By Sam Richards

Staff writer

Monday, September 8 (9:00 a.m.): In a vote pickleball supporters say is a watershed moment for their almost decade-long campaign, the RWC Board on Thursday approved spending almost $4.5 million to build a new six-court pickleball building near the Event Center, with Board members saying pickleball is a vital piece to successfully marketing Rossmoor.

Thursday’s 7-1 Board vote ‒ Roy Yang voted no and Mary Hurt was absent ‒ includes approving an overall construction budget of $4,487,449, of which $3,768,651 will be awarded to main contractor Huff Construction of San Jose.

Cheers, whoops, hugs, fist-bumps and other expressions erupted among the packed crowd at Peacock Hall after the Board vote. Minutes later, attendees popped the cork on bottles of champagne in the lobby to continue the celebration.

Thursday’s vote comes about two weeks after the RWC Planning Committee recommend awarding the construction bid to Huff Construction, one of three bids RWC received. The base construction cost bid is for $3,768,651; factoring in a 10% contingency and various “soft costs” including permits, the total estimated cost is $4,487,449. The RWC Finance Committee also recommended approval of the total construction budget, and the Huff bid, at its Aug. 26 meeting.

“I’ve reviewed the numbers very carefully,” Board Treasurer Adrian Byram said, “it’s a lot of money, but we can afford it, and we need to do it.”

An irrigation line for golf needs to be moved first, so construction of the actual courts could begin sometime next spring. It will be up to Huff representatives to secure the next permits needed to proceed with the project.

A local history lesson

Thursday’s action marks a milestone in a four-year (so far) effort to secure a long-term home for outdoor pickleball courts. Ann Mottola, Rossmoor’s director of community services, gave a short history lesson on how the current pickleball courts near Creekside are on borrowed time because of soil erosion and eventual collapse into Tice Creek; how a number of alternative locations ‒ the Buckeye tennis courts, the Dollar House picnic grounds, Tice Valley Park just outside Rossmoor’s gates and the lawn bowling greens at Hillside, among them ‒ were considered; and how five years’ worth of public meetings were held before Thursday’s vote. The current location behind the Event Center was approved in July 2023.

Sound studies to mitigate noise for nearby homes prompted the city of Walnut Creek to require redesigns of the facility, leading the project’s cost to rise. Still, opponents have contended that the noise measures are still not sufficient and could potentially pose a noise hazard for residents of homes near the Event Center.

And then there’s been the cost issue. By July 2023, the estimated cost had risen to $2.8 million. And as the price tag rose, residents became increasingly concerned about spending that much money for a project that would directly benefit between 600 and 700 people, the number of members of the Rossmoor Pickleball Club.

Board member Janet Seldon recounted how she had, until recently, opposed building a new pickleball building, mostly because of the escalating cost. But she said her mind was changed after reviewing the history of the project, the locations reviewed, and the public meetings held. She joined other Board members in insisting Rossmoor needs to invest in its amenities, and that pickleball is a popular one.

“I’m thoroughly convinced that this is the right move,” Seldon said.

‘You’re building family’

Several residents on Thursday noted the importance of the pickleball building in attracting new Rossmoor residents, and some connected that to increasing property values. Carol Cerioni, president of the Rossmoor Pickleball Club, said this new structure will be “another crown jewel for the Rossmoor community.”

Wally Miller told the Board he came to Rossmoor in May and wouldn’t have come without the distinct possibility of the new pickleball facility being built. Scott Burrell said pickleball helped bring him and his brother, a former football player whose body was battered by that sport, a chance to play a sport together.

“You’re building family” by improving local pickleball, Burrell told the Board.

Yang cast his dissenting vote after asserting Rossmoor didn’t have the needed permits to build, and that moving ahead at this point without them would be illegal. Rossmoor General Manager Jeff Matheson contended that all the needed permits at this stage are in hand, and that Huff, as the contractor, would be responsible for applying for future permits. ”We are ready to go,” Matheson said.

Yang persisted, talking over other Board members ‒ “I’m trying to tell you, it’s not legal right now,” he said – before Board President Leanne Hamaji asked that Yang’s microphone be cut off. When Yang attempted to comment again, Board member Dwight Walker called the question – a motion used to end debate and bring it to an immediate vote.

The Board then voted, and the celebration began.

Cerioni, who said she’s been working for the better part of a decade on securing new pickleball courts, said the heavy lifting is mostly done now. “Now it’s down to the details, the fun stuff.”