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The Westwood Club Board of Directors would like to make the community aware of its recent decision to terminate any further contract negotiations with Verizon Wireless concerning the possible installation of an attractively concealed cell phone tower on a corner of the Westwood Club property (Westwood Board, Executive Session, February 25, 2014).

If viewed strictly as a business decision, the lease of a small square of Club property for a large sum of income could be seen as a benefit to all club members. A small fraction of club members- mostly those living nearby the club- expressed their fears about such an installation. The Board of Directors carefully weighed all factors and decided that, even given fact-based criteria and the ubiquitous nature of cell towers in Rancho Bernardo schools, churches, and other community clubs, what mattered most was to consider the voices of each Westwood member.

The possibility of this cell phone tower lease first came about in October of 2013, when Verizon approached the Board to negotiate a lease agreement to place a tower somewhere on Club grounds. The people served by this tower would be largely Westwood residents. Most importantly, while the Westwood Club operates on a balanced budget including a healthy reserve fund, the potential for additional funds to make capital improvements to club grounds and as a hedge against inflation of Club dues was attractive.

The Board has a duty to make well thought-out, informed decisions. Board Directors consulted with experts, researched pros and cons, got the opinion of counsel, and visited other clubs in RB with as many as three towers. Given the findings, the Board voted to explore the next step with Verizon. Verizon drew some preliminary sketches and held an open, informational meeting for community members and Board Directors alike. This meeting was announced in the WWC Newsletter, on the Club’s website, and posted on the club marquee. At the February 13th meeting, attended by fewer than 20 people in addition to the Board, Verizon representatives answered questions and listened to feedback that was at times emotional, and at times bordering on hostile.

After careful consideration of all factors- and without basing the decision solely on the emotions, albeit valid, of a few community members- the Board of Directors made the business decision to not proceed with Verizon. It is of interest to note that according to the Westwood Club CC&Rs, the Board is empowered to make all legal and vendor contractual decisions in Executive Session, in other words without input from community members. In this case, the all-volunteer Board recognized that the community ought to have some input. The board directors, as Westwood residents, have the same goals as their neighbors: to keep Westwood a desirable place to live.