City staff outline membership fee increases for Green City Golf Course to cover rising costs and repairs

City parks and recreation staff on Tuesday outlined proposed increases to membership fees at Green City Golf Course, saying the course has not had a comprehensive fee update since early 2020 and needs additional revenue to cover rising operating and capital costs.

Staff said the golf enterprise fund covers course employees and the annual bond payment for maintenance, and also contributes to the city general fund. But they argued the fund needs higher membership revenue to replenish reserves and pay for equipment and repairs without unduly relying on operating dollars.

The staff presentation said the course’s single nonresident membership is currently $780. Based on a survey of nearby municipal and private courses, staff said Green City’s nonresident rate is substantially lower than many peers — they reported being about 56% below two municipal comparables and about 27% below three closer competitors — and proposed raising some categories to narrow that gap. Staff highlighted an example under consideration: increasing a nonresident senior membership from about $585 to $700. Staff emphasized the proposals target primarily nonresident categories.

Officials said several cost pressures underpin the recommendation: employee costs including benefits have risen (staff cited roughly a 10% increase in health-care-related costs), equipment and supply prices have jumped (one sprinkler head rose from about $240 to $410 year over year), and recent emergency repairs used reserve funds after a pump failed. Staff said they have set aside about $50,000 from course profits this fiscal year for cart paths and bunker work but that larger, periodic capital projects (bunkers, cart paths, tees) will require more comprehensive planning and use of reserves.

Staff described the course as having a hybrid public/club character: about 450 playing members alongside regular public green-fee play. The presenters said the clubhouse and other site elements were not designed for the current level of use and that modest building repairs — roofing, windows, bathroom updates and flooring — are likely to be funded from reserves rather than operating accounts.

City staff said the membership changes are part of a three-year planning approach rather than an annual increase and that the proposed fee changes will be reviewed by the Business & Economic Development Committee. No formal action or vote occurred at Tuesday’s community conversation.

Speakers named during the discussion included Debbie Jamano, assistant director, and several Parks & Recreation staff members who presented financial and operational details. Committee member Pamela Cropp Anderson and other committee members asked questions about how fee revenue is used and the timing of further review.

The staff presentation said the course remains heavily used and compared its facility and demand favorably to nearby courses. Staff noted some categories at peer municipalities differ (for example, some comparables do not offer nonresident senior memberships) and that direct fee comparisons are imperfect because courses vary in size and community incomes. Staff said they used 2024 census comparisons to contextualize local income differences when benchmarking fees.

The fee proposal will be discussed at the Business & Economic Development Committee before any final decision. Staff said they will share the underlying spreadsheet and data with advisory groups to improve transparency and anticipate public questions about how new revenue will be spent.