

UPCOMING PROJECTS:
Neighborhood Speeding: The LWHOA Board has met with the City of Maple Valley to determine the implementation timeline for the “no cost” options of Painting the Speed Limit of 25 MPH on the Road, additional Speed Limit Signs, and the Short Term Installation of an Electronic Speed Sign. The Board will provide a timeline communication in the July newsletter … sorry for the delay.

REQUEST FOR BOARD MEMBERS:
We are looking for two replacement Board members. Any interested homeowners should feel free to attend our next meeting, which is scheduled for July 19, 2017 at 5:15 p.m.

PARKS & REC COMMISSION MEETING:
We would like to thank everyone who attended the Parks & Rec meeting on 5/31/2017. Even though the meeting was long, which did not allow for everyone to voice their concerns, it appears that our attendance did create a delay in the golf course decision. Greg Brown, Chair of the Commission, provided the LWHOA Board President with a recent e-mail that stated:
He “will recommend to the Council that at this time all ideas for the golf course be referred to the Commission for further study before a final recommendation is made to the Council at a to be determined future date. Further study may include City staff working on a feasibility study for a hotel, working with a consultant to assess viability of a standalone food & beverage operation and/or added economic benefit of a mini-golf operation in combination with a new club house. There will not be any presentations or discussion about the Golf Course at the June 14th meeting.”
The LWHOA Board provided a formal letter to Greg Brown and the Mayor, Sean Kelly, at the 6/14/2017 joint City Council and Parks & Rec meeting requesting that Greg and a City Council member attend our next LWHOA Board Meeting to answer homeowner questions/concerns. This letter is available on the LWHOA website.

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT:
Get ready for it … National Night Out is just around the corner, August 1, 2017. We will once again be hosting National Night Out at the 224th CT SE location. Details to follow in our July Newsletter, including start time, food, entertainment, and arrival of police/fire department.

CC&R’s:
REMEMBER – If you are planning on making any home/landscaping additions, updates, or modifications, please refer to the LWHOA CC&R’s for guidance and then submit an Architectural Control Committee Application Form when applicable. This form can be found on the LWHOA website under “Forms.” Failure to submit an ACC request will result in a fine to be determined by the LWHOA Board.

LWHOA BOARD “NEW” MEETING LOCATION:
Please feel free to attend the monthly HOA Board Meetings, which occur the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 5:15 p.m., except for June and December. The LWHOA meetings will now be held at the Lake Wilderness Lodge which is located at 22500 SE 248th St, Maple Valley, WA 98038 – down at the Lake Wilderness Park – Cedar and Rainer Conference Rooms
We hope to see you!