HomeMy WebLinkAboutGolf Board - Minutes - 01/18/2006City of Fort Collins
Cultural, Library, and Recreational Services
Golf Board
Minutes: Regular Meeting of January 18, 2006
Council Liaison to the Board: Councilman Diggs Brown
Staff Support to the Board: Jerry P. Brown, Manager of Golf at 221-6350, and Dawn
Worth, Administrative Aide at 416-2265
Call Meeting to Order: Board Vice Chairperson Larry Buckendorf called the meeting to
order at 7:05 p.m. at the City Park Nine Clubhouse.
Agenda Review: There were no changes to the agenda as printed.
Items of Note:
• Lauren DeRosa, David Johnson and Deron Grothe called to inform us that they
would be unable to make the meeting.
• Jerry informed the Board that "Fort Collins Fore Kids" has been tentatively
scheduled for Tuesday, June 6`h, at City Park Nine in the morning.
• Jerry mentioned that the Board would be receiving a memo from the City Clerk's
office for the upcoming Boards and Commissions Orientation that is open to all
Board Members.
• Jerry introduced Jim Higgins who is currently the Assistant Superintendent at
City Park Nine and informed the Board that he will be Acting Superintendent
when David Sadler retires on February 1, 2006.
• Jerry explained that the Golf Board meetings will primarily be held here at City
Park Nine because of the increase in business that Manno's Grille at Collindale is
experiencing, however we will still meet at Collindale and SouthRidge
occasionally.
Approval of Minutes: On a motion by Grant Sherwood, seconded by Dan Preble, the
Board unanimously (6:0) approved the Minutes of the November 16, 2005 Regular
Meeting.
Citizen Participation: No Citizen Participation at this time.
Review and Approval of the Golf Board 2005 Annual Report
Jerry previously sent a draft 2005 Annual Report for the Board to review. He briefly
discussed the Annual Report and mentioned that there were a couple of figures that need
to be changed and the report also needs approval. There was a motion made by Dan
Preble, seconded by Jay Kammerzell, to approve the Golf Board's 2005 Annual Report as
submitted with the corrections made. The Motion was approved unanimously (6:0). Jerry
also mentioned the Board Members' Meeting Attendance during 2005 Report.
Golf Board Minutes
January 19, 2005
Page 2
Review of the Financial Status of the Golf Fund
Jerry feels the Golf Fund hasn't fully recovered, but 2005 was the best and most solid
year that we've had since 2002. In May of 2002 we started downhill and we've been
heading that way since. In 2004 we hit bottom and the first half of 2005 didn't show
much improvement, but the second half did. The great weather we had in November and
late December almost made up for the losses in the first half of the year. In 2005 we
ended up with 99.37% Operating Revenue. Jerry discussed a Financial Statement he gave
the Board. On the Statement of Revenues, Expenses and Changes in Net Assets
spreadsheet Jerry explained that our Operating Revenues were $2,407,416 which was
only about $15,200 short of the budgeted amount. We made $12,303 in interest income.
Surcharge Revenue was $318,740, which was just below what was projected. The
transfer from other funds was the $49,000 we got from the COP's interest earnings for
the parking lot at SouthRidge. Shane Houska asked what COP's was? Jerry explained
that COP's stands for Certificates of Participation, essentially a lease purchase. Jerry said
that's how we primarily funded the Collindale Clubhouse. He explained that Golf wasn't
the only department that used COP's or ALP's (Assignment of Lease Payments) money.
They are both borrowed funds. The City had some COP's money that they didn't use and
that remaining money gained interest. That interest could then be used for any approved
COP's project so Jerry claimed $49,000 for the parking lot at SouthRidge and City
Council approved it. Grant Sherwood asked what the Miscellaneous Revenue was? Jerry
explained that it's basically things that aren't directly associated with Golf Fees and
Charges, such as house rent and telephone reimbursements. Jerry mentioned that the
expenses we paid to the General Fund was $120,190. He reminded the Board that one of
the reasons we started Surcharge Fees in 1998 was to cover Debt Service payments. He
said that essentially the $43,207 was our positive cash.
Jerry then discussed the Changes in Working Capital spreadsheet. We started the year
with $97,750 in Reserves. He said that the proceeds from Lease Purchase bought golf
carts and a tractor. The ending Working Capital was $105,225. The remaining ALP's
money we have will be used for the Railroad Crossing for the Horsetooth sidewalk. Jerry
said that Council has already approved our 2006 & 2007 Budget. If everything is equal in
2006 we will start with $105,000 and end up with $120,000 in reserves. In 2007 we'd end
with $116,000 in reserves. In the statement Jerry gave out earlier last year we didn't have
money in reserves over the projected budgets and now we're showing positive cash.
David Thilmany asked why there wasn't any money on the Lease Purchase line items in
the future budgets? Jerry explained that we have money set aside in Capital Purchases
and we apply that cash to the Lease Purchase Principal and Interest when it comes time
for it instead of trying to project that. Larry Buckendorf stated that he recalls when he
first got on the Board we had reserves in the neighborhood of $400,000. Jerry said that
the Golf Fund had over $400,000 when Larry started but we used around $100,000 in
2003 and last year we ended up using over $200,000 in reserves to balance. Grant asked
how Jerry determines the priorities for Capital Acquisition? Jerry said that each of the
Superintendents have had enough experience that they can determine how long
equipment should last and they submit requests to Jerry and he then makes the final
decision. He mentioned that we rotate 1/6 of our golf carts every year. That's a six -year
cycle and by the 5th year we own them outright and we can trade them in.
Jerry told the Board that the Operating Revenue sheet he gave them needs to replace the
one he mailed. This shows the main revenue items at all three of the courses, Annual
Passes, Green Fees, Tournaments, Carts, Concessions and Surcharge. He pointed out that
last year we did better than we have in prior years and reminded everyone that we ended
the year at 99.37%. City Park Nine showed a profit, Collindale barely showed a loss, and
Golf Board Minutes
January 19, 2005
Page 3
the small loss at SouthRidge was mainly due to less tournament play. Jerry mentioned
that he was very pleased with the revenues from the Collindale Concession because we
had $40,000 budgeted and brought in nearly $60,000. He informed the Board that
Manno's Grille at Collindale grossed about $700,000 last year. Jerry said the downside of
that is we pay more for utilities. Jerry feels with our change in Annual Passes we'll see
more Annual Pass play. Jerry mentioned that this statement is not final because the audit
has not occurred, but that it should be fairly accurate. Another document that Jerry gave
the Board was the Update on the Collection/Usage of Surcharge Fees. He felt the Board
should be informed of why we do the Surcharge and what it's paying. He explained that
it's picking up the majority of the ALP's and COP's Principal and Interest payments and
since we raised the fee it will bring us in some extra money to cover that. Jerry mentioned
the Annual Pass report. The Annual Pass Revenues including the Surcharge Fees show
that golfers paid $138,640 for 2005. Our total Revenues was $2,407,000 so the Annual
Pass Revenues is just a small portion of the entire amount. Jerry said that the average per
round payment was $10.56 and that is up from $10.30 from the prior year. The average
Annual Pass player played 49.17 rounds. Grant asked what is considered a round and
Jerry said it's when someone tees off. That number is up from 47.7 the prior year, or
about 1 1/2 more rounds per player. Jerry mentioned that on the monthly report it does
break the rounds up by 9-hole and 18-hole rounds. Jerry discussed the December Golf
Report and stated that it shows the final numbers for 2005 and we ended up with a little
over 123,000 total rounds and that number was up from 118,000 from the prior year.
Jerry said that staff took a look back at play days and we lost some significant weekend
play in April and May to weather. The good news is that we did well in November and
late December to make up for some of that loss. Jerry pointed out that City Park Nine was
just behind what it had done the year before, but we expect that to go up with the change
in fees, Collindale was virtually the same as the prior year, and SouthRidge is back up.
SouthRidge had close to 48,000 rounds and is showing good recovery and if we had more
tournaments there in 2005 we would have gotten close to 50,000. He reminded the Board
that we have talked previously about the loss of tournaments that we've had. Jerry
explained that in 2000 we had over 100 tournaments at SouthRidge and last year we had
about 60. We sold 267 passes and probably with our Annual Pass change we'll sell more.
Golf Cart revenue increased in 2005.
Jerry gave the Board an updated report of the Expenditures for all of the courses. Jerry
stated that we ended up saving $13,430 at Collindale, $19,192 City Park Nine, and
$18,829 at SouthRidge and $9,357 in Administration. One of the reasons we were able to
save was because of employees not receiving raises. Jerry discussed the memo that shows
the equipment that we're planning on purchasing through 2006-2010 along with the
unfunded items for those years. Jerry said that one of the biggest items is the irrigation
pump station upgrades at SouthRidge and we're hoping to replace it by 2008. Grant
asked about the additional netting at City Park Nine? Jerry stated that it's shown on the
memo in case we have to put some up like we did at Collindale. Jerry reminded the Board
that we recently put up netting behind the number 5 green at City Park Nine. He said that
he just didn't want to leave it out in case we needed it. Jerry mentioned that the original
bridges on 6 and 13 at Collindale need to be replaced and that is a high priority because
they are starting to deteriorate. Jerry stated that he was pleased overall with the way the
year came out and he feels that the maintenance staff did a great job saving money and
hopefully this year they will be able to buy some of the items they need.
Golf Board Minutes
January 19, 2005
Page 4
Board Members and Staff Comments/Reports
Dan Preble asked about the dryness of the courses? Jerry said that we are
watering. Shane Houska asked if it was just greens and tee boxes that were being
watered? Jerry said that primarily we're watering greens and tees, but we are also
watering trees. Jim Higgins said the turf at City Park Nine is holding up pretty
well. Shane asked about the cart use and Jim said that they are showing some cart
traffic on the turf. Jerry said that we are going to start enforcing a 90 degree rule
at Collindale and Randy Bonneville at SouthRidge is going to extend the lines and
keep the carts in a certain area. Jerry said that if these dry conditions continue
then we may have to take carts off of the courses, with the exception of medical
needs.
Larry Buckendorf asked if there were any responses to the article that Sean Duff
from the Coloradoan wrote? Jerry said that he hasn't had any comments, however
David McCleave at City Park Nine has. David said he wasn't sure if it was
because of the article, but people have made some positive comments about the
change that was made. Larry said that he feels it was a good choice. Jerry said that
he was very pleased with what the Board recommended.
Jay Kammerzell asked if we were able to put together a brochure for the Golf
Expo? Jerry stated that the individual that was going to put it together for us is no
longer with the City. Jerry said that Collindale Golf Professional Jim Greer is still
going and that he is planning on promoting the City of Fort Collins Golf Courses.
Collindale Assistant Golf Professional Pat Finnegan mentioned that they have
coupons for the Golf Expo? Jay said that he would talk with some marketing folks
at CSU to see if there are some students that would like to help us put one
together for us as a project. Jerry spoke to Jim Clark with the Convention and
Visitor Bureau and he liked the idea of having a brochure available.
• Jerry mentioned to the Board that we would likely not meet in February.
Adjournment:
On a motion by Shane Houska, seconded by Jay Kammerzell, the Board unanimously
voted (6:0) to adjourn at 8:00 p.m.
Meeting Attendance
Board Members
Larry Buckendorf
Shane Houska
Jay Kammerzell
Dan Preble
Grant Sherwood
David Thilmany
espectfully submitted,
Dawn Worth
Administrative Aide
Staff
Jerry P. Brown
Dawn Worth
Jim Higgins
David McCleave
Guests
Pat Finnegan
Ralph Miller
John Schuh