HomeMy WebLinkAboutGolf Board - Minutes - 03/17/2004City of Fort Collins
Cultural, Library, and Recreational Services
Golf Board
Minutes: Regular Meeting of March 17, 2004
Council Liaison to the Board: Councilman Bill Bertschy
Staff Support to the Board: Jerry P. Brown, Manager of Golf at 221-6350, and Stacy
Kelley, Administrative Aide at 416-2265
Call Meeting to Order: Board Chairperson David Johnson called the meeting to order
at 7:00 p.m. at the SouthRidge Golf Course Clubhouse.
Agenda Review: No changes to the agenda as printed.
Items of Note:
♦ Board Member Larry Buckendorf called and said he was unable to attend the
meeting.
♦ Jerry informed the Board that Manny Jimenez e-mailed him to let him know that he
resigned from the Board because he had moved out of town. Council will probably
appoint another Board Member from the previous list of applicants, which includes
Michael Bello, Gene Elder, Shane Houska, Michael Perry, David Thilmany, and Gary
Thiret.
Approval of Minutes: On a motion by Mike Sanders, seconded by Mindy Markley, the
Board unanimously (7:0) approved the Minutes of the February 18, 2004 Regular
Meeting.
Citizen Participation: No Citizen Participation at this time.
Braun Bar & Grill at Collindale Ownership Modifications
Jerry introduced Scott Manning, Owner and General Manager of Brauns Bar & Grill.
There have been some concerns from golfers about the service at Brauns. Scott shared
his action plan and said he is working with Dan Timm his new Assistant Manager who
came back from Steamboat's Braun Bar & Grill to help resolve the concerns and issues.
Scott said there would be some minor changes to the menu like more sandwiches and
salads. He mentioned that the guests that were there just dining and not playing golf
wasn't as big of an issue. Claire Nelms feels some of the prices are too high, but Mike
Sanders noted that the market place determines if prices are boo high, and he feels most
items are priced reasonably. Dan Preble said that he noticed the service wasn't up to par
in the middle of the afternoon- Scott said that Dan Timm is very service oriented and he
has the confidence that he will bring the restaurant up to speed. They both will be doing
more training and make the staff more aware of the service they want to provide. Mindy
Markley said she was concerned that when Scott was there the service was great but
when he was not, some of the staff weren't taking care of the customers and sometimes
ignoring them. Scott mentioned that he was fully aware of that and that is why he has
brought Dan back from Steamboat to help eliminate the situation. Scott assured the
Board that they were going to spend a lot more time to build a beam with their employees.
Dan Preble said he plays with the noon group and knows that many times they go across
the street to get a sandwich. He said he noticed that this started happening more last fall.
Jerry mentioned that this group used to do the same thing with the previous restaurant.
Jerry assured the Board that he has been in close contact with Scott about the service and
is confident that the service issues will be resolved. He also mentioned that City Council
Liaison, Bill Bertschy, has written that he has had positive experiences with the
restaurant when he has been there. Jerry said that with Scott Manning making this
restaurant his primary concern that the restaurant will run more like a "Mom and Pop"
private ownership business. Scott said that he would also like to see the service window
work better for the golfers. He himself is a golfer and understands the needs and service
that the golfers want. He would also like to see the food and beverage cart out more in
the off-season. Mindy said with the ownership that Scott would have more control of the
hiring and firing of staff. Scott said there is a seasonal tie to the business and not just
with the golfers. When the sun is out business is much stronger. He said they have been
struggling with getting the general public understanding that you don't need to be a golfer
or club member to come to Brauns.
Lauren DeRosa suggested that Scott and Dan do another "Grand Re -Opening" to gain
people's trust and she has great confidence in Scott's ability to turn things around and
make the restaurant a profitable business. She said that she wondered why they only had
one register. Scott said they were working to improve things by getting more customer
friendly systems. Mindy explained that everyone is on a leaming curve with the new
Collindale Clubhouse and there are always kinks to work out with new businesses. She
said that she was personally going to come in to the restaurant and let Scott know what a
great job she thought he was doing. Dan Preble said he is pleased with the food but not
the service. Scott told the Board that he embraces the opportunity to make Brauns the
best restaurant in Fort Collins. Dave Johnson noted that he has confidence in Scott and
Dan.
Election of Golf Board Officers for 2004f2005•
On a motion made by Mike Sanders, and seconded by Grant Sherwood, the Board
unanimously (7:0) approved to re-elect the current Board Officers for another term. They
are Dave Johnson, Chairperson; Mindy Markley, Vice -Chairperson; and Lauren DeRosa,
Board Secretary.
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Other Business
♦ Jerry reminded the Board that at the February 18m meeting the Board discussed how
they would like to see the potential Capital Sales Tax money used for the Golf
Division. He said the chance that the Golf Division would receive any of that money
would be slim to none. He said that transportation, the Police Department, Gateway
Mountain Park, Library expansion, Performing Arts, and Parks and Recreation
Projects would probably be a higher priority for the citizens of Fort Collins.
♦ The Board received copies of the Financial Statement for 2003. The Golf Fund was
short $212,000 in Operating Revenues. The Fund should be stable for 2004 as
hopefully 2004 will be a better year than 2003. Collindale Professional, Jim Greer
said he is cautiously optimistic.
♦ A letter from the City Manager to a citizen stated that a trail through the SouthRidge
Golf Course would be unsafe and his recommendation would be not to have a trail
run through the Course.
♦ Jerry gave an update that the drainage at City Park Nine #6 Green was not working.
Storm Drainage Department's Budget is paying the consultants to have the drainage
fixed. City Park Nine Superintendent Dave Sadler told Jerry that the Green should be
ready to play prior to April 1 ". He also mentioned that the new Highland Meadows
was undercutting some of our tournaments and we might see a Financial impact in
June.
♦ Jerry told the Board that staff mailed out 1,100 postcards to the Chamber of
Commerce businesses to try and get more tournaments and business rounds played at
the courses. Also, he mentioned that the Fort Collins Golf Courses are the only golf
ad listed in the Convention and Visitor Bureau Magazine.
♦ A thank you letter was sent to John Hanrahan, Head Golf Professional, Fort Collins
Country Club, for his donation of 237 golf clubs, and two golf bags for the "Fort
Collins Fore Kids" Introductory Youth Golf Clinic, and his continued generous
donations to our "K1ubs-4-Kids" Junior Golf Program.
♦ The flyer for the "Fort Collins Fore Kids" has been distributed. There will be
advertisements for this program in the Newspapers.
Adjournment:
On a motion by Dan Preble seconded by Lauren DeRosa, the Board unanimously voted
(7:0) to adjourn at 7:43 p.m.
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f.
Respectfully submitted,
�2 Stacy Kelley
Administrative Aide
Meetine Attendance
Board Members
Lauren DeRosa
Dave Johnson
Mindy Markley
Claire Nelms
Dan Preble
Mike Sanders
Grant Sherwood
Staff
Randy Bonneville
Jerry P. Brown
Rob Dahl
Jim Greer
Stacy Kelley
Scott Manning
Dave McCleave
Dale Smigelsky
Guests
Menan Bergman
Craig Fabrikant
Patrick L. Finnegan
Dan Timm
Tom Welsh
'Note: Three other
citizens did not
sign in.
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