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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/15/1998 ITEM #3. CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE September 15, 1998 Minutes of the Apple Valley Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee held September 15, 1998. PRESENT: Committee Chair Greg Kopischke; Committee Members Charlie Maus, Tiffani Anglin, Russ DeFauw, Tina Rankin and John DiRico; Park Maintenance Superintendent Tom Adamini; Valleywood Golf Course Manager Rick Dodge, Recreation Specialist Jim Zinck; Men’s Club President Kirk Larson; Men’s Club Vice President Joseph Anderson; Men’s Club Directors Doug Lund and Dick McCarthy; Season Pass Holder Representatives Bill Drews, Marci Drews and Loren Hegland. ABSENT: Royal Bakke. ITEM #1. Committee Chair Greg Kopischke called the meeting to order at 8:08 p.m. ITEM #2. Approval of Agenda. Request was made to add an information hand out, addressed to Randy Johnson from Dakota County, regarding Lebanon Hills Regional Park Deer Management as Item 6.A. MOTION: by Russ DeFauw, seconded by Tina Rankin to approve the agenda with the addition. VOTE: Yes - 6, No - 0 ITEM #3. Approval of May 1998 Minutes. MOTION: by John DiRico, seconded by Tina Rankin to approve the minutes as presented. VOTE: Yes - 6, No - 0 1 ITEM #4.A. New Business - Review of Valleywood Golf Course Reservation/Season Pass Policy. Rick Dodge gave an overview of what has transpired so far with this issue:  Fall of 1997 - City Council approved for the 1999 golf season a modified non-resident season pass holder policy that would allowed Monday through Thursday play at a rate of approximately $600 (vs. the full rate of $975).  One of the main concerns that precipitated this policy change was course accessibility. Season pass holders, both resident and non-resident, have been allowed to make advanced tee time reservations. There were also concerns about revenue potential.  As a result of City Council’s decision, a number a complaints have been received and Council has asked to review the policy change. Rick Dodge distributed copies of a memo listing three options for review by the Park and Recreation Advisory Committee. The memo also gives a recommendation for Option #2 by Valleywood Management and the Park and Recreation Director. Option #2: Grandfather existing non-resident season pass holders and make available a 7 day pass using the following proposed rate structure: (3 year increase to 50% over the resident pass rate). 1.Charge “grandfathered” non-residents the 1999 resident rate plus 30%. 2.Charge “grandfathered” non-residents the 2000 resident rate plus 40%. 3.Charge “grandfathered” non-residents the 2001 resident rate plus 50%. This would stabilize at 50% until non-resident passes are eliminated through attrition. These figures are a guide only. The underlying principle is that non-residents would pay a higher cost than residents of Apple Valley. 4.Eliminate all use of private golf carts effective beginning of the 1999 season. 5.Tee reservations would be offered 5 days in advance for everyone. Course access is the key in this option. Mr. Dodge distributed copies of a comparison report outlining services of 12 area golf courses. The average tee time reservation appears to be approximately five days in advance. The five day advance reservation opportunity for everyone would also work for Valleywood’s tee time reservation service “Ready Golf”. Comments from the season pass holder representatives included: Doug Lund - These people (season pass holders) have supported the course over the ten to twelve years prior to now. They pay a significant rate up 2 front in December. The perception is that if the season pass were not available, they would pay full fare. These are the best customers, spending money, bringing friends and children to the course. If you don’t take care of your best customers, someone else will. They’re an asset, not a liability. Joseph Anderson - It’s been his experience that we (season pass holders) don’t tend to use the prime tee times on weekends, and they tend to take care of the course because they love the course. Dick McCarthy - Stressed the personal side of the play. If you take away the season pass, people won’t be able to play with their friends because of the cost. Hope the Committee takes that into consideration when selecting the options. Loren Hegland - Been involved since the design of the course when it wasn’t doing very well. Made presentations to the City Council then to stay the course, it’s a long time thing. Hate to see friends in the men’s club leave. It’s a fundamental issue. They should be grandfathered. There aren’t that many of them (non-residents). Kirk Larson - Been a season pass holder for six to eight years. Part of Men’s Club presidential duties is to recruit new board members. Due to the season pass issue/animosity, was not able to recruit the volunteers needed for these positions. There are 250 people in the Men’s Club. This will effect economics for years to come if you don’t maintain these core people. It’s an emotional issue as well as an economic issue. Mr. Dodge stated that every golf course has a personality of their men’s club and women’s club members. Valleywood’s club member’s participation at state events speak well of the personality of the course. Many season pass holders will use the unscheduled hours of the course, i.e. 7:00 am - before the first reservable tee time or late evening, but these are still counted as full rounds of golf even if they play only 4 or 5 holes. Valleywood’s economic issues lie with the expanded clubhouse or cart usage, not with the season pass holders. Russ DeFauw stated that he has been a big proponent of this issue. Change is not easy. This is a public policy issue. In 1997 we had essentially a sold out course. Reports show that 200 pass holders played 25% of the rounds of golf at Valleywood. Believe that we can expand participation of Valleywood with a much broader base. (Our) responsibility is to take care of residents first, and he also believes we can improve revenue. Russ DeFauw - Question is, does the public want 25% of their rounds played by 200 people at reduce rates. If they’re Apple Valley residents, that’s okay with me. Thought we made an appropriate move last fall (with the recommendation). The only move we have is the tee time advanced reservation. Loren Hegland - Speaking to the Monday through Thursday option...the course is not easily available unless you’re retired or have independent hours because of the Monday tournaments, and Tuesday junior and ladies leagues. 3 Marci Drews - Addressing the recorded number of rounds played, believe the numbers are skewed for 1997 because some of the season pass holders would play only three or fours holes, but it was counted as a full season pass round, or more than one person from the foursome would check in for the group. (1998 reports indicate 23.5% of the golf rounds were played by season pass holders.) Doug Lund - If everybody has the same opportunity to play the course with tee times, (I) would be shocked if people couldn’t get a reservation. Tiffani Anglin - If you eliminate the non-resident season pass will you fill those places with resident season passes? Rick Dodge - No, there are an unlimited number on resident season passes available. If you equaled the tee time reservation to five day advance reservation for everyone, that would automatically increase the revenue. Once a non-resident drops their season pass, they cannot return as a season pass holder. Currently at 87 non-resident season pass holders, the number can’t go higher. The new non-resident season pass option has been eliminated. Charlie Maus - Agree with the same number of days for everyone for tee times. John DiRico - Purchased twenty individual rounds of golf in 1998. Made all the reservations through “Ready Golf” and never had a problem making reservations. If you pick your times, you’ll have access to the course. Rick Dodge - In my opinion, eliminating the non-resident season pass would harm the course. Bill Drews - Because we play more golf, we sell Valleywood through tournaments, at other outside tournaments, etc. We take care of the course by picking up liter, filling in the divots, etc. If our friends leave, we’ll leave because it’s a social sport. Russ DeFauw - This is a public policy issue about how concentrated our course should be, not a personal issue. Doug Lund - Are you going to replace 10,000 round? A season pass was offered ten years ago to attract people, now we’re at the peak. You owe it to me as a taxpayer to try to protect this base of players. Jim Zinck - We need to have five to six days in advance reservations as a course manager. The avid player will know when to make the reservations and they’ll get the best times. The best we can do is to make it equal for everyone to get a reservation. Russ DeFauw - I don’t think we’re being that unfair to non-residents. We’re not saying that non-residents are not welcome at Valleywood. We’re saying they’re not getting discounted golf during prime time. 4 Charlie Maus - (Addressed to Rick Dodge) Do you think a higher price would lose the customer? Rick Dodge - Those that want to hang in there for the long haul and can afford it will stay and pay the higher non-resident rate. MOTION: by Tina Rankin, seconded by John DiRico to recommend Option #2 for City Council consideration. VOTE: Yes - 5, No - 1 (DeFauw) ITEM #4.B. Old Business - Dakota County Comprehensive Plan Meeting September 30, 1998. This item is for informational purposes. A Joint Planning Commission meeting will be held at Rosemount City Hall September 30th at 6:30 p.m. Any committee member interested in attending should notify Randy Johnson by September 28. 5 ITEM #5.A. New Business -.Update on Park Bond Projects. Tom Adamini gave an overview of park projects:  The new aquatic center is on budget and on time. The pool is really taking structure, slides are being installed now.  There are four playground sites left to be installed. Equipment and sand will be installed at all 26 locations by the end of the year, but timbers/landscaping may not be completed until into 1999.  Park Maintenance is busy with mowing, playground set ups, and general work. The department does receive some assistance from the County’s Sentence to Service work program, Twin Cities Tree Trust, and other community service programs.  Over the summer, due to storms damage, 199 trees were lost in active user areas of the park property. Of those, 117 were at Redwood Park. On average, the Park Department plants 200 trees per year, so basically one year of planting was lost. Reforestation of Redwood Park will begin October 3, with the help of a volunteer scout troop. ITEM #6.A. Other - Information from Dakota County regarding Lebanon Hills Regional Park Deer Management. Copies of a letter sent to Lebanon Hills area residents regarding the deer management program were distributed to committee members for informational purposes. ITEM #7. Adjourn. There being no further business, the Park and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting was adjourned. MOTION: by Charlie Maus, seconded by Tina Rankin to adjourn the meeting at 9:35 p.m. VOTE: Yes - 6, No - 0 6