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Council approves feasibility studies for golf course, hotel/convention center and hospital; public urges phased approach
Summary
Council accepted three feasibility-study contracts — $26,000 for a par‑3 course study, $52,500 for a hotel/convention center study and up to $50,000 for a hospital feasibility study — after staff emphasized these analyze feasibility, not commitments. A public commenter urged a phased hospital approach focused first on patient‑volume analysis.
Council approved three separate contracts to fund feasibility analyses for potential economic development projects: a par‑3 golf course feasibility study with the National Golf Foundation, a hotel and convention‑center feasibility analysis with Hotel & Leisure Advisers, and a hospital feasibility study with Realty Trust Group (RTG). Staff stressed the studies are exploratory and intended to determine whether the projects would be viable before any construction or funding decisions.
"These are exactly what they sound like... We're trying to determine if the data even finds that the projects are feasible," City Manager Sylvia said, urging caution and data‑driven decision making. During public comment, Sylvia Serna (a resident) asked the council to break the hospital RFQ into phases, beginning with a capacity and market analysis and prioritizing OB‑GYN services, because she said the RFQ as written sought a broad range of options without first establishing patient volume.
Council also amended the RTG hospital contract to clarify that total compensation would be "not to exceed $50,000 including reimbursables," a change intended to cap the city’s exposure and clarify the scope. The three feasibility contracts were approved by the council.
