Oakmont board president resigns amid pickleball fallout

The political turmoil in an east Santa Rosa retirement community deepened Tuesday with the resignation of Oakmont Village Association board President Ellen Leznik, who blocked construction of a pickleball court but faced a backlash over her leadership.

Her resignation is the latest in a string of departures that have roiled the 55-and-over community that is home to about 4,300 residents. The association’s general manager, attorney, information technology coordinator, treasurer and several volunteer newsletter reporters have all resigned, several citing challenges of working with the new board.

Leznik said she stepped down from the board because a “very loud group” had made it impossible for her to continue her work, and she wanted peace restored to the community.

“Oakmont is a lovely and beautiful place and it is very, very unfortunate that recent events have upset the tranquility of our community,” said Leznik, a retired Silicon Valley attorney. “I am just very hopeful that all these problems will be resolved in a much more neighborly and friendly manner and people can get back to enjoying their lives.”

The OVA board manages the community’s common facilities including pools, tennis courts, health facilities and Berger auditorium.

Leznik ran for the board in 2016 to block a $310,000 pickleball complex many felt was an unnecessary extravagance, arguing converting existing tennis courts would be far cheaper.

The April election, which required a recount, brought in a board majority that agreed with her, and the project - construction of which had just begun - was scuttled.

Blowback from former board members and pickleball supporters was fierce, at one point leading Leznik to appoint at sergeant-at-arms to keep order at association meetings.

There were calls for her to resign at the last meeting, but Leznik said that had nothing to do with her decision.

“I think the issue, while pickleball is at the heart of it, goes much deeper than that,” Leznik said.

The real issue is wealth disparity within Oakmont, with long-time residents on fixed incomes trying to keep association costs down while newer, wealthier residents are less concerned about the prospect of increasing dues, she said.

OVA members pay $58 per month per person, plus another $220 per month, on average, per household to various sub-homeowner associations in the community.

Association manager Cassie Turner, who resigned earlier this month claiming she was being shut out of key decisions, said the unrest was unprecedented.

“This is nuts,” Turner said Wednesday. “In 30 years of managing communities I’ve never seen this kind of dysfunction.”

Turner said Leznik’s departure “signals a needed change” that will restore a sense of teamwork on the board.

Leznik’s departure leaves Vice President Ken Heyman as acting chairman until the remaining six board members approve a successor. The board will then have 30 days to fill the vacancy or Oakmont residents will vote on a replacement.

You can reach Staff Writer Kevin McCallum at 707-521-5207 or kevin.mccallum@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @srcitybeat.