Title
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING APPROVAL AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ENGER PARK GOLF COURSE RENOVATION PLAN.
Body
CITY PROPOSAL:
WHEREAS: city administration is seeking to renovate Enger Park Golf Course to address critical repairs; and
WHEREAS: public input and consultant recommendations are represented in the Exhibit A Enger Park Golf Course Renovation Plan; and
WHEREAS: improvements to Enger Park Golf Course will position public golf for success; and
WHEREAS: prior Council-approved plans directed that Enger Park Golf Course be prioritized for renovations and Lester Park Golf Course close permanently; and
WHEREAS: funding sources to achieve renovation shall come from bonding, sale of golf property assets, grants, operator contributions, community philanthropy, and other sources as they become available; and
WHEREAS: on September 8, 2021, the Public Golf Committee moved to recommend that action by Council on golf course improvements expressly include that any proceeds from the sale of golf course property assets be designated to the golf program.
WHEREAS: on September 15, 2021, the Parks and Recreation Commission moved to recommend that Council approve the Enger Park Golf Course Renovation Plan as presented including the phased timeline proposed and including the portion of the plan that calls upon the City to dedicate all of the proceeds from golf course real estate sales to renovation of Enger Park Golf Course.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the proper City officials are hereby authorized to approve the Enger Park Golf Course Renovation Plan, attached hereto as Exhibit A, and authorize implementation of this plan as funding becomes available.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Parks and Recreation Commission’s Public Golf Committee, including both voting members and citizen members in attendance, unanimously recommended the plan on Wednesday, September 8, 2021.
FURTHER RESOLVED, the Parks and Recreation Commission members in attendance unanimously recommended the plan on Wednesday, September 15, 2021.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This resolution authorizes approval of the Enger Park Golf Course Renovation Plan and implementation thereof as funding permits.
Enger Park Golf Course has critical infrastructure that is failing and needs to be replaced to support successful golf operations. Major items recommended in the renovation plan include:
1) New 27-hole irrigation system including HDPE pipe, sprinkler heads, wire and central control.
2) New pump station.
3) Expanded irrigation pond and transfer pipes.
4) Upgraded City water supply line and meter.
5) Leveling and regrassing of specific fairways to improve drainage and playability.
6) New, fully accessible clubhouse including removal of the existing clubhouse.
7) Reconstructing bunkers and removal of ten bunkers.
8) New forward tees on 10 holes.
9) New course signage.
10) Expanded driving range tee with synthetic tee-line and new irrigation.
11) Driving range with target greens and chain-link fence at the end of the range.
12) Repair approximately 11,800 linear feet of cart path.
The planning process included a team of four industry professional consultants, three public engagement sessions, four Parks and Recreation Commission Public Golf Committee meetings, an online survey, and an open house at Enger Clubhouse including comment cards. The Parks and Recreation Commission’s Public Golf Committee unanimously recommended the plan at their September 8, 2021 meeting. The Parks and Recreation Commission unanimously recommended the plan at their September 15, 2021 meeting.
Staff is seeking to devise a financing plan for a $5.2 million Phase I Enger renovation that would include a new irrigation system, a new clubhouse, and improved drainage on several chronically wet fairways. Phase I would be financed primarily by selling bonds and using operating profits from the renovated golf course to pay down the debt.
Funding permitting, the City aims to undertake Enger renovation from fall of 2022 through spring of 2024 with the intent to reopen Lester Park Golf Course one last time in 2023 when Enger is closed for renovations.