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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGolf Board Minutes - January 7, 2025 1 (208) 359-3020 35 North 1st East Rexburg, ID 83440 Rexburg.org | Engage.Rexburg.org Golf Board Minutes – January 7, 2024 Council Members: Karl Boehm Paul Sorensen Brian Parkinson Eva Wright Non-Voting Members: Board Chairman Johnson Matt Nielson – City Finance Officer Colin Erickson – City Council Member Brent Mendenhall – County Commissioner Spencer Rammell – Attorney Cameron Garn – Golf Pro Seth McFarland – Golf Ground Greg McInnes – City Parks Manager Justin Beard – City Engineer 4:30 P.M. Golf Board Meeting Roll Call of Board Members: Attending: Karl Boehm, Paul Sorensen, Brian Parkinson, Eva Wright and Chairman Jon Johnson. Absent: Paul Sorensen 1. Review Prior Meeting Minutes and approval (Action Item): a. December 10, 2024 Board Member Boehm moved to approve the Golf Board Meeting Minutes for December 10, 2024; Board Member Wright seconded the motion; Board Chairman Johnson asked for a vote: Those voting aye Those voting nay Board Member Boehm Board Member Parkinson Board Member Wright Board Chairman Johnson The motion carried. 2. Board Business/issues/problems/events a. Discussion on Trail Fees (Action Item) i. Consideration of new fee or rate for single person devices (current practice is to change half the rate of a family golf cart trail fee) Finance Officer Nielson explained that the Trail Fee Analysis illustrates the sales history of the cart trail fee for 2024. They sold about 300 cart punch passes purchased and about 40 uses of those that is basically just 50% of what a customer pays to rent a cart for one person for nine holes. The average price was about $4.11 that the golf course collected because a lot of people will buy the passes at a discount when they buy their season pass. They are charged for a single ride golf cart trail fee. Finance Officer Nielson reviewed the single rider device pass rate, they only sold four passes. Mr. Thompson explained he would prefer to be charged a $4.00 trail fee each time he golfs because he would have to golf 31 times to make the season golf pass worth the $625 that he paid for the pass. He said if he golfed 31 times at a $4.00 cart trail fee it only adds up to $124 not the $262.50 single rider season cart pass. 2 Board Member Boehm asked for clarification regarding a single rider device. Discussion regarding E-bikes or any motorized single rider vehicle. Attorney Rammell explained industry standard is that they charge a trail fee for scooters. There multiple places in Boise and Park City, Utah that charge single riders using motorized devices. Board Chairman Johnson said not every season pass holder would believe the proposed single rider season pass would be a good deal. He believes a lot of patrons are going to walk the course most of the time and may be pay for a single ride pass when they need to golf a little faster. Only four patrons paid for those season cart trail passes. Discussion regarding the possibility of seeing a large influx of single rider devices. Mr. Thompson said he is in favor of paying for a single rider trail fee; however, the price would need to be set at less then double the times of what the season pass would take to pay for its self. Discussion regarding the potential maintenance costs the single rider device could cause the golf course. Board Member Sorenson said he is not in favor of adding the single rider device as a freebie to a season pass because the single rider device will detract from the golf cart rentals. He is in favor of charging $150 for the single rider device season pass trail fee and later determine if the rate needs to increase or decrease. Mr. Thompson wondered about having a pass that would cover the entire day for $10 and not just for nine holes. Finance Officer Nielson said there is already a pushcart fee that covers the whole day. The trail cart punch pass was being sold to the patrons using the single rider device. Discussion regarding determining the single rider devices season pass fee. Board Chairman Johnson said the $126 fee would be if they bundle the pass with the season pass and the $150 fee would be without the bundle. Mr. Thompson said the single rider devices will continue to grow in popularity that is the reason why he is asking the Golf Board for a single rider season pass. He is in favor of the Golf Board evaluating the fee on an annual basis to determine if it needs to decrease or increase. Board Member Sorenson said he is in favor of enhancing the golf experience so if the single rider device attracts more patrons to the golf course to come play golf he likes that idea. 3 Board Member Sorenson moved to approve the Cart Trail Fee Season Pass- Single Rider with the rate of $150 for non-bundle or at $126 with season golf pass purchase: Board Member Parkinson seconded the motion; Board Chairman Johnson asked for a vote: Those voting aye Those voting nay Board Member Boehm Board Member Parkinson Board Member Wright Board Chairman Johnson The motion carried. 3. Other Items as brought forward by Board Members a. Discuss Updates on Clubhouse Remodel (Action Item) i. Change Orders accepted except sheetrock of stairs to 3rd level Finance Officer Nielson explained that all the change orders for the clubhouse remodel were accepted for the drywall up the stairs to the office, they are just going with the railing to avoid spending extra money. He said he is having the contractors look at adding a condenser to the HVAC system to run air conditioning through the HVAC system. b. Update on storm drain project in parking lot-not sure will happen until Spring i. What can be done now to alleviate ice/slush conditions? c. Update on sealing of deck i. Elected Officials motioned to send the topic of a contract back to the Golf Board for further review/consideration ii. If the Golf Board does not want to recommend that we outsource or contract it, then the Elected Officials would like to see a few other recommendations or options of what could be done, and which option the Board would recommend Finance Officer Nielson said Blister’s signed a contract to move their restaurant to a building on Main Street. He talked to Brady Gardner, the owner of Blister’s and was informed once Blister’s moves over to the new location this winter, they are closing Blisters over at Teton Lakes, which is a good idea during the remodel. He informed Mr. Gardner that if Blisters moves out of the clubhouse, then the city wouldn't charge him for the months they're not there. This would allow us to move the ski rental over and then they can get working on remodeling that area a little quicker. Finance Officer Nielson also informed Mr. Gardner that they cannot have a meat smoker on site or designated parking for employees/patrons and asked if he still desired to pursue a contract. He said Mr. Gardner informed him that he was still interested in pursuing a contract to have his restaurant at the Teton Lake club house. Mr. Gardner would still need to accept a revised contract with those changes and an increase to the monthly rent fee; therefore, it is not a done deal until the new contract has been signed by Mr. Gardner. Finance Officer Nielson reviewed the Teton Lakes Clubhouse Food Service Option for Consideration. These are considerations in case Mr. Gardner does not move forward with the new contract. Discussion regarding the city/county not selling alcohol at the club house. Attorney Rammell said there is not a track record of municipalities selling alcohol. Finance Officer Nielson reviewed the estimates expenses in the report. He said he believes the city/county are going to have a difficult time running a food service at the club house. The food options will not be the same as what is served at a full-service restaurant. Finance Officer Nielson asked the Golf Board Members which option they would like to pursue a city/county food service or offer a new contract to Blisters with the changes discussed. County Commissioner Mendenhall said he asked the other County Commissioners for their input and was informed they would like to see a restaurant and not only concessions. 4 Board Member Sorensen asked if their concerns regarding the restaurant’s staffing issues could be addressed in the new contract. Board Chairman Johnson said they could also add that the city/county would invoice the restaurant for any merchandise the golf course sells. Board Member Sorensen said he believes having a restaurant at the club house is beneficial to the golf course. The only complaints he has heard about Blisters is them not having consistant hours of operation. Board Member Parkinson asked if they have considered another BBQ restaurant such as Sparks? Board Member Sorensen explained they have requested RFPs for different restaurants; however, the different restaurants that have operated out of the club house have not been successful. Board Member Wright said she does not believe Sparks rest aurant is going to want to be opened on Sundays. Finance Officer Nielson added the club house is not an easy place to run a restaurant. Board Member Boehm asked if they could require Blisters to operate all year round? Finance Officer Nielson said as a secondary location for Blisters it would not be profitable for them to be open all year round. The new contract states a $1000 rental fee per month. Golf Pro Garn mentioned the issue with Blisters is that they did not have consistant hours of operation so the golf course employes were selling Blisters merchandise. Discussion regarding the changes to the contract. Finance Officer Nielson mentioned raising the utilities from $300 to $325. Also, the owners agree they will provide a monthly credit of $200 for the months of June, July and August to the contractor to allow the owners to utilize approximately 30% of the space in the northeast corner of the restaurant for golf operations during tournaments or special events. If the owners, through the golf professional were to sell items owned by the contractor, then the owners will remit to the golf professional such sales each month and the golf professional will remit all but apportion of such sales. It is agreed upon between the Golf Pro and the contractor for performing such services. If the contractor is not going to staff the restaurant, then the Golf Pro can negotiate a 10 to 15% to manage that aspect. Finance Officer Nielson reiterated golf course employees cannot sell alcohol to the public. 5 Finance Officer Nielson said the contract also mentions they are giving the contractor the option of being open on Sundays, which is one of the busiest days of the week for the golf course. The owners could charge the contractor for the days they are not open. The contractor will also need to expand their restaurant menu to provide more grab and go types of items. Board Member Boehm moved to approve the Restaurant Contract at the Teton Lakes Club House with the changes discussed: Board Member Wright seconded the motion; Board Chairman Johnson asked for a vote: Those voting aye Those voting nay Board Member Boehm Board Member Parkinson Board Member Wright Board Chairman Johnson The motion carried. Discussion regarding the restaurant’s hours of operation. Board Chairman Johnson asked if the contractor is given a brake on utilities when they are not operating. Finance Officer Nielson replied no discount is given, the contractor is charged as if they are open, and they also pay to clean the restroom. d. City or County Input/Issues 4. Financial Report a. None to Report 5. Golf Pro’s update of issues/concerns/problems/projects a. All other Items as brought forward by Golf Pro 6. Golf Grounds Manager update of issues/concerns/problems/projects a. Tee Box, netting, and Range Lights at Tee Box (Seth and Cam to come back with design proposal) b. Update on mapping with GIS and our City Works Coordinator mark the location of all irrigation lines and equipment on a map with coordinates. i. More work to be done here, marking sprinkler heads and noting pipe size. c. Other items as brought forward by Golf Grounds Manager Grounds Manager McFarland reported they are testing autonomous robots for mowing. Currently, the robot is being used as a small blower; however, in the spring they can convert it into a mower. He said he is excited to see what these robots can do in terms of mowing. 7. Determine Next Board Meeting Date/Time a. 3/11/25 at 4:30 pm 8. Tabled Agenda Items to Consider: a. Consider landscaped items at the service shop area after completing main parking lot/clubhouse improvements. 9. Executive Session (Statute 74-206)-Only held if necessary, and subsection authorizing the executive session must be stated-Generally held after regular meeting to discuss labor contract matters. (If necessary) (j) To consider labor contract matters authorized under section 67-2345A (74-206A) (1) (a) and (b), Idaho Code. Adjournment 5:50 P.M.