Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks And Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council divided on Palm Harbor Golf Course sale after $1.825M appraisal; staff asked to provide more financial and operational options
Summary
An appraisal valuing Palm Harbor Golf Course and its business at $1.825 million prompted sharply divided council discussion. Some members urged putting an RFP with a minimum bid, others opposed selling and asked staff for more operational analysis, including IT and fleet allocations, cart leasing, and the Looper's lease.
City staff presented a draft RFP and appraisal for Palm Harbor Golf Course, and council engaged in extended debate over whether to sell, seek private management, or retain and restructure operations.
Staff said the contracted appraisal valued the property, furniture, fixtures and the business as a going concern at about $1,825,000, with depreciated furniture/fixtures valued at roughly $315,000 after depreciation. The presentation listed capital needs over five years including a replacement irrigation pump (estimated about $278,000) and greens renovation (about $1.2 million) and showed the course currently operating with revenues below expenditures; staff offered an illustrative rate increase (about $10–$11 per round) that they said would cover capital costs and produce a modest positive operating result in their forecast.
Council reaction split sharply. Several councilmembers and public speakers opposed selling the 141‑acre course, calling it a core community amenity and noting the risk that a private buyer could redevelop the site. Some urged hiring or replacing management and testing operational fixes (cart fees and leasing versus purchase, renegotiating the restaurant lease, reviewing interlocal agreements with Flagler Schools, recalculating internal IT and fleet allocations) before considering sale. Others said the facility has a long record of operating deficits even after prior capital investment and recommended soliciting offers now to see market interest; one council member suggested a starting minimum bid of $2 million if staff moves forward with an RFP.
Because council was split, staff was asked to return with additional analyses rather than proceed immediately to sale: (1) detailed review of IT, fleet and facilities allocations and historical operational tickets/repairs; (2) updated fee scenarios tied to specific CIP spending and cart/maintenance contracting options; (3) the interlocal agreement with Flagler Schools to identify current cost-sharing for school team use; and (4) discussions with Looper's concessionaire about possible revenue sharing or lease adjustments. Staff also said the Looper's lease remains in force (the vendor is in year three of a five‑year initial term) and any buyer would take the property subject to that lease.
