CC_Minutes_2014_1117 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Regular City Council Meeting Monday,November 17, 2014 Page 9 Councilmember Laliberte echoed Councilmember Etten's request for additional information on how to generate revenue for that space; and suggested that the Commission might seek input from the Community Development Department with their new business retention program to partner with local businesses to offer golfing during open or less frequented tee times. Mayor Roe concurred with the comments of Councilmember Etten, on his desire for pursuing additional revenue sources, usage ideas, and the type of clubhouse that the City should consider; all to be included as part of Commission, or even a potential future golf course task force discussion. Councilmember Etten suggested that the discussion should start at the Commis- sion level for an in-depth look, and if they determined after 3-6 months, that a more in-depth analysis was needed, it could return to the City Council for ap- pointment of a task force. Councilmember Etten reminded the Commission that the City Council's door was always open and expressed their willingness to listen to all options that may or may not work, but asked that a format be developed by the Commission to make a recommendation for decision-making purposes. Councilmember Willmus agreed that the golf course is certainly an asset to the community, and given that, he asked that regional and national trends be reviewed for golfing, recognizing that interest may be declining in that area. However, Councilmember Willmus recognized that golf remained a lifelong activity for many, and concurred with the requests of Mayor Roe and Councilmembers Laliberte and Etten that the Commission spend some time evaluating the enter- prise and ways to generate additional interest in it, encourage more users, and po- tentially increase revenues. Councilmember Willmus suggested partnering with the RVA as an option. Regarding the current clubhouse, Councilmember Willmus noted that it was a double-wide trailer brought onto the site, and as he reviewed some of the maintenance and repair costs, including restrooms, he sug- gested it may be a less expensive option to pull in a new mobile home versus re- pairing the current one. Councilmember Willmus asked that the Commission fo- cus on the various aspects and suggest potential long-term solutions; even includ- ing a possible repurposing of the area as part of that discussion, which may need to be a future realistic consideration. Councilmember McGehee stated that she echoed all of those suggestions as good ideas; even though she retained her position that discussions needed to consider repurposing the clubhouse as well as providing new ways to use it and the course. While unsure of the status of the roof leaks, Councilmember McGehee noted past experience in having to replace buildings with similar leaks; and if there were structural issues needing immediate attention rather than deferring them, she sug- gested the task force be hastened along to avoid forcing the City into a decision because of those delayed maintenance issues. On a personal note and as an equal