Manager’s Report March 2020

Layne Varney

SunBird is a great place to be! February was full of fun recreational and social activities. March is scheduled to be even busier. The weather has been terrific, and we hope you are enjoying the many facilities and amenities of SunBird. This is a great time of year with everything in full swing!

The “Blips” continue. If you don’t know what a “Blip” is by now… you could still be in the dark. It’s a short flick (split second) of the power going off and then back on again. The SunBird Office has been corresponding with Salt River Project (SRP) continually over the past six weeks concerning these short, one-second power outages that have occurred approximately 20 times or so over the past eight weeks. SRP has conducted and is still involved in an extensive study investigating the source of these “blips.” They have tested, replaced, and updated several items of electrical equipment. The following is the latest response from SRP’s Strategic Energy Management Department dated Jan. 31: “Here is an update. We have crews on site right now changing out a transformer. We sectionalized again and tested the conductor this morning. All the prior relays have been on B phase. Yesterday the fault was Ground. We had to take an outage on one of the pumps at SunBird Golf. We found fault in that conductor and are changing out the transformer…” Residents should report any surges they experience through the SRP app or by calling 602-236-8888. After this notice from SRP, SunBird went one full week without a “blip” and it appeared to have been solved, case closed. It happened again, another “Blip.” The power flicked off and back on for a split-second, causing clubhouse computers, televisions, telephones, and other equipment to turn off. This is also happening to many homes in SunBird. Several SRP trucks, equipment, and employees have been in the SunBird Community working to resolve these “blips.” At this time, it has been over 10 days since the last “blip.”

The SunBird Marketing Committee was created several years ago after the Arizona State real estate market crashed. The purpose of the committee was to promote and market the SunBird Community. Fast forward years later, as the real estate market began to recover and the efforts of marketing began to flourish, home sales dramatically increased in SunBird. The Marketing Committee charter was revised at the beginning of this year to include in its title “Welcoming,” joining together these two committees. SunBird has such an influx of new people moving into the community, we wanted to make sure they were welcomed and feel comfortable joining and participating in the many activities and amenities offered. Now, SunBird homes are selling so quickly that some realtors are reporting they have waiting lists of people wanting to buy homes in SunBird. Several homes have been selling before the “For Sale” signs are even posted in the front yard. In the last four years, nearly 500 SunBird homes have been sold. With both of these important tasks of the Welcoming and Marketing Committee, this committee has increased their efforts of welcoming new owners and renters quicker.

This past year, a new owner survey was created by the Welcoming and Marketing Committee for each new owner to complete as they checked in at the office. The results of this survey for the year 2019 indicates that 54% of the new buyers learned of SunBird from family or a friend. The top three comments for what attracted them to SunBird (all very close) were the facilities and amenities, affordability, and friendliness. Sixty-three percent of the new owners said that they planned to be full-time residents at SunBird. The top three interests of SunBird are the social events/activities, golf, water aerobics, and pickleball. The survey results will be an excellent tool for current and future planning for SunBird.

SunBird’s annual independent financial audit is nearing completion for the year 2019. The auditor collects and reviews financial data from the computer system, annual bank statements, insurance statements, tax reports, financial reports, and meeting minutes and conducts random testing on several specific financial transactions for compliance. Having an annual financial audit is necessary and a proactive practice to ensure that good accounting procedures are implemented and the accounting records and reports of SunBird are accurate. The auditor will be making the final report at the annual meeting.

This year, SunBird is focusing on “Be Kind.” Most of the employees, Board of Directors, and many residents are wearing these magnetic pins with the SunBird logo that say “Be Kind.” We just want SunBird to be even a greater place to live and help everyone feel welcome and glad to be here! Join in our efforts to “Be Kind” to everyone.

It is exciting to be part of a vibrant organization that wants to meet the changing needs, keep updated facilities and amenities, and continue to be progressive. SunBird is a great place to live! Enjoy the good life!