HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-26-2013 pc edwardsRECEIVE D
0dwin,Heather
Grimes, Maev e
t:Wednesday, January 23, 2013 2 :39 P M
To:Goodwin, Heathe r
Subject :FW : Letter to the Council
JAN 23 201 3
SLO CITY CLER K
COUNCIL MEETING :I/aco/J3
ITEM NO,:_.
Heather ,
Please forward this email and attached letter to the Mayor, Council Members and Department Heads in advance of th e
Saturday, January 26, 2013 Goal Setting Workshop .
Thank you .
maeve kennedy gnime s
City Cler k
city of san Luis OBIS00
990 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 9340 1
phone : (805) 781-710 2
- ait mgrimes@slocitv .org
Hello Maeve ,
Please see that the entire Council, City Manager and appropriate staff receive this letter attached .
Thank you ,
Julie Tacke r
Administrative Assistan t
J H . Edwards Co .
PO Box 6070
Laguna Lake Gol fCourse letter ...
Los Osos, CA 9341 2
Original Message
: Julie Tacker Jmailto :iulietacker@charter.net l
Sent : Wednesday, January 23, 2013 2 :37 P M
To : Grimes, Maev e
Subject : Letter to the Council
J .H. EDWARDS COMPANY
A REAL PROPERTY CONCER N
January 23, 201 3
San Luis Obispo City Counci l
City Hall
990 Palm Stree t
San Luis Obispo, CA 9340 1
Re : Goal-Setting Workshop, January 26, 2013 (Laguna Lake Golf Course )
Dear Council Members ,
For several years I have corresponded with the San Luis Obispo City Council i n
connection with the city owned golf course as referenced above . Fairly recently, the gol f
course operations and the accounting of revenues and expenses was converted from a n
enterprise fund to the City's General Fund . I believe it is important to be able to identif y
how much money the golf course is costing the city on a monthly and annual basis .
Recent trends indicate the golf course was in the "red" by approximately $20,000 pe r
month and I believe it is important to know whether the finances have improved o r
continued to decline. Playership has been down over the last 10-15 years and the numbe r
of city residents playing at the golf course has steadily declined as well . What are the
current numbers ?
From a macro-economic standpoint, playership on golf courses throughout the count y
and beyond in a post-recession era are showing further downward trends . Even for
regulation, 18-hole, full-service golf courses it is a highly competitive industry . In fact,a
trend is beginning to close golf courses for alternative uses . One such example, in Golet a
CA is the Ocean Meadows Golf Course . This well located parcel of land, just north o f
UCSB near the ocean was approved for subdivision earlier this month by the Californi a
Coastal Commission setting the stage for a new residential development .
The Ludwick Community Center has been cited in the past as an example of a facility ,
like the Laguna Lake Golf Course, that is subsidized largely because it is utilized by a
large percentage of city residents . I do not believe that is the case with Laguna Lake Gol f
Course. A fair comparison would include an analysis of the actual cost to the city pe r
resident using the respective facility .
With the capital conserved from a failing operation, what other city services could b e
backfilled or expanded? What other uses may be realized on the golf course property tha t
would further benefit the city and the residents? This is a salient question .
Please direct staff to bring to you the financial information that reflects the true
operational losses from the golf course, not including cell tower revenues . Also, perfor m
P.O . Box 6070, Los Osos, CA 93412 (805)235-0873 julietacker@charter .ne t
ACQUISITION MARKETING LAND USE REDEVELOPMENT
a J . H. EDWARDS COMPANY
A REAL PROPERTY CONCERN
the analysis that will better compare city facilities and their true cost and benefits to th e
residents .
Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have .
Sincerely ,
Jeff eOwanO s
Jeff Edward s
805 .235 .087 3
s
P.O . Box 6070, Los Osos, CA 93412 (805)235-0873 julietacker@charter .ne t
ACQUISITION MARKETING LAND USE REDEVELOPMENT