HomeMy WebLinkAboutGolf Board - Minutes - 06/19/2002City of Fort Collins
Cultural, Library, and Recreational Services
Golf Board
Minutes: Regular Meeting of June 19, 2002
Council Liaison to the Board: Councilman Bill Bertschy
Staff Support to the Board: Jerry P. Brown, Manager of Golf at 221-6350 and Patty
Carroll, Administrative Aide at 416-2265
Call Meeting to Order: Chairperson Bill Rutledge called the meeting to order at 7:30
p.m. at the City Park Nine Golf Course Clubhouse.
Agenda Review: The Presentation on the Sheldon Lake Drainage Improvements Project
was moved up to the beginning of the Agenda.
Items of Note:
• Conflict of Interest forms are available to Board Members and are to be completed if
there is a conflict. Issues cannot be voted or participated on if there is a conflict.
• Jerry said thank you to Mike Goff and his staff for the great "golf day" and dinner.
Approval of Minutes: On a motion by Mike Sanders, seconded by Claire Nelms, the
Board voted unanimously (8:0) to approve the Minutes of the May 15, 2002 Regular
Meeting.
Sheldon Lake Drainage Improvements Project
Jerry introduced Project Manager, Link Mueller, P. E. from the City Utilities Department,
who introduced the project staff. Link talked about the project at City Park Nine Golf
Course. The Master Plan was put together to solve drainage problems. Drainage flows
west from the foothills, and then as it passes Taft Hill Road, it hits City Park Nine and
eventually goes into Sheldon Lake. We need to lower water at Sheldon Lake to keep
from flooding. A pipe will come through fairways 6, 7, 8, and 9 toward Sheldon Lake.
The irrigation ditches will have control structures. The City wants it to spill where we
want it to spill. Along fairway 6 a lot of water spills on the course, and also along
Mulberry Street. The Master Plan group has developed the project, and did of all the
preliminary work. The schedule is to start this winter, and to try to be done by April; then
go to the street work. The schedule is tentative because of drought.
Claire Nelms wants to know how Sheldon Lake will be lowered. Link explained. She
then said it looks like they're going along a lot of the golf course. Link said they are
trying not to hit tee box or greens, and they want to reduce the impact. Link said there's a
lot of utility lines to work around. They have been looking to see if they can improve the
route. Mike Sanders wants to know surface area of Sheldon Lake. Link responded, and
said we have to have a big conduit, and will be digging 12-15 feet. Bill Rutledge wants
to know what prevents backup of water. Link explained and said we will try to bring low
spots up. Will have to design levels. There will not be a steep embankment. Grant
Sherwood wants to know if a golf cart can be driven down it. Link is concerned about
driving along certain areas, but Jerry explained how it would work. A peninsula will be
built out, and carts will stay with a new path. Mike wants to know about liability. Jerry
said it's the City liability.
Mike said the Golf Board originally agreed to this plan. Jerry said the original agreement
was that the course would be returned to the same or better condition. Lost revenues are
also a consideration. Mike commended group for the work they have done. Jerry asked
Link if there is a definite date for completion. Link said April 1, 2003, is the target date.
Jerry said the staff is comfortable with this group. Mike wants to know if any of the water
can be stored from the dredging. Jerry would like to have it stored at Warren Lake if
possible. The Board then thanked Link for the update presentation.
Update on Capital Projects
Collindale Clubhouse: Jim Greer said they would pour the outside walls, then they can
start the next process. The project is on budget. Drahota communicates with them.
Construction meetings are held biweekly. Tomorrow is the meeting. Jerry is pleased
with Drahota Construction and Vaught*Frye, the architects.
SouthRidge Projects: The Patio is finished at SouthRidge... The Cart Storage is going
out for bid. It's a year and half behind schedule... We are in negotiations for the easement
for a restroom. Initially some homeowners were against restrooms at #5. They now want
to meet with us to see what the restrooms would look like. Park Planning will make
some photo simulations showing different options. Jerry said most restrooms are prefabs
and are very versatile in design. If everything works out, we could build this winter.
City Park Nine: The netting at City Park Nine is done. It may need to be raised on right
side. Mike Goff is pleased with the results.
Public Input/Comment on Fees and Char¢es Proposal
Citizen Mary Fleming wants to know if there a revenue shortfall and what the City is
doing to get people to play more. Jerry thinks a series of things have occurred to cause
the shortfall. We had bad weather in the first quarter. The decline at Collindale is partly
due to the new clubhouse. Jerry is not too worried. He explained about the fees. We
raise fees every year approximately 3.5 %. The thing Jerry is concerned about is the
drought. A month ago Jerry was told there was no problem. Now he's told there is a
problem. We use raw water on the courses. We aren't just looking at 2002, but the
drought could go on through 2003. Jerry thinks we can get by through summer by
limiting water usage. We can still water greens, tees, and most fairways. Two
considerations are the actual availability of water and the public perception of usage.
People may stay away from brown areas.
Jerry does not know if Council will restrict water usage. Horsetooth is another problem.
Horsetooth Reservoir must be kept at a certain level. For 2003, we are only modifying 18-
hole green fees. Fees for 9-holes will remain the same. We are trying to equalize green
fees at all three courses. Annual Passes and cart fees will also remain the same. There
was not other public input/comments.
Jerry then asked if the Board was comfortable with their decision made last month on the
status quo or if they want to make a change. Larry Buckendorf made a motion to keep the
fees as staff proposed through 2003. Grant Sherwood seconded the motion. The motions
passed unanimously (8:0).
Jerry again stated that a complete review will be started in the fall for the 2004-2005
budget and fees process.
Other Business:
• Jerry then introduced Marty Heffernan, New Director of Cultural, Library, and
Recreational Services and thanked him for coming. Jerry also thanked Councilman
Bill Bertschy who also was in attendance.
• Jerry said the "Dogs on Courses" Ordinance was passed by City Council. Patrick
Quadrel is the owner the dog and will teach staff to handle it. Patrick commended the
Board on persistence. Bill Rutledge is concerned about safety of the dogs. Patrick
says if you work with your back to the road, the dogs will not cross past you. We will
probably work the dog on the inner part of the courses rather than on the edges. Jerry
said we're only allowed to go after resident geese, not migratory geese. We can't use
a dog from April 1 through July 31.
• Jerry said the "Fort Collins Fore Kids" was great, and he has heard nothing but good
remarks on the event. As a reward City Park Nine gets to host it next year. Jerry
thanked Mike and all the staff for their efforts. The $2.00 fee will be used to help
fund the event or possibly for a scholarship for low-income kids.
Board Members and Staff Comments/Reports
• Frank Blanco says a member of the P & Z Board said they did not say the sidewalk
had to be built at Collindale. The sidewalk itself will cost approximately $70,000.
Jerry said that in order for him to get a permit to build the clubhouse we have to put in
the sidewalk just like any other developer. City Plan states the sidewalks have to be
built. Anyone who builds in Fort Collins has to build connecting sidewalks. The
sidewalk will go from the new clubhouse to across the railroad tracks. We asked the
Transportation Department to exempt us from sidewalk, but it is in the City Code.
Frank wants to know if sidewalk will be used. Jerry said he doesn't know, but he said
we have to be treated like every other builder/developer.
• Bill Rutledge says it's a City liability. He thinks someone within the City should have
the right of refusal. Council Member Bill Bertschy said Council is the only group that
can change the policy. Council made the policy, and only Council can change it.
Jerry said construction will not be started on the sidewalk until September. Mike
Sanders said liability issue will prevent a change. Jerry said we will also be spending
money for netting. Probably around $70,000. Jerry says there is a trail that will run
past Collindale along the Railroad Right-of-way. Jerry thinks the toughest issue will
be crossing Horsetooth Road. Bill says we are doing what we have to, but suggested
that Frank proceed with this issue as an interested citizen.
• Claire Nelms said Dave Sadler should be commended for his re -certification.
• Bill Rutledge said someone should make the public aware that all water is not treated.
Bill Bertschy said Council is having a session on water. He will see that the
information gets out.
• Lauren DeRosa was amazed that nothing was found in the sediment at Sheldon Lake.
She wanted to know how deep they went. Part of the water is drainage from the
streets. Several years ago Parks put microorganisms in lake. It's what is on the bank
that is bad.
• Bill Bertschy asked to have a copy of any correspondence that is sent to the City
Manager. Citizen Henry Fry wanted to know if a citizen can protest an illogical
decision to the City Manager. Jerry doesn't think John Fishbach has been made
aware of the sidewalk issues.
• Henry Fry said if you play Collindale, it is in the best shape it's ever been. He thinks
the maintenance crew should be commended for their efforts on the course.
• We are on track to cut down on deficits. Jerry thinks we should make up the deficit
by October. Kevin Wilcox says we can make up three months of bad business in one
month of good business. We do most good business in August. We are showing a loss
on tournament revenue this year. Several charity type tournaments have been
cancelled. A tournament cancelled today at SouthRidge that had been scheduled for
Sunday. Lauren DeRosa asked Dale Smigelsky if we could let smaller groups to go
together to hold a tournament. Dale said we were working on that.
Adiournment
Lauren DeRosa moved the meeting be adjourned. Grant Sherwood seconded the motion.
The Board voted unanimously (8:0) to adjourn at 8:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Patty Carroll
Administrative Aide
Meetin¢ Attendance
Board Members
Staff
Guests
Frank Blanco
Jerry P. Brown
Bill Bertschy
Larry Buckendorf
Patty Carroll
Patty Bigner
Lauren DeRosa
Rob Dahl
Byrd Curtis
David Johnson
Mike Goff
Andrea
Faucett
Claire Nelms
Jim Greer
Mary Flemming
Bill Rutledge
Marty Heffernan
Henry Fry
Mike Sanders
Jim Higgins
Jeff Moore
Grant Sherwood
Dave Sadler
Link Mueller
Dale Smigelsky
Patrick Quadrel
Kevin Wilcox
Don Silar