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City clarifies Riverside Golf lease, will begin collecting $1-per-round 'Apes' fee; council opens talks on driving-range upgrade
Summary
Council approved a lease-clarifying first amendment for Riverside Golf that corrects an oversight so the city will begin receiving a $1-per-round facility fee in June (projected $40K–$45K annually); council asked staff to negotiate potential covered driving-range improvements with the operator and requested a budget-level plan before final contract changes.
The city amended contract language with Riverside Golf’s operator on April 26 to clarify collection responsibility for a $1-per-round facility fee (referred to in discussion as 'Apes' fees). Parks staff said the fee had not been collected due to ambiguous contract language; staff expects collection to begin June 1 and projected roughly $40,000–$45,000 in incremental annual revenue to the facility’s special fund for capital upkeep.
Parks Director Aaron Ngiri told the council the operator and the city had worked for months to resolve ambiguities around fees, capital-improvement responsibilities, and operating terms. Council members then opened a policy discussion about the operator’s proposal for a covered, multi-deck driving-range amenity (a "Topgolf-light"). Proponents said such an amenity could increase public use, provide a new revenue stream and support youth programs like First Tee; opponents and some council members stressed the need for transparent cost estimates and protections for the public interest.
Council Member Carbassi offered $10,000 from his district reserves to assist small businesses during transitional changes elsewhere on the agenda, and several council members asked staff to return before budget adoption with an estimate of potential capital costs and proposed revenue-sharing terms should the operator request a lease amendment or extension tied to capital investment.
Staff said the Apes fee revenue will remain at the Riverside facility fund for capital and maintenance, and that any large capital partnership or contract term changes would return to council for amendments and budget consideration.
What happens next: City staff will begin Apes fee collection on June 1, produce a budget-level estimate and options for any proposed driving-range upgrade and return to council with a proposal before the FY2026–27 budget adoption if officials request firm figures.
