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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGolf Board - Minutes - 08/15/1990CITY OF FORT COLLINS CULTURAL, LIBRARY, AND RECREATIONAL SERVICES GOLF BOARD MINUTES: Regular meeting of August 15, 1990 The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by President Roger Sample. Member Al Bednarz called to say he could not attend the meeting. Agenda Review: Staff requested to add an item to the printed agenda called "Proposed Sale of SouthRidge." All agreed. Minutes: The minutes of the regular meeting of July 18, 1990 were approved unanimously, as submitted, on a motion by Dick Zubradt, seconded by Terry Gilmore. Citizen Participation: No citizen participation. Revised 1991 Golf Fund Budget (Continued Discussion) Board members agreed to continue this discussion item from the last meeting. Citizen Evelyn Lawrey presented a petition signed by approximately 520 individuals requesting that the City continue the present annual pass policy. The petition to the City Council reads as follows: "We, the undersigned citizens of the City of Fort Collins, Colorado, support the current policy of the City allowing discounted annual golf passes, both regular and Senior Citizens. We adamantly protest any plan which would eliminate these benefits. We recognize that many families and many Senior golfers could not afford to pay regular green fees. Please give consideration to continuing the present policy." Jerry P. Brown said he would contact the City Clerk to determine how to present the petition to Council. Evelyn Lawrey thinks if golfers have to pay for SouthRidge, other recreation users (trail users, tennis players, park users, etc.) should also be required to pay for their recreational uses. Jerry reiterated the staff recommended fee increases for 1991. These include an approximate five percent (5%) 'cost -of -doing -business' increase of 25 cents for 9-holes (from $6.75 to $7.00) and 50 cents for 18-holes (from $11.50 to $12.00), $15 for adult annual passes base rate (from $330 to $345) and $12 for Seniors/Students/Spouses Annual Passes base rate (from $248 to $260). All other fees and charges would remain the same, except that staff is proposing to add a $1.00 per play fee to annual pass player rounds to raise around $43,000 to eliminate the projected annual deficit and maintain the acceptable Golf Fund reserves of over $100,000. Jerry said he recognizes that the Fee Structure Committee and Golf Board recommended adding 50 cents more to the 9-hole green fee rate and creating a 50 cents a player fee for annual passes to achieve the $43,000 if needed, but he fully believes that the annual pass players don't pay their fair share and the equity of this calls for increases to pass player rather than green fee players. V Golf Board Minutes August 15, 1990 Page 2 Cathy Fromme said we should follow the recommendation of the Golf Fee Structure Committee. Roger Sample asked the Golf Professionals if collecting 50 cents is too cumbersome? Bill Metier said it is not that big of a deal either way. Citizen Paul Lawrey said he just plays 9 holes so he wonders whether $1.00 per round is a problem? Citizen Dixie R. Smith wonders why rate increases have been so high, claiming that they have exceeded inflation rates by over 20% in the past eight years or so? Jerry disagreed with Mr. Smith on his figures. Roger asked if Jerry would put together a paper showing the fee increases? Jerry said he would. Citizen Nel Davis asked how Fort Collins fees compare to Loveland, Greeley and others? Cathy Fromme answered her question. Citizen Irene Pearson asked why not add 50 cents to both passes and green fee players? Roger responded. Dan Preble asked Jerry why he didn't follow the Golf Board Recommendation? Jerry again discussed the fairness and equity issue as he sees it. Steve Jouard, Roger Sample, and Terry Gilmore all favor adding the $1.00, although Terry feels we should go with the committee's recommendation. Dick Zubradt, Cathy Fromme, and Dan Preble support the 50 cents/50 cents Committee recommendation. Al Bednarz previously expressed his support of the Committee recommendation. Steve said we must demonstrate a need for the additional funding. Cathy would like staff to provide more data on the $43,000 shortfall. The Board will be asked to approve 1991 fees and charges at their September meeting. SouthRidge Lake and Land Trades with Center Greens Housing Development Jerry described the background of this proposal. Developer Bill Albrecht explained the present layout and the parcel of land located between Fairways 8, 9, and 10 at SouthRidge, known as Center Greens. With an overlay, Bill identified some proposed minor land trades which include approximately 23,635 square feet. He also identified a potential new lake to be located on the 9th Fairway near the green, which would help control many of the errant tee shots on Number 9 and provide irrigation and manage drainage. The lake is proposed to be 19,000 square feet. SouthRidge Golf Professional Kent Heusinkveld said the existing drainage off the vacant land adversely impacts the 10th Fairway and reduces golf car rental income. Bill Albrecht estimates a cost of $19,025 (plus or minus 10%) to construct the lake. Additional items such as resod i ng/reseed i ng, irrigation line replacement, pump and return line, culvert/crossing, and any tree relocations can probably be done by staff. Bill said the housing project is currently moving through the planning and zoning process. He would like to move forward with his proposals as soon as possible. Cathy Fromme asked if the developer would split the cost of the lake with the City? Bill said possibly. Terry Gilmore, at the request of staff, met with Bill Albrecht and SouthRidge Superintendent Randy Bonneville regarding this proposal. They walked the project and Terry said he believes it is a good opportunity to Golf Board Minutes August 15, 1990 Page 3 eliminate some drainage problems and potential liability problems. Terry suggested the Stormwater Utility might also participate in some of the costs. Roger Sample asked if drainage will improve or not with the development? Steve Olt, City Planner, suggested that the drainage problem will be greater with the development, but more manageable. Roger asked what would happen if no new lake were built? Bill said the water would eventually end up in the existing lake, and that he understood that the golf course was to act as the drainage basin for the housing developments. Steve Olt said the drainage problem will be significantly mitigated with a new lake placement. Roger wondered whether we should be spending more money on a course we currently have no control over? Jerry said the process will go forward with or without us, and the City, as owner, is ultimately responsible. We should also strive to be a good neighbor. Bill Metier asked if lake construction could be done at a time to least impact golf play? Bill Albrecht responded he would like to do the project between January and April, if possible. Terry Gilmore and Roger Sample both said they think the lake is a win/win situation. Dan Preble and Steve Jouard also like the concept. After further discussion, the Board, on a motion by Dick Zubradt, seconded by Terry Gilmore, voted unanimously (6:0) to recommend the land trades as proposed. Dick Zubradt then made another motion, seconded by Terry Gilmore, to explore the possibilities on the lake issue, not to exceed $20,000, and minimizing any City costs to the project if at all possible. Cathy Fromme commented it is important to pursue the cost sharing issues with the developer and others. Citizen Evelyn Lawrey feels the developer will benefit the most and we should look toward him to pay more. The Board's vote to approve the motion was unanimous (6:0). Golf Pro Agreements Jerry discussed the history of the agreements with the Golf Professionals at Collindale and City Park Nine and described the newly required RFP process. The Golf Board Committee, composed of Terry Gilmore, Steve Jouard, Dan Prreble, and Roger Sample as alternate, have met twice. We are now developing the bid packages and methods to evaluate both a price bid (quantity) and quality elements to perform. The Committee has agreed to not involve the City with owning merchandise, and that we desire an LPGA or PGA professional at each course. The committee, along with representatives from the Men's and Women's Golf Associations will evaluate the applicants, interview the top applicants, and make recommendations to staff and the full Golf Board, which will eventually be approved by Council as these agreements will exceed two years in length. Jerry suggested that the agreement for the SouthRidge Golf Professional be handled differently because of the potential for selling the course. He feels a one-year professional services agreement structured similar to the existing Collindale agreement for 1991 may be appropriate. Jerry also noted that because of the length of the RFP process that we may need to extend our current agreements until March 1. There were no objections. Terry Gilmore reiterated SouthRidge is being treated separately and he wondered if SouthRidge would be Golf Board Minutes August 15, 1990 Page 4 treated similar to City Park Nine and Collindale when it is ours to operate? Jerry said he thinks it will. Proposed $1.00 Tournament Fee Increase for Snack Bar Services Jerry described the history of the tournament fee ($2.00 per player total with $1.00 to the City for the reservation and $1.00 to the Golf Pro for extra services, etc.) and the problem at City Park Nine. The snack bar gears up to provide services and many times nobody eats or drinks there, and they go elsewhere. Consequently, the concessionaire makes no money when many tournaments are played. Because City Park Nine is a 9-hole course, it is a bigger problem than at Collindale or SouthRidge. Therefore, staff proposes increasing the tournament fee to $3.00 per player with the new dollar going to the concessionaire, to be used as a "credit" toward purchases. Roger Sample said he is not overly sympathetic because the concessionaires should do their homework with tournaments in advance, and also because concessionaires knew what they were getting into when they bid the snack bar operations. Terry Gilmore is somewhat sympathetic, but does not support a new fee. Cathy Fromme also is sympathetic, but feels the concessionaires should plan better and try to resolve their own circumstances. No Board members supported the fee. Proposed Sale of SouthRidge Jerry distributed a proposed Council Resolution to market the sale of SouthRidge, which is scheduled for the September 18 Council agenda. Jerry asked the Board if we should even consider a sale? He wants to know the Board's consensus and whether we are interested? Jerry said Council discussed a possible sale at their July 10 worksession as one way to eliminate the debt. Terry Gilmore said if we do market the sale of SouthRidge that we should not use Golf Fund money to pay for it. He said if the City wants to sell SouthRidge then the City should pay the costs. Terry also feels that if the course is marketed that we should require it to remain a public play course. All other Board members agreed. Jerry said that keeping the course open to the public is a requirement. After further discussion, the Board, on a motion by Dick Zubradt, seconded by Terry Gilmore, voted unanimously (6:0) to support the Resolution to market the sale of SouthRidge to help the City determine if selling the course is in the best interests of the City. Other Business - Dick Zubradt reported on the High School golf program noting that all three courses are fully cooperating. He noted that he is disappointed with the low turnout of golfers (five at Poudre, eight at Rocky, and seven at Fort Collins), but they will only take up two or three tee times when they practice. Dick said the pros have been very gracious in working with him this year. Golf Board Minutes August 15, 1990 Page 5 Jerry previously distributed copies of the proposed 1991 SouthRidge budget, as well as copies of response letters from the City to citizen letters written by Richard Ward, Robert Collins, and Charles Patton. Steve Jouard commented that he felt the letter written to Mr. Patton had several misleading statements. For example, the statement about the negative impact of the debt assumption did not mention the surcharge contribution, and the answer about financial damage did not reflect SouthRidge as a City asset accommodating 45,000 public rounds of golf per year. Jerry said he would tell the staff author of the letter of Steve's comments. Jerry distributed Collindale and City Park Nine statistical reports through July 31. Annual pass play continues to rise. On a motion by Terry Gilmore, seconded by Cathy Fromme, the meeting was adjourned at 9:25 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Steve Jouard, Board Secretary Meeting Attendance Board Members Staff Guests Roger Sample Jerry P. Brown Evelyn Lawrey Dan Preble Bill Metier Irene K. Pearson Steve Jouard Jim Greer Dottie Bourque Cathy Fromme Joe Nance Henri Bourque Terry Gilmore Alyce Nieman Paul Lawrey Dick Zubradt Steve Olt (Planning) Dixie R. Smith Louis A. Bonin Joseph Braskich Nel Davis Henry Fry Kent Heusinkveld Bill Albrecht , and Recreational Servl Golf Division DATE: August 30, 1990 TO: Golf Board FROM: Jerry P. Brown, Assistant to the Director RE: Golf Green Fees and Annual Pass Rates At your meeting of August 15, citizen Dixie Smith stated rate increases have been high and he claimed that they have exceeded inflation rates by over 20 percent in the past eight years or so. President Sample asked me if I would put together a paper showing the fee increases. I agreed. These are the actual green fees and annual pass rates charged at Collindale and City Park Nine Golf Courses from 1983 to 1990. 1983 was the first year of our current fee structure -- 1983 1984 1985 1986 19877 1988 1989 1990 9-Hole Green Fees 5.00 5.25 5.25 5.50 6.00 6.00 6.50 6.75 18-Hole Green Fees 8.00 8.50 8.50 9.00 9.00 10.00 11.00 11.50 Single Adults 250 265 265 280 290 300 315 330 Student/Senior/Spouse 190 200 200 210 215 225 235 248 Juniors 125 135 135 140 145 150 155 165 Family Children 125/65 135/65 65 70 70 75 75 80 Maximum Family 630 665 595 630 645 675 700 738 - 9-hole green fees have increased $1.75 during the eight -year period, or a total of 35 percent, for an average of 4.4 percent per year. - 18-hole green fees have increased $3.50 during the eight -year period, or a total of 44 percent, for an average of 5.5 percent per year. - Single Adult Annual Passes increased $80 during the eight -year period, or a total of 32 percent, for an average of 4 percent per year. - Student/Senior/Spouse Annual Passes increased only $58 during the eight -year period, or a total of 30 percent, for an average of only 3.8 percent per year. Our fee increases have been based upon our cost of doing business in the Golf Fund, not just on the inflation rate. I do not know what the inflation rate from 1983 to 1990 has been, but 1 would guess that an average annual increase of 3.8 percent to 5.5 percent is probably within acceptable standards. 281 North College AN enue • Fort Collins, CO 80524 • (303) 221-6351