Special General Government Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The General Government Committee met on December 1, 2011, at 3:00 p.m., with Ed Lane presiding. The committee addressed three agenda items during the session, hearing eight public comments and taking two votes.

The meeting included discussion of two management plans. The Golf Management Plan was presented as a continuation of previous discussion and resulted in an informational outcome. The Aquatics Management Plan, also a continuation of prior deliberation, was deferred to a future meeting. The committee also reviewed items currently in committee. Overall, the meeting focused on ongoing policy discussions related to management planning, with one item advanced to a deferred status for further consideration.

Attendance

Present: Ed Lane, Jay McChord, Linda Gorton, Steve Kay, Chris Ford, Tom Blues, Julian Beard, George Myers, and Doug Martin.

Absent: K.C. Crosbie

Late: Doug Martin

Votes and Decisions

Motion on Social Media Marketing and Pricing Flexibility

A motion was made by Linda Gorton and seconded by Jay McChord to direct the CAO and administration to meet with golf and parks to develop policies enabling real-time marketing flexibility via social media and pricing adjustments. The motion passed by voice vote 1:04:42.

Motion on Golf Course Operational Plans

A motion was made by George Myers and seconded by Steve Kay to request that golf course professionals be given the opportunity to develop individual operational plans for their courses. The motion passed by voice vote 1:31:08. Tom Blues voted against this motion.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed two significant financial matters related to golf operations:

Utility Overcharges Amendment

An amendment was approved to address utility overcharges at Lakeside Golf Course totaling $140,000. The overcharges were related to sewer user fees that had been incorrectly applied to irrigation water.

Annual Golf Operations Loss

An appropriation of $1,200,000 was made to cover the annual loss in golf operations.

Public Comment

Eight speakers addressed the council regarding the city's golf operations and financial challenges.

Business and Financial Approaches

Roz Tender 1:06:21 advocated for a business-focused strategy to address golf financial challenges. She called for setting clear financial goals, allowing course management to develop marketing plans and set prices, and establishing a volunteer panel of business professionals to help build a sustainable business plan for city golf.

Kevin Mims 1:20:19 expressed concern that course professionals lack visibility into budgets and utility costs despite being trained to manage operations. He called for empowering them with greater authority and access to financial information.

Bruce Thomas 1:17:42 shared personal experience of switching to private courses due to high city fees. He urged the city to create affordable annual membership plans to regain lost golfers and increase volume.

Public Access and Community Impact

Herb McDowell 1:11:46 stressed that public golf provides essential access for people who cannot afford private courses, particularly for youth and seniors. He warned that rising fees would limit participation and undermine the city's commitment to equitable recreation.

George Ginter 1:14:58 highlighted the economic benefits of hosting out-of-town golf tournaments, including hotel stays and local spending. He noted that public golf helps students earn college scholarships through athletic opportunities.

Stakeholder Engagement and Support

Sonia Krag 1:23:08 praised the constructive dialogue and called for a follow-up meeting to bring stakeholders together to understand each other's perspectives and co-create a sustainable solution.

Susan Lamb 1:25:25 expressed gratitude for the work of Mike Fields and Jerry Hancock and urged the council to preserve public golf courses for city residents and employees.

Lynn McCoy Simandel 1:26:49 spoke on behalf of the 5 o'clock ladies league, urging the council to do everything possible to protect and preserve the city's golf courses.

Contested Items

Policy Restrictions on Social Media and Marketing

Council members engaged in a heated discussion regarding the current policy that restricts Parks and Recreation from using social media and email marketing. Members characterized the existing policy as outdated and counterproductive. The Vice Mayor moved to direct the CAO to develop new policies that would enable real-time engagement with the public. This motion passed unanimously.

Delegation of Operational Authority to Course Professionals

A motion to empower golf course professionals to develop individual operational plans resulted in a split vote. Council members Myers and Kay supported the motion, while Blues opposed it. Blues called for additional time to consider the implications of delegating this operational authority before proceeding with the vote.

Golf Management Plan – Continuation of Discussion

1:00

Mike Fields, Director of Golf, presented a comprehensive plan to improve golf operations through strategic reforms in pricing, marketing, and administration. The presentation addressed significant operational challenges, including a $1.2 million annual loss and substantial fixed costs that constrain the golf program's financial viability.

Key Proposals

Fields outlined several initiatives designed to enhance operational flexibility and revenue generation:

• Implementation of pricing flexibility to allow real-time rate adjustments in response to market conditions and demand
• Marketing innovations to expand customer reach and engagement
• Administrative reforms to streamline operations and reduce inefficiencies

Policy Changes Requested

A central focus of the presentation was the need for policy modifications to enable:

• Real-time rate adjustments for golf services
• Social media engagement as a marketing tool to promote the golf program

Public Input

Jerry Hancock and other members of the public provided comments emphasizing several priorities:

• The importance of maintaining public access to golf facilities
• The economic impact of the golf program on the broader community
• The value of empowering course professionals to make operational decisions

Outcome

The agenda item was presented as informational, with no formal action taken during this continuation of the discussion. The presentation provided stakeholders with detailed information about the financial challenges facing golf operations and the proposed solutions to address them, while public comments reflected community priorities regarding accessibility, economic considerations, and professional management authority.

Aquatics Management Plan – Continuation of Discussion

The committee continued its discussion of the Aquatics Master Plan, which proposes closing Berry Hill and Constitution pools and converting them into alternative recreational facilities. 0:00

Key Speakers and Participants

The discussion involved Jill Bertelson, Linda Gorton, Steve Kay, and Jay McChord.

Main Points of Discussion

The committee examined concerns related to the proposed pool closures, with particular focus on:

• Underutilization of existing facilities
• Marketing effectiveness and strategies
• The need for comprehensive financial modeling to evaluate the plan's viability

Concerns Raised

Committee members emphasized the importance of developing financial projections before proceeding with the recommendations. The discussion highlighted questions about whether current marketing efforts adequately promote the existing pools and whether underutilization reflects actual demand or insufficient outreach.

Outcome

The committee deferred final action on the Aquatics Master Plan. The group agreed to:

• Conduct further review of the plan
• Develop a financial model with a focus on the top four high-traffic pools

This approach allows the committee to gather additional data and analysis before making decisions regarding pool closures and repurposing.

Items in Committee

Chair Ed Lane reviewed pending items currently under committee consideration. 0:00

Upcoming Meetings and Discussions

Chair Lane confirmed that a special meeting scheduled for December 11, 2011, would continue discussions on two major planning initiatives:

• Aquatic Management Plan
• Golf Management Plan

The Parks Master Plan was expected to be included on the January 2012 agenda for further consideration.

Outcome

No formal action was taken on these items during this portion of the meeting. The discussion was informational in nature, serving to update the committee on the status of pending matters and the timeline for their future consideration.