Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council hears golf management RFP results, staff recommends keeping Kruger Haskell in-house
Summary
City staff and the golf committee reviewed two private management proposals for Kruger Haskell Golf Course and recommended retaining city management while pursuing operational changes to reduce the golf fund subsidy.
City staff on Nov. 7 reported on a request-for-proposals process for management of Kruger Haskell Golf Course and recommended keeping course management in-house while exploring operational changes to reduce the golf fund subsidy.
The city has owned and operated Kruger Haskell since 1927 and runs the course as an enterprise fund. Staff presented revenue and expenditure summaries for the past several years and said the golf fund, excluding the salaries and benefits of two long-time employees (Mark [superintendent] and Donnie [operations]), showed cumulative operating shortfalls in recent years; when including staff salary and benefit support the fund’s operational deficit was larger. Staff said the golf fund also receives a $50,000 annual general fund subsidy.
The city received two proposals: Oliphant Golf Management (management fee requested $78,000 annually plus an incentive tied to improved net operating income) and Landscape Golf Management (requested $72,000 annually with a 3% escalator and a smaller incentive). Golf committee members and several residents who spoke at committee meetings expressed satisfaction with current course conditions under city management and concern that private firms might cut maintenance or raise fees. Committee members characterized the Oliphant proposal as generic and viewed the Landscape proposal as stronger but likely more costly.
Public comment at the council meeting included a statement from Steve Ferger (representing the golf course committee) urging the council to continue city operation; he also thanked the long-time staff members Mark Young and Donnie Mickelson.
After discussion the golf committee’s and staff’s recommendation to retain in-house management was presented to the council as informational; no formal contract action was taken at the meeting. Staff said next steps include defining management goals for the course (for example: affordability, cost-neutral operations, or covering capital costs), reviewing clubhouse and tee-sheet operations, evaluating pro-shop inventory and pricing, examining marketing to increase rounds and season passes, and identifying opportunities to separate clubhouse operations from course maintenance to reduce workload on current staff.
Why it matters: The city’s decision to keep operations in-house preserves continuity for course maintenance and staffing and begins a process to identify operational changes intended to reduce the subsidy the general fund provides to the golf enterprise.
Outcome: Staff and the golf committee recommended keeping Kruger Haskell under city management; council received the report (informational). No procurement or contract award was authorized at this meeting.
