Annual Report 2020

Living
Connected
The DC Ranch Promise
DC Ranch seamlessly connects people to the beauty of both the
created environment and the natural Sonoran Desert. Residents feel
a sense of community, connecting with each other in friendship and
common interest. It is a thoughtfully crafted community designed with
unprecedented attention to detail.
DC Ranch has a distinctive governance structure with ample resources
that exist to ensure a legacy of an amenity-rich and active way of life. The
highest standards and a convenient north Scottsdale location establish
DC Ranch as a nationally desirable place to live with an exceptional quality
of life and premium home values.
Community Values
2
Sense of Community
Environmental
Stewardship
Family
Healthy Lifestyles
Diversity and
Inclusiveness
Lifelong Learning
Artistic and Cultural
Opportunities
Relationship with the
Larger Community

Dear Neighbors,
Community Reimagined
In a challenging year, the COVID-19 pandemic tested the strength and
resolve that define DC Ranch. However, a steadfast commitment to the
community values by both residents and the DC Ranch team served as a
guide through these turbulent times.
While health and safety protocols required physical distancing, the
community came together to solidify the DC Ranch Promise of Living
Connected. Resident engagement and stewardship were reimagined
to maintain a sense of community that continues to thrive. Through it
all, the traditional high standards and unparalleled service that make
DC Ranch one of the most innovative and desirable master-planned
communities in the Valley persevered.
The Community Council created a full slate of virtual programming and
completed 25 improvement projects, including remodeling rooms at
Desert Camp, resurfacing tennis courts and improving path and trail
safety. The Ranch Association made several security enhancements,
paved roads, painted bridges and processed a record number of home
sales. The Covenant Commission provided design review of 61 home
construction projects and several commercial property developments.
As the following pages illustrate, the governing entities finished 2020 with
a renewed pledge for excellence and a solid foundation for the future.
Jenna Kohl
Community Council
Executive Director
Darren Shaw
Ranch Association
Executive Director
Team Values
Teamwork Professionalism Innovation Passion Fun
Photo courtesy: Jeff Bleaman, DC Ranch resident
3

EVENTS
When it became apparent that pandemic health guidelines would impact
resident activities, the Community Council team worked quickly to launch
a variety of virtual and physically distanced programs for residents to
stay engaged. Here are a few examples:
Virtual Eggstravaganza
The popular springtime event was
put online for five days of virtual
activities including a scavenger
hunt, drawings, crafts and games.
Path and Trail
Challenge
In the fall,
participants were
given four different
routes to explore on
the path and trail system. They
submitted more than 160 photos.
DC Ranch has Talent
Virtual Fitness Classes
Residents enjoyed Strength and
Balance and Yoga Basics with
their favorite instructors via
Zoom. Classes were available live
and on-demand.
Family Fun Kits
As an alternative to summer
camp, the events team created
activity boxes that offered
interactive opportunities for
families to learn, grow, wander
and explore.
Residents shared singing, dancing
and theatrical intrepretation
performance videos online.
Tour de Scottsdale
The 17th annual Tour de Scottsdale
was held virtually from Oct. 12-18.
Over 135 participants from 9 states
completed 5, 15, 30 or 70 miles
around their own town or city.
4

Merry and Bright Trail of Lights
The grand finale for the holiday season
was the transformation of a quarter
mile of path and trail around Desert
Camp into a sparkling and lighted
wonderland. Residents participated
in a candy cane hunt and photo
opportunities with a lighted display
on the east event lawn.
Creative Arts Workshop:
Paint and Sip
Beloved instructor Carrie Curran
coached participants in painting a
colorful spring cactus artwork while
they enjoyed some wine.
Wizard of Oz Spooky Maze
The Homestead Community Center
was transformed into a haunted
forest as costumed residents strolled
down a yellow-bricked road full of
Halloween surprises.
Food Truck Nights
This popular periodic event
brought out more than 700
residents to enjoy a delicious
meal from gourmet kitchens on
wheels.
Living Connected
DC Ranch residents are part of an incredible community designed to bring
people together. Throughout this difficult year, residents shared positive
stories happening within the community.
“The trail of lights display was such a great new thing DC Ranch did for the holidays.
We enjoyed getting out as a family for a quick walk together on our own time and in
our backyard. Thanks so much.”
– Jodi Kaye
5

DC RANCH GIVES
The DC Ranch Gives program, founded in 2017, provides residents with
meaningful opportunities to engage with each other and contribute to
the broader community. The pandemic put a hold on group volunteering.
However, that did not stop DC Ranch residents from stepping up and giving
back this year.
Group Service Project
In February, 23 residents volunteered their
time at United Food Bank where they packed
emergency food bags to provide hunger relief
for Arizona families in need.
Virtual School Supply Drive
In July, residents generously donated a record-breaking
2,696 supplies to Washington Elementary School, a
Title I school in Phoenix.
Drive-thru Donation Drive for
Harvest Compassion Center
In November, 75 vehicles rolled through The
Homestead Community Center parking lot
where residents donated 887 pounds of food
and hygiene items and 66 bags of clothing.
Congratulations to the 2020 Volunteer of the Year recipients
Elizabeth
Kepuraitis
Leadership
David Lowe
Good Neighbor
Andrea Brin
Philanthropy
Ava Handel
Youth
Scottsdale police
Community
Partner
6

RESIDENT INVOLVEMENT
Residents are thoroughly engaged in serving the community. In addition to
volunteering their time as directors on the Community Council and Ranch
Association boards, residents play an integral role in helping DC Ranch
remain vibrant, well maintained and desirable.
Neighborhood
Voting Members
Modification
Committee
Master Plan
Committee
Finance committees for
Council and Ranch
Resident-led clubs, programs
and focus groups
Resident Leadership Development Program
In January of 2020, DC Ranch launched the inaugural leadership program for
residents interested in learning more about the community’s governance and
operations. The program’s long-term goal is to equip participants with the
knowledge to serve in future community leadership roles.
For Class 1, organizers selected residents from all
four DC Ranch Villages. They completed half of
the eight sessions in person in the spring and
then resumed virtually to complete the other
half in the fall.
The eight sessions provided a solid foundation
for those who want to contribute as members of
a committee, focus group, outreach ambassador,
Neighborhood Voting Member or serve on the Board
of Directors for either the Community Council or Ranch Association.
Almost half of the graduating class of 20 residents volunteered to serve in
one of these leadership roles by the program’s conclusion.
Living Connected
The Sherman family of DC Ranch provided dinner from Carlos O’Brien’s for the
entire staff on duty at Mayo Clinic. This was their way of saying thank you to the
healthcare team for their extra work and support during this crisis. Susie Sherman
said, “The restaurant was wonderful to work with and the Mayo staff were all super
appreciative of the gesture and the food.”
7

MANAGEMENT & SECURITY
Ranch Management
As a tribute to teamwork and unity, Ranch Association management kept
daily operations intact and on schedule despite the pandemic. Landscape,
maintenance and security teams reported on-site for work every day.
Several important milestone projects gained board approval and were
implemented, including:
• Bylaws amended to remove outdated material and to increase board
member terms to staggered three-year terms
• A landscape and maintenance walkthrough program with Neighborhood
Voting Members
• Improved cellular coverage in the community; added five new towers and
performed upgrades to increase antenna size and radio service to carriers
Security Services
State of the art equipment and technology, enhanced safety measures, a strong
partnership with the Scottsdale Police Dept. and a dedicated 43-member
security team are just some of the ways the Ranch Association works to
preserve a safe environment for residents, guests and team members.
• Security coverage improved with installation
of new cameras inside all gatehouses, three
tunnel locations and along the Reata
Wash fire access road
• A new radio communications
network, an added patrol vehicle,
along with the over 100 camera
feeds provide improved visibility
and response times
• Equipped all patrol vehicles
with automated external
defibrillators (AEDs)
• Added additional transponder readers
at Windgate and West Gate
• Held third annual Community Safety Forum
8

LANDSCAPE & MAINTENANCE
The Ranch Association expended $1.2 million in reserve funding for
improvements to over 10 miles of roadway, 5 vehicle bridges, 22 mailbox
clusters, 34 sidewalk sections and 154 new or updated street signs. A
water management plan of common areas was completed to improve
efficiencies, meet state guidelines and eliminate excess water runoff from
damaging streets, sidewalks and landscape.
Other improvements:
1,100 new plants and 16 trees
Monsoon response training
The landscape, maintenance and security teams
collaborated to develop operational plans and improve
collective efficiencies in clearing storm debris or damage.
Irrigation renovation
The Ranch Association renovated common area
irrigation system controllers to better manage water
usage and increase savings.
Initiated steps to become a Firewise site
Firewise USA is a volunteer program to help protect lives and
property from wildfires, administered by the National Fire
Protection Agency and locally by the Scottsdale Fire Dept.
Living Connected
“David Lowe is the community sparkplug doing many things to better his subassociation
and foster community spirit. He spearheaded the mailbox improvement
project in our neighborhood. This “upgrade” is a good example of David’s contributions
per DC Ranch Community Values.”
– Ed Swanson
9

COMMUNITY STANDARDS
Community Standards play an important role in ensuring that the
DC Ranch standards for aesthetics and appearance are met and
maintained. Homeowners repainted homes, installed 40 streetscape trees
and removed prohibited plant species from 252 properties (citrus, palm
trees, fountain grass, desert broom).
2020 will be remembered as the year of hybrid work and home schedules.
Home improvement requests and approved modifications rose by 19%.
Backyard renovations were the most requested improvement project. The
community standards team conducted 436 transfer and disclosure (T&Ds)
inspections, a requirement in the home sale process.
270 home and
landscape modification requests
19% increase
from 2019
94 paint modification requests
10% decrease
from 2019
364 total modification requests
10% increase from 2019
10
MODIFICATIONS BY QUARTER
Q1 89 Q2 88 Q3 105 Q4 82

REAL ESTATE
Home had new meaning this year
DC Ranch real estate activity exceeded
expectations with 67 more resales
than the prior year. While property
values increased across most of the
community, Silverleaf claimed the
state’s record-breaking home sale of
$24.1 million.
At the end of 2020, there were 52
custom homes under construction
or completed throughout all four DC
Ranch Villages. Formal Mediterranean
Architectural style continued to be the most
popular with more than half including modern
treatments. There are 109 undeveloped lots remaining
with 32 in the design stage.
Village
Average Sale Price
Homes Sold
2020
2019
2020
2019
Desert Parks
$798,529
$707,761
80
65
Desert Camp
$905,383
$727,258
94
80
Country Club
$1,765,103
$1,991,995
39
37
Silverleaf
$3,114,007
$2,684,313
90
70
TRANSFERS AND DISCLOSURES BY QUARTER
Q1 99 Q2 59 Q3 132 Q4 146
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COMMUNITY CENTERS & AMENITIES
When residents were unable to gather at Desert Camp and The Homestead,
team members focused on the future and completed many improvement
projects at the community centers.
The Homestead
• Audiovisual system upgraded
• Concrete walkways replaced
• 5 new security cameras installed
Desert Camp
• Recreation Room remodeled
• Multipurpose Room furniture and
flooring replaced
• Cabinets and counters replaced
• Interior and exterior repainted
• Tennis courts resurfaced
• Pool heater, vacuum, filter and
chemical feeder replaced
• Pickleball fencing added
• 3 new security cameras installed
The community centers saw over 20,500 resident visits.
Receptionists received 877 facility agreements and
1,523 COVID-19 waivers.
12

COVID-19 encouraged outdoor
recreation which led to the most court
reservations ever recorded in a single
year at DC Ranch.
1,291
Pickleball court reservations
2,268
Tennis court reservations
Paths and trails
The Path and Trail System ranks as a
top amenity in the community year
after year. Safety improvements with
the wayfinding project continued
throughout 2020 with kiosks,
additional regulatory signage and
crosswalks.
During a year of restrictions on interior
spaces and events, more residents than
ever took to the Path and Trail System
for exercise and a change of scenery.
7 new route maps made
available on DCRanch.com
Living Connected
In response to COVID-19, Market Street Villas neighbors quickly organized a group
to assist those in need with errands, groceries or other non-emergency tasks.
Neighborhood Voting Member MJ Hall says, “Nine people immediately stepped up to
help form a ‘Care Team’. We just really feel the need to add an extra layer of support
to some of our residents who may need assistance in the coming weeks.”
13

NEWS & INFORMATION
Public Affairs
One of the Community Council’s responsibilities is to engage in public
policy advocacy for the benefit of DC Ranch by identifying and monitoring
matters that may positively or negatively impact DC Ranch.
Communications
Bell Road Sports Complex
The Community Council worked extensively with
the City of Scottsdale to minimize the impact of this
project, keep residents informed and encourage
resident input. The project includes a lake, to be
built in the future DC Ranch Neighborhood Park at
91st Street and Trailside View. The lake will be a park
amenity that residents can enjoy while also serving as
the irrigation source for the park and sports complex.
The communications team kept residents informed
through the website, publications, emails and other
platforms, including Ranch News, This Week on the
Ranch and Ranch Roundup. The team also developed
and launched new digital signage displays at
Desert Camp and The Homestead community centers.
Ranch News Photo Contest
Residents submitted dozens of DC Ranch photos throughout the year.
After voting on their favorites, the three winning photos are on display at
Desert Camp Community Center.
First place
Karen Engelbardt
Second place
Amy Ocasio
Third place
John Colby
14

VISIONING & PLANNING
DCR2020
The DC Ranch Strategic Plan, DCR2020, was developed based on the
collective input received from numerous focus groups, a Ranch-wide
resident survey, the designated task force, and the Community Council and
Ranch Association Board of Directors. The outcome from this process was
the development of six strategic initiatives
8 standing principles and eight standing principles, each
supported by several strategies, tactics
37 strategies
and measures.
132 tactics
Ongoing
6 strategic initiatives
22 strategies
93 tactics
63% completed
DC Ranch Master Plan
One of the Strategic Plan’s final key
pieces is to analyze existing space
and current and future facility needs.
The Community Council Master Plan
Committee, which includes residents,
staff and a board member, developed a
plan for proposed enhancements to
DC Ranch amenities.
Despite the pandemic, the Community
Council and Ranch Association made
significant progress toward completing
the strategies and tactics associated
with DCR2020. Highlights include
improvements to the Path and Trail
System and the renovation of irrigation
control systems for common areas.
For a complete list and status of each
tactic, visit DCRanch.com.
Top Priorities
Larger Fitness Facility
First Priority
Multi-Use Space
Second Priority
Administrative and
Maintenance Space
Additional Priority
That plan is based on significant input
that has been provided by residents
over several years. Residents will continue to have opportunities to share
their ideas during phase two of the project, which includes a Space Needs
Assessment and development of a Master Plan Concept Design.
15

FINANCIALS
COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Revenue
Community Council Benefit Fee $2,698,074 | 51%
Assessments $2,291,068 | 43%
Management Fees $190,233 | 4%
Events, Programming, & Activities $56,256 | 1%
Other $34,418 | 1%
(misc. fees, reimbursements, and interest)
Total Revenue: $5,270,049
Expenses
Reserve & Capital $1,836,000 | 35%
Administration* $1,328,517 | 25%
Community Center Operations $888,776 | 17%
Events, Programs & Activities $568,330 | 11%
Communications & Community Engagement
$490,932 | 9%
Maintenance & Facilities $83,501 | 2%
Insurance $26,031 | 1%
Total Expenses: $5,222,087
Net Profit/(Loss) $47,962
*Administration costs also include shared costs for services such as accounting,
security, landscape, and maintenance.
16

FINANCIALS
RANCH ASSOCIATION
Revenue
Neighborhood Assessments $4,354,807 | 54%
Master Assessments $3,041,196 | 37%
Other Fees, Fines, and Interest $322,179 | 4%
Gate Transponders $222,672 | 3%
Disclosure Fee $172,210 | 2%
Total Revenue: $8,113,064
Expenses
Security $2,034,167 | 24%
Landscape $1,762,290 | 21%
Reserve Contribution $1,549,204 | 19%
Administration $897,218 | 11%
Facilities $890,121 | 11%
Utilities $578,722 | 7%
Community Standards $356,433 | 4%
Insurance $163,446 | 2%
Depreciation/Taxes $50,496 | 1%
Total Expenses: $8,282,097
Net Profit/(Loss) $(169,033)
Preliminary financial statements for the Community Council and Ranch Association
pending year-end adjustments and audit.
17

MAY 2020 – APRIL 2021
DC RANCH LEADERSHIP
COMMUNITY COUNCIL BOARD
Bud Kern | President
Natalie Ingram | Vice President
Alex Townsend | Secretary/Treasurer
Ron Belmont | Director
Bruce Benham | Director
Jill Hegardt | Director
Sheryl Lowenhar | Director
RANCH ASSOCATION BOARD
Elizabeth Kepuraitis | President
Geoffrey Wilner | Vice President
Sam Hawkins | Treasurer
Elaine Cottey | Secretary
Philip Geiger | Director
Stephen Koven | Director
Don Matheson | Director
COVENANT COMMISSION
Jill Hegardt | President
Debbie Beardsley | Vice President
Aaron Macneil | Secretary/Treasurer
Jan Baratta | Commissioner
Dan Kovacevic | Commissioner
18

EXECUTIVE STAFF
Jenna Kohl
Community Council
Executive Director
Darren Shaw
Ranch Association
Executive Director
19

The Ranch Offices on Market Street
20551 N. Pima Rd., Suite 180
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
2020
ANNUAL REPORT