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Council directs staff to pursue full‑service clubhouse option as temporary city operation while seeking operator
Summary
After discussion of three temporary operating models for the new clubhouse, council members generally favored Option 3 (full bar and kitchen). Staff will research and develop Option 3 details, continue seeking an external operator and return to council with a formal recommendation.
City staff presented three short‑term options to operate the newly renovated clubhouse after a proposed private tenant declined to proceed. The City Administrator and staff said the departing tenant — known as “the Ultimate” in materials — withdrew because the operator could not scale to run a second site.
Staff outlined three options: operate only the pro shop and beverage cart (Option 1), run the bar with limited kitchen service (Option 2), or run a full bar and simple kitchen menu (burgers, sandwiches, salads, fry items) with staffing for cooks and bartenders (Option 3). Staff noted Option 1 had the lowest staffing risk and was the only scenario that appeared immediately profitable in preliminary projections, while staff estimated Option 2 could lose about $56,000 and Option 3 about $105,000 using limited data from prior months.
Council debate focused on community expectations, long‑term reputation and marketing. Council members who supported Option 3 said a full menu and bar would attract non‑golf customers, help market the facility as a riverside destination and preserve the city’s investment in the event space and kitchen. Opponents emphasized budget constraints, audit recommendations to “dig out of the hole,” and the need for tight financial oversight if the city operates the service.
City staff said they would prioritize marketing, pursue candidates for a manager or operator and run additional financial modeling. The City Administrator said staff would continue searching for an operator while preparing details for Option 3 and bring a formal recommendation to council for a future vote: “So with that, in respect for time, it seems that council would like us to move forward and continue researching option 3...Staff will move forward in beginning the process of option 3. We will bring it to council likely for a vote.”
No final policy vote took place at the work session. Council signaled support for researching and preparing to operate a full bar and kitchen temporarily, asked staff to monitor finances closely, and requested the city continue seeking an outside operator and present a formal proposal for council approval.
