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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGolf Board - Minutes - 09/13/1995CITY OF FORT COLLINS CULTURAL, LIBRARY, AND RECREATIONAL SERVICES GOLF BOARD CITY COUNCIL LIAISON TO THE BOARD: Councilman Bob McCloskey, Jr. STAFF SUPPORT TO THE BOARD: Jerry P. Brown, Manager of Golf and Alyce Nierman, Golf Division Administrative Aide I. MINUTES: Special Meeting of September 13, 1995 The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Chairperson Henry Fry. AGENDA REVIEW: There were no changes to the agenda as printed. ITEMS OF NOTE: Tom White, Mindy Markley, and David Shands had called to report they would be out-of-town and unable to attend tonight's Board meeting. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION: There was no citizen participation. BOARD VOTE ON FINAL RECOMMENDED 1996 GOLF FEES AND CHARGES In beginning the discussion tonight, Jerry will be referring to a couple of documents; 1) memos of 8/24/95 and 9/7/95 that were sent to the Golf Board, 2) the recently recommended 1996 fees and charges, and 3) Mr. Scharf's report. At the last meeting the Board expressed their preference to Option 1 submitted by Louis Scharf. Options A, B, and C submitted by Jerry were from the direction received from the Golf Board in July. After all of the discussion, a motion was made to accept Scharf Option 1. Next it was moved to accept the Brown Option C proposal. After the meeting there were questions on whether that was how the Board really wanted to proceed, as a side -by -side comparison of those two options showed they did not fit well together. Also, after the last meeting several seniors were disgruntled by the recommended fee proposal. The numbers were recomputed for Option C, and new numbers were submitted to the Board for their review on the memo sent on September 7. Essentially this recomputation is "half -way" between where we are now and Mr. Scharf's proposal. Jerry and Henry Fry went to work and tried to come up with a new plan, which is the plan being presented for discussion tonight. Jerry requested this Special Board Meeting to clarify what occurred at the August 30 meeting where the Board approved Scharf Option 1 and Brown Option C. If the Board would like to retain Option C, Jerry would like to see some modifications, however, he would like the Board to discuss and vote on a revised Brown Option A. Armon Johannsen has spoken with many golfers on the 1996 fees recommended by the Golf Board at their August 30 meeting. Further, Golf Board Special Meeting September 13, 1995 Page 2 since he made the original motion at that meeting, he moved that the Golf Board should open for reconsideration their decision on Brown's Option C. Mike Sanders who also voted on the affirmative seconded the motion. As a clarification it was stated this would only be to reconsider the Board vote on Option C. The motion was approved by a unanimous vote (6:0). Armon Johannsen then moved to adopt Option A as provided in Jerry Brown's full package; which also included Option 1 from Louis Scharf. The motion was seconded by W Hjelle. Frank Blanco asked about elimination of the discount to seniors, and what happened to the $45,000 given to the Golf Fund by City Council to offset the various discounts given? Tom DeGrand asked if the same amount would be transferred in 1996, and also asked for clarification if it is designated for a particular group? Jerry responded that the Golf Fund will be receiving this same amount, but it is listed in the Council budget packet as Community Value of Golf for Capital outlay. Frank asked if the discount for junior golf is considered a subsidy? Jerry stated that this probably would be considered a subsidy, however, City Council and the Golf Board have many times expressed concern and support for alternative youth activities in Fort Collins. Frank then asked if half of the discount given to juniors could be given to the senior golfer? He further noted that, as a category, seniors no longer exist. Jerry reminded Board members that at the June Golf Board meeting former mayor Kelly Ohlson was present and had expressed his feelings that there should be no senior discounts. Jerry spoke with him recently and his feelings were reiterated, including a comment that if discounts are given, they should be given to those with financial need, not by a status, such as being a certain age. Once a person passes being a junior golfer, they become "just a golfer", and if financial assistance is needed it can be requested. All a person has to do is tell Jerry they have a hardship and he takes them at their word. In addition he has authority to offer up to a 50% discount on their fees. Each case is addressed on a one- to-one basis. Mike Sanders commented that seniors told us many times that they don't play on the weekends. The Golf Board has addressed their concerns by eliminating the higher cost prime time hours Monday through Thursday, which in turn has increased the number of hours during the week for preferred senior play. Citizen Dick Ward had added some figures to the different plans and found they come out very close. It is still not certain that one plan will bring in more money than the other plans considered. Some people are a little offended that the City is offering Golf Board Special Meeting September 13, 1995 Page 3 subsidies to junior groups. Subsidy is not a word preferred by most people; however, that is the phraseology used. Armon added that terms used are being changed and he believes a better way of looking at this is to consider it quantity discounts. Citizen Louis Scharf stated that there is no doubt that the combined plan Jerry Brown is proposing is the best plan being presented. He further expressed his thanks to Jerry for this input and his continued work to come to a workable solution. DJ asked Jerry to share the comments from the absent Board members. Mindy Markley and Tom White had stated to Jerry their support of the plan being presented tonight. Henry had spoken to David Shands and he said the Board should do what needs to be done. The question was called for and on a unanimous vote of the Board the motion to recommend the revised plan was approved (6:0). OTHER BUSINESS -- The Golf Fund revenue shortfall was brought up. Jerry reported that 1995 will fall somewhere near $150,000 short of the projected revenue. Tonight's decisions may attract some folks back to annual pass purchases next year. However, in discussing the current Golf Fund situation with Deputy City Manager Diane Jones the opportunity exists that the City may split this loss with us by using the existing 1995 reserves. She is willing to champion a proposal in this regard to Council. This proposal would be on a one-time basis. Jerry is requesting that the Golf Board go on record in support of this plan. It was moved by Armon Johannsen and seconded by Tom DeGrand that because of the unusual weather circumstances this year that the Golf Board go on record of being in support of this proposal and recommend that the City Manager proceed with presenting this request to City Council for consideration. The motion was approved unanimously. (6:0) -- Henry thanked everybody for tonight's discussion and decision. After the last Board meeting he was not happy with the division of the Board on the fees issue. He added that it is great working with a group of people where a person can pound their fist on the table at one meeting and come to agreement at the next meeting. -- The recent Rocky Mountain Collegiate Invitational Men's Golf Tournament held at Collindale was very successful. SouthRidge will be hosting the same type of tournament for the women collegiate golfers later in October. These tournaments are at no charge to team participants. Mike Sanders complimented the staff and relayed comments he received from players that the course was in great shape. He added that as the University Golf Board Special Meeting September 13, 1995 Page 4 gets better, our community gets better respect. -- Frank Blanco asked if there were plans for improvements being made to the driving range at City Park Nine? Jerry stated that those improvements are done by staff, and in 1996 we will be installing netting along the 4th and 8th fairways to keep some balls in and golfers out of the driving range. on a motion from DJ Hjelle and a second by Mike Sanders the Golf Board meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Alyce Nierman, Administrative Aide I Golf Division Meeting Attendance BOARD MEMBERS STAFF GUESTS Henry Fry Frank Blanco Tom DeGrand DJ Hjelle Armon Johannsen Mike Sanders Jerry P Brown Louis Scharf Joe Nance Dick Ward Alyce Nierman Sean Duff