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Golf course advisory panel reports course improvements; council approves irrigation design contract with conditions
Summary
The Golf Course Advisory Committee reported visible improvements to greens and growing revenue; the council approved a $55,000 contract with irrigation designer Les Hill to complete a revised pump-house/irrigation design, directing staff to apply a prior $10,000 retainer to the new contract and to involve the advisory subcommittee in scoping.
The Golf Course Advisory Committee told the council the course’s greens and customer reviews have improved after two years of staff work, but committee members said the irrigation system remains the biggest constraint on long-term course recovery and revenue growth.
Committee chair Larry Russell said greens have recovered substantially and customer feedback has picked up, but tee boxes and fairways still show thin turf because the irrigation system only reliably waters greens. The committee presented comparative data showing municipal peers that reinvest irrigation and capital receipts have been able to grow rounds and net income.
The council considered two proposals to update the course irrigation design and pump house. Staff presented an updated proposal from Les Hill, the course’s original irrigation consultant, for $55,000 and a larger proposal from Fries & Nichols (subcontracted through another firm) for roughly $177,455. The council discussed scope differences — chiefly whether pump-house power, SCADA control and integration with downstream electrical work would be included as part of the engineering scope or handled by separate contractors.
Council approved a motion to hire Les Hill, with two conditions: (1) staff will confirm the $10,000 retainer previously paid to Hill be applied to the new $55,000 contract (effectively reducing new payment to $45,000 if confirmed), and (2) the golf-course irrigation subcommittee and public-works staff will meet with Hill immediately to confirm the updated scope, including any questions about effluent spreading (K-factor) and TCEQ requirements. Councilmember James Benfield made the motion; Councilmember Charles Prince seconded; the motion passed unanimously among members present.
Ending: The council directed staff to confirm payments already made to Hill, finalize the scope (including whether SCADA/electrical tasks will be city-managed or added by contract), and ensure the golf-course subcommittee and public-works staff participate in the initial site review and scoping meeting.
