San Clemente committee backs green-fee increases, keeps Fridays at resident rate

San Clemente City Golf Course Committee members voted unanimously at their Oct. 25, 2025 meeting to forward a resolution to the City Council that raises green fees and related charges at the San Clemente Municipal Golf Course and to treat Fridays as weekday rates for residents but as weekend rates for nonresidents.

The measure, presented by staff member Samantha, would raise resident green fees by about 10% and standard nonresident rates by about 18%, retain junior rates at current levels and add or adjust several ancillary charges. Staff also proposed a refundable compliance damage deposit of $200 and an $18-per-hour golf-course marshal support fee to cover tournament-related course protection. The committee approved the fee package and directed staff to add a clear sentence in the resolution specifying Friday rate treatment before the City Council hearing.

The vote followed public comment from several residents who urged the committee to weigh affordability for local families and to provide clearer financial reporting. Joseph (resident) said the course is "the heart and soul of this community" and warned higher fees could push middle‑income golfers away. Chris Oholo (resident) and Bill Calgary (resident) asked for the underlying fiscal analysis showing how much additional revenue is needed; committee and staff members said the packet includes activity and revenue reports and that staff would meet with residents after the meeting to review details.

Staff summary and committee discussion

Staff said the subcommittee (Robert and Mandy) reviewed comparable municipal courses and recommended a targeted increase that favors residents over nonresidents. Samantha told the committee the proposal includes: an approximate 10% increase for resident rates and roughly an 18% increase for standard nonresident rates; no change to junior rates; a proposed 10% increase to the private-cart registration/license fee; a $200 refundable compliance damage deposit; and an $18-per-hour marshal support fee for some tournaments. The staff presentation noted actual dollar increases by price class in the meeting packet.

Committee members discussed three options for Friday pricing: (1) no change (Fridays remain weekday rates for all golfers); (2) make Fridays weekend rates for all golfers; or (3) make Fridays weekend rates only for nonresidents. Several committee members said they favored preserving lower costs for residents. One member suggested monitoring whether shifting nonresident Friday play to a weekend rate could help fund planned course maintenance and equipment replacement.

Financial context cited by staff

Samantha and other staff said operating costs have risen: the recent employee memorandum of understanding included a 3% pay increase effective in July with another step next July, utility assumptions range from about 3% to 10% increases, and the course must replace or repair aging equipment and pumps. Staff said the proposed fees are intended to help maintain current course conditions and cover those increased operating costs while keeping the course affordable for residents.

Public concerns and staff follow-up

Public speakers pressed for clearer documentation. Chris Oholo said he could not find recent committee minutes and questioned some of the fiscal comparisons in the packet; staff agreed to follow up after the meeting and to point residents to the published packet and the planned monthly newsletter referenced in prior minutes. Bill Calgary asked for line‑item expenditures driving the increases; staff offered to review those details with him after the meeting.

Clarifications and a transcription anomaly

Staff materials included specific dollar changes by fee class in the packet. The packet and staff remarks also referenced a 10% proposed increase to the private-cart registration/license fee; one line in the spoken record and on a slide contains figures that appear inconsistent (the packet text as presented in the meeting transcription shows "from $2.20 to $242"). City staff said they will confirm and correct the precise dollar figures before the resolution goes to City Council. Committee members confirmed there was no proposed change to previously established charitable or tournament special rates and that private-cart trail fees are governed in coordination with the Pro Shop concessionaire (identified in the discussion as Dave).

Formal actions

The committee took two formal actions related to the fee package: a motion to treat Fridays as weekday rates for residents while applying weekend rates to nonresidents, which was seconded and approved unanimously, and a motion to accept the green fees as set out in the resolution and forward the resolution to the City Council for a public hearing, which the committee also approved unanimously. Staff will insert explicit Friday‑rate language into the resolution and present the revised resolution to City Council for final adoption.

What happens next

Staff will revise the resolution to specify Friday rate treatment for residents and nonresidents as directed, confirm and correct any inconsistent fee figures in the packet, and place the item on a City Council public hearing agenda. Committee members and staff indicated they will provide interested residents with the supporting fiscal analysis and the monthly newsletter referenced in prior minutes.

Ending

The meeting concluded without further items; the committee adjourned and the next regular meeting was set for Nov. 6, with a special meeting to be calendared if needed.