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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin 08-21-96(1)466 CITY OF UKIAH CITY COUNCIL MINUTES JOINT CITY COUNCIL/UKIAH GOLF COURSE COMMITTEE MEETING August 21, 1996 5:30 p.m. The City Council and the Ukiah Golf Course Committee convened in a joint meeting, of which the agenda was legally noticed and posted, at 5:32 p.m. in the Civic Center Council Chambers, 300 Seminary Avenue, Ukiah, California. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Schneiter. Roll was taken with the following Councilmembers present: Mastin, Malone, Shoemaker, and Mayor Schneiter. Absent: Councilmember Wattenburger. Golf Course Committee Members present: Crawford, Hefte, Nielson, and Chairman Ramsey. Absent: None. Staff present: Golf and Parks Superintendent Carpenter, Community Services Director DeKnoblough, Finance Director Elton, Assistant City Manager Harris, City Manager Horsley, Golf Pro McMillan, and City Clerk Giuntoli. II. AUDIENCE COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS None III. NEW BUSINESS a. Discussion of Fiscal Year 1996197 Budget Mayor Schneiter explained a workshop format would be used for the meeting, thereby enabling each group to understand the issues before them. The Council would not be making decisions at this meeting, other than to provide a direction to staff to work on and bdng back recommendations at another regularly scheduled meeting. City Manager Horsley explained that at budget time there was a $105,057 deficit in the Golf Enterprise Fund. She subsequently asked Community Services Director DeKnoblough to meet with the Golf Course Committee and discuss possible options for eliminating the deficit. Recommendations from both staff and the Committee will be presented for discussion. Community Services Director DeKnoblough presented a summary of the recommendations from the Golf Course Committee, including salary reductions, a split of the debt service between the General Fund and Golf Enterprise Fund, the sale of excess City properties with the monies applied to the outstanding debt, refinancing of the remaining balance, elimination of several line item expenditures, and a review of the support services provided to the Golf Course by other City Departments. He further advised that while the Committee's recommendations did resolve the current budget deficit, $38,500 of the cuts were to essential maintenance programs which, if carried over from year to year, would have a detrimental impact on the Course condition. He further advised that staff did not support recommendations which would eliminate essential programs, such as cart path improvements and deep core aedfication, but would consider other options, including salary reductions, reducing the Committee's recommended cuts by 50%, the adoption of an additional $1 per round fee for private carts and memberships as identified in Member Crawford's August 8, 1996 letter, and the elimination of the $5 out-of-County fee. At this point, Mayor Schneiter relinquished the chair to Golf Course Committee Chairman Ramsey. Chairman Ramsey gave a bdef history of the purchase of the Back Eight, and stated he believed that purchase to be the reason for the deficit position of the Golf Enterprise Fund. He further stated he felt a great deal of help was necessary from the City to reduce the debt service, and that he preferred not to '~vhittle away" at Course programs and maintenance. Member Crawford stated he had observed inconsistency in the treatment of the Golf Course by the City Council, staff, and management, but that the one thing that has remained consistent is the commitment the golfing community has made to the City of Ukiah in upgrading the Golf Course. He asked that the Council share that commitment. City CouncillUkiah Golf Course Committee Meeting August 21, 1996 Page 1 467 Member Nielson spoke to her concerns relative to senior citizens' ability to pay increased fees, and reviewed the budget figures, suggesting the City help with the $25,000 annual debt service payment. She stated she felt the condition of the Course made it unfeasible to raise fees at this time. Discussion followed relative to the purchase of the Back Eight, wherein the Council explained the rationale and circumstances surrounding the purchase, and reinforced their past and present commitment to the Course. Further discussion followed regarding potential fee increases, and the revenue and costs associated with the Todd Grove Room and Clubhouse remodel. Several members of the audience spoke to their concerns and offered suggestions relative to eliminating the budget deficit. Discussion followed regarding debt service, interest expense, and allocation costs. Further discussion followed regarding the possible sale of City property, with a description provided of the differences between General and Enterprise Funds. It was explained the City's General Fund supports, from different sources of revenue, Police, Fire, Ambulance, Planning, certain Public Works, and certain Recreational Facilities. Member Crawford stated that it would be difficult to encourage the Men's Club to spend money improving the City's facility if there was no visible compromise from the Council. He further stated that he felt whatever had been done with volunteer effort and money was being disregarded. Councilmember Malone replied that many recreational and organizational things in the community had been accomplished with volunteer effort; people pitch in and work together for good causes. He stated he was proud of the effort the golfing community had put forth; however, the effort was put forward on County property, and the City wanted control of one of its main assets. Mayor Schneiter stated the City cannot afford to let an asset that was created from bare ground turn into someone else's hands; the City bought the property. He further stated Council will ask staff to find ways to relieve the debt without any deterioration in maintenance or programs, and bdng back solid proposals based on the evening's discussion and what the Committee brought to Council. Councilmember Malone stated he was committed to the maintenance of the Course, and would be open to reviewing salaries and restructuring the debt. He further stated Council was not doing the Course a favor by holding the line on golf fees, because at some point in the future costs will escalate. Ms. Horsley stated staff will meet with Finance Director Elton and the Golf Course Committee to explore options. Councilmember Shoemaker offered a personal comment, encouraging those present not to leave the meeting and insinuate to other members of the community that Council has insulted the volunteers, thus doing both them and the Council a disservice. The staff, golf course volunteers, and volunteer Councilmembers are a highly dedicated group of people, and none of them need to have their persons defamed or attacked about the efforts they have all put in on this. Member Crawford assured him that was not the case; he merely wanted recognition of the volunteer effort of the golfing community. There being no further business, the meeting was adjoumed at 6:32 p.m. to the regular scheduled City Council Meeting of August 21, 1996. b:cc/ccgolfsp.mtg M/a~e Gid'ntoli, City"~l~rk City CouncillUkiah Golf Course Committee Meeting August 21, 1996 Page 2