[Call to Order]
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EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS COUNCILMAN KHALIL BACHON. I'M THE CHAIR OF THE PARKS AND
[Roll Call]
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SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE. I'M JOINED HERE WITH COUNCILWOMAN BETSY RUIZ, MY VICE CHAIR.[00:29:59]
COUNCILMAN JP LINIGER. WE HAVE IN THE IN HERE, COUNCILWOMAN BASS, COUNCILMAN ANTHONY[00:30:06]
PIAGENTINI. ONLINE, WE HAVE COUNCILWOMAN JOSE RAYMOND, COUNCILWOMAN MARILYN PARKER.[00:30:11]
THIS MEETING IS BEING HELD PURSUANT TO CRS 61.826 AND COUNCIL RULE FIVE A, WE ARE[00:30:18]
GOING TO START OFF WITH THE RESOLUTION TODAY, RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ACCEPT[2. R-099-25 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ACCEPT $250,000 FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES (“ICLEI”) THROUGH THE MUNICIPAL INVESTMENT FUND TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY. Action Required By: February 14, 2026 Sponsors: Khalil Batshon (R-25) ]
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$250,000 FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL INCENTIVES THROUGH THE MUNICIPAL INVESTMENT FUND, TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY. AND WE HAVE SOMEONE HERE TO SPEAK ON THAT. PLEASE SAY YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. SORRY. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS SAMANTHA. I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY. THIS OPPORTUNITY IS CALLED THE MUNICIPAL INVESTMENT FUND. IT WAS A COMPETITIVE GRANT THAT WE APPLIED FOR. I BELIEVE THERE'S A NUMBER OF CITIES THAT APPLIED, AND WE WE WERE AWARDED. WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH THE AWARD AGREEMENT, BUT PROVIDED ALL OF THAT GOES SMOOTHLY, THE FUNDING WILL HELP US ESSENTIALLY BUILD A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP PLAN AND DO SOME MARKET BUILDING ACTIVITIES TO MAKE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS ACCESS MORE SUSTAINABLE FINANCING FROM PRIVATE SOURCES. SO THIS IS A MULTI-PHASE GRANT. SO THIS FIRST GRANT IS MORE OF A PLANNING GRANT. AND THEN IT WILL ALLOW US TO APPLY FOR FUTURE IMPLEMENTATION FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO BRING INVESTMENT TOWARDS CLEAN ENERGY, ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND ENERGY STORAGE PROJECTS. DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS THAT WANT TO SPEAK TO THIS? IF NOT, I'M GOING TO ASK A QUESTION HERE REAL QUICK. SO IN THIS INCENTIVE, CAN YOU GIVE ME SOME EXAMPLES OF WHAT THAT MONEY CAN GO TOWARDS? YES, ABSOLUTELY. SO SO THE FUNDS WILL HELP US HIRE SOME CONTRACTORS WHO CAN HELP US DO SOME WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION FOR THE WORKFORCE THAT IS CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN HVAC UPGRADES, SOLAR INSTALLATIONS, AND THOSE TYPES OF PROJECTS TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN BETTER SUPPORT THEIR CUSTOMERS IN THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS, AND HOW THEY CAN IN THE FUTURE, APPLY FOR MORE FUNDING THAT'S AVAILABLE NATIONALLY TO BE ABLE TO HELP THOSE PROJECTS. SO IT'S MORE ABOUT GENERALLY SUPPORTING THE WORKFORCE AT THIS STAGE. SO I'M JUST GOING TO ASK THIS QUESTION. CAN YOU TAKE THIS FUNDS AND USE IT TOWARDS THE RECS? NO, NO, THIS IS SPECIFIC TO EDUCATION AND AROUND CONTRACTORS. THANK YOU. YEAH. THIS IS DUE TO THIS RESOLUTION.THERE'S NO OTHER SPEAKERS IN THE QUEUE. SO WE NEED TO DO A VOICE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. AND ALL OPPOSED. LOOKS LIKE THE AYES HAVE IT. THANK YOU. HAVE A GOOD DAY. ALL RIGHT.
[1. ID 25-0200 OVERVIEW OF GOLF OPERATIONS – Michelle King, Jason Canuel, and Nathan Maiwald, Louisville Parks and Recreation]
THANK YOU. WE HAVE A OVERVIEW OF GOLF OPERATIONS WITH MICHELLE KING JASON CANTWELL NATHAN MAYWALD. WE'RE GOING TO DO ABOUT TEN MINUTES TEN, 15 MINUTES ON THAT. AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO MOVE INTO QUESTIONS. I KNOW WE'VE GOT A LOT OF QUESTIONS. A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO WANT TO GET TO. SO SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET THIS PARTY ROLLING. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE PARKS AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE. THANK YOU FOR INVITING US HERE TODAY. CAN YOU SAY YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE? YEP. MY NAME IS NATHAN MAYWALD. I'M ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR PARKS AND RECREATION. I SERVE AREAS OF PARK MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS, BALL FIELD CEMETERIES, FLEET EQUIPMENT AND MAINTENANCE, IROQUOIS AMPHITHEATER AND OUR GOLF COURSES. AS STEWARDS OF LOUISVILLE'S PUBLIC RECREATION SPACES, WE ALL SHARE A COMMON GOAL TO PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE, INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO CONNECT, PLAY AND THRIVE. WE WERE ASKED TO PRESENT AN OVERVIEW OF HOW OUR MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSES OPERATE FROM THE SCOPE OF OUR FACILITIES AND THE PEOPLE WHO RUN THEM, TO THE MAINTENANCE, CHALLENGES AND COMMUNITY IMPACT. SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND BEGIN. I'M GOING TO DO A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF OUR TEN COURSES THAT WE HAVE. WE HAVE TEN GOLF COURSES, THREE NINE HOLES, 227 HOLES AND 518 HOLES. BOBBY NICHOLS IS OUR FIRST GOLF COURSE HERE. DISTRICT 12 IS A 78 ACRE COURSE WITH NINE HOLES AND ROUGHLY 11,000 ROUNDS IN 24 CHEROKEE GOLF COURSE, DISTRICT 852 ACRES, NINE HOLES, JUST UNDER 20,00RO. LAST YEAR, CRESCENT HILL DISTRICT 970 ACRES, NINE HOLES JUST OVER 20 OR JUST UNDER 22,000 ROUNDS AND[00:35:03]
24. SUN VALLEY DISTRICT 14 148 ACRES, 18 HOLES, JUST OVER 22,000 ROUNDS IN 24. SHAWNEE GOLF COURSE 167 ACRES, 18 HOLES, 26,600 ROUNDS. IROQUOIS GOLF COURSE, DISTRICT 15 125 ACRES, 18 HOLES, JUST OVER 31,000 ROUNDS. CHARLIE 178 ACRES, 18 HOLES, 32,000 ROUNDS. AND LONG RUN GOLF COURSE. DISTRICT 19 150 ACRES, 18 HOLES AND IT'S JUST UNDER 33,000 ROUNDS AND 24.QUAIL CHASE, 190 ACRES, 27 HOLES, ALMOST 29,000 ROUNDS AND 24 AND SENECA GOLF COURSE, 190 ACRES, 27 HOLES, OVER 65,000 ROUNDS IN 24. SO. HOW DO OUR COURSES OPERATE? OUR COURSES ARE MADE UP OF TWO GROUPS FOR OPERATIONAL ASPECTS. YOU GOT LOUISVILLE PARKS AND RECREATION AND ITS EMPLOYEES AND THE GOLF PROFESSIONALS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES. AS YOU CAN SEE ON THIS SLIDE, OUR ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE IS IS MORE OF A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT OR RELATIONSHIP. AND THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART, AS YOU CAN SEE IT, FOR PARKS, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR WORKS DOWN THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATORS, WHICH SUPERVISES THE GOLF SUPERINTENDENTS COULD BE 1 TO 2 PER COURSE IF THEY HAVE A SUPERINTENDENT AND ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT DOWN THROUGH GOLF WORKERS, ROUGHLY 2 TO 5 PER COURSE. AND THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE, THERE'S THE GOLF PROFESSIONAL, TYPICALLY ONE PER COURSE. AND THEN ASSISTANT GOLF PROFESSIONALS CAN BE 1 TO 2 TO COURSES. SOME SOME MIGHT HAVE MORE OR LESS. AND THEN THEIR CLUBHOUSE STAFF CAN RANGE FROM 5 TO 25 PEOPLE. AS YOU CAN SEE HERE WITH THE THE DOTTED LINES SHOWS HOW WE COLLABORATE WITH ONE ANOTHER, THE SUPERINTENDENTS AND THE GOLF PROS SHOULD BE COMMUNICATING ALMOST DAILY, AND THEN THE ADMINISTRATORS AND THE ASSISTANT DIRECTORS ARE THERE TO TO WORK WITH THE GOLF PROFESSIONALS AS WELL. SO. GOLF CONTRACTS, EACH GOLF COURSE HAS AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTED GOLF PROFESSIONAL. OR FOR SHAWNEE AND BOBBY NICHOLS SAKE, AN ORGANIZATION LIKE THE FIRST TEE THAT MANAGES ALL PRO SHOP OPERATIONAL ASPECTS OF THE COURSE. WHEN A CONTRACT RUNS OUT OR A GOLF COURSE DOESN'T HAVE A GOLF, PRO PARKS WILL SOLICIT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL TO OPERATE WHICHEVER COURSE IS AVAILABLE. A PARKS COMMITTEE WILL THEN SELECT AN OPERATOR BY WAY OF SCORING SYSTEM AND INTERVIEWS, AND THE SELECTED OPERATORS THEN PRESENTED TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL. OUR CONTRACTS ARE SET UP AS WHAT'S CONSIDERED A CONCESSIONAIRE CONTRACT. A CONCESSIONAIRE CONTRACT IS A CONTRACTOR USING PUBLIC SPACE, INFRASTRUCTURE OR LAND FOR A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS.
THESE CONTRACTS ARE SET UP ON A REVENUE SHARE PLAN THAT IS NEGOTIATED DURING THE RFP PROCESS. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, OUR TEN GOLF COURSES COMBINED FOR ROUGHLY A 5050 REVENUE SPLIT WITH THE GOLF PROS AND OUR GOLF COURSES. OUR CONTRACTS TYPICALLY START ON A FIVE YEAR BASIS AND BREAK DOWN AS THREE YEARS GUARANTEED, WITH OPTION FOR ONE YEAR AND ONE YEAR THEREAFTER. AND WHEN A CONTRACT RUNS OUT OR A GOLF COURSE DOESN'T HAVE A GOLF PRO ALREADY WENT THROUGH THAT THE RFP PROCESS. SO MOVING ON. SO PARKS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING THE GOLF PRO CONTRACTS AS WELL. AND WHAT THAT MEANS ON THE GOLF PRO CONTRACT IS PROVIDING SPACE AND ACCESS FOR THE GOLF PRO, ENSURING UPKEEP OF THE CLUBHOUSE, INSPECTIONS OF THE CLUBHOUSE, REVENUE OVERSIGHT, UTILITY BILLING, CREDIT CARD FEES, AND APPROVING ANNUAL PROJECTIONS AND MONITORING THEM. SO PARKS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING GOLF CONTRACTS, GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE, CLUBHOUSE INFRASTRUCTURE, PROVIDING UPKEEP OF GOLF MAINTENANCE AND EQUIPMENT CAPITAL AND DEFERRED MAINTENANCE PROJECTS. PROVIDING A GOLF SOFTWARE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, WHICH IS THE POS, AND THE TEE TIME SYSTEM FOR THE COURSES, AS WELL AS MARKETING AND SOCIAL MEDIA. AND ON THE GOLF PRO SIDE OF THINGS, THEY ARE RESPONSIBILITIES SUCH AS CLUBHOUSE OPERATIONS, WHICH IS BOOKING TEE TIMES, CHECKING GOLFERS, PURCHASE AND SALE OF MERCHANDISE, FOOD AND BEVERAGE SERVICES, STARTERS AND RANGERS FOR THE COURSE TO PLAY TO KEEP PLAY MOVING. STAFFING OF THE CLUBHOUSE. LEASE AND MAINTENANCE OF GOLF CART FLEET, GENERAL HOUSEKEEPING IN THE CLUBHOUSE AND PROVIDING LESSONS AND INSTRUCTIONS. SO I'M GONNA BREAK DOWN A LITTLE BIT MORE OF WHAT PARKS DO ON A DAILY AND
[00:40:05]
WEEKLY MAINTENANCE. SO. WE DO AERIFICATION ACROSS EVERY COURSE UP TO TWICE A YEAR. WE DO. WE HANDLE EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE, WHICH IS FIXING MOWERS, PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE, WINTERIZING OUR IRRIGATION SYSTEMS. I'M SORRY. SORRY ABOUT THAT. I'M JUST GOING TO GO OFF THE SLIDE HERE. OUR PARKS MOWING FAIRWAYS TEE BOX IS ROUGH AND GREENS BUNKER MAINTENANCE. COMMUNICATING WITH THE GOLF PROFESSIONAL ABOUT MAINTENANCE NEEDS IN THE COURSE CONDITIONS. MOVING TEE MARKERS. CUT THE CUT THE CUT AND MOVE THE FLAG WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY ROTATING THE CUP AROUND THE GOLF. THE GREEN TO. MINIMIZE IMPACT IN ONE AREA OF THE GREEN.CHECKING AND REMOVING TRASH. PICKING UP STORM DEBRIS. WATERING THE GOLF COURSE, WEEKLY SPRAY APPLICATIONS AND EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE SUCH AS MOWERS, TRACTORS, AND SMALL ENGINE EQUIPMENT. NOW HERE'S WHERE I WAS. I'M SORRY, THIS IS THE PARK SEASONAL MAINTENANCE.
SO WE'RE DOING AERIFICATION ACROSS THE COURSE UP TO TWICE A YEAR HANDLING EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE SUCH AS FIXING MOWERS AND PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE WINTERIZING OUR IRRIGATION SYSTEMS IN THE LATE FALL, AND THEN TURNING IRRIGATION SYSTEMS BACK ON IN LATE SPRING. GRASS SEEDING, FERTILIZING, TREE MANAGEMENT, NATURAL DISASTER CLEANUP, AND THEN WINTER PROJECTS. AND JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES OF WINTER PROJECTS THAT WE DO, PAINTING TEE MARKERS AND YARDAGE MARKERS, OFF SEASON EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE SUCH AS SHARPENING MOWER WHEELS, OIL CHANGES, REPLACING HYDRAULIC HOSES, PAINTING STRUCTURES AND FACILITIES SUCH AS SHELTERS, GAZEBOS AND SHOPS, CUTTING BACK NATURAL AREAS OR NORMAL AREAS, CLEARING OUT UNDERBRUSH AND GROWTH IN THE WOODLAND AREAS, AND THEN REBUILDING BUNKERS.
THOSE ARE JUST SOME EXAMPLES. PARKS, SPECIALIZED MAINTENANCE. SO THIS IS, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON THE DEPENDING ON WHAT THE PROJECT IS, IT COULD BE OUR GOLF STAFF CONDUCTING THIS MAINTENANCE. IT COULD BE PUTTING A WORK ORDER IN FOR SOME OF OUR TRADE SPECIALISTS TO COME TO THE COURSE AND DO THAT AND DO THAT WORK. AND IT COULD ALSO BE WORKING WITH CONTRACTORS. SO PLUMBING ISSUES COULD BE LIKE WHETHER IT'S IN THE CLUBHOUSE, THE MAINTENANCE SHOP OR ON THE COURSE OR MAIN LINES. ELECTRICAL COULD BE CLUBHOUSE, MAINTENANCE SHOP, IRRIGATION BOXES, REPAIRS RELATED TO VANDALISM SUCH AS CARS DRIVING ON A GOLF COURSE, TEARING UP PARKING LOTS, GREENS AND FAIRWAYS ON THE COURSES, AND THEN CLUBHOUSE ISSUES WHICH ARE FOCUSED MORE AROUND THE THE STRUCTURAL AND MECHANICAL ISSUES OF THAT FACILITY. NOW OVER TO THE GOLF PROS DAILY WEEKLY RESPONSIBILITIES. SO THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR HIRING THEIR PRO SHOP STAFF SUCH AS CASHIERS, KITCHEN STAFF, CART STAFF, COMMUNICATING WITH PARKS DEPARTMENT ABOUT MAINTENANCE NEEDS AND COURSE CONDITIONS, CLEANING AND MAINTAINING THE CLUBHOUSE, BOOKING TEE TIMES, MAINTAINING FOOD AND BEVERAGE SERVICES. THE MERCHANDISE WHICH IS PURCHASING AND SELLING OF GOODS PROVIDE PROVIDING GOLF CARTS TO THE PATRONS AND THEN PROVIDING SUPPLIES FOR THE CLUBHOUSE FOR THEIR DAILY OPERATION. SOME ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE GOLF PRO IS QUARTERLY FINANCIAL REPORTS THAT THEY'RE TO TURN IN TO PARKS AND TO COUNCIL, CREATE ANNUAL MARKETING PLANS, AND PRESENT THEM TO PARKS MANAGEMENT, CONDUCTING YOUTH AND ADULT PROGRAMING, AND COULD BE LESSONS, HOSTING TOURNAMENTS, SCRAMBLES AND OUTINGS, AND THEN HOSTING MEN'S AND WOMEN'S GOLF CLUBS. SO WE'RE NEXT SECTION IS OUR RECENT COMPLETED CAPITAL PROJECTS AND DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. JUST JUST SOME OF THE EXAMPLES OF SOME PROJECTS THAT WE'VE COMPLETED. NEW ROOF AT CHEROKEE, NEW FOUR TEE BOXES BUILT AT CRESCENT HILL GOLF COURSE, NEW CART PASS AND LAKE STABILIZATION AT SUN VALLEY, SPRIGGING OF THE QUAIL CHASE FAIRWAYS INTO BERMUDA GRASS. RECONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING OF OUR MAINTENANCE SHOP. RESTROOMS AT BOBBY NICHOLS GOLF COURSE AND VARIOUS TYPES OF EQUIPMENT PURCHASES FOR ALL TEN COURSES. SOME FUTURE CAPITAL PROJECTS, AND DEFERRED MAINTENANCE THAT WERE LOOKING TO DO IS THE REDESIGN AND BUILD OF THE FIRST TEE FOR LOUISVILLE, THE YOUTH COURSE AT SENECA, WIDENING THE ENTRANCE AND PARKING LOT, PAVING AT LONG RUN GOLF COURSE, REGRADING NUMBER NINE FAIRWAY AND VARIOUS TEE BOX CONSTRUCTIONS AT CHARLIE VENTNOR. GOLF COURSE RECONSTRUCTION AND BUILD OUT OF THE CLUBHOUSE DECK AT BOBBY NICHOLS AND IMPROVING DRAINAGE ISSUES ON HOLE NUMBER THREE, NUMBER SIX AND DEMOLISH THE OLD BUILDINGS. THE OLD MAINTENANCE BUILDING AT SHAWNEE GOLF COURSE. SO THESE ARE SOME REVENUE ENHANCEMENTS. TO AA AND AND HELPING TAKE CARE OF THOSE THESE ALL OF OUR NEEDS CAPITAL
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PROJECTS, DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND EQUIPMENT ARE ALL FUNDED BY GOLF REVENUE AND BY CITY GENERAL FUNDS. WE WANT TO EXPLORE WAYS TO INCREASE OUR GOLF REVENUE STREAMS, TO ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR INVESTMENT ON OUR COURSES. RECENT RESEARCH SHOWS THAT OUR GREENS FEES, WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN INCREASED IN OVER FIVE YEARS, ARE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN PUBLIC GOLF COURSES THROUGHOUT OUR REGION. SO WE WANT TO WORK WITH MAYOR AND COUNCIL TO DETERMINE OPTIMAL GREENS FEES, LOSING SIGNIFICANT REVENUE BASED ON NO SHOWS FOR TEE TIMES THAT ARE BOOKED ON OUR GOLF COURSES. SO WE'RE INVESTIGATING THE USE OF A NOMINAL UPFRONT BOOKING FEE, WHICH IS A PORTION OF THE GREENS FEE AS WELL. SO WE ARE DEFINITELY UP AGAINST SOME CHALLENGES RIGHT NOW IN OUR GOLF COURSES. LAST TWO YEARS HAVE BEEN TOUGH ON ON OUR GOLF TEAM. SOME CHALLENGES THAT WE'VE BEEN NAVIGATING INCLUDE OUR STAFFING LEVELS AT OUR GOLF COURSES, WE HAVE SEVERAL VACANT POSITIONS. WITHOUT VIABLE CANDIDATES. WE HAVE OUTDATED IRRIGATION SYSTEMS, WHICH CONSISTENTLY WE'RE CONSISTENTLY SEEING LEAKS THAT WE CAN'T REPAIR BASED ON THE SEASON AND THEN CRAZY WEATHER PATTERNS. OF COURSE, WITH 32 DAYS OF SNOW AND ICE ON THE GROUND, SHAWNEE UNDERWATER FOR WEEKS, AND SOME OF THE HOTTEST SUMMERS, FOLLOWED BY TORRENTIAL RAIN AND EXTREME HEAT AGAIN. NATHAN, DO WE? WE'VE KIND OF RUN OVER THAT A LITTLE TIME TO MAKE SURE WE GET EVERYBODY'S QUESTIONS IN A LIST. HOW MANY MORE SLIDES DO YOU THINK YOU GOT? ABOUT FIVE. ABOUT BASICALLY ABOUT CHALLENGES. CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS. LET'S COVER SOME OF THE SOLUTIONS REAL QUICK AND THEN WE'LL JUMP INTO QUESTIONS OKAY. SO SO WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT ABOUT THESE CHALLENGES.STAFFING. WE'RE WORKING TO EXPAND GOLF OUR GOLF TURF MANAGEMENT EXPERTISE INVESTIGATING BRINGING ON ADDITIONAL TURF EXPERTS TO HELP OUR SUPERINTENDENTS UPDATED UNION AND NONUNION SALARIES SHOULD STRENGTHEN OUR RECRUITING COMPETITIVENESS. AND WE CURRENTLY UTILIZE OVERTIME AND WILL CONTINUE TO, WHEN NECESSARY, FOR RECOVERY.
SPECIAL PROJECTS, AERIFICATION AND WATERING COURSES AFTER HOURS AND EXTREME CONDITIONS.
THE IRRIGATION. WE'RE SEEKING SOLUTIONS TO SECURE FUNDING NEEDED TO UPGRADE THESE SYSTEMS. AN ESTIMATE FOR AN 18 HOLE GOLF COURSE IS TWO AND A HALF TO $3 MILLION TO REPLACE IRRIGATION SYSTEM. WE HAVE SOME SYSTEMS THAT ARE 60, 70, 80 YEARS OLD AND THEN WEATHER. WE'RE JUST WORKING TO FURTHER ENHANCE OUR GRASS TYPES AND TREATMENT PLANS TO ENSURE DURABILITY. AND LOUISVILLE'S WIDE RANGING WEATHER PATTERNS. SO ON COURSE CONDITIONS FOR OUR IMMEDIATE NEEDS, WE'VE ASSIGNED OUR IN-HOUSE TURF EXPERT TO WORKING DAILY WITH OUR SUPERINTENDENTS ACROSS ALL OF OUR GOLF COURSES, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE NEEDING RECOVERY. RIGHT NOW, WE'RE TREATING OUR COURSES WITH AN AGGRESSIVE RECOVERY PLANS, DEVELOPING A STRONG AGRONOMY PLAN TO RECOVER, WHICH INCLUDES AERIFICATION SPECIFICALLY PULLING CORES, ADDING NEW BENTGRASS SEED FERTILIZER, AND TIMELY AND EFFICIENT WATERING PLANS. MORE AGGRESSIVE AND TIMELY PEST CONTROL FOR THE ABUSE, AND THEN CONTINUING TO CONSULT WITH REGIONAL GOLF INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS. THE LOUISVILLE PARKS ISN'T UNIQUE IN THE FACT THAT WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH SOME OF OUR GREENS RIGHT NOW. CONSULT AND CONSULTING WITH OUR INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS ALLOWS PERSPECTIVE ON OTHER COURSES THAT ARE FARING AND WHERE THEY'RE THEY'RE SEEING SUCCESSES. AND AND WE CAN BUILD OFF OF OF WHAT WE GET FROM THEM ON THAT. DO YOU WANT TO STOP THERE? YEAH. LET'S LET'S GO AHEAD AND JUST KIND OF JUMP IN.
I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK AND EFFORT ON THIS. AND IF YOU ALL CAN JUST SEND THIS TO US SO WE CAN GIVE IT TO EVERYBODY IN THE COMMITTEE AND ON THE COUNCIL, PLEASE, I'M JUST GOING TO JUMP IN REAL QUICK AND START WITH WHICH COURSES HAVE THE HAVE UNACCEPTABLE GREENS TODAY AND WHY. SO OUR UNPLAYABLE GREENS ARE CHARLIE VENTNOR. WE HAVE. THREE THERE AND THEN WE HAVE ONE AT SUN VALLEY. YEAH. ONE IS THE ONE I SKIPPED. SORRY. YEAH, YEAH. SO GREENS WISE WE HAVE 190 GREENS COMBINED. WE HAVE THREE UNPLAYABLE GREENS AT CHARLIE VENTNOR, ONE UNPLAYABLE GREEN AT SUN VALLEY AND 24 GREENS ACROSS THE COURSES WITH SEVERE OR MINOR ISSUES BUT STILL PLAYABLE. SO 85% OF OUR GREENS ARE GOOD TO EXCELLENT, 13% HAVE INJURIES AND 2% ARE UNPLAYABLE. NOW THE WHY? THERE'S THERE'S THERE'S CERTAIN VARIABLES THAT WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED ON OUR GREENS AT THESE COURSES. YOU KNOW, I SPOKE ABOUT THE THE SIGNIFICANT WEATHER PATTERNS THAT WE FACED, BUT WE ALSO HAVE HAD EXTREME HEAT FOLLOWED BY TORRENTIAL RAINS FOLLOWED BY EXTREME HEAT. AGAIN, THE TWO ONE OF THE COURSES THAT WE HAD, THE UNPLAYABLE GREENS, WE HAVE ALSO ENCOUNTERED AN INFESTATION OF ABWRS, WHICH IS THE ANNUAL
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BLUEGRASS WEEVIL. THEY FEED ON ANNUAL. ANNUAL GRASS, POA ANNUA, SORRY GRASS AND ONCE THEY START FEEDING ON THAT GRASS AND WITH THE HEAT AND THE RAIN THAT THAT GRASS CHECKS OUT, DIES OFF. AND UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF OUR GREENS ARE MADE UP OF THE POA ANNUA. SO WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN THE BENTGRASS IN THOSE IN THOSE GREENS. OKAY, SO ON THE ANNUAL BLUEGRASS WEEVILS, OBVIOUSLY IT'S ANNUAL THAT WE TALK ABOUT THEM EVERY YEAR. IS THERE ANY PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE WE CAN DO TO THAT EXTENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE OBVIOUSLY KNOW THEY'RE COMING? WHAT CAN WE DO TO PREVENT THEM MOVING FORWARD? IF WE'VE KNOWN THEY'VE BEEN COMING FOR YEARS UPON TIME? AND WHAT IS WHAT IS THE WRITTEN DEFINITION FOR ACCEPTABLE GREEN CONDITION FOR GREENS, FAIRWAYS AND BUNKERS OR, OR IS THERE NOT A WRITTEN DEFINITION OF THAT? IF THERE'S A WRITTEN DEFINITION, I'M NOT AWARE OF IT. I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION. AND YES, THE INFESTATION IS IS SOMETHING THAT, LIKE YOU SAID, IS ANNUAL. WE DO SPRAY CHEMICALS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO COMBAT THOSE ABUSE. THE UNFORTUNATE THING ABOUT THE ABUSE IS THAT THEY THEY CAN BECOME TOLERANT TO THE CHEMICALS. SO SOMETIMES YOU FIND YOURSELF GOING THROUGH TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE DIFFERENT VARIOUS TYPES OF CHEMICALS TO TRY TO TREAT AND COMBAT THESE, THESE BUGS. HAVE WE DONE THAT? AND WE'VE STILL SEEN SOME AT LONG RUN, EVEN AFTER THESE DIFFERENT CHEMICALS THAT WE'VE APPLIED. I'M GOING TO MOVE ON TO A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. I HAVE A TON MORE I'D LIKE TO ASK, BUT I'M GOING TO GO TO COUNCILMAN PIAGENTINI. THANK YOU, MISTER CHAIR. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO CALL UP A GUEST THAT I'VE ASKED TO BE HERE AS WELL.YEAH, THAT SOUNDS GOOD. MR. MARK WILSON, IF YOU COULD COME TO THE PODIUM HERE FOR A MOMENT.
MR. WILSON, IF YOU COULD DO ME A FAVOR. AND FIRST OF ALL, JUST GIVE A LITTLE BIT A 32ND IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD, BUT THEN GIVE US A 32ND BIO JUST FOR YOUR BONA FIDES AND THEN, YEAH, LET'S START THERE. AND THEN I'LL START WITH A COUPLE QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT.
I'LL, I'LL PROBABLY 35 YEARS AS A GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT. AND PROBABLY THE THE BIGGEST ERROR WAS 22 YEARS AT VALHALLA GOLF CLUB, WHERE I HOSTED FIVE OF THE MAJOR TOURNAMENTS THAT WAS THERE. OKAY, SO AND I'M PROBABLY HERE AS A GOLFER TO, TO REPRESENT BECAUSE I PLAY GOLF ON A REGULAR BASIS AND I PLAY AT THE CITY GOLF COURSES TOO. SO AND THE REASON I'M HERE PROBABLY TOO, IS BECAUSE I WAS ASKED BY ONE OF YOUR ACTIVISTS THAT WHO SAYS A LOT, BUT ALL HE'S TRYING TO SAY IS HE WANTS, THEY WANT, WE WANT A BETTER STANDARD OF GOLF COURSES FOR OUR PUBLIC GOLF COURSES. SO AND LET ME START THERE, SIR, IN YOUR EXPERIENCE, AND LIKE YOU SAID, YOU PLAYED YOU'VE PLAYED PUBLIC GOLF, PRIVATE GOLF, YOU'VE BEEN ALL AROUND. YOU HAVE DECADES OF EXPERIENCE. I MEAN, I DARE SAY THERE'S PROBABLY NOT A SUPERINTENDENT IN THIS CITY THAT HAS THE EXPERIENCE THAT YOU HAVE. WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON THE CURRENT CONDITIONS OF OUR PUBLIC GOLF COURSES IN THE CITY? BROADLY SPEAKING, THIS HAS BEEN AN EXTREME YEAR. IT REALLY HAS BEEN AN EXTREME YEAR. THE LAST TWO YEARS HAS BEEN EXTREME.
OKAY. YOU'RE TALKING TO SUPERINTENDENT. I'VE LOST GRASS BEFORE. THOSE THINGS DO HAPPEN, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? BUT THE NUMBER ONE, THE GOLF COURSE IS NUMBER ONE TRAIT. YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE OWNERSHIP, OKAY? AND THE NUMBER TWO THING IS HE HAS TO CARE MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE OR PROBABLY IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK. OKAY. SO YOU GOT TO UNDERSTAND, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE HAVING SOME OF THESE ISSUES, THE THE PERSON WHO'S GOT TO FIX ALL THIS IS THE GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? BUT LIKE I SAID, I'M HERE BECAUSE WE PROBABLY WANT BETTER. WE WANT WE WANT IT TO BE BETTER. AND THAT SUPERINTENDENT, I KNOW WE ALL STRUGGLE. YOU KNOW, YOU QUESTION WHETHER HE HAS ENOUGH RESOURCES. YOU KNOW, WHAT I'M SAYING IS HE GOT THE RESOURCES HE NEED TO COMBAT. I'LL TALK ABOUT AB PROBABLY EVERY GOLF COURSE NEXT YEAR WILL HAVE THEY'LL INCREASE THEIR INSECTICIDE SPRAY PROBABLY THREE FOLD NEXT YEAR MAKING SURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN. BUT BUT WHAT WAS NEW IN YOUR SITUATION WITH AB IS IT WAS JUST AFFECTING COLLARS. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I SEEN THAT.
I'M HEARING THAT IT AFFECTED THE GREEN SURFACES. IT WAS JUST AFFECTING THE SURROUNDS OF THE GREENS. HAVE YOU EVER LOST I MEAN, I MEAN I'LL PICK ON LONG RUN. HAVE HAVE YOU EVER LOST THREE OR MORE GREENS IN A SEASON AND NOT EVEN IN WHOLE SEASON IN A FEW MONTHS, DUE TO ANY IMPACTS LIKE THAT THAT YOU DIDN'T FORESEE OR TRY TO MITIGATE? YES. AND, YOU KNOW, I'LL SIT THERE AND SAY, NO MATTER WHAT IS, WHEN OUR PEOPLE TALK FOREVER, NOBODY KNOWS MORE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS GREENS THAN THAT GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT. AND THERE'S USUALLY MULTIPLE THINGS THAN JUST ONE LITTLE CAUSE, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? AS FAR AS INSECTS, I SAID 30 YEARS AGO, WELL, EVERY TIME A SUPERINTENDENT LOST THE GREENS,
[00:55:03]
IT WAS NEMATODES. I DON'T EVEN HEAR NEMATODES TALKED ABOUT ANYMORE. SO. BUT ACTUALLY, IT'S FUNNY THAT WE PROBABLY HADN'T CALLED ON UK BECAUSE WE GOT ONE OF THE BEST ENTOMOLOGY PROGRAMS IN THE IN THE WHOLE UNITED STATES THAT WE HADN'T GOT THEM MORE INVOLVED WITH THIS. AB YOU SAID WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THEM INVOLVED AND I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, HAVE WE? OKAY.THANK YOU, MR. RALSTON. I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION. IF YOU COULD STICK AROUND, WE MIGHT HAVE A FEW FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS FOR YOU REAL QUICK. I'LL SAY JUST. I'VE BEEN GOLFING FOR. 30 YEARS. 30 PLUS YEARS. I'M 47 YEARS OLD. I STARTED GOLFING WAS ABOUT TEN.
RIGHT. SO DO THE MATH. LONG TIME. I'VE ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY PLAYED PUBLIC COURSES IN NEW JERSEY WHERE I GREW UP AND THEN CAME OUT HERE. I RECENTLY HAD A FRIEND OF MINE WHO'S THE STARTER AT A PUBLIC COURSE, ONE OF THE SAME PUBLIC COURSES. I GREW UP PLAYING IN NEW JERSEY THAT COUNTY RUNS. IT'S A SMALLER COUNTY THAN OURS AS FAR AS POPULATION, BUT THEY RUN SIX, 5 OR 6 PUBLIC GOLF COURSES. RIGHT. AND SO HE CAME OUT HERE FOR THE RECENTLY AND I GAVE HIM MY CLUBS AND HE WENT TO GO PLAY LONG RUN. I WILL TELL YOU THAT HIS EXPERIENCE WAS SIMILAR TO MY EXPERIENCE. I CAN SPEAK AT LEAST INTIMATELY ABOUT LONG RUN. I CAN ONLY SPEAK TANGENTIALLY ABOUT OTHER COURSES IN THE SYSTEM. I'VE NEVER PLAYED A PUBLIC GOLF COURSE THAT'S IN THAT KIND OF CONDITION. EVER. NEVER, EVER. THERE ARE MULTIPLE GREENS AGAIN. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DEFINE UNPLAYABLE GREENS, BUT THERE ARE AT LEAST AT LEAST THREE GREENS ON LONG RUN THAT I WAS BLOWN AWAY THAT WE WEREN'T ON TEMPORARY GREENS BECAUSE IT WAS. IT WAS JUST IT WAS BLACK.
I'D NEVER SEEN A BLACK GREEN IN MY WHOLE LIFE. IT WAS TOTALLY BURNT OUT. I BARELY SAW ANY GRASS. PUTTING WAS A JOKE. I MEAN, I DID IT BECAUSE IT WAS. IT WAS TECHNICALLY PLAYABLE, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, THEY WE WERE ALLOWED TO PLAY ON IT, BUT IT WAS BASICALLY JUST PICK UP THE BALL ONCE YOU'RE ON THE GREEN AND ASSUME WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE PUTTED BECAUSE IT WAS A WASTE OF TIME. AND IT'S NOT JUST THE GREENS. WE'RE FOCUSING ON THE GREENS HERE. AGAIN, I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT'S FRUSTRATING ABOUT THIS WHOLE PROCESS. YOU TALK ABOUT THE LONG TERM MAINTENANCE, RIGHT, ABOUT UPGRADING THE IRRIGATION SYSTEMS. I HAVEN'T HEARD A 3 TO 5 YEAR PLAN ON HOW WE CAN UPGRADE 1 OR 2 A YEAR. I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL SEVEN YEARS.
I'VE NEVER HEARD THAT LONG RUN. ACTUALLY HAS A COUPLE GREAT FAIRWAYS THERE. THEY'RE SEEDED WITH ZOYSIA. SO WE LIKE RANDOMLY HAVE A COUPLE HOLES SEEDED WITH ZOYSIA AND DON'T HAVE IT ON OTHER HOLES. I HAVE NO IDEA IF THERE'S A PLAN, AND I HAVEN'T HEARD A PLAN OF HOW TO FINISH CONVERTING AND WHAT IT WOULD COST TO CONVERT LONG RUN TO ZOYSIA, IT'S OBVIOUSLY A MUCH MORE DURABLE AND SUCCESSFUL MODEL, PROVEN BY THE FACT THAT YOU PLAY THESE HOLES.
THEY'RE GORGEOUS. WHEN I PLAY THE HOLES THAT AREN'T, IT'S I MEAN, IT WAS HARD TO FIND ON CERTAIN FAIRWAYS, A PATCH OF ACTUAL GRASS. IT WAS CRABGRASS, IT WAS CLOVER. IT WAS WEEDS.
I'D NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. RIGHT. LIKE NEVER DO WE HAVE INDEPENDENT CLINICAL REPORTS AND PROOF OF THE INFESTATION ISSUE? WELL, WE HAD THE SUPERINTENDENT WHO WHO HAS LOCATED THEM AND HAS AND HAS IMAGES OF THEM. SO, SO BUT WE'RE RELYING ON THE CITY SUPERINTENDENT AND OUR AND OUR IN-HOUSE TURF EXPERT. AND, AND WE'VE ALSO UTILIZED WE'VE UTILIZED MARK WILSON AT SOME OF OUR GOLF COURSES. AND CHUCK BREITENBACH HAS COME OUT AND HELPED WITH SOME OF OUR GOLF COURSES. SO, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S BEEN TO LONG RUN TO SEE THE INFESTATION AND THE THE ADS WE HAVE THERE, BUT WE HAVE CONSULTED WITH OTHER PEOPLE AS WELL. OKAY. AND OTHER GOLF COURSES THAT HAVE DEALT WITH THEM. SOME OF THESE GOLF COURSES ARE NEARBY, LONG RUN, ERADICATED THEM AND HAVE GOOD PLANS THAT THEY'VE USED MOVING FORWARD. AND WE'RE TALKING WITH THEM ABOUT THINGS, STEPS WE CAN TAKE NEXT YEAR TO TRY TO MITIGATE THIS ISSUE. YEAH, I KNOW SOMEBODY MENTIONED POLO FIELDS TO ME AT ONE POINT AND THE STRUGGLES THAT THEY'RE HAVING, FIRST OF ALL, POLO FIELDS HAS GENERALLY HAD A REPUTATION OF NOT BEING MANAGED WELL, PARTICULARLY IN RECENT YEARS. IT USED TO BE MANAGED MUCH BETTER. MOST OF MY FRIENDS THAT I KNOW THAT WERE MEMBERS THERE ARE LEAVING BECAUSE THEIR MANAGEMENT SUCKS SO BAD. SO I THINK THERE'S FIRST OF ALL, SORT OF A POOR EXAMPLE. AND SECONDLY, WE ARE SURROUNDED. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, LOOK, YOU CAN JUDGE WHAT PROXIMITY IS, BUT ALL THESE COURSES ACROSS THE CITY HAVE DEALT WITH THE SAME RAIN AND HEAT. RIGHT. THE BUG ISSUE, MAYBE I'LL CONCEDE RAIN AND HEAT IS UNIVERSAL. EVERY COURSE IN THE CITY HAS DEALT WITH IT. AND YET CERTAIN COURSES ARE IN GOOD CONDITION AND CERTAIN ONES ARE EVEN WITHIN OUR OWN PUBLIC GOLF SYSTEM. WE HAVE SOME THAT ARE IN VERY NICE CONDITION. I WOULD ABSOLUTELY CONCEDE THAT AND OTHERS THAT AREN'T, WHICH SHOULD BE ALL THE PROOF WE NEED
[01:00:04]
ON WHO'S PERFORMING AND WHO ISN'T. SO I'M A LITTLE. IF IT WAS JUST RAIN AND HEAT ISSUE, EVERY COURSE WOULD HAVE BURN OUT. GREENS WOULD HAVE WEEDS ALL OVER THE PLACE, BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE. SO THE RAIN HEAT ISSUE. I'M NOT SAYING IT'S NOT A CHALLENGE, BUT PEOPLE HAVE TO WORK HARDER BECAUSE OF IT. WE GOT TO GET MORE CREATIVE, BUT WE SEE PEOPLE BEING SUCCESSFUL MANAGERS. WE SEE PEOPLE NOT. AND THE LAST THING I'LL ASK IS, AGAIN, I'M GOING TO PICK ON LONG RUN HERE BECAUSE THE ONE I HAVE THE MOST INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE OF, I'VE PLAYED IT MYSELF. I PLAYED IT MYSELF THE OTHER DAY, YOU KNOW, WALKED THE WHOLE COURSE. DO YOU TALKED ABOUT CAPITAL UPGRADES AND YOU TALKED ABOUT THE PARKING LOT. LOOK, THERE WAS A MASSIVE POTHOLE IN THE FRONT THAT NEEDED TO BE FILLED IN. IT'S BEEN FILLED IN. WHATEVER. THE PARKING LOT'S NOT GREAT. WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT CAPITAL UPGRADES TO THAT VERSUS CONVERTING ZOYSIA OR CONVERTING THE IRRIGATION SYSTEM? I MEAN, YOU KNOW, ARE WE MISSING? ARE WE MISSING THE BALL ON THESE ON OUR PRIORITIZATION OF CAPITAL PROJECTS TO FOCUS ON MAINTENANCE OR FOCUS ON COURSE CONDITION? BECAUSE I AND THE REASON I'M ASKING THE QUESTION, I KNOW FOR A FACT, NOT JUST LONG RUN, BUT THERE'S MULTIPLE OTHER COURSES THAT ARE TURNING DOWN EVENTS BECAUSE OF THE CONDITION OF THEIR COURSES. SO WE ARE LOSING MONEY AS A AS AN ORGANIZATION. SO, YOU KNOW, ARE WE HOW ARE WE PRIORITIZING THOSE PROJECTS AND WHY ARE WE PRIORITIZING COURSE CONDITION AND SUSTAINABILITY FIRST? I THINK FOR THE FOR THE CAPITAL PROJECTS, FOR THE MOST PART, PRIORITIZATION IS LIFE SAFETY ISSUES. IN THE CASE OF GOLF COURSES, THE PARKING LOTS, YOU HAVE TO GET PEOPLE THERE IN ORDER TO PLAY THE COURSE. SO WE'RE KIND OF FOCUSING ON PARKING LOTS, THE PARKING, SOME OF THE MAINTENANCE BARN ISSUES THAT OUR OWN EMPLOYEES ARE WORKING OUT OF. SO THOSE ARE KIND OF THE THE FIRST, THE FIRST ROUND OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO FOCUS ON. OKAY, LOOK, I'LL JUST SAY IT THIS WAY. I'VE PLAYED IN GOLF COURSES THAT HAVE LIKE DIRT PARKING LOTS. RIGHT. IF THE COURSE WAS GOOD, PEOPLE SHOWED UP TO PLAY. I'VE NEVER IN MY LIFE HEARD A GOLFER SAY, MAN, I CAN'T WAIT TO PLAY THAT COURSE BECAUSE IT'S GOT A NICE PARKING LOT. THEY DON'T GIVE A RAT'S PATOOTIE. PEOPLE ARE STILL PLAYING LONG RUN WHEN YOU LITERALLY HAD TO DODGE A CAR SIZED POTHOLE TO GET OUT OF THE PARKING LOT, RIGHT? AND IT WAS LIKE THAT FOR LIKE THREE YEARS. AND PEOPLE WOULD PLAY IT BECAUSE THE CONDITION, AT LEAST IN PREVIOUS YEARS, HAS BEEN BETTER THAN IT HAS BEEN THIS YEAR. THE LAST THING I'LL SAY, I'LL GO BACK TO THE CHAIR. LOOK. I'M CONVINCED LONG RUN SPECIFICALLY, I KNOW THERE'S OTHER COURSES WE NEED TO SEE AN INCREDIBLE IMPROVEMENT IN THE NEXT YEAR. IF A YEAR FROM NOW WE'RE STILL HAVING THIS CONVERSATION, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BUGS THAT THAT COULD BE MANAGEABLE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW THE WEATHER IS IS KILLING US. AND WE DIDN'T MANAGE THAT PROPERLY. AND WE HAVE X AMOUNT OF GREENS THAT THAT ARE TORN DOWN AND, AND ALL THIS STUFF. THEN WE'RE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEGISLATIVELY LOOK AT MUCH MORE DRASTIC OPTIONS SUCH AS OUTSOURCING IT, LOOKING AT A DIFFERENT MANAGEMENT PROCESS WHERE MAYBE THE SUPERINTENDENTS AND MAINTENANCE REPORT THE PROS INSTEAD OF REPORTING TO PARKS.I DON'T KNOW. RIGHT. BUT BUT WE GOT TO LOOK AT MUCH MORE DRASTIC THINGS. WITH THAT SAID, IF A YEAR FROM NOW THIS IS ALL FIXED AND WE HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY AND REPORT ABILITY AND THIS IS ALL GOOD, I AGREE THAT WE NEED TO UP THE GREENS FEES, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THERE IS NO WAY I'M GOING TO DO THAT NOW, WHEN AT LEAST I KNOW MINE AND OTHER COURSES ARE IN THE CONDITION THEY'RE IN, IT'D BE WHOLLY UNJUSTIFIABLE FOR ME TO GO TO THE PUBLIC AND SAY, WE'RE GOING TO INCREASE THE GREENS FEES, AND THIS IS WHY. BUT I AGREE, THEY DO NEED TO BE INCREASED. I WANT TO SEE THAT WE HAVE A TEAM, PARTICULARLY ON THE MAINTENANCE SIDE, THAT IS THAT IS TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY, THAT IS MAKING THE REALLY TOUGH, DRASTIC EXPERIENCE DECISIONS THAT NEED BE MADE TO FIX THIS. AND THEN I'LL BE THE FIRST ONE HERE PROPOSING THAT WE INCREASE THE GREENS FEES. I'D BE GLAD TO DO IT, BUT THAT NEEDS TO BE BASED OFF OF MERIT AND SHOWING US THAT THAT WE HAVE A TEAM THAT CAN DO THIS RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. YEAH. THANK YOU. TONY, I GOT A COUPLE QUESTIONS. I'M GOING TO JUMP TO COUNCILWOMAN RUBY REAL QUICK.
WE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE MAINTENANCE OF THE COURSES AND WHATNOT, AND WE'VE GOT BUNKERS THAT WE'VE ALLOWED NOW TO JUST BE GRASSED OVER. GREENS HAVE REDUCED IN SIZE. YOU KNOW WHAT? WHERE IS THAT MANDATE COMING FROM? WHO'S INSPECTING THAT? WHO IS ALLOWING THAT TO HAPPEN.
AND WHY ARE WE MOVING IN THAT TRAJECTORY VERSUS MAKING SURE THAT THE BUNKERS ARE ARE SANDED AND LOOKING GOOD. SO IT IT CREATES A CHALLENGING OPPORTUNITY TO TO GET INTO THE FAIRWAY ON THE GREEN. AND, AND THEN WHY ARE THE GREENS GETTING SMALLER. AND THEN I'LL, I'LL HAVE ANOTHER FINAL QUESTION. THE COST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SWITCHING TO ZOYSIA VERSUS THE BERMUDA. I FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD PAY FOR THAT COST UP FRONT TO NOT BE IN THE HOT SEAT OVER THE GREENS AND THE FAIRWAYS BEING BURNT OUT OVER BERMUDA EVERY YEAR. SO CAN WE
[01:05:01]
GET SOME ANSWERS TO THAT. SO TO TO THE THE FAIRWAY PROJECTS WE AGREED WE WOULD WE WOULD LOVE TO REDO OUR FAIRWAYS. AS ALWAYS IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE. THE OTHER THING THAT MAKES IT CHALLENGING IS OUR CURRENT CONTRACTS. SO WHEN YOU HAVE A GOLF PRO WHO YOU KNOW, THEIR THEIR REVENUE COMES DIRECTLY FROM ALL THE GOLF WE PLAY OR DON'T PLAY, IT'S IMPACTED BY THAT. WELL, CHASE, WE WERE YOU KNOW, WE WERE ABLE TO DO IT'S A 27 HOLE COURSE. SO WE WERE ABLE TO SHUT DOWN NINE HOLES AT A TIME. AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO REDO NINE HOLES ONE YEAR, NINE HOLES NEXT YEAR AND STILL HAVE AN 18 HOLE GOLF COURSE AND MAINTAIN DECENT ROUNDS AND REVENUE THERE. OF COURSE, LIKE LONG RUN, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE IT WOULD BE GREAT TO GO TO SHUT THE HOLE COURSE DOWN AND DO EVERYTHING. BUT YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD REALLY SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT THE GOLF PRO'S REVENUE STREAM. BUT THERE IS, YOU KNOW, THE POTENTIAL FOR CLOSING DOWN NINE HOLES TO REDO THE FAIRWAYS AND KEEP NINE HOLES GOING SO YOU CAN TREAT IT LIKE A NINE HOLE GOLF COURSE.THERE'S ALWAYS THAT OPTION, WHICH I UNDERSTAND THAT AND MY MY SUGGESTION AT THIS POINT WE ARE WE'RE NEAR THE END OF THE SEASON. WE'RE COMING UP AT THE END OF THE SUMMER. WE'VE GOT FALL COMING UP. WE SHOULD BE HAVING THE CONVERSATION OF, YES, WE ARE GOING TO BE SWITCHING EVERYTHING TO ZOYSIA NEXT YEAR. LET'S START PLANTING THOSE AND SOWING THOSE SEEDS NOW, OR THE VERY FRONT SIDE OF THE SEASON NEXT YEAR, SO THAT EVERY COURSE IS READY TO GO BY GOLF SEASON.
AM I WRONG FOR SAYING THAT? NO, NOT AT ALL. OKAY, TONY, YOU HAD SOME. I WAS JUST GOING TO CHIME IN AND SAY, AND I THINK YOU FINALLY SAID IT, RIGHT? LIKE I'M NOT. I GET THE CHALLENGE. I DON'T WANT TO SAY I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE CHALLENGE, BUT CHALLENGE FIND SOLUTIONS SOLUTION IS WE SWITCH OVER TO A NINE HOLE, WE MAKE THE PRO HOLE. WE FIGURE, YOU KNOW, WE DO IT OVER MAYBE A TWO YEAR PERIOD OF TIME. DO NINE HOLES THIS YEAR, NINE HOLES NEXT YEAR, WHATEVER THE STORY IS, OR DO TWO HOLES AT A TIME OR WHATEVER THE DEAL IS WITH DISCLOSURES UP FRONT.
AND I MEAN, THERE'S I'VE SEEN COURSES PULL THIS OFF. I'VE PLAYED LONG ENOUGH WHERE I'VE SEEN PROVISIONAL GREENS, I'VE SEEN HOLES SHUT DOWN. I'VE SEEN ALL OF THAT, PARTICULARLY IN PUBLIC GOLF. AND SO BUT THEY WOULD DISCLOSE UP FRONT MESS WITH THE GREENS FEES TO COMPENSATE FOR THAT. RIGHT. SO YOU'D HAVE LESS HOLES, YOU'D PLAY WHATEVER THE DEAL IS. BUT YOU KNOW WITH THAT UPFRONT, YOU KNOW, AND THEN YOU COME OUT OF IT JUST TO PUT IT IN THIS WAY, THAT COUNTY THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT, NEW JERSEY, THEIR GOLF COURSES ARE SO PROFITABLE, THEY FUND THE ENTIRE PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR THE COUNTY. I MEAN, THAT'S I MEAN, WHEN I SEE ONE GOLF COURSE THAT IS 60 SOMETHING THAT IS DOUBLE OR TRIPLE THE AMOUNT OF ROUNDS OF THE NINE HOLE COURSE IS NOTWITHSTANDING. BUT WHEN I SEE A COURSE THAT IS THAT MANY MORE ROUNDS THAN THE OTHERS, WE HAVE SO MUCH OPPORTUNITY TO GROW HERE AND SO MUCH MISSED OPPORTUNITY THAT I'M MEAN. THOSE COURSES COMPETE WITH LOCAL PRIVATE COURSES AND THEY CHARGE ACCORDINGLY, BY THE WAY. SO IF WE HAVE THE RIGHT CONDITIONS, LIKE I SAID, AND WE MAKE THE CAPITAL INVESTMENTS NOW AND START GETTING UP TO SNUFF, WE CAN CHARGE MUCH MORE.
WE CAN MAKE WAY MORE MONEY FOR THIS GOLF SYSTEM AND BE AND AND THAT CAN HELP ESSENTIALLY THE CITY WRIT LARGE IN THE LONG RUN. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. YEAH. AND TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT LIKE BUNKERS, FOR INSTANCE, I AGREE, IF WE HAVE BUNKERS, THEY SHOULD BE IN GOOD CONDITION. SOMETIMES THE RESOURCES ARE LIMITED AND IT DOES MAKE THINGS LIKE THAT DIFFICULT. AND A PLACE LIKE SHAWNEE, IT WAS IT. THE BEST DECISION WAS TO FILL THEM IN BASED ON THE FLOODING THERE.
BUT OF COURSE, LIKE SUN VALLE IF THEY HAVE A FEW BUNKERS THEN WE SHOULD BE MAINTAINING THOSE WE WITHOUT SUPERINTENDENT AND WITHOUT SOME EMPLOYEES THERE FOR A LITTLE WHILE. AND WHEN YOU'RE WHEN YOU HAVE THAT, YOU'RE, YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO STAY AHEAD OF GETTING THE GRASS CUT, GETTING THE GREENS CUT AND MAINTAINING WHAT YOU HAVE. SO THAT'S WHEN THAT OVERTIME COULD COME IN, YOU KNOW, TO TO ASSIST IN CLEANING THOSE BUNKERS UP AND GETTING THE PREPARE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO DO THOSE THINGS. SO AND THAT'S THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE WORKING FOR. WORKING TOWARDS IS IS ADDITIONALESOURCES THAT WE CAN LP OUR SUPERTENDTS OUWITHO MAKE SURE THAT T E EC D UNCILWOMAN RUBY. BUT HAVE WE IMPLEMENTED THE STAGGERED START TIMES FOR YOUR FOR YOUR STAFF AT THE COURSES? AND HAS THAT HELPED AT ALL? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN RUBY. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
FIRST OF ALL, I'M GETTING FLASHBACKS BECAUSE I'M MARRIED TO A GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT.
AND I'VE HEARD ABOUT ALL THESE INSECTS AND ALL THESE PROBLEMS FOR 30 SOMETHING YEARS. SO MY CURIOSITY REVOLVES AROUND I THINK IT WAS SENECA YOU SAID HAD 60 SOMETHING THOUSAND ROUNDS. YES. CAN HOW IS IT THAT DOESN'T HAVE BURNT UP GREENS AND PLAYED OUT? BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S ON A WHOLE LOT, UNDER A LOT MORE STRESS THAN ANY OF THE OTHERS. WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION. CAN WE? I MEAN, CAN WE ASK KEVIN GREENWELL TO COME UP AND EXPLAIN HIS AMAZING STRATEGY, HOW HE DOES SUCH A GREAT JOB? WOULD YOU LIKE TO
[01:10:02]
COME UP, KEVIN? AND AND IF YOU DON'T MIND, EXPLAIN YOUR SECRET TO US, PLEASE. I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S ANY ONE SECRET TO IT. WE HAVE A GREAT FACILITY, 200 ACRES OF THE PRETTIEST LAND IN JEFFERSON COUNTY. I HAVE A GREAT SUPERINTENDENT WHO IS HERE, KURT BROWN. WE WORK WELL TOGETHER. LOCATION OF SENECA IS PERFECT. WE'RE BETWEEN 264, 64, 65. IT'S EASY TO GET TO. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN AN ESTABLISHED GOLF COURSE. IS THE BUSIEST FACILITY PICKING ANY ONE REASON? I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU CAN. I THINK KIRK AND I DO WORK VERY HARD, DILIGENTLY TOGETHER. WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE ON EVERYTHING. WE ALWAYS AGREE TO DISAGREE. BUT I THINK THE FACILITY, HE MAINTAINS IT AT A HIGH LEVEL WITH A, I WOULD ASSUME, THE SAME BUDGET AS THE OTHER GOLF COURSES, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S ANY ONE SECRET. WE HAVE A LOT OF LEAGUES, MEN'S CLUBS, LADIES CLUBS. WE TRY TO PROVIDE A GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE TO OUR OUR PATRONS, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF REGULAR PLAY. WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT PLAY THE GOLF COURSE ON A MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY BASIS. BUT HE DOES THE PART ABOUT PREPARING THE GOLF COURSE. WE DO A LOT OF COORDINATING WITH THE EVENTS AND THOSE SORT OF THINGS. THE ADDITION OF THE NINE HOLE PAR THREE COURSE FIVE YEARS AGO, SIX YEARS AGO GAVE US THE ABILITY TO BRING IN SOME SOME NEW PLAYERS WITH THE FIRST TEE, AND WE HAVE A GREAT DRIVING RANGE FACILITY THAT ALSO GETS A LOT OF USE. SO I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S ANY ONE REASON. I THINK HE IS A BIG REASON, BUT I THINK HONESTLY THE HE TAKES A LOT OF PRIDE IN WHAT HE DOES. HE CARES ABOUT WHAT HE DOES. HE DOES AN AMAZING JOB AT A FACILITY THAT YOU BROUGHT UP. IT DOES TWICE THE AMOUNT OF ROUNDS. SO HE'S DODGING PEOPLE AND DOING THINGS. AND BUT I THINK WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD TEAM THERE. I THINK PROBABLY AS MUCH AS ANYTHING. AND I WOULD ENTERTAIN QUESTIONS IF, IF OTHER THAN THAT IT'S DEFINITELY A MODEL TO BE SET. SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR WORK AND YOUR EFFORT THERE AND YOUR SUPERINTENDENT. MY MY QUESTION TO THAT IN THE OFF SEASON, IS THERE ANY CONTINUED EDUCATION FOR FOR FOR YOUR SUPERS IN THEIR IN THEIR STAFF TO DO ANY TRAINING ON TURF, ANY TRAINING ON THE COURSES AND HOW TO MAINTAIN THEM MOVING FORWARD THROUGHOUT THE SEASON? YOU KNOW, WITH THAT CONTINUED EDUCATION, I KNOW WE DEMANDED OF AIR. WE DEMANDED OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS IN OUR IN OUR IN OUR DIRECTORS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. BUT DO WE DEMAND IT IN IN THIS ROOM? YEAH, THEY'RE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN LIKE SOME IDEAS AROUND LIKE THE CHEMICAL PESTICIDE TRAINING AND THE GOLF. SO THEY HAVE TO ATTEND SO MANY TRAINING COURSES FOR THAT REASON. BUT WE I DON'T I DON'T KNOW OF ANYTHING THAT'S BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN THE PAST FOR, FOR, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY TO WHAT YOU'RE PUTTING LIKE CONDITIONS LIKE MAINTAINING GOLF COURSES, JUST SPECIFIC CONDITIONS ON THE COURSES. BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED MOVING FORWARD. AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK INTO WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE. YEAH, I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT DEFINITELY PLAYED OUT, ESPECIALLY MOVING INTO THE NEXT YEAR. SOME OF THE EDUCATION THAT CAN HAPPEN OF WHAT ARE THE OTHER COURSES GOING ON AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND HOW CAN WE IMPROVE ON THAT TODAY, MOVING INTO THE NEXT SEASON? COUNCILWOMAN. BEST. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TODAY. GREAT PRESENTATION. CAN YOU TELL ME WHICH COURSES RAN AN OPERATING LOSS LAST YEAR? AFTER CITY MAINTENANCE COST? SO I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION WITH ME RIGHT NOW. I DO HAVE THAT INFORMATION AND I CAN SEND IT TO YOU BEFORE THE END, YOU KNOW, BY TOMORROW AND GET THAT TO YOU. THAT WOULD BE GREAT. IN THE MEANTIME, WITH ALL THIS SAID, HOW DO WE HOW DO YOU ALL THINK THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO GROW THE ROUNDS AND REVENUE AT A LOWER PERFORMING COURSES FOR NEXT SEASON? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE DONE AT SUN VALLEY, FOR INSTANCE, IS WE'VE HIRED A NEW SUPERINTENDENT THERE WHO COMES FROM YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING AT OTHER GOLF COURSES IN THE AREA. WE WERE WITHOUT A SUPERINTENDENT THERE FOR A WHILE, HAD TO RELY ON ON SUPERINTENDENT, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT, WHO CAN COME OVER AND HELP THE GOLF STAFF THERE. BUT I THINK HAVING THAT PERSON ON HAND EVERY SINGLE DAY GOING FORWARD AND WORKING WITH OUR IN-HOUSE TURF MANAGER, I DEFINITELY THINK THAT WE CAN START MOVING THE CONDITIONS OF THESE COURSES FORWARD AND IMPROVING THINGS TO ENHANCE THE ROUNDS, AND IT'S ALSO A COLLECTIVE EFFORT WITH THE GOLF PROS THAT ARE AT THESE COURSES MARKETING, ADVERTISING, WORKING WITH THEM ON THAT. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE DOING IN HOUSE AS WELL TO ENHANCE THE, YOU KNOW, THE INTEREST IN OUR COURSES. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL EMPHASIZE THOSE COURSES THAT NEED THAT MORE AS COUNCIL. WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP YOU? WHAT DO YOU NEED FROM US? WELL, I, I
[01:15:08]
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME HERE TODAY, FIRST OF ALL, TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT GOLF.I KNOW THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED A BENCHMARK STUDY. IT'S ONE OF OUR ORDINANCES. I THINK THAT THAT WILL BRING A LOT OF THINGS TO LIGHT AS WELL. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD APPRECIATE IS FOR TO HEAR YOUR INPUT ON WHAT YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO SEE. IN THAT BENCHMARK STUDY, WE COMPLETED A BENCHMARK STUDY, BUT UNDER REVIEW. IT WAS SOME ADDITIONAL ITEMS THAT WE'D LIKE TO HAVE BEEN SEEN IN THAT IN THAT REPORT. SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS YOU GET YOUR INPUT ON THAT SO THAT WHEN WE DO PUT THIS BENCHMARK STUDY TOGETHER, WE'VE HEARD FROM EVERYBODY AND IT'S GOT EVERYTHING THAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO SEE IN IT. THAT'S ONE THING FOR SURE. YOU KNOW, PUTTING OUR HEADS TOGETHER ON ON HOW WE CAN OUTSOURCE FUNDINGS, FUND FUNDING, NOT OUTSOURCE, BUT PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THESE PROJECTS. AND, AND IDENTIFY WAYS THAT WE CAN CONDUCT THESE PROJECTS WHILE STILL BEING ABLE TO MAINTAIN OUR GOLF COURSES. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU. NATHAN, ON THE I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP ON THE BENCHMARK BECAUSE I WAS ONE OF MY QUESTIONS. BUT DO WE HAVE AN EXACT DATE OF WHEN YOU THINK WE CAN GET THAT EXECUTED? I DON'T HAVE AN EXACT DATE AS OF YET. IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT GOES INTO THAT REPORT, ON HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE TO COMPILE. WHAT WHAT WHAT'S LEFT. OKAY, OBVIOUSLY, WE KNOW THAT THAT ORDINANCE WAS WRITTEN IN 2018 AND IT WAS KIND OF SET IN PLAY, AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DONE EVERY FORS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN KIND OF ACCOMMODATE TO THAT. AND, AND SO LET'S LET'S WORK ON EXPEDITING THAT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I KNOW WE GOT COUNCILMAN TONY'S GOT ONE QUICK FOLLOW UP TO COUNCILWOMAN BASS OR GO COUNCILMAN. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. FIRST I WANT TO ASK, WHAT IS THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE TOTAL FOR THESE COURSES? HOW ARE IN THE RED? ARE WE HOW IN THE RED? ARE WE ON DEFERRED MAINTENANCE? WELL, WE KEEP A RUNNING SPREADSHEET. WE WORK WITH THE GOLF COURSE TO GET IDEAS WHAT THEY'D LIKE TO SEE ON THEIR GOLF COURSE. AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE IN-HOUSE PROJECTS, BUT THIS CURRENTLY SITS AT OVER $20 MILLION. OKAY. $20 MILLION ACTUALLY. WELL OVER THAT IF WE PUT IRRIGATION AND.
SURE. AND THE CART PATHS AND ALL THAT STUFF. YEAH. WITH IRRIGATION YOU'RE, YOU'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT WHAT ANOTHER PROBABLY DOUBLE THAT RIGHT. 25 MILLION. OKAY. SINCE THE PARKS FOR ALL PLAN WAS PASSED UNANIMOUSLY IN 2022, HOW MUCH DEFERRED MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN ADDRESSED IN THE BUDGET FOR THE GOLF COURSES? I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER OFF HAND, BUT I CAN GET THAT TO YOU. OKAY. YOU SAID SINCE 2022. YES. THE PARKS FOR ALL PASSED IN DECEMBER 2022. SO I GUESS STARTING JANUARY 2023. WE'LL COMPILE THOSE AND GET THEM TO.
HAS THERE BEEN ANY EARMARKING IN THE BUDGET IN THE PAST THREE YEARS FOR THE IRRIGATION SYSTEMS, THOSE 60 YEAR OLD IRRIGATION SYSTEMS? NO. NO, SIR. OKAY. AT CURRENT FUNDING LEVELS, CAN WE OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES OR DO WE NEED TO INVEST INVESTMENTS? OKAY. IS IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO HAVE A FIVE YEAR PLAN FOR ADDRESSING THESE PROBLEMS, SPECIFICALLY IRRIGATION, WITHOUT INVESTMENT? SO, YOU KNOW, I'VE SPOKEN TO OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE GOLF COURSES, SOME OF THEM, SOME OF THEM, SOME OF OURS, AND SOME OF THEM ARE RUNNING IN DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT WAYS. MOST OF THEM HAVE GOTTEN BONDS, AND THEN THEY HAVE A PLAN OVER FIVE YEARS TO PAY THAT BACK. SO THAT'S WHAT I'M FINDING AT OTHER PLACES. OKAY. SO SO WE NEED SOME CHECKS TO GO OUT. I DO WANT TO I DO WANT TO CLOSE AND I DON'T WANT TO TAKE UP TOO MUCH TIME FOR OUR COLLEAGUES TO BE ABLE TO GET THEIR QUESTIONS IN. BUT I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DISCUSSED AT AT OUR LARGER BODY AT LENGTH RECENTLY, USAGE FEES AND THE IMPORTANCE FOR USING THOSE USAGE FEES FOR DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, AND NOT WE CERTAINLY HAVEN'T HELD A STANDARD THAT WE'VE GOT TO FIX THINGS BEFORE WE CAN EXPECT A HIGHER RATE OF USAGE FEES. I WOULD HOPE THAT OUR BODY WOULD CONSIDER THE NEED TO APPLY USAGE FEES IN ORDER TO ADDRESS GIANT HOLES AND DEFERRED MAINTENANCE IN OUR PARKS, AS WELL AS OUR COURTS. SO THANK YOU. I WILL ADD THAT THE SURPLUS REVENUE THAT METRO GOVERNMENT MAKES FOR ON OUR GOLF COURSES STAYS STRICTLY IN GOLF. COUNCILWOMAN RUBY. OKAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOME OF THE PRIVATE COURSES AND SOME OF THE PUBLIC COURSES. AND WE'VE ALSO TALKED BRIEFLY ABOUT INCREASING GREENS FEES. AND I KNOW IF YOU IF YOU'RE GOING TO PAY MORE FOR THE GREENS FEE, YOU EXPECT TO HAVE A BETTER QUALITY COURSE. ARE YOU PREPARED TO SPEAK TODAY ABOUT WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN GREEN FEES? I THINK THAT'S A DISCUSSION FOR A LATER TIME LATER DATE IN IN MUCH MORE DETAIL THAN THE TIME THAT WE'VE GOT HERE THAT THAT THAT'S A BIG, BIG DISCUSSION ITEM. OKAY.
[01:20:04]
THANK YOU. YEP. COUNCILMAN PIAGENTINI THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I'M CURIOUS. I MEAN, WE HAD SORRY, I DON'T KNOW EVERYBODY HERE. THAT WAS THE PRO FROM FROM SENECA, CORRECT? YES.SORRY. MY APOLOGIES THAT WE HAVEN'T MET YET. SO EXPLAINING WHAT HE THINKS IS THE SECRET SAUCE SENECA HAS. AGAIN, I'M GOING TO PICK ON LONG RUN BECAUSE IT'S THE ONE I HAVE THE MOST INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE OF. SENECA HAS TWICE THE ROUNDS THAT LONG RUN HAS, SO THEY'VE GOT WAY MORE TRAFFIC. THEY'VE GOT THE SAME WEATHER PATTERNS. RIGHT? SO OTHER THAN MAYBE A BUG ON A FEW GREENS, RIGHT. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE DIFFERENCE? WHY IS THEIR COURSE CRUSHING IT? AND AND YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY ON CONDITION COMPARED TO LONG RUN. YEAH.
OTHER THAN THE BLUEGRASS WEEVIL I, I HONESTLY CAN'T TELL YOU ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAT THAT THEY'VE SEEN THERE THAT SENECA WOULD SEE. IT IS A DIFFERENT AREA OF THE CITY. CLIMATE IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THERE. THE GRASS COMES IN LATER THAN SOME OF OUR OTHER BERMUDA COURSES, LIKE SHAWNEE WILL GROW IN WELL BEFORE THE BERMUDA HAS GREENED UP AT LONG RUN. SO I'M I'M NOT AN EXPERT ON GOLF GREENS. I'M NOT AN EXPERT ON GOLF COURSES. THAT'S WHAT OUR SUPERINTENDENTS DO FOR A LIVING. AND OUR TURF EXPERT WHO'S GOING TO BE WORKING MORE CLOSELY WITH THEM GOING FORWARD. SO TO YOUR POINT, HOPEFULLY NEXT YEAR WE WON'T BE HERE. HOPEFULLY. WELL, HOPEFULLY WE ARE. AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW GREAT THINGS ARE. BUT OTHER THAN OTHER THAN THE THE FACTORS THAT SENECA DOESN'T SEE, LIKE THE AMOUNTS OF RAIN THAT LONG RUN RECEIVED VERSUS SENECA AND THE AND THE PEST INSECTS THAT WE HAVE, I CAN'T PUT A FINGER ON IT. COULD IT POSSIBLY BE THAT WE HAVE SOME SUPERINTENDENTS THAT ARE BETTER THAN OTHER SUPERINTENDENTS? I MEAN, I THINK IN ANY INDUSTRY THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS, RIGHT? BUT THAT'S WHY OUR TURF EXPERT IS GOING TO BE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE SUPERINTENDENTS MOVING FORWARD TO PROVIDE THAT ADDITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE TO OUR SUPERINTENDENTS JUST WITHIN THE MAINTENANCE STAFF. SO SUPER YOU SUPERINTENDENTS DOWN. HOW MANY PEOPLE PICKED THE LAST 12 MONTHS? SIX MONTHS IF THAT'S EASIER. HAVE WE LET GO DUE TO PERFORMANCE? I DON'T HAVE I MEAN IT'S I KNOW WE HAVE I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE A UNION OR NOT, I CAN'T RECALL IT COULD BE ZERO. I'M NOT I'M NOT 100% SURE HOW MANY PEOPLE WORK IN THE MAINTENANCE TEAMS WE HAVE ROUGHLY. GIVE OR TAKE 10 OR 15. WHAT'S THAT? COMBINED, ALL TEN COURSES ARE ON. COMBINED. HOW MANY PEOPLE DO WE HAVE? ABOUT 40 ON ON UNION. I MEAN, LIKE ALL MAINTENANCE STAFF, SUPERINTENDENTS, SOMEWHERE AROUND 50. OKAY, I HAVE THE NUMBER. I JUST DON'T KNOW. RIGHT OFF HAND I UNDERSTOOD THE NUMBER BECAUSE. SO YEAH, I MEAN I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE THAT DON'T SHOW UP TO WORK AND GET FIRED FOR THAT. I'M JUST SAYING IN THE PAST YEAR, 50 PEOPLE, NO, WE HAVE SOME VACANCIES. EVERYBODY'S DOING A GOOD ENOUGH JOB. YEAH, WE HAVE SEVERAL VACANCIES ACROSS OUR GOLF COURSES. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT VACANCIES. I'M TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE THAT WERE LET GO FOR PERFORMANCE. I MEAN, I, I WORK FOR A COMPANY, A PRIVATE COMPANY THAT HIRES ABOUT 200 PEOPLE. THERE ARE PEOPLE EVERY MONTH THAT ARE LET GO DUE TO PERFORMANCE. WELL, NOW THINKING BACK, WE HAVE LET PEOPLE GO.
PERFORMANCE, ATTENDANCE, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS DON'T CARE ABOUT ATTENDANCE PERFORMANCE.
MAYBE MAYBE MAYBE MAYBE THREE. OKAY, I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE AGAIN, IT'S I WOULD LOVE EVERYBODY TO KEEP THEIR JOB. NOT EVERYBODY'S GOOD AT EVERY JOB. AND WE NEED TO HAVE A PROCESS WHERE WE RECRUIT RECRUIT GREAT AND GET RID OF BAD. RIGHT? I MEAN, IT'S PRETTY BASIC MANAGEMENT STUFF. AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, AGAIN, NOT ATTENDANCE BECAUSE ATTENDANCE IS JUST LAZINESS, RIGHT. THERE COULD BE A GREAT WORKER. THEY MIGHT BE A BRILLIANT SUPERINTENDENT. THEY JUST DIDN'T SHOW UP. BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE THAT WERE LET GO STRICTLY DUE TO PERFORMANCE ISSUES. RIGHT? I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY OF THE STAFF PICKED THE LAST PICK. A PERIOD OF TIME. THAT'S OVER SIX MONTHS. I DON'T CARE IF IT'S SIX MONTHS. LAST YEAR I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THOSE NUMBERS LOOK LIKE. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. YES. THANK YOU. THANKS, TOMMY. SO IF WE CAN KIND OF GET THAT PUT TOGETHER, MAYBE, AND SEND OVER. I GOT A COUPLE FINAL QUESTIONS AND THEN WE'LL GO FROM THERE. BUT THE THE WORK, THE WHAT'S THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART FOR THE GOLF MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS.
IT'S KIND OF A MULTIFACETED QUESTION. WHO DOES THE SUPERINTENDENT REPORT TO. WE SEEN THAT ON THE FLOW CHART THAT YOU SENT OVER. BUT IS THERE A TURF DIRECTOR OR AHEAD OF GOLF. AND WHAT ARE THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES? OBVIOUSLY YOU JUST YOU JUST ALLUDED TO YOU'RE NOT YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT THE THE EXPERT AT GOLF. WHO IS THAT PERSON. DO WE HAVE THEM IN
[01:25:04]
OUR SYSTEM AND WHEN WILL THEY START WORKING. WELL OUR FIRST OF ALL OUR GOLF SUPERINTENDENTS ARE ARE OUR FIRST BOOTS ON THE GROUND FOR GOLF EXPERTS. MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR TEN, 20, 30 YEARS THAT ARE ON OUR, YOU KNOW, IN GOLF AFTER THAT, YOU KNOW, SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT TO OUR OUR PARKS ADMINISTRATOR, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A TURF ADMINISTRATOR THAT ASSISTS ALL OF OUR TURF CONDITIONS AND ALL OF OUR SUPERINTENDENTS, OUR GOLF COURSE. THAT TURF ADMINISTRATOR HAD HAD, YOU KNOW, HELPED IN OTHER AREAS AS WELL. BUT THEY'RE GOING TO BE THIS PERSON IS GOING TO BE FOCUSING SOLELY ON GOLF MOVING FORWARD. AND WE'RE ALSO INVESTIGATING. WE'RE LOOKING INTO HIRING AN ADDITIONAL PERSON THAT HAS THAT AGRONOMY EXPERIENCE AND BACKGROUND TO TO ASSIST AS WELL. AND I'M TRYING TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT QUESTION IS, WHY HAS THAT PERSON NOT BEEN ON THE GOLF COURSES BEFORE NOW? THEY ARE THEY THEY ARE. THEY'RE JUST THEY ARE ON THE GOLF COURSES. THEY THEY WORK WITH THE SUPERINTENDENTS. I MEAN, NOT EVERY SINGLE DAY, BUT THEY, THEY HAVE PHONE CALLS. THEY GO AND SEE THEM. WHEN THEY SAY THEY HAVE ISSUES, THEY HELP PUT TOGETHER THE AGRONOMY PLAN, THE CHEMICAL PLAN EVERY SINGLE YEAR. SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE THEY'RE THERE FOR ASSISTANCE AND CONSTANT CONTACT ANYTIME THE SUPERINTENDENT NEEDS. AND THEY'RE AND THEY CHECK IN WITH THEM AS WELL OKAY. THANK YOU ON. WILL THERE EVER BE A A SYSTEM WIDE GOLF MASTER PLAN SET THAT SETS THE STANDARDS PRIORITIES PHASING ACROSS ALL COURSES? AND WHAT WOULD THE TIMELINE AND THE LEAD DEPARTMENT LOOK LIKE FOR THAT? WE CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE THAT, BUT I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN WORK TOWARDS FOR SURE. OKAY. AND I DON'T KNOW, TIMELINE. I, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE THE BENCHMARKS THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE JUST NEED TO PUT TOGETHER AND SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. FINAL QUESTION I'LL TRY TO MAKE THIS ONE A LITTLE BIT EASIER. IS THERE A DASHBOARD A A TRANSPARENT TRANSPARENCY MECHANISM OF SOME SORT, A SOCIAL MEDIA LINK, A NEWSLETTER, OR OF ANY SORT THAT YOU CAN SEND OUT TO US COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE, THE, THE PLAYERS THAT PLAY ALL THE COURSES THAT SAY, HEY, THIS WEEK ON MONDAY FOR THIS WEEK WE'VE GOT XYZ HOLES ARE OUT OF COMMISSION. SO PEOPLE KNOW PRIOR TO GETTING TO THE COURSE AND PAYING AND THEN NOT NOT NOT BEING SATISFIED. I GUESS YOU WOULD SAY, HANG ON, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA. AND WE'VE GOT A BRAND NEW COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER, AND THAT IS ONE OF THE AREAS THAT SHE'S GOING TO FOCUS ON IS HIGHLIGHTING THINGS IN GOLF, WHETHER IT BE NEWSLETTERS, SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, PUSHES, THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT I MEAN, WE'VE REALIZED THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A MUCH MORE CONCERTED EFFORT ON GETTING THAT MESSAGE OUT. AND THAT'S THAT'S WHAT WE'RE THAT THAT IS PART OF HER BRINGING HER ON BOARD AND SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO INITIATE. HOW WILL HER COMMUNICATION, HOW WILL SHE GET HER INFORMATION FROM THE COURSES TO KNOW WHAT TO PUT IN THAT NEWSLETTER EVERY WEEK OR EVERY WE'RE STILL TRYING TO FLUSH OUT THOSE DETAILS, WHETHER IT'S THE COURSE CONDITIONS FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT, SPECIAL EVENTS FROM THE GOLF PROS THEMSELVES, MAYBE COMBINE THOSE TWO TOGETHER. WE'RE STILL TRYING TO EXACTLY FIGURE OUT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. BUT I MEAN, IF WE'RE HERE, I MEAN RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN A NEWSLETTER LIKE THAT? WHAT KIND OF DETAIL WOULD WOULD THE COUNCIL MEMBERS LIKE TO SEE IN THAT? I THINK MORE FOR MORE FOR THE PLAYERS THAN THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. ALL RIGHT. ON MONDAY I'M GOING TO START SCHEDULING TEE TIMES FOR FOR THIS WEEKEND. AND IF I KNOW, YOU KNOW, I'LL PICK ON SENECA BECAUSE KEVIN'S BACK THERE. SENECA HAS GOT FIVE HOLES THAT ARE LOOK LIKE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE BLACK. CHAR, I WANT TO KNOW IN THE NEWSLETTER ON MONDAY THAT I'M NOT GOING TO PLAY AT SENECA ON SATURDAY. AND BUT THESE OTHER COURSES LOOK FINE. I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHERE ALL OF THE, THE, THE DESPAIR IS IN ADVANCE. RIGHT. I GUESS SAYING HERE'S THE NEGATIVE NEWS, BUT IT'S THE NEWS THAT'S GOING TO KEEP OUR PLAYERS PLAYING AT OUR MUNICIPAL COURSES, AS WELL AS GIVING THEM THAT TRANSPARENCY OF, HEY, YES, THESE FIVE ARE DOWN THIS WEEK.WE'RE LOOKING TO HAVE THEM BACK IN TWO WEEKS. YEAH, WE AGREE. AND THOSE MEETINGS STARTED A FEW WEEKS AGO WHERE WE WERE SITTING DOWN WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM WORKING ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT. ONE OF THE THINGS LIKE ERIC, VERIFICATION SCHEDULE, FOR INSTANCE, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T LIKE TO PLAY GOLF AFTER AERIFICATION. SO THAT'S THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT WE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE PUTTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND PUTTING OUT THERE IN OUR NEWSLETTERS FOR OUR GOLFERS TO UNDERSTAND AND BE AWARE OF WHERE THAT THOSE THAT THAT WILL BE GOING ON. YEAH. AND WE'LL DO A BETTER JOB OF TELLING THAT NARRATIVE. I THINK THAT'S THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. SO WE DON'T GET SUCH A NEGATIVE FEEDBACK FROM OTHER RAMS AND SOURCES. RIGHT. LOOK GUYS, AT THE END OF THE DAY I WANT TO SEE YOU SUCCEED. I WANT
[01:30:01]
TO SEE IT GROW. AND I WANT TO SEE OUR COURSES DO GREAT. I THINK WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE BEST COURSES IN THE COUNTRY. WE JUST HAVE TO CROSS THIS THRESHOLD. SO SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. THANKS FOR COMING, COUNCILMAN. JUST JUST REAL QUICK, BEFORE YOU WRAP UP, THERE WAS A SLIDE THAT WAS MISSED ON THERE ABOUT THE NUMBER OF ROUNDS. AVERAGE ROUNDS ARE UP. THE REVENUE IS UP. SO IT GOLF IS NOT DOOM AND GLOOM. ALL THE COURSES AREN'T DOING HORRIBLE. WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING REALLY, REALLY WELL. BETTER THAN WE HAVE BEEN. SO WELL I APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER. ABSOLUTELY. LET'S ALWAYS STRIVE FOR BETTER AND LET'S LET'S STRIVE FOR MAKING IT, YOU KNOW THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY. SO THANK YOU, SIR.THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. IF NOBODY HAS ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.