Obetz council adopts new Obetz Athletic Club fees, sets one-hour golf-simulator reservations

Obetz City Council voted unanimously May 26 to amend the Obetz Athletic Club membership fee schedule and to adopt the change as an emergency measure, shortening golf-simulator reservations to a one-hour minimum and setting new hourly rates.

Councilmember Derek Varney told colleagues the Committee of the Whole had reviewed the proposal and that public feedback at the prior meeting prompted changes to the ordinance. Varney proposed reducing the required reservation block from two hours to one and setting a one-hour reservation rate of $25 for residents and $50 for non-residents, with up to four people allowed per simulator.

Mayor Angela Kirk urged a senior discount for residents 65 and older and proposed a $20-per-hour rate for that group. Law Director Gene Hollins outlined the specific amendments Council would need to adopt: change the reservation block to one hour, set the resident rate at $25 and the non-resident rate at $50, add a resident-senior rate of $20, and change the ordinance’s implementation date to July 1 to allow staff time to prepare.

Council voted to amend the ordinance as Hollins described (motion by Robert Kramer, second by Michael Flaherty) and then adopted Ordinance 27-26 as amended (motion by Guiles Richardson, second by Michael Flaherty). The votes were recorded as unanimous in favor.

Council and staff also discussed operations: Mayor Kirk said payment will be required at booking and that no refunds will be issued for no-shows; she noted one of the club’s projectors is out and that replacement costs are between $6,000 and $8,000. Varney said Council can reexamine fees if demand decreases.

The ordinance designates the changes as an emergency and sets the start date of the new rates on July 1 to give staff time to implement the new reservation and payment procedures.

What’s next: Council may revisit the simulator rates and reservation policies if usage patterns or demand change.