Home » City Council, Community » VOCA Board Stung by Redstone Restaurant Expose

VOCA Board Stung by Redstone Restaurant Expose

Robert S. Wood, Sedona Times guest columnist

Robert S. Wood, authors a SedonaEye.com Guest Opinion

Sedona AZ (November 19, 2013) – My recent Sedona Eye expose of the VOCA board’s abuse of its 2300 captive family members – which received overwhelming public support in more than 60 comments – forced the board to hold a meeting to “explain” its continuing looting of its members’ reserve fund to prop up an inferior, discredited, money-losing restaurant and golf club – dumping good money after bad.

The November 3 meeting began with the board issuing a list of restrictive ground rules, essentially banning all questions and comments until the end of its presentation, then banning all criticism and reference to past board action, thus intimidating the audience in advance. Thirty to forty people were in the audience. Judging from their comments, more than half of them were golfers, stacking the deck to defend pro-golf board action. One golfer regularly proposes increasing the assessment at every meeting. Notorious empire builder Benore issued a lengthy pro-golf rant.

The board then proceeded to power point present its own fanciful, self-justifying, sugar-coated history of the restaurant complete with defensive distortions, exaggerations and omissions presenting its propaganda for 40 minutes before allowing brief audience questions and comments – provided they weren’t critical.

The board’s basic message was that the Redstone restaurant is a necessity to keep the golf course from losing a quarter million dollars. No reasoning or sources were given for this huge and suspiciously round number!

It then attempted to justify keeping the restaurant open – no matter what. To this end, the board not only proposed reducing the rent of its failing operator Steve Bruns but additionally forgiving his $50,000 unpaid 2013 rent – apparently as incentive to keep Redstone open – an insane reward for failing to pay his rent!

redstone grill

VOCA Redstone Grill restaurant operator Steve Bruns has failed to pay contracted rent and is seeking relief from VOCA board for $50,000 owed, a 60% slash in monthly rent, a new 5 year contract, and VOCA board approval of $126,000 in budgeted restaurant 2014 expenses midst complaints of poor food quality and service issues

No mention of course was made that the board had dishonestly and illegally spent over a million dollars of member money to secretly, deceptively build the restaurant in the first place, without voter permission, spending more than half of Homeowner reserves in just two years. The board said this money drain “cannot continue” which sounds good – until you realize that the board pledged the restaurant would show a profit or close down over a year ago. And it didn’t.

The board refused to consider the one way out of this growing financial nightmare – selling off the multi-million dollar Golf Country Club and clubhouse.

Instead, the VOCA board offered three alternatives:

(1) Enforce the current contract with its operator Steven Bruns and close down Redstone:  That sounds good until its realized that enforcement is a joke – because the board has already failed to even ask Bruns for the 80% of the year’s rent that he has failed to pay. But closing Redstone now and making Bruns pay is a good place to begin reforms.

(2) Amend Bruns contract:  This is doubletalk for cutting his rent from $5000 to $2000. This idiocy reveals just how desperate the board is to keep Redstone open, no matter the loss or who pays for it, despite the fact that Bruns word and his contract have proved utterly worthless just like the VOCA board. Why do they beg Bruns? Because they know that no other operator will take on this loser restaurant in these hard times.

(3) Turn over ownership and operation of Redstone to the golfers:  This is an unrealistic dream, as there are barely 170 golfers and the Golf Club is already losing money.

Closing Redstone would be a good first step, but the only genuine solution to the whole problem – concealed by the board – is simply to sell off the whole multi-million dollar Golf Country Club and clubhouse, thus replenishing the looted HOA reserve funds. Golfers would continue playing under a new owner. Without a loser golf club, the HOA would shrink and so would member dues, a win-win arrangement, but this submitted alternative was highhandedly ignored by the VOCA board.

During the brief question period, complaints were voiced by the few non-golfers present that Redstone food and service were poor, that most of its patrons were golfers, that golf rates were cheaper at other local courses, and Redstone’s reputation had slipped badly in the past year. They cheered when one woman stood up and insisted that Redstone be promptly taken off the backs of the whole village and put squarely on the golfers where it belonged.

Questioned afterward, one VOCA member said the meeting was just more board propaganda. Another said the iron control of the board was intimidating and he didn’t get to say what he wanted. A third said the meeting was unfairly stacked, a kangaroo court, something right out of Alice and Wonderland, “and we never get to vote on anything!”

Sedona Arizona's Village of Oak Creek Association represents over 2300 homeowners

Sedona Arizona’s Village of Oak Creek Association Board represents over 2300 homeowners and meets November 20 to vote on Redstone restaurant controversial contract issues

The meeting closed with its new president agreeing to accept member input providing it isn’t critical (!) despite her board’s blatant violation of HOA laws and its own bylaws. But member input clearly isn’t wanted and members get no vote on what’s decided.

Insider VOCA observers say the three alternatives are a diversionary propaganda smokescreen because the board has already secretly decided to give operator Bruns his rent reduction and his $50,000 rent relief bonus to entice him to stay, maybe even disastrously locking him in for 5 years!

The evidence for that “scam” is that Redstone is already budgeted for over $126,000 expenses in 2014, revealing that Redstone operation has been quietly approved in the back rooms. The VOCA board hopes to quickly pass the 2014 budget next Wednesday, November 11, 2013 – well before considering the three restaurant alternatives!

Thus the abuse of 2300 innocent captive VOCA families – carrying a loser golf club and loser restaurant on their backs – is dishonestly set to continue until homeowner apathy lifts and VOCA is forced to sell the golf club to restore the reserves it looted or to escape looming bankruptcy.

Informed homeowners will not bail them out.

For the best in Arizona news and views, read www.SedonaEye.com daily!

For the best in Arizona news and views, read www.SedonaEye.com daily!

44 Comments

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  2. John says:

    Clearly Mr. Woods you were not at the meeting, as usual.

  3. Have you people not learned anything from watching other toxic Boards? The actions of this board is very similar to the old SFD Board with Erik, Blauert, Chucky and Dibble. Back room deals, restricting what meeting attendees can and can’t say and violating its own bylaws, this is all getting sickening. If there are real facts to stand behind all of these concerns, why don’t those “in the know” just file a complaint with the State AG’s office? That and the recall was the only way to stop the old SFD board before they were able to accomplish their goal of putting the agency into bankruptcy.

  4. KAREN says:

    LMAO WHY BOTHER JOHN IT WAS RIGGED

  5. Mr. Wood’s opinions are getting more fanciful all the time. The meeting was absolutely nothing like his description: golfers were less than 25% of the attendees (definitely not a “stacked” audience), it was very friendly and everyone had the opportunity to ask questions. For someone NOT AT THE MEETING, he offers a lot of quotes. As my Scottish mother used to say, “Beware the Wee Lad (or Lass) whisperin’ in your ear.”

  6. Linda Hersey says:

    “As long as the restaurant presents low-quality food for high-quality prices, it will not show a profit. I use to eat there regularly when it was Mulligan’s. No more. My recent visit was definitely my last. The food was not good, the price was way too high, and the service was mediocre. Unless something (i.e., everything) changes, the restaurant will not succeed.”

  7. Mary says:

    I live in a VOCA condo and it’s time to put in my comment echoed by many others that I know. I’m beginning to think that residents of VOC are as dumb as the residents of Sedona only poorer and getting poorer with every VOCA board decision.

    The board treated the former owner poorly demanding her tax statements from all business ventures even though she paid the rent & no similar demand was made of the present renter, another predetermined outcome to dump the old and bring on a controllable new renter by a board that thought too highly of themselves and their abilities.

    The new renter fired all the Mulligan’s employees and replaced them with his own set. Problem? You’ve immediately alienated all those resident/employees and their circle of friends and family. Even Verizon isn’t foolish enough to alienate its friends and family connections and they’ve got a whole lot more paying into the pot!

    Problem two? The new batch of waiters were surly, poorly trained. They were fired. Read problem to that answer above.

    With new waiters and kitchen help, poor food control, poor training, bad tips bring bad waitstaff attitudes, sense of entitlement, golfers who belittle and ridicule because they have “ownership” and “power” issues.

    I would not take out of towners there for any meal or drink.

    There are better local places. Let me name a few like PJs, SGR, Mileys, Cuchina Rustica, Desert Flour, Famous Pizza, Pagos, Thai restaurant in Bell Rock Plaza and IGA fresh made to order sandwich and salads. Other than that there’s mediocre or overpriced.

    That does it for me. I would like Bruns and Rizzo dismissed for incompetence and arrogance. I would like to see the VOCA board dismissed for dishonesty and illegalities. I want an explanation why the president quit, who the new president is and why we should support the board in its folly.

  8. Denise says:

    had a bad bad bad meal served by a bad waiter

    not going back

    ever

  9. Lynn says:

    Nothing would entice me to go back. Like that Mary said, I too had a friend who was fired and an incompetent hired.

  10. Greg says:

    it’s an ok place

  11. Saul says:

    What was said at meeting & what was decided?

  12. Saul,
    Interesting presentation about the history of the restaurant, facts offered about the money spent, and the Board’s vision/hope about the future. Very “matter-of-fact”, admitted and showed costs to renovate and operate. I think the current Board is good at explaining everything. Nothing was decided. Board “up front’ said nothing would be decided as they wanted input from everyone. Pretty darn good meeting.

  13. helena James says:

    you are so right on Mr Woods it’s amazing how accurate your information is

  14. Made my wife try Redstone one more time last Saturday night. Glad I did, It was great!! Slow smoked short ribs were fantastic, chicken pasta also right on. The chef visited our table, very professional. GOOD JOB…. Even hit the bar for a nightcap, we will be back!

  15. Joe T says:

    Mr Woods is a self serving egotistical individual!! Seems to enjoy writing fiction!! Thinks he’s on the cutting edge of information , and must spread the word about wrong doings!! I read some of his past expose’s which he thinks have turned the tide of public opinion!! He seems to be much more important in his own mind than he actually is!! Much of his garbled misinformation is just wrong!!

  16. Joe —- isn’t it grand to voice opinions w/o proving you’re an expert first?

  17. Joe T says:

    Patricia!! Got news for you, just because Wood can write doesn’t make him an expert either!! He is a purveyor of misinformation and half truths!! Where I come from we call that a BS artist!!

  18. So old says:

    Oh brother @Joe You must be the one with your hand in the cookie jar. I applaud Mr. Robert Wood for standing up and speaking. Everyone that lives in VOC knows the truth. Why is it you say such a thing about Mr Wood? Truth must hurt ya! Thank you Mr Wood Great Job!!!!!!!!! Great article, we know you exposed the facts…. Dream on Joe.

  19. Shall we stop spending good energy trying to kill the messenger? That is the very reason people don’t participate in community. Move the conversation to getting the association back on track.

  20. Joe T says:

    Move on people I agree! However just the facts goes a long way in identifying and resolving problems if any!! Not a fabrication of or a misrepresentation of the Actual facts, which Me Woods so loves to do!! Do a search and check on the other fiction he has written for Sedona Eye!! The facts are facts, can’t make it up cause it fits in well with your opinions Me Wood!

  21. VOC Resident says:

    People should go back and try the restaurant now. There is a new chef, new menu and prices are very reasonable now. Too bad that Mr Wood has never repeat never attended a board meeting. Maybe then he could report fact instead of fiction.

  22. Glenn says:

    Think there is so much disagreement is because hard figures are never brought out. Open up the books and let people see where the money has gone and what has been paid into the system. Bottom line you don’t throw good money after bad and it is a known fact the golf course has never paid for itself.

  23. VOC Resident says:

    Glenn:

    To say it is a “known fact that the golf course has never paid for itself” is a total falsehood. Not one penny of the assessment goes to the golf course. The golf course member dues and outside play fees pays for the golf course operation. You must not go to the meetings as a financial statement for the golf course is prepared and given out to everyone on a monthly basis showing it receives nothing from the Association. It also pays for the portion of the community center that is used for the pro shop. Any VOCA member can go to the Finance Committee where all financial information is discussed in detail.

  24. Glenn says:

    Voc Resident I owned a lot for a few years and sold it because even though I didn’t golf you were assessed fees because the golf course didn’t pay for itself. To add insult to injury if you golfed you had to pay also besides the monthly fees. Even in the valley many golf course have either closed or have to be supported by other funds as the golf fees don’t support the golf courses. So you are trying to tell me that your golf course is different. For all that believe this have some ocean front property to sell you in Arizona

  25. @VOC Resident. I keep on hearing that Redstone is now under new management with a new chef. If you look at those comments below sent in to the Tripadvisor.com we see that as the excuse being used starting several months ago. Have been at the restaurant for dinner several times and the food was below average and I didn’t find the prices that reasonable for what was being served. The grill in the back has somewhat better food and more decent prices, but it’s very noisy, crammed and very slow service. Perhaps, it’s adequate for the golfers but not to the rest of us who are residents and wheelchair-bound.

    http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g31352-d2427376-Reviews-Redstone_Grill_Bar_Patio-Sedona_Arizona.html

  26. VOC Resident says:

    Glenn:

    I’ll repeat, not one cent of the assessment goes to the golf course. Don’t know where your info comes from but it is false. The reason you had to pay to play golf is that the golf course is funded only from golf dues or outside play. VOCA members receive a discount for memberships or for one time play. Best know your facts before making statements.

  27. Joe T says:

    VOC resident

    Both Glenn and Woods have made a habit of being wrong!! One guy writes fiction and the other guy tops it with his own fiction!! If the facts don’t work, make it up as you go along!

  28. Glenn says:

    Sure Joe guess I couldn’t read when I paid my assessment for voca, maybe it was for the boy scouts instead of the golf course. Mislabeled am sure.

  29. Joe T says:

    Could be Glenn!! I remember another one of your rants on this site regarding APS and smart meters!! You claimed that since there installation your electric bill went up 20-30 dollars!! Really? Will guess what, they were never installed!! More talk for the sake of talking!!

  30. Lynn says:

    New President is Gwen Hanna after Duane DePaepe resigned. Give her a chance.

  31. Glenn says:

    Sorry Joe I was talking about my home in Glendale not in Sedona and the bill did go up like I said.

  32. John B. says:

    IF anything illegal is going on AND you are confident it can be proven, inform the authorities.

    IF you do not then YOU are just as guilty.

    Otherwise shut your yap about illegalities..

  33. Grow up men, better yet let’s gather you all together and you can duke it out. You are so off track of the original conversation you look like a bunch of fools.

  34. Glenn says:

    John you can’t prove anything illegal as whatever the meter reads is what you get hit for. So if the new meter reads higher than the old one no way to prove that except I track all my electric bills and know the increase between the two

  35. Glenn says:

    Enough already I wasn’t the one who took the subject off track as was challenged about what I stated as the truth. So why don’t you direct your comments to the ones that deserve it like Joe T not me.

  36. Is the Current Village of Oak Creek Association Board of Directors Violating the Arizona Open Meeting Law for HOAs?
    The purpose of the AZ HOA law is to enable communication with the members of the association.
    VOCA board deliberations that are not open to the membership are destructive as they:
    1. Foster distrust, 2. Give an image of secrecy, 3. Thwart input from members, 4. Prevent a dialogue between
    membership and the VOCA board, 5. Doesn’t allow communication with the membership.
    THE ARIZONA HOA OPEN MEETING LAW
    http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/ars/33/01804.htm&Title=33&DocType=ARS
    §33-1804. Open meetings; exceptions
    “A. Notwithstanding any provision in the declaration, bylaws or other documents to the contrary, all meetings of the association and
    board of directors are open to all members of the association or any person designated by a member in writing as the member’s representative
    and all members or designated representatives so desiring shall be permitted to attend and speak at an appropriate time
    during the deliberations and proceedings. The board may place reasonable time restrictions on those persons speaking during the meeting but shall permit a member or member’s designated representative to speak before the board takes formal action on an item under discussion in addition to any other opportunities to speak. The board shall provide for a reasonable number of persons to speak on each
    side of an issue. Any portion of a meeting may be closed only if that closed portion of the meeting is limited to consideration of one or more of the following:”
    1. Legal advice from an attorney for the board or the association.
    2. Pending or contemplated litigation.
    3. Personal, health or financial information about an individual member of the association, an individual employee of the association ….
    4. Matters relating to the job performance of, compensation of, health records of or specific complaints against an individual employee of the association ….
    B-4 “Any quorum of the board of directors that meets informally to discuss association business, including workshops, shall comply with the open meeting and notice provisions of this section without regard to whether the board votes or takes any action on any matter at that informal meeting.”
    C. “…notice to members of meetings of the board of directors shall be given at least forty-eight hours in advance of the meeting by newsletter, conspicuous posting or any other reasonable means as determined by the board of directors.
    “It is generally held that the open meeting law applies to informal, casual, or work sessions which include attendees resulting in a board quorum.”
    http://www.davismiles.com/homeowners-association-open-meeting-law/Why discuss the AZ HOA Open Meeting Law?
    At the July 23, 2014 board meeting, association members and the VOCA board discussed AZ HOA law violations. Also, a board member suggested the possibility of AZ HOA open meeting
    violations.
    Example: Mary Ann Waldron, board member, stated that there were 4 board members, a quorum, at a recent finance committee meeting. VOCA business was discussed at that meeting. She said
    it was posted as a finance committee meeting, not a VOCA board meeting. Membership did not know about the “board meeting” since it was “casual.” Since the “board meeting” was at the finance committee meeting, and not posted aas such, membership did not have an opportunity to participate and speak at an appropriate time during deliberations. Violations: B-4 & C During Member Forum, a member stated that the board was violating the AZ HOA open meeting
    law as there have been closed—secret—board discussions involving reorganizing VOCA’s management structure, GM vs a Management Company, but there has been no meaningful communication to the membership or discussion during a posted board meeting.
    Example: Gwen Hanna, board president, said she didn’t believe the board was in violation as they were discussing rate structures and personnel issues which affected employees in general. Violations: A & C
    Example: VOCA signed a contract with Club Corp—a “national premier network of private clubs,” that would list OCC as a course to play with a discount—without open board discussion or vote which extends into 2015. Violations: A & B-4
    The VOCA Board needs to comply with the Spirit and the Intent of Arizona’s HOA open meeting law for a stronger and healthier membership.
    VOCA Owners for Informed Choice
    More and better open communication
    If you weren’t part of the few members present, you wouldn’t
    know what happened at the 7-23-14 VOCA board meeting.

  37. Barb says:

    Time for an update.
    1. Is it really true that not a dime of the HOA assessment goes to support the golf course? Does the golf course pay rent to use the VOCA building? I don’t think so. Who pays the taxes? Who pays for the parking lot (used primarily by the golfers) expenses and repairs? Obviously, the golf course is not completely self supporting. Refer to the budget.

    2. Thinking logically, the restaurant would not exist if the golf course was not there. The HOA department is supporting the restaurant. While the annual financial drain has decreased some, the restaurant is still costing homeowners. Refer to the budgeted loss shown on the February 2015 financial summary. Again, how is the golf course financially independent of the HOA funds when the golfers need the restaurant?

    3. VOCA is now divided into HOA business (management contracted to HOA management company in Prescott), Golf business (managed by VOCA employees), Park (financially supported by homeowners) and the Restaurant (contract managed but financially supported by homeowners). Refer to budget.

    4. The golf department is making a great profit, or so it would seem if you listen to the messages from the board. The economy has turned around and there is lots of outside play. Of course is makes sense to move the restaurant expense and management to the golf department. The homeowners should not be saddled with the restaurant expense. At the very least, get honest that the golf course is not standing on its own financially.

    5. Take the story Mr. Wood wrote about how the board handled the restaurant decision and just change the word “restaurant” to “HOA management company.” In my opinion, the board has and continues to act in violation of laws and bylaws. The reserve fund is being built back up. What is next?

    6. And that $180 per year? What do you get? Well, an average condo development in VOCA pays about $22,000 per year to VOCA in annual dues. What do they get? They get told by VOCA what color they are allowed to paint their buildings. They don’t get a golf membership discount anymore. The condo development pays their own management company to enforce CC&Rs. That $22,000 would got a long way toward maintenance. But instead, it goes to VOCA.

    7. My opinion, VOCA was a good idea 40 years ago when the early homeowners all played golf and there were many empty lots. There are few lots left to be concerned about building permits. There are county ordinances and each of the 25 VOCA subdivisions are capable of managing their own neighborhood. VOCA is outdated. Why do we need to put up with a board of directors who discredit homeowners who exercise freedom of speech? Why do we need to put up with threats and bullying? The only way and HOA works well is if the board can be trusted to do the right thing. But first we have to find candidates who know what the right thing is. It is getting more difficult all the time.

  38. sharlett says:

    @Barb,

    Just maybe it is time to incorporate? Just a thought of how to clean up the VOC mess. VOC incorporates as their own entity and not a part of city of Sedona.

  39. SAY WHAT? says:

    Time for VOC to incorporate? @sharlett

    She must be joking. If her name was unfamiliar one might think she was a new reader of Sedona Eye but her regular comments say that isn’t so.

    Her suggestion can only mean she wants Villagers to be as miserable as Sedona. If ever there was a reason NOT to incorporate Sedona is a glaring example.

    A clear case of misery likes company. Sharlett, tend to your own affairs. We don’t need your stupid advice.

  40. @Sharlett

    What a great idea! Then you won’t have as much to complain about with the Chamber because that would being more of their members within the city limits.

  41. We don’t have enough business.
    The Red Rock Road Enhancement Maintenance District(sid) was formed as the first public panel in AZ so they are trying a new angle of power. They are a special improvement district with the power of a board of Supervisors. They are already filing lawsuits. More to follow.
    Big Park Wastewater, another story coming up soon.
    VOCA, standby.
    Big Park Council, no longer made up of homeowners associations, just groups of three and up.
    There are homeowners associations of 100,000 people back east and they run just fine. We simply need to reign it all in and have accountability and transparency and we are working on that.

  42. Kitty Carlisle says:

    Thank goodness I do not live in VOC. Another money hungry Board of wanna-bees who got a little power for the first time in their lives and now do not know how to manage ANYTHING. Basically f***** Village Idiots. Why would ANYONE live in the Village?!

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