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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGolf Board - Minutes - 03/20/2002City of Fort Collins Cultural, Library, and Recreational Services Golf Board Minutes: Regular Meeting of March 20, 2002 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: Chairperson Mike Sanders called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Agenda Review: No changes to the printed agenda. Items of Note: • Board Member Larry Buckendorf called to say he would not be able to attend tonight's meeting. • New Board Members Lauren DeRosa and Grant Sherwood were introduced. Approval of Minutes: On a motion by Claire Nelms, seconded by Bill Rutledge, the Board voted unanimously (8-0) to approve the minutes of the February 22, 2002 Regular Meeting. Citizen Participation: No citizen participation. Update on Capital Projects Collindale Clubhouse: Jerry said that we received seven bids on the project and we accepted the low bid from Drahota Construction for $1,994,000, which is approximately $156,000 under the estimated cost of the project. The City is borrowing money for this project at a rate of 4.7 percent. We are in the process of trying to proceed to the construction phase. All steps are moving along. Staff moved the small patio deck next to the cart building, and a doublewide trailer has been moved to the site to serve as a pro shop and restrooms. The timeline to start construction is mid -April. We should move into the trailer in early April, and we will then have an asbestos contractor remove the asbestos in the old clubhouse. Once that is completed the old building will be torn down. Construction on the new clubhouse should be completed by the first week in December. Jerry explained that the original trailer we were going to use was from City Park Golf Course in Denver that they used during the construction of their new clubhouse project. However, there was a broken 36-inch water line on the golf course that flooded their new clubhouse basement two days prior to their grand opening. Therefore, their construction will be extended 90 days and we have to use another trailer. Golf Board Minutes March 20, 2002 Page 2 Collindale Golf Professional Jim Greer said it might be difficult to see #1 and #10 from the temporary pro shop and if so we will have a starter on #1 and #10. Collindale Concessionaire Kevin Wilcox will operate his business out of the house on the property. Kevin said it is primarily for the sale of liquor. We will not have customer food service at the house, but will have mobile carts on the course. Jim added that it is possible that a local contractor will donate his time and materials to put a cover on the patio. City Park Nine Netting: Jerry explained that we will spend $108,000 to complete the netting project at the City Park Nine driving range, hopefully by mid -May. SouthRidge Patio Deck: We are building a new patio deck and trash area improvements at a cost of $60,000. Jerry said that we are going to have an expanded patio deck and we have already torn down the old deck. SouthRidge Superintendent Randy Bonneville designed the new deck. It will be expanded 24 feet each way and will be 2,500 square feet. We will add some umbrella tables. We are going to use material that has virtually no maintenance. For security lighting we are going to install a large parking lot type light that will also keep the bugs away from the deck. The project should be completed by mid April. Improvement of the trash area will also be constructed with this project. SouthRidge Cart Storage: We will be able to store at least 60 carts in the new building. Aller-Lingle Architect designed a 40 x 80 building that will blend with the current design of the clubhouse. It will be wood with brick accents. The total cost of the project is $225,000 and is expected to be completed by September. SouthRidge Parking Lot: We will also resurface the parking lot with patch and fill and overlay, probably this fall, at a cost of approximately $35,000. Bill Rutledge explained to the new Board members that these projects are the result of the Surcharge and that revenue source became a tool when requesting that the City borrow money that will be paid back with the continued Surcharge Fees. Potential New Public Golf Course in Fort Collins by 2005 Jerry referred to an article he sent to the Board. He said developer Byron Collins announced that he is looking at building a public course in Timnath. Mike Sanders said that there is the possibility of another developer building a golf course near the Windsor Exit off of I-25 that will be surrounded by high -end housing. Mike also talked about the potential of a course west of Overland Trail on CSU land. Grant Sherwood asked if the Golf Fund has funding to purchase land for potential golf courses, as the School District does for potential new schools? Jerry said we don't. Mike said that we need 150 to 170 acres of contiguous land to build a golf course and basically there isn't that much land available in one area that the City could afford to purchase. The City though would be supportive of another privately owned public use golf course. Golf Board Minutes March 20, 2002 Page 3 Councilman Bill Bertschy said that he agrees with what Jerry is saying. The level of golf interest on the City Council is relatively low. He said it would be great to partner with a private source, but the City itself would not probably be able to fully acquire and construct a fourth public golf course in Fort Collins. Mike also said that Link-N-Greens could possibly sell to an interested developer for non -golf purposes. The Board will continue to discuss this topic in the future. Canada Geese Jerry said that the issue of Canada Geese has again come to the forefront in the past few months. Jerry explained that Bill Rutledge has written a letter regarding his continued concerns about issues related to Canada Geese. Many folks have said that Canada Geese droppings are a health hazard, but Jerry said that until the Larimer County Health Department tells us it is a health issue, we can't legally take any action. However, the Federal Government has been inundated with complaints about Canada Geese around the country. There have been safety issues at airports. Their recommendation is a reduction of 55 percent of residential Canada Geese in this flyway. It has become very difficult at our golf courses to manage the geese. The City's ordinance states that Fort Collins is a wild bird sanctuary. We are allowed to harass the geese but not harm them. Dogs appear to be the best deterrent of the geese. At Fort Collins Country Club, they have been very successful with their dog chasing geese. We are in the process of trying to get permission to have a dog off leash at Collindale. Dave Johnson said that at a former club he worked at, they purchased two dogs for chasing geese. He said they paid $3,000 for the dogs, but they became more of a course mascot than a deterrent for the geese. Jerry said we are looking at leasing a dog. Dave said leasing is a great way to start the program. Jerry said that the Federal Government is asking for comments. Bill said that he will attend the meeting they are holding in Denver. He encourages all areas of concern. The Federal folks told him the City could get a permit to spray their eggs. He brought this to the attention of the Mayor and received no response. He doesn't understand how the City Council can turn their heads on this. He said the City employees who are working on the golf courses and the parks are being exposed. He said the City is ignoring a real problem. Bill gave a history starting in 1916 of when the treaty was written between Canada and United States. He said it is a matter of ecology, and we need to get a better handle on it. City Council has the authority to do something about this. We need to ask for a permit from the Federal Government and they will issue this permit. Manuel Jimenez asked if the City employees are aware of their health risks? Bill said yes they do know, but there isn't anything they can do about it as it is their job to maintain the golf courses and the parks. We also have a public nuisance problem and the problem is growing every year. Lauren DeRosa asked that if the City did ask for the permit, and the areas around Fort Collins don't do the same, will the geese from other areas still fly in this area? Bill said they are homebound animals and if we start the reduction they will stop nesting on the courses and revert to nesting in the agricultural areas. Golf Board Minutes March 20, 2002 Page 4 Bill Bertschy said that the Council does receive comments from citizens about the geese population. He agreed that Larimer County does not believe it is a health issue. We have many citizens who are concerned about area growth, as well as those who believe that the geese population has moved closer to residential areas as a result of the growth. There are two sides to the issue. Bill Bertschy said he would be happy to present this Board's concerns to City Council. He said the City is not ignoring this. It is a problem. It creates issues on our municipal lands. Dave said that the birds have contaminated Sheldon Lake in City Park among others. Bill referred to the Smoking Ordinance in public places in Fort Collins. Fort Collins was one of the leaders in the nation in prohibiting smoking in public places, and we could be a leader in the reduction of geese in our community. On a motion by Bill Rutledge, seconded by Manuel Jimenez, the Board asked Bill Rutledge to put together a report and recommendations for the Board at next month's meeting to hopefully present to Council regarding the problem of Canada Geese, which the Board unanimously (8-0) passed. Dave said we need to mention that we will not kill existing birds but prevent future growth in our area. Election of Golf Board Officers for 2002/2003 The Board Bylaws states that the election of officers will be held in March. Mike Sanders said that he would like to step down and thanked the Board for allowing him to serve as Chairperson for the past two and a half years. Jerry thanked Mike for his outstanding leadership as the Board Chairperson. Bill Rutledge said that Mike's involvement in the Banking industry has been a tremendous asset. The election of Golf Board officers for 2002/2003 was then held, as follows: Chairperson: Dave Johnson nominated Bill Rutledge, seconded by Claire Nelms. The Board voted unanimously (8-0) to elect Bill Rutledge as Chairperson. Mike passed the gavel to Bill. Vice Chairperson: Mike Sanders nominated Dave Johnson, seconded by Frank Blanco. The Board voted unanimously (8-0) to elect Dave Johnson as Vice Chairperson. Board Secretary: Mike Sanders nominated Claire Nelms, seconded by Manuel Jimenez. The Board voted unanimously (8-0) to elect Claire Nelms as Board Secretary, Board Members and Staff Comments: Jerry explained to the new Board Members that he provides in the Board packets a monthly status report on revenues, copies of letters received from citizens, and other information. If you have any questions or comments, please call Jerry. rMO Golf Board Minutes March 20, 2002 Page 5 Adjournment: On a motion by Lauren DeRosa, seconded by Grant Sherwood, the Board adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Meeting Attendance Board Members Frank Blanco Lauren DeRosa Manuel Jimenez Dave Johnson Claire Nelms Bill Rutledge Mike Sanders Grant Sherwood specctf�ully_submitted, ckie Rael Executive Administrative Assistant Staff Randy Bonneville Jerry P. Brown Patty Carroll Jim Greer Rob Dahl Jackie Rael Dale Smigelsky Kevin Wilcox Guest Councilman Bill Bertschy Pat Finnegan Henry Fry John Schuh