President’s Message by Jacque Baker

WHAT IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT LSM?

The Community Association held a contest regarding why some people moved into our area and what it is that makes us special.  We had quite a few good responses and one of the best responses and the winner of the contest was written by Eleanor Farrow who has lived at the Lake since 1992.  She and her husband "took a sheet of yellow paper, divided it down the middle, put her wishes on one side, his on the other regarding what they were looking for in a place to live."  After visiting Lake San Marcos in 1992, they "went down the list and checked off 100% of each of their wish list and bought a home here."  Some of the highlights of her two page letter are:  "desiring a sunny climate, a walking golf course they could afford, and many clubs that interested them". She also states that a very important aspect for her since she lost her husband a few years ago, is "her sense of safety with having a security patrol and many friendships she now relies on so heavily." Her complete letter as well as all of the others are posted at www.QuailCall.com    

Other comments we received include one from someone "that ended up here by accident, being lost, staying at the Quail’s Inn and waking up to a "fairyland".  They have been here ever since.

 Others moved here because of wanting "to play golf nearby, driving golf carts on quiet streets, loving to fish and wanting to put a boat on the lake", and almost everyone mentioned "how quiet and slow paced Lake San Marcos is, the nicest people and the beauty of the community".

WHY DO WE HAVE RECREATIONAL LEASES?

Many years ago, in the early 1960’s, Lake San Marcos was built as "America’s First Planned Lakeside Community".  The Frazar Brothers, decided to retain ownership of the Lake and Recreational Facilities as a way of maintaining control of the budding community and not opening it to the whims of various homeowner associations and other special interests. They had a VISION for the unique community which actually worked very well in the early years.  They formed 20 year lease agreements for use of the facilities and charged a small fee to everyone in the community to use them. They encouraged formation of many social clubs and organizations and a lifestyle revolving around retirement type activities that drew like minded individuals from all over the country to retire and enjoy this unique lifestyle.  We don’t think Lake San Marcos would be anything like it is now if it hadn’t been for the Frazar Brother’s and their vision in setting up this community the way they did.  You can read more about the "Early History of Lake San Marcos" in a book that is available for sale at the Community Association office

 However, time changes everything.  Since the Lake and Recreation facilities were an asset to control by the Frazar Brothers, they were also an asset to provide a profit for the fledgling company and eventually an asset to sell.  The community had very little control over the Lake and Recreational Facilities. However the fees were very small and the management good, life enjoyable, so there was little dispute.  At some point, these lease fees became a profit center for the Frazar’s.  Maintenance on the facilities lagged, and the money put into other enterprises of the owners. Some signs of grumbling began, but mostly things continued as people living at the lake enjoyed the unique lifestyle. 

In 2004, Citizen’s Development Corp (CDC) was purchased by La Jolla Development Group for many millions of dollars.  They had/ have goals of updating the Resort and even rebuilding parts of it that are antiquated and outdated. This would be good for the residents and make our little community an even more desirable place to live. CDC has to be profitable or their businesses will close!  What would that mean for the residents of Lake San Marcos?  Golf courses allowed to deteriorate, a Lake not maintained, or what? Like it or not we are in a partnership with CDC and we have a common interest in the Lake and Golf Courses. 

 Many discussions started in 2004 about changing, updating, and improving this Hodge Podge collection of 20 year leases that few people understood and that had few protections for either party.  HOA leases started expiring.  Homeowner Association Presidents decided to band together to get a new, fair, and equitable lease agreement that everyone could live with and would take us into the 21^st century.  In June 2007, with the help of Lake San Marcos Community Association, several HOA President’s drafted an agreement and banded together to negotiate with CDC. The resulting leases, now being offered to the HOA’s, are fair, reasonable, and important to the future of our community.  They have cancellation clauses in them which say the lease can be cancelled if either party doesn’t live up to the terms and conditions of them and if the facilities are not maintained!  They have a 4% yearly cap on them, and clearly define the rights and responsibilities of both parties. This is a much better lease than we’ve had in the past and one that protects us for the next 20 or 30 years. Homeowners pay an average of $400 a year, some more some less, (that’s about $33 a month) under the terms of the leases.  This is kept low because of the sheer numbers of homeowners (over 2200 homes).  Payments are allowed to go up a maximum of 4% a year.  Even increasing by the maximum amount and compounding yearly that means an average monthly fee at the end of ten years is about $49/month- A bargain by anyone’s standard in today’s market!  However, there are some in our Community that do not think the recreational facilities are important to Lake San Marcos and are not in favor of signing any lease. 

LSMCA is now negotiating with CDC to bring the INDIVIDUAL LEASES into line with the new HOA leases regarding terms and conditions.  Although not yet implemented, CDC has agreed to do this. 

CDC does not have to account for how they use the lease money as long as the terms and conditions of the contract and maintenance are upheld.  They are also allowed to make a profit on their investment for their investors.  Whether we agree with this or not, it is a fact of life by the way it was originally set up.  We must deal with what it is!

What do we get for this fee?  We get the non exclusive rights to use the lake for boating and fishing, use of the Pavilion and other recreational rooms and picnic area, the 2 swimming pools, tennis courts, paddle tennis courts, and billiards room. In addition the money pays for insurance and maintenance of the common interest areas at the entrances, the insurance and maintenance of the lake (which alone is a huge amount!), the private road of La Bonita Dr and the private bridge.

 By having a meeting place at the Pavilion, over 25 Organized Clubs and Activities, as well as over 2200 Homeowners and other Associations have a place to get together and develop friendships and learn about their community and discuss what is important.  If we didn’t have the Pavilion or Recreational Facilities,  many of the clubs would be forced to disband, which could significantly impact our Community.

 Having common interests invites like minded people to live in our area.  This is the heart of what Lake San Marcos is about.  Without the common interest of people who live there, a community cannot come to agreement on what is important to them.  To bring these like minded individuals to one place, it is important to offer a way of life that attracts them.    Simply put, if you have sidewalks and playgrounds, you attract young families, if you have entertainment nightclubs and colleges, you attract students and single people, if you have golf carts and organized social clubs you attract retirees. Similar minded people form closer friendships and support community activities such as Social Clubs, a 24 hour Security Patrol, and even a Community Association.  Having those types of activities is what keeps Lake San Marcos desirable for retirees.  Otherwise we would become just another neighborhood.

Yes, the argument can be made that La Jolla Development Group is not real customer friendly and uses the lease money for their other businesses, but do we put the future of our community in the hands of LJDG or do we save it in spite of what they do?  Have you ever heard the saying "cutting  off your nose to spite your face?"   Our actions are the most important-- not what LJDG does! Therefore it is our opinion that the future of Lake San Marcos lies in our hands, that everyone should do their part to preserve our Recreation Facilities and upkeep of our Beautiful Lake EVEN IF you don’t personally use any of them!  If a few individuals or HOA’s stop paying the lease fees, others will too, and soon there will not be enough support and lease fees will go higher for the rest of the community.  We will be divided into a community of "Have and Have Nots".   Supporting the treasure we know as Lake San Marcos is what will preserve us.  We ask you all to do your part. You are welcome to send us your opinions for publishing at opinions@QuailCall.com

I  LEAVE THE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

I wish to express my gratitude and thanks for the wonderful support I have received this past 6 years and for the many friends I have made, and especially for all I have learned about our unique community and it’s history.  I leave the Community Association in great hands, with a board who will continue to support you and continue to work on preserving what we have here.