1997-04-17
CITY OF ENCINITAS
ENCINITAS RANCH GOLF AUTHORITY
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
THURSDAY, APRIL 17,1997 at 3:00 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Chairman Kaiser called the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m.
Present: Directors Ed Kaiser, Kathy Riggins, Lauren Wasserman, Alan Archibald and
David Wigginton.
Also Present: John White of Carltas Co., Manager Jim Benson, General Counsel Roger
Krauel, Meeting Secretary Pat Drew, Scott Bentley and John Mason of J.C. Resorts.
Guest Presenters: James Dout, Exec. Dir., and Craig Kessler of S.C.P.L.G.A.
Public: John Conover, Newell Pinch, Art Beardsley and Ken Evory of Encinitas Golf
Association.
ORAL COMMUNICATION
None
REGULAR AGENDA
1. Approve Minutes of Regular Meeting of March 20,1997.
On motion by Director Riggins, seconded by Director Archibald, the minutes were
approved as presented. 4 -0 -1 Director Wasserman abstained because he
was absent from the March 20 meeting.
2. Presentation by SCPLGA
Craig Kessler, Public Affairs Chairman of Southern California Public Links Golf
Association, gave an introduction to his organization. Mr. Kessler also serves as
the Chair of the City of Los Angeles' Advisory Commission. Southern Cal
PubLinks is a 25,000 member, non-profit organization which consists entirely of
golfers who are members of clubs attached to golf courses - i.e. municipally owned
or daily fee golf (privately owned) courses. The association is sanctioned by the
US Golf Association to provide the basic infrastructure for golf - in their case
exclusively for public golf. In that capacity they provide the electronic
handicapping services, which in Southern California is the identical service.
Provide course ratings, championships, a tournament schedule, as well as
tournaments for general members. He and Jim Dout are USGA committeemen;
Jim Dout with the Regional Golf Association Committee, and he (Craig Kessler)
serves on the Public Golf committee which is a national committee. The
distinguishing feature of SCPLA is that it is the largest exclusively public golf
association in the nation. Formed in 1931 by a small core of municipal golf
courses in Los Angeles that sought membership in the existing sanctioned golf
association, the SCGA, they were denied entry. The USGA asked them to set up
a separate public links golfing association. Southern California has had two
separate associations since that time. Their perspective is exclusively public golf,
with tournament services geared towards individuals who are members of their
clubs who are exclusively public players.
Executive Director James Dout continued with presentation of the services they
offer.
Handicapping of golfers in the United States is, for the most part, governed by
USGA. Most people now carry a USGA handicap index which converts to a
handicap-to-golf-course depending on the slope. The Association provides a
computer to each golf course facility to do the handicapping and posting. This
includes a~ computer, printer, monitor and keyboard which they maintain at the
sites. They give seminars on the use of the computer and also on the tournament
packages included in the soft ware.
They have many people who belong to both PubLinks and SCGA; their
membership ID number is the same. They are using the same test system that
SCGA is using, mainly because they have so many multiple members.
The Association has four paid staff people.
Course Ratings: Have been doing course rating since the inception of the
Association. Four of the raters have eight or more years as course raters. Have a
15 member rating team who are all volunteers so they serve as many years as
they wish. Upon request will measure the 100, 150, and 200 markers on the
fairway at no charge. Send four-man teams out who rate one day, and in the
case of a new course, generally come back three or four months later when it is
ready and play the course.
Tournaments: These are geared mainly for the working class and held on
Saturdays and Sundays. They do have a few weekday tournaments. Their
amateur championship is held in the first part of the year. They have three
tournaments this year in San Diego area: Coronado (have been doing for past
twenty years), their "Partners Best Ball" has been in the San Diego area for over
thirty years, and this year they are holding a Senior Championship in Escondido at
the San Luis Rey Downs and Castle Creek. Also, in May of every year they put on
a Showboat tournament in Las Vegas (partners event). Next year they will be
hosting the 1998 National amateur PubLinks championship event at Torrey Pines -
this is a week-long event. The last time they did this event was in 1974 at
Brookside, Pasadena. At the end of the year they have the Dessert Classic
Tournament which is a four-man event held at Palm Springs.
Team Play: A little different from the Southern Cal. It is a six-man team and a
club can enter as many teams as they wish. It is all flighted by handicaps. The
only participant in recent years has been the San Diego Golf Association.
Encinitas has not participated. The closest .Iocation has been Riverside County,
and San Clemente this year.
Support USGA PubLinks Committeemen by helping them run their tournaments.
There's one in the San Diego area and also one in the Los Angeles area. Last
year the winner (Tim Hogarth) came from the Los Angeles area and he played in
the recent Masters tournament and did very well.
Also belong to the Pacific Coast Golf Association as does SCGA. Send a team to
the Pacific Coast Amateur Championship. This year it is being held at McKenna,
Hawaii.
Communicate to clubs through a newsletter that goes out to each club and also a
monthly packet that the clubs receive on upcoming tournaments throughout the
year.
Each President of member clubs is a member of the Association's Board of
Directors which gives the clubs a voice in the association. There is a 10-man
executive committee that does the day-to-day operations but the Board of
Directors make all the decisions for the Association. Each month a Board
meeting is held at a different golf course.
Dues are currently $ 12/year, per member. This year there is a $1 surcharge
having to do with the purchase of some computer equipment. To increase the
dues or continue the surcharge in 1998 will require a vote of 2/3rds of the Board of
Directors (presidents of clubs).
One of the distinguishing features of their Association is that they have two
different kinds of member clubs - those attached to golf courses and affiliate clubs,
but they have one class of member. They are all voting members - one club, one
vote. The SCGA has four classes of membership and only class 1 actually has
voting privileges. Under their constitution, then, Encinitas Ranch Golf Course
would be a non-voting member of the association.
There are both men and women in the Association - some of the clubs which are
company clubs or leagues or social clubs, have men and women. There is also a
Women's Public Links Golf Association of Southern California. Of the 25,000
membership probably 1-2% are women.
They have 42 courses in their membership lineup. (A list was given to the
Secretary for the file.)
Feel that their advantage over SCGA membership is because they are a public
golf entity and they are there to support the public golfer. Understands that
Encinitas Ranch is going to be a public course for the public golfer. Feels they are
able to see the point of view of the public golfer versus a private individual. As a
smaller association believe they can give better service.
Director Archibald asked why Encinitas Ranch Golf Club should go with SCPLGA.
Craig Kessler gave a personal summation of the way he saw the difference
between the associations. If the club he "broke his teeth on" had been a member
of SCGA, he would not now be an executive committeeman of a Golf Association
in Southern California; nor would he be a USGA committeeman on the Public Golf
Committee actively trying to coordinate between Los Angeles and New Jersey to
do a lot of exciting things in Los Angeles; nor would he be Chair of a Golf Advisory
Commission in the City of Los Angeles, indeed there wouldn't be a Golf Advisory
Commission in that City. In other words, the kinds of access that ordinary public
golfers get to the levers of real responsibility in the golf world are wide open to
members of SCPLGA, but would not have been through the SCGA organization.
3. Policy Regarding Waiver of Greens Fees, Group and Tournament Use of Course.
(Gen'I Counsel Roger Krauel)
General Counsel Krauel presented a draft policy regarding waiver of greens fees,
and group and tournament use, and invited discussion. The purpose of the
policy is for use in giving standards and guidance to the decision-maker so that
they are not left with just their own resources. Since this is not a private
organization with all of that discretion, we are a pU,blic activity, therefore have
to have a public benefit in the things that we do. The ERGA Board members are
the one to decide if and when there is a public benefit, or if one is seen. General
Counsel Krauel is only there to give counsel and try to assist in finding one if there
doesn't appear to be readily perceived. To that end the draft policy under
discussion is not fixed but simply to start the discussion.
Director Riggins asked how a benefit would be measured and attained, relative to
item 3. General Counsel Krauel advised that the Board would have to look at a
specific proposal to decide if it was going to benefit the public. Scott Bentley
advised that J.C. Resorts does have its own set of policies for making decisions
on public benefit and type of requests that Board is concerned about. Director
Wigginton suggested that the Board delegate to J.C, Resorts the authority to
determine the issue of public benefit when receiving a special request. One
of their concerns, for instance, would be to keep special requests out of prime time
so that the revenue is not influenced.
Director Kaiser had a question on the agreement with J.C. Resorts relative to
Comps and Courtesies and Scott Bentley had a question on Item 5 concerning the
use of the word "exclusive." Mr. Bentley explained that as a company they will
rarely ever waiver greens fees for a tournament. The only one he could think of is
one course that has a contract with the City which issued the business permit to
comp one tournament a year, they name the charity and it is written into the
company's contract with the City. Or, if a course hosts the PGA Pro-Am the local
chapter of the PGA does not permit them to charge for greens fees when hosting a
tournament. The benefits, of course, are that that club gets cart fees, food
revenue and a lot of exposure to the golf course. Usually the Pros will bring three
players from their course from all over the County. It's a good way to expose our
course to a lot of people in one day. It's a good generator of income. About the
only time would close the course for a tournament for a full day is if some group
wanted a double shot-gun event, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
Or, it might be a marathon for a charity when they need a course from sun-up to
sun-down. Normally, though, on tournament days they would still have times
when course open to public. Shot-gun events are usually run early in the morning
and the course is open to the public in the afternoon, or vice versa. So, they rarely
ever close the course.
Referring to Item 5-b, Mr. Bentley said he was concerned about having a
restriction on the number of tournaments that could be conducted per year.
Would prefer to establish the number of large tournaments that close the course
for a day rather than to any open play. Anticipate having 10-15,000 rounds of
group and tournament play that is booked in advance. The average size would be
30-40 player groups - not big groups. They would rarely, if ever, have the course
closed the whole day to the public. Would suggest the language be changed to
"exclusive use, where the course would be closed all day to the public" if there is a
concern about this issue. From the standpoint of J.C. Resorts, they don't wantto
limit the number of tournaments. A tournament consists of 16 or more players,
four starting times, or more. Larger groups of over 50 players would probably not
be more than 50 times in the whole year. To close the course for the whole day
would probably only amount to one or two times in the year.
Director Riggins suggested that J.C. Resorts bring their policy/guidelines to a
meeting so that ERGA's proposed policy can be matched to it. Members felt
this would be a good idea. Mr. Bentley said he would plan to bring it to the next
meeting along with the list concerning complimentary use that Bob Dobek had
previously submitted. General Counsel Krauel suggested that the two
documents be merged so that the public can look at one document to see how the
course is run.
Director Wasserman asked about item 2-a and suggested that the wording
indicate that the golf pro is not included in the reference to "while on duty."
4.
Consider Logo Design
(David Wigginton/Scott Bentley)
Director Wigginton said that he and Scott Bentley were working on ideas for a logo
design and would bring their suggestions back to the Board at a later meeting.
Director Riggins suggested that the logo include something based on history of the
area, such as the poinsettias. Director Wasserman said he liked the suggestion.
Manager Benson suggested they work with the Ecke's for flower design artwork
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since they had already worked on logos, etc. for other projects. John White said
they had worked on a Ranch logo over a period of time and felt they would be
willing to share the information and design work. Director Archibald asked if
some artwork could be brought back to the May Board meeting. Director
Wigginton said they would put some drawings together to include the poinsettia,
ocean, and possibly an "alpha" logo, etc. Agreed not to go with a public contest.
5.
Discussion of Proposal to Support a City Grant Application to U.S. National
Forestry (for trees) (David Wigginton)
Director Wigginton explained that there is an opportunity to get a grant - the
maximum award is $30,000 which is strictly for the purchase of trees. The
downside to the issue is that the trees are no larger than 15 gallons so looking at
800 or 900 15 gallon trees. The grant is reimbursable which means we would
incur the costs and not be paid until after the project is finished. The grant does
not cover tree stakes, tree ties, fertilizer tablets, and requires the trees be planted
by volunteers. They won't fund the labor to plant the trees. Would estimate
another $5 or 6,000 for stakes, ties, fertilizer tablets. Asked the Board members
to determine if they wish him to go ahead and go through the application process
and compete for the money. Advised that there are about 400 spaces to be
planted with trees. Need to get application in by July. Only make grants once a
year. There is no restriction on how the project is financed.
Director Archibald advised that Public Works Director Bob Nelson applies for this
grant every year and would be willing to give ERGA the go ahead. They get 200
trees every year which are planted by volunteers from the "People for Trees"
group. Said he didn't feel we would want volunteers tramping all over the course
once it has been grassed. The best time for volunteers to do the planting would
be October of this year through February, before the opening in March,. 1998.
Director Wasserman said there would be no difficulty in getting the money up front,
would just have to work out the details. City could front the cash and charge
interest.
Director Wasserman said he felt Director Wigginton should go for it and City staff
would work on some alternatives with regards to cash flow.
Director Archibald made a motion that subject to working out the cash flow issue
Director Wigginton be authorized to apply for the grant. Seconded by Director
Riggins and unanimously adopted. 5 - 0
Director Wasserman asked if the City could apply for the grant and give the trees
to ERGA. Response was yes it would be feasible and would also solve the cash
flow problem. This is another option that could be considered.
6.
Cost Overruns/Change Orders
(Chris Calkins)
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Director Archibald said he had just got the last of the change orders and that he
needs to review so obviously hadn't had time to prepare for today's board meeting.
Looking at bringing to next month's meeting.
7.
Consideration of Dedication Ceremonies for Golf Course
Manager Benson said this originated from the request by the Chamber to put on a
special event. Chairman Kaiser made a written response to their request advising
that the ERGA board is not yet ready to make a decision.
Item was put on the agenda so that some ideas could be generated from members
as to what they felt the dedication ceremonies should look like.
John White said he felt the dedication ceremony they had had when opening the
Phase One Infrastructure turned out to be a nice event. Council and Department
Heads attended along with the press etc. Felt it was a fun event. Would suggest
something like that.
Director Riggins suggested a fund raiser grand opening, possibly the day before
first day opening, followed by a dinner.
After discussion with a number of ideas tossed around, the whole issue of
dedication and timing was turned over to the Task Force established at the March
20, 1997 Board meeting. Members are Directors Riggins and Wasserman,
Manager Jim Benson and Scott Bentley from J.C. Resorts.
Director Riggins asked if the area outside the clubhouse will be concreted so that it
could be used for a patio dedication ceremony, etc. Advised that there will be
about 3000 sq. ft. of concreting on the East side of building. Big enough to seat
200 people at tables and a tent if necessary. Scott Bentley said they also do a lot
of events on grass without any problems. On two of their courses they only have
grass.
8. Discussion of Major Sponsors for Holes
Director Riggins asked if this is something the Board would like to do. John Mason
of J.C. Resorts, said he had called some local manufacturers, etc. to determine an
interest - still needs to get costs for signs etc. Mr. Mason to put proposal together
to show them how they would benefit.
Director Wigginton said he felt he could support the idea so long as done
tastefully. Chairman Kaiser agreed.
The sponsor's name would go on a sign for as long as they continue to pay for it.
Director Wasserman reminded the Board that care has to be taken with respect to
the First Amendment's freedoms that people have. Will require help from
General Counsel Krauel on this issue when putting policy/proposal together.
Agreed that ERGA would make the rules regarding size, appearance, etc. Scott
Bentley and John Mason will work on a proposal with costs, etc. Will look at the
legal issues after that. Director Riggins offered to work on the issue, from a fund
raising point of view, with Scott Bentley and John Mason.
9. Directors and/or Manager Reports
Manager Benson reported that Caltas Co. made a presentation to the City Council
at the previous evening's meeting, to initiate the process of modifying their
Alternative B plan for development. It is now official that they plan to adopt
Alternative B which leaves the flower operation at its existing location with a
phased improvement to those operations. That then means that the conceptual
plans we have seen will now show residences on the South mesa instead of
agriculture. Will move housing along faster than was originally planned. Now
using number of 1070 instead of 1200+ that was the potential under the Specific
Plan. They will be processing a Specific Plan amendment to recognize the
change in locations.
Director Archibald reported that construction on the 7.5 million gallon reservoir
underneath the driving range is ahead of schedule - working on some ways to
expedite the completion including some changes in the alignment of the water line
and hoping to get the driving range completed before the opening. This would
also mean they should be able to get the eighteenth hole finished ahead of
schedule. Will start sodding around the greens and the bunkers next week,
followed by seeding the following week. There is an ongoing weed eradication
program.
John White asked Director Archibald if he would supply a report on the access to
the golf cqurse in terms of Leucadia Boulevard and the schedule for completion.
Director Archibald replied that if they can reconvince Caltrans that we can do the
construction management on the interchange, will have the interchange completed
by August, 1999 and the widening of Leucadia Boulevard will be done around
August of '98. Access from the East will be done this fall.
10. Next Meeting: Thursday, May 15,1997 at 3:00 p.m.
11. Agenda items for Future Meetings;
a) Discussion of SCGAlSCPLA.
b) Policy for Waivers
c) Logo
d) Change Orders
e)
Golf Cars proposal
(Scott Bentley)
Dedication/Opening Ceremony
(Task Force)
f)
g)
h)
Spikes vs. No Spikes (August mtg.)
(Scott Bentley)
Recommendation from Landscaping Group
(John Conover)
12. . Adjournment
Adjourned at 4:25 p.m.
R~:~rtfUIIY submitted, /
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Patricia Drew
Meeting Secretary
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Edward Kaiser
Chairman