The story of Sun City Home Owners Association’s early history started by describing how those first 1,400 residents arrived in Sun City in 1960 and almost immediately recognized they would need to identify leaders to represent the fast-growing population.

Nine leaders emerged and were elected at a meeting in December 1960. They chose the name Sun City Civic Association, elected officers and began writing bylaws. Membership dues were set at $2 per person with voluntary membership. A majority of residents signed membership forms. A mission statement was written stating the association’s goals were 2-fold — representing residents regarding recreational interests and concerns with Del Webb and speaking on behalf of Sun City with government representatives from Maricopa County, the state of Arizona and the U.S. Government.

One month after forming, SCCA was approached by the Webb Corporation to assume ownership and operation of Community Center, now Oakmont Center, 10725 W. Oakmont Drive. Webb offered to protect the newly elected representatives by incorporating SCCA and splitting off its representation responsibilities for government relations. SCCA’s leaders called for a community meeting to explain the proposition. A vote followed with acceptance by SCCA of Community Center approved on a vote of 1,051-54. That same day in January 1961, agreement papers for the transfer of property were signed, and the incorporation process began with the filing of the articles of incorporation for SCCA, Inc.

Sun City residents now had not one organization representing them but two. SCCA took care of recreation and the second SCCA was tasked exclusively with governmental concerns. Voluntary dues for recreation were set at $1 per month for property owners, while SCCA’s dues remained at $2. The same nine leaders served as the board of directors for both — a responsibility that lasted for six months. Then it was decided that elections would be conducted in January for new boards with different residents making decisions for SCCA, Inc. (later called Recreation Centers of Sun City) and for SCCA (later renamed SCHOA).

SCCA’s first major government challenge came in the first month of the organization’s existence, February 1961. Garbage Services Company of Phoenix had among its clients both Youngtown and Sun City. It had petitioned the Arizona Corporation Commission to increase local collection rates to $3.50 per month per residence for garbage pickup and $3 per month for trash. Both communities were represented at the ACC hearings, with SCCA being represented by its new Utility Committee. A conditional request was negotiated to withdraw the rate increase petition during the proceedings between the company and communities and to keep the rate at $2.25 per month contingent on all trash being placed in containers.

The agreement hinged on SCCA agreeing to collect the monthly fees from Sun City residents. When presented to the SCCA board, they balked at the fee collection process. The disposal company countered with an offer at $2.50 per residence per month and they would collect the fees. Agreement was reached and SCCA hailed its success as a viable organization and awaited its next challenge.