Artists’ Gallery Sunriver has been providing space for artists for 15 years
INSIDE THIS ISSUE SROA News ............. 4 Calendar ................ 15
Public Safety........... 30 Classified Ads ......... 39
Savor summer during SHARC’s annual Uncorked wine event July 18 & 19
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S U N R I V E R
S C E N E A NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE SUNRIVER OWNERS ASSOCIATION
JULY 2025
VOLUME XLVIII • NUMBER 7
Special election to take place for new Capital Transfer Fee
West Core Road congestion has resulted in a seasonal speed reduction to 20mph.
Speed limit reduction in place on West Core Road SROA NEWS – Due to seasonal traffic and pedestrian congestion on a stretch of West Core Road, the speed limit has been reduced from 25mph to 20mph during busy summer months from June through Sept. 15. This particular 1/3 mile stretch of West Core Road includes: • 6 legal crosswalks
Although there are marked crosswalks in the area, people have a tendency to cross over the landscape to reach their intended destination. The combination of pedestrians, bicyclists and golf carts mixing with vehicular traffic in this area has created a potential hazard. Advance warning signs have been installed along with new reduced 20 mph speed limit signage.
Welcoming four feathered evacuees from the Rowena Fire By Shannon Ries, SNCO Executive Director As executive director of Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory, I am both proud and humbled to share that SNCO was able to temporarily take in four ambassador raptors from the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Museum (CGDCM), who were evacuated due to the fast-moving Rowena Fire, which started June 11, near The Dalles. When the CGDCM team was given the “time to go” mandate, they had just minutes to safely pack up their wildlife ambassadors – including two bald eagles (Liberty and Ferguson), a red-tailed hawk (Killer) and an American kestrel
(Hank). Their team quickly reached out to our wildlife manager, Victoria Willson, to see if we could offer a safe haven while the fire threat continued. Rather than see these magnificent birds confined in crates for an unknown length of time, we opened our habitats and our hearts. These birds aren’t just display animals, they are educators, companions and survivors – each with their own story. • Liberty, a female bald eagle, came into human care after a wing injury left her unable to return to the wild. • Ferguson, a male bald eagle, has been Liberty’s companion in education, and together they’ve inspired countless visitors at CGDCM.
THE WENATCHEE WORLD 14 N MISSION ST WENATCHEE, WA 98801
or Current Resident
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• 3 well used, unauthorized and unmarked crossings • 7 parking lot entrances • 1 road entrance Parking for the Woodlands golf shop, putting greens and SROA’s Member Pool and North Tennis complex, is located on the south side of West Core Road and requires pedestrians to cross over West Core to reach those amenities.
Liberty and Ferguson.
• Killer, the red-tailed hawk, is named with a bit of irony – she’s more mellow than menacing, and she plays a key role T E,
SUNRIVER SCENE SUNRIVER OWNERS ASSN. VOLUME XLVII I • NUMBER 7 SUNRIVER, OR 97707
SROA NEWS – In early 2025, a subgroup of SROA’s Finance Committee was formed to explore additional revenue sources for the association to fund new capital projects. After much deliberation, the committee decided on proposing a new “Capital Transfer Fee” as the most viable and equitable option. These collected fees will funnel into a new account to be used only for funding future capital projects that provide a direct benefit or support community development, conservation efforts or other propertyrelated improvements. SROA’s Board of Directors has approved moving the proposed Capital Transfer Fee to a vote of the owners in a special election in the second half of 2025. Language in the Sunriver Consolidated Plan requires Sunriver owners to vote on instituting this fee as a special purpose assessment and will require a 60% approval of those who vote. “This is a way to fund capital projects without taking money from the reserves,” Gerhard Beenen, SROA board president, said. “It is not uncommon for HOAs to do this.” The proposed Capital Transfer Fee would only be executed during the sale of a “unit” (home or property) to collect a one-half of one percent of the sale price every time a unit is sold. Between 130 and 150 properties change hands in Sunriver, each year. The transfer fee could generate approximately $700,000 annually. The fee will not be applied to other conveyances of a property, including: • Transfers by owners into a trust in which the owners are the beneficiaries • Transfers by owners into an entity
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