HomeMy WebLinkAboutGolf Board - Minutes - 03/21/2001City Of Fort Collins
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Golf Board Minutes
Minutes: Regular Meeting of March 21, 2001
City Council Liaison to the Board: Councilman Bill Bertschy
Staff Support to the Board: Jerry P. Brown, Manager of Golf, at 221.6350, and Jackie Rael,
Executive Administrative Assistant
Call Meeting to Order: In the absence of both the Chairperson and the Vice Chairperson,
Board Secretary Byrd Curtis called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
Agenda Review: No changes to the printed agenda
Items of Note:
• Jerry P. Brown stated that Mike Sanders and Bryan Cobb both called to, say they would be out
of town tonight.
• Copies of the Boards and Commissions Manual were distributed in the Board's packets. If
Board Members have questions, call Jerry or Karla Smith, City Clerk's Office, 416.2525.
Also included in the packets were revised 2001 Board Work Plans and Meeting Schedules.
Approval of Minutes: On a motion by Tom White, seconded by Claire Nelms, the Board
unanimously (7-0) approved the minutes of the Regular Meeting of February 21, 2001.
Citizen Participation:
Tom Brower, a resident of the Village at SouthRidge, spoke to the Board regarding concerns he
and his neighbors have at SouthRidge Golf Course. Representing the Homeowners Association
at the Village at SouthRidge, he expressed their concerns and stated that there is a lack of parking
in the SouthRidge Golf Course parking lot. Golfers are parking on the streets in front of their
houses. When the SouthRidge debt is eliminated in two years, this extra money could pay for
buying more land, since the City owns the land where Fossil Creek Community Park will be
developed, and the Village Board thinks the City should add some of this land (5 acres) to the
SouthRidge Golf Course. This is the best way to increase parking at SouthRidge and provide
relief to our neighborhood. He also said that a four -lane road from SouthRidge to Trilby Road
on Lemay is needed. Mr. Brower then said that he is going to pursue this issue with Steve Olt,
Current Planning Department, as well as others, and he may start a petition.
Willard Froseth added the following comments that the curve on Lemay presents a hazardous
condition and should be straightened. He questions if the City is going to plan the community
park on a two lane or a four -lane street? How can they (City) overlook not making it four lanes?
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March 21, 2001
Page 2
Time is of essence with the upcoming park!
Byrd Curtis said that this issue has been discussed many times with this Board. It is a subject
that we're sympathetic about, but our hands are tied in many respects. Jerry told them that there
is a chance that the road project could cut into the golf course even further. Jerry gave a
background of SouthRidge stating it has always been owned by the City, but it was built by the
Bucain Corporation using Revenue Anticipation Notes issued by the City in the early 80's.
There were approximately 400 homes to be built around the golf course in the original plan, with
a portion of the sales proceeds paying off the original golf course construction debt by 1987.
However, it was a bad time economically in Fort Collins, among other things, and after they
(Bucain) couldn't make the payments, the City took over the golf course debt in 1986, and in
1991 began operation and maintenance of the course. The 1986 refinanced debt will be paid off
in 2002. Jerry specifically noted that when the original master plan was approved, the identified
and approved overflow parking for the golf course was where the Village at SouthRidge homes
are now. That area was originally to be a neighborhood shopping center.
With regards to Lemay, it will be a four lane arterial road. The Engineering Department and
Planning Department are working on this and plans are to start construction on the road in the
fall. The City Engineers feel the curve is acceptable. The right-of-way on the golf course could
possibly take some of the 14' fairway. If this happens, it could make #14 a par 4. On the west
side of the street are all the utilities and it could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to move
those. The best case scenario is that the east boundary of the existing road is where the sidewalk
would start. At the very worst they would take some of the golf course. The Engineering
Department personnel have told us that by this fall the road alignment will be finalized. The
Park Planning Division will pay the street oversizing for their share of the park. From basically
Oak Ridge to Paragon Point on the east side there have been no dollars contributed for street
oversizing. The Golf Fund may even be required to contribute funding for this project, but that is
still to be determined.
Mr. Brower asked if the City still has a debt for the park acquisition? Jerry said no that the land
acquisition was paid off. He then asked if we would reduce the golf fees at SouthRidge after the
debt is paid off? Jerry explained no and that the fees at the other two courses could possibly be
raised to be the same as SouthRidge. What is the estimate to move the utilities, Bill Rutledge
asked? Jerry said approximately $300,000 to $400,000. Bill also asked if the City owns all the
property? Jerry said yes. Bill said that if this was private property, the City would exercise their
option to expand the road. Karen Joslin-Aured said that widening the road and making it straight
would probably increase the traffic speed and an arterial with a curve could possibly slow down
the traffic.
Byrd said that we are facing a tough situation and asked the Board what they would like to do?
Karen said the concerned citizens could request us to do something about it. They could request
us to write a letter to Council. Jerry said that we have talked to both Engineering and Park
Planning about netting along Lemay and adding a buffer and trees to #14 to help protect
pedestrians, bicyclists, and traffic. There wilt be a sidewalk on the east side of the street to
Paragon. Claire Nelms suggested the homeowners association write a letter regarding their
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March 21, 2001
Page 3
concerns to Council. Bill recommended that if he lived in that neighborhood he would get a
petition written and deliver it to Council. Jerry said they could also speak to Matt Baker, Street
Oversizing Coordinator/Engineering, Steve Olt, City Planner/Current Planning, or to Gary
Diede, Transportation Operations Director, who might be able to explain their plans for Lemay.
Citizen Participation Continued...
Frank Jones resides close to Collindale. Mr. Jones wrote a letter to the Board regarding the geese
problem in Fort Collins on the golf courses. The geese problem came to his attention when his
grandson slid into goose droppings during a soccer match. Then he wondered if it is healthy?
Miles Blumhardt of the Coloradoan wrote an article last year regarding goose droppings. Mr.
Jones asked if anyone has read the medical studies prompting that article? He said when you
read these studies they are alarming. We need to recognize the problem of goose droppings to
prevent a serious illness and the City becomes a reactor instead of being proactive in this. He
recommends that the City Council is advised, the community is made aware, and the City takes
action. Bill Rutledge said that he has been on this issue for years. He met with the Mayor and
several others, and eventually he found out that it is a problem of the Department of Interior. Bill
further explained that he thinks the City has not seen fit to take any action. He urges Mr. Jones
to fight this. Mr. Jones asked if this Board would make a recommendation to Council to study
this? Mr. Jones said he would be happy to take this further as a citizen. Citizen Henry Fry said
he needs to go directly to the City Council to complain. Henry further recommended that Mr.
Jones also address this with the Larimer County Commissioners. Mr. Jones gave Jerry some
literature to duplicate for Board Members and staff.
Recommendation Regarding the End -Payoff of the SouthRidge Golf Course Debt and
Dedication of the Funds Formerly Committed to the Debt Reduction heinE Redirected to
Golf Capital Improvements
Jerry gave the history of former Board Members Mindy Markley and Henry Fry going before
Council in the mid-90's to discuss this. Tom White said that we always discussed that the
redirection of the SouthRidge debt funds to be appropriated to other Capital Improvements
projects. Jerry explained we are paying approximately $200,000 annually for the debt payment.
When this debt is paid, we will have to start paying a $45,000 annual fee for City Administrative
services. That will leave us with approximately $155,000 each year for capital improvements
from the money currently allocated to the SouthRidge Debt. We plan to borrow approximately
$2,000,000 for the Collindale Clubhouse project. $155,000 annually will pay for much of the
principal and interest for the Collindale project debt. We had no intention of spending it for
anything else. Karen Joslin-Aured said we had this huge priority list of projects at the golf
courses, now the only big glaring project is the Collindale Clubhouse. Claire Nelms said the
point is to go on record that we want the primary use of the SouthRidge debt collected from fees
and charges to be redirected to capital improvements for the golf courses. On a motion by Claire
Nelms, seconded by Tom White, the Board recommended that the money currently allocated to
the SouthRidge Golf Course Debt Payment (which will be approximately $155,000 annually)
that is scheduled to end in 2002 be redirected to other Golf Capital Improvement Projects starting
in 2003. The first priority for this money is the Collindale Golf Course Clubhouse Replacement
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,March 21, 2001
Page 4
Project. It has been the intent of both the Board and Staff for the past several years, and this
action will formalize that intent. The motion passed unanimously (7-0).
Consider Extension of the Term of the Agreement with the SouthRidLye Restaurant/Snack
Bar Concessionaire
Jerry said that he has determined that Dan Bruntz and his staff have done an excellent job in their
performance as our Restaurant/Snack Bar Concessionaire at SouthRidge Golf Course, and is
deserving of an extension to the Agreement. Dan did everything necessary to make the
Agreement successful and he did so in the best interests of the City. Jerry has met with Dan
Bruntz and his proposed new partner, Rob Dahl, and we have mutually agreed upon an extension
of the Agreement for up to five additional one-year renewal periods through December 31, 2006,
as per the terms of the Original Agreement. Jerry asked the Board if they are in agreement with
going forth to extend the Agreement? On a motion by Frank Blanco, seconded by Claire Nelms,
the Board voted unanimously for staff to move forward to extending Dan Bruntz's concessionaire
Agreement for the services at SouthRidge. Motion carried 7-0.
Jerry explained the process from this point forward. We will have public input at the April 18
meeting. If the Board approves, then the Purchasing Director can either accept or reject the
Board and staffs recommendation. If he accepts we then need approval from the City Manager,
and then submit an Ordinance to Council for their consideration. Tom White asked that at the
end of five years, do we have to go out to bid again? Jerry said that is correct.
Discussion on 2002-2003 City Budget Preparation Board Input
Jerry referred to his memo in the Board's packet regarding Board input on the 2002-2003 budget.
This input has been requested by the City Manager and is due April 30. Karen Joslin-Aured said
the only question she has is raising fees as necessary (refer to Memo dated April 21, 1999 from
Mindy Markley to John Fischbach). Jerry said it is based on the cost of doing business, which is
increases roughly 3.5 percent per year. Mike Sanders will write the letter and bring it back to the
Board at next month's meeting. The Board concurred with that. Henry Fry said that when we
did the Surcharge a few years ago, we generated $180,000 a year and that has supported the
capital improvements.
Update Report on the Collindale Clubhouse Project
The City has awarded the architectural contract to the Vaught -Frye Architectural Firm in Fort
Collins. The contract is being signed for $91,000. They want to see where this project fits into
City Plan so they are meeting with the Planning Department. Our Project Manager is Steve
White from Facilities. The scope of the project is the Clubhouse only. The main issue we
probably will have to confront is a sidewalk along Horsetooth. We could meet our proposed
timetable to start construction in the fall and an opening by Spring of 2002, if we accept all the
planning process. Manny Jimenez said that if we put in a sidewalk, we are encouraging people to
use the sidewalk and that would be hazardous. We would then have to fully net that side of the
golf course. Byrd Curtis asked if none of this happens, do we have contingency plans for the
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.March 21, 2001
Page 5
funds if we don't build it? Jerry said yes, and explained the process from this point. He said
that we will have spent $91,000 on the architect. We then bring the conceptual drawings to the
Board for approval sometime in June or July. We will hold a public meeting at Collindale for
input. In August, we will get a price tag on the project from the architect. At that time we ask
City Council for the debt service financing. When and if Council approves the debt financing,
we then give the approval to Vaught -Frye to do the construction plans and move forth. If the
project is halted at any phase, we will have spent at least $91,000 on the plans. The capital
money could then be used for other capital projects. Karen Joslin-Aured said that once we start
into the conceptual drawings on Collindale, she will have meetings with the Collindale Women's
Associations.
Board Members and Staff Comments
• Jerry said that all the other capital projects are moving along. On April 5, the netting project
is scheduled to start at SouthRidge.
• Citizen Henry Fry said the Collindale Men's Association had their annual spring meeting and
will spend $1,000 to complete the new ball washer project. The money donated will buy the
remaining five ball washers. Collindale Superintendent Doug Evans stated that the
Collindale Men's Association has been generous in helping us at Collindale.
• Byrd Curtis said they are enjoying the benches at City Park Nine.
Adjournment: The Board adjourned at 9:00 p.m. on a motion by Claire Nelms, seconded by
Manny Jimenez.
Respectfully submitted,
Jackie Rael, Executive Administrative Assistant
Board Attendance
Board Members
Staff
Guests
Frank Blanco
Jerry P. Brown
Tom Brower
Byrd Curtis
Dan Bruntz
Henry Fry
Manuel Jimenez
Rob Dahl
Willard Froseth
Karen Joslin-Aured
Doug Evans
Frank Jones
Claire Nelms
Jim Greer
Jeff Shaw
Bill Rutledge
Jackie Rael
Bill Toner
Tom White