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Universal City moves forward with golf-course parking bid, asks consultant for economic-impact proposal
Summary
Universal City Council directed staff to solicit bids for a golf-course parking expansion after estimated costs rose to $730,000, approved funding sources and asked the consultant for a $15,000–$20,000 economic-impact proposal to inform future venue-tax and golf-course decisions.
City Manager Kim told the Universal City Council on April 1 that the projected cost to expand and make the municipal golf-course parking lot ADA-compatible has increased from $640,000 to $730,000 because of inflation and newly added lighting, and she asked the council for direction to put the project out to bid.
The council agreed to send the project to bid while acknowledging the final contract will return to the council for approval. City Manager Kim said $350,000 of the work was already budgeted in this year’s golf-course budget from venue-tax receipts, roughly $300,000 remains from a prior stormwater project and any excess beyond the original $650,000 authorization would come from the golf-course fund balance.
The request matters because the council has been weighing longer-term questions about the golf course’s operations and funding. Kim also confirmed the bid package separates out potential plumbing and sewer-line work as a distinct budget item.
Staff presented additional context about the golf-course facility’s nonrevenue use in 2024, listing 28 meetings and trainings held there for city departments and volunteer groups. City staff said those events — including advanced police training and tactical first-aid instruction for firefighters — produce equipment or training value that offsets waived room fees and can increase local hotel and food-and-beverage activity when out-of-area attendees participate.
Kim told the council she had asked the consultant whether an economic-impact analysis could be produced to quantify the course’s broader value. The consultant gave a price range of $15,000 to $20,000 for a study that would reuse data already gathered in the earlier operations review; the council asked Kim to request a written proposal and place it on the April 15 agenda.
Council members debated the consultant’s original scope. Several members emphasized the consultant’s report was focused on improving operations of an 18-hole course and was not intended as a full business plan or an examination of alternatives such as an executive course or repurposing parts of the property. Council directed staff to prepare a timeline, recommended repairs with cost estimates and a draft schedule to include in the upcoming budget process so members can evaluate whether and when to split the venue tax for capital needs.
Separately during the public-comment period, Parks Partners presented a $22,000 donation to the Parks and Recreation Commission to support local park projects.
Staff will advertise the parking-lot work for bids and return any bid results and award recommendations to council for final action. The council requested the consultant’s written economic-impact proposal by April 15 and asked staff to compile repair and budget estimates for review during the next budget cycle.
