Council General Government Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The General Government Committee met on November 15, 2011, at 10:00 a.m., with Ed Lane presiding. The committee addressed four agenda items during the session, hearing 12 public comments and taking 1 motion to a vote. Two items—the Parks Acquisition Fund and Items in Committee—were deferred for future consideration, while two informational presentations on the Golf Management Plan and Aquatics Management Plan were received by the committee.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on November 15, 2011:

• Ed Lane
• Jay McChord
• Linda Gorton
• Steve Kay
• Chris Ford
• Tom Blues
• Julian Beard
• K. C. Crosbie
• George Myers
• Doug Martin
• Jerry Hancock
• Lee Meyer
• Jill Bertelson
• Todd Johnson
• Brian Rogers
• Richard Maloney
• Mike

No absences or late arrivals were recorded.

Votes and Decisions

Motion to Adopt Closure Plan for Kearney Hills Golf Course

A motion was made by Doug Martin and seconded by George Myers to adopt a closure plan for Kearney Hills golf course at the end of calendar year 2011. 1:56:45

The motion was decided by voice vote and was tabled.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting included two significant financial actions related to aquatic facilities:

Pool Demolition and Abatement The body approved a purchase of $40,000 for demolition and abatement of Constitution and Berry Hill pools.

Aquatic Center Capital Improvements An appropriation of $1.33 million was approved for capital improvements to aquatic centers. These improvements include splash pads, climbing walls, shade structures, and concession upgrades.

Public Comment

Parks Acquisition Fund

Todd Johnson expressed concern that the Parks Acquisition Fund was established exclusively for parkland acquisition and should not be diverted to capital improvements on existing parks, citing a 1995 resolution clarifying its purpose. 14:55

Council Member Stennett questioned the continued collection of fees into the fund, arguing that the city already has sufficient parkland and that funds should instead support capital improvements on existing parks. 16:00

Council Member Blues agreed with Stennett that acquiring more land is premature without first improving existing parks and suggested combining the fund with other revenue sources for better use. 18:09

Vice Mayor Gordon advocated for a bifurcated approach: maintaining the fund for future land acquisition while addressing current capital needs through other means. 19:56

Council Member McCord challenged the Home Builders Association to support broader community funding for parks, noting that the fund was used to balance the budget and that parks are underfunded. 22:44

Council Member Kay suggested that the fund should be used to develop existing parkland rather than acquiring new land, especially since many current parks remain underutilized. 24:59

Aquatics Management Plan

Council Member Myers supported closing Constitution and Berry Hill pools and using the savings to reinvest in those parks for alternative uses like skate parks or ball fields. 52:21

Council Member McCord emphasized the need for modern marketing and policy change to make pools and golf self-sustaining, citing demographic shifts and outdated policies. 1:06:35

Council Member Beard asked whether the number of citizens using pools could be measured, noting that current data only tracks attendance, not individual usage. 1:18:49

Council Member Kay requested that seasonal maintenance and coordinator salaries be included in the cost analysis to better understand total operating expenses. 1:22:15

Golf Management Plan

Council Member Myers asked the Parks Board to survey lap swimmers and consider the potential for a dedicated lap pool at Berry Hill before closing it. 1:23:18

Council Member Beard questioned the validity of the financial data, noting that some costs are not accurately allocated to individual courses in PeopleSoft. 1:58:24

Contested Items

The November 15, 2011 meeting included three significant areas of disagreement among council members.

Parks Acquisition Fund Use

Council members were divided on whether to amend the Parks Acquisition Fund's restrictions to allow capital improvements on existing parks. Some members argued for reinvestment in current infrastructure, while others insisted on preserving the fund's original purpose. The vote was split, reflecting fundamental disagreement about how the fund should be deployed.

Aquatics Pool Closures

A heated discussion erupted over the proposed closure of Constitution and Berry Hill pools. Council members debated the community impact of closing these facilities, explored potential alternative uses for the properties, and questioned the fairness of using savings from closures to fund improvements at other parks. The intensity of this discussion reflected deep concerns about how the closures would affect residents and the broader parks system.

Golf Course Management

Council members disagreed on whether to close Kearney Hills golf course. Those advocating for immediate closure pointed to significant financial losses as justification. Others argued for continued operation and requested additional time for further study before making a final decision. This split vote indicated unresolved questions about the course's financial viability and future prospects.

Parks Acquisition Fund

Jerry Hancock presented on the Parks Acquisition Fund, which currently holds $1.44 million. The fund was established in 1983 to support parkland acquisition efforts 7:10.

The discussion centered on whether to amend ordinances to allow the fund to be used for capital improvements on existing parks, rather than exclusively for acquiring new parkland. Council members debated the merits and implications of this potential change.

Key Positions:

Todd Johnson, representing the Home Builders Association, opposed any amendment to the fund's original purpose, arguing that the ordinance should remain focused on parkland acquisition as originally intended.

Council members expressed differing views on the fund's future direction. Some argued that the city has acquired sufficient parkland and suggested that collected fees should be redirected toward maintenance and improvements of existing parks rather than continued acquisition. Others raised questions about whether the city should continue collecting fees for the fund given current parkland holdings.

Speakers:

The discussion involved Council Members Stennett, Blues, McCord, and Kay, as well as Vice Mayor Gordon, in addition to the presentations from Hancock and Johnson.

Outcome:

The matter was deferred, with no immediate decision made regarding potential ordinance amendments or changes to the fund's use and collection policies.

Golf Management Plan

1:27:03

Lee Meyer presented the Parks Advisory Board's recommendations for golf management to address operational and financial challenges. The presentation focused on three primary strategies: adjusting fees to improve revenue, reducing operational costs, and exploring long-term repurposing options for golf courses.

Key Recommendations

The Parks Advisory Board emphasized golf's role as a public service while advocating for pricing flexibility to remain competitive in the market. The board recommended fee adjustments as a mechanism to improve financial performance without compromising public access to the facilities.

Concerns Raised

Participants, including Jerry Hancock and Mike, raised concerns about the financial losses currently experienced by the golf operations. The discussion highlighted the need for policy changes to allow greater operational freedom in managing the courses. The board stressed that without adjustments to current practices and fee structures, the financial sustainability of the golf program would remain at risk.

Outcome

This agenda item was presented for informational purposes. The presentation provided the Parks Advisory Board's analysis and recommendations regarding golf management strategies, including revenue enhancement through fee adjustments, cost reduction measures, and consideration of alternative long-term uses for the courses. The discussion underscored the tension between maintaining golf as an accessible public service and achieving financial viability through operational and pricing adjustments.

Aquatics Management Plan

Jill Bertelson presented the Parks Advisory Board's aquatics management plan during this agenda item 28:51. The presentation focused on recommendations for restructuring the city's pool operations to improve efficiency and service quality.

Key Recommendation

The plan recommended closing Constitution and Berry Hill pools, citing low attendance and high operating costs as the primary reasons for these closures.

Proposed Reinvestment Strategy

Rather than simply eliminating services, the plan proposed reinvesting the savings from closing the two underperforming pools into the remaining four aquatic centers. The proposed improvements included adding splash pads, climbing walls, and shade structures to enhance the facilities and user experience.

Public Feedback

Public input on the proposal was positive, with attendees showing strong support for closing the underperforming pools and redirecting those funds toward improvements at the remaining facilities.

Key Speakers

In addition to Jill Bertelson's presentation, Jerry Hancock and Brian Rogers participated in the discussion.

Outcome

This agenda item was presented as informational, providing the board and public with details about the aquatics management plan and community response to the proposed changes.

Items in Committee

57:21

The committee discussed the need for policy changes to modernize marketing, improve data tracking, and allow greater operational flexibility for parks and golf operations.

Key Participants

Vice Mayor Gordon, Council Member McCord, Council Member Myers, and Richard Maloney participated in this discussion.

Main Points

Council members emphasized the importance of using modern technology for outreach and called for a review of outdated policies that hinder innovation and revenue generation. The discussion centered on updating existing policies to better align with contemporary marketing practices and operational needs.

Outcome

This item was deferred.