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Council hears golf‑fund budget update and NRH20 kiddie‑area design expansion; city eyes reserve contribution
Summary
Kemper management reported steady rounds and course improvements; staff proposed FY26 golf budget that budgets to maximum playable days, increases revenue targets and plans a $148,000 contribution to reserves. Separately, the city approved a contract amendment to advance detailed design for NRH20’s kiddie-area renovation.
City golf management and staff briefed the City Council Tuesday on current operations, ongoing course improvements and the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 golf fund budget, and the council approved expanded consultant services for a major kiddie‑area redesign at the NRH20 aquatic center.
Aaron Gunther (general manager) and Steven Fox (superintendent) of Kemper (the course manager) reported higher tournament rounds (up 30%) and improvements in course maintenance practices. Staff said a two‑year fairway improvement plan is yielding measurable benefits after soil testing, sand and soil amendments, and that a recent equipment and turf approach project completed in the weeks before the meeting has drawn positive user feedback.
City staff recommended a FY26 golf budget that assumes maximum playable days, higher average revenue per round and increased tournament activity. The revenue projection increases to $3.8 million (from roughly $3.5 million) driven by higher green‑fee, cart, and food & beverage revenue; staff recommended a planned contribution to golf reserves of $148,000 for the first time in several years. The proposed budget also shows modest payroll and operating increases tied to maintenance and food & beverage cost of goods.
Chase (Budget) explained the budget development timeline and said compensation adjustments and other changes could still affect numbers before the proposed FY26 budget presentation in late July. Council questions focused on percentage increases per round, pro‑shop inventory recovery and how frequently construction and soil work occur; staff provided details and said the management contract with Kemper runs through 2027.
Separately the council approved a contract amendment to expand design and construction‑phase services with Kimley‑Horn for NRH20’s kiddie‑area project. The amendment increases the professional services contract to $415,000 to cover construction documents, bidding and construction administration for a two‑phase replacement and modernization of the children’s pool, lap pool and nearby splash features. Staff described phase‑one as a “young family” zone and phase‑two as a youth adventure zone; the project will remain subject to future construction‑phase funding decisions.
Ending: Council approved the Kimley‑Horn amendment and signalled support for the golf fund direction; staff will return with final FY26 budget figures in the August budget process.
