Universal City council directs staff to put golf-course parking expansion out to bid after costs rise

Universal City’s city manager told council on April 1 that the previously approved golf-course parking lot expansion has increased in estimated cost and staff should proceed to bid the project.

City Manager Kim told council the project estimate rose from about $640,000 to $730,000 after staff added lighting that had been omitted from preliminary plans and accounted for inflation: "the project has gone from $640,000 to $730,000 and I'm looking for some confirmation from City Council that you want us to go ahead and proceed with putting this out to bid," Kim said.

The cost components and funding sources were described in the staff report. Kim said the council already approved $350,000 in the current golf course budget and that roughly $300,000 remained from a stormwater project funded by venue tax; any amount above the previously approved $650,000 would come from the golf course fund balance. Council member Bowman confirmed the sewer work would be a separate line item in the budget.

Nut graf: Council members expressed support for moving the expansion to the bidding stage while asking staff for more detail on long-term golf-course finances and a fuller cost-and-timeline plan for recommended repairs. Council also asked the consultant to provide a proposal for an economic-impact analysis of the golf course; staff said it would return with a proposal for council consideration.

In discussion, staff reviewed nonfinancial uses of the golf-course meeting room and documented 28 staff or community events held there in 2024, including police and fire trainings that city staff said provide value beyond room rental fees. Kim said some training brought equipment or waived fees that staff judged a net community benefit.

Council debated next steps for the golf-course study and repairs. Staff told council the consultant could provide an economic-impact analysis and gave two different price figures on the record during the meeting: an earlier reference to roughly $35,000 and later a staff-cited estimate of $15,000–$20,000. Council asked staff to request a written proposal from the consultant showing scope and price and to return with that proposal on a future agenda.

The council did not adopt a formal ordinance or appropriate additional funds at the meeting; members gave staff direction to advertise the parking lot work for bid and to prepare cost/timeline materials for future consideration.

Ending: Staff said it will return with the consultant’s written proposal on the economic-impact analysis and with a draft schedule and cost estimates for the recommended golf-course repairs and venue-tax considerations during the next budget cycle.